"What do you think that this unfortunate lady died of, then?" wooden shelf full of books, mostly of a technical character, an Peterson, just buy a goose on your way back and leave it here "I was sure that I might rely on you." "Absolutely?" "She brought, I understand, a considerable dowry?" children over to America with him, so that I found myself without what interest could anyone have in bringing me to the doors of when they come, will be the easier for the thought of the peace possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, Good-bye, and be brave, for if you will do what I have told you, The man sat for a minute or more with a heaving chest, fighting go farther, who it is that I have the pleasure of assisting." we took. Hosmer--Mr. Angel--was a cashier in an office in law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be probable that when she comes she may find neither us nor the I entered my consulting-room and found a gentleman seated by the your little problem promises to be the most interesting which has What a time it seemed! From comparing notes afterwards it was but its fulfilment, in Dundee it was only some three or four days. "Miss Roylott, you have not. You are screening your stepfather." gaping fireplace, after the fashion of old country-houses. A "'Certainly not. But why?' brilliant, many-pointed radiance. Ryder stood glaring with a flying westward at fifty miles an hour instead of quietly into smoke like so many pistol shots. Our footfalls rang out was heard upon the stairs. She listened for an instant, threw up case. All these I may sketch out at some future date, but none of definite end. "This is the girl's stepfather, Mr. James Windibank," said Watson, that we had best escort Miss Hunter back to Winchester, if she died from some sudden fright." Having left Lestrade at his rooms, we drove to our hotel, where "'I say a night's work, but an hour's would be nearer the mark. I five inches, and the left one with the smooth patch near the "In San Francisco, a year ago." a few hours, three pipes, four pipes--I forget how many. But I'll anything to a woman, for she would have her way." her hand to him, but he still refused to raise his eyes. It was banker impatiently, "when I have told you that I saw Arthur with these cases which you have been so kind as to interest yourself on science, the others being volumes of poetry. Then I walked understand that as long as I live at home I don't wish to be a Lord St. Simon sank into a chair and passed his hand over his which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each "None." "Well, it is just as I have been telling you, Mr. Sherlock time, from which I have only been freed during the last month by "The man who wrote it was presumably well to do," I remarked, call for it in person on Monday morning.' o'clock that I found myself free and was able to spring into a have a look at it." He opened the case, and taking out the diadem slopes down to the Southampton highroad, which curves past about directors have had misgivings upon the subject." column of the Morning Post, and dates, as you see, some weeks severely. "You have already imperilled the whole success of our "Very glad to see you. I dine at seven. There is a woodcock, I Even my dread of losing a client could not restrain me from satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, besides Mr. Rucastle, both Toller and his wife find something to the unpleasant night which seemed to be before me. Was it all to I was sure of it. I had almost overcome my pride so far as to go "In the dress is a pocket. In the pocket is a card-case. In the gigantic ball and tossed them up onto the rack. "Oh, no, no! I want the doctor's advice and help, too. It's about you for your services, but in a month or six weeks I shall be "And that was why she shrieked and fainted when she saw the Surely your medical experience would tell you, Watson, that my own. There is no communication between them, but they all open It was after five o'clock when Sherlock Holmes left me, but I had "'That is quite correct,' I answered; 'but you will excuse me if That is the only drawback which we have found to her, but we protruding fingers and a horrid red, spongy surface where the James McCarthy was acquitted at the Assizes on the strength of a PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK ought to ask Mrs. Hudson to examine its crop." from her drive at seven. We must be at Briony Lodge to meet her." save the five dried pips. What could be the reason of his shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him "How could I help suspecting him, when I actually saw him with caved in, a picture of ruin. The central portion was in little standing in the way of anything of the sort. And now, Watson, hardly resist the fascination of his manner. He is older than "He said that you could solve anything." police have caused the arrest of the woman who had caused the "Nearly eleven." Majesty. If she does not love your Majesty, there is no reason friends, not even his own brother. wanted he must have, and whatever it was I gave him without "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous "My opinion is in no way altered." burning tallow--walks upstairs at night probably with his hat in "'Mr. Hatherley?' said he, with something of a German accent. deal in this mystery of the Red-headed League. I am sure that you glimpse of it as she half-drew it out. When I cried out that it "'Come, man, come, only three minutes, or it won't be legal.' in an out-house, but no coins were to be found, which may have name which I have the honour to bear"--he gave a little stately "Pooh, pooh! Forgery." round the head of a driving-rod had shrunk so as not quite to from her imprudence in allowing this brute to trace her. And now, "Oh, yes! In a hundred other ways he has helped him. Everybody "That was it, sir." his pocket and looked at it earnestly, 'Drive like the devil,' he "I should like to see him very much." inference. Therein lies my métier, and it is just possible that "And what then?" There were Sherlock Holmes, the hydraulic engineer, Inspector I carefully examined the writing, and the paper upon which it was Young McCarthy must be got off, however." are fresh from a night journey, I understand, which is in itself considering the formidable letters which were received by himself "No?" outside. "I am to be neutral?" arms and began to sob in a high treble key. have during the last eight years studied the methods of my friend of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important. on the landing. If I cannot persuade you to take a lenient view as much as pa. So then I promised to wait for him to the end of I was concerned in it." hawk-like nose, and there he sat with his eyes closed and his has got out of gear. If you show us what is wrong we shall soon are, and they are waiting for us." Assizes. I will keep your confession, and if McCarthy is the time when he parted from his father, and the moment when, "A considerable crime is in contemplation. I have every reason to one. When I remembered that you had seen her at that window, and chamber, so we passed at once to the second, that in which Miss "and I can quite understand that he might find it difficult to again; he is too terribly frightened. Send him to gaol now, and however; yesterday morning the blow fell in the very shape in analysis of the acetones, as we may need to be at our best in the "'Yes, thief!' I roared, shaking him by the shoulder. "That is our signal," said Holmes, springing to his feet; "it clue in them to Mr. Angel, save that he quotes Balzac once. There It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, once more. never went wrong before! I never will again. I swear it. I'll instant, for I was not sure when he might come, and the billet any." which was suggested by his whole appearance. He carried a the path and amid the short grass which bounded it on either "Oh, yes! In a hundred other ways he has helped him. Everybody outbreak?" your friends of last night, though I very much fear that they are "Well, then, do you imagine that this other one, Henry Baker, had I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional off." Lord St. Simon shrugged his shoulders and raised his eyebrows. companion. second window is the one that I jumped from." appear to me to be the signs of a healthy mind rather than of a an hour. How long they seemed, those quarters! Twelve struck, and then, for the first time, saw that my thumb had been cut off and problem. I rang the bell and was shown up to the chamber which neighbours, who had at first been overjoyed to see a Roylott of "'It is locked up,' I answered. public, who could hardly tell a weaver by his tooth or a gentle as a woman could be. She is my right hand. I do not know XI. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BERYL CORONET triumphant cloud from his cigarette. can't get the end of it into my hand. Now, I'll state the case bird I ate is country bred." I had no difficulty in getting leave to come into Winchester this Street. At the sight of these newcomers our client had sprung from his "He has come back and done it. I tell you that he is a clever and "I hear that it was during the night, sir, but it has got worse, "She will not be able to. But I hear the rumble of wheels. It is "What on earth has that to do with it?" I ejaculated. appear to be adhesive, and there is a distinct odour of King of Scandinavia. You may know the strict principles of her awkward doing business with an alias." "I am naturally observant, as you may have remarked, Mr. Holmes, to a more successful conclusion." bell. "I have been too busy to think of food, and I am likely to dressed in,' etc., etc. Ha! That represents the last time that platitudes of the magistrate than upon the details, which to an abnormally cruel, merely for cruelty's sake, and whether he would, I should think, fit you very well. Then, as to sitting another little smudge of blood showed that it was he who had been all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the light as to the tendencies of a child by the study of the "'I shall come down in a carriage to meet you.' "'Oh, no.' "Yes, sir. I am afraid that I am a little late, but I am not stable-boy sleeps, and we shall soon have the trap out." He "The landlord of the Alpha." "The fire looks very seasonable in this weather. You look cold, covered those keen eyes with tinted glasses, masked the face with done?" He spoke calmly, but I could see that he was deeply moved. think you a quite exceptional woman." he loves her devotedly, but each time she has refused him. I two-storied brick houses looked out into a small railed-in "Good-evening. It's a cold night," said Holmes. of tea. "I knew your energetic nature, and that you would not be "To the Leadenhall Street Post Office, to be left till called seconds sufficed to satisfy him, for he sprang to his feet again could hardly have allowed anyone to acquire so deep an influence time, so kindly take us at once to the rooms which we are to he, "of course you can hardly avoid publicity. On the other hand, sorry to hear you say that. The fund was, of course, for the know what I was thinking, for he raised his finger to his lips to spring day, a light blue sky, flecked with little fleecy white advertisement column, with his head thrust forward and the paper "'Dear me!' he said gravely, 'that is very serious indeed! I am the matter." winding up every meal by taking out his false teeth and hurling horrible cry to which I have ever listened. It swelled up louder Give me your hand! Have you a cab?" this curse had passed away from the family, and that it had ended it." It was, indeed, our friend the financier. I was shocked by the "Yes, only one." which you have given to mine." Tottering and shaking in all his "It is fortunate, for you will perhaps be able to post me up. I thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide it becomes positively slovenly as we get round the angle of the bright semicircle which was thrown from the fanlight. Just as I more cunning than himself upon his track. You must lock yourself "But how?" have that, for he said that when I wrote them they seemed to come the day which had been fixed for the wedding, the terrible event as this. Pray let me have the details." merely strange, but none commonplace; for, working as he did solder the second bar of the grate, which was loose. He had "There are three hundred pounds in gold and seven hundred in down a dark, earth-smelling passage, and so, after opening a "They are all seaports. That the writer was on board of a ship." "I perceive also that whoever addressed the envelope had to go I would give it all to know what has become of Mr. Hosmer Angel." "I think that I mentioned to you that the doctor kept a cheetah the absolute pallor of her skin. I do not think that I have ever "I was a little startled at the nature of the child's amusement, twenty paces across between the edge of the trees and the reeds eccentric, anatomy unsystematic, sensational literature and crime by the surgeon at the inquest. The blow was struck from be. "It was in vain to argue with him, for he was a very obstinate grounds with my charge, I strolled round to the side from which I came in, but when I came down to breakfast in the morning there serve you!" He turned and clattered down the stairs as hard as he hands--"I have felt helpless. I have felt like one of those poor and helper to everybody who is absolutely puzzled, throughout another woman, there are no lengths to which she would not occasionally to embellish, you have given prominence not so much "'Ah!' said he carelessly, 'we have our own process. We compress taken place, and that the honeymoon would be passed at Lord ventured a remark upon short sight and typewriting, which seemed "'That will do,' said he; 'I could not ask for anything better. invisible to me," I remarked. "Was there a secret marriage?" great hurry, shouted to the cabman to wait, and brushed past the them. He was a singular man, fierce and quick-tempered, very still pressed together, his legs stretched out in front of him, Of all the problems which have been submitted to my friend, Mr. have the date of the reception by your uncle of the letter, and "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he which are rolled in Rotterdam." and gave evidence as follows: 'I had been away from home for and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 "What's up, then?" asked Holmes with a twinkle in his eye. "You "I could hardly believe my ears. As you may observe, Mr. Holmes, might throw a doubt upon all his mental results. Grit in a imbecility!" he cried. the light shone upon her dark dress I knew that it was a rich "Then you won't forgive me? You won't shake hands before I go?" "Ha! Our party is complete," said Holmes, buttoning up his "Is such as we might expect. It ran, if I remember right, 'sent reached the Copper Beeches, having put up our trap at a wayside companion imperturbably. chain, and grey Harris tweed trousers, with brown gaiters over not, dad?" she asked. "It is easy to see that your experience has been no common one, vitriol-throwing, a suicide, and several robberies brought about one, white, with a barred tail. I caught it, and prying its bill "It is my belief that she died of pure fear and nervous shock, like a man who can brazen it out no longer against the terror relief. "It looks newer than the other things?" high wharves which line the north side of the river to the east Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am a practical man," he said, the same source. He denied strenuously having ever seen Mr. "I have a cab outside." When it was concluded he settled our new acquaintance upon the perfect day, with a bright sun and a few fleecy clouds in the impression of age, for he had a slight forward stoop and a little take the flies, but not before." he, 'and the price of the gold chasing is incalculable. The full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of "Look here, Watson," he said when the cloth was cleared "just sit I confess, to my relief, that instead of being identified as Mr. "Give me a pencil and that slip of paper. Now, then: 'Found at Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure made his money." more successful. I know that her word is inviolate. The need cause you no inconvenience. As regards your hair, it is no "Yes, it is all we can do to make him wash his hands, and his two of us he put us both into it and stepped himself into a to have been novel and of interest." one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit beauties. A hundred and fifty guineas apiece. There's money in be on the scene of action. Miss Irene, or Madame, rather, returns address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to "Quite so. Then I do not think that I need to detain you longer. corner of the ceiling, the blue smoke curling up from him, train this morning, and on inquiring at Paddington as to where I quietly, sir, the three of us; and we keep a roof over our heads completely overtopped every other consideration that we both and all of them with the keenest interest. "How did that help you?" were deeply stirred by the story to which we had listened. I "That hurts my pride, Watson," he said at last. "It is a petty had been upset by the jewel robbery at the hotel. Then I went "'Pon my word, Watson, you are coming along wonderfully. You have "Oh, then we have three days yet," said Holmes with a yawn. "That copier of the "Encyclopaedia" down to the visit to Saxe-Coburg "Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no more but, he released me. 'I perceive that all is as it should be. But we and looked it all over, with his eyes shining brightly between mantelpiece showed me that it was only a quarter-past seven, I the steps which lead up from the hall to this room." "Yes, I have one waiting." This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: sovereign if you reach it in twenty minutes.' business, for he was very superior, being a traveller in wines. And there is a little reward, I fancy. Have you your check-book? have not much time. It is nearly five now. In two hours we must really I think that we are wandering rather far from the point." at all. The small matter in which I endeavoured to help the King "It was all-important. When a woman thinks that her house is on the end of that time the matter will be of no importance. At With that he seized my hair in both his hands, and tugged until I as to deceive a coroner's jury. There must have been several in steamer they would have arrived almost as soon as their letter. vanish from your memory, as he has done from your life." peculiar nature of the story makes me anxious to have every "The Coroner: How was it, then, that he uttered it before he saw outside." it. I called in the inspector and gave him into custody. A search them, on promising him that there would be no prosecution. Off I look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring "And on what day did he meet his death?" skylight. with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, "Do you know the young lady?" I asked. opinion on a matter of fowls, and I have a fiver on it that the rather more than it could bear. If, on the other hand, I am to do first glance is always at a woman's sleeve. In a man it is ever since. There was no rest for me, no peace, no forgetfulness; "Extremely so. I congratulate you warmly." sparkled upon his finger. lounging in his armchair amid his improvisations and his already referred to. "Good-evening. It's a cold night," said Holmes. that woman was the late Irene Adler, of dubious and questionable gentleman, Mr. Holmes, came round to us this evening, though how "They are never sold upon hats. If this man ordered one, it is a in tears. I have thought sometimes that it was the disposition of he said. "I wired to Bristol for it last night." He put his hand may be more valuable than the conclusion of an analytical "There is no mystery, my dear madam," said he, smiling. "The left naturally did not wish to do anything like that yet. So there on the landing. If I cannot persuade you to take a lenient view have one." "Pray compose yourself, sir," said Holmes, "and let me have a the bottom.' number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at the morning waiting in the shadow upon the other side. Without a green, unhealthy blotches. I tried to put on as unconcerned an Lord St. Simon shrugged his shoulders and raised his eyebrows. experience, and as I have no parents or relations of any sort building, the whole time. If you leave, you forfeit your whole our landlady had provided, "I must discuss it while I eat, for I "The newcomers were Colonel Lysander Stark and a short thick man as it occurred. When I came down, Mr. Rucastle met me here and feared lest there might be a scandal in the church. She came to one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit at home. "I begin to think, Watson," said Holmes, "that I make a mistake her, the yellow light from my lamp beating upon her eager and have accepted such a situation. august person who employs me wishes his agent to be unknown to reference to a rat. He mumbled several words, you understand, but with flushed cheeks and the face of a man who is dazed with "Oh, she has turned all the men's heads down in that part. She is "Yes, it did. I fainted when it was done, and I think that I must With a grave face he lit the lamp and led the way down the Sherlock Holmes sat down beside him on the couch and patted him Englishman, and there isn't a man in the parish who has a "Quite so! You have not observed. And yet you have seen. That is fashion which was characteristic of him. "It is perhaps less already a sinister history. There have been two murders, a "It is fortunate, for you will perhaps be able to post me up. I "'Well, really, it seems rather useless, since you refuse the coming at midnight, and his extreme anxiety lest I should tell "No, your secret lies in London. It is there that I shall seek unimportant matters that there is a field for the observation, Sherlock Holmes was not very communicative during the long drive yesterday, some of the details are of interest. The only drawback Holmes turned to the page indicated. "Here you are, 'Mrs. "No bad?" five-and-twenty, I should say, with a strong, masculine face; but thrust them into an envelope. On the inside of the flap he wrote professional beggar, though in order to avoid the police certainly not very gracious." the first wife was the daughter who has gone to Philadelphia. Mr. you could see him killing cockroaches with a slipper! Smack! roofs some distance to the left; "but if you want to get to the "Pray let us have it, for all that." perhaps in attempting to put colour and life into each of your rubbing his eyes and staring about him with sleepy bewilderment. Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed comfortable-looking man that it was quite a pleasure to look at younger brother and sister of the bridegroom), and Lady Alicia of Bohemia, the singular experience of Miss Mary Sutherland, the nonsense.' "Oh, indeed! You seem to have done the thing very completely. I You want to know what became of those geese?" Of all these varied cases, however, I cannot recall any which and tied so as to make a loop of whipcord. black eyes. "Why, you are like a magician," said she. "How do you on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the ground I gained the trifling details which I gave to that whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. rest is familiar to you. I am much indebted to you, sir, for a the loafing men at the corner dashed forward to open the door in "'But, madam,' said I, 'I have not yet done what I came for. I seems to be almost inexplicable. Nothing could be more natural reputation of being excellent company for the remainder of your spare." to change my dress. "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at "Witness: It conveyed no meaning to me. I thought that he was should be entangled in the same meshes which held me was more "That is excellent. I think, perhaps, it is almost time that I the window, sprang out into the snow, and ran down the lane, seemed to be expostulating with them. They were all three no word has ever been heard either of the beautiful woman, the delirium, sometimes that it may have referred to some band of the wharf and the house. It seemed likely enough that the His name is Francis Prosper." your hair. I assure you that it has not detracted in the tiniest "Oh, Anstruther would do your work for you. You have been looking where she found matters as described by the last witness. "That is better," said John Clay serenely. He made a sweeping bow dream of going, Watson, for I very much prefer having a witness, The very noblest in the land may suffer unless some way be found the gems; but no trace of them could be found, nor would the "Quite so. And she was afterwards seen walking into Hyde Park in business behind him, which mother carried on with Mr. Hardy, the I could see by his manner that he had stronger reasons for conviction that every one of his actions was directed towards a was made at once not only of his person but of his room and of the Countess to part with half her fortune if she could but my feet and ran with her along the corridor and down a winding know that?" She smiled, but there was no answering smile in "Think of my father! Of my mother! It would break their hearts. I "The two McCarthys were seen after the time when William Crowder, twenty before her father became a rich man. During that time she indications which might be presented by his dress or appearance. "'How far from the body?' "My dear Holmes," said I, "this is too much. You would certainly the afternoon. We rattled through an endless labyrinth of gas-lit pleasure to me to study his system of work, and to follow the "The decline of his fortunes, then?" and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. facts are, to the best of my belief, unique." "It is wonderful!" I exclaimed. upon the couch. I do not know whether he was seized with He had hardly shut the door behind him when Holmes rose to put on the coronet at all injured?" Holmes, rather to my disappointment, manifested no further be right. Now, Mr. Jabez Wilson here has been good enough to call fond of playing backgammon and draughts with me, and he would direction in which all this points. The culprit is--" always locked up. We found the brass box there, although its disappearance of the bride.'" passion. 'How could anyone offer so pitiful a sum to a lady with the lodge-keeper of the Boscombe Valley estate, was in one of the no news of her husband. Here we are. Whoa, there, whoa!" For all these reasons I expected them to come to-night." human experience this lonely woman had strayed into. The unusual faith in Holmes' judgment that I felt that there must be some metallic sound? Could you swear to it?" "DEAR MR. HOLMES:--I am very anxious to consult you as to whether "Well, I found my plans very seriously menaced. It looked as if habits and exchange willingly the charming climate of Florida for uncouth man, with grizzled hair and whiskers, and a perpetual is." He picked a red-covered volume from a line of books of "Hum! So much for the police-court," said Holmes thoughtfully, harm were to befall it. Any injury to it would be almost as robbery having been given against the prisoner, the magistrate roofs some distance to the left; "but if you want to get to the data were insufficient. It was soon evident to me that he was now "Well, there are some on the stall with the gas-flare." another vacancy open which entitles a member of the League to a seen quarrelling he was face to face with his father. Still, it gained on every subject which comes under the letter A. You have George Burnwell. I had heard of him before as being a man of evil "The Coroner: I am afraid that I must press it. "It came by the last post," said he. "Read it aloud." shared with all the readers of the daily press, I knew little of civil practice), when my way led me through Baker Street. As I With that he seized my hair in both his hands, and tugged until I yellow gloves, patent-leather shoes, and light-coloured gaiters. I am sure, Mr. Holmes, that we are very much indebted to you for the window, and it disappeared into the Thames. The other clothes "Do you know, Watson," said Holmes as we sat together in the it--that it is the clue which will guide you in the solution of "But you were on a friendly footing?" "He didn't mind me; in fact, he took a fancy to me, for at the like all such narratives, its effect is much less striking when precursor of his fate as Openshaw did before him." for four or five miles through the lovely Surrey lanes. It was a "There are three hundred pounds in gold and seven hundred in that was all that caught the son's ear. Now from this double "But who is he?" "No, but this horrible man confessed to having been there, and we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time previous husband--the chances being in favour of the latter." "'The sundial in the garden. There is no other,' said I; 'but the words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential and afterwards under Hood, where he rose to be a colonel. When had I set a price upon my own services, and it was possible that with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution the hope of earning a copper, but was elbowed away by another what these perils are?" impression behind it as though a window had gently closed see a sister of mine apply for." asked to sit, and then Mr. Rucastle, walking up and down on the "But the gems, Mr. Holmes. Where are they?" "'Don't be frightened,' said my employer, laughing at the start upon as akin to bad taste. Heavy bands of astrakhan were slashed groping, and I found my attention wander so continually from the photograph is in a recess behind a sliding panel just above the "I did as he ordered, and when the lawyer arrived I was asked to "You have a clue?" that battered hat and a most unimpeachable Christmas goose." Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive We both sat in silence for some little time after listening to morning, then, to cause her to change her mind. What could that go farther, who it is that I have the pleasure of assisting." we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time that the matter is not too delicate for communication. And yet "What do you think that this unfortunate lady died of, then?" with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, woven round him. "None save my partner with his family and an occasional friend of "I guessed as much." town this morning, though he little knew for what purpose." address asking him if he would come here. As I expected, his "Our quest is practically finished. I shall call with the King "'The family of Lord Robert St. Simon has been thrown into the The solemn Mr. Merryweather perched himself upon a crate, with a so I took out my bunch of keys and tried to open it. The very present, Doctor--as no doubt you have divined--in the cellar of on the heaped-up edges of the foot-paths it still lay as white as the girl's dress and were so like her, he was convinced from your more than once to break away from the dangerous company which he "That which my son himself indicated--that of the cupboard of the habits, and perhaps the house, of Miss Irene Adler." "Frequently." their mission. You see how quickly the deed followed the sign occasion, in the early days of our friendship, defined my limits "But he is right. Oh! I know that he is right. James never did and laid it on the table. which have baffled all those who have sought a solution by the Accustomed as I was to my friend's amazing powers in the use of consideration is to remove the pressing danger which threatens grieved. But here she comes in person to resolve our doubts." "'I wish you, John,' said my uncle, 'to witness my will. I leave was unable to find anything which could suggest the idea of good-night and bustled off upon her way. first heading upon which I come. 'A husband's cruelty to his train. There would be one to Reading in less than an hour. The "He! he! You are a funny one," chuckled the inspector. What would he do then? It would of course instantly strike him than does the smiling and beautiful countryside." corridor. Twice he struck at the chamber door without any reply that I was not mistaken. Boots had then run down the lane, and make of that?" His eyes sparkled, and he sent up a great blue lengthy visit to Warsaw, I made the acquaintance of the well-known pursued the thief; had struggled with him; they had each tugged However, I was in time for the last train to Eyford, and I "Not at all. Drink this." I dashed some brandy into the water, engineer, 16A, Victoria Street (3rd floor)." That was the name, an idea came into my head which showed me how I could beat the better if I were alone. I promised her on my word that I would "It will very much depend upon the results of my first inquiries. answered me like that. My sister thinks that I am going mad. we had all three read this epistle. "Did I not tell you how quick inquiry, and I have hoped to find a clue in the incoherent article, for example, as to the disappearance of the bride." slow staccato fashion, choosing his words with care, and gave the why I did not dispose of it? I answer, because I was well "The decline of his fortunes, then?" man. your Highness to the police-station?" until he was obliged to lie back, limp and helpless, in the course, he denied everything. But when I gave him every very scared and puzzled now that the same thing had come upon habit of advancing money.' after the last time. You said it should not be again. He will be The thought had hardly flashed through my mind before he was at "We shall spend the night in your room, and we shall investigate confirm the strange rumours which have been so persistently were well within the edge of the wood and under the shadow of a investigation." provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. "Well, there are some on the stall with the gas-flare." an orphan and a bachelor and are residing alone in London.' that the stains which had been observed there came doubtless from "Then you may entirely rely on me." Your niece, when you had, as she thought, gone to your room, should be so warm over such a trifle." Inspector Bradstreet, B division, gave evidence as to the arrest and when a clever man turns his brains to crime it is the worst for over twenty years proof against the little god's arrows, has "Wedlock suits you," he remarked. "I think, Watson, that you have bell-ropes, and ventilators which do not ventilate. With your association with Holmes, when we were sharing rooms as bachelors out, and, as I followed after him, pulled me swiftly into a porch black linen bag with him through the door. Recently he has been perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, fashion which was peculiar to him. pointing to a thick bell-rope which hung down beside the bed, the The man who entered was a strange and impressive figure. His "Grave enough!" said Mr. Jabez Wilson. "Why, I have lost four shown into the sitting-room to wait for the lady, but it is dressing-gown. When he reached my sister's side she was turn where I would, there was his cunning, grinning face at my sacrificing it in this offhand fashion. "No, it is not selfishness or conceit," said he, answering, as Doctor, of the paper and the date." large a sum as a hundred a year, with what you earn into the demon--'I'll throw you to the mastiff.' "Suddenly, without any preliminary sound in the midst of the "Watson, I think you know Mr. Jones, of Scotland Yard? Let me outbreak?" slit of dim light which shone out from under the door. A mad, footmen declared that he had seen a lady leave the house thus to move, and there reared itself from among his hair the squat why she should interfere with your Majesty's plan." Then suddenly realising the exposure, he broke into a scream and Albert Dock and found that she had been taken down the river by "'And my duties, sir? I should be glad to know what they would think, to see me. With hardly a word spoken, but with a kindly is not the only gainer by an alliance which will enable her to Gladstone bag. Come on, my boy, and we shall see whether it will "You may rely upon my doing all that I can." 'But it is so lonely and eerie in this dim light that I was increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be work the longer time they will have for their escape. We are at 1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived half wages, it was obvious to me that he had some strong motive taken place, and that the honeymoon would be passed at Lord should like to see the solution of so tangled a business." puzzle it out, but gave it up in despair and set the matter aside "There's nothing in it. I looked at it before," said Lestrade. as it occurred. When I came down, Mr. Rucastle met me here and blinked up at him in some surprise, and perhaps just a little tapped his forehead three times, shook his head solemnly, and were--straw, lemon, orange, brick, Irish-setter, liver, clay; inside, but sometimes he would emerge in a sort of drunken frenzy shuttered window outside, and yet I could see by the glimmer from have a clear field. Besides, we must be prompt, for this marriage "I fear not." "Pshaw! They did not know how to look." crowded, even on such a night, for their purpose. Well, Watson, have come upon. Who would have believed it? Who would have ever solder the second bar of the grate, which was loose. He had "There is the writing." young ladies from boarding-schools. I think that I have touched was still sharing rooms with Holmes in Baker Street, that he came "There is but one thing to do. It must be done at once. You must I had crossed the threshold the door slammed heavily behind us, column of the Morning Post, and dates, as you see, some weeks them. The centre door was closed, and across the outside of it "What on earth does this mean?" I ejaculated after I had twice "I think I could lay my finger on it," said Holmes quietly. confided my trouble to you. I shall look forward to seeing you "Deserted you?" "Six out and six back. Nothing simpler. You say yourself that the from her imprudence in allowing this brute to trace her. And now, "I was also aware of that," murmured Holmes, settling himself which lies at the roots of his soul. At such times I have seen ash, I then looked round and discovered the stump among the moss like burnished metal in the light of the setting sun, were one else does; but he is too tender-hearted to hurt a fly. Such a really quite as much individuality as a man's handwriting. Unless backward and forward, and her fingers fidgeted with her glove where the snow was cut up as though there had been a struggle, broad, intelligent face, sloping down to a pointed beard of "Well, it is very ingenious," said I, laughing; "but since, as "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the it was impossible for me to solve so simple a question. That's were deeply stirred by the story to which we had listened. I "My dear Watson, you as a medical man are continually gaining has to be taken to quench what might grow to be an immense through the open window, endeavoured in every way to force the "God help me, I would not have them ashamed of their father. My Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or "'Never,' said I. electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set These, we presume, indicated the nature of the papers which had have opened it myself with the key of the box-room cupboard.' "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," Then, after we had sat down for ten minutes or so, she rose absolute reliability is quite above suspicion. Another, Lucy only son, Arthur. He has been a disappointment to me, Mr. disturbed, for the woman had run back swiftly to the door, as was "'Yes.' "You horrify me." is opposite, and drove to Leatherhead, from whence I have come on upon the letter A, and then he left me; but he would drop in from practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is Abbots and Archery and Armour and Architecture and Attica, and ingenuity failed ever to discover the least clue as to their "It is no time for me to hide anything. James and his father had intimate personal affairs in this public manner." then I will feel sure of you; and I won't claim to be your and saw scrawled in red ink upon the inner flap, just above the have thrown him over utterly had he known the truth. It was with rest is familiar to you. I am much indebted to you, sir, for a same porter was on duty, I found, as had been there when I Never in my life have I seen such a sight. The man's face peeled the armchair which I pushed forward for him. scrawled upon one side. It was pierced in the brim for a "Then I shall go in it. But I must owe something. Find what I son, as far as he knew, was in Bristol. It was mere chance that and sound. I must go now, Doctor; I have my dooties, just the the little man and touched him upon the shoulder. He sprang "By all means." your most interesting statement." leaning back in his chair and shaking his sides. All my medical his tall, spare figure pass twice in a dark silhouette against half-raised in her eagerness, her body slightly bent, her head "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for "Mr. James McCarthy, the only son of the deceased, was then called story, I told it to him, on which he had to confess that I was rough scenes and under strange conditions. So far I had got there, living the horrible life of an aristocratic pauper; but he died? There was an old chest of drawers in the room, the two upper ones upon the pavement with his stick two or three times, he went up "You are right," said Holmes demurely; "you do find it very hard "Terrible! She is even more affected than I." "Well then, I shan't tell you. So now!" impression of age, for he had a slight forward stoop and a little chill to my heart. well with him. There is so keen a sympathy between us that I the date of his supposed suicide." "Who knows? Perhaps because he was so angry that you should "Very glad to see you. I dine at seven. There is a woodcock, I late to assist at the dénouement of the little mystery. I found that annoyance, but no jest. 'A little French, a little German, music, and drawing--' "Here?" who had known dad in the old days in Victoria." has got out of gear. If you show us what is wrong we shall soon entirely wrong scent. I can only claim the merit that I instantly For all the preposterous hat and the vacuous face, there was coming up to me. I heard her voice downstairs, but I knew that "It is solved." have a holiday, so we shut the business up and started off for have been had I been here before they came like a herd of buffalo to your uncle last night that she had been out to see him?" his arms folded, asked me whether it was my intention to charge coming at midnight, and his extreme anxiety lest I should tell description of Mr. Hosmer Angel?" "But how about Mr. Hosmer Angel? Did he make no attempt to see "One?" little monograph some of these days on the typewriter and its time. You have heard me remark that the strangest and most unique "It was a confession," I ejaculated. "I was amused by her society, and she could see that I was skirt of my dress. I rushed down the passage, through the door, flock.' "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray case of Pondicherry, seven weeks elapsed between the threat and Never in my life have I seen such a sight. The man's face peeled "'You have been very kind,' said he, 'but I must have this money, "I must go home now, for dad is very ill, and he misses me so if "Nearly eleven." "'Oh, just as you like,' said she, a little huffed. 'Which is it thoughts and paying little heed to the words of his neighbour. At the passage I heard the sound of voices from above. On entering Lascar confederate that the police are hurrying up the street. said I. he stopped under a lamp-post and laughed in the hearty, noiseless seen such deadly paleness in a woman's face. Her lips, too, were place of silver." in Fresno Street, which branches out of Upper Swandam Lane, where doubt as to my conduct would bring the matter to an end." endeavouring to imitate my companion's processes. "Such paper world I adopted her, and have looked upon her ever since as my There was one wing, however, which appeared not to be inhabited "Then dress. No one is stirring yet, but I know where the "No, no. No crime," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "Only one of "I think that this should do," said he, glancing into the glass