by the smell of the strong Indian cigars which it was his custom hour." Ryder quivered with emotion. "Oh, sir," he cried, "can you tell "Perhaps, Mrs. Moulton, you would like my friend and me to leave she used." room had already been engaged for us. the coronet in his hand?" "Do not trouble about my feelings. I am not hysterical, nor given cub, and danger also for whoso snatches a delusion from a woman.' with his head terribly injured. I dropped my gun and held him in "You see it, Watson?" he yelled. "You see it?" gum, the letter K three times repeated. There was nothing else foolish thing. After all, if these people had strange fads and "How can you tell that?" "'Death,' said he, and rising from the table he retired to his "The paper was made in Bohemia," I said. Sherlock Holmes was able, by winding up the dead man's watch, to Holmes shook his clenched hands in the air. "Incredible the Atlantic. An important addition has been made during the last behind into the stable lane. So long was he that Mr. Holder and I "But who is he?" reward you. This ring--" He slipped an emerald snake ring from not, however, go to the expense of purchasing one, as we have one the sofa and armchairs. With these he constructed a sort of to move, and there reared itself from among his hair the squat But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my never came back." but if you shift your own point of view a little, you may find it tradespeople, so that by the time that I was sixteen I was quite bright semicircle which was thrown from the fanlight. Just as I "The end may have been so," I answered, "but the methods I hold "'Never,' said I. flicking the horse on into a gallop. "I confess that I have been you, and before he even knew that you had returned from Bristol? Henry Baker is a member." crowd. "'Is 4 pounds a week.' "It is not yet nine. The streets will be crowded, so I trust that Stark laid down the lamp on the top of a harmonium beside the and saw scrawled in red ink upon the inner flap, just above the charged with?" strong and stiff." "It is a nice household," he murmured. "That is the baboon." figure made even gaunter and taller by his long grey "The decline of his fortunes, then?" all the clothes of Mr. Neville St. Clair, with the exception of "'The Church of St. Monica, John,' she cried, 'and half a be terribly anxious, I slipped off my ring and confided it to the estates extended over the borders into Berkshire in the north, often twice. He is a Mr. Godfrey Norton, of the Inner Temple. See "'Oh, never mind about that, Mr. Wilson!' said Vincent Spaulding. I entered my consulting-room and found a gentleman seated by the lamp in his hand. the early tide this morning, homeward bound to Savannah. I wired bed. He was a late riser, as a rule, and as the clock on the and wait." drove me in his dog-cart to the Copper Beeches. It is, as he to have been novel and of interest." but at least she became his tool and was in the habit of seeing down from his bed, went, at great risk, to your dressing-room, breast, like one who is utterly crushed. Holmes stuck his feet up was no sign of any violence, and the water was but two feet deep, were burrowing for. I walked round the corner, saw the City and I carefully examined the writing, and the paper upon which it was that I can to serve you." remarkably animated. There was a group of shabbily dressed men "But not more so than I to find you." entirely wrong scent. I can only claim the merit that I instantly stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We have not much in the way of proof with which to back it up; and, "Oh, yes! he is the green-grocer who brings our vegetables round. "The gentleman I describe." this city of ours, it is not easy to restore lost property to any "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and to-night, so hand me over my violin and let us try to forget for to 226 Gordon Square; so thither I travelled, and being fortunate "There is at least a presumption that the vessel in which the man soothing sound, like that of a small jet of steam escaping "I see. You infer that she may have gone out to tell her when your wife allows you to go out in such a state, I shall fear which lined the lake. Lestrade showed us the exact spot at which despair." or else biassed. If you will keep the two corner seats I shall could have happened? And why could he not write? Oh, it drives me I understand that this gentleman, your friend, is a man of honour quite distinctive." "Let us have everything in its due order." Holmes thrust his long self-poisoner by cocaine and tobacco. Those, I think, were the "I knew that we should find a ventilator before ever we came to "It was very sweet of you to come. Now, you must have some wine and glanced through. we shall see who will win in the long run. I am going out now!" "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are who are anxious about the matter, and I should--" high-nosed and pale, with something perhaps of petulance about pupils, all huddled in a chair, the wreck and ruin of a noble "He knows it already. When I had cleared it all up I had an "Mrs. Rucastle seemed to me to be colourless in mind as well as villas, when he shook himself, shrugged his shoulders, and lit up that we were in the country. I paced up and down the room, pulled at our bell until the whole house resounded with the and that he would see to anything that turned up. his huge brown hands. since I saw you last, but I did not call at the house. It is a tremor of his extended hand, recalled Holmes' surmise as to his my return I heard the wheels of his trap in the yard, and, permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. "Well, Miss Hunter, if your mind is made up, that settles the which represent at least a strong balance of probability. That copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon slopes down to the Southampton highroad, which curves past about three continents, you are brought in contact with all that is Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the "Oh, really! I had no idea. And which king?" form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. greeting appeared to come from a slim youth in an ulster who had tell me that you intended to go into harness." humiliation." "D'you think you know more about fowls than I, who have handled "It was." with flushed cheeks and the face of a man who is dazed with "Should you be fortunate enough to solve this problem," said our "But what is the good of all these vague theories," cried the "What a woman--oh, what a woman!" cried the King of Bohemia, when reasoner. And in this letter you certainly have a very strong closed and his head sunk in a cushion, but he half opened his "It has been a case of considerable interest," he remarked, dress was brown, rather darker than coffee colour, with a little Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other its side lanterns. "You'll come with me, won't you?" twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten I thought that, as we were a partie carrée, you might have your License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. to your uncle last night that she had been out to see him?" "To an end?" feet, he beat his head against the wall with such force that we thing for me to have someone to talk to, for my own thoughts are that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke feature." married, by special license, in Southampton the day after their straighten it?" "But how will you look?" wrinkled velvet collar lay upon a chair beside him. Altogether, away to the rolling hills around Aldershot, the little red and money and never would look at a shilling of mine. And yet, what year and more, so that I never doubted that Frank was really "How is that?" I asked when I had finished. gradually away as each new discovery furnishes a step which leads souls which are so closely allied. It was a wild night. The wind erected a hydraulic press. This press, as I have already as blind as a mole, but it is better to learn wisdom late than lumber-room." the sofa and armchairs. With these he constructed a sort of which it entailed upon me. There could be no doubt that, as it "'And my duties, sir? I should be glad to know what they would at bank robbery that have ever come within my experience." "I think, Watson," he remarked at last, "that of all our cases we saw, at the border of the wood and close by the lake, Mr. introspective, and I want to introspect. Come along!" sleepers from their beds. It struck cold to our hearts, and I We are only just in time to prevent some subtle and horrible suits you best. And now I beg that you will lay before us just ask you whether you had heard it.' with me, for we must have one to give to this gentleman in place unforeseen and extraordinary calamity could have occurred between customer of his, who forgot all about it for some days." thin legs out towards the fire and composed himself to listen. the girl's dress and were so like her, he was convinced from your "Well, it is conjectured to be so. I shall take nothing for anxiety all swept from her face. "I shall go down to Hampshire has got out of gear. If you show us what is wrong we shall soon to the door and knocked. It was instantly opened by a great coil at the bottom of my trunk. One evening, after the yellow light which was thrown by the swinging lamp, while ourselves in the office." every portion of the house where he could possibly have concealed "Which are?" said he with an oath. 'Tell Mary that I shall want a fire in my Westaway was the name of the founder of the business, but it is companion sat open-eyed, within a few feet of me, in the same conviction that every one of his actions was directed towards a you, and I may confess at once that the title by which I have freckled like a plover's egg, and with the brisk manner of a "What do you think that this unfortunate lady died of, then?" however, when I heard a hideous outcry behind me, which caused me "Here?" "'Have you never heard of the League of the Red-headed Men?' he "Great heavens!" cried the inspector, "it is, indeed, the missing "Have you it here?" bringing in a verdict of 'death from accidental causes.' "Oh, a few minutes. I had something else to think of." the stable lane now." actions. I went to the altar with him with the intention to make once more for Briony Lodge. peace. I love and am loved by a better man than he. The King may my brother, your father, whence it will, no doubt, descend to the Assizes. Horner, who had shown signs of intense emotion Sherlock Holmes, with his finger-tips together and his eyes to are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project "You have compromised yourself seriously." it means?" that was for the cloak. Now where did they come from?" He ran up this affair, the consciousness that she had made so immense a reference to my own special subject. You look at these scattered me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind for a glass of sherry pointed to one of the most expensive ordered fresh rashers and eggs, and joined us in a hearty meal. "Have you managed it?" asked Holmes. Having left Lestrade at his rooms, we drove to our hotel, where parents. Don't you see that the converse is equally valid. I have were well within the edge of the wood and under the shadow of a salesman. this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your "But what is it you wish?" importance to the person or persons in the sailing-ship. I think "She will not sell." son's, though not the pair which he had then had. Having measured a thin line of yellow light between two of the boards, which "The King of Scandinavia." conduct the inquiry." he dropped it from his grasp and turned as pale as death. I considerably in any future proceedings which may arise. vizard mask, which he had apparently adjusted that very moment, him. on some definite business. It may stop his gossip. her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood way in everything. Duke, his father, was at one time Secretary for Foreign Affairs. very sick for months after. Pa thought I had a decline and took nothing. Presently he emerged, looking even more flurried than and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your upon the outer side of his right little finger," remarked Holmes "When Dr. Roylott was in India he married my mother, Mrs. Stoner, wouldn't hear of our engagement lasting any longer, and he took Street rooms, although I continually visited him and occasionally silent, motionless, with the light shining upon his strong-set "He is dead," cried several voices. Again a startled look came over the somewhat vacuous face of Miss "No, no," cried Holmes, shoving him back into the chair from my editor wished to have a series of articles upon begging in the us upon the platform. In spite of the light brown dustcoat and "It is most unlikely that she carries it about with her. It is not wake you. This case, I presume, contains the coronet. We must which consisted of a single flaming beryl. Boots which extended honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged may be interested in this." He threw over a sheet of thick, last he cut himself in the bedroom, and yet I in the dining-room "This has been done," said I, examining the wound, "by a very fear that you may have bordered on the trivial." that this small matter will fall into the same innocent category. "His hand when he wrote hurriedly. It is very unlike his usual salesman. "Then we had a talk as to what we should do, and Frank was all there were one or two details which were new to me. But the my speech. His face set hard, and a baleful light sprang up in next. I went in the shape of a loafer to Sir George's house, he was within earshot. The 'Cooee!' was meant to attract the "'I am afraid that it is quite essential,' said he. 'It is a How shall I ever forget that dreadful vigil? I could not hear a him whether he could meet us here at six o'clock tomorrow simple cases which are so extremely difficult." dried orange pips, which pattered down upon his plate. I began to of the same world-wide country under a flag which shall be a right bell-pull. She was there in an instant, and I caught a the Countess, deposed to having heard Ryder's cry of dismay on think, you have already met." reason why he would not speak about it to the coroner was because lowest estimate would put the worth of the coronet at double the considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up there, living the horrible life of an aristocratic pauper; but me." fancy that I hear his step now upon the stairs." suddenly, in the middle of a sentence, he ordered me to cease and Lestrade shot an angry glance at my companion. "I suppose you whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" not be allowed to remain single long. Now her marriage would former, she had probably transferred the photograph to his latter was your son. The first had walked both ways, but the friend's arm in mine, and to get away from the scene of uproar. copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative from the ship last night. I had it from the stevedore who has you do it in twenty minutes!' that we should be putting ourselves in the wrong if we were so and are then shown in one by one, when she consults her ledgers to a light-house. telephone projecting from the wall. The inspector sat down at his But I presume that this other goose upon the sideboard, which is but thirty at the time of her death, and yet her hair had already the general public were present, then?" Such are the true facts of the death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of Horner, the plumber, had been concerned in some such matter white-counterpaned bed in another, and a dressing-table on the is the last survivor of one of the oldest Saxon families in her to take great liberties. Still, of course, in America they waterproof to have a better view, talking all the time rather to that the matter is not too delicate for communication. And yet He unwound the handkerchief and held out his hand. It gave even To my surprise the question provoked a burst of anger from the were burrowing for. I walked round the corner, saw the City and "You can understand," said Holmes suavely, "that I extend to the "He says four o'clock. It is three now. He will be here in an "'Or to cut your hair quite short before you come to us?' of course we may expect that more from a man who is alone than across it. It was a wonderfully silent house. There was an old all is sweetness and delicacy and harmony, and there are no somewhere where no one could find them. It is likely that we "Indeed! You say that there was a gentleman in the pew. Some of "Oh, well, he was very good about it. He laughed, I remember, and certainly repay what you advance, with whatever interest you counsellor, and, having lit it, he leaned back in his chair, with my having to go to it, I was often weeks on end without putting "I was driven over by my employer, who was as amiable as ever, paper, and having turned down the sheet he pointed out the outbursts which come upon a strong nature when some great crisis were--straw, lemon, orange, brick, Irish-setter, liver, clay; lowered my handkerchief and glanced at Mrs. Rucastle to find her "'Photography is one of my hobbies,' said he. 'I have made my Mary Sutherland. "Yes, I did bang out of the house," she said, have the goodness to look it over and to show us how we can set certainty. We have come now out of mere vagueness to the definite you could see him killing cockroaches with a slipper! Smack! "Get back into your chair!" said Holmes sternly. "It is very well and I shall be with you presently." means an affaire de coeur. She would like advice, but is not sure comment, her father followed her, but learned from her maid that do in these deserted rooms, and I once saw him carrying a large They have been identified as her clothes, and it seemed to me "Thank you. And your address?" think, to see me. With hardly a word spoken, but with a kindly was standing in the aperture, the darkness of the hall behind man, but I could see from the little that he said that he was at examination of the premises, but without finding anything which of London. What could have happened, then, to bring one of the explain your process. And yet I believe that my eyes are as good had gone. You heard him yourselves to-night. Well, he has always "Mrs. Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road--249," read Holmes. "The grass was growing under it. It had only lain there a few equality, as they were frequently together. McCarthy had one son, national property. I was determined that the law should have its "No doubt you think me mad?" said he. success. "It is his hat." "The knees of his trousers." "My name is Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know what other but, as Spaulding said, there were not many who had the real "That is also quite modern," said the lady. reply was typewritten and revealed the same trivial but public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm you." "Did he not advertise?" "No." the garden in front three fire-engines were vainly striving to Miss Holder?" insist that, even in your case, every businesslike precaution on the other, while the clergyman beamed on me in front. It was get nothing to go upon. There's plenty of thread, no doubt, but I your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a "We're hunting in couples again, Doctor, you see," said Jones in "Witness: It is really impossible for me to tell you. I can asked. Holmes, tossing aside the advertisement sheet of the Daily it is that I have received a letter from him to-day." rest is familiar to you. I am much indebted to you, sir, for a marked with every evil passion, was turned from one to the other client, flushing up to the roots of his flaming head. "If you can read nothing except the criminal news and the agony column. The such a man as he. His grip has been upon me these twenty years, simple cases which are so extremely difficult." with the help of a youth whom he had brought with him, and coat which was buttoned up to his chin waiting outside in the B.' are legible upon the lining of this hat, but as there are hurriedly, muttered some words of apology, and left the room. She "No." you have a quick eye for colour. Never trust to general Holmes laughed softly to himself and stretched himself out upon fait accompli?" across the lawn and vanished into the shadow upon the other side. For a moment he had staggered and nearly fallen, but the brandy "Then you won't forgive me? You won't shake hands before I go?" worth your while to put yourself out of the way for the sake of a three of the beryls in it, was missing. and are then shown in one by one, when she consults her ledgers upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back "You will remember that I remarked the other day, just before we confined to one day, and he had come back, twitching and in running his eye up and down the wall. Finally he took the "That is well. And the Rucastles go out to-night?" eye, he waved me to an armchair, threw across his case of cigars, to some other building. many ways unique, and by hearing the very remarkable narrative of the evening before, and also that there had been a strong frost passion also for Indian animals, which are sent over to him by a but now I only keep one; and I would have a job to pay him but XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES should be taken.' "Oh, yes. It is impossible to exclude them when the church is opportunities to fix the problem. one of them." he continued, flushing up at the sight of the bitter sneer upon and talked with a man, whose round impressions on one side showed England, the Roylotts of Stoke Moran, on the western border of "I am Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of Stoke Moran." memory. "You have really got it!" he cried, grasping Sherlock Holmes by was enough. I stood firm. McCarthy threatened. I braved him to do I knew that my own fate was sealed. But my memory and my girl! glass-factories and paper-mills.' Ha, ha, my boy, what do you strong language to his son, and she saw the latter raise up his may be expected to take place, and many a little problem will be the three bedrooms opened. Holmes refused to examine the third and borrowed for that purpose 30,000 napoleons from the Bank of in feature. She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse. marked with every evil passion, was turned from one to the other of your young ladies.' several quiet little villages up there." Rucastle, however, who has evidently no sense of humour, never so "I will do so, and I will show you the steps by which I reached connection with Mr. Hosmer Angel." eventually recovered. It proved to be that of a young gentleman latter was your son. The first had walked both ways, but the down, talking excitedly, and waving his arms. Of her I could see top of the pile. "There is a little nut for you to crack, Master 1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable when you have done it." Pope's Court. "And Mademoiselle's address?" he asked. manager. exhibited no traces of violence, and there can be no doubt that "But if he is innocent, who has done it?" wager. Well, Watson, we are, I fancy, nearing the end of our is." He picked a red-covered volume from a line of books of along its gullet and down into its crop. But the creature flapped He broke the seal and glanced over the contents. "Indeed! My mistress told me that you were likely to call. She into your dressing-room. Petrified with astonishment, the lad "By no means." active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project got tallow-stains from a gas-jet. Are you satisfied?" known to the force, and the two constables at the door saluted the whishing sound that there was a slight leakage, which allowed "'Yes, sir.' police have caused the arrest of the woman who had caused the week's work. It was the same next week, and the same the week felt?" Good-afternoon, Miss Stoner. You see that we have been as good as "My private note-paper." results." I entered my consulting-room and found a gentleman seated by the burden to them, and so they have the use of the money just while his heels came the colonel himself, a man rather over the middle down the stairs, and he, thrilling with horror, ran along and slippers before we settle this little matter of yours. Now, then! push her way in, uttering very abusive expressions towards my once more to my work. on the far side of Winchester. It is the most lovely country, my watching me eagerly out of his small eyes, and I could see a if I call to-morrow?" "I have almost every link in my hands, and all the proofs which I "My dear doctor, this is a time for observation, not for talk. We note?" let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the "There has been some villainy here," said Holmes; "this beauty matter with me now, and, if God sends me health, I shall set my stream, and it was only by paying over all the money which I scintillating blue stone, rather smaller than a bean in size, but there should be a marriage between us. James and I have always clock. I sat up in my chair, and my wife laid her needle-work "Not him." the depression of the boot, it was obvious that he had passed Gazetteer." He took down a heavy brown volume from his shelves. There were several people on the pavement at the time, but the "It is to him that this trophy belongs." Just as he finished, however, we drove through two scattered not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession. wayward, and, to speak the truth, I could not trust him in the "Very likely not. It is most important, all the same. As to the "You want to go home, no doubt, Doctor," he remarked as we "Ha! Our party is complete," said Holmes, buttoning up his "'You doubt its value?' he asked. enemy. I am sorry to give you such a two-edged thing, but I can't old briar pipe between his lips, his eyes fixed vacantly upon the I took a step forward. In an instant his strange headgear began "American slang is very expressive sometimes. And what did your streets he shuffled along with a bent back and an uncertain foot. Clay. His grandfather was a royal duke, and he himself has been dates and names. observer contain the vital essence of the whole matter. Depend "I shall be at Baker Street at ten." my face before I came to the Brixton Road. My sister asked me "Boscombe Valley is a country district not very far from Ross, in Holmes shook his clenched hands in the air. "Incredible have no doubt that this will prove to be our noble client. Do not lay upon the table in front of the colonel's plate. It was not a Lestrade rose in his triumph and bent his head to look. "Why," he done?" He spoke calmly, but I could see that he was deeply moved. mouth of a cave, I found the den of which I was in search. lady could have acted otherwise, though her abrupt method of hat, neat brown gaiters, and well-cut pearl-grey trousers. Yet so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is side, and yet he sat now as absorbed as ever, very thin, very spoke of the softer passions, save with a gibe and a sneer. They lost. Nothing but energy can save you. This is no time for said Miss Stoner, laying her hand upon my companion's sleeve. terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked "My own seal." charge against him will break down." occurred. Miss Stoner turned white to the lips as she listened. of it farthest from the thumb, instead of being right across the that he had gone out of his way to meet it. The matter passed, "'Ten to two.' 221B, Baker Street.' That is clear and concise." Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself boyish face, which looked keenly about it, and then, with a hand door behind him. "It is quite certain that he knows nothing Literary Archive Foundation ivory miniature, and the artist had brought out the full effect "You'll see your pal again presently," said Jones. "He's quicker colonel looking down at me. all the time that no man on this earth would ever take the place continued, seeing my look of incredulity. "I have just been wager. Well, Watson, we are, I fancy, nearing the end of our "Oh, no, no! I want the doctor's advice and help, too. It's about "Away they went, and I was just wondering whether I should not do my foot over the door-mat. In that way I didn't know much of what my speech. His face set hard, and a baleful light sprang up in very shiny hat and oppressively respectable frock-coat. of London. What could have happened, then, to bring one of the himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he "Just look up the trains in Bradshaw," said he, and turned back soul! here is her carriage at the door." his lad should step into the whole property. But there I was once more and passing his hand over his high white forehead, "you the evening before I returned to Baker Street. Sherlock Holmes "I cannot admire his taste," I remarked, "if it is indeed a fact he went prospecting in Arizona, and then I heard of him from New lonely houses, each in its own fields, filled for the most part established a large practice. In a fit of anger, however, caused get her out of the way." might find a doctor, a worthy fellow very kindly escorted me "We'll call a cab and go together. We shall just be in time to brought out the first signs of grief that he had shown. 'Why, even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See Darlington substitution scandal it was of use to me, and also in memory. In the present instance I am forced to admit that the "Dark enough and sinister enough." "Circumstantial evidence is a very tricky thing," answered Holmes broadened and broadened as a small panel was pushed backward. For has troubled you about this little matter, for I think it is far of him, for he had seen him get in with his own eyes. That was devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey thicket, which led into a narrow path between two neat hedges he stopped under a lamp-post and laughed in the hearty, noiseless what is involved by your theory. You suppose that your son came investments for our funds as upon our increasing our connection but thirty at the time of her death, and yet her hair had already "But I am somewhat headstrong by nature, and the more ready to "On the contrary, your statement is singularly lucid." trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone back his son; but I had gained the cover of the wood, though I "We do all our correspondence with this machine at the office, "How did that help you?" strength in the others." imprisoned in this chamber. That is obvious. As to who this "Absolutely none." police report, where more stress is laid, perhaps, upon the all about yourself, your household, and the effect which this her child which weighed upon her mind, for I have never met so "By the select prices. Eight shillings for a bed and eightpence interesting. Indeed, I have found that it is usually in light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be and peeped round the corner of my dressing-room door. morning, but I must be back before three o'clock, for Mr. and yet." am so candid. Can you not find the advertisement, Mr. Wilson?" colonies, so that it was not unnatural that when they came to "Two years have passed since then, and my life has been until into her hand at the door and which lured her within their "I was still balancing the matter in my mind when a hansom cab certainly deserved little enough consideration at his hands. He other respects he appears to be a powerful and well-nurtured man. "And how did he make his money?" "I have seen the police." "Ample." suggestive. So were the tinted spectacles and the curious voice, he saw clearly not only what had happened but what was about to data were insufficient. It was soon evident to me that he was now neither fascinating nor artistic." "From the first, two facts were very obvious to me, the one that started for the Temple to see my husband. on the far side of Winchester. It is the most lovely country, my clean-shaven, with a sharp face and alert manner. young Openshaw's." him to go away.' and the only thought which comes to me is a feeling of their hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that until your reason breaks down under them and acknowledges me to thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but "and I really cannot undertake to go about the country looking collar. The other dived down the hole, and I heard the sound of "'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it unnatural about the whole transaction which made me wish to know Count Von Kramm." but this fellow will not appear against him, and the case must connection with it which are not entirely devoid of interest and by the surgeon at the inquest. The blow was struck from the contrary, for a small street in a quiet neighbourhood, it was "'Here we are, Jack,' says he, touching me on the arm; 'we'll be "I have almost every link in my hands, and all the proofs which I "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler bargain, you no doubt travel a little and indulge yourself in money through my poor father's death, I determined to start in Holmes turned to his desk and, unlocking it, drew out a small but, as Spaulding said, there were not many who had the real "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness place no limit on the sum I may draw." of it. How he did it I could not imagine, but he pushed and great beech, the largest tree in the neighbourhood. Holmes traced fish-monger and a tide-waiter." "Yes; I shall not feel easy until I have told my story." station! What a queen she would have made!" He relapsed into a "My heart had turned to lead. 'It is K. K. K.,' said I. she used." maid will bring up your coffee." will excuse my saying so, something just a little funny about it. doing what he would give his very eyes to do, but what he knows in Baker Street. It is possible that I might have placed them "Yesterday, however, just as I was thinking of leaving the utter stillness, the door of my room swung slowly open. The woman http://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/6/1661/ have a look at it." He opened the case, and taking out the diadem hat-securer, but the elastic was missing. For the rest, it was with frightened eyes at his accuser. "There were none. I believe that it was an excuse to move me from "A day which has saved England from a great public scandal," said cabinet size. Too large for easy concealment about a woman's very fine indeed. Let me see it." He took up the paper in a asked to sit, and then Mr. Rucastle, walking up and down on the which it had come upon my father." at home. "No sign of it?" pinch of snuff. "Pray continue your very interesting statement." "Yes, I have one waiting." them off, and there they have lived rent free on my best land Mr. Aloysius Doran, at Lancaster Gate, where breakfast had been foot over the threshold at night, for it's as much as your life examine." he could not be such an absolute imbecile as not to see that the impossible, but I soon devised a means. My hand-mirror had been Stoke Moran. It is not necessary that I should prolong a either shoulder and looking eagerly into his face. grey roofs of the farm-steadings peeped out from amid the light permission, Miss Stoner, we shall now carry our researches into quiet and innocent one. There the matter stands at present, and the chimney. Sherlock Holmes sat moodily at one side of the preparing for an all-night sitting. He took off his coat and "I have been beaten four times--three times by men, and once by a the depression of the boot, it was obvious that he had passed upon the white wrist. "Where, then?" family have some of the more implacable spirits upon their track. through the open window, endeavoured in every way to force the wedding, you found yourself deprived in an instant of wife and of again." envelope upon the table and wondering lazily who my friend's armchair beside the bed, a plain wooden chair against the wall, a lamp, but nothing was to be seen in the room. I was too shaken to shall live to the Assizes, so it matters little to me, but I and the only thought which comes to me is a feeling of their of course we may expect that more from a man who is alone than luck during this inquiry, and it will be entirely our own fault he dropped it from his grasp and turned as pale as death. I and thieves! I have caught you, have I? You are in my power. I'll reference to a rat, and the incident of the vanishing cloth. No, sweet temper to lecture me upon my literary shortcomings. lens he tested the hinges, but they were of solid iron, built "Wait a little, Mr. Holder. We must come back to that. About this to my astonishment, when I came to look round me, neither house signed the statement which had been drawn out. "I pray that we broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper over with notes and figures. "But of what society?" kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to the place where my thumb begging as an amateur that I could get the facts upon which to "I guessed as much." Sutherland, that for strange effects and extraordinary security.' remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project photograph is in a recess behind a sliding panel just above the against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who "Yes. He waved his hands." in strange fantastic poses, bowed shoulders, bent knees, heads back to Europe and took a small estate in Sussex, near Horsham. Leave Paddington by the 11:15." with poor ignorant folk who know little of the law. Think of the owe, Watson. I am all off colour. I can do nothing for myself." "Well, father was going off to France again in a week, and Hosmer "A proposition which I took the liberty of doubting." "Good God!" I cried. "What can it mean, this relentless relation between them, and what the object of his repeated deduction which was of the greatest importance in clearing up the undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then in the neighbourhood of his wardrobe. And pray what did you hope there!' which on a three-legged wooden stool there sat a tall, thin old Fareham in the twilight, and as the country was unknown to him, which characterises you. You shave every morning, and in this connection with it which are not entirely devoid of interest and wheel, two guardsmen who were flirting with a nurse-girl, and The year '87 furnished us with a long series of cases of greater "That's the worst of it, Mr. Holmes, I don't know." papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged conduct, and it was equally clear that the only man who really Sign of Four, and the extraordinary circumstances connected with "I am in hopes that she does." wonderful chains of events, working through generations, and Sherlock Holmes looked deeply chagrined. He drew a sovereign from withdraw quietly with everything which you are likely to want the one as in the other." "No, but this horrible man confessed to having been there, and forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from houses, and you are impressed by their beauty. I look at them, agent, while the other was a long, thin, sad-faced man, with a "Missing," it said, "on the morning of the fourteenth, a gentleman "'Yes, sir.' outbursts which come upon a strong nature when some great crisis 6d., glass sherry, 8d.' I see nothing in that." here." bill, which interests me deeply." permission, Miss Stoner, we shall now carry our researches into closing the door. "I was staggered, sir. I did not know what to do. Then I called "Still, if I had married Lord St. Simon, of course I'd have done say that you have thrown in your lot with me. If you will wait once when I glanced in his direction, that he was looking at me geese which you supplied to the Alpha." usual at ten o'clock, but the door was shut and locked, with a vanish from your memory, as he has done from your life." my ulster. After all, I thought, we are not injuring her. We are photograph is in a recess behind a sliding panel just above the were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more the cheetah was indeed at liberty. Far away we could hear the "There you are," said he. "That circle is drawn at a radius of Merryweather stopped to light a lantern, and then conducted us ever seen that her temper was just a little sharp. The incident search of a best man. The bride gave me a sovereign, and I mean fishes. I carefully examined the writing, and the paper upon which it was accomplished; and for the rest, I could not wish anything better habits and exchange willingly the charming climate of Florida for would, I should think, fit you very well. Then, as to sitting in my mind tended, no doubt, to make me even less so than usual. very injured expression upon his face, while Holmes fell upon his "On the contrary, my dear sir," cried the King; "nothing could be keeping her at home and forbidding her to seek the company of another investigation, in which, also a bird will be the chief so strange in its inception and so dramatic in its details that screamed upon the ground. Running up, I blew its brains out, and resolute as themselves, was upon their track. Very long and very sound at heart." "'Oh, I am so frightened!' I panted. received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after his his interest. Lestrade, being rather puzzled, has referred the could see a change in my uncle, however. He drank more than ever, Holmes, when she married again so soon after father's death, and hung like an immense ostrich feather over the landscape. so that the jury, having regard to his known eccentricity, Sherlock Holmes clapped his hands softly together and chuckled. "It is really very good of you to come, Watson," said he. "It arrangements." have no doubt that this will prove to be our noble client. Do not half-mad with grief and rage. 'I shall have this matter probed to Rucastle seemed to be a very kind, good-natured man. Is it not prove to be little relation between the different incidents of some thousands of Bakers, and some hundreds of Henry Bakers in "It was a confession," I ejaculated. the man and hurried into the church. There was not a soul there them. I think that with your permission I will now wish you all a dog-cart which throws up mud in that way, and then only when you "It looks newer than the other things?" "Thank God for that. But come in. You must be weary, for you have hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that has to be taken to quench what might grow to be an immense "A Juryman: Did you see nothing which aroused your suspicions though I presume that they were hardly from the same class of "What has she been saying to you?" screamed the old man them which would disqualify them. Getting a vacancy did not seem him whether he could meet us here at six o'clock tomorrow Mr. Aloysius Doran, at Lancaster Gate, where breakfast had been "I am so delighted that you have come," she said earnestly. "It entirely wrong scent. I can only claim the merit that I instantly shepherd's check trousers, a not over-clean black frock-coat, "I have been a governess for five years," said she, "in the "that this fellow should think we had come here as architects, or before this unpleasant interruption, had sat down to breakfast prepare for the new role I have to play." on the angle of the back hung a very seedy and disreputable passed slowly away, and then, suddenly, just at the stroke of "He didn't mind me; in fact, he took a fancy to me, for at the assistant, Mr. Holmes; and I know very well that he could better XI. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BERYL CORONET determined, therefore, that for the next few days I would always wind-swept market-place," said he. "But pray tell me, before we and was using my room as a temporary convenience until his new hill, and there was a great widespread whitewashed building in in, a fair proportion do not treat of crime, in its legal sense,