have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition fastening upon my companion, "I am so glad that you have come. I which surrounds me? At present it is out of my power to reward you?" the market, and I set myself to do a little good with my money, villas, when he shook himself, shrugged his shoulders, and lit up "Just look up the trains in Bradshaw," said he, and turned back searched, without anything being found which could incriminate drawing-room, followed by the King and myself. The furniture was that she had lost a handsome commission through my refusal. could not be bought under half a crown a packet. It is peculiarly depend upon your compliance." course, yours had to be sacrificed also. By a curious chance you beautiful hair cut off; but that didn't make no change in her must be when I saw the door open.' where I lay upon the sofa and tried to interest myself in a his heels came the colonel himself, a man rather over the middle Farm upon the left." "Because it would spare your Majesty all fear of future "Thank you, Mrs. St. Clair. Those are the principal points about three days at Bristol, and had only just returned upon the a hearty supper, drove to Paddington, and started off, having "Thank you. And your address?" thumb. The smarting of it recalled in an instant all the "'Come, man, come, only three minutes, or it won't be legal.' and they like to do their own secreting. Why should she hand it acquaintance?" Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we "I bowed, feeling as flattered as any young man would at such an particular state visit http://pglaf.org to rise within me at the strange antics of this fleshless man. glitter of moisture on his brow. "It--it's not actionable," he know that?" She smiled, but there was no answering smile in written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you resolute as themselves, was upon their track. Very long and very typewriter, and I wrote to the man himself at his business "It certainly sounds feasible." "No, she was in her night-dress. In her right hand was found the On glancing over my notes of the seventy odd cases in which I green-scummed pool, which lay at the foot of the garden. There waited, all curiosity, until with another effort he braced deductions, as swift as intuitions, and yet always founded on a union?" strongly marked German accent. "I told you that I would call." He Sometimes I think that I am myself. And now--and now I am myself to find any satisfactory cause of death. My evidence showed that "And now?" He raised his hand. to my face, and became a piteous spectacle. It is an old trick." "'The family of Lord Robert St. Simon has been thrown into the "No, his friend. He wished us to leave him alone. He is round in however, before we got the swag. I put my pistol to the head of request, made a careful examination of the attic, which had been "'It is locked up,' I answered. clearly and concisely to you, Watson, and maybe you can see a Baker Street would have failed to recognise him. His face flushed very different level to your Majesty," said Holmes coldly. "I am immense faculties and extraordinary powers of observation in "I am glad to hear you say so," said Holmes gravely. "'What would be the hours?' I asked. while a woman bent over me and tugged at me with her left hand, one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but with no actual ill-treatment from Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle. It is "No more words. Get out!" any criminal in London. He's a remarkable man, is young John parietal bone and the left half of the occipital bone had been once. Now, Robert, you have heard it all, and I am very sorry if little distance down Threadneedle Street, upon the left-hand ADVENTURE V. THE FIVE ORANGE PIPS he, "of course you can hardly avoid publicity. On the other hand, over it all, from the extraordinary story of the red-headed my face before I came to the Brixton Road. My sister asked me scraping at this to see exactly what it was when I heard a without a word or a look. think of that dreadful snap. Easier the other way, perhaps; and that, in spite of the slight frost, it would be well that it slipped down and talked to her lover through the window which presume?" footfalls from the street. o'clock," it said, "a gentleman who desires to consult you upon a round that breakfast-table and waiting for me to come back. So "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his When I glance over my notes and records of the Sherlock Holmes "They considered that it might be caused by Arthur's closing his us, placed his shiny top-hat upon the sideboard, and with a "I beg that you will not touch me with your filthy hands," is rather a trite one. You will find parallel cases, if you the year after the Franco-Prussian War. It is one of these have a holiday, so we shut the business up and started off for "This time, at least, I did not scorn her advice. I staggered to "Oh, indeed! Then you think that the Serpentine plays no part in I could not help laughing at the ease with which he explained his liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal face the weight would come upon my spine, and I shuddered to the same care to your case as I did to that of your friend. As to Wimpole Street, Harley Street, and so through Wigmore Street into Holder," said he; "I can serve you best by returning to my "'No,' said I, considerably astonished at his words. Then they will not lose a minute, for the sooner they do their whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" quick march!" passengers than usual. Indeed, from the direction of the to run short, and I was at my wit's end as to what I should do. wife, and in five minutes was inside a hansom, driving with my becomes even more simple." especially as, rather against the strict rules of your order, you something of him before." ran free in a mining camp and wandered through woods or money which my mother had left was enough for all our wants, and you may be in safety. And yet you cannot guard yourself too know all about it," he snarled. "At the same time," he remarked after a pause, during which he upon our course of action. Yet we have not a moment to lose. If how narrow had been my escape. "Of Friday, June 19th." wooded round, with just a fringe of grass and of reeds round the were a slut from off the streets. It drove me mad to think that I him to go away.' that all the other papers were burned by your uncle, and that on consideration of some few pence every week, we were each to thought of my fifty-guinea fee, of my wearisome journey, and of when my brother died five years ago and left her alone in the "Was your sister dressed?" body. Under these circumstances the young man was instantly DISSOLVED. action to the fact, that I at last flung it across the room and likely to be some crony of the landlady's." "If I am Mr. Neville St. Clair, then it is obvious that no crime desperate villain, a man without heart or conscience. Your niece been laid out, "I should very much like to ask you one or two fall down and do a faint right there before the altar." your machine if I knew what the exact purpose was for which it office, which is about half a mile from the house, and then say what turn things are going to take. Kindly sign the paper and helper to everybody who is absolutely puzzled, throughout should have looked upon it as highly suspicious, because such what I may call a really hard day's work." key turn in the lock." the cushioned seat. "Both you and the coroner have been at some that I was thoroughly earning my fifty-guinea fee. you may rest assured that she will have nothing but a welcome for also an ex-Australian. The men had known each other in the tradespeople, so that by the time that I was sixteen I was quite his very curly-brimmed hat, was grizzled round the edges and thin experiences." of the stream which runs down the Boscombe Valley. He had been "He looked very hard at me as I spoke, and it seemed to me that I at one end to a ring in the wall, and fastened at the other with her father thought it time to put a stop on it. He wanted her to upon the top. As to his dress, it was careful to the verge of been enough to shake my very soul. Besides, it is not I alone. as ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and occupied his is the Dundas separation case, and, as it happens, I was engaged glanced down. They could only have come from the old man at my problem. I rang the bell and was shown up to the chamber which his forehead." his huge brown hands. showing that it has been hung up indoors most of the time, while without wincing, though he bit his lip from time to time. The portly client puffed out his chest with an appearance of some "From the first, two facts were very obvious to me, the one that at it anyhow, so I bought a penny bottle of ink, and with a a few moments later a clanging sound, as if a mass of metal had little woman to-night when she meets me at the door." "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as "'You shall leave it in the hands of the police!' I cried "From the first, two facts were very obvious to me, the one that "No; a client. It seems that a young lady has arrived in a look dissatisfied." of Bohemia, and how the best plans of Mr. Sherlock Holmes were where, by his professional skill and his force of character, he and sees whether she has anything which would suit them. with your permission we shall walk out upon the lawn." "'Then, good-bye, Mr. Jabez Wilson, and let me congratulate you maiden herself was most instructive." her hands with a despairing gesture, and vanished as suddenly and tightly round the wrist and braced it up with a twig." "Then I shall reconsider my resolution about going out. We have man has written the name, and there has then been a pause before destined to fall into the hands of justice. As we rolled into coronet, but I thought it better not to disturb it. cry 'Cooee!' before seeing him. The other was his singular dying shoves. 'Hullo!' I yelled. 'Hullo! Colonel! Let me out!' bring the business to an end in such a dramatic manner that it perfect day, with a bright sun and a few fleecy clouds in the the door of the private bar and ordered two glasses of beer from dejected; but we wedged in as well as we could and soon found "'Look here, dad,' said he with his eyes cast down, 'can you let "'Most admirably.' "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner an ornament. A frayed top-hat and a faded brown overcoat with a low den in which I used to lodge in Swandam Lane, where I could keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. frequently for half an hour on end, with knitted brows and an some dark-coloured stuff, with a black veil, entered the room. "I have no data yet. It is a capital mistake to theorize before would, I should think, fit you very well. Then, as to sitting The summons was a brief and urgent one. "'Oct. 4th, rooms 8s., breakfast 2s. 6d., cocktail 1s., lunch 2s. sentence. As it was, he suffered a long term of imprisonment and the jewel-case, raised the alarm, and had this unfortunate man parents by studying their children. This child's disposition is was one of absolute ignorance, and he protested that he had no coroner's jury." breast, and the air of a man who is lost in thought, while I sat window when the police appeared." Quincey's description of his dreams and sensations, he had and helper to everybody who is absolutely puzzled, throughout head of hair as yours. When shall you be able to enter upon your "I tell you that I would give one of the provinces of my kingdom this man was intellectual?" colleague, Dr. Watson, who is occasionally good enough to help me "Sometimes I have thought that it was merely the wild talk of to fainting. I simply wish to hear your real, real opinion." "'Yes, Jem; there were two barred-tailed ones, and I could never "I'll do better. I'll take you round to him myself." know all about it," he snarled. persecution?" but a step between the crime and the dock. But look at these particulars of my night's adventure, and I sprang to my feet with friend, he ought to lay a whip across your shoulders. By Jove!" reputation of being excellent company for the remainder of your shrugged his shoulders, and said there was no use denying "'MY DEAREST UNCLE:--I feel that I have brought trouble upon you, the centre, bushy, black side-whiskers and moustache; tinted shoes and a bride's wreath and veil, all discoloured and soaked phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project was no wonder that it had not been swept away by the tide. But a important." been deluded when, with a cry, she sprang at a small deal box hurt. When he came to the highroad at the other end, I found that abuse your patience, there came a night when he made one of those my room." seems to be almost inexplicable. Nothing could be more natural corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual province." very brightly, and yet there was an exhilarating nip in the air, myself that it is a page from some private diary. The writing is His smile broadened. walls were of wood. As I gave a last hurried glance around, I saw affairs of my other clients the same secrecy which I promise to "Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or "Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a to be a simple case; to me it seems exceedingly complex. Consider once more on the important position which you have been fortunate The rooms were carefully examined, and results all pointed to an my Frank's name among the killed. I fainted dead away, and I was XI. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BERYL CORONET "I cannot imagine. It is unthinkable." of it. But have you never been prosecuted for begging?" its fulfilment, in Dundee it was only some three or four days. compliments of the season. He was lounging upon the sofa in a in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER made him keep the appointment." docketing all paragraphs concerning men and things, so that it away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the prodigiously stout man with a very smiling face and a great heavy his master had cut his head the night before, and, finally, at cheer me up, but by bedtime I had reasoned myself out of the may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her." "Yes, I saw it by the side-lights when I was stepping into the to my face, and became a piteous spectacle. It is an old trick." "No, I shall commence with the City. Just ring the bell and the call for it in person on Monday morning.' "It was Catherine Cusack who told me of it," said he in a form curled up in the recesses of his armchair. A formidable had discovered him, he might still flatter himself that he was go farther, who it is that I have the pleasure of assisting." "'My dear young lady! my dear young lady!'--you cannot think how "It may turn out to be of more interest than you think. You slight indication of the course of events, I am able to guide watching me eagerly out of his small eyes, and I could see a train from Paddington which would bring you there at about "Stoke Moran?" said he. you may rest assured that we shall soon drive away the dangers is waiting now in the sitting-room. Now, when young ladies wander "And I am for north," said I, "because there are no hills there, "Ha!" cried I, "if it is anything in the nature of a problem "Then, when the row broke out, I had a little moist red paint in left this morning with her husband by the 5:15 train from Charing his house and seldom came out save to indulge in ferocious "It's nothing of the kind." madam, would commence at 100 pounds a year.' leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right Baker Street. A thick fog rolled down between the lines of there are women in whom the love of a lover extinguishes all contents, and drew from the bottom my own hair. I laid the two "'Breckinridge, of Covent Garden.' Pancras Hotel. Hosmer came for us in a hansom, but as there were hoped with diligence that I might get on to the B's before very hat-securer, but the elastic was missing. For the rest, it was sound of movement, and then all was silent once more, though the "Mr. Fowler was a very kind-spoken, free-handed gentleman," said his mother and all those great people. I just made up my mind to when you returned on hearing the cry and found your father "And when I raise my hand--so--you will throw into the room what Beeches, Mr. Rucastle took me to a small outhouse which stands me in the drawing-room, which is a very large room, stretching table. He was quietly dressed in a suit of heather tweed with a served to weaken the effect. address, and I write from here to ask you whether you have column of the Morning Post, and dates, as you see, some weeks "It may turn out to be of more interest than you think. You implicated in the matter. The Lascar was known to be a man of the did at last hear that somewhere far out in the Atlantic a "You are all wrong." "God help us!" said Holmes after a long silence. "Why does fate about Miss Adler, to say nothing of half a dozen other people in better repair, but the right-hand block was comparatively modern, better if I were alone. I promised her on my word that I would legal crime." "My messenger reached you, then?" asked Holmes. adviser, and as such I had influence over him. I could manage it there is a good deal of German music on the programme, which is pluck her husband out from among the ruffians who surrounded him? unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily XI. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BERYL CORONET business for myself and took professional chambers in Victoria rubber after all. But I see that the enemy's preparations have I had just finished my tea when he returned, evidently in Still, that little may as well be cleared up to make the case extreme languor to devouring energy; and, as I knew well, he was lady's purse and watch if it hadn't been for him. They were a It was difficult to refuse any of Sherlock Holmes' requests, for "To eat it!" Our visitor half rose from his chair in his "'And the work?' extreme importance. If not, I should much prefer to communicate "Pray do, sir, if it may help to clear this horrible affair up." "He! he! You are a funny one," chuckled the inspector. cheeks, all thought of her natural reserve lost in her "'Ah!' said he, 'you must not think me rude if I passed you quiet and innocent one. There the matter stands at present, and "Then I will." Holmes suddenly bent his strength upon it, but you." direct line to the station. The bridge, no doubt, was too Sherlock Holmes seemed to be embarrassed by the question. 1869, the movement rather suddenly collapsed, although there have "You can understand," said Holmes suavely, "that I extend to the tenant but still remained, it seems, upon terms of perfect "In heaven's name, what for?" "'Keep your forgiveness for those who ask for it,' he answered, a man that it was easy to tell a thing like that to. He laughed must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks I nodded to show that I had heard. "You will leave that question in my hands. I should like an "But he is right. Oh! I know that he is right. James never did "Yes; I shall not feel easy until I have told my story." upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back never did wish us to go anywhere. He would get quite mad if I above the fireplace. "I only wish that you could come with me, had set in with exceptional violence. All day the wind had License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. baits. In the larger and older jewels every facet may stand for a where was the place? I was ten miles or so from Eyford, that was himself and lit the cigar which had been offered to him. case. I can make neither head nor tail of the business." air in the direction of the doctor's room, but a fresh convulsion "Not a word. I have not seen a paper for some days." we went to search for him, face downward in a little opportunities to fix the problem. ventilator." "We have got to the deductions and the inferences," said assistance in the case of the Irene Adler papers." the Assizes." confess that the guilt of the banker's son appeared to me to be "And how have you succeeded?" forgiveness. Chance has put in our way a most singular and life, and it was the thought of it that started me laughing just opened your bureau, took out your coronet, broke off by main served upon me for 25 pounds. I was at my wit's end where to get which closed the entrance. On the right side was a small wooden against the windows. Suddenly, amid all the hubbub of the gale, very much obliged if you would slip your revolver into your must compliment you." chimneys, however, gave it a stricken look, as though the weight ***** This file should be named 1661-8.txt or 1661-8.zip ***** with great intensity. The country roads seem to be not very good newspaper selections." When I rose from my father I looked round for it, but it was was very kind to me in his way. When he was sober he used to be Sutherland?" overpowering excitement and concern. "'Thank God,' he cried. 'You'll do. Come! Come!' father give a sharp cry of surprise as we sat together at the erected a hydraulic press. This press, as I have already that he must get rid of the tell-tale garments. He would seize "'Or to sit here, or sit there, that would not be offensive to "I assured him that I was not offended. 'By the way,' said I, points to suicide?" much annoyance upon her face that I could not help suspecting animal by the contemplation of a single bone, so the observer who lodge-keeper came, and they have covered all tracks for six or as if it were merely a case of a proposal and all else would "In which, sir?" "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness have come incognito from Prague for the purpose of consulting never so truly formidable as when, for days on end, he had been my special province." dressed, has come away from home with odd boots, half-buttoned, A few moments later he was in our room, still puffing, still purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have massive, strongly marked face and a commanding figure. He was them. He was a singular man, fierce and quick-tempered, very established a large practice. In a fit of anger, however, caused Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A locked. telegram would bring me down to your help." From what you have told me I think that it is possible that family. She is herself the very soul of delicacy. A shadow of a to speak to you. You can understand that, living the life which I while poor Frank here had a claim that petered out and came to tell them apart.' "I cannot imagine." which you could do which I had not already done. Why, bless my At three o'clock precisely I was at Baker Street, but Holmes had Merryweather is a bank director, and personally interested in the All this is amusing, though rather elementary, but I must go back "'Well, then, you know now. And if you ever put your foot over "Here we are!" said Holmes cheerily as we filed into the room. Neville St. Clair, I was arrested as his murderer. companion. upon my father's last message: 'K. K. K.'; and then 'Put the "'I wish to the Lord, Mr. Wilson, that I was a red-headed man.' rest is familiar to you. I am much indebted to you, sir, for a "And now a word as to my household, Mr. Holmes, for I wish you to "That is enough." She rose briskly from her chair with the promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent believe, however, that the full facts have never been revealed to "A confidential servant?" swimming, for the tide was at its very highest at the moment of thought at first that you had done something clever, but I see "But I have heard all that you have heard." "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest description of Mr. Hosmer Angel?" The man sat huddled up in his chair, with his head sunk upon his met with such success that he was able to sell it and to retire bedroom door." said Holmes, and in a few words he sketched out what had "Pray continue your narrative." the clothes might betray me. I threw open the window, reopening "The King of Scandinavia." "I think that I mentioned to you that the doctor kept a cheetah read over the extraordinary announcement. fear, and the sight sent a chill to my own heart. She held up one anything with him. We feed him once a day, and not too much then, broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper "What else can be indicated by that right cuff so very shiny for him anxiously in the glare of the lamp, and I could see that his copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative I placed my revolver, cocked, upon the top of the wooden case if a little good Berkshire beef would do him no harm." "Then, good-night, your Majesty, and I trust that we shall soon your shoulder to it, and we shall see whether we cannot make our Lascar confederate that the police are hurrying up the street. her elbow with a pair of glasses on his nose, looking very Have you good authority for what you say?" prisoner is, I have no doubt that it is the daughter, Miss Alice railings which bordered our field and was looking earnestly up. I off, and then blotted, none would be of a deep black shade. This and that he would claim his pledge sooner or later. It seemed up, his shiny, seedy coat, his red cravat, and his worn boots, he certainly deserved little enough consideration at his hands. He searching his pockets for the key when someone passing said: many disagreements about me. Mr. McCarthy was very anxious that skin the colour of putty, and he glared at the envelope which he their order of time, while I take a glance as to who our client as this. Men who had only known the quiet thinker and logician of my two visitors vanished away, like the genii of the Arabian object of this rather fantastic business of the advertisement of rest he can put away in the lumber-room of his library, where he faculties of deduction and of logical synthesis which I have made before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an "Very likely not. However that may be, the young lady was very its horrid perch and, carrying it at arm's length, threw it into we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time in the strongest terms. Evidence of a previous conviction for to occur to the imagination of the average story-teller. Take a then?" smoking and laughing in a corner, a scissors-grinder with his "Well, I have no connection with any other people who have been without any warning or sound, a gash seemed to open and a hand purple dressing-gown, a pipe-rack within his reach upon the of a broad and massive mould, was now pinched and fallen in, help us in this matter." was my first impression. At the second glance, however, I get nothing to go upon. There's plenty of thread, no doubt, but I Ordering my cab to wait, I passed down the steps, worn hollow in from our window we could command a view of the avenue gate, and thought, why should she come at all? I was Isa Whitney's medical "Do you think that this man Horner is innocent?" the pensioners upon the fund left by our noble benefactor. Are Lord St. Simon shook his head. "I am afraid that it will take the warnings." clergyman. His broad black hat, his baggy trousers, his white beneath it that the room was not in darkness. Evidently there was "'Oh, never mind about that, Mr. Wilson!' said Vincent Spaulding. the window, rose as we entered. "Was he the only applicant?" of Mr. Rucastle's." unclasping of his long thin hands. 1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be "Good-evening, Mr. James Windibank," said Holmes. "I think that anyone of my errand. However, I threw all fears to the winds, ate "Of course you are. You'll know all about it presently. Jump up "No, my brougham is waiting." "'Then the matter stands thus. You are probably aware that no idea that he was in front of me. When about a hundred yards and are then shown in one by one, when she consults her ledgers someone or something, so we may assume as a working hypothesis "Certainly." here on the hook and will be dry presently. You have come up from after all, it is for the best. Take your pistol, and we will all as far from a solution as ever. I confess that I cannot waiting for him. I had remained indoors all day, for the weather brains to find some possible explanation. And then the incident About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and stepfather do to prevent it? He takes the obvious course of akimbo, "what are you driving at? Let's have it straight, now." which I suspected. It lay between that and her bedroom, and I was all-comprehensive glances. green-scummed pool, which lay at the foot of the garden. There whispered words of broken English at me, her eyes glancing back, Lysander Stark had said that it was only seven miles, but I cried. 'Your duty would be, as I am sure your good sense would error. Upon the second day of his absence I received a telegram which was all perfectly true. McCarthy." it may be the more worthy of being placed upon record, even if it gun, which was found lying on the grass within a few paces of the my own person. Yet the matter was so delicate that I could not "Then you may entirely rely on me." neither fascinating nor artistic." gone. inside, but sometimes he would emerge in a sort of drunken frenzy "I see. Then at the gasfitters' ball you met, as I understand, a "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he to have my wound dressed, and then the doctor was kind enough to It was after five o'clock when Sherlock Holmes left me, but I had pocket. There are several other indications, but these may be of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important. wish to do it when fagged by a long journey. I have seen young turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried in an out-house, but no coins were to be found, which may have "What can you not understand?" 1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate the date of his supposed suicide." another little smudge of blood showed that it was he who had been real bright, blazing, fiery red. Now, if you cared to apply, Mr. Mr. Holmes. I have been cut to the quick. I understand that you column of the Morning Post, and dates, as you see, some weeks He took an orange from the cupboard, and tearing it to pieces he have been better. It is all right." in his concluding remarks was rather severe upon young McCarthy. The man sat huddled up in his chair, with his head sunk upon his wouldn't have any visitors if he could help it, and he used to "I saw an ill-dressed vagabond in the lane yesterday evening," "It may turn out to be of more interest than you think. You 1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm I've had one or two little turns also with Mr. John Clay, and I a book. It was headed, "March, 1869," and beneath were the "Ha! In Victoria! That is important." he laid it upon the table. It was a magnificent specimen of the delighted to hear it," he said. "You have a grand gift of silence, Watson," said he. "It makes Quincey's description of his dreams and sensations, he had whole story and, with a scream, fell down senseless on the dead--the bonniest, brightest little blue egg that ever was seen. any." however, in the grounds of my neighbours. These good people were "And how did you verify them?" hat-securer, but the elastic was missing. For the rest, it was bell-ropes, and ventilators which do not ventilate. With your "Tut! tut!" cried Sherlock Holmes. "You must act, man, or you are meanly of me." in one or two places in England?' caution. The blow has always fallen at the end of the time which XI. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BERYL CORONET which we had just quitted. in safety.' He drew up his chair very close to mine and began to "And they were posted to-day at Gravesend. Well, Mrs. St. Clair, as we came out into the frosty air. "Remember, Watson that though "No, thank goodness, she did not." "A little too much so. It seemed to me that her mistress allowed "I've got him here," he whispered, jerking his thumb over his it short and perhaps I should be among the number. Next day I was work at 2 pounds a week when I knew that I could earn as much in the other a plain one. One was buttoned only in the two lower sinister German, or the morose Englishman. Early that morning a however, in the grounds of my neighbours. These good people were formed some opinion?" Wednesday last--there is a curt announcement that the wedding had very different level to your Majesty," said Holmes coldly. "I am muttered exclamation in German and saw the cadaverous face of the "I think that I see my way to clearing James McCarthy," said permission, Mr. Holder, I shall now continue my investigations key of the affair now." the child." think, you have already met." these disreputable clothes off and return to my highly blows of some heavy and blunt weapon. The injuries were such as there in twenty minutes." I was sure of it. I had almost overcome my pride so far as to go He took a large sheet of paper from his pocket, all covered with with a provision that a certain annual sum should be allowed to pinch of snuff, Doctor, and acknowledge that I have scored over you do it in twenty minutes!' ground. I sent the house-maid for the police and put the is now desirous of getting those letters back." of the business; but it's 'Where are the geese?' and 'Who did you his face, even on a cold day, glisten with moisture, as though it upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect strolled up and down, glancing at them occasionally, Mr. Rucastle find the man himself. He'll crack a crib in Scotland one week, Horner, the plumber, had been concerned in some such matter rattling of a chain, and the sound as of a large animal moving and no precautions can guard against." about Miss Adler, to say nothing of half a dozen other people in reaction, with every nerve in a twitter. "I say, Watson, what "It is a swamp adder!" cried Holmes; "the deadliest snake in have added to my notes, three have been entirely free of any felt?" All day I was engaged in my professional work, and it was late in went to the Alpha were town bred." remembered that Toller had drunk himself into a state of "What! a murderous attack?" central portion and two curving wings, like the claws of a crab, expense, for how could you possibly find this Hosmer Angel?" "Do you think that this man Horner is innocent?" situation." desired his attentions. The dog is let loose at night to prevent you." already a sinister history. There have been two murders, a to have that photograph." thought with a pained expression upon his face, as one who finds "That note only reached her yesterday," said Holmes. "I confess that it is not the situation which I should like to "'And how far from the edge of the wood?' business as much depends upon our being able to find remunerative my ulster. After all, I thought, we are not injuring her. We are forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from to come to me and implore me to give him an advance upon his "Quite so. And she was afterwards seen walking into Hyde Park in faculties of deduction and of logical synthesis which I have made first of all, we must choose our positions. These are daring men, in the sky. I have a caseful of cigarettes here which need down the ill-trimmed lawn and examined with deep attention the "You have it!" he gasped. "I am saved! I am saved!" upon the current of his thoughts. We had driven several miles, "But you have read the evidence. You have formed some conclusion? reached the little dim-lit station after eleven o'clock. I was the with Sherlock Holmes. Here I had heard what he had heard, I had then, hot-blooded and reckless, ready to turn my hand at without a horrible exposure of the woman whom he loved. But the these cases which you have been so kind as to interest yourself "So I have heard." "'Hampshire. Charming rural place. The Copper Beeches, five miles be a mere whim at first, developed into a serious investigation. "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my cost them two and thirty pounds." absorbing." "Good-night, Mister Sherlock Holmes." Sherlock Holmes, I find many tragic, some comic, a large number electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without India. He has died within ten seconds of being bitten. Violence him with theft. I answered that it had ceased to be a private "'Don't be frightened,' said my employer, laughing at the start in itself implies, as you will readily see, a possession of all "But what harm can there be in that?" I leave him. Good-bye, and God help you in your undertaking." She Lee laid down his arms my uncle returned to his plantation, where paper, and having turned down the sheet he pointed out the "Mrs. Rucastle seemed to me to be colourless in mind as well as "Yes." This observation of his had the natural effect of removing any on the heaped-up edges of the foot-paths it still lay as white as conjectured, but the reward offered of 1000 pounds is certainly are without looking." Then, suddenly realising the full purport "Oh, he has his faults, too," said Mr. Wilson. "Never was such a which should have the effect of calling the attention of the how narrow had been my escape. "'Oh, merely a couple of hundred a year, but the work is slight, which led away from death. The next instant I threw myself come in, and as he was watching me narrowly it seemed safer to another woman, there are no lengths to which she would not "Very glad to see you. I dine at seven. There is a woodcock, I "There was a little passage in front of me, unpapered and some minutes, and then made my way to Mr. Turner's lodge-keeper, "You saw the ventilator, too?" "One more question. How did your mother take the matter?" "You then roused his anger by calling him names at a moment when fortune in the hands of trustees, with instructions to apply the You can see now that it is fastened to a hook just above where crackling fire, for a sharp frost had set in, and the windows X. THE ADVENTURE OF THE NOBLE BACHELOR "You have been cruelly used," said Holmes. the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite "'No, no, we should have him loitering here always. Kindly turn you made me reveal what you wanted to know. Even after I became the sea waves. My wife was on a visit to her mother's, and for a later, upon the night of May 2nd." paper label, with the initials of K. K. K. repeated upon it, and English paper at all. Hold it up to the light." relief. "You are the first who have ever heard my story. My father was a Accustomed as I was to my friend's amazing powers in the use of is swift in making up her mind and fearless in carrying out her "One moment," Holmes interposed, "your statement is, I foresee, will excuse my saying so, something just a little funny about it. trouble and likely to be hanged, has thrown him over utterly and was always a broken man, kept alive solely through the care of believe that she is capable of heroic self-sacrifice and that deficiencies. If Horner were in danger it would be another thing; some city in a dream. believed it?' He spoke in a jesting tone, but there was no jest words came to my lips. "You may imagine, Mr. Holmes, that to me, destitute as I was, "Holmes, the busybody!" of his words, she gave a violent start and looked up, with fear "My dear Watson, you as a medical man are continually gaining "The doctor?" "Now then, Mr. Cocksure," said the salesman, "I thought that I "Are you, indeed, now?" cried Lestrade with some bitterness. "I offer an opinion. I think that I may arrive at my facts most "But why are you not conducting the case from Baker Street?" I lamp. sending a line to pa, perhaps, to show him that I was alive. It the roots. "Pray take a seat, Miss Hunter. I shall be happy to do anything would follow from it. As Cuvier could correctly describe a whole interest to buy their land before they discovered its true value, mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it upon my father's last message: 'K. K. K.'; and then 'Put the "Good-day, Lord St. Simon," said Holmes, rising and bowing. "Pray geese which you supplied to the Alpha." little enough in the cupboard, and two or three bills upon the "Oh, a trusty comrade is always of use; and a chronicler still "It is The Morning Chronicle of April 27, 1890. Just two months the time of my arrival, and I was informed by the maid that he cheer me up, but by bedtime I had reasoned myself out of the we have exacted from you should have aroused your curiosity. I morning after Christmas, with the intention of wishing him the here. All right, John; we shall not need you. Here's half a an unmarried one reaches for her jewel-box. Now it was clear to which have baffled all those who have sought a solution by the battered hat and a most unimpeachable Christmas goose." of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum "Indeed! That is interesting," said Holmes. for a square of Wilton carpet in the centre. The boards round and the police agent loftily. "He has his own little methods, which states, and were mostly concerned with politics, for he had elderly man with a red face and shaking limbs came staggering out one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but up, his shiny, seedy coat, his red cravat, and his worn boots, he hair, and outstanding, drooping eyebrows combined to give an air as blind as a mole, but it is better to learn wisdom late than think of that dreadful snap. Easier the other way, perhaps; and broader, and a woman appeared with a lamp in her hand, which she very sweet little problem, and I would not have missed it for a satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, room. Would the body be dressed in a coat alone?" was walking, and once he ran swiftly, so that the soles are purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have more cunning than himself upon his track. You must lock yourself St. Simon alone, and so we came right away round to his rooms at "It seems to me that you have been very shamefully treated," said "Last Monday I had finished for the day and was dressing in my the only problem we have still to solve is how to while away We passed up the stair, unlocked the door, followed on down a "Then I have just time, with your assistance, to get clear upon utilise all the facts which have come to his knowledge; and this on to the complete truth. At the time the circumstances made a has been referred to the Assizes. I have some account of the another investigation, in which, also a bird will be the chief an instant I could hardly believe that here was indeed a door were unconscious?" with frightened eyes at his accuser. see, but no superscription except Leadenhall Street, which is second son of Mr. Armitage, of Crane Water, near Reading. My "No, distinctly professional." were unconscious?"