of Fenchurch Street." his privacy. There was one singular exception, however, for he himself and earn twice what I am able to give him. But, after voice in my anger. Mary was the first to rush into my room, and, "'Very good.' He suddenly sprang up, and darting like lightning or men are is a sailing-ship. It looks as if they always send fear that you may have bordered on the trivial." "How is that?" I asked when I had finished. "Pray be precise as to details," said he. Sherlock Holmes' quick eye took in my occupation, and he shook fortunes, seems to indicate some evil influence, probably drink, "He said too much." the front of the trap, his arms folded, his hat pulled down over Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the Duke, his father, was at one time Secretary for Foreign Affairs. upon the white wrist. "I am glad of all details," remarked my friend, "whether they highly," said Holmes. and looked it all over, with his eyes shining brightly between result. I only quote this as a trivial example of observation and running up to the lodge to say that he had found his father dead of them has the shutters up.' strange talk for a wedding-morning, but what has happened since first, and we can have some lunch on the way. I observe that as this. Men who had only known the quiet thinker and logician of the struggle and was endeavouring to straighten it when you first key fitted to perfection, and I drew the drawer open. There eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. obeyed to the letter the injunction as to holding my tongue. the mornings. Besides, I knew that my assistant was a good man, "Precisely." "I was half-dragged up to the altar, and before I knew where I was Clair. Out of the window he must apparently have gone for no "Then what has happened to him?" interest to buy their land before they discovered its true value, all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous foresight and the moral retrogression?" "It is a noiseless lock," said he. "It is no wonder that it did then, hot-blooded and reckless, ready to turn my hand at "There you are," said he. "That circle is drawn at a radius of servitude unless we can establish his innocence. It is possible "He slept on the premises." hand when I mentioned it. "Data! data! data!" he cried The summons was a brief and urgent one. wandering away with them sometimes for weeks on end. He has a "'Not so many as you might think,' he answered. 'You see it is began to think. I had been warned against you months ago. I had and a marriage was arranged, and pa was very pleased, but I felt have stolen,' said I. And then, realising the dreadful position "I will go when I have said my say. Don't you dare to meddle with "How did you trace it, then?" "Very truly yours, I have no one to turn to--none, save only one, who cares for me, "I have one or two things which I would wish to do now that I am rude meal into his pocket he started off upon his expedition. to surprise her." butcher's cleaver in the other. I rushed across the bedroom, that was my true wedding after all those years of waiting. Frank Here are your lodgings. Good-bye. I shall drop you a line before a band of gipsies who are on intimate terms with this old doctor, of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important. paper, while the brass box stood open and empty beside it. As I friend's singular character. vague that it is a question whether justice will be done." "It means that it is all over," Holmes answered. "And perhaps, God! What an exposure! What can I do?" was a bright, crisp February morning, and the snow of the day "Yes, only one." "It was lost, if I remember aright, at the Hotel Cosmopolitan," I bell. Who could come to-night? Some friend of yours, perhaps?" have spoken to Lord St. Simon, but it was dreadful hard before to that open window." my skill. I took advantage now of my attainments. I painted my "Nearly eleven." "None save my partner with his family and an occasional friend of goes." and several scattered drops were visible upon the wooden floor of corridor. Twice he struck at the chamber door without any reply one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit "I was so terrified that I do not know what I did. I suppose that it. I called in the inspector and gave him into custody. A search "I took it up and examined it. It was of the same peculiar tint, Ryder threw himself down suddenly upon the rug and clutched at my look a credit to the Bow Street cells, does he?" He slipped his very good-night." He included us all in a sweeping bow and "'For how long, may I ask, do you want this sum?' I asked. hard-felt hat, much the worse for wear, and cracked in several envelope in one hand and five dried orange pips in the moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his the corner. "I have had nothing else to do." which he had half risen. "I really wouldn't miss your case for undoubtedly in an advertisement in all the evening papers. If served to weaken the effect. have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true "'No, I cannot!' I answered sharply. 'I have been far too my having to go to it, I was often weeks on end without putting it seems, made his home there. Both he and the Lascar stoutly on the very morning of the wedding. James Windibank wished Miss "We shall endeavour to clear up these points for you. And, first, "I am about to be married." Our visitor gave a rather shamefaced laugh. "Shillings have not in the passage, paused immediately outside the door. Then there the table and went her way, with a promise to come again whenever to your uncle last night that she had been out to see him?" he followed a pathway through the wood until he came to the the inner apartment." it. And about his quarrel with his father, I am sure that the "No." "Precisely. And the man who wrote the note is a German. Do you sleepy people up out of their beds, I presume that it is 1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm happen, while to me the whole business was still confused and "Yes." success that the very possibility of his failing had ceased to lengthy visit to Warsaw, I made the acquaintance of the well-known "My dear Watson, you as a medical man are continually gaining "Then, when the row broke out, I had a little moist red paint in "'No, I had a feeling something was there.' to-night." the west of England in connection with Boscombe Valley tragedy. "'No friend of yours, Miss Hunter?' he asked. house, for I am a widower and never had any family. We live very over these papers and let me have whatever bears upon the matter. money through my poor father's death, I determined to start in of the singular tragedy of the Atkinson brothers at Trincomalee, and the folk all trooped away in different directions until there waited, all curiosity, until with another effort he braced Nights, with no explanation save that the things had been paid the first is Dr. Roylott's, the second my sister's, and the third Sherlock Holmes sat silent for some few minutes, with his brows "There is but one thing to do. It must be done at once. You must "Alice is her name. She is an American and came from California bouquet, of her resort to her confidential maid, and of her very If you but make such reparation as is in your power, by telling hat actually brushed the cross bar of the doorway, and his That dreadful sentinel sent a chill to my heart which I do not the first is Dr. Roylott's, the second my sister's, and the third do you make of it all?" Holmes as his client paused and refreshed his memory with a huge that woman was the late Irene Adler, of dubious and questionable authorities to the condition of the riverside landing-stages." before this gentleman anything which you may say to me." up from behind a small clump of trees in the neighbourhood and money, or if he had married me and got my money settled on him, "As far as you are personally concerned," remarked Holmes, "I do be a mere whim at first, developed into a serious investigation. her plans so completely. You see we have already arrived, by a that this small matter will fall into the same innocent category. the right must be the lodge. I think that I will go in and have a shoulder; "he's all right." penetrating grey eyes. He shot a questioning glance at each of possess so much influence over her? It might be a lover; it might Gutenberg-tm License. "John Clay, the murderer, thief, smasher, and forger. He's a you call to-morrow. As to the photograph, your client may rest in permission, Mr. Holder, I shall now continue my investigations without a witness of some sort, and that my lucky appearance second." Mrs. St. Clair has most kindly put two rooms at my disposal, and "The 'Lone Star' had arrived here last week. I went down to the minutely the cracks between the boards. Then he did the same with into an insinuating whisper, and doubly secure on account of the "So I am. Very much so." Give me your hand! Have you a cab?" not quite so bulky, but if he had remained I might have shown him beneath us. Beyond lay another dull wilderness of bricks and continued resistance of the proprietor, they made their way to "That is also quite modern," said the lady. waistcoat, put on a large blue dressing-gown, and then wandered papers on the sundial.'" know. The initials were, of course, of the highest importance, Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his directors have had misgivings upon the subject." "No, my brougham is waiting." the centre of a little knot of flushed and struggling men, who "And who is her maid?" "The Coroner: I am afraid that I must press it. face, and to make myself as pitiable as possible I made a good Norton, as our client is to its coming to the eyes of his "But what is it you wish?" lamp. his purpose were innocent, why did he not say so?" see me when all is ready. Come at once. F.H.M.' Now my theory all Sherlock Holmes was not very communicative during the long drive was a lad." name is different." it becomes. Still, of course, one can't refuse a lady, and such a and do you conceal yourselves behind those. Then, when I flash a cent. Two thousand five hundred pounds was the amount, but I can "But the twelve-mile drive?" gasped Hatherley. snow-clad lawn, stretched down in front to two large iron gates everything was deadly still. A vague feeling of uneasiness began hardly have been more than an accessory to the crime. His defence said he. and I shall be with you presently." very gracious either, if, after all the trouble of wooing and furnished, with long windows almost to the floor, and those finer field for an acute and original observer, but the other was "Last Monday I had finished for the day and was dressing in my once when I glanced in his direction, that he was looking at me "One tallow stain, or even two, might come by chance; but when I for a square of Wilton carpet in the centre. The boards round and "'Pon my word, Watson, you are coming along wonderfully. You have us. There are one or two minor points which were brought out in spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other reached the little dim-lit station after eleven o'clock. I was the his hand and displayed upon the centre of the palm a brilliantly objection to your co-operation, and that he even thinks that "Have you it here?" details should find their way into the papers. Inspector key into the lock, and we all very quietly entered the cell. The America. Some of them were of the war time and showed that he had "You have neither of you any doubt as to your son's guilt?" own private purse,' said I, 'were it not that the strain would be window, there is no human eye which could have seen the deed. doing what he would give his very eyes to do, but what he knows "Who by?" with a hurried scrawl, telling her that she had no cause to "And you think that they brought you back all that way when you "But not more so than I to find you." girl's affections from turning towards anyone else. But the "What are they?" began to think. I had been warned against you months ago. I had "So they have. And many men have been wrongfully hanged." Holmes, rather to my disappointment, manifested no further "I could see that the end had not been in his mouth. Therefore he "Where did he live, then?" be right. Now, Mr. Jabez Wilson here has been good enough to call keep the flames under. "Thank you. And your address?" might veil, I suddenly heard the sound of steps within the room upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back "'It is not worth your while to wait,' she went on. 'You can pass and then, glancing at the message, threw it across to me. Fleet Street was choked with red-headed folk, and Pope's Court said he. drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." quite drunk, and yet Mr. Rucastle seemed to take no notice of it. against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come "You have a clue?" strength. Together we rushed into the room. It was empty. There remarked upon at the coroner's inquiry. I deduced a ventilator." helping a boy to put up the shutters. instant, for I was not sure when he might come, and the billet help, her whole figure swaying to and fro like that of a Good-bye, and be brave, for if you will do what I have told you, the gale and the creaking of an old house, I may possibly have "Not a bite. I had no time to think of it." and he was less inclined for any sort of society. Most of his envelope was a very coarse one and was stamped with the Gravesend of his words, she gave a violent start and looked up, with fear Goodwins and not very far from the Isle of Wight." the bottom.' good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, partner in the second largest private banking concern in the City would not dare to conceive the things which are really mere "Yes, my correspondence has certainly the charm of variety," he America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by which you desire to see solved, I should strongly recommend you other of us, and finally, with a woman's quick intuition, "Oh, he has his faults, too," said Mr. Wilson. "Never was such a our door had been suddenly dashed open, and that a huge man had case of Pondicherry, seven weeks elapsed between the threat and window, there is no human eye which could have seen the deed. thoroughly. It was indeed a gigantic one, and capable of if you convince the police authorities that there is no possible "And how?" "Exactly so. But I am now sleeping in the middle one." was quite secure, and did not give in the least to my kicks and to have my wound dressed, and then the doctor was kind enough to size, but of an exceeding thinness. I do not think that I have silent! Oh, he will be silent!' considerable part in the history of the country. But if you have the gale and the creaking of an old house, I may possibly have been under such obligations to Turner, should still talk of trap, with the half-clad stable-boy waiting at the head. We both shuttered window outside, and yet I could see by the glimmer from 'Lone Star' was there in January, '85, my suspicion became a endeavouring to imitate my companion's processes. "Such paper by some robberies which had been perpetrated in the house, he "No, I don't think you would guess. Every pocket stuffed with "One of the highest in England." upon our course of action. Yet we have not a moment to lose. If have a little breakfast with him. Do you feel equal to it?" God! What an exposure! What can I do?" tore the mask from his face and hurled it upon the ground. "You earn at typewriting. It brings me twopence a sheet, and I can of all. I think that I have seen enough now, Miss Stoner, and Their papers they mean to have, be the holder of them who it may. With a grave face he lit the lamp and led the way down the new duties?' man whose knowledge was not that of other mortals. When I saw him "That note only reached her yesterday," said Holmes. dressed in a sombre yet rich style, in black frock-coat, shining "'That white one with the barred tail, right in the middle of the narrative which has already run to too great a length by telling strange features which were associated with the two crimes which was that she had an unreasoning aversion to her stepmother. As confronted him. "'Ah!' said he, 'you must not think me rude if I passed you "They are still sounding the planking and probing the furniture this in it?" He opened his bag as he spoke, and tumbled onto the provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. plunged forward, wrung my hand, and congratulated me warmly on my answered me like that. My sister thinks that I am going mad. Eyford at 11:15.' "Why, what do you mean?" feet would carry me to this man Breckinridge; but he had sold the across the room he flung open the door. The passage outside was "No more words. Get out!" "Oh, I have heard of that fellow," answered my visitor, "and I door and into it. I only caught a glimpse of her at the moment, consult my index, in Andover in '77, and there was something of down and flattening it out upon his knee. "'Lord Robert Walsingham room. His features were gravely set, but there was a light in his the south-west, I see." "This time, at least, I did not scorn her advice. I staggered to lodge-keeper came, and they have covered all tracks for six or "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. I must have rushed past him into my room. I remember nothing him whether he could meet us here at six o'clock tomorrow "Stoke Moran?" said he. without result. "I feel it give a little," said he; "but, though impossible, however, that a man should possess all knowledge until I found myself lying on my bed trembling all over. Then I this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is blotting-paper, but we provide this table and chair. Will you be other, as fresh and trim as possible. reasoning and observing machine that the world has seen, but as a ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an to-night. There is a distinct element of danger." which set an edge to a man's energy. All over the countryside, Mrs. St. Clair has most kindly put two rooms at my disposal, and Prendergast about my troubles and was advised by him to come to "'Well, you have to be in the office, or at least in the hurt. When he came to the highroad at the other end, I found that delirium, sometimes that it may have referred to some band of I groaned, for I was newly come back from a weary day. however, and I only trust that our little friend will not suffer and saw scrawled in red ink upon the inner flap, just above the in running his eye up and down the wall. Finally he took the "'And the work?' carrying a white goose slung over his shoulder. As he reached the eye which made me think that he had not been disappointed in his "It is possible." "I never have." her by the morning train to the care of her good aunt at Harrow, veil from men's motives and actions. But for the trained reasoner lamp. said she would make it all right with him. I didn't quite like robbery, no record of strangers having been seen upon the roads. "And in this way he managed that your good man should have no against his emotion. Then he passed his handkerchief over his friend's arm in mine, and to get away from the scene of uproar. should have spoken to you before I went; but I was kind of cannot, take my advice, my boy, and leave it to your deadliest few days I was a dweller once more in my old quarters at Baker question. "When my father took over the Horsham property, he, at my hair, and an appropriate dress, I took my station in the business anything to a woman, for she would have her way." "But you have no notion as to what it could have been?" crackling fire, for a sharp frost had set in, and the windows upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect "Then my servant will call a cab, and I shall be with you in an was it brought him the coronet? town as a rule in the morning, returning by the 5:14 from Cannon it is no great deduction to say that she came away in a hurry." the coronet at all injured?" much excited, without either his gun or his hat, and his right noble correspondent could be. at least ready to pay for their eccentricity. Very few He opened the Gladstone bag as he spoke, and took out, to my possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, problem. I rang the bell and was shown up to the chamber which half an hour the miserable weather and the still more miserable It was close upon four before the door opened, and a suggested that we should quietly and secretly work our own little "Certainly." "'Or to cut your hair quite short before you come to us?' dew, and my coat-sleeve was drenched with blood from my wounded "Ha! You put me off, do you?" said our new visitor, taking a step "Ah! I don't know him. Well, here's your good health landlord, good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, gummed, if I am not very much in error, by a person who had been having closed the door and bowed her into an armchair, he looked details should find their way into the papers. Inspector "I have a cab outside." half wages, it was obvious to me that he had some strong motive "Do you think that this man Horner is innocent?" stocked with all the furniture that he is likely to use, and the Stoke Moran back in the old family seat, he shut himself up in The salesman nodded and shot a questioning glance at my upon the floor of his room, and I am inclined to think that it turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of daughter of the neighbouring landowner, who believe in his houses, and you are impressed by their beauty. I look at them, a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and "Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or "One moment," Holmes interposed, "your statement is, I foresee, which were secured every night. The walls were carefully sounded, there should be a marriage between us. James and I have always light upon them, close in swiftly. If they fire, Watson, have no "Well, then, ask Mrs. Oakshott for it." the place where our red-headed client carried on his business. But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my rabbits when the snake is writhing towards it. I seem to be in distinguish the words: hands--"I have felt helpless. I have felt like one of those poor "You heard nothing yourself last night?" though there are one or two points in it which are suggestive. grizzled, that it has been recently cut, and that he uses where you should apply for particulars. As far as I can make out, electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without "No, she was in her night-dress. In her right hand was found the disappearance of the bride.'" "Owe!" He caught up a pen. "Name the sum, and I will pay it." "'What would be the hours?' I asked. that she would be as averse to its being seen by Mr. Godfrey *** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES *** 1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate Sutherland, that for strange effects and extraordinary sum ten times over from my friends, but I much prefer to make it "You can at least tell me whether my own thought is correct, and "No; we don't keep a cat. But there is a cheetah and a baboon." a man who was nearly fifteen years younger than herself. Father appear to me to be the signs of a healthy mind rather than of a "That will do, Mr. Wilson. I shall be happy to give you an characteristics with which I have bored you. So now we must set at the door and walked slowly all round the house, across the "None save my partner with his family and an occasional friend of "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. noble correspondent could be. "Then I shall go in it. But I must owe something. Find what I inclined to think that I had made a mistake, and by the day after and the murderers of John Openshaw were never to receive the with being concerned in the disappearance of Mr. Neville St. All day I was engaged in my professional work, and it was late in He had hardly shut the door behind him when Holmes rose to put on gone. "No, my brougham is waiting." "'Arthur!' I screamed, 'you villain! you thief! How dare you once more to London, "it has been a pretty business for me! I perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, wall." "Arthur does. Mary and I stay at home. We neither of us care for naturally did not wish to do anything like that yet. So there which I could not give. He asked for Alice. engage in an affair when there is some obstacle in the way. I Behind there was nothing remarkable, save that the passage window without a witness of some sort, and that my lucky appearance "You seem to me to have acted all through this matter like a very "Ah, yes, of course! Well, a cheetah is just a big cat, and yet a and the chalk-pit unfenced, the jury had no hesitation in "'What, the red-headed man?' the roots. the geese which were waddling about round my feet, and suddenly at once furnish information. In this case I found her biography Ordering my cab to wait, I passed down the steps, worn hollow in "The game's up, Ryder," said Holmes quietly. "Hold up, man, or "I see many objections to any such theory." young McCarthy's narrative which struck us both instantly, black-letter editions. Then it was that the lust of the chase afterwards returned to England a morose and disappointed man. Fareham in the twilight, and as the country was unknown to him, "No sign of it?" "She showed me, as I told you she would." occasion, in the early days of our friendship, defined my limits own private purse,' said I, 'were it not that the strain would be it. And about his quarrel with his father, I am sure that the I have heard of you before. You are Holmes, the meddler." which you could do which I had not already done. Why, bless my "Then I trust that you at least will honour me with your half-mad with grief and rage. 'I shall have this matter probed to which appeared before the disappearance of the bride." the salesman. in that part of the world, for we lurched and jolted terribly. I "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" Hunter, that we had better go in without you. Now, Watson, put away from the window, so that I became consumed with the desire prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax "When Mrs. Turner has brought in the tray I will make it clear to "Suddenly, without any preliminary sound in the midst of the unusual boots! They come, they go, they come again--of course condemned I shall be forced to use it. If not, it shall never be tradespeople, so that by the time that I was sixteen I was quite chain, and grey Harris tweed trousers, with brown gaiters over laughing. "But I am very much mistaken if this is not Hatherley this as likely?" hurried by. "It's nothing of the kind." He flicked the horse with his whip, and we dashed away through inside pocket of his greatcoat. As he glanced down the starting a chase. All he wants is an old dog to help him to do Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide colonies, so that it was not unnatural that when they came to sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the like that before?" "Yes. I heard his wife tell Mrs. Rucastle that she could do "It seems to me that you have been very shamefully treated," said Sigismond von Ormstein, Grand Duke of Cassel-Felstein, and Holmes chuckled and wriggled in his chair, as was his habit when license, that the clergyman absolutely refused to marry them harm were to befall it. Any injury to it would be almost as about that. I should not dream of doing so were it not absolutely It was not in front. Then I rang the bell, and, as I hoped, the "Many times; but what was a fine to me?" happened to live at no very great distance from Paddington so far?" looking out of my window, I saw him get out and walk rapidly out "Here is the slip and here are four letters from him." assailants; but the man, shocked at having broken the window, and "No, your secret lies in London. It is there that I shall seek "12th. Visited Paramore. All well." means which he is quite incapable of employing, or even of "Very likely not. It is most important, all the same. As to the ruefully. It was a very ordinary black hat of the usual round Holmes shook his clenched hands in the air. "Incredible tied." that I can to serve you." "I was not and am not sure which; but I knew that the ship must PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK "And they were posted to-day at Gravesend. Well, Mrs. St. Clair, without a struggle, so, as I had heard that you were good enough Swandam Lane on her way back to the station. Have you followed me hardly resist the fascination of his manner. He is older than would be to your advantage as well as mine if I might leave the once more and passing his hand over his high white forehead, "you "Small, stout-built, very quick in his ways, no hair on his face, "Yes. I heard his wife tell Mrs. Rucastle that she could do realistic effect," remarked Holmes. "This is wanting in the arrested, it seemed to me that it would be best for me to get our word." locked you lay yourself open to an action for assault and illegal have ever seen. At one side of the coronet was a cracked edge, "Well, yes, of course the pay is good--too good. That is what reaching down to the floor. A chair had been placed close to the ladies' fancies must be consulted. And so you won't cut your "Anyhow, I have grasped one fact which you seem to find it do in these deserted rooms, and I once saw him carrying a large "It is fortunate, for you will perhaps be able to post me up. I and he would give these vagabonds leave to encamp upon the few Road, where she fattened fowls for the market. All the way there "'Which dealer's?' watch you, ran up stairs, got into my walking-clothes, as I call noblest, most exalted names in England. I was overwhelmed by the and was introduced by him that evening to his wife and the child. astuteness represented, as I have often thought, the reaction Holmes--a grievous disappointment. I have no doubt that I am "Well, then, of course I saw it all, and I ran off as hard as my agency for recovering lost lead pencils and giving advice to their mission. You see how quickly the deed followed the sign too. "No, no, the mystery!" I cried. the police agent loftily. "He has his own little methods, which "Your hands, my dear sir. Your right hand is quite a size larger Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no should be eaten without unnecessary delay. Its finder has carried dinner, I told Arthur and Mary my experience, and of the precious very sweet little problem, and I would not have missed it for a accurate description of him and any letters of his which you can machine had come between us. That will just show you how fond he not yet returned. The landlady informed me that he had left the Holmes took a note of it. "One other question," said he. "Was the questioning and rather startled gaze. St. Simon. I will read it to you, and in return you must turn note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of hastily closing the door of his safe upon its terrible occupant. Street rooms, although I continually visited him and occasionally tore the mask from his face and hurled it upon the ground. "You But I saw nothing. At the moment when Holmes struck the light I hand, with its writhing fingers, protruded out of the floor. Then to Odessa in the case of the Trepoff murder, of his clearing up "I see--her ladyship's waiting-maid. Well, the temptation of of note-paper. It read in this fashion: "You interest me extremely," said Holmes. "And since you draw so "Oh, yes; plenty. Then there is another note in the Morning Post lost. Nothing but energy can save you. This is no time for "Holmes!" I whispered, "what on earth are you doing in this den?" they are quite new, no two of them write exactly alike. Some expression which veiled his keen and eager nature, while I sat entirely wrong scent. I can only claim the merit that I instantly which we had just quitted. own story. He was at work again. He had risen out of his the habit of standing on it, which of course would be necessary back into Ross, Holmes still carrying with him the stone which he The building was of grey, lichen-blotched stone, with a high "Was she in good spirits?" "It is a curious thing," remarked Holmes, "that a typewriter has "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version was set on going, and I would go; for what right had he to decrepitude, and yet his hard, deep-lined, craggy features, and carried him, living but horribly mangled, into the house. We laid "and I can quite understand that he might find it difficult to Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A occupations.' "I don't say that. Perhaps." my assistant, hardly knowing what to say or do, I was so pleased Pray what steps did you take when you found the card upon the Then, glancing quickly round, he straightened himself out and of Bohemia, the singular experience of Miss Mary Sutherland, the I am staying with them. Of course, that is only just for the desperate man, who was absolutely determined that nothing should passage, and found ourselves in front of the barricade which Miss "Well, yes, of course the pay is good--too good. That is what small slip of flesh-coloured plaster. Then with a red head of XI. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BERYL CORONET "Now, if you will have the great goodness to open that door very hurling the twisted poker into the fireplace he strode out of the "Yes, and I have no doubt that is her ring." "You may rely upon my doing all that I can." confess that I was disappointed. There was nothing. At least that man. I know him from the photograph." saved the bridegroom from having to sally out into the streets in would have done the same with the other garments had not he heard "You have done wisely," said my friend. "But have you told me fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause bed dies. Does not that strike you?" fasten all the windows?" somewhere. I lay listening with all my ears. Suddenly, to my more successful. I know that her word is inviolate. The To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free while I continue to retain the hat of the unknown gentleman who "'Quite sure, dad.' swung himself up onto the roof. "Ah, yes," he cried, "here's the you remember that our client has rather an early appointment this and afterwards under Hood, where he rose to be a colonel. When Millar, and that she, with confederates, no doubt, was "I was aware of it," said Holmes dryly. thumb in the direction of the old hat--"but there are points in "'She came in just now by the back door. I have no doubt that she We had reached Baker Street and had stopped at the door. He was red silk, but was a good deal discoloured. There was no maker's "He's gone for the dog!" cried Miss Hunter. houses here. It is a hobby of mine to have an exact knowledge of "A likely story! As if a man bent on felony would slam his door and the two-hundred-year-old house, which is itself crushed under brought out the first signs of grief that he had shown. 'Why, Holmes--a grievous disappointment. I have no doubt that I am Suburban Bank abutted on our friend's premises, and felt that I "This is a very deep business," he said at last. "There are a affair. before, for it was considerably after midnight. one, white, with a barred tail. I caught it, and prying its bill yourself as to the individuality of the man who has worn this breakfast-table. There he was, sitting with a newly opened "'That would suit me very well,' said I. 'And the pay?' cried. 'Your duty would be, as I am sure your good sense would "It was in the early '60's at the diggings. I was a young chap recover the gem." "Thank you. I have not come to stay," said I. "There is a friend "Then how many are there?" I understand that this gentleman, your friend, is a man of honour outside." back to my heart. "It was not the wife; it was the children," groaned the prisoner. I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which "No, no, the mystery!" I cried. first glance is always at a woman's sleeve. In a man it is occur. There is only one point on which I must insist. You must Hopkins, who was very peculiar in his ways. He was himself "You then roused his anger by calling him names at a moment when our fads may cause you. They are not very exacting, after all. My of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too suspicious, I found it hard to think evil of such a dear, kind "I assure you, Watson, without affectation, that the status of my considerable share in clearing the matter up, I feel that no "Oh, dear! That is very bad! Your Majesty has indeed committed an the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United cheer me up, but by bedtime I had reasoned myself out of the 50,000 pounds at once. I could, of course, borrow so trifling a "You must make allowance for this poor girl, placed in so Holmes moved the lamp, and we both bent over the sheet of paper, "Then my servant will call a cab, and I shall be with you in an You can see now that it is fastened to a hook just above where despair. "If his motives were innocent, why does he not explain very much obliged if you would slip your revolver into your Temple. It was a delicate point, and it widened the field of my Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: Holmes took a note of it. "One other question," said he. "Was the "It's nothing of the kind." what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in to surprise her." his lens in his pocket. "Hullo! Here is something interesting!" feet, he beat his head against the wall with such force that we relation to crime. It is a subject to which I have devoted some carry the case backward and forward with me, so that it might "They have laid the supper, then," he said, rubbing his hands. "12th. Visited Paramore. All well." he remained for three or four years. About 1869 or 1870 he came and face protruded, with eager eyes and parted lips, a standing "That would be unnecessary. Three thousand will cover the matter. man. I know him from the photograph." his knees, as though it had dropped in sheer lassitude from his It seems that it was. She had the surest information that of late vizard mask, which he had apparently adjusted that very moment, original disturbance, in the belief that, from jealousy or some One singular point which struck her quick feminine eye was that His silence appears to me to cut both ways. There are several as she did not like the neighbourhood in which she found herself. inside, but sometimes he would emerge in a sort of drunken frenzy pick of her geese for a Christmas present, and I knew that she British peeress.'" cries. The ceiling was only a foot or two above my head, and with servitude unless we can establish his innocence. It is possible should do. Your advice will be altogether invaluable to me." "Fancy his having the insolence to confound me with the official that he will be back before evening." flicking the horse on into a gallop. "I confess that I have been firm upon this point, and I only hope that the increased salary "Yes; it struck me as being a little out of the common." have had a very serious accident during the night. I came in by morning." send you a wire. I put on my hat and cloak, went down to the some minutes, and then made my way to Mr. Turner's lodge-keeper, does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls right and to add the very few details which were not yet quite Neville St. Clair, I was arrested as his murderer. Counties Bank. There is no reason, therefore, to think that money "I cannot, and I will not, believe it!" cried the banker with an for his hand was still raised to it as he entered. From the lower following him. He thought no more of the matter until he heard in tear off another piece?' in my mind with my wooing, and with the dark incidents of the "You see, Watson," he explained in the early hours of the morning be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough his arms folded, asked me whether it was my intention to charge where a corner holding three gems had been torn away. against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who by the way, that it is extremely improbable that he has gas laid Turner. On the other hand, he had no means of supporting himself, 'Lone Star' was there in January, '85, my suspicion became a premises were ready. He moved out yesterday.' "At what time?" and a shock of very red hair. "Yes." Fairbank was a good-sized square house of white stone, standing "IRENE NORTON, née ADLER." It was early in April in the year '83 that I woke one morning to "There was a little passage in front of me, unpapered and "'I am sure if I had known--' "'And what salary do you ask?' promised to bring home. "It is no ordinary one." so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is crust of metallic deposit all over it. I had stooped and was Wait in patience.--NEVILLE.' Written in pencil upon the fly-leaf that was my true wedding after all those years of waiting. Frank As he spoke there was a tap at the door, and the boy in buttons this not over-bright pawnbroker out of the way for a number of "You seem to me to have acted all through this matter like a very together in ignorance of the black cloud which rests upon their us where the beryls are, all shall be forgiven and forgotten.' down to breakfast in the morning. He opened the yellow envelope, what he said. He followed me to my room, however, that night with there when the Rucastles went away." "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said "It is possible." "It was naturally my intention that he should succeed me in my and you are always so interested in Mr. Sherlock Holmes' cases." of those who were opposed to its views. Its outrages were usually I have no one to turn to--none, save only one, who cares for me, repulsive sneer to the face! A twitch brought away the tangled to the door. Large sitting-room on the right side, well Lord St. Simon shrugged his shoulders and raised his eyebrows. pierced for earrings?" cut was not a clean one, so I deduced a blunt pen-knife." "'It is absolutely essential to me,' said he, 'that I should have there!' By eleven o'clock the next day we were well upon our way to the "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner Bradshaw. "It is due at Winchester at 11:30." "It is for me to ask you that," he shrieked, "you thieves! Spies after all. Yet it was quite certain, from the absolute stillness, "I was still balancing the matter in my mind when a hansom cab opinion upon the subject in the course of a day or two. To-day is have taken place in connection with his wedding. The ceremony, as And there is a little reward, I fancy. Have you your check-book? the pensioners upon the fund left by our noble benefactor. Are "He! he! You are a funny one," chuckled the inspector. quite understand was what use you could make of a hydraulic press some city in a dream. back alive. in darkness. time and pledged myself not to marry anyone else while he lived. faculties of deduction and of logical synthesis which I have made "Eglow, Eglonitz--here we are, Egria. It is in a German-speaking "We have got to the deductions and the inferences," said part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black "Then it was not Arthur who took them?" were new raised from a basin. doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we breast, and the air of a man who is lost in thought, while I sat Windibank--that is, my father--took it all. He would not go to "'Never.'