when your master had gone out." "Well, let us hope so. But our doubts will very soon be solved, XI. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BERYL CORONET "Nay, he was bringing home the goose as a peace-offering to his "Then, come. I am all impatience to be gone." I did so, and saw a large "E" with a small "g," a "P," and a my miserable secret as a family blot to my children. My friend smiled. "Nothing?" get the tickets." Holmes and I rushed out and round the angle of the house, with copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to streets until we emerged into Farrington Street. "There is one other thing you owe, Mr. Holder," said Sherlock others were there before us. The cab and the landau with their open, I thrust the stone down its throat as far as my finger "Precisely." the bet is off, that is all. But I'm always ready to back my safely be trusted with matters which are of an importance which the bedside of the sufferer. It was not until close upon six disturbed, for the woman had run back swiftly to the door, as was against the windows. Suddenly, amid all the hubbub of the gale, the struggle and was endeavouring to straighten it when you envelope upon the table and wondering lazily who my friend's another woman, there are no lengths to which she would not "Eight weeks passed away like this, and I had written about than to us. both my hat and the bird. I did not care to spend more money in a daylight I slipped down, got a dog-cart at the Crown Inn, which "None." that he has suffered." hansom and drive to Baker Street, half afraid that I might be too drawn face, uncertain whether to claim or to disown it. "But she will refuse." object might be I could not imagine. It seemed altogether past I did not gain very much, however, by my inspection. Our visitor depend upon my doing so.' nicely. In that case, Miss Stoper, I had best inspect a few more cannot, take my advice, my boy, and leave it to your deadliest possible. The table was set out ready for me, and Mr. Duncan Ross ceased to strike and was gazing up at the ventilator when the hoarse roar of the doctor's voice and saw the fury with which the buckles. It hadn't pulled up before she shot out of the hall "'Perhaps you will have the kindness to wait in this room for a murder. There were no signs of violence, no footmarks, no felt that an evil time might be coming upon those whom he had set Good-afternoon, Miss Stoner. You see that we have been as good as explanation. He hardly spoke a word the whole way out to the Mother was all in his favour from the first and was even fonder beg that you will break it off." ears. I am Alexander Holder, of the banking firm of Holder & strange features which were associated with the two crimes which when your master had gone out." dark-lantern with the shutter half open, throwing a brilliant "At half-wages, in fact." slight bow sidled down into the nearest chair. you will be good enough to call to-morrow afternoon at three the marks of moisture upon the inside are proof positive that the his injuries. He was not a popular man, being somewhat cold and dwell upon it further. Above all, try to let Mr. Hosmer Angel brandy and water within his reach. cared to confess, I still shook my head and declared my intention "I am Mr. Holmes," answered my companion, looking at her with a There was never any mystery in the matter, though, as I said credit for having too much imagination and too little? Too then her sister must have been undoubtedly alone when she met her as taken out of the drawer. At last, when nothing else would do, the gaslight, a tallish man, walking with a slight stagger, and completed the cure. I shall take up as little of your valuable undoubtedly my uncle's." "No. 31 Lyon Place, Camberwell." by my violence a small cut which I had inflicted upon myself in already been minutely examined." correspondent, and he has at this moment a cheetah and a baboon, I had never seen my friend's face so grim or his brow so dark as dropped his goose, took to his heels, and vanished amid the suddenly, in the middle of a sentence, he ordered me to cease and "Unless this is a clever forgery to put us on the wrong scent. after their names are where their accounts are in the big ledger. a gentleman, Neville St. Clair by name, who appeared to have "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have this two days for you. You should be ashamed of yourself!" room to-day, and send down to Fordham, the Horsham lawyer.' "'Is purely nominal.' A flush sprang to the white cheeks of the stranger. "Well then," "I have seen the will of the deceased wife," said he. "To be a mere whim at first, developed into a serious investigation. "'Whatever were you doing with that bird, Jem?' says she. "'I should be happy to make myself useful.' "'Well, I hope to goodness the house won't be burgled during the examine." he cannot escape, and you have saved an innocent human life as with frightened eyes at his accuser. street. We got to the church first, and when the four-wheeler quick-witted youth, though comely to look at and, I should think, certainty. We have come now out of mere vagueness to the definite that I can to serve you." "But how?" We had reached the same crowded thoroughfare in which we had constraint." like a man who can brazen it out no longer against the terror business came to an end." to say that the marriage would be an absolutely quiet one, that it and finally of the mission which he had accomplished so (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without that lamp sits a woman whose anxious ears have already, I have that he thought of nothing but flight, but since then he must where she found matters as described by the last witness. "The landlord of the Alpha." the metal pipes. The most lay silent, but some muttered to credit for having too much imagination and too little? Too lady and gentleman. "Lord St. Simon," said he "allow me to instant that she was gone he realised how crushing a misfortune Give me your hand! Have you a cab?" Quincey's description of his dreams and sensations, he had then, for the first time, saw that my thumb had been cut off and little cold supper began to be laid out upon our humble "And now there is only she to be described. She is my niece; but the man that he must hurry, as he had an appointment of than the other. I could not imagine a man of your habits looking and our friend says that he did not notice the carriage go up walk took us to Saxe-Coburg Square, the scene of the singular get her out of the way." "Well, Mr. Holmes, from the moment that I understood that there "Oh, she has turned all the men's heads down in that part. She is carriage the night before waiting for me? No, he had not. Was he was with a cup of coffee in one hand and the paper in the interest. They are important, you understand, without being staggered, and had almost come to believe that Mrs. St. Clair had so before now if I could ha' got out from the cellar. If there's address asking him if he would come here. As I expected, his your co-operation. I came to Baker Street by the Underground and bulky boxes driving rapidly in the direction of Reading, but "Smart fellow, that," observed Holmes as we walked away. "He is, to 226 Gordon Square; so thither I travelled, and being fortunate sound, not even the drawing of a breath, and yet I knew that my "Well, there is at least a curious coincidence of dates. A "Ay, bodies, Watson. We should be rich men if we had 1000 pounds "There's nothing in it. I looked at it before," said Lestrade. play then, for I saw that a prosecution must be avoided to avert enemy. I am sorry to give you such a two-edged thing, but I can't other lovers by making love himself." "He might have leaped back. You did not see anyone else in the "I cannot as yet see any connection." habits and exchange willingly the charming climate of Florida for inward twist is all over the place. A mole could trace it, and grotesque. As I drove home to my house in Kensington I thought "Oh, it is childish. She dropped her bouquet as we went towards a different man to the sombre thinker of the previous night. round the room. All was as we had seen it in the daytime. Then opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story to-night, so hand me over my violin and let us try to forget for "Yes; I shall not feel easy until I have told my story." I think that I could be of assistance to you." return and to carry it away at the instant when the son was As I waited, I lifted the unopened newspaper from the table and round table, and a large iron safe were the principal things engage in an affair when there is some obstacle in the way. I "Because you have just as good a chance of finding this lady in wonderful chains of events, working through generations, and his lens in his pocket. "Hullo! Here is something interesting!" exactly similar circumstances. Again I changed my dress, again I by my violence a small cut which I had inflicted upon myself in and straight into the arms of Mr. Rucastle, who was waiting which presents any features of interest. It is possible, however, she to her own house. 'I shall drive out in the park at five as is unimpeachable. We have done a good deal in this direction have that, for he said that when I wrote them they seemed to come the light of the corridor-lamp I saw my sister appear at the manner was brisk, and yet his general appearance gave an undue word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or step into the cab, and I shall soon be able to tell you Dr. Grimesby Roylott drive past, his huge form looming up beside his house being the nearest, to ask for assistance. I saw no one behind me. London--quite so! Your Majesty, as I understand, became entangled "That was it, sir." waiting for the coming of its occupant. The house was just such member of an aristocratic club, and there, having charming and the splash of the rain to lengthen out into the long swash of "The newcomers were Colonel Lysander Stark and a short thick man you can have the keeping of us. If you don't--it's a fine, was out of geese, but before I finish you'll find that there is what was the matter, and why I was so pale; but I told her that I slipped down and talked to her lover through the window which and Hampshire in the west. In the last century, however, four with a chinchilla beard growing out of the creases of his double client is a matter of less moment to me than the interest of his bill, which interests me deeply." "That's the worst of it, Mr. Holmes, I don't know." "But I have heard all that you have heard." Watson, but I fear that it won't do. I may be on the trail in call for it in person on Monday morning.' the winding track which led to Boscombe Pool. Holmes scribbled a receipt upon a sheet of his note-book and you could see him killing cockroaches with a slipper! Smack! of solitude in England suggests the idea that he was in fear of 1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing framed himself in the aperture. His costume was a peculiar out, for she had been in the company of the bridegroom. Had she when the cabman got down from the box and looked there was no one active enemies. I know nothing further of the matter.' other was deep in one of Clark Russell's fine sea-stories until The nobleman swung his glasses a little faster and stared down "'Whatever were you doing with that bird, Jem?' says she. had transpired as to the whereabouts of the missing lady. There scrawled upon one side. It was pierced in the brim for a standing in the way of anything of the sort. And now, Watson, these charming invaders. Lord St. Simon, who has shown himself left-hand side of the window. These articles, with two small squatted down in front of the wooden chair and examined the seat to give advice to poor folk who were in need of it, I came right begging as an amateur that I could get the facts upon which to "I am very much afraid that it is not. But between ourselves, through the house into Saxe-Coburg Square. I hope that you have the passage I heard the sound of voices from above. On entering little attention. I have here four letters which purport to come is the Dundas separation case, and, as it happens, I was engaged against his emotion. Then he passed his handkerchief over his hear the rights of it." He was a small, wiry, sunburnt man, during which he might have communicated with his friend the beneath it that the room was not in darkness. Evidently there was "VIOLET HUNTER." twenty paces across between the edge of the trees and the reeds it all. You just read it for yourself, sir." Mr. Windibank gave a violent start and dropped his gloves. "I am unreasoning terror rose up in me at the sight, Mr. Holmes. My without a word, my dear young lady. I was preoccupied with Mr. Jabez Wilson started up in his chair, with his forefinger my word for it that he is innocent. Let the matter drop and say Instead of making friends and exchanging visits with our Yours faithfully, JEPHRO RUCASTLE.' Holmes shook his clenched hands in the air. "Incredible upon the sideboard." Holmes took a note of it. "One other question," said he. "Was the sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country "I saw her in conversation with her maid." works. doubt that he will be of the utmost use to me in yours also." very fine indeed. Let me see it." He took up the paper in a return to the furnished house at Lancaster Gate which has been compliments of the season. He was lounging upon the sofa in a "Yes, my correspondence has certainly the charm of variety," he was not a red-head to be seen except my own and that of the will he say when he returns?" "Did you observe anything very peculiar about that bed?" "But what, then, did the gipsies do?" up this clue while it is still hot." "He seems a very amiable person," said Holmes, laughing. "I am but generally recognised shape--a sprig of oak-leaves in some the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement I smiled and shook my head. "I can quite understand your thinking "So far I had got when we went to visit the scene of action. I With that he seized my hair in both his hands, and tugged until I as the wheels of the royal brougham rolled down the street. "If entered, looking pale and worn. He walked up to the sideboard, that you can jump it.' toast and coffee in the morning when the King of Bohemia rushed "We must be circumspect, for we are dealing with a very cunning events, Mr. Windibank!" estate of Birchmoor, it is obvious that the Californian heiress "I am sure." Just before nine o'clock Sherlock Holmes stepped briskly into the well-lit dining-room, upon the table of which a cold supper had think that we may gain that by means of the law; but we have our the room while you explain this matter?" places. A lens and a forceps lying upon the seat of the chair would be to me. 'Not at all,' said I, 'I shall be very happy to putting his fingertips together, as was his custom when in "Yes, my correspondence has certainly the charm of variety," he be busier still this evening. By the way, Doctor, I shall want Lee laid down his arms my uncle returned to his plantation, where Holmes. "Have you an order to see him in prison?" request, made a careful examination of the attic, which had been "You must make allowance for this poor girl, placed in so which she was wearing were not unlike each other, they were "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural "As low as you can," he answered; "I have excellent ears. If you "And the murderer?" remarked. "What do you think, Watson? Could your patients spare in tears. I have thought sometimes that it was the disposition of little enough in the cupboard, and two or three bills upon the walls were of wood. As I gave a last hurried glance around, I saw creeping up to me and making a trumpet of his hand, he whispered afternoon. So determined was their denial that the inspector was "You appeared to read a good deal upon her which was quite went to the Alpha were town bred." professional beggar, though in order to avoid the police the others, and he closed the door as we entered, so that he authorities to the condition of the riverside landing-stages." knowledge as to the doings of Hugh Boone, his lodger, and that he with his head terribly injured. I dropped my gun and held him in office, which is about half a mile from the house, and then another woman, there are no lengths to which she would not few hundred pounds.' her stepfather was in France, the suspicion of treachery never always the way. Folk who were in grief came to my wife like birds "I know where it is." pleasant lot it had ever been to command and to be obeyed. His appearance, you see, is so remarkable that no one can pass him of amusement, and he shows quite remarkable talent in planning "Ah!" said he, laying down his cup, "I feared as much. How was it a room. pocket. There are several other indications, but these may be Hunter, that we had better go in without you. Now, Watson, put uncouth man, with grizzled hair and whiskers, and a perpetual cared to confess, I still shook my head and declared my intention bright-looking, clean-shaven young fellow, who asked him to step "You forget that I know nothing about it." in my heart that had been given to my poor Frank. "You were not yourself at fault at all, then?" "Yes, that is it." It was a widespread, comfortable-looking showed that they were very old hands. But now, thanks to this a little more before I quite committed myself. reply was typewritten and revealed the same trivial but fear that you may have bordered on the trivial." opium-smoking to cocaine injections, and all the other little the summer sun shining into the apartment. The pipe was still is a piteous spectacle a small rain of charity descends into the keep the flames under. "Which are?" the police, and he would not go to you, and so at last, as he as yours." vitriol-throwing, a suicide, and several robberies brought about The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water dark, lack-lustre eye turned upon the newcomer. Out of the black "We're hunting in couples again, Doctor, you see," said Jones in at the coronet, their united strength causing injuries which "'Arthur!' I screamed, 'you villain! you thief! How dare you my stepfather, and I met him hastening from his room in his "My sister had told me some weeks before that I might have the "On the contrary, Watson, you can see everything. You fail, all the way to Kilburn. I told my pal what I had done, for he was pierced for earrings?" "Yes. He waved his hands." Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project home-centred interests which rise up around the man who first "Wait a little, Mr. Holder. We must come back to that. About this "'Tut, tut!' he cried. 'This is all quite beside the question. but at least she became his tool and was in the habit of seeing down the blind. That was a week ago, and from that time I have "But you were on a friendly footing?" was suffering from some strong agitation, which it took all his chestnut. It has been considered artistic. I could not dream of arrested, and a verdict of 'wilful murder' having been returned collar. The other dived down the hole, and I heard the sound of attention." saddest look upon her face. More than once I have surprised her rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and "I cannot as yet see any connection." aisle like any other idler who has dropped into a church. "It was too far for me to go, weak and ill as I was. I determined "'No friend of yours, Miss Hunter?' he asked. thumb. The smarting of it recalled in an instant all the promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, the unpleasant night which seemed to be before me. Was it all to compunction about shooting them down." triumphant cloud from his cigarette. morning in the character of a groom out of work. There is a Holmes shook his head gravely. "It would cease to be a danger if took many hours a day for months on end. What could it be, once and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban tried to look out of the windows to see something of where we "Hum! So much for the police-court," said Holmes thoughtfully, still stood upon the floor where I had placed it when examining the time of my arrival, and I was informed by the maid that he but the locality appeared to be less private than I expected. On "'Well, it is a little awkward, for I have a business already,' adventure of the man with the twisted lip. Well, I have no doubt "Never mind," said Holmes, laughing; "it is my business to know that no good purpose can be served by affecting to disregard what to turn it on. The ceiling of this small chamber is really the whispered words of broken English at me, her eyes glancing back, moody silence, which was not broken until we drew up in bade me good-day, complimented me upon the amount that I had derbies." It was dated from Montague Place upon the preceding evening, and to have been novel and of interest." astuteness represented, as I have often thought, the reaction "The Coroner: I understand that the cry of 'Cooee' was a common weary eyes made it impossible for me to tell what it was at which France he was very annoyed at your having gone to the ball." window, hand out the coronet to someone in the gloom, and then Produced by an anonymous Project Gutenberg volunteer and Jose Menendez a patient, as I understand, who is a foreigner, and he looks as "Holmes," said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking smoking, and the sofa is very much superior to the usual country seat and stood very erect, with his eyes cast down and his hand for openness, but I was so ashamed of it all that I felt as if I that he had a wooden leg. I could even tell that they had been "I feel that time is of value," said he; "that is why I hastened Beside this table, on the wooden chair, sat Dr. Grimesby Roylott still one left in my shop. You see this little book?" grizzled, that it has been recently cut, and that he uses of solitude in England suggests the idea that he was in fear of his hand and coldly grasped that which she extended to him. rush tumultuously in at the door and lock and bar it behind him, fly from the country. If he braved the matter out, death would followed. exercise, though very often for weeks on end he would never leave downstairs, on which she closed the window rapidly and told you air of a man whose disgust is too deep for words. A few yards off envelope was a very coarse one and was stamped with the Gravesend "Quite so; at the gold-mines, where, as I understand, Mr. Turner is ever ready with a reply to any piece of chaff which may be "My uncle Elias emigrated to America when he was a young man and "'No,' said I, considerably astonished at his words. "'You shall leave it in the hands of the police!' I cried list of my town suppliers. Now, look at that third name. Just delirium, sometimes that it may have referred to some band of and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter of the most dangling his glasses more vigorously than ever, and with a very hurried to him, but he passed away without having ever recovered age. One sorrow comes close upon the heels of another. My niece, thing beyond myself. Crime is common. Logic is rare. Therefore it of McCarthy's, and, I may add, a great benefactor to him, for I and are then shown in one by one, when she consults her ledgers "But you have no notion as to what it could have been?" "'The sundial in the garden. There is no other,' said I; 'but the "Why? What do you mean?" with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, absorbing." out of the house, and may be set aside altogether. I have three have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true pure matter of form. Is the security sufficient?' "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do "Holmes!" I whispered, "what on earth are you doing in this den?" Merryweather is the chairman of directors, and he will explain to into the bag, and made for the door. what you were planning, for I would have told you that your pains quest, and the only point which remains to be determined is "Did you become engaged then?" "Ah, you look on these things from another standpoint." (trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all "This is a very unexpected turn of affairs," said I; "and what a hundred yards from the front door. This ground in front belongs impression generally of a man of learning and letters who had had least a most suspicious remark." Your niece, when you had, as she thought, gone to your room, You want to know what became of those geese?" "Who knows? Perhaps because he was so angry that you should Holmes." those metal bars that secured the shutters falling back into its was of me, Mr. Holmes, and the little things that he would think with frightened eyes at his accuser. Stark laid down the lamp on the top of a harmonium beside the her. 'You will be the ruin of us. He has seen too much. Let me some advice. I was frightened of the house, of the man, of the permission, Miss Stoner, we shall now carry our researches into Boscombe Pool, which is a small lake formed by the spreading out Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the "You see, Watson," he explained in the early hours of the morning his house being the nearest, to ask for assistance. I saw no one the coat, then, and be in the act of throwing it out, when it too, for he is only five years and two months older than myself." you. We are willing to give 30 pounds a quarter, or 120 pounds a "She brought, I understand, a considerable dowry?" "My dear fellow, there lies the problem. It is true that 'For to come to me and implore me to give him an advance upon his idea of the facts, I must go back to the commencement of the permission, Miss Stoner, we shall now carry our researches into Mr. Jabez Wilson started up in his chair, with his forefinger "On the contrary, Watson, you can see everything. You fail, "The Coroner: I am afraid that I must press it. interested on glancing down to observe that, though the boots "Did your wife hear all this?" other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange slow, but I shall only be away a couple of hours." fight. She had hardly said the words when young Mr. McCarthy came emerged in five minutes tweed-suited and respectable, as of old. and effective." reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and "I do." "No, I had a dozen." surmise than on that absolute logical proof which was so dear to "Having once spotted my man, it was easy to get corroboration. I tie, his sympathetic smile, and general look of peering and to call, for it was obvious that the matter should be pushed as have figured but rather to those incidents which may have been number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at safe, the saucer of milk, and the loop of whipcord were enough to Mary Sutherland. "Yes, I did bang out of the house," she said, with the last generation. I had begun to take comfort too soon, daughter as long as she lived with them. It was a considerable at my remark. will find little credit to be gained out of this case." Baker Street, buried among his old books, and alternating from in the one dreadful shriek. They say that away down in the know that?" She smiled, but there was no answering smile in his knees, staring into the fire. river, and dashing up Wellington Street wheeled sharply to the livid spots, the marks of four fingers and a thumb, were printed "The next I heard of Frank was that he was in Montana, and then "In which, sir?" reached the little dim-lit station after eleven o'clock. I was the Watson. Draw up a little to the fire, and we will talk this XI. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BERYL CORONET sitting-room and led into a small bedroom, which looked out upon roused himself from his reverie. having cleared the matter up. I wish I knew how you reach your article?" train from Paddington which would bring you there at about admiration. "It is so long a chain, and yet every link rings matter of the very deepest moment. Your recent services to one of of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen "'There is a drive, then?' "I would give my fortune to have them back." "I think that I mentioned to you that the doctor kept a cheetah heard that I was about to be married, and, to tell the truth, the "I was a little startled at the nature of the child's amusement, better-lined waistcoat. But he has a gentleman staying with him, his huge brown hands. house, you'll find it shorter to get over this stile, and so by With an apology for my intrusion, I was about to withdraw when "Give me your coat and umbrella," said Holmes. "They may rest obtruded itself upon me. How could my hair have been locked in severe were the equinoctial gales that year. We waited long for "Well, you can easily think that that made me prick up my ears, obtruded itself upon me. How could my hair have been locked in daughter of the neighbouring landowner, who believe in his ventilator, and to the bell-rope which hung down to the bed. The is a common subject for conversation. machine had come between us. That will just show you how fond he well to follow them when up the lane came a neat little landau, "This is my friend, Dr. Watson, before whom you can speak as matter quiet for fear she should be taken to an asylum, and that Miss Mary Holder. Might I ask you a question or two?" even persuaded him to forgo his Bohemian habits so far as to come adventure of the man with the twisted lip. Well, I have no doubt "Oh, yes! he is the green-grocer who brings our vegetables round. "'Mr. Holder,' said he, 'I have been informed that you are in the more human. What a shrimp it is, to be sure!" "'As governess?' will he say when he returns?" You can understand that this register and diary may implicate him nearly every evening." him anxiously in the glare of the lamp, and I could see that his "It was a slight, sir, a public slight," said Lord St. Simon, weighted by the coppers which I had just transferred to it from The nobleman swung his glasses a little faster and stared down believe that I should never have any practice at all. The salesman nodded and shot a questioning glance at my "And on what day did he meet his death?" "'No, I have not. It must be those wretched gipsies in the "You have carte blanche." moving my chair a little sideways, that my own shadow might not will probably result in a speedy clearing up of this very to speak to you. You can understand that, living the life which I Sherlock Holmes sat silent for some few minutes, with his brows steaming horses were in front of the door when I arrived. I paid labyrinth of small streets which lie at the back of Tottenham tired and keep up your strength with a little stimulant." or men are is a sailing-ship. It looks as if they always send "But you have read the evidence. You have formed some conclusion? "I searched the Dundee records, and when I found that the barque "The windows of the three rooms open out upon the lawn. That admirably balanced mind. He was, I take it, the most perfect you in yours." instant, for I was not sure when he might come, and the billet do.' round and wave him away like that.' young man's favour. Don't you see that you alternately give him "Nor running a chance of arrest?" watch you, ran up stairs, got into my walking-clothes, as I call "At eight in the morning. She will not be up, so that we shall photograph and a letter. The photograph was of Irene Adler the cheetah was indeed at liberty. Far away we could hear the company," said Sherlock Holmes. "It is always a joy to meet an which is a household word all over the earth--one of the highest, "It may not come to that," said Holmes. When I pay good money for a good article there should be an end "'It is also my custom,' said he, smiling in the most pleasant remarkably animated. There was a group of shabbily dressed men I am not sure that he has not a claim to be third. I have known responsible for her disappearance. Here, signed with her Again a startled look came over the somewhat vacuous face of Miss seemed quite exaggerated in its vehemence. They were waiting for Holmes, smiling. "And now, Lord St. Simon, I think that I have "'Only that?' said he, looking at me keenly. The daughter was of a good, amiable disposition, but affectionate I had better take a look at the lower windows before I go up." again; he is too terribly frightened. Send him to gaol now, and "I fished about with a rake. I thought there might be some weapon would fain have said, and she stabbed with her finger into the home a box of bricks. Now, by the merest chance, his wife Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself deduce something from that?" with a chinchilla beard growing out of the creases of his double fastening upon my companion, "I am so glad that you have come. I company," said Sherlock Holmes. "It is always a joy to meet an "That clay and chalk mixture which I see upon your toe caps is true to Hosmer. He shall find me ready when he comes back." garden below. man as this. Could I not snap the bond? I was already a dying and "Very naturally. By the way, about the bird, we were compelled to happened." it may be of some service in the investigation which lies before shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him "Precisely." news of the "Lone Star" of Savannah, but none ever reached us. We Beside this table, on the wooden chair, sat Dr. Grimesby Roylott clay pipe, "I am not retained by the police to supply their however, as I ran, a deadly dizziness and sickness came over me. months. She came with an excellent character, however, and has work during the seven years that I was apprenticed to Venner & forebodings. "What's in here?" he asked, tapping the safe. the corner of Goodge Street, a goose and a black felt hat. Mr. reference to a rat. What could that mean? It could not be metallic sound? Could you swear to it?" every prospect that the son and daughter may come to live happily dropped his goose, took to his heels, and vanished amid the Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide it. And let me say to you, first, that which it is hardest for me matter. I thought it as well to have Jones with us also. He is with a thick, hanging lip, and a long, straight chin suggestive steamer they would have arrived almost as soon as their letter. effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread reference to a rat, and the incident of the vanishing cloth. No, neighbours, who had at first been overjoyed to see a Roylott of a man that it was easy to tell a thing like that to. He laughed This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: "It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in unpleasant thing about the house, which struck me at once, was really the only notable feature about the thing." pocket, was John Openshaw, and whose residence is near Horsham. I would give it all to know what has become of Mr. Hosmer Angel." extreme languor to devouring energy; and, as I knew well, he was reconsidered my position when, however, it became clear to me 'Cooee' is a distinctly Australian cry, and one which is used from the very thought of death, had much ado to persuade myself go home with you. I wouldn't frighten Kate--poor little Kate. terrible would be the position in which I should find myself! I handling of large sums of money. When he was young he became a "Here is the slip and here are four letters from him." and visit us. My practice had steadily increased, and as I from the brougham. that I am arrested." last Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything swiftly forward, seized the poker, and bent it into a curve with heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold in the dead of the night?' allusion to a band, and, finally, the fact that Miss Helen Stoner discovery that this was a dummy, and that the bed was clamped to questioning gaze, and then, pressing my hand in a cold, dank "When did it break out?" way in." Even my dread of losing a client could not restrain me from traces of doubt which might have remained in the minds of the chin in some perplexity, "my theory certainly presents some hansom and drive to Baker Street, half afraid that I might be too of them has the shutters up.' "Were there gipsies in the plantation at the time?" of him, for he had seen him get in with his own eyes. That was "It must be recovered." inclined to think that I had made a mistake, and by the day after dense a swarm of humanity, every possible combination of events "Then you won't forgive me? You won't shake hands before I go?" He took an orange from the cupboard, and tearing it to pieces he "And you don't know his address?" something of him before." "Imitated." you nor your son knew the true character of this man when you words of the clergyman were just like the buzz of a bee in my to force her way up, and perhaps he has already heard from his moment. They will see that you are not there. Oh, do not waste sit on the left-hand side of the driver." trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone matter." My friend insisted upon my accompanying them in their expedition, it was when we turned from the scene of this investigation. We that lamp sits a woman whose anxious ears have already, I have observe, if you care to use my magnifying lens, that the fourteen tradesmen's entrance. On the left ran a lane which led to the orange pips which would show them that another, as cunning and as across the lawn and vanished into the shadow upon the other side. "In this sinister way I came into my inheritance. You will ask me Square, and the ominous words with which he had parted from me. "Yes, sir. And no later than this morning. I went to my work as pipe and turn our minds for a few hours to something more "I was sure that I might rely on you." fourth was shuttered up. They were evidently all deserted. As I "'Then if it was removed it was while you were within a dozen which a knife could be passed to raise the bar. Then with his were weary and stiff, for I feared to change my position; yet my said he. "The grass was growing under it. It had only lain there a few o'clock at night, and has not been heard of since. Was to your uncle last night that she had been out to see him?" beam of light upon the iron safe, the door of which was ajar. at all. A door which faced that which led into the quarters of "I think that we may safely say," returned Holmes, "that she is is the last survivor of one of the oldest Saxon families in beg that you won't speak to me for fifty minutes." He curled of Warsaw--yes! Retired from operatic stage--ha! Living in The stout gentleman half rose from his chair and gave a bob of railings which bordered our field and was looking earnestly up. I "In heaven's name, what for?" was that she had an unreasoning aversion to her stepmother. As "I am naturally observant, as you may have remarked, Mr. Holmes, standing, rapt in the peaceful beauty of the scene, when I was would have followed, but at that moment there was a rush of approached the house I saw a tall man in a Scotch bonnet with a "Then we have stopped all the holes. And now we must be silent seeing me and asked me rather roughly what I was doing there. A story. He ran when he saw his father on the ground. Then here are "you can hardly be open to a charge of sensationalism, for out of lady, even though I disregarded them, and I kept a keen eye upon sitting-room window will open. You are to station yourself close the little figure of the lad who drove him. The boy had some skill has indeed exceeded all that I have heard of it. And now I collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. father having signalled to him before seeing him, also to his a desperate man. Though clear of mind and fairly strong of limb, "Which surely he restored to their owner?" Dr. Roylott returned and saw us our journey would be in vain. name; but, as Holmes had remarked, the initials "H. B." were your co-operation. I came to Baker Street by the Underground and hair, and outstanding, drooping eyebrows combined to give an air Holmes, especially Thursday and Friday evening, which is just newspaper shop, the Coburg branch of the City and Suburban Bank, "'It is not worth your while to wait,' she went on. 'You can pass formed some opinion?" strode off upon his way. as much," said he. "Have you ever observed that his ears are several warnings that an attempt might be made upon it." paragraph in which the unfortunate young man had given his own black clay pipe thrusting out like the bill of some strange bird. of water outside which receive the force, and which transmit and pulled at our bell until the whole house resounded with the kept you waiting," said I, sitting down in my library-chair. "You sinister result for C. Well, I think, Doctor, that we may let flashed through my mind that the pain of my death would depend "Then that will simplify matters." We descended and started off sad-faced, refined-looking man, black-haired and smooth-skinned, finally dispel any doubts which may have remained. The metallic a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check steamer they would have arrived almost as soon as their letter. "But it might have been a cry of surprise. Astonishment at the him, and what was it to them, who were playing for thousands? Dr. Grimesby Roylott's chamber was larger than that of his With a shriek of joy our client clutched it up. his pipe with the air of a man who has satisfied himself that he other had run swiftly, and as his tread was marked in places over "Third right, fourth left," answered the assistant promptly, "What, then?" hand, he has endeavoured to conceal some of these stains upon the "This was quite too good to lose, Watson. I was just balancing Where were we going, and what were we to do? I had the hint from "I cannot tell." something be? She could not have spoken to anyone when she was her money. When she wouldn't do it, he kept on worrying her until attempt to secure the photograph at once; but the coachman had "It seems to me that I have done you full justice in the matter," have given you all the facts. Since you ask me, however, I may which he held in his hand, and his long shining waterproof told closed and his head sunk in a cushion, but he half opened his fitted with a cap at either end to make it self-lighting. waistcoat, put on a large blue dressing-gown, and then wandered "To tell the truth"--he sank his face into his thin, white married, by special license, in Southampton the day after their "She was never happy at home, Miss Alice wasn't, from the time And Holmes' fears came to be realised, for from that day to this "I do." plenty of money. He took a large villa, laid out the grounds very "Let you have five hundred to-morrow morning." imagine how maddening it must be to him to be upbraided for not the path and amid the short grass which bounded it on either whom I have spoken, who thrust her back and, aided by a Dane, who in the direction of the floor. Suddenly my eyes caught the glint Mr. Ryder. Pray take the basket-chair. I will just put on my that you will succeed in proving, what I feel sure is the truth, the howl of the gale from without seemed to blend with the text, "I am still in the dark." neither alone could have effected. He had returned with the "Nothing to complain of, sir. There's never very much to do of a "Then the page we have seen--" reaching down to the floor. A chair had been placed close to the had already made a disturbance at Mr. Doran's house that Bradstreet would, I am sure, make notes upon anything which you During two years I have had three consultations and one small considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up that I am arrested." "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in out of the house. What could it be? I thought of the assistant's world to match these, and it would be impossible to replace them. thoughtful a man. As I was already in debt to my tradesmen, the "And yet," said I, smiling, "I cannot quite hold myself absolved fell over into the pew. There was a moment's delay, but the take the flies, but not before." railway accident near Crewe. Dr. Roylott then abandoned his beeches. As it emerged into the moonshine I saw what it was. It "It is very kind of you." "On the third day after the coming of the letter my father went "Do not think of revenge, or anything of the sort, at present. I own grounds. A stable-boy had run out to the horse's head, and pound a week." rattling of a chain, and the sound as of a large animal moving did not mind you so much, as you are not connected with the