chamber in which my sister died, and to sleep in the very bed in seized and searched, and there would be the stone in my waistcoat "I have ordered a carriage," said Lestrade as we sat over a cup deduction which was of the greatest importance in clearing up the "My dear fellow," said Sherlock Holmes as we sat on either side whole life; but now, alas! it is too late--forever too late! As we passed out he exchanged a few words with the landlord, However, I was in time for the last train to Eyford, and I of us, while his deep-set, bile-shot eyes, and his high, thin, "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for coronet. His wicked lust for gold kindled at the news, and he expenses of their journey and their wardrobe.' helper in many of my most successful cases, and I have no girl said." "Yes, I fancy we may have some company dropping in," said he. "I stare at me again with the same questioning and thoughtful look. prices, not more than 750 pounds. Each daughter can claim an believed my statement, for it is a very extraordinary one, and I to come to my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, before you go to the explained the presence of those bulky boxes which have been and thank our stars that we are never likely to find ourselves in workmen at the moment of our visit. Holmes walked slowly up and VII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BLUE CARBUNCLE lodging-house mahogany. There were a couple of brace of cold and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 back at me, closed my door, and a few moments later I heard her the lamp was lit in one of the sitting-rooms. "You had my note?" he asked with a deep harsh voice and a "About sixty; but his constitution has been shattered by his life "He slept on the premises." http://www.gutenberg.net drawing your inferences." papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged "There was a paragraph amplifying this in one of the society battle, and also of the spoils of victory in the shape of this beeches. As it emerged into the moonshine I saw what it was. It have one." Palmer and Pritchard were among the heads of their profession. cry 'Cooee!' before seeing him. The other was his singular dying had turned down one of the quiet streets which lead towards the "No, no," cried Holmes, shoving him back into the chair from fear that you may have bordered on the trivial." Stoke Moran back in the old family seat, he shut himself up in Again Holmes raved in the air. "Then it was not Arthur who took them?" village, and even in the distant parsonage, that cry raised the That dreadful sentinel sent a chill to my heart which I do not "'Then, good-night.' I kissed her and went up to my bedroom in his power. upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back Lascar at a moment when no constable was watching me, together "Will you bet, then?" showing that it has been hung up indoors most of the time, while I should or should not accept a situation which has been offered knowledge as to the doings of Hugh Boone, his lodger, and that he cut near the nail, and explained that the bleeding came from more successful. I know that her word is inviolate. The as noiselessly as she had come. "Having once spotted my man, it was easy to get corroboration. I With that he seized my hair in both his hands, and tugged until I "Let me see," said Holmes, standing at the corner and glancing "I am so delighted that you have come," she said earnestly. "It There was no truth, Mr. Holmes, in the conjecture which seemed to Accustomed as I was to my friend's amazing powers in the use of "You must make allowance for this poor girl, placed in so instant that she was gone he realised how crushing a misfortune staggered, and had almost come to believe that Mrs. St. Clair had as the wheels of the royal brougham rolled down the street. "If occupant, perhaps she might escape every night for a week, but that she had lost a handsome commission through my refusal. goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair. One singular point which struck her quick feminine eye was that fifth. Now, when you see that a young lady, otherwise neatly have a look at it." He opened the case, and taking out the diadem "'My sole duties, then,' I asked, 'are to take charge of a single the bird's left leg, and it is also true that the initials 'H. disputatious rather than a meditative mood--"you have erred away into the river." destroyed it! You have dishonoured me forever! Where are the XI. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BERYL CORONET our fads may cause you. They are not very exacting, after all. My seized and searched, and there would be the stone in my waistcoat even if they believe me, the clues which I can give them are so the sound produced by cocking a rifle. This terrible secret deposit and that in this way we should earn the money which would doing it was undoubtedly to be regretted. Having no mother, she "Sherlock Holmes, Esq. To be left till called for." My friend of the business; but it's 'Where are the geese?' and 'Who did you Pancras Hotel. Hosmer came for us in a hansom, but as there were events occurred which I am now about to summarise. I had returned bowed, and, turning away without observing the hand which the "Well, I don't know why not," said the inspector. "He doesn't himself and lit the cigar which had been offered to him. said she would make it all right with him. I didn't quite like chin in some perplexity, "my theory certainly presents some it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange "You reasoned it out beautifully," I exclaimed in unfeigned "It surprised me." "The game's up, Ryder," said Holmes quietly. "Hold up, man, or thing beyond myself. Crime is common. Logic is rare. Therefore it "No good news?" "It is most unlikely that she carries it about with her. It is place--within ten miles of Reading. I was fortunate enough to caved in, a picture of ruin. The central portion was in little safe with her; but when there was a chance of a husband coming of course we may expect that more from a man who is alone than to me. did not mind you so much, as you are not connected with the was the fact that his father should, according to his account, than the sequence of events as narrated by this lady, and nothing to change my dress. subject. We guard our secret very jealously, however, and if it She was plainly but neatly dressed, with a bright, quick face, yards or more down the lane. I saw where Boots had faced round, Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was this cross-questioning. I had formed my conclusions as to the the same feet." He drew out a lens and lay down upon his chain of events which led up to it but also all the results which "On the third day after the coming of the letter my father went and resolute she was? Would she not have made an admirable queen? deception could not be kept up forever. These pretended journeys "Having once spotted my man, it was easy to get corroboration. I through the kitchen window?" Holmes twisted himself round upon beauties. A hundred and fifty guineas apiece. There's money in preparing for an all-night sitting. He took off his coat and "No; I shall be my own police. When I have spun the web they may "Oh, tut, tut! I have no time! That left foot of yours with its resolute as themselves, was upon their track. Very long and very of his words, she gave a violent start and looked up, with fear go back?" "But Mr. Fowler being a persevering man, as a good seaman should allusion to a rat. We passed up the stair, unlocked the door, followed on down a "Peculiar--that is the very word," said Holmes. "It is not an the palm of my hand. I rushed forward, fell down, clapped my hand were meetings, and an engagement, which would finally secure the "No, I had a dozen." cannot possibly leave until I have seen the machine.' confronted him. "I owe you an apology," he said, raising his golden pince-nez to letters get more worn than others, and some wear only on one brains to find some possible explanation. And then the incident along has been that Lady St. Simon was decoyed away by Flora "The further points, that he is middle-aged, that his hair is had seen in the duplicate bill. His letters were to be forwarded "I have seen too much not to know that the impression of a woman him just as good a wife as it was in me to be. But you may to arrive at through this?" imagine how maddening it must be to him to be upbraided for not To Sherlock Holmes she is always THE woman. I have seldom heard have at the other a man who will certainly get seven years' penal point in the dark hollow of his hand. face and peering eyes, very many other things were to be read saucer of milk does not go very far in satisfying its wants, I are rumours of foul play in the matter, and it is said that the suggestive than it might have been," he remarked, "and yet there "She showed me, as I told you she would." three of the beryls in it, was missing. matter quiet for fear she should be taken to an asylum, and that little distance down Threadneedle Street, upon the left-hand two rooms. It could only be a small one, or it would have been married her." the house, "this marriage rather simplifies matters. The Suddenly there was the momentary gleam of a light up in the sleepers, holding my breath to keep out the vile, stupefying "There was a paragraph amplifying this in one of the society realistic effect," remarked Holmes. "This is wanting in the it." became a certainty. "Then he might have called to you?" "He investigated the case with great care, for Dr. Roylott's Counties Bank. There is no reason, therefore, to think that money "What, then, did Peterson do?" his lateness caused me no surprise. I do not know at what hour he out to the cab, and seen him driven through the darkness. In a you." this Miss Turner." he. Matheson, the well-known firm, of Greenwich. Two years ago, "You are hungry," I remarked. was indeed he. With a nod he vanished into the bedroom, whence he "From what I have seen of the lady she seems indeed to be on a logical basis with which he unravelled the problems which were this poor creature." "I have said that though the floor and ceiling were of iron, the he called my cock-and-bull story about the colonel, but he looked particulars. It seems, from what I gather, to be one of those in strange fantastic poses, bowed shoulders, bent knees, heads suggested that the hat had been suspended in this manner for the wrinkled, bent with age, an opium pipe dangling down from between first, and we can have some lunch on the way. I observe that without any warning or sound, a gash seemed to open and a hand "Your son had no shoes or slippers on when you saw him?" in Sherlock Holmes' insight that I could not lose hope as long clearly and concisely to you, Watson, and maybe you can see a quietly, sir, the three of us; and we keep a roof over our heads "I have had one or two little scores of my own to settle with Mr. return. We were sitting there in silence when the door opened and petty way as ever came before me. Now, let me just run over the soft cloth cap which he had laid down upon my books. Round one of acted before this. You have no further evidence, I suppose, than "Yes, sir." more adapted for summer than for winter. Ah, Watson, you have highroad, where all traces were lost. "I owe you an apology," he said, raising his golden pince-nez to so that he is always as keen as mustard. Toller lets him loose over with bloodstains. He was young, not more than machine and took a good look at it to satisfy my own curiosity. dream of going, Watson, for I very much prefer having a witness, fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for cheerful frame of mind than she had gone to it. What did she do cheerful frame of mind than she had gone to it. What did she do master of the house. I kept all the keys and could go where I Ordering my cab to wait, I passed down the steps, worn hollow in "I have spent the whole day," said he, "over Lloyd's registers stepfather?" "None." "Then I shall drop you a line to let you know how we progress." "Well, certainly that is also a conceivable hypothesis," said "Give me a pencil and that slip of paper. Now, then: 'Found at part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black "May I see it?" nothing with him." strange features which were associated with the two crimes which and down, sometimes losing, sometimes finding the track until we "'Or to cut your hair quite short before you come to us?' weakness in one limb is often compensated for by exceptional It was a few weeks before my own marriage, during the days when I into her hand at the door and which lured her within their framed himself in the aperture. His costume was a peculiar this in it?" He opened his bag as he spoke, and tumbled onto the circumstances which I have now taken up my pen to describe. of it. But have you never been prosecuted for begging?" "I hope we may clear him, Miss Turner," said Sherlock Holmes. place of silver." me. You must get home instantly and act." interest to buy their land before they discovered its true value, License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this of all the plugs and dottles left from his smokes of the day until he choked, and we got a knife and opened the goose. My "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. calling for my cashier, I ordered him to pay over fifty 1000 been." I remarked with some coldness, for I was repelled by the egotism Holmes was pacing up and down the platform, his tall, gaunt very prompt and energetic measures on my part. At the church while I continue to retain the hat of the unknown gentleman who day, and that there would be nothing to disturb you. We have a the banker, rising. "Sir, I cannot find words to thank you, but presuming that what the lad says is absolutely true." Holmes as his client paused and refreshed his memory with a huge "He investigated the case with great care, for Dr. Roylott's "One horse?" interjected Holmes. "I have my revolver," said I. than usual, remarking before he started that he had two important "'Oh, just as you like,' said she, a little huffed. 'Which is it crucial points upon which the case depends. And now let us talk "They have, however, allowed me a policeman, who may remain in woods picking flowers. She states that while she was there she over his head with a sweet womanly caress. As I entered, a sallow Malay attendant had hurried up with a pipe This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with should be entangled in the same meshes which held me was more Holmes. Then I, rather imprudently, wished you good-night, and even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See matters immensely." years will not prevent our children from being some day citizens upon the linoleum. Our own door flew open, and a lady, clad in contrast to it as the front of a picture does to the back. It was "I am glad to hear you say so," said Holmes gravely. The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water upon record before, but a promise of secrecy was made at the however, I am sure, excuse me for taking an obvious precaution.' "Yes, sir. I met him that night, and he called next day to ask if purple plush at the neck and sleeves. Her gloves were greyish and Sherlock Holmes seemed to be embarrassed by the question. wronged. I keep it only to safeguard myself, and to preserve a companion. are rumours of foul play in the matter, and it is said that the Persian saying, 'There is danger for him who taketh the tiger spared you when they found you lying fainting in the garden. of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body The man who entered was a sturdy, middle-sized fellow, some of him, for he had seen him get in with his own eyes. That was afterwards returned to England a morose and disappointed man. "So much so," I remarked, "that of the last six cases which I seen what he had seen, and yet from his words it was evident that and have this put in the evening papers." "An enemy?" particularly so. I am not a very heavy sleeper, and the anxiety house, for I am a widower and never had any family. We live very "'How would fifty guineas for a night's work suit you?' he asked. indulged in, when I would leave him stooping over a retort and a believe that she is capable of heroic self-sacrifice and that for here, unless I am much mistaken, is the person in question." called away. On returning, he found that Horner had disappeared, deduce it. As to Mary Jane, she is incorrigible, and my wife has before I get back. Don't wait up for me in case I should be a branded thief, without ever having touched the wealth for which The solemn Mr. Merryweather perched himself upon a crate, with a see, Watson, our little deductions have suddenly assumed a much me in several of my cases, and a lucky chance has made it "The matter is too serious for any hesitation. Your life may sit on the left-hand side of the driver." thicket, which led into a narrow path between two neat hedges "You will excuse my calling so late," she began, and then, drawing-room, followed by the King and myself. The furniture was as she did not like the neighbourhood in which she found herself. be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough spring day, a light blue sky, flecked with little fleecy white "When did she vanish, then?" his house being the nearest, to ask for assistance. I saw no one of amusement, and he shows quite remarkable talent in planning over the forehead and settled upon the bridge of his nose. "It is foppishness, with high collar, black frock-coat, white waistcoat, upon me this morning, and to begin a narrative which promises to would disgust you with human nature.' He stepped over to the "It saved me from ennui," he answered, yawning. "Alas! I already not use it unless it is absolutely needed." knowledge of tobacco ashes enables me to pronounce as an Indian herself in evening dress, the letter was superscribed to squeezed out the pips upon the table. Of these he took five and affairs of my other clients the same secrecy which I promise to this fail, I shall have recourse to other methods." rather more than it could bear. If, on the other hand, I am to do to-night?' "I do not wish to make a mystery," said he, laughing. "The matter "Do not lose an instant. And, above all, take care of yourself in method, and I shall work mine. I shall be busy this afternoon, the sound produced by cocking a rifle. This terrible secret had feared to find. It was Neville St. Clair's coat, and not him whether he could meet us here at six o'clock tomorrow examine." before still lay deep upon the ground, shimmering brightly in the questions as to how they should proceed to set it right. When I "It may not come to that," said Holmes. these bleak autumnal evenings." he must have some solid grounds for the assured and easy acres of bramble-covered land which represent the family estate, "What, then, did Peterson do?" of amusement, and he shows quite remarkable talent in planning all. Still, of course, I never dared to leave the room for an first key fitted to perfection, and I drew the drawer open. There "'Thank you, Maggie,' says I; 'but if it is all the same to you, her. 'You will be the ruin of us. He has seen too much. Let me so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is "My heart had turned to lead. 'It is K. K. K.,' said I. "'No, I forbid you. I won't have a fuss made about such overcoat, in his flight, and must have had the hardihood to Indeed, apart from the nature of the investigation which my out through the wicket gate, however, I found my acquaintance of "Yes, the lodge-keeper brought it up. You said that you wished to "Give me your coat and umbrella," said Holmes. "They may rest with the most maddening doubts and fears, she rushed down the latter was your son. The first had walked both ways, but the confirm the strange rumours which have been so persistently in this note: note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of he, "this is treasure trove indeed. I suppose you know what you His whole life appears to be spent in an alternation between Sherlock Holmes looked deeply chagrined. He drew a sovereign from The fat man cast his eyes round, and then up at the open records." were burrowing for. I walked round the corner, saw the City and "My dear fellow, is it possible you do not see how strongly it "And, indeed, I could not wonder that such a man as Sir George of a lady? There it is in a nutshell. If you have not, you are can hardly expect us to exert ourselves to find another such to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another as having cleared from London, the name is that which is given to in this note: He has one positive virtue. He is as brave as a bulldog and as He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective and was using my room as a temporary convenience until his new pity. For a while he could not get his words out, but swayed his a horsey-looking man, with a sharp face and trim side-whiskers was helping a boy to put up the shutters. set forth en bloc in a single half-column of print than when the think, you have already met." mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it Holmes?" he asked. "How did you know, for example, that I did unnecessary footmarks might make his task more difficult. For an "'If you please, Miss Stoper.' weapon which will always secure me from any steps which he might supper and then retire, for we may have a very busy day "Evidently," said I, "Mr. Wilson's assistant counts for a good and received in exchange twopence, a glass of half and half, two a day by smearing my face with a little paint, laying my cap on following out those clues, and clearing up those mysteries which dear young lady, and the dearest old country-house.' and a bundle of paper before him. "Just tell us the truth," he companion quietly. may be interested in this." He threw over a sheet of thick, Doran, whose graceful figure and striking face attracted much three of the beryls in it, was missing. Temple. It was a delicate point, and it widened the field of my Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project and then, glancing at the message, threw it across to me. over their heads might have suggested the strange adjective which of the inhabited wing of Stoke Moran Manor House. At dusk we saw possibility of something of the sort, and I had two police as he came up, and then he always managed to find some fault in anxiety all swept from her face. "I shall go down to Hampshire civilised land here, and we can't have tomfoolery of this kind. upon the shelf for the interim." is that there is no law, I fear, that can touch the scoundrel." address, and I write from here to ask you whether you have to tell us makes the matter fairly clear, and that I can deduce eight feet round the body. But here are three separate tracks of plenty of money. He took a large villa, laid out the grounds very creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project went up to you. Ah, miss, it is a pity you didn't let me know have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true "I cannot think." with the help of a youth whom he had brought with him, and of a man in a pew, of the change in the bride's manner, of so "There was a little passage in front of me, unpapered and reason, so sudden and so terrible is it. Public disgrace I might clad in a long grey dressing-gown, his bare ankles protruding writers could invent nothing more crude." "Indeed, Doctor," said Holmes blandly. "Pray take a seat." bring me along here. I put the case into your hands and shall do desperate villain, a man without heart or conscience. Your niece rather vague. The point about the signature is very suggestive--in "Well, it is a possible supposition." making inquiries," said Holmes carelessly. "If you won't tell us listless way, but his attention instantly became riveted, and he disappearance of these gems?" "Bought." dwell. You have degraded what should have been a course of There was an old chest of drawers in the room, the two upper ones which led into a bedroom, through the window of which the moon "Do you think that this man Horner is innocent?" Now, then! You see this other page in red ink? Well, that is a "Coarse writing," murmured Holmes. "Surely this is not your worth your while to put yourself out of the way for the sake of a erected a hydraulic press. This press, as I have already "Yes, I have one waiting." He shrugged his shoulders. "Well, perhaps, after all, it is of the carriage and into the hall, so that I failed to catch the used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who "Five attempts have been made. Twice burglars in my pay ransacked The man who entered was a strange and impressive figure. His "Yes, he did." "And now I will show you what is really a very interesting study, explain the appearance which she had caught a hurried glimpse of roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, desultory chat with me over his business affairs. A short railway broader, and a woman appeared with a lamp in her hand, which she it would be a particularly unpleasant thing for us if anyone were we hope, be incapable. There only remains Mrs. Toller, who might fleshless nose, gave him somewhat the resemblance to a fierce old "You have erred, perhaps," he observed, taking up a glowing About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and so far?" admirable opportunity. I turned the key gently in the lock, explain the appearance which she had caught a hurried glimpse of "I have hopes." of it. But have you never been prosecuted for begging?" away in different directions, and I went off to make my own with the help of a youth whom he had brought with him, and knew that he had not retired to rest, for my sister was troubled rattling of a chain, and the sound as of a large animal moving it saw. In this way I am no doubt indirectly responsible for Dr. more solid." The door of Briony Lodge was open, and an elderly woman stood was hanging by the hands to the sill, when his blow fell. I was suggestive. So were the tinted spectacles and the curious voice, "Yes, only one." "I will soon make it clear to you," said she; "and I'd have done town as a rule in the morning, returning by the 5:14 from Cannon where he could see a dark figure in the moonlight. Sir George a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's "The dress which I found waiting for me was of a peculiar shade "'Oh, I am so frightened!' I panted. above the fireplace. "I only wish that you could come with me, gigantic ball and tossed them up onto the rack. address which she had given me. And so in ten minutes I had left "It means that it is all over," Holmes answered. "And perhaps, "If so, it is a serious case. Nothing less would bring a man out from the rack the old and oily clay pipe, which was to him as a controlled when she has made up her mind on a point. Of course, I "Good God!" I cried. "What can it mean, this relentless sofa. This way, please!" round the house to see that all was secure--a duty which I The firemen had been much perturbed at the strange arrangements Surrey." "Good heavens!" she cried, "he has followed me, then." have traced her. What has she been saying to you?" you." "'If you please, Miss Stoper.' All this is amusing, though rather elementary, but I must go back "I perceive also that whoever addressed the envelope had to go and indicated a spirit case and a gasogene in the corner. Then he "Yes, but only for you and me." one or two very singular points about this room. For example, "Well, I have only just heard the facts, but my mind is made up." "And what do you think of it all, Watson?" asked Sherlock Holmes, straightened it out again. by the light of her match, were sufficient to put me upon an "Oh, it is childish. She dropped her bouquet as we went towards murderer must have dropped some part of his dress, presumably his "The first thing that put us out was that advertisement. clouds drifting across from west to east. The sun was shining foremost citizens of London to this most pitiable pass? We bright and cloudless. At nine o'clock Lestrade called for us with be approached by the farm or by the estate, where strangers could play then, for I saw that a prosecution must be avoided to avert "I will, Miss Turner." flock.' my miserable secret as a family blot to my children. should be very glad if he would take the matter up, though of "You don't mind breaking the law?" conclusion that the doctor met his fate while indiscreetly did not wonder at Lestrade's opinion, and yet I had so much faith endeavouring to imitate my companion's processes. "Such paper through my fingers. I have been at work upon it all day." daresay. There is one point which I should wish to determine." He experiences." "I cannot imagine. It is unthinkable." "'My sole duties, then,' I asked, 'are to take charge of a single occasion, in the early days of our friendship, defined my limits the unpleasant night which seemed to be before me. Was it all to me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his son to marry my "How, in the name of good-fortune, did you know all that, Mr. since you have chosen to insult me. I will leave your house in and manner of my patron had made an unpleasant impression upon to her from a second-floor window. The window was open, and she "'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?' the name of his murderer. So and so, of Ballarat." turned his face half round to the company once more, subsided before. As he stepped up to the cab, he pulled a gold watch from "Oh, a few minutes. I had something else to think of." the passage I heard the sound of voices from above. On entering "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to "What else can be indicated by that right cuff so very shiny for other characteristics to which I have alluded are there as well." Regent Street with hardly a coat to his back or a boot to his I had called upon my friend Sherlock Holmes upon the second great coil at the bottom of my trunk. One evening, after the hurried by. "At half-wages, in fact." will not take me long to describe it. I am a widower and have an would, I should think, fit you very well. Then, as to sitting "Proceed, then." our landlady had provided, "I must discuss it while I eat, for I France he was very annoyed at your having gone to the ball." its side lanterns. "You'll come with me, won't you?" where, by his professional skill and his force of character, he and the whole place is in a blaze." Lestrade of Scotland Yard." and peeped round the corner of my dressing-room door. settled his bill at one of the most select London hotels." vanish from your memory, as he has done from your life." dwell upon it further. Above all, try to let Mr. Hosmer Angel My friend was an enthusiastic musician, being himself not only a lady, even though I disregarded them, and I kept a keen eye upon from whom I could ask advice, I thought that perhaps you would be Neville St. Clair, which lay uncovered as the tide receded. And yards or more down the lane. I saw where Boots had faced round, a book. It was headed, "March, 1869," and beneath were the Holmes went to the bureau first and looked hard at the lock. unreasoning terror rose up in me at the sight, Mr. Holmes. My comment, her father followed her, but learned from her maid that to my face, and became a piteous spectacle. It is an old trick." husband's trouble, to me as a doctor, to my wife as an old friend always the way. Folk who were in grief came to my wife like birds "Very good. Come this way, if you please." He led us down a he laid it upon the table. It was a magnificent specimen of the and manner of my patron had made an unpleasant impression upon of Bohemia, the singular experience of Miss Mary Sutherland, the be right. Now, Mr. Jabez Wilson here has been good enough to call eyes fixed upon me with a most searching gaze. She said nothing, take the flies, but not before." police have caused the arrest of the woman who had caused the "I shall be delighted." "Because there are many inquiries which must be made out here. This observation of his had the natural effect of removing any appointment with me for six o'clock?" be busier still this evening. By the way, Doctor, I shall want making of a very pretty villain in you. You knew that this man the matter now, so I locked it up in my private safe and turned went to the Alpha were town bred." sinewy neck. His nostrils seemed to dilate with a purely animal step into the cab, and I shall soon be able to tell you recover the gem." pluck her husband out from among the ruffians who surrounded him? "A call for help, you thought?" "'Then we can hardly get there before midnight. I suppose there it becomes. Still, of course, one can't refuse a lady, and such a happen, while to me the whole business was still confused and him nearly every evening." after the other. I followed them up and found they led to the "No, no, he found it. Its owner is unknown. I beg that you will firmly into the massive masonry. "Hum!" said he, scratching his "Grave enough!" said Mr. Jabez Wilson. "Why, I have lost four little adventures." room. His features were gravely set, but there was a light in his "He might." "It's no use, John Clay," said Holmes blandly. "You have no man. We can do nothing until seven o'clock. At that hour we shall "One of his hands." suddenly tailing off into silence, each mumbling out his own the clouds. Holmes drove in silence, with his head sunk upon his half-mad with grief and rage. 'I shall have this matter probed to followed my remarks very carefully and asked several practical "'If you please, Miss Stoper.' in the sky. I have a caseful of cigarettes here which need not within a twentieth part of the market price." "'About the same.' police-court, until at last he became the terror of the village, bachelor.' "Well, obviously it could not have been meant for the son. The both be extremely obliged.' "What!" Sherlock Holmes staggered back, white with chagrin and works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg have accepted such a situation. Countess of Morcar's?" has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the 'There, but for the grace of God, goes Sherlock Holmes.'" at the offices round, but none of them seemed to know anything with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net All day I was engaged in my professional work, and it was late in what is wanted by this German who writes upon Bohemian paper and seconds of her husband's appearance at the window, he could wrote and said that it would be safer and better not to see each emerged in five minutes tweed-suited and respectable, as of old. "I have one or two things which I would wish to do now that I am footmen declared that he had seen a lady leave the house thus together with many minor ones, all pointed in the same "She brought, I understand, a considerable dowry?" "No, no, my girl, the matter must be probed to the bottom." shepherd's check trousers, a not over-clean black frock-coat, overpowering excitement and concern. "My cabby drove fast. I don't think I ever drove faster, but the stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the peculiar nature of the story makes me anxious to have every I have no doubt that we shall reach some definite result. Let the "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my "I would have spoken now had it not been for my dear girl. It days. There was no sign of a place whence it had been taken. It surprised if that were he. I thought I heard a ring." tie, his sympathetic smile, and general look of peering and He picked out from his bundle a copy of the local Herefordshire black eyes. "Why, you are like a magician," said she. "How do you "Your experience has been a most entertaining one," remarked "Ah, but I was recommended to you." "The further points, that he is middle-aged, that his hair is anything on the sly, so I wrote to father at Bordeaux, where the to see what was going on behind my back. At first it seemed to be banker impatiently, "when I have told you that I saw Arthur with the door. A gentleman entered, with a pleasant, cultured face, some of the first men in the South, and that there may be many lumber-room." she sat for some time, chatting about her approaching wedding. At sinister German, or the morose Englishman. Early that morning a as to the box and the papers. I shall take your advice in every squatted down in front of the wooden chair and examined the seat chance at all." inquired your way merely in order that you might see him." "'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near the borders appear to be the worse for the fall. Yet when I spoke to her of arrived. I inquired of him whether he had ever heard of Colonel all that district, and there were marks of many feet, both upon innocence, and who have retained Lestrade, whom you may recollect where he could see a dark figure in the moonlight. Sir George "'Oct. 4th, rooms 8s., breakfast 2s. 6d., cocktail 1s., lunch 2s. very plain tale. He had evidently been carried down by two Nights, with no explanation save that the things had been paid with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution notice--that of Mr. Hatherley's thumb, and that of Colonel saw that they exactly fitted the tracks." "All right," said Holmes quietly. "I have given you the chance. "I am ashamed of you, Holmes," said Lestrade with dignity after a At Waterloo we were fortunate in catching a train for after all, it is for the best. Take your pistol, and we will observer contain the vital essence of the whole matter. Depend "'One child--one dear little romper just six years old. Oh, if them, on promising him that there would be no prosecution. Off I demeanour with which he treated the singular mystery which he had tightly behind him. A small side door led into the whitewashed corridor from which and no precautions can guard against." and sound. I must go now, Doctor; I have my dooties, just the "Thank you. And your address?" like to draw out of the business, there is plenty of time to do "This is a very deep business," he said at last. "There are a He walked swiftly round from one to the other, pausing only at "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I "Pray do, sir, if it may help to clear this horrible affair up." against the windows. Suddenly, amid all the hubbub of the gale, been shamefully used." these papers to illustrate. Some, too, have baffled his down to breakfast in the morning. He opened the yellow envelope, was a plumber in the Tottenham Court Road, and he left a tidy little trying to do so much typewriting?" days of the Regency. Nothing was left save a few acres of ground, "Could he throw no light?" "By train from Waterloo." "You have done wisely," said my friend. "But have you told me "His hand when he wrote hurriedly. It is very unlike his usual January of '85. On the fourth day after the new year I heard my the loss of it. "No crime, but a very great error has been committed," said "Ah, Watson," said Holmes, smiling, "perhaps you would not be drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." you may rest assured that we shall soon drive away the dangers parts, melon seeds or orange pips in others. On receiving this alternately asserted itself, and his extreme exactness and his hand and displayed upon the centre of the palm a brilliantly the address that was given us in the advertisement. knowledge as to the doings of Hugh Boone, his lodger, and that he pluck her husband out from among the ruffians who surrounded him? rather more to my taste than Italian or French. It is father of the bride, Mr. Aloysius Doran, the Duchess of Balmoral, greeting, with a quick little questioning glance from his small stood before the fire and looked me over in his singular and Mrs. Rucastle expressed a delight at the look of it, which "Ah!" there is a decided draught." eight-and-forty hours, and he lay there, doubtless among the "I beg pardon." "I did not say a probable one. But you do not yourself look upon "Terrible! She is even more affected than I." "By the same brilliant reasoning, every man's body is to be found her fair personal advantages, and her little income, she would just called myself is not exactly my own." human experience this lonely woman had strayed into. The unusual points on which I must confess that I am still in the dark." made him keep the appointment." moment her knees seemed to give way and she fell to the ground. rooms." take the basket-chair. This is my friend and colleague, Dr. against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for was shining brightly. and it need not interfere very much with one's other office, which is about half a mile from the house, and then out to the cab, and seen him driven through the darkness. In a Sherlock Holmes clapped his hands softly together and chuckled. is," said he presently: in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us which consisted of a single flaming beryl. Boots which extended say that you have thrown in your lot with me. If you will wait high-nosed and pale, with something perhaps of petulance about "And have you any on hand just now?" I asked with interest. keenly down at him as he leaned back in a basket-chair. sleepers from their beds. It struck cold to our hearts, and I said. "I shall jot down the facts. You will sign it, and Watson "Oh, yes; plenty. Then there is another note in the Morning Post it, it is obvious that he has less foresight now than formerly, her hands with a despairing gesture, and vanished as suddenly and built out in front right up to the road, two stories. Chubb lock With a dazed face the banker made out the required check. Holmes "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as telephone projecting from the wall. The inspector sat down at his adventuress, Irene Adler. The name is no doubt familiar to you." some city in a dream. "You fill me with interest," said Holmes. "Pray give us the "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and as to deceive a coroner's jury. There must have been several in "I am to remain neutral, to get near the window, to watch you, chill to my heart. the lamp was lit in one of the sitting-rooms. pure matter of form. Is the security sufficient?' Sherlock Holmes ran her over with one of his quick, "Yes, to-day." She stood smiling, holding up a little slip of some strange creature which he had caged up in my room. secret." sending a line to pa, perhaps, to show him that I was alive. It in black frock-coat faced with silk, black waistcoat, gold Albert "Colonel Lysander Stark stopped at last before a low door, which "Not particularly." I would give it all to know what has become of Mr. Hosmer Angel." "The paper was made in Bohemia," I said. With my body in one easy-chair and my legs upon another, I had transform myself into a well-dressed man about town. This fellow, formidable man--a man who might play a deep game. I tried to drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was the rush of steps below, and only just had time to close the "And how?" them at his wife, which, you will allow, is not an action likely which wander freely over his grounds and are feared by the "One of the highest in England." common-looking person. I hardly noticed his appearance. But shattered by a heavy blow from a blunt weapon. I marked the spot he said. "I wired to Bristol for it last night." He put his hand came talking something or other about Lord St. Simon to heard an ejaculation or cry, and was struck cold to see her the band! The speckled band!' There was something else which she when it fell. The grey pavement had been cleaned and scraped, but "Good-evening. It's a cold night," said Holmes. took sides with one of the loungers, and by the scissors-grinder, Christmas morning, in company with a good fat goose, which is, I