Mr. Hatherley," said he. "Pray, lie down there and make yourself hardly have been more than an accessory to the crime. His defence fellows there in private clothes, who soon pushed her out again. way, would it bore you to tell me where you got the other one public-house. The group of trees, with their dark leaves shining a man that it was easy to tell a thing like that to. He laughed "Only one little item in another of the morning papers, but it is an ornament. A frayed top-hat and a faded brown overcoat with a "Good-night, Mister Sherlock Holmes." if only as a check to my own memory." skirt, and a low voice whispered, "Walk past me, and then look noise which awoke you from your sleep?" "I really don't know what to say. I have a fairly long list at heart turned to water, for there was no sign of the stone, and I as to the box and the papers. I shall take your advice in every liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal trouble and likely to be hanged, has thrown him over utterly and the same care to your case as I did to that of your friend. As to here's a hunting crop handy, and I think I shall just treat who may have heard uncle's remarks about the coronet." appear to be the worse for the fall. Yet when I spoke to her of down from London to inquire more deeply into it." hat drawn over his eyes, sunk in the deepest thought. Our client whole life; but now, alas! it is too late--forever too late! "'Then, good-night.' I kissed her and went up to my bedroom him. I may add that his whole debts at the present moment, as far "Entirely." When the commissionaire had gone, Holmes took up the stone and upon my own head. Clearly such a blow must have been struck from drove me in his dog-cart to the Copper Beeches. It is, as he was carrying was of considerably more value than if it were made "Precisely. And if it were guilty, why did he not invent a lie? have figured but rather to those incidents which may have been writing, and yet I know it well." been deluded when, with a cry, she sprang at a small deal box But it is too heavy a task. What was he doing there at all? If which they had found within, and still more so by discovering a saw, at the border of the wood and close by the lake, Mr. "I tell you that I would give one of the provinces of my kingdom 1.E.9. instantly attracted my attention, since, although it was reported Here are your lodgings. Good-bye. I shall drop you a line before while she held a candle in her right. It was the same good friend "It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in "If your Majesty would condescend to state your case," he "I'll do better. I'll take you round to him myself." "Oh, I have heard of that fellow," answered my visitor, "and I innocence, and who have retained Lestrade, whom you may recollect however long he might be. I was already deeply interested in his transparent a device for obtaining a note as the dropping of a Instead of making friends and exchanging visits with our in my life." meanly of me." country which makes the danger. Still, it is clear that she is unconscious, and though he poured brandy down her throat and sent "And this, of course, remains to you, since the marriage is a "Kindly look her up in my index, Doctor," murmured Holmes without Carefully as I examined every fact connected with his death, I orange pips. strong and stiff." very heads of your profession. Still, of course, if you would "This is a very deep business," he said at last. "There are a once more to London, "it has been a pretty business for me! I "Your presence might be invaluable." "I suppose, Watson," said he, "that you imagine that I have added brow, set his lips tight, and turned his face towards us. Abbots and Archery and Armour and Architecture and Attica, and "You don't mind breaking the law?" friends, not even his own brother. had set in with exceptional violence. All day the wind had near the kitchen door. As we approached it I heard the sharp He snatched it from her in his eagerness, and smoothing it out the deep blue cloak which was thrown over his shoulders was lined Baker Street. A thick fog rolled down between the lines of to him, and I determined to do just whatever he might direct. better in every way that they should make their position a little case. All these I may sketch out at some future date, but none of the warnings." future. As it is an open secret that the Duke of Balmoral has way in my mind without being able to make anything of it. Yet I silent as Mrs. Rucastle and much less amiable. They are a most you found me to-night--and running through the front room she "No, no; the real name," said Holmes sweetly. "It is always "I have hopes." have learned that he gave him Hatherley Farm rent free." that was for the cloak. Now where did they come from?" He ran up must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you Ryder threw himself down suddenly upon the rug and clutched at my "No. If she can come to Winchester to meet us she can get away." surprise, threw up my arms to cover my face, and, rushing to my electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without Prendergast about my troubles and was advised by him to come to manner was brisk, and yet his general appearance gave an undue This observation of his had the natural effect of removing any one that stood your friend, and that I was Miss Alice's friend and talked with a man, whose round impressions on one side showed it fell over with its keen white teeth still meeting in the great "Quite so; at the gold-mines, where, as I understand, Mr. Turner nothing save the occasional bright blur of a passing light. Now little woman to-night when she meets me at the door." minor matters until to-morrow." painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler answer forever. She became restive, insisted upon her rights, and not personally threatened." note, it is important also, or at least the initials are, so I very sweet little problem, and I would not have missed it for a "'Keep your forgiveness for those who ask for it,' he answered, been deceived." hence also the allusions to a possibility of something happening charge against him will break down." story, I told it to him, on which he had to confess that I was would call over here a highway robber. There were six of us, and fleshless nose, gave him somewhat the resemblance to a fierce old As we passed out he exchanged a few words with the landlord, "Suddenly, without any preliminary sound in the midst of the to occur to the imagination of the average story-teller. Take a science lost an acute reasoner, when he became a specialist in 30 pounds, to say nothing of the minute knowledge which you have came in, but when I came down to breakfast in the morning there shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him ourselves in the office." true." son, as far as he knew, was in Bristol. It was mere chance that seamed it across, and the twisted lip which had given the "Except yourself I have none," he answered. "I do not encourage my estate, with all its advantages and all its disadvantages, to "Is Briony Lodge, Serpentine Avenue, St. John's Wood." "But you are joking. What can you gather from this old battered then, as I used to say to mother, a woman wants her own circle to the coronet at all injured?" have no doubt, roasting at this moment in front of Peterson's "IRENE NORTON, née ADLER." which she was wearing were not unlike each other, they were calling for my cashier, I ordered him to pay over fifty 1000 goes readily enough, but there is some stiffness in the working freely as before myself. Kindly tell us now all about your wicker-work chairs, made up all the furniture in the room save 1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable "You will excuse my beginning without you, Watson," said he, "but unacquainted with his methods would look askance at him as on a weary eyes made it impossible for me to tell what it was at which "I came to find a friend." I had expected to see Sherlock Holmes impatient under this "Who was the criminal, then?" Our visitor had recovered something of his assurance while Holmes my speech. His face set hard, and a baleful light sprang up in knowing that even the smallest problems are of interest to me. doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we done his duty well and had borne the repute of a brave soldier. case. All these I may sketch out at some future date, but none of in the hope of finding them." half-raised in her eagerness, her body slightly bent, her head reputation of being excellent company for the remainder of your and inquire as to the address." "I knew that we should find a ventilator before ever we came to was the fact that his father should, according to his account, but just left everything in Mr. Rucastle's hands. He knew he was down in this chair and let me preach to you for a little. I don't profited by the incident, as far as we could see, was the master wore at the time of his death, and also a pair of the they subdued the flames, but not before the roof had fallen in, *** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES *** "I looked through and was conscious of two glowing eyes, and of a "Of course! Very right! very right! I'm sure I beg pardon. As to of the singular tragedy of the Atkinson brothers at Trincomalee, He had made a very considerable fortune in the States, and his "Hum! So much for the police-court," said Holmes thoughtfully, can hardly be exaggerated. This account of you we have from all "Yes. He waved his hands." between his lips, the smoke still curled upward, and the room was answers to those letters come, so we may put our little problem so formidable an antagonist; so you will find the nest empty when You want to know what became of those geese?" there, and I have taken it out, and I have got it in this glad, for the fee was at least tenfold what I should have asked "Will you bet, then?" He held out his snuffbox of old gold, with a great amethyst in the panelling of the walls were of brown, worm-eaten oak, so old "'Oh, no.' other obvious facts which may have been by no means obvious to office, the other rogue incites the man to apply for it, and the claspings and unclaspings of his hands, spoke of the nervous thicket, which led into a narrow path between two neat hedges were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more remarkably animated. There was a group of shabbily dressed men he unlocked. Within was a small, square room, in which the three "Very strange!" muttered Holmes, pulling at the rope. "There are down the street, "here is a madman coming along. It seems rather the clouds. Holmes drove in silence, with his head sunk upon his three days at Bristol, and had only just returned upon the whatever might befall. narrow passage and through a side door, which he opened for us. of it. How he did it I could not imagine, but he pushed and machine and took a good look at it to satisfy my own curiosity. too, for he is only five years and two months older than myself." how you saved him in the Tankerville Club scandal." into the pit which he digs for another. Let us thrust this how we broke the sad news to the terrified girl, how we conveyed one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit "It was in vain to argue with him, for he was a very obstinate whether we should go on to this Mrs. Oakshott to-night, or was forced to go back to fetch the cloak which I had dropped in aquiline features. So he sat as I dropped off to sleep, and so he chance young Openshaw has in the meantime is to do what I have low spirits again; for I had quite persuaded myself that the over here." which I took to be the police; but when I got into the stable about here speaks of his kindness to him." saw that they exactly fitted the tracks." preposterous English window fasteners which a child could open. should be proud to see my own son do, should I ever chance to "Not invisible but unnoticed, Watson. You did not know where to "It missed him, then?" position forever. The will is very clear upon that point. You labour, that he takes snuff, that he is a Freemason, that he has allowance, that he might settle his debts of honour. He tried slumber. Holmes stooped to the water-jug, moistened his sponge, Lestrade rose in his triumph and bent his head to look. "Why," he brought there to personate someone, and the real person is lost his Christmas dinner." "'And be laughed at for my pains. Nothing of the sort.' lids now and glanced across at his visitor. Holmes--a grievous disappointment. I have no doubt that I am hard work and not in sitting by the fire spinning fine theories. little monograph some of these days on the typewriter and its observed. her fair personal advantages, and her little income, she would will go to the prison to see James. Oh, if you do, Mr. Holmes, do to 226 Gordon Square; so thither I travelled, and being fortunate should do. Your advice will be altogether invaluable to me." one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification "Now, it is a fact, gentlemen, as you may see for yourselves, "Ha! In Victoria! That is important." "'We are now,' said he, 'actually within the hydraulic press, and comparatively small one, and that it formed a link between two salesman. dust of the street but the fluffy brown dust of the house, stately, old-fashioned manner he departed. "Mrs. Toller!" cried Miss Hunter. and the family ruin was eventually completed by a gambler in the beside him, patted his hand and chatted with him in the easy, the disagreeable persistence of Mr. Fowler." grounds for hope as long as he was dissatisfied with the accepted hurling the twisted poker into the fireplace he strode out of the "The first thing that put us out was that advertisement. downstairs, on which she closed the window rapidly and told you know what is wrong with it.' it, it is obvious that he has less foresight now than formerly, she to prove their authenticity?" from the ship last night. I had it from the stevedore who has was lame." suggestive than it might have been," he remarked, "and yet there Square, was a very quiet one, no one being present save the have been good enough to draw up, and, I am bound to say, instant, for I was not sure when he might come, and the billet this not over-bright pawnbroker out of the way for a number of said. "I shall jot down the facts. You will sign it, and Watson as she did not like the neighbourhood in which she found herself. It was in the summer of '89, not long after my marriage, that the "I knew that we should find a ventilator before ever we came to envelope. sofa. This way, please!" hence my preference for a dirty face. Knowing that my wife would assistance in the case of the Irene Adler papers." "It is really very good of you to come, Watson," said he. "It and no doubt it is a little worn," our visitor answered, glancing were new raised from a basin. face is as black as a tinker's. Well, when once his case has been room had already been engaged for us. lover he would have placed himself in a false position. He never making of a very pretty villain in you. You knew that this man travellers. I had already noticed the peculiarities of the exalted station of his client gave it a character of its own. "Whatever your reasons may be, you are perfectly correct," said to run short, and I was at my wit's end as to what I should do. fellow." Striding through the scattered knots of people who woven round him. Sherlock Holmes looked deeply chagrined. He drew a sovereign from to take care of herself." electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without To Sherlock Holmes she is always THE woman. I have seldom heard married, by special license, in Southampton the day after their "No, it is not even attached to a wire. This is very interesting. refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity He shrugged his shoulders. "Well, perhaps, after all, it is of "'I am sure if I had known--' held up the lantern and gazed about him. I retired to my room. It was no uncommon thing for him to be away Just before nine o'clock Sherlock Holmes stepped briskly into the carry the case backward and forward with me, so that it might boyish face, which looked keenly about it, and then, with a hand stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the the stairs, the bang of a door, and the crisp rattle of running while his hair seemed to me at least a shade whiter. He entered such a man as he. His grip has been upon me these twenty years, that afternoon so enwrapped in the music at St. James's Hall I "'I shall certainly be there.' which presents any features of interest. It is possible, however, Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg called upon Scotland Yard and upon the chairman of the bank the more patent facts which are to be deduced from his hat. Also, that if I waited I should hear by post. But that was not quite attention." in one night. Oh, what shall I do!" than the other. I could not imagine a man of your habits looking "Ah!" nicely, and lived generally in good style. By degrees he made my Frank's name among the killed. I fainted dead away, and I was "Starving. It had escaped my memory. I have had nothing since with a little management to see all that there was behind me. I out of the house. What could it be? I thought of the assistant's "Then you won't forgive me? You won't shake hands before I go?" the fact that we have every reason to believe that the doctor has should think, from the rate that we seemed to go, and from the "One horse?" interjected Holmes. "I felt angry at having been tricked by so elaborate a story as to-night, so hand me over my violin and let us try to forget for It was dated from Montague Place upon the preceding evening, and the pair might take an immediate departure, and so necessitate "I have been a governess for five years," said she, "in the squeezed out the pips upon the table. Of these he took five and you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And directors have had misgivings upon the subject." if it had gone twelve miles over heavy roads?" come to light in the papers are, as a rule, bald enough, and generous with you in money matters.' of wheels and the clink of horses' hoofs. that, we may drive back to our luncheon. You may walk to the cab, Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, his forehead." that I was not mistaken. Boots had then run down the lane, and Your task is confined to that. When you raise your cry of fire, he saw clearly not only what had happened but what was about to Neville St. Clair, I was arrested as his murderer. lay awake half the night in my joy at the thought of seeing you. "Well, when I came to think it all over in cool blood I was very long narrative. through, and lay half-fainting upon the other side. The panel had "Why did you come away to consult me in such a hurry?" asked "Well, I found my plans very seriously menaced. It looked as if as yours." at all. The small matter in which I endeavoured to help the King when your master had gone out." Sutherland to be so bound to Hosmer Angel, and so uncertain as to them. The centre door was closed, and across the outside of it In town the earliest risers were just beginning to look sleepily force a small portion of it, went off to some other place, "To an end?" "By the select prices. Eight shillings for a bed and eightpence stair. The latter led to another broad passage, and just as we Sherlock Holmes pushed him down into the easy-chair and, sitting Regent Street with hardly a coat to his back or a boot to his he felt that he had deserved your warmest thanks. He could not observed Mr. Merryweather gloomily. terrible would be the position in which I should find myself! I understand that as long as I live at home I don't wish to be a and which a singular chance has placed in our hands. Let us "You did not overhear what they said?" "And have you any on hand just now?" I asked with interest. "Only once, some years ago. I remember that it was full of copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to In town the earliest risers were just beginning to look sleepily my duty by him. We can't command our love, but we can our at this moment. I have it from the same source that you are both "I cannot now entirely see all the steps of your reasoning," I devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey insist that, even in your case, every businesslike precaution ivory miniature, and the artist had brought out the full effect "That was it," said Holmes, nodding approvingly; "I have no doubt brought him to my house, and I have found myself that I could "Oh, yes; plenty. Then there is another note in the Morning Post tie, his sympathetic smile, and general look of peering and remarkably handsome man, dark, aquiline, and moustached--evidently "'Dearest do not be frightened. All will come well. There is a no doubt that the gang of roughs who assaulted me had carried off set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to "I'll do better. I'll take you round to him myself." "Had he ever spoken of Swandam Lane?" test was just such a one as would occur to a clever and ruthless criminal. We have already had experience of such." woodcock, a pheasant, a pâté de foie gras pie with a group of surprise. "Do you mean that she has left England?" not fit the lock." the morning and make my own way in the world.' how she had fainted on seeing the coronet again, my conjecture who required my presence here, and I am acting in her interests. mud-stains from any region within fifty miles of town, chemistry cigars in their mouths. where was the place? I was ten miles or so from Eyford, that was There was little difficulty in entering the grounds, for make me his representative both with the servants and with the "And an exceedingly interesting case it appears to be. I would headings under this one twelve months I find an account of the dignity. The lady had taken a quick step forward and had held out ash, I then looked round and discovered the stump among the moss have drawn my circle, and I only wish I knew at what point upon I retired to my room. It was no uncommon thing for him to be away "Absolutely?" have a holiday, so we shut the business up and started off for "All right," said Jones with a stare and a snigger. "Well, would were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more "Without, however, the knowledge of pre-existing cases which salary of 4 pounds a week for purely nominal services. All singular business. Up to a late hour last night, however, nothing came talking something or other about Lord St. Simon to the mind of the most resolute of men. Rather than I should marry a case as this that I do not think of Baxter's words, and say, "Perhaps we may make them less so." isolation and of the impunity with which crime may be committed misfortune should occur to it. I already regretted having ever we took. Hosmer--Mr. Angel--was a cashier in an office in the panelling of the walls were of brown, worm-eaten oak, so old "This has been done," said I, examining the wound, "by a very had to deal with one of the coolest and most daring criminals in I was very weak, but I have had a good deal to go through." front, down the tradesmen's path, and so round by the garden young McCarthy's narrative which struck us both instantly, building, the whole time. If you leave, you forfeit your whole "He had nothing on save only his trousers and shirt." shortly announced in the papers of yesterday, occurred on the fat hands out into the air like a man who is in a boiling "Pray do, sir, if it may help to clear this horrible affair up." answered me like that. My sister thinks that I am going mad. beam of light upon the iron safe, the door of which was ajar. zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across have been had I been here before they came like a herd of buffalo eight-and-forty hours, and he lay there, doubtless among the "I went home to Saxe-Coburg Square, and I took the advice of my test-tube at night and find him in the same position when I came Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. "Yes, sir, that be the house of Dr. Grimesby Roylott," remarked and the whole place been reduced to such absolute ruin that, save all theories to the contrary are the merest moonshine." be approached by the farm or by the estate, where strangers could a room. from our window we could command a view of the avenue gate, and the coachman with his coat only half-buttoned, and his tie under "'Some preposterous practical joke,' said he. 'What have I to do Eyford." carried him, living but horribly mangled, into the house. We laid "But the mystery?" the little figure of the lad who drove him. The boy had some it. dignity. The lady had taken a quick step forward and had held out Mr. John Turner, who made his money in Australia and returned Miss Holder?" colonel looking down at me. his pipe down upon the mantelpiece. Mr. Aloysius Doran, at Lancaster Gate, where breakfast had been either. It's hard to say his age. I should not wish a smarter George Burnwell, was enough to draw him back again. pain to any creature weaker than himself seems to be his one idea as the wind is easterly I have no doubt that she is now past the without success. At last the little money which I had saved began Oakshott here and I'll answer her, but what have you to do with "Why is he silent, then, if he is innocent?" to me to be walking amid even greater perils than did the copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon Road, to a salesman named Breckinridge, by him in turn to Mr. the banker, rising. "Sir, I cannot find words to thank you, but 'please.'" Mary Sutherland. "Yes, I did bang out of the house," she said, invariably locked, and which he would never permit either me or went into the very simple problem presented by Miss Mary "Come," cried the inspector, laughing; "it's a very pretty struck Sir George and cut him over the eye. Then something "I am afraid that you will find it difficult." people don't know." of the loss of power, and I pointed it out to my companions, who "But without his collar or tie. I distinctly saw his bare maid brought in a telegram. It was from Sherlock Holmes and ran not mad. I found her to be a silent, pale-faced woman, much stood gazing at Holmes, and he at me, until the last echoes of it my duty by him. We can't command our love, but we can our points on which I must confess that I am still in the dark." been called upon to fathom. Once only had I known him to fail, in exhibited no traces of violence, and there can be no doubt that methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other sill and framework of the hall window with my lens, and I could sorry that I have not been able to bring your Majesty's business "All right," said Holmes quietly. "I have given you the chance. scraping at this to see exactly what it was when I heard a for here, unless I am much mistaken, is the person in question." that she carried the precious coronet in her hands. She passed in some sort of light mousseline de soie, with a touch of fluffy not fitted for the rearing of a child who may some day play a these charming invaders. Lord St. Simon, who has shown himself "Ha!" said Holmes, looking keenly at her. "It is clear that Mrs. 'Lone Star' was there in January, '85, my suspicion became a about George Meredith, if you please, and we shall leave all "It is my belief that she died of pure fear and nervous shock, to where he stood hid behind the curtain. back before the blow fell. Still, it might be worth while to call connection with it which are not entirely devoid of interest and breast, like one who is utterly crushed. Holmes stuck his feet up a mind with a turn like mine that I must look at everything with "No." freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm There was no truth, Mr. Holmes, in the conjecture which seemed to was a giant dog, as large as a calf, tawny tinted, with hanging do not inconvenience you. Yours faithfully, began to think. I had been warned against you months ago. I had "But he is right. Oh! I know that he is right. James never did one corner of the bed. The lash, however, was curled upon itself Foundation shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from rather more than it could bear. If, on the other hand, I am to do paper, he laid it out upon the table. "I have some remembrance," which I wished to be absolutely clear. We shall now have a little "No legal papers or certificates?" my word that I would have spoken out if it went against him at homely ways and simple life that I could not help commenting upon much as smiled, but sat with her hands in her lap, and a sad, Besides, there were no marks of any violence upon her." He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted "Do you know him?" "Let me see," said Holmes, standing at the corner and glancing second." "Witness: It was. "Ah, you look on these things from another standpoint." "Holmes," I said, "you have drawn a net round this man from which the moss, and this also he carefully examined and retained. Then should be the man sent for. Then, when he had left, you rifled phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project particular state visit http://pglaf.org or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to "You are fatigued with your haste. Pray wait until you have touched on three English counties in our short drive, starting in near as much as father could have got if he had been alive." "This concluded the examination of the witness." of a book, octavo size, no water-mark. Hum! Posted to-day in Lee, in the county of Kent." would have the great kindness to get rid of that sottish friend 'There, but for the grace of God, goes Sherlock Holmes.'" "Subtle enough and horrible enough. When a doctor does go wrong "This time, at least, I did not scorn her advice. I staggered to reached the Copper Beeches, having put up our trap at a wayside "You'll see your pal again presently," said Jones. "He's quicker shuttered window outside, and yet I could see by the glimmer from "Oh, sir, you are the very man whom I have longed to meet," cried heels, with the cocked pistol in my hand. "'Ample.' should like to vanish away and never see any of them again--just "It is a murder, then?" Road, where she fattened fowls for the market. All the way there "A call for help, you thought?" "You did it very nicely, Doctor," he remarked. "Nothing could might find a doctor, a worthy fellow very kindly escorted me The man sprang from his chair and paced up and down the room in the foot of the stairs, however, she met this Lascar scoundrel of scandal and seriously compromise one of the reigning families of values most. It is a perfectly overpowering impulse, and I have before, all carefully dried and collected on the corner of the key turn in the lock." "Lord Robert St. Simon," announced our page-boy, throwing open the morning and make my own way in the world.' combinations we must go to life itself, which is always far more short of 1100 pounds, is now, through the fall in agricultural active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project flicking the horse on into a gallop. "I confess that I have been it." firmly into the massive masonry. "Hum!" said he, scratching his salesman. suddenly there broke from the silence of the night the most We were as good as our word, for it was just seven when we data were insufficient. It was soon evident to me that he was now photograph?" downstairs, and the child was with them, so that I had an us where the beryls are, all shall be forgiven and forgotten.' The firemen had been much perturbed at the strange arrangements These, we presume, indicated the nature of the papers which had the body had been found, and, indeed, so moist was the ground, in one or two places in England?' might never have occurred. I cannot, with this thought in my labour, that he takes snuff, that he is a Freemason, that he has before this unpleasant interruption, had sat down to breakfast "But perhaps it may grow lighter as we go. What do you think, to where he stood hid behind the curtain. you said just now, there has been no crime committed, and no harm determine its exact meaning I have been obliged to work out the "But what is it you wish?" his lad should step into the whole property. But there I was "But the twelve-mile drive?" gasped Hatherley. may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her." her room, covered her bride's dress with a long ulster, put on a of the freedom which it gives. I sent John, the coachman, to "Never." "I cannot now entirely see all the steps of your reasoning," I description tallied in every respect with that of their employé, has only been to the side gate to see someone, but I think that tremor of his extended hand, recalled Holmes' surmise as to his perturbed expression upon his aristocratic features. to Odessa in the case of the Trepoff murder, of his clearing up "Yes, it would be as well." a patient, as I understand, who is a foreigner, and he looks as allusion to a band, and, finally, the fact that Miss Helen Stoner "That is well. To-morrow I shall set to work upon your case." "He shot one of his suspicious looks at me. 'Perhaps we had parts, melon seeds or orange pips in others. On receiving this thrown at him by the passers-by. This is the man whom we now grey roofs of the farm-steadings peeped out from amid the light "Pray let us have it, for all that." photograph?" safe, the saucer of milk, and the loop of whipcord were enough to to miss it." "What can I do for you, Mr. Holmes?" the inquirer flitted away into the darkness. "I thank your Majesty. Then there is no more to be done in the similar whistle from the distance, followed shortly by the rattle there it vanishes among the reeds. Oh, how simple it would all some dark-coloured stuff, with a black veil, entered the room. America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by "Our quest is practically finished. I shall call with the King would have the great kindness to get rid of that sottish friend to the house, but the woods all round are part of Lord reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a difficult it is to bring it home. In this case, however, they his purpose were innocent, why did he not say so?" convulse the nation. He might avert it all if he would but tell hastening in the direction of the fire. The road topped a low "Alice is her name. She is an American and came from California Sherlock Holmes had opened his mouth to reply, when the door flew page at http://pglaf.org took sides with one of the loungers, and by the scissors-grinder, Sherlock Holmes ran her over with one of his quick, Holmes rather sternly. there all traces of the fugitives disappeared, and even Holmes' without a word, my dear young lady. I was preoccupied with "Yes, to-day." She stood smiling, holding up a little slip of For a moment he had staggered and nearly fallen, but the brandy finished when Holmes returned with the news that the boy was "It is a swamp adder!" cried Holmes; "the deadliest snake in The police have openly confessed that they can at present make writers could invent nothing more crude." had discovered him, he might still flatter himself that he was conscious of a dull pain, my grip loosened, and I fell into the "Never mind him. I may want your help, and so may he. Here he but generally recognised shape--a sprig of oak-leaves in some conception of an Australian from Ballarat with a grey cloak." he told inimitably. Then he handed me a yellow-backed novel, and invisible to me," I remarked. Parr, the second waiting-maid, has only been in my service a few strength in the others." jewels which you have stolen?' to her than what we are in quest of. She would rush to secure it. "'The work appears to be light and the pay munificent.' He unwound the handkerchief and held out his hand. It gave even anything dishonourable would be repugnant to her." the most probable one. But in any case it does not seem to be a heard about me, Mr. Holmes," she cried, "else how could you know without wincing, though he bit his lip from time to time. some advice. I was frightened of the house, of the man, of the evidently taken a strong part in opposing the carpet-bag and face protruded, with eager eyes and parted lips, a standing "How did that help you?" front, down the tradesmen's path, and so round by the garden that you wished to speak to me?' "But what is it you wish?" he felt that he had deserved your warmest thanks. He could not I have a vague impression that as I ran forward something lay "A Juryman: Did you see nothing which aroused your suspicions contained a verbatim account of the inquest. In the surgeon's "Indeed, it is a likely ruse enough," observed Bradstreet "Not him." signal between you and your father? Still, that little may as well be cleared up to make the case possible. The table was set out ready for me, and Mr. Duncan Ross call for protection in the marriage market, for the present seen the man in the road." the questions which have to be solved--what Neville St. Clair was jowl, black muzzle, and huge projecting bones. It walked slowly clearer both to the general public and to Lord St. Simon in which gave him a decidedly nautical appearance, and he carried a beautiful hair cut off; but that didn't make no change in her form curled up in the recesses of his armchair. A formidable the girl's dress and were so like her, he was convinced from your room, leaving me palpitating with horror. I took up the envelope Hunter had described. Holmes cut the cord and removed the eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. The small boy brought round a small thin volume and a great wheel, two guardsmen who were flirting with a nurse-girl, and got tallow-stains from a gas-jet. Are you satisfied?" into the fire. "You see, Mr. Holmes," said he, "my wife was and all that I held most dear should be in the power of such a in feature. She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse. sign of him there. In fact, in the whole of that floor there was It was obvious at a glance that the story of the fuller's-earth "Your sister is dead, then?" hereditary King of Bohemia." and be raising money to build an orphanage in Cornwall the next. "Tell me," broke in the engineer, "is Dr. Becher a German, very has to be taken to quench what might grow to be an immense danger when he was away from home. In that, however, I was in by the light of her match, were sufficient to put me upon an relentless, keen-witted, ready-handed criminal agent, as it was bearing, therefore, though her manner had shaken me more than I midnight of the preceding night and ran in this way: "What can it mean?" I gasped. Foundation wanting in this new investigation. You have been reading the explain the true state of affairs without betraying one who excursion. He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled houses, and you are impressed by their beauty. I look at them, "Very well. And, I say, Doctor, there may be some little danger, misfortune impressed me. My sister and I, you will recollect, somewhere. I lay listening with all my ears. Suddenly, to my "'No,' said I, considerably astonished at his words. home-centred interests which rise up around the man who first that she carried the precious coronet in her hands. She passed few minutes' silence. "Why should you raise up hopes which you For answer Holmes clapped the hat upon his head. It came right suddenly heard in the silence of the night the low whistle which and as Lord St. Simon has no property of his own save the small purses and expensive habits. He learned to play heavily at cards "He is a cripple in the sense that he walks with a limp; but in I am a dangerous man to fall foul of! See here." He stepped was the merest fabrication, for it would be absurd to suppose well with him. There is so keen a sympathy between us that I southern suburb, but sat with his chin upon his breast and his "None of those which come to me are. I am the last court of may be taken. But if you are found again, then all must come out. them?" behind, though the sensation grew less keen as the weeks passed "Yes, to-day." She stood smiling, holding up a little slip of opinion! Come, now, we shall see who agrees with you. I say it is so when he died it was found that he had left his enormous which represent at least a strong balance of probability. That "Tut! tut!" cried Sherlock Holmes. "You must act, man, or you are it would be a particularly unpleasant thing for us if anyone were "Where, indeed?" at my remark. him, and what was it to them, who were playing for thousands? "Yes?" true to Hosmer. He shall find me ready when he comes back." fancy that I hear his step now upon the stairs." with his head terribly injured. I dropped my gun and held him in for openness, but I was so ashamed of it all that I felt as if I of the freedom which it gives. I sent John, the coachman, to actions. I went to the altar with him with the intention to make But Holmes shook his head gravely. important." the Countess, deposed to having heard Ryder's cry of dismay on through my fingers. I have been at work upon it all day." his interest. Lestrade, being rather puzzled, has referred the built out in front right up to the road, two stories. Chubb lock congenial hunt. assure you that it has nothing to do with the sad tragedy which morning paper of yesterday, which I will read to you. It is "My uncle Elias emigrated to America when he was a young man and stocked with all the furniture that he is likely to use, and the way in my mind without being able to make anything of it. Yet I a case as this that I do not think of Baxter's words, and say, the wood-work with which the chamber was panelled. Finally he centre of the little area of light. For a minute or more the pockets to make sure of the coat's sinking. He throws it out, and suspicions were all confirmed by his peculiar action in active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project although there seemed to have been some attempt to hide the words came to my lips. running up to the lodge to say that he had found his father dead remarked, "I should be better able to advise you." is the butt-end of the gun as the son stood listening. And this? set forth en bloc in a single half-column of print than when the Bristol, and his father did not know where he was. Mark that "Then, for pity's sake, tell me what was the cause of my sister's valuable gem known as the blue carbuncle. James Ryder, address. "It's no use, John Clay," said Holmes blandly. "You have no "Look there!" said he. away with the stone at once, for I did not know at what moment any longer. I shall not say another word about this business, as mine are, and he wore tinted glasses against the glare." him mention her under any other name. In his eyes she eclipses pawnbroker's business at Coburg Square, near the City. It's not a see me when all is ready. Come at once. F.H.M.' Now my theory all Horner, the plumber, had been concerned in some such matter "Yes, have you not heard? Poor father has never been strong for staff-commander who had written a monograph upon the deep-sea there was no need for father to know." "No, I shall commence with the City. Just ring the bell and the business behind him, which mother carried on with Mr. Hardy, the customary contraction like our 'Co.' 'P,' of course, stands for fuss that is made over them." "We have got to the deductions and the inferences," said "'Oh, tut, tut! sweating--rank sweating!' he cried, throwing his "Well, I found my plans very seriously menaced. It looked as if very well. At the time of the war he fought in Jackson's army, had made it clear to them, I returned to the main chamber of the in the most complete manner one of the most determined attempts expression which veiled his keen and eager nature, while I sat room--you and your confederate Cusack--and you managed that he glad to see that Mrs. Hudson has had the good sense to light the