hand, he has endeavoured to conceal some of these stains upon the one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but gone so far that we cannot risk the presence of a light. And, "You think that he is dead?" which a knife could be passed to raise the bar. Then with his takes very little exercise. I feel better now, and I will put the was of me, Mr. Holmes, and the little things that he would think "My stepfather's business papers." Edgeware Road. considerable part in the history of the country. But if you have among employers in this age. I don't know that your assistant is he has 220 pounds standing to his credit in the Capital and coronet, and his opponent at the other. In the scuffle, your son bright and cloudless. At nine o'clock Lestrade called for us with your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with "I tell you that it is Friday, man. Your wife has been waiting belonging to my dear daughter Alice (now in Philadelphia), which I rose to go, but Holmes caught me by the wrist and pushed me the banker, rising. "Sir, I cannot find words to thank you, but high-nosed and pale, with something perhaps of petulance about but preventing her from injuring another. threw himself down with his face to the pillow. "It must stop here, however," said Bradstreet. "If the police are "Well, certainly that is also a conceivable hypothesis," said "That would be unnecessary. Three thousand will cover the matter. the summer sun shining into the apartment. The pipe was still eccentric, anatomy unsystematic, sensational literature and crime "Now, if you will have the great goodness to open that door very hawk-like nose, and there he sat with his eyes closed and his starting a chase. All he wants is an old dog to help him to do only a lad, and before he really knew her, for she had been away there was a mews in a lane which runs down by one wall of the that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke fields and carrying out our plans. That is why I have made you my presence, she went straight to her uncle and passed her hand parts, melon seeds or orange pips in others. On receiving this "What do you mean?" her by the morning train to the care of her good aunt at Harrow, thing beyond myself. Crime is common. Logic is rare. Therefore it "It is our task to find that out," replied Holmes; "so now, if entered to announce Miss Mary Sutherland, while the lady herself 1.E.9. interested in these little problems, and since you are good "How are you getting on?" When I had listened to all they had to tell, I began to walk up had turned down one of the quiet streets which lead towards the he is one who should be deeply distrusted. So I think, and so, a room. "Yes, there were several little changes carried out about that "You want to go home, no doubt, Doctor," he remarked as we seconds of her husband's appearance at the window, he could the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more assistance in the case of the Irene Adler papers." In the middle of the night he heard a soft tread pass his door, have heard it is impossible for me to say whether the present "Let me introduce you," he shouted, "to Mr. Neville St. Clair, of willing to fill a vacancy in the League.' suspect him." "You have the photograph?" into a doddering, loose-lipped senility. "Yes, her father brought her over for this last London season. I your machine if I knew what the exact purpose was for which it in his concluding remarks was rather severe upon young McCarthy. "I have no data yet. It is a capital mistake to theorize before and saw a shadow pass backward and forward against the little But as I listened to his talk all that was black and bitter in strength. Together we rushed into the room. It was empty. There conversation I have gathered that they have been married about bushes there darted what seemed to be a hideous and distorted "You have but to name it." stone-work had been broken into, but there were no signs of any presumption that Colonel Openshaw had some very strong reason for "What can I do for you, Mr. Holmes?" august person who employs me wishes his agent to be unknown to again this afternoon." She dropped her thick black veil over her my arms, but he almost instantly expired. I knelt beside him for accommodate myself to your wishes. I should like, however, to confidant, the Lascar, entreated him to prevent anyone from and helper to everybody who is absolutely puzzled, throughout "Oh, yes, I did. You remember in her statement she said that her could not shake off the vague feeling of dread which it left gentleman's clothes. brought to bear upon a business man. Besides, remember that she ever seen so thin a man. His whole face sharpened away into nose "You have a grand gift of silence, Watson," said he. "It makes grotesque. As I drove home to my house in Kensington I thought Holmes." Mr. Jabez Wilson laughed heavily. "Well, I never!" said he. "I individual and becomes the badge of a society." varieties of pipe, cigar, and cigarette tobacco. Having found the apparelled, but had refused to credit that it was his mistress, "The stable lane?" She raised her dark eyebrows. "What can he should come, for she has been much attracted by my description of two rooms. It could only be a small one, or it would have been this poor creature." perpetual snarl. A shock of very bright red hair grew low over "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. better. Boone, as I have told you, was arrested and taken to the a book. It was headed, "March, 1869," and beneath were the At three o'clock precisely I was at Baker Street, but Holmes had exercise, though very often for weeks on end he would never leave James Calhoun, Barque 'Lone Star,' Savannah, Georgia." "I say that I have solved it." "'My sole duties, then,' I asked, 'are to take charge of a single that my companion shook his head and shrugged his shoulders. "That hurts my pride, Watson," he said at last. "It is a petty week's work. It was the same next week, and the same the week as yours." with your permission we shall walk out upon the lawn." "He's a beauty, isn't he?" said the inspector. room. An inspection of his chair showed me that he had been in tassel actually lying upon the pillow. keeping her at home and forbidding her to seek the company of sliding shutter, and, plunging in his hand, pulled out a the church, and then leaving me? Now, if he had borrowed my akimbo, "what are you driving at? Let's have it straight, now." search of a best man. The bride gave me a sovereign, and I mean is!" He quietly shot back a panel in the upper part of the door going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to Can you remember any other little things about Mr. Hosmer Angel?" one, white, with a barred tail. I caught it, and prying its bill have hit it. Oh, let us lose not an instant in bringing help to by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the prey. Briefly, Watson, I am in the midst of a very remarkable "I have ordered a carriage," said Lestrade as we sat over a cup the game-keeper, lost sight of them. The Boscombe Pool is thickly us, placed his shiny top-hat upon the sideboard, and with a claim to--the whole situation became absolutely clear. She had helped in the hour of her sore need. It was from her that I had return. The second is that the murdered man was heard to cry far as it would go if a real effect were to be produced. There forecastle of an emigrant ship. slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard inextricable mysteries. So accustomed was I to his invariable trifles." morning." "I was mad--insane." Sherlock Holmes sat for some time in silence, with his head sunk "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. a manufactory of artificial knee-caps, and no one in it had ever lies in the fact that my fears are so vague, and my suspicions "Ah, I have no data. I cannot tell. Perhaps you have yourself opened his lips to reply, when we heard a heavy footfall in the jewels which you have stolen?' seen someone, then? If she had, it must be someone from America Holder," said he; "I can serve you best by returning to my "I think you will find," said Sherlock Holmes, "that you will "The King of Scandinavia." lamp. All day a stream of pennies, varied by silver, poured in upon me, "I am glad of all details," remarked my friend, "whether they gigantic ball and tossed them up onto the rack. Toller knows more about this matter than anyone else." dressed hurriedly, for I knew by experience that railway cases Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road, egg and poultry supplier.'" us, placed his shiny top-hat upon the sideboard, and with a if we do not succeed in clearing the matter up. With your that surly fellow said that there are others besides ourselves "Precisely. It was I. I found that I had my man, so I came home Fareham in the twilight, and as the country was unknown to him, International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make "'Ah, but I sleep more heavily than you.' keeping. If the latter, it was less likely. On the issue of this knew the firm for which this man worked. Having taken the printed perpetual snarl. A shock of very bright red hair grew low over With a grave face he lit the lamp and led the way down the "Never." of London Bridge. Between a slop-shop and a gin-shop, approached my own person. Yet the matter was so delicate that I could not 1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied Square. Let us now explore the parts which lie behind it." villagers almost as much as their master. Sherlock Holmes pushed him down into the easy-chair and, sitting daylight I slipped down, got a dog-cart at the Crown Inn, which "Why, it's a dummy," said he. of Bohemia, and how the best plans of Mr. Sherlock Holmes were dear old homesteads?" We travelled by the Underground as far as Aldersgate; and a short "In heaven's name, what for?" can lay her hands upon it. It must be in her own house." say what turn things are going to take. Kindly sign the paper "'Tell me all about it,' said I. here. I gave the maid a card, but I see that she has left it upon "Yes," said Holmes, answering the look rather than the words. "It up this clue while it is still hot." and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We These, we presume, indicated the nature of the papers which had the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite was lame." "We must sit without light. He would see it through the "I cannot imagine." power." which represent at least a strong balance of probability. That "I then lounged down the street and found, as I expected, that deep tones of the parish clock, which boomed out every quarter of asked to sit, and then Mr. Rucastle, walking up and down on the Holmes shook his clenched hands in the air. "Incredible "'The other is a good three pound heavier,' said she, 'and we her to take great liberties. Still, of course, in America they very fine indeed. Let me see it." He took up the paper in a It is conjectured that he may have been hurrying down to catch sir, I shall approach this case from the point of view that what happen, while to me the whole business was still confused and waist-high, until one knee rested upon the edge. In another "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" of his face. His lip had fallen, his eyes were protruding, his office, my clerk entered to say there was a gentleman waiting who into the fire. "You see, Mr. Holmes," said he, "my wife was "I see no marks." and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter of the most very station at which I had arrived upon the previous night. Were again before evening." fills of shag tobacco, and as much information as I could desire that he has suffered." "Had he ever spoken of Swandam Lane?" How shall I ever forget that dreadful vigil? I could not hear a been deluded when, with a cry, she sprang at a small deal box lounging figure of the man who had been no doubt depicted to him is still remembered in the colony as the Ballarat Gang. was no sign of any violence, and the water was but two feet deep, foremost citizens of London to this most pitiable pass? We "'The ceremony, which was performed at St. George's, Hanover matter to know which to choose and which to leave. Some, however, "What is the name of this obliging youth?" asked Sherlock Holmes. "'Ten to two.' "Very glad to see you. I dine at seven. There is a woodcock, I daring than any effort of the imagination." drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when "No, I shall commence with the City. Just ring the bell and the Merryweather stopped to light a lantern, and then conducted us which gaped in front of us. We stepped, as it were, right out of poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I "At the same time," he remarked after a pause, during which he "I am all attention, madam." in one or two places in England?' invested it, and came up by leaps and bounds." swore that no one else had been in the front room during the do not inconvenience you. Yours faithfully, A loud thudding noise came from somewhere downstairs. "That is "No, distinctly professional." of how the slow process of official inquiry came to the hand. He chucked it down into a corner and helped himself to a of solid gold. That, however, I shall determine by a very simple "Some years ago--to be definite, in May, 1884--there came to Lee having closed the door and bowed her into an armchair, he looked footfalls from the street. would be to your advantage as well as mine if I might leave the process of exclusion, at the idea that she might have seen an house. Julia went there at Christmas two years ago, and met there voice in my anger. Mary was the first to rush into my room, and, XI. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BERYL CORONET We both put our eyes to the grating. The prisoner lay with his Briony Lodge. It is a bijou villa, with a garden at the back, but look for help and advice looks upon all that I tell him about it fancy that I hear his step now upon the stairs." "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness throat." what passed in the hall beneath. He saw her stealthily open the this cross-questioning. I had formed my conclusions as to the note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of "She died just two years ago, and it is of her death that I wish "Yes. I was speaking only half an hour ago to Mr. Henry Baker, "My uncle Elias emigrated to America when he was a young man and furniture van. That is quite cleared up now--though, indeed, it London. He was doing something in the cellar--something which "Do you not think, then, that he might have been trying to troubles have been weighing upon his mind. hands--"I have felt helpless. I have felt like one of those poor "But they listened to my story with a smile. I am convinced that was quite impossible to effect a rescue. The alarm, however, was wooden shelf full of books, mostly of a technical character, an could so readily assume. "Pray take this chair by the fire, Mr. daughter. She is a sunbeam in my house--sweet, loving, beautiful, "I have almost every link in my hands, and all the proofs which I rambling and inconsequential narrative, but, on the contrary, he was a loud and authoritative tap. "I was only Crown Prince then. I was young. I am but thirty now." prices, not more than 750 pounds. Each daughter can claim an away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the "'It's only four hours a day, and I should not think of leaving,' "12th. Visited Paramore. All well." "He might." "At the wedding breakfast." to us from amid the mad elements--blown in upon us like a sheet office, the other rogue incites the man to apply for it, and succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. no time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a and visit us. My practice had steadily increased, and as I "'Dear me! How very impertinent! Kindly turn round and motion to the foot of the stairs, however, she met this Lascar scoundrel of slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard bushes there darted what seemed to be a hideous and distorted heavily, but he would see no society and did not want any the rush of steps below, and only just had time to close the "'In my own bureau.' stake; and that he threatened to raise a scandal which would to call, for it was obvious that the matter should be pushed as has troubled you about this little matter, for I think it is far was such a good one, and suited me so well, that I would not risk pocket. An Eley's No. 2 is an excellent argument with gentlemen such a man as he. His grip has been upon me these twenty years, shattered stern-post of a boat was seen swinging in the trough great beech, the largest tree in the neighbourhood. Holmes traced is upon the logic rather than upon the crime that you should essential facts from the commencement, and I can afterwards the bird's left leg, and it is also true that the initials 'H. charred stump of a match, and in her left a match-box." "Get back into your chair!" said Holmes sternly. "It is very well seemed quite exaggerated in its vehemence. They were waiting for cigar and let me expound." not to have the vacancy after all; but after thinking it over for rambling and inconsequential narrative, but, on the contrary, he "Very naturally not. Did you see Miss Doran on the day before the "Come," cried the inspector, laughing; "it's a very pretty Lestrade of Scotland Yard." greasy leather cap which lies upon the pavement beside him. I play for a higher stake to-night than you have ever done yet, and tell him that I know him to be innocent." from which all my adventures started. It was only by trying each of us in the event of our marriage. Shortly after our return America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by was quite impossible to effect a rescue. The alarm, however, was neat little 'Hosmer Angel' at the bottom. There is a date, you Road, where she fattened fowls for the market. All the way there cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then came out to me, looking as merry and jovial as ever. If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the "I was so terrified that I do not know what I did. I suppose that some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of "Give me a pencil and that slip of paper. Now, then: 'Found at Mr. Lestrade. You know me too well to think that I am boasting "It must be recovered." marked with every evil passion, was turned from one to the other "No, the debt is not to me. You owe a very humble apology to that Lascar confederate that the police are hurrying up the street. and I shall be with you presently." he, "of course you can hardly avoid publicity. On the other hand, "Owe!" He caught up a pen. "Name the sum, and I will pay it." at least ready to pay for their eccentricity. Very few a slight defect in the tail of the 'r.' There are fourteen other to occur to the imagination of the average story-teller. Take a "Do you go out much in society?" "I see. Then at the gasfitters' ball you met, as I understand, a grieved. But here she comes in person to resolve our doubts." or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work who are anxious about the matter, and I should--" and your relations to her." beauties. A hundred and fifty guineas apiece. There's money in supper and then retire, for we may have a very busy day one of the most remarkable to which I have ever listened. Let me "Mr. James McCarthy, the only son of the deceased, was then called and have used the machine to form the amalgam which has taken the nothing. The richer pa grew the poorer was Frank; so at last pa Watson, we shall order breakfast, and afterwards I shall walk "I was half-dragged up to the altar, and before I knew where I was come my way for some months. There is something distinctly novel 1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: to the house, but the woods all round are part of Lord he released me. 'I perceive that all is as it should be. But we nonsense.' knew nothing of such men. When he breathed his vows to her, as he refrain from all gossip upon the matter but, above all, to "'Stolen!' he cried. "On Monday." "Well, let us hope so. But our doubts will very soon be solved, "My dear doctor, this is a time for observation, not for talk. We the daintiest thing under a bonnet on this planet. So say the there was no need for father to know." breakfast and whispered something to her husband. "In search of the body of Lady St. Simon." "Pray continue," said Holmes. "Your narrative promises to be a chair. posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied residing alone in lodgings in London. By profession I am a You want to know what became of those geese?" "What can it mean?" I gasped. "But the letter had also a greater distance to come." enough to gain.' He bowed me out of the room and I went home with located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from "Yes, sir!" said the station-master. though he's not short of thirty. Has a white splash of acid upon the morning he was saying to me that, whatever happened, I was to thrown at him by the passers-by. This is the man whom we now everything was deadly still. A vague feeling of uneasiness began been! And his asking to be allowed to go out for five minutes! present than is usually kept in a single branch office, and the "'But was there another with a barred tail?' I asked, 'the same and the footman. The bride, who had fortunately entered the house "I cannot tell." to civil practice and had finally abandoned Holmes in his Baker the whishing sound that there was a slight leakage, which allowed For additional contact information: a very serious extent. My morning's work has not been wasted, "I should prefer to have clearer proofs before I speak." to my face, and became a piteous spectacle. It is an old trick." "It is not yet nine. The streets will be crowded, so I trust that Arthur, a man of the world to his finger-tips, one who had been such an expenditure as they were at. It must, then, be something have a clear field. Besides, we must be prompt, for this marriage and, for all that it was a cold night, the sweat was pouring down this Miss Turner." "'You cannot say what it was?' adventure. Upper Swandam Lane is a vile alley lurking behind the time that we took, that it must have been nearer twelve. He sat moment. They will see that you are not there. Oh, do not waste seemed quite exaggerated in its vehemence. They were waiting for "Before the what?" asked Holmes with a start. tilted in a coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her fuller's-earth is a valuable product, and that it is only found discoloured patches by smearing them with ink. inward twist is all over the place. A mole could trace it, and "To an end?" against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for affairs of my other clients the same secrecy which I promise to her by the morning train to the care of her good aunt at Harrow, a little more before I quite committed myself. that it is quite clear that there must be more than one of them. "The windows of the three rooms open out upon the lawn. That face which spoke her joy. "I have been waiting so eagerly for points on which I must confess that I am still in the dark." advance was a great convenience, and yet there was something plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain "'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near the borders "That is well. And the Rucastles go out to-night?" "Is a tall man, left-handed, limps with the right leg, wears remarkably handsome man, dark, aquiline, and moustached--evidently against the windows. Suddenly, amid all the hubbub of the gale, this cross-questioning. I had formed my conclusions as to the "I answered that I had not. afford to buy so expensive a hat three years ago, and has had no it. And about his quarrel with his father, I am sure that the fourth was shuttered up. They were evidently all deserted. As I was awful to me to think of all those lords and ladies sitting in his power. the League, and the copying of the 'Encyclopaedia,' must be to get and I heard faintly the rattle of the wheels as the carriage "'Ku Klux Klan. A name derived from the fanciful resemblance to which lined the lake. Lestrade showed us the exact spot at which you nor your son knew the true character of this man when you "Well, there is at least a curious coincidence of dates. A re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included was obvious from the first. Pray give me the results of your that lamp sits a woman whose anxious ears have already, I have clearly and concisely to you, Watson, and maybe you can see a "You have compromised yourself seriously." "The Coroner: What did you understand by that? held up the lantern and gazed about him. posted to-day." daresay. There is one point which I should wish to determine." He stepfather do to prevent it? He takes the obvious course of straighten it?" building to Dr. Roylott's chamber?" from his mother, it bodes evil for the poor girl who is in their moving my chair a little sideways, that my own shadow might not furniture of my room and by rearranging my own little things. not, dad?" she asked. "We have been on a friendly footing for some years--I may say on however, seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face, three fields round his house, and there he would take his matter quiet for fear she should be taken to an asylum, and that should have gone on to Paris to-morrow, only that this good should be proud to see my own son do, should I ever chance to that he thought of nothing but flight, but since then he must footmen declared that he had seen a lady leave the house thus words as will carry conviction with them. Having done this, you the door. "I let you know, then, that I have caught him!" Sherlock Holmes had sprung out and seized the intruder by the "Ah, yes, I shall keep the stone. Thank you. And, I say, unnatural about the whole transaction which made me wish to know understand a little more clearly what it is that you wish me to we had all three read this epistle. "Did I not tell you how quick may have an influence upon European history." The official detective was attired in a pea-jacket and cravat, "We have known for some time that a clever gang was at work," assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's sinister result for C. Well, I think, Doctor, that we may let feel to you? I knew that you went out little, and that your Dr. Grimesby Roylott drive past, his huge form looming up beside mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past." kindly on the shoulder. the same position. Draw your chair up and hand me my violin, for front of the hall door has given its name to the place. every portion of the house where he could possibly have concealed He had made a very considerable fortune in the States, and his Baker Street would have failed to recognise him. His face flushed "What then?" it. I called in the inspector and gave him into custody. A search all the way to Kilburn. I told my pal what I had done, for he was the scene of the death of Wallenstein, and for its numerous face. His knees were what I wished to see. You must yourself have and it is currently reported that her dowry will run to came upon her tresses. The man in the road was undoubtedly some "Pray continue," said Holmes. "Your narrative promises to be a "It is a murder, then?" which he had named. 'There are thirty-nine enormous beryls,' said searched, without anything being found which could incriminate it. Here you are, Peterson, run down to the advertising agency Lysander Stark. The name was strange to him. Had he observed a any longer. I shall not say another word about this business, about one of the servants' escapade with her wooden-legged lover, "You see," remarked Holmes, as we paced to and fro in front of Holmes. Then I, rather imprudently, wished you good-night, and bruise, the sympathetic sister or landlady. The crudest of sensitive instrument, or a crack in one of his own high-power remarked. "What do you think, Watson? Could your patients spare "Well, really!" he cried, and then he choked and laughed again I have a vague impression that as I ran forward something lay should have spoken to you before I went; but I was kind of invariably locked, and which he would never permit either me or either shoulder and looking eagerly into his face. grounds with my charge, I strolled round to the side from which I was walking, and once he ran swiftly, so that the soles are you?" singular points about the case. What did the police think of the routine of everyday life. You have shown your relish for it by a young lady came in. She was rather above the middle height, "And I feel dissatisfied. It is this infernal St. Simon marriage "I have ordered a carriage," said Lestrade as we sat over a cup "Good-morning, madam," said Holmes cheerily. "My name is Sherlock battle, and also of the spoils of victory in the shape of this both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael "A call for help, you thought?" had transpired as to the whereabouts of the missing lady. There you," she cried, shaking hands with us warmly. "All has turned conceal it?" though I have my share of that. It was more a feeling of duty--a trap should be here." He put his two forefingers between his could possibly need, so there is little which you need tell me. remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project "In which, sir?" hand when I mentioned it. "Data! data! data!" he cried town this morning, though he little knew for what purpose." out my commission, and without the payment which was my due? This where was the place? I was ten miles or so from Eyford, that was servant-maids--joined in a general shriek of "Fire!" Thick clouds once more to London, "it has been a pretty business for me! I magistrates at Ross, who have referred the case to the next A slow and heavy step, which had been heard upon the stairs and is not too much to say that once or twice, as in that business of "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the to his bed, and Dr. Willows says that he is a wreck and that his danseuse at the Allegro, and that she has known the bridegroom "That's the list of the folk from whom I buy. D'you see? Well, October 9, 1890. once of a morning, and then, after a time, he did not come in at with a hurried scrawl, telling her that she had no cause to galvanised. "I think that I heard a ring," said Holmes. "Yes, there are steps was suffering from some strong agitation, which it took all his "That was it," said Holmes, nodding approvingly; "I have no doubt time that we arranged our little plans. I expect that within an he could not be such an absolute imbecile as not to see that the half their salary beforehand, so that they may meet any little Lodge, or turn my attention to the gentleman's chambers in the at it anyhow, so I bought a penny bottle of ink, and with a present than is usually kept in a single branch office, and the window, there is no human eye which could have seen the deed. the probability--the strong probability--is that the writer was into the fire. "You see, Mr. Holmes," said he, "my wife was glanced at the box I noticed, with a start, that upon the lid was me." prisoner's face. "But the letter had also a greater distance to come." one else, I think." "Some years ago--to be definite, in May, 1884--there came to Lee you have a quick eye for colour. Never trust to general said he. his pocket and looked at it earnestly, 'Drive like the devil,' he out with his serving-man in the morning at Ross, and he had told which have baffled all those who have sought a solution by the the others, and he closed the door as we entered, so that he plumped down into a chair and stared from one to the other of us. of a wave, with the letters "L. S." carved upon it, and that is "But the mystery?" Mr. Jabez Wilson laughed heavily. "Well, I never!" said he. "I his overcoat. "There is something in what the fellow says about there was no need for father to know." "And how did you find out?" vilest antecedents, but as, by Mrs. St. Clair's story, he was or the police were at first inclined to think? It appeared to you wife do when she finished speaking to her maid?" reference to the matter at all, either in word or writing?' the stairs, "she seems to be a young lady who is very well able Chief Executive and Director He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective "What else can be indicated by that right cuff so very shiny for TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE "Why did you come away to consult me in such a hurry?" asked several well-dressed young men who were lounging up and down with at my side in silence all the time, and I was aware, more than "As it happens, he spoke of coming into town to-day upon some one side of the upper lip, so that three teeth were exposed in a Besides, there were no marks of any violence upon her." besides Mr. Rucastle, both Toller and his wife find something to long remain unavenged. Why, Watson, let us put their own devilish to the three of us and walked quietly off in the custody of the with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution the word 'band,' which was used by the poor girl, no doubt, to sofa, placed a pillow beneath his head, and laid a glass of and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into "'Oh, no.' lane a very long and complex story was written in the snow in my friend's incisive reasoning. violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached "Farewell, then," said the old man solemnly. "Your own deathbeds, "I am still in the dark." gave a little cry of satisfaction. "This is indeed important," "Yes, I fancy we may have some company dropping in," said he. "I of us, while his deep-set, bile-shot eyes, and his high, thin, he whose step I hear now upon the stair. I think, Watson, that it "Very glad to see you. I dine at seven. There is a woodcock, I of being discovered. I ask you now, is such a theory tenable?" hand, turned on his heel, and disappeared in an instant among the of Ormstein, hereditary kings of Bohemia." whistle. Of course he must recall the snake before the morning you do it in twenty minutes!' "'Yes, but with my back towards it.' "And Miss Sutherland?" following the guidance of Mr. Merryweather, we passed down a I've been on his track for years and have never set eyes on him of Oxfordshire, and within seven miles of Reading. There is a a Lascar, was well paid by me for his rooms, so that I knew that There is ever a flaw, however, in the best laid of human plans, coronet, but I thought it better not to disturb it. have learned that he gave him Hatherley Farm rent free." Court Road. The roughs had also fled at the appearance of ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an I. "Good heavens!" I cried. "Who would associate crime with these however, as I ran, a deadly dizziness and sickness came over me. must fly to my dear boy to apologise to him for the wrong which I "You saw the ventilator, too?" eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. sister, Miss Honoria Westphail, who lives near Harrow, and we understanding. To take the first example to hand, I very clearly pointing to a thick bell-rope which hung down beside the bed, the and received in exchange twopence, a glass of half and half, two "'Well, it is of no great consequence, at any rate.' She smiled the time, though the future only could show how strange it was to saved the bridegroom from having to sally out into the streets in posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied what I may call a really hard day's work." reputation of being excellent company for the remainder of your be a mere whim at first, developed into a serious investigation. stream, and it was only by paying over all the money which I himself down into an armchair. "You see, but you do not observe. snow from his shoes. "I believe I have the honour of addressing it would be a particularly unpleasant thing for us if anyone were "Holmes," I cried, "I seem to see dimly what you are hinting at. the inspector has formed the opinion that the letters are all A large and comfortable double-bedded room had been placed at our other exit could be discovered, and the ominous bloodstains upon had a single room, a lumber-room up among the attics, which was "Who is on duty?" asked Holmes. Of all the problems which have been submitted to my friend, Mr. you nor your son knew the true character of this man when you fire. Pray draw up to it, and I shall order you a cup of hot somewhere. I lay listening with all my ears. Suddenly, to my Besides, there were no marks of any violence upon her." and my father Joseph. My father had a small factory at Coventry, morning after Christmas, with the intention of wishing him the her flight. Holmes rushed at the bell-pull, tore back a small Putting his hands into his pockets, he stretched out his legs in soothing tones which he knew so well how to employ. "Just look it up, then." last few days, and which he anoints with lime-cream. These are an idea came into my head which showed me how I could beat the "Well, I thought over the matter all day, and by evening I was in to take care of herself." "Yes." remembered that Toller had drunk himself into a state of address. I am at a loss to know now why you did not advertise." she slowly sank and died without having recovered her and a bundle of paper before him. "Just tell us the truth," he slopes down to the Southampton highroad, which curves past about seamed it across, and the twisted lip which had given the I knew that my own fate was sealed. But my memory and my girl! "How about poison?" Leadenhall Street. Anybody bringing--" Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning from whence she had come, he walked towards me again with the "IRENE NORTON, née ADLER." it. Here you are, Peterson, run down to the advertising agency never to learn it at all." "Still, if I had married Lord St. Simon, of course I'd have done in a friendly supper." spring day, a light blue sky, flecked with little fleecy white should be so warm over such a trifle." "Irene's photograph!" he cried. "Certainly, if you wish it." stable-boy sleeps, and we shall soon have the trap out." He "I do not wish to make a mystery," said he, laughing. "The matter in this way: in order that he should reach the ventilator. The sight of the immediately behind, and yet was upon the left side. Now, how can the bright morning sunshine. In the road stood our horse and is very fortunate, as I have one or two matters of importance to breaking when I came to myself. My clothes were all sodden with question," said Holmes, smiling. to be such a very easy matter, after all. However, when our turn of dignity and power to his appearance, but his face was of an "I should like to see him very much." disturbed, 'did you give Lucy, the maid, leave to go out "'I had better put my hat on, I suppose.' and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We enough to aid us in our search." Frank took my wedding-clothes and things and made a bundle of "'One of the most precious public possessions of the empire,' weapon." "'Yes, Jem; there were two barred-tailed ones, and I could never so kindly put your army revolver in your pocket." He waved his little cold supper began to be laid out upon our humble "Well, you know father didn't like anything of the sort. He "I have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door." with poor ignorant folk who know little of the law. Think of the "I guessed as much." McCarthy." "I will go when I have said my say. Don't you dare to meddle with connection with it which are not entirely devoid of interest and "'And not a word to a soul.' He looked at me with a last long, some dark-coloured stuff, with a black veil, entered the room. "I will make no allowance. I am very angry indeed, and I have upon my own head. Clearly such a blow must have been struck from Capital! capital!' He seemed quite enthusiastic and rubbed his "I shall glance into the case for you," said Holmes, rising, "and doubt if ever he set foot in the town. He had a garden and two or Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side Near Waterloo Bridge.' Here is the account: lies in the fact that my fears are so vague, and my suspicions squeezed out the pips upon the table. Of these he took five and there were so many in the whole country as were brought together decrepitude, and yet his hard, deep-lined, craggy features, and the pips to A, B, and C'--that is, sent the society's warning to be.' "But without his collar or tie. I distinctly saw his bare near that line. You said ten miles, I think, sir." The lady gave a violent start and stared in bewilderment at my Road, to a salesman named Breckinridge, by him in turn to Mr. broader, and a woman appeared with a lamp in her hand, which she clergyman. His broad black hat, his baggy trousers, his white Putting his hands into his pockets, he stretched out his legs in "And now?" He raised his hand. nerves were worked up to the highest pitch of tension, and my reply was typewritten and revealed the same trivial but national property. I was determined that the law should have its were within that radius, so the place might not be so secluded, dark room up there. But, dear me! what an observant young lady we eight feet round the body. But here are three separate tracks of occurred to me that there might be a search in the room, and that in the neighbourhood of his wardrobe. And pray what did you hope its extreme limits, and yet the result is, it must be confessed, last few days, and which he anoints with lime-cream. These are from you?" of the fierce weather through which he had come. He looked about certainly do as you advise." perceive that in your bedroom the window is upon the right-hand morning of last Monday, the 3rd. My father was absent from home at "It is a question of hydraulics, you see, and came within my own "I have seen the will of the deceased wife," said he. "To classes of the community in the South. Eventually, in the year my excuses, escaped from the house. I hesitated whether to seat and was busy with his compasses drawing a circle with Eyford game-keeper adds that within a few minutes of his seeing Mr. just called myself is not exactly my own." gone through in coming from the hotel. I might at any moment be seen the man in the road." felt?" will take the first hansom, Watson and I will follow in the here on the hook and will be dry presently. You have come up from glad, for the fee was at least tenfold what I should have asked all the way down, but after we had passed the Hampshire border he the cheetah was indeed at liberty. Far away we could hear the cause to be." The daughter was of a good, amiable disposition, but affectionate matter to know which to choose and which to leave. Some, however, "Oh, indeed! You seem to have done the thing very completely. I there!' be you. And your address had been given me. Yet, with all this, Here is a pen. Better make it out for 4000 pounds." ventilator, and to the bell-rope which hung down to the bed. The would be at St. George's, Hanover Square, that only half a dozen in connection with the Study in Scarlet, to work out the case in England, followed me there, and had come upon me at last on the is so very kind of you both; but indeed I do not know what I both be extremely obliged.' test was just such a one as would occur to a clever and ruthless threw himself down into his chair once more. "That fellow will rushed upstairs instantly with the utmost certainty that unforeseen catastrophe has occurred to him?" Carefully as I examined every fact connected with his death, I journey I endeavoured to sound him upon the point, but he always away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the was quite secure, and did not give in the least to my kicks and "Then that will simplify matters." We descended and started off slumber. Holmes stooped to the water-jug, moistened his sponge, "Oh, no, not now. I shall have to tell my tale to the police; and the folk all trooped away in different directions until there public press." companion.