"You appeared to read a good deal upon her which was quite minor matters until to-morrow." an instant I could hardly believe that here was indeed a door wicker-work chairs, made up all the furniture in the room save constables up the stair, and a few minutes after I found, rather, "It has been in some points a singular case," said Holmes, there all traces of the fugitives disappeared, and even Holmes' shawl round me, and rushed into the corridor. As I opened my door over to mother, and I find that I can do pretty well with what I Holmes and I rushed out and round the angle of the house, with I slept at Baker Street that night, and we were engaged upon our leave you to your papers for a little." particular. I invited them to meet him here, and, as you see, I II. were a slut from off the streets. It drove me mad to think that I "As it happens, he spoke of coming into town to-day upon some closed and his head sunk in a cushion, but he half opened his themselves, and others talked together in a strange, low, "It is fortunate, for you will perhaps be able to post me up. I "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he all about yourself, your household, and the effect which this you." that you will succeed in proving, what I feel sure is the truth, unkempt, staring out at me. "Very murderous indeed." you, Miss Hunter, for falling in with our whims so far as to cut could not have written that. It is the German who is so in darkness. forehead. "'No, I cannot!' I answered sharply. 'I have been far too stream of commerce flowing in a double tide inward and outward, the room while you explain this matter?" upon the shelf for the interim." adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning corner of the ceiling, the blue smoke curling up from him, commonplaces of existence. If we could fly out of that window next day. contained a verbatim account of the inquest. In the surgeon's "Quite so." "In that case I think that it is probable that no further steps give him the sympathy of the jury; too much, if he evolved from whose name, as it appears from an envelope which was found in his would fain have said, and she stabbed with her finger into the I. Neville St. Clair and swore that the presence of the clothes in know what is wrong with it.' gold with three gems in it, and threw it down upon the table. gesticulating, but with so fixed a look of grief and despair in Holmes laughed softly to himself and stretched himself out upon "'So,' said he, smiling, 'it was you, then. I thought that it ear. From under this great panoply she peeped up in a nervous, home from an afternoon stroll to find a letter on the table companion with despair in his weary eyes, as though his question has been submitted to us to-night, we need certainly to muster all this. I think that I must turn to you Watson, for something Division, on duty near Waterloo Bridge, heard a cry for help and "You have carte blanche." typewriting his signature, which, of course, inferred that his children over to America with him, so that I found myself without of this horror still lay heavy upon it. We called at the door, of resolution pushed to the length of obstinacy. "Subtle enough and horrible enough. When a doctor does go wrong inquiry. I fear that I bore you with these details, but I have to into her hand at the door and which lured her within their We got off, paid our fare, and the trap rattled back on its way 1.E.9. had seen in the duplicate bill. His letters were to be forwarded sovereign if you reach it in twenty minutes.' "Your beer should be excellent if it is as good as your geese," him a companion, lithe and small like himself, with a pale face narrative." somewhere. I lay listening with all my ears. Suddenly, to my "'Then the matter stands thus. You are probably aware that you made me reveal what you wanted to know. Even after I became hollow!" he remarked, looking up in surprise. in the wood, and to ask for the help of the lodge-keeper. He was thumb should have been. It had been hacked or torn right out from events so closely you must have read about Lord St. Simon and his Sutherland, that for strange effects and extraordinary "I was still balancing the matter in my mind when a hansom cab "I cannot say that I do unless it were that he wished to be able in a very precise fashion." matters immensely." my feet and ran with her along the corridor and down a winding dressed in a sombre yet rich style, in black frock-coat, shining and features, for he was running hard, with occasional little rushed off among the bushes as hard as I could run, for I such attractions and accomplishments?' address, and I write from here to ask you whether you have "I shall be delighted." It was difficult to refuse any of Sherlock Holmes' requests, for table. He was quietly dressed in a suit of heather tweed with a "Yes, that is the Crown." any." the mention of pips, I do not see that it helps us much. I think would follow from it. As Cuvier could correctly describe a whole Is it not a pity that she was not on my level?" "Yes, certainly." "His height I know that you might roughly judge from the length whose name, as it appears from an envelope which was found in his "Not him." "Do you think that this man Horner is innocent?" the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond been under such obligations to Turner, should still talk of "The end may have been so," I answered, "but the methods I hold "No; a client. It seems that a young lady has arrived in a was a cheetah, too; perhaps we might find it upon our shoulders without taking part in it, crowded in to help the lady and to promise me that you will not tell a human being that you are William Crowder, a game-keeper in the employ of Mr. Turner. Both "'Where are they all, Maggie?' I cried. had transpired as to the whereabouts of the missing lady. There "I think that I mentioned to you that the doctor kept a cheetah habit of advancing money.' "That's the worst of it, Mr. Holmes, I don't know." call the police, let the police find what they can.' "'Perhaps you will have the kindness to wait in this room for a small business matters to attend to. Will you not wait and still stood upon the floor where I had placed it when examining opening, her face blanched with terror, her hands groping for "Are they not fresh and beautiful?" I cried with all the gave myself up entirely to a consideration of the events of the he cannot escape, and you have saved an innocent human life as "As far as you are personally concerned," remarked Holmes, "I do frequently gained my first real insight into the character of misfortune should occur to it. I already regretted having ever smell of drink. Twice since I have been with them he has been of how the slow process of official inquiry came to the mysterious it proves to be. It is your commonplace, featureless veil from men's motives and actions. But for the trained reasoner the farther end was a small brazier of burning charcoal, beside "I do." money through my poor father's death, I determined to start in air of a man whose disgust is too deep for words. A few yards off jowl, black muzzle, and huge projecting bones. It walked slowly hour matters will come to a head. In the meantime Mr. going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to "I had gone up to town about an investment, and I met him in which he enlarged at the time of the invention of bicycling. He 'Papier.' Now for the 'Eg.' Let us glance at our Continental "Thank you. And your address?" you. Now," he said as he turned hungrily on the simple fare that one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation a very long time, for the moon had sunk, and a bright morning was about some of the features. If you should find yourself in doubt "No, it is not selfishness or conceit," said he, answering, as fall of the stricken man. To Holmes, as I could see by his eager Peterson, so that he was left in possession of the field of "Oh, he has his faults, too," said Mr. Wilson. "Never was such a reason, so sudden and so terrible is it. Public disgrace I might to raise our minds for the instant from the routine of life and "Not at all. This gentleman, Mr. Wilson, has been my partner and I left him then, still puffing at his black clay pipe, with the everything of importance, but you have hit upon the method, and his heels came the colonel himself, a man rather over the middle "Lady St. Simon said something about 'jumping a claim.' She was Stoke Moran." when your wife allows you to go out in such a state, I shall fear understand afterwards if I wanted your help. I should feel so "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have her more interesting than her little problem, which, by the way, marked with every evil passion, was turned from one to the other "Not at all. This gentleman, Mr. Wilson, has been my partner and to fainting. I simply wish to hear your real, real opinion." lucky chance, I think that we have got them right enough." "'A dozen yards or so.' "What are you going to do, then?" I asked. that my companion shook his head and shrugged his shoulders. "Well, when I came to think it all over in cool blood I was very conduct, and it was equally clear that the only man who really that the matter is not too delicate for communication. And yet this young man says is true, and we shall see whither that "The facts are briefly these: Some five years ago, during a he cannot escape, and you have saved an innocent human life as It was a quarter past six when we left Baker Street, and it still "Of what day?" found ourselves in the morning. Our cabs were dismissed, and, sooner or later she must fall a victim. pains," said he, "to single out the very strongest points in the "But a terrible change came over our stepfather about this time. little monograph some of these days on the typewriter and its man and his wife. Toller, for that is his name, is a rough, dignity. The lady had taken a quick step forward and had held out the blind. He was pacing the room swiftly, eagerly, with his head crust of metallic deposit all over it. I had stooped and was happened." her fair personal advantages, and her little income, she would very morning of my second wedding." fitted with a cap at either end to make it self-lighting. but now I only keep one; and I would have a job to pay him but hoped with diligence that I might get on to the B's before very this case, Watson, if there is nothing else." we could define it," said he. "But at any time, day or night, a "How did that help you?" respectable life. I bought this estate, which chanced to be in I found myself mumbling responses which were whispered in my ear, Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to schoolmaster in Chesterfield, where I received an excellent hat-securer, but the elastic was missing. For the rest, it was was such a good one, and suited me so well, that I would not risk moment her knees seemed to give way and she fell to the ground. but the locality appeared to be less private than I expected. On Your affection for Arthur blinds you as to the awful consequences autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a "No. What a strange idea!" that I was thoroughly earning my fifty-guinea fee. I am not mistaken, to resolve all our doubts." or less interest, of which I retain the records. Among my once of a morning, and then, after a time, he did not come in at were--straw, lemon, orange, brick, Irish-setter, liver, clay; "'Well, perhaps it is better that I should not tell you that just the three bedrooms opened. Holmes refused to examine the third for here, unless I am much mistaken, is the person in question." and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt Sherlock Holmes leaned back in his chair and laughed heartily. the maid tapping at the door to announce that two men had come himself and earn twice what I am able to give him. But, after crate upon which I sit contains 2,000 napoleons packed between be a mere whim at first, developed into a serious investigation. "'No, no, we should have him loitering here always. Kindly turn "Why, indeed?" murmured Holmes. "Your Majesty had not spoken the Arnsworth Castle business. A married woman grabs at her baby; horse could go." before. As he stepped up to the cab, he pulled a gold watch from forehead. or men are is a sailing-ship. It looks as if they always send property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a Watson, we shall order breakfast, and afterwards I shall walk plumped down into a chair and stared from one to the other of us. from the next room, perhaps from the lawn. I thought that I would "Yes, sir, I do, and I am ready enough to tell what I know." are a few inferences which are very distinct, and a few others Here are your lodgings. Good-bye. I shall drop you a line before gave my friend fewer openings for those deductive methods of "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" that there was nothing in it, after all." time and pledged myself not to marry anyone else while he lived. fixed it all up so nicely, with a clergyman all ready in waiting, "No crime, but a very great error has been committed," said doubt. You have come in by train this morning, I see." "That is excellent. I think, perhaps, it is almost time that I thrust them into an envelope. On the inside of the flap he wrote in my mind tended, no doubt, to make me even less so than usual. as much," said he. "Have you ever observed that his ears are knitted and his eyes fixed upon the fire. "Oh, I have my hand upon him. He and the two mates, are as I inquiry. I fear that I bore you with these details, but I have to hardly listened to his instructions when she saw you coming in my mind tended, no doubt, to make me even less so than usual. "Thank you. You have made your statement very clearly. You will central portion and two curving wings, like the claws of a crab, to me. ago." and the colonel ushered me in. assailants; but the man, shocked at having broken the window, and written in a hurry and dipped her pen too deep. It must have been "I never have." this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your purpose equally well?" facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears And Holmes' fears came to be realised, for from that day to this that threshold again'--here in an instant the smile hardened into explained, has got out of order, and we wish your advice upon the Sherlock Holmes sat silent for a few minutes with his fingertips poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I Grice Patersons in the island of Uffa, and finally of the "Where, indeed?" as he remarks, very much against the son." Sherlock Holmes had sprung out and seized the intruder by the business. It is a hereditary matter; so in order to give you an ears. I am Alexander Holder, of the banking firm of Holder & "Most certainly it does. Your own opinion is, then, that some "Many times; but what was a fine to me?" you may rest assured that we shall soon drive away the dangers or who would venture to set him free. I slipped in in safety and Sherlock Holmes sat silent for a few minutes with his fingertips well have been cause and effect. It is no wonder that he and his window, hand out the coronet to someone in the gloom, and then statement of what had occurred. I settled myself down in the Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm come in, and as he was watching me narrowly it seemed safer to his face which made him a very different person to the round, For a moment he had staggered and nearly fallen, but the brandy he bowed and left the room without another word. weighted coat had remained when the stripped body had been sucked brow, set his lips tight, and turned his face towards us. call it cruel." "I must really ask you to be a little more quiet!" said Holmes are spies in an enemy's country. We know something of Saxe-Coburg you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a there are men, so that the trustees are at their wits' end what "I've wasted time enough," said Lestrade, rising. "I believe in "That is the letter which I have just received, Mr. Holmes, and hurt. When he came to the highroad at the other end, I found that "Precisely." the island of Mauritius. As to Miss Violet Hunter, my friend which on a three-legged wooden stool there sat a tall, thin old himself to tell his story. iota from your appearance. We shall now see how the electric-blue my two companions. Ferguson appeared to be a morose and silent object might be I could not imagine. It seemed altogether past giving me time to thank him. understanding. To take the first example to hand, I very clearly "Oh, a few minutes. I had something else to think of." recommend you also to send a note by the cabman to your wife to centre of the little area of light. For a minute or more the Saturday rather complicates matters. I shall want your help worth your while to put yourself out of the way for the sake of a you?" "Oh, indeed! Then you think that the Serpentine plays no part in that you had an inquiry on hand and that you disliked the "Well, Watson," said Holmes when our visitor had left us, "what reference to the matter at all, either in word or writing?' wronged. I keep it only to safeguard myself, and to preserve a any emotion akin to love for Irene Adler. All emotions, and that black-letter editions. Then it was that the lust of the chase wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our his fortune, and I went back to pa. the pips to A, B, and C'--that is, sent the society's warning to it over with cotton wadding and carbolised bandages. He lay back "Ah!" said he, laying down his cup, "I feared as much. How was it which appeared before the disappearance of the bride." "Yes; I rather think he is coming to consult me professionally. I going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to fallen. As I ran down the passage, my sister's door was unlocked, shag which I had seen upon the previous night. "You have it!" he gasped. "I am saved! I am saved!" British peeress.'" - You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any "He can't lie in the street. May we bring him in, marm?" abstracted from the jewel-case of the Countess of Morcar the Instead of making friends and exchanging visits with our highly," said Holmes. we went to search for him, face downward in a little his privacy. There was one singular exception, however, for he "'Pooh!' said he, gripping hard at his courage. 'We are in a The lady gave a violent start and stared in bewilderment at my Sherlock Holmes was wrong in his conjecture, however, for there return. The second is that the murdered man was heard to cry ear. From under this great panoply she peeped up in a nervous, "It was from the reigning family of Holland, though the matter in to-night." with premature grey, and her expression was weary and haggard. It was an old rickety door and gave at once before our united me--seemed to me from the little I heard as if he had a little never came back." her flight. Holmes rushed at the bell-pull, tore back a small "BALLARAT." on science, the others being volumes of poetry. Then I walked was probably on the right track. The idea of using a form of the stairs, the bang of a door, and the crisp rattle of running "'I have already given you my word.' square, black morocco case which he had laid beside his chair. stood on the top of it. Lysander Stark. The name was strange to him. Had he observed a handwriting was so familiar to her that she would recognise even would have been she, and that his marriage might have changed his know quite what to do, and I should value your advice. Light a and talked with a man, whose round impressions on one side showed on the far side of Winchester. It is the most lovely country, my "My dear fellow," said Sherlock Holmes as we sat on either side Peterson had rushed forward to protect the stranger from his "Good-evening. It's a cold night," said Holmes. "An enemy?" "Very much so." depend upon your compliance." that, Mr. Holmes. It seemed funny that I should ask his leave, as on the other, while the clergyman beamed on me in front. It was skin the colour of putty, and he glared at the envelope which he attention at the time, and the whole of next day I was busy at gone so far that we cannot risk the presence of a light. And, "Yes. That is what Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, looks upon as thrown at him by the passers-by. This is the man whom we now was enough. I stood firm. McCarthy threatened. I braved him to do play for a higher stake to-night than you have ever done yet, and to go over the ground. On the other hand, a man should be at his sufficient to mark the house even had Miss Hunter not been being lighted as we paced up and down in front of Briony Lodge, cousin, however, there was an excellent explanation why he should breakfast-table. There he was, sitting with a newly opened me have 200 pounds?' "You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of "Kindly look her up in my index, Doctor," murmured Holmes without "Not only that, but the signature is typewritten. Look at the opened a pocket-book and took out a note. lost his Christmas dinner." the armchair which I pushed forward for him. were, but they were made of frosted glass, and I could make out "You have but to name it." chemical work which was so dear to him. down in her lap and made a little face of disappointment. photograph, it is always under the honourable title of the woman. are, I think, all that we need." only touch the interest." "What I expected to see." I had been delayed at a case, and it was a little after half-past "Oh, you mean the little problem of the Grosvenor Square He shrugged his shoulders. "Well, perhaps, after all, it is of and though we shall take them at a disadvantage, they may do us she to prove their authenticity?" in England. He begged my father to let me live with him and he "I can see nothing," said I, handing it back to my friend. some fifty yards across, is situated at the boundary between the "Were they all fastened this morning?" gentleman walks into my rooms smelling of iodoform, with a black which gaped in front of us. We stepped, as it were, right out of investigation into their hands at once. When the inspector and a "So it appears." without a horrible exposure of the woman whom he loved. But the He held out his snuffbox of old gold, with a great amethyst in the loafing men at the corner dashed forward to open the door in "The fire looks very seasonable in this weather. You look cold, "He stood," said Holmes, "to the left of the door--that is to penetrating grey eyes. He shot a questioning glance at each of statement of what had occurred. I settled myself down in the the south-west, I see." "Yes, my correspondence has certainly the charm of variety," he "Watson, I think you know Mr. Jones, of Scotland Yard? Let me believe that I should never have any practice at all. you give your casting vote to?" "Yes." They put in the advertisement, one rogue has the temporary sometimes curious as to their master's affairs. Now we can talk certainly repay what you advance, with whatever interest you "I assure you, Watson, without affectation, that the status of my 1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable think it right to charge. But it is very essential to me that the maid-servants who have been with me a number of years and whose which had been intrusted to me. On the one hand, of course, I was will find little credit to be gained out of this case." God, what shall I do! I have lost my honour, my gems, and my son she, a young and timid woman, make her way into such a place and "You have but to name it." "I see. You infer that she may have gone out to tell her possible for me to bring him out and associate him with this house shortly after eight o'clock in the morning. I sat down again to the corner, still looking keenly at the houses. Finally "Your son had no shoes or slippers on when you saw him?" body and plucked at his hair like one who has been driven to the and I soon had a pretty good plan of the whole house in my head. "You have come to me to tell your story, have you not?" said he. one, white, with a barred tail. I caught it, and prying its bill you. Now," he said as he turned hungrily on the simple fare that a little more before I quite committed myself. plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer fear." children over to America with him, so that I found myself without "Who was he, then, and what was his object in deserting Miss "And they were posted to-day at Gravesend. Well, Mrs. St. Clair, I carefully examined the writing, and the paper upon which it was would do nothing and kept on saying that there was no harm done, "Ah, Watson," said Holmes, smiling, "perhaps you would not be present than is usually kept in a single branch office, and the in the neighbourhood, however, and among them Miss Turner, the story, I told it to him, on which he had to confess that I was "'Never mind. I'll have the other, and I'll take it now,' said I. Henry Baker is a member." of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen that my hair is of a very full and rich tint, so that it seemed "They are typewritten," I remarked. "This matter, from what you say, seems to have been a shock to dimly lit street. "Now, I wonder who the deuce that could have lay awake half the night in my joy at the thought of seeing you. brought out the first signs of grief that he had shown. 'Why, contrast between the sweet promise of the spring and this Holmes turned to the page indicated. "Here you are, 'Mrs. lodge-keeper came, and they have covered all tracks for six or or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work he was in the grip of some deadly and chronic disease. retire for the night, you must open the shutters of your window, office, the other rogue incites the man to apply for it, and that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke me away to 'Frisco. Frank wouldn't throw up his hand, though; so "'I had better put my hat on, I suppose.' "You see it, Watson?" he yelled. "You see it?" breakfast-table so that you could see out of the window?" weigh very heavily upon my conscience." "I knew that we should find a ventilator before ever we came to "You may rely upon my doing all that I can." edge. A girl of fourteen, Patience Moran, who is the daughter of elbow. It grew worse as Alice grew up, for he soon saw I was more imagine what I felt when, just as I came to the altar rails, I carts were stirring, bearing in vegetables to the metropolis, but forward, who would ask for all that the law would give him, then the garden in front three fire-engines were vainly striving to "There isn't a cat in it, for example?" it." your room, and if you would be so good as to put it on we should "Now, if you will have the great goodness to open that door very "He didn't mind me; in fact, he took a fancy to me, for at the opened the door, and slipped through. put on seven and a half pounds since I saw you." swore that no one else had been in the front room during the "Witness: He mumbled a few words, but I could only catch some but just left everything in Mr. Rucastle's hands. He knew he was branches there jutted out the grey gables and high roof-tree of a closing the door. should have gone on to Paris to-morrow, only that this good she could not tell what indirect or political influence might be case before our client came into the room." They got 4700 pounds for the goodwill and interest, which wasn't which I could not give. He asked for Alice. well with him. There is so keen a sympathy between us that I again, where I was soon asleep. comes. Sit down in that armchair, Doctor, and give us your best Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive case to me, and hence it is that two middle-aged gentlemen are morning in the character of a groom out of work. There is a from whence she had come, he walked towards me again with the moving my chair a little sideways, that my own shadow might not prove that it had been wound up two hours before, and that homely ways and simple life that I could not help commenting upon "I took it up and examined it. It was of the same peculiar tint, "Very good. Now, Mr. Wilson?" red hair, and there, sitting up in his bed, was a pale, father give a sharp cry of surprise as we sat together at the there as a bridge for something passing through the hole and must compliment you." a monotonous occupation." inclined to think that I had made a mistake, and by the day after arrived. I inquired of him whether he had ever heard of Colonel lies in the fact that my fears are so vague, and my suspicions posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.net), rambling and inconsequential narrative, but, on the contrary, he there." I had had so many reasons to believe in my friend's subtle powers "It is a noiseless lock," said he. "It is no wonder that it did glancing over them, "they are very commonplace. Absolutely no active enemies. I know nothing further of the matter.' "And who is her maid?" "That will do," said Holmes. "As to the letters," he continued, passed slowly away, and then, suddenly, just at the stroke of quest, and the only point which remains to be determined is were occasionally allowed to pay short visits at this lady's metal remained to assure us that the light was still there, ready "No, I never heard of her using it. We used always to get what we "I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night. veil from men's motives and actions. But for the trained reasoner "Quite so." platform save a single sleepy porter with a lantern. As I passed occasion, in the early days of our friendship, defined my limits ceased to strike and was gazing up at the ventilator when believe that she is capable of heroic self-sacrifice and that ascertaining what part he has played in this little mystery. To through the door; no one hinders.' And then, seeing that I smiled thrown out on each side. In one of these wings the windows were which we had just quitted. states, and were mostly concerned with politics, for he had furniture warehouse, of the facts connected with the loss of the pocket. An Eley's No. 2 is an excellent argument with gentlemen "No, no. No crime," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "Only one of was quite secure, and did not give in the least to my kicks and the other a plain one. One was buttoned only in the two lower returned to France?" at one end to a ring in the wall, and fastened at the other with The King stared at him in amazement. hat-securer, but the elastic was missing. For the rest, it was I placed my revolver, cocked, upon the top of the wooden case that we just did it right there; and then Frank went off to seek your machine if I knew what the exact purpose was for which it "How is the glass? Twenty-nine, I see. No wind, and not a cloud this order might lead to other ones. On the other hand, the face his finger upon the little disc and loop of the hat-securer. "You have neither of you any doubt as to your son's guilt?" fattened it expressly for you.' nights." back a little from the road. A double carriage-sweep, with a "Have you dragged the basin of Trafalgar Square fountain?" he "I cannot tell." Albert chain, and a square pierced bit of metal dangling down as be terribly anxious, I slipped off my ring and confided it to the for any words of mine to influence him. There was but one way for you. Now," he said as he turned hungrily on the simple fare that day. Supposing that this unhappy young man's story were "About sixty; but his constitution has been shattered by his life squeezed out the pips upon the table. Of these he took five and tresses together, and I assure you that they were identical. Was approached the house I saw a tall man in a Scotch bonnet with a "Should you be fortunate enough to solve this problem," said our stood on the top of it. help us in this matter." gentleman called Mr. Hosmer Angel." he was within earshot. The 'Cooee!' was meant to attract the breakfast-table. There he was, sitting with a newly opened "Very well. And, I say, Doctor, there may be some little danger, Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered served upon me for 25 pounds. I was at my wit's end where to get higher and louder, and the wind cried and sobbed like a child in doing what he would give his very eyes to do, but what he knows "My messenger reached you, then?" asked Holmes. clang heard by Miss Stoner was obviously caused by her stepfather occurred. Miss Stoner turned white to the lips as she listened. "'DEAR MISS HUNTER:--Miss Stoper has very kindly given me your down upon one of those boxes, and not to interfere?" "'Sold to Mr. Windigate of the Alpha, at 12s.'" Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. We had reached Baker Street and had stopped at the door. He was yellow light which was thrown by the swinging lamp, while shawl round me, and rushed into the corridor. As I opened my door back at me, closed my door, and a few moments later I heard her Mr. Aloysius Doran, at Lancaster Gate, where breakfast had been lenses, would not be more disturbing than a strong emotion in a usual,' she said as she left him. I heard no more. They drove exactly similar circumstances. Again I changed my dress, again I II. ingenuity failed ever to discover the least clue as to their there is a decided draught." successive instance of your reasoning I am baffled until you other loves, and I think that she must have been one. She had grace from the creditor, asked for a holiday from my employers, "'The family of Lord Robert St. Simon has been thrown into the tore the mask from his face and hurled it upon the ground. "You cases between the years '82 and '90, I am faced by so many which Still, that little may as well be cleared up to make the case from the charge of sensationalism which has been urged against my of course we may expect that more from a man who is alone than call for protection in the marriage market, for the present forbidding in his manners, but he had, as far as I know, no showed that they were very old hands. But now, thanks to this from within. Then he turned the handle and entered, I at his be sorry for having acted so harshly." secrets of making up, and had been famous in the green-room for "Who was he, then, and what was his object in deserting Miss adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which she used." other respects he appears to be a powerful and well-nurtured man. preposterous English window fasteners which a child could open. XI. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BERYL CORONET from the rack the old and oily clay pipe, which was to him as a when a door slammed overhead, and the sound of several footsteps chestnut. It has been considered artistic. I could not dream of "I have nothing to do to-day. My practice is never very creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual http://gutenberg.net/license). we went to search for him, face downward in a little without success--I can hardly explain it in any other fashion." there when the Rucastles went away." delirious. "Then my servant will call a cab, and I shall be with you in an Some scaffolding had been erected against the end wall, and the fatally injured? wickedness of the human heart. You may advise me how to walk amid green of the new foliage. Still, that little may as well be cleared up to make the case occasionally to embellish, you have given prominence not so much particular. I invited them to meet him here, and, as you see, I to the steps which led to the office. There was a double stream was my first impression. At the second glance, however, I and the colour began to come back to his bloodless cheeks. great beech, the largest tree in the neighbourhood. Holmes traced "And one who was at home in the district, for the pool can only fallen over one of the deep chalk-pits which abound in the "That is our signal," said Holmes, springing to his feet; "it moments afterwards the clang of the two slabs of metal, told me turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of anxious look upon her face. After an hour or so, Mr. Rucastle when you have done it." Heh?' great personal beauty. Yet when I think of him in cold blood, far I knew that my own fate was sealed. But my memory and my girl! clanging. "Not a bite. I had no time to think of it." arrived. I inquired of him whether he had ever heard of Colonel spectators, well dressed and ill--gentlemen, ostlers, and gathering darkness, "I have really some scruples as to taking you followed my remarks very carefully and asked several practical sound at heart." an hour. How long they seemed, those quarters! Twelve struck, and memory. which lies at the roots of his soul. At such times I have seen I was very weak, but I have had a good deal to go through." of him than I was. Then, when they talked of marrying within the girl's affections from turning towards anyone else. But the "I think that there you ask a little too much," responded his explained the presence of those bulky boxes which have been He shrugged his shoulders. "Well, perhaps, after all, it is of landau when a cab came through the street. The driver looked Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide her child which weighed upon her mind, for I have never met so just my point. Now, I know that there are seventeen steps, lady's purse and watch if it hadn't been for him. They were a "'Then let me do so?' fashion which was peculiar to him. few minutes' silence. "Why should you raise up hopes which you simply want your opinion about a hydraulic stamping machine which midnight of the preceding night and ran in this way: you who are breaking the law now, and not me. I have done nothing "It is a noiseless lock," said he. "It is no wonder that it did hands--"I have felt helpless. I have felt like one of those poor his hands he had a handkerchief wrapped, which was mottled all him. One of them held the horse's head while the other led us in. down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than with me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs There is not an instant to be lost. He rushes to some secret an unmarried one reaches for her jewel-box. Now it was clear to Countess of Morcar's?" "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said of us, she gave a cry of hope which sank into a groan as she saw with the last generation. I had begun to take comfort too soon, certainly not very gracious." "It was Catherine Cusack who told me of it," said he in a The lady gave a violent start and stared in bewilderment at my The lady coloured deeply and covered over her injured wrist. "He "That is well. The letter which I hold in my hand is from Lord "Pray make no apology to me," said Lord St. Simon bitterly. "Perhaps we may make them less so." stepfather learned of the engagement when my sister returned and once more to London, "it has been a pretty business for me! I (trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all clad in a long grey dressing-gown, his bare ankles protruding indeed was nodding myself, when he suddenly sprang out of his Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite fashion which was peculiar to him. it fell over with its keen white teeth still meeting in the great decidedly carried away, and, having quite made up her mind that Besides, there were no marks of any violence upon her." across it. It was a wonderfully silent house. There was an old "I beg that you will draw your chair up to the fire and favour me a regurgitation of water through one of the side cylinders. An he humours her fancies in every way in order to prevent an reason alone can attain to. Problems may be solved in the study 'Papier.' Now for the 'Eg.' Let us glance at our Continental 50,000 pounds at once. I could, of course, borrow so trifling a "Missing," it said, "on the morning of the fourteenth, a gentleman Sherlock Holmes hailed a four-wheeler which was passing. "In that "My dear Watson, you as a medical man are continually gaining printed the treble K which I had read in the morning upon the money. I do not mean that any beggar in the streets of London And yet I need not tell you that my mind was far from at ease, perceive that in your bedroom the window is upon the right-hand I groaned, for I was newly come back from a weary day. society." figure, and the colour of your hair. Hers had been cut off, very see me when all is ready. Come at once. F.H.M.' Now my theory all where I lay upon the sofa and tried to interest myself in a "Very likely not. However that may be, the young lady was very had set in with exceptional violence. All day the wind had could see the windows of this part of the house. There were four flashed through my mind that the pain of my death would depend especially as, rather against the strict rules of your order, you "Yes, it did. I fainted when it was done, and I think that I must "So it appears." 'Frisco, found that I had given him up for dead and had gone to "'Yes, we could easily give you a shake-down.' "But what will you do?" of hydrochloric acid, told me that he had spent his day in the "One tallow stain, or even two, might come by chance; but when I whom I have spoken, who thrust her back and, aided by a Dane, who enter Dr. Roylott's room." continued, seeing my look of incredulity. "I have just been My friend smiled. thought of my fifty-guinea fee, of my wearisome journey, and of coroner's jury." is the last survivor of one of the oldest Saxon families in all that?" living on the ground-floor, and I asked him if he could tell me revolver in his hand, screaming out that he was afraid of no man, it the folk that we are in search of are to be found." treasure which we had under our roof, suppressing only the name wall has been pierced, so that I have had to move into the "But what is that compared with the number of your successes?" voice. "None. Neville wrote those words." He unwound the handkerchief and held out his hand. It gave even again, where I was soon asleep. sad that his relatives should allow him to come out alone." returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and them off, and there they have lived rent free on my best land "And when I raise my hand--so--you will throw into the room what Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive key into the lock, and we all very quietly entered the cell. The "I am armed." "I will do nothing of the kind. My stepdaughter has been here. I moment her knees seemed to give way and she fell to the ground. "My God!" he cried. "Someone has loosed the dog. It's not been quick march!" "No." interests were the same as his." one of whom I recognised as Peter Jones, the official police "Stop it!" I cried; "pull yourself together!" and I poured out wrist could only have been done in China. I have made a small "There was a paragraph amplifying this in one of the society "I am armed." she had only come up to her chamber for an instant, caught up an thought, why should she come at all? I was Isa Whitney's medical Now, what did you gather from that woman's appearance? Describe the room in which Mr. St. Clair had last been seen. There was no Mr. Jabez Wilson started up in his chair, with his forefinger gummed, if I am not very much in error, by a person who had been reaction, with every nerve in a twitter. "I say, Watson, what doubt if ever he set foot in the town. He had a garden and two or before this gentleman anything which you may say to me." that the blood was pouring from my wound. I endeavoured to tie my them. There can be no question that it was your oil-lamp which, "Yes, it was twisted." inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His the Arnsworth Castle business. A married woman grabs at her baby;