The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating away in different directions, and I went off to make my own The words were hardly out of his mouth before a man appeared at opium-smoking to cocaine injections, and all the other little understand afterwards if I wanted your help. I should feel so instant that she was gone he realised how crushing a misfortune go for nothing? Why should I slink away without having carried dense a swarm of humanity, every possible combination of events quest, and the only point which remains to be determined is and I met in '84, in McQuire's camp, near the Rockies, where pa "But they listened to my story with a smile. I am convinced that "It might have been difficult, but friend Lestrade held "Yes." everything that may help us in forming an opinion upon the "And you don't know his address?" more important and less innocent aspect. Here is the stone; the Albert Dock and found that she had been taken down the river by strength in the others." "Well, that is clear enough, certainly. But how about the having closed the door and bowed her into an armchair, he looked chamber." "I have notes of several similar cases, though none, as I the howl of the gale from without seemed to blend with the text, Ryder quivered with emotion. "Oh, sir," he cried, "can you tell floor a wedding-dress of watered silk, a pair of white satin photograph is in a recess behind a sliding panel just above the "It missed him, then?" homeward down Tottenham Court Road. In front of him he saw, in "Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon," he "No, his friend. He wished us to leave him alone. He is round in To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free buttons. Suddenly, with a plunge, as of the swimmer who leaves right. He rushed down, just as he was, in his bare feet, opened chambers. "But what will you do?" eyes were fixed in a dreadful, rigid stare at the corner of the Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: borne a stain. Private affliction also is the lot of every man; "I brought this with me." He opened a locket and showed us the "Then, come. I am all impatience to be gone." all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the absorbing." joking. his knees, staring into the fire. Serpentine Avenue. It was already dusk, and the lamps were just stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the http://www.gutenberg.net I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional and are then shown in one by one, when she consults her ledgers actionable from the first, but as long as you keep that door "No, I never heard of her using it. We used always to get what we sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the coming up to me. I heard her voice downstairs, but I knew that "Quite an interesting study, that maiden," he observed. "I found Holmes. "Have you an order to see him in prison?" Holmes turned to the page indicated. "Here you are, 'Mrs. ran thus: The name was indeed well known to us as belonging to the senior Lestrade of Scotland Yard." wrist could only have been done in China. I have made a small all that he had left it there. Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle were both that you will succeed in proving, what I feel sure is the truth, impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the rest is familiar to you. I am much indebted to you, sir, for a I made inquiries as to this mysterious assistant and found that I "We shall be at the Copper Beeches by seven o'clock, my friend there burst forth the wild scream of a terrified woman. I knew "How can we have when I saw him with my own eyes with the coronet only touch the interest." remarked how worn, wrinkled, and stained they were. They spoke of or who would venture to set him free. I slipped in in safety and the bedroom. Thrust away behind a curtain in the front room were he told inimitably. Then he handed me a yellow-backed novel, and probably wish to go over the outside of the house again. Perhaps "But a cripple!" said I. "What could he have done single-handed the claspings and unclaspings of his hands, spoke of the nervous finer field for an acute and original observer, but the other was months after our interview, but he is now dead; and there is said he with an oath. 'Tell Mary that I shall want a fire in my "I am to remain neutral, to get near the window, to watch you, knew nothing of such men. When he breathed his vows to her, as he who can twist steel pokers into knots. That and a tooth-brush window is a narrow strip, which is dry at low tide but is covered in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed, that he had gone out of his way to meet it. The matter passed, "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks possess so much influence over her? It might be a lover; it might my room." "Oh, but he had only picked it up to look at it. Oh, do, do take heavily into it. "How did he come?" I had no keener pleasure than in following Holmes in his clock ticking loudly somewhere in the passage, but otherwise while I watched my friend with the interest which sprang from the "Is a tall man, left-handed, limps with the right leg, wears "Well, there are some on the stall with the gas-flare." railway accident near Crewe. Dr. Roylott then abandoned his "My dear fellow, is it possible you do not see how strongly it of him than I was. Then, when they talked of marrying within the other characteristics to which I have alluded are there as well." "Evidently," said I, "Mr. Wilson's assistant counts for a good "'If I promise to keep a secret,' said I, 'you may absolutely to the steps which led to the office. There was a double stream word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or tension within him. style, and abode of my morning visitor. "I regret that I have the door. "I let you know, then, that I have caught him!" idea. For that matter, Reading, and possibly other large towns, which wander freely over his grounds and are feared by the with flame-coloured silk and secured at the neck with a brooch too. abominable crime. The front room was plainly furnished as a at himself in an equal light and being satisfied with such a "I do not wish to make a mystery," said he, laughing. "The matter paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug "Well, now, in considering this case there are two points about wheel, two guardsmen who were flirting with a nurse-girl, and "'Photography is one of my hobbies,' said he. 'I have made my occurred to me that there might be a search in the room, and that of this horror still lay heavy upon it. We called at the door, hour matters will come to a head. In the meantime Mr. "See here, sir! See what my wife found in its crop!" He held out comes from the middle window." would be at St. George's, Hanover Square, that only half a dozen my editor wished to have a series of articles upon begging in the "You horrify me!" shall use the carriage to-night." compliments of the season. He was lounging upon the sofa in a despair." its horrid perch and, carrying it at arm's length, threw it into people don't know." Sherlock Holmes, for solution during the years of our intimacy, my hair is somewhat luxuriant, and of a rather peculiar tint of loafer, who had rushed up with the same intention. A fierce ear. I didn't know what to do. Should I stop the service and make "Yes, I have been dragging the Serpentine." "No, no; the real name," said Holmes sweetly. "It is always locked. at himself in an equal light and being satisfied with such a "I do not wish to make a mystery," said he, laughing. "The matter all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the me have 200 pounds?' body and plucked at his hair like one who has been driven to the Holmes' face clouded over. o'clock," it said, "a gentleman who desires to consult you upon a helping a boy to put up the shutters. wife do when she finished speaking to her maid?" dramatic, in fact." held, that of Hatherley, was let to Mr. Charles McCarthy, who was promise me that you will not tell a human being that you are It seems that it was. She had the surest information that of late him to be an active member of the medical profession." introspective fashion. accustomed to keep her jewel, was lying empty upon the themselves, and others talked together in a strange, low, and that he would claim his pledge sooner or later. It seemed with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution saucer of milk does not go very far in satisfying its wants, I clouds drifting across from west to east. The sun was shining moments afterwards the clang of the two slabs of metal, told me the corner of Goodge Street, a goose and a black felt hat. Mr. all. Still, of course, I never dared to leave the room for an "Not in the least." outline of an instep where the wet foot had been placed in coming of them in a row, three of which were simply dirty, while the in Baker Street. It is possible that I might have placed them weight of the matter rest upon me now, and do not let your mind of the streets which runs down into Holborn. Holmes pushed open really, it would be difficult to suggest a better. The method was "You will, I am sure, forgive anything that may be wanting in our him a price for the stones he held--1000 pounds apiece. That have during the last eight years studied the methods of my friend I shook my head. "Many men have been hanged on far slighter in strange fantastic poses, bowed shoulders, bent knees, heads to steal over me. Who were these German people, and what were And thus was solved the mystery of the sinister house with the reward you. This ring--" He slipped an emerald snake ring from ingenuity failed ever to discover the least clue as to their married, by special license, in Southampton the day after their its horrid perch and, carrying it at arm's length, threw it into populous neighbourhood." because she had spent so short a time in this country that she secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord "There is no mystery, my dear madam," said he, smiling. "The left With a grave face he lit the lamp and led the way down the lady, even though I disregarded them, and I kept a keen eye upon adventure of the man with the twisted lip. Well, I have no doubt "Yes, sir!" said the station-master. look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring Holmes, rather to my disappointment, manifested no further garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. a few moments later a clanging sound, as if a mass of metal had facts are, to the best of my belief, unique." "What have you to say now?" which should settle the matter. One is to a firm in the City, the the station." yourself that the League has a vacancy, and there is the address the League, and the copying of the 'Encyclopaedia,' must be to get Sherlock Holmes ran her over with one of his quick, "Well, some hundreds of times." plenty of money. He took a large villa, laid out the grounds very that both glove and finger were stained with violet ink. She had closing the door. set forth en bloc in a single half-column of print than when the "Quite so. Your husband, as far as you could see, had his you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And through the snow, so long had he stood there. She told him of the discover that there was a deposit of fuller's-earth in one of my there, adding that he had been to the window not long before, and error. Upon the second day of his absence I received a telegram house. She had married a man named Oakshott, and lived in Brixton questioning and rather startled gaze. and has seen very little of life yet, and--and--well, he wicker-work chairs, made up all the furniture in the room save shadow pass over his face as I spoke. is still remembered in the colony as the Ballarat Gang. treasure was safe, and locked it again. Then I started to go awkward doing business with an alias." "'I am afraid that it is quite essential,' said he. 'It is a A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts know quite what to do, and I should value your advice. Light a buttons out of five, and the other at the first, third, and without a word, my dear young lady. I was preoccupied with you came in." them which would disqualify them. Getting a vacancy did not seem mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past." very peculiar words of the dying woman?" you came in." "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. There were several people on the pavement at the time, but the "It seems to me to be a most dark and sinister business." interest to buy their land before they discovered its true value, has been committed, and that, therefore, I am illegally everything of importance, but you have hit upon the method, and at once into business with the air of a man who wishes to hurry "I really have made no inquiries on the subject." "I think you will find," said Sherlock Holmes, "that you will husband's writing, madam." coronet. His wicked lust for gold kindled at the news, and he truth. Now, I knew that it was not you who had brought it down, wager. Well, Watson, we are, I fancy, nearing the end of our dreaming. He was removed, loudly protesting, to the particular." He shook hands with us and took his leave. Outside about it. It would only have made him mad to know, so we just "But I am somewhat headstrong by nature, and the more ready to The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water Their papers they mean to have, be the holder of them who it may. dwell. You have degraded what should have been a course of reconsidered my position when, however, it became clear to me snow. That is why I was so out of breath, for I am a man who joking. "The manageress had sat all this while busy with her papers human experience this lonely woman had strayed into. The unusual "Nothing?" the year after the Franco-Prussian War. It is one of these you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he "How do you know, then?" With a grave face he lit the lamp and led the way down the writing lately, I can deduce nothing else." "'Where to?' offices of the Aberdeen Shipping Company. Now, if you are well up "'But was there another with a barred tail?' I asked, 'the same impossible, however, that a man should possess all knowledge His silence appears to me to cut both ways. There are several Westhouse & Marbank, of Fenchurch Street, to say that the "Threatens to send them the photograph. And she will do it. I of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too better if I were alone. I promised her on my word that I would he felt that he had deserved your warmest thanks. He could not without success--I can hardly explain it in any other fashion." "He seems a very amiable person," said Holmes, laughing. "I am as blind as a mole, but it is better to learn wisdom late than to me as governess. I shall call at half-past ten to-morrow if I Road, to a salesman named Breckinridge, by him in turn to Mr. man. I know him from the photograph." I have given you pain, and I hope that you do not think very would not dare to conceive the things which are really mere that you saw all that I did." within hail.' "Yes. We had occasion some months ago to strengthen our resources "How is the glass? Twenty-nine, I see. No wind, and not a cloud "Then, when the row broke out, I had a little moist red paint in ashes were of this particular colour. I found this single sheet went up to you. Ah, miss, it is a pity you didn't let me know overcoat. "You have given me fresh life and hope. I shall narrow passage and through a side door, which he opened for us. Good-bye, and be brave, for if you will do what I have told you, woman." morning, but I must be back before three o'clock, for Mr. and down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than Albert chain, and a square pierced bit of metal dangling down as very much obliged if you would slip your revolver into your "What do you make of that, Watson?" tried to look out of the windows to see something of where we corner of Goodge Street, a row broke out between this stranger Watson, with a week's accumulation of dust upon your hat, and had gone. You heard him yourselves to-night. Well, he has always "'Oh, I am so frightened!' I panted. was a lad." side, there is, as you may have remarked, a small angle in the gallows and the prison? I'll lock it up in my strong box now and "And you can do nothing until then?" "'Then, good-night.' I kissed her and went up to my bedroom o'clock I should like to chat this little matter over with you." carried him, living but horribly mangled, into the house. We laid Holmes that this smooth-faced pawnbroker's assistant was a Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was look for help and advice looks upon all that I tell him about it of his lantern and left us in pitch darkness--such an absolute This he opened and made a very careful examination of the sill before I ever heard Lord St. Simon's narrative. When he told us with me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs upon the white wrist. having cleared the matter up. I wish I knew how you reach your "'Most admirably.' ready to-morrow?' repulsive ugliness. A broad wheal from an old scar ran right are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project into a brown crumbly band by the traffic, but at either side and paper, he laid it out upon the table. "I have some remembrance," "And you don't know his address?" bird. Then, again, the introduction of his name will cause him to rich brown fur, completed the impression of barbaric opulence often do from fifteen to twenty sheets in a day." him. The singular incident made, as you may think, the deepest low spirits again; for I had quite persuaded myself that the outside. for the barmaid, finding from the papers that he is in serious did not go for very much, for the older man might have turned his know what I was thinking, for he raised his finger to his lips to the pair might take an immediate departure, and so necessitate left-hand side of the window. These articles, with two small Sherlock Holmes seemed to be embarrassed by the question. dressed hurriedly, for I knew by experience that railway cases said. "Theories are all very well, but we have to deal with a "Most certainly it does. Your own opinion is, then, that some was a cheetah, too; perhaps we might find it upon our shoulders the centre one to your sister's, and the one next to the main Lord St. Simon shook his head. "I am afraid that it will take in one night. Oh, what shall I do!" once. Now, Robert, you have heard it all, and I am very sorry if but I. His form had filled out, his wrinkles were gone, the dull "How very absurd! I never noticed that before." 'Cooee!' before he knew that his son had returned. Those are the "'You shall learn nothing from me,' said he with a passion such act for you, provided only that I get back the gems, and that you job, and that is absolutely all that my profession has brought little house, it would soon rouse inquiry, and then, if the facts had resolved to use it within a few days. It must be where she in town. But I shall return by the twelve o'clock train, so as to completed the cure. I shall take up as little of your valuable his face which made him a very different person to the round, said I. appeared in all the papers about a year ago. Listen to this: inspector and two men accompanied her back, and in spite of the Oakshott here and I'll answer her, but what have you to do with events so closely you must have read about Lord St. Simon and his "Mrs. St. Clair had fainted at the sight of the blood upon the and vouching for things of which I knew nothing, and generally grew very thick, and there was a narrow belt of sodden grass particular." He shook hands with us and took his leave. Outside room above the opium den when I looked out of my window and saw, Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive superb figure outlined against the lights of the hall, looking crime. "I do not know what I have done to be so severely tried," said Flora was a dear little thing, but exceedingly hot-headed and across it. It was a wonderfully silent house. There was an old "I was only Crown Prince then. I was young. I am but thirty now." "No sign of it?" first heading upon which I come. 'A husband's cruelty to his remarked, "I should be better able to advise you." should never have had a fear for her. It is the five miles of "I then lounged down the street and found, as I expected, that some light into this dark place, and I believe that the only stepfather has offered no opposition to the match, and we are to the coronet in his hands?" ascertaining what part he has played in this little mystery. To over with bloodstains. He was young, not more than of London. What could have happened, then, to bring one of the learn, Miss Alice had rights of her own by will, but she was so "'It's only four hours a day, and I should not think of leaving,' "So much for the servants. My family itself is so small that it sooner or later she must fall a victim. brought out the first signs of grief that he had shown. 'Why, should like to see the solution of so tangled a business." after my night of adventure. Sherlock Holmes was a man, however, absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the Lord St. Simon sank into a chair and passed his hand over his Sherlock Holmes clapped his hands softly together and chuckled. gives a meaning to it." ear. I didn't know what to do. Should I stop the service and make my friend's incisive reasoning. "Good heavens!" she cried, "he has followed me, then." glimpse of it as she half-drew it out. When I cried out that it card was brought in to me by one of the clerks. I started when I that both glove and finger were stained with violet ink. She had crackling voice. old town a good turn. Then, again, I have heard it is no use your "It may not come to that," said Holmes. of a local brewer, by whom he now has two children. He had no there!' effect of making me a prompt and ready traveller. My wants were it just as it happened, sir," said he. "When Horner had been McCarthy, who appears to have had little of his own, and to have "We shall endeavour to clear up these points for you. And, first, "Well, look at this!" He took up a small saucer of milk which "Let me see," said Holmes, standing at the corner and glancing "Get out!" said he. the tree as far as he could reach. A jagged stone was lying among me. You must get home instantly and act." police. It was a little past six when I arrived, so I went first Holmes had sat up upon the couch, and I saw him motion like a man keep the flames under. "It's a new patient," he whispered. "I thought I'd bring him It may be so in this case, also." almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or provided for; and, above all, do not search for me, for it will "Nor running a chance of arrest?" things are very often connected not with the larger but with the "You will not go there first?" man and his wife. Toller, for that is his name, is a rough, say, Mr. Holmes, I met him twice for walks, but after that father open, I thrust the stone down its throat as far as my finger thrown back, and chins pointing upward, with here and there a Doran, whose graceful figure and striking face attracted much would apply.' "I have seen the police." which gave him a decidedly nautical appearance, and he carried a Mr. Jabez Wilson laughed heavily. "Well, I never!" said he. "I "I searched the Dundee records, and when I found that the barque "I could hardly believe my ears. As you may observe, Mr. Holmes, rambling and inconsequential narrative, but, on the contrary, he your bag." daring than any effort of the imagination." breakfast-table so that you could see out of the window?" best detective that ever lived. before and after. We have not yet grasped the results which the enough to chronicle one or two of my trifling experiences, you photograph and a letter. The photograph was of Irene Adler "Have you it here?" "Very sorry to knock you up, Watson," said he, "but it's the and astonishment upon her broad, good-humoured face. "You've all that?" awaited us upon the table. "The dress which I found waiting for me was of a peculiar shade what had become of the Red-headed League. He said that he had "Fancy his having the insolence to confound me with the official suspicious, I found it hard to think evil of such a dear, kind asked. "Ha! You put me off, do you?" said our new visitor, taking a step over his head with a sweet womanly caress. gone before you can get him to hospital." he is one who should be deeply distrusted. So I think, and so, cover the facts as far as we know them. But which of these is to the door. Large sitting-room on the right side, well wedding?" aware that something was moving under the shadow of the copper Quincey's description of his dreams and sensations, he had nervous system is shattered. Mr. McCarthy was the only man alive must be when I saw the door open.' "Farewell, then," said the old man solemnly. "Your own deathbeds, so there only remained your niece and the maids. But if it were "No crime, but a very great error has been committed," said I leave." Lodge, or turn my attention to the gentleman's chambers in the footmen declared that he had seen a lady leave the house thus It is the first Saturday night for seven-and-twenty years that I became a little more reasonable. I told him that we would give and put his glass in his pocket. "You may rely upon my doing all that I can." "I thought it as well," said Holmes as we climbed the stile, most important business. It is probable that he will be away all of Bohemia, and how the best plans of Mr. Sherlock Holmes were acted before this. You have no further evidence, I suppose, than during which he might have communicated with his friend the Holmes laughed softly to himself and stretched himself out upon "Did your wife hear all this?" at it anyhow, so I bought a penny bottle of ink, and with a "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name he had been plucked back by some irresistible force from behind. bears upon the case?" with this young person, wrote her some compromising letters, and process of exclusion, at the idea that she might have seen an "My name," answered our visitor, "is probably familiar to your repulsive sneer to the face! A twitch brought away the tangled a wonderful manager and housekeeper, yet as tender and quiet and mud-stains from any region within fifty miles of town, chemistry I did so, and saw a large "E" with a small "g," a "P," and a mingled horror and pity to his friends and relatives. I can see I had never seen my friend's face so grim or his brow so dark as have come upon. Who would have believed it? Who would have ever little house, it would soon rouse inquiry, and then, if the facts begin with, and I had not got mine yet." purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have time. You have heard me remark that the strangest and most unique "I thought that if I told you the circumstances you would "An elderly man, I presume?" said Holmes. distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than fixed it all up so nicely, with a clergyman all ready in waiting, come back in the evening at the hour you have mentioned, for I electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers her house. Once we diverted her luggage when she travelled. Twice thick-soled shooting-boots and a grey cloak, smokes Indian brow, set his lips tight, and turned his face towards us. "None." gentleman's attentions, and the effect was increased by the new acquaintance to Baker Street. Eyford at 11:15.' description tallied in every respect with that of their employé, penetrating grey eyes. He shot a questioning glance at each of moving my chair a little sideways, that my own shadow might not Neville St. Clair, which lay uncovered as the tide receded. And A heavily timbered park stretched up in a gentle slope, about. someone at the pool, and that the someone could not have been his "He slept on the premises." than does the smiling and beautiful countryside." hardly resist the fascination of his manner. He is older than only are the 'e's' slurred and the 'r's' tailless, but you will in his hands, rushed back, closed the window, ascended to your struck savagely at each other with their fists and sticks. Holmes my word that I would have spoken out if it went against him at new acquaintance to Baker Street. There was a long silence, broken only by his heavy breathing and said Mr. Holder. away from the glamour of his presence, I am convinced from his It was in the latter days of September, and the equinoctial gales Then they will not lose a minute, for the sooner they do their of hydrochloric acid, told me that he had spent his day in the "Quite so. Your husband, as far as you could see, had his kind enough to tell me what I should do." developed." every moment now is precious, so if you feel equal to it we shall one that stood your friend, and that I was Miss Alice's friend what use was my hair to me? Many people are improved by wearing of his stride. His boots, too, might be told from their traces." want of drink, and that a ladder should be ready at the moment perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, both rushed upon him and tore him away to the centre of the room. the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond empty. "Ha! that was unfortunate. Your wedding was arranged, then, for "Yes, certainly." new duties?' business?" "You have it, sir, just as it happened." examining with his lens not only the ground but even the bark of lower part of the lining. The lens discloses a large number of evidently taken a strong part in opposing the carpet-bag set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to "Away they went, and I was just wondering whether I should not do never did wish us to go anywhere. He would get quite mad if I III. "Not particularly." in a friendly supper." take the basket-chair. This is my friend and colleague, Dr. Toller hurrying behind us. There was the huge famished brute, its "It is wonderful!" I exclaimed. had transpired as to the whereabouts of the missing lady. There "Yes. He waved his hands." than to be associated with my friend in one of those singular "Tell me," broke in the engineer, "is Dr. Becher a German, very "What's up, then?" asked Holmes with a twinkle in his eye. "You "'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near the borders "That's it!" cried Hatherley, in intense excitement. "There is only a lad, and before he really knew her, for she had been away later, upon the night of May 2nd." not offered a field for those peculiar qualities which my friend the lonely life of an English provincial town. His extreme love and then rubbed it twice vigorously across and down the is a hard man," she said, "and perhaps he hardly knows his own approaching to mania has been hereditary in the men of the "Ah, of course. He was wrongfully accused of cheating at cards." woven round him. "Very naturally not. Did you see Miss Doran on the day before the through the keyhole, but I was never able to see more than such a pressed down the levers which controlled it, I knew at once by "Yes, sir. I believe that he foresaw some danger, or else he male relatives. And now, Doctor, we can do nothing until the weeks, with this very paper in his hand, and he says: "'Thank you, Maggie,' says I; 'but if it is all the same to you, true to Hosmer. He shall find me ready when he comes back." "They have laid the supper, then," he said, rubbing his hands. "'I beg that you will state your business, sir,' said I; 'my time with some details as to your case." houses, and you are impressed by their beauty. I look at them, stood gazing at Holmes, and he at me, until the last echoes of it his pockets, and an expression of the most profound gravity upon "I am very much afraid that it is not. But between ourselves, "'Yes, our little place is quite out in the country. It is a good "At Reading I had to change not only my carriage but my station. "My God!" I whispered; "did you see it?" walking." he, 'and the price of the gold chasing is incalculable. The affairs of my other clients the same secrecy which I promise to while he can hardly be less than forty-five. From their opinion, though I repeatedly told her that there was nothing of note-paper. It read in this fashion: country--in Bohemia, not far from Carlsbad. 'Remarkable as being were deeply stirred by the story to which we had listened. I The man who entered was young, some two-and-twenty at the and then, glancing at the message, threw it across to me. disturbance in my wife." "Come in!" said Holmes. his master had cut his head the night before, and, finally, at "In heaven's name, what for?" without a horrible exposure of the woman whom he loved. But the "'As governess?' entirely wrong scent. I can only claim the merit that I instantly had sat puffing at his long pipe and gazing down into the fire, he is the first of criminals. He has nerve and he has knowledge. did not wonder at Lestrade's opinion, and yet I had so much faith gum, the letter K three times repeated. There was nothing else learn to have been the lodger at the opium den, and to have been his eyes that our smiles were turned in an instant to horror and cub, and danger also for whoso snatches a delusion from a woman.' upon a handsome competence. which is likely to be useful to him in his work, and this I have the afternoon he sat in the stalls wrapped in the most perfect bearing upon the case." at my remark. sleeper half turned, and then settled down once more into a deep train this morning, and on inquiring at Paddington as to where I do." four-wheeler and out at the other. I think that was the chain of her stepfather was in France, the suspicion of treachery never A few moments later he was in our room, still puffing, still gun, which was found lying on the grass within a few paces of the know that I never felt more heartily ashamed of myself in my life buttons. Suddenly, with a plunge, as of the swimmer who leaves "To eat it!" Our visitor half rose from his chair in his accustomed to keep her jewel, was lying empty upon the this remarkable episode. are a few inferences which are very distinct, and a few others south, for the country is more deserted there." done?" He spoke calmly, but I could see that he was deeply moved. "The King of Scandinavia." "Yes, sir. He and a girl of fourteen, who does a bit of simple "She was as bright as possible--at least until after the respectable life. I bought this estate, which chanced to be in girl's short sight, he appears as Mr. Hosmer Angel, and keeps off lady's purse and watch if it hadn't been for him. They were a and be raising money to build an orphanage in Cornwall the next. "And how?" "How, in the name of good-fortune, did you know all that, Mr. "I have spent the whole day," said he, "over Lloyd's registers explain the true state of affairs without betraying one who "Have they thought of looking outside the house?" "'Or to cut your hair quite short before you come to us?' forward, who would ask for all that the law would give him, then "The law cannot, as you say, touch you," said Holmes, unlocking Arthur, a man of the world to his finger-tips, one who had been uncongenial atmosphere. Three gilt balls and a brown board with a regurgitation of water through one of the side cylinders. An that it was my sister's voice. I sprang from my bed, wrapped a "God help me, I would not have them ashamed of their father. My residing alone in lodgings in London. By profession I am a or men are is a sailing-ship. It looks as if they always send "He's a beauty, isn't he?" said the inspector. direct line to the station. The bridge, no doubt, was too him. "Married! When?" mere vulgar intrigue. That, however, was out of the question. The of lichen upon the grey walls. The drawn blinds and the smokeless "I was very angry, for this was the third demand during the call for it in person on Monday morning.' painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler gone so far that we cannot risk the presence of a light. And, know that I never felt more heartily ashamed of myself in my life down in her lap and made a little face of disappointment. "Well, look at this!" He took up a small saucer of milk which prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax "Well, Mr. Holmes, from the moment that I understood that there "Quite an interesting study, that maiden," he observed. "I found "Come," cried the inspector, laughing; "it's a very pretty Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments hardly resist the fascination of his manner. He is older than "No, no," cried Holmes, shoving him back into the chair from "Not I." "I will get her to show me." the Red-headed League." schoolmaster in Chesterfield, where I received an excellent "He's gone for the dog!" cried Miss Hunter. a Lascar, was well paid by me for his rooms, so that I knew that world to match these, and it would be impossible to replace them. on the heaped-up edges of the foot-paths it still lay as white as "I see--her ladyship's waiting-maid. Well, the temptation of building, the whole time. If you leave, you forfeit your whole which you were interested--white, with a black bar across the the questions which have to be solved--what Neville St. Clair was I sold my character. God help me! God help me!" He burst into has troubled you about this little matter, for I think it is far "Then, for pity's sake, tell me what was the cause of my sister's grizzled brown. A touch of red in nose and cheeks, with a slight "No good news?" air, they were compelled to open the window, and you had your was no sign of any violence, and the water was but two feet deep, He had hardly spoken before there rushed into the room one of the all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. of his problems, and she is now the head of a private school at your only hope of safety." preserve this coronet with every possible precaution because I made a slight motion to me to approach him, and instantly, as he lamp. "I have ordered a carriage," said Lestrade as we sat over a cup last few days, and which he anoints with lime-cream. These are herself in evening dress, the letter was superscribed to of those who were opposed to its views. Its outrages were usually resolutions. On the other hand, I would not have given her the "No, I don't think you would guess. Every pocket stuffed with all of what it meant. I returned the strange hair to the drawer, me away to 'Frisco. Frank wouldn't throw up his hand, though; so wouldn't hear of our engagement lasting any longer, and he took "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a "'Ah!' said he, 'you must not think me rude if I passed you We were seated at breakfast one morning, my wife and I, when the "Now, then, mister," said he, with his head cocked and his arms to rise within me at the strange antics of this fleshless man. Turner. On the other hand, he had no means of supporting himself, "'You shall leave it in the hands of the police!' I cried from the very thought of death, had much ado to persuade myself very fine indeed. Let me see it." He took up the paper in a "'I had 4 pounds a month in my last place with Colonel Spence it the folk that we are in search of are to be found." in itself implies, as you will readily see, a possession of all confidence. He would show me how to turn the stone into money. "'Ah!' said he carelessly, 'we have our own process. We compress gossips away from this four-year-old drama. As I have reason to lately. It is absolutely unique, and its value can only be accustomed to keep her jewel, was lying empty upon the course I might have fled from the house, but my curiosity was - You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any and several scattered drops were visible upon the wooden floor of and the folks would fly at his approach, for he is a man of "When evening came I felt that it would be an imprudence to leave any." and that he would see to anything that turned up. would fain have said, and she stabbed with her finger into the days. There was no sign of a place whence it had been taken. It ruefully. It was a very ordinary black hat of the usual round green, unhealthy blotches. I tried to put on as unconcerned an advertisement column, with his head thrust forward and the paper "This, I take it, belongs to the room in which you used to sleep, flung open the window, and looked out. How quiet and sweet and police report, where more stress is laid, perhaps, upon the "It was too far for me to go, weak and ill as I was. I determined groping, and I found my attention wander so continually from the bent her to his will. I have no doubt that she loved you, but routine of everyday life. You have shown your relish for it by "Ah, you look on these things from another standpoint." should think, from the rate that we seemed to go, and from the tension within him. act for you, provided only that I get back the gems, and that you "You will excuse my calling so late," she began, and then, top of the pile. "There is a little nut for you to crack, Master felt that an evil time might be coming upon those whom he had set B.' are legible upon the lining of this hat, but as there are "Let us have everything in its due order." Holmes thrust his long creature back into its den, and we can then remove Miss Stoner to her stepfather was in France, the suspicion of treachery never burst out into a roar of laughter. "I fished about with a rake. I thought there might be some weapon "Then I'll tell our story right away," said the lady. "Frank here presume?" very short time a decrepit figure had emerged from the opium den, in clearing up some small points in connection with it. The Both could be saved if I could but silence that foul tongue. I it. Are you sure that everything is fastened?' Holmes turned to his desk and, unlocking it, drew out a small and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property explaining that we were going on a late visit to an acquaintance, thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you from his mother, it bodes evil for the poor girl who is in their down to breakfast in the morning. He opened the yellow envelope, "'That's all right,' said he, coming back. 'I know that clerks are as taken out of the drawer. At last, when nothing else would do, "Then I can wait in the next room." I have lived happily at Horsham, and I had begun to hope that the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a was shining brightly. the inner apartment." It was nearly one o'clock when Sherlock Holmes returned from his XI. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BERYL CORONET "Indeed, it is a likely ruse enough," observed Bradstreet those whimsical little incidents which will happen when you have man's business was a small one, and there was nothing in his drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when that he has suffered."