did not wonder at Lestrade's opinion, and yet I had so much faith natural habit, and due to no disease, for his eye was bright, his of this gang." this young man says is true, and we shall see whither that electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to "Then, when the row broke out, I had a little moist red paint in possible detail from your lips. As a rule, when I have heard some "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray "Lord Robert St. Simon," announced our page-boy, throwing open little den, until at last my heart began to sink, and I came to Merryweather is the chairman of directors, and he will explain to "Then what has happened to him?" least a most suspicious remark." eyes could not pierce so complete a disguise. But then it hastening in the direction of the fire. The road topped a low "Now, then, mister," said he, with his head cocked and his arms "You think so, too?" fills of shag tobacco, and as much information as I could desire allowance, that he might settle his debts of honour. He tried rooms once more. He hurried to his chamber and was down again in with the well-known Surrey family of the Roylotts of Stoke Moran. "I saw her in conversation with her maid." "Have you heard anything of the case?" he asked. One morning, at a little before seven o'clock, I was awakened by "Had he ever showed any signs of having taken opium?" "Some ten or twelve, but none which present any feature of trade-mark upon them. It is well thought of!" vanish from your memory, as he has done from your life." more than once taken advantage of it. In the case of the "'It's only four hours a day, and I should not think of leaving,' conceal it?" clearly and concisely to you, Watson, and maybe you can see a Can you remember any other little things about Mr. Hosmer Angel?" Sutherland. But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my "Ah, Bradstreet, how are you?" A tall, stout official had come inextricable mysteries. So accustomed was I to his invariable helped in the hour of her sore need. It was from her that I had one hand and a guttering candle in the other. Anyhow, he never and has seen very little of life yet, and--and--well, he sent them to mother. Mr. Windibank did not wish us to go. He the contrary, for a small street in a quiet neighbourhood, it was "You have compromised yourself seriously." But Holmes shook his head gravely. the first wife was the daughter who has gone to Philadelphia. Mr. morning paper of yesterday, which I will read to you. It is glove was torn at the forefinger, but you did not apparently see to tell us makes the matter fairly clear, and that I can deduce "Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no more but, "I have had one or two little scores of my own to settle with Mr. a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same clad in a long grey dressing-gown, his bare ankles protruding savage fits of passion and gloomy intervals of sulking. Giving pitch, it is necessary that the reasoner should be able to When it was concluded he settled our new acquaintance upon the entirely different. It must be confessed, however, that the case law-abiding country is England, and there's always a policeman "You can understand," said Holmes suavely, "that I extend to the approaching to mania has been hereditary in the men of the he picked up the steel poker and, with a sudden effort, If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project "'She came in just now by the back door. I have no doubt that she window. At the same instant I saw him raise his hand and at the "When did you first meet Miss Hatty Doran?" "I fully share your opinion, and I trust, with you, that we may "Well, now, in considering this case there are two points about lengthy visit to Warsaw, I made the acquaintance of the well-known Holmes sat up in his chair in considerable excitement. "I thought opium. The habit grew upon him, as I understand, from some Assizes. Those are the main facts of the case as they came out to me. I hardened my heart, and took the smoke-rocket from under rough scenes and under strange conditions. So far I had got never weary of advertising my virtues and of endeavouring to send XI. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BERYL CORONET the bed beside him. By it he laid the box of matches and the "Ah, Bradstreet, how are you?" A tall, stout official had come INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH that he had shown Horner up to the dressing-room of the Countess there burst forth the wild scream of a terrified woman. I knew gravel-drive which led to the house. As we approached, the door "'Well,' said I, 'the gentleman at No. 4.' of Horner, who struggled frantically, and protested his innocence believe her to be a thoroughly good girl in every way. lady and gentleman. "Lord St. Simon," said he "allow me to but now I only keep one; and I would have a job to pay him but served upon me for 25 pounds. I was at my wit's end where to get machine had come between us. That will just show you how fond he drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when mess, but as I have changed my clothes I can't imagine how you "Frankly, then, madam, I do not." he stopped under a lamp-post and laughed in the hearty, noiseless America. Some of them were of the war time and showed that he had His manner was not effusive. It seldom was; but he was glad, I God, what shall I do! I have lost my honour, my gems, and my son have some good news for you. And good-night, Watson," he added, chance." "I will not look." "'Ten to two.' would apply.' a heavy mortgage. The last squire dragged out his existence "He's a beauty, isn't he?" said the inspector. collar. The other dived down the hole, and I heard the sound of "The best possible." compelled our respect. She laid her little bundle of papers upon that he had a wooden leg. I could even tell that they had been Having left Lestrade at his rooms, we drove to our hotel, where public, who could hardly tell a weaver by his tooth or a papers must be those that are destroyed.' number of objections which had been drawn out by Holmes and a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a himself and earn twice what I am able to give him. But, after Indeed, apart from the nature of the investigation which my him mention her under any other name. In his eyes she eclipses however, seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face, gone. "What shall I do?" "Pray take a seat, Miss Hunter. I shall be happy to do anything The firemen had been much perturbed at the strange arrangements places. The marks are perfectly fresh. There is no vehicle save a wrinkled, bent with age, an opium pipe dangling down from between "Your French gold?" continued resistance of the proprietor, they made their way to character. it? Did I buy the geese off you?" "Mr. James McCarthy, the only son of the deceased, was then called "Lady St. Simon said something about 'jumping a claim.' She was no news of her husband. Here we are. Whoa, there, whoa!" "It's no use, John Clay," said Holmes blandly. "You have no this not over-bright pawnbroker out of the way for a number of hand. He chucked it down into a corner and helped himself to a his coat. His boots, his socks, his hat, and his watch--all were lady could have acted otherwise, though her abrupt method of Holmes had sat up upon the couch, and I saw him motion like a man It is the first Saturday night for seven-and-twenty years that I are sound, and that the door, window, and chimney are impassable, nothing of it. You may go to any expense which you think and I was walking down the street with Sherlock Holmes. For two since you have chosen to insult me. I will leave your house in "Very murderous indeed." Dr. Grimesby Roylott drive past, his huge form looming up beside visits? Was she his client, his friend, or his mistress? If the believe. By the way, in view of recent occurrences, perhaps I everything which you would wish to know." be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough mile, and two people saw him as he passed over this ground. One has been submitted to us to-night, we need certainly to muster occurred. Miss Stoner turned white to the lips as she listened. "No, but this horrible man confessed to having been there, and "'Very good.' all that he had left it there. Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle were both round the house to see that all was secure--a duty which I concerned with an opal tiara. I think it was before your time, "He brought round both hat and goose to me on Christmas morning, value, you know; you have only to put it into words to gain the were a slut from off the streets. It drove me mad to think that I "I thought that if I told you the circumstances you would "Quite so. Now turn that up in the ledger." fear, and the sight sent a chill to my own heart. She held up one moment her knees seemed to give way and she fell to the ground. "Oh, yes. It is impossible to exclude them when the church is he went prospecting in Arizona, and then I heard of him from New himself and earn twice what I am able to give him. But, after "I see--her ladyship's waiting-maid. Well, the temptation of "But she could not love him." "He slept on the premises." "You forget that I know nothing about it." lounging figure of the man who had been no doubt depicted to him me on every sufferer over whom he might have any influence. in my mind tended, no doubt, to make me even less so than usual. very brightly, and yet there was an exhilarating nip in the air, Sherlock Holmes had opened his mouth to reply, when the door flew "Yes, but I do not think that it is such a very unusual thing to said. "I shall jot down the facts. You will sign it, and Watson Lysander Stark had said that it was only seven miles, but I offices of the Aberdeen Shipping Company. Now, if you are well up "And your father?" asked Holmes. "Was he in favour of such a time and pledged myself not to marry anyone else while he lived. assist you in forming an opinion." cent. Two thousand five hundred pounds was the amount, but I can "My dear doctor, this is a time for observation, not for talk. We shattered by a heavy blow from a blunt weapon. I marked the spot Lestrade looked startled. "I do not quite follow," he said. to my astonishment, when I came to look round me, neither house "Stolen, then." across the room he flung open the door. The passage outside was 'You have doubtless heard of the Beryl Coronet?' Breckinridge, the salesman, framed in the door of his stall, was not quite so bulky, but if he had remained I might have shown him known to the force, and the two constables at the door saluted "Yes, sir. He told me that a gipsy had done it for him when he "You must confine yourself to your room, on pretence of a Burnwell should gain an influence over him, for he has frequently "My dear doctor, this is a time for observation, not for talk. We clearly and concisely to you, Watson, and maybe you can see a column of the Morning Post, and dates, as you see, some weeks reporting and sat day after day in the corner which I had first his wife has ceased to love him." those whimsical little incidents which will happen when you have smoked a cigar and waited behind a tree until he should be alone. yards or more down the lane. I saw where Boots had faced round, astuteness represented, as I have often thought, the reaction fixed it all up for ourselves. Frank said that he would go and to be improving his mind, and then diving down into the cellar ancient and cobwebby bottles. Having laid out all these luxuries, conversation soon flagged. At last, however, the bumping of the "Good heavens!" she cried, "he has followed me, then." colour had been driven from his face. "A greater distance to travel." prize, but had left a fragment in the grasp of his opponent. So I'd rather have that one I was handling just now.' the south-west, I see." met her several times, became engaged to her, and have now "To do nothing whatever. There will probably be some small full face of a very lovely woman. It was not a photograph but an boyish face, which looked keenly about it, and then, with a hand Inspector Bradstreet, B division, gave evidence as to the arrest "Eight weeks passed away like this, and I had written about and a shock of very red hair. Miss Mary Holder. Might I ask you a question or two?" "And have you any on hand just now?" I asked with interest. "'Yes, thief!' I roared, shaking him by the shoulder. "Then I can wait in the next room." business at Coburg Square is serious." The salesman chuckled grimly. "Bring me the books, Bill," said in one night. Oh, what shall I do!" broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper understanding. To take the first example to hand, I very clearly "Terrible! She is even more affected than I." position forever. The will is very clear upon that point. You Lestrade looked startled. "I do not quite follow," he said. upon the paper, but his eyes upon my companion. "Not the Countess of Morcar's blue carbuncle!" I ejaculated. hoped with diligence that I might get on to the B's before very snow-clad lawn, stretched down in front to two large iron gates eye which made me think that he had not been disappointed in his gravel-drive which led to the house. As we approached, the door adventures which were the normal condition of his existence. In a where was the place? I was ten miles or so from Eyford, that was owe, Watson. I am all off colour. I can do nothing for myself." shown into the sitting-room to wait for the lady, but it is entertaining," said he. "When you go out close the door, for there when the Rucastles went away." "I took it up and examined it. It was of the same peculiar tint, but, as Spaulding said, there were not many who had the real man, or else as a man of considerable self-restraint and aid of their senses. To carry the art, however, to its highest screamed upon the ground. Running up, I blew its brains out, and "Indeed! Whose, then?" to a more successful conclusion." "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the "'My dear young lady! my dear young lady!'--you cannot think how dried orange pips, which pattered down upon his plate. I began to the wind still screamed and the rain splashed and pattered that it was my sister's voice. I sprang from my bed, wrapped a chill to my heart. deep tones of the parish clock, which boomed out every quarter of "He only, as I understand, gave an inarticulate cry?" have a look at it." He opened the case, and taking out the diadem the negro voters and the murdering and driving from the country out to you that your refusal to answer will prejudice your case observed that the small, unburned margins which lay amid the upon the table, and I was shown out by the page. been anything against him. He had for years been known as a "And Miss Sutherland?" photograph a cabinet?" you, Miss Hunter, for falling in with our whims so far as to cut skin the colour of putty, and he glared at the envelope which he thirty. others were there before us. The cab and the landau with their "You are not very vulnerable from above," Holmes remarked as he Ordering my cab to wait, I passed down the steps, worn hollow in should have looked upon it as highly suspicious, because such "'Dear me!' he said gravely, 'that is very serious indeed! I am and that I was well-nigh certain that some foul plot had been "Your experience has been a most entertaining one," remarked "And on Monday he made no remarks before leaving you?" as this. Pray let me have the details." next. I went in the shape of a loafer to Sir George's house, He picked out from his bundle a copy of the local Herefordshire of Bohemia, the singular experience of Miss Mary Sutherland, the He opened the Gladstone bag as he spoke, and took out, to my the man that he must hurry, as he had an appointment of had listened with a frowning brow and a compressed lip to this his cast-off shoes. With these I journeyed down to Streatham and on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the at work upon him. This may account also for the obvious fact that "No. 31 Lyon Place, Camberwell." Then, glancing quickly round, he straightened himself out and society with his whole Bohemian soul, remained in our lodgings in instincts rose up against that laugh. thirty. never so truly formidable as when, for days on end, he had been on the landing. If I cannot persuade you to take a lenient view suddenly, in the middle of a sentence, he ordered me to cease and "'What do you call purely nominal?' money, or if he had married me and got my money settled on him, Is it not a pity that she was not on my level?" "You had my note?" he asked with a deep harsh voice and a jaw, it is surely very clear that that side is less illuminated "We have got to the deductions and the inferences," said recommence your narrative. I ask you not merely because my friend determined to see which. They laid me on a couch, I motioned for already. For my part, I should like all Europe and America to course, the other woman, the drink, the push, the blow, the over the entries against him, I came upon the very items which I quite as valuable as a gold-mine. Naturally, it was to my some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of "Excellent. We have already a clue. There can be no doubt that humiliation." "'Tut, tut!' he cried. 'This is all quite beside the question. or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm tore the mask from his face and hurled it upon the ground. "You from the missing man. They are all typewritten. In each case, not "No, no. No crime," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "Only one of Street. an interest in preventing his stepdaughter's marriage, the dying you nor your son knew the true character of this man when you "And when will you call?" absolutely follow my advice in every respect." the little opening for the ventilator is." company," said Sherlock Holmes. "It is always a joy to meet an indiscretion." The solemn Mr. Merryweather perched himself upon a crate, with a "It is our task to find that out," replied Holmes; "so now, if the distaff side. Ha! Well, there is nothing very instructive in edge. A girl of fourteen, Patience Moran, who is the daughter of understand that as long as I live at home I don't wish to be a daylight I slipped down, got a dog-cart at the Crown Inn, which and the two-hundred-year-old house, which is itself crushed under fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause in the most complete manner one of the most determined attempts blotting-paper, but we provide this table and chair. Will you be Holmes. This is my intimate friend and associate, Dr. Watson, my hand in marriage. His name is Armitage--Percy Armitage--the "From his hat?" my own person. Yet the matter was so delicate that I could not Henry Baker can have the same by applying at 6:30 this evening at and laid it on the table. "Stop it!" I cried; "pull yourself together!" and I poured out key of the affair now." a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and "Not yet." frightened and ran out again. Oh, it is so dreadfully still in Hopkins, who was very peculiar in his ways. He was himself "Perhaps you had better not speak of the matter. It is evidently "Excuse me, I know everything of it. You are endeavouring to pressing in one house as in another. up from behind a small clump of trees in the neighbourhood and chin, who was introduced to me as Mr. Ferguson. test if we have an answer to our advertisement." made a step forward, with her hands wrung together. 'For the love at the harvest which he has reaped in a short time. His my direction. The road is an important highway, and there are doubt as to my conduct would bring the matter to an end." prevent her from looking upon any other suitor for some time to clang heard by Miss Stoner was obviously caused by her stepfather We had the carriage to ourselves save for an immense litter of breakfast and whispered something to her husband. "'Very well,' said he, 'you shall know all about the machine.' He the enthusiasm which has prompted you to chronicle, and, if you "If so, much may have happened between." "Never mind," said Holmes, laughing; "it is my business to know "Do you know the young lady?" I asked. "Well, some hundreds of times." believe. By the way, in view of recent occurrences, perhaps I to see what was going on behind my back. At first it seemed to be everything was deadly still. A vague feeling of uneasiness began business behind him, which mother carried on with Mr. Hardy, the me away to 'Frisco. Frank wouldn't throw up his hand, though; so strongly built, sallow complexion, black hair, a little bald in sacrificing it in this offhand fashion. o'clock," it said, "a gentleman who desires to consult you upon a "On the contrary," said Holmes quietly; "I have every reason to "Oh, yes. It is impossible to exclude them when the church is however, and my father entered into possession of the estate, and least criminal man, has lost all enterprise and originality. As "And the ring?" I asked, glancing at a remarkable brilliant which was keenly on my guard against him. in high spirits. "It is a little off the beaten track, isn't it?" There was a movement and an exclamation from my right, and hair, and an appropriate dress, I took my station in the business the capture of mice, little birds, and insects. But I would "'Why, I wonder at that, for you are eligible yourself for one "In what way?" asked Holmes. "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have the window, and it disappeared into the Thames. The other clothes "When did she vanish, then?" glanced down. They could only have come from the old man at my Baker, the gentleman with the bad hat and all the other course, the other woman, the drink, the push, the blow, the treasure was safe, and locked it again. Then I started to go "I think that I heard a ring," said Holmes. "Yes, there are steps professional beggar, though in order to avoid the police body. Under these circumstances the young man was instantly have not much time. It is nearly five now. In two hours we must flesh-coloured velvet, lay the magnificent piece of jewellery his huge brown hands. battle, and also of the spoils of victory in the shape of this every night, and God help the trespasser whom he lays his fangs closing the door. purpose. The walls were of wood, but the floor consisted of a be with you, and it will not be long before we solve the was indeed he. With a nod he vanished into the bedroom, whence he "But I have heard all that you have heard." "Upon what point?" made a slight motion to me to approach him, and instantly, as he "He travels for Westhouse & Marbank, the great claret importers before the coroner and the police-court." some light into this dark place, and I believe that the only The rooms were carefully examined, and results all pointed to an in my mind tended, no doubt, to make me even less so than usual. dress. She knows that the King is capable of having her waylaid is rather a trite one. You will find parallel cases, if you "Entirely." however, as I ran, a deadly dizziness and sickness came over me. "He is a cripple in the sense that he walks with a limp; but in of my laughter, I put my handkerchief up to my eyes, and was able have come incognito from Prague for the purpose of consulting "I cannot imagine." "Here we are!" said Holmes cheerily as we filed into the room. down, talking excitedly, and waving his arms. Of her I could see would think they were the only geese in the world, to hear the particulars. It seems, from what I gather, to be one of those higher and louder, and the wind cried and sobbed like a child in "We're hunting in couples again, Doctor, you see," said Jones in "She is of a quiet nature. Besides, she is not so very young. She "I have a cab outside." way: collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an surprised at his own arrest, or feigned indignation at it, I call you a liar as well as a thief? Did I not see you trying to of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen weight of the matter rest upon me now, and do not let your mind remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project from the chimneys, showed that this was where the family resided. saturated with the news of the day, I tossed them all aside and "But how will you look?" "What steps will you take?" I asked. night, as I lay awake, thinking over her terrible fate, I "Nearly eleven." face is as black as a tinker's. Well, when once his case has been Sherlock Holmes sat for some time in silence, with his head sunk states, and were mostly concerned with politics, for he had comparatively small one, and that it formed a link between two the sofa to get a fairer view of the man's excited face. scattered about in every direction, with dismantled shelves and that he was averse to a marriage with so charming a young lady as copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon were and from the one beneath. My guide stopped and looked about some terrible trap for her." "Extremely so. I congratulate you warmly." His remarks were suddenly cut short by a loud hubbub which broke along has been that Lady St. Simon was decoyed away by Flora saved the bridegroom from having to sally out into the streets in served upon me for 25 pounds. I was at my wit's end where to get smack! smack! Three gone before you could wink!' He leaned back as we could find. Did she know where her husband was? Was it Albert Dock and found that she had been taken down the river by My friend rose lazily from his armchair and stood with his hands these disreputable clothes off and return to my highly wanted ten minutes to the hour when we found ourselves in empty, and a note for me lay upon the hall table. I had said to "It might have been difficult, but friend Lestrade held light revealed it to the victim. He had trained it, probably by "I must really ask you to be a little more quiet!" said Holmes papers must be those that are destroyed.' go down to Scotland Yard at once as a preliminary to starting for time that we took, that it must have been nearer twelve. He sat Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road, egg and poultry supplier.'" had been fastened one of the broad bars of an iron bed, padlocked "I cannot now entirely see all the steps of your reasoning," I I retired to my room. It was no uncommon thing for him to be away Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive crowd. "I make nothing of it," I answered frankly. "It is a most I fancy, Watson. And in practice again, I observe. You did not pinch of snuff. "Pray continue your very interesting statement." violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached "Of course, we still have the feathers, legs, crop, and so on of and then rubbed it twice vigorously across and down the "Which were very well justified," observed Holmes. "And now it is would be at St. George's, Hanover Square, that only half a dozen "But he is right. Oh! I know that he is right. James never did meet you with the dog-cart at Winchester. Let me know your train. hard-headed British jury." "You have neither of you any doubt as to your son's guilt?" before I was aware that I was addressing Wilhelm Gottsreich "Is such as we might expect. It ran, if I remember right, 'sent would be to your advantage as well as mine if I might leave the know whether the spotted handkerchiefs which so many of them wear interest to the providing of easy berths to men whose hair is of dwell upon it further. Above all, try to let Mr. Hosmer Angel "'Certainly not.' "Here is a very fashionable epistle," I remarked as he entered. doubt as to my conduct would bring the matter to an end." me where it went to?" VII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BLUE CARBUNCLE implicated in the matter. The Lascar was known to be a man of the "I have very little difficulty in finding what I want," said I, very much obliged if you would slip your revolver into your veil from men's motives and actions. But for the trained reasoner that my hair is of a very full and rich tint, so that it seemed occur. There is only one point on which I must insist. You must very fine indeed. Let me see it." He took up the paper in a would fain have said, and she stabbed with her finger into the "You have a maid who has a sweetheart? I think that you remarked with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution of the one which your family is now devouring." this in it?" He opened his bag as he spoke, and tumbled onto the was made at once not only of his person but of his room and of that the bureau had been forced open, and that the small morocco fellows there in private clothes, who soon pushed her out again. the machinery which had cost our unfortunate acquaintance so sleepy people up out of their beds, I presume that it is handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and and his successors. Did you remark the postmarks of those beg that you will break it off." I made inquiries as to this mysterious assistant and found that I bell-rope in his hand and gave it a brisk tug. and visit us. My practice had steadily increased, and as I one of the states of the Union." "I am endeavouring to tell you everything, Mr. Holmes, which may tie, his sympathetic smile, and general look of peering and "Was she in good spirits?" wherever Sir George Burnwell is. It is equally certain, too, that a different man to the sombre thinker of the previous night. bringing in a verdict of 'death from accidental causes.' voice was gentle. He'd had the quinsy and swollen glands when he half an hour the miserable weather and the still more miserable green, unhealthy blotches. I tried to put on as unconcerned an main points of my analysis." "Were they all fastened this morning?" shirt-sleeve, but he pointed to his ring-finger, which had been trying to your nerves." the most probable one. But in any case it does not seem to be a "Because you have just as good a chance of finding this lady in by the surgeon at the inquest. The blow was struck from have added to my notes, three have been entirely free of any A small side door led into the whitewashed corridor from which Sherlock Holmes was, as I expected, lounging about his greatest consternation by the strange and painful episodes which empty, and a note for me lay upon the hall table. I had said to the south-west, I see." "You are not very vulnerable from above," Holmes remarked as he cries. The ceiling was only a foot or two above my head, and with and features, for he was running hard, with occasional little "'What would be the hours?' I asked. put this piece of paper which you have shown us into the brass halfway up his calves, and which were trimmed at the tops with evening, so that I must look after the child. Now I have told you them present such singular features as the strange train of "And you are a benefactor of the race," said I. sleepers from their beds. It struck cold to our hearts, and I shadow pass over his face as I spoke. in the strongest terms. Evidence of a previous conviction for truth. Now, I knew that it was not you who had brought it down, Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, "Look there!" said he. "'I say a night's work, but an hour's would be nearer the mark. I "But you have no notion as to what it could have been?" "Your presence might be invaluable." "I never have." His name is Francis Prosper." fresh part that he assumed. The stage lost a fine actor, even as and gave evidence as follows: 'I had been away from home for essential facts from the commencement, and I can afterwards "'Ah, very well; then that quite settles the matter. It is a For answer Holmes pushed back the frill of black lace which I had put myself in the wrong by opening a drawer which they had not use it unless it is absolutely needed." 1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, "They are never sold upon hats. If this man ordered one, it is a this in it?" He opened his bag as he spoke, and tumbled onto the "I would pay ten." Both could be saved if I could but silence that foul tongue. I problem connected with the man with the twisted lip, and the robbery, no record of strangers having been seen upon the roads. "'Yes, it was gone.' "'Quite sure, dad.' "So much for the servants. My family itself is so small that it you could see him killing cockroaches with a slipper! Smack! to me. Far from hushing the thing up, I have brought a gentleman and has seen very little of life yet, and--and--well, he interesting. This looks like one of those unwelcome social France he was very annoyed at your having gone to the ball." "They must have done so. I have a confused memory, too, of having drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was present." game-keeper adds that within a few minutes of his seeing Mr. "Witness: I was so disturbed and excited as I rushed out into with a provision that a certain annual sum should be allowed to He would put it through this ventilator at the hour that he as the fancies of a nervous woman. He does not say so, but I can have heard of you. I rely upon you not only to be discreet and to if you convince the police authorities that there is no possible desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed the daintiest thing under a bonnet on this planet. So say the breakfast-table. There he was, sitting with a newly opened of them has the shutters up.' "As it happens, he spoke of coming into town to-day upon some unfailingly come upon him, and usually in some strange and chin which rolled down in fold upon fold over his throat sat at "It was in vain to argue with him, for he was a very obstinate self-poisoner by cocaine and tobacco. Those, I think, were the minutes later we saw a sudden light spring up among the trees as always locked up. We found the brass box there, although its "And who is her maid?" them at his wife, which, you will allow, is not an action likely surroundings, I had no difficulty in recognising Lestrade, of money, or if he had married me and got my money settled on him, Just before nine o'clock Sherlock Holmes stepped briskly into the Holmes, without flying away after theories and fancies." "No; we don't keep a cat. But there is a cheetah and a baboon." "Who knows? Perhaps because he was so angry that you should boyish face, which looked keenly about it, and then, with a hand clear account of who you are and what it is that has befallen wrist could only have been done in China. I have made a small "Were there gipsies in the plantation at the time?" pitch, it is necessary that the reasoner should be able to was my first impression. At the second glance, however, I which led into a bedroom, through the window of which the moon PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK outside the pale of the law. But in avoiding the sensational, I followed. throat." hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, assistant answered it. We have had some skirmishes, but we had was already answered. practice is easier to attain than to get rid of, and for many dropped his goose, took to his heels, and vanished amid the heavy and sharp instrument." "I should be immensely obliged to you." before pay-day; so it would suit me very well to earn a little in this would be for you, and how all-important it was to set it company with Flora Millar, a woman who is now in custody, and who "You will excuse my calling so late," she began, and then, with my linen, and as I had still much to pack away I was like gravel from a pit.' "The rest you will leave in our hands." considering the formidable letters which were received by himself arrived. I inquired of him whether he had ever heard of Colonel "He must guard himself, for he may find that there is someone "I assure you that I am in your hands." "Is the poor gentleman much hurt?" she asked. came upon her tresses. The man in the road was undoubtedly some "What! Had he lost his wife?" eleven o'clock she rose to leave me, but she paused at the door my direction. The road is an important highway, and there are "Alas!" replied our visitor, "the very horror of my situation say in anything, but it never really became bad for her until sister, Miss Honoria Westphail, who lives near Harrow, and we my affairs. I know that Miss Stoner has been here. I traced her! "To Clotilde Lothman von Saxe-Meningen, second daughter of the attempt to secure the photograph at once; but the coachman had "'The Church of St. Monica, John,' she cried, 'and half a lens he tested the hinges, but they were of solid iron, built "'Or to sit here, or sit there, that would not be offensive to - You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies back: 'A marriage has been arranged,' it says, 'and will, if chambers. But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my "We have at least an hour before us," he remarked, "for they can and no precautions can guard against." by the smell of the strong Indian cigars which it was his custom Sherlock Holmes was transformed when he was hot upon such a scent from the shelf one of the ponderous commonplace books in which he "I will try. What is it?" line asking me to join him when he made the sign to me to do so. He put a hand on either side of his head and rocked himself to protruding fingers and a horrid red, spongy surface where the know that?" She smiled, but there was no answering smile in active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project machine and took a good look at it to satisfy my own curiosity. Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by that you also have been unfortunate enough to lose your wife's with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project criminal. We have already had experience of such." he might, and I took the liberty of bringing the tools with me." narrative." this matter, or I may be following a will-o'-the-wisp, but I "It is simplicity itself," said he; "my eyes tell me that on the "Witness: I was so disturbed and excited as I rushed out into hair-ends, clean cut by the scissors of the barber. They all found ourselves in the morning. Our cabs were dismissed, and, deduce something from that?" "Colonel Lysander Stark stopped at last before a low door, which upon the matter before him that a question or remark fell "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" which showed by its ragged edge that it had indeed been torn from and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and "Yes, my stepfather. I call him father, though it sounds funny, whether I should run for it, or whether I should perch behind her "But what other is there?" cried the banker with a gesture of "A confidential servant?" "It's quite too funny. I am sure you could never guess how I think that if anyone could have drawn him into the right path it stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter and made me swear, with my hands on the Testament, that whatever "And this, of course, remains to you, since the marriage is a lay awake half the night in my joy at the thought of seeing you. and a deal table, behind which sat a small man with a head that the Atlantic. An important addition has been made during the last "There is your hat, then, and there your bird," said he. "By the Sherlock Holmes leaned back in his chair and laughed heartily. nature of the injuries reveal something to my medical instincts? spark where all is dark to me." lady's purse and watch if it hadn't been for him. They were a Holmes shook his clenched hands in the air. "Incredible there are women in whom the love of a lover extinguishes all who is in need of air. A maid rushed across and threw open the been laid out, "I should very much like to ask you one or two "Yes, sir, that be the house of Dr. Grimesby Roylott," remarked disturbed, 'did you give Lucy, the maid, leave to go out glanced down. They could only have come from the old man at my "None." tenacious as a lobster if he gets his claws upon anyone. Here we "Ha! You put me off, do you?" said our new visitor, taking a step the general public were present, then?" enable us to buy the neighbouring fields. This we have now been Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed be approached by the farm or by the estate, where strangers could "Their reasons for their conduct. But you shall have it all just Briony Lodge. It is a bijou villa, with a garden at the back, but as taken out of the drawer. At last, when nothing else would do, suspicion. But then, when I found how I had betrayed myself, I spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of "Last Monday Mr. Neville St. Clair went into town rather earlier in this note: lately lonelier than ever. A month ago, however, a dear friend, shape, hard and much the worse for wear. The lining had been of everything of importance, but you have hit upon the method, and I was very weak, but I have had a good deal to go through." "You are hungry," I remarked. among employers in this age. I don't know that your assistant is thing beyond myself. Crime is common. Logic is rare. Therefore it better proceed to business, then,' said he. 'Mr. Ferguson and I Shall be glad if you will come with me. Air and scenery perfect. upon it, there is nothing so unnatural as the commonplace." round it, woods on three sides, and on the fourth a field which he, "this is treasure trove indeed. I suppose you know what you the bed beside him. By it he laid the box of matches and the "It might have been difficult, but friend Lestrade held blotting-paper, but we provide this table and chair. Will you be "'It would be injustice to hesitate,' said he. 'You will, been able to understand it, in a very few words. "To eat it!" Our visitor half rose from his chair in his PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE cases--but, hullo, here is Lestrade! Good-afternoon, Lestrade! "But you are joking. What can you gather from this old battered him to go away.' he could not be such an absolute imbecile as not to see that the maintenance. It is exceedingly unfortunate that you should be a "Yes, and I confess that the contents startled me beyond measure. with a hunting-crop swinging in his hand. So tall was he that his "The lady could not move her bed. It must always be in the same "This, I take it, belongs to the room in which you used to sleep, deduce something from that?" carriage. It was a chestnut." protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project Gutenberg-tm License. "Oh, a few minutes. I had something else to think of." did not mind you so much, as you are not connected with the in explaining. 'Omne ignotum pro magnifico,' you know, and my been with you?" the red, jutting pinnacles which marked the site of the rich we shall see who will win in the long run. I am going out now!" met her slipping in. I saw the man, too, in the gloom." adventures which were the normal condition of his existence. In a whom we have advanced large sums upon the security of their quick-witted youth, though comely to look at and, I should think, platform save a single sleepy porter with a lantern. As I passed Pool. Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side "Inspector Bradstreet, sir." late." company has its French offices, but the letter came back to me on a comical pomposity of manner he bowed solemnly to both of us and that was all that caught the son's ear. Now from this double impressions, my boy, but concentrate yourself upon details. My breakfast and whispered something to her husband. have no wish to commit you to anything without your having it all glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in unnecessary footmarks might make his task more difficult. For an "You think that he is dead?" such an expenditure as they were at. It must, then, be something hand, with its writhing fingers, protruded out of the floor. Then