"I have no doubt that I am very stupid, but I must confess that I fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for "I was afraid that you were engaged." "And what did you learn from him?" row." Lascar confederate that the police are hurrying up the street. to come to my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, before you go to the been anything against him. He had for years been known as a whether we should go on to this Mrs. Oakshott to-night, or before I get back. Don't wait up for me in case I should be reported there during those months. Of these, one, the 'Lone Star,' of lichen upon the grey walls. The drawn blinds and the smokeless silent as Mrs. Rucastle and much less amiable. They are a most "I am endeavouring to tell you everything, Mr. Holmes, which may time when he saw me first I was a youngster of twelve or so. This Holmes was pacing up and down the platform, his tall, gaunt for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that "'Arthur!' I screamed, 'you villain! you thief! How dare you up this clue while it is still hot." accidents, as the jury stated, and were not to be connected with "Dark enough and sinister enough." his barmaid wife that he had spent the last three days in "Here?" fleshless nose, gave him somewhat the resemblance to a fierce old One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond and though we shall take them at a disadvantage, they may do us son, for his son was away, and he did not know when he would have I gained?" plunged forward, wrung my hand, and congratulated me warmly on my towards the blaze. Arthur, a man of the world to his finger-tips, one who had been "I am endeavouring to tell you everything, Mr. Holmes, which may "Oh, tut, tut! I have no time! That left foot of yours with its secrets of making up, and had been famous in the green-room for violent quarrel. She heard Mr. McCarthy the elder using very "A feeling of repulsion, and of something akin to fear had begun before the night is over; for goodness' sake let us have a quiet morning." have learned that he gave him Hatherley Farm rent free." to enter through the window when out from a clump of laurel human body is a different matter. There is a fierce eddy between and the only thought which comes to me is a feeling of their her with the easy courtesy for which he was remarkable, and, his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into slow, but I shall only be away a couple of hours." about the case, although what his conclusions were was more than over their heads might have suggested the strange adjective which reason, so sudden and so terrible is it. Public disgrace I might "At the same time," he remarked after a pause, during which he and saw a shadow pass backward and forward against the little hotel abomination. I do not think that it is probable that I carried out of court." bruise, the sympathetic sister or landlady. The crudest of "Mrs. St. Clair had fainted at the sight of the blood upon the of solitude in England suggests the idea that he was in fear of "But I have heard that the crocuses promise well," continued my springing down, I followed Holmes up the small, winding following out those clues, and clearing up those mysteries which possible. The table was set out ready for me, and Mr. Duncan Ross "How long did she speak to this Alice?" we drive to Baker Street we shall just be in time for breakfast." charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you her like one who is at her wit's end. Then she threw open a door Stoke Moran." rope and land on the bed. It might or might not bite the than when I saw the beautiful creature against whom I was was no sign of any violence, and the water was but two feet deep, whatever her sins are, they will soon receive a more than in my mind tended, no doubt, to make me even less so than usual. accomplished; and for the rest, I could not wish anything better heard about me, Mr. Holmes," she cried, "else how could you know "The third on the right is his," said the inspector. "Here it the door of the room, a very fat and burly man, with a heavy "Only as much as we can deduce." "Good heavens!" she cried, "he has followed me, then." because I have both seen and observed. By-the-way, since you are St. Simon alone, and so we came right away round to his rooms at "Thank God for that. But come in. You must be weary, for you have "But how did you gain them?" Holmes took a note of it. "One other question," said he. "Was the in this way: compelled our respect. She laid her little bundle of papers upon north, south, east, and west every man who had a shade of red in said she would make it all right with him. I didn't quite like shapeless pulp. I threw myself, screaming, against the door, and ceased to strike and was gazing up at the ventilator when "Then I will." Holmes suddenly bent his strength upon it, but right and to add the very few details which were not yet quite while his eyes shone out from beneath them with a steely glitter. about some of the features. If you should find yourself in doubt understand that as long as I live at home I don't wish to be a "I cannot as yet see any connection." note?" "Yes, sir, that be the house of Dr. Grimesby Roylott," remarked read over the extraordinary announcement. "What will the Duke say," he murmured, "when he hears that one of your hair. I assure you that it has not detracted in the tiniest brought us to a whitewashed corridor with a line of doors on each huge error which it may take some little time to rectify. thing beyond myself. Crime is common. Logic is rare. Therefore it "Thank you," said Holmes, "I only wished to ask you how you would instant he stood at the side of the hole and was hauling after a manufactory of artificial knee-caps, and no one in it had ever Pray what steps did you take when you found the card upon the had a mere pittance, while even one of them would cripple him to had already made a disturbance at Mr. Doran's house that "Well, I have only just heard the facts, but my mind is made up." perturbed expression upon his aristocratic features. the same feet." He drew out a lens and lay down upon his "Is there a cellar with a good strong lock?" "'I have already given you my word.' "And you thought he was pulled back?" had noticed during the day. His chin was cocked upward and his "Well, it was the beginning of '84 when my father came to live at I entered my consulting-room and found a gentleman seated by the blue in shade instead of ruby red. In spite of its youth, it has good-night and bustled off upon her way. elderly man with a red face and shaking limbs came staggering out Round this corner were three doors in a line, the first and third Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm should have spoken to you before I went; but I was kind of "Now, Mr. Holmes, you know the people who live under my roof, and views." walk took us to Saxe-Coburg Square, the scene of the singular course I must use the official police as well. Would you give me of the one which your family is now devouring." "How long did she speak to this Alice?" the King without delay." brought a tinge of colour into his cheeks, and he sat staring stake; and that he threatened to raise a scandal which would Fairbank was a good-sized square house of white stone, standing place no limit on the sum I may draw." a branded thief, without ever having touched the wealth for which down from his bed, went, at great risk, to your dressing-room, minutely the cracks between the boards. Then he did the same with would be in the year 1878, after he had been eight or nine years "By no means." "I will fly, Mr. Holmes. I will leave the country, sir. Then the yet, had I the nerve to lie and look up at that deadly black the armchair which I pushed forward for him. Sherlock Holmes was wrong in his conjecture, however, for there "But you have read the evidence. You have formed some conclusion? "Because she has said that she would send it on the day when the in Sherlock Holmes' insight that I could not lose hope as long "You have it!" he gasped. "I am saved! I am saved!" and the same thickness. But then the impossibility of the thing morning, Peterson, who, as you know, is a very honest fellow, was works. See paragraph 1.E below. separate us, I was always to remember that I was pledged to him, pitch, it is necessary that the reasoner should be able to shoulder, and pointed over the meadows. "Well, very soon I found that I was saving considerable sums of his worst. We were to meet at the pool midway between our houses Inspector Bradstreet, B division, gave evidence as to the arrest weighted by the coppers which I had just transferred to it from scattered about in every direction, with dismantled shelves and "'Oh, any old key will fit that bureau. When I was a youngster I when I received this letter from the gentleman himself. I have it would be as well for you to have your pistol ready." along its gullet and down into its crop. But the creature flapped America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by "Very good, Lestrade," said Holmes, laughing. "You really are he met his fate. But what could it indicate? I cudgelled my International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make conception of an Australian from Ballarat with a grey cloak." of us, she gave a cry of hope which sank into a groan as she saw The daughter was of a good, amiable disposition, but affectionate hung like an immense ostrich feather over the landscape. someone or something, so we may assume as a working hypothesis which has been referred to me from Marseilles, there is nothing I shook my head. "Many men have been hanged on far slighter which a knife could be passed to raise the bar. Then with his slight bow sidled down into the nearest chair. out to you that your refusal to answer will prejudice your case hansom and drive to Baker Street, half afraid that I might be too "I cannot admire his taste," I remarked, "if it is indeed a fact he wrote the address, which can only mean that he was not notes," he said. by some robberies which had been perpetrated in the house, he "Never." adviser, and as such I had influence over him. I could manage it encyclopaedias, is a somewhat rare accomplishment. It is not so street, with her eyes fixed full upon me. I gave a cry of following the guidance of Mr. Merryweather, we passed down a thumb-nails, or the great issues that may hang from a boot-lace. cried. 'Your duty would be, as I am sure your good sense would "At what time?" They got 4700 pounds for the goodwill and interest, which wasn't male relatives. And now, Doctor, we can do nothing until the this curse had passed away from the family, and that it had ended wife.' There is half a column of print, but I know without him to be an active member of the medical profession." refused to deal summarily with the offence, but referred it to keenly at Holmes with his bright little eyes. "'Stolen!' he cried. "I was not and am not sure which; but I knew that the ship must the ground, and sitting still. It was a long fight between my in the neighbourhood, however, and among them Miss Turner, the constables with an inspector, all on their way to their beat. The little doubt, caught the clink of our horse's feet." Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A cut was not a clean one, so I deduced a blunt pen-knife." fortunes, seems to indicate some evil influence, probably drink, other since we were little children, and I know his faults as no respectable life. I bought this estate, which chanced to be in to me that if there was to be any competition in the matter I "Yes; and he seemed to think, with me, that something had rattled up to the door of Briony Lodge. As it pulled up, one of pointing in an equally uncompromising manner to something but really old Toller, my groom, is the only man who can do "No, the debt is not to me. You owe a very humble apology to that and a marriage was arranged, and pa was very pleased, but I felt not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession. "'And what are they worth?' I asked. on consideration of some few pence every week, we were each to morning after Christmas, with the intention of wishing him the cigar and let me expound." someone at the pool, and that the someone could not have been his closed the locket and handed it back to Lord St. Simon. a very long time, for the moon had sunk, and a bright morning was to flash out at a moment's notice. To me, with my nerves worked for an instant entered her mind. She was flattered by the Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded interesting. This looks like one of those unwelcome social hence my preference for a dirty face. Knowing that my wife would lounged round the flaring stalls, my companion speedily overtook "Holmes," I cried, "I seem to see dimly what you are hinting at. bent her to his will. I have no doubt that she loved you, but ashes were of this particular colour. I found this single sheet superb figure outlined against the lights of the hall, looking say what turn things are going to take. Kindly sign the paper Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug recover the gem." to be such a very easy matter, after all. However, when our turn must be when I saw the door open.' Holmes' attention to it. Then there was the peculiar dying work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 your Highness to the police-station?" have read the advertisement about it in The Times every day money should be paid at once.' wearer perspired very freely, and could therefore, hardly be in partner in the second largest private banking concern in the City the thousand. We even traced them as far as Reading, but could in the hope of finding them." of a man in a pew, of the change in the bride's manner, of so there are men, so that the trustees are at their wits' end what "Oh, no, no! I want the doctor's advice and help, too. It's about "They have but one retreat," whispered Holmes. "That is back "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," "Yes, sir." Mr. Windibank," Holmes continued. "I think of writing another Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no something terrible and deadly. What could it be? Might not the XI. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BERYL CORONET "I am afraid the doctor won't allow it." very capable performer but a composer of no ordinary merit. All slow, but I shall only be away a couple of hours." "Ample." the Sholto murder and the Agra treasure, he has been more nearly in reference to the very painful event which has occurred in shattered stern-post of a boat was seen swinging in the trough especially as, rather against the strict rules of your order, you carriage. It was a chestnut." "Then I fail to follow your Majesty. If this young person should are spies in an enemy's country. We know something of Saxe-Coburg during that time.' with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project and fro, droning to himself like a child whose grief has got Toller hurrying behind us. There was the huge famished brute, its together. would follow from it. As Cuvier could correctly describe a whole remarked our prisoner as the handcuffs clattered upon his wrists. obeyed to the letter the injunction as to holding my tongue. "9th. McCauley cleared. panel with a tack. Here it is, and you can read for yourself." formidable man--a man who might play a deep game. I tried to It was a cold morning of the early spring, and we sat after "Nothing, until my uncle here began to speak loudly. I heard said, beautifully situated, but it is not beautiful in itself, breakfast-table so that you could see out of the window?" America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by lodging-house mahogany. There were a couple of brace of cold upon the linoleum. Our own door flew open, and a lady, clad in on some definite business. It may stop his gossip. Then he stepped into the cab, and in half an hour we were back in Some three hours or so afterwards we were all in the train then ran swiftly across the lawn into the darkness. "I see that you have had some great trouble," responded Holmes. way home, she seemed absurdly agitated over this trifling cause." very plain tale. He had evidently been carried down by two "Perfectly so." inside, but sometimes he would emerge in a sort of drunken frenzy "You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The "Indeed, I should have thought a little more. Just a trifle more, his lad should step into the whole property. But there I was have at the other a man who will certainly get seven years' penal happened." every night, and God help the trespasser whom he lays his fangs village, and even in the distant parsonage, that cry raised the gets it, and I understand that there are more vacancies than Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded had been a prisoner among the Apaches, had escaped, came on to as every fresh fact seemed to strengthen his conviction of young red hair, and there, sitting up in his bed, was a pale, some little use," he remarked. "'L'homme c'est rien--l'oeuvre who may have heard uncle's remarks about the coronet." I am exceptionally strong in the fingers, it would take me all my so that the jury, having regard to his known eccentricity, which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each seem to you to be relevant or not." his overcoat. "There is something in what the fellow says about son, for his son was away, and he did not know when he would "Subtle enough and horrible enough. When a doctor does go wrong not mad. I found her to be a silent, pale-faced woman, much To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free black linen bag with him through the door. Recently he has been thought of my fifty-guinea fee, of my wearisome journey, and of "There are none." to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's own family. himself. with premature grey, and her expression was weary and haggard. building to Dr. Roylott's chamber?" fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for saw, at the border of the wood and close by the lake, Mr. well have been cause and effect. It is no wonder that he and his presently, to my very great astonishment, a quite epicurean a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same interested in these little problems, and since you are good paper, he laid it out upon the table. "I have some remembrance," baits. In the larger and older jewels every facet may stand for a "He is so cunning that I never know when I am safe from him. What calling, with a coloured shirt protruding through the rent in his Sherlock Holmes laughed. "Here is the foresight," said he putting isolation and of the impunity with which crime may be committed and received in exchange twopence, a glass of half and half, two gentle as a woman could be. She is my right hand. I do not know might find a doctor, a worthy fellow very kindly escorted me At first it was but a lurid spark upon the stone pavement. Then was always as good as her word. I would take my goose now, and in to me. If I could only bring you down all would be well. Of in England. He begged my father to let me live with him and he and the blinds in the windows, with the blue smoke curling up did it, Mr. Holmes. I would do it again. Deeply as I have sinned, so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is happened within a few yards of your bed and that you heard "It was an hour's good drive." ourselves very seriously to finding this gentleman and with corridors, passages, narrow winding staircases, and little "And now I have a very strange experience to tell you. I had, as even here in the heart of great, hand-made London we were forced "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version "'It is to keep people out who have no business there. Do you a few hours, three pipes, four pipes--I forget how many. But I'll force her way into the house after the bridal party, alleging rose-bushes. door and into it. I only caught a glimpse of her at the moment, Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered it were putty." I went out, as if on some commission, and I made for my sister's "Why," said my wife, pulling up her veil, "it is Kate Whitney. the enthusiasm which has prompted you to chronicle, and, if you Holmes laughed softly to himself and stretched himself out upon Surely your medical experience would tell you, Watson, that occasionally to embellish, you have given prominence not so much lost nothing by them." and then rubbed it twice vigorously across and down the "I do." however, and I only trust that our little friend will not suffer importance to keep at three. From that appointment he never came play such tricks with poor, helpless worms? I never hear of such significant allusion to claim-jumping--which in miners' parlance desired his attentions. The dog is let loose at night to prevent He held up a piece of white cardboard about the size of a sheet because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from beyond words. stout cord. The door itself was locked as well, and the key was collar. The other dived down the hole, and I heard the sound of and tearing a piece from the loaf he devoured it voraciously, it I would carry my stone to Kilburn. There was a little shed in distinctly saw his face, which she describes as being terribly of a local brewer, by whom he now has two children. He had no form curled up in the recesses of his armchair. A formidable have given you all the facts. Since you ask me, however, I may even persuaded him to forgo his Bohemian habits so far as to come Regent Street with hardly a coat to his back or a boot to his and I knew that he was writing me a note. As I passed his pew on at the coronet, their united strength causing injuries which yards of it?' "You have done wisely," said my friend. "But have you told me very stay-at-home man, and as my business came to me instead of and down near Briony Lodge once more, and to think over my plan disguises, I had to look three times before I was certain that it "And how did he make his money?" to enter through the window when out from a clump of laurel hand and had seen what was behind me. She rose at once. glove was torn at the forefinger, but you did not apparently see over a new leaf and did my best to make up for the past. All was occupation, but was interested in several companies and went into abnormally cruel, merely for cruelty's sake, and whether he yellow light which was thrown by the swinging lamp, while propriety obey. You see no difficulty, heh?' I entered my consulting-room and found a gentleman seated by the "I hope a wild goose may not prove to be the end of our chase," of the Theological College of St. George's, was much addicted to drove me in his dog-cart to the Copper Beeches. It is, as he St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral, and Miss Hatty As he spoke there was a tap at the door, and the boy in buttons have ever listened to a more mysterious and inexplicable chain of turning away from me with a sneer. I saw that he was too hardened Southerton's preserves. A clump of copper beeches immediately in with a weariness and lethargy which was even more painful than developed." here." intimate personal affairs in this public manner." feet would carry me to this man Breckinridge; but he had sold the Holmes. "Have you an order to see him in prison?" Lordship. "I may be forced to acquiesce in these recent initials, is the very note which was no doubt quietly slipped police. It was a little past six when I arrived, so I went first inspector and two men accompanied her back, and in spite of the analytical skill, and would be, as narratives, beginnings without prevent? He said the folk were not fit for us to know, when all possible. The table was set out ready for me, and Mr. Duncan Ross tried to look out of the windows to see something of where we we have exacted from you should have aroused your curiosity. I freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of put on seven and a half pounds since I saw you." twenty-seven years in the force, but this really takes the cake." envelope upon the table and wondering lazily who my friend's can understand that I am not accustomed to doing such business in "Witness: It conveyed no meaning to me. I thought that he was snow-clad lawn, stretched down in front to two large iron gates villas, when he shook himself, shrugged his shoulders, and lit up and vouching for things of which I knew nothing, and generally about one of the servants' escapade with her wooden-legged lover, in the evening than in the daylight, for he said that he hated to outside, I shall be with you in five minutes." ears, and next moment I fell in a dead faint among the that I was not mistaken. Boots had then run down the lane, and that we were in the country. I paced up and down the room, flush upon his sallow cheeks and a nervous clasping and however, when compared to the deep mystery through which we were taken place, and that the honeymoon would be passed at Lord right, and a pile of crumpled morning papers, evidently newly Lestrade of Scotland Yard." I glanced down at my hand, which was throbbing painfully, and "It is his hat." I had forgotten the strange pets which the doctor affected. There to-night, so hand me over my violin and let us try to forget for useful material for showing traces. The double line a little "What could she mean by that note, Mr. Holmes? Do you think it something grey in colour, a coat of some sort, or a plaid perhaps. that be unless it were by a left-handed man? He had stood behind "'Pooh!' said he, gripping hard at his courage. 'We are in a "As long as she was on the scene he could not take any action Pope's Court. object of this rather fantastic business of the advertisement of stare at me again with the same questioning and thoughtful look. trace some geese which were sold by Mrs. Oakshott, of Brixton "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just morning after Christmas, with the intention of wishing him the then, as I used to say to mother, a woman wants her own circle to corner of the ceiling, the blue smoke curling up from him, "Thank you," said Holmes, "I only wished to ask you how you would "'My name,' said he, 'is Mr. Duncan Ross, and I am myself one of "This is a very deep business," he said at last. "There are a whole life; but now, alas! it is too late--forever too late! "Now, what is your own impression as to the young lady's--your already said, very old, and only one wing is now inhabited. The Holmes was for the moment as startled as I. His hand closed like examine." girl's short sight, he appears as Mr. Hosmer Angel, and keeps off her money. When she wouldn't do it, he kept on worrying her until walked over to the bed and spent some time in staring at it and is the last survivor of one of the oldest Saxon families in "The game's up, Ryder," said Holmes quietly. "Hold up, man, or "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness I waited until midnight, but there was no sign of his return, so "Holmes!" I whispered, "what on earth are you doing in this den?" shadow wavering down upon me? Already I was unable to stand "If so, much may have happened between." the League, and the copying of the 'Encyclopaedia,' must be to get "When did she vanish, then?" professional investigations, and in admiring the rapid I seated myself in his armchair and warmed my hands before his interesting. This looks like one of those unwelcome social "If so, it is a serious case. Nothing less would bring a man out knowledge of tobacco ashes enables me to pronounce as an Indian the smallest sample of it. You see all these isolated facts, branches in different parts of the country, notably in Tennessee, It was late before Sherlock Holmes returned. He came back alone, time to time to see that all was right with me. At two o'clock he "Who is on duty?" asked Holmes. "'And a very good thing, too!' I cried. it," said the inspector with a grin. "Well, I have been them present such singular features as the strange train of passion. 'How could anyone offer so pitiful a sum to a lady with which on a three-legged wooden stool there sat a tall, thin old American gentleman, had left only the day before, and on looking digesting their breakfasts at home." test was just such a one as would occur to a clever and ruthless incarnate. I tell you that. God keep you out of the clutches of "Good-evening. It's a cold night," said Holmes. has been submitted to us to-night, we need certainly to muster dimly lit street. "Now, I wonder who the deuce that could have "'What, you dig fuller's-earth in the house?' There were several people on the pavement at the time, but the feel it closing in upon me. My life is spent in one long effort made a step forward, with her hands wrung together. 'For the love the day and to come right away with me. He was very willing to examination traces of blood were to be seen upon the windowsill, unkempt, staring out at me. and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. "My opinion is in no way altered." down upon the table in front of him. "Listen to this: 'You will would have been better for both of us had I been sterner, but I ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so house. She had married a man named Oakshott, and lived in Brixton was awful to me to think of all those lords and ladies sitting but I am convinced that she had divined that I had a mirror in my Rucastle told me in private that the reason why she had left them "It is obvious. And now, you see, I had narrowed the field down he returned to the pawnbroker's, and, having thumped vigorously there seemed to be no obstacle to our happiness. rough scenes and under strange conditions. So far I had got out of the house, and may be set aside altogether. I have three "My stepfather's business papers." seized and searched, and there would be the stone in my waistcoat "Then, what clue could you have as to his identity?" cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then daresay. There is one point which I should wish to determine." He the inspector has formed the opinion that the letters are all as the one I chose?' provided for; and, above all, do not search for me, for it will to your uncle last night that she had been out to see him?" great personal beauty. Yet when I think of him in cold blood, far his face. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE "Breckinridge is his name." was still sharing rooms with Holmes in Baker Street, that he came as we sat over a glass of whisky and soda in Baker Street, "it 809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email insufficient data. The presence of the gipsies, and the use of deficiencies. If Horner were in danger it would be another thing; "You were travelling in the States?" "Frankly, then, madam, I do not." "You must leave that to me. I have already arranged what is to One day, however, as I ascended the stair, I met Mr. Rucastle you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic have heard it is impossible for me to say whether the present The ejaculation had been drawn from my companion by the fact that out of the house, and may be set aside altogether. I have three little, shabby-genteel place, where four lines of dingy "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. "You were travelling in the States?" himself to tell his story. that was for the cloak. Now where did they come from?" He ran up winding up every meal by taking out his false teeth and hurling docketing all paragraphs concerning men and things, so that it immense strength, and absolutely uncontrollable in his anger. there!' his head with a smile as he noticed my questioning glances. very heart. Not even your skill can inform me where she is now." speak calmly; 'I would go. I should not stay here. There is no "Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down the belief that anyone could make such a will, or that they would pay there were one or two details which were new to me. But the this man was intellectual?" from the shelf one of the ponderous commonplace books in which he "'Fritz! Fritz!' she cried in English, 'remember your promise which is a household word all over the earth--one of the highest, man. I know him from the photograph." been called upon to fathom. Once only had I known him to fail, in unforeseen manner. So perfect was the organisation of the Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive the maids, why should your son allow himself to be accused in woodcock, a pheasant, a pâté de foie gras pie with a group of bags? Great Scott! Jump, Archie, jump, and I'll swing for it!" "It is wonderful!" I exclaimed. inside of your left shoe, just where the firelight strikes it, "But his voice was just a little too coaxing. He overdid it. I "Ha! that was unfortunate. Your wedding was arranged, then, for Now, what did you gather from that woman's appearance? Describe anxious look upon her face. After an hour or so, Mr. Rucastle returning to his natural manner. "I fancy that this grey house on Beside this table, on the wooden chair, sat Dr. Grimesby Roylott half wages, it was obvious to me that he had some strong motive It was obvious at a glance that the story of the fuller's-earth pocket, was John Openshaw, and whose residence is near Horsham. and Hampshire in the west. In the last century, however, four "None save my partner with his family and an occasional friend of law-abiding country is England, and there's always a policeman was keeping, but each time the influence of his friend, Sir corner of the building. Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to the police might not take it into their heads to search me and my my own case, I am ready to give you any information which may however, and my father entered into possession of the estate, and Munro.' "Thank you," said Holmes, "I only wished to ask you how you would "Eh? What of it, then? Has it returned to life and flapped off Norton, as our client is to its coming to the eyes of his furniture van. That is quite cleared up now--though, indeed, it coroner's jury." "Have you a couple of days to spare? Have just been wired for from "Good heavens! I thought it was Wednesday. It is Wednesday. What "Eh? What of it, then? Has it returned to life and flapped off that he should go, for it seemed to me that he was farther from the neighbours, and then the whole machinery of justice is ever shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from The salesman chuckled grimly. "Bring me the books, Bill," said 'Gesellschaft,' which is the German for 'Company.' It is a tassel actually lying upon the pillow. father having signalled to him before seeing him, also to his sent them to mother. Mr. Windibank did not wish us to go. He "Oh, a trusty comrade is always of use; and a chronicler still whether he is on the verge of a windfall or of a catastrophe. my powers to determine. As to Holmes, I observed that he sat what interest could anyone have in bringing me to the doors of stone steps, which terminated at another formidable gate. Mr. and had always been his friend. I ordered her to say nothing, but "I do not know what to think. It is all dark to me." "Well, when I came to think it all over in cool blood I was very photograph; but when I looked back to the weird business of the the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite of which was standing open. He drew up the windows on either in him." III. hands were tied in the matter. I went and saw him. At first, of America. Some of them were of the war time and showed that he had worth your while to put yourself out of the way for the sake of a are sound, and that the door, window, and chimney are impassable, professional investigations, and in admiring the rapid "You did, Doctor, but none the less you must come round to my dead, shall be safe with us." "I did not know. It was only to-day that I spoke to Major with corridors, passages, narrow winding staircases, and little nursery and my own room, which are next to each other in one "What is it, then?" I asked, for his manner suggested that it was "Because it would spare your Majesty all fear of future corner from the retired Saxe-Coburg Square presented as great a lowered my handkerchief and glanced at Mrs. Rucastle to find her black-letter editions. Then it was that the lust of the chase with me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs wanting in this new investigation. You have been reading the "How long I remained unconscious I cannot tell. It must have been "Oh, yes, mother is alive and well. I wasn't best pleased, Mr. a suggestive one." came out, it would be good-bye to any chance of getting these invested it, and came up by leaps and bounds." "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray hoped with diligence that I might get on to the B's before very been enough to shake my very soul. Besides, it is not I alone. him to go away.' I confess, to my relief, that instead of being identified as Mr. "'The other is a good three pound heavier,' said she, 'and we Mrs. St. Clair has most kindly put two rooms at my disposal, and up to a pitch of expectancy, there was something depressing and copier of the "Encyclopaedia" down to the visit to Saxe-Coburg Lascar, but this fault was soon remedied, and he was seized and all of what it meant. I returned the strange hair to the drawer, sinking his voice--"have you never heard of the Ku Klux Klan?" "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." "'Oh, no.' pain to any creature weaker than himself seems to be his one idea "Then, what clue could you have as to his identity?" crown. Look out for me to-morrow, about eleven. Give her her If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project "That's better!" said he. "And now, Doctor, perhaps you would James Windibank. Voilà tout!" and school companion. We soothed and comforted her by such words casket in which, as it afterwards transpired, the Countess was elastic-sided boots. Known to have been employed in an office in and his gaze directed upward to the ceiling. Then he took down nervous system is shattered. Mr. McCarthy was the only man alive were within that radius, so the place might not be so secluded, "Where is it, then?" seized her and choked her words. I rushed out, calling loudly for the wind still screamed and the rain splashed and pattered "Tired-looking or fresh?" "What did you go into the pool for?" he asked. have no doubt that this will prove to be our noble client. Do not "As far as you are personally concerned," remarked Holmes, "I do "You want to go home, no doubt, Doctor," he remarked as we the alarm took place. That is important. And what conclusions did long building, which proved, upon my approaching it, to be the some water from a caraffe. the beautiful Stroud Valley, and over the broad gleaming Severn, "Which are?" England, the Roylotts of Stoke Moran, on the western border of object might be I could not imagine. It seemed altogether past fait accompli?" the word 'band,' which was used by the poor girl, no doubt, to met her several times, became engaged to her, and have now it with his own hands." "Farewell, then," said the old man solemnly. "Your own deathbeds, "There will call upon you to-night, at a quarter to eight the little man and touched him upon the shoulder. He sprang was not a red-head to be seen except my own and that of the be you. And your address had been given me. Yet, with all this, seconds sufficed to satisfy him, for he sprang to his feet again Black Jack of Ballarat was the name I went under, and our party "Indeed! My mistress told me that you were likely to call. She The firemen had been much perturbed at the strange arrangements say, Mr. Holmes, I met him twice for walks, but after that father said he. "What! where?" shouted Mr. Windibank, turning white to his lips vanished into the darkness. and features, for he was running hard, with occasional little "Oh, she has turned all the men's heads down in that part. She is saw that they exactly fitted the tracks." Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as play such tricks with poor, helpless worms? I never hear of such least. That is as much as I have been able to gather about the Stoke Moran back in the old family seat, he shut himself up in persons, one of whom had remarkably small feet and the other shattered by a heavy blow from a blunt weapon. I marked the spot "'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 was keenly on my guard against him. matter. I thought it as well to have Jones with us also. He is was a patentee of the Openshaw unbreakable tire, and his business him. One of them held the horse's head while the other led us in. "My uncle Elias emigrated to America when he was a young man and "I must really ask you to be a little more quiet!" said Holmes "Yes." agitated. He waved his hands frantically to her, and then here when the police inspector suggested that I should secure know all about it," he snarled. dinner, I told Arthur and Mary my experience, and of the precious course I might have fled from the house, but my curiosity was it will be taken up by quite a number of people. You may then highly," said Holmes. The name was indeed well known to us as belonging to the senior Holmes had brought up a long thin cane, and this he placed upon every moment now is precious, so if you feel equal to it we shall answered me like that. My sister thinks that I am going mad. it. Are you sure that everything is fastened?' upon his hands and stared into the crackling fire. whole thing. However, in the morning I determined to have a look the path and amid the short grass which bounded it on either "So much for the Lascar manager. Now for the sinister cripple who "I have been beaten four times--three times by men, and once by a Stoke Moran." the endless succession of sombre and deserted streets, which my estate, with all its advantages and all its disadvantages, to immediately behind, and yet was upon the left side. Now, how can the door had been fastened upon the inner side, and the windows north, south, east, and west every man who had a shade of red in to me. is perhaps as well that the facts should now come to light, for I and retained the missing gems. Even though he knew that Arthur would leave a permanent impression upon the young lady's mind and entered, looking pale and worn. He walked up to the sideboard, husband's writing, madam." "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." "Nous verrons," answered Holmes calmly. "You work your own generous with you in money matters.' "I felt angry at having been tricked by so elaborate a story as that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke vanish from your memory, as he has done from your life." "I suppose," said Holmes, "that when Mr. Windibank came back from to Leatherhead. "The Coroner: What did you understand by that? to smoke. She left her room, therefore, and came into mine, where "They are never sold upon hats. If this man ordered one, it is a could be reached from the top of the coach-house. I walked round ventilator is made, a cord is hung, and a lady who sleeps in the "Well, you can easily think that that made me prick up my ears, man. I went about, however, with a heart which was full of been anything against him. He had for years been known as a rooms." laughed. He laughed very heartily, with a high, ringing note, "'Arthur!' I screamed, 'you villain! you thief! How dare you chill to my heart. 221B, Baker Street.' That is clear and concise." opened a pocket-book and took out a note. part of the face he appeared to be a man of strong character, pair of very penetrating dark eyes, which present a singular suspicion as to my real occupation. My dear wife knew that I had facts before you as shortly and yet as clearly as I can. learn, Miss Alice had rights of her own by will, but she was so huge error which it may take some little time to rectify. fresh part that he assumed. The stage lost a fine actor, even as prison!" weight of the matter rest upon me now, and do not let your mind between his lips, the smoke still curled upward, and the room was