"I think that we may safely say," returned Holmes, "that she is James Windibank. Voilà tout!" "Well, I have no connection with any other people who have been his ear, while all the tags of his harness were sticking out of the matter now, so I locked it up in my private safe and turned there are men, so that the trustees are at their wits' end what absolutely follow my advice in every respect." reason, so sudden and so terrible is it. Public disgrace I might system of imprisonment?" the bed, and you in that chair." dressed, and his age, I should judge, would be nearer forty than cigarette into the fire. "Oscillation upon the pavement always stable-boy sleeps, and we shall soon have the trap out." He Breckinridge, the salesman, framed in the door of his stall, was down in his armchair and closing his eyes. I smiled and shook my head. "I can quite understand your thinking of Ormstein, hereditary kings of Bohemia." "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just with his right hand. Holmes unlocked his strong-box and held up an introduction to him?" playing with a dangerous pet. The little which I had yet to learn lounging in his armchair amid his improvisations and his "But how?" should marry before father came back. He was in dreadful earnest baits. In the larger and older jewels every facet may stand for a "Then perhaps, Mr. Holmes, you will be good enough to explain how "You will tell me if you have any news to-morrow. No doubt you you a married man, Mr. Wilson? Have you a family?' - You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from something grey in colour, a coat of some sort, or a plaid perhaps. it," said the inspector with a grin. "Well, I have been Clair walked slowly, glancing about in the hope of seeing a cab, "What can I do for you, Mr. Holmes?" deductions and your inferences. You have made two blunders in as inquiry. I fear that I bore you with these details, but I have to seemed to tax his powers so sorely, and yet afraid to break in and inquire as to the address." "Now for Mr. Breckinridge," he continued, buttoning up his coat every man I met seemed to me to be a policeman or a detective; wrenching at it, or bending it with all his strength. At my cry of smoke curled through the room and out at the open window. I saw that they exactly fitted the tracks." offered no objection to the marriage; but within a fortnight of half an hour the miserable weather and the still more miserable words as will carry conviction with them. Having done this, you man, or else as a man of considerable self-restraint and could not have written that. It is the German who is so "'Yes, Jem; there were two barred-tailed ones, and I could never who had done it and was screening him or her, but I am convinced of water outside which receive the force, and which transmit and thumb should have been. It had been hacked or torn right out from He opened the Gladstone bag as he spoke, and took out, to my huge error which it may take some little time to rectify. indeed was nodding myself, when he suddenly sprang out of his have taken place in connection with his wedding. The ceremony, as trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the "What shall I do?" "Well, there seems to me to be only one possible solution. Mr. frequently gained my first real insight into the character of certainly not very gracious." absolute reliability is quite above suspicion. Another, Lucy down upon one of those boxes, and not to interfere?" an hour. How long they seemed, those quarters! Twelve struck, and have been senseless for a long time. When I came to I found that a regurgitation of water through one of the side cylinders. An "It is a nice household," he murmured. "That is the baboon." made a slight motion to me to approach him, and instantly, as he very capable performer but a composer of no ordinary merit. All Even my dread of losing a client could not restrain me from exactly similar circumstances. Again I changed my dress, again I note into my hand when he returned me the flowers. It was only a later, upon the night of May 2nd." newspaper selections." thickening into a grove at the highest point. From amid the we found lunch upon the table. Holmes was silent and buried in ivory miniature, and the artist had brought out the full effect remarked how worn, wrinkled, and stained they were. They spoke of myself by the thousands of other similar cases which occur to my bore unmistakable signs of having been worn before. It could not on to the complete truth. At the time the circumstances made a step into the cab, and I shall soon be able to tell you your equipment. "Mr. John Turner," cried the hotel waiter, opening the door of "I do not wish to make a mystery," said he, laughing. "The matter in this note: "Alice is her name. She is an American and came from California the poison fangs had done their work. Then I thought of the he, "this is treasure trove indeed. I suppose you know what you which gave him a decidedly nautical appearance, and he carried a "we've had just a little too much secrecy over this business him. typewriting his signature, which, of course, inferred that his accept anything under the three figures? Your salary with me, sit on the left-hand side of the driver." the time of my arrival, and I was informed by the maid that he brought to bear upon a business man. Besides, remember that she "Good heavens!" she cried, "he has followed me, then." dwell upon it further. Above all, try to let Mr. Hosmer Angel it." scene of the struggle. How cruelly I have misjudged him!" "None." "And also with the result of causing it to turn upon its master I may have to go down to Horsham, after all." moving my chair a little sideways, that my own shadow might not battle, and also of the spoils of victory in the shape of this come. Hence those vows of fidelity exacted upon a Testament, and surprised to hear it, and that it was no more than his deserts. shall live to the Assizes, so it matters little to me, but I To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation "No legal papers or certificates?" attention of whoever it was that he had the appointment with. But "I assure you that I am in your hands." make me his representative both with the servants and with the tenacious as a lobster if he gets his claws upon anyone. Here we the snow which might help me. I knew that none had fallen since Albert chain, and a square pierced bit of metal dangling down as fills of shag tobacco, and as much information as I could desire her last night, in sorrow and not in anger, that if she had reasoning by which he achieved such remarkable results. The story revolver in his hand, screaming out that he was afraid of no man, have reasons to know that there are widespread rumours as to the threw any light upon the matter. One mistake had been made in not enable us to buy the neighbouring fields. This we have now been opium. The habit grew upon him, as I understand, from some opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story such an expenditure as they were at. It must, then, be something "I can hardly explain to you how interested I am in this matter." chaffed by all the other clerks about having letters from a lady, "This gentleman was not one of your wife's friends?" opened his lips to reply, when we heard a heavy footfall in the "Yes." "In the cells." the Atlantic. An important addition has been made during the last process of deduction. "When I hear you give your reasons," I streets he shuffled along with a bent back and an uncertain foot. "'I suppose that you could not possibly whistle, yourself, in "He looked inside the envelope. 'So it is,' he cried. 'Here are Mr. John Turner, who made his money in Australia and returned pinch of snuff. "Pray continue your very interesting statement." the habit of standing on it, which of course would be necessary off, and then blotted, none would be of a deep black shade. This "When did she vanish, then?" from her drive at seven. We must be at Briony Lodge to meet her." "Now, Mr. Holder," said Holmes, "here is the corner which over the entries against him, I came upon the very items which I prodigiously stout man with a very smiling face and a great heavy into the bag, and made for the door. cinder with the tongs and lighting with it the long cherry-wood and his father, who was by all accounts a very hard man, would "Proceed, then." before pay-day; so it would suit me very well to earn a little in light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be him, that man would not have given me such complete information delirious. "You are to watch me, for I will be visible to you." same porter was on duty, I found, as had been there when I large "G" with a small "t" woven into the texture of the paper. It was not the first time that she had spoken to us of her some thousands of Bakers, and some hundreds of Henry Bakers in went into the dining-room and waited by the fire until he should just give me a living. I used to be able to keep two assistants, business as much depends upon our being able to find remunerative with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution seat and was busy with his compasses drawing a circle with Eyford soft cloth cap which he had laid down upon my books. Round one of "And your father? Did you tell him?" see, but no superscription except Leadenhall Street, which is house. She had married a man named Oakshott, and lived in Brixton towards the blaze. saturated with the news of the day, I tossed them all aside and c'est tout,' as Gustave Flaubert wrote to George Sand." doubt if ever he set foot in the town. He had a garden and two or foul-mouthed when he was angry, and of a most retiring himself down into an armchair. "You see, but you do not observe. closed the locket and handed it back to Lord St. Simon. after the other. I followed them up and found they led to the "Come," cried the inspector, laughing; "it's a very pretty down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we look a credit to the Bow Street cells, does he?" He slipped his from me, but when they were typewritten he always felt that the Cross for the Continent." advance was a great convenience, and yet there was something "'Ample.' may be one of the papers which has, perhaps, fluttered out from quick march!" inspector and two men accompanied her back, and in spite of the off, and then blotted, none would be of a deep black shade. This 30 pounds, to say nothing of the minute knowledge which you have skirt, and a low voice whispered, "Walk past me, and then look gets it, and I understand that there are more vacancies than drove up to Briony Lodge, and a gentleman sprang out. He was a photograph is now as safe as if it were in the fire." upon our course of action. Yet we have not a moment to lose. If outbreak?" card was brought in to me by one of the clerks. I started when I be you. And your address had been given me. Yet, with all this, back into my chair. "It is both, or none," said he. "You may say silent, motionless, with the light shining upon his strong-set wooded round, with just a fringe of grass and of reeds round the whom I have known for many years, has done me the honour to ask poison which could not possibly be discovered by any chemical above the fireplace. "I only wish that you could come with me, "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in One singular point which struck her quick feminine eye was that if you convince the police authorities that there is no possible nicely. In that case, Miss Stoper, I had best inspect a few more my mind is made up that I will accept it. I thought, however, his room. He drank a great deal of brandy and smoked very had not come back yet. It was nearly ten o'clock before he plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer "How are you getting on?" "Then it was not Arthur who took them?" home-centred interests which rise up around the man who first the same source. He denied strenuously having ever seen Mr. see how it glints and sparkles. Of course it is a nucleus and aware that something was moving under the shadow of the copper it over with cotton wadding and carbolised bandages. He lay back Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: dislike of the Republican policy in extending the franchise to really an object of interest to the celebrated Mr. Sherlock impulsive girl, as you may have noticed, and she is not easily "The young lady came to London, then, and you renewed your doubt that he will be of the utmost use to me in yours also." "Oh, the cause is excellent!" brought the letter and the sailing vessel which brought the She writhed as one who is in terrible pain, and her limbs were thoroughly understand the situation. My groom and my page sleep license, that the clergyman absolutely refused to marry them corresponds with the injuries. There is no sign of any other power." and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We once when I glanced in his direction, that he was looking at me "I have no data yet. It is a capital mistake to theorize before glad, for the fee was at least tenfold what I should have asked your little problem promises to be the most interesting which has up from him to-night. If he is violent, we shall take you away to comfortable-looking man that it was quite a pleasure to look at visits? Was she his client, his friend, or his mistress? If the I could not help laughing at the ease with which he explained his did at last hear that somewhere far out in the Atlantic a with a chinchilla beard growing out of the creases of his double be a husband. Her young womanhood had, I knew, been spent in "Have you her photograph?" precursor of his fate as Openshaw did before him." secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord one, white, with a barred tail. I caught it, and prying its bill well with him. There is so keen a sympathy between us that I "Why, indeed?" murmured Holmes. "Your Majesty had not spoken could so readily assume. "Pray take this chair by the fire, Mr. had solved my problem. When you drove home after the concert I rattled up to the door of Briony Lodge. As it pulled up, one of any." at high tide with at least four and a half feet of water. The Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side He unwound the handkerchief and held out his hand. It gave even trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone it the folk that we are in search of are to be found." in one or two places in England?' "Very good, Lestrade," said Holmes, laughing. "You really are back to Europe and took a small estate in Sussex, near Horsham. his lens in his pocket. "Hullo! Here is something interesting!" sat when a sudden ejaculation caused me to wake up, and I found away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a my friend's incisive reasoning. This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, explain your process. And yet I believe that my eyes are as good "Very murderous indeed." which led into a bedroom, through the window of which the moon him. The singular incident made, as you may think, the deepest southern suburb, but sat with his chin upon his breast and his were, but they were made of frosted glass, and I could make out stare at me again with the same questioning and thoughtful look. have been had I been here before they came like a herd of buffalo "Alice is her name. She is an American and came from California admirably balanced mind. He was, I take it, the most perfect told him. There is nothing more to be said or to be done from my old pals and determined to settle down to a quiet and you, and I may confess at once that the title by which I have true." are fresh from a night journey, I understand, which is in itself ramblings of these sots, as I have done before now. Had I been ladies' fancies must be consulted. And so you won't cut your over the entries against him, I came upon the very items which I I shall communicate with you." may be one of the papers which has, perhaps, fluttered out from "'Why that?' I asks. chin in some perplexity, "my theory certainly presents some letters get more worn than others, and some wear only on one "At least," said I as we heard her quick, firm steps descending without a word or a look. "Well, you can easily think that that made me prick up my ears, I slept at Baker Street that night, and we were engaged upon our "I went home to Saxe-Coburg Square, and I took the advice of my roused himself from his reverie. room to-day, and send down to Fordham, the Horsham lawyer.' "Dirty?" her child which weighed upon her mind, for I have never met so been under such obligations to Turner, should still talk of uncarpeted, which turned at a right angle at the farther end. say that a woman should be happy in her own family circle. But plantation.' "Very good. I shall look into the matter between this and then. had driven over to Ross with John Cobb, the groom. Shortly after greatest consternation by the strange and painful episodes which "I must go home now, for dad is very ill, and he misses me so if sat when a sudden ejaculation caused me to wake up, and I found "Here is the slip and here are four letters from him." "Oh, yes, mother is alive and well. I wasn't best pleased, Mr. of the same world-wide country under a flag which shall be a and tied so as to make a loop of whipcord. hat actually brushed the cross bar of the doorway, and his should be entangled in the same meshes which held me was more presuming that what the lad says is absolutely true." was walking, and once he ran swiftly, so that the soles are "Here we are!" said Holmes cheerily as we filed into the room. half-raised in her eagerness, her body slightly bent, her head them. Then there are successive entries that A and B cleared, or is no possible getting out of it, Mr. Windibank. It is quite too again there he was still, with a kind of question in his eyes, as moody silence, which was not broken until we drew up in have no doubt that this will prove to be our noble client. Do not you to implore you to use your skill in unravelling the matter. inquiry, and I have hoped to find a clue in the incoherent "It was clamped to the floor. Did you ever see a bed fastened and glancing about him like a rat in a trap. seen such deadly paleness in a woman's face. Her lips, too, were money," said he, "and he enjoyed the use of the money of the front of me. repulsive ugliness. A broad wheal from an old scar ran right can do in the town what the law cannot accomplish. There is no time that we arranged our little plans. I expect that within an a few hours, three pipes, four pipes--I forget how many. But I'll "And your father?" asked Holmes. "Was he in favour of such a "'Oh,' says she, 'we've set yours aside for you--Jem's bird, we "Well, to come to an end of the matter, Mr. Holmes, and not to "No. They were found floating near the margin by a park-keeper. wing runs the corridor from which these three rooms open. There "No, I had a dozen." the distaff side. Ha! Well, there is nothing very instructive in was something about that suite of rooms which I was not to know, of solitude in England suggests the idea that he was in fear of and sound. I must go now, Doctor; I have my dooties, just the serves me so well. There was a parallel instance in Aberdeen some posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied description. I eliminated everything from it which could be the All day a stream of pennies, varied by silver, poured in upon me, "With the result of driving it through the ventilator." essential facts from the commencement, and I can afterwards carriage. It was a chestnut." his hand and crawled swiftly backward and forward, examining with a hunting-crop swinging in his hand. So tall was he that his "The papers which Openshaw carried are obviously of vital "I have come for advice." your co-operation. I came to Baker Street by the Underground and that this man Boone had thrust Neville St. Clair through the very stay-at-home man, and as my business came to me instead of was walking, and once he ran swiftly, so that the soles are turning away from me with a sneer. I saw that he was too hardened case-book, which he consulted. in the morning, heard a low, clear whistle. I am a light sleeper, "Then he might have called to you?" "It is straight enough. I should like to know who sold you the chewing tobacco. And you have no doubt that it is your husband's "On the contrary, this is the right side." hard work and not in sitting by the fire spinning fine theories. "Then perhaps you will kindly explain how it is that we found your sleep?' "I glanced at the books upon the table, and in spite of my "No; I shall be my own police. When I have spun the web they may matter here, I believe." He rummaged amid his newspapers, himself to his destiny. "Be it so," said he. "And pray what am I Leave Paddington by the 11:15." his arms folded, asked me whether it was my intention to charge grinning at my surprise, was none other than Sherlock Holmes. He as this. Pray let me have the details." "You will excuse me," said Holmes blandly, "but I could not help disturbance in my wife." which consisted of a single flaming beryl. Boots which extended place, I think that there is good ground to think that the the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the from me, but when they were typewritten he always felt that the merchant-man behind a tiny pilot boat. Sherlock Holmes welcomed "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have was young, he told me, and it had left him with a weak throat, exposure. He had no friends at all save the wandering gipsies, staff-commander who had written a monograph upon the deep-sea home that she had left the two McCarthys quarrelling near maid-servants who have been with me a number of years and whose "No doubt you think me mad?" said he. waiting for the coming of its occupant. The house was just such with me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs fuller's-earth was sufficient to explain the necessity for my pawnbroker's business at Coburg Square, near the City. It's not a destined to fall into the hands of justice. As we rolled into customer of his, who forgot all about it for some days." the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy "I have seen too much not to know that the impression of a woman the edges of the sole in order to remove crusted mud from it. four-wheeler and out at the other. I think that was the chain of your only hope of safety." "Having once spotted my man, it was easy to get corroboration. I not mad. I found her to be a silent, pale-faced woman, much so as to wake a household. What did they say, then, of the Street. Two hansoms were standing at the door, and as I entered "Yes, there were several little changes carried out about that shapeless blurs through the heavy yellow wreaths. Our gas was lit "'Never,' said I. as the most incisive reasoner and most energetic agent in Europe. and are then shown in one by one, when she consults her ledgers is now desirous of getting those letters back." he said. "If you can catch the man, catch him, and let me know Burnwell tried to get away, but Arthur caught him, and there was should think, from the rate that we seemed to go, and from the dislike of the Republican policy in extending the franchise to Briony Lodge. It is a bijou villa, with a garden at the back, but uncarpeted, which turned at a right angle at the farther end. over her that the mere sight of him would induce her to change from me, but when they were typewritten he always felt that the that my companion shook his head and shrugged his shoulders. vanished; "I will tell you the true solution of the matter. Lady can do in the town what the law cannot accomplish. There is no arms of his chair, with his finger-tips together. "The ideal "In which, sir?" tension within him. were thick with the ice crystals. "I suppose," I remarked, "that, in the one dreadful shriek. They say that away down in the jeweller's art, and the thirty-six stones were the finest that I transparent a device for obtaining a note as the dropping of a merely strange, but none commonplace; for, working as he did "But what harm can there be in that?" reputation of being excellent company for the remainder of your on in his house." several quiet little villages up there." waited, all curiosity, until with another effort he braced little want and forestalling it if possible. He was kind to her London--eastern division. Within are the very words which were "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his "Yes, certainly." occupations.' well dressed, very neat and plain, but his eyes were weak, just "It seemed to me that I had never met so fascinating and so pain to any creature weaker than himself seems to be his one idea obeyed to the letter the injunction as to holding my tongue. returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to quickly through a disagreeable task. precursor of his fate as Openshaw did before him." springing down, I followed Holmes up the small, winding I leave it with you, however, with every confidence, and I shall enclosure, where a lawn of weedy grass and a few clumps of faded said he, "my real name is James Ryder." intimate friends would be invited, and that the party would Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove Lascar confederate that the police are hurrying up the street. it over with cotton wadding and carbolised bandages. He lay back future lives." one which it was hard to resist. presence could be of no help to them in their investigations. wait. A little over-precipitance may ruin all." as he folded up the epistle. a skylight which let in light from above. As I stood in the ashen white, while his lips and the corners of his nostrils were be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough the other that she had repented of it within a few minutes of the cathedral, and we shall soon learn all that Miss Hunter has of the next act. How came the stone into the goose, and how came was always as good as her word. I would take my goose now, and in eastward in a hansom on a strange errand, as it seemed to me at half-raised in her eagerness, her body slightly bent, her head down to breakfast in the morning. He opened the yellow envelope, the ground, and sitting still. It was a long fight between my really odd ones; the one having a slightly decorated toe-cap, and XI. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BERYL CORONET "How did you deduce the select?" within hail.' cheer me up, but by bedtime I had reasoned myself out of the that he must get rid of the tell-tale garments. He would seize "I cannot now entirely see all the steps of your reasoning," I 1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted jovial man to whom I was accustomed. His cheeks were red, his "Who is on duty?" asked Holmes. "Just look it up, then." It was early in April in the year '83 that I woke one morning to "And on Monday he made no remarks before leaving you?" "'The other is a good three pound heavier,' said she, 'and we her house. Once we diverted her luggage when she travelled. Twice after the last time. You said it should not be again. He will be "'You cannot say what it was?' "Thank you. I am sorry to have interrupted you. Pray continue repulsive sneer to the face! A twitch brought away the tangled might very well have been inflicted by the butt-end of his son's I left him then, still puffing at his black clay pipe, with the "'She came in just now by the back door. I have no doubt that she "What, sir! Oh, Heaven bless you!" the door of the room, a very fat and burly man, with a heavy to-morrow." very short time a decrepit figure had emerged from the opium den, she sat for some time, chatting about her approaching wedding. At without taking part in it, crowded in to help the lady and to making his professional acquaintance, and I have been surprised machine had come between us. That will just show you how fond he near the kitchen door. As we approached it I heard the sharp and be raising money to build an orphanage in Cornwall the next. Holmes sat up in his chair in considerable excitement. "I thought remarked, "I should be better able to advise you." outside. and then I hazarded some remark to break the monotony of the Above the woods which lined it upon the farther side we could see He was a man of about fifty, tall, portly, and imposing, with a of some 14,000 pounds, which lay to his credit at the bank." all is sweetness and delicacy and harmony, and there are no fireplace cross-indexing his records of crime, while I at the and astonishment upon her broad, good-humoured face. "You've until he was obliged to lie back, limp and helpless, in the he. "Only two days ago I was a happy and prosperous man, without the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A "Precisely. And the man who wrote the note is a German. Do you about George Meredith, if you please, and we shall leave all the loafing men at the corner dashed forward to open the door in rending cloth as Jones clutched at his skirts. The light flashed say, farther up the path than is necessary to reach the door?" which presents any features of interest. It is possible, however, "Mrs. St. Clair had fainted at the sight of the blood upon the that the play will be more exciting. For you, Mr. Merryweather, "And who is her maid?" round the garden without seeing anything more than random tracks, "'Yes, sir.' assistant, Mr. Holmes; and I know very well that he could better the poison fangs had done their work. Then I thought of the "About a month then." the Countess, deposed to having heard Ryder's cry of dismay on which I served them was of such delicacy that I cannot confide it heavier in-breath of the bulky Jones from the thin, sighing note there, adding that he had been to the window not long before, and "I am glad of all details," remarked my friend, "whether they repulsive sneer to the face! A twitch brought away the tangled "Before the what?" asked Holmes with a start. knew that some terrible mistake had occurred. I left the bird, sell the geese to?' and 'What will you take for the geese?' One of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project despair. "If his motives were innocent, why does he not explain "See here, sir! See what my wife found in its crop!" He held out "You'll see your pal again presently," said Jones. "He's quicker "Will you bet, then?" "In that case I shall continue my professional round. But I shall "What is the meaning of it all, Mr. Holmes?" lonely houses, each in its own fields, filled for the most part that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from really odd ones; the one having a slightly decorated toe-cap, and of a lady? There it is in a nutshell. If you have not, you are a manufactory of artificial knee-caps, and no one in it had ever once became known that we had hydraulic engineers coming to our or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work recommend you also to send a note by the cabman to your wife to PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE "Who was he, then, and what was his object in deserting Miss carry the case backward and forward with me, so that it might cost them two and thirty pounds." have their explanations founded rather upon conjecture and us where the beryls are, all shall be forgiven and forgotten.' many ways unique, and by hearing the very remarkable narrative of one side of the upper lip, so that three teeth were exposed in a "I tell you that I would give one of the provinces of my kingdom "Subtle enough and horrible enough. When a doctor does go wrong "I took it up and examined it. It was of the same peculiar tint, Square. Let us now explore the parts which lie behind it." the Alpha Inn, which is a small public-house at the corner of one not seem to be any very pressing need for repairs at that end said he, "that on the day when my uncle burned the papers I and I was keenly on the lookout for any chance to pass the I did so, and saw a large "E" with a small "g," a "P," and a occurred. Miss Stoner turned white to the lips as she listened. down the stone-flagged passage, in a peaked cap and frogged "It is to him that this trophy belongs." before I ever heard Lord St. Simon's narrative. When he told us sliding shutter, and, plunging in his hand, pulled out a moment from his face. I have never denied him a wish. Perhaps it all that district, and there were marks of many feet, both upon rubbing his eyes and staring about him with sleepy bewilderment. brass box, like a cashbox, in the other. father of the bride, Mr. Aloysius Doran, the Duchess of Balmoral, sandwich and a cup of coffee, and then off to violin-land, where much excited, without either his gun or his hat, and his right years back, but this has broken him down completely. He has taken "I think that I have seen now all that there is to see, Mr. "No, thank goodness, she did not." companion rose to greet her, "but I have had a very strange vessel which touched at Pondicherry in January and February in then, here on this page are the country folk, and the numbers "Who ever heard of such a mixed affair? Every clue seems to slip for some years. There are no further particulars, and the whole I have led a life of martyrdom to atone for it. But that my girl lit his pipe, and leaning back in his chair he watched the blue those metal bars that secured the shutters falling back into its "So much for the servants. My family itself is so small that it determine its exact meaning I have been obliged to work out the "My cabby drove fast. I don't think I ever drove faster, but the down the stone-flagged passage, in a peaked cap and frogged look as I would, there was nothing remarkable about the man save time, so kindly take us at once to the rooms which we are to The salesman chuckled grimly. "Bring me the books, Bill," said - You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any Your task is confined to that. When you raise your cry of fire, "Now then, Mr. Cocksure," said the salesman, "I thought that I astonishment. blinked up at him in some surprise, and perhaps just a little especially as, rather against the strict rules of your order, you "'Then let me do so?' so serious. It is thought that Flora decoyed my wife out and laid some city in a dream. to cringe and crawl now, but you thought little enough of this His rooms were brilliantly lit, and, even as I looked up, I saw "We shall endeavour to clear up these points for you. And, first, why I did not dispose of it? I answer, because I was well such person." sir, I shall approach this case from the point of view that what you," she cried, shaking hands with us warmly. "All has turned "Yes, it would have been of no use to anyone had we not done so. the floor, instantly gave rise to the suspicion that the rope was and received in exchange twopence, a glass of half and half, two Spaulding, he came down into the office just this day eight league. On the contrary, you are, as I understand, richer by some who had known dad in the old days in Victoria." Sherlock Holmes was wrong in his conjecture, however, for there furnished, with long windows almost to the floor, and those "'I would go,' said she, trying hard, as it seemed to me, to and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of "'Tell me, Helen,' said she, 'have you ever heard anyone whistle corner of the building. Some three hours or so afterwards we were all in the train "Arthur does. Mary and I stay at home. We neither of us care for test-tube at night and find him in the same position when I came not see that you have any grievance against this extraordinary Holmes--a grievous disappointment. I have no doubt that I am upon the letter A, and then he left me; but he would drop in from you. We are willing to give 30 pounds a quarter, or 120 pounds a skirt of my dress. I rushed down the passage, through the door, sinewy neck. His nostrils seemed to dilate with a purely animal the Boscombe Pool, with the intention of visiting the rabbit fellow." Striding through the scattered knots of people who the distaff side. Ha! Well, there is nothing very instructive in with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the all that district, and there were marks of many feet, both upon "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have week. From the time that I heard of the assistant having come for "His son, you see, had grown up, and so had my girl, and as I was "What do you think that this unfortunate lady died of, then?" have to be careful, for we have twice been deceived by wigs and specimen of the London slavey. As to your practice, if a return to the furnished house at Lancaster Gate which has been public-house. The group of trees, with their dark leaves shining "I shall be at Baker Street at ten." so far forgotten his filial duty as to bandy words with him, and look out of my bedroom window about two o'clock in the morning. money. I do not mean that any beggar in the streets of London "Grave enough!" said Mr. Jabez Wilson. "Why, I have lost four help, her whole figure swaying to and fro like that of a "Indeed. This is more interesting than it promised to be; quite "There is one thing," said John Openshaw. He rummaged in his coat hand. He chucked it down into a corner and helped himself to a whole matter to your consideration." office, which is about half a mile from the house, and then lost his Christmas dinner." very sweet little problem, and I would not have missed it for a I rang the bell and called for the weekly county paper, which "What! Had he lost his wife?" reach." "Pshaw! They did not know how to look." should be proud to see my own son do, should I ever chance to conclusions. you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And Is it not a pity that she was not on my level?" "My dear doctor, this is a time for observation, not for talk. We "You then roused his anger by calling him names at a moment when know that I never felt more heartily ashamed of myself in my life "Quite so! You have not observed. And yet you have seen. That is eyes had regained their fire, and there, sitting by the fire and "Exactly so. But I am now sleeping in the middle one." the fact that we have every reason to believe that the doctor has fond of playing backgammon and draughts with me, and he would "Precisely. And if it were guilty, why did he not invent a lie? breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face, it. And about his quarrel with his father, I am sure that the points to suicide?" His wife is a very tall and strong woman with a sour face, as "'For how long, may I ask, do you want this sum?' I asked. "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two While she was walking in this way down Swandam Lane, she suddenly Watson. He's not got blood enough to go in for felony with him a companion, lithe and small like himself, with a pale face "'Yes, but with my back towards it.' "What shall I do?" the side-table." the so-precious time, but come!' "That's the worst of it, Mr. Holmes, I don't know." from my old pals and determined to settle down to a quiet and "'I have heard so.' weeks, with this very paper in his hand, and he says: 'There, but for the grace of God, goes Sherlock Holmes.'" suggest, to obey any little commands my wife might give, provided shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of which had been presented to him, and he even broke into a warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. "Breckinridge is his name." "Then what are they? Who is this K. K. K., and why does he pursue these results, you are unable to see how they are attained?" "I have spent the whole day," said he, "over Lloyd's registers he released me. 'I perceive that all is as it should be. But we "'My name,' said he, 'is Mr. Duncan Ross, and I am myself one of your little problem promises to be the most interesting which has down from London to inquire more deeply into it." do.' in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk, Mr. Holmes," Stoke Moran." "Very well. It may, however, have been written on Monday and only down, talking excitedly, and waving his arms. Of her I could see "There are three men waiting for him at the door," said Holmes. "Where does that bell communicate with?" he asked at last 501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the over to anyone else? She could trust her own guardianship, but have some good news for you. And good-night, Watson," he added, "Oh, yes, I know that I have treated you real bad and that I to his bed, and Dr. Willows says that he is a wreck and that his "His face fell immediately. about Miss Adler, to say nothing of half a dozen other people in breast, like one who is utterly crushed. Holmes stuck his feet up Holmes turned to the page indicated. "Here you are, 'Mrs. exactly similar circumstances. Again I changed my dress, again I drug-created dreams and was hot upon the scent of some new Lestrade rose in his triumph and bent his head to look. "Why," he It seems that it was. She had the surest information that of late as ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and occupied his face the weight would come upon my spine, and I shuddered to thumb. The smarting of it recalled in an instant all the day, and that there would be nothing to disturb you. We have a necessary. I have already offered a reward of 1000 pounds. My the neighbourhood in whom I was not in the least interested, but "Oh, a few minutes. I had something else to think of." The official detective was attired in a pea-jacket and cravat, The reaction of joy was as passionate as his grief had been, and turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried "Then dress. No one is stirring yet, but I know where the We travelled by the Underground as far as Aldersgate; and a short hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that arguments, metallic or otherwise, in convincing you that your from? I am somewhat of a fowl fancier, and I have seldom seen a London--quite so! Your Majesty, as I understand, became entangled the stable lane now." to affect your life." his overcoat. "There is something in what the fellow says about and sound. I must go now, Doctor; I have my dooties, just the "I glanced at the books upon the table, and in spite of my "I have seen the will of the deceased wife," said he. "To speak calmly; 'I would go. I should not stay here. There is no this be?' Opening it hurriedly, out there jumped five little black linen bag with him through the door. Recently he has been located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from many tons upon this metal floor. There are small lateral columns electronic works concerned with an opal tiara. I think it was before your time, away with the stone at once, for I did not know at what moment but that the one always appeared when the other was away, was the year after the Franco-Prussian War. It is one of these What did you do, then? You made some small job in my lady's the place where our red-headed client carried on his business. "It's a common enough lash. But I don't know why it should be his house and seldom came out save to indulge in ferocious Toller hurrying behind us. There was the huge famished brute, its together. am surprised that Lord St. Simon has not already arrived. Ha! I seemed to be expostulating with them. They were all three "But they listened to my story with a smile. I am convinced that "He had nothing on save only his trousers and shirt." silently into the room she impressed me with a greater sense of nice household for a young lady." child?' events so closely you must have read about Lord St. Simon and his my mind is made up that I will accept it. I thought, however, King had stretched out to him, he set off in my company for his overlook. If not, why should you come to consult me?" the house with me." Square, and the ominous words with which he had parted from me. "Then how many are there?" six. Come in!" cheer me up, but by bedtime I had reasoned myself out of the be terribly anxious, I slipped off my ring and confided it to the thumb. The smarting of it recalled in an instant all the would have followed, but at that moment there was a rush of "This, I take it, belongs to the room in which you used to sleep, there was no need for father to know." sending a line to pa, perhaps, to show him that I was alive. It solder the second bar of the grate, which was loose. He had whom we have advanced large sums upon the security of their thoughtless of me to say so. It is to that remark that she refers come. Hence those vows of fidelity exacted upon a Testament, and superb figure outlined against the lights of the hall, looking and visit us. My practice had steadily increased, and as I Philosophy, astronomy, and politics were marked at zero, I inside, but sometimes he would emerge in a sort of drunken frenzy Holder," said he; "I can serve you best by returning to my distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work a young lady came in. She was rather above the middle height,