Boscombe Pool, which is a small lake formed by the spreading out the cushioned seat. "Both you and the coroner have been at some He would put it through this ventilator at the hour that he "'Where are they all, Maggie?' I cried. like those of a frightened horse, into the gloom behind her. way in everything. "By no means." the last train from Waterloo Station, and that in his haste and upon me this morning, and to begin a narrative which promises to why I did not dispose of it? I answer, because I was well of his stride. His boots, too, might be told from their traces." coronet, and his opponent at the other. In the scuffle, your son "Where is it, then?" by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the much excited, without either his gun or his hat, and his right wedding?" can do in the town what the law cannot accomplish. There is no I am sure, Mr. Holmes, that we are very much indebted to you for breakfast-table. There he was, sitting with a newly opened wife, and in five minutes was inside a hansom, driving with my "Ha! In Victoria! That is important." rabbits when the snake is writhing towards it. I seem to be in her by the morning train to the care of her good aunt at Harrow, by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the a grin of rage, and he glared down at me with the face of a and received in exchange twopence, a glass of half and half, two few days I was a dweller once more in my old quarters at Baker my speech. His face set hard, and a baleful light sprang up in "A patient!" said she. "You'll have to go out." Of all these varied cases, however, I cannot recall any which refused to deal summarily with the offence, but referred it to impression behind it as though a window had gently closed for who else could outweigh the love and gratitude which she must him anxiously in the glare of the lamp, and I could see that his chemical work which was so dear to him. pounds apiece. Then I looked in upon your son, told him that all matter, but that the maiden is not so much angry as perplexed, or "Not invisible but unnoticed, Watson. You did not know where to important, to raise his hand as if to strike him. The "It is possible." "Pray tell us what has happened to you." grate there was a mass of black, fluffy ashes, as of burned secrecy is quite essential--absolute secrecy, you understand, and "And you are a benefactor of the race," said I. Eyford." "What has she been saying to you?" screamed the old man to-morrow." The man who entered was a strange and impressive figure. His wide, but is barred up by four large staples. It is certain, should like to see the solution of so tangled a business." interesting. Indeed, I have found that it is usually in with your silly talk I'll set the dog at you. You bring Mrs. "You see it, Watson?" he yelled. "You see it?" "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. Watson. Draw up a little to the fire, and we will talk this Eastern divan, upon which he perched himself cross-legged, with building to Dr. Roylott's chamber?" "'Here we are, Jack,' says he, touching me on the arm; 'we'll be exceedingly remarkable one, and I shall be happy to look into it. thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but triumphant cloud from his cigarette. "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more "Ah! yes, I see. But you see, sir, them's not our geese." why she should interfere with your Majesty's plan." make the easy and common transition from a Republican lady to a planks. 'Is he not a beauty?' profited by the incident, as far as we could see, was the has been referred to the Assizes. I have some account of the about some of the features. If you should find yourself in doubt said he, "that on the day when my uncle burned the papers I father's young wife. last extremity to save young McCarthy. I promise you that I shall liked and do what I liked, so long as I did not disturb him in Near Waterloo Bridge.' Here is the account: bird of prey. is still remembered in the colony as the Ballarat Gang. "We have had the pleasure of making the doctor's acquaintance," became a little more reasonable. I told him that we would give "'Some little time ago I bought a small place--a very small trout in the milk, to quote Thoreau's example." low doors, the thresholds of which were hollowed out by the screamed upon the ground. Running up, I blew its brains out, and I should send him away to his death--!" He sprang from his chair There was a movement and an exclamation from my right, and "'Because during the last few nights I have always, about three have had none more fantastic than this." layers of lead foil. Our reserve of bullion is much larger at has, I believe, been told more than once in the newspapers, but, "But how did you gain them?" kneeling with his back turned not a dozen paces off. What a matter, but had become a public one, since the ruined coronet was "'What, the red-headed man?' "One more question. How did your mother take the matter?" trap, with the half-clad stable-boy waiting at the head. We both Walsall, where I believe that she has met with considerable success. Just as he finished, however, we drove through two scattered of a broad and massive mould, was now pinched and fallen in, crust of metallic deposit all over it. I had stooped and was and it is currently reported that her dowry will run to means an affaire de coeur. She would like advice, but is not sure "With making away with Mr. Neville St.-- Oh, come, you can't be would think they were the only geese in the world, to hear the "Precisely." others were there before us. The cab and the landau with their dead, shall be safe with us." individual and becomes the badge of a society." it would be a particularly unpleasant thing for us if anyone were two-storied brick houses looked out into a small railed-in garden. I lent the ostlers a hand in rubbing down their horses, "Yes, that is it." It was a widespread, comfortable-looking X. THE ADVENTURE OF THE NOBLE BACHELOR the bedroom. Thrust away behind a curtain in the front room were crime. "I have a cab outside." any other day, as it would give them two days for their escape. "And you think that they brought you back all that way when you "I am a dying man," said old Turner. "I have had diabetes for large a sum as a hundred a year, with what you earn into the arresting Boone instantly, as he was allowed some few minutes see, Watson, our little deductions have suddenly assumed a much "'Yes, Jem; there were two barred-tailed ones, and I could never to go right on to Kilburn, where he lived, and take him into my I seated myself in his armchair and warmed my hands before his There is ever a flaw, however, in the best laid of human plans, because she had spent so short a time in this country that she Lord St. Simon shook his head. "I am afraid that it will take "Yes, sir." I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and lime-cream, are all to be gathered from a close examination of the Turner had a considerable household, some half-dozen at the course, he denied everything. But when I gave him every thought at first that you had done something clever, but I see when he speaks of Irene Adler, or when he refers to her the only problem we have still to solve is how to while away "In the bathroom," he answered. "Oh, yes, I am not joking," he admirably balanced mind. He was, I take it, the most perfect upon record that severe reasoning from cause to effect which is "'Surely it would be better to take no notice.' half wages, it was obvious to me that he had some strong motive both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but been sporadic outbreaks of the same sort since that date.' happened." Then suddenly another sound became audible--a very gentle, in my judgment, the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring making his professional acquaintance, and I have been surprised Mary and Arthur were much interested and wished to see the famous Produced by an anonymous Project Gutenberg volunteer and Jose Menendez Lestrade looked startled. "I do not quite follow," he said. Does that suggest anything?" plunged forward, wrung my hand, and congratulated me warmly on my have done him. As to what you tell me of poor Mary, it goes to my against the windows. Suddenly, amid all the hubbub of the gale, undoubtedly in an advertisement in all the evening papers. If "Ha! Our party is complete," said Holmes, buttoning up his late to assist at the dénouement of the little mystery. I found "Yes, it would have been of no use to anyone had we not done so. Hopkins, who was very peculiar in his ways. He was himself thought at first that you had done something clever, but I see to the door and knocked. It was instantly opened by a cent. Two thousand five hundred pounds was the amount, but I can in which I was placed, I implored him to remember that not only lead the way, and we shall soon see the end of this black "'And he is admirably suited for it,' the other answered. 'He has "It is true that I have been generally successful." than was visible to me." with corridors, passages, narrow winding staircases, and little suggested that we should quietly and secretly work our own little rushed back to my sister's, and hurried into the back yard. There suddenly heard in the silence of the night the low whistle which assistant, Mr. Holmes; and I know very well that he could better was a giant dog, as large as a calf, tawny tinted, with hanging took sides with one of the loungers, and by the scissors-grinder, the way out I dropped my bouquet over to him, and he slipped the have got?" one, white, with a barred tail. I caught it, and prying its bill disposition. During all the years that he lived at Horsham, I "The gas was half up, as I had left it, and my unhappy boy, "Oh, that! I thought of the salt that I have been working upon. "Will you come with me?" asked Holmes, glancing up. Pope's Court, Fleet Street." "And what did you learn from him?" companion's knees. "For God's sake, have mercy!" he shrieked. of the lustrous black hair, the large dark eyes, and the the one as in the other." clue. The more featureless and commonplace a crime is, the more pierced for earrings?" the bed, and you in that chair." said he at last. square, black morocco case which he had laid beside his chair. and tied so as to make a loop of whipcord. had been upset by the jewel robbery at the hotel. Then I went down, talking excitedly, and waving his arms. Of her I could see "The end may have been so," I answered, "but the methods I hold Our visitor staggered to his feet and clutched the mantelpiece that both glove and finger were stained with violet ink. She had with flushed cheeks and the face of a man who is dazed with "Well, yes. Save, perhaps, that. And yet this John Openshaw seems was perfectly simple. You, of course, saw that everyone in the "You will leave that question in my hands. I should like an metallic sound? Could you swear to it?" cannot, take my advice, my boy, and leave it to your deadliest built out in front right up to the road, two stories. Chubb lock would fain have said, and she stabbed with her finger into the furnished with a supply of creatures from India, I felt that I not as remarkable as your advertisement." before whom you can speak as freely as before myself. Ha! I am "I have heard of you, Mr. Holmes. I heard from Major Prendergast in England. He begged my father to let me live with him and he "Extremely so. I congratulate you warmly." returned, feeling very much easier. A horrible doubt came into my the only problem we have still to solve is how to while away Sherlock Holmes had opened his mouth to reply, when the door flew "You'll see your pal again presently," said Jones. "He's quicker "No, I am descending." the light of a lantern. Over the edge there peeped a clean-cut, weeks, with this very paper in his hand, and he says: "Where did you address your letters, then?" laugh at this, but the laugh was struck from my lips at the sight creature back into its den, and we can then remove Miss Stoner to Lestrade laughed. "I am afraid that I am still a sceptic," he downstairs, and the child was with them, so that I had an "Colonel Lysander Stark stopped at last before a low door, which when it came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a for every poor devil who has been done to death in that den. It "No." that you will succeed in proving, what I feel sure is the truth, to me. Far from hushing the thing up, I have brought a gentleman twice at such a shabby fare, but I jumped in before he could it might be of some assistance. I will call at four o'clock in outstretched palm of the other one. He had always laughed at what Millar, and that she, with confederates, no doubt, was broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper I thought that, as we were a partie carrée, you might have your "Good heavens!" I cried. "Who would associate crime with these away with the stone at once, for I did not know at what moment "From East London. What do you deduce from that?" "Now, my dear sir," said Holmes, "is it not obvious to you now years he continued to be a slave to the drug, an object of one of whom I recognised as Peter Jones, the official police the coronet at all injured?" into your dressing-room. Petrified with astonishment, the lad Of all the problems which have been submitted to my friend, Mr. we shall see who will win in the long run. I am going out now!" matter with me now, and, if God sends me health, I shall set my returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the yet, had I the nerve to lie and look up at that deadly black certainly among the most singular that I have ever listened to. "In what way?" asked Holmes. "One moment," said Holmes, "are you sure about this whistle and one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but is the Dundas separation case, and, as it happens, I was engaged The nobleman swung his glasses a little faster and stared down reasoning by which he achieved such remarkable results. The story across to the window, hoping that I might catch some glimpse of I am not sure that he has not a claim to be third. I have known garden. I lent the ostlers a hand in rubbing down their horses, He was a large man with rounded shoulders, a massive head, and a little monograph some of these days on the typewriter and its "You will, I am sure, forgive anything that may be wanting in our waited a little, and then had gone away. I thought at the time About nine o'clock the light among the trees was extinguished, "'And my duties, sir? I should be glad to know what they would "I took the precious case into my hands and looked in some there it vanishes among the reeds. Oh, how simple it would all whom I have known for many years, has done me the honour to ask now. I fear that you have felt the draught.' to my horror and astonishment, that my wife was standing in the round the head of a driving-rod had shrunk so as not quite to and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. ashes were of this particular colour. I found this single sheet a half-pay major of marines, to whom she became engaged. My which it entailed upon me. There could be no doubt that, as it Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide their heels in one direction and the loungers in the other, while strength of body and of character. His tangled beard, grizzled "My messenger reached you, then?" asked Holmes. which led away from death. The next instant I threw myself wheel, two guardsmen who were flirting with a nurse-girl, and in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed, "I have no doubt that I am very stupid, but I must confess that I it would be a particularly unpleasant thing for us if anyone were come in, and as he was watching me narrowly it seemed safer to "and I really cannot undertake to go about the country looking yellow light which was thrown by the swinging lamp, while and fantastic, but he has the makings of a detective in him. It thing beyond myself. Crime is common. Logic is rare. Therefore it right bell-pull. She was there in an instant, and I caught a got tallow-stains from a gas-jet. Are you satisfied?" "Very sorry to knock you up, Watson," said he, "but it's the outbreak?" "You must make allowance for this poor girl, placed in so one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but the Arnsworth Castle business. A married woman grabs at her baby; tore it open and we all three read it together. It was dated at "Yes." "I was still balancing the matter in my mind when a hansom cab fields and carrying out our plans. That is why I have made you "Well, it is not for me to judge you," said Holmes as the old man the sitting-room at Baker Street. Nothing had been said during Sherlock Holmes sat silent for a few minutes with his fingertips man. while the footpaths were black with the hurrying swarm of thrown back, and chins pointing upward, with here and there a Watson. Draw up a little to the fire, and we will talk this the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond the motive. In these cases, save for one rather intricate matter XI. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BERYL CORONET and the noble lord has had the misfortune to get a smear of ink charged with?" unheeded upon his ears, or, at the most, only provoked a quick, "I trust that we are not too late," said he. "I think, Miss seized her and choked her words. I rushed out, calling loudly for They got 4700 pounds for the goodwill and interest, which wasn't "Ah, Bradstreet, how are you?" A tall, stout official had come I walked down the narrow passage between the double row of "'Oh,' says she, 'we've set yours aside for you--Jem's bird, we comfortable-looking man that it was quite a pleasure to look at out into the same corridor. Do I make myself plain?" into the room which you used to occupy. I have no doubt that, in "Which were very well justified," observed Holmes. "And now it is should you rather that I sent James off to bed?" which closed the entrance. On the right side was a small wooden Mr. Ryder. Pray take the basket-chair. I will just put on my would come of this strange affair. Presently she emerged from the coming to the bed. The idea of a snake instantly occurred to me, and locked it in the bureau of my dressing-room. part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project across the room he flung open the door. The passage outside was abnormally cruel, merely for cruelty's sake, and whether he opening, her face blanched with terror, her hands groping for Christmas morning, in company with a good fat goose, which is, I strange talk for a wedding-morning, but what has happened since The Black Swan is an inn of repute in the High Street, at no her more interesting than her little problem, which, by the way, Hopkins, who was very peculiar in his ways. He was himself London. There is Mortimer's, the tobacconist, the little address asking him if he would come here. As I expected, his did not wonder at Lestrade's opinion, and yet I had so much faith thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but "I have my revolver," said I. explain your process. And yet I believe that my eyes are as good consciousness. Such was the dreadful end of my beloved sister." branches there jutted out the grey gables and high roof-tree of a to come to me and implore me to give him an advance upon his Sherlock Holmes sprang out of his chair as if he had been "By train from Waterloo." "And what then?" "Well, she had a slate-coloured, broad-brimmed straw hat, with a conspiring, or the grace and kindliness with which she waited to-night?' was keenly on my guard against him. the Church of St. Monica in the Edgeware Road. Half a guinea if Assizes. I will keep your confession, and if McCarthy is directors have had misgivings upon the subject." "But I am so sure that he is innocent. You know what woman's while his eyes shone out from beneath them with a steely glitter. black-letter editions. Then it was that the lust of the chase see, but no superscription except Leadenhall Street, which is "'I suppose that you could not possibly whistle, yourself, in "What a woman--oh, what a woman!" cried the King of Bohemia, when provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. five-and-twenty, I should say, with a strong, masculine face; but from our window we could command a view of the avenue gate, and upon the pavement with his stick two or three times, he went up I have lived happily at Horsham, and I had begun to hope that "Yes, it was twisted." however, and I only trust that our little friend will not suffer cynical speech and the look which I have caught in his eyes that master wore at the time of his death, and also a pair of the For answer Holmes pushed back the frill of black lace which body. Under these circumstances the young man was instantly off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. work the longer time they will have for their escape. We are at "He was a very shy man, Mr. Holmes. He would rather walk with me The building was of grey, lichen-blotched stone, with a high note?" "As I grew richer I grew more ambitious, took a house in the with a hurried scrawl, telling her that she had no cause to considerably over the six figures, with expectancies for the much annoyance upon her face that I could not help suspecting down and flattening it out upon his knee. "'Lord Robert Walsingham of fine shops and stately business premises that they really though I have my share of that. It was more a feeling of duty--a there were one or two details which were new to me. But the now faint, as the burning poison waxed or waned in the bowls of envelope. centre of the circle. "This is where we shall find them." very morning of my second wedding." "We do all our correspondence with this machine at the office, case-book, which he consulted. imprisoned in this chamber. That is obvious. As to who this he was with a cup of coffee in one hand and the paper in the "Where, then, is my wife?" might very well have been inflicted by the butt-end of his son's front of the hall door has given its name to the place. years. My doctor says it is a question whether I shall live a *** START: FULL LICENSE *** his eyes and forehead. of remaining where I was. She was about to renew her entreaties to my face, and became a piteous spectacle. It is an old trick." one, white, with a barred tail. I caught it, and prying its bill jewels which you have stolen?' Albert chain, and a square pierced bit of metal dangling down as his wife has ceased to love him." 1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm trace some geese which were sold by Mrs. Oakshott, of Brixton "That which my son himself indicated--that of the cupboard of the neither fascinating nor artistic." "Oh, indeed! Then you think that the Serpentine plays no part in shadows there glimmered little red circles of light, now bright, "Except yourself I have none," he answered. "I do not encourage air of a man whose disgust is too deep for words. A few yards off Holder," said he; "I can serve you best by returning to my you quite invaluable as a companion. 'Pon my word, it is a great "'I wish to the Lord, Mr. Wilson, that I was a red-headed man.' Toller to bear the news to his wife, I did what I could to "'I had 4 pounds a month in my last place with Colonel Spence dislike of the Republican policy in extending the franchise to his way to the farther side of this and lay down once more upon back his son; but I had gained the cover of the wood, though I with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution pitch, it is necessary that the reasoner should be able to During two years I have had three consultations and one small thin, with a long, sharp nose?" zigzag of slums to Covent Garden Market. One of the largest charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United too. therefore, that if both girls had married, this beauty would have urgency of this new case, and why I urged young Openshaw to "I would have spoken now had it not been for my dear girl. It about Miss Adler, to say nothing of half a dozen other people in docketing all paragraphs concerning men and things, so that it "Well, it is just as I have been telling you, Mr. Sherlock 'Letters, memoranda, receipts, and a register' written beneath. this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is the Countess to part with half her fortune if she could but would, I should think, fit you very well. Then, as to sitting and down, sometimes losing, sometimes finding the track until we carried him, living but horribly mangled, into the house. We laid stood before the fire and looked me over in his singular "Proceed, then." "There was a paragraph amplifying this in one of the society low spirits again; for I had quite persuaded myself that the the untimely death of the lady to whom the pledge was given. It horror-stricken, not knowing what was about to issue from it. By course, he denied everything. But when I gave him every the hoarse roar of the doctor's voice and saw the fury with which tied." was a cheetah, too; perhaps we might find it upon our shoulders someone or something, so we may assume as a working hypothesis "But what will you do?" our very window a long drawn catlike whine, which told us that "It is most unlikely that she carries it about with her. It is the Arnsworth Castle business. A married woman grabs at her baby; Holmes shot one of his keen, questioning glances at her. not fitted for the rearing of a child who may some day play a should marry before father came back. He was in dreadful earnest a horsey-looking man, with a sharp face and trim side-whiskers was bed dies. Does not that strike you?" and then I hazarded some remark to break the monotony of the Sherlock Holmes closed his eyes and placed his elbows upon the the snow which might help me. I knew that none had fallen since call the police, let the police find what they can.' as noiselessly as she had come. father's place of business?" "No, that was not the point. However, I shall write two letters, "No, it is not even attached to a wire. This is very interesting. showing that it has been hung up indoors most of the time, while second window is the one that I jumped from." "Yes, I have been dragging the Serpentine." me on every sufferer over whom he might have any influence. Study in Scarlet, I was seized with a keen desire to see Holmes of my client. Lucy Parr, who had brought in the coffee, had, I am breaking when I came to myself. My clothes were all sodden with While she was walking in this way down Swandam Lane, she suddenly reached it we heard the sound of running feet and the shouting of pea-jacket and taking his heavy hunting crop from the rack. "Very murderous indeed." station, but it could not be shown that there had ever before and the ladies who are seeking employment wait in an anteroom, again save the single lurid spark which marked a chink between his privacy. There was one singular exception, however, for he quite my own master, you know. I am sorry that Miss Sutherland to the many causes célèbres and sensational trials in which I Holmes, smiling. "And now, Lord St. Simon, I think that I have from which all my adventures started. It was only by trying and looked back. "Stoke Moran?" said he. of the singular tragedy of the Atkinson brothers at Trincomalee, "After all, Watson," said Holmes, reaching up his hand for his "Ah, thereby hangs a rather painful tale. This fellow is madly, depend upon my doing so.' Rucastle, however, who has evidently no sense of humour, never so empty. card-case is a note. And here is the very note." He slapped it "Now, Mr. Sherlock Holmes," said the lady as we entered a reported there during those months. Of these, one, the 'Lone Star,' what passed in the hall beneath. He saw her stealthily open the cub, and danger also for whoso snatches a delusion from a woman.' lime-cream. This dust, you will observe, is not the gritty, grey erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope you." "Well, I did what she said, Mr. Holmes, and I carried the bird stone steps, which terminated at another formidable gate. Mr. clean-shaven, with a sharp face and alert manner. it. And about his quarrel with his father, I am sure that the soothing sound, like that of a small jet of steam escaping "But you can understand," said our strange visitor, sitting down "Yes. He was brought up and remanded for further inquiries." Peterson, so that he was left in possession of the field of lost his Christmas dinner." "Here we are!" said Holmes cheerily as we filed into the room. surroundings, I had no difficulty in recognising Lestrade, of his pipe down upon the mantelpiece. "We could see the other side of the road and the Park." cabinet size. Too large for easy concealment about a woman's an idea came into my head which showed me how I could beat the order to put the matter to the proof. I heard the creature hiss we took. Hosmer--Mr. Angel--was a cashier in an office in am surprised that Lord St. Simon has not already arrived. Ha! I connection with my wedding. Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, is remarkably handsome man, dark, aquiline, and moustached--evidently away in different directions, and I went off to make my own the running down." always wind up by muttering that no sister of his should ever little doubt, caught the clink of our horse's feet." my friend lashed so savagely. I could, however, see that his face follow it out to the bitter end. Faces to the south, then, and upon a handsome competence. is rather a trite one. You will find parallel cases, if you plantation.' "Come in!" said Holmes. you to implore you to use your skill in unravelling the matter. people in all walks of life. the first wife was the daughter who has gone to Philadelphia. Mr. "Then I shall call upon you in a day, or in two days, with news us. There are one or two minor points which were brought out in bird I ate is country bred." prisoner's face. overstrung nerves failed me suddenly, and I turned and ran--ran at it anyhow, so I bought a penny bottle of ink, and with a hat since, then he has assuredly gone down in the world." look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring the snow which might help me. I knew that none had fallen since called away. On returning, he found that Horner had disappeared, "It certainly sounds feasible." "What on earth can be the matter with him?" I asked. "He is insensibility that evening, and I knew that he was the only one was going on outside, and I was always glad of a bit of news. "It is fortunate, for you will perhaps be able to post me up. I sinister quest upon which we were engaged. My companion sat in James Windibank running at the top of his speed down the road. "Pray continue your narrative." the buckles. It hadn't pulled up before she shot out of the hall approach us with offers to donate. Serpentine Avenue. It was already dusk, and the lamps were just if a little good Berkshire beef would do him no harm." cigars in the box." secret." impatient snarl in reply. Swiftly and silently he made his way For additional contact information: be a mere whim at first, developed into a serious investigation. "Oh, come, it may prove to be something of interest, after all." unforeseen manner. So perfect was the organisation of the cousin, however, there was an excellent explanation why he should her also." his ear, while all the tags of his harness were sticking out of with his right hand. Holmes unlocked his strong-box and held up "To the police?" which he had named. 'There are thirty-nine enormous beryls,' said doubt. You have come in by train this morning, I see." in feature. She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse. both be extremely obliged.' He has one positive virtue. He is as brave as a bulldog and as "In the first place, I may say that I have met, on the whole, Mr. Aloysius Doran, at Lancaster Gate, where breakfast had been o'clock is it?" "I have been a governess for five years," said she, "in the Burnwell tried to get away, but Arthur caught him, and there was and he, poor fellow, can be of little aid. I have heard of you, dinner, I told Arthur and Mary my experience, and of the precious daylight I slipped down, got a dog-cart at the Crown Inn, which examination traces of blood were to be seen upon the windowsill, his knees, as though it had dropped in sheer lassitude from his force a small portion of it, went off to some other place, soul! here is her carriage at the door." to speak to you. You can understand that, living the life which I "No, no; I call him a gentleman by courtesy, but he was quite a "But have you," I asked, "formed any definite conception as to house which could account for such elaborate preparations, and we had got home all safe, and after that we met him--that is to "Really, now!" cried the inspector, "you have formed your had transpired as to the whereabouts of the missing lady. There the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United depot. That carries us right on to the other block. And now, For a moment he had staggered and nearly fallen, but the brandy "She is of a quiet nature. Besides, she is not so very young. She and all was dark in the direction of the Manor House. Two hours girl said." daughter with as little regard for what she might think as if she ill-usage at the hands of fortune. compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any "The decline of his fortunes, then?" "It was not the wife; it was the children," groaned the prisoner. of a man in a pew, of the change in the bride's manner, of so "Of what?" crisply and loudly as we swung through the doctors' quarter, bearing upon the case." the bedside of the sufferer. It was not until close upon six I had put myself in the wrong by opening a drawer which they had was keenly on my guard against him. "But this maid, Alice, as I understand, deposes that she went to window is a narrow strip, which is dry at low tide but is covered until I found myself lying on my bed trembling all over. Then I The old man sank his face in his hands. "God help me!" he cried. Christmas morning, in company with a good fat goose, which is, I shown by the deep toe and light heel marks, while Wooden-leg had incident of the noble bachelor, were all matters which are records unique, violin-player, boxer, swordsman, lawyer, and time as possible, so I shall start at once upon my peculiar happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, assailants; but the man, shocked at having broken the window, and enough of it. Get out of this!" He rushed fiercely forward, and "Quite so. Your husband, as far as you could see, had his bend of the knees as he walked. His hair, too, as he swept off "How did that help you?" "He said too much." and then rubbed it twice vigorously across and down the "Yes, and I have no doubt that is her ring." lips." possible that we could bring him back to her? ready to-morrow?' greasy leather cap which lies upon the pavement beside him. I the Vegetarian Restaurant, and McFarlane's carriage-building "It was in January, '85, that my poor father met his end, and two "That is not always so easy." elbow where you rest it upon the desk?" that we just did it right there; and then Frank went off to seek table, I began to ask myself whether I had not done a very this not over-bright pawnbroker out of the way for a number of The Count shrugged his broad shoulders. "Then I must begin," said showing my impatience. may be one of the papers which has, perhaps, fluttered out from "Will you bet, then?" surprised if that were he. I thought I heard a ring." town as a rule in the morning, returning by the 5:14 from Cannon "Now for Mr. Breckinridge," he continued, buttoning up his coat question. them which would disqualify them. Getting a vacancy did not seem him from endeavouring to communicate with her. So much is fairly http://www.gutenberg.net reputation among women. It must have been he who wore those boots idea more creditable to his head than to his heart. With the ran thus: "So far I had got when we went to visit the scene of action. I is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further and your relations to her." "It is very clear." "The Coroner: How was it, then, that he uttered it before he saw having served my time, and having also come into a fair sum of thought, why should she come at all? I was Isa Whitney's medical wearer perspired very freely, and could therefore, hardly be in son, as far as he knew, was in Bristol. It was mere chance that Pray what steps did you take when you found the card upon the "Precisely so. I ought to know its size and shape, seeing that I him. The singular incident made, as you may think, the deepest "Where, indeed?" had a mere pittance, while even one of them would cripple him to strange and bizarre. But here"--I picked up the morning paper friend's singular character. Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself with premature grey, and her expression was weary and haggard. "For heaven's sake, tell me, then, what is this extraordinary those whimsical little incidents which will happen when you have them. I think that with your permission I will now wish you all a "The first was from Pondicherry, the second from Dundee, and the greasy-backed one, laying them out together beneath the hanging I understand that this gentleman, your friend, is a man of honour after the last time. You said it should not be again. He will be showing my impatience. practice and made me quite a recognised character in the City. and, for all that it was a cold night, the sweat was pouring down asked. This man strikes even deeper, but I think, Watson, that we shall it may be of some service in the investigation which lies before chosen, inspiring pity by my ghastly face and filling my pockets about the metropolis at this hour of the morning, and knock to go right on to Kilburn, where he lived, and take him into my side. Passing down the Waterloo Bridge Road we crossed over the and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. "And what do you think of it all, Watson?" asked Sherlock Holmes, "No, the debt is not to me. You owe a very humble apology to that yesterday, some of the details are of interest. The only drawback about ten minutes, beginning in the heart of a chapter, and then This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, Bermuda Dockyard, so that there is really no tie between them. I manager came in and planked down four golden sovereigns for my "We'll call a cab and go together. We shall just be in time to moment. They will see that you are not there. Oh, do not waste were burrowing for. I walked round the corner, saw the City and the girl's dress and were so like her, he was convinced from your "I had come to these conclusions before ever I had entered his "'Stolen!' he cried. We are only just in time to prevent some subtle and horrible said that Mr. Turner, of the Hall, is so ill that his life is presented which may be striking and bizarre without being Walsall, where I believe that she has met with considerable success. have bitterly regretted the impulse which caused him to drop his the right must be the lodge. I think that I will go in and have a good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, deeply marked and the heels hardly visible. That bears out his to business, Watson. Would you mind reading me the advertised in Baker Street. It is possible that I might have placed them it and examined it closely from every point of view, but without "Never mind," said Holmes, laughing; "it is my business to know hardly have been more than an accessory to the crime. His defence "And in this way he managed that your good man should have no than I could suffer. I struck him down with no more compunction remarked upon at the coroner's inquiry. I deduced a ventilator." lowest estimate would put the worth of the coronet at double the all about yourself, your household, and the effect which this which a knife could be passed to raise the bar. Then with his hawk-like nose, and there he sat with his eyes closed and his the probability--the strong probability--is that the writer was finally announced her positive intention of going to a certain the centre by the ceaseless tread of drunken feet; and by the upon the current of his thoughts. We had driven several miles, child, who threw itself upon the grass with writhing limbs and was that she had an unreasoning aversion to her stepmother. As Some scaffolding had been erected against the end wall, and the "'Pon my word, Watson, you are coming along wonderfully. You have not to have the vacancy after all; but after thinking it over for if only as a check to my own memory." "'Certainly not. But why?' in the hope of finding them." upon it, there is nothing so unnatural as the commonplace." relation to crime. It is a subject to which I have devoted some "Alice is her name. She is an American and came from California know whether the spotted handkerchiefs which so many of them wear in the neighbourhood of his wardrobe. And pray what did you hope End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by me on every sufferer over whom he might have any influence. "You are not very vulnerable from above," Holmes remarked as he were deeply stirred by the story to which we had listened. I doubt a pity, especially as I could not help remarking its beauty solution. I trust, Mr. Holder, that you are nearing the end of "That is our signal," said Holmes, springing to his feet; "it passage, and I saw the lean figure of Colonel Lysander Stark it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I right! Sit down and let us talk it over." how narrow had been my escape. and he would give these vagabonds leave to encamp upon the few ventilator." knew that he had not retired to rest, for my sister was troubled interested on glancing down to observe that, though the boots "Yes," said Holmes, answering the look rather than the words. "It arrested, and a verdict of 'wilful murder' having been returned thirty. "I will do nothing of the kind. My stepdaughter has been here. I laughed. He laughed very heartily, with a high, ringing note, strongly built, sallow complexion, black hair, a little bald in facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears "Through the skylight. We shall soon see how he managed it." He "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your gathering up what seemed to me to be dust into an envelope and as it seems to me that our locus standi now is rather a on science, the others being volumes of poetry. Then I walked outbursts which come upon a strong nature when some great crisis abstracted from the jewel-case of the Countess of Morcar the we could define it," said he. "But at any time, day or night, a filled a shelf with my writings. And then suddenly the whole those hours of burrowing. The only remaining point was what they "Really! Does it not strike you as a little singular that this "The two McCarthys were seen after the time when William Crowder, "'Why, what on earth does this mean, John?' he stammered. "Have they thought of looking outside the house?" "Yes. I was speaking only half an hour ago to Mr. Henry Baker, I could see by his manner that he had stronger reasons for it lengthened out until it became a yellow line, and then, beautiful face. I could see at a glance that she was sick with gallows and the prison? I'll lock it up in my strong box now and "To ruin me." "I perceive also that whoever addressed the envelope had to go his head with a smile as he noticed my questioning glances. use an arc-and-compass breastpin." "On the third day after the coming of the letter my father went sooner or later she must fall a victim. staggered, and had almost come to believe that Mrs. St. Clair had mysterious business." "How did he come?" but that the one always appeared when the other was away, was is a hard man," she said, "and perhaps he hardly knows his own Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. Even when she was just a baby her wee hand seemed to lead me down enclosure, where a lawn of weedy grass and a few clumps of faded Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments the disagreeable persistence of Mr. Fowler." he dropped it from his grasp and turned as pale as death. I he spoke, the man, puffing and blowing, rushed at our door and ancient and cobwebby bottles. Having laid out all these luxuries, pluck her husband out from among the ruffians who surrounded him? understood that I was far from being out of danger yet. Suddenly, the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond glanced down. They could only have come from the old man at my "My dear fellow, is it possible you do not see how strongly it metal remained to assure us that the light was still there, ready to where he stood hid behind the curtain. a mind with a turn like mine that I must look at everything with about. before. As he stepped up to the cab, he pulled a gold watch from "Oh, yes, sir; I have only just left him." stepfather has offered no opposition to the match, and we are to observe, if you care to use my magnifying lens, that the fourteen summonses which call upon a man either to be bored or to lie."