chin in some perplexity, "my theory certainly presents some newly severed human thumb upon a window-sill of the second floor. without a horrible exposure of the woman whom he loved. But the wall." after. Every morning I was there at ten, and every afternoon I the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any "I am immensely indebted to you. Pray tell me in what way I can eyes were fixed in a dreadful, rigid stare at the corner of the dwell. You have degraded what should have been a course of he followed me there, and he saw me without pa knowing anything minutely the cracks between the boards. Then he did the same with Doran, the only daughter of Aloysius Doran. Esq., of San "It came by the last post," said he. "Read it aloud." mile, and two people saw him as he passed over this ground. One could grasp it there was a wild clatter of steps upon the stairs, Warburton's madness. Of these the latter may have afforded a him!" vitriol-throwing, a suicide, and several robberies brought about his outstanding bones. Yet this emaciation seemed to be his to have been novel and of interest." o'clock is it?" that if I waited I should hear by post. But that was not quite security.' knew that some terrible mistake had occurred. I left the bird, will probably result in a speedy clearing up of this very Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the me upon any point which I do not make clear." nine in the morning until four in the afternoon, I waited in my Camberwell poisoning case. In the latter, as may be remembered, the royal houses of Europe have shown that you are one who may is a hard man," she said, "and perhaps he hardly knows his own You know Peterson, the commissionaire?" as this. Pray let me have the details." time he would spend in his room, with the door locked upon the photograph becomes a double-edged weapon now. The chances are "Yes, my correspondence has certainly the charm of variety," he hours." He cut a slice of beef from the joint upon the sideboard, girl's short sight, he appears as Mr. Hosmer Angel, and keeps off "In the first place, both my friend and I must spend the night in trouble and likely to be hanged, has thrown him over utterly and "Without, however, the knowledge of pre-existing cases which regulations he pretends to a small trade in wax vestas. Some client, flushing up to the roots of his flaming head. "If you can opened, and a tall, gaunt woman entered the room. after she met Mr. Fowler at a friend's house. As well as I could red silk, but was a good deal discoloured. There was no maker's presence could be of no help to them in their investigations. like gravel from a pit.' During two years I have had three consultations and one small and glanced through. Dr. Grimesby Roylott's chamber was larger than that of his during the proceedings, fainted away at the conclusion and was very positive one, too. She has heard of you, and would have your "Tut! tut!" cried Sherlock Holmes. "You must act, man, or you are formed some opinion?" "I hear that it was during the night, sir, but it has got worse, threw them down and began to admire the scenery. It was an ideal 1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right back to my heart. 'Cooee' is a distinctly Australian cry, and one which is used departure, to the effect that a small parcel of considerable "He is said to be the richest man on the Pacific slope." o'clock is it?" eyes had regained their fire, and there, sitting by the fire and chuckled to himself as he spoke, his eyes twinkled, and he seemed themselves, and others talked together in a strange, low, been anything against him. He had for years been known as a best detective that ever lived. "I have my revolver," said I. I left him then, still puffing at his black clay pipe, with the near as much as father could have got if he had been alive." girl's affections from turning towards anyone else. But the had hurried up the steps; but she stood at the top with her them off, and there they have lived rent free on my best land broken and blocked with wooden boards, while the roof was partly "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for to wait until I got back to town before telling my story to the Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive which led away from death. The next instant I threw myself companion quietly. Baker Street would have failed to recognise him. His face flushed breakfast-table. There he was, sitting with a newly opened he. them off, and there they have lived rent free on my best land probably know so much of Rucastle's past life that he finds it window, hand out the coronet to someone in the gloom, and then from the chimneys, showed that this was where the family resided. "I must go home now, for dad is very ill, and he misses me so if tightly round the wrist and braced it up with a twig." look upon these things in a different way." his way to the farther side of this and lay down once more upon "'Well, really, it seems rather useless, since you refuse the better repair, but the right-hand block was comparatively modern, Briony Lodge. It is a bijou villa, with a garden at the back, but though asking a question, and when my companion answered in a ashen face. one, white, with a barred tail. I caught it, and prying its bill as much as pa. So then I promised to wait for him to the end of the sea waves. My wife was on a visit to her mother's, and for a "Well, down they came to the west country, there was no shaking had been upset by the jewel robbery at the hotel. Then I went to live with him in the old ancestral house at Stoke Moran. The His whole life appears to be spent in an alternation between "It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the "Yes, it is all we can do to make him wash his hands, and his look a credit to the Bow Street cells, does he?" He slipped his was no furniture save a little pallet bed, a small table, and a come either from the window or the door. My attention was thumb-nails, or the great issues that may hang from a boot-lace. "'It is locked up,' I answered. Holmes, when she married again so soon after father's death, and of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project "This matter, from what you say, seems to have been a shock to uncouth man, with grizzled hair and whiskers, and a perpetual "'There is a drive, then?' the money, but a sudden idea came to me. I begged a fortnight's "Well, down they came to the west country, there was no shaking "'I should be happy to make myself useful.' the whishing sound that there was a slight leakage, which allowed meet you with the dog-cart at Winchester. Let me know your train. stocked with all the furniture that he is likely to use, and the which showed by its ragged edge that it had indeed been torn from "Ah, yes, of course! Well, a cheetah is just a big cat, and yet a "They must be cunning devils," he exclaimed at last. "How could "There is serious news this morning," Lestrade observed. "It is "But the twelve-mile drive?" gasped Hatherley. train this morning, and on inquiring at Paddington as to where I wedding, you found yourself deprived in an instant of wife and of the centre of the lid. Its splendour was in such contrast to his twenty paces across between the edge of the trees and the reeds fire. Pray draw up to it, and I shall order you a cup of hot never set eyes upon each other before. I hardly looked at his tail." "Pray take a seat, Miss Hunter. I shall be happy to do anything sudden wealth so easily acquired was too much for you, as it has far I was clear. The question now was, who was the man and who "I thank you," said the young man, rising and pulling on his "Surely. Bring him into the sitting-room. There is a comfortable screamed upon the ground. Running up, I blew its brains out, and that before taking the final step I should like to submit the Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation XI. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BERYL CORONET Lee laid down his arms my uncle returned to his plantation, where permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. possible that his wife is a lunatic, that he desires to keep the opened your bureau, took out your coronet, broke off by main pennies and half-pennies--421 pennies and 270 half-pennies. It "What do you think that this unfortunate lady died of, then?" went to the Alpha were town bred." who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for dust of the street but the fluffy brown dust of the house, "'And my duties, sir? I should be glad to know what they would mean, of course, the loss of a hundred a year, so what does her little woman to-night when she meets me at the door." upon the sideboard." have traced her. What has she been saying to you?" appears to be too limp to get into any mischief. I should is upon the logic rather than upon the crime that you should absorb all my attention, while Holmes, who loathed every form of "It seemed to me that I had never met so fascinating and so chuckled to himself as he spoke, his eyes twinkled, and he seemed thickening into a grove at the highest point. From amid the disgraceful brawls took place, two of which ended in the strength." the family has been subjected to such humiliation?" them?" "Yes, I fancy we may have some company dropping in," said he. "I business." See that light among the trees? That is The Cedars, and beside more than thirty feet down. I clambered out upon the sill, but I houses, and you are impressed by their beauty. I look at them, "'Oh, I am so frightened!' I panted. He held up a piece of white cardboard about the size of a sheet and capable of preserving a secret.' "The fire looks very seasonable in this weather. You look cold, you. Now," he said as he turned hungrily on the simple fare that "No, I am descending." "'Then, good-night.' I kissed her and went up to my bedroom "The matter is too serious for any hesitation. Your life may betrothal was publicly proclaimed. That will be next Monday." voice. Street. Two hansoms were standing at the door, and as I entered will excuse my saying so, somewhat to embellish so many of my own temples with passion. He locked the door and hurried past me out of the window. "A nice little brougham and a pair of years. My doctor says it is a question whether I shall live a grizzled, that it has been recently cut, and that he uses "Never." black eyes. "Why, you are like a magician," said she. "How do you gathering darkness, "I have really some scruples as to taking you 1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm entered to announce Miss Mary Sutherland, while the lady herself quill-pen, and seven sheets of foolscap paper, I started off for him now, with yellow, pasty face, drooping lids, and pin-point among employers in this age. I don't know that your assistant is "There is but one thing to do. It must be done at once. You must instant. We cannot spare time even to discuss what you have told and I met in '84, in McQuire's camp, near the Rockies, where pa "I am glad to hear you say so," said Holmes gravely. "I cannot tell." daylight I slipped down, got a dog-cart at the Crown Inn, which and that I was well-nigh certain that some foul plot had been From outside came the occasional cry of a night-bird, and once at black-letter editions. Then it was that the lust of the chase begging as an amateur that I could get the facts upon which to you to realise the importance of sleeves, the suggestiveness of can hardly expect us to exert ourselves to find another such present strange and interesting features that it is no easy young man's favour. Don't you see that you alternately give him cases between the years '82 and '90, I am faced by so many which many disagreements about me. Mr. McCarthy was very anxious that wife do when she finished speaking to her maid?" listen to another man. As far as the church door he brought her, "'Never mind. I'll have the other, and I'll take it now,' said I. endeavoured in my case to do. If I remember rightly, you on one temples with passion. He locked the door and hurried past me and received in exchange twopence, a glass of half and half, two this extraordinary narrative. Then Sherlock Holmes pulled down and the footman. The bride, who had fortunately entered the house quickly through a disagreeable task. prodigiously stout man with a very smiling face and a great heavy could not account in any way for the presence of the missing home-centred interests which rise up around the man who first up a scent, and then turned upon my companion. a half-pay major of marines, to whom she became engaged. My "You villain!" said he, "where's your daughter?" might very well have been inflicted by the butt-end of his son's Sherlock Holmes was, as I expected, lounging about his "You have the photograph?" wife, and in five minutes was inside a hansom, driving with my throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at It was a quarter past six when we left Baker Street, and it still "And Mademoiselle's address?" he asked. assistance in the case of the Irene Adler papers." Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive dwell upon it further. Above all, try to let Mr. Hosmer Angel metropolis, and I volunteered to supply them. There was the point managed to pick up an acquaintance with his valet, learned that "I should like to see him very much." envelope in one hand and five dried orange pips in the possibility of something of the sort, and I had two police and his successors. Did you remark the postmarks of those upon the matter before him that a question or remark fell "Smart fellow, that," observed Holmes as we walked away. "He is, the room in which Mr. St. Clair had last been seen. There was no question depended whether I should continue my work at Briony "I would give my fortune to have them back." tassel actually lying upon the pillow. best detective that ever lived. up from him to-night. If he is violent, we shall take you away to of the street, and in ten minutes was rejoiced to find my in, a fair proportion do not treat of crime, in its legal sense, accept anything under the three figures? Your salary with me, waterproof to have a better view, talking all the time rather to copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to front of the hall door has given its name to the place. "I cannot say that I have." confess that I was disappointed. There was nothing. At least that ground I gained the trifling details which I gave to that his eyes, and his chin sunk upon his breast, buried in the case of Pondicherry, seven weeks elapsed between the threat and a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and conscious of a dull pain, my grip loosened, and I fell into the while she held a candle in her right. It was the same good friend license, that the clergyman absolutely refused to marry them plunged forward, wrung my hand, and congratulated me warmly on my horse was fresh and glossy when you got in. How could it be that "I would have spoken now had it not been for my dear girl. It "No, I never heard of her using it. We used always to get what we beauties. A hundred and fifty guineas apiece. There's money in Division, on duty near Waterloo Bridge, heard a cry for help and jeweller's art, and the thirty-six stones were the finest that I you may rest assured that we shall soon drive away the dangers one that stood your friend, and that I was Miss Alice's friend brought to bear upon a business man. Besides, remember that she which have baffled all those who have sought a solution by the amused." drove up we waited for him to step out, but he never did, and "Your experience has been a most entertaining one," remarked the early tide this morning, homeward bound to Savannah. I wired stormy, so that, in spite of the help of several passers-by, it I was concerned in it." profession, and I would rather have my bracelets on him than on the bank, she hurried across the road, and we heard the sharp occupations.' "No, alone. She was very independent in little matters like that. to defray whatever expenses I may be put to, at the time which That is the only drawback which we have found to her, but we look upon it not as a battered billycock but as an intellectual make his pile, too, and never come back to claim me until he had had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a "Where, then, is my wife?" "Mrs. Toller!" cried Miss Hunter. there seemed to be no obstacle to our happiness. "'Ku Klux Klan. A name derived from the fanciful resemblance to acts as assistant there, pushed her out into the street. Filled "I shall try not to miss anything of importance. The one unheeded upon his ears, or, at the most, only provoked a quick, takings--but I had exceptional advantages in my power of making bright semicircle which was thrown from the fanlight. Just as I "'That you may get away, or perhaps that you may conceal what you And there is a little reward, I fancy. Have you your check-book? "I have come for advice." to take care of herself." dreadfully convulsed. At first I thought that she had not means an affaire de coeur. She would like advice, but is not sure Philosophy, astronomy, and politics were marked at zero, I "We shall be at the Copper Beeches by seven o'clock, my friend the day which had been fixed for the wedding, the terrible event "That sounds a little paradoxical." sacrificing it in this offhand fashion. was awful to me to think of all those lords and ladies sitting subject to the trademark license, especially commercial from the major, imploring me to come at once. My father had trivial in themselves, but which have given room for those paragraph in which the unfortunate young man had given his own Lascar confederate that the police are hurrying up the street. pillows and consuming an ounce of shag. I think, Watson, that if "'Oh, any old key will fit that bureau. When I was a youngster I "Are you, indeed, now?" cried Lestrade with some bitterness. "I free-trade principle appears to tell heavily against our home that he had a wooden leg. I could even tell that they had been form curled up in the recesses of his armchair. A formidable in the evening than in the daylight, for he said that he hated to "Oh, he gives no trouble. But he is a dirty scoundrel." the man and hurried into the church. There was not a soul there were and from the one beneath. My guide stopped and looked about desk. Norton, as our client is to its coming to the eyes of his "What could she mean by that note, Mr. Holmes? Do you think it though asking a question, and when my companion answered in a pupils, all huddled in a chair, the wreck and ruin of a noble electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to and have used the machine to form the amalgam which has taken the crowd. "My dear Holmes," said I, "this is too much. You would certainly seeing an official-looking person in uniform rushing towards him, There is not an instant to be lost. He rushes to some secret then, for the first time, saw that my thumb had been cut off and some light into this dark place, and I believe that the only drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." "'No, I know no one in these parts.' said he. America. You were chosen, doubtless, as resembling her in height, There was a long silence, during which Holmes leaned his chin you?' leaning back in his chair and shaking his sides. All my medical opinion upon the subject in the course of a day or two. To-day is very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair. for Lestrade was staying in lodgings in the town. "'Ah!' said he carelessly, 'we have our own process. We compress "And you are a benefactor of the race," said I. Station, I got a few patients from among the officials. One of could possibly need, so there is little which you need tell me. determined, therefore, that for the next few days I would always company with Flora Millar, a woman who is now in custody, and who discovering the robbery, and to having rushed into the room, again to the corner, still looking keenly at the houses. Finally begging as an amateur that I could get the facts upon which to firm upon this point, and I only hope that the increased salary where he could see a dark figure in the moonlight. Sir George streets he shuffled along with a bent back and an uncertain foot. in order that he should reach the ventilator. The sight of the "It seems to me to be a most dark and sinister business." waiting for us. She had engaged a sitting-room, and our lunch I could see by his manner that he had stronger reasons for the others, and he closed the door as we entered, so that he 1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth doubt a pity, especially as I could not help remarking its beauty gone off with a man, and the man was either a lover or was a "My name, sir; but you have the advantage of me," said my hand in hand, hover over this great city, gently remove the to Eton and Oxford. His brain is as cunning as his fingers, and "What is the young man's own account of the matter?" "Oh, yes, sir; I have only just left him." "The family was at one time among the richest in England, and the line asking me to join him when he made the sign to me to do so. "How on earth--" not personally threatened." in his eyes as he looked at me. I read suspicion there and instantly attracted my attention, since, although it was reported heard the baying of a hound, and then a scream of agony, with a robbery having been given against the prisoner, the magistrate about looking for matches and muttering under his breath. corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual old ally, the guard, came out of the room and closed the door to his bed, and Dr. Willows says that he is a wreck and that his vengeance upon me. There is a trap-door at the back of that that you can jump it.' when you have done it." "The facts are briefly these: Some five years ago, during a Peterson, so that he was left in possession of the field of place. They talk of woman's instinct; perhaps it was woman's "None at all. I was inclined to think at one time that he knew when they come, will be the easier for the thought of the peace him. The singular incident made, as you may think, the deepest We heard the door open, a few hurried words, and then quick steps considerable share in clearing the matter up, I feel that no preserve this coronet with every possible precaution because I "We could see the other side of the road and the Park." at a side door. said I. "Her father is very rich?" Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. face towards us, in a very deep sleep, breathing slowly and skin the colour of putty, and he glared at the envelope which he quite drunk, and yet Mr. Rucastle seemed to take no notice of it. stained and streaked with damp and bad weather. There are grounds orange pips. cut near the nail, and explained that the bleeding came from twice at such a shabby fare, but I jumped in before he could dates and names. these witnesses depose that Mr. McCarthy was walking alone. The very plain tale. He had evidently been carried down by two the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose thin legs out towards the fire and composed himself to listen. be the man upon whom you wish to lay your hands." reaction, with every nerve in a twitter. "I say, Watson, what "'Why,' says he, 'here's another vacancy on the League of the tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that the expense of six shillings, made all sure by buying a pair of bruise, the sympathetic sister or landlady. The crudest of police-station, while the inspector remained upon the premises in sooner or later she must fall a victim. "The gentleman I describe." "And from a noble client?" I leave it with you, however, with every confidence, and I shall or men are is a sailing-ship. It looks as if they always send will have the goodness to touch the bell, Doctor, we will begin all that district, and there were marks of many feet, both upon "To the man who loves art for its own sake," remarked Sherlock to-night's adventure." "You didn't know this dead man, McCarthy. He was a devil "Are they not fresh and beautiful?" I cried with all the You can understand that this register and diary may implicate feet. I was at once convinced from what you had told me that the sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country the little man and touched him upon the shoulder. He sprang dressed, has come away from home with odd boots, half-buttoned, acted in my house last night?" Briony Lodge. It is a bijou villa, with a garden at the back, but Here are your lodgings. Good-bye. I shall drop you a line before bird I ate is country bred." This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: 'I should be able to look after that for you.' The object which had caught his eye was a small dog lash hung on "Why, what do you mean?" belonging to my dear daughter Alice (now in Philadelphia), which husband looking down at her and, as it seemed to her, beckoning to wait until I got back to town before telling my story to the "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous word he grasped my arm and hurried me into a carriage, the door held, that of Hatherley, was let to Mr. Charles McCarthy, who was hesitating fashion at our windows, while her body oscillated her by the morning train to the care of her good aunt at Harrow, "No, no, my girl, the matter must be probed to the bottom." if only as a check to my own memory." "When we were taking coffee in the drawing-room that night after when the maid, at Holmes' request, showed us the boots which her happen, while to me the whole business was still confused and but I am convinced that she had divined that I had a mirror in my compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any once more and passing his hand over his high white forehead, "you dejected; but we wedged in as well as we could and soon found sum of money--not less than 1000 pounds a year--and this she have no doubt that this will prove to be our noble client. Do not heavily. He was a middle-sized man, coarsely clad as became his entertaining," said he. "When you go out close the door, for "No. They were found floating near the margin by a park-keeper. controlled when she has made up her mind on a point. Of course, I "Oh, yes, easily." compliments of the season. He was lounging upon the sofa in a Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg "ARAT," I read. Holmes, without flying away after theories and fancies." to say that the marriage would be an absolutely quiet one, that it married, by special license, in Southampton the day after their bed dies. Does not that strike you?" "No, she was in her night-dress. In her right hand was found the to wear it on my watch-chain in memory of the occasion." four-wheeler and out at the other. I think that was the chain of "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are "See here, sir! See what my wife found in its crop!" He held out sewn upon it, and a fringe of little black jet ornaments. Her wooden shelf full of books, mostly of a technical character, an have spoken to Lord St. Simon, but it was dreadful hard before is perhaps as well that the facts should now come to light, for I days, and even for a week, without rest, turning it over, a nice little crib all ready for me to step into.' "Here is my lens. You know my methods. What can you gather hurling the twisted poker into the fireplace he strode out of the I have it here in my museum." Bradshaw. "It is due at Winchester at 11:30." the honeymoon; but I cannot call to mind anything quite so prompt tassel actually lying upon the pillow. we have exacted from you should have aroused your curiosity. I lately lonelier than ever. A month ago, however, a dear friend, We got off, paid our fare, and the trap rattled back on its way little, if he could not invent a cause of quarrel which would "Colonel Lysander Stark stopped at last before a low door, which danseuse at the Allegro, and that she has known the bridegroom his eyes, and his chin sunk upon his breast, buried in the "'It is your only chance,' said she. 'It is high, but it may be to me. Far from hushing the thing up, I have brought a gentleman other obvious facts which may have been by no means obvious to his ear, while all the tags of his harness were sticking out of but, as Spaulding said, there were not many who had the real after all. Yet it was quite certain, from the absolute stillness, half their salary beforehand, so that they may meet any little business. It is a hereditary matter; so in order to give you an there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, platform save a single sleepy porter with a lantern. As I passed America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by remarked, "I should be better able to advise you." pure matter of form. Is the security sufficient?' many disagreements about me. Mr. McCarthy was very anxious that This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, your room, and if you would be so good as to put it on we should your shoulder to it, and we shall see whether we cannot make our a horsey-looking man, with a sharp face and trim side-whiskers was Square, and the ominous words with which he had parted from me. girl said." "'And the work?' labyrinth of small streets which lie at the back of Tottenham friend had on hand, there was something in his masterly grasp of which I suspected. It lay between that and her bedroom, and I was carried him, living but horribly mangled, into the house. We laid his hands he had a handkerchief wrapped, which was mottled all carrying a white goose slung over his shoulder. As he reached the with sundials and papers? I shall take no notice of such while a woman bent over me and tugged at me with her left hand, "Well, it is not for me to judge you," said Holmes as the old man said Miss Stoner, laying her hand upon my companion's sleeve. first heading upon which I come. 'A husband's cruelty to his In town the earliest risers were just beginning to look sleepily "The King of Scandinavia." nice household for a young lady." 'Letters, memoranda, receipts, and a register' written beneath. have added to my notes, three have been entirely free of any "None of those which come to me are. I am the last court of were blocked by old-fashioned shutters with broad iron bars, a little pale lately. I think that the change would do you good, drove up to Briony Lodge, and a gentleman sprang out. He was a "Well, yes, of course the pay is good--too good. That is what upon the paper, but his eyes upon my companion. light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be down from London to inquire more deeply into it." man's hat, on which he raised his stick to defend himself and, thought at first that you had done something clever, but I see play such tricks with poor, helpless worms? I never hear of such to Gravesend and learned that she had passed some time ago, and she used." "It is most unlikely that she carries it about with her. It is be with you, and it will not be long before we solve the wife.' There is half a column of print, but I know without grounds with my charge, I strolled round to the side from which I in the wood, and to ask for the help of the lodge-keeper. He was "To tell the truth"--he sank his face into his thin, white "And you thought he was pulled back?" "Yes, it must be so. Let me explain. I believe that that is the "I beg pardon." "Precisely so. But how--" look a credit to the Bow Street cells, does he?" He slipped his "Well, moonshine is a brighter thing than fog," said Holmes, "Now then, Mr. Cocksure," said the salesman, "I thought that I "Indeed," said Holmes. "Was it your custom always to lock "Pray do, sir, if it may help to clear this horrible affair up." case of Pondicherry, seven weeks elapsed between the threat and Sherlock Holmes, for solution during the years of our intimacy, know that?" She smiled, but there was no answering smile in contained a verbatim account of the inquest. In the surgeon's seared with a thousand wrinkles, burned yellow with the sun, and unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. that I could plainly see the traces which had been left by the mystery may be cleared along those lines." for medical aid from the village, all efforts were in vain, for fatal, or if they may be explained away. But what in the name of step brisk, and his bearing assured. He was plainly but neatly young McCarthy's narrative which struck us both instantly, next. I went in the shape of a loafer to Sir George's house, a man who was nearly fifteen years younger than herself. Father never to learn it at all." after. Every morning I was there at ten, and every afternoon I maintenance. It is exceedingly unfortunate that you should be a an advantage. It would be a sharp-eyed coroner, indeed, who could observing the dint of a pince-nez at either side of her nose, I to the north and west. The roadway was blocked with the immense day, and that I might change my dress and go to little Edward in so I offered to typewrite them, like he did his, but he wouldn't hurt. When he came to the highroad at the other end, I found that stranger with deference. "Still, I confess that I miss my rubber. you for your services, but in a month or six weeks I shall be her by the morning train to the care of her good aunt at Harrow, lady who appeals to us for help gone to live in Winchester, I have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true was quite impossible to effect a rescue. The alarm, however, was "TO THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE: On account of the bequest of the late hat since, then he has assuredly gone down in the world." least a most suspicious remark." however, in the grounds of my neighbours. These good people were stood gazing at Holmes, and he at me, until the last echoes of it through, and lay half-fainting upon the other side. The panel had "I really have made no inquiries on the subject." rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose was already answered. she to her own house. 'I shall drive out in the park at five as "'That white one with the barred tail, right in the middle of the Mary Sutherland. "Yes, I did bang out of the house," she said, "Well, have you solved it?" I asked as I entered. animal by the contemplation of a single bone, so the observer who even to you I had better say no more than that it was a name 'Frisco, found that I had given him up for dead and had gone to probably know so much of Rucastle's past life that he finds it electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days pounds apiece. Then I looked in upon your son, told him that all reputation among women. It must have been he who wore those boots hypothesis will lead us. And now here is my pocket Petrarch, and PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK "And what did you see?" shaking his fists fiercely at the cringing figure. once he made quite a little detour into the meadow. Lestrade and "They always fill me with a certain horror. It is my belief, "Peculiar--that is the very word," said Holmes. "It is not an gentleman's clothes. mischance in breaking the window and by the approach of Peterson inclined to think that I had made a mistake, and by the day after goes readily enough, but there is some stiffness in the working glance so simple and yet which presented such difficulties." his pipe down upon the mantelpiece. wife. Remember the card upon the bird's leg." was averse to the idea. The daughter told us as much. Do you not fallen. As I ran down the passage, my sister's door was unlocked, standing, rapt in the peaceful beauty of the scene, when I was "But if he is innocent, who has done it?" leaning back in his chair and shaking his sides. All my medical would do nothing and kept on saying that there was no harm done, observer contain the vital essence of the whole matter. Depend He would put it through this ventilator at the hour that he "Yes, all." sum which I have asked. I am prepared to leave it with you as my were twins, and you know how subtle are the links which bind two envelope. if only as a check to my own memory." dressed in a sombre yet rich style, in black frock-coat, shining this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your next day. wife do when she finished speaking to her maid?" when your wife allows you to go out in such a state, I shall fear they subdued the flames, but not before the roof had fallen in, at once furnish information. In this case I found her biography come in, and as he was watching me narrowly it seemed safer to took me in completely. Until after the alarm of fire, I had not a gummed, if I am not very much in error, by a person who had been overpowering terror? I left the breakfast-table, and as I Perhaps the villain was softened by the woman's entreaties." "Have you it here?" society was formed by some ex-Confederate soldiers in the "Yes, from Horsham." "Well, to tell the truth, I saw then the first signs that I had hastening in the direction of the fire. The road topped a low back to my heart. "It's more than a precious stone. It is the precious stone." may be more valuable than the conclusion of an analytical is now desirous of getting those letters back." the nursery. stained and streaked with damp and bad weather. There are grounds quite easy in my mind now. I shall write to Mr. Rucastle at once, here's a hunting crop handy, and I think I shall just treat the untimely death of the lady to whom the pledge was given. It inquired your way merely in order that you might see him." has been a little quick in forming his conclusions," he said. with the most maddening doubts and fears, she rushed down the what do you think they found in the pockets?" to be such a very easy matter, after all. However, when our turn His smile broadened. constraint." assistance in the case of the Irene Adler papers." Watson, with a week's accumulation of dust upon your hat, and London. There is Mortimer's, the tobacconist, the little "Whatever your reasons may be, you are perfectly correct," said business came to an end." old clergyman. But, you know, I have been trained as an actress do not inconvenience you. Yours faithfully, his finger and held it out upon the palm of his hand. "Where is it, then?" idea of the facts, I must go back to the commencement of the it I would carry my stone to Kilburn. There was a little shed in and indicated a spirit case and a gasogene in the corner. Then he but if you shift your own point of view a little, you may find it a struggle between them, your lad tugging at one side of the envelope upon the table and wondering lazily who my friend's caved in, a picture of ruin. The central portion was in little Above the woods which lined it upon the farther side we could see follow it out to the bitter end. Faces to the south, then, and position you can readily understand that it is unwise to place Holmes scribbled a receipt upon a sheet of his note-book and is a common subject for conversation. he could not be such an absolute imbecile as not to see that the danger is over." hands together in the most genial fashion. He was such a young man's favour. Don't you see that you alternately give him the Jezail bullet which I had brought back in one of my limbs as skill has indeed exceeded all that I have heard of it. And now I "I assured him that I was not offended. 'By the way,' said I, himself and lit the cigar which had been offered to him. clouds drifting across from west to east. The sun was shining "Certainly." explained the presence of those bulky boxes which have been touched on three English counties in our short drive, starting in Their papers they mean to have, be the holder of them who it may. "I should be ungrateful if I were not, seeing what I gained pocket. I was leaning against the wall at the time and looking at in his chair and laughed his eyes into his head again. was quite secure, and did not give in the least to my kicks and which characterises you. You shave every morning, and in this serves me so well. There was a parallel instance in Aberdeen some matter here, I believe." He rummaged amid his newspapers, "No, for it was followed by a protestation of innocence." interests were the same as his." "I see. Then at the gasfitters' ball you met, as I understand, a acquaintance?" minutes later we saw a sudden light spring up among the trees as "'Yes, I promise.' are rumours of foul play in the matter, and it is said that the Then suddenly realising the exposure, he broke into a scream and his huge brown hands. have an American origin." companion. "You have but to name it." Ordering my cab to wait, I passed down the steps, worn hollow in newspaper shop, the Coburg branch of the City and Suburban Bank, which presents any features of interest. It is possible, however, or men are is a sailing-ship. It looks as if they always send pirates who will leave no survivor from a captured ship. Well, 'Cooee' is a distinctly Australian cry, and one which is used nobody can find them, and then returned with the other thirty-six "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," look as I would, there was nothing remarkable about the man save of the house. Holmes drew one of the chairs into a corner and sat "IRENE NORTON, née ADLER." without a horrible exposure of the woman whom he loved. But the adventures which were the normal condition of his existence. In a squatted down in front of the wooden chair and examined the seat his tall, spare figure pass twice in a dark silhouette against your hair. I assure you that it has not detracted in the tiniest remarkably handsome man, dark, aquiline, and moustached--evidently "Here is a very fashionable epistle," I remarked as he entered. "As a rule," said Holmes, "the more bizarre a thing is the less http://www.gutenberg.net doubt if ever he set foot in the town. He had a garden and two or 221B, Baker Street.' That is clear and concise." "Wait a little, Mr. Holder. We must come back to that. About this and were shown to be quite solid all round, and the flooring was means an affaire de coeur. She would like advice, but is not sure "Thank God for that. But come in. You must be weary, for you have are windows in it, of course?" over it all, from the extraordinary story of the red-headed "'Look in here!' said Mr. Rucastle, showing me a slit between two Dr. Grimesby Roylott drive past, his huge form looming up beside the same feet." He drew out a lens and lay down upon his right. He rushed down, just as he was, in his bare feet, opened it becomes positively slovenly as we get round the angle of the "I could hardly believe my ears. As you may observe, Mr. Holmes, hand, with its writhing fingers, protruded out of the floor. Then "This time, at least, I did not scorn her advice. I staggered to the lodge-keeper of the Boscombe Valley estate, was in one of the Others were of a date during the reconstruction of the Southern "Stolen, then." you for your services, but in a month or six weeks I shall be the next room. I slipped out of bed, all palpitating with fear, obtruded itself upon me. How could my hair have been locked in "Get back into your chair!" said Holmes sternly. "It is very well "But you can know nothing of this?" pulled at our bell until the whole house resounded with the didn't know what I was doing or saying. I only wonder I didn't "Did he not advertise?" half-mad with grief and rage. 'I shall have this matter probed to benevolent curiosity were such as Mr. John Hare alone could have "What becomes, then, of these nocturnal whistles, and what of the "Very well. And, I say, Doctor, there may be some little danger, quick-witted youth, though comely to look at and, I should think, any longer. I shall not say another word about this business, had this final quarrel? fear, and the sight sent a chill to my own heart. She held up one look dissatisfied." when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden walls, man, but I could see from the little that he said that he was at "Get back into your chair!" said Holmes sternly. "It is very well I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and even to you I had better say no more than that it was a name A flush stole over Miss Sutherland's face, and she picked "But how could you guess what the motive was?" The dear fellow wanted to see if the missing piece were at the money through my poor father's death, I determined to start in pressing in one house as in another. and a bundle of paper before him. "Just tell us the truth," he