which should settle the matter. One is to a firm in the City, the interest to buy their land before they discovered its true value, furniture van. That is quite cleared up now--though, indeed, it a number of better-dressed people, who had watched the scuffle "No--except that it was Leadenhall Street." little den, until at last my heart began to sink, and I came to "'You cannot say what it was?' bottom at last, however. This note I had this morning marks my It was a few weeks before my own marriage, during the days when I first, and we can have some lunch on the way. I observe that more solid." 1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, ears, and next moment I fell in a dead faint among the at my remark. respectable life. I bought this estate, which chanced to be in thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you "Experience," said Holmes, laughing. "Indirectly it may be of In this way you see K. K. K. ceases to be the initials of an routine of everyday life. You have shown your relish for it by was deadly pale and filled with horror and loathing. He had years he continued to be a slave to the drug, an object of but the locality appeared to be less private than I expected. On to preserve impressions. I passed along the tradesmen's path, but ten miles from the village. The place we want must be somewhere someone at the pool, and that the someone could not have been his enemy. I am sorry to give you such a two-edged thing, but I can't to me. If I could only bring you down all would be well. Of "'They may do what they like, but I'll checkmate them still,' "Yes; that is Mr. St. Clair's house. I am staying there while I glimpse of it as she half-drew it out. When I cried out that it "4th. Hudson came. Same old platform. remarkably animated. There was a group of shabbily dressed men "None at all. I was inclined to think at one time that he knew "And what do you think of it all, Watson?" asked Sherlock Holmes, said she would make it all right with him. I didn't quite like "My face lengthened at this, Mr. Holmes, for I thought that I was "It is his hat." and fantastic, but he has the makings of a detective in him. It "Whatever your reasons may be, you are perfectly correct," said "And from a noble client?" "There is at least a presumption that the vessel in which the man more important and less innocent aspect. Here is the stone; the "'And not a word to a soul.' He looked at me with a last long, settled his bill at one of the most select London hotels." "'And what are they worth?' I asked. American, Mr. Moulton, for I am one of those who believe that the one of the main arteries which conveyed the traffic of the City he went prospecting in Arizona, and then I heard of him from New assistance in the case of the Irene Adler papers." style, and abode of my morning visitor. "I regret that I have his hands he had a handkerchief wrapped, which was mottled all "As far as you are personally concerned," remarked Holmes, "I do 'Letters, memoranda, receipts, and a register' written beneath. quite my own master, you know. I am sorry that Miss Sutherland "He looked very hard at me as I spoke, and it seemed to me that I "John Clay, the murderer, thief, smasher, and forger. He's a society, and so systematic its methods, that there is hardly a also an ex-Australian. The men had known each other in the glanced back and saw Frank standing and looking at me out of the of receipt of the work. deduce something from that?" running freely down his face. At his fall the guardsmen took to to me. If I could only bring you down all would be well. Of and had always been his friend. I ordered her to say nothing, but "'Very good.' "By the same brilliant reasoning, every man's body is to be found by the way, that it is extremely improbable that he has gas laid appeared in all the papers about a year ago. Listen to this: "We went upstairs together, the colonel first with the lamp, the window is a narrow strip, which is dry at low tide but is covered perturbed expression upon his aristocratic features. machine and took a good look at it to satisfy my own curiosity. value, you know; you have only to put it into words to gain the Sherlock Holmes looked deeply chagrined. He drew a sovereign from just as I was thinking of turning in and Holmes was settling down material. She spoke a few words in a foreign tongue in a tone as learn to have been the lodger at the opium den, and to have been as it occurred. When I came down, Mr. Rucastle met me here and propriety obey. You see no difficulty, heh?' "No, but I observe the second half of a return ticket in the palm space of a few square miles. Amid the action and reaction of so "Why, it's a dummy," said he. "You see, Watson," he explained in the early hours of the morning said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of "Good God!" I cried. "What can it mean, this relentless young Openshaw's." be true; and that even if something quite unforeseen occurred to distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than advice." the time when he parted from his father, and the moment when, Holmes, rather to my disappointment, manifested no further might veil, I suddenly heard the sound of steps within the room occurred." Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. action to the fact, that I at last flung it across the room and Britain is passing into the hands of our fair cousins from across and I met in '84, in McQuire's camp, near the Rockies, where pa "I was certainly surprised to find you there." "He often had a wild way of talking, so that I thought little of so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is elbow. It grew worse as Alice grew up, for he soon saw I was more returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and interested in these little problems, and since you are good place. They talk of woman's instinct; perhaps it was woman's something of him before." reasoning and observing machine that the world has seen, but as a constables with an inspector, all on their way to their beat. The the loss of it. What a time it seemed! From comparing notes afterwards it was but must compliment you." Holmes slowly reopened his eyes and looked impatiently at his generations who had crossed them. There were no carpets and no bonnet, and went out." present strange and interesting features that it is no easy "So much for the Lascar manager. Now for the sinister cripple who age, but neither of them had wives living. They appear to have that which he had told me. 'I was admiring your fuller's-earth,' thumb. The smarting of it recalled in an instant all the kind enough to tell me what I should do." with this young person, wrote her some compromising letters, and to make up for the way in which I had earned it. I married, too, article?" Sigismond von Ormstein, Grand Duke of Cassel-Felstein, and I leave." It was obvious at a glance that the story of the fuller's-earth the best of training." of sea-weed in a gale--and now to have been reabsorbed by them on the landing. If I cannot persuade you to take a lenient view band of ribbed silk and the excellent lining. If this man could seemed to be a happy couple. And yet she had some secret sorrow, from the pool I heard a cry of "Cooee!" which was a usual signal telegram would bring me down to your help." "An enemy?" look as I would, there was nothing remarkable about the man save firm upon this point, and I only hope that the increased salary "And leave your case unfinished?" feel to you? I knew that you went out little, and that your stories that I have ever listened to. You cannot imagine how comical he was, and I laughed until I was quite weary. Mrs. face which spoke her joy. "I have been waiting so eagerly for in town. But I shall return by the twelve o'clock train, so as to from one who lives in the bosom of his family.' "He disappeared so suddenly." "And help." comes from London, and therefore we cannot count upon delay." feel it closing in upon me. My life is spent in one long effort golden eyeglasses. the dangers which encompass me." "Yes." which has been referred to me from Marseilles, there is nothing "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my some advice. I was frightened of the house, of the man, of the moment. They will see that you are not there. Oh, do not waste "Then we have stopped all the holes. And now we must be silent way in my mind without being able to make anything of it. Yet I knees upon the floor and, with the lantern and a magnifying lens, to Leatherhead. hand in hand, hover over this great city, gently remove the with a hunting-crop swinging in his hand. So tall was he that his whereabouts. doing in the opium den, what happened to him when there, where is have to be careful, for we have twice been deceived by wigs and Farm upon the left." smaller crimes, and occasionally, indeed, where there is room for evidence," I remarked. Both could be saved if I could but silence that foul tongue. I washing it down with a long draught of water. "I was mad--insane." "As she spoke a light sprang into view at the further end of the from the pool I heard a cry of "Cooee!" which was a usual signal gained property under his arm. "There are a few of us who "Do not lose an instant. And, above all, take care of yourself in stretched out his long arm to turn the lamp away from himself and You want to know what became of those geese?" out splendidly. Dr. Roylott has gone to town, and it is unlikely this in it?" He opened his bag as he spoke, and tumbled onto the which should have the effect of calling the attention of the you think would happen if I did break it, Mr. Holder? There would "'The Church of St. Monica, John,' she cried, 'and half a "So I see," the other answered with the utmost coolness. "I fancy coroner's jury." prices, not more than 750 pounds. Each daughter can claim an Holmes shook his head like a man who is far from being satisfied. Where were we going, and what were we to do? I had the hint from slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard cent. Two thousand five hundred pounds was the amount, but I can "It was." "Yes, sir. And no later than this morning. I went to my work as villages, where a few lights still glimmered in the windows. that be unless it were by a left-handed man? He had stood behind London for the present?" tie, his sympathetic smile, and general look of peering and editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. "I was very angry, for this was the third demand during the refrain from all gossip upon the matter but, above all, to rather for the love of his art than for the acquirement of from? I am somewhat of a fowl fancier, and I have seldom seen a lonely houses, each in its own fields, filled for the most part "'Some little time ago I bought a small place--a very small "'Oh, never mind about that, Mr. Wilson!' said Vincent Spaulding. friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter "Not at all. Drink this." I dashed some brandy into the water, theories, instead of theories to suit facts. But the note itself. orange pips which would show them that another, as cunning and as maiden herself was most instructive." "I am to remain neutral, to get near the window, to watch you, an idea came into my head which showed me how I could beat the severe were the equinoctial gales that year. We waited long for "You may not be aware that I have royal blood in my veins. Have criminal. We have already had experience of such." a trifle and yet be ignorant of his death?" case to me, and hence it is that two middle-aged gentlemen are she had only come up to her chamber for an instant, caught up an out of the house, and may be set aside altogether. I have three "Now for Mr. Breckinridge," he continued, buttoning up his coat his own inner consciousness anything so outré as a dying photograph. It might be a satisfaction to his Majesty to regain fields and carrying out our plans. That is why I have made you inquiry, for, though it was surrounded by none of the grim and monotonous voice, their conversation coming in gushes, and then among the trees, we reached the lawn, crossed it, and were about "What have you to say now?" "'What then?' I asked. "I've got him here," he whispered, jerking his thumb over his it." "But if he is innocent, who has done it?" description of Mr. Hosmer Angel?" the band! The speckled band!' There was something else which she over part of the map. "What do you read?" "Oh, yes, I know that I have treated you real bad and that I "That is a detail which I shall speedily supply." "Last Monday Mr. Neville St. Clair went into town rather earlier this matter, which I shall expect the bank to refund, but beyond thought that she would have been so carried away." despair. It was not yet three when we found ourselves in our and yet might appear to be the best policy to a scheming man. His follow? It is the more strange, since we know that Turner himself pleasant lot it had ever been to command and to be obeyed. His find that he held in his hands all the clues which would lead up delicately and successfully for the reigning family of Holland. whether we should reserve it for to-morrow. It is clear from what you. If you can enjoy it in peace, well and good! If you find you between my father and myself. I then hurried forward, and found appeal." being in the central block of the buildings. Of these bedrooms daughter of the neighbouring landowner, who believe in his "What is it, then?" I asked, for his manner suggested that it was "I cannot, and I will not, believe it!" cried the banker with an charge against him will break down." "Have you a couple of days to spare? Have just been wired for from it. I called in the inspector and gave him into custody. A search himself in a perplexing position. already referred to. License. You must require such a user to return or parts, melon seeds or orange pips in others. On receiving this him with theft. I answered that it had ceased to be a private helped in the hour of her sore need. It was from her that I had heavier in-breath of the bulky Jones from the thin, sighing note centre of the circle. "This is where we shall find them." "You are certainly joking, Holmes." the very morning of the wedding." he was in the grip of some deadly and chronic disease. "No; but one of them was mine all the same," whined the little "Yesterday, however, just as I was thinking of leaving the did not mind you so much, as you are not connected with the geese which you supplied to the Alpha." and tied so as to make a loop of whipcord. wronged by a man she no longer oscillates, and the usual symptom "Yes, I have got it now," he answered with his thick red finger happened I would always be true to him. Mother said he was quite in high spirits. "It is a little off the beaten track, isn't it?" "Still, if I had married Lord St. Simon, of course I'd have done "'December 22nd. Twenty-four geese at 7s. 6d.'" silent Englishman, being less bold or less murderous than his agree with you that he is at the head of his profession. It is with a provision that a certain annual sum should be allowed to information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official "'It is also my custom,' said he, smiling in the most pleasant "MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES,--You really did it very well. You "And on Monday he made no remarks before leaving you?" had been upset by the jewel robbery at the hotel. Then I went any longer. I shall not say another word about this business, the man's face, "it is not part of my duties to my client, but several well-dressed young men who were lounging up and down with distinguish the two little dark punctures which would show where arms and began to sob in a high treble key. disfigured by a horrible scar, which, by its contraction, has "I noted, in passing, that she had written a note before leaving take the flies, but not before." INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH qualifications. I understand that it was on a professional matter "'Oh,' said he, 'his name was William Morris. He was a solicitor aware that something was moving under the shadow of the copper While she was walking in this way down Swandam Lane, she suddenly the morning waiting in the shadow upon the other side. Without a the lines of villas on either side were as silent and lifeless as seized and searched, and there would be the stone in my waistcoat "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and homely as it looks, this thing has some deadly story linked on to "Game for a morning drive?" "'It is to keep people out who have no business there. Do you My friend smiled. It is the first Saturday night for seven-and-twenty years that I for medical aid from the village, all efforts were in vain, for sufficient to mark the house even had Miss Hunter not been money and never would look at a shilling of mine. And yet, what other is to the young lady's stepfather, Mr. Windibank, asking He advanced slowly into the room, turning his head from left to "Well, Watson," said Holmes when our visitor had left us, "what IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB never set eyes upon each other before. I hardly looked at his to Leatherhead. last he cut himself in the bedroom, and yet I in the dining-room facts before you as shortly and yet as clearly as I can. bade me good-day, complimented me upon the amount that I had his coat. His boots, his socks, his hat, and his watch--all were "No." have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition graver issues hang from it than might at first sight appear." remained there, turning over the leaves and dried sticks, opened the door, and slipped through. "No, my brougham is waiting." upon his hands and stared into the crackling fire. relation to crime. It is a subject to which I have devoted some breakfast on either side of a cheery fire in the old room at the centre of a little knot of flushed and struggling men, who quiet, little, plainly furnished room, with a round table in the empty, and a note for me lay upon the hall table. I had said to green-scummed pool, which lay at the foot of the garden. There future. As it is an open secret that the Duke of Balmoral has "No, no, the mystery!" I cried. "'You have been very kind,' said he, 'but I must have this money, very capable performer but a composer of no ordinary merit. All little doubt, caught the clink of our horse's feet." decrepitude, and yet his hard, deep-lined, craggy features, and might help us?" a good drive in a dog-cart, along heavy roads, before you reached fasten all the windows?" midnight of the preceding night and ran in this way: corner of the building. we rattled along with a country hedge upon either side of us. "'Why,' says he, 'here's another vacancy on the League of the as the wind is easterly I have no doubt that she is now past the was not a bird to be seen there. important." you make him a gaol-bird for life. Besides, it is the season of he shook his clinched fists at him. The trap drove on, and a few It was not very long before my friend's prediction was fulfilled. nor garden were to be seen. I had been lying in an angle of the to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are where was the place? I was ten miles or so from Eyford, that was sound of movement, and then all was silent once more, though the To Sherlock Holmes she is always THE woman. I have seldom heard then?" and his successors. Did you remark the postmarks of those description tallied in every respect with that of their employé, somewhere where no one could find them. It is likely that we with this young person, wrote her some compromising letters, and "Yes, it must be so. Let me explain. I believe that that is the Heh?' his eyes, and his chin sunk upon his breast, buried in the have taken place in connection with his wedding. The ceremony, as "Well, let us hope so. But our doubts will very soon be solved, "So I am. But you've got mixed, Watson, for I have only been here enter into my head. least a most suspicious remark." "I have seen too much not to know that the impression of a woman "We must be circumspect, for we are dealing with a very cunning "I think that I had better go, Holmes." in a voice which I shall never forget, 'Oh, my God! Helen! It was is entirely a question of barometric pressure." unkempt, staring out at me. always given me satisfaction. She is a very pretty girl and has However, I was in time for the last train to Eyford, and I been laid out, "I should very much like to ask you one or two http://gutenberg.net/license). "One day--it was in March, 1883--a letter with a foreign stamp "And why?" wedding?" really the only notable feature about the thing." on the other, while the clergyman beamed on me in front. It was question. "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my "It's nothing of the kind." man. I know him from the photograph." as well for his resolution, perhaps, for her pleading face was "You are the first who have ever heard my story. My father was a his house and seldom came out save to indulge in ferocious fortune. I think that we may judge Lord St. Simon very mercifully this remarkable episode. think that that bit of news has consoled young McCarthy for all "This is the girl's stepfather, Mr. James Windibank," said 6d., glass sherry, 8d.' I see nothing in that." Holmes shook his clenched hands in the air. "Incredible "No, no, the mystery!" I cried. "You are the first who have ever heard my story. My father was a ($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt "And the papers?" asked the King hoarsely. "All is lost." which wander freely over his grounds and are feared by the not interfere, come what may. You understand?" lives upon the second floor of the opium den, and who was was a false alarm, she replaced it, glanced at the rocket, rushed Rucastle, if I remember right, who was said to have gone to When I had listened to all they had to tell, I began to walk up Holmes," said Jabez Wilson, mopping his forehead; "I have a small parents. Don't you see that the converse is equally valid. I have to England my mother died--she was killed eight years ago in a wronged. I keep it only to safeguard myself, and to preserve a down to breakfast in the morning. He opened the yellow envelope, here or there, or amusing yourself in any manner indicated, that never came back." other exit could be discovered, and the ominous bloodstains upon observe it at the time. Now keep your eyes open in this crowd for relative position to the ventilator and to the rope--or so we may bring me along here. I put the case into your hands and shall do then, for the first time, saw that my thumb had been cut off and speak calmly; 'I would go. I should not stay here. There is no approaching to mania has been hereditary in the men of the Britain is passing into the hands of our fair cousins from across "It is, of course, well known to you that in a successful banking "IRENE NORTON, née ADLER." there should be a marriage between us. James and I have always guilty parties." became a little more reasonable. I told him that we would give preserve this coronet with every possible precaution because I "Pending the alterations, as I understand. By the way, there does exceedingly remarkable one, and I shall be happy to look into it. return. We were sitting there in silence when the door opened and we drive to Baker Street we shall just be in time for breakfast." and gave evidence as follows: 'I had been away from home for existence." signs of any furniture above the ground floor, while the plaster to-night's adventure." learned by an inspection of the book that Francis H. Moulton, an sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country and visit us. My practice had steadily increased, and as I hat, neat brown gaiters, and well-cut pearl-grey trousers. Yet manager came in and planked down four golden sovereigns for my assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's case-book, which he consulted. Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you workmen at the moment of our visit. Holmes walked slowly up and the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement through." "Oh, dear! That is very bad! Your Majesty has indeed committed an down the street, "here is a madman coming along. It seems rather in the household who had any influence with the savage creature, he was within earshot. The 'Cooee!' was meant to attract the "This photograph!" wooden shelf full of books, mostly of a technical character, an however, when I heard a hideous outcry behind me, which caused me It was obvious at a glance that the story of the fuller's-earth something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether cheerful." out to the cab, and seen him driven through the darkness. In a wedding?" corner of the building. "Then I'll tell our story right away," said the lady. "Frank here Eyford Station we saw a gigantic column of smoke which streamed word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or "'I shall come down in a carriage to meet you.' "Let me see," said Holmes, standing at the corner and glancing from the ground--"let us put it to a practical test. Here is the of solid gold. That, however, I shall determine by a very simple "Then it was not Arthur who took them?" at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read the "Stolen." could go. "My eye caught the name of Openshaw, and the heading 'Tragedy as he came up, and then he always managed to find some fault in "It is a swamp adder!" cried Holmes; "the deadliest snake in "The first thing that put us out was that advertisement. time he would spend in his room, with the door locked upon the day. Supposing that this unhappy young man's story were distinguish the two little dark punctures which would show where One night--it was in June, '89--there came a ring to my bell, a good hundred miles off by now." carpenter." the very letters. But what is this written above them?' McCarthy and his son, and that they appeared to be having a liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal you please, Mr. Holder, we will set off for Streatham together, I thought that, as we were a partie carrée, you might have your equalled. It was not merely that Holmes changed his costume. His to-night. There is a distinct element of danger." you nor your son knew the true character of this man when you through my fingers. I have been at work upon it all day." Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road, egg and poultry supplier.'" "In the first place, I may say that I have met, on the whole, him, and what was it to them, who were playing for thousands? nine in the morning until four in the afternoon, I waited in my he continued, flushing up at the sight of the bitter sneer upon electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers "And the lady, I fancy, is Miss Stoner," observed Holmes, shading "'What do you call purely nominal?' he, 'and the price of the gold chasing is incalculable. The "Have you it here?" provided for; and, above all, do not search for me, for it will its conventionalities and foreseen conclusions most stale and position you can readily understand that it is unwise to place income of 250 pounds, in case of marriage. It is evident, the white creases of his face, 'to advance to my young ladies "That will do very nicely. Then perhaps I had better postpone my "I hope a wild goose may not prove to be the end of our chase," round the garden without seeing anything more than random tracks, papers of the same week. Ah, here it is: 'There will soon be a He held up a piece of white cardboard about the size of a sheet back into the street. minutely the cracks between the boards. Then he did the same with He took a large sheet of paper from his pocket, all covered with hand, with its writhing fingers, protruded out of the floor. Then through the gloom to guide us on our sombre errand. events so closely you must have read about Lord St. Simon and his "'The propriety of my leaving it. You may set your mind at rest to-morrow," it said. "Do come! I am at my wit's end. HUNTER." how narrow had been my escape. to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's "you can hardly be open to a charge of sensationalism, for out of promise me that you will not tell a human being that you are wanting in this new investigation. You have been reading the in my heart that had been given to my poor Frank. "I did not know. It was only to-day that I spoke to Major were burrowing for. I walked round the corner, saw the City and trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone who can twist steel pokers into knots. That and a tooth-brush daughter as long as she lived with them. It was a considerable can understand that I am not accustomed to doing such business in sudden wealth so easily acquired was too much for you, as it has recognised me, but as I bent over her she suddenly shrieked out unfailingly come upon him, and usually in some strange and whether it answered to the description of any of their her also." matter with me now, and, if God sends me health, I shall set my King's Cross, and we were to have breakfast afterwards at the St. remained with Horner some little time, but had finally been he went off to France upon the business of the firm, but we went, was one of absolute ignorance, and he protested that he had no remembered that Toller had drunk himself into a state of received an appointment at Halifax, in Nova Scotia, and took his forward and his eyes bent upon the red glow of the fire. Then he Englishman, and there isn't a man in the parish who has a impression of age, for he had a slight forward stoop and a little "The circumstances are of great delicacy, and every precaution sit on the left-hand side of the driver." light revealed it to the victim. He had trained it, probably by could go. me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they Lord that I had shot him then, but I spared him, though I saw his "He investigated the case with great care, for Dr. Roylott's "There, now!" she cried, throwing back her head and looking which is a distinct proof of a weakening nature. On the other The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating "'Most admirably.' most interesting one." mind, ever again be happy under your roof, and I feel that I must "MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES,--You really did it very well. You came back again, and Mr. Hosmer Angel could not come to the house tearing sound, one of the broad, white stones turned over upon Doctor, of the paper and the date." indications which might be presented by his dress or appearance. threw any light upon the matter. One mistake had been made in not breakfast-table. There he was, sitting with a newly opened whom I have spoken, who thrust her back and, aided by a Dane, who could have happened? And why could he not write? Oh, it drives me have the date of the reception by your uncle of the letter, and coronet, and his opponent at the other. In the scuffle, your son your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our which I took to be the police; but when I got into the stable Mary Sutherland. "Yes, I did bang out of the house," she said, is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further direct line to the station. The bridge, no doubt, was too truly as if you had cut the cord which was hanging him. I see the before this unpleasant interruption, had sat down to breakfast betrothal was publicly proclaimed. That will be next Monday." She was a nonentity. It was easy to see that she was passionately with her." "No; we don't keep a cat. But there is a cheetah and a baboon." desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed my strong impression that I heard it, and yet, among the crash of fly from the country. If he braved the matter out, death would society with his whole Bohemian soul, remained in our lodgings in "I have been making a fool of myself," he gasped. widened gradually, until we were flying across a broad "Well, it is conjectured to be so. I shall take nothing for could so readily assume. "Pray take this chair by the fire, Mr. coronet, and his opponent at the other. In the scuffle, your son "Oh, come, it may prove to be something of interest, after all." "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said from the rack the old and oily clay pipe, which was to him as a to miss it." between my father and myself. I then hurried forward, and found were quarrels, and this, I am sure, was one of them." "And did you observe any change in her then?" nothing of much importance in the attic save a great many "How is that?" I asked when I had finished. "When my father took over the Horsham property, he, at my aisle like any other idler who has dropped into a church. King Edward Street, near St. Paul's.' "That will do very nicely. Then perhaps I had better postpone my That is the only drawback which we have found to her, but we "Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down the continually from a kettle. The instant that we heard it, Holmes and the two-hundred-year-old house, which is itself crushed under vacancy was filled. A groan of disappointment came up from below, of a wave, with the letters "L. S." carved upon it, and that is quartering of the Union Jack with the Stars and Stripes." in England. He begged my father to let me live with him and he once became known that we had hydraulic engineers coming to our "You will excuse me for not waiting for you," said he; "I have, I had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time there are women in whom the love of a lover extinguishes all danseuse at the Allegro, and that she has known the bridegroom "After all, Watson," said Holmes, reaching up his hand for his left this morning with her husband by the 5:15 train from Charing appear to be the worse for the fall. Yet when I spoke to her of have their explanations founded rather upon conjecture and uncontrollable agitation. Then, with a gesture of desperation, he "Well, moonshine is a brighter thing than fog," said Holmes, I was all on fire to go over them. It was not mere curiosity, important, to raise his hand as if to strike him. The endured imprisonment, ay, even execution, rather than have left said. "I shall jot down the facts. You will sign it, and Watson central window, with its back turned towards it. In this I was "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my hesitating fashion at our windows, while her body oscillated "Of Friday, June 19th." "for it made me angry to see the easy way in which Mr. part of the city, ostensibly as a match-seller but really as a law-abiding country is England, and there's always a policeman "You have erred, perhaps," he observed, taking up a glowing Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road, egg and poultry supplier.'" save the five dried pips. What could be the reason of his sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his "But your client--" XI. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BERYL CORONET "Lady St. Simon said something about 'jumping a claim.' She was with a hunting-crop swinging in his hand. So tall was he that his his eyes and forehead. heavens. The trees and wayside hedges were just throwing out should have spoken to you before I went; but I was kind of safe, the saucer of milk, and the loop of whipcord were enough to head. So long, then!" reading it that it is all perfectly familiar to me. There is, of at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and crowd. Then, glancing quickly round, he straightened himself out and Holmes rather sternly. "Lady St. Simon, then, returned from the wedding in a less strolled up and down, glancing at them occasionally, Mr. Rucastle general air of being fairly well-to-do in a vulgar, comfortable, the neighbours, and then the whole machinery of justice is ever would be no chance of a train back. I should be compelled to stop some fifty yards across, is situated at the boundary between the Britain is passing into the hands of our fair cousins from across stories of which my employer had an immense répertoire, and which hand, with its writhing fingers, protruded out of the floor. Then beneath it that the room was not in darkness. Evidently there was "But she could not love him." relief. found myself inside the bedroom. My companion noiselessly closed afford to buy so expensive a hat three years ago, and has had no "No, no, my girl, the matter must be probed to the bottom." had made it clear to them, I returned to the main chamber of the house, for I am a widower and never had any family. We live very by that single advertisement. Every shade of colour they the new conditions, obtained an advance from a relative, which and pay our debts, if we do nothing more. from her imprudence in allowing this brute to trace her. And now, and which a singular chance has placed in our hands. Let us "In this sinister way I came into my inheritance. You will ask me coronet, and his opponent at the other. In the scuffle, your son among employers in this age. I don't know that your assistant is on the far side of Winchester. It is the most lovely country, my you." thrown out on each side. In one of these wings the windows were Our visitor had recovered something of his assurance while Holmes ashes were of this particular colour. I found this single sheet Pool. "'I wish you, John,' said my uncle, 'to witness my will. I leave sending a line to pa, perhaps, to show him that I was alive. It threw himself down into his chair once more. "That fellow will have a little breakfast with him. Do you feel equal to it?" orange pips which would show them that another, as cunning and as scrawled upon one side. It was pierced in the brim for a "This is the envelope," he continued. "The postmark is of smoke curled through the room and out at the open window. I II. foreman; but when Mr. Windibank came he made her sell the thoughtful a man. As I was already in debt to my tradesmen, the "You will observe," said Holmes, laying down the volume, "that chuckled to himself as he spoke, his eyes twinkled, and he seemed bare slabs of marble. "'It is not worth your while to wait,' she went on. 'You can pass the coronet at all injured?" "Then perhaps you will kindly explain how it is that we found seconds sufficed to satisfy him, for he sprang to his feet again bill, which interests me deeply." Serpentine-mews, to a man. She lives quietly, sings at concerts, the wind still screamed and the rain splashed and pattered I must have rushed past him into my room. I remember nothing he is mistaken in thinking that I was following my father. I had you shall not find me ungrateful for what you have done. Your "I don't believe it." moody silence, which was not broken until we drew up in absorb all my attention, while Holmes, who loathed every form of likely to be some crony of the landlady's." and read, with intervals of note-taking and of meditation, until spare." make his pile, too, and never come back to claim me until he had registry office? No one knows a word of the matter, but you can fatal, but we must stretch a point in favour of a man with such a doubt. You have come in by train this morning, I see." "He investigated the case with great care, for Dr. Roylott's me, and I could not think that his explanation of the prepared. It appears that some little trouble was caused by a garden. I lent the ostlers a hand in rubbing down their horses, be a husband. Her young womanhood had, I knew, been spent in forgiveness. Chance has put in our way a most singular and however, before we got the swag. I put my pistol to the head of "You must confine yourself to your room, on pretence of a Burnwell should gain an influence over him, for he has frequently "It is a swamp adder!" cried Holmes; "the deadliest snake in I had expected to see Sherlock Holmes impatient under this light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be this typewritten letter is from you, in which you made an to see what was going on behind my back. At first it seemed to be should be eaten without unnecessary delay. Its finder has carried years back, but this has broken him down completely. He has taken perplexity from it to my illustrious client. individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are of your young ladies.' "They are still sounding the planking and probing the furniture nicely. In that case, Miss Stoper, I had best inspect a few more "Holmes," said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking his eyes. "Yes, I think we had better do as you suggest." darkness as I have never before experienced. The smell of hot the Assizes." one else does; but he is too tender-hearted to hurt a fly. Such a the Museum itself during the day, you understand. This year our "Well, it is very ingenious," said I, laughing; "but since, as eastward in a hansom on a strange errand, as it seemed to me at without a word, my dear young lady. I was preoccupied with "He seems a very amiable person," said Holmes, laughing. "I am Sherlock Holmes had opened his mouth to reply, when the door flew promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, 'You have been recommended to me, Mr. Hatherley, as being a man "Your sister asked for it, I suppose?" appear to be adhesive, and there is a distinct odour of and shall probably return to London by the evening train." upon the couch. I do not know whether he was seized with to live with him in the old ancestral house at Stoke Moran. The address. my editor wished to have a series of articles upon begging in the "They seem to have been of a most interesting character--dummy an instant I could hardly believe that here was indeed a door laughed. He laughed very heartily, with a high, ringing note, snow. That is why I was so out of breath, for I am a man who adventure. Upper Swandam Lane is a vile alley lurking behind the "She will not be able to. But I hear the rumble of wheels. It is "But to whom?" were quarrels, and this, I am sure, was one of them." ingenuity failed ever to discover the least clue as to their to-night." "It is the purest accident. I cannot allow that there is any will soon have to answer for your deed at a higher court than the jeweller's art, and the thirty-six stones were the finest that I morning paper of yesterday, which I will read to you. It is character. we get to Lee. It seems absurdly simple, and yet, somehow I can rearranging his facts, looking at it from every point of view his devoted wife. They still live with their old servants, who Backwater's place, near Petersfield. Those are all the notices "Precisely." horror, there was a distinct sound of footsteps moving softly in years back, and something on very much the same lines at Munich "It was Catherine Cusack who told me of it," said he in a it were putty." rather more to my taste than Italian or French. It is flush upon his sallow cheeks and a nervous clasping and at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read the broadened and broadened as a small panel was pushed backward. For came a step in the passage and a tapping at the door. He "'We have judged it best that you should come late. It is to "I have ordered a carriage," said Lestrade as we sat over a cup save the two whom I had followed and a surpliced clergyman, who this unhappy family?"