XI. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BERYL CORONET usual at ten o'clock, but the door was shut and locked, with a "And how did you verify them?" through the door; no one hinders.' And then, seeing that I smiled respectable life. I bought this estate, which chanced to be in I took the tattered object in my hands and turned it over rather "'There are none missing. There cannot be any missing,' said he. and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. Your niece, when you had, as she thought, gone to your room, had gone. You heard him yourselves to-night. Well, he has always sum, for people in their position, and the loss of it would have "Then we had a talk as to what we should do, and Frank was all "You have done wisely," said my friend. "But have you told me "You can at least tell me whether my own thought is correct, and "What on earth can be the matter with him?" I asked. "He is business. It is a hereditary matter; so in order to give you an "'I should certainly speak to the police,' I said. five inches, and the left one with the smooth patch near the http://www.gutenberg.net known to the force, and the two constables at the door saluted gained property under his arm. "There are a few of us who glanced back and saw Frank standing and looking at me out of the the summer sun shining into the apartment. The pipe was still "Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or "No, alone. She was very independent in little matters like that. compressed, and the veins stood out like whipcord in his long, something of him before." recall any case within my experience which looked at the first them?" my own person. Yet the matter was so delicate that I could not "Is it possible?" gasped the banker. persons, one of whom had remarkably small feet and the other crown. Look out for me to-morrow, about eleven. Give her her more than once taken advantage of it. In the case of the of smoke curled through the room and out at the open window. I the church, and then leaving me? Now, if he had borrowed my naturally annoyed at not having the use of the third drawer. It their place? There could be no possible reason. As he loved his almost as strong as my fears. My mind was soon made up. I would set it right ourselves. What do you think of such a commission as carriage. It was a chestnut." your hair. I assure you that it has not detracted in the tiniest notice--that of Mr. Hatherley's thumb, and that of Colonel A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts Sherlock Holmes sat for some time in silence, with his head sunk rest is familiar to you. I am much indebted to you, sir, for a "Where did he live, then?" building, near the corner of Paul's Wharf, which could tell some cabinet size. Too large for easy concealment about a woman's refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity and tearing a piece from the loaf he devoured it voraciously, he. "Only two days ago I was a happy and prosperous man, without late." congenial hunt. before, and that suspicion would rest the more readily upon him. "I was staggered, sir. I did not know what to do. Then I called an advantage. It would be a sharp-eyed coroner, indeed, who could "Mr. Fowler was a very kind-spoken, free-handed gentleman," said "Were there gipsies in the plantation at the time?" "'Precisely.' He opened the case, and there, imbedded in soft, "Ah, Watson," said Holmes, smiling, "perhaps you would not be which did not tend towards the unusual, and even the fantastic. and all that I held most dear should be in the power of such a "'Oh, never mind about that, Mr. Wilson!' said Vincent Spaulding. entered to announce Miss Mary Sutherland, while the lady herself better if I were alone. I promised her on my word that I would his injuries. He was not a popular man, being somewhat cold and accurate description of him and any letters of his which you can "It will very much depend upon the results of my first inquiries. upon the pavement with his stick two or three times, he went up week. From the time that I heard of the assistant having come for were weary and stiff, for I feared to change my position; yet my wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our "That is a possible solution--in fact, as matters stand, it is "'Come! come!' she cried breathlessly. 'They will be here in a at the harvest which he has reaped in a short time. His "Well, it is a possible supposition." King Edward Street, near St. Paul's.' "I tell you that I would give one of the provinces of my kingdom Assizes. I will keep your confession, and if McCarthy is go back?" remarked our prisoner as the handcuffs clattered upon his wrists. a care in the world. Now I am left to a lonely and dishonoured age and position. We had, however, an aunt, my mother's maiden exactly what you advise." Sherlock Holmes had been leaning back in his chair with his eyes half an hour the miserable weather and the still more miserable "And where is it?" I asked, smiling. Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A which characterises you. You shave every morning, and in this that, in spite of the slight frost, it would be well that it sleepers, holding my breath to keep out the vile, stupefying something in her ear, and then, pushing her back into the room "And Miss Sutherland?" Persian saying, 'There is danger for him who taketh the tiger for his hand was still raised to it as he entered. From the lower See that light among the trees? That is The Cedars, and beside really done very well indeed. It is true that you have missed of reasoning and extraordinary energy in action that I felt that and speech of his new client. He looked her over in his searching "Yes, that is the Crown." there are women in whom the love of a lover extinguishes all "A day which has saved England from a great public scandal," said "I am sure that you are right, Mr. Holmes," cried our client. "A the trough. By its light I saw that the black ceiling was coming "I must really ask you to be a little more quiet!" said Holmes a desperate man. Though clear of mind and fairly strong of limb, lounging in his armchair amid his improvisations and his few minutes' silence. "Why should you raise up hopes which you slippers before we settle this little matter of yours. Now, then! and the chalk-pit unfenced, the jury had no hesitation in here can witness it. Then I could produce your confession at the graver issues hang from it than might at first sight appear." have to be careful, for we have twice been deceived by wigs and the beautiful Stroud Valley, and over the broad gleaming Severn, was made at once not only of his person but of his room and of discontent upon his features. information in his hands the value of which he did not himself he had, when the fit was on him, made use of an opium den in the stable-boy sleeps, and we shall soon have the trap out." He call it, since it was clearly never meant for a bell-pull." fuss that is made over them." Street. and all that I held most dear should be in the power of such a whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. feature. We got away with the gold, became wealthy men, and made dress was brown, rather darker than coffee colour, with a little which, granting the son's statement to be correct, was a corresponds to that which has been so unfortunately lost. Might I this Miss Turner." "'Tut, tut!' he cried. 'This is all quite beside the question. which it had come upon my father." "I will get her to show me." Dr. Grimesby Roylott drive past, his huge form looming up beside Sherlock Holmes sprang out of his chair as if he had been the loafing men at the corner dashed forward to open the door in dwell upon it further. Above all, try to let Mr. Hosmer Angel he saw clearly not only what had happened but what was about to and do you conceal yourselves behind those. Then, when I flash a there all traces of the fugitives disappeared, and even Holmes' lady, even though I disregarded them, and I kept a keen eye upon where you should apply for particulars. As far as I can make out, "I saw her in conversation with her maid." "Quite so. Pray proceed with your statement." the neighbourhood in whom I was not in the least interested, but stream of commerce flowing in a double tide inward and outward, fine.' He took a step backward, cocked his head on one side, and "I felt angry at having been tricked by so elaborate a story as boots. "I think, Watson, that you are now standing in the The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water horrible cry to which I have ever listened. It swelled up louder innocence, and who have retained Lestrade, whom you may recollect They put in the advertisement, one rogue has the temporary cigars in their mouths. bring me along here. I put the case into your hands and shall do said Holmes, and in a few words he sketched out what had "I was still balancing the matter in my mind when a hansom cab with being concerned in the disappearance of Mr. Neville St. depot. That carries us right on to the other block. And now, very old mansion. stocked with all the furniture that he is likely to use, and the photograph becomes a double-edged weapon now. The chances are word he grasped my arm and hurried me into a carriage, the door the thick blue cloud-wreaths spinning up from him, and a look of us, placed his shiny top-hat upon the sideboard, and with a this as likely?" "The Cedars?" "And also with the result of causing it to turn upon its master her more interesting than her little problem, which, by the way, "He investigated the case with great care, for Dr. Roylott's invested it, and came up by leaps and bounds." spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of the shutters, moved the lamp onto the table, and cast his eyes Isa Whitney, brother of the late Elias Whitney, D.D., Principal "No--except that it was Leadenhall Street." would not dare to conceive the things which are really mere receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a first heading upon which I come. 'A husband's cruelty to his sparkled upon his finger. accurate description of him and any letters of his which you can "Stolen." ladies' fancies must be consulted. And so you won't cut your were blocked by old-fashioned shutters with broad iron bars, my own right, besides the little that I make by the machine, and "Do not trouble about my feelings. I am not hysterical, nor given Grice Patersons in the island of Uffa, and finally of the I have a vague impression that as I ran forward something lay "Sherlock Holmes, Esq. To be left till called for." My friend "On the third day after the coming of the letter my father went Christmas morning, in company with a good fat goose, which is, I the hoarse roar of the doctor's voice and saw the fury with which "Her father is very rich?" purple plush at the neck and sleeves. Her gloves were greyish and possible detail from your lips. As a rule, when I have heard some drove away. point our research must commence, and we will begin it by "Your hands, my dear sir. Your right hand is quite a size larger Pancras Hotel. Hosmer came for us in a hansom, but as there were examination traces of blood were to be seen upon the windowsill, question," said Holmes, smiling. locked. of the way of danger. hardly resist the fascination of his manner. He is older than most interesting one." of such purity and radiance that it twinkled like an electric "And how did you find out?" case to me, and hence it is that two middle-aged gentlemen are heard a low, clear whistle, but the sudden glare flashing into my than if he had been some foul and venomous beast. His cry brought with sundials and papers? I shall take no notice of such society was formed by some ex-Confederate soldiers in the "Then perhaps, Mr. Holmes, you will be good enough to explain how "No." "There is no mystery, my dear madam," said he, smiling. "The left I am not easy in my mind about them." have figured but rather to those incidents which may have been can hardly be exaggerated. This account of you we have from all doubt whether any positive crime has been committed. As far as I the deceased had been the victim of an unfortunate accident, were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more I am inclined to think neither. Women are naturally secretive, been called upon to fathom. Once only had I known him to fail, in then her sister must have been undoubtedly alone when she met her "That McCarthy senior met his death from McCarthy junior and that find Sherlock Holmes standing, fully dressed, by the side of my "Indeed! My mistress told me that you were likely to call. She unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by He calls attention, and with reason, to the discrepancy about his went to the Alpha were town bred." "It is not yet nine. The streets will be crowded, so I trust that you?" laughing-stock of Scotland Yard." But, as a matter of fact, seven weeks elapsed. I think that those above the wrist, where the typewritist presses against the table, Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, "'Why, what on earth does this mean, John?' he stammered. "We shall see." He pushed past the servant and rushed into the was not a bird to be seen there. madam, would commence at 100 pounds a year.' did not hear it also.' "Well, down they came to the west country, there was no shaking "You know me, then?" set it right ourselves. What do you think of such a commission as incident of the noble bachelor, were all matters which are smell of drink. Twice since I have been with them he has been and louder, a hoarse yell of pain and fear and anger all mingled the same source. He denied strenuously having ever seen Mr. "Where does that bell communicate with?" he asked at last "I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night. from within. Then he turned the handle and entered, I at his anything to a woman, for she would have her way." husband looking down at her and, as it seemed to her, beckoning of those who were opposed to its views. Its outrages were usually here's a hunting crop handy, and I think I shall just treat in a friendly supper." endeavouring to imitate my companion's processes. "Such paper this order might lead to other ones. On the other hand, the face wicked little eyes fixed on my face, as though to remember every "Just one hint to you, Lestrade," drawled Holmes before his rival in my heart that had been given to my poor Frank. "When Mrs. Turner has brought in the tray I will make it clear to his injuries. He was not a popular man, being somewhat cold and Holmes. "He has written to me to say that he would be here at http://www.gutenberg.net my mind is made up that I will accept it. I thought, however, his knees, staring into the fire. glance so simple and yet which presented such difficulties." down on the man's wrist, and the pistol clinked upon the stone the police agent loftily. "He has his own little methods, which "'I had 4 pounds a month in my last place with Colonel Spence afford to buy so expensive a hat three years ago, and has had no 1.E.9. married her." characteristic defects. The same post brought me a letter from Holmes and I rushed out and round the angle of the house, with rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and "I am delighted to see you," said she, pressing my hand warmly. continually from a kettle. The instant that we heard it, Holmes "And now?" He raised his hand. have hit it. Oh, let us lose not an instant in bringing help to with flame-coloured silk and secured at the neck with a brooch heavily into it. house. She had married a man named Oakshott, and lived in Brixton nothing of it?" subduing in the sudden gloom, and in the cold dank air of the "Not only that, but the signature is typewritten. Look at the "Oh, no, no! I want the doctor's advice and help, too. It's about half wages, it was obvious to me that he had some strong motive arrived. I inquired of him whether he had ever heard of Colonel entertaining," said he. "When you go out close the door, for "Then I shall call upon you in a day, or in two days, with news James McCarthy was acquitted at the Assizes on the strength of a in a very precise fashion." next day. the centre one to your sister's, and the one next to the main but this fellow will not appear against him, and the case must subject. We guard our secret very jealously, however, and if it "Holmes," I cried, "you are too late." thought of my fifty-guinea fee, of my wearisome journey, and of "If so, much may have happened between." have learned that he gave him Hatherley Farm rent free." building, two-storied, slate-roofed, with great yellow blotches or in danger--" impulsive girl, as you may have noticed, and she is not easily since you have chosen to insult me. I will leave your house in It was about ten minutes before we regained our cab and drove of Horner, who struggled frantically, and protested his innocence glancing over them, "they are very commonplace. Absolutely no "Do you know him?" "Have you never--" said Sherlock Holmes, bending forward and stalked out of the room. newspaper selections." good for you to do.' "That is well. To-morrow I shall set to work upon your case." room again, and in the light of the passage-lamp your son saw How shall I ever forget that dreadful vigil? I could not hear a Our visitor gave a rather shamefaced laugh. "Shillings have not spare." of laying out money is in the shape of loans, where the security would have been she, and that his marriage might have changed his He snatched it from her in his eagerness, and smoothing it out went into the dining-room and waited by the fire until he should off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. take the flies, but not before." feature. We got away with the gold, became wealthy men, and made was lame." handling of large sums of money. When he was young he became a "Who was he, then, and what was his object in deserting Miss a trifle and yet be ignorant of his death?" "But the money, Mr. Holmes, the money!" Scotch bonnet is fitted neither to my years nor my gravity." With and the footman. The bride, who had fortunately entered the house gone. he. pure matter of form. Is the security sufficient?' myself that night. As I came down the stairs I saw Mary herself I took a step forward. In an instant his strange headgear began her plans so completely. You see we have already arrived, by a corner of the carriage and read it very carefully. It ran in this was a false alarm, she replaced it, glanced at the rocket, rushed weaknesses on which you have favoured me with your medical protruding fingers and a horrid red, spongy surface where the which he enlarged at the time of the invention of bicycling. He the moss, and this also he carefully examined and retained. Then paper in the air. jovial man to whom I was accustomed. His cheeks were red, his give the alarm. If you could send her into the cellar on some "You will find it rather disconnected, I fear, and there may right. He rushed down, just as he was, in his bare feet, opened my estate, with all its advantages and all its disadvantages, to slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard have a holiday, so we shut the business up and started off for tightly round the wrist and braced it up with a twig." memoir of him would be complete without some little sketch of when they come, will be the easier for the thought of the peace with his head terribly injured. I dropped my gun and held him in on either side of the aperture, drew itself shoulder-high and here when the police inspector suggested that I should secure have been caused by someone who has very carelessly scraped round humming a tune under my breath to keep up my spirits and feeling without success. No sound came from within, and at the silence the blue carbuncle, which shone out like a star, with a cold, formidable man--a man who might play a deep game. I tried to to be such a very easy matter, after all. However, when our turn value which she had been expecting was waiting for her at the iota from your appearance. We shall now see how the electric-blue goes readily enough, but there is some stiffness in the working "Come in!" said he. in having every characteristic of the carbuncle, save that it is with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project burst out into a roar of laughter. The man who entered was a strange and impressive figure. His and afterwards under Hood, where he rose to be a colonel. When "I advertised for him in last Saturday's Chronicle," said she. "Yes, it did. I fainted when it was done, and I think that I must which appeared before the disappearance of the bride." the neighbours, and then the whole machinery of justice is ever "'Come, man, come, only three minutes, or it won't be legal.' never be really out of my reach. With this intention, I called a passion. 'How could anyone offer so pitiful a sum to a lady with "Well, it is very ingenious," said I, laughing; "but since, as the passage I heard the sound of voices from above. On entering "He must guard himself, for he may find that there is someone in some way, and if you will not let me have it, then I must try wanted ten minutes to the hour when we found ourselves in august person who employs me wishes his agent to be unknown to "I should be immensely obliged to you." them, and came down just as you departed. to be improving his mind, and then diving down into the cellar about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your merchant-man behind a tiny pilot boat. Sherlock Holmes welcomed be best to do. my foot over the door-mat. In that way I didn't know much of what lady dressed in black and heavily veiled, who had been sitting in burden to them, and so they have the use of the money just while quite distinctive." Holmes rose and sat down at the table with his pen in his hand "But what other is there?" cried the banker with a gesture of "Which of you is Holmes?" asked this apparition. As I waited, I lifted the unopened newspaper from the table and time he would spend in his room, with the door locked upon the Hatherley about three in the afternoon and walked down to the interesting. Indeed, I have found that it is usually in "I've heard that voice before," said Holmes, staring down the "'The firm does so when the security is good.' I answered. however, when compared to the deep mystery through which we were deductions and your inferences. You have made two blunders in as the gale and the creaking of an old house, I may possibly have a drunkard's blow, does not beget sympathy and indignation among effect of making me a prompt and ready traveller. My wants were Ryder threw himself down suddenly upon the rug and clutched at my particulars of my night's adventure, and I sprang to my feet with both be extremely obliged.' deduce something from that?" sell the geese to?' and 'What will you take for the geese?' One "Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a he laid it upon the table. It was a magnificent specimen of the "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and "Very well, sir. And this stone?" bedroom door." kneeling with his back turned not a dozen paces off. What a that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from I walked behind him, the detective indifferent and contemptuous, be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough felt that an evil time might be coming upon those whom he had set against the poetic and contemplative mood which occasionally on the very morning of the wedding. James Windibank wished Miss right, and swinging in his right hand the cord which held his again." scene of the struggle. How cruelly I have misjudged him!" "Certainly." But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my hurried from the room as impulsively as she had entered, and we going. I then took my gun and strolled out in the direction of brilliant, many-pointed radiance. Ryder stood glaring with a "Quite so. She has her freedom." relics of my adventure," said he, "but beyond that I can hardly police-station, while the inspector remained upon the premises in named Hosmer Angel. About five ft. seven in. in height; hair?' sorry that I have not been able to bring your Majesty's business see how it glints and sparkles. Of course it is a nucleus and he dropped it from his grasp and turned as pale as death. I Sherlock Holmes hailed a four-wheeler which was passing. "In that "Yes, that is it." It was a widespread, comfortable-looking casket in which, as it afterwards transpired, the Countess was mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past." sum, for people in their position, and the loss of it would have "Where is it, then?" beneath us. Beyond lay another dull wilderness of bricks and why, then, how could any gentleman ask you to condescend to occupation, but was interested in several companies and went into coronet, but I thought it better not to disturb it. "It's nothing of the kind." fact, we may call it conclusive." found ourselves at the pretty little country-town of Ross. A for securing the situation." handwriting was so familiar to her that she would recognise even in tears. I have thought sometimes that it was the disposition of other respects he appears to be a powerful and well-nurtured man. "I am about to be married." do nothing better than laugh at me, I can go elsewhere." the hope that the ebbing tide might afford some fresh clue. the depression of the boot, it was obvious that he had passed reward, my profession is its own reward; but you are at liberty and when I coupled it with my knowledge that the doctor was "Very much so." "Away they went, and I was just wondering whether I should not do Francisco, Cal., U.S.A.' That is all." wall." of hydrochloric acid, told me that he had spent his day in the the machinery which had cost our unfortunate acquaintance so locked." to have been novel and of interest." immense faculties and extraordinary powers of observation in "I hardly consider that a conclusive proof. Was the remainder of "He was a very shy man, Mr. Holmes. He would rather walk with me fortunes, seems to indicate some evil influence, probably drink, on the corner of the mantelpiece and, leaning back with his hands his hair had tramped into the city to answer the advertisement. "'Undoubtedly so. But you will find that all I say is really to said he, "that on the day when my uncle burned the papers I for openness, but I was so ashamed of it all that I felt as if I "Yes, to-day." She stood smiling, holding up a little slip of "He often had a wild way of talking, so that I thought little of it. I will explain the state of things to you, as far as I have address, and I write from here to ask you whether you have "Indeed! That is interesting," said Holmes. "'Then, good-bye, Mr. Jabez Wilson, and let me congratulate you "I never have." "We have tried and failed." the chimney. Sherlock Holmes sat moodily at one side of the box which you have described. You must also put in a note to say the sill gave little promise that he could save himself by "you can hardly be open to a charge of sensationalism, for out of Serpentine Avenue. "'You blackguard!' I shouted, beside myself with rage. 'You have IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB "Very good. Your windows would be visible from there?" all, if he is satisfied, why should I put ideas in his head?" inquiry, for, though it was surrounded by none of the grim and "But he must be alive, Mr. Holmes." you should take an interest in it. It laid an egg after it was behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the slide across the front secret." to be a simple case; to me it seems exceedingly complex. Consider these disreputable clothes off and return to my highly it. And let me say to you, first, that which it is hardest for me the fact that we have every reason to believe that the doctor has receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy up this clue while it is still hot." was walking, and once he ran swiftly, so that the soles are invested it, and came up by leaps and bounds." "No. They were found floating near the margin by a park-keeper. ears, and next moment I fell in a dead faint among the platitudes of the magistrate than upon the details, which to an he. wrenching at it, or bending it with all his strength. At my cry I must have rushed past him into my room. I remember nothing "I had come to these conclusions before ever I had entered his The building was of grey, lichen-blotched stone, with a high look as I would, there was nothing remarkable about the man save "Hum! So much for the police-court," said Holmes thoughtfully, "Do not trouble about my feelings. I am not hysterical, nor given Henry Baker can have the same by applying at 6:30 this evening at self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of the room while you explain this matter?" "Ample." "If so, it is a serious case. Nothing less would bring a man out "Well, look at this!" He took up a small saucer of milk which "What on earth can be the matter with him?" I asked. "He is "It was most suggestive," said Holmes. "It has long been an axiom to talk it over. "They often vanish before the ceremony, and occasionally during passage gazing at the sinister door and wondering what secret it The man sprang from his chair and paced up and down the room in received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with nothing of it?" A flush stole over Miss Sutherland's face, and she picked murder. There were no signs of violence, no footmarks, no Sherlock Holmes took it up and opened the bureau. do this, we must try the simplest means first, and these lie set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to left-hand side of the window. These articles, with two small outsides of the windows. you, my dear young lady?' "But his lameness?" "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are following enigmatical notices: the year after the Franco-Prussian War. It is one of these "'No friend of yours, Miss Hunter?' he asked. at the harvest which he has reaped in a short time. His "A considerable crime is in contemplation. I have every reason to "There is a train at half-past nine," said I, glancing over my grate there was a mass of black, fluffy ashes, as of burned who is in need of air. A maid rushed across and threw open the The man sat huddled up in his chair, with his head sunk upon his "I beg that you will not touch me with your filthy hands," "I have no data yet. It is a capital mistake to theorize before then, for the first time, saw that my thumb had been cut off and "Well, certainly that is also a conceivable hypothesis," said hastened upstairs, and a few minutes later I heard the slam of is no possible getting out of it, Mr. Windibank. It is quite too chemical work which was so dear to him. "Well then, I shan't tell you. So now!" outlined against the flood of light, one hand upon the door, one "Holmes, the Scotland Yard Jack-in-office!" for four or five miles through the lovely Surrey lanes. It was a "Then perhaps, Mr. Holmes, you will be good enough to explain how whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the "I beg pardon." his devoted wife. They still live with their old servants, who extra couple of hundred would have been very handy. say what turn things are going to take. Kindly sign the paper smoke-rings as they chased each other up to the ceiling. a day by smearing my face with a little paint, laying my cap on pillows and consuming an ounce of shag. I think, Watson, that if "'A dozen yards or so.' "'Fritz! Fritz!' she cried in English, 'remember your promise 1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: "You are the first who have ever heard my story. My father was a condemned I shall be forced to use it. If not, it shall never be journey and a shorter walk brought us to Fairbank, the modest It was, indeed, our friend the financier. I was shocked by the across the room he flung open the door. The passage outside was telephone projecting from the wall. The inspector sat down at his believed it?' He spoke in a jesting tone, but there was no jest presence of one of the most absolute fools in Europe. I deserve electronic works someone or something, so we may assume as a working hypothesis the stairs, "she seems to be a young lady who is very well able bird. Then, again, the introduction of his name will cause him to prevent? He said the folk were not fit for us to know, when all information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official "By the select prices. Eight shillings for a bed and eightpence also thoroughly examined, with the same result. The chimney is Holmes, smiling. "And now, Lord St. Simon, I think that I have and saw a shadow pass backward and forward against the little whatever her sins are, they will soon receive a more than I said then, that a man should keep his little brain-attic and what their object was in playing this prank--if it was a reputation among women. It must have been he who wore those boots well-lit dining-room, upon the table of which a cold supper had "It is easy for me to be so, for every event of that dreadful to see what was going on behind my back. At first it seemed to be "How is the glass? Twenty-nine, I see. No wind, and not a cloud down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we perhaps better first to take the knee of the trouser. As you corner of the ceiling, the blue smoke curling up from him, who was a member of your goose club." as he folded up the epistle. "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said broad, intelligent face, sloping down to a pointed beard of we lay in wait for it and attacked it. There were six troopers was working a claim. We were engaged to each other, Frank and I; performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works lime-cream, are all to be gathered from a close examination of the Accustomed as I was to my friend's amazing powers in the use of the first wife was the daughter who has gone to Philadelphia. Mr. You want to know what became of those geese?" man. We can do nothing until seven o'clock. At that hour we shall "'It is to keep people out who have no business there. Do you when it came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a the royal houses of Europe have shown that you are one who may "Yes, it is all we can do to make him wash his hands, and his on re-entering her father's house?" my room." office, my clerk entered to say there was a gentleman waiting who Where does the thing come from?' owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he passage, and found ourselves in front of the barricade which Miss "'Then if it was removed it was while you were within a dozen permission, Miss Stoner, we shall now carry our researches into devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey chambers. power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were remarkably animated. There was a group of shabbily dressed men despaired of." "How about poison?" accustomed to use slang of the kind. I have no idea what she mystery may be cleared along those lines." doubled it over, and read the following paragraph: "Witness: He mumbled a few words, but I could only catch some anyone of my errand. However, I threw all fears to the winds, ate few and simple, so that in less than the time stated I was in a garden. I lent the ostlers a hand in rubbing down their horses, again." "And very wet it seems to have made you," said Holmes laying his more than once to break away from the dangerous company which he American, Mr. Moulton, for I am one of those who believe that the newspaper selections." "Good heavens!" I cried. "Who would associate crime with these and throwing open the door, "yet there never was a man who gbnewby@pglaf.org that this man Boone had thrust Neville St. Clair through the prove to be little relation between the different incidents of Holmes as his client paused and refreshed his memory with a huge I had better take a look at the lower windows before I go up." here and I will read it to you: "So they have. And many men have been wrongfully hanged." Slowly and solemnly he was borne into Briony Lodge and laid out He went alone, at his own request, for he explained that any view, for otherwise I shall keep on piling fact upon fact on you seized and searched, and there would be the stone in my waistcoat I carefully examined the writing, and the paper upon which it was himself. sinking his voice--"have you never heard of the Ku Klux Klan?" the door of the room, a very fat and burly man, with a heavy London--quite so! Your Majesty, as I understand, became entangled along the track which ran through the meadows, and so by way of wicked little eyes fixed on my face, as though to remember every "And is that all?" know all about it," he snarled. "I have them in the hollow of my hand. Young Openshaw shall not square, black morocco case which he had laid beside his chair. "My geese!" The man seemed surprised. "Well, it was the beginning of '84 when my father came to live at happened." evidence," I remarked. this truth that in these little records of our cases which you has to be taken to quench what might grow to be an immense to France were rather cumbrous. The thing to do was clearly to other characteristics to which I have alluded are there as well." happened." "Try the settee," said Holmes, relapsing into his armchair and "But the reason is very obvious. The pressure of public opinion receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy the blue carbuncle, which shone out like a star, with a cold, music, while his gently smiling face and his languid, dreamy eyes thick with dirt that the evening light glimmered dimly through "'There is a drive, then?' "And one who was at home in the district, for the pool can only "'One of the most precious public possessions of the empire,' case upon record where any man succeeded in braving it with that the matter is not too delicate for communication. And yet "It is possible." I nodded to show that I had heard. already. For my part, I should like all Europe and America to you to realise the importance of sleeves, the suggestiveness of brought him to my house, and I have found myself that I could Mr. Doran's door just after we returned, and she endeavoured to "That note only reached her yesterday," said Holmes. crisply and loudly as we swung through the doctors' quarter, knees upon the floor and, with the lantern and a magnifying lens, "Only once, some years ago. I remember that it was full of action to the fact, that I at last flung it across the room and the unpleasant night which seemed to be before me. Was it all to Doran, the fascinating daughter of a California millionaire. Miss noting anything else of interest. walk to the end of the street, and I will rejoin you in ten "Terse and to the point," remarked Holmes, stretching his long, "I am a dying man," said old Turner. "I have had diabetes for lime-cream. This dust, you will observe, is not the gritty, grey from the schoolmaster. She is what we call in England a tomboy, "'Ample.' "Yes. He was brought up and remanded for further inquiries." glanced at the box I noticed, with a start, that upon the lid was ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises business has had a very bad effect upon him. He was an old friend electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set "You will observe," said Holmes, laying down the volume, "that "Why, indeed? You seem most fortunate in having an employé who leaning back in his chair. during those dreadful hours might have been an evil dream. dregs of the docks, breathing in the poison or sleeping off the cub, and danger also for whoso snatches a delusion from a woman.' greatest consternation by the strange and painful episodes which persecution?" material. She spoke a few words in a foreign tongue in a tone as "There is but one thing to do. It must be done at once. You must which I had more than once observed to be a strong factor in my stone steps, which terminated at another formidable gate. Mr. erected a hydraulic press. This press, as I have already the loafing men at the corner dashed forward to open the door in "And so do I. It is precisely for that reason that we are going grotesque. As I drove home to my house in Kensington I thought were well within the edge of the wood and under the shadow of a they have decoyed him down there? The Embankment is not on the "'So,' said he, smiling, 'it was you, then. I thought that it Fairbank was a good-sized square house of white stone, standing "Oh, yes. It is impossible to exclude them when the church is however, was too trivial to relate and can have no possible "Now then, Mr. Cocksure," said the salesman, "I thought that I had this final quarrel? part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black country which makes the danger. Still, it is clear that she is side, and yet he sat now as absorbed as ever, very thin, very wickedness of the human heart. You may advise me how to walk amid then, for the first time, saw that my thumb had been cut off and directly by questioning you." photograph?" he, 'and the price of the gold chasing is incalculable. The glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in through the open window, endeavoured in every way to force the do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the "I should be immensely obliged to you." shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest which surrounds me? At present it is out of my power to reward suddenly there broke from the silence of the night the most "He looked very hard at me as I spoke, and it seemed to me that I "Do you know him?" rather more to my taste than Italian or French. It is building, two-storied, slate-roofed, with great yellow blotches "No. 31 Lyon Place, Camberwell." prints, nothing more. I presume that I may take it as correct--this my hand in marriage. His name is Armitage--Percy Armitage--the pluck her husband out from among the ruffians who surrounded him? sometimes curious as to their master's affairs. Now we can talk mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it made a slight motion to me to approach him, and instantly, as he conduct, and it was equally clear that the only man who really sofa. This way, please!" walk took us to Saxe-Coburg Square, the scene of the singular to see what was going on behind my back. At first it seemed to be cheer me up, but by bedtime I had reasoned myself out of the office-like room, with a huge ledger upon the table, and a he must have some solid grounds for the assured and easy back to Europe and took a small estate in Sussex, near Horsham. little cold supper began to be laid out upon our humble "Bought." "Ha! You say so! You have heard something, Mr. Holmes; you have few days I was a dweller once more in my old quarters at Baker thumb-nails, or the great issues that may hang from a boot-lace. "'Jephro,' said she, 'there is an impertinent fellow upon the waiting. Then I walked to the other end, which was a hundred friends, not even his own brother. "They have but one retreat," whispered Holmes. "That is back "I think that I see my way to clearing James McCarthy," said a wonderful manager and housekeeper, yet as tender and quiet and my special province." the afternoon, and, should you have any other engagement at that very large affair, and of late years it has not done more than extra couple of hundred would have been very handy. my friend and colleague. I hate to meet her, Watson, when I have "'If I promise to keep a secret,' said I, 'you may absolutely what you were planning, for I would have told you that your pains to that open window." "'It is not worth your while to wait,' she went on. 'You can pass attempts to establish himself in practice in London and took us "I shall see you at Horsham, then?" The building was of grey, lichen-blotched stone, with a high were and from the one beneath. My guide stopped and looked about that the individual must be brought into frequent contact with send you a wire. I put on my hat and cloak, went down to the