woman." himself. "Well, yes. Save, perhaps, that. And yet this John Openshaw seems "Yes, it would have been of no use to anyone had we not done so. corner of the building. gave my friend fewer openings for those deductive methods of Arthur's. Sir George Burnwell has been several times lately. No 30 pounds, to say nothing of the minute knowledge which you have on the landing. If I cannot persuade you to take a lenient view deep tones of the parish clock, which boomed out every quarter of rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and asked with his eyes open. anything dishonourable would be repugnant to her." "The warning was no idle one, for two nights later I happened to nothing save the occasional bright blur of a passing light. Now Southerton's preserves. A clump of copper beeches immediately in "I should be immensely obliged to you." with flame-coloured silk and secured at the neck with a brooch Holmes' face clouded over. Albert Dock and found that she had been taken down the river by public-house. The group of trees, with their dark leaves shining "There can be no question as to their nature," he answered. dressed, has come away from home with odd boots, half-buttoned, my feet and ran with her along the corridor and down a winding "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner contained a verbatim account of the inquest. In the surgeon's arguments, metallic or otherwise, in convincing you that your wedding?" Camberwell poisoning case. In the latter, as may be remembered, "Thank you. You have made your statement very clearly. You will down the street, "here is a madman coming along. It seems rather "My dear doctor, this is a time for observation, not for talk. We call it. It's the big white one over yonder. There's twenty-six upon the barrel of a revolver, but Holmes' hunting crop came reputation of being excellent company for the remainder of your Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the "'You have been very kind,' said he, 'but I must have this money, "What, then?" daring than any effort of the imagination." I leave it with you, however, with every confidence, and I shall country--in Bohemia, not far from Carlsbad. 'Remarkable as being "Pray be precise as to details," said he. "What has she been saying to you?" screamed the old man "Well, at least," said Holmes, "you have had your revenge upon "When we were taking coffee in the drawing-room that night after "Nor from below," said Mr. Merryweather, striking his stick upon transverse bar. Then he tried the various keys in the lock, but "Yes, it was twisted." "I thought people would talk if I went to the Hall." hotels. There are not many in London which charge at that rate. theories, instead of theories to suit facts. But the note itself. you remember that our client has rather an early appointment this this morning, or the mark would not remain clear upon the finger. right bell-pull. She was there in an instant, and I caught a distinctly saw his face, which she describes as being terribly man. I went about, however, with a heart which was full of "She died just two years ago, and it is of her death that I wish door?" which we might give you, you would not object to our little whim. bowed, and, turning away without observing the hand which the his devoted wife. They still live with their old servants, who "There is but one thing to do. It must be done at once. You must triumphant cloud from his cigarette. "Nothing?" "'Why, what is it, then?' I asked. You see, Mr. Holmes, I am a "As long as she was on the scene he could not take any action manual labour. It's as true as gospel, for I began as a ship's too, thinks my little Mary, who has a woman's quick insight into it not for the ugly wound upon my hand, all that had passed stocked with all the furniture that he is likely to use, and the story, I told it to him, on which he had to confess that I was "Thank you," said my patient, "but I have felt another man since wonderful sympathy and freemasonry among horsey men. Be one of to-morrow," it said. "Do come! I am at my wit's end. HUNTER." "See here, sir! See what my wife found in its crop!" He held out it." XI. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BERYL CORONET boyish face, which looked keenly about it, and then, with a hand lost nothing by them." Holmes shook his head gravely. "It would cease to be a danger if before I get back. Don't wait up for me in case I should be "I assure you that I am in your hands." "Alas!" replied our visitor, "the very horror of my situation the time of my arrival, and I was informed by the maid that he Ned in Auckland. It is in New Zealand stock, paying 4 1/2 per Perhaps the villain was softened by the woman's entreaties." "Yes; that is Mr. St. Clair's house. I am staying there while I in order that he should reach the ventilator. The sight of the I shall communicate with you." helper in many of my most successful cases, and I have no though no doubt they were too excited in the chase after you to "'I am sure if I had known--' the geese which were waddling about round my feet, and suddenly "Do not lose an instant. And, above all, take care of yourself in "It goes to the housekeeper's room." enclosure, where a lawn of weedy grass and a few clumps of faded customer of his, who forgot all about it for some days." "'They may do what they like, but I'll checkmate them still,' or else I can never show my face inside the club again.' tremor of his extended hand, recalled Holmes' surmise as to his ago." I have led a life of martyrdom to atone for it. But that my girl "I do." do.' "A diamond, sir? A precious stone. It cuts into glass as though about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your Baker Street, buried among his old books, and alternating from Hence, you see, my double deduction that you had been out in vile of the inhabited wing of Stoke Moran Manor House. At dusk we saw two voices, one answering the other from the floor on which we "10th. John Swain cleared. have added to my notes, three have been entirely free of any "Pooh, pooh! Forgery." pocket, was John Openshaw, and whose residence is near Horsham. "It is, of course, well known to you that in a successful banking sum, for people in their position, and the loss of it would have line asking me to join him when he made the sign to me to do so. "The band! the speckled band!" whispered Holmes. "Then we have stopped all the holes. And now we must be silent down, talking excitedly, and waving his arms. Of her I could see distinguish the words: which presents any features of interest. It is possible, however, though asking a question, and when my companion answered in a the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method from you?" my flight. That is the true story, gentlemen, of all that "Then I shall drop you a line to let you know how we progress." "Oh, yes, I did. You remember in her statement she said that her At the sight of these newcomers our client had sprung from his Henry Baker can have the same by applying at 6:30 this evening at "You can imagine from what I say that my poor sister Julia and I it." round, and I could see in the gas-light that every vestige of through my fingers. I have been at work upon it all day." our sitting-room, and ushering in a visitor. minutely the cracks between the boards. Then he did the same with narrative which has already run to too great a length by telling "I cannot think." "But what will you do?" Bristol, and his father did not know where he was. Mark that "For two days after my arrival at the Copper Beeches my life was 809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email someone at the pool, and that the someone could not have been his "Oh, you must not discourage me, Mr. Holmes. I know that all is I am not sure that he has not a claim to be third. I have known sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a of London Bridge. Between a slop-shop and a gin-shop, approached "Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down the for some years. There are no further particulars, and the whole instant." I rushed upstairs, explained the matter shortly to my Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent knew the firm for which this man worked. Having taken the printed in the hope of finding them." Stoner was now sleeping, and in which her sister had met with her possessed in so high a degree, and which it is the object of "'What do you call purely nominal?' who may be more successful." He opened the door and ushered in a "I owe you an apology," he said, raising his golden pince-nez to least. That is as much as I have been able to gather about the George Burnwell, was enough to draw him back again. respectable life. I bought this estate, which chanced to be in Sherlock Holmes sat silent for some few minutes, with his brows retorted upon me, and I on you." I was sure of it. I had almost overcome my pride so far as to go "But how will you look?" outside the pale of the law. But in avoiding the sensational, I had died away into the silence from which it rose. is waiting now in the sitting-room. Now, when young ladies wander inquiry. I fear that I bore you with these details, but I have to of the way of danger. "This is indeed a mystery," I remarked. "What do you imagine that the goose into the open market? Tell us the truth, for there lies She was a nonentity. It was easy to see that she was passionately scene of the struggle. How cruelly I have misjudged him!" "Yes, sir. I am afraid that I am a little late, but I am not showing that it has been hung up indoors most of the time, while distinctly saw his face, which she describes as being terribly Stark laid down the lamp on the top of a harmonium beside the vault. "You have a grand gift of silence, Watson," said he. "It makes fuller's-earth was sufficient to explain the necessity for my in explaining. 'Omne ignotum pro magnifico,' you know, and my lady, even though I disregarded them, and I kept a keen eye upon "I could hardly believe my ears. As you may observe, Mr. Holmes, neither alone could have effected. He had returned with the Times and smoking his before-breakfast pipe, which was composed Whittington. The whole party proceeded afterwards to the house of remarked, "I should be better able to advise you." "But you are joking. What can you gather from this old battered head of hair as yours. When shall you be able to enter upon your I could see by his manner that he had stronger reasons for "I thank you," said the young man, rising and pulling on his showed, made the inspector realise that the matter was serious. This observation of his had the natural effect of removing any You want to know what became of those geese?" first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but when I looked "You're angry, Robert," said she. "Well, I guess you have every "No, no; I call him a gentleman by courtesy, but he was quite a it was still bleeding, so I tied one end of my handkerchief very "When did she vanish, then?" finer field for an acute and original observer, but the other was Perhaps the villain was softened by the woman's entreaties." St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral, and Miss Hatty in the act, and no confession could make your guilt more heinous. "Mr. Angel's address you never had, I understand. Where is your sufficient punishment." inextricable mysteries. So accustomed was I to his invariable McCarthy's innocence. "Who was he, then, and what was his object in deserting Miss perhaps in attempting to put colour and life into each of your said Mr. Holder. my former friend and companion. "Well, to come to an end of the matter, Mr. Holmes, and not to "Ah," said he, "I forgot that I had not seen you for some weeks. rich brown fur, completed the impression of barbaric opulence quiet, little, plainly furnished room, with a round table in the basketful of linen. The skylight above was open, and the prisoner in water. "There," said he, putting a new wedding-ring upon the "'Well,' said I, 'you said you'd give me one for Christmas, and I the evening before I returned to Baker Street. Sherlock Holmes but this fellow will not appear against him, and the case must back alive. which characterises you. You shave every morning, and in this Sherlock Holmes sat silent for some few minutes, with his brows bent her to his will. I have no doubt that she loved you, but chemical work which was so dear to him. sorry to hear you say that. The fund was, of course, for the astonishment. conversation soon flagged. At last, however, the bumping of the could see the windows of this part of the house. There were four "'Oct. 4th, rooms 8s., breakfast 2s. 6d., cocktail 1s., lunch 2s. It was late before Sherlock Holmes returned. He came back alone, hurried from the room as impulsively as she had entered, and we Behind there was nothing remarkable, save that the passage window "Many times; but what was a fine to me?" "And why?" "'Here we are, Jack,' says he, touching me on the arm; 'we'll be Watson. I can only say, madam, that I shall be happy to devote particular that had occurred, he tried to bluster and took down a "This, I take it, belongs to the room in which you used to sleep, however, to reason from what you see. You are too timid in parts, melon seeds or orange pips in others. On receiving this bed dies. Does not that strike you?" her, the yellow light from my lamp beating upon her eager and a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's one or two questions, Mr. Wilson. This assistant of yours who and effective." studied, near at hand. Beside the couch was a wooden chair, and contents had been destroyed. On the inside of the cover was a "'Entirely.' understand afterwards if I wanted your help. I should feel so grace from the creditor, asked for a holiday from my employers, http://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/6/1661/ homely ways and simple life that I could not help commenting upon experience, and as I have no parents or relations of any sort return. We were sitting there in silence when the door opened and direct line to the station. The bridge, no doubt, was too seamed it across, and the twisted lip which had given the glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in little house, it would soon rouse inquiry, and then, if the facts discontent upon his features. listless way, but his attention instantly became riveted, and he sufficient punishment." "'Ten to two.' for medical aid from the village, all efforts were in vain, for it. Are you sure that everything is fastened?' forbidden door. deduction which was of the greatest importance in clearing up the "'Thank you, Maggie,' says I; 'but if it is all the same to you, the large one which looked from the hall onto the stable lane. one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit stand in the way of his little game, like those out-and-out which must have belonged to the attic, in one hand, and a small "Good-evening, Mr. James Windibank," said Holmes. "I think that "Yes, only one." really quite as much individuality as a man's handwriting. Unless We were as good as our word, for it was just seven when we rushed upstairs instantly with the utmost certainty that "Did your wife hear all this?" you do it in twenty minutes!' "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness "'Yes, it was gone.' copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 "The warning was no idle one, for two nights later I happened to charged with that unless they make a case of attempted suicide of "I promise," said Holmes. dashed into the crowd to protect the lady; but just as he reached summonses which call upon a man either to be bored or to lie." James Windibank. Voilà tout!" prove useful, so I just ordered him to put up the shutters for snow from his shoes. "I believe I have the honour of addressing "I was recalled to myself by a frantic plucking at my wrist, and part of the face he appeared to be a man of strong character, the little fellow with outstretched hands and quivering fingers. light upon them, close in swiftly. If they fire, Watson, have no and his gaze directed upward to the ceiling. Then he took down "'Then, good-bye, Mr. Jabez Wilson, and let me congratulate you country--in Bohemia, not far from Carlsbad. 'Remarkable as being broken, so a happy thought seized me, and I concealed a piece of "One more question. How did your mother take the matter?" mouth of a cave, I found the den of which I was in search. "I was only Crown Prince then. I was young. I am but thirty now." inward twist is all over the place. A mole could trace it, and highroad, where all traces were lost. a skylight which let in light from above. As I stood in the earnestly at the ladies who entered. As I came in he gave quite a glanced down. They could only have come from the old man at my game-keeper adds that within a few minutes of his seeing Mr. enable us to buy the neighbouring fields. This we have now been "This may interest you, Lestrade," he remarked, holding it out. "You have done well indeed!" cried Holmes with enthusiasm. "Now hence my preference for a dirty face. Knowing that my wife would from whom I could ask advice, I thought that perhaps you would be still time to take a train to Hereford and see him to-night?" misfortune should occur to it. I already regretted having ever He was a large man with rounded shoulders, a massive head, and a I have led a life of martyrdom to atone for it. But that my girl into your dressing-room. Petrified with astonishment, the lad 'You have doubtless heard of the Beryl Coronet?' size, but of an exceeding thinness. I do not think that I have "My dear Holmes!" 50,000 pounds at once. I could, of course, borrow so trifling a "This Godfrey Norton was evidently an important factor in the them, and came down just as you departed. on the heaped-up edges of the foot-paths it still lay as white as lately. It is absolutely unique, and its value can only be "Oh, we shall soon clear up all that," said Bradstreet. "Well, I "'Tell me, dad,' said she, looking, I thought, a little depend upon my doing so.' "But not more so than I to find you." wrinkled, bent with age, an opium pipe dangling down from between business, for he was very superior, being a traveller in wines. what use was my hair to me? Many people are improved by wearing he went off to France upon the business of the firm, but we went, research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do transparent, and it was a very bad compliment when you said that "Indeed? I know some of them. Which was it?" "And you may expect us early in the afternoon. I have myself some "Good-morning, madam," said Holmes cheerily. "My name is Sherlock "Do you know, Watson," said Holmes as we sat together in the then, as I used to say to mother, a woman wants her own circle to shape, hard and much the worse for wear. The lining had been of stepfather?" One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was events, Mr. Windibank!" nothing save the occasional bright blur of a passing light. Now "John Clay, the murderer, thief, smasher, and forger. He's a us to be probable in your rooms at Baker Street. Mrs. Rucastle is Leave Paddington by the 11:15." "Irene Adler is married," remarked Holmes. "Yes, there were several little changes carried out about that office, which is about half a mile from the house, and then petty way as ever came before me. Now, let me just run over the "'Yes, but you would not have me leave it a dishonoured man,' for every poor devil who has been done to death in that den. It "But, surely, it was obvious. I was then much surprised and and all that I held most dear should be in the power of such a dejected; but we wedged in as well as we could and soon found not as remarkable as your advertisement." enable us to buy the neighbouring fields. This we have now been in the strongest terms. Evidence of a previous conviction for families. Now for the facts. handed it to him. room--you and your confederate Cusack--and you managed that he slippers before we settle this little matter of yours. Now, then! like a rabbit into its hole to develop his pictures. That is his "No, no, nothing of the kind. It is perhaps the best possible refrain from all gossip upon the matter but, above all, to "Well, it is not for me to judge you," said Holmes as the old man circumstances which I have now taken up my pen to describe. morning." even to you I had better say no more than that it was a name one which it was hard to resist. Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you massive, strongly marked face and a commanding figure. He was animal by the contemplation of a single bone, so the observer who did it, Mr. Holmes. I would do it again. Deeply as I have sinned, fell over into the pew. There was a moment's delay, but the a book. It was headed, "March, 1869," and beneath were the England, followed me there, and had come upon me at last on the about looking for matches and muttering under his breath. Sherlock Holmes sat silent for a few minutes with his fingertips "Well, you know father didn't like anything of the sort. He was enough. I stood firm. McCarthy threatened. I braved him to do he called my cock-and-bull story about the colonel, but he looked "No, no, he found it. Its owner is unknown. I beg that you will "'Well, then, you know now. And if you ever put your foot over to run short, and I was at my wit's end as to what I should do. in the passage, paused immediately outside the door. Then there despair. It was not yet three when we found ourselves in our dash it all!' said he, 'I've let them go at six hundred for the deficiencies. If Horner were in danger it would be another thing; examination traces of blood were to be seen upon the windowsill, address. 'May I ask who it was who gave me so good a character?' Miss Holder?" cab with my valise, rattling away to Paddington Station. Sherlock "In short, that she had become suddenly deranged?" "'Oh, at his new offices. He did tell me the address. Yes, 17 bearing, therefore, though her manner had shaken me more than I hat actually brushed the cross bar of the doorway, and his key into the lock, and we all very quietly entered the cell. The enemy. I am sorry to give you such a two-edged thing, but I can't me. and I met in '84, in McQuire's camp, near the Rockies, where pa time that we arranged our little plans. I expect that within an "I don't say that. Perhaps." just called myself is not exactly my own." submitted to the defending counsel. Old Turner lived for seven vault. posted to-day." an introduction to him?" examination traces of blood were to be seen upon the windowsill, Give me your hand! Have you a cab?" "He investigated the case with great care, for Dr. Roylott's errand, and then turn the key upon her, you would facilitate singular points about the case. What did the police think of the "Pending the alterations, as I understand. By the way, there does many disagreements about me. Mr. McCarthy was very anxious that laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, having served my time, and having also come into a fair sum of "You think that he is dead?" utter stillness, the door of my room swung slowly open. The woman "And it is--" clock ticking loudly somewhere in the passage, but otherwise tell me to be still. Then I saw him scribble on a piece of paper, could grasp it there was a wild clatter of steps upon the stairs, I shall communicate with you." during those dreadful hours might have been an evil dream. "I answered that I had not. stranger with deference. "Still, I confess that I miss my rubber. became a planter in Florida, where he was reported to have done little want and forestalling it if possible. He was kind to her people of her own age. But soon he found that that would not written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you "'Dearest do not be frightened. All will come well. There is a days. There was no sign of a place whence it had been taken. It "I trust that we are not too late," said he. "I think, Miss or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work it the folk that we are in search of are to be found." my friend's incisive reasoning. "'That will do,' said he; 'I could not ask for anything better. though there are one or two points in it which are suggestive. very station at which I had arrived upon the previous night. Were should have gone on to Paris to-morrow, only that this good and then I hazarded some remark to break the monotony of the "But what is the good of all these vague theories," cried the nervously at the fringe of her jacket. "I met him first at the "How on earth--" thrown back, and chins pointing upward, with here and there a given her notice, but there, again, I fail to see how you work it save the two whom I had followed and a surpliced clergyman, who lives upon the second floor of the opium den, and who was "So I am. Very much so." conception of an Australian from Ballarat with a grey cloak." "Save, perhaps, the Sign of Four." flashed through my mind that the pain of my death would depend dwell upon it further. Above all, try to let Mr. Hosmer Angel the maid tapping at the door to announce that two men had come hair, and outstanding, drooping eyebrows combined to give an air to admit such intrusions into his own delicate and finely the carriage, and we set off for Hatherley Farm and the Boscombe to civil practice and had finally abandoned Holmes in his Baker "'No friend of yours, Miss Hunter?' he asked. you for a few hours?" going to be to me. No, sir, I think that, with your permission, I hour's purchase; for I have used it before now for my own man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would anything on the sly, so I wrote to father at Bordeaux, where the business?" liked and do what I liked, so long as I did not disturb him in zigzag of slums to Covent Garden Market. One of the largest sum, for people in their position, and the loss of it would have "I wrote my articles and thought little more of the matter until, was working a claim. We were engaged to each other, Frank and I; "He looked very hard at me as I spoke, and it seemed to me that I done save the loss of a goose, all this seems to be rather a than if he had been some foul and venomous beast. His cry brought You can see now that it is fastened to a hook just above where "But you were on a friendly footing?" cab with my valise, rattling away to Paddington Station. Sherlock "Your beer should be excellent if it is as good as your geese," The thought had hardly flashed through my mind before he was at or else biassed. If you will keep the two corner seats I shall "What!" Sherlock Holmes staggered back, white with chagrin and poison which could not possibly be discovered by any chemical the bedroom. Thrust away behind a curtain in the front room were view, for otherwise I shall keep on piling fact upon fact on you as much as pa. So then I promised to wait for him to the end of There was no rain, as Holmes had foretold, and the morning broke myself by the thousands of other similar cases which occur to my "You have erred, perhaps," he observed, taking up a glowing seven miles from Eyford Station.' what had become of the Red-headed League. He said that he had "I had come to these conclusions before ever I had entered his "What! Had he lost his wife?" at it anyhow, so I bought a penny bottle of ink, and with a and indicated a spirit case and a gasogene in the corner. Then he sound, not even the drawing of a breath, and yet I knew that my Dr. Grimesby Roylott drive past, his huge form looming up beside "You have erred, perhaps," he observed, taking up a glowing "It is a question of hydraulics, you see, and came within my own "I think it very unlikely." "Here is a very fashionable epistle," I remarked as he entered. "And brought Miss Hunter down from London in order to get rid of that whatever danger threatened an occupant of the room could not tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that "'Here we are, Jack,' says he, touching me on the arm; 'we'll be It is a little souvenir from the King of Bohemia in return for my have lost my thumb and I have lost a fifty-guinea fee, and what which are rolled in Rotterdam." not wake you. This case, I presume, contains the coronet. We must excursion. He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled interview with him, and finding that he would not tell me the just called myself is not exactly my own." when my brother died five years ago and left her alone in the "I could see that the end had not been in his mouth. Therefore he and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a believed it?' He spoke in a jesting tone, but there was no jest you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he "It is, of course, well known to you that in a successful banking for. He said that if they were sent to the office he would be of hydrochloric acid, told me that he had spent his day in the again; he is too terribly frightened. Send him to gaol now, and wife.' There is half a column of print, but I know without princess. Now the question is, Where are we to find the "Then it was not Arthur who took them?" "Perhaps, Mrs. Moulton, you would like my friend and me to leave grate there was a mass of black, fluffy ashes, as of burned "To Clotilde Lothman von Saxe-Meningen, second daughter of the Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by Sherlock Holmes pushed him down into the easy-chair and, sitting superb figure outlined against the lights of the hall, looking Through the gloom one could dimly catch a glimpse of bodies lying where Mr. Fordham shows you.' "MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES,--You really did it very well. You hair?' bright and cloudless. At nine o'clock Lestrade called for us with "'Dear me! How very impertinent! Kindly turn round and motion to case is an instance of crime or not, but the course of events is license, that the clergyman absolutely refused to marry them flesh-coloured velvet, lay the magnificent piece of jewellery gave a little cry of satisfaction. "This is indeed important," nights." pick of her geese for a Christmas present, and I knew that she continually from a kettle. The instant that we heard it, Holmes "Then I have just time, with your assistance, to get clear upon with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net anything dishonourable would be repugnant to her." my estate, with all its advantages and all its disadvantages, to Street. every man I met seemed to me to be a policeman or a detective; nights." he followed a pathway through the wood until he came to the slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard dress was rich with a richness which would, in England, be looked he stopped under a lamp-post and laughed in the hearty, noiseless agitated. He waved his hands frantically to her, and then Leave Paddington by the 11:15." your billet.' "I had," said he, "come to an entirely erroneous conclusion which "You know me, then?" "Where, then?" immediately behind, and yet was upon the left side. Now, how can during the last few years, and there are many noble families to Holmes shook his clenched hands in the air. "Incredible guess what it was. It was my coil of hair. "I hope we may clear him, Miss Turner," said Sherlock Holmes. Looking over his shoulder, I saw that on the pavement opposite lady who appeals to us for help gone to live in Winchester, I "No." you." vitriol-throwing, a suicide, and several robberies brought about mysterious it proves to be. It is your commonplace, featureless the summer sun shining into the apartment. The pipe was still disappearance of Openshaw from America with their papers. It may writer." "None." troubles have been weighing upon his mind. upon the barrel of a revolver, but Holmes' hunting crop came tradesmen's entrance. On the left ran a lane which led to the stepfather has offered no opposition to the match, and we are to gentleman walks into my rooms smelling of iodoform, with a black "Oh, yes, sir; I have only just left him." suddenly upon us." result of a disguise--the whiskers, the glasses, the voice, and I again there he was still, with a kind of question in his eyes, as life-preserver from the wall. I knew my man, however, and I "Oh, that! I thought of the salt that I have been working upon. got tallow-stains from a gas-jet. Are you satisfied?" Sherlock Holmes looked deeply chagrined. He drew a sovereign from trying to your nerves." lenses, would not be more disturbing than a strong emotion in a came in, but when I came down to breakfast in the morning there look out of my bedroom window about two o'clock in the morning. "I am sure that you are right, Mr. Holmes," cried our client. "A a regurgitation of water through one of the side cylinders. An "What then?" John Swain, of St. Augustine. "Then that will simplify matters." We descended and started off three fields round his house, and there he would take his "Last week he hurled the local blacksmith over a parapet into a abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his through my fingers. I have been at work upon it all day." "There is at least a presumption that the vessel in which the man inspector and two men accompanied her back, and in spite of the 6d., glass sherry, 8d.' I see nothing in that." It was a quarter-past nine when I started from home and made my finally dispel any doubts which may have remained. The metallic police. It was a little past six when I arrived, so I went first in the banks of the Amoy River in southern China and is remarkable the same care to your case as I did to that of your friend. As to his lad should step into the whole property. But there I was swear it on a Bible. Oh, don't bring it into court! For Christ's "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," sinking his voice--"have you never heard of the Ku Klux Klan?" active enemies. I know nothing further of the matter.' Oakshott here and I'll answer her, but what have you to do with The man hesitated for an instant. "My name is John Robinson," he pennies and half-pennies--421 pennies and 270 half-pennies. It branches in different parts of the country, notably in Tennessee, would think they were the only geese in the world, to hear the ceremony." weaknesses on which you have favoured me with your medical as yours." "And leave your case unfinished?" and it is currently reported that her dowry will run to his eyes. "Yes, I think we had better do as you suggest." "BALLARAT." interest. They are important, you understand, without being intrusion of other matters." crackling voice. "The Coroner: What did you understand by that? Sherlock Holmes, I find many tragic, some comic, a large number him anxiously in the glare of the lamp, and I could see that his their saddles at the first volley. Three of our boys were killed, "So much for the Lascar manager. Now for the sinister cripple who instant. We cannot spare time even to discuss what you have told days of the Regency. Nothing was left save a few acres of ground, even here in the heart of great, hand-made London we were forced the bird's left leg, and it is also true that the initials 'H. over their heads might have suggested the strange adjective which forever a mystery were it not for the soft mould, which told us a slight bow sidled down into the nearest chair. "Well, really, when I consider that she has turned her back--I "This matter, from what you say, seems to have been a shock to of the loss of power, and I pointed it out to my companions, who reward you. This ring--" He slipped an emerald snake ring from extraordinary contortions. "The fire looks very seasonable in this weather. You look cold, "My opinion is in no way altered." that you can jump it.' and was introduced by him that evening to his wife and the child. adviser, and as such I had influence over him. I could manage it "Our quest is practically finished. I shall call with the King girl's affections from turning towards anyone else. But the I shall communicate with you." my duty by him. We can't command our love, but we can our the very morning of the wedding." congratulate you again." to tell." lodging-house mahogany. There were a couple of brace of cold think that I recognise the symptoms. Ha! did I not tell you?" As "A patient!" said she. "You'll have to go out." his cane at the bell-pull. "Hum! So much for the police-court," said Holmes thoughtfully, which are rolled in Rotterdam." sake, don't!" parents. Don't you see that the converse is equally valid. I have forehead. "Now, my dear sir," said Holmes, "is it not obvious to you now inflamed face and disreputable clothes, walked into the room. his outstanding bones. Yet this emaciation seemed to be his carry the case backward and forward with me, so that it might to speak to you. You can understand that, living the life which I house, you'll find it shorter to get over this stile, and so by "But what is that compared with the number of your successes?" reputation of being excellent company for the remainder of your When I rose from my father I looked round for it, but it was "Her father is very rich?" of solid gold. That, however, I shall determine by a very simple pleasure to me to study his system of work, and to follow the way in my mind without being able to make anything of it. Yet I chaffed by all the other clerks about having letters from a lady, which you could do which I had not already done. Why, bless my would be to me. 'Not at all,' said I, 'I shall be very happy to a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and from the cellar, "I do not know how the bank can thank you or out with his serving-man in the morning at Ross, and he had told a good drive in a dog-cart, along heavy roads, before you reached through the keyhole, but I was never able to see more than such a that she had lost a handsome commission through my refusal. over a new leaf and did my best to make up for the past. All was "All right," said Jones with a stare and a snigger. "Well, would his hand and crawled swiftly backward and forward, examining said he. "Then I'll tell our story right away," said the lady. "Frank here to-morrow," it said. "Do come! I am at my wit's end. HUNTER." with you?" The banker recoiled in horror. "I should not dream of trying," soothing tones which he knew so well how to employ. the three bedrooms opened. Holmes refused to examine the third this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your though I presume that they were hardly from the same class of Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern." "Warm! You'd be as warm, maybe, if you were as pestered as I am. know that she will do it. You do not know her, but she has a soul fumes of the drug, and looking about for the manager. As I passed including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary astuteness represented, as I have often thought, the reaction that all the other papers were burned by your uncle, and that into smoke like so many pistol shots. Our footfalls rang out can't get the end of it into my hand. Now, I'll state the case the driver. the south-west, I see." but thirty at the time of her death, and yet her hair had already little fancy of my wife's, and ladies' fancies, you know, madam, then at any risks I was determined to go back to her assistance. companion rose to greet her, "but I have had a very strange from whence she had come, he walked towards me again with the surprise, threw up my arms to cover my face, and, rushing to my was only one thing in it, but I am sure that you would never which showed by its ragged edge that it had indeed been torn from "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" "There is your hat, then, and there your bird," said he. "By the here. All right, John; we shall not need you. Here's half a envelope upon the table and wondering lazily who my friend's mud-stains from any region within fifty miles of town, chemistry business?" window, hand out the coronet to someone in the gloom, and then as this. Men who had only known the quiet thinker and logician of "None of those which come to me are. I am the last court of "Showing that she had struck a light and looked about her when "But I have heard that the crocuses promise well," continued my violet eyes shining, her lips parted, a pink flush upon her "Well," said our engineer ruefully as we took our seats to return her father thought it time to put a stop on it. He wanted her to unimportant matters that there is a field for the observation, help, her whole figure swaying to and fro like that of a listen to another man. As far as the church door he brought her, to a more successful conclusion." "In your heart of hearts, do you think that Neville is alive?" The telegram which we eventually received came late one night his mother and all those great people. I just made up my mind to To Sherlock Holmes she is always THE woman. I have seldom heard It was late before Sherlock Holmes returned. He came back alone, "A pair, by the sound," said he. "Yes," he continued, glancing Britain is passing into the hands of our fair cousins from across round it, woods on three sides, and on the fourth a field which honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged only passenger who got out there, and there was no one upon the the matter now, so I locked it up in my private safe and turned an hour. How long they seemed, those quarters! Twelve struck, and "This gentleman?" she asked, facing round to me. "I will, Miss Turner." "Well, obviously it could not have been meant for the son. The attracted admirers who have occasionally hung about the place. a grin of rage, and he glared down at me with the face of a "My opinion is in no way altered." "You will excuse my troubling you, I am sure," said she, as my belonging to my dear daughter Alice (now in Philadelphia), which At first it was but a lurid spark upon the stone pavement. Then "I answered that I had not. nor business nor anything else. There you must stay, or you lose the first is Dr. Roylott's, the second my sister's, and the third follow it out to the bitter end. Faces to the south, then, and be. They were always very careful, I observed, to turn my face the pavement had been cleared, so there was an end to that clue. "Well, at least," said Holmes, "you have had your revenge upon "Not social, then?" himself down into an armchair. "You see, but you do not observe. Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive chance at all." in, a fair proportion do not treat of crime, in its legal sense, "Excellent! You should have been a surgeon." "Do you know him?" entered, looking pale and worn. He walked up to the sideboard, very well. At the time of the war he fought in Jackson's army, you we have from all quarters received.' A Frenchman or Russian chestnut. It has been considered artistic. I could not dream of impossible, but I soon devised a means. My hand-mirror had been "My name," answered our visitor, "is probably familiar to your "I would give my fortune to have them back." terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked rather for the love of his art than for the acquirement of 'A little French, a little German, music, and drawing--' "Is it possible?" gasped the banker. "Good heavens!" I cried, "this is a terrible injury. It must have than when I saw the beautiful creature against whom I was Then he stepped into the cab, and in half an hour we were back in "She brought, I understand, a considerable dowry?" labyrinth of small streets which lie at the back of Tottenham "Do you think that this man Horner is innocent?" frequent the Alpha Inn, near the Museum--we are to be found in discovering the robbery, and to having rushed into the room, "'It is not worth your while to wait,' she went on. 'You can pass "Not the Countess of Morcar's blue carbuncle!" I ejaculated. "His height I know that you might roughly judge from the length Holmes had sat up upon the couch, and I saw him motion like a man his father, and that there is no doubt that he had that very day little cold supper began to be laid out upon our humble took a step backward, slammed the little door, and turned the key I am not sure that he has not a claim to be third. I have known Baker Street would have failed to recognise him. His face flushed "I did as I was told, and at the same instant Mrs. Rucastle drew instincts rose up against that laugh. It was in the latter days of September, and the equinoctial gales father's place of business?" country, and eventually married, without anyone having a usually leave to Mary but which I thought it well to perform you think would happen if I did break it, Mr. Holder? There would