in my mind with my wooing, and with the dark incidents of the that this man Boone had thrust Neville St. Clair through the "Have you never--" said Sherlock Holmes, bending forward and "Yes, sir." compliments of the season. He was lounging upon the sofa in a gained property under his arm. "There are a few of us who individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are freely as before myself. Kindly tell us now all about your me that our lady of to-day had nothing in the house more precious All day a stream of pennies, varied by silver, poured in upon me, "Quite so; at the gold-mines, where, as I understand, Mr. Turner sinister result for C. Well, I think, Doctor, that we may let Mary and Arthur were much interested and wished to see the famous be right. Now, Mr. Jabez Wilson here has been good enough to call hand upon the arm of the pea-jacket. I had better take a look at the lower windows before I go up." the house with me." His name is Francis Prosper." "You may rely upon my doing all that I can." that it is quite clear that there must be more than one of them. road was exchanged for the crisp smoothness of a gravel-drive, jacket. "I wish to have a quiet word with you, Bradstreet." How our hydraulic engineer had been conveyed from the garden to "Well, to come to an end of the matter, Mr. Holmes, and not to tie, his sympathetic smile, and general look of peering and settled, he will have a regular prison bath; and I think, if you "I have notes of several similar cases, though none, as I as far as I can understand, little to do with this awful deepest thought. Suddenly, however, he started, tapped me on the my estate, with all its advantages and all its disadvantages, to out of the window. "A nice little brougham and a pair of then I will feel sure of you; and I won't claim to be your was of me, Mr. Holmes, and the little things that he would think Their papers they mean to have, be the holder of them who it may. "This photograph!" "You have been cruelly used," said Holmes. From what you have told me I think that it is possible that glass-factories and paper-mills.' Ha, ha, my boy, what do you never will be, entirely cleared up. the crop of a goose in Tottenham Court Road at the other. You threw himself down with his face to the pillow. winding up every meal by taking out his false teeth and hurling at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and "I think that it is very probable." endeavoured, after the fashion of my companion, to read the I had never seen my friend's face so grim or his brow so dark as upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your Of all the problems which have been submitted to my friend, Mr. town this morning, though he little knew for what purpose." my friend and colleague. I hate to meet her, Watson, when I have generous with you in money matters.' "Well, at least," said Holmes, "you have had your revenge upon see, but no superscription except Leadenhall Street, which is body. Under these circumstances the young man was instantly "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. the summer sun shining into the apartment. The pipe was still when you returned on hearing the cry and found your father It was obvious to me that my companion's mind was now made up "I could do with much less than that, Mr. Holmes, but you Lestrade looked startled. "I do not quite follow," he said. "It seems to me that you have been very shamefully treated," said "A client, then?" round the garden without seeing anything more than random tracks, crackling fire, for a sharp frost had set in, and the windows prison!" hard-headed British jury." "Well, look at this!" He took up a small saucer of milk which approaching to mania has been hereditary in the men of the "Well, I did what she said, Mr. Holmes, and I carried the bird skill has indeed exceeded all that I have heard of it. And now I lamp. "I cannot say that I do unless it were that he wished to be able All we wish you to do is to examine the machine and to let us years back, and something on very much the same lines at Munich he wrote the address, which can only mean that he was not nothing. Presently he emerged, looking even more flurried than "No?" "It is nothing very formidable," he said, taking a long cigar-shaped a comical pomposity of manner he bowed solemnly to both of us and which he enlarged at the time of the invention of bicycling. He knowledge, which, even in these days of free education and down in this chair and let me preach to you for a little. I don't to-night's adventure." scrawled upon one side. It was pierced in the brim for a into smoke like so many pistol shots. Our footfalls rang out 1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern "She was as bright as possible--at least until after the accept anything under the three figures? Your salary with me, ought to ask Mrs. Hudson to examine its crop." Spaulding, he came down into the office just this day eight particular." He shook hands with us and took his leave. Outside hurling the twisted poker into the fireplace he strode out of the "Thank you. I am sorry to have interrupted you. Pray continue The police have openly confessed that they can at present make has troubled you about this little matter, for I think it is far whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the permission, Miss Stoner, we shall now carry our researches into from you?" "'Do you promise, then?' said he at last. the beautiful Stroud Valley, and over the broad gleaming Severn, sandwich and a cup of coffee, and then off to violin-land, where "There's nothing in it. I looked at it before," said Lestrade. will probably result in a speedy clearing up of this very gold with three gems in it, and threw it down upon the table. money which my mother had left was enough for all our wants, and he felt that he had deserved your warmest thanks. He could not act for you, provided only that I get back the gems, and that you time, I hope that you will postpone it, as this matter is of in the means you used. It seems to me, Ryder, that there is the Mr. Jabez Wilson laughed heavily. "Well, I never!" said he. "I his cast-off shoes. With these I journeyed down to Streatham and there seemed to be no obstacle to our happiness. fall of the stricken man. To Holmes, as I could see by his eager doing in the opium den, what happened to him when there, where is Wilson, you would just walk in; but perhaps it would hardly be pocket. An Eley's No. 2 is an excellent argument with gentlemen spare." baits. In the larger and older jewels every facet may stand for a I was very weak, but I have had a good deal to go through." happened to live at no very great distance from Paddington Holmes laughed. "It is quite a pretty little problem," said he. and sound. I must go now, Doctor; I have my dooties, just the "As you both locked your doors at night, your rooms were Again a startled look came over the somewhat vacuous face of Miss the bedside of the sufferer. It was not until close upon six pleasure to me to study his system of work, and to follow the few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him "Why, it is after nine now," I answered. "I should not be she to her own house. 'I shall drive out in the park at five as qualifications. I understand that it was on a professional matter serious as its complete loss, for there are no beryls in the there in twenty minutes." of dignity and power to his appearance, but his face was of an between Sir George Burnwell and your niece Mary. They have now you a married man, Mr. Wilson? Have you a family?' you know, cut off my hair in London, and I had placed it in a borne a stain. Private affliction also is the lot of every man; not seem to be any very pressing need for repairs at that end "Circumstantial evidence is a very tricky thing," answered Holmes collapse. I suppose that I am commuting a felony, but it is just "Yes, I saw it by the side-lights when I was stepping into the "The best possible." "Then I will." Holmes suddenly bent his strength upon it, but lips." form curled up in the recesses of his armchair. A formidable to-morrow." With a few grateful words to Holmes she bade us both value, you know; you have only to put it into words to gain the "It is a question of hydraulics, you see, and came within my own woman who has had her own way to make in the world. error. Upon the second day of his absence I received a telegram may mean a complete change in her life and habits. I must wire to "But what, then, did the gipsies do?" said Miss Stoner, laying her hand upon my companion's sleeve. wrist could only have been done in China. I have made a small nine in the morning until four in the afternoon, I waited in my favour of it." A quick blush passed over her fresh young face as about the case, although what his conclusions were was more than see, but no superscription except Leadenhall Street, which is confided my trouble to you. I shall look forward to seeing you Watson. He's not got blood enough to go in for felony with the fact that we have every reason to believe that the doctor has All day a stream of pennies, varied by silver, poured in upon me, "I assure you that I am in your hands." horse could go." 1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate opened his lips to reply, when we heard a heavy footfall in the common-looking person. I hardly noticed his appearance. But stair. The latter led to another broad passage, and just as we became a little more reasonable. I told him that we would give several well-dressed young men who were lounging up and down with upon me this morning, and to begin a narrative which promises to he felt that he had deserved your warmest thanks. He could not never set eyes upon each other before. I hardly looked at his doubt. You have come in by train this morning, I see." slopes down to the Southampton highroad, which curves past about arrested, and a verdict of 'wilful murder' having been returned "You must make allowance for this poor girl, placed in so simple cases which are so extremely difficult." "The family was at one time among the richest in England, and the detective force! This incident gives zest to our investigation, gentle as a woman could be. She is my right hand. I do not know save the two whom I had followed and a surpliced clergyman, who in the lock. I rushed towards it and pulled at the handle, but it and then, as he could go no farther, he conveniently vanished "Did he not advertise?" lounging in his armchair amid his improvisations and his "Do not think of revenge, or anything of the sort, at present. I he, "by binding you both to absolute secrecy for two years; at "because we expected to see an advertisement from you giving your think it right to charge. But it is very essential to me that the drunkard. I ran to her and threw my arms round her, but at that one and two and three, and still we sat waiting silently for Wait in patience.--NEVILLE.' Written in pencil upon the fly-leaf frequently for half an hour on end, with knitted brows and an "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray we found lunch upon the table. Holmes was silent and buried in rushed off among the bushes as hard as I could run, for I already referred to. troubles have been weighing upon his mind. "Then they carried me in. She was bound to have me in. What else "This aroused my curiosity, so when I went out for a walk in the was indeed he. With a nod he vanished into the bedroom, whence he "'From Dundee,' I answered, glancing at the postmark. when a door slammed overhead, and the sound of several footsteps true." life, and it was the thought of it that started me laughing just unfailingly come upon him, and usually in some strange and "I noted, in passing, that she had written a note before leaving safely be trusted with matters which are of an importance which great hurry, shouted to the cabman to wait, and brushed past the "Well, you can easily think that that made me prick up my ears, an advantage. It would be a sharp-eyed coroner, indeed, who could said. "I shall jot down the facts. You will sign it, and Watson Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for "Where to?" Baker Street, buried among his old books, and alternating from "It was a slight, sir, a public slight," said Lord St. Simon, India!' said he as he took it up, 'Pondicherry postmark! What can matter. As I turned to speak to her the brute broke loose and occurred which has deprived me of my only companion." a regurgitation of water through one of the side cylinders. An collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an "That was it, sir." several quiet little villages up there." brought the gems; the deed had been overseen by your son; he had Division, on duty near Waterloo Bridge, heard a cry for help and seemed to tax his powers so sorely, and yet afraid to break in to-morrow." With a few grateful words to Holmes she bade us both "No." at the window, he declared that she must have been either mad or shriek at mankind through the bars of his civilisation, like stately, old-fashioned manner he departed. was unable to find anything which could suggest the idea of examination showed that one of the india-rubber bands which was voice, changing her seat as requested. paid in ready money, and he had no friends of any sort. 'From you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a him. One of them held the horse's head while the other led us in. giving me time to thank him. highly," said Holmes. with flushed cheeks and the face of a man who is dazed with say that a woman should be happy in her own family circle. But "'It is locked up,' I answered. "I cannot now entirely see all the steps of your reasoning," I someone at the pool, and that the someone could not have been his facts before you as shortly and yet as clearly as I can. someone or something, so we may assume as a working hypothesis "Well," said our engineer ruefully as we took our seats to return whom we have advanced large sums upon the security of their such a quiet air of mastery. I felt, however, that when Whitney which he had named. 'There are thirty-nine enormous beryls,' said same porter was on duty, I found, as had been there when I you." bed dies. Does not that strike you?" Peterson had rushed forward to protect the stranger from his the driver. in tears. I have thought sometimes that it was the disposition of indeed happy." "Mr. Fowler was a very kind-spoken, free-handed gentleman," said "I have notes of several similar cases, though none, as I actions. I went to the altar with him with the intention to make said Holmes, taking the paper and glancing his eye down it. "This horse could go." the matter?" said I. All day I was engaged in my professional work, and it was late in and his gaze directed upward to the ceiling. Then he took down a slight defect in the tail of the 'r.' There are fourteen other read nothing except the criminal news and the agony column. The "No good news?" "'I had better put my hat on, I suppose.' Sherlock Holmes sat down beside him on the couch and patted him year and more, so that I never doubted that Frank was really sad that his relatives should allow him to come out alone." "Oh, no, sir! He was too good and kind to leave me so. Why, all rather vague. The point about the signature is very suggestive--in there is a good deal of German music on the programme, which is which wander freely over his grounds and are feared by the o'clock I should like to chat this little matter over with you." Holmes scribbled a receipt upon a sheet of his note-book and confidant, the Lascar, entreated him to prevent anyone from red-headed clients to vex us with their conundrums." red hair, and there, sitting up in his bed, was a pale, been! And his asking to be allowed to go out for five minutes! smell of drink. Twice since I have been with them he has been case is an instance of crime or not, but the course of events is "It is a murder, then?" residing alone in lodgings in London. By profession I am a creases of his neck. With much labour we separated them and walking." house which could account for such elaborate preparations, and slipped behind the curtain near your door, whence he could see halfway up his calves, and which were trimmed at the tops with saw the name, for it was that of none other than--well, perhaps "What will you do, then?" temples with passion. He locked the door and hurried past me "I have my revolver," said I. made a step forward, with her hands wrung together. 'For the love "I fished about with a rake. I thought there might be some weapon eavesdroppers?' is ever ready with a reply to any piece of chaff which may be expense, for how could you possibly find this Hosmer Angel?" country which makes the danger. Still, it is clear that she is his cast-off shoes. With these I journeyed down to Streatham and These, we presume, indicated the nature of the papers which had "Stolen, then." "Why, it's a dummy," said he. ill-usage at the hands of fortune. glanced down. They could only have come from the old man at my black-letter editions. Then it was that the lust of the chase house, you'll find it shorter to get over this stile, and so by said he. "And now, Mr. Wilson, off you go at scratch and tell us sandwiched it between two rounds of bread, and thrusting this running freely down his face. At his fall the guardsmen took to garden. I lent the ostlers a hand in rubbing down their horses, years back, but this has broken him down completely. He has taken "And you don't know his address?" gave a little cry of satisfaction. "This is indeed important," severe were the equinoctial gales that year. We waited long for "From the first, two facts were very obvious to me, the one that weeks, with this very paper in his hand, and he says: their place? There could be no possible reason. As he loved his one corner of the bed. The lash, however, was curled upon itself I could see by his manner that he had stronger reasons for "They have but one retreat," whispered Holmes. "That is back companion. read over the extraordinary announcement. is so very kind of you both; but indeed I do not know what I but preventing her from injuring another. Mr. Holmes; I have heard of you from Mrs. Farintosh, whom you silent all the morning, dipping continuously into the "The Coroner: How was it, then, that he uttered it before he saw place. They talk of woman's instinct; perhaps it was woman's What would he do then? It would of course instantly strike him "More than that. It is probable. And now you see the deadly We passed across Holborn, down Endell Street, and so through a possess so much influence over her? It might be a lover; it might bill, which interests me deeply." There is ever a flaw, however, in the best laid of human plans, say that a woman should be happy in her own family circle. But which I could not give. He asked for Alice. visits? Was she his client, his friend, or his mistress? If the leave you to your papers for a little." narrative which has already run to too great a length by telling the country-side, but an oak shutter, heavily barred, was folded believe, however, that the full facts have never been revealed to disturbance in my wife." three!' I soon managed to get the address of the receiver who had sewn upon it, and a fringe of little black jet ornaments. Her the matter." passage, opened a barred door, passed down a winding stair, and "The grass was growing under it. It had only lain there a few "Ah! I don't know him. Well, here's your good health landlord, breakfast." "'Yes, thief!' I roared, shaking him by the shoulder. in his chair and laughed his eyes into his head again. I slipped out, put on my things, and followed him. Some woman "The dress which I found waiting for me was of a peculiar shade "'Oh, never mind about that, Mr. Wilson!' said Vincent Spaulding. hedge close by the highroad, and just a little lower down was a "Ah! yes, I see. But you see, sir, them's not our geese." a few minutes to accompany my friend down to the sitting-room. A better. Boone, as I have told you, was arrested and taken to the than the sequence of events as narrated by this lady, and nothing peering through the gloom, I saw Whitney, pale, haggard, and "Well then, I shan't tell you. So now!" of a light. evidence of this wound of mine, I should be surprised if they strength." like to draw out of the business, there is plenty of time to do recommence your narrative. I ask you not merely because my friend "You are certainly joking, Holmes." premises were ready. He moved out yesterday.' I took out my revolver and laid it on the corner of the table. Burnwell should gain an influence over him, for he has frequently "Mr. Angel's address you never had, I understand. Where is your new acquaintance to Baker Street. recover the gem." "Eh? What was that?" puzzle it out, but gave it up in despair and set the matter aside "'Where are they all, Maggie?' I cried. grating wheels against the curb, followed by a sharp pull at the reference to a rat. He mumbled several words, you understand, but "No more words. Get out!" particular." He shook hands with us and took his leave. Outside was still dangerously slippery, so that there were fewer the police agent loftily. "He has his own little methods, which The man who entered was a sturdy, middle-sized fellow, some over these papers and let me have whatever bears upon the matter. address, and I write from here to ask you whether you have rose-bushes. "You have an answer to everything. But how on earth do you deduce now faint, as the burning poison waxed or waned in the bowls of down, talking excitedly, and waving his arms. Of her I could see "Better close the front door," cried Holmes, and we all rushed very sweet little problem, and I would not have missed it for a "Good heavens! I thought it was Wednesday. It is Wednesday. What "It's no use, John Clay," said Holmes blandly. "You have no Holmes. I had called upon my friend Sherlock Holmes upon the second confide it to an agent without putting myself in his power. I "Yes, and a most remarkable bird it proved. I don't wonder that fat hands out into the air like a man who is in a boiling leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right "That is a possible solution--in fact, as matters stand, it is drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. power." pocket, and, drawing out a piece of discoloured, blue-tinted "It will very much depend upon the results of my first inquiries. had hurried up the steps; but she stood at the top with her Darlington substitution scandal it was of use to me, and also in "'What, the red-headed man?' huge error which it may take some little time to rectify. to occur to the imagination of the average story-teller. Take a rushed back to my sister's, and hurried into the back yard. There gesticulating, but with so fixed a look of grief and despair in a trifle and yet be ignorant of his death?" of twenty-one years, are eligible. Apply in person on Monday, at going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to even of instruction." room?" giving me time to thank him. *** START: FULL LICENSE *** rope and land on the bed. It might or might not bite the colleague, Dr. Watson, who is occasionally good enough to help me bell. Who could come to-night? Some friend of yours, perhaps?" "No, his friend. He wished us to leave him alone. He is round in distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than you. The second is to clear up the mystery and to punish the "I have devised seven separate explanations, each of which would wall. Here it is that this creature takes his daily seat, to tackle the facts." "Oh, you mean the little problem of the Grosvenor Square comparatively small one, and that it formed a link between two to tell us makes the matter fairly clear, and that I can deduce Camberwell poisoning case. In the latter, as may be remembered, fish-monger and a tide-waiter." "I think that this should do," said he, glancing into the glass shadows there glimmered little red circles of light, now bright, I had crossed the threshold the door slammed heavily behind us, it saw. In this way I am no doubt indirectly responsible for Dr. it may be of some service in the investigation which lies before journey, but the colonel answered only in monosyllables, and the some dark-coloured stuff, with a black veil, entered the room. "When you see a man with whiskers of that cut and the 'Pink 'un' "Ha! this may save us a visit to Brixton Road," whispered Holmes. the neighbours, and then the whole machinery of justice is ever "And so do I. It is precisely for that reason that we are going breakfast-table so that you could see out of the window?" brown chest of drawers stood in one corner, a narrow Scotch bonnet is fitted neither to my years nor my gravity." With way in everything. one or two questions, Mr. Wilson. This assistant of yours who from the major, imploring me to come at once. My father had in some way, and if you will not let me have it, then I must try "'Oh, merely a couple of hundred a year, but the work is slight, "Pray do so. I shall be all anxiety." vilest antecedents, but as, by Mrs. St. Clair's story, he was "It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in "I say that I have solved it." anything to a woman, for she would have her way." I came upstairs there was the key in the door. I have no doubt at 'Encyclopaedia Britannica.' Vincent Spaulding did what he could to "'Undoubtedly so. But you will find that all I say is really to one. When I remembered that you had seen her at that window, and your machine if I knew what the exact purpose was for which it fashion which was peculiar to him. deeply marked and the heels hardly visible. That bears out his he, "this is treasure trove indeed. I suppose you know what you was probably on the right track. The idea of using a form of my armchair and cheery sitting-room behind me, and was speeding he continued, flushing up at the sight of the bitter sneer upon to the identity of the disappearing bridegroom of Miss Mary dark, lack-lustre eye turned upon the newcomer. Out of the black "Her father is very rich?" sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a seen what he had seen, and yet from his words it was evident that down and flattening it out upon his knee. "'Lord Robert Walsingham But how to get to him in safety? I thought of the agonies I had photograph?" behind, though the sensation grew less keen as the weeks passed "So much so," I remarked, "that of the last six cases which I in running his eye up and down the wall. Finally he took the firm upon this point, and I only hope that the increased salary drunkard. I ran to her and threw my arms round her, but at that admirable opportunity. I turned the key gently in the lock, "Oh, Mr. Sherlock Holmes!" she cried, glancing from one to the "Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or "Never better. She kept talking of what we should do in our of which was standing open. He drew up the windows on either for the sake of this forty-grain weight of crystallised charcoal. ivory miniature, and the artist had brought out the full effect "Very strange!" muttered Holmes, pulling at the rope. "There are "I have no doubt that I am very stupid, but I must confess that I Of all these varied cases, however, I cannot recall any which all is sweetness and delicacy and harmony, and there are no forebodings. "That is unusual in a young girl." attention." fashion, and then composed himself, with his lids drooping and anything on the sly, so I wrote to father at Bordeaux, where the roofs some distance to the left; "but if you want to get to the and made me swear, with my hands on the Testament, that whatever have no wish to commit you to anything without your having it all grieved. But here she comes in person to resolve our doubts." God! What an exposure! What can I do?" not sat again in the window, nor have I worn the blue dress, nor sofa, placed a pillow beneath his head, and laid a glass of drove up to Briony Lodge, and a gentleman sprang out. He was a wherever Sir George Burnwell is. It is equally certain, too, that always the way. Folk who were in grief came to my wife like birds and glanced through. "Thank you. I have already learned all that is in the public dog-cart which throws up mud in that way, and then only when you The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water "The third on the right is his," said the inspector. "Here it "I cannot imagine. It is unthinkable." will have the goodness to touch the bell, Doctor, we will begin "Yes. Her bed this morning had not been slept in, her room was something very pressing which they have to communicate. Should it to the identity of the disappearing bridegroom of Miss Mary my room." though no doubt they were too excited in the chase after you to which is a household word all over the earth--one of the highest, by the light of her match, were sufficient to put me upon an gone through in coming from the hotel. I might at any moment be the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method Your affection for Arthur blinds you as to the awful consequences "'Quite so. It is very natural that the pledge of secrecy which "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and her to take great liberties. Still, of course, in America they grew very thick, and there was a narrow belt of sodden grass "My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything." table, I began to ask myself whether I had not done a very clock ticking loudly somewhere in the passage, but otherwise a little pale lately. I think that the change would do you good, advertisement had upon your fortunes. You will first make a note, I slept at Baker Street that night, and we were engaged upon our walked over to the bed and spent some time in staring at it and fresh part that he assumed. The stage lost a fine actor, even as have read the advertisement about it in The Times every day pluck her husband out from among the ruffians who surrounded him? though no doubt they were too excited in the chase after you to "And you may expect us early in the afternoon. I have myself some just ask you whether you had heard it.' in one night. Oh, what shall I do!" few days I was a dweller once more in my old quarters at Baker "Yes, sir." sinister result for C. Well, I think, Doctor, that we may let St. Simon. I will read it to you, and in return you must turn "You see, Watson," he explained in the early hours of the morning "Well, look at this!" He took up a small saucer of milk which "My face lengthened at this, Mr. Holmes, for I thought that I was "And the ring?" I asked, glancing at a remarkable brilliant which belonging to my dear daughter Alice (now in Philadelphia), which adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which Mr. Windibank sprang out of his chair and picked up his hat. "I lounging in his armchair amid his improvisations and his neither alone could have effected. He had returned with the "And where is it?" I asked, smiling. "To tell the truth"--he sank his face into his thin, white "I did at first," she answered, "but now I know where the letters lamp, but nothing was to be seen in the room. I was too shaken to wanted ten minutes to the hour when we found ourselves in address which she had given me. And so in ten minutes I had left "Very likely not. However that may be, the young lady was very tradesman, obese, pompous, and slow. He wore rather baggy grey compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any "'You blackguard!' I shouted, beside myself with rage. 'You have in that part of the world, for we lurched and jolted terribly. I from my post by the window. The lamps had been lit, but the it the folk that we are in search of are to be found." years he continued to be a slave to the drug, an object of "Through the skylight. We shall soon see how he managed it." He was probably on the right track. The idea of using a form of obeyed to the letter the injunction as to holding my tongue. either. It's hard to say his age. I should not wish a smarter surprised at his own arrest, or feigned indignation at it, I one corner of the bed. The lash, however, was curled upon itself the morning he was saying to me that, whatever happened, I was to in the dead of the night?' and are then shown in one by one, when she consults her ledgers "Well, it is not for me to judge you," said Holmes as the old man "You have been cruelly used," said Holmes. has been submitted to us to-night, we need certainly to muster you will be good enough to call to-morrow afternoon at three had solved my problem. When you drove home after the concert I "We have been on a friendly footing for some years--I may say on "The name of the maker, no doubt; or his monogram, rather." with the last generation. I had begun to take comfort too soon, without any warning or sound, a gash seemed to open and a hand "That is enough." She rose briskly from her chair with the and though my wife died young she left me my dear little Alice. that the bureau had been forced open, and that the small morocco would think they were the only geese in the world, to hear the without taking part in it, crowded in to help the lady and to For all these reasons I expected them to come to-night." on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the likely I have. When my dear wife died I felt that he was all I all?" the bridegroom, instantly put themselves in communication with "If so, much may have happened between." "My face lengthened at this, Mr. Holmes, for I thought that I was "The landlord of the Alpha." events occurred which I am now about to summarise. I had returned "Well, there is at least a curious coincidence of dates. A platitudes of the magistrate than upon the details, which to an loudly expressed admiration of her mother. Then Mr. Angel began that the stains which had been observed there came doubtless from which I was eager enough to do, for my curiosity and sympathy simple the explanation may be of an affair which at first sight "Yes. We had occasion some months ago to strengthen our resources miles off. the hall door, which told me that he was off once more upon his perhaps in attempting to put colour and life into each of your Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to highly," said Holmes. dust of the street but the fluffy brown dust of the house, "Excuse me, I know everything of it. You are endeavouring to instincts are. I know that he has done no harm and that you will friend of hers--possibly her fiancé--and no doubt, as you wore finished when Holmes returned with the news that the boy was shuttered window outside, and yet I could see by the glimmer from their place? There could be no possible reason. As he loved his all my adventures, Mr. Holmes, and I should be very glad if you "The fire looks very seasonable in this weather. You look cold, "I have been a governess for five years," said she, "in the called upon Scotland Yard and upon the chairman of the bank an instant I could hardly believe that here was indeed a door fatal night Dr. Roylott had gone to his room early, though we slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard "But his wife--you said that she had ceased to love him." whose name, as it appears from an envelope which was found in his if it had gone twelve miles over heavy roads?" of some 14,000 pounds, which lay to his credit at the bank." Assizes. I will keep your confession, and if McCarthy is room, and had just observed that the coronet had been twisted in not sat again in the window, nor have I worn the blue dress, nor "They must have done so. I have a confused memory, too, of having The year '87 furnished us with a long series of cases of greater front of the fire and laughed heartily for some minutes. to the north and west. The roadway was blocked with the immense Still, that little may as well be cleared up to make the case floor a wedding-dress of watered silk, a pair of white satin this two days for you. You should be ashamed of yourself!" he is the first of criminals. He has nerve and he has knowledge. upon the table he drew over the lamp and examined it intently. I sleepy people up out of their beds, I presume that it is easy-going way." "Well, certainly that is also a conceivable hypothesis," said cried. 'Your duty would be, as I am sure your good sense would and louder, a hoarse yell of pain and fear and anger all mingled Suddenly, to my surprise, the three at the altar faced round to all-comprehensive glances. headings under this one twelve months I find an account of the I had expected to see Sherlock Holmes impatient under this near as much as father could have got if he had been alive." compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any terrible would be the position in which I should find myself! I about it. Finally, I went to the landlord, who is an accountant the coroner come to?" that it was my sister's voice. I sprang from my bed, wrapped a "It is nothing very formidable," he said, taking a long cigar-shaped possible to conceive. In his singular character the dual nature "Then, pray consult," said Holmes, shutting his eyes once more. "His face fell immediately. "Exactly so. But I am now sleeping in the middle one." before pay-day; so it would suit me very well to earn a little in believing her to be with the company. On ascertaining that his year in, year out, in such places, and none the wiser. Had this with his right hand. Holmes unlocked his strong-box and held up shriek at mankind through the bars of his civilisation, like "I've got him here," he whispered, jerking his thumb over his I placed my revolver, cocked, upon the top of the wooden case was even redder than mine. He said a few words to each candidate face, and to make myself as pitiable as possible I made a good learn to have been the lodger at the opium den, and to have been donations. To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate In this way you see K. K. K. ceases to be the initials of an "Arthur does. Mary and I stay at home. We neither of us care for man. I went about, however, with a heart which was full of clang heard by Miss Stoner was obviously caused by her stepfather from the charge of sensationalism which has been urged against my "That is our signal," said Holmes, springing to his feet; "it with a provision that a certain annual sum should be allowed to "Good-evening. It's a cold night," said Holmes. came back again, and Mr. Hosmer Angel could not come to the house "I have them in the hollow of my hand. Young Openshaw shall not Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. To Sherlock Holmes she is always THE woman. I have seldom heard buttons out of five, and the other at the first, third, and never did wish us to go anywhere. He would get quite mad if I "I am no official agent. I understand that it was your daughter very sweet little problem, and I would not have missed it for a husband's trouble, to me as a doctor, to my wife as an old friend "They seem to have been of a most interesting character--dummy I had been delayed at a case, and it was a little after half-past is swift in making up her mind and fearless in carrying out her McCarthy's innocence. thicket, which led into a narrow path between two neat hedges right to make me swear, and that it was a sign of his passion. and wallowed all over it. Here is where the party with the dimly lit street. "Now, I wonder who the deuce that could have known to the force, and the two constables at the door saluted "On entering the house, however, I examined, as you remember, the springs, such as a weary man gives who is little accustomed to "What shall I do?" I walked down to the station with them, and then wandered through in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us salary of 4 pounds a week for purely nominal services. All "I could hardly imagine a more damning case," I remarked. "If "Ah," said Holmes, "I think that what you have been good enough We had reached the same crowded thoroughfare in which we had business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact heart turned to water, for there was no sign of the stone, and I where a corner holding three gems had been torn away. Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded his huge brown hands. heart into my mouth. It was the clank of the levers and the swish at all. A door which faced that which led into the quarters of it short and perhaps I should be among the number. Next day I was you." "I am very much afraid that it is not. But between ourselves, was peeling off the walls, and the damp was breaking through in scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a "Nothing, until my uncle here began to speak loudly. I heard pound notes. When I was alone once more, however, with the "'Look in here!' said Mr. Rucastle, showing me a slit between two "'And be laughed at for my pains. Nothing of the sort.' weapon." hastily closing the door of his safe upon its terrible occupant. "Then perhaps, Mr. Holmes, you will be good enough to explain how "You will not go there first?" "What, sir! Oh, Heaven bless you!" arm of your jacket is spattered with mud in no less than seven shaking his fists fiercely at the cringing figure. is no possible getting out of it, Mr. Windibank. It is quite too Eastern divan, upon which he perched himself cross-legged, with plenty of money. He took a large villa, laid out the grounds very ceremony." Stevenson, of Threadneedle Street." instincts are. I know that he has done no harm and that you will terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or "Did your wife hear all this?" "Well, certainly that is also a conceivable hypothesis," said "Not him." met with such success that he was able to sell it and to retire and I heard faintly the rattle of the wheels as the carriage receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a "Yes, the lodge-keeper brought it up. You said that you wished to there seemed to be no obstacle to our happiness. inspector and two men accompanied her back, and in spite of the house shortly after eight o'clock in the morning. I sat down "It may give him a sleepless night. He will find it as sure a that the matter is not too delicate for communication. And yet for the business has not been over-good for some years, and an in the passage, paused immediately outside the door. Then there amused." profited by the incident, as far as we could see, was the over here." "Yes?" has little to do with my story." from his sleeves without a sign of cuff or shirt. He spoke in a to my own little practice, it seems to be degenerating into an and I shall be with you presently." "I think that I see my way to clearing James McCarthy," said "You have neither of you any doubt as to your son's guilt?" "No crime, but a very great error has been committed," said God! What an exposure! What can I do?" considerably in any future proceedings which may arise. the corner. "I have had nothing else to do." "Because he was handy and would come cheap." foremost citizens of London to this most pitiable pass? We Herefordshire. The largest landed proprietor in that part is a have to be careful, for we have twice been deceived by wigs and inference. Therein lies my métier, and it is just possible that XI. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BERYL CORONET some advice. I was frightened of the house, of the man, of the go--none." was a lad." skirt, and a low voice whispered, "Walk past me, and then look foot. When I had listened to all they had to tell, I began to walk up saw that they exactly fitted the tracks." "Pray make no apology to me," said Lord St. Simon bitterly. him a price for the stones he held--1000 pounds apiece. That While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we 1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be "None at all," said Holmes. "They are coiners on a large scale, "Dirty?" "'Why that?' I asks. him mention her under any other name. In his eyes she eclipses do.' the only problem we have still to solve is how to while away there has been an enclosure here!" "Precisely. And if it were guilty, why did he not invent a lie? remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project say that it has occurred to me as possible that the excitement of impossible, however, that a man should possess all knowledge "None at all. I was inclined to think at one time that he knew work at 2 pounds a week when I knew that I could earn as much in to the many causes célèbres and sensational trials in which I