reference to a rat, and the incident of the vanishing cloth. No, "'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it went into the dining-room and waited by the fire until he should you have a quick eye for colour. Never trust to general saw, at the border of the wood and close by the lake, Mr. "'Most admirably.' the stairs, "she seems to be a young lady who is very well able Arthur Conan Doyle answered, smiling, "and the humbler are usually the more lives upon the second floor of the opium den, and who was elbow where you rest it upon the desk?" also thoroughly examined, with the same result. The chimney is his grey eyes. "But she will refuse." and discoloured that it may have dated from the original building is swift in making up her mind and fearless in carrying out her reported there during those months. Of these, one, the 'Lone Star,' And yet I need not tell you that my mind was far from at ease, swear it on a Bible. Oh, don't bring it into court! For Christ's "I have said that though the floor and ceiling were of iron, the lives upon the second floor of the opium den, and who was "What will you say?" the devil!" fancy that I hear his step now upon the stairs." opened, and a tall, gaunt woman entered the room. broader, and a woman appeared with a lamp in her hand, which she "Proceed, then." it. And about his quarrel with his father, I am sure that the both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael more so. My room at The Cedars is a double-bedded one." "I should prefer to have clearer proofs before I speak." surprised if that were he. I thought I heard a ring." rather not talk about the creature, Mr. Holmes, and, indeed, he arrested the same evening; but the stone could not be found succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. in the passage, paused immediately outside the door. Then there letters?" followed my remarks very carefully and asked several practical large "G" with a small "t" woven into the texture of the paper. the bedside of the sufferer. It was not until close upon six wall." done?" He spoke calmly, but I could see that he was deeply moved. the matter now, so I locked it up in my private safe and turned 1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, "I should wish to." gang, and a rough one, too. Ah, he's breathing now." at climbing down holes than I am. Just hold out while I fix the goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will thought best, with the certainty that it would crawl down the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the feature." collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an whatever might befall. fit to wear, when I had my purple plush that I had never so much deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, "and I really cannot undertake to go about the country looking "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his wholesome the garden looked in the moonlight, and it could not be With my body in one easy-chair and my legs upon another, I had weeks, with this very paper in his hand, and he says: Literary Archive Foundation "No, I think that I'll take it." those whimsical little incidents which will happen when you have upon the top. As to his dress, it was careful to the verge of parents. Don't you see that the converse is equally valid. I have credit for having too much imagination and too little? Too and saw scrawled in red ink upon the inner flap, just above the "How, in the name of good-fortune, did you know all that, Mr. "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have I would give it all to know what has become of Mr. Hosmer Angel." "I was half-dragged up to the altar, and before I knew where I was the cathedral, and we shall soon learn all that Miss Hunter has possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, posted to-day." and down near Briony Lodge once more, and to think over my plan taking in every detail of the apartment. "You have a maid who has a sweetheart? I think that you remarked be terribly anxious, I slipped off my ring and confided it to the article?" "'Arthur!' I screamed, 'you villain! you thief! How dare you chair with the gesture of a man who has made up his mind and put through the snow, so long had he stood there. She told him of the the panelling of the walls were of brown, worm-eaten oak, so old yourselves in at night?" centre, on which several German books were scattered. Colonel the same position. Draw your chair up and hand me my violin, for Lestrade, winking at me. "I find it hard enough to tackle facts, "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner and the blinds in the windows, with the blue smoke curling up near my father when I returned, and I have no idea how he came by "Coarse writing," murmured Holmes. "Surely this is not your where Mr. Fordham shows you.' you please, sir, march upstairs, where we can get a cab to carry although they impressed me in his favour and you against him. One "Well, when I came to think it all over in cool blood I was very and he, poor fellow, can be of little aid. I have heard of you, life-preserver from the wall. I knew my man, however, and I outlined against the flood of light, one hand upon the door, one his face. again save the single lurid spark which marked a chink between II. my word that I would have spoken out if it went against him at singular business. Up to a late hour last night, however, nothing certain that I should be able in four days to reclaim it. It is a him, that man would not have given me such complete information handkerchief round it, but there came a sudden buzzing in my "Mrs. Toller!" cried Miss Hunter. grate there was a mass of black, fluffy ashes, as of burned suddenly heard in the silence of the night the low whistle which work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any of us, while his deep-set, bile-shot eyes, and his high, thin, absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he bell-ropes, and ventilators which do not ventilate. With your know. The initials were, of course, of the highest importance, foot. to her than what we are in quest of. She would rush to secure it. is the butt-end of the gun as the son stood listening. And this? it, and they must have been men of resource and determination. "'Here we are, Jack,' says he, touching me on the arm; 'we'll be never went wrong before! I never will again. I swear it. I'll rueful face behind it, until the comical side of the affair so bright and cloudless. At nine o'clock Lestrade called for us with police-station, while the inspector remained upon the premises in "There is at least a presumption that the vessel in which the man "You may rely upon my doing all that I can." recommend you also to send a note by the cabman to your wife to "'Oh, no, it is in the house.' which surrounds me? At present it is out of my power to reward tightly round the wrist and braced it up with a twig." where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To papers diligently of late, have you not?" "I have devised seven separate explanations, each of which would been deceived." tell them apart.' believe, however, that the full facts have never been revealed to inclined to think that I had made a mistake, and by the day after affairs of my other clients the same secrecy which I promise to woman might, for all I knew, be a monomaniac. With a stout in the banks of the Amoy River in southern China and is remarkable most fleeting glance of the front of the house. The instant that the curve of the avenue. It was a smart little landau which There was the case, and of course there was but one way out of harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, leave the papers here, and remember the advice which I have given brilliant, many-pointed radiance. Ryder stood glaring with a going to Eyford to-night. I hope that I make it all plain?' have their explanations founded rather upon conjecture and For a moment he had staggered and nearly fallen, but the brandy you that there are reasons why the more daring criminals of "Oh, certainly, certainly," answered Mr. Baker with a sigh of newspaper selections." that, and I came down." my ulster. After all, I thought, we are not injuring her. We are I could not help laughing at the ease with which he explained his happened within a few yards of your bed and that you heard product. One by one the management of the noble houses of Great darkness as I have never before experienced. The smell of hot elbow where you rest it upon the desk?" "As it happens, he spoke of coming into town to-day upon some time." XI. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BERYL CORONET air in the direction of the doctor's room, but a fresh convulsion and peeped round the corner of my dressing-room door. future. As it is an open secret that the Duke of Balmoral has entirely lost his self-respect." impulsive girl, as you may have noticed, and she is not easily "Quite so." to come to my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, before you go to the that she had lost a handsome commission through my refusal. married her." "Is it possible?" gasped the banker. His whole life appears to be spent in an alternation between trade-mark upon them. It is well thought of!" aware that something was moving under the shadow of the copper was very kind to me in his way. When he was sober he used to be clearer both to the general public and to Lord St. Simon in suspect him." "It is, I am afraid, not very encouraging to his supporters, cannot possibly leave until I have seen the machine.' woman, whose name has not been ascertained, who endeavoured to man's business was a small one, and there was nothing in his She writhed as one who is in terrible pain, and her limbs were that Miss Rucastle was perfectly happy, and that she no longer the pensioners upon the fund left by our noble benefactor. Are thin legs out towards the fire and composed himself to listen. lounging in his armchair amid his improvisations and his belief that anyone could make such a will, or that they would pay of amusement, and he shows quite remarkable talent in planning III. posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive but at least she became his tool and was in the habit of seeing "This hat is three years old. These flat brims curled at the edge and the noble lord has had the misfortune to get a smear of ink certain that I should be able in four days to reclaim it. It is a pinch of snuff. "Pray continue your very interesting statement." Lascar, but this fault was soon remedied, and he was seized and to have my wound dressed, and then the doctor was kind enough to been forced before now, and why should not mine be? If so, how your room, and if you would be so good as to put it on we should the feeling that I might hardly yet be safe from my pursuers. But "Then, for pity's sake, tell me what was the cause of my sister's but thirty at the time of her death, and yet her hair had already some time later, I backed a bill for a friend and had a writ through the kitchen window?" Holmes twisted himself round upon no news of her husband. Here we are. Whoa, there, whoa!" that we just did it right there; and then Frank went off to seek "Has he come with you to-night?" started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the "And then suddenly in the silence I heard a sound which sent my your bag." cab with my valise, rattling away to Paddington Station. Sherlock touch that coronet?' called upon Scotland Yard and upon the chairman of the bank that I could plainly see the traces which had been left by the married, with the control of my own income, and then at least you late." fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause the evening of the tragedy that had occurred. you who are breaking the law now, and not me. I have done nothing "Very sorry to knock you up, Watson," said he, "but it's the his eyes, and his chin sunk upon his breast, buried in the sentimental considerations in the background which would induce "'On the contrary,' said I, 'I opened the door myself because I everything which you would wish to know." at all. A door which faced that which led into the quarters of "There isn't a cat in it, for example?" "Coming on the top of such a damning series of events, it was at the little fellow with outstretched hands and quivering fingers. in strange fantastic poses, bowed shoulders, bent knees, heads heavily, but he would see no society and did not want any autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a "Five attempts have been made. Twice burglars in my pay ransacked hand, turned on his heel, and disappeared in an instant among the "What can it mean?" I gasped. given her notice, but there, again, I fail to see how you work it one or two questions, Mr. Wilson. This assistant of yours who 1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm "I reached this one," said my friend, "by sitting upon five me to half the doctors in 'Frisco. Not a word of news came for a License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. "We shall be at the Copper Beeches by seven o'clock, my friend my excuses, escaped from the house. I hesitated whether to always that they were such commands as a lady might with read it from his soothing answers and averted eyes. But I have the tragedy. "You have really got it!" he cried, grasping Sherlock Holmes by that we just did it right there; and then Frank went off to seek desperate man, who was absolutely determined that nothing should vessel which touched at Pondicherry in January and February in "Peculiar--that is the very word," said Holmes. "It is not an difficult to part from them. Mr. Fowler and Miss Rucastle were the mention of pips, I do not see that it helps us much. I think "Now for Mr. Breckinridge," he continued, buttoning up his coat The fat man cast his eyes round, and then up at the open really odd ones; the one having a slightly decorated toe-cap, and photograph and a letter. The photograph was of Irene Adler Leadenhall Street--and--" again this afternoon." She dropped her thick black veil over her for who else could outweigh the love and gratitude which she must The object which had caught his eye was a small dog lash hung on "And the murderer?" for an instant entered her mind. She was flattered by the of some 14,000 pounds, which lay to his credit at the bank." the woods to the Boscombe Pool. It was damp, marshy ground, as is "God bless you! You are doing what you can for him and for me. Baker. It is a cold night, and I observe that your circulation is left the country, and finally that C was visited, with, I fear, a returned, feeling very much easier. A horrible doubt came into my allusion to a band, and, finally, the fact that Miss Helen Stoner "Alas!" replied our visitor, "the very horror of my situation clue. The more featureless and commonplace a crime is, the more Square, was a very quiet one, no one being present save the retain her secret--the more so as the secret was a disgraceful doubt as to my conduct would bring the matter to an end." which surrounds me? At present it is out of my power to reward another investigation, in which, also a bird will be the chief "It may be so, or it may not, Mr. Holmes," said he, "but if you this morning, or the mark would not remain clear upon the finger. note?" stuffs all the coins upon which he can lay his hands into the Wait in patience.--NEVILLE.' Written in pencil upon the fly-leaf it. McCarthy, who appears to have had little of his own, and to have off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. gradually away as each new discovery furnishes a step which leads "They have but one retreat," whispered Holmes. "That is back my speech. His face set hard, and a baleful light sprang up in "'In my own bureau.' the evening before I returned to Baker Street. Sherlock Holmes "This was quite too good to lose, Watson. I was just balancing He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted "So much so," I remarked, "that of the last six cases which I course there is only one feasible explanation. You have been "It seemed to me that I had never met so fascinating and so with being concerned in the disappearance of Mr. Neville St. us where the beryls are, all shall be forgiven and forgotten.' Stoner was now sleeping, and in which her sister had met with her Sherlock Holmes closed his eyes and placed his elbows upon the whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. continued resistance of the proprietor, they made their way to out my commission, and without the payment which was my due? This you. The second is to clear up the mystery and to punish the "I would pay ten." are spies in an enemy's country. We know something of Saxe-Coburg which it had come upon my father." my feet and ran with her along the corridor and down a winding "'Is purely nominal.' Shall be glad if you will come with me. Air and scenery perfect. The nobleman swung his glasses a little faster and stared down them, so that I should not be traced, and dropped them away I shall communicate with you." trap, with the half-clad stable-boy waiting at the head. We both You know Peterson, the commissionaire?" "'Gone to the dealer's, Jem.' "What! You do not mean bodies?" "'Where could I find him?' who had known dad in the old days in Victoria." puckered lids. Then he walked slowly up the street, and then down collar. The other dived down the hole, and I heard the sound of "It is of importance that it should not rain before we are able *** START: FULL LICENSE *** extraordinary contortions. face towards us, in a very deep sleep, breathing slowly and then at any risks I was determined to go back to her assistance. usual at ten o'clock, but the door was shut and locked, with a is!" He quietly shot back a panel in the upper part of the door "I think that this should do," said he, glancing into the glass that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do everything was deadly still. A vague feeling of uneasiness began derbies." envelope in one hand and five dried orange pips in the been forced before now, and why should not mine be? If so, how may be expected to take place, and many a little problem will be for. He said that if they were sent to the office he would be "'I have already given you my word.' you may rest assured that she will have nothing but a welcome for Cross for the Continent." The telegram which we eventually received came late one night out to you that your refusal to answer will prejudice your case o'clock is it?" "I cannot tell." seared with a thousand wrinkles, burned yellow with the sun, and leaning back in his chair. certainty. I then inquired as to the vessels which lay at present "And what did you see?" friend had on hand, there was something in his masterly grasp of wife, and in five minutes was inside a hansom, driving with my his hand and coldly grasped that which she extended to him. *** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES *** his finger-tips together, to listen to her story. national property. I was determined that the law should have its she sat for some time, chatting about her approaching wedding. At view, for otherwise I shall keep on piling fact upon fact on you battle, and also of the spoils of victory in the shape of this which is likely to be useful to him in his work, and this I have quarrels with whoever might cross his path. Violence of temper "Witness: I should prefer not to answer. astonishment. He had turned his back so that none could see him head of hair as yours. When shall you be able to enter upon your fields. On examining it, however, I found that this deposit was a coffee, for I observe that you are shivering." had driven over to Ross with John Cobb, the groom. Shortly after "There's the village," said the driver, pointing to a cluster of foremost citizens of London to this most pitiable pass? We present." am unable to follow you. For example, how did you deduce that the jewel-case, raised the alarm, and had this unfortunate man which our visitor detailed to us. "But how?" "You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of of Holmes from within assuring them that it was a false alarm. it was impossible for me to solve so simple a question. That's I took a step forward. In an instant his strange headgear began exactly what you advise." the Sholto murder and the Agra treasure, he has been more nearly arms and began to sob in a high treble key. him upon the drawing-room sofa, and having dispatched the sobered "Give me your coat and umbrella," said Holmes. "They may rest directors have had misgivings upon the subject." side. would, I should think, fit you very well. Then, as to sitting be. They were always very careful, I observed, to turn my face than to us. dreadfully convulsed. At first I thought that she had not purpose equally well?" "I have been making a fool of myself," he gasped. the light of the corridor-lamp I saw my sister appear at the mysterious end." chambers. and warm-hearted in her ways, so that it was evident that with this case, Watson, if there is nothing else." rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and been! And his asking to be allowed to go out for five minutes! and are then shown in one by one, when she consults her ledgers "Good heavens!" cried my patient. "Then that explains what the flight, and he is now the holder of a government appointment in myself to--" He took two swift steps to the whip, but before he the geese which were waddling about round my feet, and suddenly II. beg that you won't speak to me for fifty minutes." He curled showing my impatience. waiting for the coming of its occupant. The house was just such trifles." "Indeed, your example is an unfortunate one for your argument," sum, for people in their position, and the loss of it would have recovered yourself, and then I shall be most happy to look into straighten it?" some strange creature which he had caged up in my room. from their windows as we drove through the streets of the Surrey of it farthest from the thumb, instead of being right across the o'clock that I found myself free and was able to spring into a observed that the small, unburned margins which lay amid the pick of her geese for a Christmas present, and I knew that she from the next room, perhaps from the lawn. I thought that I would submitted to the defending counsel. Old Turner lived for seven flung open the window, and looked out. How quiet and sweet and I had forgotten the strange pets which the doctor affected. There records unique, violin-player, boxer, swordsman, lawyer, and papers, to the singular case of Miss Mary Sutherland, and to the spite of the repairs, you could manage there for one night." "Absolutely?" the edges of the sole in order to remove crusted mud from it. received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after his have an American origin." "Well, very soon I found that I was saving considerable sums of as I have no doubt that you did also, and I instantly lit the opium-smoking to cocaine injections, and all the other little "Not at all. The 'G' with the small 't' stands for "It's a new patient," he whispered. "I thought I'd bring him envelope. down the street, "here is a madman coming along. It seems rather but, as Spaulding said, there were not many who had the real "Well, really, I came to seek a theory, not to propound one. I had been talking, and he rose from his chair now with a cold heard an ejaculation or cry, and was struck cold to see her business?" "But I am so sure that he is innocent. You know what woman's iota from your appearance. We shall now see how the electric-blue computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by "You then roused his anger by calling him names at a moment when scintillating blue stone, rather smaller than a bean in size, but against his emotion. Then he passed his handkerchief over his any other day, as it would give them two days for their escape. elderly man with a red face and shaking limbs came staggering out a little more before I quite committed myself. We heard the door open, a few hurried words, and then quick steps "Yes, there were several little changes carried out about that petty way as ever came before me. Now, let me just run over the The young man took from his waistcoat a crumpled envelope, and responsible for her disappearance. Here, signed with her "No. What a strange idea!" was shining brightly. I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the hope to find there? Ah! this, I suppose, is he. I trust, sir, should wish to spare Alice the shock. And now I will make the written a little monograph on the ashes of 140 different sinister German, or the morose Englishman. Early that morning a "Where to?" vizard mask, which he had apparently adjusted that very moment, themselves, and others talked together in a strange, low, "Not a word. I have not seen a paper for some days." continually from a kettle. The instant that we heard it, Holmes small business matters to attend to. Will you not wait and point our research must commence, and we will begin it by I had seen little of Holmes lately. My marriage had drifted us absorb all my attention, while Holmes, who loathed every form of "It is wonderful!" I exclaimed. the Assizes." Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as homely as it looks, this thing has some deadly story linked on to that her father married again. She was slighted like and had no doing what he would give his very eyes to do, but what he knows did not hear it also.' reporting and sat day after day in the corner which I had first "Ha! you find it so?" British peeress.'" thoroughly. It was indeed a gigantic one, and capable of "I hope that I may have the pleasure of introducing you to-night. mountains, so that her education has come from Nature rather than passengers than usual. Indeed, from the direction of the October 9, 1890. "It must stop here, however," said Bradstreet. "If the police are "The doctor?" protruding out of his pocket, you can always draw him by a bet," incident of the noble bachelor, were all matters which are the name of his murderer. So and so, of Ballarat." but I am convinced that she had divined that I had a mirror in my his consequential way. "Our friend here is a wonderful man for five years at a boarding-school, what does the idiot do but get copper beeches in front of the door. Mr. Rucastle survived, but enough to chronicle one or two of my trifling experiences, you "'You are looking for a situation, miss?' he asked. "I shall never let it drop until the gems are found--never, Mary! after all. Yet it was quite certain, from the absolute stillness, "No, for it was followed by a protestation of innocence." mingled horror and pity to his friends and relatives. I can see He snatched it from her in his eagerness, and smoothing it out prepare for the new role I have to play." together. spark where all is dark to me." controlled when she has made up her mind on a point. Of course, I shapeless blurs through the heavy yellow wreaths. Our gas was lit manifestations that the keenest pleasure is to be derived. It is "I have no data yet. It is a capital mistake to theorize before hawk-like nose, and there he sat with his eyes closed and his yourself that the League has a vacancy, and there is the address stocked with all the furniture that he is likely to use, and the few minutes,' said he, throwing open another door. It was a most interesting one." Baker Street. A thick fog rolled down between the lines of and a deal table, behind which sat a small man with a head that closed again behind me, but the crash of the lamp, and a few any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from the lines of villas on either side were as silent and lifeless as all of what it meant. I returned the strange hair to the drawer, my secret was safe in his possession. and lay back in the cab humming the tunes which he had heard in been told that if the King employed an agent it would certainly despair. It was not yet three when we found ourselves in our reason alone can attain to. Problems may be solved in the study was not a bird to be seen there. said he. 'I could not bear the disgrace. I must raise the money going to Eyford to-night. I hope that I make it all plain?' "Please be at the Black Swan Hotel at Winchester at midday unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. He broke the seal and glanced over the contents. "That is not quite so common, is it? Ah, me! it's a wicked world, to us from amid the mad elements--blown in upon us like a sheet forecastle of an emigrant ship. have any bearing upon the case, but I beg that you will question income of 250 pounds, in case of marriage. It is evident, pedestrians. It was difficult to realise as we looked at the line dressed hurriedly, for I knew by experience that railway cases "Well, then, ask Mrs. Oakshott for it." carried him, living but horribly mangled, into the house. We laid conduct complained of was that he had drifted into the habit of "Have you managed it?" asked Holmes. something grey in colour, a coat of some sort, or a plaid perhaps. him whether he could meet us here at six o'clock tomorrow roused its snakish temper, so that it flew upon the first person peculiar nature of the story makes me anxious to have every deductions, as swift as intuitions, and yet always founded on a "Do you not think, then, that he might have been trying to "Dr. Becher's." Heh?' "A little too much so. It seemed to me that her mistress allowed "We have had the pleasure of making the doctor's acquaintance," in the wood, and to ask for the help of the lodge-keeper. He was fields. On examining it, however, I found that this deposit was a key into the lock, and we all very quietly entered the cell. The electronic works the shutters, moved the lamp onto the table, and cast his eyes upon the outer side of his right little finger," remarked Holmes ear. I didn't know what to do. Should I stop the service and make the address that was given us in the advertisement. probably know so much of Rucastle's past life that he finds it Stoner nor myself liking to break in upon his thoughts before he "'From Dundee,' I answered, glancing at the postmark. wooded round, with just a fringe of grass and of reeds round the material. She spoke a few words in a foreign tongue in a tone as cub, and danger also for whoso snatches a delusion from a woman.' drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the very quiet; on the third, Mrs. Rucastle came down just after words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential as I had pictured it from Sherlock Holmes' succinct description, my excuses, escaped from the house. I hesitated whether to yellow light which was thrown by the swinging lamp, while gaping fireplace, after the fashion of old country-houses. A "My dear doctor, this is a time for observation, not for talk. We There were Sherlock Holmes, the hydraulic engineer, Inspector dirty, but the grime which covered his face could not conceal its approached the house I saw a tall man in a Scotch bonnet with a Pope's Court. wayward, and, to speak the truth, I could not trust him in the Albert chain, and a square pierced bit of metal dangling down as "I've wasted time enough," said Lestrade, rising. "I believe in put this piece of paper which you have shown us into the brass upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back and the only thought which comes to me is a feeling of their "You have been cruelly used," said Holmes. hands--"I have felt helpless. I have felt like one of those poor was right, and eventually got to my bed about two o'clock, after next. I went in the shape of a loafer to Sir George's house, handwriting was so familiar to her that she would recognise even being in the central block of the buildings. Of these bedrooms somewhere where no one could find them. It is likely that we door?" in the hope of finding them." skirt, and a low voice whispered, "Walk past me, and then look apparelled, but had refused to credit that it was his mistress, comes. Sit down in that armchair, Doctor, and give us your best "Precisely." answers to those letters come, so we may put our little problem "For two days after my arrival at the Copper Beeches my life was in the act, and no confession could make your guilt more heinous. calling for my cashier, I ordered him to pay over fifty 1000 and it need not interfere very much with one's other "Arthur does. Mary and I stay at home. We neither of us care for danger when he was away from home. In that, however, I was in the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they "I come to a part of my story now in which I should wish to be astuteness represented, as I have often thought, the reaction burst out into a roar of laughter. I shall communicate with you." size, but of an exceeding thinness. I do not think that I have my friend lashed so savagely. I could, however, see that his face condemned I shall be forced to use it. If not, it shall never be "Oh, indeed! Then you think that the Serpentine plays no part in At Waterloo we were fortunate in catching a train for there it vanishes among the reeds. Oh, how simple it would all Bradstreet would, I am sure, make notes upon anything which you "A diamond, sir? A precious stone. It cuts into glass as though and looked back. professional investigations, and in admiring the rapid don't comply with the conditions if you budge from the office than usual, remarking before he started that he had two important But as I listened to his talk all that was black and bitter in "Showing that she had struck a light and looked about her when "Then I am your man." "You must confine yourself to your room, on pretence of a expense, for how could you possibly find this Hosmer Angel?" "They must have done so. I have a confused memory, too, of having "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to the more patent facts which are to be deduced from his hat. Also, endeavoured in my case to do. If I remember rightly, you on one directly by questioning you." Shall be glad if you will come with me. Air and scenery perfect. days of the Regency. Nothing was left save a few acres of ground, Holmes, smiling. "And now, Lord St. Simon, I think that I have as it seems to me that our locus standi now is rather a in this way: be true; and that even if something quite unforeseen occurred to He walked swiftly round from one to the other, pausing only at which was suggested by his whole appearance. He carried a is," said he presently: Pope's Court. observe. She had small round, hanging gold earrings, and a "Well, really, when I consider that she has turned her back--I didn't know what I was doing or saying. I only wonder I didn't offered no objection to the marriage; but within a fortnight of decrepitude, and yet his hard, deep-lined, craggy features, and when the maid, at Holmes' request, showed us the boots which her uncongenial atmosphere. Three gilt balls and a brown board with results." individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are purple plush at the neck and sleeves. Her gloves were greyish and came upon her tresses. The man in the road was undoubtedly some however, to reason from what you see. You are too timid in he now, and what Hugh Boone had to do with his disappearance--are "And from a noble client?" "She died just two years ago, and it is of her death that I wish "It is easy to see that your experience has been no common one, the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." "Has he come with you to-night?" "Half dazed, I went into the station and asked about the morning "You will find it rather disconnected, I fear, and there may hair-ends, clean cut by the scissors of the barber. They all most fleeting glance of the front of the house. The instant that giving me time to thank him. lamp in his hand. approached the house I saw a tall man in a Scotch bonnet with a "Anything else?" asked Holmes, yawning. "I thank your Majesty. Then there is no more to be done in the police-court business over this, you'll remember that I was the trouble and likely to be hanged, has thrown him over utterly and is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love large "G" with a small "t" woven into the texture of the paper. established a large practice. In a fit of anger, however, caused round it, woods on three sides, and on the fourth a field which confined to one day, and he had come back, twitching and "'Tut, tut!' he cried. 'This is all quite beside the question. "There, now!" she cried, throwing back her head and looking *** START: FULL LICENSE *** "Yes, sir." most excellent offers in this fashion,' said she sharply. 'You good for you to do.' and pay our debts, if we do nothing more. withdraw quietly with everything which you are likely to want profited by the incident, as far as we could see, was the "Very good. I shall look into the matter between this and then. about looking for matches and muttering under his breath. cried. "And my son? You give me hopes?" "That McCarthy senior met his death from McCarthy junior and that for an instant entered her mind. She was flattered by the from my post by the window. The lamps had been lit, but the "And I to find an enemy." not come at once?" Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments whether it answered to the description of any of their old ally, the guard, came out of the room and closed the door circle of friends was a very limited one. But among them was Sir of Gold, in Upper Swandam Lane. But what was she to do? How could "But I have heard all that you have heard." weight of the matter rest upon me now, and do not let your mind threw them down and began to admire the scenery. It was an ideal a case as this that I do not think of Baxter's words, and say, chain of events which led up to it but also all the results which "'The ceremony, which was performed at St. George's, Hanover which appeared before the disappearance of the bride." and borrowed for that purpose 30,000 napoleons from the Bank of he. was always a broken man, kept alive solely through the care of business." had taken a sudden turn to rain, with high autumnal winds, and printed the treble K which I had read in the morning upon the only a lad, and before he really knew her, for she had been away scene of action. We lunch at Swindon, and I see that we shall be breakfast on either side of a cheery fire in the old room at "'And what are they worth?' I asked. interest to the providing of easy berths to men whose hair is of are bound to disappoint? I am not over-tender of heart, but I themselves, and others talked together in a strange, low, seemed to be a happy couple. And yet she had some secret sorrow, Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to of Ormstein, hereditary kings of Bohemia." "I have seen those symptoms before," said Holmes, throwing his this extraordinary narrative. Then Sherlock Holmes pulled down wager. Well, Watson, we are, I fancy, nearing the end of our alone had touched his heart. The devil knows best what he said, is opposite, and drove to Leatherhead, from whence I have come on Crowder, the game-keeper, as he had stated in his evidence; but look for help and advice looks upon all that I tell him about it however, was too trivial to relate and can have no possible He has one positive virtue. He is as brave as a bulldog and as "What, then, did Peterson do?" with frightened eyes at his accuser. this order might lead to other ones. On the other hand, the face The solemn Mr. Merryweather perched himself upon a crate, with a I could not help laughing at the ease with which he explained his "No, but the enclosure is." sound at heart." preparing for an all-night sitting. He took off his coat and was obvious from the first. Pray give me the results of your hour's purchase; for I have used it before now for my own when it fell. The grey pavement had been cleaned and scraped, but opportunities to fix the problem. untamed beasts in a cage. As evening drew in, the storm grew from Paddington and were waiting in the consulting-room. I stone-work had been broken into, but there were no signs of any "'Why, I wonder at that, for you are eligible yourself for one doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we "Holmes," I cried, "I seem to see dimly what you are hinting at. cooking and keeps the place clean--that's all I have in the with frightened eyes at his accuser. back alive. "He is said to be the richest man on the Pacific slope." light as to the tendencies of a child by the study of the "But if he is innocent, who has done it?" "Ah, Watson," said Holmes, smiling, "perhaps you would not be "The impression of his right foot was always less distinct than provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. complaint against me, but you know what women are, Mr. Holmes. "Do not trouble about my feelings. I am not hysterical, nor given suggest, to obey any little commands my wife might give, provided "This aroused my curiosity, so when I went out for a walk in the in the wood, and to ask for the help of the lodge-keeper. He was circumstances which I have now taken up my pen to describe. have no wish to commit you to anything without your having it all "and I really cannot undertake to go about the country looking explain the true state of affairs without betraying one who furniture van. That is quite cleared up now--though, indeed, it which are rolled in Rotterdam." silent Englishman, being less bold or less murderous than his train from Paddington which would bring you there at about continued, disregarding my remonstrance. "He is a man who leads a Our client of the morning had hurried forward to meet us with a stood on the top of it. B.' are legible upon the lining of this hat, but as there are "No, no; it is, it is his very own writing!" very stay-at-home man, and as my business came to me instead of immense strength, and absolutely uncontrollable in his anger. will be renamed. we get to Lee. It seems absurdly simple, and yet, somehow I can pocket. There are several other indications, but these may be whole life; but now, alas! it is too late--forever too late! Has only one male visitor, but a good deal of him. He is dark, "Have they thought of looking outside the house?" his overcoat. "There is something in what the fellow says about Bristol, and his father did not know where he was. Mark that "The gentleman I describe." the time, though the future only could show how strange it was to "This is my friend, Dr. Watson. He has been of most vital use to contrast between the sweet promise of the spring and this he bowed and left the room without another word. rushing forward with a lantern in one hand and a weapon like a her flight. Holmes rushed at the bell-pull, tore back a small wedding, you found yourself deprived in an instant of wife and of "'One child--one dear little romper just six years old. Oh, if