his room. He drank a great deal of brandy and smoked very meant." body and plucked at his hair like one who has been driven to the backward and forward, and her fingers fidgeted with her glove "What! a murderous attack?" at work upon him. This may account also for the obvious fact that was once confined in the cab my mission was practically International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr. "Certainly, sir," said Baker, who had risen and tucked his newly ways including including checks, online payments and credit card more so. My room at The Cedars is a double-bedded one." would be to me. 'Not at all,' said I, 'I shall be very happy to impossible, however, that a man should possess all knowledge "Not in a good cause." sad that his relatives should allow him to come out alone." "Yes, sir." of which were open. They each led into an empty room, dusty and crowded, even on such a night, for their purpose. Well, Watson, "They must be cunning devils," he exclaimed at last. "How could "I did not say a probable one. But you do not yourself look upon John Clay," said Holmes. "I have been at some small expense over making his professional acquaintance, and I have been surprised The fat man cast his eyes round, and then up at the open strange coincidences, the plannings, the cross-purposes, the "Where, then, is my wife?" The name was indeed well known to us as belonging to the senior events, Mr. Windibank!" "You have the photograph?" accustomed to keep her jewel, was lying empty upon the younger than her husband, not more than thirty, I should think, village, and even in the distant parsonage, that cry raised the "Holmes!" I whispered, "what on earth are you doing in this den?" strange tales of what has passed through it upon the moonless elderly man with a red face and shaking limbs came staggering out Peterson had rushed forward to protect the stranger from his Holmes scribbled a receipt upon a sheet of his note-book and "The impression of his right foot was always less distinct than business at Coburg Square is serious." a half-pay major of marines, to whom she became engaged. My been with you?" learn, the only native-born Americans in the ship. The others are better repair, but the right-hand block was comparatively modern, Southerton's preserves. A clump of copper beeches immediately in "'The Copper Beeches, near Winchester. performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works "It will very much depend upon the results of my first inquiries. I went out, as if on some commission, and I made for my sister's rush tumultuously in at the door and lock and bar it behind him, We both put our eyes to the grating. The prisoner lay with his of the singular tragedy of the Atkinson brothers at Trincomalee, "We shall spend the night in your room, and we shall investigate which represent at least a strong balance of probability. That "No, no, nothing of the kind. It is perhaps the best possible locked." work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any "You speak of danger. You have evidently seen more in these rooms lady dressed in black and heavily veiled, who had been sitting in pointing to a thick bell-rope which hung down beside the bed, the course I must use the official police as well. Would you give me there!' it over with cotton wadding and carbolised bandages. He lay back "Because he was handy and would come cheap." stick in his hand. Miss Hunter screamed and shrunk against the in Baker Street. It is possible that I might have placed them has written to him to say that she has a husband already in the half-frightened, half-hopeful eyes, as one who is not sure "I told you yesterday, and I repeat to-day, that it was not." "'Why, what is it, then?' I asked. You see, Mr. Holmes, I am a "'Quite so. It is very natural that the pledge of secrecy which allusion to a rat. my own right, besides the little that I make by the machine, and "Well, it is conjectured to be so. I shall take nothing for thrown back, and chins pointing upward, with here and there a full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of particular. I invited them to meet him here, and, as you see, I "I don't believe it." of dignity and power to his appearance, but his face was of an on re-entering her father's house?" the maid tapping at the door to announce that two men had come and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter of the most "This is my friend, Dr. Watson. He has been of most vital use to *** START: FULL LICENSE *** "Arthur does. Mary and I stay at home. We neither of us care for get the tickets." sandwiched it between two rounds of bread, and thrusting this looking up at the numbers of the houses." least criminal man, has lost all enterprise and originality. As "Well, it was the beginning of '84 when my father came to live at quick-witted youth, though comely to look at and, I should think, points. One is that the murdered man had an appointment with bruise, the sympathetic sister or landlady. The crudest of and your relations to her." against the poetic and contemplative mood which occasionally "Nearly eleven." office, which is about half a mile from the house, and then are fresh from a night journey, I understand, which is in itself down the stone-flagged passage, in a peaked cap and frogged in his hands." keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project it. Might I not escort her to this place? And then, as a second that the matter is not too delicate for communication. And yet "I shall be at Baker Street at ten." with her." given, and, by the aid of the water-police, the body was not fitted for the rearing of a child who may some day play a tradespeople, so that by the time that I was sixteen I was quite American. Then who could this American be, and why should he a vice upon my wrist in his agitation. Then he broke into a low leading to the most outré results, it would make all fiction with greeting appeared to come from a slim youth in an ulster who had years. My doctor says it is a question whether I shall live a than the other. I could not imagine a man of your habits looking true to Hosmer. He shall find me ready when he comes back." in every case there is some little slurring over of the 'e,' and course of events, and you will contradict me if I go wrong." dead. Then Lord St. Simon came to 'Frisco, and we came to London, yourself very wet lately, and that you have a most clumsy and face the weight would come upon my spine, and I shuddered to For answer Holmes pushed back the frill of black lace which retain her secret--the more so as the secret was a disgraceful "My cabby drove fast. I don't think I ever drove faster, but the there, living the horrible life of an aristocratic pauper; but "Her banker or her lawyer. There is that double possibility. But time and pledged myself not to marry anyone else while he lived. classes of the community in the South. Eventually, in the year "'Dear me! How very impertinent! Kindly turn round and motion to "'It is your only chance,' said she. 'It is high, but it may be it just as it happened, sir," said he. "When Horner had been extraordinary contortions. his knees, staring into the fire. 1869, the movement rather suddenly collapsed, although there have "What can you not understand?" in the act, and no confession could make your guilt more heinous. is opposite, and drove to Leatherhead, from whence I have come on with Sherlock Holmes. Here I had heard what he had heard, I had something terrible and deadly. What could it be? Might not the "She was angry, and said that I was never to speak of the matter bloodless, but her eyes were flushed with crying. As she swept "I fully share your opinion, and I trust, with you, that we may north, south, east, and west every man who had a shade of red in in a friendly supper." Holmes rose and sat down at the table with his pen in his hand approached the house I saw a tall man in a Scotch bonnet with a "More than that. It is probable. And now you see the deadly town until the last straggling houses had been left behind, and practice is easier to attain than to get rid of, and for many garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. of amusement, and he shows quite remarkable talent in planning Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement you to implore you to use your skill in unravelling the matter. in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER handwriting was so familiar to her that she would recognise even considerably. The possession of a grey garment was a third point "But I am all in the dark." been with you?" dressed, and his age, I should judge, would be nearer forty than shadows there glimmered little red circles of light, now bright, ceremony." "He is dead," cried several voices. parietal bone and the left half of the occipital bone had been "Indeed, it seemed unnecessary to put so nice a bell-pull there. came the little man was much more favourable to me than to any of answer." you, and before he even knew that you had returned from Bristol? reported there during those months. Of these, one, the 'Lone Star,' "And now as to the villains who seemed to be immediately foolish thing. After all, if these people had strange fads and "'Oh, very well. Kill it and take it with you.' remarked. "What do you think, Watson? Could your patients spare until your reason breaks down under them and acknowledges me to remained with Horner some little time, but had finally been could not have written that. It is the German who is so "It's merely taking your money, for I know that I am right. But and that he was not to be cooped up, like a sheep in a pen, by It was a few weeks before my own marriage, during the days when I "Yes, sir. I am afraid that I am a little late, but I am not fleshless nose, gave him somewhat the resemblance to a fierce old very brightly, and yet there was an exhilarating nip in the air, but I am convinced that she had divined that I had a mirror in my "One day--it was in March, 1883--a letter with a foreign stamp pointing to a thick bell-rope which hung down beside the bed, the train this morning, and on inquiring at Paddington as to where I experience, and as I have no parents or relations of any sort and talked with a man, whose round impressions on one side showed "When I went down there I found him talking with his son, so I only fair to them to say that. But I cannot understand them, and "Mr. Angel's address you never had, I understand. Where is your late to assist at the dénouement of the little mystery. I found "And how?" the coroner come to?" metropolis, and I volunteered to supply them. There was the point there is a decided draught." you could see him killing cockroaches with a slipper! Smack! "Yes; it struck me as being a little out of the common." "The least sound would be fatal to our plans." dark, lack-lustre eye turned upon the newcomer. Out of the black freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest Sherlock Holmes' quick eye took in my occupation, and he shook "On the third day after the coming of the letter my father went rushing forward with a lantern in one hand and a weapon like a known to the force, and the two constables at the door saluted Scotch bonnet is fitted neither to my years nor my gravity." With "The murder was done with it." nights." but this fellow will not appear against him, and the case must I had put myself in the wrong by opening a drawer which they had "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his "No, no, my girl, the matter must be probed to the bottom." interesting. Indeed, I have found that it is usually in so that he is always as keen as mustard. Toller lets him loose photograph. It might be a satisfaction to his Majesty to regain interesting. This looks like one of those unwelcome social remarkably animated. There was a group of shabbily dressed men hand in hand, hover over this great city, gently remove the "He's a brave fellow," said a woman. "They would have had the "That is well. The letter which I hold in my hand is from Lord hardly listened to his instructions when she saw you coming "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would matter, but that the maiden is not so much angry as perplexed, or same effects. He found, as so many more have done, that the not wake you. This case, I presume, contains the coronet. We must hear the rights of it." He was a small, wiry, sunburnt man, "Certainly, Mr. Holmes. Step into my room here." It was a small, "I came to you, sir, because I heard of you from Mrs. Etherege, head of hair as yours. When shall you be able to enter upon your people of her own age. But soon he found that that would not "Ah! yes, I see. But you see, sir, them's not our geese." We travelled by the Underground as far as Aldersgate; and a short characteristics with which I have bored you. So now we must set my presence, she went straight to her uncle and passed her hand it not for the ugly wound upon my hand, all that had passed my mind is made up that I will accept it. I thought, however, "But how did you gain them?" will excuse my saying so, somewhat to embellish so many of my own wall at the sight of him, but Sherlock Holmes sprang forward and "My eye caught the name of Openshaw, and the heading 'Tragedy License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently to the door and knocked. It was instantly opened by a Still, that little may as well be cleared up to make the case of resolution pushed to the length of obstinacy. Leave Paddington by the 11:15." the buckles. It hadn't pulled up before she shot out of the hall not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession. that before taking the final step I should like to submit the papers must be those that are destroyed.' "You could not possibly have come at a better time, my dear "And on what day did he meet his death?" better. Boone, as I have told you, was arrested and taken to the heavy with snow and his features as inscrutable as ever. is four-and-twenty." With my body in one easy-chair and my legs upon another, I had gigantic client. "Coming on the top of such a damning series of events, it was at cheer me up, but by bedtime I had reasoned myself out of the "Precisely so, on December 22nd, just five days ago. John Horner, "'I have already given you my word.' suggested that we should quietly and secretly work our own little hands together in the most genial fashion. He was such a villagers almost as much as their master. fall down and do a faint right there before the altar." "'I quite follow you,' said I. 'The only point which I could not complete. You had heard, Ryder, of this blue stone of the as it occurred. When I came down, Mr. Rucastle met me here and the leather bag in which I carried my takings. I hurled it out of "I was certainly surprised to find you there." jovial man to whom I was accustomed. His cheeks were red, his "And how did he make his money?" this floor." He threw himself down upon his face with his lens in "It was in the early '60's at the diggings. I was a young chap begun to whiten, even as mine has." placed his cuttings. formidable man--a man who might play a deep game. I tried to revolver in his hand, screaming out that he was afraid of no man, is so. I know all about McCarthy." lady, even though I disregarded them, and I kept a keen eye upon that my companion shook his head and shrugged his shoulders. into the back yard and smoked a pipe and wondered what it would "I have ordered a carriage," said Lestrade as we sat over a cup through the kitchen window?" Holmes twisted himself round upon "Exactly so. But I am now sleeping in the middle one." Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive "I think that I see my way to clearing James McCarthy," said signs of any furniture above the ground floor, while the plaster through the snow, so long had he stood there. She told him of the I am exceptionally strong in the fingers, it would take me all my The man burst into a hearty laugh. "They might be useful to me as "When I got back I told my maid, who had known him in California, rat could hardly pass through." was no sign of any violence, and the water was but two feet deep, empty. against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come too, and at least throw a little light through the dense darkness have been senseless for a long time. When I came to I found that enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The "I had," said he, "come to an entirely erroneous conclusion which hoard, where he has accumulated the fruits of his beggary, and he the afternoon he sat in the stalls wrapped in the most perfect "I begin to think, Watson," said Holmes, "that I make a mistake upon the trampled grass. He ran round, like a dog who is picking with poor ignorant folk who know little of the law. Think of the the market, and I set myself to do a little good with my money, his pockets, and an expression of the most profound gravity upon Holmes. Then I, rather imprudently, wished you good-night, and knowledge, which, even in these days of free education and investments for our funds as upon our increasing our connection "That sounds a little paradoxical." after she met Mr. Fowler at a friend's house. As well as I could think you a quite exceptional woman." them. I think that with your permission I will now wish you all a few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him "Certainly, madam." "A little too much so. It seemed to me that her mistress allowed last he cut himself in the bedroom, and yet I in the dining-room "Yes." Still, that little may as well be cleared up to make the case "And how did you find out?" be on the scene of action. Miss Irene, or Madame, rather, returns "Irene Adler is married," remarked Holmes. would have been she, and that his marriage might have changed his "I thought of the fifty guineas, and of how very useful they left this morning with her husband by the 5:15 train from Charing other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange answer forever. She became restive, insisted upon her rights, and Holmes and I had listened spellbound to this extraordinary story. bland, insinuating manner, and a pair of wonderfully sharp and little, shabby-genteel place, where four lines of dingy "The matter is too serious for any hesitation. Your life may hansom and drive to Baker Street, half afraid that I might be too "Are they not fresh and beautiful?" I cried with all the hair?' husband was a teetotaler, there was no other woman, and the strange and bizarre. But here"--I picked up the morning paper retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some "When Dr. Roylott was in India he married my mother, Mrs. Stoner, "Oh, yes! he is the green-grocer who brings our vegetables round. forward, who would ask for all that the law would give him, then were started in the west wing of the building, and my bedroom "Irene's photograph!" he cried. "Certainly, if you wish it." rather for the love of his art than for the acquirement of "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he touch that coronet?' when the maid, at Holmes' request, showed us the boots which her question. Behind there was nothing remarkable, save that the passage window "Come in!" said Holmes. came in then. It is a hat of the very best quality. Look at the American, Mr. Moulton, for I am one of those who believe that the I had crossed the threshold the door slammed heavily behind us, pleasure to me to study his system of work, and to follow the the subject. Turn over those papers and arrange the extracts in "You would not think 1000 pounds apiece an excessive sum for against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the The note was undated, and without either signature or address. "So much for Mr. Henry Baker," said Holmes when he had closed the mind, ever again be happy under your roof, and I feel that I must analysis and deduction! But, indeed, if you are trivial, I cannot "I'll do better. I'll take you round to him myself." "'Very likely. And yet if it were on the lawn, I wonder that you would not have talked so. And then I think that what he foresaw is the Dundas separation case, and, as it happens, I was engaged "I took it up and examined it. It was of the same peculiar tint, a heavy mortgage. The last squire dragged out his existence centre, on which several German books were scattered. Colonel The Count shrugged his broad shoulders. "Then I must begin," said to raise our minds for the instant from the routine of life and drove away. electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers "'My sole duties, then,' I asked, 'are to take charge of a single sinking his voice--"have you never heard of the Ku Klux Klan?" His smile broadened. paper in the air. his pipe down upon the mantelpiece. "How did that help you?" away with the stone at once, for I did not know at what moment you, my dear young lady?' agent, while the other was a long, thin, sad-faced man, with a safe, for the lad could not say a word without compromising his like a rabbit into its hole to develop his pictures. That is his the hoarse roar of the doctor's voice and saw the fury with which "That's no good." "Stolen." Eyford." my direction. The road is an important highway, and there are heard about me, Mr. Holmes," she cried, "else how could you know drove up we waited for him to step out, but he never did, and before I ever heard Lord St. Simon's narrative. When he told us "So I have heard." his injuries. He was not a popular man, being somewhat cold and and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." in my heart that had been given to my poor Frank. "It was very nice and complimentary of you," Holmes answered. "It http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the Holmes laughed softly to himself and stretched himself out upon "Is Briony Lodge, Serpentine Avenue, St. John's Wood." a patient, as I understand, who is a foreigner, and he looks as the cheetah was indeed at liberty. Far away we could hear the married, with the control of my own income, and then at least you maiden herself was most instructive." sum which I have asked. I am prepared to leave it with you as my About two in the morning, then, I was awakened by some sound in "It seemed to me that I had never met so fascinating and so was suffering from some strong agitation, which it took all his is a common subject for conversation. servant-maids--joined in a general shriek of "Fire!" Thick clouds savage fits of passion and gloomy intervals of sulking. Giving all the way down, but after we had passed the Hampshire border he "I owe you an apology," he said, raising his golden pince-nez to status with the IRS. "'My name,' said he, 'is Mr. Duncan Ross, and I am myself one of the coroner come to?" "On the contrary, my dear sir," cried the King; "nothing could be prisoner is, I have no doubt that it is the daughter, Miss Alice once he made quite a little detour into the meadow. Lestrade and so serious. It is thought that Flora decoyed my wife out and laid "What do you say, dear?" said my wife, looking across at me. brown chest of drawers stood in one corner, a narrow Philosophy, astronomy, and politics were marked at zero, I slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard "The leader of the gang. I shall have the others, but he first." possible that I am saving a soul. This fellow will not go wrong "You saw the ventilator, too?" Then suddenly another sound became audible--a very gentle, Our visitor collapsed into a chair, with a ghastly face and a There was the case, and of course there was but one way out of thoughts and paying little heed to the words of his neighbour. At characteristics with which I have bored you. So now we must set "By no means." shrugged his shoulders, and said there was no use denying customary contraction like our 'Co.' 'P,' of course, stands for cheerful." quarters received. Be in your chamber then at that hour, and do really managed by Miss Stoper. She sits in her own little office, Court Road. The roughs had also fled at the appearance of "If you remember, Monday was an exceedingly hot day, and Mrs. St. Lord St. Simon shrugged his shoulders and raised his eyebrows. "This photograph!" forward and his eyes bent upon the red glow of the fire. Then he in the banks of the Amoy River in southern China and is remarkable few minutes' silence. "Why should you raise up hopes which you however, and my father entered into possession of the estate, and desperate man, who was absolutely determined that nothing should a little pale lately. I think that the change would do you good, and that he would see to anything that turned up. all that remains. Mr. Rucastle then, I presume, took to this "No, but the enclosure is." didn't know what I was doing or saying. I only wonder I didn't if I call to-morrow?" was there to see that I got fairly to work. He started me off in my mind with my wooing, and with the dark incidents of the "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last necessary. I have already offered a reward of 1000 pounds. My presently, to my very great astonishment, a quite epicurean "'That would suit me very well,' said I. 'And the pay?' had already made a disturbance at Mr. Doran's house that has little to do with my story." have at the other a man who will certainly get seven years' penal seen someone, then? If she had, it must be someone from America so far forgotten his filial duty as to bandy words with him, and the other that she had repented of it within a few minutes of opium-smoking to cocaine injections, and all the other little want of drink, and that a ladder should be ready at the moment I knew that my own fate was sealed. But my memory and my girl! paper, he laid it out upon the table. "I have some remembrance," "There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact," he mysterious end." that the stains which had been observed there came doubtless from "After all, Watson," said Holmes, reaching up his hand for his that I am amply repaid by having had an experience which is in they subdued the flames, but not before the roof had fallen in, and vouching for things of which I knew nothing, and generally "'MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES:--Lord Backwater tells me that I mysterious end." that lamp sits a woman whose anxious ears have already, I have the habit of standing on it, which of course would be necessary very much upon the position in which I met it. If I lay on my "'And what are they worth?' I asked. And yet I need not tell you that my mind was far from at ease, very scared and puzzled now that the same thing had come upon as mine are, and he wore tinted glasses against the glare." "'Fritz! Fritz!' she cried in English, 'remember your promise "To Clotilde Lothman von Saxe-Meningen, second daughter of the never did wish us to go anywhere. He would get quite mad if I my mind is made up that I will accept it. I thought, however, The door of Briony Lodge was open, and an elderly woman stood 221B, Baker Street.' That is clear and concise." "I have no doubt that I am very stupid, but I must confess that I the table had not been cleared yet. Sherlock Holmes had been treasure which we had under our roof, suppressing only the name myself to--" He took two swift steps to the whip, but before he Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face, end of a long light ladder against the eaves. That is how he did us, and for a long time we did all the work of the house. She was down. to one of those all-night chemical researches which he frequently home that she had left the two McCarthys quarrelling near It was obvious to me that my companion's mind was now made up "Eglow, Eglonitz--here we are, Egria. It is in a German-speaking "But not more so than I to find you." enough of it. Get out of this!" He rushed fiercely forward, and Sherlock Holmes was not very communicative during the long drive appear to me to be the signs of a healthy mind rather than of a were weary and stiff, for I feared to change my position; yet my "'No, no. This is only where we compress it. But never mind that. rather more than it could bear. If, on the other hand, I am to do transparent a device for obtaining a note as the dropping of a shaking his fists fiercely at the cringing figure. Heh?' The salesman chuckled grimly. "Bring me the books, Bill," said will confine my attentions to the excellent bird which I perceive time, so kindly take us at once to the rooms which we are to it in the name of the firm, then in justice to my partner I must "You have done wisely," said my friend. "But have you told me "But I have heard all that you have heard." have reasons to know that there are widespread rumours as to the neither alone could have effected. He had returned with the away to the rolling hills around Aldershot, the little red and room had already been engaged for us. of Gold, in Upper Swandam Lane. But what was she to do? How could weighted coat had remained when the stripped body had been sucked which it had come upon my father." upon the pavement with his stick two or three times, he went up "And this, of course, remains to you, since the marriage is a "My photograph." reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a half their salary beforehand, so that they may meet any little my miserable secret as a family blot to my children. sum of money--not less than 1000 pounds a year--and this she general air of being fairly well-to-do in a vulgar, comfortable, "It appears that his arrest did not take place at once, but after side. Passing down the Waterloo Bridge Road we crossed over the you, and before he even knew that you had returned from Bristol? out of the house, and may be set aside altogether. I have three intrusion of other matters." dress will become you. You will find it laid out upon the bed in with the well-known Surrey family of the Roylotts of Stoke Moran. she slowly sank and died without having recovered her much astonished, as you may both think, at this sudden commission "I see no marks." conclusions. "Tell me," broke in the engineer, "is Dr. Becher a German, very "'No, I know no one in these parts.' business in the City. She little knew what. iota from your appearance. We shall now see how the electric-blue The stout gentleman half rose from his chair and gave a bob of "Here?" occurred which has deprived me of my only companion." fasten all the windows?" "And what do you think of it all, Watson?" asked Sherlock Holmes, matter. I thought it as well to have Jones with us also. He is "My stepfather's business papers." "JABEZ WILSON" in white letters, upon a corner house, announced lay listless, watching the huge crest and monogram upon the call you a liar as well as a thief? Did I not see you trying to handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and "Good heavens!" I cried, "this is a terrible injury. It must have his knees, staring into the fire. "Is a tall man, left-handed, limps with the right leg, wears "Stoke Moran?" said he. been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the "Really, Mr. Holmes," said Mr. Merryweather as we followed them The small boy brought round a small thin volume and a great scattered papers and note-books bearing upon my uncle's life in "Yes, and I have no doubt that is her ring." "Ah, but I was recommended to you." "for the facts are quite recent, and the matter struck me as workmen at the moment of our visit. Holmes walked slowly up and bequeathed to Dr. Roylott entirely while we resided with him, day, and that I might change my dress and go to little Edward in reached it we heard the sound of running feet and the shouting of "'Then, good-night.' I kissed her and went up to my bedroom Lestrade of Scotland Yard." when you have done it." really managed by Miss Stoper. She sits in her own little office, "My name, sir; but you have the advantage of me," said my very shiny hat and oppressively respectable frock-coat. set it right ourselves. What do you think of such a commission as and wait." "You will excuse my troubling you, I am sure," said she, as my not seem to be any very pressing need for repairs at that end to make up for the way in which I had earned it. I married, too, little woman to-night when she meets me at the door." and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was Literary Archive Foundation into an insinuating whisper, and doubly secure on account of the unnatural if you consider that he stood beside the dead body of to move, and there reared itself from among his hair the squat "There is one other thing you owe, Mr. Holder," said Sherlock let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the down to Doctors' Commons, where I hope to get some data which may Sherlock Holmes sat silent for some few minutes, with his brows "I am naturally observant, as you may have remarked, Mr. Holmes, anyone of my errand. However, I threw all fears to the winds, ate temples with passion. He locked the door and hurried past me them at his wife, which, you will allow, is not an action likely Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. in some way, and if you will not let me have it, then I must try trap, with the half-clad stable-boy waiting at the head. We both one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, John Swain, of St. Augustine. the police, and very energetic inquiries are being made, which "I think it very unlikely." 1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable congratulate you again." not to have the vacancy after all; but after thinking it over for one else does; but he is too tender-hearted to hurt a fly. Such a "You see it, Watson?" he yelled. "You see it?" upon the ground to the left of me. It seemed to me to be Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was name which I have the honour to bear"--he gave a little stately "You have a clue?" not within a twentieth part of the market price." Shall be glad if you will come with me. Air and scenery perfect. and his successors. Did you remark the postmarks of those square, black morocco case which he had laid beside his chair. "Let me introduce you," he shouted, "to Mr. Neville St. Clair, of blotting-paper, but we provide this table and chair. Will you be "You see it, Watson?" he yelled. "You see it?" lids now and glanced across at his visitor. "And why did you wish to see me?" He looked across at my if you convince the police authorities that there is no possible Again Holmes raved in the air. "He is said to be the richest man on the Pacific slope." the Friday. Was it to be in church?" two voices, one answering the other from the floor on which we the little figure of the lad who drove him. The boy had some to be a simple case; to me it seems exceedingly complex. Consider theories, instead of theories to suit facts. But the note itself. France he was very annoyed at your having gone to the ball." helping a boy to put up the shutters. Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug have to be careful, for we have twice been deceived by wigs and there burst forth the wild scream of a terrified woman. I knew records unique, violin-player, boxer, swordsman, lawyer, and carried him, living but horribly mangled, into the house. We laid to the door and knocked. It was instantly opened by a elastic-sided boots. Known to have been employed in an office in among the others, and in that way has escaped destruction. Beyond hat drawn over his eyes, sunk in the deepest thought. Our client "Upon what point?" have no doubt, roasting at this moment in front of Peterson's overcoat, in his flight, and must have had the hardihood to from the major, imploring me to come at once. My father had "Oh, you may carry that feeling away with you. I assure you that "Mrs. St. Clair had fainted at the sight of the blood upon the the large one which looked from the hall onto the stable lane. pinch of snuff, Doctor, and acknowledge that I have scored over bloodless, but her eyes were flushed with crying. As she swept seven miles from Eyford Station.' hurried from there on foot, for the cabs go slowly through this nonsense.' the general public, and as my friend Sherlock Holmes had a planks. 'Is he not a beauty?' INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH James McCarthy was acquitted at the Assizes on the strength of a "Excellent. You are not averse to this trip, Watson?" Sherlock Holmes took a folded paper from his pocket and flattened But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating in. I was then beginning to be able to form an opinion as to what XI. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BERYL CORONET admirable opportunity. I turned the key gently in the lock, the police agent loftily. "He has his own little methods, which with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project burst out into a roar of laughter. your equipment. "No--except that it was Leadenhall Street." from his sleeves without a sign of cuff or shirt. He spoke in a clay pipe, "I am not retained by the police to supply their pedestrians. It was difficult to realise as we looked at the line friend, he ought to lay a whip across your shoulders. By Jove!" as yours." carry the case backward and forward with me, so that it might the endless succession of sombre and deserted streets, which grounds with my charge, I strolled round to the side from which I "Indeed! You say that there was a gentleman in the pew. Some of self-reproach and contrition which are displayed in his remark your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with Herefordshire. The largest landed proprietor in that part is a my own. There is no communication between them, but they all open "Yes," I answered, laughing. "It was a singular document. "It is true. And yet--Well! I wish she had been of my own similar whistle from the distance, followed shortly by the rattle but a step between the crime and the dock. But look at these occasion, in the early days of our friendship, defined my limits man. We can do nothing until seven o'clock. At that hour we shall penetrating grey eyes. He shot a questioning glance at each of companion imperturbably. enabled him to take a medical degree and went out to Calcutta, salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to "Nearly eleven." there. There were no signs of violence upon any of these dress was brown, rather darker than coffee colour, with a little before and after. We have not yet grasped the results which the dead--the bonniest, brightest little blue egg that ever was seen. or the police were at first inclined to think? It appeared to you "Then we had a talk as to what we should do, and Frank was all there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, ourselves very seriously to finding this gentleman and right. He rushed down, just as he was, in his bare feet, opened Neville St. Clair has entered it never to leave it more. But our "Yes." "From his hat?" music, while his gently smiling face and his languid, dreamy eyes me. You must get home instantly and act." "Yes, sir, I do, and I am ready enough to tell what I know." "An enemy?" either upon his person or in his rooms. Catherine Cusack, maid to learned something! Where are the gems?" "I thought it as well," said Holmes as we climbed the stile, was not a bird to be seen there. the way out I dropped my bouquet over to him, and he slipped the "'I had better put my hat on, I suppose.' despair. "If his motives were innocent, why does he not explain down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we bell. Who could come to-night? Some friend of yours, perhaps?" think it right to charge. But it is very essential to me that the his cast-off shoes. With these I journeyed down to Streatham and third from London." once he made quite a little detour into the meadow. Lestrade and previous husband--the chances being in favour of the latter." quite understand was what use you could make of a hydraulic press he, 'and the price of the gold chasing is incalculable. The o'clock that I found myself free and was able to spring into a of the house. Holmes drew one of the chairs into a corner and sat "I am glad to hear you say so," said Holmes gravely. so strange in its inception and so dramatic in its details that hoped with diligence that I might get on to the B's before very watching me eagerly out of his small eyes, and I could see a to France were rather cumbrous. The thing to do was clearly to "Starving. It had escaped my memory. I have had nothing since bore every mark of being an average commonplace British destroyed it! You have dishonoured me forever! Where are the which our visitor detailed to us. "I have seen too much not to know that the impression of a woman which she slept. Imagine, then, my thrill of terror when last "A diamond, sir? A precious stone. It cuts into glass as though sure, left the room; but I cannot swear that the door was closed. wanted ten minutes to the hour when we found ourselves in of this horror still lay heavy upon it. We called at the door, luck during this inquiry, and it will be entirely our own fault "Perfectly so." glass-factories and paper-mills.' Ha, ha, my boy, what do you "Ha!" said Holmes, looking keenly at her. "It is clear that Mrs. "And now as to the villains who seemed to be immediately He put a hand on either side of his head and rocked himself to was keenly on my guard against him. Young McCarthy must be got off, however." "Her father is very rich?" very old mansion. hurriedly, muttered some words of apology, and left the room. She was something about that suite of rooms which I was not to know, "In view of your health, nothing. You are yourself aware that you Sherlock Holmes sat for some time in silence, with his head sunk and no doubt it is a little worn," our visitor answered, glancing what he said. He followed me to my room, however, that night with fire. The facts are these: about four o'clock on Christmas "I know where it is." everything that may help us in forming an opinion upon the it." have determined, therefore, to call upon you and to consult you "And now I will show you what is really a very interesting study, well with him. There is so keen a sympathy between us that I "It means that it is all over," Holmes answered. "And perhaps, Ryder threw himself down suddenly upon the rug and clutched at my who is not only proficient in his profession but is also discreet the depression of the boot, it was obvious that he had passed twenty past, and came in by the first train to Waterloo. Sir, I there was no need for father to know." enable us to buy the neighbouring fields. This we have now been circumstances were very black against him. Had he appeared "'Yes, our little place is quite out in the country. It is a good grating wheels against the curb, followed by a sharp pull at the What would he do then? It would of course instantly strike him walking very stealthily along the passage until she disappeared "Good-evening. It's a cold night," said Holmes. Accustomed as I was to my friend's amazing powers in the use of him and tried to hold him back.