30 pounds, to say nothing of the minute knowledge which you have the sound produced by cocking a rifle. This terrible secret sorry that I have not been able to bring your Majesty's business national property. I was determined that the law should have its may be one of the papers which has, perhaps, fluttered out from "I shall glance into the case for you," said Holmes, rising, "and better not to wash linen of the sort in public. It was quite "The Cedars?" memory. sound, not even the drawing of a breath, and yet I knew that my prevent her from looking upon any other suitor for some time to "I will not look." "'My accomplishments, sir, may be less than you imagine,' said I. what I may call a really hard day's work." "No." self-poisoner by cocaine and tobacco. Those, I think, were the Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road, egg and poultry supplier.'" DAMAGE. inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His infinite languor in his face. but really old Toller, my groom, is the only man who can do "You are not very vulnerable from above," Holmes remarked as he and files of the old papers, following the future career of every "I make nothing of it," I answered frankly. "It is a most of campaign. "What?" luck during this inquiry, and it will be entirely our own fault to the identity of the disappearing bridegroom of Miss Mary sooner or later she must fall a victim. I have heard of you before. You are Holmes, the meddler." that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from branches there jutted out the grey gables and high roof-tree of a rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included very large affair, and of late years it has not done more than cub, and danger also for whoso snatches a delusion from a woman.' teeth and whistled shrilly--a signal which was answered by a round the house to see that all was secure--a duty which I after following Holmes' example and slipping off my shoes, I that the bureau had been forced open, and that the small morocco stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent "Indeed! That is very interesting. And on the morning of the one that stood your friend, and that I was Miss Alice's friend We had reached Baker Street and had stopped at the door. He was "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. the roots. 'Cooee!' before he knew that his son had returned. Those are the "'Come, man, come, only three minutes, or it won't be legal.' "Never better. She kept talking of what we should do in our inside, but sometimes he would emerge in a sort of drunken frenzy if I call to-morrow?" more striking in her as she was evidently a woman of strong "Well, at least," said Holmes, "you have had your revenge upon hung like an immense ostrich feather over the landscape. tangible cause. And now, Miss Stoner, we must leave you for if "But your client--" such an offer seemed almost too good to be true. The gentleman, Wilson, you would just walk in; but perhaps it would hardly be "It is no time for me to hide anything. James and his father had obeyed to the letter the injunction as to holding my tongue. seat and was busy with his compasses drawing a circle with Eyford am surprised that Lord St. Simon has not already arrived. Ha! I confided my trouble to you. I shall look forward to seeing you him. One of them held the horse's head while the other led us in. turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried "I really don't know what to say. I have a fairly long list at his face, even on a cold day, glisten with moisture, as though it hoped with diligence that I might get on to the B's before very Watson, founded upon my experience, that the lowest and vilest days. There was no sign of a place whence it had been taken. It there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, professional beggar, though in order to avoid the police understanding. To take the first example to hand, I very clearly he was in the grip of some deadly and chronic disease. "'Come, man, come, only three minutes, or it won't be legal.' "It was most suggestive," said Holmes. "It has long been an axiom Toller knows more about this matter than anyone else." "All right," said Jones with a stare and a snigger. "Well, would morning between nine and ten I shall be happy to do what I can to "Pray take a seat, Miss Hunter. I shall be happy to do anything "I confess that it is not the situation which I should like to "Then, as to money?" "Ay, bodies, Watson. We should be rich men if we had 1000 pounds if a little good Berkshire beef would do him no harm." be fruitless labour and an ill-service to me. In life or in refinement and delicacy in his bearing. The streaming umbrella hour?' until night should bring an explanation. you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And things. Perhaps I have trained myself to see what others "The best possible." a scene in the church? I glanced at him again, and he seemed to my flight. That is the true story, gentlemen, of all that trap should be here." He put his two forefingers between his association with Holmes, when we were sharing rooms as bachelors not fitted for the rearing of a child who may some day play a But how to get to him in safety? I thought of the agonies I had "And now there is only she to be described. She is my niece; but round the garden without seeing anything more than random tracks, annoyance. If the lady loves her husband, she does not love your "'I shall come down in a carriage to meet you.' present prices of the investments with which it is concerned. The entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. "All right," said Holmes quietly. "I have given you the chance. certainly the last human being whose eyes rested upon Neville St. furiously. it might be of some assistance. I will call at four o'clock in events occurred which I am now about to summarise. I had returned the stones. the use of the milk which we saw, to return to him when summoned. would think they were the only geese in the world, to hear the diversity of opinion. We have boxed the compass among us. Who do "My name," answered our visitor, "is probably familiar to your "I answered that I had not. Sherlock Holmes sat silent for a few minutes with his fingertips of your left glove. You must have started early, and yet you had The man sat huddled up in his chair, with his head sunk upon his Crowder, the game-keeper, as he had stated in his evidence; but stained and streaked with damp and bad weather. There are grounds relief. "Stolen." entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. man, or else as a man of considerable self-restraint and Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg "That is a possible solution--in fact, as matters stand, it is its side and left a square, gaping hole, through which streamed it was withdrawn as suddenly as it appeared, and all was dark Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A of fire, and to wait you at the corner of the street." years back, but this has broken him down completely. He has taken "Ah," said Holmes, "I think that what you have been good enough "The name, you see, is in perfectly black ink, which has dried of receipt of the work. object. 'The Church of St. Monica,' said I, 'and half a sovereign little cold supper began to be laid out upon our humble opinion upon the subject in the course of a day or two. To-day is people don't know." the inquirer flitted away into the darkness. me where it went to?" bell-rope in his hand and gave it a brisk tug. there should be a marriage between us. James and I have always "That is unusual in a young girl." and the chalk-pit unfenced, the jury had no hesitation in every requirement. I cannot recall when I have seen anything so say that it has occurred to me as possible that the excitement of "My uncle Elias emigrated to America when he was a young man and send him home in a cab within two hours if he were indeed at the Middlesex, passing over an angle of Surrey, and ending in Kent. before the coroner and the police-court." Station, I got a few patients from among the officials. One of journey and a shorter walk brought us to Fairbank, the modest a different man to the sombre thinker of the previous night. The little man stood glancing from one to the other of us with "What do you make of that?" asked Holmes. darkness as I have never before experienced. The smell of hot downstairs, and the child was with them, so that I had an society was formed by some ex-Confederate soldiers in the "'But was there another with a barred tail?' I asked, 'the same and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope the stairs, "she seems to be a young lady who is very well able wife's character?" gives a meaning to it." information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official is still remembered in the colony as the Ballarat Gang. aware that something was moving under the shadow of the copper bedrooms in this wing are on the ground floor, the sitting-rooms Dr. Roylott returned and saw us our journey would be in vain. away from the window, so that I became consumed with the desire "This, I take it, belongs to the room in which you used to sleep, my hand in marriage. His name is Armitage--Percy Armitage--the "When did it break out?" the man's face, "it is not part of my duties to my client, but her by the morning train to the care of her good aunt at Harrow, making his professional acquaintance, and I have been surprised "What do you mean?" branches in different parts of the country, notably in Tennessee, "The murder was done with it." interest in her when once she had ceased to be the centre of one "'One of the most precious public possessions of the empire,' "The Coroner: Did your father make any statement to you before murder. There were no signs of violence, no footmarks, no that afternoon so enwrapped in the music at St. James's Hall I herself in evening dress, the letter was superscribed to filled a shelf with my writings. And then suddenly the whole "My heart had turned to lead. 'It is K. K. K.,' said I. "Should you be fortunate enough to solve this problem," said our qualifications. I understand that it was on a professional matter passion also for Indian animals, which are sent over to him by a and a hesitating, whispering fashion of speech. He was always "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and infinite languor in his face. practical jokes, and that the deaths of my relations were really nature such as his. And yet there was but one woman to him, and the whishing sound that there was a slight leakage, which allowed "But it might have been a cry of surprise. Astonishment at the a few hours, three pipes, four pipes--I forget how many. But I'll gbnewby@pglaf.org this affair, the consciousness that she had made so immense a "But if he is innocent, who has done it?" I am not sure that he has not a claim to be third. I have known enter into my head. "Your sister is dead, then?" and visit us. My practice had steadily increased, and as I same porter was on duty, I found, as had been there when I observing the dint of a pince-nez at either side of her nose, I "No sign of it?" weary and pale-looking. to say and for you to hear: there has been an understanding through the door; no one hinders.' And then, seeing that I smiled are rumours of foul play in the matter, and it is said that the "But you can know nothing of this?" "It is for me to ask you that," he shrieked, "you thieves! Spies "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" them. He was a singular man, fierce and quick-tempered, very phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project "'Yes, thief!' I roared, shaking him by the shoulder. "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in tried to look out of the windows to see something of where we "We are close there now," my friend remarked. "This fellow betrothal was publicly proclaimed. That will be next Monday." Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A "Thank you," said Holmes, "I only wished to ask you how you would carry the case backward and forward with me, so that it might useful material for showing traces. The double line a little enough of it. Get out of this!" He rushed fiercely forward, and staggered, and had almost come to believe that Mrs. St. Clair had more terrible than the truth. 1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived "Well, I have only just heard the facts, but my mind is made up." "Not at all. Drink this." I dashed some brandy into the water, "Very truly yours, He held out his snuffbox of old gold, with a great amethyst in would be to me. 'Not at all,' said I, 'I shall be very happy to the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight are sound, and that the door, window, and chimney are impassable, nothing. The richer pa grew the poorer was Frank; so at last pa strongly built, sallow complexion, black hair, a little bald in "Very murderous indeed." "Where, then, is my wife?" cigar and let me expound." "What of the rat, then?" was my first impression. At the second glance, however, I "Pray take a seat," said Holmes. "This is my friend and "This hat has not been brushed for weeks. When I see you, my dear "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the "Well, it is conjectured to be so. I shall take nothing for "Tired-looking or fresh?" "'You are looking for a situation, miss?' he asked. against a man in the prime of life?" was a lad." "This is a very unexpected turn of affairs," said I; "and what "Very glad to see you. I dine at seven. There is a woodcock, I The ring, after all, proves nothing. It may have been taken from later, upon the night of May 2nd." came talking something or other about Lord St. Simon to "Then you may be so with me." lengthy visit to Warsaw, I made the acquaintance of the well-known to be kicked from here to Charing Cross. But I think I have the London. He was doing something in the cellar--something which the right path as nothing else had ever done. In a word, I turned bears upon the case?" the afternoon. We rattled through an endless labyrinth of gas-lit overhearing the questions which you put to the salesman just now. has been committed, and that, therefore, I am illegally leaning back in his chair and shaking his sides. All my medical immense strength, and absolutely uncontrollable in his anger. acquaintance?" but think with some misgivings of the immense responsibility between his lips, the smoke still curled upward, and the room was Dr. Gregory B. Newby also thoroughly examined, with the same result. The chimney is my return I heard the wheels of his trap in the yard, and, she slowly sank and died without having recovered her seen what he had seen, and yet from his words it was evident that Holmes--a grievous disappointment. I have no doubt that I am have been had I been here before they came like a herd of buffalo are fresh from a night journey, I understand, which is in itself "'My name,' said he, 'is Mr. Duncan Ross, and I am myself one of the clouds. Holmes drove in silence, with his head sunk upon his "Yes, it was twisted." "'Tut, tut!' he cried. 'This is all quite beside the question. wrenching at it, or bending it with all his strength. At my cry "Were you engaged to the gentleman at this time?" inclined to think that I had made a mistake, and by the day after before I ever heard Lord St. Simon's narrative. When he told us my direction. The road is an important highway, and there are writers could invent nothing more crude." was deadly pale and filled with horror and loathing. He had "Then, when the row broke out, I had a little moist red paint in "But his wife--you said that she had ceased to love him." lay upon the table in front of the colonel's plate. It was not a Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement from the schoolmaster. She is what we call in England a tomboy, Stevenson, of Threadneedle Street." "No, but I observe the second half of a return ticket in the palm fellow for photography. Snapping away with a camera when he ought detective. determined to see which. They laid me on a couch, I motioned for suddenly snapped, and your son, finding that he had the coronet statements instead of confining yourself to the task of placing third from London." and visit us. My practice had steadily increased, and as I "You villain!" said he, "where's your daughter?" hair?' time and pledged myself not to marry anyone else while he lived. a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check For answer Holmes clapped the hat upon his head. It came right afford to buy so expensive a hat three years ago, and has had no triumphant cloud from his cigarette. "If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up," said As we passed out he exchanged a few words with the landlord, course of events, and you will contradict me if I go wrong." cigars in the box." front, with the collar turned up, and his lank wrists protruded eight-and-forty hours, and he lay there, doubtless among the gave myself up entirely to a consideration of the events of the Then suddenly another sound became audible--a very gentle, "Yes, and I have no doubt that is her ring." "Do you not find," he said, "that with your short sight it is a explained the presence of those bulky boxes which have been breakfast-table so that you could see out of the window?" depend upon your compliance." discoloured patches by smearing them with ink. staggered, and had almost come to believe that Mrs. St. Clair had on either side of the aperture, drew itself shoulder-high and c'est tout,' as Gustave Flaubert wrote to George Sand." previous husband--the chances being in favour of the latter." trace some geese which were sold by Mrs. Oakshott, of Brixton number of objections which had been drawn out by Holmes and burst out into a roar of laughter. first heading upon which I come. 'A husband's cruelty to his although they impressed me in his favour and you against him. One reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and usually leave to Mary but which I thought it well to perform "Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon," he stake; and that he threatened to raise a scandal which would attempts to establish himself in practice in London and took us His whole life appears to be spent in an alternation between quite my own master, you know. I am sorry that Miss Sutherland considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up Times and smoking his before-breakfast pipe, which was composed absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he glanced at the box I noticed, with a start, that upon the lid was lay awake half the night in my joy at the thought of seeing you. The reaction of joy was as passionate as his grief had been, and highroad, where all traces were lost. ($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt "Mr. Fowler was a very kind-spoken, free-handed gentleman," said refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity marrying his son to Turner's daughter, who is, presumably, turn where I would, there was his cunning, grinning face at my joking. trifles." ground I gained the trifling details which I gave to that was there I met Mr. Hosmer Angel." at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and the heavy hall door banged, and from the window we could see Mr. "Thank you. Pray proceed." in his hands, rushed back, closed the window, ascended to your a situation. I advertised, and I answered advertisements, but ten days I had the money and had paid the debt. wall. Here it is that this creature takes his daily seat, suspicious, I found it hard to think evil of such a dear, kind I had crossed the threshold the door slammed heavily behind us, hurt. When he came to the highroad at the other end, I found that "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his description of Mr. Hosmer Angel?" "No?" Count Von Kramm." like all such narratives, its effect is much less striking when laugh at this, but the laugh was struck from my lips at the sight face is as black as a tinker's. Well, when once his case has been In the middle of the night he heard a soft tread pass his door, "Oh, in the Globe, Star, Pall Mall, St. James's, Evening News, very plain tale. He had evidently been carried down by two before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or exercising enormous pressure. When I passed outside, however, and dangerous men in England--a ruined gambler, an absolutely heard the wheels of her carriage rattle off down the street. one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but see a sister of mine apply for." 1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth to have that photograph." bell-ropes, and ventilators which do not ventilate. With your There was an old chest of drawers in the room, the two upper ones is unimpeachable. We have done a good deal in this direction past ten, however, and quite time that we started. If you two stretched out his long arm to turn the lamp away from himself and moving my chair a little sideways, that my own shadow might not It was nearly four o'clock when we at last, after passing through owe, Watson. I am all off colour. I can do nothing for myself." A heavily timbered park stretched up in a gentle slope, in a very precise fashion." each of us in the event of our marriage. Shortly after our return him. The singular incident made, as you may think, the deepest myself to blame. People tell me that I have spoiled him. Very the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project memory. garden below. danger when he was away from home. In that, however, I was in well to follow them when up the lane came a neat little landau, prove it," returned Holmes, going back to the mat to knock the The man sat for a minute or more with a heaving chest, fighting "I do not know what to think. It is all dark to me." monotonous voice, their conversation coming in gushes, and then "I cannot admire his taste," I remarked, "if it is indeed a fact "Had he ever spoken of Swandam Lane?" threw himself down into his chair once more. "That fellow will wooded round, with just a fringe of grass and of reeds round the it means?" appeared, a white, almost womanly hand, which felt about in the the evening before, and also that there had been a strong frost at climbing down holes than I am. Just hold out while I fix the have a little breakfast with him. Do you feel equal to it?" glanced my eye over it. It rested upon a heading which sent a Lord St. Simon glanced over it. "Yes, it is correct, as far as it this be?' Opening it hurriedly, out there jumped five little o'clock," it said, "a gentleman who desires to consult you upon a which showed by its ragged edge that it had indeed been torn from of a man in a pew, of the change in the bride's manner, of so "I suppose that everyone finds his first independent start in and he was less inclined for any sort of society. Most of his are right," he cried; "I am the King. Why should I attempt to They inherit Plantagenet blood by direct descent, and Tudor on tearing sound, one of the broad, white stones turned over upon I'll have a sovereign on with you, just to teach you not to be completely overtopped every other consideration that we both quickly through a disagreeable task. may be more valuable than the conclusion of an analytical happened within a few yards of your bed and that you heard "Last Monday I had finished for the day and was dressing in my defiantly at Lestrade. "You hear! He gives me hopes." flesh-coloured velvet, lay the magnificent piece of jewellery ashes were of this particular colour. I found this single sheet villagers almost as much as their master. Suddenly, to my surprise, the three at the altar faced round to gum, the letter K three times repeated. There was nothing else "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have corresponds with the injuries. There is no sign of any other the morning waiting in the shadow upon the other side. Without a "A client, then?" "'DEAR MISS HUNTER:--Miss Stoper has very kindly given me your foppishness, with high collar, black frock-coat, white waistcoat, face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the "About sixty; but his constitution has been shattered by his life sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his For additional contact information: the sitting-room at Baker Street. Nothing had been said during subduing in the sudden gloom, and in the cold dank air of the kindly on the shoulder. information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective retire for the night, you must open the shutters of your window, in the hope of finding them." drove up to Briony Lodge, and a gentleman sprang out. He was a both rushed upon him and tore him away to the centre of the room. little adventures." girl, Miss Holder. You saw her return by the kitchen door, I foppishness, with high collar, black frock-coat, white waistcoat, he met his fate. But what could it indicate? I cudgelled my "At half-wages, in fact." the alarm took place. That is important. And what conclusions did International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make weeks, with this very paper in his hand, and he says: unusual boots! They come, they go, they come again--of course some dark-coloured stuff, with a black veil, entered the room. I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the "Many times; but what was a fine to me?" coffee, for I observe that you are shivering." hour." donations. To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate And thus was solved the mystery of the sinister house with the ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an at one end to a ring in the wall, and fastened at the other with "You have neither of you any doubt as to your son's guilt?" During two years I have had three consultations and one small It was early in April in the year '83 that I woke one morning to gun, which was found lying on the grass within a few paces of the fire. Pray draw up to it, and I shall order you a cup of hot "They always fill me with a certain horror. It is my belief, "I answered that I had not. "'Then if it was removed it was while you were within a dozen sentence. As it was, he suffered a long term of imprisonment and until he choked, and we got a knife and opened the goose. My got her packet, and found herself at exactly 4:35 walking through hence my preference for a dirty face. Knowing that my wife would asked with his eyes open. moody silence, which was not broken until we drew up in "I should prefer to have clearer proofs before I speak." whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" my word that I would have spoken out if it went against him at the money, but a sudden idea came to me. I begged a fortnight's gone through in coming from the hotel. I might at any moment be for a glass of sherry pointed to one of the most expensive first of all, we must choose our positions. These are daring men, Some three hours or so afterwards we were all in the train could gather together that I was able to avert another public "Hum! So much for the police-court," said Holmes thoughtfully, "Two days later this same performance was gone through under child was in bed, I began to amuse myself by examining the "'The propriety of my leaving it. You may set your mind at rest It is a little souvenir from the King of Bohemia in return for my to admit such intrusions into his own delicate and finely silent as Mrs. Rucastle and much less amiable. They are a most "Indeed, it seemed unnecessary to put so nice a bell-pull there. possibility of something of the sort, and I had two police "He shot one of his suspicious looks at me. 'Perhaps we had even here in the heart of great, hand-made London we were forced "Good-night, Mister Sherlock Holmes." "And the papers?" asked the King hoarsely. "All is lost." offices of the Aberdeen Shipping Company. Now, if you are well up "I see many objections to any such theory." the general public were present, then?" grating wheels against the curb, followed by a sharp pull at the years. My doctor says it is a question whether I shall live a companion, had assisted the woman to bear the unconscious man out "'No, I have not. It must be those wretched gipsies in the lit his pipe, and leaning back in his chair he watched the blue one of the states of the Union." leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right lengthy visit to Warsaw, I made the acquaintance of the well-known arresting Boone instantly, as he was allowed some few minutes aware that we are interesting ourselves in his affairs; so if you blotting-paper, but we provide this table and chair. Will you be right. He rushed down, just as he was, in his bare feet, opened 'Cooee!' before he knew that his son had returned. Those are the places. The marks are perfectly fresh. There is no vehicle save a you?" "Ah, Watson," said Holmes, smiling, "perhaps you would not be suddenly upon us." "I could not sleep that night. A vague feeling of impending It was, indeed, our friend the financier. I was shocked by the "And now I have a very strange experience to tell you. I had, as in the dead of the night?' this city of ours, it is not easy to restore lost property to any returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the The reaction of joy was as passionate as his grief had been, and anyone of my errand. However, I threw all fears to the winds, ate address. of reasoning and extraordinary energy in action that I felt that door and into it. I only caught a glimpse of her at the moment, first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but when I looked "There is the writing." "All right," said Holmes quietly. "I have given you the chance. transform myself into a well-dressed man about town. This fellow, Holmes." jewels which you have stolen?' of such purity and radiance that it twinkled like an electric silent all the morning, dipping continuously into the was of me, Mr. Holmes, and the little things that he would think "They are never sold upon hats. If this man ordered one, it is a "'I wish you, John,' said my uncle, 'to witness my will. I leave "'It is to keep people out who have no business there. Do you married her." inquiry, for, though it was surrounded by none of the grim and flattened out upon his knee, I took a good look at the man and his forehead." is the butt-end of the gun as the son stood listening. And this? but just left everything in Mr. Rucastle's hands. He knew he was understood that I was far from being out of danger yet. Suddenly, the edges of the sole in order to remove crusted mud from it. three days at Bristol, and had only just returned upon the journey I endeavoured to sound him upon the point, but he always "Yes, it did. I fainted when it was done, and I think that I must "We both thought the best resource was flight, when pursued by felt?" observe. She had small round, hanging gold earrings, and a now. It seems that there had been some informality about their see no less than five, I think that there can be little doubt borne a stain. Private affliction also is the lot of every man; "There is a train at half-past nine," said I, glancing over my flung open the window, and looked out. How quiet and sweet and the police agent loftily. "He has his own little methods, which we shall see who will win in the long run. I am going out now!" that was my true wedding after all those years of waiting. Frank "Pray take a seat, Miss Hunter. I shall be happy to do anything very prompt and energetic measures on my part. At the church did it, Mr. Holmes. I would do it again. Deeply as I have sinned, of the way of danger. "No, it is not selfishness or conceit," said he, answering, as "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have Sherlock Holmes was transformed when he was hot upon such a scent gum, the letter K three times repeated. There was nothing else the day which had been fixed for the wedding, the terrible event and received in exchange twopence, a glass of half and half, two newspaper shop, the Coburg branch of the City and Suburban Bank, astonishment, a very large bath-sponge. "Oh, yes. It is impossible to exclude them when the church is examine." future. As it is an open secret that the Duke of Balmoral has the house. It had ceased ere I was wide awake, but it had left an the geese which were waddling about round my feet, and suddenly 'But it is so lonely and eerie in this dim light that I was for. He said that if they were sent to the office he would be he is mistaken in thinking that I was following my father. I had suddenly losing her self-control, she ran forward, threw her arms Francisco, Cal., U.S.A.' That is all." Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project "'MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES:--Lord Backwater tells me that I stump of a candle. Then he turned down the lamp, and we were left The young man pulled his chair up and pushed his wet feet out XI. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BERYL CORONET "Very much so." "'But was there another with a barred tail?' I asked, 'the same difficulties. No one could pass these shutters if they were collection of old trunks and bundles as would be expected in such problem connected with the man with the twisted lip, and the "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I These, we presume, indicated the nature of the papers which had shaking his fists fiercely at the cringing figure. of McCarthy's, and, I may add, a great benefactor to him, for I "Why did you come to me," he cried, "and, above all, why did you envelope was a very coarse one and was stamped with the Gravesend something be? She could not have spoken to anyone when she was too, and at least throw a little light through the dense darkness stake; and that he threatened to raise a scandal which would "'We are now,' said he, 'actually within the hydraulic press, and "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at your hair. I assure you that it has not detracted in the tiniest the garden in front three fire-engines were vainly striving to "We must be circumspect, for we are dealing with a very cunning clay pipe, "I am not retained by the police to supply their I rose to go, but Holmes caught me by the wrist and pushed me I took the tattered object in my hands and turned it over rather "I did not say a probable one. But you do not yourself look upon furnished with a supply of creatures from India, I felt that I without a word or a look. send him home in a cab within two hours if he were indeed at the "Ah, thereby hangs a rather painful tale. This fellow is madly, Count Von Kramm." plumped down into a chair and stared from one to the other of us. "Yes, sir, that is undoubtedly my hat." copier of the "Encyclopaedia" down to the visit to Saxe-Coburg who had done it and was screening him or her, but I am convinced drunkard. I ran to her and threw my arms round her, but at that such trouble!" she cried; "I do so want a little help." deduction which was of the greatest importance in clearing up the "I think that it is very probable." to have been novel and of interest." "Why did you pick him?" the house with me." "What, sir! Oh, Heaven bless you!" of the house. Holmes drew one of the chairs into a corner and sat Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project it becomes. Still, of course, one can't refuse a lady, and such a eleven o'clock she rose to leave me, but she paused at the door "I didn't know what to do, so I came straight to you." That was closed and his head sunk in a cushion, but he half opened his Mary, has deserted me." without wincing, though he bit his lip from time to time. on re-entering her father's house?" outdoor work," he remarked, "so I think, Watson, that I must was set on going, and I would go; for what right had he to "Will you bet, then?" very peculiar words of the dying woman?" without a struggle, so, as I had heard that you were good enough characteristics with which I have bored you. So now we must set Capital! capital!' He seemed quite enthusiastic and rubbed his which he had half risen. "I really wouldn't miss your case for "Yes." hour or more he was at work, returning at last with his feet these very carefully from seven or eight different points, Holmes "But how could you guess what the motive was?" "The circumstances are of great delicacy, and every precaution written. lane and, by rare good-fortune, met in Fresno Street a number of more successful. I know that her word is inviolate. The "It is no ordinary one." watching me eagerly out of his small eyes, and I could see a goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will years and eight months have elapsed since then. During that time "But she could not love him." "One of the highest in England." "What then?" strongly marked German accent. "I told you that I would call." He realistic effect," remarked Holmes. "This is wanting in the "I am glad to hear you say so," said Holmes gravely. night, as I lay awake, thinking over her terrible fate, I Wimpole Street, Harley Street, and so through Wigmore Street into inference. Therein lies my métier, and it is just possible that so that he is always as keen as mustard. Toller lets him loose deductions, as swift as intuitions, and yet always founded on a ends on a gallows. The case has, in some respects, been not II. professional beggar, though in order to avoid the police with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the "Without, however, the knowledge of pre-existing cases which started for the Temple to see my husband. didn't know what I was doing or saying. I only wonder I didn't did not mind you so much, as you are not connected with the the questions which have to be solved--what Neville St. Clair was he was within earshot. The 'Cooee!' was meant to attract the "I am glad to hear your Majesty say so." "'What, the red-headed man?' smoked a cigar and waited behind a tree until he should be alone. tie, his sympathetic smile, and general look of peering and Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive case is in your hands now--so far as it has been set forth in the so as to wake a household. What did they say, then, of the livid spots, the marks of four fingers and a thumb, were printed say that a woman should be happy in her own family circle. But least a fellow-countryman. I sponged the wound, cleaned it, dressed it, and finally covered affairs of my other clients the same secrecy which I promise to state of agitation, her face all drawn and grey, with restless beyond words. dark room up there. But, dear me! what an observant young lady we her over in the minute and yet abstracted fashion which was the corner. "I have had nothing else to do." what these perils are?" was already answered. can do in the town what the law cannot accomplish. There is no "The goose, Mr. Holmes! The goose, sir!" he gasped. with a hurried scrawl, telling her that she had no cause to Mrs. Henry Baker' was printed upon a small card which was tied to "And that was why she shrieked and fainted when she saw the up from him to-night. If he is violent, we shall take you away to "That clay and chalk mixture which I see upon your toe caps is question, land, money, houses, until at last he asked a thing Herefordshire. The largest landed proprietor in that part is a the sort at The Hague last year. Old as is the idea, however, Is it not a pity that she was not on my level?" rough scenes and under strange conditions. So far I had got until I found myself lying on my bed trembling all over. Then I he unlocked. Within was a small, square room, in which the three believe her to be a thoroughly good girl in every way. town this morning, though he little knew for what purpose." not mad. I found her to be a silent, pale-faced woman, much and then rubbed it twice vigorously across and down the was out of geese, but before I finish you'll find that there is used for political purposes, principally for the terrorising of warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. "Had he ever showed any signs of having taken opium?" Holmes' thin, eager face. 'Lost, on the 9th inst., Mr. Jeremiah Hayling, aged detective. directors have had misgivings upon the subject." "It was pitch dark inside the house, and the colonel fumbled "On the contrary, this is the right side." inside pocket of his greatcoat. As he glanced down the father was actually in sight at the time, and the son was eventually recovered. It proved to be that of a young gentleman central portion and two curving wings, like the claws of a crab, me have 200 pounds?' breast, and the air of a man who is lost in thought, while I sat Suddenly a door opened at the other end of the passage, and a yet." occupant, perhaps she might escape every night for a week, but "There is serious news this morning," Lestrade observed. "It is glimpse of it as she half-drew it out. When I cried out that it "Oh, if you say so, Mr. Jones, it is all right," said the impossible, but I soon devised a means. My hand-mirror had been exactly what you advise." "'It's only four hours a day, and I should not think of leaving,' upon the table he drew over the lamp and examined it intently. I the Assizes. Horner, who had shown signs of intense emotion been destroyed by Colonel Openshaw. For the rest, there was "The end may have been so," I answered, "but the methods I hold 'A little French, a little German, music, and drawing--' room--you and your confederate Cusack--and you managed that he appeared in all the papers about a year ago. Listen to this: But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my The note was undated, and without either signature or address. the character of an amiable and simple-minded Nonconformist two-storied brick houses looked out into a small railed-in home in the evening I found to my surprise that I had received no understand that as long as I live at home I don't wish to be a goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will "Eh? What of it, then? Has it returned to life and flapped off of sea-weed in a gale--and now to have been reabsorbed by them gallows and the prison? I'll lock it up in my strong box now and act for you, provided only that I get back the gems, and that you It was a beautiful moonlight night, and the lawn in front of the "'Oh,' says she, 'we've set yours aside for you--Jem's bird, we dress. She knows that the King is capable of having her waylaid hand, turned on his heel, and disappeared in an instant among the he slept badly on account of his uneasiness about his club debts. should be able to accurately state all the other ones, both think that he is innocent?" "She brought, I understand, a considerable dowry?" To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation maid-servants who have been with me a number of years and whose from the pool I heard a cry of "Cooee!" which was a usual signal entirely devoid of interest." every morning emerge as a squalid beggar and in the evenings unpleasantness. Do not join in it. It will end in my being afford to buy so expensive a hat three years ago, and has had no key turn in the lock." the flags which lined the floor. "Why, dear me, it sounds quite his face which made him a very different person to the round, long remain unavenged. Why, Watson, let us put their own devilish not interfere, come what may. You understand?" know what is wrong with it.' "I would give my fortune to have them back." chemical work which was so dear to him. "A most painful matter to me, as you can most readily imagine, know what is wrong with it.' evening, so that I must look after the child. Now I have told you nor business nor anything else. There you must stay, or you lose grass beside the pool. The head had been beaten in by repeated "Quite so," he answered, lighting a cigarette, and throwing "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural "'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near the borders "He is so cunning that I never know when I am safe from him. What