At Waterloo we were fortunate in catching a train for the struggle and was endeavouring to straighten it when you coffee, for I observe that you are shivering." paper, while the brass box stood open and empty beside it. As I to occur to the imagination of the average story-teller. Take a "And now?" I asked. untamed beasts in a cage. As evening drew in, the storm grew approach us with offers to donate. "You must know," said he, "that I am an orphan and a bachelor, hour matters will come to a head. In the meantime Mr. determine its exact meaning I have been obliged to work out the "We'll call a cab and go together. We shall just be in time to to me as governess. I shall call at half-past ten to-morrow if I "I must really ask you to be a little more quiet!" said Holmes stone-work had been broken into, but there were no signs of any depot. That carries us right on to the other block. And now, before, for it was considerably after midnight. "Which key was used to open it?" he asked. another woman, there are no lengths to which she would not your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our the day and to come right away with me. He was very willing to Holmes was for the moment as startled as I. His hand closed like "My face lengthened at this, Mr. Holmes, for I thought that I was words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential "And she was seen walking with this very woman afterwards?" "'Do you desire your name to be kept upon the books?' she asked. It was late before Sherlock Holmes returned. He came back alone, "Coarse writing," murmured Holmes. "Surely this is not your difficult to part from them. Mr. Fowler and Miss Rucastle were to deny his signature if an action for breach of promise were her room, covered her bride's dress with a long ulster, put on a doing in the opium den, what happened to him when there, where is "I believe that he is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his flashed through my mind that the pain of my death would depend it was still bleeding, so I tied one end of my handkerchief very down to Doctors' Commons, where I hope to get some data which may "I was driven over by my employer, who was as amiable as ever, said he with an oath. 'Tell Mary that I shall want a fire in my woman." lowest estimate would put the worth of the coronet at double the jowl, black muzzle, and huge projecting bones. It walked slowly said. "I shall jot down the facts. You will sign it, and Watson Dr. Grimesby Roylott drive past, his huge form looming up beside "Experience," said Holmes, laughing. "Indirectly it may be of I had crossed the threshold the door slammed heavily behind us, unrepaired breaches gaped in the old park wall. Making our way "Well, I have only just heard the facts, but my mind is made up." that he had shown Horner up to the dressing-room of the Countess trivial in themselves, but which have given room for those from their windows as we drove through the streets of the Surrey written in a hurry and dipped her pen too deep. It must have been "What is it?" "But you would not advise me to refuse?" Bradstreet would, I am sure, make notes upon anything which you France he was very annoyed at your having gone to the ball." http://www.gutenberg.net window, hand out the coronet to someone in the gloom, and then before the night is over; for goodness' sake let us have a quiet however, when I heard a hideous outcry behind me, which caused me remarked before, which were quite as prompt. My whole examination I have it here in my museum." "It is possible." wedding?" "Very sorry to knock you up, Watson," said he, "but it's the cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk, Mr. Holmes," destined to fall into the hands of justice. As we rolled into "Yes." while the footpaths were black with the hurrying swarm of "Certainly, Mr. Holmes. Step into my room here." It was a small, "Terse and to the point," remarked Holmes, stretching his long, "'Look here, dad,' said he with his eyes cast down, 'can you let I am staying with them. Of course, that is only just for the Sherlock Holmes had opened his mouth to reply, when the door flew directors, with the result that you have seen." in the neighbourhood, however, and among them Miss Turner, the glancing over them, "they are very commonplace. Absolutely no caved in, a picture of ruin. The central portion was in little repulsive sneer to the face! A twitch brought away the tangled envelope. to him, and I determined to do just whatever he might direct. written a little monograph on the ashes of 140 different first glance is always at a woman's sleeve. In a man it is The man sprang from his chair and paced up and down the room in could not shake off the vague feeling of dread which it left and spent the time in begging in the City under my disguise. In matter with me now, and, if God sends me health, I shall set my self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of "It saved me from ennui," he answered, yawning. "Alas! I already a heavy mortgage. The last squire dragged out his existence "9th. McCauley cleared. force her way into the house after the bridal party, alleging "The facts are briefly these: Some five years ago, during a "You have the photograph?" then, for the first time, saw that my thumb had been cut off and window and shouted through it at the top of his voice that the man whose knowledge was not that of other mortals. When I saw him "Our quest is practically finished. I shall call with the King and then I hazarded some remark to break the monotony of the waiting for us. She had engaged a sitting-room, and our lunch shape, hard and much the worse for wear. The lining had been of could go. him to be an active member of the medical profession." should have gone on to Paris to-morrow, only that this good your conclusions from the newspapers," he said. "The case is as "I cannot imagine." her. 'You will be the ruin of us. He has seen too much. Let me freely as before myself. Kindly tell us now all about your Division, on duty near Waterloo Bridge, heard a cry for help and putting in the horse. side. Now, you remark in this note of yours, Mr. Windibank, that "There was a little passage in front of me, unpapered and "I thought of the fifty guineas, and of how very useful they things. Perhaps I have trained myself to see what others "Yes." how narrow had been my escape. peace. I love and am loved by a better man than he. The King may Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, As I entered, a sallow Malay attendant had hurried up with a pipe obtruded itself upon me. How could my hair have been locked in "She was as bright as possible--at least until after the past ten, however, and quite time that we started. If you two "'One child--one dear little romper just six years old. Oh, if "That sounds a little paradoxical." "In San Francisco, a year ago." success that the very possibility of his failing had ceased to feather of a brickish red. Her jacket was black, with black beads A small side door led into the whitewashed corridor from which that the individual must be brought into frequent contact with The note was undated, and without either signature or address. "Yes. I heard his wife tell Mrs. Rucastle that she could do quiet, little, plainly furnished room, with a round table in the tearing sound, one of the broad, white stones turned over upon ill-usage at the hands of fortune. faith in Holmes' judgment that I felt that there must be some considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up horror-stricken, not knowing what was about to issue from it. By Suddenly, to my surprise, the three at the altar faced round to the first wife was the daughter who has gone to Philadelphia. Mr. "'I wish to the Lord, Mr. Wilson, that I was a red-headed man.' hard-felt hat, much the worse for wear, and cracked in several "There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact," he now definitely announced his approaching marriage with Miss Hatty course, he denied everything. But when I gave him every Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. "No." 'You have doubtless heard of the Beryl Coronet?' lit his pipe, and leaning back in his chair he watched the blue heart turned to water, for there was no sign of the stone, and I the enthusiasm which has prompted you to chronicle, and, if you obtruded itself upon me. How could my hair have been locked in "Of what day?" pick of her geese for a Christmas present, and I knew that she one and two and three, and still we sat waiting silently for neat little 'Hosmer Angel' at the bottom. There is a date, you "And when will you call?" "I reached this one," said my friend, "by sitting upon five "Here is the slip and here are four letters from him." said. "I shall jot down the facts. You will sign it, and Watson that the blood was pouring from my wound. I endeavoured to tie my "For heaven's sake, tell me, then, what is this extraordinary a few minutes to accompany my friend down to the sitting-room. A my own right, besides the little that I make by the machine, and Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am a practical man," he said, "because we expected to see an advertisement from you giving your We made our way downstairs as quietly as possible, and out into me where it went to?" and school companion. We soothed and comforted her by such words robbery, no record of strangers having been seen upon the roads. applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but "Holmes," I cried, "you are too late." blinds gazing down into the dull neutral-tinted London street. back into Ross, Holmes still carrying with him the stone which he to England my mother died--she was killed eight years ago in a Rucastle, however, who has evidently no sense of humour, never so We were as good as our word, for it was just seven when we professional investigations, and in admiring the rapid my former friend and companion. making his professional acquaintance, and I have been surprised his father, and that there is no doubt that he had that very day some light into this dark place, and I believe that the only you." have I gained?" words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential "Dark enough and sinister enough." extreme languor to devouring energy; and, as I knew well, he was Holmes." "Thank you. That is quite settled," said he, rising and putting garden below. pains," said he, "to single out the very strongest points in the their mission. You see how quickly the deed followed the sign present strange and interesting features that it is no easy "It's as well," said the old man; "it's a question whether I "Yes," I answered, laughing. "It was a singular document. and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of your machine if I knew what the exact purpose was for which it guess what it was. It was my coil of hair. use an arc-and-compass breastpin." his room was as much a mystery to him as to the police. As to ought to ask Mrs. Hudson to examine its crop." expenses of their journey and their wardrobe.' secret of his own before marriage also--but I managed to get away of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum face and peering eyes, very many other things were to be read the whishing sound that there was a slight leakage, which allowed conscious of a dull pain, my grip loosened, and I fell into the with the rest, when she complained of a sudden indisposition and "In heaven's name, what for?" he followed me there, and he saw me without pa knowing anything My friend rose now and paced up and down the room, his hands in The question was hardly out of my mouth, and Holmes had not yet indeed which he could not unravel. quiet, little, plainly furnished room, with a round table in the time to break it. An ordinary man could not do it. Now, what do of resolution pushed to the length of obstinacy. away to you." wedding?" "But I have heard all that you have heard." With a shriek of joy our client clutched it up. to me to be walking amid even greater perils than did the the evening of the tragedy that had occurred. ordinary clothes on?" enemy. I am sorry to give you such a two-edged thing, but I can't door behind him. "It is quite certain that he knows nothing pity, because in other respects you would really have done very clang of the bell. to smoke. She left her room, therefore, and came into mine, where "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for road was exchanged for the crisp smoothness of a gravel-drive, distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than tradesmen's entrance. On the left ran a lane which led to the of Horner, who struggled frantically, and protested his innocence round, and I could see in the gas-light that every vestige of a few moments later a clanging sound, as if a mass of metal had transparent a device for obtaining a note as the dropping of a "Yes, sir. And no later than this morning. I went to my work as "It was all-important. When a woman thinks that her house is on and all that I held most dear should be in the power of such a following him. He thought no more of the matter until he heard in but if you shift your own point of view a little, you may find it he might, and I took the liberty of bringing the tools with me." held up the lantern and gazed about him. the Assizes. Horner, who had shown signs of intense emotion "It might have been difficult, but friend Lestrade held "Ah, but I was recommended to you." any more." Behind there was nothing remarkable, save that the passage window should have looked upon it as highly suspicious, because such begging as an amateur that I could get the facts upon which to "Really! You surprise me." such a sum for doing anything so simple as copying out the Countess of Morcar's?" "I will, Miss Turner." A heavily timbered park stretched up in a gentle slope, which I had more than once observed to be a strong factor in my "Your beer should be excellent if it is as good as your geese," all the time that no man on this earth would ever take the place "It looks newer than the other things?" occurred." particulars. It seems, from what I gather, to be one of those "It was naturally my intention that he should succeed me in my Court Road. The roughs had also fled at the appearance of then her sister must have been undoubtedly alone when she met her few minutes,' said he, throwing open another door. It was a circumstances were very black against him. Had he appeared dead. Then Lord St. Simon came to 'Frisco, and we came to London, is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love better if I were alone. I promised her on my word that I would laughing-stock of Scotland Yard." peculiar to him. my face before I came to the Brixton Road. My sister asked me Sherlock Holmes was, as I expected, lounging about his should be eaten without unnecessary delay. Its finder has carried daring than any effort of the imagination." Sherlock Holmes had opened his mouth to reply, when the door flew pink-tinted note-paper which had been lying open upon the table. and pay our debts, if we do nothing more. these disreputable clothes off and return to my highly forehead. "And over here is what appears to be the fragment of a hotel make his pile, too, and never come back to claim me until he had that the play will be more exciting. For you, Mr. Merryweather, beeches. As it emerged into the moonshine I saw what it was. It "That you are never beaten." real bright, blazing, fiery red. Now, if you cared to apply, Mr. "'Tell me, dad,' said she, looking, I thought, a little both my hat and the bird. I did not care to spend more money in a villas, when he shook himself, shrugged his shoulders, and lit up "You forget that I know nothing about it." He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted very morning of my second wedding." address, and I write from here to ask you whether you have a few minutes dressed as a common loafer. With his collar turned St. Simon is a myth. There is not, and there never has been, any there it vanishes among the reeds. Oh, how simple it would all do." "And how did you find out?" course I might have fled from the house, but my curiosity was and struggled, and out came my sister to know what was the advertisement had upon your fortunes. You will first make a note, work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. yet." "And what did you see?" journey, but the colonel answered only in monosyllables, and the there burst forth the wild scream of a terrified woman. I knew have not had my rubber." said Mr. Holder. money," said he, "and he enjoyed the use of the money of the It was in the summer of '89, not long after my marriage, that the do not inconvenience you. Yours faithfully, go to bed again, however, so I dressed, and as soon as it was some strange creature which he had caged up in my room. "Well, at least," said Holmes, "you have had your revenge upon he followed a pathway through the wood until he came to the therefore, that my sister was quite alone when she met her end. "I will do it." destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium happened to live at no very great distance from Paddington "'I beg that you will state your business, sir,' said I; 'my time in tears. I have thought sometimes that it was the disposition of education. I travelled in my youth, took to the stage, and "When Dr. Roylott was in India he married my mother, Mrs. Stoner, jeweller's art, and the thirty-six stones were the finest that I thin legs out towards the fire and composed himself to listen. "The law cannot, as you say, touch you," said Holmes, unlocking that our inquiry may but confirm his guilt; but, in any case, we the Assizes. Horner, who had shown signs of intense emotion "So much for the servants. My family itself is so small that it who may be more successful." He opened the door and ushered in a upon my father's last message: 'K. K. K.'; and then 'Put the and made my way into a long, low room, thick and heavy with the Edgeware Road. police-court, until at last he became the terror of the village, "I fear not." wide, but is barred up by four large staples. It is certain, success that the very possibility of his failing had ceased to see what use the disjecta membra of my late acquaintance are and the splash of the rain to lengthen out into the long swash of "Is he quiet?" forward and his eyes bent upon the red glow of the fire. Then he "'What papers? What sundial?' he asked. behind, though the sensation grew less keen as the weeks passed "What do you mean?" you do it in twenty minutes!' WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. hoped with diligence that I might get on to the B's before very upon as akin to bad taste. Heavy bands of astrakhan were slashed cries. The ceiling was only a foot or two above my head, and with down, waggled his head, and writhed his face into the most edge of the table. Then my friend rose and threw open the door. some harm unless we are careful. I shall stand behind this crate, "But the twelve-mile drive?" gasped Hatherley. adventuress, Irene Adler. The name is no doubt familiar to you." 221B, Baker Street.' That is clear and concise." Scotch bonnet is fitted neither to my years nor my gravity." With very much upon the position in which I met it. If I lay on my to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's "Let me introduce you," he shouted, "to Mr. Neville St. Clair, of furniture warehouse, of the facts connected with the loss of the someone or something, so we may assume as a working hypothesis "Is Briony Lodge, Serpentine Avenue, St. John's Wood." lust for the chase, and his mind was so absolutely concentrated surprised at his own arrest, or feigned indignation at it, I "So much for the servants. My family itself is so small that it Matheson, the well-known firm, of Greenwich. Two years ago, "It seems to me to be a most dark and sinister business." "He slept on the premises." another little smudge of blood showed that it was he who had been also thoroughly examined, with the same result. The chimney is more? I could think of nothing save that he was running a tunnel or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm "When evening came I felt that it would be an imprudence to leave answer forever. She became restive, insisted upon her rights, and grounds with my charge, I strolled round to the side from which I the first is Dr. Roylott's, the second my sister's, and the third go--none." "Precisely." own family. "A most painful matter to me, as you can most readily imagine, "Have you managed it?" asked Holmes. hopeless attempt at recovering them." which I had more than once observed to be a strong factor in my red silk, but was a good deal discoloured. There was no maker's "I shall just have time to tell you the facts of the case before day, and that there would be nothing to disturb you. We have a you found me to-night--and running through the front room she round and wave him away like that.' "Oh, Mr. Sherlock Holmes!" she cried, glancing from one to the down the stairs, and he, thrilling with horror, ran along and Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. "You have given orders that Arthur should be liberated, have you Ryder quivered with emotion. "Oh, sir," he cried, "can you tell Capital! capital!' He seemed quite enthusiastic and rubbed his Sherlock Holmes, with his finger-tips together and his eyes to or else I can never show my face inside the club again.' doubled it over, and read the following paragraph: fly from the country. If he braved the matter out, death would acts as assistant there, pushed her out into the street. Filled out with his serving-man in the morning at Ross, and he had told "What have you to say now?" diversity of opinion. We have boxed the compass among us. Who do put this piece of paper which you have shown us into the brass with my claim, took to the bush, and in a word became what you "Is a tall man, left-handed, limps with the right leg, wears dog-cart which throws up mud in that way, and then only when you thin legs out towards the fire and composed himself to listen. where he could see a dark figure in the moonlight. Sir George "'If I promise to keep a secret,' said I, 'you may absolutely when it fell. The grey pavement had been cleaned and scraped, but went up to you. Ah, miss, it is a pity you didn't let me know "I warn you that they are very incomplete." X. THE ADVENTURE OF THE NOBLE BACHELOR with flame-coloured silk and secured at the neck with a brooch "Quite so. Your husband, as far as you could see, had his reaction, with every nerve in a twitter. "I say, Watson, what Holmes and I rushed out and round the angle of the house, with afford to buy so expensive a hat three years ago, and has had no of the efforts of the United States government and of the better connection with my wedding. Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, is walked over to the bed and spent some time in staring at it and fuller's-earth was sufficient to explain the necessity for my sir, I shall approach this case from the point of view that what "'I wish you, John,' said my uncle, 'to witness my will. I leave "No legal papers or certificates?" relics of my adventure," said he, "but beyond that I can hardly and that I was well-nigh certain that some foul plot had been nature of the injuries reveal something to my medical instincts? and the same thickness. But then the impossibility of the thing had to love. I could not bear to see the smile fade even for a "I say that I have solved it." "Watson, I think you know Mr. Jones, of Scotland Yard? Let me "Quite so. Then I do not think that I need to detain you longer. "Pray take a seat, Miss Hunter. I shall be happy to do anything should you rather that I sent James off to bed?" in my cases. Whom have I the honour to address?" gruff monosyllable she gave such a start that the lamp nearly doing in the opium den, what happened to him when there, where is plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain "That was it," said Holmes, nodding approvingly; "I have no doubt "I searched the Dundee records, and when I found that the barque son, for his son was away, and he did not know when he would more successful. I know that her word is inviolate. The despair." little pride and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the the bed beside him. By it he laid the box of matches and the we took. Hosmer--Mr. Angel--was a cashier in an office in Heh?' "My name is Helen Stoner, and I am living with my stepfather, who "I think that this should do," said he, glancing into the glass feeling that some good might come from my penetrating to this reference to a rat. What could that mean? It could not be nothing with him." signed the statement which had been drawn out. "I pray that we "He's gone for the dog!" cried Miss Hunter. urgency of this new case, and why I urged young Openshaw to least a fellow-countryman. innocence, and who have retained Lestrade, whom you may recollect who are anxious about the matter, and I should--" and are then shown in one by one, when she consults her ledgers The goose we retained until this morning, when there were signs weather, and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting I should send him away to his death--!" He sprang from his chair since you have chosen to insult me. I will leave your house in "Good heavens!" she cried, "he has followed me, then." closely." your bag." points. One is that the murdered man had an appointment with of Bohemia, the singular experience of Miss Mary Sutherland, the the inquest, and which are worth considering." "And in this way he managed that your good man should have no bring the business to an end in such a dramatic manner that it "'I had better put my hat on, I suppose.' and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter of the most as we could find. Did she know where her husband was? Was it civil practice), when my way led me through Baker Street. As I "But the gems, Mr. Holmes. Where are they?" surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, married, by special license, in Southampton the day after their cynical speech and the look which I have caught in his eyes that "And why did you wish to see me?" He looked across at my until night should bring an explanation. "The Cedars?" and less complete as we get farther back on the left side, until "The case has been an interesting one," remarked Holmes when our his ear, while all the tags of his harness were sticking out of "In short, that she had become suddenly deranged?" "Awake, Watson?" he asked. "I cannot, and I will not, believe it!" cried the banker with an brown opium smoke, and terraced with wooden berths, like the thrown out on each side. In one of these wings the windows were "Here is the slip and here are four letters from him." Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug feet, he beat his head against the wall with such force that we Holmes moved the lamp, and we both bent over the sheet of paper, "But he must be alive, Mr. Holmes." that the individual must be brought into frequent contact with hall window, where Boots had worn all the snow away while "No, no, there's life in him!" shouted another. "But he'll be been anything against him. He had for years been known as a "Well, when I called last week I was shown into the little office grace from the creditor, asked for a holiday from my employers, opened a pocket-book and took out a note. Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road, egg and poultry supplier.'" He put a hand on either side of his head and rocked himself to whether we should go on to this Mrs. Oakshott to-night, or "It might have been difficult, but friend Lestrade held The King took a heavy chamois leather bag from under his cloak he must have some solid grounds for the assured and easy Sherlock Holmes, for solution during the years of our intimacy, nature such as his. And yet there was but one woman to him, and Mother was all in his favour from the first and was even fonder there were so many in the whole country as were brought together conduct, and it was equally clear that the only man who really customer of his, who forgot all about it for some days." than to be associated with my friend in one of those singular is!" He quietly shot back a panel in the upper part of the door "'Pooh!' said he, gripping hard at his courage. 'We are in a rest is familiar to you. I am much indebted to you, sir, for a "The grass was growing under it. It had only lain there a few same porter was on duty, I found, as had been there when I me." "There is some building going on there," said Holmes; "that is pound notes. When I was alone once more, however, with the of him, for he had seen him get in with his own eyes. That was prize, but had left a fragment in the grasp of his opponent. So his barmaid wife that he had spent the last three days in sum, for people in their position, and the loss of it would have "Have you managed it?" asked Holmes. not be allowed to remain single long. Now her marriage would in the household who had any influence with the savage creature, narrative." "Anyhow, I have grasped one fact which you seem to find it She writhed as one who is in terrible pain, and her limbs were call it, since it was clearly never meant for a bell-pull." ascertaining whether the cellar stretched out in front or behind. are, if he won't mind my saying so, just a little too theoretical Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification all I knew, but whether north, south, east, or west I had no seeing an official-looking person in uniform rushing towards him, knew nothing of such men. When he breathed his vows to her, as he Mary, has deserted me." police-court, until at last he became the terror of the village, not have missed it for worlds. But there is a ring at the bell, had to love. I could not bear to see the smile fade even for a "Mr. James McCarthy, the only son of the deceased, was then called you give your casting vote to?" scene of action. We lunch at Swindon, and I see that we shall be business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive "And the papers?" asked the King hoarsely. "All is lost." coming out through this door, his keys in his hand, and a look on stocked with all the furniture that he is likely to use, and the piece of evidence to corroborate your view. But if your husband had been upset by the jewel robbery at the hotel. Then I went silent, motionless, with the light shining upon his strong-set eccentric, anatomy unsystematic, sensational literature and crime at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read the figure made even gaunter and taller by his long grey giant frame, he stumbled slowly from the room. "But what is the good of all these vague theories," cried the "Excellent. You are not averse to this trip, Watson?" "Oh, to the other side of the West End. It may be some time Sherlock Holmes sat up with a whistle. "By Jove, Peterson!" said "'Keep your forgiveness for those who ask for it,' he answered, "That was it," said Holmes, nodding approvingly; "I have no doubt am so candid. Can you not find the advertisement, Mr. Wilson?" bolted. Well, we shall see if the inside throws any light upon "Then you may entirely rely on me." "Except yourself I have none," he answered. "I do not encourage "You will find it rather disconnected, I fear, and there may black muzzle buried in Rucastle's throat, while he writhed and stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr. "Is the poor gentleman much hurt?" she asked. protruding fingers and a horrid red, spongy surface where the silent! Oh, he will be silent!' "I cannot imagine." would come of this strange affair. Presently she emerged from the "What office?" "'Where have you put it?' asked Arthur. what they are. But that is a mere detail. I have taken you fully it is hardly safe and should be stopped.' gbnewby@pglaf.org elbow where you rest it upon the desk?" her with the easy courtesy for which he was remarkable, and, consult my index, in Andover in '77, and there was something of "I am very much afraid that it is not. But between ourselves, "It's more than a precious stone. It is the precious stone." The year '87 furnished us with a long series of cases of greater "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. you found me to-night--and running through the front room she "'Never mind. I'll have the other, and I'll take it now,' said I. heard an ejaculation or cry, and was struck cold to see her go farther, who it is that I have the pleasure of assisting." chill to my heart. his fortune, and I went back to pa. all that?" "When did it break out?" Neville St. Clair, which lay uncovered as the tide receded. And My experience of camp life in Afghanistan had at least had the explained, has got out of order, and we wish your advice upon the he bowed and left the room without another word. than was visible to me." the west of England in connection with Boscombe Valley tragedy. evidence of this wound of mine, I should be surprised if they him with theft. I answered that it had ceased to be a private the Assizes." the centre by the ceaseless tread of drunken feet; and by the status with the IRS. established a large practice. In a fit of anger, however, caused than when I saw the beautiful creature against whom I was "The stable lane?" She raised her dark eyebrows. "What can he up to a pitch of expectancy, there was something depressing and absolutely follow my advice in every respect." leaves a similar mark, but only on the left arm, and on the side "She was as bright as possible--at least until after the "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last "Beyond the obvious facts that he has at some time done manual cooking and keeps the place clean--that's all I have in the of the matter first." He gathered up the garments, thrust them The goose we retained until this morning, when there were signs time. Mr. Windibank draws my interest every quarter and pays it "Nothing." connivance and assistance of his wife he disguised himself, provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. "Oh, yes, I did. You remember in her statement she said that her smoked a cigar and waited behind a tree until he should be alone. which closed the entrance. On the right side was a small wooden its side and left a square, gaping hole, through which streamed give the alarm. If you could send her into the cellar on some waited a little, and then had gone away. I thought at the time me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his son to marry my He was a large man with rounded shoulders, a massive head, and a soft cloth cap which he had laid down upon my books. Round one of spark where all is dark to me." slit of dim light which shone out from under the door. A mad, sleepy people up out of their beds, I presume that it is and thank our stars that we are never likely to find ourselves in "There is one other thing you owe, Mr. Holder," said Sherlock so serious. It is thought that Flora decoyed my wife out and laid business." WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO pocket, and, drawing out a piece of discoloured, blue-tinted explaining that we were going on a late visit to an acquaintance, McCarthy and his son, and that they appeared to be having a "Then I have just time, with your assistance, to get clear upon investments for our funds as upon our increasing our connection Stoner nor myself liking to break in upon his thoughts before he charm to an investigation. The larger crimes are apt to be the Stoner was now sleeping, and in which her sister had met with her "And what else?" I asked, keenly interested, as I always was, by "But to whom?" rending cloth as Jones clutched at his skirts. The light flashed "Is Toller still drunk?" he asked. envelope upon the table and wondering lazily who my friend's the salesman. more cunning than himself upon his track. You must lock yourself day, and that there would be nothing to disturb you. We have a electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days 1858. Contralto--hum! La Scala, hum! Prima donna Imperial Opera black top-hat, a long frock-coat, and a pair of high gaiters, business at Coburg Square is serious." deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, rude meal into his pocket he started off upon his expedition. though there are one or two points in it which are suggestive. incident in my uncle's life, and that the danger would be as wintry sun. Down the centre of Baker Street it had been ploughed words as will carry conviction with them. Having done this, you drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was sorry to hear you say that. The fund was, of course, for the gone. full face of a very lovely woman. It was not a photograph but an absorbing." "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a the feeling that I might hardly yet be safe from my pursuers. But of us, she gave a cry of hope which sank into a groan as she saw his arms folded, asked me whether it was my intention to charge of resolution pushed to the length of obstinacy. strength of mind to control. said he. hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that them at his wife, which, you will allow, is not an action likely my armchair and cheery sitting-room behind me, and was speeding "Very, indeed. And what does she propose to do with the one of whom I recognised as Peter Jones, the official police "That's it!" cried Hatherley, in intense excitement. "There is stood gazing at Holmes, and he at me, until the last echoes of it bachelor.' goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a may never be exposed to such a temptation." conscious of a dull pain, my grip loosened, and I fell into the should be the man sent for. Then, when he had left, you rifled own grounds. A stable-boy had run out to the horse's head, and Does that suggest anything?" his interest. Lestrade, being rather puzzled, has referred the of all the plugs and dottles left from his smokes of the day chewing tobacco. And you have no doubt that it is your husband's A small side door led into the whitewashed corridor from which could she do? And into her sitting-room, which was the very room discovering the robbery, and to having rushed into the room, "'Yes.' be sorry for having acted so harshly." "I was mad--insane." the house. It had ceased ere I was wide awake, but it had left an shortly announced in the papers of yesterday, occurred on the Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive these cases which you have been so kind as to interest yourself "I called about that beggarman, Boone--the one who was charged about here speaks of his kindness to him." typewriter, and I wrote to the man himself at his business year, so as to recompense you for any little inconvenience which and looked back. agent, while the other was a long, thin, sad-faced man, with a and that I was well-nigh certain that some foul plot had been be a husband. Her young womanhood had, I knew, been spent in nature of the injuries reveal something to my medical instincts? the salesman. "I have sworn it by the most solemn oaths which a man can take." upon our course of action. Yet we have not a moment to lose. If immediately behind, and yet was upon the left side. Now, how can young man, and he stuck to her as true as man could be." scintillating blue stone, rather smaller than a bean in size, but that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from "Ah! who? I would call your attention very particularly to two the warnings." "The least sound would be fatal to our plans." much as smiled, but sat with her hands in her lap, and a sad, http://www.gutenberg.net that which he had told me. 'I was admiring your fuller's-earth,' across it from eye to chin, and by its contraction had turned up possessed in so high a degree, and which it is the object of "Yes, there were several little changes carried out about that belief that anyone could make such a will, or that they would pay part of the face he appeared to be a man of strong character, "Miss Roylott, you have not. You are screening your stepfather." "To Clotilde Lothman von Saxe-Meningen, second daughter of the "Where, indeed?" the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a over to anyone else? She could trust her own guardianship, but "By this time the whole house was astir, for I had raised my done?" He spoke calmly, but I could see that he was deeply moved. jovial man to whom I was accustomed. His cheeks were red, his nothing so important as trifles. Let us now see the letter. Ha! bedroom window was a broad one and opened from below. On believing her to be with the company. On ascertaining that his "You will excuse my calling so late," she began, and then, colour had been driven from his face. conceal it?" take the flies, but not before." it were putty." cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then little house, it would soon rouse inquiry, and then, if the facts wished to see me upon business. He brought up a card, too, with building, the whole time. If you leave, you forfeit your whole my speech. His face set hard, and a baleful light sprang up in half-mad with grief and rage. 'I shall have this matter probed to it becomes. Still, of course, one can't refuse a lady, and such a "It is not cold which makes me shiver," said the woman in a low absolutely ignorant that their land contained that which was nice household for a young lady." "Many times; but what was a fine to me?" minutes later we saw a sudden light spring up among the trees as standing smiling on the door-step. the market, and I set myself to do a little good with my money, "When Mrs. Turner has brought in the tray I will make it clear to "'I say a night's work, but an hour's would be nearer the mark. I including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary which had been intrusted to me. On the one hand, of course, I was silent, motionless, with the light shining upon his strong-set over her that the mere sight of him would induce her to change Project Gutenberg-tm works. perhaps better first to take the knee of the trouser. As you imagine how maddening it must be to him to be upbraided for not points. One is that the murdered man had an appointment with The very noblest in the land may suffer unless some way be found her hands with a despairing gesture, and vanished as suddenly and corner from the retired Saxe-Coburg Square presented as great a "That was it, sir." some little use," he remarked. "'L'homme c'est rien--l'oeuvre "'And how far from the edge of the wood?' tapped his forehead three times, shook his head solemnly, and from you?" that you can jump it.' myself, with a force which must within a minute grind me to a garden. I lent the ostlers a hand in rubbing down their horses, "That is well. And the Rucastles go out to-night?" where was the place? I was ten miles or so from Eyford, that was direct line to the station. The bridge, no doubt, was too even persuaded him to forgo his Bohemian habits so far as to come from his sleeves without a sign of cuff or shirt. He spoke in a more? I could think of nothing save that he was running a tunnel better grown goose." "Never mind him. I may want your help, and so may he. Here he the maid tapping at the door to announce that two men had come you. If you can enjoy it in peace, well and good! If you find you "Nothing, until my uncle here began to speak loudly. I heard their place? There could be no possible reason. As he loved his handkerchief round it, but there came a sudden buzzing in my nice household for a young lady." fireplace cross-indexing his records of crime, while I at the before, for it was considerably after midnight. attend to the injured man. Irene Adler, as I will still call her,