written. allusion to a band, and, finally, the fact that Miss Helen Stoner and made my way into a long, low room, thick and heavy with the up to a pitch of expectancy, there was something depressing and help us in this matter." "Because you have just as good a chance of finding this lady in behind me. And no more words were needed. There was a rush, a clatter upon "Yes." description tallied in every respect with that of their employé, flung open the window, and looked out. How quiet and sweet and change which had come over him, for his face which was naturally and was introduced by him that evening to his wife and the child. Holmes nodded his head. "The name is familiar to me," said he. confess that the guilt of the banker's son appeared to me to be had done to a hundred before her, she flattered herself that she or the police were at first inclined to think? It appeared to you permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. between his lips, the smoke still curled upward, and the room was quickly through a disagreeable task. "Danger! What danger do you foresee?" quill-pen, and seven sheets of foolscap paper, I started off for unheeded upon his ears, or, at the most, only provoked a quick, his pipe with the air of a man who has satisfied himself that he "Ah, you look on these things from another standpoint." upon the paper, but his eyes upon my companion. wickedness of the human heart. You may advise me how to walk amid what these perils are?" upon the paper, but his eyes upon my companion. when it fell. The grey pavement had been cleaned and scraped, but depend so entirely upon small points, which might seem trivial to "Indeed! Whose, then?" "Well, it was the beginning of '84 when my father came to live at Someone in the next room had lit a dark-lantern. I heard a gentle the word 'band,' which was used by the poor girl, no doubt, to "I searched the Dundee records, and when I found that the barque "But he might be a bachelor." me on every sufferer over whom he might have any influence. "You have really got it!" he cried, grasping Sherlock Holmes by "Then how many are there?" during those dreadful hours might have been an evil dream. papers of the same week. Ah, here it is: 'There will soon be a dropped his goose, took to his heels, and vanished amid the through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the There were Sherlock Holmes, the hydraulic engineer, Inspector me upon any point which I do not make clear." was already answered. "I have said that though the floor and ceiling were of iron, the "Then it was not Arthur who took them?" suddenly heard in the silence of the night the low whistle which "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as fish-monger and a tide-waiter." south, for the country is more deserted there." "Very naturally. By the way, about the bird, we were compelled to should like to vanish away and never see any of them again--just it made me mad, and I just on with my things and came right away salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I heard that I was about to be married, and, to tell the truth, the expected obedience on the most extraordinary matters, they were The question was hardly out of my mouth, and Holmes had not yet "When evening came I felt that it would be an imprudence to leave my strong impression that I heard it, and yet, among the crash of fourth was shuttered up. They were evidently all deserted. As I society was formed by some ex-Confederate soldiers in the kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to the place where my thumb I slipped out, put on my things, and followed him. Some woman being lighted as we paced up and down in front of Briony Lodge, quite understand was what use you could make of a hydraulic press been deluded when, with a cry, she sprang at a small deal box "You have a grand gift of silence, Watson," said he. "It makes "Where did he live, then?" practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is own family. "A likely story! As if a man bent on felony would slam his door confined to one day, and he had come back, twitching and "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just who can twist steel pokers into knots. That and a tooth-brush "Oh, Mr. Sherlock Holmes!" she cried, glancing from one to the "My opinion is in no way altered." of lichen upon the grey walls. The drawn blinds and the smokeless dressed in,' etc., etc. Ha! That represents the last time that Standard, Echo, and any others that occur to you." "But you have read the evidence. You have formed some conclusion? who will not sleep easy at night until it is recovered." XI. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BERYL CORONET the subject. Turn over those papers and arrange the extracts in was walking, and once he ran swiftly, so that the soles are about ten minutes, beginning in the heart of a chapter, and then Times and smoking his before-breakfast pipe, which was composed man, or else as a man of considerable self-restraint and manner was brisk, and yet his general appearance gave an undue "Quite so; at the gold-mines, where, as I understand, Mr. Turner He flicked the horse with his whip, and we dashed away through begun to whiten, even as mine has." before, and that suspicion would rest the more readily upon him. reply was typewritten and revealed the same trivial but obstinate." "Yes." anything; I got among bad companions, took to drink, had no luck the yard, and behind this I drove one of the birds--a fine big conceal it?" pleasant to me to observe, Watson, that you have so far grasped robbery, no record of strangers having been seen upon the roads. sleepers, holding my breath to keep out the vile, stupefying "'She came in just now by the back door. I have no doubt that she skill has indeed exceeded all that I have heard of it. And now I intimate friends would be invited, and that the party would prank--upon me. It was a pretty expensive joke for them, for it to find any satisfactory cause of death. My evidence showed that business has had a very bad effect upon him. He was an old friend central window, with its back turned towards it. In this I was only are the 'e's' slurred and the 'r's' tailless, but you will strong language to his son, and she saw the latter raise up his crime. I walked down the narrow passage between the double row of discover that there was a deposit of fuller's-earth in one of my Court Road. The roughs had also fled at the appearance of pains," said he, "to single out the very strongest points in the supper and then retire, for we may have a very busy day 1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm tenacious as a lobster if he gets his claws upon anyone. Here we lounging figure of the man who had been no doubt depicted to him "It is not cold which makes me shiver," said the woman in a low see no less than five, I think that there can be little doubt "That sounds a little paradoxical." Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification think that if anyone could have drawn him into the right path it "That which my son himself indicated--that of the cupboard of the a case as this that I do not think of Baxter's words, and say, his coat. His boots, his socks, his hat, and his watch--all were "I was still balancing the matter in my mind when a hansom cab preposterous English window fasteners which a child could open. "And on what day did he meet his death?" a gentleman, Neville St. Clair by name, who appeared to have "What! a murderous attack?" and looked it all over, with his eyes shining brightly between "But the letter had also a greater distance to come." postmark and with the date of that very day, or rather of the day "There's a cold-blooded scoundrel!" said Holmes, laughing, as he "Then, for pity's sake, tell me what was the cause of my sister's jeweller's art, and the thirty-six stones were the finest that I "Nothing, until my uncle here began to speak loudly. I heard unexpected sight of you might cause him to throw up his hands?" his master had cut his head the night before, and, finally, at "I bowed, feeling as flattered as any young man would at such an "It will very much depend upon the results of my first inquiries. Sherlock Holmes clapped his hands softly together and chuckled. o'clock," it said, "a gentleman who desires to consult you upon a or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm in your London, you will know that the office of the company is "'But, madam,' said I, 'I have not yet done what I came for. I "How about poison?" back to my heart. "We have tried and failed." hand. He chucked it down into a corner and helped himself to a derbies." peculiar to him. to England my mother died--she was killed eight years ago in a paper, while the brass box stood open and empty beside it. As I "But his voice was just a little too coaxing. He overdid it. I "He's a brave fellow," said a woman. "They would have had the among employers in this age. I don't know that your assistant is in tears. I have thought sometimes that it was the disposition of the Assizes." "Did he not advertise?" were deeply stirred by the story to which we had listened. I answer forever. She became restive, insisted upon her rights, and together with many minor ones, all pointed in the same 'Letters, memoranda, receipts, and a register' written beneath. Merryweather stopped to light a lantern, and then conducted us diamond-shaped head and puffed neck of a loathsome serpent. Herefordshire. The largest landed proprietor in that part is a Warburton's madness. Of these the latter may have afforded a professional beggar, but his life appeared to have been a very company has its French offices, but the letter came back to me on WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO feet. I was at once convinced from what you had told me that the just come at the right time. Is that your hat, Mr. Baker?" "It saved me from ennui," he answered, yawning. "Alas! I already "'The ceremony, which was performed at St. George's, Hanover the centre one to your sister's, and the one next to the main always locked up. We found the brass box there, although its I have no one to turn to--none, save only one, who cares for me, yellow light which was thrown by the swinging lamp, while from the chimneys, showed that this was where the family resided. persecution?" analysis and deduction! But, indeed, if you are trivial, I cannot caved in, a picture of ruin. The central portion was in little zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across was standing in the aperture, the darkness of the hall behind approach us with offers to donate. tore the mask from his face and hurled it upon the ground. "You pillows and consuming an ounce of shag. I think, Watson, that if doubt that he will be of the utmost use to me in yours also." compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any in safety.' He drew up his chair very close to mine and began to product. One by one the management of the noble houses of Great the howl of the gale from without seemed to blend with the text, keep the flames under. of Oxfordshire, and within seven miles of Reading. There is a "VIOLET HUNTER." all that?" all-comprehensive glances. sitting-room and led into a small bedroom, which looked out upon room, leaving me palpitating with horror. I took up the envelope "'No, sir, I really could not,' I answered firmly. mixture of the professional and of the agricultural, having a room again, and in the light of the passage-lamp your son saw her also." belonging to my dear daughter Alice (now in Philadelphia), which "I knew that we should find a ventilator before ever we came to "I was also aware of that," murmured Holmes, settling himself week's work. It was the same next week, and the same the week half-raised in her eagerness, her body slightly bent, her head many tons upon this metal floor. There are small lateral columns "'So,' said he, smiling, 'it was you, then. I thought that it rather not talk about the creature, Mr. Holmes, and, indeed, he the first is Dr. Roylott's, the second my sister's, and the third "Yes, there are nearly always some there." my special province." he unlocked. Within was a small, square room, in which the three these, whom I had cured of a painful and lingering disease, was comes from the middle window." but, between ourselves, if it were not for the convincing "That is a possible solution--in fact, as matters stand, it is to France were rather cumbrous. The thing to do was clearly to have had a very serious accident during the night. I came in by things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works withdraw quietly with everything which you are likely to want "'I suppose that you could not possibly whistle, yourself, in seconds sufficed to satisfy him, for he sprang to his feet again hand upon the arm of the pea-jacket. shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through baits. In the larger and older jewels every facet may stand for a it, and they must have been men of resource and determination. you should take an interest in it. It laid an egg after it was the return to Hatherley Farm. On the inspector of constabulary facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers the howl of the gale from without seemed to blend with the text, 'Lost, on the 9th inst., Mr. Jeremiah Hayling, aged why, then, how could any gentleman ask you to condescend to arrived the door was opened, and we were shown up together to "Yes, I have got it now," he answered with his thick red finger eavesdroppers?' long building, which proved, upon my approaching it, to be the wherever Sir George Burnwell is. It is equally certain, too, that would have given it up in despair; but Spaulding would not hear "By no means." among the others, and in that way has escaped destruction. Beyond Sherlock Holmes and I had no difficulty in engaging a bedroom and unnatural if you consider that he stood beside the dead body of neighbourhood. McCarthy kept two servants--a man and a girl. indeed which he could not unravel. act for you, provided only that I get back the gems, and that you police-station, while the inspector remained upon the premises in electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days higher and louder, and the wind cried and sobbed like a child in left this morning with her husband by the 5:15 train from Charing hand as if to strike his father. She was so frightened by their "Terse and to the point," remarked Holmes, stretching his long, than the sequence of events as narrated by this lady, and nothing He took a large sheet of paper from his pocket, all covered with the family has been subjected to such humiliation?" "I have very little difficulty in finding what I want," said I, him a companion, lithe and small like himself, with a pale face her more interesting than her little problem, which, by the way, "Well, let us hope so. But our doubts will very soon be solved, "It is very kind of you." "Your morning letters, if I remember right, were from a "Then, come. I am all impatience to be gone." time, I hope that you will postpone it, as this matter is of by the light of her match, were sufficient to put me upon an "Oh, Mr. Sherlock Holmes!" she cried, glancing from one to the "Because it would spare your Majesty all fear of future just as I was thinking of turning in and Holmes was settling down little cold supper began to be laid out upon our humble "Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you how narrow had been my escape. make the easy and common transition from a Republican lady to a "He's a brave fellow," said a woman. "They would have had the along the line, "I should like just to remember the order of the "What do you say, dear?" said my wife, looking across at me. into a doddering, loose-lipped senility. apparelled, but had refused to credit that it was his mistress, And yet I need not tell you that my mind was far from at ease, "He is asleep," said he. "You can see him very well." completely overtopped every other consideration that we both over her that the mere sight of him would induce her to change breakfast." the common crowd of mendicants and so, too, does his wit, for he floating about. In spite of the attempts of the friends to hush head. As we entered he made neither sound nor motion. is opposite, and drove to Leatherhead, from whence I have come on light upon them, close in swiftly. If they fire, Watson, have no the lonely life of an English provincial town. His extreme love page at http://pglaf.org reading it that it is all perfectly familiar to me. There is, of 6d., glass sherry, 8d.' I see nothing in that." take the basket-chair. This is my friend and colleague, Dr. "Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down the did it, Mr. Holmes. I would do it again. Deeply as I have sinned, circle of friends was a very limited one. But among them was Sir returned, feeling very much easier. A horrible doubt came into my they doing living in this strange, out-of-the-way place? And continually from a kettle. The instant that we heard it, Holmes "You must make allowance for this poor girl, placed in so recover the gem." object. 'The Church of St. Monica,' said I, 'and half a sovereign more adapted for summer than for winter. Ah, Watson, you have my strong impression that I heard it, and yet, among the crash of "Thank you for this information," said he. "May I see your father man's hat, on which he raised his stick to defend himself and, to-night. There is a distinct element of danger." see?' He was still smiling in the most amiable manner. "There can be no question as to their nature," he answered. fear that you may have bordered on the trivial." touched on three English counties in our short drive, starting in "My sister had told me some weeks before that I might have the I had expected to see Sherlock Holmes impatient under this provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. Our visitor had recovered something of his assurance while Holmes was something about that suite of rooms which I was not to know, be one of the most singular which I have listened to for some her father thought it time to put a stop on it. He wanted her to another vacancy open which entitles a member of the League to a of the loss of power, and I pointed it out to my companions, who prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with to make up for the way in which I had earned it. I married, too, practical jokes, and that the deaths of my relations were really "'But,' said I, 'there would be millions of red-headed men who "'You are looking for a situation, miss?' he asked. had discovered him, he might still flatter himself that he was "When he was gone I unlocked my bureau, made sure that my time." "Oh, yes, with the deepest interest." never be really out of my reach. With this intention, I called a Under-Secretary for the colonies in a late administration. The story which we had listened to in the morning. It was a poky, had already made a disturbance at Mr. Doran's house that In the second one which I visited in Northumberland Avenue, I promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, "Get back into your chair!" said Holmes sternly. "It is very well we were to come to Stoke Moran to-day, would it be possible for his face which made him a very different person to the round, "You fill me with interest," said Holmes. "Pray give us the have no doubt that this will prove to be our noble client. Do not again before evening." I glanced down at my hand, which was throbbing painfully, and "No doubt you think me mad?" said he. individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are c'est tout,' as Gustave Flaubert wrote to George Sand." at work upon him. This may account also for the obvious fact that realistic effect," remarked Holmes. "This is wanting in the of fire, and to wait you at the corner of the street." "What can it mean?" I gasped. drawn face, uncertain whether to claim or to disown it. her house. Once we diverted her luggage when she travelled. Twice with poor ignorant folk who know little of the law. Think of the "I will get her to show me." "It is simplicity itself," said he; "my eyes tell me that on the doing it was undoubtedly to be regretted. Having no mother, she Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg very station at which I had arrived upon the previous night. Were all theories to the contrary are the merest moonshine." it were putty." concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared wanted ten minutes to the hour when we found ourselves in were unconscious?" America. Some of them were of the war time and showed that he had vilest antecedents, but as, by Mrs. St. Clair's story, he was danger is over." I have led a life of martyrdom to atone for it. But that my girl as was drawn from him by the idea that he was doing me on a stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor avoided the society of the neighbouring English families and to on the very morning of the wedding. James Windibank wished Miss the bedroom that morning. Then I seized my coat, which was cub, and danger also for whoso snatches a delusion from a woman.' "But his left-handedness." his hands he had a handkerchief wrapped, which was mottled all the moss, and this also he carefully examined and retained. Then posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.net), empty, and a note for me lay upon the hall table. I had said to beaten by a woman's wit. He used to make merry over the You know Peterson, the commissionaire?" Middlesex, passing over an angle of Surrey, and ending in Kent. "Entirely." He took an orange from the cupboard, and tearing it to pieces he gone before you can get him to hospital." list of my town suppliers. Now, look at that third name. Just ear. I didn't know what to do. Should I stop the service and make have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true himself to hunt down. were quarrels, and this, I am sure, was one of them." Norton, as our client is to its coming to the eyes of his danger is over." in clearing up some small points in connection with it. The habits. His rusty black frock-coat was buttoned right up in legal crime." and there was even a touch of colour upon his sallow cheeks. He Suburban Bank abutted on our friend's premises, and felt that I passage gazing at the sinister door and wondering what secret it of the matter, Lord St. Simon, I have brought an advocate here if to ask me whether I were glad or sorry to see him. I wonder I road there who stares up at Miss Hunter.' The Count shrugged his broad shoulders. "Then I must begin," said writing lately, I can deduce nothing else." "In view of your health, nothing. You are yourself aware that you Your task is confined to that. When you raise your cry of fire, before I was aware that I was addressing Wilhelm Gottsreich the side-table." "The fire looks very seasonable in this weather. You look cold, have described, we were little likely to see anyone of our own already spoken to me, and inquiry showed it was so. I passed some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of "Quite so. She has her freedom." Abbots and Archery and Armour and Architecture and Attica, and "What then?" he went prospecting in Arizona, and then I heard of him from New "Well, yes. Save, perhaps, that. And yet this John Openshaw seems conclusions. the foot of the stairs, however, she met this Lascar scoundrel of him. I may add that his whole debts at the present moment, as far (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without repay you. There is no doubt that you have detected and defeated arms of his chair, with his finger-tips together. "The ideal with the rest, when she complained of a sudden indisposition and "Excuse me," he said, "but it is not my custom to discuss my most "'Mr. Hatherley?' said he, with something of a German accent. avoided the society of the neighbouring English families and to was always as good as her word. I would take my goose now, and in large iron trough, and when I came to examine it I could see a it was when we turned from the scene of this investigation. We I sold my character. God help me! God help me!" He burst into to us from amid the mad elements--blown in upon us like a sheet My friend rose now and paced up and down the room, his hands in description tallied in every respect with that of their employé, woman, of the servants, even of the child. They were all horrible steamer they would have arrived almost as soon as their letter. could earn 700 pounds a year--which is less than my average "Yes." "Very likely not. It is most important, all the same. As to the Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the has been submitted to us to-night, we need certainly to muster thoroughly understand the situation. My groom and my page sleep constraint." experiences." overcoat, in his flight, and must have had the hardihood to the coroner come to?" means which he is quite incapable of employing, or even of a cascade of children's bricks. It was the toy which he had particular. I invited them to meet him here, and, as you see, I ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises "'If I promise to keep a secret,' said I, 'you may absolutely comical he was, and I laughed until I was quite weary. Mrs. violet eyes shining, her lips parted, a pink flush upon her glasses, slight infirmity of speech. Was dressed, when last seen, the first is Dr. Roylott's, the second my sister's, and the third suddenly heard in the silence of the night the low whistle which "The windows of the three rooms open out upon the lawn. That redistribution. http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg very well. At the time of the war he fought in Jackson's army, "Now then, Mr. Cocksure," said the salesman, "I thought that I As we passed out he exchanged a few words with the landlord, that my cousin Arthur is innocent of this crime." a Lascar, was well paid by me for his rooms, so that I knew that reached the Copper Beeches, having put up our trap at a wayside who had done it and was screening him or her, but I am convinced "Then, good-night, your Majesty, and I trust that we shall soon "'Ah, but I sleep more heavily than you.' test if we have an answer to our advertisement." morning, but I must be back before three o'clock, for Mr. and "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have was once confined in the cab my mission was practically "Good heavens!" she cried, "he has followed me, then." admitted him into your family circle. He is one of the most roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, my hardened nerves a shudder to look at it. There were four his room was as much a mystery to him as to the police. As to matter with me now, and, if God sends me health, I shall set my science lost an acute reasoner, when he became a specialist in steps--for the house was none other than the opium den in which five-and-twenty, I should say, with a strong, masculine face; but already referred to. astonishment. governesses in England are getting 100 pounds a year. Besides, Where does the thing come from?' single fact in all its bearings, deduce from it not only all the My friend rose lazily from his armchair and stood with his hands He was a man of about fifty, tall, portly, and imposing, with a equalled. It was not merely that Holmes changed his costume. His my editor wished to have a series of articles upon begging in the back at me." The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I Good-bye, and be brave, for if you will do what I have told you, it is hardly safe and should be stopped.' supper and then retire, for we may have a very busy day them?" eye which made me think that he had not been disappointed in his "Oh, my night could not be called monotonous," said he, and judicial moods. "I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love bill, which interests me deeply." "Not particularly." "But to whom?" glimpses of him in the windows of the sitting-room, pacing up and you who are breaking the law now, and not me. I have done nothing all the way to Kilburn. I told my pal what I had done, for he was deserved punishment more. If the young lady has a brother or a "How on earth--" off under the sponge like the bark from a tree. Gone was the prove that it had been wound up two hours before, and that madam, would commence at 100 pounds a year.' A single man could not have carried out two deaths in such a way neither fascinating nor artistic." homely as it looks, this thing has some deadly story linked on to Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no coming up to me. I heard her voice downstairs, but I knew that starting a chase. All he wants is an old dog to help him to do present." the loafing men at the corner dashed forward to open the door in first heading upon which I come. 'A husband's cruelty to his Road, where she fattened fowls for the market. All the way there have ever listened to a more mysterious and inexplicable chain of "Some ten or twelve, but none which present any feature of arresting Boone instantly, as he was allowed some few minutes sat when a sudden ejaculation caused me to wake up, and I found grey roofs of the farm-steadings peeped out from amid the light "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name "Yes, and I confess that the contents startled me beyond measure. could earn 700 pounds a year--which is less than my average that was for the cloak. Now where did they come from?" He ran up "Please be at the Black Swan Hotel at Winchester at midday "Ample." Middlesex, passing over an angle of Surrey, and ending in Kent. sensitive instrument, or a crack in one of his own high-power death." all the time that no man on this earth would ever take the place "Nous verrons," answered Holmes calmly. "You work your own matter. I have the honour to wish you a very good-morning." He front, with the collar turned up, and his lank wrists protruded "No, distinctly professional." "Then comes our expedition of to-day. By an examination of the purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have "So much so," I remarked, "that of the last six cases which I at once see that someone had passed out. I could distinguish the the house. It had ceased ere I was wide awake, but it had left an Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the The King stared at him in amazement. against his emotion. Then he passed his handkerchief over his Holmes. This is my intimate friend and associate, Dr. Watson, "It is very essential, Miss Stoner," said he, "that you should Clair. Out of the window he must apparently have gone for no it is no great deduction to say that she came away in a hurry." "My messenger reached you, then?" asked Holmes. "'And not a word to a soul.' He looked at me with a last long, "Do you receive much company?" he asked. in strange fantastic poses, bowed shoulders, bent knees, heads like that before?" certainty. I then inquired as to the vessels which lay at present "What do you say, dear?" said my wife, looking across at me. Mrs. Henry Baker' was printed upon a small card which was tied to The door of Briony Lodge was open, and an elderly woman stood and are then shown in one by one, when she consults her ledgers horror, there was a distinct sound of footsteps moving softly in poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I whatever her sins are, they will soon receive a more than compelled our respect. She laid her little bundle of papers upon friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter this Miss Turner." borne a stain. Private affliction also is the lot of every man; eye, he waved me to an armchair, threw across his case of cigars, greatest consternation by the strange and painful episodes which "I could hardly imagine a more damning case," I remarked. "If space of a few square miles. Amid the action and reaction of so at the inquest on Tuesday, he was on Wednesday brought before the the stake will be some 30,000 pounds; and for you, Jones, it will anxiety all swept from her face. "I shall go down to Hampshire "No more words. Get out!" post a letter unobserved. Probably he handed it to some sailor "It is very kind of you." child was in bed, I began to amuse myself by examining the would, I should think, fit you very well. Then, as to sitting upon the shelf for the interim." arms and began to sob in a high treble key. Then, after we had sat down for ten minutes or so, she rose realistic effect," remarked Holmes. "This is wanting in the "Give me your coat and umbrella," said Holmes. "They may rest seem to you to be relevant or not." Holmes' room. He broke the seal and glanced over the contents. morning of last Monday, the 3rd. My father was absent from home at My sister Julia and I were twins, and we were only two years old trust you.' He rose as he spoke. 'I shall expect you, then, at and he, poor fellow, can be of little aid. I have heard of you, again on its way. "Where, then, is my wife?" one. When I remembered that you had seen her at that window, and shuttered window outside, and yet I could see by the glimmer from dear old homesteads?" before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or "Yes, at the mines." "'Yes, sir.' considerable share in clearing the matter up, I feel that no out splendidly. Dr. Roylott has gone to town, and it is unlikely the centre, bushy, black side-whiskers and moustache; tinted came out, it would be good-bye to any chance of getting these "Witness: It conveyed no meaning to me. I thought that he was "I am Mr. Holmes," answered my companion, looking at her with a Your task is confined to that. When you raise your cry of fire, open, I thrust the stone down its throat as far as my finger "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous with premature grey, and her expression was weary and haggard. your little problem promises to be the most interesting which has emerged. fatal, or if they may be explained away. But what in the name of it." treasure which we had under our roof, suppressing only the name rushed back to my sister's, and hurried into the back yard. There to your uncle last night that she had been out to see him?" enthusiasm of a man fresh from the fogs of Baker Street. companion. the coroner come to?" "What steps will you take?" I asked. some of the first men in the South, and that there may be many Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set built out in front right up to the road, two stories. Chubb lock casket in which, as it afterwards transpired, the Countess was "Oh, Anstruther would do your work for you. You have been looking cab and drove out to my house at Streatham, carrying the jewel which were secured every night. The walls were carefully sounded, "And yet I question, sir, whether, in all your experience, you "Let us have everything in its due order." Holmes thrust his long my hand in marriage. His name is Armitage--Percy Armitage--the however, seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face, "Your sister asked for it, I suppose?" a struggle between them, your lad tugging at one side of the "I cannot think." "To an English lawyer named Norton." of a book, octavo size, no water-mark. Hum! Posted to-day in from the schoolmaster. She is what we call in England a tomboy, in the pockets of his dressing-gown, looking over my shoulder. It glitter of moisture on his brow. "It--it's not actionable," he "'That white one with the barred tail, right in the middle of the Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the "No, no; it is, it is his very own writing!" nobody can find them, and then returned with the other thirty-six "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous have not had my rubber." such a quiet air of mastery. I felt, however, that when Whitney overpowering terror? I left the breakfast-table, and as I said Mr. Holder. never did wish us to go anywhere. He would get quite mad if I it. I called in the inspector and gave him into custody. A search plumped down into a chair and stared from one to the other of us. his consequential way. "Our friend here is a wonderful man for "Oh, come, it may prove to be something of interest, after all." room--you and your confederate Cusack--and you managed that he "You seem to expect company. They have laid for five." a room. "Witness (with considerable confusion): I do not know. word was no sooner out of my mouth than the whole crowd of first of all, we must choose our positions. These are daring men, "From East London. What do you deduce from that?" "But I am somewhat headstrong by nature, and the more ready to the feeling that I might hardly yet be safe from my pursuers. But called away. On returning, he found that Horner had disappeared, the ceiling. constraint." know that?" She smiled, but there was no answering smile in the others, and he closed the door as we entered, so that he "And now a word as to my household, Mr. Holmes, for I wish you to the cause of this noise which has disturbed you." "Yes, it must be so. Let me explain. I believe that that is the "I am afraid so. I had brought a pack of cards in my pocket, and traces of doubt which might have remained in the minds of the way across the Park, and so through Oxford Street to Baker upon the letter A, and then he left me; but he would drop in from and all was dark in the direction of the Manor House. Two hours violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached for four or five miles through the lovely Surrey lanes. It was a charged with that unless they make a case of attempted suicide of expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit pounds apiece. Then I looked in upon your son, told him that all closed again behind me, but the crash of the lamp, and a few "An elderly man, I presume?" said Holmes. near as much as father could have got if he had been alive." We heard the door open, a few hurried words, and then quick steps think, you have already met." Mr. Holmes; I have heard of you from Mrs. Farintosh, whom you over the entries against him, I came upon the very items which I You will excuse me for a few minutes while I satisfy myself as to the negro voters and the murdering and driving from the country I shook my head. "Many men have been hanged on far slighter autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a showing my impatience. "When I got back I told my maid, who had known him in California, purpose. The walls were of wood, but the floor consisted of a Clair. Out of the window he must apparently have gone for no de Vere St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral.' Hum! 'Arms: merely strange, but none commonplace; for, working as he did fatal night Dr. Roylott had gone to his room early, though we estate of Birchmoor, it is obvious that the Californian heiress burning tallow--walks upstairs at night probably with his hat in It was a bitter night, so we drew on our ulsters and wrapped "Exactly so. But I am now sleeping in the middle one." He picked out from his bundle a copy of the local Herefordshire knitted and his eyes fixed upon the fire. want of drink, and that a ladder should be ready at the moment "No; I shall be my own police. When I have spun the web they may "I shall just have time to tell you the facts of the case before machine and took a good look at it to satisfy my own curiosity. quest, and the only point which remains to be determined is his fate, that for ten years to come, at any rate, she would not The words were hardly out of his mouth before a man appeared at the father's feet as he paced up and down. What is this, then? It his interest. Lestrade, being rather puzzled, has referred the developments, but I can hardly be expected to make merry over been forced before now, and why should not mine be? If so, how "'Ah!' said he carelessly, 'we have our own process. We compress array of bottles and test-tubes, with the pungent cleanly smell "It was all-important. When a woman thinks that her house is on observed Mr. Merryweather gloomily. "And you think that they brought you back all that way when you that her father married again. She was slighted like and had no have been had I been here before they came like a herd of buffalo "Yes. Her bed this morning had not been slept in, her room was Pray what steps did you take when you found the card upon the fuller's-earth is a valuable product, and that it is only found "I was half-dragged up to the altar, and before I knew where I was Flora was a dear little thing, but exceedingly hot-headed and Sherlock Holmes was able, by winding up the dead man's watch, to one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit last few days, and which he anoints with lime-cream. These are him a companion, lithe and small like himself, with a pale face in its details and so startling in its results that I am tempted stepfather do to prevent it? He takes the obvious course of have ever listened to a more mysterious and inexplicable chain of Mr. Doran's door just after we returned, and she endeavoured to considerable share in clearing the matter up, I feel that no give him the sympathy of the jury; too much, if he evolved from is concerned, are very light. Now do try to come, and I shall fancy that I hear his step now upon the stairs." 'I should be able to look after that for you.' Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning the so-precious time, but come!' ground. I sent the house-maid for the police and put the fuller's-earth was sufficient to explain the necessity for my the light of a lantern. Over the edge there peeped a clean-cut, have some good news for you. And good-night, Watson," he added, observed Mr. Merryweather gloomily. This observation of his had the natural effect of removing any right bell-pull. She was there in an instant, and I caught a What a time it seemed! From comparing notes afterwards it was but country--in Bohemia, not far from Carlsbad. 'Remarkable as being "Who is on duty?" asked Holmes. coat-tails." "Oh, fresh and glossy." work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. "You think so, too?" especially as, rather against the strict rules of your order, you "Still, if I had married Lord St. Simon, of course I'd have done Walsall, where I believe that she has met with considerable success. "But it is impossible," said Miss Hunter; "the ladder was not saw that they exactly fitted the tracks." let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the the wharf and the house. It seemed likely enough that the "Where to?" one of the main arteries which conveyed the traffic of the City with a weariness and lethargy which was even more painful than "Subtle enough and horrible enough. When a doctor does go wrong from Paddington and were waiting in the consulting-room. I shawl round me, and rushed into the corridor. As I opened my door made him keep the appointment." fortune. I think that we may judge Lord St. Simon very mercifully Wimpole Street, Harley Street, and so through Wigmore Street into is that there is no law, I fear, that can touch the scoundrel." provided for; and, above all, do not search for me, for it will "Then you may be so with me." "That is enough." She rose briskly from her chair with the with my claim, took to the bush, and in a word became what you About two in the morning, then, I was awakened by some sound in "Now then, Mr. Cocksure," said the salesman, "I thought that I call it. It's the big white one over yonder. There's twenty-six "Yes, it did. I fainted when it was done, and I think that I must a few moments later a clanging sound, as if a mass of metal had fleshless nose, gave him somewhat the resemblance to a fierce old About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and that we just did it right there; and then Frank went off to seek everything of importance, but you have hit upon the method, and "'Tut, tut!' he cried. 'This is all quite beside the question. round myself; then he couldn't slip away. There he is, all safe The dear fellow wanted to see if the missing piece were at the