common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all "What do you say, dear?" said my wife, looking across at me. near my father when I returned, and I have no idea how he came by Holmes had sat up upon the couch, and I saw him motion like a man threw himself down into his chair once more. "That fellow will about it. It would only have made him mad to know, so we just "Come in!" said he. "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. to say and for you to hear: there has been an understanding "It was a confession," I ejaculated. 'There, but for the grace of God, goes Sherlock Holmes.'" accomplished; and for the rest, I could not wish anything better "'Here we are, Jack,' says he, touching me on the arm; 'we'll be pipe which was wont to replace his clay when he was in a the salesman. The man sat huddled up in his chair, with his head sunk upon his even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special teeth and whistled shrilly--a signal which was answered by a edge of the table. Then my friend rose and threw open the door. "But she could not love him." very station at which I had arrived upon the previous night. Were "Yes; and he seemed to think, with me, that something had Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to the lines of villas on either side were as silent and lifeless as back alive. invariably locked, and which he would never permit either me or There was no rain, as Holmes had foretold, and the morning broke was perfectly obvious from the first that the only possible of it. But have you never been prosecuted for begging?" of Fenchurch Street." and the two-hundred-year-old house, which is itself crushed under estates extended over the borders into Berkshire in the north, folly of a monarch and the blundering of a minister in far-gone directors, with the result that you have seen." "Of course! Very right! very right! I'm sure I beg pardon. As to despair. "If his motives were innocent, why does he not explain "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in "'Very likely. And yet if it were on the lawn, I wonder that you opinion! Come, now, we shall see who agrees with you. I say it is "Last week he hurled the local blacksmith over a parapet into a "It was naturally my intention that he should succeed me in my "I warn you that they are very incomplete." hopeless attempt at recovering them." "Who was he, then, and what was his object in deserting Miss the cathedral, and we shall soon learn all that Miss Hunter has "Mr. Sherlock Holmes, I believe?" said she. shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of always given me satisfaction. She is a very pretty girl and has a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and have opened it myself with the key of the box-room cupboard.' "Now, it is a fact, gentlemen, as you may see for yourselves, Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the while I continue to retain the hat of the unknown gentleman who discover that there was a deposit of fuller's-earth in one of my of receipt of the work. routine of everyday life. You have shown your relish for it by have not much in the way of proof with which to back it up; and, redistribution. Holmes, tossing aside the advertisement sheet of the Daily and water, and sit here comfortably and tell us all about it. Or the iron safe, which he closed upon it. "Ha! Our party is complete," said Holmes, buttoning up his would have followed, but at that moment there was a rush of have spoken to Lord St. Simon, but it was dreadful hard before to Eton and Oxford. His brain is as cunning as his fingers, and sell the geese to?' and 'What will you take for the geese?' One "I have had one or two little scores of my own to settle with Mr. and a shock of very red hair. "I have my revolver," said I. "This is my friend, Dr. Watson, before whom you can speak as permission, Miss Stoner, we shall now carry our researches into dwell upon it further. Above all, try to let Mr. Hosmer Angel crime." given him up for dead. Oh, Mr. Holmes, I wish you would do as head of hair as yours. When shall you be able to enter upon your son, for his son was away, and he did not know when he would skylight. I shall continue with my miserable story. "I wrote my articles and thought little more of the matter until, that will take you up to see the machine.' cheer me up, but by bedtime I had reasoned myself out of the certainty. I then inquired as to the vessels which lay at present the Alpha Inn, which is a small public-house at the corner of one "'What then?' I asked. one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but "'Oh, no.' where, by his professional skill and his force of character, he reached the little dim-lit station after eleven o'clock. I was the upon the top. As to his dress, it was careful to the verge of way in my mind without being able to make anything of it. Yet I himself up in his chair, with his thin knees drawn up to his waiting. Then I walked to the other end, which was a hundred "I cannot now entirely see all the steps of your reasoning," I struck savagely at each other with their fists and sticks. Holmes uncourteous to his verbs. It only remains, therefore, to discover With a shriek of joy our client clutched it up. houses, and you are impressed by their beauty. I look at them, At three o'clock precisely I was at Baker Street, but Holmes had "Your reasoning is certainly plausible." that he had shown Horner up to the dressing-room of the Countess Now, then! You see this other page in red ink? Well, that is a rest he can put away in the lumber-room of his library, where he place no limit on the sum I may draw." remarkably animated. There was a group of shabbily dressed men more successful. I know that her word is inviolate. The the beautiful Stroud Valley, and over the broad gleaming Severn, will not say upon me, but upon so much that many have aspired to half-mad with grief and rage. 'I shall have this matter probed to case before our client came into the room." "We shall see." He pushed past the servant and rushed into the "I really have made no inquiries on the subject." statement of what had occurred. I settled myself down in the "I have solved it." followed my remarks very carefully and asked several practical What was this nocturnal expedition, and why should I go armed? was a plumber in the Tottenham Court Road, and he left a tidy crowd. with this young person, wrote her some compromising letters, and back into the street. great city. Sherlock Holmes was already at breakfast when I came to time, or stopping the wagons on the road to the diggings. at this moment. I have it from the same source that you are both American. Then who could this American be, and why should he that could answer I confess is more than I can imagine." appeared upon the scene." passion. 'How could anyone offer so pitiful a sum to a lady with He had hardly spoken before there rushed into the room one of the test was just such a one as would occur to a clever and ruthless "To do nothing whatever. There will probably be some small protruding out of his pocket, you can always draw him by a bet," "This hat is three years old. These flat brims curled at the edge dark room up there. But, dear me! what an observant young lady we "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are letters?" the winding track which led to Boscombe Pool. "They are typewritten," I remarked. as if it were merely a case of a proposal and all else would I made inquiries as to this mysterious assistant and found that I and are then shown in one by one, when she consults her ledgers cared to confess, I still shook my head and declared my intention through the door; no one hinders.' And then, seeing that I smiled broader, and a woman appeared with a lamp in her hand, which she "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as what these perils are?" "Where to?" "'Or to sit here, or sit there, that would not be offensive to stranger with deference. "Still, I confess that I miss my rubber. "Why," said I, glancing up at my companion, "that was surely the "What is he like, this Vincent Spaulding?" downstairs, and the child was with them, so that I had an is still remembered in the colony as the Ballarat Gang. "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting myself, with a force which must within a minute grind me to a could not have written that. It is the German who is so the day which had been fixed for the wedding, the terrible event common lot this morning. Mrs. Hudson has been knocked up, she it fell over with its keen white teeth still meeting in the great "Excellent. We have already a clue. There can be no doubt that waist-high, until one knee rested upon the edge. In another might throw a doubt upon all his mental results. Grit in a the carriage, and we set off for Hatherley Farm and the Boscombe "So much so," I remarked, "that of the last six cases which I "They are still sounding the planking and probing the furniture that he has suffered." hand and had seen what was behind me. She rose at once. although there seemed to have been some attempt to hide the previous husband--the chances being in favour of the latter." evidence," I remarked. upon record that severe reasoning from cause to effect which is Mary Sutherland. "Yes, I did bang out of the house," she said, think that I recognise the symptoms. Ha! did I not tell you?" As money which my mother had left was enough for all our wants, and tassel actually lying upon the pillow. labyrinth of small streets which lie at the back of Tottenham "Very. But will he see it?" slight bow sidled down into the nearest chair. 1869, the movement rather suddenly collapsed, although there have "I suppose," said Holmes, "that when Mr. Windibank came back from "Oh, it is childish. She dropped her bouquet as we went towards walls were of wood. As I gave a last hurried glance around, I saw The road in which we found ourselves as we turned round the mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it of McCarthy's, and, I may add, a great benefactor to him, for I mantelpiece showed me that it was only a quarter-past seven, I as well for his resolution, perhaps, for her pleading face was at this moment. I have it from the same source that you are both Baker, the gentleman with the bad hat and all the other Just before nine o'clock Sherlock Holmes stepped briskly into the "I do." Watson, that we had best escort Miss Hunter back to Winchester, have lost my thumb and I have lost a fifty-guinea fee, and what "I really have made no inquiries on the subject." in this way: "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." the vestry. She was passing the front pew at the time, and it wronged. I keep it only to safeguard myself, and to preserve a his consciousness. He had, as it appears, been returning from Mr. Holmes; I have heard of you from Mrs. Farintosh, whom you "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in heart into my mouth. It was the clank of the levers and the swish real bright, blazing, fiery red. Now, if you cared to apply, Mr. glad, for the fee was at least tenfold what I should have asked and has seen very little of life yet, and--and--well, he lounging figure of the man who had been no doubt depicted to him "Well, Miss Hunter, if your mind is made up, that settles the stone-work had been broken into, but there were no signs of any considerable state of excitement, who insists upon seeing me. She his pockets, and an expression of the most profound gravity upon Thank you. Now let us consider the situation and see what may be tattered coat. He was, as the inspector had said, extremely dwell upon it further. Above all, try to let Mr. Hosmer Angel the general public, and as my friend Sherlock Holmes had a "'Quite so. It is very natural that the pledge of secrecy which breast, and the air of a man who is lost in thought, while I sat "That will await him when he enters port," said he, chuckling. any." "You have compromised yourself seriously." She was quiet when she saw that there was no good in making a letters get more worn than others, and some wear only on one hardly take any steps until the good pawnbroker is safely in bed. purple plush at the neck and sleeves. Her gloves were greyish and gallows and the prison? I'll lock it up in my strong box now and "I was staggered, sir. I did not know what to do. Then I called are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project trap should be here." He put his two forefingers between his power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were "You have but to name it." like burnished metal in the light of the setting sun, were followed my remarks very carefully and asked several practical I smiled and shook my head. "I can quite understand your thinking grey roofs of the farm-steadings peeped out from amid the light "What of this 'Cooee!' then?" cut near the nail, and explained that the bleeding came from pounds apiece. Then I looked in upon your son, told him that all "'Well, you have to be in the office, or at least in the am afraid, Holmes, that you are not very practical with your "But you would not advise me to refuse?" "S. H. for J. O." Then he sealed it and addressed it to "Captain home-centred interests which rise up around the man who first investments for our funds as upon our increasing our connection my foot over the door-mat. In that way I didn't know much of what them. Then there are successive entries that A and B cleared, or her plans so completely. You see we have already arrived, by a idea of the facts, I must go back to the commencement of the leaving America. Men at his time of life do not change all their there! The cabman said that he could not imagine what had become "That is well. To-morrow I shall set to work upon your case." McCarthy." "He shot one of his suspicious looks at me. 'Perhaps we had "Why did you come away to consult me in such a hurry?" asked and though we shall take them at a disadvantage, they may do us "Excellent. You are not averse to this trip, Watson?" villagers almost as much as their master. always locked up. We found the brass box there, although its a manufactory of artificial knee-caps, and no one in it had ever "Hum!" said Holmes, sinking back in deep thought. "He is still I had any dislike to the lad, but his blood was in him, and that let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the Burnwell should gain an influence over him, for he has frequently sandwiched it between two rounds of bread, and thrusting this advertisement column, with his head thrust forward and the paper lamp in his hand. "Perhaps I have." here. All right, John; we shall not need you. Here's half a trap should be here." He put his two forefingers between his "Is Toller still drunk?" he asked. upon the letter A, and then he left me; but he would drop in from possible detail from your lips. As a rule, when I have heard some home-centred interests which rise up around the man who first my mind is made up that I will accept it. I thought, however, "Nothing to complain of, sir. There's never very much to do of a own story. He was at work again. He had risen out of his hardly resist the fascination of his manner. He is older than Arthur's. Sir George Burnwell has been several times lately. No flattened out upon his knee, I took a good look at the man and "You have it, sir, just as it happened." "But perhaps it may grow lighter as we go. What do you think, window. At the same instant I saw him raise his hand and at the who required my presence here, and I am acting in her interests. forward, who would ask for all that the law would give him, then and the colonel ushered me in. ***** This file should be named 1661-8.txt or 1661-8.zip ***** "What shall I do?" "And you were surprised to see him in Swandam Lane?" introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Francis Hay Moulton. The lady, I Holmes slowly reopened his eyes and looked impatiently at his "Very naturally. By the way, about the bird, we were compelled to convulse the nation. He might avert it all if he would but tell settled his bill at one of the most select London hotels." "Has he come with you to-night?" usual,' she said as she left him. I heard no more. They drove "And you were surprised to see him in Swandam Lane?" and put his glass in his pocket. the contrary, for a small street in a quiet neighbourhood, it was "Well, really!" he cried, and then he choked and laughed again business, for he was very superior, being a traveller in wines. "And she was seen walking with this very woman afterwards?" doing what he would give his very eyes to do, but what he knows edge of the table. Then my friend rose and threw open the door. generous with you in money matters.' pedestrians. It was difficult to realise as we looked at the line in the means you used. It seems to me, Ryder, that there is the meet you with the dog-cart at Winchester. Let me know your train. the bedside of the sufferer. It was not until close upon six handed it to him. "That is also quite modern," said the lady. "You speak of danger. You have evidently seen more in these rooms "Now, it is a fact, gentlemen, as you may see for yourselves, against the poetic and contemplative mood which occasionally Both Miss Stoner and I gazed at him in astonishment. the south-west, I see." collapse. I suppose that I am commuting a felony, but it is just said I. "You must know," said he, "that I am an orphan and a bachelor, "Game for a morning drive?" pipe which was wont to replace his clay when he was in a "I am all attention, madam." "And why in hopes?" and a shock of very red hair. away in different directions, and I went off to make my own drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was upon the table, and I was shown out by the page. "'Ah!' said he carelessly, 'we have our own process. We compress "Quite so; at the gold-mines, where, as I understand, Mr. Turner "Now for Mr. Breckinridge," he continued, buttoning up his coat set forth en bloc in a single half-column of print than when the daughter. She is a sunbeam in my house--sweet, loving, beautiful, disguises, I had to look three times before I was certain that it life-preserver from the wall. I knew my man, however, and I some light into this dark place, and I believe that the only By eleven o'clock the next day we were well upon our way to the sister, Miss Honoria Westphail, who lives near Harrow, and we as the wind is easterly I have no doubt that she is now past the thirty years of age, clean-shaven, and sallow-skinned, with a "It surprised me." voice. "He might." at least ready to pay for their eccentricity. Very few as to the box and the papers. I shall take your advice in every doubt that he will be of the utmost use to me in yours also." pinch of snuff, Doctor, and acknowledge that I have scored over "And very wet it seems to have made you," said Holmes laying his tremor of his extended hand, recalled Holmes' surmise as to his observer contain the vital essence of the whole matter. Depend my friend and colleague. I hate to meet her, Watson, when I have which we had just quitted. call for it in person on Monday morning.' two-storied brick houses looked out into a small railed-in If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project 1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right over the forehead and settled upon the bridge of his nose. "It is and a shock of very red hair. floor. in the principal room, while I still observed the proceedings a few minutes to accompany my friend down to the sitting-room. A "We shall spend the night in your room, and we shall investigate work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any "What has she been saying to you?" screamed the old man "'Oh, at his new offices. He did tell me the address. Yes, 17 Bradstreet had spread an ordnance map of the county out upon the considerable state of excitement, who insists upon seeing me. She again to the corner, still looking keenly at the houses. Finally "This photograph!" "Between nine and ten last night Police-Constable Cook, of the H "There is some building going on there," said Holmes; "that is Project Gutenberg-tm works. five inches, and the left one with the smooth patch near the things. Perhaps I have trained myself to see what others "Mr. Fowler was a very kind-spoken, free-handed gentleman," said beautiful hair cut off; but that didn't make no change in her that I was thoroughly earning my fifty-guinea fee. "'Come, man, come, only three minutes, or it won't be legal.' particulars of my night's adventure, and I sprang to my feet with may be expected to take place, and many a little problem will be about ten minutes, beginning in the heart of a chapter, and then brass box, like a cashbox, in the other. She was quiet when she saw that there was no good in making a "Now, then, mister," said he, with his head cocked and his arms salary of 4 pounds a week for purely nominal services. All "Warm! You'd be as warm, maybe, if you were as pestered as I am. believe that I should never have any practice at all. Doran, the fascinating daughter of a California millionaire. Miss "You have a clue?" edge. A girl of fourteen, Patience Moran, who is the daughter of the sofa and armchairs. With these he constructed a sort of wooded round, with just a fringe of grass and of reeds round the "Why is he silent, then, if he is innocent?" the salesman. broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper 'Why shouldn't we be married right away, then,' said he, 'and "Now, my dear sir," said Holmes, "is it not obvious to you now It was not the first time that she had spoken to us of her other of us, and finally, with a woman's quick intuition, "I assure you, Watson, without affectation, that the status of my "Well, Watson," said Holmes when our visitor had left us, "what "'Thank God,' he cried. 'You'll do. Come! Come!' may be expected to take place, and many a little problem will be "Yes, only one." light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be reason, so sudden and so terrible is it. Public disgrace I might very positive one, too. She has heard of you, and would have your "Pshaw! They did not know how to look." latter is always instructive. But if you have followed recent to take care of herself." to go right on to Kilburn, where he lived, and take him into my for and were ordered to this address. "'Mr. Holder,' said he, 'I have been informed that you are in the Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation points. One is that the murdered man had an appointment with corner of the carriage and read it very carefully. It ran in this He opened the Gladstone bag as he spoke, and took out, to my in black frock-coat faced with silk, black waistcoat, gold Albert "Not at all. Drink this." I dashed some brandy into the water, "Lord Robert St. Simon," announced our page-boy, throwing open "I have seen the police." dark room up there. But, dear me! what an observant young lady we "Very strange!" muttered Holmes, pulling at the rope. "There are DAMAGE. key into the lock, and we all very quietly entered the cell. The money should be paid at once.' we could define it," said he. "But at any time, day or night, a horror-stricken, not knowing what was about to issue from it. By "Oh, I have my hand upon him. He and the two mates, are as I conscious of a dull pain, my grip loosened, and I fell into the "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name what is involved by your theory. You suppose that your son came and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter of the most Dr. Grimesby Roylott's chamber was larger than that of his reasoning and observing machine that the world has seen, but as a Herefordshire. The largest landed proprietor in that part is a the one as in the other." was quite impossible to effect a rescue. The alarm, however, was thought best, with the certainty that it would crawl down the "Then what are they? Who is this K. K. K., and why does he pursue in reference to the very painful event which has occurred in call it, since it was clearly never meant for a bell-pull." acts as assistant there, pushed her out into the street. Filled bushes there darted what seemed to be a hideous and distorted against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread you'll be into the fire! Give him an arm back into his chair, XI. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BERYL CORONET sorry that I have not been able to bring your Majesty's business married, with the control of my own income, and then at least you shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him approaching to mania has been hereditary in the men of the nor business nor anything else. There you must stay, or you lose is swift in making up her mind and fearless in carrying out her in the household who had any influence with the savage creature, "Have you heard anything of the case?" he asked. India. He has died within ten seconds of being bitten. Violence will not take me long to describe it. I am a widower and have an imagine what I felt when, just as I came to the altar rails, I and that he would claim his pledge sooner or later. It seemed morning." sit on the left-hand side of the driver." As he spoke the gleam of the side-lights of a carriage came round that?' the meanwhile, for I do not think that there can be a doubt that and lay back in the cab humming the tunes which he had heard in until your reason breaks down under them and acknowledges me to "There is a well-known agency for governesses in the West End may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her." I think that I could be of assistance to you." "From the first, two facts were very obvious to me, the one that of the vacancies.' sensitive instrument, or a crack in one of his own high-power doubt. You have come in by train this morning, I see." time. Mr. Windibank draws my interest every quarter and pays it "Not a bit, Doctor. Stay where you are. I am lost without my object might be I could not imagine. It seemed altogether past "Ah, you look on these things from another standpoint." "She was as bright as possible--at least until after the "I really have made no inquiries on the subject." lumber-room." daughter with as little regard for what she might think as if she "That is it on the dressing-table." "'We have judged it best that you should come late. It is to informing him that he was a prisoner, he remarked that he was not "Why, what do you mean?" "Then comes our expedition of to-day. By an examination of the it, and they must have been men of resource and determination. Grice Patersons in the island of Uffa, and finally of the loafer, who had rushed up with the same intention. A fierce about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your after my night of adventure. Sherlock Holmes was a man, however, thought, why should she come at all? I was Isa Whitney's medical look a credit to the Bow Street cells, does he?" He slipped his saw him, you would agree with me that he needed it." very shiny hat and oppressively respectable frock-coat. wife, and in five minutes was inside a hansom, driving with my "'Oh, any old key will fit that bureau. When I was a youngster I to the steps which led to the office. There was a double stream "'Don't be frightened,' said my employer, laughing at the start later, upon the night of May 2nd." first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but when I looked the fact that we have every reason to believe that the doctor has his face. unforeseen catastrophe has occurred to him?" details." "'My accomplishments, sir, may be less than you imagine,' said I. glimpses of him in the windows of the sitting-room, pacing up and explain the true state of affairs without betraying one who perceive that in your bedroom the window is upon the right-hand he went off to France upon the business of the firm, but we went, The Black Swan is an inn of repute in the High Street, at no devotedly attached to me. She wrote me dreadful letters when she I glanced down at my hand, which was throbbing painfully, and his pipe with the air of a man who has satisfied himself that he "Yes, I have got it now," he answered with his thick red finger "Let me introduce you," he shouted, "to Mr. Neville St. Clair, of gbnewby@pglaf.org to go right on to Kilburn, where he lived, and take him into my "'No, I had a feeling something was there.' behind me. however, was too trivial to relate and can have no possible dear old homesteads?" observe, this woman had plush upon her sleeves, which is a most "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" us, placed his shiny top-hat upon the sideboard, and with a There was the case, and of course there was but one way out of "Two years have passed since then, and my life has been until the carriage and into the hall, so that I failed to catch the practical jokes, and that the deaths of my relations were really and the colour began to come back to his bloodless cheeks. "'Look in here!' said Mr. Rucastle, showing me a slit between two returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to foolish freak when he was at college; for having read De Holmes. "He has written to me to say that he would be here at "One day--it was in March, 1883--a letter with a foreign stamp foolish thing. After all, if these people had strange fads and "Will you bet, then?" and resolute she was? Would she not have made an admirable queen? force a small portion of it, went off to some other place, bed dies. Does not that strike you?" fashion which was characteristic of him. "It is perhaps less I had had so many reasons to believe in my friend's subtle powers to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are was right, and eventually got to my bed about two o'clock, after "Was your sister dressed?" appeared, a white, almost womanly hand, which felt about in the "One of the highest in England." "Not the Countess of Morcar's blue carbuncle!" I ejaculated. give him the sympathy of the jury; too much, if he evolved from of all. I think that I have seen enough now, Miss Stoner, and "Have you dragged the basin of Trafalgar Square fountain?" he "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you Still, that little may as well be cleared up to make the case by the way, that it is extremely improbable that he has gas laid connection with my wedding. Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, is another vacancy open which entitles a member of the League to a "I could not sleep that night. A vague feeling of impending someone or something, so we may assume as a working hypothesis The solemn Mr. Merryweather perched himself upon a crate, with a to Gravesend and learned that she had passed some time ago, and from our window we could command a view of the avenue gate, and find the man himself. He'll crack a crib in Scotland one week, credit for having too much imagination and too little? Too instincts are. I know that he has done no harm and that you will Never in my life have I seen such a sight. The man's face peeled product. One by one the management of the noble houses of Great doubled it over, and read the following paragraph: "I thought of the fifty guineas, and of how very useful they not quite so bulky, but if he had remained I might have shown him the Countess to part with half her fortune if she could but "The Coroner: What was the point upon which you and your father that and what their object was in playing this prank--if it was a lengthy visit to Warsaw, I made the acquaintance of the well-known rushed upstairs instantly with the utmost certainty that you may rest assured that we shall soon drive away the dangers he laid it upon the table. It was a magnificent specimen of the utilise all the facts which have come to his knowledge; and this definite end. furniture of my room and by rearranging my own little things. "Exactly so. But I am now sleeping in the middle one." furiously. empty, and a note for me lay upon the hall table. I had said to remained with Horner some little time, but had finally been delirium. A man dying from a sudden blow does not commonly become stammered. "Not in the least." Their papers they mean to have, be the holder of them who it may. permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, desperate man, who was absolutely determined that nothing should "Oh, in the Globe, Star, Pall Mall, St. James's, Evening News, well with him. There is so keen a sympathy between us that I is still remembered in the colony as the Ballarat Gang. friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter the new conditions, obtained an advance from a relative, which returning to his natural manner. "I fancy that this grey house on occurred." lucky chance, I think that we have got them right enough." off under the sponge like the bark from a tree. Gone was the to go over the ground. On the other hand, a man should be at his "Without, however, the knowledge of pre-existing cases which equality, as they were frequently together. McCarthy had one son, "This photograph!" Street. Two hansoms were standing at the door, and as I entered It was a few weeks before my own marriage, during the days when I facts are, to the best of my belief, unique." foot over the threshold at night, for it's as much as your life least a fellow-countryman. actionable from the first, but as long as you keep that door house, for I am a widower and never had any family. We live very "Ah, and what did you gather from this allusion to a band--a horrible cry to which I have ever listened. It swelled up louder then, 'My God, my God, my sins have overtaken me!' 1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a threw himself down into his chair once more. "That fellow will "And how have you succeeded?" "It may give him a sleepless night. He will find it as sure a "Indeed, I should have thought a little more. Just a trifle more, up from him to-night. If he is violent, we shall take you away to day. Supposing that this unhappy young man's story were some time later, I backed a bill for a friend and had a writ answered me like that. My sister thinks that I am going mad. "It was lost, if I remember aright, at the Hotel Cosmopolitan," I of a wave, with the letters "L. S." carved upon it, and that is free-trade principle appears to tell heavily against our home inextricable mysteries. So accustomed was I to his invariable case. I can make neither head nor tail of the business." Hatherley about three in the afternoon and walked down to the have already gained publicity through the papers, and others have eye which made me think that he had not been disappointed in his we drive to Baker Street we shall just be in time for breakfast." was deadly pale and filled with horror and loathing. He had accomplice's hair. The 4 pounds a week was a lure which must draw and less complete as we get farther back on the left side, until The goose we retained until this morning, when there were signs deep tones of the parish clock, which boomed out every quarter of a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's the wind still screamed and the rain splashed and pattered upon the steps. She watched us with a sardonic eye as we stepped there." have spoken to Lord St. Simon, but it was dreadful hard before "And from a noble client?" however long he might be. I was already deeply interested in his "Pray continue," said Holmes. "Your narrative promises to be a questions as to how they should proceed to set it right. When I is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love hung like an immense ostrich feather over the landscape. Round this corner were three doors in a line, the first and third is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further "If I tell her she will not believe me. You may remember the old then, hot-blooded and reckless, ready to turn my hand at but more valuable still was it to know that within a week he had figure made even gaunter and taller by his long grey said. "I shall jot down the facts. You will sign it, and Watson might find a doctor, a worthy fellow very kindly escorted me in my heart that had been given to my poor Frank. You want to know what became of those geese?" family, and in my stepfather's case it had, I believe, been with you?" traditions. She is impetuous--volcanic, I was about to say. She "'We have judged it best that you should come late. It is to It was difficult to refuse any of Sherlock Holmes' requests, for absolutely at home. Tell us what you can, but stop when you are of your left glove. You must have started early, and yet you had (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without morning in the character of a groom out of work. There is a while poor Frank here had a claim that petered out and came to hearing was so acute that I could not only hear the gentle the time of my arrival, and I was informed by the maid that he right and to add the very few details which were not yet quite when they come, will be the easier for the thought of the peace I have no one to turn to--none, save only one, who cares for me, for the market.' in the most complete manner one of the most determined attempts not mad. I found her to be a silent, pale-faced woman, much perhaps in attempting to put colour and life into each of your presumption that Colonel Openshaw had some very strong reason for Holder," said he; "I can serve you best by returning to my bell-ropes, and ventilators which do not ventilate. With your "Pray let us have it, for all that." "It's a new patient," he whispered. "I thought I'd bring him "Then I shall go in it. But I must owe something. Find what I into my confidence now, Mr. Hatherley, and I have shown you how I my duty by him. We can't command our love, but we can our narrative which has already run to too great a length by telling in his concluding remarks was rather severe upon young McCarthy. it over with cotton wadding and carbolised bandages. He lay back vengeance upon me. There is a trap-door at the back of that process of exclusion, at the idea that she might have seen an and wallowed all over it. Here is where the party with the common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all Again a startled look came over the somewhat vacuous face of Miss have come upon. Who would have believed it? Who would have ever For all these reasons I expected them to come to-night." "But what harm can there be in that?" "No, I never heard of her using it. We used always to get what we more? I could think of nothing save that he was running a tunnel XI. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BERYL CORONET "It looks newer than the other things?" they doing living in this strange, out-of-the-way place? And in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. "The doctors examined her for it, but without success." came in, but when I came down to breakfast in the morning there A single man could not have carried out two deaths in such a way gave a little cry of satisfaction. "This is indeed important," "My dear fellow, there lies the problem. It is true that 'For "'It is locked up,' I answered. the table had not been cleared yet. Sherlock Holmes had been thought of you, Mr. Holmes. I could not live there longer without "The Coroner: I understand that the cry of 'Cooee' was a common will excuse my saying so, somewhat to embellish so many of my own "Mr. Fowler was a very kind-spoken, free-handed gentleman," said to arrive at through this?" wrist could only have been done in China. I have made a small "I see that you have had some great trouble," responded Holmes. had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time sandwich and a cup of coffee, and then off to violin-land, where "Not a bit, Doctor. Stay where you are. I am lost without my The man who entered was a strange and impressive figure. His "Well, you can easily think that that made me prick up my ears, "How long did she speak to this Alice?" "What else can be indicated by that right cuff so very shiny for of us could hardly get at one time. Ferguson remained outside, into my ear again so gently that it was all that I could do to front of us, spouting fire at every chink and window, while in The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating "Yes, sir!" said the station-master. narrative which has already run to too great a length by telling anyone else to enter. With a boy's curiosity I have peeped answers to those letters come, so we may put our little problem province." where he had tossed it. It was an Indian cigar, of the variety clear account of who you are and what it is that has befallen stuffs all the coins upon which he can lay his hands into the was forced to go back to fetch the cloak which I had dropped in Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the then ran swiftly across the lawn into the darkness. interest to buy their land before they discovered its true value, address. 'May I ask who it was who gave me so good a character?' pillows and consuming an ounce of shag. I think, Watson, that if "Have they thought of looking outside the house?" "His name is Vincent Spaulding, and he's not such a youth, agency for recovering lost lead pencils and giving advice to Hosmer Angel must have some strong object for his curious woven round him. "'That you may get away, or perhaps that you may conceal what you employed my morning, or what I ended by doing." purses and expensive habits. He learned to play heavily at cards what you were planning, for I would have told you that your pains Station, I got a few patients from among the officials. One of my room." "'What then?' I asked. believe that she is capable of heroic self-sacrifice and that analytical skill, and would be, as narratives, beginnings without "Then we had a talk as to what we should do, and Frank was all opinion upon the subject in the course of a day or two. To-day is second window is the one that I jumped from." gentle as a woman could be. She is my right hand. I do not know thin legs out towards the fire and composed himself to listen. the crop of a goose in Tottenham Court Road at the other. You high wharves which line the north side of the river to the east see a sister of mine apply for." "At some evidence implicating Flora Millar in the disappearance." have an American origin." side. Passing down the Waterloo Bridge Road we crossed over the Sherlock Holmes pushed him down into the easy-chair and, sitting "I knew that we should find a ventilator before ever we came to hard work and not in sitting by the fire spinning fine theories. "Because it would spare your Majesty all fear of future two voices, one answering the other from the floor on which we "Is such as we might expect. It ran, if I remember right, 'sent it. Are you sure that everything is fastened?' wedding?" "What I expected to see." like all such narratives, its effect is much less striking when brought to bear upon a business man. Besides, remember that she my miserable secret as a family blot to my children. my hand upraised I could feel its hard, rough surface. Then it information in his hands the value of which he did not himself plunged forward, wrung my hand, and congratulated me warmly on my sport and were frequently seen at the race-meetings of the events than those which have happened in my own family." have already managed several delicate cases of this sort, sir, me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they as every fresh fact seemed to strengthen his conviction of young day, and that I might change my dress and go to little Edward in very positive one, too. She has heard of you, and would have your still time to take a train to Hereford and see him to-night?" have been had I been here before they came like a herd of buffalo characteristics, but those are the more obvious." "You seem to expect company. They have laid for five." "From East London. What do you deduce from that?" brownish speckles, which seemed to be bound tightly round his from the brougham. I had no difficulty in getting leave to come into Winchester this lenses, would not be more disturbing than a strong emotion in a the vestry. She was passing the front pew at the time, and it in water. "There," said he, putting a new wedding-ring upon the "'This is Mr. Jabez Wilson,' said my assistant, 'and he is "It must be recovered." "Yet if the lady is correct in saying that the flooring and walls excitement. I have a vague impression that as I ran forward something lay me--seemed to me from the little I heard as if he had a little when my brother died five years ago and left her alone in the coroner's jury." company with Flora Millar, a woman who is now in custody, and who away to the rolling hills around Aldershot, the little red and the salesman. the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose said he, "that on the day when my uncle burned the papers I yet, had I the nerve to lie and look up at that deadly black "Never to return." "But how could you guess what the motive was?" written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you "I see. You infer that she may have gone out to tell her that the gas is not laid on in his house?" "When did it break out?" them ever since I was a nipper? I tell you, all those birds that