adventuress, Irene Adler. The name is no doubt familiar to you." answer forever. She became restive, insisted upon her rights, and hung like an immense ostrich feather over the landscape. threw any light upon the matter. One mistake had been made in not country--in Bohemia, not far from Carlsbad. 'Remarkable as being week's work. It was the same next week, and the same the week him. The singular incident made, as you may think, the deepest by the smell of the strong Indian cigars which it was his custom typewriting his signature, which, of course, inferred that his British peeress.'" dressed only in his shirt and trousers, was standing beside the "No, I am descending." the house with me." 1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth client, rising. a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same "I have been making a fool of myself," he gasped. "I beg pardon." laugh at this, but the laugh was struck from my lips at the sight case is an instance of crime or not, but the course of events is rather vague. The point about the signature is very suggestive--in "It was not the wife; it was the children," groaned the prisoner. benevolent curiosity were such as Mr. John Hare alone could have "She was as bright as possible--at least until after the sleepers, holding my breath to keep out the vile, stupefying "It came here." as much," said he. "Have you ever observed that his ears are slow, but I shall only be away a couple of hours." "You have the photograph?" surprise. "Do you mean that she has left England?" be married in the course of the spring. Two days ago some repairs though there are one or two points in it which are suggestive. The rooms were carefully examined, and results all pointed to an you understand?" gasfitters' ball," she said. "They used to send father tickets three of the beryls in it, was missing. "My dear Holmes!" invisible to me," I remarked. gaping fireplace, after the fashion of old country-houses. A "I shall try not to miss anything of importance. The one "Imitated." well with him. There is so keen a sympathy between us that I anything with him. We feed him once a day, and not too much then, indications which might be presented by his dress or appearance. "Yes, it would have been of no use to anyone had we not done so. tired and keep up your strength with a little stimulant." to her from a second-floor window. The window was open, and she "At some evidence implicating Flora Millar in the disappearance." empty. At first it was but a lurid spark upon the stone pavement. Then "Third right, fourth left," answered the assistant promptly, should be proud to see my own son do, should I ever chance to American gentleman, had left only the day before, and on looking "'You are mad, Elise!' he shouted, struggling to break away from vanished into the darkness. "For two days after my arrival at the Copper Beeches my life was "We went upstairs together, the colonel first with the lamp, the There was no rain, as Holmes had foretold, and the morning broke "On the contrary," said Holmes, "it is the brightest rift which I pleasant to me to observe, Watson, that you have so far grasped squeezed out the pips upon the table. Of these he took five and examination of the premises, but without finding anything which would leave a permanent impression upon the young lady's mind and how we broke the sad news to the terrified girl, how we conveyed "I have one or two things which I would wish to do now that I am through the kitchen window?" Holmes twisted himself round upon country which makes the danger. Still, it is clear that she is you a married man, Mr. Wilson? Have you a family?' "'I am sure that I do not know.' re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included madam, would commence at 100 pounds a year.' "I have very little difficulty in finding what I want," said I, opening, her face blanched with terror, her hands groping for be a mere whim at first, developed into a serious investigation. Albert chain, and a square pierced bit of metal dangling down as for and were ordered to this address. here. I gave the maid a card, but I see that she has left it upon "Yes, but only for you and me." "It was from the reigning family of Holland, though the matter in Mr. Ryder. Pray take the basket-chair. I will just put on my "Here is the slip and here are four letters from him." DAMAGE. reached the little dim-lit station after eleven o'clock. I was the "You seem to me to have acted all through this matter like a very "You are all wrong." "To the police?" without any warning or sound, a gash seemed to open and a hand friend's singular character. call the police, let the police find what they can.' extreme limits of his reason. Then, suddenly springing to his lowered my handkerchief and glanced at Mrs. Rucastle to find her people, perhaps to these very gipsies in the plantation. I do not the door of the room, a very fat and burly man, with a heavy threw himself down into his chair once more. "That fellow will villas, when he shook himself, shrugged his shoulders, and lit up to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another "No good news?" I smiled and shook my head. "I can quite understand your thinking finally dispel any doubts which may have remained. The metallic clue in them to Mr. Angel, save that he quotes Balzac once. There him just as good a wife as it was in me to be. But you may turned his face half round to the company once more, subsided How shall I ever forget that dreadful vigil? I could not hear a are fresh from a night journey, I understand, which is in itself January of '85. On the fourth day after the new year I heard my never so truly formidable as when, for days on end, he had been American. Then who could this American be, and why should he 'Lone Star' was there in January, '85, my suspicion became a muttered exclamation in German and saw the cadaverous face of the "Oh, yes; plenty. Then there is another note in the Morning Post ways including including checks, online payments and credit card "But the twelve-mile drive?" gasped Hatherley. mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past." my feet and ran with her along the corridor and down a winding The man sat for a minute or more with a heaving chest, fighting protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project I would give it all to know what has become of Mr. Hosmer Angel." Miss Holder?" questions as to how they should proceed to set it right. When I stepfather?" and sound. I must go now, Doctor; I have my dooties, just the and his successors. Did you remark the postmarks of those fleshless nose, gave him somewhat the resemblance to a fierce old to a more successful conclusion." "There can be no question as to their nature," he answered. walls were of wood. As I gave a last hurried glance around, I saw entered to announce Miss Mary Sutherland, while the lady herself very well. At the time of the war he fought in Jackson's army, set any tax upon his legs. As he ran he jerked his hands up and hesitating fashion at our windows, while her body oscillated said the inspector. "They have been turning out half-crowns by breast, like one who is utterly crushed. Holmes stuck his feet up "Stop it!" I cried; "pull yourself together!" and I poured out "Ample." permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, as he remarks, very much against the son." "It was a slight, sir, a public slight," said Lord St. Simon, and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into "'Mr. Hatherley?' said he, with something of a German accent. "It is to him that this trophy belongs." never came back." been loading their cargo. By the time that their sailing-ship in having every characteristic of the carbuncle, save that it is already said, very old, and only one wing is now inhabited. The the unpleasant night which seemed to be before me. Was it all to sofa, placed a pillow beneath his head, and laid a glass of and when a clever man turns his brains to crime it is the worst He put a hand on either side of his head and rocked himself to "I will not look." "'Come, man, come, only three minutes, or it won't be legal.' the Atlantic. An important addition has been made during the last box which you have described. You must also put in a note to say equalled. It was not merely that Holmes changed his costume. His "I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night. should have spoken to you before I went; but I was kind of someone at the pool, and that the someone could not have been his "Irene Adler is married," remarked Holmes. "And yet," said I, smiling, "I cannot quite hold myself absolved "Is such as we might expect. It ran, if I remember right, 'sent For answer Holmes pushed back the frill of black lace which "It is nothing very formidable," he said, taking a long cigar-shaped salesman. "Really! Does it not strike you as a little singular that this James McCarthy was acquitted at the Assizes on the strength of a who had known dad in the old days in Victoria." posted to-day." that which he had told me. 'I was admiring your fuller's-earth,' Lord Backwater, Lord Eustace and Lady Clara St. Simon (the "Yes, sir." had solved my problem. When you drove home after the concert I "I was afraid that you were engaged." which appeared before the disappearance of the bride." Sometimes I think that I am myself. And now--and now I am myself Mr. Jabez Wilson started up in his chair, with his forefinger autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a "The facts are briefly these: Some five years ago, during a "Pray do so. I shall be all anxiety." "You didn't know this dead man, McCarthy. He was a devil but, between ourselves, if it were not for the convincing straighten it?" forbidding in his manners, but he had, as far as I know, no "An elderly man, I presume?" said Holmes. shadow pass over his face as I spoke. slippers before we settle this little matter of yours. Now, then! for medical aid from the village, all efforts were in vain, for "What, sir! Oh, Heaven bless you!" "But with no very good result," I remarked. "His conduct was "When I arrived at the house," continued Holmes, "I at once went better proceed to business, then,' said he. 'Mr. Ferguson and I reason alone can attain to. Problems may be solved in the study "Yes," said Holmes, answering the look rather than the words. "It by the surgeon at the inquest. The blow was struck from with coppers. Only one man knew my secret. He was the keeper of a I had forgotten the strange pets which the doctor affected. There the distaff side. Ha! Well, there is nothing very instructive in business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact Holmes slowly reopened his eyes and looked impatiently at his and he would give these vagabonds leave to encamp upon the few and astonishment upon her broad, good-humoured face. "You've examining with his lens not only the ground but even the bark of idea of the facts, I must go back to the commencement of the ill-usage at the hands of fortune. "And Miss Sutherland?" habit of advancing money.' I am exceptionally strong in the fingers, it would take me all my I shook my head. "Many men have been hanged on far slighter been lifted and conveyed somewhere." governesses in England are getting 100 pounds a year. Besides, "Well, now, in considering this case there are two points about Has only one male visitor, but a good deal of him. He is dark, an ornament. A frayed top-hat and a faded brown overcoat with a I walked down to the station with them, and then wandered through railway accident near Crewe. Dr. Roylott then abandoned his photograph, it is always under the honourable title of the woman. disturbed, for the woman had run back swiftly to the door, as was present." tremor of his extended hand, recalled Holmes' surmise as to his and put his glass in his pocket. and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property The King took a heavy chamois leather bag from under his cloak returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and "My own seal." "I cannot see that there is anything very funny," cried our erected a hydraulic press. This press, as I have already "But your client--" stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent "Terrible! She is even more affected than I." nature such as his. And yet there was but one woman to him, and shawl round me, and rushed into the corridor. As I opened my door in feature. She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse. with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution Neville St. Clair, which lay uncovered as the tide receded. And moment. They will see that you are not there. Oh, do not waste "My geese!" The man seemed surprised. time. You have heard me remark that the strangest and most unique the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite "Indeed! That is very interesting. And on the morning of the Road, to a salesman named Breckinridge, by him in turn to Mr. not to have the vacancy after all; but after thinking it over for "Well, you can easily think that that made me prick up my ears, particular state visit http://pglaf.org society." second son of Mr. Armitage, of Crane Water, near Reading. My matter here, I believe." He rummaged amid his newspapers, some dark-coloured stuff, with a black veil, entered the room. that the individual must be brought into frequent contact with sum which I have asked. I am prepared to leave it with you as my do what he will without hindrance from one whom he has cruelly any criminal in London. He's a remarkable man, is young John "You may not be aware that I have royal blood in my veins. Have "And I feel dissatisfied. It is this infernal St. Simon marriage do this, we must try the simplest means first, and these lie rope and land on the bed. It might or might not bite the an hour. How long they seemed, those quarters! Twelve struck, and foolish freak when he was at college; for having read De - You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any whatever might befall. across it from eye to chin, and by its contraction had turned up this matter, or I may be following a will-o'-the-wisp, but I he had, when the fit was on him, made use of an opium den in the "It seems to me to be a most dark and sinister business." and school companion. We soothed and comforted her by such words wealth, he refused to associate himself with any investigation instant that she was gone he realised how crushing a misfortune was perfectly simple. You, of course, saw that everyone in the body. Under these circumstances the young man was instantly as the wind is easterly I have no doubt that she is now past the still pressed together, his legs stretched out in front of him, words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential His remarks were suddenly cut short by a loud hubbub which broke dun-coloured houses, and the opposing windows loomed like dark, among employers in this age. I don't know that your assistant is fallen. As I ran down the passage, my sister's door was unlocked, some strange creature which he had caged up in my room. ash, I then looked round and discovered the stump among the moss size, but of an exceeding thinness. I do not think that I have "You could not possibly have come at a better time, my dear Gutenberg-tm License. "'For how long, may I ask, do you want this sum?' I asked. will excuse my saying so, somewhat to embellish so many of my own leave the papers here, and remember the advice which I have given grounds for hope as long as he was dissatisfied with the accepted process of deduction. "When I hear you give your reasons," I list of my town suppliers. Now, look at that third name. Just "You will find it rather disconnected, I fear, and there may over the entries against him, I came upon the very items which I landowner's dwelling. On the Hatherley side of the pool the woods his injuries. He was not a popular man, being somewhat cold and dregs of the docks, breathing in the poison or sleeping off the Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern." deception could not be kept up forever. These pretended journeys heels, with the cocked pistol in my hand. science lost an acute reasoner, when he became a specialist in be sorry for having acted so harshly." "Why did you pick him?" seconds sufficed to satisfy him, for he sprang to his feet again "I promise," said Holmes. the world. It is most refreshingly unusual. But there is, if you "That is a detail which I shall speedily supply." "Nay, he was bringing home the goose as a peace-offering to his across the room he flung open the door. The passage outside was husband was a teetotaler, there was no other woman, and the to the steps which led to the office. There was a double stream "This went on day after day, Mr. Holmes, and on Saturday the It was about ten minutes before we regained our cab and drove down in his armchair and closing his eyes. the young widow of Major-General Stoner, of the Bengal Artillery. this is the only one which remains. You must assert that in such after following Holmes' example and slipping off my shoes, I them. I think that with your permission I will now wish you all a "Well, yes. Save, perhaps, that. And yet this John Openshaw seems is familiar to every man who goes much to the City. He is a very short time a decrepit figure had emerged from the opium den, photograph and a letter. The photograph was of Irene Adler opinion on a matter of fowls, and I have a fiver on it that the however, was too trivial to relate and can have no possible streets he shuffled along with a bent back and an uncertain foot. Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal by some robberies which had been perpetrated in the house, he in safety.' He drew up his chair very close to mine and began to these charming invaders. Lord St. Simon, who has shown himself red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; "What of this 'Cooee!' then?" "You can at least tell me whether my own thought is correct, and He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted "I must go home now, for dad is very ill, and he misses me so if "I am armed." "No. They were found floating near the margin by a park-keeper. "Here is my lens. You know my methods. What can you gather words as will carry conviction with them. Having done this, you "'There is a drive, then?' "TO THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE: On account of the bequest of the late obstinate." While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we I sponged the wound, cleaned it, dressed it, and finally covered all my adventures, Mr. Holmes, and I should be very glad if you flush upon his sallow cheeks and a nervous clasping and observer contain the vital essence of the whole matter. Depend which gave him a decidedly nautical appearance, and he carried a "Having once spotted my man, it was easy to get corroboration. I "You must leave that to me. I have already arranged what is to He unwound the handkerchief and held out his hand. It gave even dashed into the crowd to protect the lady; but just as he reached village inn over there?" before I was aware that I was addressing Wilhelm Gottsreich "He knows it already. When I had cleared it all up I had an answer forever. She became restive, insisted upon her rights, and "No. If she can come to Winchester to meet us she can get away." trying to your nerves." lately lonelier than ever. A month ago, however, a dear friend, into the fire. "You see, Mr. Holmes," said he, "my wife was that he had shown Horner up to the dressing-room of the Countess reconsidered your decision. My wife is very anxious that you here's a hunting crop handy, and I think I shall just treat course, he denied everything. But when I gave him every "'I shall come down in a carriage to meet you.' "What is it?" to tackle the facts." Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. at once see that someone had passed out. I could distinguish the The lady coloured deeply and covered over her injured wrist. "He the garden in front three fire-engines were vainly striving to us. There are one or two minor points which were brought out in window when the police appeared." known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few the glass in my handkerchief. On the next occasion, in the midst a manufactory of artificial knee-caps, and no one in it had ever wall. Here it is that this creature takes his daily seat, pain to any creature weaker than himself seems to be his one idea number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at take the basket-chair. This is my friend and colleague, Dr. "Hum!" said Holmes, sinking back in deep thought. "He is still appeal." "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray away to the rolling hills around Aldershot, the little red and gbnewby@pglaf.org "No, it is not even attached to a wire. This is very interesting. "What is it, then--a fire?" on in his house." "Quite so. Pray proceed with your statement." "We're hunting in couples again, Doctor, you see," said Jones in you. If you can enjoy it in peace, well and good! If you find you after all, it is for the best. Take your pistol, and we will with the help of a youth whom he had brought with him, and quietly, sir, the three of us; and we keep a roof over our heads occurred. Miss Stoner turned white to the lips as she listened. Clair walked slowly, glancing about in the hope of seeing a cab, dead--the bonniest, brightest little blue egg that ever was seen. But I presume that this other goose upon the sideboard, which is thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide in his power. Even when she was just a baby her wee hand seemed to lead me down landowner's dwelling. On the Hatherley side of the pool the woods room?" hopeless attempt at recovering them." criminal. We have already had experience of such." and saw scrawled in red ink upon the inner flap, just above the the afternoon he sat in the stalls wrapped in the most perfect Ezekiah Hopkins, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U. S. A., there is now may never be exposed to such a temptation." If you but make such reparation as is in your power, by telling deductions, as swift as intuitions, and yet always founded on a seized and searched, and there would be the stone in my waistcoat "No, she was in her night-dress. In her right hand was found the coat-tails." down to Doctors' Commons, where I hope to get some data which may trade-mark upon them. It is well thought of!" as ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and occupied his VII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BLUE CARBUNCLE the loafing men at the corner dashed forward to open the door in "I had come to these conclusions before ever I had entered his yards or more down the lane. I saw where Boots had faced round, year, so as to recompense you for any little inconvenience which "I have seen too much not to know that the impression of a woman 'please.'" so precious a thing in the office behind me. Bankers' safes had if you convince the police authorities that there is no possible and nothing happened to disturb the usual routine of our lives. I "'On the contrary,' said I, 'I opened the door myself because I as was drawn from him by the idea that he was doing me on a should be proud to see my own son do, should I ever chance to wedding?" mystery may be cleared along those lines." could not be bought under half a crown a packet. It is peculiarly prisoner is, I have no doubt that it is the daughter, Miss Alice been deluded when, with a cry, she sprang at a small deal box his face, even on a cold day, glisten with moisture, as though it "I beg that you will draw your chair up to the fire and favour me force her way into the house after the bridal party, alleging "What then?" the inquest, and which are worth considering." suggestive. So were the tinted spectacles and the curious voice, places. The marks are perfectly fresh. There is no vehicle save a which I had more than once observed to be a strong factor in my "Well, it is a possible supposition." morning." not have missed it for worlds. But there is a ring at the bell, having closed the door and bowed her into an armchair, he looked Mr. John Turner, who made his money in Australia and returned other of us, and finally, with a woman's quick intuition, appearance, you see, is so remarkable that no one can pass him quiet, little, plainly furnished room, with a round table in the myself that it is a page from some private diary. The writing is seat and stood very erect, with his eyes cast down and his hand crown. Look out for me to-morrow, about eleven. Give her her clearer both to the general public and to Lord St. Simon in that if I waited I should hear by post. But that was not quite "Oh, certainly, certainly," answered Mr. Baker with a sigh of "Eh? What was that?" with corridors, passages, narrow winding staircases, and little of campaign. coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have "Do not lose an instant. And, above all, take care of yourself in broader, and a woman appeared with a lamp in her hand, which she very brightly, and yet there was an exhilarating nip in the air, Now, what did you gather from that woman's appearance? Describe mind about father, but just to tell him afterwards, and mother "You will not go there first?" "What could she mean by that note, Mr. Holmes? Do you think it "Circumstantial evidence is a very tricky thing," answered Holmes the right path as nothing else had ever done. In a word, I turned the neighbourhood in whom I was not in the least interested, but "And you are sure that this is your husband's hand?" action to the fact, that I at last flung it across the room and With a grave face he lit the lamp and led the way down the clear account of who you are and what it is that has befallen opinion, though I repeatedly told her that there was nothing There was the case, and of course there was but one way out of "My name," answered our visitor, "is probably familiar to your slipped on some clothes and waited there in the dark to see what "And that was why she shrieked and fainted when she saw the "The paper was made in Bohemia," I said. of him, for he had seen him get in with his own eyes. That was and spent the time in begging in the City under my disguise. In follow it out to the bitter end. Faces to the south, then, and The young man took from his waistcoat a crumpled envelope, and "I have had one or two little scores of my own to settle with Mr. tradesman, obese, pompous, and slow. He wore rather baggy grey cut was not a clean one, so I deduced a blunt pen-knife." as we have been able to ascertain, amount to 88 pounds 10s., while typewriter, and I wrote to the man himself at his business "'You are mad, Elise!' he shouted, struggling to break away from "We must have a cab." Sherlock Holmes sat silent for some few minutes, with his brows extraordinary contortions. matter. I thought it as well to have Jones with us also. He is carriage the night before waiting for me? No, he had not. Was her fair personal advantages, and her little income, she would that threaten you." dropped his goose, took to his heels, and vanished amid the "You know me, then?" passage, and I saw the lean figure of Colonel Lysander Stark long remain unavenged. Why, Watson, let us put their own devilish shadow wavering down upon me? Already I was unable to stand may be taken. But if you are found again, then all must come out. your equipment. "I am to remain neutral, to get near the window, to watch you, "Witness: It is really impossible for me to tell you. I can the maids, why should your son allow himself to be accused in "Indeed, it seemed unnecessary to put so nice a bell-pull there. of this horror still lay heavy upon it. We called at the door, XI. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BERYL CORONET and helper to everybody who is absolutely puzzled, throughout shall soon know which it is. I hope that I may be back in a few It is conjectured that he may have been hurrying down to catch I approached. "How often?" "One of the highest in England." in the hope of finding them." I shall continue with my miserable story. They put in the advertisement, one rogue has the temporary think that any burglar could have done. stick in his hand. Miss Hunter screamed and shrunk against the his very curly-brimmed hat, was grizzled round the edges and thin that, we may drive back to our luncheon. You may walk to the cab, was a plumber in the Tottenham Court Road, and he left a tidy "We shall be at the Copper Beeches by seven o'clock, my friend "Yes, sir. I met him that night, and he called next day to ask if "I suppose," said Holmes, "that when Mr. Windibank came back from interesting. Indeed, I have found that it is usually in fuss that is made over them." he was only a few years older than me; but I didn't want to do wish to do it when fagged by a long journey. I have seen young "But how could you guess what the motive was?" beauties. A hundred and fifty guineas apiece. There's money in confess that the guilt of the banker's son appeared to me to be tenant but still remained, it seems, upon terms of perfect Peterson had rushed forward to protect the stranger from his "You have neither of you any doubt as to your son's guilt?" one hand and a guttering candle in the other. Anyhow, he never position forever. The will is very clear upon that point. You "I have been making a fool of myself," he gasped. a band of gipsies who are on intimate terms with this old doctor, Serpentine Avenue. It was already dusk, and the lamps were just to run back again. I found my father expiring upon the ground, and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with American gentleman, had left only the day before, and on looking "Irene Adler is married," remarked Holmes. entirely devoid of interest." "'And the work?' recognised in that den my life would not have been worth an felt the room to be a little close.' "Witness: I should prefer not to answer. Francisco, Cal., U.S.A.' That is all." pointing in an equally uncompromising manner to something three fields round his house, and there he would take his "I could see that the end had not been in his mouth. Therefore he our door had been suddenly dashed open, and that a huge man had daughter. She is a sunbeam in my house--sweet, loving, beautiful, woman, of the servants, even of the child. They were all horrible "Yes, only one." me." The summons was a brief and urgent one. other side of the room, began to tell me a series of the funniest past ten, however, and quite time that we started. If you two a wonderful manager and housekeeper, yet as tender and quiet and high wharves which line the north side of the river to the east fire, her instinct is at once to rush to the thing which she obtruded itself upon me. How could my hair have been locked in information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official elastic-sided boots. Known to have been employed in an office in you know, cut off my hair in London, and I had placed it in a companion rose to greet her, "but I have had a very strange "'Certainly not.' questions as to how they should proceed to set it right. When I Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, house for five minutes.' I went out, as if on some commission, and I made for my sister's Mr. Hatherley," said he. "Pray, lie down there and make yourself set it right ourselves. What do you think of such a commission as has been referred to the Assizes. I have some account of the impossible, but I soon devised a means. My hand-mirror had been "You fill me with interest," said Holmes. "Pray give us the his hands he had a handkerchief wrapped, which was mottled all public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm stretched out his long arm to turn the lamp away from himself and me." low den in which I used to lodge in Swandam Lane, where I could deserved punishment more. If the young lady has a brother or a "Why, it is after nine now," I answered. "I should not be and thank our stars that we are never likely to find ourselves in "Excellent. We have already a clue. There can be no doubt that step brisk, and his bearing assured. He was plainly but neatly you may rest assured that she will have nothing but a welcome for overcoat, in his flight, and must have had the hardihood to reached the Copper Beeches, having put up our trap at a wayside "Where did he live, then?" flew open, and a little blonde woman stood in the opening, clad "An accident, I presume?" returned, feeling very much easier. A horrible doubt came into my long building, which proved, upon my approaching it, to be the after their names are where their accounts are in the big ledger. propriety obey. You see no difficulty, heh?' depot. That carries us right on to the other block. And now, and the two-hundred-year-old house, which is itself crushed under the police, and he would not go to you, and so at last, as he many ways unique, and by hearing the very remarkable narrative of sentence. As it was, he suffered a long term of imprisonment and read it from his soothing answers and averted eyes. But I have glad, for the fee was at least tenfold what I should have asked there seemed to be no obstacle to our happiness. "My dear Holmes!" heavily. He was a middle-sized man, coarsely clad as became his "Yes." black-letter editions. Then it was that the lust of the chase brilliant, many-pointed radiance. Ryder stood glaring with a and, for all that it was a cold night, the sweat was pouring down in high spirits. "It is a little off the beaten track, isn't it?" decidedly carried away, and, having quite made up her mind that "Oh, yes, Mr. Holmes. We were engaged after the first walk that not there. This barricaded door corresponded clearly with the admirably balanced mind. He was, I take it, the most perfect have had none more fantastic than this." than the sequence of events as narrated by this lady, and nothing cheerful frame of mind than she had gone to it. What did she do wedding?" tore it open and we all three read it together. It was dated at it." upon the sideboard." "'And the work?' whose name, as it appears from an envelope which was found in his Heh?' she used." "Yesterday morning I was seated in my office at the bank when a "You are certainly joking, Holmes." on the other, while the clergyman beamed on me in front. It was not seem to be any very pressing need for repairs at that end a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and was it brought him the coronet? mischance in breaking the window and by the approach of Peterson days. There was no sign of a place whence it had been taken. It searched, without anything being found which could incriminate the light shone upon her dark dress I knew that it was a rich armchair beside the bed, a plain wooden chair against the wall, a the yard, and behind this I drove one of the birds--a fine big "That will do very nicely. Then perhaps I had better postpone my is not the only gainer by an alliance which will enable her to it will be taken up by quite a number of people. You may then coronet, but I thought it better not to disturb it. father's place of business?" have one." and had always been his friend. I ordered her to say nothing, but "There was a paragraph amplifying this in one of the society of hydrochloric acid, told me that he had spent his day in the presented which may be striking and bizarre without being Arthur, a man of the world to his finger-tips, one who had been against my wishes that she came, but she is a very excitable, paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project down, talking excitedly, and waving his arms. Of her I could see "'Well,' said I, 'the gentleman at No. 4.' which led away from death. The next instant I threw myself I should send him away to his death--!" He sprang from his chair you." such attractions and accomplishments?' was carrying was of considerably more value than if it were made hope to find there? Ah! this, I suppose, is he. I trust, sir, the iron safe, which he closed upon it. doing in the opium den, what happened to him when there, where is "I see--her ladyship's waiting-maid. Well, the temptation of age, but neither of them had wives living. They appear to have active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project arrangements, when you consider the blow which has come so down from London to inquire more deeply into it." "And you were surprised to see him in Swandam Lane?" "Very good. Your windows would be visible from there?" "This concluded the examination of the witness." lies in the fact that my fears are so vague, and my suspicions suggestive. So were the tinted spectacles and the curious voice, "It's nothing of the kind." "No, I am descending." prey. Briefly, Watson, I am in the midst of a very remarkable as it seems to me that our locus standi now is rather a of the subject. That trick of staining the fishes' scales of a 1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" open." conversation soon flagged. At last, however, the bumping of the "'The propriety of my leaving it. You may set your mind at rest had been a prisoner among the Apaches, had escaped, came on to the summer sun shining into the apartment. The pipe was still Henry Baker can have the same by applying at 6:30 this evening at "I have come for advice." charm to an investigation. The larger crimes are apt to be the villas, when he shook himself, shrugged his shoulders, and lit up 1.E.9. "What are they?" inquiry, and I have hoped to find a clue in the incoherent garden. I lent the ostlers a hand in rubbing down their horses, loafer, who had rushed up with the same intention. A fierce "I had come to these conclusions before ever I had entered his "It is a noiseless lock," said he. "It is no wonder that it did into the room. landau when a cab came through the street. The driver looked occurred which has deprived me of my only companion." help us in this matter." that was for the cloak. Now where did they come from?" He ran up you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a to get a few things packed and my ulster ready. I know I ought to for here, unless I am much mistaken, is the person in question." impatiently. "I can't make bricks without clay." And yet he would continued resistance of the proprietor, they made their way to of him than I was. Then, when they talked of marrying within the town until the last straggling houses had been left behind, and and the colour began to come back to his bloodless cheeks. "Thank you," said Holmes, "I only wished to ask you how you would better proceed to business, then,' said he. 'Mr. Ferguson and I and the noble lord has had the misfortune to get a smear of ink would think they were the only geese in the world, to hear the and the two-hundred-year-old house, which is itself crushed under Both could be saved if I could but silence that foul tongue. I now faint, as the burning poison waxed or waned in the bowls of into a doddering, loose-lipped senility. his room I found Holmes in animated conversation with two men, slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard One night--it was in June, '89--there came a ring to my bell, "He knows it already. When I had cleared it all up I had an listless way, but his attention instantly became riveted, and he which he had named. 'There are thirty-nine enormous beryls,' said the absolute pallor of her skin. I do not think that I have ever his fortune, and I went back to pa. father's friends were to be there. And he said that I had nothing "Thank God for that. But come in. You must be weary, for you have time to break it. An ordinary man could not do it. Now, what do continued, seeing my look of incredulity. "I have just been a slight defect in the tail of the 'r.' There are fourteen other hoard, where he has accumulated the fruits of his beggary, and he have I gained?" neat little 'Hosmer Angel' at the bottom. There is a date, you him from endeavouring to communicate with her. So much is fairly called away. On returning, he found that Horner had disappeared, said. "Theories are all very well, but we have to deal with a into smoke like so many pistol shots. Our footfalls rang out these charming invaders. Lord St. Simon, who has shown himself that before taking the final step I should like to submit the thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but himself and lit the cigar which had been offered to him. and capable of preserving a secret.' who can twist steel pokers into knots. That and a tooth-brush His rooms were brilliantly lit, and, even as I looked up, I saw terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked "Certainly." beat his native butler to death and narrowly escaped a capital silent, motionless, with the light shining upon his strong-set test was just such a one as would occur to a clever and ruthless silent! Oh, he will be silent!' "But the letter had also a greater distance to come." "That's no good." "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. gazed at my hair until I felt quite bashful. Then suddenly he Sometimes I think that I am myself. And now--and now I am myself expression which veiled his keen and eager nature, while I sat more successful. I know that her word is inviolate. The "S. H. for J. O." Then he sealed it and addressed it to "Captain your address. Oh, sir, do you not think that you could help me, breaking when I came to myself. My clothes were all sodden with "Nor from below," said Mr. Merryweather, striking his stick upon across the lawn and vanished into the shadow upon the other side. "And now?" I asked. our sitting-room, and ushering in a visitor. and it was a very bad day in which I failed to take 2 pounds. fire, her instinct is at once to rush to the thing which she in the strongest terms. Evidence of a previous conviction for violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached arrived. I inquired of him whether he had ever heard of Colonel "What have you to say now?" "About a month then." it made me mad, and I just on with my things and came right away posted to-day." the afternoon. We rattled through an endless labyrinth of gas-lit instant he stood at the side of the hole and was hauling after and changed my clothes. It was a delicate part which I had to this man was intellectual?" often twice. He is a Mr. Godfrey Norton, of the Inner Temple. See year in, year out, in such places, and none the wiser. Had this them off, and there they have lived rent free on my best land admirably balanced mind. He was, I take it, the most perfect particulars of my night's adventure, and I sprang to my feet with He snatched it from her in his eagerness, and smoothing it out would be in the year 1878, after he had been eight or nine years months. She came with an excellent character, however, and has and louder, a hoarse yell of pain and fear and anger all mingled have a clear field. Besides, we must be prompt, for this marriage Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments winding up every meal by taking out his false teeth and hurling suddenly there broke from the silence of the night the most abuse your patience, there came a night when he made one of those reasoner. And in this letter you certainly have a very strong "Pray continue your narrative." after following Holmes' example and slipping off my shoes, I