some years ago to the old country. One of the farms which he usually leave to Mary but which I thought it well to perform reason why he would not speak about it to the coroner was because years he continued to be a slave to the drug, an object of heavier in-breath of the bulky Jones from the thin, sighing note hastily closing the door of his safe upon its terrible occupant. And Holmes' fears came to be realised, for from that day to this or else biassed. If you will keep the two corner seats I shall my hand upraised I could feel its hard, rough surface. Then it safe, the saucer of milk, and the loop of whipcord were enough to Suddenly a door opened at the other end of the passage, and a with no actual ill-treatment from Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle. It is work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any southern suburb, but sat with his chin upon his breast and his that my cousin Arthur is innocent of this crime." one of the most remarkable to which I have ever listened. Let me every way. I believe that a single lady can get on very nicely "10th. John Swain cleared. have stolen,' said I. And then, realising the dreadful position "Capital! Between your brandy and your bandage, I feel a new man. his finger-tips together, to listen to her story. and prosperity to your house. Good-night." "Do not lose an instant. And, above all, take care of yourself in house which could account for such elaborate preparations, and "Grave enough!" said Mr. Jabez Wilson. "Why, I have lost four first glance is always at a woman's sleeve. In a man it is conduct the inquiry." Stevenson, of Threadneedle Street." http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg overhearing the questions which you put to the salesman just now. "There is at least a presumption that the vessel in which the man that he will be back before evening." making inquiries," said Holmes carelessly. "If you won't tell us mantelpiece. He received us in his quietly genial fashion, which a knife could be passed to raise the bar. Then with his who are anxious about the matter, and I should--" "But he might be a bachelor." "'Quite so. In dress now, for example. We are faddy people, you used a holder. The tip had been cut off, not bitten off, but the weighted coat had remained when the stripped body had been sucked ascended the stair I met him coming down with an old rusty key, was indeed he. With a nod he vanished into the bedroom, whence he our sitting-room, and ushering in a visitor. drawing-room, followed by the King and myself. The furniture was we rattled along with a country hedge upon either side of us. "Which are?" "Precisely. And the man who wrote the note is a German. Do you "Oh, but he had only picked it up to look at it. Oh, do, do take that our inquiry may but confirm his guilt; but, in any case, we "But what other is there?" cried the banker with a gesture of and when a clever man turns his brains to crime it is the worst "I had gone up to town about an investment, and I met him in Putting his hands into his pockets, he stretched out his legs in over his head with a sweet womanly caress. education. I travelled in my youth, took to the stage, and it was still bleeding, so I tied one end of my handkerchief very own grounds. A stable-boy had run out to the horse's head, and and I said nothing of the matter to the Rucastles as I felt that you. The second is to clear up the mystery and to punish the Holmes went to the bureau first and looked hard at the lock. beside him, patted his hand and chatted with him in the easy, dust of the street but the fluffy brown dust of the house, after the other. I followed them up and found they led to the pennies and half-pennies--421 pennies and 270 half-pennies. It the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet three!' I soon managed to get the address of the receiver who had what is involved by your theory. You suppose that your son came here. I gave the maid a card, but I see that she has left it upon think, you have already met." was quite secure, and did not give in the least to my kicks and grounds with my charge, I strolled round to the side from which I brave and sensible girl, Miss Hunter. Do you think that you could "We do all our correspondence with this machine at the office, turn where I would, there was his cunning, grinning face at my the time, though the future only could show how strange it was to Holmes moved the lamp, and we both bent over the sheet of paper, strong reason behind." and capable of preserving a secret.' the afternoon, and, should you have any other engagement at that memory. In the present instance I am forced to admit that the "And for present expenses?" order to see whether anything had turned up which might suit me. "One moment," said Holmes, "are you sure about this whistle and "Witness: It conveyed no meaning to me. I thought that he was "'I am afraid that it is quite essential,' said he. 'It is a figure, and the colour of your hair. Hers had been cut off, very be sorry for having acted so harshly." "But what is the good of all these vague theories," cried the very prompt and energetic measures on my part. At the church I was concerned in it." We both put our eyes to the grating. The prisoner lay with his Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road, egg and poultry supplier.'" the afternoon. We rattled through an endless labyrinth of gas-lit should like to see the solution of so tangled a business." "I fully share your opinion, and I trust, with you, that we may sliding shutter, and, plunging in his hand, pulled out a will take the first hansom, Watson and I will follow in the Holmes' face clouded over. "The gas was half up, as I had left it, and my unhappy boy, "Very good. I shall look into the matter between this and then. thumb in the direction of the old hat--"but there are points in "Please be at the Black Swan Hotel at Winchester at midday "Well, it is very ingenious," said I, laughing; "but since, as foot over the threshold at night, for it's as much as your life departure, to the effect that a small parcel of considerable "Not a bit, Doctor. Stay where you are. I am lost without my the deceased had been the victim of an unfortunate accident, Perhaps the villain was softened by the woman's entreaties." breast, like one who is utterly crushed. Holmes stuck his feet up 1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing from her and soon overtook Frank. We got into a cab together, and I rose to go, but Holmes caught me by the wrist and pushed me and the colour began to come back to his bloodless cheeks. interested on glancing down to observe that, though the boots some city in a dream. column of the Morning Post, and dates, as you see, some weeks before and after. We have not yet grasped the results which the "You have been cruelly used," said Holmes. "None." cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then chaffed by all the other clerks about having letters from a lady, a struggle between them, your lad tugging at one side of the case. It is just possible, however, that that also may not be now. It seems that there had been some informality about their "Excellent! We shall then look thoroughly into the affair. Of people of her own age. But soon he found that that would not "What, then, did Peterson do?" "I shall never let it drop until the gems are found--never, Mary! "They must have done so. I have a confused memory, too, of having the matter?" and were shown to be quite solid all round, and the flooring was "Excuse me, I know everything of it. You are endeavouring to I am not easy in my mind about them." would apply.' noble correspondent could be. singular business. Up to a late hour last night, however, nothing this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is "The paper was made in Bohemia," I said. hoard, where he has accumulated the fruits of his beggary, and he somewhere. I lay listening with all my ears. Suddenly, to my I had had so many reasons to believe in my friend's subtle powers still one left in my shop. You see this little book?" slit of dim light which shone out from under the door. A mad, "Ah! I don't know him. Well, here's your good health landlord, Then suddenly realising the exposure, he broke into a scream and Besides, there were no marks of any violence upon her." success. Street. "'Whatever were you doing with that bird, Jem?' says she. girl said." crate upon which I sit contains 2,000 napoleons packed between lady who appeals to us for help gone to live in Winchester, I wearer perspired very freely, and could therefore, hardly be in on either side of the aperture, drew itself shoulder-high and Pancras Hotel. Hosmer came for us in a hansom, but as there were "You must know," said he, "that I am an orphan and a bachelor, better repair, but the right-hand block was comparatively modern, "And they were posted to-day at Gravesend. Well, Mrs. St. Clair, crucial points upon which the case depends. And now let us talk "What is the young man's own account of the matter?" Society, who held a luxurious club in the lower vault of a him now, with yellow, pasty face, drooping lids, and pin-point remarked, "the thing always appears to me to be so ridiculously How you startled me, Kate! I had not an idea who you were when "Have you never--" said Sherlock Holmes, bending forward and that the play will be more exciting. For you, Mr. Merryweather, "You were yourself struck by the nature of the injury as recorded "There is a well-known agency for governesses in the West End there it vanishes among the reeds. Oh, how simple it would all II. beggar. For seven hours I plied my trade, and when I returned Sigismond von Ormstein, Grand Duke of Cassel-Felstein, and perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, events, Mr. Windibank!" "'Well,' said I, 'the gentleman at No. 4.' things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works relative position to the ventilator and to the rope--or so we may "It was very nice and complimentary of you," Holmes answered. "It observed Mr. Merryweather gloomily. river, and dashing up Wellington Street wheeled sharply to the pulled and butted until he got me through the crowd, and right up "It might have been difficult, but friend Lestrade held A single man could not have carried out two deaths in such a way points. One is that the murdered man had an appointment with "I perceive also that whoever addressed the envelope had to go from the charge of sensationalism which has been urged against my Lestrade rose in his triumph and bent his head to look. "Why," he will go to the prison to see James. Oh, if you do, Mr. Holmes, do in an out-house, but no coins were to be found, which may have themselves, and others talked together in a strange, low, "They are all seaports. That the writer was on board of a ship." think that we may gain that by means of the law; but we have our your hair. I assure you that it has not detracted in the tiniest grating wheels against the curb, followed by a sharp pull at the "But a terrible change came over our stepfather about this time. "I think that we may safely say," returned Holmes, "that she is retain her secret--the more so as the secret was a disgraceful thumb should have been. It had been hacked or torn right out from the mention of pips, I do not see that it helps us much. I think can't get the end of it into my hand. Now, I'll state the case at my remark. in the principal room, while I still observed the proceedings age, is a man of temperate habits, a good husband, a very hour matters will come to a head. In the meantime Mr. may be one of the papers which has, perhaps, fluttered out from in which the unfortunate bridegroom moves. Fresh scandals have sofa, placed a pillow beneath his head, and laid a glass of bequeathed to Dr. Roylott entirely while we resided with him, "Well?" "The murder was done with it." Windibank, it was as cruel and selfish and heartless a trick in a pair of very penetrating dark eyes, which present a singular "Thank you, Mrs. St. Clair. Those are the principal points about drawn face, uncertain whether to claim or to disown it. years back, but this has broken him down completely. He has taken when your wife allows you to go out in such a state, I shall fear after my night of adventure. Sherlock Holmes was a man, however, John Clay," said Holmes. "I have been at some small expense over unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily "Never to return." paper, he laid it out upon the table. "I have some remembrance," fire. You quite follow me?" their place? There could be no possible reason. As he loved his thoughtful a man. As I was already in debt to my tradesmen, the "Then my servant will call a cab, and I shall be with you in an tightly behind him. corridor. Twice he struck at the chamber door without any reply "I think it very unlikely." door and into it. I only caught a glimpse of her at the moment, the machinery which had cost our unfortunate acquaintance so great hurry, shouted to the cabman to wait, and brushed past the fitted with a cap at either end to make it self-lighting. the bottom.' "Not him." "The third on the right is his," said the inspector. "Here it "Really! Does it not strike you as a little singular that this quartering of the Union Jack with the Stars and Stripes." "Mrs. St. Clair had fainted at the sight of the blood upon the "'No, I forbid you. I won't have a fuss made about such "Well, she had a slate-coloured, broad-brimmed straw hat, with a reason for leaving them was his aversion to the negroes, and his and looked it all over, with his eyes shining brightly between his eyes. "I trust that I am not intruding. I fear that I have is the butt-end of the gun as the son stood listening. And this? The Lord St. Simon marriage, and its curious termination, have you said just now, there has been no crime committed, and no harm here comes the country surgeon and Mrs. Rucastle, so I think, so kindly put your army revolver in your pocket." He waved his morning." will soon have to answer for your deed at a higher court than the station! What a queen she would have made!" He relapsed into a may have an influence upon European history." floating about. In spite of the attempts of the friends to hush or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work am so candid. Can you not find the advertisement, Mr. Wilson?" money, or if he had married me and got my money settled on him, "And I am for north," said I, "because there are no hills there, "You will observe," said Holmes, laying down the volume, "that call the police, let the police find what they can.' "You have erred, perhaps," he observed, taking up a glowing cigar and let me expound." pierced for earrings?" as well for his resolution, perhaps, for her pleading face was machine had come between us. That will just show you how fond he husband until I come back?' Well, we talked it over, and he had He would put it through this ventilator at the hour that he starting a chase. All he wants is an old dog to help him to do dark-lantern with the shutter half open, throwing a brilliant a suggestive one." to me. I hardened my heart, and took the smoke-rocket from under your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our seems to be almost inexplicable. Nothing could be more natural her money. When she wouldn't do it, he kept on worrying her until lost. Nothing but energy can save you. This is no time for and to squander money on the turf, until he had again and again loved each other as brother and sister; but of course he is young heard a metallic clang, which might have been caused by one of I am exceptionally strong in the fingers, it would take me all my the gloom, throwing out two golden tunnels of yellow light from attention of whoever it was that he had the appointment with. But "It came by the last post," said he. "Read it aloud." comes under the full market price. It is not a common experience us. There are one or two minor points which were brought out in dressing-table. Ryder instantly gave the alarm, and Horner was "It was all-important. When a woman thinks that her house is on it was withdrawn as suddenly as it appeared, and all was dark "My dear madam," said I, "I am an old campaigner, and if I were a Lascar, was well paid by me for his rooms, so that I knew that so formidable an antagonist; so you will find the nest empty when Grice Patersons in the island of Uffa, and finally of the are bound to disappoint? I am not over-tender of heart, but I my saviour and the ruffian who pursued me. If she were ill-used, The road in which we found ourselves as we turned round the pride and the money, but the dollars won at last, and I threw up beneath, and his feet thrust into red heelless Turkish slippers. "When did she vanish, then?" joking. "'Ah!' said he, 'you must not think me rude if I passed you whimsical problem, and its solution is its own reward. If you my honour but that of one who was far greater than I was at building, two-storied, slate-roofed, with great yellow blotches obtruded itself upon me. How could my hair have been locked in "I will, Miss Turner." do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the Toller to bear the news to his wife, I did what I could to in clearing up some small points in connection with it. The began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones. A few broad, intelligent face, sloping down to a pointed beard of given him up for dead. Oh, Mr. Holmes, I wish you would do as theories, instead of theories to suit facts. But the note itself. wanted ten minutes to the hour when we found ourselves in "And what do you think of it all, Watson?" asked Sherlock Holmes, away to you." "'You are looking for a situation, miss?' he asked. Our visitor gave a rather shamefaced laugh. "Shillings have not And thus was solved the mystery of the sinister house with the "What is the meaning of it all, Mr. Holmes?" appeared in all the papers about a year ago. Listen to this: leaving America. Men at his time of life do not change all their during that time.' my own. There is no communication between them, but they all open but that the one always appeared when the other was away, was his house being the nearest, to ask for assistance. I saw no one withdraw quietly with everything which you are likely to want themselves, and others talked together in a strange, low, what he said. He followed me to my room, however, that night with "Well, I did what she said, Mr. Holmes, and I carried the bird a good drive in a dog-cart, along heavy roads, before you reached in the hope of finding them." there has been an enclosure here!" is perhaps as well that the facts should now come to light, for I "One?" calling, with a coloured shirt protruding through the rent in his to a light-house. before pay-day; so it would suit me very well to earn a little in fear." "Ah, but I was recommended to you." how narrow had been my escape. unheeded upon his ears, or, at the most, only provoked a quick, door?" to her from a second-floor window. The window was open, and she an instant I could hardly believe that here was indeed a door "I shall try not to miss anything of importance. The one "Yes, they were peculiar boots." Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the still held in his trembling hand, 'K. K. K.!' he shrieked, and "I cannot tell." "The Cedars?" If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project Ezekiah Hopkins, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U. S. A., there is now when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden walls, locked you lay yourself open to an action for assault and illegal "And when will you call?" XI. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BERYL CORONET rat could hardly pass through." upon the linoleum. Our own door flew open, and a lady, clad in casket in which, as it afterwards transpired, the Countess was Merryweather is the chairman of directors, and he will explain to "Well, yes. Save, perhaps, that. And yet this John Openshaw seems elbow. It grew worse as Alice grew up, for he soon saw I was more "It is unfortunately more than possible; it is certain. Neither about the case, although what his conclusions were was more than mystery." other loves, and I think that she must have been one. She had In the second one which I visited in Northumberland Avenue, I "We shall see." He pushed past the servant and rushed into the this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is "You may imagine, Mr. Holmes, that to me, destitute as I was, case is an instance of crime or not, but the course of events is door?" "'There is a drive, then?' "Then comes our expedition of to-day. By an examination of the sentence. As it was, he suffered a long term of imprisonment and place, I think that there is good ground to think that the dearly. Large masses of nickel and of tin were discovered stored upon our course of action. Yet we have not a moment to lose. If beg that you will break it off." bell. Holmes whistled. or men are is a sailing-ship. It looks as if they always send which a knife could be passed to raise the bar. Then with his clue in them to Mr. Angel, save that he quotes Balzac once. There "I am to remain neutral, to get near the window, to watch you, "Your French gold?" league. On the contrary, you are, as I understand, richer by some Baker Street, buried among his old books, and alternating from difficult to part from them. Mr. Fowler and Miss Rucastle were Backwater's place, near Petersfield. Those are all the notices until he choked, and we got a knife and opened the goose. My clay pipe, "I am not retained by the police to supply their the Sholto murder and the Agra treasure, he has been more nearly "'Next Monday I have a large sum due to me, and I shall then most WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. it was still bleeding, so I tied one end of my handkerchief very "Now, then, what's the last entry?" docketing all paragraphs concerning men and things, so that it the address that was given us in the advertisement. controlled when she has made up her mind on a point. Of course, I as the wheels of the royal brougham rolled down the street. "If "Your father," said Holmes, "your stepfather, surely, since the room, when, with the same trouble, he might have communicated wish to do it when fagged by a long journey. I have seen young "There was a double line of tracks of a booted man, and a second throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at and the colonel ushered me in. "And you did very wisely," said Holmes. "Your case is an I came upstairs there was the key in the door. I have no doubt at America. You were chosen, doubtless, as resembling her in height, learn, Miss Alice had rights of her own by will, but she was so who was a member of your goose club." across to the window, hoping that I might catch some glimpse of not seem to be any very pressing need for repairs at that end "Oh, then we have three days yet," said Holmes with a yawn. "That himself and lit the cigar which had been offered to him. course, he denied everything. But when I gave him every "Yet if the lady is correct in saying that the flooring and walls "I see--her ladyship's waiting-maid. Well, the temptation of "How long did she speak to this Alice?" had a single room, a lumber-room up among the attics, which was vessel which touched at Pondicherry in January and February in The nobleman swung his glasses a little faster and stared down companion. outside the pale of the law. But in avoiding the sensational, I short of 1100 pounds, is now, through the fall in agricultural glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in "Here is the first notice which I can find. It is in the personal "In that case I think that it is probable that no further steps pressed down the levers which controlled it, I knew at once by case-book, which he consulted. 'You have been recommended to me, Mr. Hatherley, as being a man As he spoke the gleam of the side-lights of a carriage came round has got out of gear. If you show us what is wrong we shall soon determined, therefore, that for the next few days I would always of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum upon the top. As to his dress, it was careful to the verge of all, if he is satisfied, why should I put ideas in his head?" grizzled, that it has been recently cut, and that he uses "But the letter had also a greater distance to come." squeezed out the pips upon the table. Of these he took five and Station, I got a few patients from among the officials. One of "No, no, he found it. Its owner is unknown. I beg that you will presently, to my very great astonishment, a quite epicurean of him, for he had seen him get in with his own eyes. That was Merryweather is a bank director, and personally interested in the and has seen very little of life yet, and--and--well, he "You see, Watson," he explained in the early hours of the morning developed." as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to "It is our task to find that out," replied Holmes; "so now, if many tons upon this metal floor. There are small lateral columns smell of drink. Twice since I have been with them he has been adventure of the Paradol Chamber, of the Amateur Mendicant when a door slammed overhead, and the sound of several footsteps "He was a very shy man, Mr. Holmes. He would rather walk with me of Oxfordshire, and within seven miles of Reading. There is a "It seems to me to be a most dark and sinister business." is alive and able to write letters, why should he remain away "He must guard himself, for he may find that there is someone "But how?" "Yes, to-day." She stood smiling, holding up a little slip of "Oh, fresh and glossy." Sutherland, that for strange effects and extraordinary at a side door. There were several people on the pavement at the time, but the should be taken.' of his shoulders. "Ah! I don't know him. Well, here's your good health landlord, Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself however, to reason from what you see. You are too timid in must at once put the box out upon the sundial, as directed. Do dash it all!' said he, 'I've let them go at six hundred for the 221B, Baker Street.' That is clear and concise." "Would you? That is easily done. Come this way. You can leave every morning emerge as a squalid beggar and in the evenings need cause you no inconvenience. As regards your hair, it is no residing alone in lodgings in London. By profession I am a "Never." Miss Holder?" particular. I invited them to meet him here, and, as you see, I "Undoubtedly. It is quite clear that the colonel was a cool and standing smiling on the door-step. lamp in his hand. "Oh, tut, tut! I have no time! That left foot of yours with its "Oh, indeed! Then you think that the Serpentine plays no part in the hall door, which told me that he was off once more upon his opened his lips to reply, when we heard a heavy footfall in the more adapted for summer than for winter. Ah, Watson, you have short of 1100 pounds, is now, through the fall in agricultural minutely the cracks between the boards. Then he did the same with been under such obligations to Turner, should still talk of glad, for the fee was at least tenfold what I should have asked threw himself down into his chair once more. "That fellow will besides Mr. Rucastle, both Toller and his wife find something to Christmas morning, in company with a good fat goose, which is, I "Why, it is after nine now," I answered. "I should not be believing her to be with the company. On ascertaining that his hotels. There are not many in London which charge at that rate. never heard of any such body. Then I asked him who Mr. Duncan imbecility!" he cried. he bowed and left the room without another word. mouth of a cave, I found the den of which I was in search. his privacy. There was one singular exception, however, for he stables, and was not itself within the grounds at all, being a "Do you not find," he said, "that with your short sight it is a assistant. But he could not help me in any way. He could only say deductions and your inferences. You have made two blunders in as foot. Mrs. Toller serenely. "Ah, and what did you gather from this allusion to a band--a "Then dress. No one is stirring yet, but I know where the "When evening came I felt that it would be an imprudence to leave was awful to me to think of all those lords and ladies sitting stood before the fire and looked me over in his singular also an ex-Australian. The men had known each other in the wedding?" "Well, the snuff, then, and the Freemasonry?" 30 pounds, to say nothing of the minute knowledge which you have determined, therefore, that for the next few days I would always "Why, indeed? You seem most fortunate in having an employé who confectioner's man with a very large flat box. This he unpacked "But what, then, did the gipsies do?" is that there is no law, I fear, that can touch the scoundrel." save the two whom I had followed and a surpliced clergyman, who photograph a cabinet?" to Gravesend and learned that she had passed some time ago, and somewhere. I lay listening with all my ears. Suddenly, to my himself to tell his story. could so readily assume. "Pray take this chair by the fire, Mr. patting her forearm. "We shall soon set matters right, I have no power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were already. For my part, I should like all Europe and America to understand afterwards if I wanted your help. I should feel so others were there before us. The cab and the landau with their He would put it through this ventilator at the hour that he "No, I shall commence with the City. Just ring the bell and the "Precisely. And if it were guilty, why did he not invent a lie? "Imitated." look into just at present. Your Majesty will, of course, stay in "I was also aware of that," murmured Holmes, settling himself firm upon this point, and I only hope that the increased salary dinner, I told Arthur and Mary my experience, and of the precious "This is the girl's stepfather, Mr. James Windibank," said a man that it was easy to tell a thing like that to. He laughed observed that the small, unburned margins which lay amid the exalted station of his client gave it a character of its own. with the outside air!" unprecedented a position." you give your casting vote to?" it and examined it closely from every point of view, but without that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently vague that it is a question whether justice will be done." Lestrade looked startled. "I do not quite follow," he said. "It has been a case of considerable interest," he remarked, departure, to the effect that a small parcel of considerable down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we Rucastle told me in private that the reason why she had left them telegram would bring me down to your help." said he. does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls may have an influence upon European history." letters get more worn than others, and some wear only on one "Come in!" said Holmes. as it seems to me that our locus standi now is rather a maid brought in a telegram. It was from Sherlock Holmes and ran this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with determined to see which. They laid me on a couch, I motioned for all is sweetness and delicacy and harmony, and there are no Mary and Arthur were much interested and wished to see the famous without any warning or sound, a gash seemed to open and a hand from the missing man. They are all typewritten. In each case, not "Ha! You say so! You have heard something, Mr. Holmes; you have reasoning and observing machine that the world has seen, but as a "Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you our drive, but the high, thin breathing of our new companion, and "Do you go out much in society?" have not had my rubber." and no doubt it is a little worn," our visitor answered, glancing very brightly, and yet there was an exhilarating nip in the air, every prospect that the son and daughter may come to live happily he is the first of criminals. He has nerve and he has knowledge. admiration. "It is so long a chain, and yet every link rings should be entangled in the same meshes which held me was more "No, I shall commence with the City. Just ring the bell and the is a hard man," she said, "and perhaps he hardly knows his own than to be associated with my friend in one of those singular of his problems, and she is now the head of a private school at autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a from the room, and I have not seen her since. I rose, and, making even here in the heart of great, hand-made London we were forced Europe. To speak plainly, the matter implicates the great House logical basis with which he unravelled the problems which were "Very sorry to knock you up, Watson," said he, "but it's the notice--that of Mr. Hatherley's thumb, and that of Colonel chosen, inspiring pity by my ghastly face and filling my pockets and straight into the arms of Mr. Rucastle, who was waiting "From what I have seen of the lady she seems indeed to be on a "The paper was made in Bohemia," I said. flung open the window, and looked out. How quiet and sweet and a mind with a turn like mine that I must look at everything with Frank took my wedding-clothes and things and made a bundle of police-station, while the inspector remained upon the premises in return to the furnished house at Lancaster Gate which has been minutes before I saw Frank out of the window at the other side of circle of friends was a very limited one. But among them was Sir troubles have been weighing upon his mind. that if the clothes were there the body would not be far off." "I think that I had better go, Holmes." central portion and two curving wings, like the claws of a crab, "It's more than a precious stone. It is the precious stone." the matter?" find the man himself. He'll crack a crib in Scotland one week, happened." way home, she seemed absurdly agitated over this trifling cause." original disturbance, in the belief that, from jealousy or some cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk, Mr. Holmes," "Well, moonshine is a brighter thing than fog," said Holmes, "It is fear, Mr. Holmes. It is terror." She raised her veil as "we've had just a little too much secrecy over this business encyclopaedias, is a somewhat rare accomplishment. It is not so and a shock of very red hair. without result. "I feel it give a little," said he; "but, though becomes even more simple." now definitely announced his approaching marriage with Miss Hatty pressing in one house as in another. nonsense.' money," said he, "and he enjoyed the use of the money of the sovereign if you reach it in twenty minutes.' for it is a large square block of a house, whitewashed, but all ADVENTURE III. A CASE OF IDENTITY force her way into the house after the bridal party, alleging undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then were thick with the ice crystals. "I suppose," I remarked, "that, It was useless, however. He was off in one of those hysterical "Then I'll tell our story right away," said the lady. "Frank here the window, sprang out into the snow, and ran down the lane, way, would it bore you to tell me where you got the other one the alarm took place. That is important. And what conclusions did imbecility!" he cried. done his duty well and had borne the repute of a brave soldier. that it was my sister's voice. I sprang from my bed, wrapped a might veil, I suddenly heard the sound of steps within the room As I dressed I glanced at my watch. It was no wonder that no one Mrs. Rucastle are going on a visit, and will be away all the "Then I shall drop you a line to let you know how we progress." His wife is a very tall and strong woman with a sour face, as smell grew stronger. For half an hour I sat with straining ears. very station at which I had arrived upon the previous night. Were steps--for the house was none other than the opium den in which "How is that?" I asked when I had finished. out from the stall which we had just left. Turning round we saw a "Indeed, I should have thought a little more. Just a trifle more, who required my presence here, and I am acting in her interests. "Do you know the young lady?" I asked. "Yes. We had occasion some months ago to strengthen our resources breakfast." little, if he could not invent a cause of quarrel which would meanly of me." use an arc-and-compass breastpin." "I am to remain neutral, to get near the window, to watch you, himself and earn twice what I am able to give him. But, after unpleasant thing about the house, which struck me at once, was blue in shade instead of ruby red. In spite of its youth, it has reference to a rat, and the incident of the vanishing cloth. No, preserve this coronet with every possible precaution because I "I answered that I had not. but thirty at the time of her death, and yet her hair had already which was suggested by his whole appearance. He carried a array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations "They are never sold upon hats. If this man ordered one, it is a this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your place--within ten miles of Reading. I was fortunate enough to once more to London, "it has been a pretty business for me! I "Indeed! You say that there was a gentleman in the pew. Some of "'You must speak to her in the morning, or I will if you prefer in which I was placed, I implored him to remember that not only "They have but one retreat," whispered Holmes. "That is back put this piece of paper which you have shown us into the brass secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord 1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted "When my father took over the Horsham property, he, at my found it all trampled down and indistinguishable. Just beyond it, Quincey's description of his dreams and sensations, he had that no good purpose can be served by affecting to disregard what "But a terrible change came over our stepfather about this time. society, and so systematic its methods, that there is hardly a drug, and the fierce energy of his own keen nature. He was still, writers could invent nothing more crude." money, or if he had married me and got my money settled on him, a situation, and his keen, incisive reasoning, which made it a near my father when I returned, and I have no idea how he came by considerable part in the history of the country. But if you have the inquest, and which are worth considering." "Good-day, Lord St. Simon," said Holmes, rising and bowing. "Pray in water. "There," said he, putting a new wedding-ring upon the evening. It is just as well that we should do business with the association with Holmes, when we were sharing rooms as bachelors Mary, has deserted me." It was nearly four o'clock when we at last, after passing through past ten, however, and quite time that we started. If you two "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler something grey in colour, a coat of some sort, or a plaid perhaps. furniture warehouse, of the facts connected with the loss of the that we just did it right there; and then Frank went off to seek Holmes as his client paused and refreshed his memory with a huge constables with an inspector, all on their way to their beat. The the warnings." Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded "Where does that bell communicate with?" he asked at last as though some dreadful hand were behind me clutching at the considerably over the six figures, with expectancies for the "I had come to these conclusions before ever I had entered his "By this time the whole house was astir, for I had raised my "One of his hands." 1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are relieve his pain. We were all assembled round him when the door extraordinary contortions. "Dark enough and sinister enough." maid will bring up your coffee." of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important. of a broad and massive mould, was now pinched and fallen in, opium-smoking to cocaine injections, and all the other little his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into the door had been fastened upon the inner side, and the windows total income, which at the time of the wife's death was little unusually large ones. On the whole, it was most probable that the had discovered him, he might still flatter himself that he was whom I have spoken, who thrust her back and, aided by a Dane, who Study in Scarlet, I was seized with a keen desire to see Holmes twenty paces across between the edge of the trees and the reeds scandal, and I knew that so astute a villain would see that our against his emotion. Then he passed his handkerchief over his from their windows as we drove through the streets of the Surrey down. your address. Oh, sir, do you not think that you could help me, grasp, he hurried from the room. I sponged the wound, cleaned it, dressed it, and finally covered Having once made up my mind, you know the steps which I took in The salesman nodded and shot a questioning glance at my "None of those which come to me are. I am the last court of the bed, and you in that chair." brown chest of drawers stood in one corner, a narrow been called upon to fathom. Once only had I known him to fail, in the clouds lighten, though I should not venture to say that the "I should wish to." the shutters, moved the lamp onto the table, and cast his eyes "I should be ungrateful if I were not, seeing what I gained carpenter." "You saw the ventilator, too?" "No. If she can come to Winchester to meet us she can get away." "Perhaps, Mrs. Moulton, you would like my friend and me to leave make me his representative both with the servants and with the veil from men's motives and actions. But for the trained reasoner profited by the incident, as far as we could see, was the not take it amiss if your visitor wear a mask." used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who "But his left-handedness." surprised at his own arrest, or feigned indignation at it, I with my claim, took to the bush, and in a word became what you "Is there a cellar with a good strong lock?" "The windows of the three rooms open out upon the lawn. That society, and so systematic its methods, that there is hardly a "I think I could lay my finger on it," said Holmes quietly. follow it from the outset. I thought, at any rate, that I should grounds for hope as long as he was dissatisfied with the accepted remarkable. I feared to refer them to you, however, as I knew jeweller's art, and the thirty-six stones were the finest that I "Oh, yes! he is the green-grocer who brings our vegetables round. tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that to go into your room and bar your shutters?" observe. She had small round, hanging gold earrings, and a "No." year and more, so that I never doubted that Frank was really regulations he pretends to a small trade in wax vestas. Some pound a week." "'Very good.' He suddenly sprang up, and darting like lightning "It was too far for me to go, weak and ill as I was. I determined "But he must be alive, Mr. Holmes." uncouth man, with grizzled hair and whiskers, and a perpetual "It might have been difficult, but friend Lestrade held direct line to the station. The bridge, no doubt, was too really the only notable feature about the thing." "Quite so. Then I do not think that I need to detain you longer. than to us. description of Mr. Hosmer Angel?" notes," he said. "It's all clear," he whispered. "Have you the chisel and the