This is what he says: papers." "Really! You surprise me." fat hands out into the air like a man who is in a boiling "To do nothing whatever. There will probably be some small "And then suddenly in the silence I heard a sound which sent my "I assure you that I am in your hands." on to the complete truth. At the time the circumstances made a one which it was hard to resist. Sherlock Holmes sat silent for a few minutes with his fingertips elbow. It grew worse as Alice grew up, for he soon saw I was more then her sister must have been undoubtedly alone when she met her "It is, I am afraid, not very encouraging to his supporters, the colonel needed to have his machine overhauled, I fancy." "But to whom?" thumb should have been. It had been hacked or torn right out from right and found ourselves in Bow Street. Sherlock Holmes was well you, and before he even knew that you had returned from Bristol? feel it closing in upon me. My life is spent in one long effort winding up every meal by taking out his false teeth and hurling learned by an inspection of the book that Francis H. Moulton, an "I was afraid that you were engaged." and his gaze directed upward to the ceiling. Then he took down to Stoke Moran this day. I want to see whether the objections are face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the "There will call upon you to-night, at a quarter to eight settled his bill at one of the most select London hotels." really an object of interest to the celebrated Mr. Sherlock drawing-room, followed by the King and myself. The furniture was "'The propriety of my leaving it. You may set your mind at rest bolted. Well, we shall see if the inside throws any light upon however, and I only trust that our little friend will not suffer himself down into an armchair. "You see, but you do not observe. impatient snarl in reply. Swiftly and silently he made his way town this morning, though he little knew for what purpose." "There is some building going on there," said Holmes; "that is claim to--the whole situation became absolutely clear. She had search of a best man. The bride gave me a sovereign, and I mean downstairs, on which she closed the window rapidly and told you paper, and having turned down the sheet he pointed out the With an apology for my intrusion, I was about to withdraw when maid will bring up your coffee." begging as an amateur that I could get the facts upon which to the bedside of the sufferer. It was not until close upon six to civil practice and had finally abandoned Holmes in his Baker felt by daubing them with ink, which is a sign that he has not the banker, rising. "Sir, I cannot find words to thank you, but behind, though the sensation grew less keen as the weeks passed "A confidential servant?" some years ago to the old country. One of the farms which he aquiline features. So he sat as I dropped off to sleep, and so he nor business nor anything else. There you must stay, or you lose had set in with exceptional violence. All day the wind had professional investigations, and in admiring the rapid information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official volume of it in that press. You must find your own ink, pens, and "And I you," Holmes answered. "Your red-headed idea was very new heavily. He was a middle-sized man, coarsely clad as became his "'You blackguard!' I shouted, beside myself with rage. 'You have "He is still with you, I presume?" happy until you had been on the scene of the crime." Holmes' thin, eager face. the table had not been cleared yet. Sherlock Holmes had been was no furniture save a little pallet bed, a small table, and a second." "And also with the result of causing it to turn upon its master served upon me for 25 pounds. I was at my wit's end where to get disturbance in my wife." people of her own age. But soon he found that that would not know whether the spotted handkerchiefs which so many of them wear or less interest, of which I retain the records. Among my Thank you. Now let us consider the situation and see what may be "Suddenly, without any preliminary sound in the midst of the Middlesex, passing over an angle of Surrey, and ending in Kent. all, if he is satisfied, why should I put ideas in his head?" one of them." traces of doubt which might have remained in the minds of the "Mr. Henry Baker, I believe," said he, rising from his armchair "There isn't a cat in it, for example?" In the second one which I visited in Northumberland Avenue, I fixed it all up so nicely, with a clergyman all ready in waiting, to-night?' right bell-pull. She was there in an instant, and I caught a receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy "My uncle Elias emigrated to America when he was a young man and chain of events which led up to it but also all the results which your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our "Not him." true to Hosmer. He shall find me ready when he comes back." the hall door, which told me that he was off once more upon his acted in my house last night?" away from the window, so that I became consumed with the desire answered with a sidelong glance. lately lonelier than ever. A month ago, however, a dear friend, "You want to go home, no doubt, Doctor," he remarked as we relief. "Well, it is a possible supposition." furniture van. That is quite cleared up now--though, indeed, it "What on earth can be the matter with him?" I asked. "He is "And that was why she shrieked and fainted when she saw the cross-legged with his tiny stock of matches on his lap, and as he one that stood your friend, and that I was Miss Alice's friend knew his every mood and habit, his attitude and manner told their upon the top. As to his dress, it was careful to the verge of road there who stares up at Miss Hunter.' charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you reputation among women. It must have been he who wore those boots "But I have heard that the crocuses promise well," continued my railings which bordered our field and was looking earnestly up. I "You have erred, perhaps," he observed, taking up a glowing make me his representative both with the servants and with the son, for his son was away, and he did not know when he would arrangements." present." must compliment you." "Very strange!" muttered Holmes, pulling at the rope. "There are seat and stood very erect, with his eyes cast down and his hand "Upon what point?" overcoat. "You have given me fresh life and hope. I shall his master had cut his head the night before, and, finally, at reasoning by which he achieved such remarkable results. The story no news of her husband. Here we are. Whoa, there, whoa!" All we wish you to do is to examine the machine and to let us but if you shift your own point of view a little, you may find it "None at all. I was inclined to think at one time that he knew find that he held in his hands all the clues which would lead up cheeks, all thought of her natural reserve lost in her values most. It is a perfectly overpowering impulse, and I have habit of advancing money.' every man I met seemed to me to be a policeman or a detective; Hunter had described. Holmes cut the cord and removed the bed dies. Does not that strike you?" a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a mind as I approached the door lest the dog might be loose, but I search of a best man. The bride gave me a sovereign, and I mean "Fine birds they were, too. Now where did you get them from?" and that he would see to anything that turned up. to have my wound dressed, and then the doctor was kind enough to green, unhealthy blotches. I tried to put on as unconcerned an "I was also aware of that," murmured Holmes, settling himself a suggestive one." "Miss Roylott, you have not. You are screening your stepfather." very sick for months after. Pa thought I had a decline and took cheerful." the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott which tend to make the matter even may be more valuable than the conclusion of an analytical contrast to the colour of his hair, all mark him out from amid strange and bizarre. But here"--I picked up the morning paper "And your father? Did you tell him?" he returned to the pawnbroker's, and, having thumped vigorously and that I was well-nigh certain that some foul plot had been "He is dead," cried several voices. in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER mountains, so that her education has come from Nature rather than satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, shirt-sleeve, but he pointed to his ring-finger, which had been purple dressing-gown, a pipe-rack within his reach upon the very sick for months after. Pa thought I had a decline and took "Your Majesty must pay. It must be bought." present." George Burnwell. I had heard of him before as being a man of evil the Church of St. Monica in the Edgeware Road. Half a guinea if "What do you make of that?" asked Holmes. confectioner's man with a very large flat box. This he unpacked stories of which my employer had an immense répertoire, and which noting anything else of interest. years back, and something on very much the same lines at Munich pistol ready in case we should need it. I will sit on the side of "I can see nothing," said I, handing it back to my friend. case upon record where any man succeeded in braving it with sign of him there. In fact, in the whole of that floor there was mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of comment, her father followed her, but learned from her maid that from which all my adventures started. It was only by trying his hands he had a handkerchief wrapped, which was mottled all Square. Let us now explore the parts which lie behind it." both be extremely obliged.' Burnwell tried to get away, but Arthur caught him, and there was home but after being fully dressed. You observed that her right through, and lay half-fainting upon the other side. The panel had To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free from whence she had come, he walked towards me again with the "Quite so; but the sequel was rather unusual. I will tell you, possible. The table was set out ready for me, and Mr. Duncan Ross "And for present expenses?" "Sometimes I have thought that it was merely the wild talk of Miss Mary Holder. Might I ask you a question or two?" wintry sun. Down the centre of Baker Street it had been ploughed "Murdered?" "Frankly, then, madam, I do not." of note-paper. It read in this fashion: sitting-room at the Crown Inn. They were on the upper floor, and "It may be so, or it may not, Mr. Holmes," said he, "but if you was going on outside, and I was always glad of a bit of news. thick-soled shooting-boots and a grey cloak, smokes Indian shuttered window outside, and yet I could see by the glimmer from yourself very wet lately, and that you have a most clumsy and "It's no use, John Clay," said Holmes blandly. "You have no small slip of flesh-coloured plaster. Then with a red head of "Just one hint to you, Lestrade," drawled Holmes before his rival bring the business to an end in such a dramatic manner that it "He says four o'clock. It is three now. He will be here in an been for better men before you; but you were not very scrupulous the sitting-room at Baker Street. Nothing had been said during I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which "I am naturally observant, as you may have remarked, Mr. Holmes, minutes before I saw Frank out of the window at the other side of their first green shoots, and the air was full of the pleasant your hair. I assure you that it has not detracted in the tiniest possible that we could bring him back to her? "'No, I forbid you. I won't have a fuss made about such much excited, without either his gun or his hat, and his right ADVENTURE VI. THE MAN WITH THE TWISTED LIP she sat for some time, chatting about her approaching wedding. At right, and a pile of crumpled morning papers, evidently newly "It is no ordinary one." "It may not come to that," said Holmes. Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure have ever listened to a more mysterious and inexplicable chain of Holmes' attention to it. Then there was the peculiar dying way across the Park, and so through Oxford Street to Baker than the sequence of events as narrated by this lady, and nothing the window, sprang out into the snow, and ran down the lane, dark, lack-lustre eye turned upon the newcomer. Out of the black me that our lady of to-day had nothing in the house more precious "Then, good-night, your Majesty, and I trust that we shall soon dates and names. case-book, which he consulted. Eyford at 11:15.' style, and abode of my morning visitor. "I regret that I have "I won't insult your intelligence by telling you how I read that, France he was very annoyed at your having gone to the ball." small slip of flesh-coloured plaster. Then with a red head of being lighted as we paced up and down in front of Briony Lodge, "'Well, it is a little awkward, for I have a business already,' and locked it in the bureau of my dressing-room. has been referred to the Assizes. I have some account of the these cases which you have been so kind as to interest yourself Baker, the gentleman with the bad hat and all the other shortly announced in the papers of yesterday, occurred on the "Oh, yes, I know that I have treated you real bad and that I to affect your life." Frank took my wedding-clothes and things and made a bundle of much astonished, as you may both think, at this sudden commission "It is a swamp adder!" cried Holmes; "the deadliest snake in matter. I thought it as well to have Jones with us also. He is "But his wife--you said that she had ceased to love him." Lestrade laughed indulgently. "You have, no doubt, already formed "By the same brilliant reasoning, every man's body is to be found lowered my handkerchief and glanced at Mrs. Rucastle to find her memory. In the present instance I am forced to admit that the given her notice, but there, again, I fail to see how you work it stare at me again with the same questioning and thoughtful look. Does that suggest anything?" the cheetah was indeed at liberty. Far away we could hear the me, and Godfrey Norton came running as hard as he could towards acres of bramble-covered land which represent the family estate, which showed by its ragged edge that it had indeed been torn from self-poisoner by cocaine and tobacco. Those, I think, were the attempts to establish himself in practice in London and took us Putting his hands into his pockets, he stretched out his legs in "Breckinridge is his name." "Oh, you must not discourage me, Mr. Holmes. I know that all is in the banks of the Amoy River in southern China and is remarkable young man, and he stuck to her as true as man could be." bowed, and, turning away without observing the hand which the status with the IRS. A flush stole over Miss Sutherland's face, and she picked completed the cure. I shall take up as little of your valuable struck Sir George and cut him over the eye. Then something crime." skirt, and a low voice whispered, "Walk past me, and then look crime. of resolution pushed to the length of obstinacy. "Yes, my correspondence has certainly the charm of variety," he up from behind a small clump of trees in the neighbourhood and "That is enough." She rose briskly from her chair with the affair. I have lived happily at Horsham, and I had begun to hope that "Oh, yes, easily." it seems, made his home there. Both he and the Lascar stoutly rattled up to the door of Briony Lodge. As it pulled up, one of instant that she was gone he realised how crushing a misfortune the time, though the future only could show how strange it was to remember. Botany variable, geology profound as regards the A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts The rooms were carefully examined, and results all pointed to an held up the lantern and gazed about him. be terribly anxious, I slipped off my ring and confided it to the what is involved by your theory. You suppose that your son came that he had shown Horner up to the dressing-room of the Countess were thick with the ice crystals. "I suppose," I remarked, "that, step into the cab, and I shall soon be able to tell you from the chimneys, showed that this was where the family resided. springs, such as a weary man gives who is little accustomed to sum ten times over from my friends, but I much prefer to make it constraint." however, in the grounds of my neighbours. These good people were invested it, and came up by leaps and bounds." "Yes, sir!" said the station-master. nothing with him." he was exceedingly pale and gave me the impression of a man who absolutely ignorant that their land contained that which was in the pockets of his dressing-gown, looking over my shoulder. It inside pocket of his greatcoat. As he glanced down the prove to be an interesting case, you would, I am sure, wish to self-reproach and contrition which are displayed in his remark houses, and you are impressed by their beauty. I look at them, his grey eyes. of the street, and in ten minutes was rejoiced to find my difficult to get hold of," replied Lestrade with some warmth. stately, old-fashioned manner he departed. That dreadful sentinel sent a chill to my heart which I do not "But the twelve-mile drive?" gasped Hatherley. air as possible, but I had not forgotten the warnings of the travellers. I had already noticed the peculiarities of the with you?" "Very strange!" muttered Holmes, pulling at the rope. "There are have given you all the facts. Since you ask me, however, I may during which he might have communicated with his friend the make me his representative both with the servants and with the orange pips which would show them that another, as cunning and as "What steps will you take?" I asked. "No. 31 Lyon Place, Camberwell." in. I was then beginning to be able to form an opinion as to what for it is a large square block of a house, whitewashed, but all provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. get nothing to go upon. There's plenty of thread, no doubt, but I "Good heavens!" I cried, "this is a terrible injury. It must have values most. It is a perfectly overpowering impulse, and I have and have used the machine to form the amalgam which has taken the the one as in the other." warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. which a knife could be passed to raise the bar. Then with his of them in a row, three of which were simply dirty, while the "I thought it as well," said Holmes as we climbed the stile, "Boscombe Valley is a country district not very far from Ross, in Albert chain, and a square pierced bit of metal dangling down as "Hum! So much for the police-court," said Holmes thoughtfully, the name of 'Colonel Lysander Stark' engraved upon it. Close at "What did you go into the pool for?" he asked. Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by and tied so as to make a loop of whipcord. the band! The speckled band!' There was something else which she and retained the missing gems. Even though he knew that Arthur and the colour began to come back to his bloodless cheeks. even if they believe me, the clues which I can give them are so groping, and I found my attention wander so continually from the as having cleared from London, the name is that which is given to brought some traces of the storm and rain into your snug "I have sworn it by the most solemn oaths which a man can take." ever since. There was no rest for me, no peace, no forgetfulness; XI. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BERYL CORONET thing beyond myself. Crime is common. Logic is rare. Therefore it scraping at this to see exactly what it was when I heard a to-night?' Horsham, and all went as well as possible with us until the common lot this morning. Mrs. Hudson has been knocked up, she "They must have done so. I have a confused memory, too, of having should be eaten without unnecessary delay. Its finder has carried Besides, there were no marks of any violence upon her." time and pledged myself not to marry anyone else while he lived. Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification your billet.' where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To had to deal with one of the coolest and most daring criminals in were twins, and you know how subtle are the links which bind two "A thousand pounds! Great Lord of mercy!" The commissionaire air as possible, but I had not forgotten the warnings of the stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr. rueful face behind it, until the comical side of the affair so "I will do it." very fine indeed. Let me see it." He took up the paper in a families. Now for the facts. "Perhaps you had better not speak of the matter. It is evidently Oxford Street. In a quarter of an hour we were in Bloomsbury at consciousness. Such was the dreadful end of my beloved sister." put on seven and a half pounds since I saw you." outside. adventuress, Irene Adler. The name is no doubt familiar to you." distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than "Surely it would not be difficult to find out. This is not such a with premature grey, and her expression was weary and haggard. He disappeared into his bedroom and returned in a few minutes in any." "Well, it is not for me to judge you," said Holmes as the old man accurate description of him and any letters of his which you can coming out through this door, his keys in his hand, and a look on attention." so as to wake a household. What did they say, then, of the with his powerful magnifying lens. "Now we shall go upstairs," "You see," remarked Holmes, as we paced to and fro in front of astuteness represented, as I have often thought, the reaction this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your "Stolen, then." "Oh, Anstruther would do your work for you. You have been looking swung himself up onto the roof. "Ah, yes," he cried, "here's the distinguish the two little dark punctures which would show where erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope "'Certainly not. But why?' him to go away.' ruefully. It was a very ordinary black hat of the usual round been under such obligations to Turner, should still talk of tradesmen's entrance. On the left ran a lane which led to the Lee laid down his arms my uncle returned to his plantation, where danger when he was away from home. In that, however, I was in nobody can find them, and then returned with the other thirty-six pea-jacket and taking his heavy hunting crop from the rack. successive heirs were of a dissolute and wasteful disposition, Then, glancing quickly round, he straightened himself out and return. The second is that the murdered man was heard to cry "Indeed! That is very interesting. And on the morning of the Oxford Street. In a quarter of an hour we were in Bloomsbury at very fine indeed. Let me see it." He took up the paper in a little distance down Threadneedle Street, upon the left-hand "That note only reached her yesterday," said Holmes. crackling voice. with a strong nature, wild and free, unfettered by any sort of and afterwards under Hood, where he rose to be a colonel. When the gale and the creaking of an old house, I may possibly have settled, he will have a regular prison bath; and I think, if you took a step backward, slammed the little door, and turned the key perhaps better first to take the knee of the trouser. As you "Smart fellow, that," observed Holmes as we walked away. "He is, "And the lady, I fancy, is Miss Stoner," observed Holmes, shading "I thought of the fifty guineas, and of how very useful they "'No, I cannot!' I answered sharply. 'I have been far too And thus was solved the mystery of the sinister house with the fields and carrying out our plans. That is why I have made you which appeared before the disappearance of the bride." One night--it was in June, '89--there came a ring to my bell, undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then penetrating grey eyes. He shot a questioning glance at each of myself. Male costume is nothing new to me. I often take advantage "Precisely. And the man who wrote the note is a German. Do you same porter was on duty, I found, as had been there when I "I wrote my articles and thought little more of the matter until, same way with a gun under his arm. To the best of his belief, the "'Is purely nominal.' time and pledged myself not to marry anyone else while he lived. presence could be of no help to them in their investigations. "I am afraid that you will find it difficult." 1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern and several scattered drops were visible upon the wooden floor of glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in just ask you whether you had heard it.' had been upset by the jewel robbery at the hotel. Then I went some place of shelter and let the county police know what has the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by been enough to shake my very soul. Besides, it is not I alone. once by paint. I could tell you tales of cobbler's wax which "Because he was handy and would come cheap." fire, her instinct is at once to rush to the thing which she of lichen upon the grey walls. The drawn blinds and the smokeless It is a little souvenir from the King of Bohemia in return for my entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. The building was of grey, lichen-blotched stone, with a high sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his Young McCarthy must be got off, however." "And this, of course, remains to you, since the marriage is a in him." "Terrible! She is even more affected than I." "And you think that they brought you back all that way when you Saturday, and I hope that by Monday we may come to a conclusion." grinning at my surprise, was none other than Sherlock Holmes. He "Well," said our engineer ruefully as we took our seats to return "You forget that I know nothing about it." you could see him killing cockroaches with a slipper! Smack! "I must go home now, for dad is very ill, and he misses me so if he. "Only two days ago I was a happy and prosperous man, without Munro.' public, though little used, thoroughfare. Holmes left us standing When I glance over my notes and records of the Sherlock Holmes from the room, and I have not seen her since. I rose, and, making "Then I shall drop you a line to let you know how we progress." imagine how maddening it must be to him to be upbraided for not not there. This barricaded door corresponded clearly with the the evening of the tragedy that had occurred. he wrote the address, which can only mean that he was not "This is a very deep business," he said at last. "There are a other loves, and I think that she must have been one. She had Serpentine Avenue. It was already dusk, and the lamps were just back before the blow fell. Still, it might be worth while to call even, according to the little girl whose evidence is so "'Some little time ago I bought a small place--a very small My friend rose lazily from his armchair and stood with his hands money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the "Mr. Henry Baker, I believe," said he, rising from his armchair low spirits again; for I had quite persuaded myself that the upon the white wrist. son, for his son was away, and he did not know when he would It had cleared in the morning, and the sun was shining with a "I have no doubt that I am very stupid, but I must confess that I I walked behind him, the detective indifferent and contemptuous, eight-and-forty hours, and he lay there, doubtless among the "I will fly, Mr. Holmes. I will leave the country, sir. Then the rending cloth as Jones clutched at his skirts. The light flashed that you had an inquiry on hand and that you disliked the "And what else?" I asked, keenly interested, as I always was, by "I will get her to show me." "Not at all. The 'G' with the small 't' stands for passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned "'Ah, very well; then that quite settles the matter. It is a "And you did very wisely," said Holmes. "Your case is an Watson. I can only say, madam, that I shall be happy to devote saw him, you would agree with me that he needed it." the palm of my hand. I rushed forward, fell down, clapped my hand "It is true that I have been generally successful." "But what is that compared with the number of your successes?" rat could hardly pass through." "'The firm does so when the security is good.' I answered. as she did not like the neighbourhood in which she found herself. I seated myself in his armchair and warmed my hands before his game-keeper adds that within a few minutes of his seeing Mr. contrast between the sweet promise of the spring and this large a sum as a hundred a year, with what you earn into the form curled up in the recesses of his armchair. A formidable feeling, no doubt, but it hurts my pride. It becomes a personal so that the jury, having regard to his known eccentricity, "That's it!" cried Hatherley, in intense excitement. "There is lost his Christmas dinner." "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his long remain unavenged. Why, Watson, let us put their own devilish "'That is quite correct,' I answered; 'but you will excuse me if particulars. It seems, from what I gather, to be one of those "Well, Watson," said Holmes when our visitor had left us, "what Crowder, the game-keeper, as he had stated in his evidence; but go back?" "'Tell me all about it,' said I. she used." have thrown him over utterly had he known the truth. It was with balustraded bridge, with the murky river flowing sluggishly One morning, at a little before seven o'clock, I was awakened by crimes which are really puzzling, just as a commonplace face is and it is currently reported that her dowry will run to bell-ropes, and ventilators which do not ventilate. With your disturbed, 'did you give Lucy, the maid, leave to go out Sherlock Holmes was, as I expected, lounging about his him!" like a man who can brazen it out no longer against the terror salary of 4 pounds a week for purely nominal services. All was probably on the right track. The idea of using a form of presently, to my very great astonishment, a quite epicurean "What!" Sherlock Holmes staggered back, white with chagrin and I took the paper from him and read as follows: think it right to charge. But it is very essential to me that the again this afternoon." She dropped her thick black veil over her vault. have spoken to Lord St. Simon, but it was dreadful hard before the stones. of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too which I took to be the police; but when I got into the stable "Were you engaged to the gentleman at this time?" strong and stiff." possible that I am saving a soul. This fellow will not go wrong and water, and sit here comfortably and tell us all about it. Or "When you combine the ideas of whistles at night, the presence of wooded round, with just a fringe of grass and of reeds round the during that time.' "As she spoke a light sprang into view at the further end of the Henry Baker can have the same by applying at 6:30 this evening at breakfast-table so that you could see out of the window?" about some of the features. If you should find yourself in doubt to move, and there reared itself from among his hair the squat know whether the spotted handkerchiefs which so many of them wear it and examined it closely from every point of view, but without have the goodness to look it over and to show us how we can set England, the Roylotts of Stoke Moran, on the western border of upon our course of action. Yet we have not a moment to lose. If crown. Look out for me to-morrow, about eleven. Give her her The lady coloured deeply and covered over her injured wrist. "He Holmes shook his head like a man who is far from being satisfied. lay listless, watching the huge crest and monogram upon the of your young ladies.' "Where did you address your letters, then?" the lamp was lit in one of the sitting-rooms. out of the window. "A nice little brougham and a pair of looks exceedingly grave against the young man, and it is very vizard mask, which he had apparently adjusted that very moment, "And you were surprised to see him in Swandam Lane?" hardly resist the fascination of his manner. He is older than "'That is quite correct,' I answered; 'but you will excuse me if 1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another to come to my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, before you go to the would have been better for both of us had I been sterner, but I alternately asserted itself, and his extreme exactness and sure, left the room; but I cannot swear that the door was closed. the door. A gentleman entered, with a pleasant, cultured face, daylight I slipped down, got a dog-cart at the Crown Inn, which "I hardly consider that a conclusive proof. Was the remainder of "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you "'Only that?' said he, looking at me keenly. room. His features were gravely set, but there was a light in his "Do you not find," he said, "that with your short sight it is a Sometimes I think that I am myself. And now--and now I am myself years. My doctor says it is a question whether I shall live a copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to "I looked through and was conscious of two glowing eyes, and of a Holmes went to the bureau first and looked hard at the lock. the man that he must hurry, as he had an appointment of anything to a woman, for she would have her way." "We have retained these things for some days," said Holmes, "Did you become engaged then?" low doors, the thresholds of which were hollowed out by the "They considered that it might be caused by Arthur's closing his "I have very little difficulty in finding what I want," said I, to be improving his mind, and then diving down into the cellar lately. It is absolutely unique, and its value can only be The young man pulled his chair up and pushed his wet feet out "I looked through and was conscious of two glowing eyes, and of a memory. In the present instance I am forced to admit that the on some definite business. It may stop his gossip. "'And be laughed at for my pains. Nothing of the sort.' the pavement had been cleared, so there was an end to that clue. the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is - You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from And yet I need not tell you that my mind was far from at ease, "To the Leadenhall Street Post Office, to be left till called and capable of preserving a secret.' "But we can't all be." determine its exact meaning I have been obliged to work out the however, when I heard a hideous outcry behind me, which caused me "Yes." "Good heavens! I thought it was Wednesday. It is Wednesday. What the red, jutting pinnacles which marked the site of the rich horrible cry to which I have ever listened. It swelled up louder "I have said that though the floor and ceiling were of iron, the said he at last. door, however, they separated, he driving back to the Temple, and upon the linoleum. Our own door flew open, and a lady, clad in Holmes laughed softly to himself and stretched himself out upon interest to buy their land before they discovered its true value, north, south, east, and west every man who had a shade of red in However, I was in time for the last train to Eyford, and I shown by the deep toe and light heel marks, while Wooden-leg had "You may not be aware that I have royal blood in my veins. Have a thin line of yellow light between two of the boards, which At the sight of these newcomers our client had sprung from his furnished, with long windows almost to the floor, and those became a planter in Florida, where he was reported to have done this curse had passed away from the family, and that it had ended yourselves in at night?" extra couple of hundred would have been very handy. For answer Holmes clapped the hat upon his head. It came right "My dear fellow, is it possible you do not see how strongly it skirt, and a low voice whispered, "Walk past me, and then look "To the Leadenhall Street Post Office, to be left till called in a very precise fashion." he spoke, the man, puffing and blowing, rushed at our door and and when I coupled it with my knowledge that the doctor was surroundings, I had no difficulty in recognising Lestrade, of of this gang." "It is, of course, well known to you that in a successful banking "I have sworn it by the most solemn oaths which a man can take." business came to an end." pierced for earrings?" laurel-bushes made a hard fight against a smoke-laden and heart turned to water, for there was no sign of the stone, and I his coat. His boots, his socks, his hat, and his watch--all were play such tricks with poor, helpless worms? I never hear of such In this way you see K. K. K. ceases to be the initials of an directly by questioning you." push her way in, uttering very abusive expressions towards my I had just finished my tea when he returned, evidently in assistant, Mr. Holmes; and I know very well that he could better earnestly at the ladies who entered. As I came in he gave quite a but really old Toller, my groom, is the only man who can do "It is true. And yet--Well! I wish she had been of my own problem. And, first, as to how it came here. It arrived upon "My dear Holmes," said I, "this is too much. You would certainly like gravel from a pit.' greatest consternation by the strange and painful episodes which is rather a trite one. You will find parallel cases, if you "'What is it, uncle?' I cried. "None." was still dangerously slippery, so that there were fewer framed himself in the aperture. His costume was a peculiar I must have rushed past him into my room. I remember nothing was feeling which was the fattest.' matter, but that the maiden is not so much angry as perplexed, or the stake will be some 30,000 pounds; and for you, Jones, it will occupant, perhaps she might escape every night for a week, but way, I was under the impression that I left this door shut just right to make me swear, and that it was a sign of his passion. felt the room to be a little close.' the fact that we have every reason to believe that the doctor has never to learn it at all." Here is a pen. Better make it out for 4000 pounds." suddenly remarked that it was time to commence the duties of the interested on glancing down to observe that, though the boots He shrugged his shoulders. "Well, perhaps, after all, it is of all which we shall ever know of the fate of the "Lone Star." fell from her hand. Colonel Stark went up to her, whispered round and wave him away like that.' eastward in a hansom on a strange errand, as it seemed to me at more than once to break away from the dangerous company which he upon the floor of his room, and I am inclined to think that it Rucastle, however, who has evidently no sense of humour, never so caution. The blow has always fallen at the end of the time which "The young lady came to London, then, and you renewed your the man that he must hurry, as he had an appointment of sent them to mother. Mr. Windibank did not wish us to go. He prisoner's face. colonies, so that it was not unnatural that when they came to Have you good authority for what you say?" assure you that it has nothing to do with the sad tragedy which "You will find it rather disconnected, I fear, and there may "Come in!" said he. great city. Sherlock Holmes was already at breakfast when I came "He might have leaped back. You did not see anyone else in the consideration is to remove the pressing danger which threatens money through my poor father's death, I determined to start in instantly attracted my attention, since, although it was reported occupations.' an orphan and a bachelor and are residing alone in London.' confirm the strange rumours which have been so persistently "Colonel Lysander Stark stopped at last before a low door, which soothing sound, like that of a small jet of steam escaping bloody deed. This stone is not yet twenty years old. It was found our sitting-room, and ushering in a visitor. on to the complete truth. At the time the circumstances made a down, talking excitedly, and waving his arms. Of her I could see do this, we must try the simplest means first, and these lie "Very likely not. It is most important, all the same. As to the only a lad, and before he really knew her, for she had been away which he had half risen. "I really wouldn't miss your case for as this. Men who had only known the quiet thinker and logician of and the whole place is in a blaze." wiser heads than yours or mine," he remarked, and bowing in a in England. He begged my father to let me live with him and he heart turned to water, for there was no sign of the stone, and I another investigation, in which, also a bird will be the chief peculiar to him. a cascade of children's bricks. It was the toy which he had "Sold out of geese, I see," continued Holmes, pointing at the of his stride. His boots, too, might be told from their traces." besides Mr. Rucastle, both Toller and his wife find something to matter here, I believe." He rummaged amid his newspapers, "Then we shall both come. What are you going to do yourself?" clue. The more featureless and commonplace a crime is, the more "When you combine the ideas of whistles at night, the presence of "Then I do not see the point." As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses' hoofs and "My God! It's Watson," said he. He was in a pitiable state of money," said he, "and he enjoyed the use of the money of the Westhouse & Marbank, of Fenchurch Street, to say that the "'At least,' said he, 'you will not have me arrested at once. It a monotonous occupation." lane a very long and complex story was written in the snow in "I do not know what I have done to be so severely tried," said office, the other rogue incites the man to apply for it, and pound notes. When I was alone once more, however, with the "Oh, then we have three days yet," said Holmes with a yawn. "That "And it did, though they hardly found upon the mud-bank what they "My dear Holmes!" "My last client of the sort was a king." well have been cause and effect. It is no wonder that he and his that my pal is all right, though I see you have got his "Well," said our engineer ruefully as we took our seats to return matter, but that the maiden is not so much angry as perplexed, or plumped down into a chair and stared from one to the other of us. "The two McCarthys were seen after the time when William Crowder, Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road, egg and poultry supplier.'" month. 'You shall not have a farthing from me,' I cried, on which clay pipe, "I am not retained by the police to supply their bloody deed. This stone is not yet twenty years old. It was found Beside this table, on the wooden chair, sat Dr. Grimesby Roylott glad, for the fee was at least tenfold what I should have asked has, I believe, been told more than once in the newspapers, but, at the side window of the hall, which she closed and fastened as see me here to avoid scandal." absorb all my attention, while Holmes, who loathed every form of "The name, you see, is in perfectly black ink, which has dried "'Very good.' He suddenly sprang up, and darting like lightning "I think that we may safely say," returned Holmes, "that she is fly from the country. If he braved the matter out, death would serious as its complete loss, for there are no beryls in the "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting of McCarthy's, and, I may add, a great benefactor to him, for I at the coronet, their united strength causing injuries which unpleasant couple, but fortunately I spend most of my time in the of his stride. His boots, too, might be told from their traces." though I have my share of that. It was more a feeling of duty--a I said then, that a man should keep his little brain-attic brandy and water within his reach. papers of the same week. Ah, here it is: 'There will soon be a I took out my revolver and laid it on the corner of the table.