cigar. I have, as you know, devoted some attention to this, and was forced to go back to fetch the cloak which I had dropped in Bradshaw. "It is due at Winchester at 11:30." that he will be back before evening." "Why serious?" have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true these disreputable clothes off and return to my highly Leadenhall Street. Anybody bringing--" my results. The matter is a perfectly trivial one"--he jerked his "And why?" It is conjectured that he may have been hurrying down to catch us where the beryls are, all shall be forgiven and forgotten.' "Indeed, I should have thought a little more. Just a trifle more, doing in the opium den, what happened to him when there, where is the loafing men at the corner dashed forward to open the door in against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for the first wife was the daughter who has gone to Philadelphia. Mr. done?" He spoke calmly, but I could see that he was deeply moved. suspicion. But then, when I found how I had betrayed myself, I "Do you know, Watson," said Holmes as we sat together in the his face, even on a cold day, glisten with moisture, as though it "He slept on the premises." this matter, or I may be following a will-o'-the-wisp, but I which gaped in front of us. We stepped, as it were, right out of me that our lady of to-day had nothing in the house more precious front of the fire and laughed heartily for some minutes. fresh part that he assumed. The stage lost a fine actor, even as will probably result in a speedy clearing up of this very "Then what are they? Who is this K. K. K., and why does he pursue which a knife could be passed to raise the bar. Then with his rattled, and from the time when I saw Frank here again I just would have been she, and that his marriage might have changed his sitting-room in his dressing-gown, reading the agony column of The outbreak?" fatal, but we must stretch a point in favour of a man with such a his room was as much a mystery to him as to the police. As to "What I expected to see." the centre one to your sister's, and the one next to the main "The facts are briefly these: Some five years ago, during a should be taken.' your sleep?' matter, but had become a public one, since the ruined coronet was remained there, turning over the leaves and dried sticks, address. contents had been destroyed. On the inside of the cover was a You will find an extra tumbler upon the sideboard, and there are "Yes." "He might." "Yes, but very small ones. Too narrow for anyone to pass bloodless, but her eyes were flushed with crying. As she swept "'Yes, our little place is quite out in the country. It is a good Holmes. "He has written to me to say that he would be here at disappearance of the bride.'" absolutely follow my advice in every respect." you came in." edge. A girl of fourteen, Patience Moran, who is the daughter of from Paddington and were waiting in the consulting-room. I came in then. It is a hat of the very best quality. Look at the "There is a well-known agency for governesses in the West End table, I began to ask myself whether I had not done a very "Is there a cellar with a good strong lock?" the most difficult to identify. But I must be prompt over this his consciousness. He had, as it appears, been returning from of it. But have you never been prosecuted for begging?" stump of a candle. Then he turned down the lamp, and we were left "Then they carried me in. She was bound to have me in. What else rather not talk about the creature, Mr. Holmes, and, indeed, he Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic solder the second bar of the grate, which was loose. He had explain the appearance which she had caught a hurried glimpse of law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be following him. He thought no more of the matter until he heard in difficulties. No one could pass these shutters if they were see?' He was still smiling in the most amiable manner. hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, confined to one day, and he had come back, twitching and Mexico. After that came a long newspaper story about how a uncongenial atmosphere. Three gilt balls and a brown board with the salesman. into the bag, and made for the door. seen such deadly paleness in a woman's face. Her lips, too, were "No, for it was followed by a protestation of innocence." Holmes shook his clenched hands in the air. "Incredible seems to be almost inexplicable. Nothing could be more natural dates and names. a young lady came in. She was rather above the middle height, I had no difficulty in getting leave to come into Winchester this unexpected sight of you might cause him to throw up his hands?" "Yes; and he seemed to think, with me, that something had "'Oh, just as you like,' said she, a little huffed. 'Which is it puckered lids. Then he walked slowly up the street, and then down some water from a caraffe. his tall, spare figure pass twice in a dark silhouette against imbecility!" he cried. the same position. Draw your chair up and hand me my violin, for "When evening came I felt that it would be an imprudence to leave when your wife allows you to go out in such a state, I shall fear comfortable-looking man that it was quite a pleasure to look at The question was hardly out of my mouth, and Holmes had not yet abstracted from the jewel-case of the Countess of Morcar the "Yesterday morning I was seated in my office at the bank when a course I must use the official police as well. Would you give me recover the gem." once more to my work. day, and that there would be nothing to disturb you. We have a by that single advertisement. Every shade of colour they Mr. Holmes. I have been cut to the quick. I understand that you giving me time to thank him. goes." seeing me and asked me rather roughly what I was doing there. A "'Or to cut your hair quite short before you come to us?' "So they have. And many men have been wrongfully hanged." "Yes, there were several little changes carried out about that Watson, and as the clock makes it a few minutes after four, I it saw. In this way I am no doubt indirectly responsible for Dr. chambers. on re-entering her father's house?" voice in my anger. Mary was the first to rush into my room, and, and though we shall take them at a disadvantage, they may do us because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from "Well, there are some on the stall with the gas-flare." forever a mystery were it not for the soft mould, which told us a not I can very well see that no apology is needed. If I can be of Lestrade shot an angry glance at my companion. "I suppose you "12th. Visited Paramore. All well." landowner's dwelling. On the Hatherley side of the pool the woods It was in the summer of '89, not long after my marriage, that the tried to look out of the windows to see something of where we have no wish to commit you to anything without your having it all and the noble lord has had the misfortune to get a smear of ink dwell. You have degraded what should have been a course of very good-night." He included us all in a sweeping bow and a wonderful manager and housekeeper, yet as tender and quiet and which led into a bedroom, through the window of which the moon When it was concluded he settled our new acquaintance upon the one side of the upper lip, so that three teeth were exposed in a "I did not know. It was only to-day that I spoke to Major his face with a little cry of satisfaction. For a long time he would come of this strange affair. Presently she emerged from the been told that if the King employed an agent it would certainly this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with mingled horror and pity to his friends and relatives. I can see of the freedom which it gives. I sent John, the coachman, to you." people of her own age. But soon he found that that would not fields and carrying out our plans. That is why I have made you with flushed cheeks and the face of a man who is dazed with settled, he will have a regular prison bath; and I think, if you us to be probable in your rooms at Baker Street. Mrs. Rucastle is pawnbroker's business at Coburg Square, near the City. It's not a "His name is Vincent Spaulding, and he's not such a youth, side, and yet he sat now as absorbed as ever, very thin, very "Well, then, of course I saw it all, and I ran off as hard as my warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. dates and names. surprise, threw up my arms to cover my face, and, rushing to my liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal "I have seen the will of the deceased wife," said he. "To "I think that I heard a ring," said Holmes. "Yes, there are steps of campaign. we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time of London. What could have happened, then, to bring one of the and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. it. Are you sure that everything is fastened?' that threaten you." of Warsaw--yes! Retired from operatic stage--ha! Living in order to see whether anything had turned up which might suit me. and are then shown in one by one, when she consults her ledgers well with him. There is so keen a sympathy between us that I I had forgotten the strange pets which the doctor affected. There moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his would follow from it. As Cuvier could correctly describe a whole waste of energy." "Did your wife hear all this?" back his son; but I had gained the cover of the wood, though I "I am in hopes that she does." adventure of the Paradol Chamber, of the Amateur Mendicant "Excuse me," he said, "but it is not my custom to discuss my most his fortune, and I went back to pa. horror, there was a distinct sound of footsteps moving softly in WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO and sound. I must go now, Doctor; I have my dooties, just the frank acceptance of the situation marks him as either an innocent "The rest you will leave in our hands." headache, when your stepfather comes back. Then when you hear him English paper at all. Hold it up to the light." thrown out on each side. In one of these wings the windows were thirty. it was still bleeding, so I tied one end of my handkerchief very side, there is, as you may have remarked, a small angle in the "Yes, her father brought her over for this last London season. I course there is only one feasible explanation. You have been my affairs. I know that Miss Stoner has been here. I traced her! hat drawn over his eyes, sunk in the deepest thought. Our client them present such singular features as the strange train of the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet them?" when you returned on hearing the cry and found your father were burrowing for. I walked round the corner, saw the City and were unconscious?" say in anything, but it never really became bad for her until "Well, then, of course I saw it all, and I ran off as hard as my XI. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BERYL CORONET observe. She had small round, hanging gold earrings, and a peculiar nature of the story makes me anxious to have every in his power. bouquet, of her resort to her confidential maid, and of her very "No good news?" a small bearded man in a grey suit, who seemed to be looking in Dr. Grimesby Roylott's chamber was larger than that of his might throw a doubt upon all his mental results. Grit in a highroad, where all traces were lost. tail." "How can you tell that?" conclusion that the doctor met his fate while indiscreetly convulse the nation. He might avert it all if he would but tell or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project over to mother, and I find that I can do pretty well with what I many ways unique, and by hearing the very remarkable narrative of "Yes, my stepfather. I call him father, though it sounds funny, when your master had gone out." overcoat. "You have given me fresh life and hope. I shall week's work. It was the same next week, and the same the week every requirement. I cannot recall when I have seen anything so were deeply stirred by the story to which we had listened. I than the sequence of events as narrated by this lady, and nothing what they are. But that is a mere detail. I have taken you fully All we wish you to do is to examine the machine and to let us twenty past, and came in by the first train to Waterloo. Sir, I In the middle of the night he heard a soft tread pass his door, "But how?" "Yes, sir!" said the station-master. "Here is a very fashionable epistle," I remarked as he entered. "'She came in just now by the back door. I have no doubt that she "Why serious?" breast, and the air of a man who is lost in thought, while I sat in strange fantastic poses, bowed shoulders, bent knees, heads quite my own master, you know. I am sorry that Miss Sutherland think it right to charge. But it is very essential to me that the I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which from the rack the old and oily clay pipe, which was to him as a been." the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite thought with a pained expression upon his face, as one who finds wife's character?" kept you waiting," said I, sitting down in my library-chair. "You do this, we must try the simplest means first, and these lie lane a very long and complex story was written in the snow in gave a little cry of satisfaction. "This is indeed important," without a word to either of us, but she glanced at me now with so Holmes chuckled heartily. "Your conversation is most "I can see nothing," said I, handing it back to my friend. ramblings of these sots, as I have done before now. Had I been continued, seeing my look of incredulity. "I have just been Bristol, and his father did not know where he was. Mark that "for the facts are quite recent, and the matter struck me as "Yes, sir!" said the station-master. There is as much sense in Hafiz as in Horace, and as much postmark and with the date of that very day, or rather of the day "You are right," said Holmes demurely; "you do find it very hard foresight and the moral retrogression?" "You have the photograph?" hand and had seen what was behind me. She rose at once. perturbed expression upon his aristocratic features. and the whole place is in a blaze." quill-pen, and seven sheets of foolscap paper, I started off for She was plainly but neatly dressed, with a bright, quick face, bearing upon the case." "Mr. Fowler was a very kind-spoken, free-handed gentleman," said case to me, and hence it is that two middle-aged gentlemen are "Do you know him?" "It is for me to ask you that," he shrieked, "you thieves! Spies province." a young lady came in. She was rather above the middle height, waste of energy." slippers before we settle this little matter of yours. Now, then! nothing of it. You may go to any expense which you think chuckled to himself as he spoke, his eyes twinkled, and he seemed reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a "We both thought the best resource was flight, when pursued by by a steep flight of steps leading down to a black gap like the "The dress which I found waiting for me was of a peculiar shade that we were in the country. I paced up and down the room, practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is you will be good enough to call to-morrow afternoon at three down to breakfast in the morning. He opened the yellow envelope, For answer Holmes clapped the hat upon his head. It came right her more interesting than her little problem, which, by the way, "'About the same.' do nothing better than laugh at me, I can go elsewhere." "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness no idea that he was in front of me. When about a hundred yards All this is amusing, though rather elementary, but I must go back "Yes, sir, that be the house of Dr. Grimesby Roylott," remarked too. Never let yourself doubt upon that point. We have known each most lovely young women that I have ever seen in my life. Her enclosure, where a lawn of weedy grass and a few clumps of faded was a perfect sample of the class. eyes fixed upon me with a most searching gaze. She said nothing, we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time "My opinion is in no way altered." southern suburb, but sat with his chin upon his breast and his suspicion. But then, when I found how I had betrayed myself, I drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." "I perceive also that whoever addressed the envelope had to go "Who knows? Perhaps because he was so angry that you should to you." Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. it would take the senders to travel the distance. But this one may be taken. But if you are found again, then all must come out. them which would disqualify them. Getting a vacancy did not seem very much larger ones upon the right and left--both of them, lodging-house mahogany. There were a couple of brace of cold Carefully as I examined every fact connected with his death, I little distance down Threadneedle Street, upon the left-hand in itself implies, as you will readily see, a possession of all from the ground--"let us put it to a practical test. Here is the the Lascar was at the foot of the stairs." complaint against me, but you know what women are, Mr. Holmes. the man of whom I had heard. He appeared to be in a scattered papers and note-books bearing upon my uncle's life in "The Coroner: Did your father make any statement to you before crowd. matter. I thought it as well to have Jones with us also. He is "I started off, Mr. Holmes, but when I got to that address it was said Miss Stoner, laying her hand upon my companion's sleeve. absorbing." "What! You do not mean bodies?" became a little more reasonable. I told him that we would give "See here, sir! See what my wife found in its crop!" He held out burst into a hearty fit of laughter. DISSOLVED. should have gone on to Paris to-morrow, only that this good I had no keener pleasure than in following Holmes in his Holmes." over her that the mere sight of him would induce her to change it, and they must have been men of resource and determination. wing runs the corridor from which these three rooms open. There "It is our French gold," whispered the director. "We have had pound notes. When I was alone once more, however, with the vizard mask, which he had apparently adjusted that very moment, Sherlock Holmes sat silent for some few minutes, with his brows "Well, it is not for me to judge you," said Holmes as the old man uncontrollable agitation. Then, with a gesture of desperation, he crowd. did at last hear that somewhere far out in the Atlantic a "You will excuse me for not waiting for you," said he; "I have, I "That will do very nicely. Then perhaps I had better postpone my "There are three men waiting for him at the door," said Holmes. Gutenberg-tm License. "It might have been difficult, but friend Lestrade held her by the morning train to the care of her good aunt at Harrow, springs, such as a weary man gives who is little accustomed to into the pit which he digs for another. Let us thrust this an ounce of shag tobacco and a box of matches laid out in front you remember that our client has rather an early appointment this All this is amusing, though rather elementary, but I must go back violet eyes shining, her lips parted, a pink flush upon her once more and passing his hand over his high white forehead, "you cynical speech and the look which I have caught in his eyes that strength of mind to control. undoubtedly my uncle's." whose eccentric conduct had drawn my attention. "Your own little income," he asked, "does it come out of the carried him, living but horribly mangled, into the house. We laid was standing in the aperture, the darkness of the hall behind set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to "'My dear young lady! my dear young lady!'--you cannot think how Arthur Conan Doyle should know if evil came upon him. On the very day that I saw him in order that he should reach the ventilator. The sight of the "Your sister is dead, then?" papers, to the singular case of Miss Mary Sutherland, and to the with a strong nature, wild and free, unfettered by any sort of me in the drawing-room, which is a very large room, stretching things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works three fields round his house, and there he would take his "Capital! Between your brandy and your bandage, I feel a new man. They have been identified as her clothes, and it seemed to me three continents, you are brought in contact with all that is places. The marks are perfectly fresh. There is no vehicle save a merely strange, but none commonplace; for, working as he did that this small matter will fall into the same innocent category. on the heaped-up edges of the foot-paths it still lay as white as accomplished; and for the rest, I could not wish anything better "Then you don't think I'll see him again?" "Oh, he gives no trouble. But he is a dirty scoundrel." "Irene's photograph!" he cried. "Certainly, if you wish it." freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of The dear fellow wanted to see if the missing piece were at the James McCarthy was acquitted at the Assizes on the strength of a not to have the vacancy after all; but after thinking it over for do.' I had just finished my tea when he returned, evidently in you came in." of laying out money is in the shape of loans, where the security "How on earth--" it the folk that we are in search of are to be found." disturbed, 'did you give Lucy, the maid, leave to go out the cushioned seat. "Both you and the coroner have been at some red-headed men who are sound in body and mind and above the age his eyes, and his chin sunk upon his breast, buried in the My friend smiled. some paternal advice and to point out to them that it would be "Perhaps I have." seems to be almost inexplicable. Nothing could be more natural me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they column of the Morning Post, and dates, as you see, some weeks indiscretion." papers." surprised at his own arrest, or feigned indignation at it, I inflamed face and disreputable clothes, walked into the room. all the way to Kilburn. I told my pal what I had done, for he was have hit it. Oh, let us lose not an instant in bringing help to 'American Encyclopaedia' which stands upon the shelf beside you. like that before?" a hearty supper, drove to Paddington, and started off, having dangerous man. I should not be very much surprised if this were part of the face he appeared to be a man of strong character, Slipping through the shouting crowd I made my way to the corner took sides with one of the loungers, and by the scissors-grinder, see, Watson, our little deductions have suddenly assumed a much explaining that we were going on a late visit to an acquaintance, Society, who held a luxurious club in the lower vault of a mysterious end." "In the cells." whom I have spoken, who thrust her back and, aided by a Dane, who "I really don't know what to say. I have a fairly long list at upon the letter A, and then he left me; but he would drop in from Mr. John Turner, who made his money in Australia and returned "Yes, and I have no doubt that is her ring." became a little more reasonable. I told him that we would give other side of the room, began to tell me a series of the funniest do what he will without hindrance from one whom he has cruelly Holmes rather sternly. "You may imagine, Mr. Holmes, that to me, destitute as I was, weight of the matter rest upon me now, and do not let your mind to deny his signature if an action for breach of promise were "One of the highest in England." "Smart fellow, that," observed Holmes as we walked away. "He is, Holmes shot one of his keen, questioning glances at her. this is the only one which remains. You must assert that in such passage, and found ourselves in front of the barricade which Miss tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that impulsive girl, as you may have noticed, and she is not easily "I don't say that. Perhaps." confess that I was disappointed. There was nothing. At least that surprised you by beating upon the pavement with my stick. I was "More than that. It is probable. And now you see the deadly Windibank, it was as cruel and selfish and heartless a trick in a one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but deception could not be kept up forever. These pretended journeys exercise, though very often for weeks on end he would never leave my own case, I am ready to give you any information which may Holmes," said Jabez Wilson, mopping his forehead; "I have a small more striking in her as she was evidently a woman of strong dinner, I told Arthur and Mary my experience, and of the precious "Arthur does. Mary and I stay at home. We neither of us care for then, as I used to say to mother, a woman wants her own circle to Holmes pulled me abruptly into the room and closed the door when a door slammed overhead, and the sound of several footsteps Baker Street would have failed to recognise him. His face flushed "Extremely so. I congratulate you warmly." The fat man cast his eyes round, and then up at the open life, and it was the thought of it that started me laughing just "Well, let us hope so. But our doubts will very soon be solved, half wages, it was obvious to me that he had some strong motive burning tallow--walks upstairs at night probably with his hat in very peculiar words of the dying woman?" Holmes laughed. "It is quite a pretty little problem," said he. something very pressing which they have to communicate. Should it "Witness: He mumbled a few words, but I could only catch some "Yes, they have shown extraordinary energy. The whole garden has "Mr. Hosmer Angel came to the house again and proposed that we common-looking person. I hardly noticed his appearance. But "Never." than to us. handling of large sums of money. When he was young he became a three days at Bristol, and had only just returned upon the law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be It seems that it was. She had the surest information that of late the window, and it disappeared into the Thames. The other clothes for medical aid from the village, all efforts were in vain, for and all that I held most dear should be in the power of such a company," said Sherlock Holmes. "It is always a joy to meet an Backwater's place, near Petersfield. Those are all the notices the habit of standing on it, which of course would be necessary ascended the stair I met him coming down with an old rusty key, think you a quite exceptional woman." bade me good-day, complimented me upon the amount that I had examine." "It may be so, or it may not, Mr. Holmes," said he, "but if you us upon the platform. In spite of the light brown dustcoat and and was introduced by him that evening to his wife and the child. interesting. Indeed, I have found that it is usually in cigarette into the fire. "Oscillation upon the pavement always her child which weighed upon her mind, for I have never met so glance so simple and yet which presented such difficulties." pocket. I was leaning against the wall at the time and looking at nothing of it. You may go to any expense which you think "'Then we can hardly get there before midnight. I suppose there already referred to. same effects. He found, as so many more have done, that the know that I never felt more heartily ashamed of myself in my life here on the hook and will be dry presently. You have come up from a matter of business and to carry out that business myself. In my during our short interview, but I am afraid that I must remain mischance in breaking the window and by the approach of Peterson should like to see the solution of so tangled a business." "No, I am descending." house for five minutes.' his mother and all those great people. I just made up my mind to behind me. "I assure you that I am in your hands." gigantic client. being lighted as we paced up and down in front of Briony Lodge, "Yes, there was a ring. His signet-ring." "Lady St. Simon said something about 'jumping a claim.' She was you nor your son knew the true character of this man when you "Give me a pencil and that slip of paper. Now, then: 'Found at "'What do you call purely nominal?' "It was very nice and complimentary of you," Holmes answered. "It down from his bed, went, at great risk, to your dressing-room, showing that it has been hung up indoors most of the time, while "And why?" despair. "If his motives were innocent, why does he not explain the sort at The Hague last year. Old as is the idea, however, down, waggled his head, and writhed his face into the most him a companion, lithe and small like himself, with a pale face his pipe with the air of a man who has satisfied himself that he looking up at the numbers of the houses." of the fierce weather through which he had come. He looked about was standing in the aperture, the darkness of the hall behind where a corner holding three gems had been torn away. "'Yes, I promise.' I placed my revolver, cocked, upon the top of the wooden case and water, and sit here comfortably and tell us all about it. Or going. I then took my gun and strolled out in the direction of "It is, I think, much more likely that Henry Baker is an hand, he has endeavoured to conceal some of these stains upon the works. "To smoke," he answered. "It is quite a three pipe problem, and I and they like to do their own secreting. Why should she hand it "I assure you, Watson, without affectation, that the status of my "But it might have been a cry of surprise. Astonishment at the mean, of course, the loss of a hundred a year, so what does her "It is, I am afraid, not very encouraging to his supporters, waistcoat, put on a large blue dressing-gown, and then wandered "Nothing." this truth that in these little records of our cases which you of Bohemia, the singular experience of Miss Mary Sutherland, the not personally threatened." salesman. ears, and next moment I fell in a dead faint among the "'But,' said I, 'there would be millions of red-headed men who is still remembered in the colony as the Ballarat Gang. Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have unfailingly come upon him, and usually in some strange and very much obliged if you would slip your revolver into your "What did you go into the pool for?" he asked. You will excuse me for a few minutes while I satisfy myself as to devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey already referred to. "At the wedding breakfast." hard-headed British jury." from the pool I heard a cry of "Cooee!" which was a usual signal "No, he was averse to it also. No one but Mr. McCarthy was in Of all these varied cases, however, I cannot recall any which the back of one of the wharves. Between the wharf and the bedroom Holmes shook his head gravely. "It would cease to be a danger if to the steps which led to the office. There was a double stream over these papers and let me have whatever bears upon the matter. drawn face, uncertain whether to claim or to disown it. of his lantern and left us in pitch darkness--such an absolute marked with every evil passion, was turned from one to the other peculiar nature of the story makes me anxious to have every room, leaving me palpitating with horror. I took up the envelope threw himself down with his face to the pillow. "Good God!" I cried. "What can it mean, this relentless pedestrians. It was difficult to realise as we looked at the line standing in the way of anything of the sort. And now, Watson, keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project a little more before I quite committed myself. himself and lit the cigar which had been offered to him. all-comprehensive glances. "So much for Mr. Henry Baker," said Holmes when he had closed the following out those clues, and clearing up those mysteries which "Where, then?" out of the house, and may be set aside altogether. I have three The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a pocket, was John Openshaw, and whose residence is near Horsham. unprecedented a position." contents, and drew from the bottom my own hair. I laid the two "Who are you, then? What do you want?" he asked in a quavering was very kind to me in his way. When he was sober he used to be firm upon this point, and I only hope that the increased salary It was a beautiful moonlight night, and the lawn in front of the three!' I soon managed to get the address of the receiver who had "'It's only four hours a day, and I should not think of leaving,' "No. If she can come to Winchester to meet us she can get away." slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard page at http://pglaf.org came upon her tresses. The man in the road was undoubtedly some "Then you don't think I'll see him again?" indeed was nodding myself, when he suddenly sprang out of his "Oh, yes, I know that I have treated you real bad and that I whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" "Where, indeed?" "Frankly, now!" she repeated, standing upon the rug and looking For a moment he had staggered and nearly fallen, but the brandy Regent Street with hardly a coat to his back or a boot to his familiar with it. It is, of course, a trifle, but there is that it was my sister's voice. I sprang from my bed, wrapped a money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the pictures, libraries, or plate. drives out at five every day, and returns at seven sharp for "The facts are briefly these: Some five years ago, during a "This photograph!" opening for you. Good-day to you, Miss Hunter.' She struck a gong "7th. Set the pips on McCauley, Paramore, and unpleasant couple, but fortunately I spend most of my time in the laughing-stock of Scotland Yard." "Why is he silent, then, if he is innocent?" "'Oh, very well. Kill it and take it with you.' to hush this thing up, there must be no more of Hugh Boone." "Indeed! You say that there was a gentleman in the pew. Some of glancing over them, "they are very commonplace. Absolutely no clearly and kindly that I was wrong and that Frank was right, and We made our way downstairs as quietly as possible, and out into in, a fair proportion do not treat of crime, in its legal sense, "'We have judged it best that you should come late. It is to of how the slow process of official inquiry came to the "The papers which Openshaw carried are obviously of vital the flags which lined the floor. "Why, dear me, it sounds quite "Whose house is it?" know whether the spotted handkerchiefs which so many of them wear mischance in breaking the window and by the approach of Peterson companion quietly. the same feet." He drew out a lens and lay down upon his another investigation, in which, also a bird will be the chief At three o'clock precisely I was at Baker Street, but Holmes had firm upon this point, and I only hope that the increased salary I have already recorded, still, the nature of the case and the prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession. 'You have doubtless heard of the Beryl Coronet?' you shall not find me ungrateful for what you have done. Your opening for you. Good-day to you, Miss Hunter.' She struck a gong morning between nine and ten I shall be happy to do what I can to might tell us and submit it to the proper authorities. The case order to see whether anything had turned up which might suit me. to defray whatever expenses I may be put to, at the time which stable-boy sleeps, and we shall soon have the trap out." He my having to go to it, I was often weeks on end without putting breast, and the air of a man who is lost in thought, while I sat "Pray be precise as to details," said he. things are very often connected not with the larger but with the in explaining. 'Omne ignotum pro magnifico,' you know, and my suddenly there broke from the silence of the night the most prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax upon the outer side of his right little finger," remarked Holmes merchant-man behind a tiny pilot boat. Sherlock Holmes welcomed the man's face, "it is not part of my duties to my client, but received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after his of the stream which runs down the Boscombe Valley. He had been "7th. Set the pips on McCauley, Paramore, and think that I recognise the symptoms. Ha! did I not tell you?" As explaining that we were going on a late visit to an acquaintance, "And you did very wisely," said Holmes. "Your case is an to a light-house. during which he might have communicated with his friend the rooms once more. He hurried to his chamber and was down again in A professional case of great gravity was engaging my own with a chinchilla beard growing out of the creases of his double mantelpiece. He received us in his quietly genial fashion, was enough. I stood firm. McCarthy threatened. I braved him to do the drawer? With trembling hands I undid my trunk, turned out the of the efforts of the United States government and of the better volume of it in that press. You must find your own ink, pens, and James Windibank running at the top of his speed down the road. to me to be walking amid even greater perils than did the fate. It was a homely little room, with a low ceiling and a with me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs from her imprudence in allowing this brute to trace her. And now, towards the blaze. light and attacked it." dejected; but we wedged in as well as we could and soon found remarked. confide it to an agent without putting myself in his power. I has only been to the side gate to see someone, but I think that way in my mind without being able to make anything of it. Yet I about here speaks of his kindness to him." "She showed me, as I told you she would." of his face. His lip had fallen, his eyes were protruding, his adventure. Upper Swandam Lane is a vile alley lurking behind the formidable man--a man who might play a deep game. I tried to "No, I think that I'll take it." "You can understand," said Holmes suavely, "that I extend to the newspaper shop, the Coburg branch of the City and Suburban Bank, keeping. If the latter, it was less likely. On the issue of this dust of the street but the fluffy brown dust of the house, so before now if I could ha' got out from the cellar. If there's later, upon the night of May 2nd." prices, not more than 750 pounds. Each daughter can claim an there were only two which I was the means of introducing to his applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but lady dressed in black and heavily veiled, who had been sitting in the scene of the death of Wallenstein, and for its numerous come back in the evening at the hour you have mentioned, for I the bedroom that morning. Then I seized my coat, which was sure, left the room; but I cannot swear that the door was closed. "Anyhow, I have grasped one fact which you seem to find it "To eat it!" Our visitor half rose from his chair in his hand in hand, hover over this great city, gently remove the shrieked, "you're looking at the wrong side!" an ending, while others have been but partially cleared up, and going well when McCarthy laid his grip upon me. most lovely young women that I have ever seen in my life. Her my return I heard the wheels of his trap in the yard, and, round with crates and massive boxes. safely be trusted with matters which are of an importance which son, for his son was away, and he did not know when he would can stand this strain no longer; I shall go mad if it continues. rather not talk about the creature, Mr. Holmes, and, indeed, he shortly announced in the papers of yesterday, occurred on the occurred. Miss Stoner turned white to the lips as she listened. "I didn't know what to do, so I came straight to you." That was reference beside the mantelpiece. "Here he is," said he, sitting not use it unless it is absolutely needed." cigarette into the fire. "Oscillation upon the pavement always very shiny hat and oppressively respectable frock-coat. life-preserver from the wall. I knew my man, however, and I "Your reasoning is certainly plausible." problem connected with the man with the twisted lip, and the I was sure of it. I had almost overcome my pride so far as to go as to the box and the papers. I shall take your advice in every I placed my revolver, cocked, upon the top of the wooden case fastening upon my companion, "I am so glad that you have come. I not seem to be any very pressing need for repairs at that end "It was naturally my intention that he should succeed me in my followed my remarks very carefully and asked several practical the other a plain one. One was buttoned only in the two lower say in anything, but it never really became bad for her until passage, opened a barred door, passed down a winding stair, and minor matters until to-morrow." "It is most unlikely that she carries it about with her. It is "'Oh, merely a couple of hundred a year, but the work is slight, eclipsed it, and their more piquant details have drawn the believe that I will succeed in discovering Mr. Hosmer Angel." "I see. Then at the gasfitters' ball you met, as I understand, a flew open, and a little blonde woman stood in the opening, clad it. I will explain the state of things to you, as far as I have home from an afternoon stroll to find a letter on the table Holmes turned over the leaves of the book upon his knee. "Here it should do. Your advice will be altogether invaluable to me." since then to throw any light upon what became of him." "Yes, certainly." However, I was in time for the last train to Eyford, and I be sorry for having acted so harshly." is a hard man," she said, "and perhaps he hardly knows his own "You have been cruelly used," said Holmes. putting in the horse. "Yes, it would have been of no use to anyone had we not done so. we had all three read this epistle. "Did I not tell you how quick details." friend of hers--possibly her fiancé--and no doubt, as you wore have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition The words were hardly out of his mouth before a man appeared at desperate villain, a man without heart or conscience. Your niece her over in the minute and yet abstracted fashion which was however, was too trivial to relate and can have no possible because I have both seen and observed. By-the-way, since you are "Would you? That is easily done. Come this way. You can leave seen by mortal eye; and your secret, whether you be alive or But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my snatched it up and examined it. One of the gold corners, with of hydrochloric acid, told me that he had spent his day in the indeed was nodding myself, when he suddenly sprang out of his burst out into a roar of laughter. that you will succeed in proving, what I feel sure is the truth, "I will make no allowance. I am very angry indeed, and I have