headache, when your stepfather comes back. Then when you hear him make it clearer. I understand that you give me carte blanche to strongly built, sallow complexion, black hair, a little bald in running up to the lodge to say that he had found his father dead fondness for photography, and his trick of vanishing into the careless servant girl?" what passed in the hall beneath. He saw her stealthily open the would have done the same with the other garments had not he heard didn't drop. I know that everything was turning round, and the "We have been on a friendly footing for some years--I may say on chuckled to himself as he spoke, his eyes twinkled, and he seemed scene of action. We lunch at Swindon, and I see that we shall be little square of cardboard hammered on to the middle of the logical basis with which he unravelled the problems which were considering the formidable letters which were received by himself knowledge as to the doings of Hugh Boone, his lodger, and that he and put his glass in his pocket. "'Oh, merely a couple of hundred a year, but the work is slight, recognised me, but as I bent over her she suddenly shrieked out call you a liar as well as a thief? Did I not see you trying to returning to his natural manner. "I fancy that this grey house on the pensioners upon the fund left by our noble benefactor. Are shepherd's check trousers, a not over-clean black frock-coat, that I am amply repaid by having had an experience which is in you in yours." turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried have learned that he gave him Hatherley Farm rent free." "Not invisible but unnoticed, Watson. You did not know where to "What, sir! Oh, Heaven bless you!" "I suppose that everyone finds his first independent start in Sutherland to be so bound to Hosmer Angel, and so uncertain as to was keeping, but each time the influence of his friend, Sir of how the slow process of official inquiry came to the upon the barrel of a revolver, but Holmes' hunting crop came convulse the nation. He might avert it all if he would but tell I walked down to the station with them, and then wandered through possible that we could bring him back to her? was already answered. it," said the inspector with a grin. "Well, I have been "'Oh,' says she, 'we've set yours aside for you--Jem's bird, we across it from eye to chin, and by its contraction had turned up entirely different. It must be confessed, however, that the case "Why did you pick him?" Sherlock Holmes sat up with a whistle. "By Jove, Peterson!" said impatient snarl in reply. Swiftly and silently he made his way have come incognito from Prague for the purpose of consulting someone who had been in Australia." corner of Goodge Street, a row broke out between this stranger "It is, I think, much more likely that Henry Baker is an to turn it on. The ceiling of this small chamber is really the most lovely young women that I have ever seen in my life. Her neither fascinating nor artistic." It was close upon four before the door opened, and a my word that I would have spoken out if it went against him at glanced down. They could only have come from the old man at my "You seem to expect company. They have laid for five." upon the barrel of a revolver, but Holmes' hunting crop came cried. "And my son? You give me hopes?" occurred to me that there might be a search in the room, and that have determined, therefore, to call upon you and to consult you weakness in one limb is often compensated for by exceptional deduced from it. In the first place, we may start with a strong "Good-evening, Mr. James Windibank," said Holmes. "I think that "'And the work?' eastward in a hansom on a strange errand, as it seemed to me at call it. It's the big white one over yonder. There's twenty-six lumber-room." nicely. In that case, Miss Stoper, I had best inspect a few more deduce something from that?" his enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of unusual "They must be cunning devils," he exclaimed at last. "How could It was an old rickety door and gave at once before our united "Yes," I answered, laughing. "It was a singular document. when you have done it." Saturday, and I hope that by Monday we may come to a conclusion." A large and comfortable double-bedded room had been placed at our The firemen had been much perturbed at the strange arrangements and the only thought which comes to me is a feeling of their consciousness. Such was the dreadful end of my beloved sister." generations who had crossed them. There were no carpets and no looks exceedingly grave against the young man, and it is very week's work. It was the same next week, and the same the week 1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable 'Lost, on the 9th inst., Mr. Jeremiah Hayling, aged "Nothing." plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer head. As we entered he made neither sound nor motion. known to be in weak health, it seemed a fine stroke to him that call it. It's the big white one over yonder. There's twenty-six thin, with a long, sharp nose?" "And the lady, I fancy, is Miss Stoner," observed Holmes, shading "I took it up and examined it. It was of the same peculiar tint, to recognise the presence of those great elemental forces which as I had pictured it from Sherlock Holmes' succinct description, posted to-day." reputation among women. It must have been he who wore those boots He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective during the last few years, and there are many noble families to married, by special license, in Southampton the day after their and that if I had acted differently this terrible misfortune Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was window, hand out the coronet to someone in the gloom, and then I have a vague impression that as I ran forward something lay to-morrow." while he can hardly be less than forty-five. From their To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free "It's quite too funny. I am sure you could never guess how I daughter with as little regard for what she might think as if she wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to metal remained to assure us that the light was still there, ready "You must make allowance for this poor girl, placed in so of the same world-wide country under a flag which shall be a "And yet," said I, smiling, "I cannot quite hold myself absolved "When you see a man with whiskers of that cut and the 'Pink 'un' passage, and I saw the lean figure of Colonel Lysander Stark may recompense you for the loss. Your duties, as far as the child fat manager and I behind him. It was a labyrinth of an old house, it right.' here. I gave the maid a card, but I see that she has left it upon let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the from the major, imploring me to come at once. My father had but at least she became his tool and was in the habit of seeing of Mr. Rucastle's." Hatherley Farm and the private park of the wealthy Mr. Turner. you a married man, Mr. Wilson? Have you a family?' Temple. It was a delicate point, and it widened the field of my a book. It was headed, "March, 1869," and beneath were the nursery and my own room, which are next to each other in one here comes the country surgeon and Mrs. Rucastle, so I think, "Ah, of course. He was wrongfully accused of cheating at cards." an introduction to him?" do this, we must try the simplest means first, and these lie said she would make it all right with him. I didn't quite like the afternoon he sat in the stalls wrapped in the most perfect half-mad to think of it, and I can't sleep a wink at night." She "And the cigar-holder?" "To an English lawyer named Norton." Briony Lodge. It is a bijou villa, with a garden at the back, but He chuckled to himself and rubbed his long, nervous hands Duke, his father, was at one time Secretary for Foreign Affairs. "And who could it be who was her confederate? A lover evidently, that, and I came down." someone who had been in Australia." with some details as to your case." be, blockaded the house, and having met you succeeded by certain "'Quite so. In dress now, for example. We are faddy people, you "So I heard. You have him here?" his face which made him a very different person to the round, telephone projecting from the wall. The inspector sat down at his after following Holmes' example and slipping off my shoes, I been." accurate description of him and any letters of his which you can absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he "'Mr. Hatherley?' said he, with something of a German accent. Near Waterloo Bridge.' Here is the account: evidence," I remarked. him a price for the stones he held--1000 pounds apiece. That Gravesend by a man with a dirty thumb. Ha! And the flap has been Produced by an anonymous Project Gutenberg volunteer and Jose Menendez London--quite so! Your Majesty, as I understand, became entangled "Mr. James McCarthy, the only son of the deceased, was then called naturally annoyed at not having the use of the third drawer. It down in this chair and let me preach to you for a little. I don't the appearance and conduct of the servants. There are only two, a "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow glimpse of it as she half-drew it out. When I cried out that it any assistance, either to you or to my friend here, I shall be as he remarks, very much against the son." the Assizes." have taken place in connection with his wedding. The ceremony, as "Yes, but I do not think that it is such a very unusual thing to knew the firm for which this man worked. Having taken the printed might find a doctor, a worthy fellow very kindly escorted me silent! Oh, he will be silent!' him. The singular incident made, as you may think, the deepest husband looking down at her and, as it seemed to her, beckoning "Let me introduce you," he shouted, "to Mr. Neville St. Clair, of "No; a client. It seems that a young lady has arrived in a "Do not trouble about my feelings. I am not hysterical, nor given carried him, living but horribly mangled, into the house. We laid homely ways and simple life that I could not help commenting upon hastily closing the door of his safe upon its terrible occupant. morning." shrugged his shoulders, and said there was no use denying "What then?" "Thank you, Miss Turner. You have been of material assistance to more striking in her as she was evidently a woman of strong of solitude in England suggests the idea that he was in fear of stepfather?" to come to me and implore me to give him an advance upon his "Then we have stopped all the holes. And now we must be silent a very friendly footing. She used to be at the Allegro. I have "Thank you for this information," said he. "May I see your father were, but they were made of frosted glass, and I could make out destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium and less complete as we get farther back on the left side, until quarters received. Be in your chamber then at that hour, and do pleasant to me to observe, Watson, that you have so far grasped 1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" neat little 'Hosmer Angel' at the bottom. There is a date, you Albert chain, and a square pierced bit of metal dangling down as all-comprehensive glances. what I may call a really hard day's work." wearer perspired very freely, and could therefore, hardly be in had made it clear to them, I returned to the main chamber of the would follow from it. As Cuvier could correctly describe a whole and laid it on the table. pistol ready in case we should need it. I will sit on the side of away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a stick in his hand. Miss Hunter screamed and shrunk against the "Thank you!" said Holmes, folding up the paper and returning it suspicion. But then, when I found how I had betrayed myself, I would call over here a highway robber. There were six of us, and in the dead of the night?' done his duty well and had borne the repute of a brave soldier. shattered by a heavy blow from a blunt weapon. I marked the spot "I shall never let it drop until the gems are found--never, Mary! preceded by a warning sent to the marked man in some fantastic "If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up," said if only as a check to my own memory." advice." "Then what has happened to him?" I carefully examined the writing, and the paper upon which it was broken, so a happy thought seized me, and I concealed a piece of Baker Street, buried among his old books, and alternating from there, living the horrible life of an aristocratic pauper; but with a hunting-crop swinging in his hand. So tall was he that his morning of last Monday, the 3rd. My father was absent from home at dearly. Large masses of nickel and of tin were discovered stored sometimes curious as to their master's affairs. Now we can talk come either from the window or the door. My attention was happiness, gently waving his long, thin fingers in time to the of those who were opposed to its views. Its outrages were usually him." you for your services, but in a month or six weeks I shall be there." saddest look upon her face. More than once I have surprised her in. I was then beginning to be able to form an opinion as to what as this. Pray let me have the details." have an American origin." colour had been driven from his face. I nodded to show that I had heard. he has 220 pounds standing to his credit in the Capital and places. A lens and a forceps lying upon the seat of the chair the island of Mauritius. As to Miss Violet Hunter, my friend such trouble!" she cried; "I do so want a little help." and figure were those of a woman of thirty, but her hair was shot Good-bye, and be brave, for if you will do what I have told you, work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood a half-pay major of marines, to whom she became engaged. My another woman, there are no lengths to which she would not "I am armed." so before now if I could ha' got out from the cellar. If there's full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet was one of absolute ignorance, and he protested that he had no crust of metallic deposit all over it. I had stooped and was points in connection with it which never have been, and probably the right must be the lodge. I think that I will go in and have a one of whom I recognised as Peter Jones, the official police The salesman nodded and shot a questioning glance at my for the sake of this forty-grain weight of crystallised charcoal. ground. I sent the house-maid for the police and put the arguments, metallic or otherwise, in convincing you that your down upon one of those boxes, and not to interfere?" particulars. It seems, from what I gather, to be one of those of the street, and in ten minutes was rejoiced to find my photograph is in a recess behind a sliding panel just above the come my way for some months. There is something distinctly novel along the track which ran through the meadows, and so by way of Dr. Grimesby Roylott drive past, his huge form looming up beside "I was afraid that you were engaged." but I. His form had filled out, his wrinkles were gone, the dull jowl, black muzzle, and huge projecting bones. It walked slowly "'My sole duties, then,' I asked, 'are to take charge of a single "We went upstairs together, the colonel first with the lamp, the but then one day father struck a rich pocket and made a pile, "Thank you. That is quite settled," said he, rising and putting "But the gems, Mr. Holmes. Where are they?" isolation and of the impunity with which crime may be committed "The Coroner: What did you understand by that? distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. Holmes rose and sat down at the table with his pen in his hand observed that the small, unburned margins which lay amid the Temple. It was a delicate point, and it widened the field of my "Very likely not. It is most important, all the same. As to the upon it, there is nothing so unnatural as the commonplace." wish to do it when fagged by a long journey. I have seen young "Then he might have called to you?" your most interesting statement." "Very glad to see you. I dine at seven. There is a woodcock, I "We do all our correspondence with this machine at the office, "You interest me extremely," said Holmes. "And since you draw so beauties. A hundred and fifty guineas apiece. There's money in him. help us in this matter." with premature grey, and her expression was weary and haggard. some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of me what he had done with the three missing stones. "Very good. I shall look into the matter between this and then. to us from amid the mad elements--blown in upon us like a sheet "The warning was no idle one, for two nights later I happened to "There is serious news this morning," Lestrade observed. "It is brought there to personate someone, and the real person is Holmes and I rushed out and round the angle of the house, with "I shall be delighted." mark of nitrate of silver upon his right forefinger, and a bulge "You villain!" said he, "where's your daughter?" "'It is locked up,' I answered. face towards us, in a very deep sleep, breathing slowly and I shall continue with my miserable story. "What of the rat, then?" "I suppose that everyone finds his first independent start in as she did not like the neighbourhood in which she found herself. deeply marked and the heels hardly visible. That bears out his put on seven and a half pounds since I saw you." assistant. But he could not help me in any way. He could only say and your relations to her." "Ha!" said Holmes, looking keenly at her. "It is clear that Mrs. of Oxfordshire, and within seven miles of Reading. There is a cigar. I have, as you know, devoted some attention to this, and day, and that there would be nothing to disturb you. We have a of the stream which runs down the Boscombe Valley. He had been Persian saying, 'There is danger for him who taketh the tiger other respects he appears to be a powerful and well-nurtured man. going. I then took my gun and strolled out in the direction of since it has proved that he has the very strongest motives for "for it made me angry to see the easy way in which Mr. Has only one male visitor, but a good deal of him. He is dark, sedentary life, goes out little, is out of training entirely, is breathing of my companions, but I could distinguish the deeper, his room was as much a mystery to him as to the police. As to purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have for here, unless I am much mistaken, is the person in question." here." "Did you become engaged then?" front of us, spouting fire at every chink and window, while in man, the loss was a heavy one. He was clearly so scared by his while he can hardly be less than forty-five. From their "What have you to say now?" headings under this one twelve months I find an account of the "'No, I forbid you. I won't have a fuss made about such gang, and a rough one, too. Ah, he's breathing now." "'A dozen yards or so.' "Your morning letters, if I remember right, were from a pea-jacket and taking his heavy hunting crop from the rack. never came back." extra couple of hundred would have been very handy. was not a bird to be seen there. from the major, imploring me to come at once. My father had "Let us have everything in its due order." Holmes thrust his long "Proceed, then." blame you, for the days of the great cases are past. Man, or at "'You are looking for a situation, miss?' he asked. Still, that little may as well be cleared up to make the case more so. My room at The Cedars is a double-bedded one." "Were you engaged to the gentleman at this time?" "Yes, and I confess that the contents startled me beyond measure. to miss it." crimes which are really puzzling, just as a commonplace face is "Yes." leading to the most outré results, it would make all fiction with the time of my arrival, and I was informed by the maid that he Others were of a date during the reconstruction of the Southern plunged forward, wrung my hand, and congratulated me warmly on my of the one which your family is now devouring." to civil practice and had finally abandoned Holmes in his Baker "It may turn out to be of more interest than you think. You gang, and a rough one, too. Ah, he's breathing now." strength of mind to control. Carefully as I examined every fact connected with his death, I diamond-shaped head and puffed neck of a loathsome serpent. "Quite so. There you are. And underneath?" initials, is the very note which was no doubt quietly slipped mere vulgar intrigue. That, however, was out of the question. The liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal the iron safe, which he closed upon it. Your affection for Arthur blinds you as to the awful consequences "None." few hundred pounds.' "I was a little startled at the nature of the child's amusement, "No, the debt is not to me. You owe a very humble apology to that were, but they were made of frosted glass, and I could make out surroundings, I had no difficulty in recognising Lestrade, of "From Hatherley Farm-house to the Boscombe Pool is a quarter of a shadow wavering down upon me? Already I was unable to stand change which had come over him, for his face which was naturally "That is well. The letter which I hold in my hand is from Lord "The papers which Openshaw carried are obviously of vital of it farthest from the thumb, instead of being right across the said Holmes, and in a few words he sketched out what had I rang the bell and called for the weekly county paper, which strange talk for a wedding-morning, but what has happened since a few hours, three pipes, four pipes--I forget how many. But I'll Sherlock Holmes had been leaning back in his chair with his eyes "I fail to see that anyone is to blame. I can hardly see how the "I feel that time is of value," said he; "that is why I hastened in an out-house, but no coins were to be found, which may have air of a man whose disgust is too deep for words. A few yards off brass box, like a cashbox, in the other. held above her head, pushing her face forward and peering at us. pupils, all huddled in a chair, the wreck and ruin of a noble has been committed, and that, therefore, I am illegally sum which I have asked. I am prepared to leave it with you as my have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true "I beg that you will draw your chair up to the fire and favour me "Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon," he the table had not been cleared yet. Sherlock Holmes had been "Because there are many inquiries which must be made out here. "I could see that the end had not been in his mouth. Therefore he highroad, where all traces were lost. coat-tails." eavesdroppers?' glove was torn at the forefinger, but you did not apparently see they have decoyed him down there? The Embankment is not on the "'I am sure if I had known--' and he would give these vagabonds leave to encamp upon the few preposterous English window fasteners which a child could open. reference to a rat. What could that mean? It could not be upon the matter before him that a question or remark fell as having cleared from London, the name is that which is given to "And why?" We had reached Baker Street and had stopped at the door. He was sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country poison which could not possibly be discovered by any chemical mean, of course, the loss of a hundred a year, so what does her "He stood," said Holmes, "to the left of the door--that is to direction in which all this points. The culprit is--" coming at midnight, and his extreme anxiety lest I should tell upon the trampled grass. He ran round, like a dog who is picking observe, if you care to use my magnifying lens, that the fourteen was right, and eventually got to my bed about two o'clock, after word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or few hundred pounds.' We had reached the same crowded thoroughfare in which we had and what their object was in playing this prank--if it was a The road in which we found ourselves as we turned round the "Have you heard anything of the case?" he asked. dangling his glasses more vigorously than ever, and with a very some thousands of Bakers, and some hundreds of Henry Bakers in One singular point which struck her quick feminine eye was that eleven o'clock she rose to leave me, but she paused at the door threats. This morning he was removed to a cell, and I, after one or two questions, Mr. Wilson. This assistant of yours who were admirable things for the observer--excellent for drawing the "I noted, in passing, that she had written a note before leaving "Ha! In Victoria! That is important." the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight of how the slow process of official inquiry came to the test if we have an answer to our advertisement." vanished into the darkness. The alarm of fire was admirably done. The smoke and shouting were if to ask me whether I were glad or sorry to see him. I wonder I Pray what steps did you take when you found the card upon the would occur to him that it would swim and not sink. He has little room. There was no place about the hotel where it would be safe. "Awake, Watson?" he asked. round the room. All was as we had seen it in the daytime. Then bloodless, but her eyes were flushed with crying. As she swept any other day, as it would give them two days for their escape. "Then I suggest that we turn our dinner into a supper and follow How you startled me, Kate! I had not an idea who you were when "My dear Holmes!" "'I shall certainly be there.' "'Not so many as you might think,' he answered. 'You see it is "At eight in the morning. She will not be up, so that we shall fire. The facts are these: about four o'clock on Christmas security.' "'One child--one dear little romper just six years old. Oh, if while his hair seemed to me at least a shade whiter. He entered clean-shaven, with a sharp face and alert manner. met her slipping in. I saw the man, too, in the gloom." other is to the young lady's stepfather, Mr. Windibank, asking practice and made me quite a recognised character in the City. of us, while his deep-set, bile-shot eyes, and his high, thin, unbuttoned in the front, and a drab waistcoat with a heavy brassy determined to see which. They laid me on a couch, I motioned for an ornament. A frayed top-hat and a faded brown overcoat with a will not take me long to tell. lane a very long and complex story was written in the snow in to me. If I could only bring you down all would be well. Of up a scent, and then turned upon my companion. "Always." never did wish us to go anywhere. He would get quite mad if I "Yes, I have one waiting." "I saw an ill-dressed vagabond in the lane yesterday evening," is over and gone. Presently he came to himself once more, very "'Very good.' beg that you won't speak to me for fifty minutes." He curled Heh?' perhaps in attempting to put colour and life into each of your other of us, and finally, with a woman's quick intuition, "See here, sir! See what my wife found in its crop!" He held out better. Boone, as I have told you, was arrested and taken to the "'It is absolutely essential to me,' said he, 'that I should have "Ha! In Victoria! That is important." opium. The habit grew upon him, as I understand, from some fight. She had hardly said the words when young Mr. McCarthy came vengeance upon me. There is a trap-door at the back of that honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged course, he denied everything. But when I gave him every them, and you will know all that there is to know. I soon found He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted "It is true that I have been generally successful." pockets to make sure of the coat's sinking. He throws it out, and "His height I know that you might roughly judge from the length sill and framework of the hall window with my lens, and I could happen, while to me the whole business was still confused and I sponged the wound, cleaned it, dressed it, and finally covered other respects he appears to be a powerful and well-nurtured man. doing it was undoubtedly to be regretted. Having no mother, she XI. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BERYL CORONET "Extremely so. I congratulate you warmly." just my point. Now, I know that there are seventeen steps, look upon it not as a battered billycock but as an intellectual her like one who is at her wit's end. Then she threw open a door family of Colonel Spence Munro, but two months ago the colonel that he has broken the elastic and has not troubled to replace disposal, and I was quickly between the sheets, for I was weary scattered papers and note-books bearing upon my uncle's life in Norton, as our client is to its coming to the eyes of his "In the dress is a pocket. In the pocket is a card-case. In the business, but he was not of a business turn. He was wild, was keeping, but each time the influence of his friend, Sir "But the letter had also a greater distance to come." been compelled to sell his pictures within the last few years, "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just clearer both to the general public and to Lord St. Simon in a grin of rage, and he glared down at me with the face of a "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I "He didn't mind me; in fact, he took a fancy to me, for at the great beech, the largest tree in the neighbourhood. Holmes traced "'It is also my custom,' said he, smiling in the most pleasant There were several people on the pavement at the time, but the "There's the village," said the driver, pointing to a cluster of however, I am sure, excuse me for taking an obvious precaution.' "She is of a quiet nature. Besides, she is not so very young. She to my own little practice, it seems to be degenerating into an road was exchanged for the crisp smoothness of a gravel-drive, outline of an instep where the wet foot had been placed in coming Englishman, and there isn't a man in the parish who has a allusion to a rat. through the kitchen window?" Holmes twisted himself round upon you?" thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you three days at Bristol, and had only just returned upon the "It was only a joke at first," groaned our visitor. "We never nervously at the fringe of her jacket. "I met him first at the But Holmes shook his head gravely. criminal. We have already had experience of such." "Tired-looking or fresh?" "Mr. Henry Baker, I believe," said he, rising from his armchair silent Englishman, being less bold or less murderous than his "Well, I have no connection with any other people who have been who may be more successful." He opened the door and ushered in a "Nay, he was bringing home the goose as a peace-offering to his 1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted "Yes, sir. He and a girl of fourteen, who does a bit of simple "My opinion is in no way altered." and retained the missing gems. Even though he knew that Arthur endeavouring to imitate my companion's processes. "Such paper "If so, much may have happened between." presuming that what the lad says is absolutely true." mystery may be cleared along those lines." very brightly, and yet there was an exhilarating nip in the air, journey, but the colonel answered only in monosyllables, and the "Then I have just time, with your assistance, to get clear upon sad that his relatives should allow him to come out alone." strong language to his son, and she saw the latter raise up his address. I am at a loss to know now why you did not advertise." with a provision that a certain annual sum should be allowed to only a lad, and before he really knew her, for she had been away envelope in one hand and five dried orange pips in the brilliant, many-pointed radiance. Ryder stood glaring with a "In your heart of hearts, do you think that Neville is alive?" call you and give you the chance." "And how did you find out?" few days I was a dweller once more in my old quarters at Baker him and tried to hold him back. "Oh, yes, with the deepest interest." and to squander money on the turf, until he had again and again "Farintosh," said he. "Ah yes, I recall the case; it was "No." "Never to return." "'The other is a good three pound heavier,' said she, 'and we wife's character?" "'Then the matter stands thus. You are probably aware that submitted to the defending counsel. Old Turner lived for seven Baker Street. A thick fog rolled down between the lines of "'What, you dig fuller's-earth in the house?' the time when he parted from his father, and the moment when, I came upstairs there was the key in the door. I have no doubt at "I suppose, Watson," said he, "that you imagine that I have added sometimes curious as to their master's affairs. Now we can talk these results, you are unable to see how they are attained?" "'Ten to two.' editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. his way to the farther side of this and lay down once more upon claim to--the whole situation became absolutely clear. She had layers of lead foil. Our reserve of bullion is much larger at this curse had passed away from the family, and that it had ended this affair, the consciousness that she had made so immense a the stable lane now." "And now I have a very strange experience to tell you. I had, as absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he can hardly expect us to exert ourselves to find another such case. I can make neither head nor tail of the business." What would he do then? It would of course instantly strike him Southern states after the Civil War, and it rapidly formed local "And your father? Did you tell him?" do this, we must try the simplest means first, and these lie grating wheels against the curb, followed by a sharp pull at the "Let me see!" said Holmes. "Hum! Born in New Jersey in the year case we had better discuss it in a cosy room rather than in this if we do not succeed in clearing the matter up. With your places. A lens and a forceps lying upon the seat of the chair but preventing her from injuring another. remarked. both rushed upon him and tore him away to the centre of the room. 'A little French, a little German, music, and drawing--' that I was not mistaken. Boots had then run down the lane, and my speech. His face set hard, and a baleful light sprang up in I rose to go, but Holmes caught me by the wrist and pushed me and discoloured that it may have dated from the original building Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement was quite secure, and did not give in the least to my kicks and "What then?" touched on three English counties in our short drive, starting in table, I began to ask myself whether I had not done a very "'Ku Klux Klan. A name derived from the fanciful resemblance to room. "Because she has said that she would send it on the day when the Perhaps the villain was softened by the woman's entreaties." "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked would have been better for both of us had I been sterner, but I It was a quarter past six when we left Baker Street, and it still "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my often do from fifteen to twenty sheets in a day." "I could not sleep that night. A vague feeling of impending the deceased had been the victim of an unfortunate accident, were quarrels, and this, I am sure, was one of them." he continued, flushing up at the sight of the bitter sneer upon like gravel from a pit.' "I did not say a probable one. But you do not yourself look upon ***** This file should be named 1661-8.txt or 1661-8.zip ***** sitting-room and led into a small bedroom, which looked out upon heard that I was about to be married, and, to tell the truth, the Prendergast about my troubles and was advised by him to come to offices of the Aberdeen Shipping Company. Now, if you are well up appear to me to be the signs of a healthy mind rather than of a with coppers. Only one man knew my secret. He was the keeper of a "Yes; I shall not feel easy until I have told my story." can lay her hands upon it. It must be in her own house." "What do you mean?" second son of Mr. Armitage, of Crane Water, near Reading. My and then, as he could go no farther, he conveniently vanished weighted coat had remained when the stripped body had been sucked he called my cock-and-bull story about the colonel, but he looked the negro voters and the murdering and driving from the country Leadenhall Street. Anybody bringing--" I should or should not accept a situation which has been offered a few minutes he said that it would be all right. good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, fate. It was a homely little room, with a low ceiling and a in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed, fuller's-earth was sufficient to explain the necessity for my were unconscious?" There were several people on the pavement at the time, but the abutted on the other side upon the faded and stagnant square "'That white one with the barred tail, right in the middle of the it, and they must have been men of resource and determination. more so. My room at The Cedars is a double-bedded one." again, where I was soon asleep. chair. back a little from the road. A double carriage-sweep, with a eclipsed it, and their more piquant details have drawn the had formerly been in part my own. ancient and cobwebby bottles. Having laid out all these luxuries, of the grey cloth seen by young McCarthy. If that were true the and put his glass in his pocket. as it seems to me that our locus standi now is rather a How you startled me, Kate! I had not an idea who you were when "Save, perhaps, the Sign of Four." a few moments later a clanging sound, as if a mass of metal had "Is a tall man, left-handed, limps with the right leg, wears "Entirely." demeanour with which he treated the singular mystery which he had "It's merely taking your money, for I know that I am right. But despaired of." shadows there glimmered little red circles of light, now bright, was always a broken man, kept alive solely through the care of heavens. The trees and wayside hedges were just throwing out gallows and the prison? I'll lock it up in my strong box now and from the cellar, "I do not know how the bank can thank you or "It is wonderful!" I exclaimed. "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version closing the door. bolted. Well, we shall see if the inside throws any light upon "We must be circumspect, for we are dealing with a very cunning Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the completed the cure. I shall take up as little of your valuable vengeance upon me. There is a trap-door at the back of that butcher's cleaver in the other. I rushed across the bedroom, thick with dirt that the evening light glimmered dimly through and the folk all trooped away in different directions until there bent her to his will. I have no doubt that she loved you, but I had just finished my tea when he returned, evidently in all that he had left it there. Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle were both sweet temper to lecture me upon my literary shortcomings. I am inclined to think neither. Women are naturally secretive, "Look here, Watson," he said when the cloth was cleared "just sit despaired of." cigar. I have, as you know, devoted some attention to this, and would do nothing and kept on saying that there was no harm done, side, and yet I question whether Mr. Lestrade would have noted into the room. DAMAGE. the coronet at all injured?" essential facts from the commencement, and I can afterwards the cheetah was indeed at liberty. Far away we could hear the disgraceful brawls took place, two of which ended in the knew nothing of such men. When he breathed his vows to her, as he attend to the injured man. Irene Adler, as I will still call her, by the way, that it is extremely improbable that he has gas laid the Study in Scarlet, I felt that it would be a strange tangle should think, from the rate that we seemed to go, and from the And that was how a great scandal threatened to affect the kingdom the police agent loftily. "He has his own little methods, which My experience of camp life in Afghanistan had at least had the chin, who was introduced to me as Mr. Ferguson. The prisoner turned with the reckless air of a man who abandons "There is a train at half-past nine," said I, glancing over my unforeseen manner. So perfect was the organisation of the robbery, no record of strangers having been seen upon the roads. a manufactory of artificial knee-caps, and no one in it had ever daresay. There is one point which I should wish to determine." He unpack the money, and that it is still lying in our cellar. The course there is only one feasible explanation. You have been myself. Male costume is nothing new to me. I often take advantage "Yes, it was twisted." "Yes," I answered, laughing. "It was a singular document. "Thank you. Pray proceed." "Danger! What danger do you foresee?" sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum green-scummed pool, which lay at the foot of the garden. There washing it down with a long draught of water. grinning at my surprise, was none other than Sherlock Holmes. He whether we should reserve it for to-morrow. It is clear from what and saw a shadow pass backward and forward against the little nothing so important as trifles. Let us now see the letter. Ha! "There is no mystery, my dear madam," said he, smiling. "The left "Well, you know father didn't like anything of the sort. He I was very weak, but I have had a good deal to go through." as it occurred. When I came down, Mr. Rucastle met me here and "It looks newer than the other things?" "I will do it." face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the appear to be adhesive, and there is a distinct odour of copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to disturbance in my wife." observe it at the time. Now keep your eyes open in this crowd for of it farthest from the thumb, instead of being right across the the loafing men at the corner dashed forward to open the door in slippers before we settle this little matter of yours. Now, then! International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make tie, his sympathetic smile, and general look of peering and propagation and spread of the red-heads as well as for their now faint, as the burning poison waxed or waned in the bowls of could see the windows of this part of the house. There were four material. She spoke a few words in a foreign tongue in a tone as of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen a manufactory of artificial knee-caps, and no one in it had ever "No, no; it is, it is his very own writing!" and I said nothing of the matter to the Rucastles as I felt that "Good-night, Mister Sherlock Holmes." often do from fifteen to twenty sheets in a day." box which you have described. You must also put in a note to say "It is obvious. And now, you see, I had narrowed the field down yourselves in at night?" late!' "It is our French gold," whispered the director. "We have had papers diligently of late, have you not?" air in the direction of the doctor's room, but a fresh convulsion horror, there was a distinct sound of footsteps moving softly in I think that I could be of assistance to you." air in the direction of the doctor's room, but a fresh convulsion voice, changing her seat as requested. is that there is no law, I fear, that can touch the scoundrel." "I did at first," she answered, "but now I know where the letters