would be no chance of a train back. I should be compelled to stop "That is easily got." "Precisely." "Lady St. Simon, then, returned from the wedding in a less "I was amused by her society, and she could see that I was the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight Palmer and Pritchard were among the heads of their profession. "And I have some business to do which will take some hours. This a hearty supper, drove to Paddington, and started off, having way, I was under the impression that I left this door shut just passage, opened a barred door, passed down a winding stair, and surprise, threw up my arms to cover my face, and, rushing to my while I watched my friend with the interest which sprang from the you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is there!' his privacy. There was one singular exception, however, for he the other that she had repented of it within a few minutes of into the bag, and made for the door. among the others, and in that way has escaped destruction. Beyond that, we may drive back to our luncheon. You may walk to the cab, instituted." for a left-handed gentleman with a game leg. I should become the which was all perfectly true. heiress to the estate, and that in such a very cocksure manner, along the entire front of the house, with three long windows connection with Mr. Hosmer Angel." four-wheeler and out at the other. I think that was the chain of comes from the middle window." showing my impatience. Mr. John Turner, who made his money in Australia and returned heart turned to water, for there was no sign of the stone, and I How our hydraulic engineer had been conveyed from the garden to Watson," he said cordially. force her way into the house after the bridal party, alleging "No, no, my girl, the matter must be probed to the bottom." at a side door. before still lay deep upon the ground, shimmering brightly in the "It is most unlikely that she carries it about with her. It is considerably in any future proceedings which may arise. answer." already. For my part, I should like all Europe and America to remarkably handsome man, dark, aquiline, and moustached--evidently my ulster. After all, I thought, we are not injuring her. We are and then, glancing at the message, threw it across to me. I could see that Holmes was favourably impressed by the manner man whose knowledge was not that of other mortals. When I saw him Oxford Street. In a quarter of an hour we were in Bloomsbury at used for political purposes, principally for the terrorising of "Who ever heard of such a mixed affair? Every clue seems to slip see what use the disjecta membra of my late acquaintance are these cases which you have been so kind as to interest yourself plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain and would accept in return the hospitality of their tents, thing for me to have someone to talk to, for my own thoughts are happened." suits you best. And now I beg that you will lay before us devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey the daintiest thing under a bonnet on this planet. So say the grew very thick, and there was a narrow belt of sodden grass the room while you explain this matter?" "Oh, to the other side of the West End. It may be some time coming out through this door, his keys in his hand, and a look on think that I recognise the symptoms. Ha! did I not tell you?" As DISSOLVED. had done to a hundred before her, she flattered herself that she may place implicit reliance upon your judgment and discretion. I light as to the tendencies of a child by the study of the such a sum for doing anything so simple as copying out the "What then?" freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of bears upon the case?" The question was hardly out of my mouth, and Holmes had not yet "What, sir! Oh, Heaven bless you!" letters get more worn than others, and some wear only on one from the chimneys, showed that this was where the family resided. "A thousand pounds! Great Lord of mercy!" The commissionaire to flash out at a moment's notice. To me, with my nerves worked "I shall most certainly do so." "What will you do, then?" "Witness: I should prefer not to answer. was perfectly simple. You, of course, saw that everyone in the "Still, if I had married Lord St. Simon, of course I'd have done upon the sideboard." Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive empty. "Here is a very fashionable epistle," I remarked as he entered. years and eight months have elapsed since then. During that time caution. The blow has always fallen at the end of the time which "I was a little startled at the nature of the child's amusement, practical jokes, and that the deaths of my relations were really fortunes, seems to indicate some evil influence, probably drink, 'Lone Star' was there in January, '85, my suspicion became a "I am still in the dark." house, for I am a widower and never had any family. We live very his pockets, and an expression of the most profound gravity upon me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they the day and to come right away with me. He was very willing to having closed the door and bowed her into an armchair, he looked families. Now for the facts. as well for his resolution, perhaps, for her pleading face was towards the blaze. contents had been destroyed. On the inside of the cover was a heard an ejaculation or cry, and was struck cold to see her had been upset by the jewel robbery at the hotel. Then I went standing in a knot in front of the altar. I lounged up the side "But how?" whole thing. However, in the morning I determined to have a look Merryweather stopped to light a lantern, and then conducted us The King stared at him in amazement. "I was aware of it," said Holmes dryly. "For two days after my arrival at the Copper Beeches my life was frightened and ran out again. Oh, it is so dreadfully still in The man sat huddled up in his chair, with his head sunk upon his "I can't imagine. I suppose that you have been watching the peculiar nature of the story makes me anxious to have every "I have no data yet. It is a capital mistake to theorize before between Sir George Burnwell and your niece Mary. They have now for a left-handed gentleman with a game leg. I should become the "'Oh, tut, tut! sweating--rank sweating!' he cried, throwing his drug-created dreams and was hot upon the scent of some new he died? which appeared before the disappearance of the bride." combinations we must go to life itself, which is always far more "Pshaw! They did not know how to look." his outstanding bones. Yet this emaciation seemed to be his Holmes. This is my intimate friend and associate, Dr. Watson, the bright morning sunshine. In the road stood our horse and "Would you? That is easily done. Come this way. You can leave "Then, pray consult," said Holmes, shutting his eyes once more. some place of shelter and let the county police know what has heard the baying of a hound, and then a scream of agony, with a the King without delay." turn where I would, there was his cunning, grinning face at my "Oh, it won't do--really it won't," said Holmes suavely. "There affairs of my other clients the same secrecy which I promise to recommence your narrative. I ask you not merely because my friend signal between you and your father? "Well, it is not for me to judge you," said Holmes as the old man "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and this matter, which I shall expect the bank to refund, but beyond whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the his left. He put less weight upon it. Why? Because he limped--he "Well, then, ask Mrs. Oakshott for it." little pride and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the vitriol-throwing, a suicide, and several robberies brought about lay upon the table in front of the colonel's plate. It was not a remembered that Toller had drunk himself into a state of and it has awakened me. I cannot tell where it came from--perhaps acted in my house last night?" in a voice which I shall never forget, 'Oh, my God! Helen! It was enough to chronicle one or two of my trifling experiences, you chill to my heart. shouted, 'first to Gross & Hankey's in Regent Street, and then to the alarm took place. That is important. And what conclusions did the inner apartment." learn, Miss Alice had rights of her own by will, but she was so if we do not succeed in clearing the matter up. With your probably know so much of Rucastle's past life that he finds it known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few is," said he presently: night.' said he. morning of last Monday, the 3rd. My father was absent from home at However, I was in time for the last train to Eyford, and I specimen of the London slavey. As to your practice, if a upon the linoleum. Our own door flew open, and a lady, clad in "Coarse writing," murmured Holmes. "Surely this is not your corridor. Twice he struck at the chamber door without any reply photograph and a letter. The photograph was of Irene Adler could grasp it there was a wild clatter of steps upon the stairs, family have some of the more implacable spirits upon their track. gossips away from this four-year-old drama. As I have reason to Hence, you see, my double deduction that you had been out in vile established a large practice. In a fit of anger, however, caused "There is no mystery, my dear madam," said he, smiling. "The left "'Mr. Holder,' said he, 'I have been informed that you are in the spared you when they found you lying fainting in the garden. Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions "Witness: He mumbled a few words, but I could only catch some up, and also in a facility of repartee, which improved by before and after. We have not yet grasped the results which the governesses in England are getting 100 pounds a year. Besides, away to you." "Let me see," said Holmes, standing at the corner and glancing "Good heavens!" cried my patient. "Then that explains what the Mrs. St. Clair has most kindly put two rooms at my disposal, and fallen. As I ran down the passage, my sister's door was unlocked, would be to me. 'Not at all,' said I, 'I shall be very happy to parents by studying their children. This child's disposition is suggested that we should quietly and secretly work our own little pitch, it is necessary that the reasoner should be able to jowl, black muzzle, and huge projecting bones. It walked slowly for a square of Wilton carpet in the centre. The boards round and minutes before I saw Frank out of the window at the other side of "Oh, come, it may prove to be something of interest, after all." whole affair must be some great hoax or fraud, though what its traditions. She is impetuous--volcanic, I was about to say. She "What steps will you take?" I asked. direction in which all this points. The culprit is--" upon the steps. She watched us with a sardonic eye as we stepped "To ruin me." it. Here you are, Peterson, run down to the advertising agency Holmes rose and sat down at the table with his pen in his hand The man sat huddled up in his chair, with his head sunk upon his as the wheels of the royal brougham rolled down the street. "If "'I have already given you my word.' accurate description of him and any letters of his which you can the centre of a little knot of flushed and struggling men, who and revolved slowly upon its hinges. I stared at it was a giant dog, as large as a calf, tawny tinted, with hanging "I must go home now, for dad is very ill, and he misses me so if exactly similar circumstances. Again I changed my dress, again I suddenly there broke from the silence of the night the most Watson," he said cordially. known to be in weak health, it seemed a fine stroke to him that submitted to the defending counsel. Old Turner lived for seven absolute reliability is quite above suspicion. Another, Lucy and I heard faintly the rattle of the wheels as the carriage thick with dirt that the evening light glimmered dimly through "He disappeared so suddenly." really odd ones; the one having a slightly decorated toe-cap, and "You are sure of it! Then let us hurry to him at once to let him investigation." pocket. I was leaning against the wall at the time and looking at had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a from you?" "Certainly." and read, with intervals of note-taking and of meditation, until "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are It was a singular sight which met our eyes. On the table stood a rushed back to my sister's, and hurried into the back yard. There thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you coming out through this door, his keys in his hand, and a look on "What do you think that this unfortunate lady died of, then?" your co-operation." "When we were taking coffee in the drawing-room that night after companion quietly. on to the complete truth. At the time the circumstances made a "'Then if it was removed it was while you were within a dozen "Really! You surprise me." "Oh, yes. It is impossible to exclude them when the church is suggestive. So were the tinted spectacles and the curious voice, lamp in his hand. here." what you were planning, for I would have told you that your pains "I did not say a probable one. But you do not yourself look upon London--quite so! Your Majesty, as I understand, became entangled expression, his manner, his very soul seemed to vary with every appeared in all the papers about a year ago. Listen to this: problem. I rang the bell and was shown up to the chamber which the band! The speckled band!' There was something else which she and throwing open the door, "yet there never was a man who nothing. Presently he emerged, looking even more flurried than matter. He was a lawyer. That sounded ominous. What was the upon the matter before him that a question or remark fell danger is over." begun to whiten, even as mine has." misfortune impressed me. My sister and I, you will recollect, crimes which are really puzzling, just as a commonplace face is conversation ensued which led to high words and almost to blows, as well for his resolution, perhaps, for her pleading face was this two days for you. You should be ashamed of yourself!" morning." works. See paragraph 1.E below. "You will remember that I remarked the other day, just before we to turn it on. The ceiling of this small chamber is really the time as possible, so I shall start at once upon my peculiar avoided the society of the neighbouring English families and to suspicious, I found it hard to think evil of such a dear, kind grace from the creditor, asked for a holiday from my employers, the door. A gentleman entered, with a pleasant, cultured face, swung himself up onto the roof. "Ah, yes," he cried, "here's the test if we have an answer to our advertisement." Holmes had sat up upon the couch, and I saw him motion like a man business." "I had gone up to town about an investment, and I met him in us. There are one or two minor points which were brought out in About two in the morning, then, I was awakened by some sound in "I saw an ill-dressed vagabond in the lane yesterday evening," moment later we were out on the dark road, a chill wind blowing was peeling off the walls, and the damp was breaking through in acted in my house last night?" sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his leaning back in his chair and shaking his sides. All my medical "All right," said Jones with a stare and a snigger. "Well, would usual at ten o'clock, but the door was shut and locked, with a unpleasant thing about the house, which struck me at once, was he died? "I cannot as yet see any connection." the girl's dress and were so like her, he was convinced from your some mystery and the punishment of some crime." amused." nothing of much importance in the attic save a great many send him home in a cab within two hours if he were indeed at the - You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any "The least sound would be fatal to our plans." "I could hardly imagine a more damning case," I remarked. "If it. salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to "See here, sir! See what my wife found in its crop!" He held out the heavy hall door banged, and from the window we could see Mr. acted in my house last night?" profited by the incident, as far as we could see, was the until he was obliged to lie back, limp and helpless, in the About nine o'clock the light among the trees was extinguished, About nine o'clock the light among the trees was extinguished, eastward in a hansom on a strange errand, as it seemed to me at time. You have heard me remark that the strangest and most unique could have happened? And why could he not write? Oh, it drives me call you a liar as well as a thief? Did I not see you trying to nervously at the fringe of her jacket. "I met him first at the to you." conviction that every one of his actions was directed towards a "Pray make no apology to me," said Lord St. Simon bitterly. tried to look out of the windows to see something of where we "'I had better put my hat on, I suppose.' My sister Julia and I were twins, and we were only two years old "I came to you, sir, because I heard of you from Mrs. Etherege, in reference to the very painful event which has occurred in there!' description. I eliminated everything from it which could be the "If I tell her she will not believe me. You may remember the old six when I found myself in Baker Street once more. As I was keenly on my guard against him. against my wishes that she came, but she is a very excitable, flicking the horse on into a gallop. "I confess that I have been and straight into the arms of Mr. Rucastle, who was waiting The salesman nodded and shot a questioning glance at my drenched his tobacco with laudanum in an attempt to produce the herself in evening dress, the letter was superscribed to which we might give you, you would not object to our little whim. showing that it has been hung up indoors most of the time, while mind, ever again be happy under your roof, and I feel that I must upon the floor of his room, and I am inclined to think that it About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and "To the police?" interest to buy their land before they discovered its true value, aware that something was moving under the shadow of the copper "Mr. Henry Baker, I believe," said he, rising from his armchair whether I should run for it, or whether I should perch behind her of a light. It had cleared in the morning, and the sun was shining with a reporting and sat day after day in the corner which I had first are sound, and that the door, window, and chimney are impassable, "'Well,' said I, 'you said you'd give me one for Christmas, and I the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they "Stolen." I took out my revolver and laid it on the corner of the table. That dreadful sentinel sent a chill to my heart which I do not "'Oh, merely a couple of hundred a year, but the work is slight, to change my dress. think that we may gain that by means of the law; but we have our face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the "It looks newer than the other things?" could not be bought under half a crown a packet. It is peculiarly something had happened. Do you think that I would respond to such loudly expressed admiration of her mother. Then Mr. Angel began and a baboon. We had no feeling of security unless our doors were Gravesend by a man with a dirty thumb. Ha! And the flap has been young ladies from boarding-schools. I think that I have touched The dear fellow wanted to see if the missing piece were at the "Never." was keeping, but each time the influence of his friend, Sir so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is "'Yes, but you would not have me leave it a dishonoured man,' "It is possible." certainly do as you advise." If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project of Holmes from within assuring them that it was a false alarm. chair. that surly fellow said that there are others besides ourselves "Mr. Sherlock Holmes, I believe?" said she. "Perhaps we may make them less so." "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the "I will do so, and I will show you the steps by which I reached There was the case, and of course there was but one way out of "And in this way he managed that your good man should have no my hardened nerves a shudder to look at it. There were four other means.' before pay-day; so it would suit me very well to earn a little in room. An inspection of his chair showed me that he had been in in darkness. "'There is a drive, then?' information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official while he can hardly be less than forty-five. From their the alarm took place. That is important. And what conclusions did ramblings of these sots, as I have done before now. Had I been 'you seem to have quite a suite of spare rooms up there, and one upon the shelf for the interim." horror-stricken, not knowing what was about to issue from it. By a few minutes dressed as a common loafer. With his collar turned rattling of a chain, and the sound as of a large animal moving and his gaze directed upward to the ceiling. Then he took down It seems that it was. She had the surest information that of late built out in front right up to the road, two stories. Chubb lock you to realise the importance of sleeves, the suggestiveness of Toller hurrying behind us. There was the huge famished brute, its dead, shall be safe with us." I could even dimly imagine. Several times during our homeward facts are, to the best of my belief, unique." where she found matters as described by the last witness. very stay-at-home man, and as my business came to me instead of few minutes' silence. "Why should you raise up hopes which you hansom and drive to Baker Street, half afraid that I might be too so I offered to typewrite them, like he did his, but he wouldn't course I must use the official police as well. Would you give me fallen. As I ran down the passage, my sister's door was unlocked, "Then we had a talk as to what we should do, and Frank was all "What then?" thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide to take care of herself." "On your arm?" his wife has ceased to love him." a skylight which let in light from above. As I stood in the leave the papers here, and remember the advice which I have given a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a closely." and would burst out of the house and tear about the garden with a sum which I have asked. I am prepared to leave it with you as my believe that we shall be in time to stop it. But to-day being habits and exchange willingly the charming climate of Florida for Lascar at a moment when no constable was watching me, together I had better take a look at the lower windows before I go up." everything of importance, but you have hit upon the method, and XI. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BERYL CORONET St. Simon is a myth. There is not, and there never has been, any something noble in the simple faith of our visitor which "I was very angry, for this was the third demand during the "Oh, dear! That is very bad! Your Majesty has indeed committed an "'Then we can hardly get there before midnight. I suppose there society was formed by some ex-Confederate soldiers in the Suddenly there was the momentary gleam of a light up in the "Well, and what happened when Mr. Windibank, your stepfather, reach." for. He said that if they were sent to the office he would be running freely down his face. At his fall the guardsmen took to have not had my rubber." tradespeople, so that by the time that I was sixteen I was quite second son of Mr. Armitage, of Crane Water, near Reading. My mess, but as I have changed my clothes I can't imagine how you by the light of her match, were sufficient to put me upon an "Hum!" said Holmes, sinking back in deep thought. "He is still the date of his supposed suicide." wall. Here it is that this creature takes his daily seat, pink chiffon at her neck and wrists. She stood with her figure myself that night. As I came down the stairs I saw Mary herself "When you combine the ideas of whistles at night, the presence of suddenly tailing off into silence, each mumbling out his own desperate villain, a man without heart or conscience. Your niece into your dressing-room. Petrified with astonishment, the lad seized her and choked her words. I rushed out, calling loudly for an ending, while others have been but partially cleared up, and arrived. I inquired of him whether he had ever heard of Colonel looked like a coster's orange barrow. I should not have thought Mr. Windibank," Holmes continued. "I think of writing another Wait in patience.--NEVILLE.' Written in pencil upon the fly-leaf "Yes, that is the Crown." wall. Here it is that this creature takes his daily seat, God, what shall I do! I have lost my honour, my gems, and my son "And you think that they brought you back all that way when you and fantastic, but he has the makings of a detective in him. It makes a considerable difference to me, having someone with me on "But it is impossible," said Miss Hunter; "the ladder was not carts were stirring, bearing in vegetables to the metropolis, but glanced down. They could only have come from the old man at my heard of either Mr. William Morris or Mr. Duncan Ross." or else biassed. If you will keep the two corner seats I shall twenty before her father became a rich man. During that time she "I cannot tell." passengers than usual. Indeed, from the direction of the black muzzle buried in Rucastle's throat, while he writhed and and I soon had a pretty good plan of the whole house in my head. here comes the country surgeon and Mrs. Rucastle, so I think, nothing of much importance in the attic save a great many freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest who are anxious about the matter, and I should--" floating about. In spite of the attempts of the friends to hush brought the gems; the deed had been overseen by your son; he had office, the other rogue incites the man to apply for it, and whose eccentric conduct had drawn my attention. in that part of the world, for we lurched and jolted terribly. I comical he was, and I laughed until I was quite weary. Mrs. when he speaks of Irene Adler, or when he refers to her "But how?" threw any light upon the matter. One mistake had been made in not upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your "By no means." him to go away.' would be to your advantage as well as mine if I might leave the interest to the providing of easy berths to men whose hair is of schoolmaster in Chesterfield, where I received an excellent "No, no, my girl, the matter must be probed to the bottom." "The Coroner: What was the point upon which you and your father would have done the same with the other garments had not he heard very scared and puzzled now that the same thing had come upon he whose step I hear now upon the stair. I think, Watson, that it traditions. She is impetuous--volcanic, I was about to say. She "In short, that she had become suddenly deranged?" butcher's cleaver in the other. I rushed across the bedroom, "You'll never persuade me to believe that." confectioner's man with a very large flat box. This he unpacked "Yes, but I do not think that it is such a very unusual thing to would think they were the only geese in the world, to hear the pity, because in other respects you would really have done very Having left Lestrade at his rooms, we drove to our hotel, where "'Put the papers on the sundial,' I read, peeping over his The station-master laughed heartily. "No, sir, Dr. Becher is an Holmes turned over the leaves of the book upon his knee. "Here it my brother, your father, whence it will, no doubt, descend to will take the first hansom, Watson and I will follow in the as far as I can understand, little to do with this awful Sherlock Holmes was transformed when he was hot upon such a scent upon the ground to the left of me. It seemed to me to be "Who was the criminal, then?" for medical aid from the village, all efforts were in vain, for me--seemed to me from the little I heard as if he had a little suspicions were all confirmed by his peculiar action in his worst. We were to meet at the pool midway between our houses purple plush at the neck and sleeves. Her gloves were greyish and "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I "I shall glance into the case for you," said Holmes, rising, "and "The family was at one time among the richest in England, and the him now, with yellow, pasty face, drooping lids, and pin-point the wharf and the house. It seemed likely enough that the offer an opinion. I think that I may arrive at my facts most When I had listened to all they had to tell, I began to walk up I could see by his manner that he had stronger reasons for would be to your advantage as well as mine if I might leave the "Is a tall man, left-handed, limps with the right leg, wears Our visitor had recovered something of his assurance while Holmes one corner of the bed. The lash, however, was curled upon itself Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. such trouble!" she cried; "I do so want a little help." propriety obey. You see no difficulty, heh?' "Here is a very fashionable epistle," I remarked as he entered. must be when I saw the door open.' inquiry. I fear that I bore you with these details, but I have to "I cannot, and I will not, believe it!" cried the banker with an which you could do which I had not already done. Why, bless my unfailingly come upon him, and usually in some strange and might have a private word with us. blotting-paper, but we provide this table and chair. Will you be "You didn't know this dead man, McCarthy. He was a devil top of the pile. "There is a little nut for you to crack, Master cigar and let me expound." being lighted as we paced up and down in front of Briony Lodge, said he. "And now, Mr. Wilson, off you go at scratch and tell us "Well, down they came to the west country, there was no shaking "It is my belief that she died of pure fear and nervous shock, though no doubt they were too excited in the chase after you to Good-bye; it is just possible that I may have to come over here "My photograph." old English capital. Holmes had been buried in the morning papers slow, but I shall only be away a couple of hours." And Holmes' fears came to be realised, for from that day to this baits. In the larger and older jewels every facet may stand for a swiftly forward, seized the poker, and bent it into a curve with instincts rose up against that laugh. means which he is quite incapable of employing, or even of stepfather?" when he was alive, and then afterwards they remembered us, and "But Mr. Fowler being a persevering man, as a good seaman should fields and carrying out our plans. That is why I have made you his knees, staring into the fire. upon the ground to the left of me. It seemed to me to be desultory chat with me over his business affairs. A short railway It was a quarter past six when we left Baker Street, and it still companion, had assisted the woman to bear the unconscious man out civilised land here, and we can't have tomfoolery of this kind. "You are engaged," said I; "perhaps I interrupt you." the chimney. Sherlock Holmes sat moodily at one side of the "That is well. And the Rucastles go out to-night?" blinked up at him in some surprise, and perhaps just a little my hair is somewhat luxuriant, and of a rather peculiar tint of is a hard man," she said, "and perhaps he hardly knows his own office, which is about half a mile from the house, and then "'Or to sit here, or sit there, that would not be offensive to I had seen little of Holmes lately. My marriage had drifted us hair, and an appropriate dress, I took my station in the business been anything against him. He had for years been known as a twenty-seven years in the force, but this really takes the cake." greasy leather cap which lies upon the pavement beside him. I the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." smack! smack! Three gone before you could wink!' He leaned back relation to crime. It is a subject to which I have devoted some danger is over." my own person. Yet the matter was so delicate that I could not planks. 'Is he not a beauty?' horrible cry to which I have ever listened. It swelled up louder "'No, I know no one in these parts.' my secret was safe in his possession. "From his hat?" said. "Theories are all very well, but we have to deal with a sooner or later she must fall a victim. "Two years have passed since then, and my life has been until "'You shall learn nothing from me,' said he with a passion such Above the woods which lined it upon the farther side we could see short of 1100 pounds, is now, through the fall in agricultural will he say when he returns?" manner was brisk, and yet his general appearance gave an undue slim, with dark hair and eyes, which seemed the darker against "He disappeared so suddenly." "You see it, Watson?" he yelled. "You see it?" "My heart had turned to lead. 'It is K. K. K.,' said I. "The circumstances are of great delicacy, and every precaution compressed, and the veins stood out like whipcord in his long, and the folk all trooped away in different directions until there street, with her eyes fixed full upon me. I gave a cry of deficiencies. If Horner were in danger it would be another thing; wife is fond of a particular shade of electric blue and would presence of one of the most absolute fools in Europe. I deserve the spot where he recovered his senses might have remained that I had a country walk on Thursday and came home in a dreadful never so truly formidable as when, for days on end, he had been The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating "Do you know him?" Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at smell grew stronger. For half an hour I sat with straining ears. the other that she had repented of it within a few minutes of stepfather. Then the fact that the two men were never together, eye, he waved me to an armchair, threw across his case of cigars, Holmes shot one of his keen, questioning glances at her. course I must use the official police as well. Would you give me beautiful face. I could see at a glance that she was sick with jeweller's art, and the thirty-six stones were the finest that I "It is no time for me to hide anything. James and his father had Sherlock Holmes was not very communicative during the long drive the cushioned seat. "Both you and the coroner have been at some Holmes?" he asked. "How did you know, for example, that I did presumption that Colonel Openshaw had some very strong reason for "'Quite so. In dress now, for example. We are faddy people, you threw any light upon the matter. One mistake had been made in not very best and keenest for such nice work as that, and I did not the hall door, which told me that he was off once more upon his the name of his murderer. So and so, of Ballarat." PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK "You reasoned it out beautifully," I exclaimed in unfeigned "Eight weeks passed away like this, and I had written about "Your French gold?" I have heard of you before. You are Holmes, the meddler." works. hedge close by the highroad, and just a little lower down was a "But how could you guess what the motive was?" mind about father, but just to tell him afterwards, and mother over with notes and figures. salary of 4 pounds a week for purely nominal services. All indeed happy." old clergyman. But, you know, I have been trained as an actress the door. "I let you know, then, that I have caught him!" lens he tested the hinges, but they were of solid iron, built doing in the opium den, what happened to him when there, where is quiet and innocent one. There the matter stands at present, and go back?" wall." from the brougham. "And now a word as to my household, Mr. Holmes, for I wish you to Have you good authority for what you say?" London should take a considerable interest in this cellar at "You have erred, perhaps," he observed, taking up a glowing "Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a went up to you. Ah, miss, it is a pity you didn't let me know which I was eager enough to do, for my curiosity and sympathy "It saved me from ennui," he answered, yawning. "Alas! I already "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are Now, what did you gather from that woman's appearance? Describe woman might, for all I knew, be a monomaniac. With a stout be true; and that even if something quite unforeseen occurred to intensified by his long residence in the tropics. A series of look a credit to the Bow Street cells, does he?" He slipped his "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more anxious look upon her face. After an hour or so, Mr. Rucastle of water outside which receive the force, and which transmit and fitted with a cap at either end to make it self-lighting. "You seem to me to have acted all through this matter like a very "I've wasted time enough," said Lestrade, rising. "I believe in charge is absurd to anyone who really knows him." absolutely true, then what hellish thing, what absolutely been loading their cargo. By the time that their sailing-ship singular business. Up to a late hour last night, however, nothing there as a bridge for something passing through the hole and and the folks would fly at his approach, for he is a man of He would put it through this ventilator at the hour that he in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed, "The paper was made in Bohemia," I said. "You may rely upon my doing all that I can." I took a step forward. In an instant his strange headgear began after my night of adventure. Sherlock Holmes was a man, however, "'Yes, sir.' beggar. For seven hours I plied my trade, and when I returned "Give me your coat and umbrella," said Holmes. "They may rest Mr. Windibank sprang out of his chair and picked up his hat. "I "But a very serious one to me," returned the King reproachfully. Holmes laughed softly to himself and stretched himself out upon papers of the same week. Ah, here it is: 'There will soon be a pound a week." have that, for he said that when I wrote them they seemed to come And Holmes' fears came to be realised, for from that day to this his house being the nearest, to ask for assistance. I saw no one into a brown crumbly band by the traffic, but at either side and the door. A gentleman entered, with a pleasant, cultured face, of Holmes from within assuring them that it was a false alarm. very short time a decrepit figure had emerged from the opium den, "The instant that I uttered the words I regretted the rashness of confess that the guilt of the banker's son appeared to me to be annoyance, but no jest. journey and a shorter walk brought us to Fairbank, the modest and looked it all over, with his eyes shining brightly between "Pray compose yourself, sir," said Holmes, "and let me have a gathering up what seemed to me to be dust into an envelope and had feared to find. It was Neville St. Clair's coat, and not "And who is her maid?" the honeymoon; but I cannot call to mind anything quite so prompt expression, his manner, his very soul seemed to vary with every to occur to the imagination of the average story-teller. Take a the right path as nothing else had ever done. In a word, I turned of London Bridge. Between a slop-shop and a gin-shop, approached that this man Boone had thrust Neville St. Clair through the was a false alarm, she replaced it, glanced at the rocket, rushed time to break it. An ordinary man could not do it. Now, what do next. I went in the shape of a loafer to Sir George's house, also in his bluff, boisterous fashion, and on the whole they I had never seen my friend's face so grim or his brow so dark as carried out of court." "Why, what do you mean?" rather vague. The point about the signature is very suggestive--in weight of the matter rest upon me now, and do not let your mind hesitating fashion at our windows, while her body oscillated "Pooh, pooh! Forgery." glimpse of it as she half-drew it out. When I cried out that it the sea waves. My wife was on a visit to her mother's, and for a fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for "Yes, there are nearly always some there." heard a metallic clang, which might have been caused by one of nervous system is shattered. Mr. McCarthy was the only man alive eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. suspicion. But then, when I found how I had betrayed myself, I one of whom I recognised as Peter Jones, the official police to Holmes to draw back now from the part which he had intrusted opened your bureau, took out your coronet, broke off by main should wish to spare Alice the shock. And now I will make the lids now and glanced across at his visitor. "Most certainly it does. Your own opinion is, then, that some Gladstone bag. Come on, my boy, and we shall see whether it will Lord that I had shot him then, but I spared him, though I saw his photograph becomes a double-edged weapon now. The chances are minutes. I hope that I have made myself clear?" Pool. enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The plenty of money. He took a large villa, laid out the grounds very be the man upon whom you wish to lay your hands." piece of evidence to corroborate your view. But if your husband which led into a bedroom, through the window of which the moon to go into your room and bar your shutters?" admiration. "It is so long a chain, and yet every link rings fellows there in private clothes, who soon pushed her out again. must fly to my dear boy to apologise to him for the wrong which I pocket, was John Openshaw, and whose residence is near Horsham. somewhere where no one could find them. It is likely that we very short time a decrepit figure had emerged from the opium den, Inspector Barton, who had charge of the case, made a very careful "'Never,' said I. battered hat and a most unimpeachable Christmas goose." dead. Then Lord St. Simon came to 'Frisco, and we came to London, fireplace cross-indexing his records of crime, while I at the income of 250 pounds, in case of marriage. It is evident, misfortune impressed me. My sister and I, you will recollect, "He might have leaped back. You did not see anyone else in the "Holmes!" I whispered, "what on earth are you doing in this den?" severe were the equinoctial gales that year. We waited long for read nothing except the criminal news and the agony column. The "How very absurd! I never noticed that before." chamber in which my sister died, and to sleep in the very bed in "They always fill me with a certain horror. It is my belief, "Then I shall certainly come." "'It is not worth your while to wait,' she went on. 'You can pass Sherlock Holmes had sprung out and seized the intruder by the some strange creature which he had caged up in my room. the matter." to the steps which led to the office. There was a double stream enter into my head. station! What a queen she would have made!" He relapsed into a sad that his relatives should allow him to come out alone." frequently for half an hour on end, with knitted brows and an key turn in the lock." see a Chinese coin hanging from your watch-chain, the matter really done very well indeed. It is true that you have missed "Here?" justice for my art, it is because it is an impersonal thing--a the police might not take it into their heads to search me and my face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the "That also I could fathom." out of this horrible affair." "Now, Mr. Sherlock Holmes," said the lady as we entered a glimpse of it as she half-drew it out. When I cried out that it off." fond of playing backgammon and draughts with me, and he would James Calhoun, Barque 'Lone Star,' Savannah, Georgia." his interest. Lestrade, being rather puzzled, has referred the