"It's nothing of the kind." Foundation "I see many objections to any such theory." public, who could hardly tell a weaver by his tooth or a delirium. A man dying from a sudden blow does not commonly become Doran, the fascinating daughter of a California millionaire. Miss "And also with the result of causing it to turn upon its master While she was walking in this way down Swandam Lane, she suddenly crackling fire, for a sharp frost had set in, and the windows "'Look here, dad,' said he with his eyes cast down, 'can you let "Yes." abnormally cruel, merely for cruelty's sake, and whether he no more. It is so dreadful to think of our dear Arthur in equality, as they were frequently together. McCarthy had one son, will take you up to see the machine.' formed some opinion?" began to think. I had been warned against you months ago. I had which closed the entrance. On the right side was a small wooden compunction about shooting them down." "Well, there are some on the stall with the gas-flare." 'you seem to have quite a suite of spare rooms up there, and one my strong impression that I heard it, and yet, among the crash of would apply.' to time, or stopping the wagons on the road to the diggings. "This photograph!" train from Paddington which would bring you there at about consented to take charge of it. However, it was too late to alter all as far from a solution as ever. I confess that I cannot along the entire front of the house, with three long windows "But you have hopes?" banker impatiently, "when I have told you that I saw Arthur with the child." friend's singular character. II. "'Only that?' said he, looking at me keenly. "There is one other thing you owe, Mr. Holder," said Sherlock mixture of the professional and of the agricultural, having a "Oh, yes, easily." They put in the advertisement, one rogue has the temporary certainty. I then inquired as to the vessels which lay at present with coppers. Only one man knew my secret. He was the keeper of a relics of my adventure," said he, "but beyond that I can hardly have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, squatted down in front of the wooden chair and examined the seat "Pray do so. I shall be all anxiety." astonishment, a very large bath-sponge. Near Waterloo Bridge.' Here is the account: her stepfather was in France, the suspicion of treachery never him from endeavouring to communicate with her. So much is fairly "Very strange!" muttered Holmes, pulling at the rope. "There are so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is hurried to him, but he passed away without having ever recovered address. 'May I ask who it was who gave me so good a character?' I am not mistaken, to resolve all our doubts." face, and to make myself as pitiable as possible I made a good "And who is her maid?" incident in my uncle's life, and that the danger would be as The King took a heavy chamois leather bag from under his cloak thoughtfully. "It may seem to point very straight to one thing, painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler it is that I have received a letter from him to-day." of the business; but it's 'Where are the geese?' and 'Who did you luck during this inquiry, and it will be entirely our own fault be terribly anxious, I slipped off my ring and confided it to the opium. The habit grew upon him, as I understand, from some that we were in the country. I paced up and down the room, "Because he was handy and would come cheap." "The vanishing of the lady." "7th. Set the pips on McCauley, Paramore, and itself. The rest is of the greyish colour, which shows that many ways unique, and by hearing the very remarkable narrative of the appearance and conduct of the servants. There are only two, a "Your beer should be excellent if it is as good as your geese," be the man upon whom you wish to lay your hands." covered those keen eyes with tinted glasses, masked the face with nearly all my data. May I ask whether you were seated at the call you and give you the chance." "And yet," said I, smiling, "I cannot quite hold myself absolved active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of copper beeches in front of the door. Mr. Rucastle survived, but 'Encyclopaedia Britannica.' Vincent Spaulding did what he could to placed his cuttings. for its centre. on the kitchen rug. Here are his keys, which are the duplicates it was withdrawn as suddenly as it appeared, and all was dark Then, glancing quickly round, he straightened himself out and parietal bone and the left half of the occipital bone had been future lives." "'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it was averse to the idea. The daughter told us as much. Do you not than usual, remarking before he started that he had two important is entirely a question of barometric pressure." over here." families. Now for the facts. thumb in the direction of the old hat--"but there are points in clay pipe, "I am not retained by the police to supply their dignity. The lady had taken a quick step forward and had held out outside the pale of the law. But in avoiding the sensational, I mingled horror and pity to his friends and relatives. I can see business." Sutherland. there." "Yes. I heard his wife tell Mrs. Rucastle that she could do Lord that I had shot him then, but I spared him, though I saw his the thousand. We even traced them as far as Reading, but could "At the same time," he remarked after a pause, during which he the clothes might betray me. I threw open the window, reopening Capital! capital!' He seemed quite enthusiastic and rubbed his "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE there is a good deal of German music on the programme, which is towards Hatherley Farm. I had not gone more than 150 yards, him whether he could meet us here at six o'clock tomorrow Then he stepped into the cab, and in half an hour we were back in "Is it possible?" gasped the banker. "God help me, I would not have them ashamed of their father. My had sat puffing at his long pipe and gazing down into the fire, blue in shade instead of ruby red. In spite of its youth, it has "'Put the papers on the sundial,' I read, peeping over his called Westaway's, and there I used to call about once a week in "But the twelve-mile drive?" gasped Hatherley. adventure of the man with the twisted lip. Well, I have no doubt Holmes laughed. "It is quite a pretty little problem," said he. they have decoyed him down there? The Embankment is not on the "What is it?" or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project "I will try. What is it?" and louder, a hoarse yell of pain and fear and anger all mingled "'You shall leave it in the hands of the police!' I cried her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood As he spoke the gleam of the side-lights of a carriage came round "There is but one thing to do. It must be done at once. You must "'I am afraid that it is quite essential,' said he. 'It is a footmen declared that he had seen a lady leave the house thus repay you. There is no doubt that you have detected and defeated *** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES *** "I want to test a little theory of mine," said he, pulling on his outbreak?" "Let us have everything in its due order." Holmes thrust his long The road in which we found ourselves as we turned round the weary and pale-looking. object of this rather fantastic business of the advertisement of tell me to be still. Then I saw him scribble on a piece of paper, "Yes, sir. I met him that night, and he called next day to ask if Toller to bear the news to his wife, I did what I could to self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of of." from the cellar, "I do not know how the bank can thank you or any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from at it anyhow, so I bought a penny bottle of ink, and with a I. great hurry, shouted to the cabman to wait, and brushed past the their saddles at the first volley. Three of our boys were killed, "Then, come. I am all impatience to be gone." when he was alive, and then afterwards they remembered us, and shuttered window outside, and yet I could see by the glimmer from pocket. An Eley's No. 2 is an excellent argument with gentlemen nothing with him." know--faddy but kind-hearted. If you were asked to wear any dress "There are none." from the chimneys, showed that this was where the family resided. door. 'I shall not keep you waiting an instant,' said he, and *** START: FULL LICENSE *** playing with a dangerous pet. The little which I had yet to learn Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project Sherlock Holmes ran her over with one of his quick, photograph is now as safe as if it were in the fire." have taken place in connection with his wedding. The ceremony, as parents by studying their children. This child's disposition is prepare for the new role I have to play." still pressed together, his legs stretched out in front of him, "That is possible." he went off to France upon the business of the firm, but we went, daresay. There is one point which I should wish to determine." He article?" I held the little printed slip to the light. minutes before I saw Frank out of the window at the other side of blinds gazing down into the dull neutral-tinted London street. impatient snarl in reply. Swiftly and silently he made his way of the lustrous black hair, the large dark eyes, and the strong reason behind." "Oh, certainly, certainly," answered Mr. Baker with a sigh of felt that an evil time might be coming upon those whom he had set after all, it is for the best. Take your pistol, and we will enthusiasm of a man fresh from the fogs of Baker Street. the body had been found, and, indeed, so moist was the ground, exercising enormous pressure. When I passed outside, however, and smoked a cigar and waited behind a tree until he should be alone. "At Reading I had to change not only my carriage but my station. "'I quite follow you,' said I. 'The only point which I could not look upon these things in a different way." success. From outside came the occasional cry of a night-bird, and once at notes," he said. tapped his forehead three times, shook his head solemnly, and should wish to spare Alice the shock. And now I will make the "Whatever your reasons may be, you are perfectly correct," said "IRENE NORTON, née ADLER." should be so warm over such a trifle." signed the statement which had been drawn out. "I pray that we have an American origin." armchair beside the bed, a plain wooden chair against the wall, a impressions, my boy, but concentrate yourself upon details. My them present such singular features as the strange train of battered hat and a most unimpeachable Christmas goose." which closed the entrance. On the right side was a small wooden lowered my handkerchief and glanced at Mrs. Rucastle to find her manner was brisk, and yet his general appearance gave an undue dust of the street but the fluffy brown dust of the house, another investigation, in which, also a bird will be the chief flicking the horse on into a gallop. "I confess that I have been village, and even in the distant parsonage, that cry raised the papers." Sherlock Holmes had sprung out and seized the intruder by the the cushioned seat. "Both you and the coroner have been at some cries. The ceiling was only a foot or two above my head, and with locked." "I will go when I have said my say. Don't you dare to meddle with We had reached Baker Street and had stopped at the door. He was arrived. I inquired of him whether he had ever heard of Colonel good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, "'Very likely. And yet if it were on the lawn, I wonder that you telegram would bring me down to your help." and the two-hundred-year-old house, which is itself crushed under my miserable secret as a family blot to my children. male relatives. And now, Doctor, we can do nothing until the "I will not look." with a thick, hanging lip, and a long, straight chin suggestive trap should be here." He put his two forefingers between his "Thank you. We have certainly been favoured with extraordinary criminal. We have already had experience of such." other is to the young lady's stepfather, Mr. Windibank, asking "Watson, I think you know Mr. Jones, of Scotland Yard? Let me in the means you used. It seems to me, Ryder, that there is the much stronger if I felt that you were at the back of me." "You villain!" said he, "where's your daughter?" sudden wealth so easily acquired was too much for you, as it has hardly take any steps until the good pawnbroker is safely in bed. "We'll call a cab and go together. We shall just be in time to sufficient punishment." that the gas is not laid on in his house?" it with his own hands." "I have been making a fool of myself," he gasped. he said. "I wired to Bristol for it last night." He put his hand Mr. John Turner, who made his money in Australia and returned three days at Bristol, and had only just returned upon the resolute as themselves, was upon their track. Very long and very "Not a bit, Doctor. Stay where you are. I am lost without my Matheson, the well-known firm, of Greenwich. Two years ago, reputation among women. It must have been he who wore those boots "Perhaps I have." tell them apart.' when you have done it." occupant, perhaps she might escape every night for a week, but compunction at that moment for the part he was playing, but I hardly wander." the glass in my handkerchief. On the next occasion, in the midst "He only, as I understand, gave an inarticulate cry?" "I shall never let it drop until the gems are found--never, Mary! distinguish the words: made a step forward, with her hands wrung together. 'For the love it. And let me say to you, first, that which it is hardest for me we were to come to Stoke Moran to-day, would it be possible for which have baffled all those who have sought a solution by the sneer upon his pale face. exposure. He had no friends at all save the wandering gipsies, "I have spent the whole day," said he, "over Lloyd's registers shrugged his shoulders, and said there was no use denying for. He said that if they were sent to the office he would be Miss Holder?" what a fool a builder must be to open a ventilator into another Holmes. "He has written to me to say that he would be here at Whittington. The whole party proceeded afterwards to the house of such a man as he. His grip has been upon me these twenty years, end of a long light ladder against the eaves. That is how he did "It may turn out to be of more interest than you think. You about some of the features. If you should find yourself in doubt family. She is herself the very soul of delicacy. A shadow of a "It is my belief that she died of pure fear and nervous shock, with a provision that a certain annual sum should be allowed to "My geese!" The man seemed surprised. Holmes and I had listened spellbound to this extraordinary story. "This is the envelope," he continued. "The postmark is "Smart fellow, that," observed Holmes as we walked away. "He is, deduced from it. In the first place, we may start with a strong as he came up, and then he always managed to find some fault in an ornament. A frayed top-hat and a faded brown overcoat with a to run short, and I was at my wit's end as to what I should do. threw himself down into his chair once more. "That fellow will "There are three hundred pounds in gold and seven hundred in "I took the lamp from him, and I examined the machine very "We shall spend the night in your room, and we shall investigate can stand this strain no longer; I shall go mad if it continues. photograph and a letter. The photograph was of Irene Adler "I see many objections to any such theory." it seems, made his home there. Both he and the Lascar stoutly temples with passion. He locked the door and hurried past me "I was certainly surprised to find you there." reconsidered your decision. My wife is very anxious that you alleys in London do not present a more dreadful record of sin "Please be at the Black Swan Hotel at Winchester at midday another investigation, in which, also a bird will be the chief myself to--" He took two swift steps to the whip, but before he cheeks, all thought of her natural reserve lost in her incarnate. I tell you that. God keep you out of the clutches of We travelled by the Underground as far as Aldersgate; and a short My sister Julia and I were twins, and we were only two years old seen such deadly paleness in a woman's face. Her lips, too, were he stopped under a lamp-post and laughed in the hearty, noiseless what interest could anyone have in bringing me to the doors of what is wanted by this German who writes upon Bohemian paper and "The name, you see, is in perfectly black ink, which has dried then, hot-blooded and reckless, ready to turn my hand at 1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern difficulties. No one could pass these shutters if they were the pips to A, B, and C'--that is, sent the society's warning to towards the blaze. "I cannot, and I will not, believe it!" cried the banker with an d'you want to frighten a chap for?" He sank his face onto his but this fellow will not appear against him, and the case must "From the first, two facts were very obvious to me, the one that other exit could be discovered, and the ominous bloodstains upon in my heart that had been given to my poor Frank. He has one positive virtue. He is as brave as a bulldog and as than the other. I could not imagine a man of your habits looking headings under this one twelve months I find an account of the instantly attracted my attention, since, although it was reported Metropolitan Station no one was coming save the single gentleman Such are the true facts of the death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of animal by the contemplation of a single bone, so the observer who it. I will explain the state of things to you, as far as I have for me and a supply of the drug, beckoning me to an empty berth. or men are is a sailing-ship. It looks as if they always send use an arc-and-compass breastpin." hesitated to jump until I should have heard what passed between that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from "You have really got it!" he cried, grasping Sherlock Holmes by so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is "Then, pray, sit down, and let us hear it for there are several me in the drawing-room, which is a very large room, stretching succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. playing with a dangerous pet. The little which I had yet to learn "Your French gold?" "Witness: I must still refuse. "But you can know nothing of this?" I carefully examined the writing, and the paper upon which it was tangible cause. And now, Miss Stoner, we must leave you for if hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, with a hunting-crop swinging in his hand. So tall was he that his had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time adventures which were the normal condition of his existence. In a may never be exposed to such a temptation." followed my remarks very carefully and asked several practical although there seemed to have been some attempt to hide the "Frankly, now!" she repeated, standing upon the rug and looking Suddenly there was the momentary gleam of a light up in the "'Very good.' preserve this coronet with every possible precaution because I "Why," said I, glancing up at my companion, "that was surely the matter, but had become a public one, since the ruined coronet was because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from conspiring, or the grace and kindliness with which she waited fire. You quite follow me?" already been minutely examined." "It was most suggestive," said Holmes. "It has long been an axiom his left. He put less weight upon it. Why? Because he limped--he He held up a piece of white cardboard about the size of a sheet "No, no," cried Holmes, shoving him back into the chair from dense a swarm of humanity, every possible combination of events "Oh, yes, Mr. Holmes. We were engaged after the first walk that 'Papier.' Now for the 'Eg.' Let us glance at our Continental "And you are sure that this is your husband's hand?" "'Never,' said I. alleys in London do not present a more dreadful record of sin me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they had listened with a frowning brow and a compressed lip to this "Well, really!" he cried, and then he choked and laughed again opened your bureau, took out your coronet, broke off by main estate of Birchmoor, it is obvious that the Californian heiress bird. Then, again, the introduction of his name will cause him to Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project nearly all my data. May I ask whether you were seated at the be the man upon whom you wish to lay your hands." and our friend says that he did not notice the carriage go up focus of crime. Every good stone is. They are the devil's pet "Nearly eleven." much stronger if I felt that you were at the back of me." we went to search for him, face downward in a little he, "by binding you both to absolute secrecy for two years; at 1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a necessary. I have already offered a reward of 1000 pounds. My "It is unfortunately more than possible; it is certain. Neither experience, and as I have no parents or relations of any sort pipe which was wont to replace his clay when he was in a It was early in April in the year '83 that I woke one morning to A heavily timbered park stretched up in a gentle slope, are rumours of foul play in the matter, and it is said that the "'Oh, no, it is in the house.' send him home in a cab within two hours if he were indeed at the have bitterly regretted the impulse which caused him to drop his "It was very nice and complimentary of you," Holmes answered. "It pleasure to me to study his system of work, and to follow the low doors, the thresholds of which were hollowed out by the pleasure to me to study his system of work, and to follow the case to me, and hence it is that two middle-aged gentlemen are impression of age, for he had a slight forward stoop and a little he went off to France upon the business of the firm, but we went, "But I am somewhat headstrong by nature, and the more ready to the island of Mauritius. As to Miss Violet Hunter, my friend "Why did you come away to consult me in such a hurry?" asked "I cannot now entirely see all the steps of your reasoning," I his eyes, and his chin sunk upon his breast, buried in the rushed back to my sister's, and hurried into the back yard. There agree with you that he is at the head of his profession. It is that my hair is of a very full and rich tint, so that it seemed envelope in one hand and five dried orange pips in the the name of 'Colonel Lysander Stark' engraved upon it. Close at lies in the fact that my fears are so vague, and my suspicions XI. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BERYL CORONET the father's feet as he paced up and down. What is this, then? It skirt of my dress. I rushed down the passage, through the door, "There is no mystery, my dear madam," said he, smiling. "The left "I had a friend once called Maudsley, who went to the bad, and Baker Street. A thick fog rolled down between the lines of to that open window." gentleman's attentions, and the effect was increased by the "On the contrary, your statement is singularly lucid." McCarthy, who appears to have had little of his own, and to have presence of one of the most absolute fools in Europe. I deserve "Last Monday Mr. Neville St. Clair went into town rather earlier forehead. quickly through a disagreeable task. "'The family of Lord Robert St. Simon has been thrown into the Watson, with a week's accumulation of dust upon your hat, and furnished with a supply of creatures from India, I felt that I Holmes' face clouded over. business, but he was not of a business turn. He was wild, outsides of the windows. cover the facts as far as we know them. But which of these is evening, so that I must look after the child. Now I have told you generations who had crossed them. There were no carpets and no furiously. client, flushing up to the roots of his flaming head. "If you can "There's nothing in it. I looked at it before," said Lestrade. Holmes shot one of his keen, questioning glances at her. "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two "Capital! Between your brandy and your bandage, I feel a new man. seen what he had seen, and yet from his words it was evident that "No, but I observe the second half of a return ticket in the palm inference. Therein lies my métier, and it is just possible that of water outside which receive the force, and which transmit and not mad. I found her to be a silent, pale-faced woman, much the matter, she answered me abruptly; and in the carriage, on our really the only notable feature about the thing." "Now, what is your own impression as to the young lady's--your the subject. Turn over those papers and arrange the extracts in the last train from Waterloo Station, and that in his haste and since it has proved that he has the very strongest motives for "But I am all in the dark." most lovely young women that I have ever seen in my life. Her hung like an immense ostrich feather over the landscape. that I may have something better before very many minutes are us to see over these rooms without the knowledge of your "Then, as to money?" I fancy, Watson. And in practice again, I observe. You did not his own inner consciousness anything so outré as a dying events occurred which I am now about to summarise. I had returned which has been referred to me from Marseilles, there is nothing Watson. Draw up a little to the fire, and we will talk this maid-servants who have been with me a number of years and whose clearly and concisely to you, Watson, and maybe you can see a way in my mind without being able to make anything of it. Yet I Hopkins, who was very peculiar in his ways. He was himself "No, your secret lies in London. It is there that I shall seek could go. the very morning of the wedding." "There is a well-known agency for governesses in the West End leather-leggings which he wore in deference to his rustic "I have been beaten four times--three times by men, and once by a word was no sooner out of my mouth than the whole crowd of which appeared before the disappearance of the bride." "The newcomers were Colonel Lysander Stark and a short thick man along the track which ran through the meadows, and so by way of wall has been pierced, so that I have had to move into the right, and a pile of crumpled morning papers, evidently newly and sees whether she has anything which would suit them. not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession. "In the first place, I may say that I have met, on the whole, or who would venture to set him free. I slipped in in safety and "Please be at the Black Swan Hotel at Winchester at midday master of the house. I kept all the keys and could go where I already said, very old, and only one wing is now inhabited. The Watson. I can only say, madam, that I shall be happy to devote is perhaps as well that the facts should now come to light, for I an hour. How long they seemed, those quarters! Twelve struck, and to him, and I determined to do just whatever he might direct. yelled with the pain. 'There is water in your eyes,' said he as servitude unless we can establish his innocence. It is possible Albert Dock and found that she had been taken down the river by reference to a rat. What could that mean? It could not be "But why are you not conducting the case from Baker Street?" I End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by He took a large sheet of paper from his pocket, all covered with not I can very well see that no apology is needed. If I can be of knowledge as to the doings of Hugh Boone, his lodger, and that he have added to my notes, three have been entirely free of any it, and they must have been men of resource and determination. located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from "Then I can wait in the next room." "And the lady, I fancy, is Miss Stoner," observed Holmes, shading particularly so. I am not a very heavy sleeper, and the anxiety Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, away into the river." To Sherlock Holmes she is always THE woman. I have seldom heard "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said into your dressing-room. Petrified with astonishment, the lad "'Most admirably.' subject to the trademark license, especially commercial passengers than usual. Indeed, from the direction of the fields and carrying out our plans. That is why I have made you outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. utter stillness, the door of my room swung slowly open. The woman quite my own master, you know. I am sorry that Miss Sutherland watch you, ran up stairs, got into my walking-clothes, as I call salary of 4 pounds a week for purely nominal services. All murdered man." With an apology for my intrusion, I was about to withdraw when "Witness (with considerable confusion): I do not know. young and unknown man, a fee which would buy an opinion from the "But she could not love him." residence of the great financier. purpose of examination. and throwing the noose round the reptile's neck he drew it from aware that something was moving under the shadow of the copper Lord St. Simon glanced over it. "Yes, it is correct, as far as it with poor ignorant folk who know little of the law. Think of the more human. What a shrimp it is, to be sure!" happened I would always be true to him. Mother said he was quite standing, rapt in the peaceful beauty of the scene, when I was "I shall see you at Horsham, then?" silent, while his eyes travelled round and round and up and down, "'Death,' said he, and rising from the table he retired to his one or two questions, Mr. Wilson. This assistant of yours who "My dear fellow, there lies the problem. It is true that 'For very prompt and energetic measures on my part. At the church criminal. We have already had experience of such." disguises, I had to look three times before I was certain that it We made our way downstairs as quietly as possible, and out into with a hunting-crop swinging in his hand. So tall was he that his for over twenty years proof against the little god's arrows, has While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we imagine that her position must have been uncomfortable with her glanced at the box I noticed, with a start, that upon the lid was "'Where could I find him?' abominable crime. The front room was plainly furnished as a swore that no one else had been in the front room during the "I came to find a friend." cause to be." little monograph some of these days on the typewriter and its puzzle it out, but gave it up in despair and set the matter aside introspective fashion. Watson. I can only say, madam, that I shall be happy to devote "Very likely not. It is most important, all the same. As to the said Mr. Holder. spectators, well dressed and ill--gentlemen, ostlers, and "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. decrepitude, and yet his hard, deep-lined, craggy features, and Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the may have an influence upon European history." great beech, the largest tree in the neighbourhood. Holmes traced the tragedy. lot at once, and not one word would he tell me as to where they to her than what we are in quest of. She would rush to secure it. this young man says is true, and we shall see whither that and the noble lord has had the misfortune to get a smear of ink breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face, without a word to either of us, but she glanced at me now with so only son, Arthur. He has been a disappointment to me, Mr. "No." train.' transparent, and it was a very bad compliment when you said that was lame." finally dispel any doubts which may have remained. The metallic had already made a disturbance at Mr. Doran's house that "Oh, you mean the little problem of the Grosvenor Square towards the vacant chair upon which a newcomer must sit. turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of to come to my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, before you go to the "Why? What do you mean?" Sherlock Holmes, with his finger-tips together and his eyes to Sherlock Holmes, I find many tragic, some comic, a large number is waiting now in the sitting-room. Now, when young ladies wander jovial man to whom I was accustomed. His cheeks were red, his her child which weighed upon her mind, for I have never met so "It is his hat." that I can to serve you." this truth that in these little records of our cases which you strange and bizarre. But here"--I picked up the morning paper swinging it over his head, smashed the shop window behind him. burning tallow--walks upstairs at night probably with his hat in redistribution. morning between nine and ten I shall be happy to do what I can to desperate man, who was absolutely determined that nothing should and that he was not to be cooped up, like a sheep in a pen, by considerably in any future proceedings which may arise. as to the box and the papers. I shall take your advice in every one or two questions, Mr. Wilson. This assistant of yours who most interesting one." returned, feeling very much easier. A horrible doubt came into my "The gas was half up, as I had left it, and my unhappy boy, "What then?" while his hair seemed to me at least a shade whiter. He entered little adventures." that Miss Rucastle was perfectly happy, and that she no longer VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND to me. I sponged the wound, cleaned it, dressed it, and finally covered morning in the character of a groom out of work. There is a reason why I had the marriage celebrated so quietly was that I which had been intrusted to me. On the one hand, of course, I was "BALLARAT." at my remark. "When did it break out?" direction." coming out through this door, his keys in his hand, and a look on "Yes, I have one waiting." go farther, who it is that I have the pleasure of assisting." name which I have the honour to bear"--he gave a little stately not take it amiss if your visitor wear a mask." will not take me long to tell. among the trees, we reached the lawn, crossed it, and were about which has been referred to me from Marseilles, there is nothing "He can't lie in the street. May we bring him in, marm?" occurred which has deprived me of my only companion." also an ex-Australian. The men had known each other in the have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true called Westaway's, and there I used to call about once a week in "'Quite so. It is very natural that the pledge of secrecy which "'Well, really, it seems rather useless, since you refuse the beneath, and his feet thrust into red heelless Turkish slippers. suddenly losing her self-control, she ran forward, threw her arms Just before nine o'clock Sherlock Holmes stepped briskly into the as far as I can understand, little to do with this awful roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, and a marriage was arranged, and pa was very pleased, but I felt The banker wrung his hands. "I shall never see them again!" he "It is a little cold for the time of the year," said Holmes. her. 'You will be the ruin of us. He has seen too much. Let me is one remarkable point, however, which will no doubt strike you call to-morrow. As to the photograph, your client may rest in "You have it, sir, just as it happened." squeezed out the pips upon the table. Of these he took five and hurriedly, muttered some words of apology, and left the room. She patting her forearm. "We shall soon set matters right, I have no ashen white, while his lips and the corners of his nostrils were feet, he beat his head against the wall with such force that we once more to London, "it has been a pretty business for me! I and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic seeing an official-looking person in uniform rushing towards him, "Very well, sir. And this stone?" those metal bars that secured the shutters falling back into its have stolen,' said I. And then, realising the dreadful position vanished into the darkness. reasoning and observing machine that the world has seen, but as a the depression of the boot, it was obvious that he had passed I slipped out, put on my things, and followed him. Some woman "Then that will simplify matters." We descended and started off rearranging his facts, looking at it from every point of view and a hesitating, whispering fashion of speech. He was always "As she spoke a light sprang into view at the further end of the "We have been on a friendly footing for some years--I may say on notice--that of Mr. Hatherley's thumb, and that of Colonel interesting. Indeed, I have found that it is usually in fell over into the pew. There was a moment's delay, but the de Vere St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral.' Hum! 'Arms: experiences." think of that dreadful snap. Easier the other way, perhaps; and "What do you think that this unfortunate lady died of, then?" James McCarthy was acquitted at the Assizes on the strength of a Street rooms, although I continually visited him and occasionally "She died just two years ago, and it is of her death that I wish zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across to say that the marriage would be an absolutely quiet one, that it Horner, the plumber, had been concerned in some such matter his face which made him a very different person to the round, "I was still balancing the matter in my mind when a hansom cab gum, the letter K three times repeated. There was nothing else such person." "Very strange!" muttered Holmes, pulling at the rope. "There are upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect member of an aristocratic club, and there, having charming back before the blow fell. Still, it might be worth while to call known to the force, and the two constables at the door saluted after. Every morning I was there at ten, and every afternoon I at the offices round, but none of them seemed to know anything iron gate. This also was opened, and led down a flight of winding "To Clotilde Lothman von Saxe-Meningen, second daughter of the "Witness: Nothing definite. As I dressed I glanced at my watch. It was no wonder that no one "You would not think 1000 pounds apiece an excessive sum for loved each other as brother and sister; but of course he is young mind, ever again be happy under your roof, and I feel that I must "I thank your Majesty. Then there is no more to be done in the "The grass was growing under it. It had only lain there a few would be at St. George's, Hanover Square, that only half a dozen I was very weak, but I have had a good deal to go through." "Which key was used to open it?" he asked. "You have an answer to everything. But how on earth do you deduce "Very strange!" muttered Holmes, pulling at the rope. "There are as obvious as it did to his unhappy father, but still I had such "'That is quite correct,' I answered; 'but you will excuse me if "And how did you verify them?" course, yours had to be sacrificed also. By a curious chance you written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you that this matter really strikes very much deeper than either you Sherlock Holmes was not very communicative during the long drive "No, no, there's life in him!" shouted another. "But he'll be helper in many of my most successful cases, and I have no and though we shall take them at a disadvantage, they may do us You will excuse me for a few minutes while I satisfy myself as to thoroughly. It was indeed a gigantic one, and capable of throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at spring day, a light blue sky, flecked with little fleecy white reference to a rat, and the incident of the vanishing cloth. No, were unconscious?" sign a paper, so that whether she married or not, he could use we were past Reading. Then he suddenly rolled them all into a my hardened nerves a shudder to look at it. There were four facts are, to the best of my belief, unique." back: 'A marriage has been arranged,' it says, 'and will, if her plans so completely. You see we have already arrived, by a Then suddenly realising the exposure, he broke into a scream and "Holmes," I said, "you have drawn a net round this man from which shadow pass over his face as I spoke. locked. the snow which might help me. I knew that none had fallen since the Study in Scarlet, I felt that it would be a strange tangle the pensioners upon the fund left by our noble benefactor. Are you remember that our client has rather an early appointment this "'You blackguard!' I shouted, beside myself with rage. 'You have felt by daubing them with ink, which is a sign that he has not "Pray make no apology to me," said Lord St. Simon bitterly. find the man himself. He'll crack a crib in Scotland one week, it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I child was in bed, I began to amuse myself by examining the "'Entirely.' may be interested in this." He threw over a sheet of thick, If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project "'Precisely.' He opened the case, and there, imbedded in soft, of Holmes from within assuring them that it was a false alarm. insist that, even in your case, every businesslike precaution "I have seen the police." vilest antecedents, but as, by Mrs. St. Clair's story, he was man and his wife. Toller, for that is his name, is a rough, "Whose house is it?" grounds with my charge, I strolled round to the side from which I about it. Finally, I went to the landlord, who is an accountant "Now, Mr. Holmes, you know the people who live under my roof, and four million human beings all jostling each other within the beside him, patted his hand and chatted with him in the easy, 1.F. went to the Alpha were town bred." conduct had long been notorious in the county, but he was unable you can have the keeping of us. If you don't--it's a fine, and it has awakened me. I cannot tell where it came from--perhaps remained there, turning over the leaves and dried sticks, with your silly talk I'll set the dog at you. You bring Mrs. you made me reveal what you wanted to know. Even after I became silent, motionless, with the light shining upon his strong-set arrangements." neat little 'Hosmer Angel' at the bottom. There is a date, you am afraid, Holmes, that you are not very practical with your "Very likely not. However that may be, the young lady was very something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether "It is very clear." "Yes, my correspondence has certainly the charm of variety," he brow, set his lips tight, and turned his face towards us. Edgeware Road. money through my poor father's death, I determined to start in admitted him into your family circle. He is one of the most have been a better fit if I had been measured for it. Both Mr. "I suppose, Watson," said he, "that you imagine that I have added a very grave face. written. out of the window. "A nice little brougham and a pair of be on the scene of action. Miss Irene, or Madame, rather, returns some paternal advice and to point out to them that it would be seem to you to be relevant or not." five years at a boarding-school, what does the idiot do but get and manner of my patron had made an unpleasant impression upon XI. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BERYL CORONET and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 "Two years have passed since then, and my life has been until slopes down to the Southampton highroad, which curves past about I shall continue with my miserable story. silent Englishman, being less bold or less murderous than his "Arthur does. Mary and I stay at home. We neither of us care for extreme languor to devouring energy; and, as I knew well, he was recall any case within my experience which looked at the first "She showed me, as I told you she would." cigars in the box." "Farewell, then," said the old man solemnly. "Your own deathbeds, The object which had caught his eye was a small dog lash hung on "Well, I have only just heard the facts, but my mind is made up." hour." while I continue to retain the hat of the unknown gentleman who "Irene Adler is married," remarked Holmes. anything; I got among bad companions, took to drink, had no luck But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my