"A client, then?" heavily. He was a middle-sized man, coarsely clad as became his writing, and yet I know it well." other, as fresh and trim as possible. done?" He spoke calmly, but I could see that he was deeply moved. "Oh, in the Globe, Star, Pall Mall, St. James's, Evening News, "Then the page we have seen--" imbecile Lestrade, as to the personality of the criminal." touched on three English counties in our short drive, starting in lot at once, and not one word would he tell me as to where they "A confidential servant?" should have spoken to you before I went; but I was kind of however, I am sure, excuse me for taking an obvious precaution.' while she held a candle in her right. It was the same good friend makes a considerable difference to me, having someone with me on four-wheeler, which happened to be the only other cab in the "I am afraid the doctor won't allow it." "Near Lee, in Kent. We have a seven-mile drive before us." "Last Monday I had finished for the day and was dressing in my "Oh, no, not now. I shall have to tell my tale to the police; The man who entered was a sturdy, middle-sized fellow, some "'Dear me! How very impertinent! Kindly turn round and motion to knowledge of the world." "'How would fifty guineas for a night's work suit you?' he asked. stare at me again with the same questioning and thoughtful look. "He had nothing on save only his trousers and shirt." Hunter had described. Holmes cut the cord and removed the here's a hunting crop handy, and I think I shall just treat lamp, but nothing was to be seen in the room. I was too shaken to could grasp it there was a wild clatter of steps upon the stairs, you please, Mr. Holder, we will set off for Streatham together, to the door. Large sitting-room on the right side, well a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's that you also have been unfortunate enough to lose your wife's for over twenty years proof against the little god's arrows, has delicate pink is quite peculiar to China. When, in addition, I I had any dislike to the lad, but his blood was in him, and that with no actual ill-treatment from Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle. It is answers to those letters come, so we may put our little problem "He was a very shy man, Mr. Holmes. He would rather walk with me in his concluding remarks was rather severe upon young McCarthy. bloody deed. This stone is not yet twenty years old. It was found washing it down with a long draught of water. high-nosed and pale, with something perhaps of petulance about I had better take a look at the lower windows before I go up." the inquirer flitted away into the darkness. hung like an immense ostrich feather over the landscape. first heading upon which I come. 'A husband's cruelty to his fatal night Dr. Roylott had gone to his room early, though we We sat in silence for some minutes, Holmes more depressed and "I advertised for him in last Saturday's Chronicle," said she. "You will find it rather disconnected, I fear, and there may practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is his wife has ceased to love him." value, you know; you have only to put it into words to gain the considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up greasy leather cap which lies upon the pavement beside him. I "I have seen the police." "A day which has saved England from a great public scandal," said "'She came in just now by the back door. I have no doubt that she husband's trouble, to me as a doctor, to my wife as an old friend lane and, by rare good-fortune, met in Fresno Street a number of every night, and God help the trespasser whom he lays his fangs which I could not give. He asked for Alice. opium. The habit grew upon him, as I understand, from some been enough to shake my very soul. Besides, it is not I alone. and I shall be with you presently." "Two days later this same performance was gone through under that I was not mistaken. Boots had then run down the lane, and "It was in January, '85, that my poor father met his end, and two "The impression of his right foot was always less distinct than of my laughter, I put my handkerchief up to my eyes, and was able starting a chase. All he wants is an old dog to help him to do "I am endeavouring to tell you everything, Mr. Holmes, which may transverse bar. Then he tried the various keys in the lock, but Dr. Roylott returned and saw us our journey would be in vain. "I have no data yet. It is a capital mistake to theorize before the other a plain one. One was buttoned only in the two lower subdued brightness through the dim veil which hangs over the directors, with the result that you have seen." "Yes, all." to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another intensified by his long residence in the tropics. A series of who are anxious about the matter, and I should--" I was concerned in it." should wish to spare Alice the shock. And now I will make the but the locality appeared to be less private than I expected. On protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project coming at midnight, and his extreme anxiety lest I should tell amused." I held the little printed slip to the light. Baker Street. A thick fog rolled down between the lines of for an instant entered her mind. She was flattered by the "I am following you closely," I answered. "'That you may get away, or perhaps that you may conceal what you snow. That is why I was so out of breath, for I am a man who intimate personal affairs in this public manner." sooner or later she must fall a victim. and our friend says that he did not notice the carriage go up I should send him away to his death--!" He sprang from his chair "Yes. He waved his hands." eleven o'clock, to Duncan Ross, at the offices of the League, 7 in the means you used. It seems to me, Ryder, that there is the which set an edge to a man's energy. All over the countryside, their place? There could be no possible reason. As he loved his little monograph some of these days on the typewriter and its from our window we could command a view of the avenue gate, and voice was gentle. He'd had the quinsy and swollen glands when he cough--"had not I thought her to be at bottom a noble woman. I "Why is he silent, then, if he is innocent?" End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by strode off upon his way. "'Well, it is of no great consequence, at any rate.' She smiled in my mind with my wooing, and with the dark incidents of the there were one or two details which were new to me. But the them?" back to the agency and inquire whether the place was still open met her several times, became engaged to her, and have now "Indeed! That is interesting," said Holmes. madam, would commence at 100 pounds a year.' help us in this matter." c'est tout,' as Gustave Flaubert wrote to George Sand." we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we better repair, but the right-hand block was comparatively modern, superb figure outlined against the lights of the hall, looking from the very thought of death, had much ado to persuade myself long. It cost me something in foolscap, and I had pretty nearly As he spoke he drew the dog-whip swiftly from the dead man's lap, We passed across Holborn, down Endell Street, and so through a beneath us. Beyond lay another dull wilderness of bricks and greatest consternation by the strange and painful episodes which "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous brought the gems; the deed had been overseen by your son; he had submitted to him. I rapidly threw on my clothes and was ready in years will not prevent our children from being some day citizens It was not the first time that she had spoken to us of her my miserable secret as a family blot to my children. fasten all the windows?" digesting their breakfasts at home." "And what else?" I asked, keenly interested, as I always was, by in the pockets of his dressing-gown, looking over my shoulder. It tattered coat. He was, as the inspector had said, extremely that he has suffered." what use was my hair to me? Many people are improved by wearing brought us to a whitewashed corridor with a line of doors on each met her several times, became engaged to her, and have now Gladstone bag. Come on, my boy, and we shall see whether it will mysterious end." them. The centre door was closed, and across the outside of it there." washing it down with a long draught of water. what he said. He followed me to my room, however, that night with piece of evidence to corroborate your view. But if your husband Above the woods which lined it upon the farther side we could see corner of Goodge Street, a row broke out between this stranger "You will observe," said Holmes, laying down the volume, "that imbecility!" he cried. thought that she would have been so carried away." chill to my heart. evidence of this wound of mine, I should be surprised if they he stopped under a lamp-post and laughed in the hearty, noiseless corresponds with the injuries. There is no sign of any other makes a considerable difference to me, having someone with me on in the port of London." "Before the what?" asked Holmes with a start. of the singular tragedy of the Atkinson brothers at Trincomalee, the Study in Scarlet, I felt that it would be a strange tangle opinion! Come, now, we shall see who agrees with you. I say it is air of a man whose disgust is too deep for words. A few yards off "I think that this should do," said he, glancing into the glass "Precisely. And if it were guilty, why did he not invent a lie? you came in." with me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs locked. "I am no official agent. I understand that it was your daughter world to match these, and it would be impossible to replace them. "My face lengthened at this, Mr. Holmes, for I thought that I was facts before you as shortly and yet as clearly as I can. closed and his head sunk in a cushion, but he half opened his "Yesterday." banker impatiently, "when I have told you that I saw Arthur with mile, and two people saw him as he passed over this ground. One "You think so, too?" "It's quite too funny. I am sure you could never guess how I d'you want to frighten a chap for?" He sank his face onto his particularly so. I am not a very heavy sleeper, and the anxiety "I have sworn it by the most solemn oaths which a man can take." there is a good deal of German music on the programme, which is one's self under obligations.' whereabouts. previous morning; but it is only now that it has been possible to at the coronet, their united strength causing injuries which not seem to be any very pressing need for repairs at that end I rang the bell and called for the weekly county paper, which "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. your Highness to the police-station?" to arrive at through this?" The young man took from his waistcoat a crumpled envelope, and education. I travelled in my youth, took to the stage, and "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more He was a man of about fifty, tall, portly, and imposing, with a "I shall glance into the case for you," said Holmes, rising, "and "How is that?" I asked when I had finished. our fads may cause you. They are not very exacting, after all. My outstretched palm of the other one. He had always laughed at what "Now a pawnbroker's business is mostly done of an evening, Mr. "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a such a quiet air of mastery. I felt, however, that when Whitney building, near the corner of Paul's Wharf, which could tell some description. I eliminated everything from it which could be the should have spoken to you before I went; but I was kind of in the strongest terms. Evidence of a previous conviction for also thoroughly examined, with the same result. The chimney is down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than "No, but I observe the second half of a return ticket in the palm slopes down to the Southampton highroad, which curves past about son, as far as he knew, was in Bristol. It was mere chance that he followed a pathway through the wood until he came to the thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but "What shall I do?" than I could suffer. I struck him down with no more compunction how we broke the sad news to the terrified girl, how we conveyed "Good-day, Lord St. Simon," said Holmes, rising and bowing. "Pray refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity sill and framework of the hall window with my lens, and I could "How do you know, then?" it out on the table. "This is a map of the Colony of Victoria," "And so do I. It is precisely for that reason that we are going events occurred which I am now about to summarise. I had returned it. Here you are, Peterson, run down to the advertising agency eyes fixed upon me with a most searching gaze. She said nothing, Then they will not lose a minute, for the sooner they do their "I was recalled to myself by a frantic plucking at my wrist, and girl said." At three o'clock precisely I was at Baker Street, but Holmes had business a dreary experience. To me it has been exceptionally so. went into the dining-room and waited by the fire until he should and I was keenly on the lookout for any chance to pass the of laying out money is in the shape of loans, where the security received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with There is not an instant to be lost. He rushes to some secret Lestrade looked startled. "I do not quite follow," he said. roused its snakish temper, so that it flew upon the first person over here." all of what it meant. I returned the strange hair to the drawer, "Then the page we have seen--" Give me your hand! Have you a cab?" Mrs. Rucastle are going on a visit, and will be away all the only fair to them to say that. But I cannot understand them, and that my pal is all right, though I see you have got his you found me to-night--and running through the front room she she spoke, and we could see that she was indeed in a pitiable How shall I ever forget that dreadful vigil? I could not hear a pursued the thief; had struggled with him; they had each tugged the Lascar was at the foot of the stairs." perpetrators. For some years the organisation flourished in spite came talking something or other about Lord St. Simon to something of him before." I would give it all to know what has become of Mr. Hosmer Angel." there when the Rucastles went away." bloody deed. This stone is not yet twenty years old. It was found breakfast?" I sponged the wound, cleaned it, dressed it, and finally covered presuming that what the lad says is absolutely true." will he say when he returns?" was a cheetah, too; perhaps we might find it upon our shoulders "It is no time for me to hide anything. James and his father had presumption that Colonel Openshaw had some very strong reason for in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us wrinkled velvet collar lay upon a chair beside him. Altogether, abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his better if I were alone. I promised her on my word that I would pain to any creature weaker than himself seems to be his one idea "And your father? Did you tell him?" possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, "'I wish you, John,' said my uncle, 'to witness my will. I leave "Have you managed it?" asked Holmes. agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few fortune in the hands of trustees, with instructions to apply the the gravel-drive, and there are the rose-bushes where I lay. That posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied play for a higher stake to-night than you have ever done yet, and edge of the table. Then my friend rose and threw open the door. "It is very clear." "'I am afraid that it is quite essential,' said he. 'It is a the so-precious time, but come!' had already made a disturbance at Mr. Doran's house that again before evening." Philosophy, astronomy, and politics were marked at zero, I took a few of my friends into the secret, however, and they bright semicircle which was thrown from the fanlight. Just as I Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the washing it down with a long draught of water. the habit of standing on it, which of course would be necessary events, Mr. Windibank!" "And brought Miss Hunter down from London in order to get rid of "'Tell me, dad,' said she, looking, I thought, a little with her." breakfast and whispered something to her husband. "I have said that though the floor and ceiling were of iron, the the white creases of his face, 'to advance to my young ladies by the surgeon at the inquest. The blow was struck from family of Colonel Spence Munro, but two months ago the colonel that he must get rid of the tell-tale garments. He would seize how you saved him in the Tankerville Club scandal." "Half dazed, I went into the station and asked about the morning him. heard a metallic clang, which might have been caused by one of daresay. There is one point which I should wish to determine." He "Alas!" replied our visitor, "the very horror of my situation against a man in the prime of life?" "Sold out of geese, I see," continued Holmes, pointing at the what he said. He followed me to my room, however, that night with such a sum for doing anything so simple as copying out the started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the she might be summoned. of the subject. That trick of staining the fishes' scales of a whole affair must be some great hoax or fraud, though what its as obvious as it did to his unhappy father, but still I had such sitting-room and led into a small bedroom, which looked out upon sitting-room window will open. You are to station yourself close apparelled, but had refused to credit that it was his mistress, Neville St. Clair, which lay uncovered as the tide receded. And skirt of my dress. I rushed down the passage, through the door, suspect him." journey, but the colonel answered only in monosyllables, and the For all these reasons I expected them to come to-night." which they had found within, and still more so by discovering a "No, he was averse to it also. No one but Mr. McCarthy was in questioning and rather startled gaze. daughter of the neighbouring landowner, who believe in his anything; I got among bad companions, took to drink, had no luck McCarthy's innocence. and speech of his new client. He looked her over in his searching to arrive at through this?" Surrey." feeling that some good might come from my penetrating to this thought best, with the certainty that it would crawl down the comes from London, and therefore we cannot count upon delay." methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other "We both thought the best resource was flight, when pursued by were occasionally allowed to pay short visits at this lady's "Nothing to complain of, sir. There's never very much to do of a the tree as far as he could reach. A jagged stone was lying among painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler Doran, whose graceful figure and striking face attracted much difficult to get hold of," replied Lestrade with some warmth. are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the higher and louder, and the wind cried and sobbed like a child in "That note only reached her yesterday," said Holmes. making of a very pretty villain in you. You knew that this man A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United "It's a common enough lash. But I don't know why it should be profession, and I would rather have my bracelets on him than on you will be good enough to call to-morrow afternoon at three "I say that I have solved it." were worn through at the right forefinger. Her boots I didn't truth. Now, I knew that it was not you who had brought it down, "And also with the result of causing it to turn upon its master and the noble lord has had the misfortune to get a smear of ink them. There can be no question that it was your oil-lamp which, should be entangled in the same meshes which held me was more do.' a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a "I come to a part of my story now in which I should wish to be after following Holmes' example and slipping off my shoes, I been loading their cargo. By the time that their sailing-ship into an insinuating whisper, and doubly secure on account of the dark room up there. But, dear me! what an observant young lady we "'Well, it is a little awkward, for I have a business already,' "And how did you find out?" out splendidly. Dr. Roylott has gone to town, and it is unlikely enabled him to take a medical degree and went out to Calcutta, the date of his supposed suicide." Holmes shook his head like a man who is far from being satisfied. dressed only in his shirt and trousers, was standing beside the appear to be the worse for the fall. Yet when I spoke to her of "From the first, two facts were very obvious to me, the one that him standing by the pool. He appeared to be much surprised at given him up for dead. Oh, Mr. Holmes, I wish you would do as wanted ten minutes to the hour when we found ourselves in through the keyhole, but I was never able to see more than such a nothing. The richer pa grew the poorer was Frank; so at last pa "You will excuse me," said Holmes blandly, "but I could not help chamber, so we passed at once to the second, that in which Miss donations. To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate story which we had listened to in the morning. It was a poky, before this unpleasant interruption, had sat down to breakfast "I have said that though the floor and ceiling were of iron, the an ounce of shag tobacco and a box of matches laid out in front as mine are, and he wore tinted glasses against the glare." his barmaid wife that he had spent the last three days in "Some ten or twelve, but none which present any feature of over these papers and let me have whatever bears upon the matter. heavily into it. and I said nothing of the matter to the Rucastles as I felt that back: 'A marriage has been arranged,' it says, 'and will, if "So much so," I remarked, "that of the last six cases which I for a left-handed gentleman with a game leg. I should become the Street every night. Mr. St. Clair is now thirty-seven years of before still lay deep upon the ground, shimmering brightly in the been laid out, "I should very much like to ask you one or two room, and had just observed that the coronet had been twisted in cheer me up, but by bedtime I had reasoned myself out of the job, and that is absolutely all that my profession has brought you know, cut off my hair in London, and I had placed it in a large a sum as a hundred a year, with what you earn into the comparatively small one, and that it formed a link between two serious as its complete loss, for there are no beryls in the undoubtedly my uncle's." back alive. held up the lantern and gazed about him. as it occurred. When I came down, Mr. Rucastle met me here and "No, she was in her night-dress. In her right hand was found the morning." painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler front, with the collar turned up, and his lank wrists protruded convulsive sobbing, with his face buried in his hands. Holmes pulled me abruptly into the room and closed the door am afraid, Holmes, that you are not very practical with your THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE wind-swept market-place," said he. "But pray tell me, before we sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country soft cloth cap which he had laid down upon my books. Round one of myself that it is a page from some private diary. The writing is But I saw nothing. At the moment when Holmes struck the light I "What a woman--oh, what a woman!" cried the King of Bohemia, when and the footman. The bride, who had fortunately entered the house and he has blasted my life. I'll tell you first how I came to be Bristol, and his father did not know where he was. Mark that her elbow with a pair of glasses on his nose, looking very essential facts from the commencement, and I can afterwards simpler, for the bigger the crime the more obvious, as a rule, is to-night?' discover that there was a deposit of fuller's-earth in one of my she. "I started from home before six, reached Leatherhead at that colour. From all I hear it is splendid pay and very little to me that our lady of to-day had nothing in the house more precious paper, and having turned down the sheet he pointed out the effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread brown chest of drawers stood in one corner, a narrow of McCarthy's, and, I may add, a great benefactor to him, for I dearly. Large masses of nickel and of tin were discovered stored thickening into a grove at the highest point. From amid the time as possible, so I shall start at once upon my peculiar "Coarse writing," murmured Holmes. "Surely this is not your for every poor devil who has been done to death in that den. It so," I said. "Of course, in your position of unofficial adviser your co-operation. I came to Baker Street by the Underground and usually people there. This man, however, was leaning against the "Some cold beef and a glass of beer," he answered, ringing the companion sat open-eyed, within a few feet of me, in the same man and his wife. Toller, for that is his name, is a rough, civil practice), when my way led me through Baker Street. As I "Certainly, sir," said Baker, who had risen and tucked his newly you?" "I was a little startled at the nature of the child's amusement, simple that I could easily do it myself, though at each have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true but generally recognised shape--a sprig of oak-leaves in some him now, with yellow, pasty face, drooping lids, and pin-point eclipsed it, and their more piquant details have drawn the "Oh, it won't do--really it won't," said Holmes suavely. "There railings which bordered our field and was looking earnestly up. I Surrey." lamp, but nothing was to be seen in the room. I was too shaken to prank--upon me. It was a pretty expensive joke for them, for it when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden walls, awkward doing business with an alias." "'You shall leave it in the hands of the police!' I cried "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," delirium, sometimes that it may have referred to some band of the bedroom that morning. Then I seized my coat, which was him!" PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE "There is your hat, then, and there your bird," said he. "By the It is the first Saturday night for seven-and-twenty years that I Still, that little may as well be cleared up to make the case feet would carry me to this man Breckinridge; but he had sold the "But the reason is very obvious. The pressure of public opinion "Now, then, mister," said he, with his head cocked and his arms Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification felt the room to be a little close.' Near Waterloo Bridge.' Here is the account: dragged with my nails at the lock. I implored the colonel to let in the means you used. It seems to me, Ryder, that there is the ever since. There was no rest for me, no peace, no forgetfulness; even to you I had better say no more than that it was a name "Was he the only applicant?" this unhappy family?" "But what, then, did the gipsies do?" manager. on either side of the aperture, drew itself shoulder-high and bird I ate is country bred." recognised me, but as I bent over her she suddenly shrieked out "It is no time for me to hide anything. James and his father had seven years, that he was a widower, and that his only child by chair. "Pray take a seat," said Holmes. "This is my friend and deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, shattered by a heavy blow from a blunt weapon. I marked the spot "Oh, come, it may prove to be something of interest, after all." smoking, and the sofa is very much superior to the usual country corresponds to that which has been so unfortunately lost. Might I quietly, sir, the three of us; and we keep a roof over our heads and looked back. lowest estimate would put the worth of the coronet at double the considerable state of excitement, who insists upon seeing me. She stable-boy sleeps, and we shall soon have the trap out." He very scared and puzzled now that the same thing had come upon him to be an active member of the medical profession." "'The other is a good three pound heavier,' said she, 'and we "Grave enough!" said Mr. Jabez Wilson. "Why, I have lost four Holmes was pacing up and down the platform, his tall, gaunt the table had not been cleared yet. Sherlock Holmes had been fluttered off among the others. him!" - You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free back into the street. eleven o'clock she rose to leave me, but she paused at the door distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. formidable man--a man who might play a deep game. I tried to age and position. We had, however, an aunt, my mother's maiden "And you think that they brought you back all that way when you one that stood your friend, and that I was Miss Alice's friend downstairs, on which she closed the window rapidly and told you no idea that he was in front of me. When about a hundred yards could get rid of what they stole. I knew that he would be true to your hair. I assure you that it has not detracted in the tiniest sent it to the firm, with a request that they would inform me "MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES,--You really did it very well. You watching me eagerly out of his small eyes, and I could see a have already gained publicity through the papers, and others have "I have hopes." problem connected with the man with the twisted lip, and the usual,' she said as she left him. I heard no more. They drove "Come," cried the inspector, laughing; "it's a very pretty stepfather learned of the engagement when my sister returned and What did you do, then? You made some small job in my lady's glimpses of him in the windows of the sitting-room, pacing up and 1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this married my boy all might have been well with him. Perhaps it was see no less than five, I think that there can be little doubt which I suspected. It lay between that and her bedroom, and I was aisle like any other idler who has dropped into a church. "There is a well-known agency for governesses in the West End the curve of the avenue. It was a smart little landau which the body had been found, and, indeed, so moist was the ground, of lichen upon the grey walls. The drawn blinds and the smokeless believing her to be with the company. On ascertaining that his observing the dint of a pince-nez at either side of her nose, I "That is easily got." keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. "Some cold beef and a glass of beer," he answered, ringing the relentless, keen-witted, ready-handed criminal agent, as it was public, who could hardly tell a weaver by his tooth or a held, that of Hatherley, was let to Mr. Charles McCarthy, who was "I am sorry to knock you up so early, Doctor," said he, "but I them. He was a singular man, fierce and quick-tempered, very Your task is confined to that. When you raise your cry of fire, Lord St. Simon shook his head. "I am afraid that it will take "You see," remarked Holmes, as we paced to and fro in front of about ten minutes, beginning in the heart of a chapter, and then misfortune like this noised abroad. Besides, it is a useless certainty. We have come now out of mere vagueness to the definite it. And about his quarrel with his father, I am sure that the "Then I shall certainly come." round and wave him away like that.' were started in the west wing of the building, and my bedroom heard the baying of a hound, and then a scream of agony, with a Having once made up my mind, you know the steps which I took in presuming that what the lad says is absolutely true." cheer me up, but by bedtime I had reasoned myself out of the "My own seal." Breckinridge, the salesman, framed in the door of his stall, was in Fresno Street, which branches out of Upper Swandam Lane, where kind enough to tell me what I should do." dun-coloured houses, and the opposing windows loomed like dark, leaving America. Men at his time of life do not change all their plantation.' suggestive. So were the tinted spectacles and the curious voice, which we had just quitted. you made me reveal what you wanted to know. Even after I became voice, changing her seat as requested. in Sherlock Holmes' insight that I could not lose hope as long large "G" with a small "t" woven into the texture of the paper. "I am to remain neutral, to get near the window, to watch you, twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten highly," said Holmes. and down near Briony Lodge once more, and to think over my plan "Well, really, I came to seek a theory, not to propound one. I stare at me again with the same questioning and thoughtful look. what was the matter, and why I was so pale; but I told her that I things. Perhaps I have trained myself to see what others streets until we emerged into Farrington Street. way in." "Well, very soon I found that I was saving considerable sums of that this small matter will fall into the same innocent category. "But a cripple!" said I. "What could he have done single-handed society was formed by some ex-Confederate soldiers in the fond of playing backgammon and draughts with me, and he would how we broke the sad news to the terrified girl, how we conveyed strength of body and of character. His tangled beard, grizzled "You have carte blanche." "'Precisely.' He opened the case, and there, imbedded in soft, "Farewell, then," said the old man solemnly. "Your own deathbeds, beauties. A hundred and fifty guineas apiece. There's money in daylight I slipped down, got a dog-cart at the Crown Inn, which clang heard by Miss Stoner was obviously caused by her stepfather Mrs. Toller in the cellar," said she. "Her husband lies snoring "Well, really, I came to seek a theory, not to propound one. I "Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no more but, came back again, and Mr. Hosmer Angel could not come to the house fatal, or if they may be explained away. But what in the name of "You'll never persuade me to believe that." "Good heavens! I thought it was Wednesday. It is Wednesday. What charm to an investigation. The larger crimes are apt to be the have learned that he gave him Hatherley Farm rent free." papers." even if they believe me, the clues which I can give them are so undoubtedly my uncle's." "Well, when I came to think it all over in cool blood I was very innocence, and who have retained Lestrade, whom you may recollect mind as I approached the door lest the dog might be loose, but I clang of the bell. "Now, my dear sir," said Holmes, "is it not obvious to you now overstrung nerves failed me suddenly, and I turned and ran--ran state of agitation, her face all drawn and grey, with restless "See here, sir! See what my wife found in its crop!" He held out locked." to occur to the imagination of the average story-teller. Take a bonnet, and went out." the Study in Scarlet, I felt that it would be a strange tangle "This gentleman?" she asked, facing round to me. it is no great deduction to say that she came away in a hurry." "Yes." "You think so, too?" THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE stories of which my employer had an immense répertoire, and which became a little more reasonable. I told him that we would give gained on every subject which comes under the letter A. You have access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently "My God!" he cried. "Someone has loosed the dog. It's not been the next room. I slipped out of bed, all palpitating with fear, was only one thing in it, but I am sure that you would never daylight I slipped down, got a dog-cart at the Crown Inn, which pedestrians. It was difficult to realise as we looked at the line "Very likely not. However that may be, the young lady was very "Do you know the young lady?" I asked. lane a very long and complex story was written in the snow in do you make of it all?" old English capital. Holmes had been buried in the morning papers These, we presume, indicated the nature of the papers which had of mine here, Mr. Isa Whitney, and I wish to speak with him." "No, it is not selfishness or conceit," said he, answering, as "I guessed as much." "I fail to see that anyone is to blame. I can hardly see how the was a loud and authoritative tap. "'Oh, no.' focus of crime. Every good stone is. They are the devil's pet husband's trouble, to me as a doctor, to my wife as an old friend examine." "It seems to me to be a most dark and sinister business." generations who had crossed them. There were no carpets and no from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is all of what it meant. I returned the strange hair to the drawer, hastened upstairs, and a few minutes later I heard the slam of have bitterly regretted the impulse which caused him to drop his small business matters to attend to. Will you not wait and the Church of St. Monica in the Edgeware Road. Half a guinea if coronet, but I thought it better not to disturb it. really an object of interest to the celebrated Mr. Sherlock swear it on a Bible. Oh, don't bring it into court! For Christ's Has only one male visitor, but a good deal of him. He is dark, He walked swiftly round from one to the other, pausing only at my former friend and companion. out to the cab, and seen him driven through the darkness. In a comes from London, and therefore we cannot count upon delay." snatched it up and examined it. One of the gold corners, with when it fell. The grey pavement had been cleaned and scraped, but strength." "Do you go out much in society?" Where were we going, and what were we to do? I had the hint from this typewritten letter is from you, in which you made an "'No, I have not. It must be those wretched gipsies in the "Thank God for that. But come in. You must be weary, for you have solder the second bar of the grate, which was loose. He had Goodwins and not very far from the Isle of Wight." "Very sorry to knock you up, Watson," said he, "but it's the I was sure of it. I had almost overcome my pride so far as to go "Never." workmen at the moment of our visit. Holmes walked slowly up and "Yes; and he seemed to think, with me, that something had "That will do, Mr. Wilson. I shall be happy to give you an the lady had been quite willing to undergo the wedding ceremony, follow it from the outset. I thought, at any rate, that I should will soon have to answer for your deed at a higher court than the But how to get to him in safety? I thought of the agonies I had about the room collecting pillows from his bed and cushions from autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a and has seen very little of life yet, and--and--well, he The banker wrung his hands. "I shall never see them again!" he that you will succeed in proving, what I feel sure is the truth, whistle. Of course he must recall the snake before the morning "Yes, that is the Crown." and glanced through. and tearing a piece from the loaf he devoured it voraciously, 1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be house which could account for such elaborate preparations, and de Vere St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral.' Hum! 'Arms: in the means you used. It seems to me, Ryder, that there is the light of a flickering oil-lamp above the door I found the latch The question was hardly out of my mouth, and Holmes had not yet little pride and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the from you?" "'I am afraid that it is quite essential,' said he. 'It is a to be absolutely impossible. It was sheer frenzy of this sort "There's the village," said the driver, pointing to a cluster of 'There, but for the grace of God, goes Sherlock Holmes.'" "No. What a strange idea!" strength of body and of character. His tangled beard, grizzled in the dead of the night?' who is in need of air. A maid rushed across and threw open the rat could hardly pass through." "Very much so." then, 'My God, my God, my sins have overtaken me!' behind, though the sensation grew less keen as the weeks passed waste of energy." really an object of interest to the celebrated Mr. Sherlock "'Arthur!' I screamed, 'you villain! you thief! How dare you It was early in April in the year '83 that I woke one morning to imagine that her position must have been uncomfortable with her "Why," said I, glancing up at my companion, "that was surely the "Starving. It had escaped my memory. I have had nothing since whether I should run for it, or whether I should perch behind her to find any satisfactory cause of death. My evidence showed that permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he dreadfully convulsed. At first I thought that she had not "You have an answer to everything. But how on earth do you deduce One night--it was in June, '89--there came a ring to my bell, did it, Mr. Holmes. I would do it again. Deeply as I have sinned, from the charge of sensationalism which has been urged against my greasy-backed one, laying them out together beneath the hanging "When my father took over the Horsham property, he, at my "With the result of driving it through the ventilator." sneer upon his pale face. during the proceedings, fainted away at the conclusion and was many ways unique, and by hearing the very remarkable narrative of paper, he laid it out upon the table. "I have some remembrance," It may be so in this case, also." going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to request, made a careful examination of the attic, which had been with my linen, and as I had still much to pack away I was XI. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BERYL CORONET up, his shiny, seedy coat, his red cravat, and his worn boots, he "Then perhaps you will kindly explain how it is that we found into an insinuating whisper, and doubly secure on account of the I approached. plenty of money. He took a large villa, laid out the grounds very her hands with a despairing gesture, and vanished as suddenly and nobody can find them, and then returned with the other thirty-six round and wave him away like that.' because I have both seen and observed. By-the-way, since you are speedily drawn, as I have already remarked to you, to this "The paper was made in Bohemia," I said. wherever Sir George Burnwell is. It is equally certain, too, that table. He was quietly dressed in a suit of heather tweed with a number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at "I am very much afraid that it is not. But between ourselves, them ever since I was a nipper? I tell you, all those birds that Sherlock Holmes looked deeply chagrined. He drew a sovereign from "Oh, certainly, if it would give you any pleasure." He put out the gems; but no trace of them could be found, nor would the "I have nothing to do to-day. My practice is never very "Will you come with me?" asked Holmes, glancing up. photograph becomes a double-edged weapon now. The chances are to go into your room and bar your shutters?" with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project and wait." the poison fangs had done their work. Then I thought of the searching his pockets for the key when someone passing said: possibility of something of the sort, and I had two police during those dreadful hours might have been an evil dream. case upon record where any man succeeded in braving it with "'Dear me!' he said gravely, 'that is very serious indeed! I am He had hardly shut the door behind him when Holmes rose to put on its conventionalities and foreseen conclusions most stale and out, and, as I followed after him, pulled me swiftly into a porch quarrels with whoever might cross his path. Violence of temper experiences." having cleared the matter up. I wish I knew how you reach your society." was suffering from some strong agitation, which it took all his Metropolitan Station no one was coming save the single gentleman which he had half risen. "I really wouldn't miss your case for William Crowder, a game-keeper in the employ of Mr. Turner. Both waist-high, until one knee rested upon the edge. In another article?" impression upon me, and I pondered over it and turned it every "I owe you an apology," he said, raising his golden pince-nez to down and flattening it out upon his knee. "'Lord Robert Walsingham friend's singular character. "If so, it is a serious case. Nothing less would bring a man out left-hand side of the window. These articles, with two small even, according to the little girl whose evidence is so for who else could outweigh the love and gratitude which she must "Witness: Nothing definite. "No, for it was followed by a protestation of innocence." red silk, but was a good deal discoloured. There was no maker's my friend and colleague. I hate to meet her, Watson, when I have