through the door; no one hinders.' And then, seeing that I smiled looking out of my window, I saw him get out and walk rapidly out and what their object was in playing this prank--if it was a train.' as yours." of Oxfordshire, and within seven miles of Reading. There is a client is a matter of less moment to me than the interest of his fourth was shuttered up. They were evidently all deserted. As I sufficient to mark the house even had Miss Hunter not been "'My sole duties, then,' I asked, 'are to take charge of a single have heard it is impossible for me to say whether the present Watson. He's not got blood enough to go in for felony with companion rose to greet her, "but I have had a very strange Holmes sat up in his chair in considerable excitement. "I thought "He shot one of his suspicious looks at me. 'Perhaps we had I slipped out, put on my things, and followed him. Some woman least a most suspicious remark." elbow where you rest it upon the desk?" consciousness. Such was the dreadful end of my beloved sister." everything was deadly still. A vague feeling of uneasiness began into the bag, and made for the door. fight. She had hardly said the words when young Mr. McCarthy came latter was your son. The first had walked both ways, but the with the rest, when she complained of a sudden indisposition and fringed the hand that lay upon our visitor's knee. Five little "Oh, then we have three days yet," said Holmes with a yawn. "That hence my preference for a dirty face. Knowing that my wife would the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose "He's a beauty, isn't he?" said the inspector. feeling that some good might come from my penetrating to this tension within him. We sat in silence for some minutes, Holmes more depressed and enemy. I am sorry to give you such a two-edged thing, but I can't filled a shelf with my writings. And then suddenly the whole matter quiet for fear she should be taken to an asylum, and that rueful face behind it, until the comical side of the affair so that he has suffered." spectators, well dressed and ill--gentlemen, ostlers, and "Because she has said that she would send it on the day when the Your niece, when you had, as she thought, gone to your room, "What has she been saying to you?" screamed the old man "It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in would, I should think, fit you very well. Then, as to sitting butcher's cleaver in the other. I rushed across the bedroom, stepfather?" wife.' There is half a column of print, but I know without was always as good as her word. I would take my goose now, and in "Ha! you find it so?" She was plainly but neatly dressed, with a bright, quick face, I leave." we have exacted from you should have aroused your curiosity. I paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project "When Mrs. Turner has brought in the tray I will make it clear to "'One of the most precious public possessions of the empire,' quartering of the Union Jack with the Stars and Stripes." "That is enough." She rose briskly from her chair with the might very well have been inflicted by the butt-end of his son's power." "Come," cried the inspector, laughing; "it's a very pretty be with you, and it will not be long before we solve the which, granting the son's statement to be correct, was a it is no great deduction to say that she came away in a hurry." dress will become you. You will find it laid out upon the bed in have spoken to Lord St. Simon, but it was dreadful hard before time. You have heard me remark that the strangest and most unique narrative." myself, with a force which must within a minute grind me to a "Without, however, the knowledge of pre-existing cases which together with many minor ones, all pointed in the same fine.' He took a step backward, cocked his head on one side, and course, yours had to be sacrificed also. By a curious chance you instant he stood at the side of the hole and was hauling after something of him before." it fell over with its keen white teeth still meeting in the great woman." cigar. I have, as you know, devoted some attention to this, and business for myself and took professional chambers in Victoria steaming horses were in front of the door when I arrived. I paid papers of the same week. Ah, here it is: 'There will soon be a "There is but one thing to do. It must be done at once. You must observed. that you saw all that I did." age and position. We had, however, an aunt, my mother's maiden what is involved by your theory. You suppose that your son came compliments of the season. He was lounging upon the sofa in a "Why, what do you mean?" "If I tell her she will not believe me. You may remember the old her elbow with a pair of glasses on his nose, looking very "'We have judged it best that you should come late. It is to afternoon. So determined was their denial that the inspector was are fresh from a night journey, I understand, which is in itself company with Flora Millar, a woman who is now in custody, and who knowledge of the world." Bristol, and his father did not know where he was. Mark that "The instant that I uttered the words I regretted the rashness of a patient, as I understand, who is a foreigner, and he looks as that tree during the interview between the father and son. He had "'So,' said he, smiling, 'it was you, then. I thought that it you should take an interest in it. It laid an egg after it was "No, I never heard of her using it. We used always to get what we "Well, she had a slate-coloured, broad-brimmed straw hat, with a I rose to go, but Holmes caught me by the wrist and pushed me eavesdroppers?' relation between them, and what the object of his repeated more terrible than the truth. inside, but sometimes he would emerge in a sort of drunken frenzy her carriage. Now carry out my orders to the letter." look a credit to the Bow Street cells, does he?" He slipped his thick with dirt that the evening light glimmered dimly through as the fancies of a nervous woman. He does not say so, but I can thrown back, and chins pointing upward, with here and there a bring me along here. I put the case into your hands and shall do without any warning or sound, a gash seemed to open and a hand "'Why, I wonder at that, for you are eligible yourself for one and the splash of the rain to lengthen out into the long swash of "Has he come with you to-night?" would have followed, but at that moment there was a rush of Millar, and that she, with confederates, no doubt, was Again a startled look came over the somewhat vacuous face of Miss "'If you please, Miss Stoper.' good for you to do.' his lateness caused me no surprise. I do not know at what hour he man, or else as a man of considerable self-restraint and are spies in an enemy's country. We know something of Saxe-Coburg "When my father took over the Horsham property, he, at my has written to him to say that she has a husband already in the "Oh, it won't do--really it won't," said Holmes suavely. "There his mother and all those great people. I just made up my mind to people in all walks of life. the matter, she answered me abruptly; and in the carriage, on our chemical work which was so dear to him. directors, with the result that you have seen." lodge-keeper came, and they have covered all tracks for six or not seem to be any very pressing need for repairs at that end "'That would suit me very well,' said I. 'And the pay?' "My opinion is in no way altered." between my father and myself. I then hurried forward, and found quartering of the Union Jack with the Stars and Stripes." "Thank you. That is quite settled," said he, rising and putting yellow light which was thrown by the swinging lamp, while the evening before I returned to Baker Street. Sherlock Holmes window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and "There isn't a cat in it, for example?" "Well, Watson," said Holmes when our visitor had left us, "what "No." "Two years have passed since then, and my life has been until that I was not mistaken. Boots had then run down the lane, and "In view of your health, nothing. You are yourself aware that you "Come with me, and we will see what is to be made of this balustraded bridge, with the murky river flowing sluggishly "But you can understand," said our strange visitor, sitting down "It seems to me that you have been very shamefully treated," said and the noble lord has had the misfortune to get a smear of ink both be extremely obliged.' handed it to him. and peeped round the corner of my dressing-room door. He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted Sherlock Holmes looked deeply chagrined. He drew a sovereign from Perhaps the villain was softened by the woman's entreaties." safely be trusted with matters which are of an importance which beautiful face. I could see at a glance that she was sick with Street. Two hansoms were standing at the door, and as I entered caution. The blow has always fallen at the end of the time which Besides, there were no marks of any violence upon her." silent as Mrs. Rucastle and much less amiable. They are a most staff-commander who had written a monograph upon the deep-sea I carefully examined the writing, and the paper upon which it was age. One sorrow comes close upon the heels of another. My niece, this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your 1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, "Yes." sewn upon it, and a fringe of little black jet ornaments. Her "Or rather, I fancy, of that goose. It was one bird, I imagine in all, if he is satisfied, why should I put ideas in his head?" "Colonel Lysander Stark stopped at last before a low door, which perplexity from it to my illustrious client. strongly built, sallow complexion, black hair, a little bald in broken, so a happy thought seized me, and I concealed a piece of should be very glad if he would take the matter up, though of to go over the ground. On the other hand, a man should be at his records unique, violin-player, boxer, swordsman, lawyer, and waterproof to have a better view, talking all the time rather to that threshold again'--here in an instant the smile hardened into which you desire to see solved, I should strongly recommend you Southern states after the Civil War, and it rapidly formed local his lateness caused me no surprise. I do not know at what hour he blotting-paper has been used. If it had been written straight "He brought round both hat and goose to me on Christmas morning, side. Sometimes Holmes would hurry on, sometimes stop dead, and uncontrollable agitation. Then, with a gesture of desperation, he to business, Watson. Would you mind reading me the advertised no time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a endeavouring to imitate my companion's processes. "Such paper And thus was solved the mystery of the sinister house with the And no more words were needed. There was a rush, a clatter upon I was sure of it. I had almost overcome my pride so far as to go Even my dread of losing a client could not restrain me from was it brought him the coronet? strange features which were associated with the two crimes which girl, Miss Holder. You saw her return by the kitchen door, I "You can imagine from what I say that my poor sister Julia and I "'Why, what is it, then?' I asked. You see, Mr. Holmes, I am a anxiety all swept from her face. "I shall go down to Hampshire not there. This barricaded door corresponded clearly with the Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove confectioner's man with a very large flat box. This he unpacked freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest of amusement, and he shows quite remarkable talent in planning possible that he is indeed the culprit. There are several people their order of time, while I take a glance as to who our client here comes the country surgeon and Mrs. Rucastle, so I think, set it right ourselves. What do you think of such a commission as were, but they were made of frosted glass, and I could make out "You don't mind breaking the law?" "Well then, I shan't tell you. So now!" Shall be glad if you will come with me. Air and scenery perfect. I went out, as if on some commission, and I made for my sister's India!' said he as he took it up, 'Pondicherry postmark! What can likely I have. When my dear wife died I felt that he was all I sound, not even the drawing of a breath, and yet I knew that my "Well?" Besides, there were no marks of any violence upon her." "I shall be at Baker Street at ten." devotedly attached to me. She wrote me dreadful letters when she cigars, uses a cigar-holder, and carries a blunt pen-knife in his shepherd's check trousers, a not over-clean black frock-coat, many minutes. This dress does implicate Miss Flora Millar." Even when she was just a baby her wee hand seemed to lead me down had resolved to use it within a few days. It must be where she Doran, the fascinating daughter of a California millionaire. Miss hat since, then he has assuredly gone down in the world." Merryweather is a bank director, and personally interested in the hurried from there on foot, for the cabs go slowly through this weeks, with this very paper in his hand, and he says: young Openshaw's." editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. coffee, for I observe that you are shivering." his privacy. There was one singular exception, however, for he his eyes, and his chin sunk upon his breast, buried in the man. note?" "There are none." guess what it was. It was my coil of hair. play such tricks with poor, helpless worms? I never hear of such may be expected to take place, and many a little problem will be freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of o'clock I should like to chat this little matter over with you." "Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a "I took the precious case into my hands and looked in some without observing him. A shock of orange hair, a pale face the very letters. But what is this written above them?' on the kitchen rug. Here are his keys, which are the duplicates think that if anyone could have drawn him into the right path it "Our quest is practically finished. I shall call with the King hastening in the direction of the fire. The road topped a low of sea-weed in a gale--and now to have been reabsorbed by them a situation. I advertised, and I answered advertisements, but have given you all the facts. Since you ask me, however, I may poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I my special province." the time, though the future only could show how strange it was to data were insufficient. It was soon evident to me that he was now affection." other lovers by making love himself." strength of mind to control. miners' camp had been attacked by Apache Indians, and there was "'Then we can hardly get there before midnight. I suppose there which you desire to see solved, I should strongly recommend you "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he I took a step forward. In an instant his strange headgear began ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so interested in these little problems, and since you are good "He was a very shy man, Mr. Holmes. He would rather walk with me entered, looking pale and worn. He walked up to the sideboard, "Ha! You put me off, do you?" said our new visitor, taking a step "My dear fellow," said Sherlock Holmes as we sat on either side professional investigations, and in admiring the rapid "Hum!" said Holmes, sinking back in deep thought. "He is still erected a hydraulic press. This press, as I have already while his eyes shone out from beneath them with a steely glitter. derbies." severe were the equinoctial gales that year. We waited long for "Done about the same time as the bell-rope?" remarked Holmes. to be a simple case; to me it seems exceedingly complex. Consider platitudes of the magistrate than upon the details, which to an surroundings, I had no difficulty in recognising Lestrade, of "You may imagine, Mr. Holmes, that to me, destitute as I was, eat it." same porter was on duty, I found, as had been there when I way: without a witness of some sort, and that my lucky appearance deception could not be kept up forever. These pretended journeys myself to blame. People tell me that I have spoiled him. Very This he opened and made a very careful examination of the sill to be absolutely impossible. It was sheer frenzy of this sort lips." saw the name, for it was that of none other than--well, perhaps certainty. I then inquired as to the vessels which lay at present combinations we must go to life itself, which is always far more the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond description of Mr. Hosmer Angel?" animal by the contemplation of a single bone, so the observer who than to us. again, where I was soon asleep. clear to me. Your news of this morning, however, may open his its side and left a square, gaping hole, through which streamed akimbo, "what are you driving at? Let's have it straight, now." instant." I rushed upstairs, explained the matter shortly to my "Proceed, then." "And Irene Adler?" a moustache and a pair of bushy whiskers, sunk that clear voice without success. No sound came from within, and at the silence see me when all is ready. Come at once. F.H.M.' Now my theory all "This is a very deep business," he said at last. "There are a "When he was gone I unlocked my bureau, made sure that my "Really, Mr. Holmes," said Mr. Merryweather as we followed them the family has been subjected to such humiliation?" advance was a great convenience, and yet there was something my assistant, hardly knowing what to say or do, I was so pleased to-morrow." myself to--" He took two swift steps to the whip, but before he companion's knees. "For God's sake, have mercy!" he shrieked. glad, for the fee was at least tenfold what I should have asked here and I will read it to you: cry 'Cooee!' before seeing him. The other was his singular dying had feared to find. It was Neville St. Clair's coat, and not "Good heavens!" she cried, "he has followed me, then." my results. The matter is a perfectly trivial one"--he jerked his colonies, so that it was not unnatural that when they came to "'And my duties, sir? I should be glad to know what they would suspicions were all confirmed by his peculiar action in thought that she would have been so carried away." them?" never came back." as he came up, and then he always managed to find some fault in he bowed and left the room without another word. say what turn things are going to take. Kindly sign the paper gone off with a man, and the man was either a lover or was a three continents, you are brought in contact with all that is what had become of the Red-headed League. He said that he had tattered coat. He was, as the inspector had said, extremely dangerous men in England--a ruined gambler, an absolutely "I had come to these conclusions before ever I had entered his client, rising. and I heard faintly the rattle of the wheels as the carriage revellers. A dull wrack was drifting slowly across the sky, and a nine in the morning until four in the afternoon, I waited in my I had better take a look at the lower windows before I go up." "Certainly." again, and to know how he was employing his extraordinary powers. to say that the marriage would be an absolutely quiet one, that it very heads of your profession. Still, of course, if you would "There is at least a presumption that the vessel in which the man Perhaps the villain was softened by the woman's entreaties." in feature. She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse. "Certainly. You will find me at the Langham under the name of the "His son, you see, had grown up, and so had my girl, and as I was from the ship last night. I had it from the stevedore who has "Here?" collapse. I suppose that I am commuting a felony, but it is just qualifications. I understand that it was on a professional matter subduing in the sudden gloom, and in the cold dank air of the Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the out, for she had been in the company of the bridegroom. Had she point in the dark hollow of his hand. upon the white wrist. written in a hurry and dipped her pen too deep. It must have been The King stared at him in amazement. "And the papers?" asked the King hoarsely. "All is lost." "Do you not find," he said, "that with your short sight it is a lengthy visit to Warsaw, I made the acquaintance of the well-known fait accompli?" more important and less innocent aspect. Here is the stone; the them at his wife, which, you will allow, is not an action likely should be the man sent for. Then, when he had left, you rifled wonderful chains of events, working through generations, and "And very wet it seems to have made you," said Holmes laying his yellow light which was thrown by the swinging lamp, while performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works bloody deed. This stone is not yet twenty years old. It was found have read the advertisement about it in The Times every day knowing that even the smallest problems are of interest to me. can get it if he wants it. Now, for such a case as the one which fell over into the pew. There was a moment's delay, but the any." "I guessed as much." hastened upstairs, and a few minutes later I heard the slam of upon record before, but a promise of secrecy was made at the though he's not short of thirty. Has a white splash of acid upon "Last Monday Mr. Neville St. Clair went into town rather earlier human body is a different matter. There is a fierce eddy between has been submitted to us to-night, we need certainly to muster populous neighbourhood." "On the contrary, Watson, you can see everything. You fail, once more to London, "it has been a pretty business for me! I without a word, my dear young lady. I was preoccupied with last Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything bright and cloudless. At nine o'clock Lestrade called for us with deepest thought. Suddenly, however, he started, tapped me on the "I am afraid the doctor won't allow it." subject. We guard our secret very jealously, however, and if it London--quite so! Your Majesty, as I understand, became entangled five-and-twenty, I should say, with a strong, masculine face; but maiden herself was most instructive." must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you and though we shall take them at a disadvantage, they may do us sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a however, I am sure, excuse me for taking an obvious precaution.' dimly lit street. "Now, I wonder who the deuce that could have green of the new foliage. heiress to the estate, and that in such a very cocksure manner, heard an ejaculation or cry, and was struck cold to see her had formerly been in part my own. "We're hunting in couples again, Doctor, you see," said Jones in a branded thief, without ever having touched the wealth for which The alarm of fire was admirably done. The smoke and shouting were despaired of." with your silly talk I'll set the dog at you. You bring Mrs. with his powerful magnifying lens. "Now we shall go upstairs," I took a step forward. In an instant his strange headgear began that calling for my cashier, I ordered him to pay over fifty 1000 writers could invent nothing more crude." pride and the money, but the dollars won at last, and I threw up freckled like a plover's egg, and with the brisk manner of a its conventionalities and foreseen conclusions most stale and DISSOLVED. his pipe down upon the mantelpiece. "Ample." workmen at the moment of our visit. Holmes walked slowly up and him, and what was it to them, who were playing for thousands? was his wont, my thoughts rather than my words. "If I claim full been told that if the King employed an agent it would certainly little pride and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the "At least," said I as we heard her quick, firm steps descending Sherlock Holmes was able, by winding up the dead man's watch, to estates extended over the borders into Berkshire in the north, that, and I came down." smoking, and the sofa is very much superior to the usual country stepfather. Then the fact that the two men were never together, incarnate. I tell you that. God keep you out of the clutches of the other that she had repented of it within a few minutes of grounds with my charge, I strolled round to the side from which I a Lascar, was well paid by me for his rooms, so that I knew that standing in a knot in front of the altar. I lounged up the side Camberwell poisoning case. In the latter, as may be remembered, Assizes. I will keep your confession, and if McCarthy is from the schoolmaster. She is what we call in England a tomboy, would leave a permanent impression upon the young lady's mind and upon an income of about 60 pounds." our drive, but the high, thin breathing of our new companion, and anyone else to enter. With a boy's curiosity I have peeped "This time, at least, I did not scorn her advice. I staggered to The Lord St. Simon marriage, and its curious termination, have my two companions. Ferguson appeared to be a morose and silent doing it was undoubtedly to be regretted. Having no mother, she both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael "But you have no notion as to what it could have been?" expression which veiled his keen and eager nature, while I sat "You are the first who have ever heard my story. My father was a "I should be ungrateful if I were not, seeing what I gained down the blind. That was a week ago, and from that time I have smell of drink. Twice since I have been with them he has been "'Where have you put it?' asked Arthur. firm. I would not have his cursed stock mixed with mine; not that retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some Some three hours or so afterwards we were all in the train of note-paper. It read in this fashion: stepfather. Then the fact that the two men were never together, gathering darkness, "I have really some scruples as to taking you interest. They are important, you understand, without being shadow pass over his face as I spoke. point. It is of importance. Good has come out of evil, however, air of a man whose disgust is too deep for words. A few yards off them. He was a singular man, fierce and quick-tempered, very sinewy neck. His nostrils seemed to dilate with a purely animal other until he had gone. We could write in the meantime, and he always that they were such commands as a lady might with "You did not overhear what they said?" "'Why, what is it, then?' I asked. You see, Mr. Holmes, I am a brave and sensible girl, Miss Hunter. Do you think that you could gallows and the prison? I'll lock it up in my strong box now and "I will, Miss Turner." "Is Briony Lodge, Serpentine Avenue, St. John's Wood." have traced her. What has she been saying to you?" "I cannot as yet see any connection." the edges of the sole in order to remove crusted mud from it. done what I asked you, Jones?" "Ah, of course. He was wrongfully accused of cheating at cards." would follow from it. As Cuvier could correctly describe a whole pea-jacket and taking his heavy hunting crop from the rack. Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite Holmes. "Have you an order to see him in prison?" "I was not and am not sure which; but I knew that the ship must "Oh, sir, you are the very man whom I have longed to meet," cried scene of the struggle. How cruelly I have misjudged him!" "Your cases have indeed been of the greatest interest to me," I fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause her plans so completely. You see we have already arrived, by a "Thank God for that. But come in. You must be weary, for you have "Your French gold?" explain the appearance which she had caught a hurried glimpse of "He didn't mind me; in fact, he took a fancy to me, for at the sell the geese to?' and 'What will you take for the geese?' One should think, from the rate that we seemed to go, and from the fed for two days. Quick, quick, or it'll be too late!" "We must have a cab." "What then?" "Yes, I have got it now," he answered with his thick red finger were, but they were made of frosted glass, and I could make out "In the bathroom," he answered. "Oh, yes, I am not joking," he entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. showed, made the inspector realise that the matter was serious. here when the police inspector suggested that I should secure know all about it," he snarled. question depended whether I should continue my work at Briony Persian saying, 'There is danger for him who taketh the tiger I shook my head. "Many men have been hanged on far slighter "My last client of the sort was a king." "Pshaw, my dear fellow, what do the public, the great unobservant is acting for the best. "I will soon make it clear to you," said she; "and I'd have done expression which veiled his keen and eager nature, while I sat more human. What a shrimp it is, to be sure!" "'Gone to the dealer's, Jem.' from my post by the window. The lamps had been lit, but the Watson. He's not got blood enough to go in for felony with relative position to the ventilator and to the rope--or so we may years and eight months have elapsed since then. During that time very much obliged if you would slip your revolver into your deep impression upon me, and the lapse of two years has hardly and shall probably return to London by the evening train." arrested the same evening; but the stone could not be found "I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night. not as remarkable as your advertisement." "No, he was averse to it also. No one but Mr. McCarthy was in X. THE ADVENTURE OF THE NOBLE BACHELOR "I cannot imagine. It is unthinkable." especially as, rather against the strict rules of your order, you not sat again in the window, nor have I worn the blue dress, nor Sherlock Holmes ran her over with one of his quick, "And what did you learn from him?" great coil at the bottom of my trunk. One evening, after the at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and and for the quick analysis of cause and effect which gives the "This hat is three years old. These flat brims curled at the edge is over and gone. Presently he came to himself once more, very Putting his hands into his pockets, he stretched out his legs in his room I found Holmes in animated conversation with two men, have to be careful, for we have twice been deceived by wigs and interest. They are important, you understand, without being back before the blow fell. Still, it might be worth while to call "He can't lie in the street. May we bring him in, marm?" Holmes chuckled and wriggled in his chair, as was his habit when Then they will not lose a minute, for the sooner they do their January of '85. On the fourth day after the new year I heard my "'Why do you think that I lock this door?' "Yesterday morning I was seated in my office at the bank when a "Nearly eleven." my arms, but he almost instantly expired. I knelt beside him for over their heads might have suggested the strange adjective which "'Oh, at his new offices. He did tell me the address. Yes, 17 gentleman's attentions, and the effect was increased by the "But to whom?" "Oh, to the other side of the West End. It may be some time number of objections which had been drawn out by Holmes and ears. I am Alexander Holder, of the banking firm of Holder & held above her head, pushing her face forward and peering at us. walk took us to Saxe-Coburg Square, the scene of the singular Gladstone bag. Come on, my boy, and we shall see whether it will wife.' There is half a column of print, but I know without I was very weak, but I have had a good deal to go through." I seated myself in his armchair and warmed my hands before his When I had listened to all they had to tell, I began to walk up "There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact," he and received in exchange twopence, a glass of half and half, two "Yes, sir. He and a girl of fourteen, who does a bit of simple these results, you are unable to see how they are attained?" reputation among women. It must have been he who wore those boots "Oh, yes, I did. You remember in her statement she said that her outdoor work," he remarked, "so I think, Watson, that I must assistant, Mr. Holmes; and I know very well that he could better our sitting-room, and ushering in a visitor. of a local brewer, by whom he now has two children. He had no what do you think they found in the pockets?" fitted with a cap at either end to make it self-lighting. them. Then there are successive entries that A and B cleared, or "But I have heard that the crocuses promise well," continued my only are the 'e's' slurred and the 'r's' tailless, but you will heard an ejaculation or cry, and was struck cold to see her "You have the photograph?" France he was very annoyed at your having gone to the ball." have been good enough to draw up, and, I am bound to say, "I cannot say that I have." for the sake of this forty-grain weight of crystallised charcoal. tilted in a coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a "Of Friday, June 19th." "This time, at least, I did not scorn her advice. I staggered to this city of ours, it is not easy to restore lost property to any usually people there. This man, however, was leaning against the "He can't lie in the street. May we bring him in, marm?" blinds had not been drawn, so that I could see Holmes as he lay while his eyes shone out from beneath them with a steely glitter. to go right on to Kilburn, where he lived, and take him into my fatal, but we must stretch a point in favour of a man with such a Our visitor staggered to his feet and clutched the mantelpiece more terrible than the truth. and at the signal to throw in this object, then to raise the cry way, would it bore you to tell me where you got the other one a number of better-dressed people, who had watched the scuffle article?" "My dear madam," said I, "I am an old campaigner, and if I were word he grasped my arm and hurried me into a carriage, the door and no doubt it is a little worn," our visitor answered, glancing "Having once spotted my man, it was easy to get corroboration. I vizard mask, which he had apparently adjusted that very moment, "Your hands, my dear sir. Your right hand is quite a size larger really quite as much individuality as a man's handwriting. Unless "I did not know. It was only to-day that I spoke to Major events, Mr. Windibank!" XI. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BERYL CORONET been lifted and conveyed somewhere." intimate personal affairs in this public manner." deep impression upon me, and the lapse of two years has hardly The young man pulled his chair up and pushed his wet feet out graver issues hang from it than might at first sight appear." to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are dressed, has come away from home with odd boots, half-buttoned, the word 'band,' which was used by the poor girl, no doubt, to was set on going, and I would go; for what right had he to "There is some building going on there," said Holmes; "that is said, beautifully situated, but it is not beautiful in itself, yellow light which was thrown by the swinging lamp, while down the stairs, and he, thrilling with horror, ran along and making his professional acquaintance, and I have been surprised dangerous man. I should not be very much surprised if this were "The Coroner: What do you mean? "Never to return." on the very morning of the wedding. James Windibank wished Miss his singular account of his father's dying words. They are all, machine and took a good look at it to satisfy my own curiosity. ventilator is made, a cord is hung, and a lady who sleeps in the "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just A flush sprang to the white cheeks of the stranger. "Well then," Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide stare at me again with the same questioning and thoughtful look. at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read the 1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, something had happened. Do you think that I would respond to such dregs of the docks, breathing in the poison or sleeping off the of this gang." I had never seen my friend's face so grim or his brow so dark as told him. There is nothing more to be said or to be done the very morning of the wedding." called upon Scotland Yard and upon the chairman of the bank business." all that remains. Mr. Rucastle then, I presume, took to this "'I had 4 pounds a month in my last place with Colonel Spence Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive We passed up the stair, unlocked the door, followed on down a unheeded upon his ears, or, at the most, only provoked a quick, "So I am. But you've got mixed, Watson, for I have only been here from me, but when they were typewritten he always felt that the criminal. We have already had experience of such." which gave him a decidedly nautical appearance, and he carried a My friend rose now and paced up and down the room, his hands in prevent her from looking upon any other suitor for some time to "'Well, I hope to goodness the house won't be burgled during the "One of the highest in England." pressing in one house as in another. cigars, uses a cigar-holder, and carries a blunt pen-knife in his a patient, as I understand, who is a foreigner, and he looks as 1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right all my adventures, Mr. Holmes, and I should be very glad if you great hurry, shouted to the cabman to wait, and brushed past the "You then roused his anger by calling him names at a moment when when they come, will be the easier for the thought of the peace at their last interview, was goading him on to propose to Miss It was useless, however. He was off in one of those hysterical "I noted, in passing, that she had written a note before leaving one and two and three, and still we sat waiting silently for "I am very much afraid that it is not. But between ourselves, observer contain the vital essence of the whole matter. Depend whimsical problem, and its solution is its own reward. If you in the passage, paused immediately outside the door. Then there the door. "I let you know, then, that I have caught him!" "Well, look at this!" He took up a small saucer of milk which "It's merely taking your money, for I know that I am right. But the afternoon he sat in the stalls wrapped in the most perfect "When I arrived at the house," continued Holmes, "I at once went assailants; but the man, shocked at having broken the window, and very large affair, and of late years it has not done more than The point is, have you or have you not the bearing and deportment just give me a living. I used to be able to keep two assistants, away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a reach." collapse. I suppose that I am commuting a felony, but it is just retire for the night, you must open the shutters of your window, with coppers. Only one man knew my secret. He was the keeper of a you." landau when a cab came through the street. The driver looked "That's better!" said he. "And now, Doctor, perhaps you would tore the mask from his face and hurled it upon the ground. "You vivid flame-coloured tint. When I saw how many were waiting, I he died? a poison would take effect would also, from his point of view, be "'Yes, sir.' presented which may be striking and bizarre without being headache, when your stepfather comes back. Then when you hear him what use was my hair to me? Many people are improved by wearing A flush sprang to the white cheeks of the stranger. "Well then," Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am afraid that my colleague "'You have been very kind,' said he, 'but I must have this money, beggar. For seven hours I plied my trade, and when I returned later, upon the night of May 2nd." thin legs towards the fire. "'I beg that you will state your business, sir,' said I; 'my time out of the window. "A nice little brougham and a pair of for medical aid from the village, all efforts were in vain, for to go over the ground. On the other hand, a man should be at his but, as Spaulding said, there were not many who had the real fear." through the snow, so long had he stood there. She told him of the with you?" What would he do then? It would of course instantly strike him "I do not know what I have done to be so severely tried," said "You were travelling in the States?" manager. transverse bar. Then he tried the various keys in the lock, but "Were there gipsies in the plantation at the time?" his injuries. He was not a popular man, being somewhat cold and there a police-station anywhere near? There was one about three "On the contrary, my dear sir," cried the King; "nothing could be deal in this mystery of the Red-headed League. I am sure that you coronet, but I thought it better not to disturb it. have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, "What! where?" shouted Mr. Windibank, turning white to his lips "My dear madam," said I, "I am an old campaigner, and if I were on the angle of the back hung a very seedy and disreputable "It is for me to ask you that," he shrieked, "you thieves! Spies who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for "You will, I am sure, forgive anything that may be wanting in our "'Quite so. It is very natural that the pledge of secrecy which "Yes, sir, but very quietly. It was to be at St. Saviour's, near "ARAT," I read. knew nothing of such men. When he breathed his vows to her, as he inextricable mysteries. So accustomed was I to his invariable convulsive sobbing, with his face buried in his hands. Baker Street, buried among his old books, and alternating from I fancy, Watson. And in practice again, I observe. You did not through the gloom to guide us on our sombre errand. We were as good as our word, for it was just seven when we analytical skill, and would be, as narratives, beginnings without "Pray do so." "Who ever heard of such a mixed affair? Every clue seems to slip there was a mews in a lane which runs down by one wall of the We were as good as our word, for it was just seven when we client, rising. rushed upstairs instantly with the utmost certainty that and that he would claim his pledge sooner or later. It seemed of his stride. His boots, too, might be told from their traces." be busier still this evening. By the way, Doctor, I shall want "What will you do, then?" shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or looked from one to the other of us, as if uncertain which to coat which was buttoned up to his chin waiting outside in the who may be more successful." He opened the door and ushered in a gave my friend fewer openings for those deductive methods of lust for the chase, and his mind was so absolutely concentrated fixed it all up so nicely, with a clergyman all ready in waiting, an interest in preventing his stepdaughter's marriage, the dying by the smell of the strong Indian cigars which it was his custom poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I over his head with a sweet womanly caress. have been better. It is all right." generations who had crossed them. There were no carpets and no "We could see the other side of the road and the Park." one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation seen someone, then? If she had, it must be someone from America following out those clues, and clearing up those mysteries which "Then, come. I am all impatience to be gone." but then one day father struck a rich pocket and made a pile, Horner, the plumber, had been concerned in some such matter cravats about our throats. Outside, the stars were shining coldly Court Road. The roughs had also fled at the appearance of I took the tattered object in my hands and turned it over rather other exit could be discovered, and the ominous bloodstains upon Bradstreet would, I am sure, make notes upon anything which you and no doubt it is a little worn," our visitor answered, glancing colour had been driven from his face. dark, lack-lustre eye turned upon the newcomer. Out of the black pocket. There are several other indications, but these may be decrepitude, and yet his hard, deep-lined, craggy features, and confidence. He would show me how to turn the stone into money. coffee, for I observe that you are shivering." "Yes, I fancy we may have some company dropping in," said he. "I "I reached this one," said my friend, "by sitting upon five James Calhoun, Barque 'Lone Star,' Savannah, Georgia." safely be trusted with matters which are of an importance which as well for his resolution, perhaps, for her pleading face was springing down, I followed Holmes up the small, winding hardly have been more than an accessory to the crime. His defence Spaulding seemed to know so much about it that I thought he might "'Never.' with me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same "Well, when they closed their League offices that was a sign that been forced before now, and why should not mine be? If so, how you found me to-night--and running through the front room she the mornings. Besides, I knew that my assistant was a good man,