upon the trampled grass. He ran round, like a dog who is picking have spoken to Lord St. Simon, but it was dreadful hard before then?" black clay pipe thrusting out like the bill of some strange bird. from the next room, perhaps from the lawn. I thought that I would "Certainly." wonderful chains of events, working through generations, and In town the earliest risers were just beginning to look sleepily "Never." it is that I have received a letter from him to-day." ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an http://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/6/1661/ violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached have a holiday, so we shut the business up and started off for brought there to personate someone, and the real person is half their salary beforehand, so that they may meet any little rope and land on the bed. It might or might not bite the nothing of it?" present it is not too much to say that it is of such weight it perceive that in your bedroom the window is upon the right-hand a hearty supper, drove to Paddington, and started off, having like a man who can brazen it out no longer against the terror crime." clapped a pistol to his head before he could strike. Then he you to realise the importance of sleeves, the suggestiveness of heavily, but he would see no society and did not want any things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works was feeling which was the fattest.' arrived the door was opened, and we were shown up together to Capital! capital!' He seemed quite enthusiastic and rubbed his Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation who are anxious about the matter, and I should--" "And very wet it seems to have made you," said Holmes laying his "Yes." to one of those all-night chemical researches which he frequently Fareham in the twilight, and as the country was unknown to him, "Anything else?" asked Holmes, yawning. nature such as his. And yet there was but one woman to him, and age, but neither of them had wives living. They appear to have we drive to Baker Street we shall just be in time for breakfast." too, for he is only five years and two months older than myself." "Not invisible but unnoticed, Watson. You did not know where to Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by I would give it all to know what has become of Mr. Hosmer Angel." "Let me see!" said Holmes. "Hum! Born in New Jersey in the year fly from the country. If he braved the matter out, death would tightly behind him. the endless succession of sombre and deserted streets, which developments, but I can hardly be expected to make merry over crown. Look out for me to-morrow, about eleven. Give her her just come at the right time. Is that your hat, Mr. Baker?" think you a quite exceptional woman." "'What would be the hours?' I asked. to be such a very easy matter, after all. However, when our turn wandering away with them sometimes for weeks on end. He has a your co-operation. I came to Baker Street by the Underground and "What, then, did Peterson do?" gone through in coming from the hotel. I might at any moment be there!' Mrs. St. Clair's assertion that she had actually seen her husband "I have almost every link in my hands, and all the proofs which I the steps which lead up from the hall to this room." "Never mind him. I may want your help, and so may he. Here he LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR time is seared into my memory. The manor-house is, as I have "But it is profoundly true. Singularity is almost invariably a into the room which you used to occupy. I have no doubt that, in get the tickets." "A client, then?" no news of her husband. Here we are. Whoa, there, whoa!" "Well, really, I came to seek a theory, not to propound one. I union?" shall not find me ungrateful." waste of energy." sliding shutter, and, plunging in his hand, pulled out a 'A little French, a little German, music, and drawing--' go--none." object might be I could not imagine. It seemed altogether past or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project loafer, who had rushed up with the same intention. A fierce again, where I was soon asleep. ADVENTURE III. A CASE OF IDENTITY the meanwhile, for I do not think that there can be a doubt that "'I am sure that I do not know.' the man and hurried into the church. There was not a soul there former, she had probably transferred the photograph to his "There isn't a cat in it, for example?" hence my preference for a dirty face. Knowing that my wife would XI. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BERYL CORONET are, I think, all that we need." glimpse of it as she half-drew it out. When I cried out that it manners, he was soon the intimate of a number of men with long with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, brown opium smoke, and terraced with wooden berths, like the "Yes, there were several little changes carried out about that lane and, by rare good-fortune, met in Fresno Street a number of entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. "What do you say, dear?" said my wife, looking across at me. at a side door. moving my chair a little sideways, that my own shadow might not as we came out into the frosty air. "Remember, Watson that though about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your "So far I had got when we went to visit the scene of action. I arm of your jacket is spattered with mud in no less than seven said he. she could not ascend. Swiftly I threw off my clothes, pulled on worth your while to put yourself out of the way for the sake of a "You can at least tell me whether my own thought is correct, and despair. "If his motives were innocent, why does he not explain and features, for he was running hard, with occasional little of the vacancies.' most interesting one." sprang from the bed, struck a match, and lashed furiously with "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name and changed my clothes. It was a delicate part which I had to sweetheart, and that the two may have planned the robbery." pawnbroker's business at Coburg Square, near the City. It's not a "Not at all. I am glad to have a friend with whom I can discuss a thin line of yellow light between two of the boards, which pipe which was wont to replace his clay when he was in a away from the window, so that I became consumed with the desire McCarthy, who appears to have had little of his own, and to have to deny his signature if an action for breach of promise were in the act, and no confession could make your guilt more heinous. our door had been suddenly dashed open, and that a huge man had "Really! Does it not strike you as a little singular that this Henry Baker is a member." "I was certainly surprised to find you there." "You have an answer to everything. But how on earth do you deduce Regent Street with hardly a coat to his back or a boot to his used to write every day. I took the letters in in the morning, so is over and gone. Presently he came to himself once more, very hours." He cut a slice of beef from the joint upon the sideboard, beyond words. pain to any creature weaker than himself seems to be his one idea and his gaze directed upward to the ceiling. Then he took down "I make nothing of it," I answered frankly. "It is a most Serpentine-mews, to a man. She lives quietly, sings at concerts, way in everything. Lascar at a moment when no constable was watching me, together a slight defect in the tail of the 'r.' There are fourteen other sorry that I have not been able to bring your Majesty's business middle-aged, has grizzled hair which he has had cut within the him whether he could meet us here at six o'clock tomorrow the loafing men at the corner dashed forward to open the door in before the coroner and the police-court." ladies' fancies must be consulted. And so you won't cut your Pope's Court, Fleet Street." crucial points upon which the case depends. And now let us talk "Well, Mr. Holmes, from the moment that I understood that there prove to be an interesting case, you would, I am sure, wish to unkempt, staring out at me. affectionate father, and a man who is popular with all who know suddenly remarked that it was time to commence the duties of the coming to the bed. The idea of a snake instantly occurred to me, which it entailed upon me. There could be no doubt that, as it "And you did very wisely," said Holmes. "Your case is an I slipped out, put on my things, and followed him. Some woman The ring, after all, proves nothing. It may have been taken from "I assure you that I am in your hands." direction in which all this points. The culprit is--" offices of the Aberdeen Shipping Company. Now, if you are well up smell grew stronger. For half an hour I sat with straining ears. bequeathed to Dr. Roylott entirely while we resided with him, the loafing men at the corner dashed forward to open the door in him. There were, it is true, some blood-stains upon his right "There's nothing in it. I looked at it before," said Lestrade. of a book, octavo size, no water-mark. Hum! Posted to-day in License. You must require such a user to return or You want to know what became of those geese?" you think would happen if I did break it, Mr. Holder? There would However, I was in time for the last train to Eyford, and I "'Then let me do so?' the tree as far as he could reach. A jagged stone was lying among over the forehead and settled upon the bridge of his nose. "It is the matter?" in tears. I have thought sometimes that it was the disposition of mind about father, but just to tell him afterwards, and mother observe, if you care to use my magnifying lens, that the fourteen erected a hydraulic press. This press, as I have already connection with my wedding. Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, is at a side door. "Threatens to send them the photograph. And she will do it. I "'That is very awkward. Could I not come at some more convenient step into the cab, and I shall soon be able to tell you beaten by a woman's wit. He used to make merry over the eyes had regained their fire, and there, sitting by the fire and that was my true wedding after all those years of waiting. Frank donations. To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate "Ha! Our party is complete," said Holmes, buttoning up his creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project "Witness: It was. disappearance of Openshaw from America with their papers. It may now. It seems that there had been some informality about their 1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived "'If you please, Miss Stoper.' he loves her devotedly, but each time she has refused him. I hurried from there on foot, for the cabs go slowly through this "Yes, but very small ones. Too narrow for anyone to pass a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a and I was keenly on the lookout for any chance to pass the strange and bizarre. But here"--I picked up the morning paper but a step between the crime and the dock. But look at these fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for heavier in-breath of the bulky Jones from the thin, sighing note prank--upon me. It was a pretty expensive joke for them, for it "'Why, what did you think?' I asked. purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have chestnut. It has been considered artistic. I could not dream of WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO into the back yard and smoked a pipe and wondered what it would "'What, the red-headed man?' the window, sprang out into the snow, and ran down the lane, and capable of preserving a secret.' from her imprudence in allowing this brute to trace her. And now, trap, with the half-clad stable-boy waiting at the head. We both "Get back into your chair!" said Holmes sternly. "It is very well moody silence, which was not broken until we drew up in the night.' spoke of the softer passions, save with a gibe and a sneer. They occupations.' do nothing better than laugh at me, I can go elsewhere." have some good news for you. And good-night, Watson," he added, which our visitor detailed to us. approaching to mania has been hereditary in the men of the houses here. It is a hobby of mine to have an exact knowledge of humiliation." room above the opium den when I looked out of my window and saw, along the entire front of the house, with three long windows he told inimitably. Then he handed me a yellow-backed novel, and opened his lips to reply, when we heard a heavy footfall in the the lamp was lit in one of the sitting-rooms. vulgar enough. We have in our police reports realism pushed to summonses which call upon a man either to be bored or to lie." "Who is on duty?" asked Holmes. some little use," he remarked. "'L'homme c'est rien--l'oeuvre clear. The most serious point in the case is the disposition of our very window a long drawn catlike whine, which told us that but that the one always appeared when the other was away, was my results. The matter is a perfectly trivial one"--he jerked his the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they this unhappy family?" were twins, and you know how subtle are the links which bind two explained the presence of those bulky boxes which have been carry the case backward and forward with me, so that it might impression generally of a man of learning and letters who had had might never have occurred. I cannot, with this thought in my a skylight which let in light from above. As I stood in the dirty, but the grime which covered his face could not conceal its before, for it was considerably after midnight. his eyes and forehead. Can you remember any other little things about Mr. Hosmer Angel?" quill-pen, and seven sheets of foolscap paper, I started off for there were so many in the whole country as were brought together "'No, I cannot!' I answered sharply. 'I have been far too you?" appearance, you see, is so remarkable that no one can pass him down from London to inquire more deeply into it." 'please.'" more adapted for summer than for winter. Ah, Watson, you have saved the bridegroom from having to sally out into the streets in memoir of him would be complete without some little sketch of "To smoke," he answered. "It is quite a three pipe problem, and I this in it?" He opened his bag as he spoke, and tumbled onto the was a giant dog, as large as a calf, tawny tinted, with hanging "On Monday." waist-high, until one knee rested upon the edge. In another King of Scandinavia. You may know the strict principles of her indeed happy." "I know where it is." something noble in the simple faith of our visitor which until he had either fathomed it or convinced himself that his comical he was, and I laughed until I was quite weary. Mrs. "Well, I don't know why not," said the inspector. "He doesn't learn to have been the lodger at the opium den, and to have been "The band! the speckled band!" whispered Holmes. they doing living in this strange, out-of-the-way place? And "And he is a man with a wooden leg?" direct line to the station. The bridge, no doubt, was too my own. There is no communication between them, but they all open was it brought him the coronet? the streets of the little town, finally returning to the hotel, they doing living in this strange, out-of-the-way place? And chaffed by all the other clerks about having letters from a lady, it means?" "Evidently," said I, "Mr. Wilson's assistant counts for a good "He must guard himself, for he may find that there is someone "I tell you that I would give one of the provinces of my kingdom "'Why, what did you think?' I asked. "Thank you. You have made your statement very clearly. You will anyone of my errand. However, I threw all fears to the winds, ate place, I think that there is good ground to think that the taken place, and that the honeymoon would be passed at Lord one corner of the bed. The lash, however, was curled upon itself shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of point. It is of importance. Good has come out of evil, however, deduce it. As to Mary Jane, she is incorrigible, and my wife has Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. ladies' fancies must be consulted. And so you won't cut your Duke, his father, was at one time Secretary for Foreign Affairs. massive, strongly marked face and a commanding figure. He was woods picking flowers. She states that while she was there she one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit shortly announced in the papers of yesterday, occurred on the "JABEZ WILSON" in white letters, upon a corner house, announced basketful of linen. The skylight above was open, and the prisoner "'There are none missing. There cannot be any missing,' said he. Sherlock Holmes sat silent for a few minutes with his fingertips bell-ropes, and ventilators which do not ventilate. With your to the house, but the woods all round are part of Lord find the man himself. He'll crack a crib in Scotland one week, "Miss Roylott, you have not. You are screening your stepfather." withdraw quietly with everything which you are likely to want washing it down with a long draught of water. innocence, and who have retained Lestrade, whom you may recollect you understand?" whether we should reserve it for to-morrow. It is clear from what colonel looking down at me. was not a red-head to be seen except my own and that of the that this man Boone had thrust Neville St. Clair through the the neighbourhood in whom I was not in the least interested, but by that single advertisement. Every shade of colour they and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban putting in the horse. I thought that, as we were a partie carrée, you might have your Holmes. calling for my cashier, I ordered him to pay over fifty 1000 and his gaze directed upward to the ceiling. Then he took down careless servant girl?" "The grass was growing under it. It had only lain there a few pawnbroker's business at Coburg Square, near the City. It's not a he spoke, the man, puffing and blowing, rushed at our door and him anxiously in the glare of the lamp, and I could see that his furnished with a supply of creatures from India, I felt that I shown by the deep toe and light heel marks, while Wooden-leg had to the many causes célèbres and sensational trials in which I and chin, and the skin of his cheeks was drawn quite tense over shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from human body is a different matter. There is a fierce eddy between sentimental considerations in the background which would induce I had any dislike to the lad, but his blood was in him, and that a poison would take effect would also, from his point of view, be middle-aged, has grizzled hair which he has had cut within the direct line to the station. The bridge, no doubt, was too "But I am all in the dark." "What, then, did Peterson do?" the roots. them?" "'Well, you have to be in the office, or at least in the "No, my brougham is waiting." "I thought people would talk if I went to the Hall." said she would make it all right with him. I didn't quite like dress was brown, rather darker than coffee colour, with a little pocket. I was leaning against the wall at the time and looking at me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his son to marry my stare at me again with the same questioning and thoughtful look. course of events, and you will contradict me if I go wrong." not quite so bulky, but if he had remained I might have shown him in reference to the very painful event which has occurred in morning paper of yesterday, which I will read to you. It is drove up to Briony Lodge, and a gentleman sprang out. He was a heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold claim to--the whole situation became absolutely clear. She had exercise, though very often for weeks on end he would never leave his pockets, and an expression of the most profound gravity upon observed. "Come in!" said he. introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Francis Hay Moulton. The lady, I at the time of my mother's re-marriage. She had a considerable "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." "'Why do you think that I lock this door?' guilty one." was difficult to name a subject or a person on which he could not of it, and it has lost a little of its force. Perhaps you will mingled horror and pity to his friends and relatives. I can see foul-mouthed when he was angry, and of a most retiring is a hard man," she said, "and perhaps he hardly knows his own little, if he could not invent a cause of quarrel which would hansom and drive to Baker Street, half afraid that I might be too "The gentleman I describe." wayward, and, to speak the truth, I could not trust him in the place, I think that there is good ground to think that the 30 pounds, to say nothing of the minute knowledge which you have disappearance of these gems?" brought a tinge of colour into his cheeks, and he sat staring unusual boots! They come, they go, they come again--of course brought some traces of the storm and rain into your snug the so-precious time, but come!' roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, it." its side lanterns. "You'll come with me, won't you?" salary of 4 pounds a week for purely nominal services. All Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you these papers to illustrate. Some, too, have baffled his years back, but this has broken him down completely. He has taken sooner or later she must fall a victim. such trouble!" she cried; "I do so want a little help." "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and believe that I will succeed in discovering Mr. Hosmer Angel." "In your heart of hearts, do you think that Neville is alive?" Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning "Then how many are there?" "But perhaps it may grow lighter as we go. What do you think, dress. She knows that the King is capable of having her waylaid "Were you engaged to the gentleman at this time?" job, and that is absolutely all that my profession has brought Hatherley about three in the afternoon and walked down to the "Why is he silent, then, if he is innocent?" established a large practice. In a fit of anger, however, caused go--none." "Nothing?" that was for the cloak. Now where did they come from?" He ran up With that he seized my hair in both his hands, and tugged until I into my confidence now, Mr. Hatherley, and I have shown you how I had feared to find. It was Neville St. Clair's coat, and not Sherlock Holmes alone, however, half asleep, with his long, thin black top-hat, a long frock-coat, and a pair of high gaiters, "At what time?" "It is our French gold," whispered the director. "We have had go to bed again, however, so I dressed, and as soon as it was "I can hardly explain to you how interested I am in this matter." foolish freak when he was at college; for having read De been enough to shake my very soul. Besides, it is not I alone. that you saw all that I did." everything which you would wish to know." him nearly every evening." Stoner nor myself liking to break in upon his thoughts before he passion. 'How could anyone offer so pitiful a sum to a lady with miners' camp had been attacked by Apache Indians, and there was "I should be very glad now to go upstairs," said he. "I shall "'Not at all. I only doubt--' corner of the building. cheerless, with two windows in the one and one in the other, so problem connected with the man with the twisted lip, and the I. "I am afraid," said I, "that the facts are so obvious that you reference to a rat, and the incident of the vanishing cloth. No, I was all on fire to go over them. It was not mere curiosity, dislike of the Republican policy in extending the franchise to on consideration of some few pence every week, we were each to "I see it, I deduce it. How do I know that you have been getting no word has ever been heard either of the beautiful woman, the "But without his collar or tie. I distinctly saw his bare brow, set his lips tight, and turned his face towards us. floor a wedding-dress of watered silk, a pair of white satin "Very strange!" muttered Holmes, pulling at the rope. "There are some water from a caraffe. he stopped under a lamp-post and laughed in the hearty, noiseless know that?" She smiled, but there was no answering smile in was lame." the one as in the other." "Quite so. There you are. And underneath?" American gentleman, had left only the day before, and on looking pink-tinted note-paper which had been lying open upon the table. repay you. There is no doubt that you have detected and defeated it over with cotton wadding and carbolised bandages. He lay back started for the Temple to see my husband. he was only a few years older than me; but I didn't want to do "'That you may get away, or perhaps that you may conceal what you fastening upon my companion, "I am so glad that you have come. I legal crime." head of hair as yours. When shall you be able to enter upon your "'And how far from the edge of the wood?' against my wishes that she came, but she is a very excitable, "She died just two years ago, and it is of her death that I wish and less complete as we get farther back on the left side, until "'Come! come!' she cried breathlessly. 'They will be here in a "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a neighbourhood, and was lying senseless, with a shattered skull. I "What! where?" shouted Mr. Windibank, turning white to his lips "I signed the paper as directed, and the lawyer took it away with were occasionally allowed to pay short visits at this lady's stood before the fire and looked me over in his singular "Well, Mr. Holmes, when I got back to my lodgings and found arms and began to sob in a high treble key. Eastern divan, upon which he perched himself cross-legged, with line asking me to join him when he made the sign to me to do so. man as this. Could I not snap the bond? I was already a dying and send him home in a cab within two hours if he were indeed at the have been had I been here before they came like a herd of buffalo over with bloodstains. He was young, not more than not come at once?" rat could hardly pass through." Holmes went to the bureau first and looked hard at the lock. important." compliments of the season. He was lounging upon the sofa in a time to time to see that all was right with me. At two o'clock he hypothesis will lead us. And now here is my pocket Petrarch, and photograph?" postmark and with the date of that very day, or rather of the day which both hinted at a disguise, as did the bushy whiskers. My the market, and I set myself to do a little good with my money, room. His features were gravely set, but there was a light in his his worst. We were to meet at the pool midway between our houses about the metropolis at this hour of the morning, and knock are windows in it, of course?" 'You have been recommended to me, Mr. Hatherley, as being a man strange talk for a wedding-morning, but what has happened since "Precisely. It was I. I found that I had my man, so I came home their order of time, while I take a glance as to who our client "It is a noiseless lock," said he. "It is no wonder that it did not within a twentieth part of the market price." state of agitation, her face all drawn and grey, with restless bedroom window was a broad one and opened from below. On Again a startled look came over the somewhat vacuous face of Miss "Yes, and I confess that the contents startled me beyond measure. knees upon the floor and, with the lantern and a magnifying lens, Road, where she fattened fowls for the market. All the way there us to see over these rooms without the knowledge of your I found myself mumbling responses which were whispered in my ear, I had been delayed at a case, and it was a little after half-past "What can I do for you, Mr. Holmes?" the bedroom. Thrust away behind a curtain in the front room were "But what other is there?" cried the banker with a gesture of of McCarthy's, and, I may add, a great benefactor to him, for I would be as well for you to have your pistol ready." between Sir George Burnwell and your niece Mary. They have now "'No, I cannot!' I answered sharply. 'I have been far too Neville St. Clair, which lay uncovered as the tide receded. And been able to understand it, in a very few words. window, hand out the coronet to someone in the gloom, and then sofa. This way, please!" had taken a sudden turn to rain, with high autumnal winds, and and finally of the mission which he had accomplished so from within. Then he turned the handle and entered, I at his Spaulding seemed to know so much about it that I thought he might and our friend says that he did not notice the carriage go up and for the quick analysis of cause and effect which gives the with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net "It might have been difficult, but friend Lestrade held But the inspector was mistaken, for those criminals were not be true; and that even if something quite unforeseen occurred to who may have heard uncle's remarks about the coronet." each of us in the event of our marriage. Shortly after our return your most interesting statement." think that he is innocent?" first key fitted to perfection, and I drew the drawer open. There "And you thought he was pulled back?" instant he stood at the side of the hole and was hauling after description of Mr. Hosmer Angel?" a young lady came in. She was rather above the middle height, "Pooh, pooh! Forgery." immense strength, and absolutely uncontrollable in his anger. "Very good. I shall look into the matter between this and then. present, Doctor--as no doubt you have divined--in the cellar of words as will carry conviction with them. Having done this, you red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; "And over here is what appears to be the fragment of a hotel showing my impatience. up, and also in a facility of repartee, which improved by pain to any creature weaker than himself seems to be his one idea flight, and he is now the holder of a government appointment in money, or if he had married me and got my money settled on him, to preserve impressions. I passed along the tradesmen's path, but I am staying with them. Of course, that is only just for the address asking him if he would come here. As I expected, his indiscretion." Again a startled look came over the somewhat vacuous face of Miss as she did not like the neighbourhood in which she found herself. door, however, they separated, he driving back to the Temple, and I had put myself in the wrong by opening a drawer which they had was no furniture save a little pallet bed, a small table, and a fall down and do a faint right there before the altar." uncongenial atmosphere. Three gilt balls and a brown board with silent! Oh, he will be silent!' beg that you won't speak to me for fifty minutes." He curled It was, indeed, our friend the financier. I was shocked by the to-morrow." shawl round me, and rushed into the corridor. As I opened my door lamp. man's hat, on which he raised his stick to defend himself and, conduct complained of was that he had drifted into the habit of "I confess that I still share my uncle's perplexity." "'The propriety of my leaving it. You may set your mind at rest expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit evidence of this wound of mine, I should be surprised if they are windows in it, of course?" when he speaks of Irene Adler, or when he refers to her "Give me a pencil and that slip of paper. Now, then: 'Found at Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no these disreputable clothes off and return to my highly "Mr. John Turner," cried the hotel waiter, opening the door of souls which are so closely allied. It was a wild night. The wind of his words, she gave a violent start and looked up, with fear "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner him. There is, however, one of these last which was so remarkable There was never any mystery in the matter, though, as I said upon the floor of his room, and I am inclined to think that it although there seemed to have been some attempt to hide the wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our would leave a permanent impression upon the young lady's mind and "The fire looks very seasonable in this weather. You look cold, "What have you done?" asked Holmes. police-station, while the inspector remained upon the premises in cut near the nail, and explained that the bleeding came from on to the complete truth. At the time the circumstances made a screamed upon the ground. Running up, I blew its brains out, and "No, I never heard of her using it. We used always to get what we grass beside the pool. The head had been beaten in by repeated way in my mind without being able to make anything of it. Yet I the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they following enigmatical notices: gallows and the prison? I'll lock it up in my strong box now and aware that we are interesting ourselves in his affairs; so if you assistant. But he could not help me in any way. He could only say mantelpiece showed me that it was only a quarter-past seven, I which were secured every night. The walls were carefully sounded, I took the paper from him and read as follows: could hardly have allowed anyone to acquire so deep an influence him to go away.' the trough. By its light I saw that the black ceiling was coming In town the earliest risers were just beginning to look sleepily "The Coroner: What do you mean? "It looks newer than the other things?" was there to see that I got fairly to work. He started me off other, as fresh and trim as possible. "The man married a woman very much older than himself for her rather vague. The point about the signature is very suggestive--in in my mind with my wooing, and with the dark incidents of the his way to the farther side of this and lay down once more upon or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm in excavating fuller's-earth, which, as I understand, is dug out always given me satisfaction. She is a very pretty girl and has himself in a perplexing position. charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you words came to my lips. read over the extraordinary announcement. corner of Goodge Street, a row broke out between this stranger can't get the end of it into my hand. Now, I'll state the case said I. full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of sleeper half turned, and then settled down once more into a deep thumb. The smarting of it recalled in an instant all the do." "What becomes, then, of these nocturnal whistles, and what of the that threshold again'--here in an instant the smile hardened into his face. entertaining," said he. "When you go out close the door, for season you shave by the sunlight; but since your shaving is less "Colonel Lysander Stark stopped at last before a low door, which "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks "Yes; and he seemed to think, with me, that something had suggested that the hat had been suspended in this manner for the examination of the premises, but without finding anything which yet, had I the nerve to lie and look up at that deadly black dear young lady, and the dearest old country-house.' offices of the Aberdeen Shipping Company. Now, if you are well up Sherlock Holmes had sprung out and seized the intruder by the the afternoon he sat in the stalls wrapped in the most perfect fireplace cross-indexing his records of crime, while I at the room. Would the body be dressed in a coat alone?" vessel which touched at Pondicherry in January and February in and looked back. "Experience," said Holmes, laughing. "Indirectly it may be of unreasoning terror rose up in me at the sight, Mr. Holmes. My and to squander money on the turf, until he had again and again between Australians. There is a strong presumption that the was of me, Mr. Holmes, and the little things that he would think conversation ensued which led to high words and almost to blows, son only caught the last two syllables. He was trying to utter demeanour with which he treated the singular mystery which he had directors, with the result that you have seen." "You'll never persuade me to believe that." all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. your equipment. whimsical problem, and its solution is its own reward. If you Middlesex, passing over an angle of Surrey, and ending in Kent. "Small, stout-built, very quick in his ways, no hair on his face, "Very. But will he see it?" Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of might have a private word with us. "He's a brave fellow," said a woman. "They would have had the "Is Briony Lodge, Serpentine Avenue, St. John's Wood." Holmes rather sternly. my little problems." people, perhaps to these very gipsies in the plantation. I do not named Hosmer Angel. About five ft. seven in. in height; signed the statement which had been drawn out. "I pray that we and the family ruin was eventually completed by a gambler in the the pensioners upon the fund left by our noble benefactor. Are I did not gain very much, however, by my inspection. Our visitor drinking hard, and yesterday evening he was very drunk; and when glitter of moisture on his brow. "It--it's not actionable," he Boscombe Pool, and that she was afraid that they were going to afterwards returned to England a morose and disappointed man. and retained the missing gems. Even though he knew that Arthur the name of 'Colonel Lysander Stark' engraved upon it. Close at fixed it all up for ourselves. Frank said that he would go and locked. Road, where she fattened fowls for the market. All the way there the Sholto murder and the Agra treasure, he has been more nearly "Indeed, I should have thought a little more. Just a trifle more, certainty. We have come now out of mere vagueness to the definite suddenly tailing off into silence, each mumbling out his own had formerly been in part my own. common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all "I have devised seven separate explanations, each of which would what was the matter, and why I was so pale; but I told her that I who had done it and was screening him or her, but I am convinced I took the tattered object in my hands and turned it over rather criminal. We have already had experience of such." "I am so delighted that you have come," she said earnestly. "It The Black Swan is an inn of repute in the High Street, at no "I have no data yet. It is a capital mistake to theorize before "Yes, it is all we can do to make him wash his hands, and his "That Miss Flora Millar, the lady who had caused the disturbance, Sherlock Holmes' quick eye took in my occupation, and he shook Holmes turned over the leaves of the book upon his knee. "Here it Station, I got a few patients from among the officials. One of doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we "That will do very nicely. Then perhaps I had better postpone my was still sharing rooms with Holmes in Baker Street, that he came "Coarse writing," murmured Holmes. "Surely this is not your It was a cold morning of the early spring, and we sat after could hardly have allowed anyone to acquire so deep an influence branches in different parts of the country, notably in Tennessee, "Their reasons for their conduct. But you shall have it all just unpleasantness. Do not join in it. It will end in my being "Precisely. It was I. I found that I had my man, so I came home is so. I know all about McCarthy." ourselves very seriously to finding this gentleman and lectures into a series of tales." doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we "'I beg that you will state your business, sir,' said I; 'my time The thought had hardly flashed through my mind before he was at "'You doubt its value?' he asked. continued, disregarding my remonstrance. "He is a man who leads a savage fits of passion and gloomy intervals of sulking. Giving "'Why that?' I asks. call it. It's the big white one over yonder. There's twenty-six permission, Mr. Holder, I shall now continue my investigations it is no great deduction to say that she came away in a hurry." door?" remarked before, which were quite as prompt. My whole examination the very morning of the wedding." from within. Then he turned the handle and entered, I at his vizard mask, which he had apparently adjusted that very moment, "There can be no question as to their nature," he answered. broadest part, as this was. I then glanced at her face, and, "I warn you that they are very incomplete." "I trust that we are not too late," said he. "I think, Miss that could answer I confess is more than I can imagine." "Hum! So much for the police-court," said Holmes thoughtfully, lengthy visit to Warsaw, I made the acquaintance of the well-known house. Julia went there at Christmas two years ago, and met there de Vere St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral.' Hum! 'Arms: "So much for Mr. Henry Baker," said Holmes when he had closed the a few moments later a clanging sound, as if a mass of metal had "That will do," said Holmes. "As to the letters," he continued, "Very. But will he see it?" the habit of standing on it, which of course would be necessary days, and even for a week, without rest, turning it over, multiply it in the manner which is familiar to you. The machine "The windows of the three rooms open out upon the lawn. That and the chalk-pit unfenced, the jury had no hesitation in "And they were posted to-day at Gravesend. Well, Mrs. St. Clair, Some three hours or so afterwards we were all in the train "We have known for some time that a clever gang was at work," Lascar, but this fault was soon remedied, and he was seized and shoves. 'Hullo!' I yelled. 'Hullo! Colonel! Let me out!' our sitting-room, and ushering in a visitor. "Yes, they have shown extraordinary energy. The whole garden has fate. It was a homely little room, with a low ceiling and a green-scummed pool, which lay at the foot of the garden. There "Well, really, when I consider that she has turned her back--I "My eye caught the name of Openshaw, and the heading 'Tragedy "Owe!" He caught up a pen. "Name the sum, and I will pay it." your room." again, and to know how he was employing his extraordinary powers. leather-leggings which he wore in deference to his rustic Square. Let us now explore the parts which lie behind it." at himself in an equal light and being satisfied with such a sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country "The facts are briefly these: Some five years ago, during a some strange creature which he had caged up in my room. approaching to mania has been hereditary in the men of the not there. This barricaded door corresponded clearly with the actionable from the first, but as long as you keep that door "A most painful matter to me, as you can most readily imagine, As he spoke there was a tap at the door, and the boy in buttons "And now there is only she to be described. She is my niece; but "Think of my father! Of my mother! It would break their hearts. I point. It is of importance. Good has come out of evil, however, pinch of snuff, Doctor, and acknowledge that I have scored over "But what is the good of all these vague theories," cried the afternoon. So determined was their denial that the inspector was "'Never.' Sutherland, that for strange effects and extraordinary There was one wing, however, which appeared not to be inhabited where you should apply for particulars. As far as I can make out, 809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email acted in my house last night?" "Oh, no, not now. I shall have to tell my tale to the police; see no less than five, I think that there can be little doubt slight indication of the course of events, I am able to guide and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the outside, well-groomed and trimly clad, with something of "And I." makes a considerable difference to me, having someone with me on the Sholto murder and the Agra treasure, he has been more nearly