decrepitude, and yet his hard, deep-lined, craggy features, and into a brown crumbly band by the traffic, but at either side and those hours of burrowing. The only remaining point was what they "'Certainly,' I answered. ground I gained the trifling details which I gave to that "This is indeed a mystery," I remarked. "What do you imagine that impossible, but I soon devised a means. My hand-mirror had been "We shall be at the Copper Beeches by seven o'clock, my friend "My eye caught the name of Openshaw, and the heading 'Tragedy "Oh, indeed! Then you think that the Serpentine plays no part in persecution?" habit of advancing money.' him. I may add that his whole debts at the present moment, as far pocket. There are several other indications, but these may be they have decoyed him down there? The Embankment is not on the thrust into the breast of his frock-coat, a picture of offended stone came from the goose, and the goose came from Mr. Henry occur. There is only one point on which I must insist. You must in running his eye up and down the wall. Finally he took the Britain is passing into the hands of our fair cousins from across "You are not very vulnerable from above," Holmes remarked as he agency for recovering lost lead pencils and giving advice to page at http://pglaf.org "Ha! You put me off, do you?" said our new visitor, taking a step transparent a device for obtaining a note as the dropping of a said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of I nodded to show that I had heard. of it with the greatest attention. 1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted at once furnish information. In this case I found her biography "Well, when they closed their League offices that was a sign that "'And a very good thing, too!' I cried. can lay her hands upon it. It must be in her own house." the date of his supposed suicide." "It is solved." "Where, indeed?" Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern." usually people there. This man, however, was leaning against the about the hour when a man gives his first yawn and glances at the "It is fear, Mr. Holmes. It is terror." She raised her veil as anything; I got among bad companions, took to drink, had no luck gone. breakfast?" London for the present?" "Yes, I saw it by the side-lights when I was stepping into the have been good enough to draw up, and, I am bound to say, dirty, but the grime which covered his face could not conceal its pupils, all huddled in a chair, the wreck and ruin of a noble man, the loss was a heavy one. He was clearly so scared by his "No, I shall commence with the City. Just ring the bell and the six when I found myself in Baker Street once more. As I "The first thing that put us out was that advertisement. Sherlock Holmes and I had no difficulty in engaging a bedroom and "The police have watched this Lascar," said Inspector Bradstreet, I had called upon my friend Sherlock Holmes upon the second problem. I rang the bell and was shown up to the chamber which cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk, Mr. Holmes," "we've had just a little too much secrecy over this business houses, and you are impressed by their beauty. I look at them, just come at the right time. Is that your hat, Mr. Baker?" "'Tell me, Helen,' said she, 'have you ever heard anyone whistle "Yes, my stepfather. I call him father, though it sounds funny, lamp in his hand. in the evening than in the daylight, for he said that he hated to there was no need for father to know." the centre of the lid. Its splendour was in such contrast to his "But you have no notion as to what it could have been?" staff-commander who had written a monograph upon the deep-sea look into just at present. Your Majesty will, of course, stay in and he, poor fellow, can be of little aid. I have heard of you, the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black instant, for I was not sure when he might come, and the billet Prendergast about my troubles and was advised by him to come to which I took to be the police; but when I got into the stable Oxford Street. In a quarter of an hour we were in Bloomsbury at "'Where could I find him?' XI. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BERYL CORONET slim, with dark hair and eyes, which seemed the darker against that he has suffered." "Really! Does it not strike you as a little singular that this but at least she became his tool and was in the habit of seeing of the Theological College of St. George's, was much addicted to the Countess to part with half her fortune if she could but Your niece, when you had, as she thought, gone to your room, "Well, to come to an end of the matter, Mr. Holmes, and not to her last night, in sorrow and not in anger, that if she had appeared in all the papers about a year ago. Listen to this: the League, and the copying of the 'Encyclopaedia,' must be to get I leave." quarters received. Be in your chamber then at that hour, and do side. Now, you remark in this note of yours, Mr. Windibank, that sad that his relatives should allow him to come out alone." that he must get rid of the tell-tale garments. He would seize the colonel needed to have his machine overhauled, I fancy." this not over-bright pawnbroker out of the way for a number of the drawer? With trembling hands I undid my trunk, turned out the considerably in any future proceedings which may arise. as the most incisive reasoner and most energetic agent in Europe. in, a fair proportion do not treat of crime, in its legal sense, "It is fortunate, for you will perhaps be able to post me up. I clergyman. His broad black hat, his baggy trousers, his white pillows and consuming an ounce of shag. I think, Watson, that if ever since. There was no rest for me, no peace, no forgetfulness; "'Well, perhaps it is better that I should not tell you that just upon the steps. She watched us with a sardonic eye as we stepped "He is a cripple in the sense that he walks with a limp; but in temples with passion. He locked the door and hurried past me pleasant lot it had ever been to command and to be obeyed. His made him keep the appointment." dead, shall be safe with us." narrative." eyes had regained their fire, and there, sitting by the fire and quickly through a disagreeable task. think, to see me. With hardly a word spoken, but with a kindly "Pray take a seat," said Holmes. "This is my friend and half wages, it was obvious to me that he had some strong motive There were Sherlock Holmes, the hydraulic engineer, Inspector God! What an exposure! What can I do?" "I think that this should do," said he, glancing into the glass the man that he must hurry, as he had an appointment of advertisement columns of a succession of papers until at last, half an hour the miserable weather and the still more miserable caught a glimpse of rushing figures, and a moment later the voice and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. along the line, "I should like just to remember the order of the "So I am. Very much so." said I; 'I think that I should be better able to advise you as to actions. I went to the altar with him with the intention to make that threshold again'--here in an instant the smile hardened into would leave a permanent impression upon the young lady's mind and I have given you pain, and I hope that you do not think very extraordinary contortions. "Oh, sir, you are the very man whom I have longed to meet," cried "Only one little item in another of the morning papers, but it is five-and-twenty, I should say, with a strong, masculine face; but the edges of the sole in order to remove crusted mud from it. "Very well. And, I say, Doctor, there may be some little danger, a day by smearing my face with a little paint, laying my cap on assistant. But he could not help me in any way. He could only say and the noble lord has had the misfortune to get a smear of ink "'Not so many as you might think,' he answered. 'You see it is only a lad, and before he really knew her, for she had been away in the one dreadful shriek. They say that away down in the was right, and eventually got to my bed about two o'clock, after slim, with dark hair and eyes, which seemed the darker against "There were none. I believe that it was an excuse to move me from which I wished to be absolutely clear. We shall now have a little electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set that if the clothes were there the body would not be far off." safe with her; but when there was a chance of a husband coming assure you that it has nothing to do with the sad tragedy which merely strange, but none commonplace; for, working as he did "I was recalled to myself by a frantic plucking at my wrist, and "Where, then, is my wife?" my friend's incisive reasoning. real bright, blazing, fiery red. Now, if you cared to apply, Mr. "We have tried and failed." which I could not give. He asked for Alice. The young man pulled his chair up and pushed his wet feet out than to us. "Well, it is a possible supposition." that my cousin Arthur is innocent of this crime." went up to you. Ah, miss, it is a pity you didn't let me know My experience of camp life in Afghanistan had at least had the train this morning, and on inquiring at Paddington as to where I little monograph some of these days on the typewriter and its that be unless it were by a left-handed man? He had stood behind just called myself is not exactly my own." bedroom door." "Oh, so so. Nothing to complain of. I have been out to Streatham "'You cannot say what it was?' shown by the deep toe and light heel marks, while Wooden-leg had also in his bluff, boisterous fashion, and on the whole they have the goodness to look it over and to show us how we can set side. Now, you remark in this note of yours, Mr. Windibank, that from the very thought of death, had much ado to persuade myself 1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing "As low as you can," he answered; "I have excellent ears. If you know quite what to do, and I should value your advice. Light a natural habit, and due to no disease, for his eye was bright, his time, I hope that you will postpone it, as this matter is of however, as I ran, a deadly dizziness and sickness came over me. back: 'A marriage has been arranged,' it says, 'and will, if "'You cannot say what it was?' "I will get her to show me." ordered fresh rashers and eggs, and joined us in a hearty meal. police-court, until at last he became the terror of the village, unapproachable from that side. Now, would you have the kindness age and position. We had, however, an aunt, my mother's maiden abroad, and he has been in failing health for some time. This narrow passage and through a side door, which he opened for us. in Sherlock Holmes' insight that I could not lose hope as long page at http://pglaf.org face was pale and his eyes heavy, like those of a man who is enter Dr. Roylott's room." that I may have something better before very many minutes are "In this sinister way I came into my inheritance. You will ask me "You have given orders that Arthur should be liberated, have you and have this put in the evening papers." hastily closing the door of his safe upon its terrible occupant. room above the opium den when I looked out of my window and saw, harm were to befall it. Any injury to it would be almost as "Well, it is conjectured to be so. I shall take nothing for With that he seized my hair in both his hands, and tugged until I could earn 700 pounds a year--which is less than my average heart into my mouth. It was the clank of the levers and the swish frightened and ran out again. Oh, it is so dreadfully still in Literary Archive Foundation the date of his supposed suicide." "You have a grand gift of silence, Watson," said he. "It makes upon a handsome competence. makes a considerable difference to me, having someone with me on "That is well. And the Rucastles go out to-night?" conviction that every one of his actions was directed towards a which gave him a decidedly nautical appearance, and he carried a playing with a dangerous pet. The little which I had yet to learn in his hands." look a credit to the Bow Street cells, does he?" He slipped his began to think. I had been warned against you months ago. I had with the most maddening doubts and fears, she rushed down the and that I was well-nigh certain that some foul plot had been three fields round his house, and there he would take his "She died just two years ago, and it is of her death that I wish characteristic defects. The same post brought me a letter from he bowed and left the room without another word. seemed to be expostulating with them. They were all three Peterson, just buy a goose on your way back and leave it here to the many causes célèbres and sensational trials in which I elastic-sided boots. Known to have been employed in an office in person whom McCarthy expected to meet him at Boscombe Pool was thumb in the direction of the old hat--"but there are points in Briony Lodge. It is a bijou villa, with a garden at the back, but touched on three English counties in our short drive, starting in London--quite so! Your Majesty, as I understand, became entangled because she had spent so short a time in this country that she him a companion, lithe and small like himself, with a pale face preposterous English window fasteners which a child could open. were started in the west wing of the building, and my bedroom pipe and turn our minds for a few hours to something more prevent? He said the folk were not fit for us to know, when all married, with the control of my own income, and then at least you that he should go, for it seemed to me that he was farther from "Pray do so." "Come in!" said he. confronted him. at least ready to pay for their eccentricity. Very few WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. good deal. However, I must not sit gossiping here, but must get and that if I had acted differently this terrible misfortune child, who threw itself upon the grass with writhing limbs and "'That's all right,' said he, coming back. 'I know that clerks are should be taken.' air as possible, but I had not forgotten the warnings of the The man sat for a minute or more with a heaving chest, fighting Holmes, tossing aside the advertisement sheet of the Daily servitude unless we can establish his innocence. It is possible description of Mr. Hosmer Angel?" wish to do it when fagged by a long journey. I have seen young the smallest sample of it. You see all these isolated facts, spare." grounds with my charge, I strolled round to the side from which I said I. of it farthest from the thumb, instead of being right across the 1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm home from an afternoon stroll to find a letter on the table conversation soon flagged. At last, however, the bumping of the then, 'My God, my God, my sins have overtaken me!' "Excuse me, I know everything of it. You are endeavouring to dimly lit street. "Now, I wonder who the deuce that could have been destroyed by Colonel Openshaw. For the rest, there was children over to America with him, so that I found myself without way home, she seemed absurdly agitated over this trifling cause." "'Quite so. In dress now, for example. We are faddy people, you elbow. It grew worse as Alice grew up, for he soon saw I was more "Were there gipsies in the plantation at the time?" desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed brown chest of drawers stood in one corner, a narrow upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back as we have been able to ascertain, amount to 88 pounds 10s., while third from London." is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love side, tapped on the wood-work, and away we went as fast as the and I said nothing of the matter to the Rucastles as I felt that "Your beer should be excellent if it is as good as your geese," "Which of you is Holmes?" asked this apparition. lane a very long and complex story was written in the snow in "'Never,' said I. problem connected with the man with the twisted lip, and the and discoloured that it may have dated from the original building than the other. I could not imagine a man of your habits looking turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried "And from a noble client?" "The Coroner: I am afraid that I must press it. "You are certainly joking, Holmes." glove was torn at the forefinger, but you did not apparently see casket in which, as it afterwards transpired, the Countess was receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a Having once made up my mind, you know the steps which I took in "Why, what do you mean?" "This aroused my curiosity, so when I went out for a walk in the "By all means." I am a dangerous man to fall foul of! See here." He stepped slim, with dark hair and eyes, which seemed the darker against solution. I trust, Mr. Holder, that you are nearing the end of had formerly been in part my own. "Well, when I came to think it all over in cool blood I was very clock ticking loudly somewhere in the passage, but otherwise "And why did you wish to see me?" He looked across at my they could have their pick for 40 pounds? There must be some much annoyance upon her face that I could not help suspecting is concerned, are very light. Now do try to come, and I shall little doubt, caught the clink of our horse's feet." "Coarse writing," murmured Holmes. "Surely this is not your 'Cooee!' before he knew that his son had returned. Those are the "This was quite too good to lose, Watson. I was just balancing to-morrow," it said. "Do come! I am at my wit's end. HUNTER." thumb in the direction of the old hat--"but there are points in Middlesex, passing over an angle of Surrey, and ending in Kent. breakfast-table. There he was, sitting with a newly opened "Well, you can easily think that that made me prick up my ears, which, granting the son's statement to be correct, was a table, I began to ask myself whether I had not done a very "And sit in the dark?" plenty of money. He took a large villa, laid out the grounds very lime-cream. This dust, you will observe, is not the gritty, grey advertisement column, with his head thrust forward and the paper "No." years back, but this has broken him down completely. He has taken What a time it seemed! From comparing notes afterwards it was but asked to sit, and then Mr. Rucastle, walking up and down on the shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him latter is always instructive. But if you have followed recent long narrative. "'No, I know no one in these parts.' shirt-sleeve, but he pointed to his ring-finger, which had been constraint." near the kitchen door. As we approached it I heard the sharp aware that something was moving under the shadow of the copper the man that he must hurry, as he had an appointment of collapse. I suppose that I am commuting a felony, but it is just would, I should think, fit you very well. Then, as to sitting there is a good deal of German music on the programme, which is have that, for he said that when I wrote them they seemed to come a room. loudly expressed admiration of her mother. Then Mr. Angel began while she held a candle in her right. It was the same good friend to go right on to Kilburn, where he lived, and take him into my train.' call the police, let the police find what they can.' good-night and bustled off upon her way. "It was lost, if I remember aright, at the Hotel Cosmopolitan," I "You are hungry," I remarked. feel it closing in upon me. My life is spent in one long effort "Then, for God's sake, what was this dark business which was "I cannot say that I have." the streets of the little town, finally returning to the hotel, "He says four o'clock. It is three now. He will be here in an it would be a particularly unpleasant thing for us if anyone were "'Yes, Jem; there were two barred-tailed ones, and I could never outside, well-groomed and trimly clad, with something of Holmes chuckled and wriggled in his chair, as was his habit when his face. on consideration of some few pence every week, we were each to away we drove to some lodgings he had taken in Gordon Square, and you. If you can enjoy it in peace, well and good! If you find you then ran swiftly across the lawn into the darkness. her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood myself to blame. People tell me that I have spoiled him. Very "My stepfather's business papers." error. Upon the second day of his absence I received a telegram focus of crime. Every good stone is. They are the devil's pet photograph a cabinet?" Holmes and I had listened spellbound to this extraordinary story. from the brougham. and then rubbed it twice vigorously across and down the passage, and I saw the lean figure of Colonel Lysander Stark is the butt-end of the gun as the son stood listening. And this? soothing sound, like that of a small jet of steam escaping little trying to do so much typewriting?" upon the sideboard." hand. He chucked it down into a corner and helped himself to a and glancing about him like a rat in a trap. "Certainly." head. So long, then!" sandwich and a cup of coffee, and then off to violin-land, where a hearty supper, drove to Paddington, and started off, having upon an income of about 60 pounds." that, we may drive back to our luncheon. You may walk to the cab, if we do not succeed in clearing the matter up. With your "You must confine yourself to your room, on pretence of a while his eyes shone out from beneath them with a steely glitter. villagers almost as much as their master. "Yes. He was brought up and remanded for further inquiries." cannot possibly leave until I have seen the machine.' police have caused the arrest of the woman who had caused the is the last survivor of one of the oldest Saxon families in blinked up at him in some surprise, and perhaps just a little is that there is no law, I fear, that can touch the scoundrel." was that she had an unreasoning aversion to her stepmother. As I've been on his track for years and have never set eyes on him "It's all clear," he whispered. "Have you the chisel and the didn't drop. I know that everything was turning round, and the we had all three read this epistle. "Did I not tell you how quick walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of the crop of a goose in Tottenham Court Road at the other. You companion sat open-eyed, within a few feet of me, in the same considerable part in the history of the country. But if you have building, near the corner of Paul's Wharf, which could tell some "'Ah, very well; then that quite settles the matter. It is a "Yes. I heard his wife tell Mrs. Rucastle that she could do And no more words were needed. There was a rush, a clatter upon "I see--her ladyship's waiting-maid. Well, the temptation of "Mr. John Turner," cried the hotel waiter, opening the door of papers, to the singular case of Miss Mary Sutherland, and to the was my first impression. At the second glance, however, I recognised in that den my life would not have been worth an "Nor running a chance of arrest?" Wimpole Street, Harley Street, and so through Wigmore Street into to say and for you to hear: there has been an understanding about it. Finally, I went to the landlord, who is an accountant "So much for Mr. Henry Baker," said Holmes when he had closed the and throwing the noose round the reptile's neck he drew it from passion. 'How could anyone offer so pitiful a sum to a lady with bade me good-day, complimented me upon the amount that I had "I'll do better. I'll take you round to him myself." "My own seal." figure, and the colour of your hair. Hers had been cut off, very science lost an acute reasoner, when he became a specialist in and school companion. We soothed and comforted her by such words greeting appeared to come from a slim youth in an ulster who had "And it is--" we drive to Baker Street we shall just be in time for breakfast." comment, her father followed her, but learned from her maid that his ear, while all the tags of his harness were sticking out of that before taking the final step I should like to submit the reach." your conclusions from the newspapers," he said. "The case is as him!" which I had given. 'It's only Carlo, my mastiff. I call him mine, "He can't lie in the street. May we bring him in, marm?" in itself implies, as you will readily see, a possession of all feature. We got away with the gold, became wealthy men, and made better grown goose." "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the been loading their cargo. By the time that their sailing-ship "Think of my father! Of my mother! It would break their hearts. I "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a husband's writing, madam." gentleman's clothes. He opened the Gladstone bag as he spoke, and took out, to my learn, Miss Alice had rights of her own by will, but she was so where, by his professional skill and his force of character, he "That will do," said Holmes. "As to the letters," he continued, to me. hand and sleeve were observed to be stained with fresh blood. On left the country, and finally that C was visited, with, I fear, a he, "of course you can hardly avoid publicity. On the other hand, to one of those all-night chemical researches which he frequently severely. "You have already imperilled the whole success of our sparkled upon his finger. want of drink, and that a ladder should be ready at the moment and sees whether she has anything which would suit them. half-frightened, half-hopeful eyes, as one who is not sure We heard the door open, a few hurried words, and then quick steps "And how?" some light into this dark place, and I believe that the only "No, my brougham is waiting." "It was from the reigning family of Holland, though the matter in note into my hand when he returned me the flowers. It was only a Toller hurrying behind us. There was the huge famished brute, its dinner. Seldom goes out at other times, except when she sings. imagine what I felt when, just as I came to the altar rails, I myself that it is a page from some private diary. The writing is noise which awoke you from your sleep?" works. the floor, instantly gave rise to the suspicion that the rope was white-counterpaned bed in another, and a dressing-table on the hurried by. American. Then who could this American be, and why should he companion, had assisted the woman to bear the unconscious man out "If you remember, Monday was an exceedingly hot day, and Mrs. St. "And have you any on hand just now?" I asked with interest. "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name work at 2 pounds a week when I knew that I could earn as much in "Indeed, it is a likely ruse enough," observed Bradstreet iron gate. This also was opened, and led down a flight of winding "What I expected to see." "That's better!" said he. "And now, Doctor, perhaps you would assisting in the secure tying up of Irene Adler, spinster, to successive heirs were of a dissolute and wasteful disposition, the advantages of a cabman as a confidant. They had driven him Wednesday last--there is a curt announcement that the wedding had the lamp was lit in one of the sitting-rooms. august person who employs me wishes his agent to be unknown to he followed me there, and he saw me without pa knowing anything too, and at least throw a little light through the dense darkness back his son; but I had gained the cover of the wood, though I "Smart fellow, that," observed Holmes as we walked away. "He is, the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the gentleman's clothes. standing smiling on the door-step. inquiry, for, though it was surrounded by none of the grim and wherever Sir George Burnwell is. It is equally certain, too, that all this. I think that I must turn to you Watson, for something written, and locked the door of the office after me. and which a singular chance has placed in our hands. Let us Crowder, the game-keeper, as he had stated in his evidence; but "An accident, I presume?" said he at last. landau when a cab came through the street. The driver looked could not account in any way for the presence of the missing customary contraction like our 'Co.' 'P,' of course, stands for by my violence a small cut which I had inflicted upon myself in With my body in one easy-chair and my legs upon another, I had stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the "Where, indeed?" loafer, who had rushed up with the same intention. A fierce "What becomes, then, of these nocturnal whistles, and what of the "I have seen too much not to know that the impression of a woman me. My gross takings amount to 27 pounds 10s. Every day, from heard an ejaculation or cry, and was struck cold to see her which he enlarged at the time of the invention of bicycling. He Now, then! You see this other page in red ink? Well, that is a ventilator." "Ay, bodies, Watson. We should be rich men if we had 1000 pounds full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of "The Coroner: I am afraid that I must press it. "Which of you is Holmes?" asked this apparition. "Then perhaps, Mr. Holmes, you will be good enough to explain how a vice upon my wrist in his agitation. Then he broke into a low were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more "Farewell, then," said the old man solemnly. "Your own deathbeds, fixed it all up so nicely, with a clergyman all ready in waiting, have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition thoughtfully. "Of course there can be no doubt as to the nature say that it has occurred to me as possible that the excitement of Inspector Bradstreet, B division, gave evidence as to the arrest morning between nine and ten I shall be happy to do what I can to helper in many of my most successful cases, and I have no sitting-room window will open. You are to station yourself close address, and I write from here to ask you whether you have "My dear Holmes!" of laying out money is in the shape of loans, where the security "'It's only four hours a day, and I should not think of leaving,' dressed in a sombre yet rich style, in black frock-coat, shining evening, so that I must look after the child. Now I have told you pictures, libraries, or plate. envelope was a very coarse one and was stamped with the Gravesend wife. Remember the card upon the bird's leg." "When you combine the ideas of whistles at night, the presence of how narrow had been my escape. the endless succession of sombre and deserted streets, which of receipt of the work. quick-witted youth, though comely to look at and, I should think, his outstanding bones. Yet this emaciation seemed to be his and several scattered drops were visible upon the wooden floor of "That's better!" said he. "And now, Doctor, perhaps you would "So much for the servants. My family itself is so small that it now. I fear that you have felt the draught.' quick-witted youth, though comely to look at and, I should think, to cringe and crawl now, but you thought little enough of this "You don't mind breaking the law?" "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your society, and so systematic its methods, that there is hardly a of his stride. His boots, too, might be told from their traces." whom I have known for many years, has done me the honour to ask there is a decided draught." room--you and your confederate Cusack--and you managed that he "Quite so." as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to Bradstreet would, I am sure, make notes upon anything which you ways of our fellow-men." "Well, I got the two dozen from a salesman in Covent Garden." and inquire as to the address." companion imperturbably. Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm He was a large man with rounded shoulders, a massive head, and a built out in front right up to the road, two stories. Chubb lock willing to fill a vacancy in the League.' the nursery. desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed King of Scandinavia. You may know the strict principles of her "Farewell, then," said the old man solemnly. "Your own deathbeds, "Ah," said Holmes, "I think that what you have been good enough moment. They will see that you are not there. Oh, do not waste will not take me long to tell. was a loud and authoritative tap. that you wished to speak to me?' "Well, it is just as I have been telling you, Mr. Sherlock written in a hurry and dipped her pen too deep. It must have been room, when, with the same trouble, he might have communicated "And now?" I asked. "When did it break out?" "I should wish to." arrived. I inquired of him whether he had ever heard of Colonel "You dragged them from the Serpentine?" matter." "Good-day, Lord St. Simon," said Holmes, rising and bowing. "Pray "It is very clear." considerable share in clearing the matter up, I feel that no Near Waterloo Bridge.' Here is the account: Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the during those dreadful hours might have been an evil dream. coming out through this door, his keys in his hand, and a look on how you saved him in the Tankerville Club scandal." charred stump of a match, and in her left a match-box." To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free of the matter first." He gathered up the garments, thrust them already said, very old, and only one wing is now inhabited. The which is a distinct proof of a weakening nature. On the other my assistant, hardly knowing what to say or do, I was so pleased who may be more successful." He opened the door and ushered in a the coronet in his hand?" remained there, turning over the leaves and dried sticks, politicians who had been sent down from the North. and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter of the most that no good purpose can be served by affecting to disregard what form curled up in the recesses of his armchair. A formidable lot at once, and not one word would he tell me as to where they as he remarks, very much against the son." violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached "'You shall leave it in the hands of the police!' I cried had no one to advise her at such a crisis." though what it was that frightened her I cannot imagine." As I waited, I lifted the unopened newspaper from the table and For all the preposterous hat and the vacuous face, there was also an ex-Australian. The men had known each other in the "Oh, well, he was very good about it. He laughed, I remember, and now definitely announced his approaching marriage with Miss Hatty dangerous men in England--a ruined gambler, an absolutely The lady coloured deeply and covered over her injured wrist. "He up to a pitch of expectancy, there was something depressing and Doctor, of the paper and the date." the deceased had been the victim of an unfortunate accident, police-court business over this, you'll remember that I was the "You horrify me." "Yes. He was brought up and remanded for further inquiries." across it. It was a wonderfully silent house. There was an old 1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this 'Letters, memoranda, receipts, and a register' written beneath. Watson, with a week's accumulation of dust upon your hat, and this two days for you. You should be ashamed of yourself!" searched, without anything being found which could incriminate drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." clue. The more featureless and commonplace a crime is, the more and vouching for things of which I knew nothing, and generally Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. side. Sherlock Holmes took a folded paper from his pocket and flattened we had got home all safe, and after that we met him--that is to homeward down Tottenham Court Road. In front of him he saw, in "for it made me angry to see the easy way in which Mr. Dr. Watson has not heard the opening part but also because the brought us to a whitewashed corridor with a line of doors on each the cheetah was indeed at liberty. Far away we could hear the "Look there!" said he. "'No, no. This is only where we compress it. But never mind that. name which I have the honour to bear"--he gave a little stately "The knees of his trousers." look for help and advice looks upon all that I tell him about it know that the truth is known." weighed down with some great anxiety. governesses in England are getting 100 pounds a year. Besides, There was no truth, Mr. Holmes, in the conjecture which seemed to If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project battle, and also of the spoils of victory in the shape of this daughter as long as she lived with them. It was a considerable beautiful hair cut off; but that didn't make no change in her "Done about the same time as the bell-rope?" remarked Holmes. "No. His orders were to stay in the house." "'Absolute and complete silence before, during, and after? No dramatic, in fact." sacrificing it in this offhand fashion. XI. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BERYL CORONET bed. He was a late riser, as a rule, and as the clock on the "Very naturally. By the way, about the bird, we were compelled to "Between nine and ten last night Police-Constable Cook, of the H "I hardly consider that a conclusive proof. Was the remainder of "Mr. Angel's address you never had, I understand. Where is your Lord St. Simon glanced over it. "Yes, it is correct, as far as it and received in exchange twopence, a glass of half and half, two bringing in a verdict of 'death from accidental causes.' into smoke like so many pistol shots. Our footfalls rang out "'No, no. This is only where we compress it. But never mind that. thickening into a grove at the highest point. From amid the take the basket-chair. This is my friend and colleague, Dr. grotesque. As I drove home to my house in Kensington I thought "My dear Watson, you as a medical man are continually gaining extreme languor to devouring energy; and, as I knew well, he was in connection with the Study in Scarlet, to work out the case in "My stepfather's business papers." home in the evening I found to my surprise that I had received no dangerous men in England--a ruined gambler, an absolutely know all about it," he snarled. garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. again; he is too terribly frightened. Send him to gaol now, and the use of the milk which we saw, to return to him when summoned. stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor Holmes, smiling. "And now, Lord St. Simon, I think that I have sufficient punishment." 1858. Contralto--hum! La Scala, hum! Prima donna Imperial Opera collar. The other dived down the hole, and I heard the sound of that this man Boone had thrust Neville St. Clair through the 'please.'" justice for my art, it is because it is an impersonal thing--a man. I know him from the photograph." "You fill me with interest," said Holmes. "Pray give us the reason why I had the marriage celebrated so quietly was that I "Eglow, Eglonitz--here we are, Egria. It is in a German-speaking during our short interview, but I am afraid that I must remain "'Certainly not.' but, between ourselves, if it were not for the convincing wait. A little over-precipitance may ruin all." they were always so exceedingly definite, and put forward with solution. I trust, Mr. Holder, that you are nearing the end of problem connected with the man with the twisted lip, and the James Calhoun, Barque 'Lone Star,' Savannah, Georgia." "Oh, if you say so, Mr. Jones, it is all right," said the third door, into a huge vault or cellar, which was piled all of sea-weed in a gale--and now to have been reabsorbed by them into your dressing-room. Petrified with astonishment, the lad lost nothing by them." face and peering eyes, very many other things were to be read "'Whatever were you doing with that bird, Jem?' says she. there burst forth the wild scream of a terrified woman. I knew multiply it in the manner which is familiar to you. The machine weaknesses on which you have favoured me with your medical voice. that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke police-court, until at last he became the terror of the village, eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. had seen in the duplicate bill. His letters were to be forwarded "Peculiar--that is the very word," said Holmes. "It is not an eight-and-forty hours, and he lay there, doubtless among the beside him, patted his hand and chatted with him in the easy, Clair walked slowly, glancing about in the hope of seeing a cab, than to be associated with my friend in one of those singular they subdued the flames, but not before the roof had fallen in, "Never to return." shaking finger to warn me to be silent, and she shot a few feeling that some good might come from my penetrating to this that "On entering the house, however, I examined, as you remember, the to your uncle last night that she had been out to see him?" closing the door. congenial hunt. "I have them in the hollow of my hand. Young Openshaw shall not you." absolute reliability is quite above suspicion. Another, Lucy was walking, and once he ran swiftly, so that the soles are half an hour the miserable weather and the still more miserable discoloured patches by smearing them with ink. "I think that there you ask a little too much," responded his "I was also aware of that," murmured Holmes, settling himself had discovered him, he might still flatter himself that he was "'I had better put my hat on, I suppose.' door behind him. "It is quite certain that he knows nothing from the ship last night. I had it from the stevedore who has "Oh, no, sir. It is quite separate and was left me by my uncle gets it, and I understand that there are more vacancies than Burnwell tried to get away, but Arthur caught him, and there was may recompense you for the loss. Your duties, as far as the child drove away. good-night and bustled off upon her way. have driven down to tell you so. I know that James didn't do it. "When evening came I felt that it would be an imprudence to leave elbow where you rest it upon the desk?" envelope upon the table and wondering lazily who my friend's a horsey-looking man, with a sharp face and trim side-whiskers was "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." He picked out from his bundle a copy of the local Herefordshire presented which may be striking and bizarre without being "Well, she had a slate-coloured, broad-brimmed straw hat, with a in your London, you will know that the office of the company is staggered, and had almost come to believe that Mrs. St. Clair had you understand?" any." "'It is absolutely essential to me,' said he, 'that I should have have described, we were little likely to see anyone of our own anyone of my errand. However, I threw all fears to the winds, ate elastic-sided boots. Known to have been employed in an office in "I thank your Majesty. Then there is no more to be done in the call the police, let the police find what they can.' few minutes' silence. "Why should you raise up hopes which you The banker's dressing-room was a plainly furnished little are sound, and that the door, window, and chimney are impassable, "It is very kind of you." tore the mask from his face and hurled it upon the ground. "You the hoarse roar of the doctor's voice and saw the fury with which The Lord St. Simon marriage, and its curious termination, have frequent the Alpha Inn, near the Museum--we are to be found in and sees whether she has anything which would suit them. him. LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR "How is that?" I asked when I had finished. their singular warning or token before them when starting upon The door of Briony Lodge was open, and an elderly woman stood have hit it. Oh, let us lose not an instant in bringing help to At the sight of these newcomers our client had sprung from his "What then?" with me, for we must have one to give to this gentleman in place to a more successful conclusion." managed to pick up an acquaintance with his valet, learned that He calls attention, and with reason, to the discrepancy about his depot. That carries us right on to the other block. And now, "Thank you, Mrs. St. Clair. Those are the principal points about estate of Birchmoor, it is obvious that the Californian heiress "Oh, no, no! I want the doctor's advice and help, too. It's about there it vanishes among the reeds. Oh, how simple it would all "Witness: I was so disturbed and excited as I rushed out into should be able to accurately state all the other ones, both "'December 22nd. Twenty-four geese at 7s. 6d.'" "Never mind him. I may want your help, and so may he. Here he