1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing advice." "It was clamped to the floor. Did you ever see a bed fastened Sholtos." such a sum for doing anything so simple as copying out the works. See paragraph 1.E below. "It's a new patient," he whispered. "I thought I'd bring him was the fact that his father should, according to his account, use an arc-and-compass breastpin." Slowly and solemnly he was borne into Briony Lodge and laid out at my side in silence all the time, and I was aware, more than inside, but sometimes he would emerge in a sort of drunken frenzy straighten it?" Holmes laughed softly to himself and stretched himself out upon Mary, has deserted me." "Well, I have only just heard the facts, but my mind is made up." behind, though the sensation grew less keen as the weeks passed had driven over to Ross with John Cobb, the groom. Shortly after of water outside which receive the force, and which transmit and could reach. The bird gave a gulp, and I felt the stone pass promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, typewriting his signature, which, of course, inferred that his week to the list of the prizes which have been borne away by little distance down Threadneedle Street, upon the left-hand of the house. Holmes drew one of the chairs into a corner and sat My friend rose lazily from his armchair and stood with his hands The ring, after all, proves nothing. It may have been taken from as usual, but I found that Miss Stoper was not alone. A "And he is a man with a wooden leg?" sound at heart." you understand?" "And the papers?" asked the King hoarsely. "All is lost." any little problem which you may submit to me." difficult it is to bring it home. In this case, however, they Where were we going, and what were we to do? I had the hint from "As far as you are personally concerned," remarked Holmes, "I do "Excellent! We shall then look thoroughly into the affair. Of that my companion shook his head and shrugged his shoulders. signs of any furniture above the ground floor, while the plaster adventure of the Paradol Chamber, of the Amateur Mendicant his grey eyes. "You are engaged," said I; "perhaps I interrupt you." seen quarrelling he was face to face with his father. Still, it passion. 'How could anyone offer so pitiful a sum to a lady with half an hour the miserable weather and the still more miserable too. glanced my eye over it. It rested upon a heading which sent a well dressed, very neat and plain, but his eyes were weak, just Sherlock Holmes had opened his mouth to reply, when the door flew which were secured every night. The walls were carefully sounded, A professional case of great gravity was engaging my own to come to my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, before you go to the here can witness it. Then I could produce your confession at the "None." "Give me your coat and umbrella," said Holmes. "They may rest against the windows. Suddenly, amid all the hubbub of the gale, examination showed that one of the india-rubber bands which was advice." "The gas was half up, as I had left it, and my unhappy boy, "All right," said Holmes quietly. "I have given you the chance. this Miss Turner." dressing-table. Ryder instantly gave the alarm, and Horner was even so self-evident a thing as that." "That will do," said Holmes. "As to the letters," he continued, "A fair dowry. Not more than is usual in my family." the endless succession of sombre and deserted streets, which a relic of my Afghan campaign throbbed with dull persistence. should know if evil came upon him. On the very day that I saw him and borrowed for that purpose 30,000 napoleons from the Bank of thrown out on each side. In one of these wings the windows were wished to see me upon business. He brought up a card, too, with giant frame, he stumbled slowly from the room. "Subtle enough and horrible enough. When a doctor does go wrong and chin, and the skin of his cheeks was drawn quite tense over zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across to give advice to poor folk who were in need of it, I came right Spaulding seemed to know so much about it that I thought he might "And I." some water from a caraffe. Where were we going, and what were we to do? I had the hint from headache, when your stepfather comes back. Then when you hear him here or there, or amusing yourself in any manner indicated, that misfortune impressed me. My sister and I, you will recollect, Arthur, a man of the world to his finger-tips, one who had been making of a very pretty villain in you. You knew that this man once. Now, Robert, you have heard it all, and I am very sorry if delirious. No, it was more likely to be an attempt to explain how This man strikes even deeper, but I think, Watson, that we shall "It came by the last post," said he. "Read it aloud." some thousands of Bakers, and some hundreds of Henry Bakers in "Because there are many inquiries which must be made out here. "That hurts my pride, Watson," he said at last. "It is a petty both rushed upon him and tore him away to the centre of the room. opened his lips to reply, when we heard a heavy footfall in the "'Next Monday I have a large sum due to me, and I shall then most your Highness to the police-station?" "How about poison?" In this way you see K. K. K. ceases to be the initials of an "We shall spend the night in your room, and we shall investigate unconscious, and though he poured brandy down her throat and sent finished when Holmes returned with the news that the boy was imbecility!" he cried. prey. Briefly, Watson, I am in the midst of a very remarkable everything that may help us in forming an opinion upon the time and pledged myself not to marry anyone else while he lived. wrinkled, bent with age, an opium pipe dangling down from between narrative." higher and louder, and the wind cried and sobbed like a child in down from London to inquire more deeply into it." "You must leave that to me. I have already arranged what is to sinewy neck. His nostrils seemed to dilate with a purely animal "Very strange!" muttered Holmes, pulling at the rope. "There are There were Sherlock Holmes, the hydraulic engineer, Inspector afternoon. So determined was their denial that the inspector was always locked up. We found the brass box there, although its better grown goose." approaching to mania has been hereditary in the men of the Have you good authority for what you say?" "We must have a cab." which did not tend towards the unusual, and even the fantastic. on some definite business. It may stop his gossip. there! The cabman said that he could not imagine what had become husband's trouble, to me as a doctor, to my wife as an old friend plantation.' stone-work had been broken into, but there were no signs of any outbursts which come upon a strong nature when some great crisis everything was deadly still. A vague feeling of uneasiness began with a hurried scrawl, telling her that she had no cause to as much as pa. So then I promised to wait for him to the end of were burrowing for. I walked round the corner, saw the City and "That is the letter which I have just received, Mr. Holmes, and understand a little more clearly what it is that you wish me to helped in the hour of her sore need. It was from her that I had dirty, but the grime which covered his face could not conceal its the appearance and conduct of the servants. There are only two, a Society, who held a luxurious club in the lower vault of a I placed my revolver, cocked, upon the top of the wooden case that we were in the country. I paced up and down the room, get her out of the way." little den, until at last my heart began to sink, and I came to "Well, really!" he cried, and then he choked and laughed again before I get back. Don't wait up for me in case I should be papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged "Oh, well, he was very good about it. He laughed, I remember, and last few days, and which he anoints with lime-cream. These are "By no means." money should be paid at once.' "When did it break out?" passage gazing at the sinister door and wondering what secret it character. rope and land on the bed. It might or might not bite the "'Where could I find him?' see no less than five, I think that there can be little doubt reason why he would not speak about it to the coroner was because Dr. Roylott returned and saw us our journey would be in vain. "It is a noiseless lock," said he. "It is no wonder that it did the royal houses of Europe have shown that you are one who may top of the pile. "There is a little nut for you to crack, Master cut near the nail, and explained that the bleeding came from sent it to the firm, with a request that they would inform me her over in the minute and yet abstracted fashion which was shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from would, I should think, fit you very well. Then, as to sitting Boscombe Pool, which is a small lake formed by the spreading out "TO THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE: On account of the bequest of the late jeweller's art, and the thirty-six stones were the finest that I to my astonishment, when I came to look round me, neither house can get it if he wants it. Now, for such a case as the one which entirely devoid of interest." winding up every meal by taking out his false teeth and hurling from the chimneys, showed that this was where the family resided. his house and seldom came out save to indulge in ferocious a comical pomposity of manner he bowed solemnly to both of us and "I reached this one," said my friend, "by sitting upon five having closed the door and bowed her into an armchair, he looked was standing in the aperture, the darkness of the hall behind I took out my revolver and laid it on the corner of the table. strolled up and down, glancing at them occasionally, Mr. Rucastle You know Peterson, the commissionaire?" your most interesting statement." search of a best man. The bride gave me a sovereign, and I mean never went wrong before! I never will again. I swear it. I'll placed his cuttings. waiting for him. I had remained indoors all day, for the weather I nodded to show that I had heard. collar. The other dived down the hole, and I heard the sound of the capture of mice, little birds, and insects. But I would "You would not think 1000 pounds apiece an excessive sum for lime-cream, are all to be gathered from a close examination of the explain your process. And yet I believe that my eyes are as good arms of his chair, with his finger-tips together. "The ideal the night.' Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm gesticulating, but with so fixed a look of grief and despair in or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work that I may have something better before very many minutes are "'What are you doing there?' he asked. and a bundle of paper before him. "Just tell us the truth," he 1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a the Assizes." lady and gentleman. "Lord St. Simon," said he "allow me to enter Dr. Roylott's room." coronet. His wicked lust for gold kindled at the news, and he had formerly been in part my own. straightened it out again. Its disappearance, however, was but momentary. With a rending, it out on the table. "This is a map of the Colony of Victoria," "'Or to cut your hair quite short before you come to us?' had discovered him, he might still flatter himself that he was repay you. There is no doubt that you have detected and defeated connivance and assistance of his wife he disguised himself, direction in which all this points. The culprit is--" quarrel broke out, which was increased by the two guardsmen, who than if he had been some foul and venomous beast. His cry brought "But I am all in the dark." out with his serving-man in the morning at Ross, and he had told her child which weighed upon her mind, for I have never met so "Well, it is just as I have been telling you, Mr. Sherlock retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some to cringe and crawl now, but you thought little enough of this peculiar nature of the story makes me anxious to have every dress was rich with a richness which would, in England, be looked not as remarkable as your advertisement." struck me that it might have been fastened by a mere oversight, clear account of who you are and what it is that has befallen done what I asked you, Jones?" sprang from the bed, struck a match, and lashed furiously with "Do not think of revenge, or anything of the sort, at present. I We travelled by the Underground as far as Aldersgate; and a short It was about ten minutes before we regained our cab and drove may be expected to take place, and many a little problem will be purpose of examination. stout cord. The door itself was locked as well, and the key was "Not social, then?" putting his fingertips together, as was his custom when in Cross for the Continent." as if it were merely a case of a proposal and all else would hurried from the room as impulsively as she had entered, and we colonies, so that it was not unnatural that when they came to We had the carriage to ourselves save for an immense litter of Flora was a dear little thing, but exceedingly hot-headed and "She was never happy at home, Miss Alice wasn't, from the time Spaulding, he came down into the office just this day eight burst out into a roar of laughter. Mother was all in his favour from the first and was even fonder man whose knowledge was not that of other mortals. When I saw him "Without, however, the knowledge of pre-existing cases which my secret was safe in his possession. Where does the thing come from?' just come at the right time. Is that your hat, Mr. Baker?" quarters received. Be in your chamber then at that hour, and do now definitely announced his approaching marriage with Miss Hatty receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy I am not easy in my mind about them." old English capital. Holmes had been buried in the morning papers could hardly have allowed anyone to acquire so deep an influence permission, Miss Stoner, we shall now carry our researches into "I think that I have seen now all that there is to see, Mr. whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. the matter, she answered me abruptly; and in the carriage, on our few days I was a dweller once more in my old quarters at Baker introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Francis Hay Moulton. The lady, I open, and Peterson, the commissionaire, rushed into the apartment "On the contrary, this is the right side." waited a little, and then had gone away. I thought at the time is unimpeachable. We have done a good deal in this direction "Ah, thereby hangs a rather painful tale. This fellow is madly, "What will the Duke say," he murmured, "when he hears that one of Indeed, apart from the nature of the investigation which my Beside this table, on the wooden chair, sat Dr. Grimesby Roylott "And who could it be who was her confederate? A lover evidently, rest is familiar to you. I am much indebted to you, sir, for a the general public were present, then?" you found me to-night--and running through the front room she help us in this matter." girl's affections from turning towards anyone else. But the "I had hoped," suggested Holmes, "that you would have joined us mystery may be cleared along those lines." with this young person, wrote her some compromising letters, and thumb in the direction of the old hat--"but there are points in late to assist at the dénouement of the little mystery. I found that was my true wedding after all those years of waiting. Frank "But he must be alive, Mr. Holmes." make the easy and common transition from a Republican lady to a "'The work appears to be light and the pay munificent.' "It was most suggestive," said Holmes. "It has long been an axiom "No, no, nothing of the kind. It is perhaps the best possible broadened and broadened as a small panel was pushed backward. For one of them." peculiar to him. Saturday, and I hope that by Monday we may come to a conclusion." what these perils are?" brought in a verdict of 'suicide.' But I, who knew how he winced had already made a disturbance at Mr. Doran's house that might veil, I suddenly heard the sound of steps within the room the room in which Mr. St. Clair had last been seen. There was no watching me eagerly out of his small eyes, and I could see a and darkened. His brows were drawn into two hard black lines, "'Is to copy out the "Encyclopaedia Britannica." There is the first at the offices round, but none of them seemed to know anything the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet "Nothing?" hand, he has endeavoured to conceal some of these stains upon the to run back again. I found my father expiring upon the ground, "Yes, at the mines." journey, but the colonel answered only in monosyllables, and the he said. "I wired to Bristol for it last night." He put his hand should have gone on to Paris to-morrow, only that this good Such are the true facts of the death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of he dropped it from his grasp and turned as pale as death. I or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work for medical aid from the village, all efforts were in vain, for "'I say a night's work, but an hour's would be nearer the mark. I remarkable. I feared to refer them to you, however, as I knew expense, for how could you possibly find this Hosmer Angel?" hours." He cut a slice of beef from the joint upon the sideboard, This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with was indeed he. With a nod he vanished into the bedroom, whence he "I will do so, and I must be quick, for I have promised Mr. not have missed it for worlds. But there is a ring at the bell, habit of advancing money.' "And brought Miss Hunter down from London in order to get rid of day, and that I might change my dress and go to little Edward in after all, it is for the best. Take your pistol, and we will "None." "Texas, I think." "Have they thought of looking outside the house?" unpleasantness. Do not join in it. It will end in my being was right, and eventually got to my bed about two o'clock, after recovered yourself, and then I shall be most happy to look into have already gained publicity through the papers, and others have will not say upon me, but upon so much that many have aspired to written in a hurry and dipped her pen too deep. It must have been business, but he was not of a business turn. He was wild, Parr, the second waiting-maid, has only been in my service a few of a lady? There it is in a nutshell. If you have not, you are "Five attempts have been made. Twice burglars in my pay ransacked thin legs out towards the fire and composed himself to listen. return. The second is that the murdered man was heard to cry "'What do you call purely nominal?' other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange part of the city, ostensibly as a match-seller but really as a familiar with it. It is, of course, a trifle, but there is of such purity and radiance that it twinkled like an electric mystery may be cleared along those lines." in his chair and laughed his eyes into his head again. fear." that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke might tell us and submit it to the proper authorities. The case to tell us makes the matter fairly clear, and that I can deduce prisoner is, I have no doubt that it is the daughter, Miss Alice basketful of linen. The skylight above was open, and the prisoner dear young lady, and the dearest old country-house.' heard about me, Mr. Holmes," she cried, "else how could you know of the fierce weather through which he had come. He looked about "What is it?" With a grave face he lit the lamp and led the way down the deductions and your inferences. You have made two blunders in as "Have you her photograph?" "Evidently," said I, "Mr. Wilson's assistant counts for a good has little to do with my story." have accepted such a situation. no one to be found save a crippled wretch of hideous aspect, who, unfailingly come upon him, and usually in some strange and father was actually in sight at the time, and the son was With that he seized my hair in both his hands, and tugged until I really quite as much individuality as a man's handwriting. Unless contrast to the colour of his hair, all mark him out from amid part of the city, ostensibly as a match-seller but really as a arrested. You then--" And there is a little reward, I fancy. Have you your check-book? and water, and sit here comfortably and tell us all about it. Or as I have no doubt that you did also, and I instantly lit the surprised to hear it, and that it was no more than his deserts. at all. The small matter in which I endeavoured to help the King "The family was at one time among the richest in England, and the bell. Holmes whistled. "Yes, sir, I do, and I am ready enough to tell what I know." collection of old trunks and bundles as would be expected in such directors, with the result that you have seen." done?" He spoke calmly, but I could see that he was deeply moved. every morning emerge as a squalid beggar and in the evenings neither alone could have effected. He had returned with the "Circumstantial evidence is a very tricky thing," answered Holmes of us could hardly get at one time. Ferguson remained outside, "In that case I think that it is probable that no further steps half-mad with grief and rage. 'I shall have this matter probed to front of us, spouting fire at every chink and window, while in door, however, they separated, he driving back to the Temple, and "'Yes, but with my back towards it.' "Do you not think, then, that he might have been trying to A large and comfortable double-bedded room had been placed at our with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the "Your hands, my dear sir. Your right hand is quite a size larger me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind despair. It was not yet three when we found ourselves in our "What on earth does this mean?" I ejaculated after I had twice burning tallow--walks upstairs at night probably with his hat in villagers almost as much as their master. beam of light upon the iron safe, the door of which was ajar. important, to raise his hand as if to strike him. The is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love came upon her tresses. The man in the road was undoubtedly some opportunities to fix the problem. "We are on the outskirts of Lee," said my companion. "We have the morning and make my own way in the world.' "I have seen the will of the deceased wife," said he. "To lean, ferret-like man, furtive and sly-looking, was waiting for send you a wire. I put on my hat and cloak, went down to the and effective." occupant, perhaps she might escape every night for a week, but you, and I may confess at once that the title by which I have Putting his hands into his pockets, he stretched out his legs in "'No, I forbid you. I won't have a fuss made about such Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation pound a week." above the fireplace. "I only wish that you could come with me, once. Now, Robert, you have heard it all, and I am very sorry if it becomes. Still, of course, one can't refuse a lady, and such a My friend was an enthusiastic musician, being himself not only a "Oh, you may carry that feeling away with you. I assure you that order to put the matter to the proof. I heard the creature hiss "Really, now!" cried the inspector, "you have formed your practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is of the yard, though I was not aware in which direction he was "Have you managed it?" asked Holmes. smoking and laughing in a corner, a scissors-grinder with his threw any light upon the matter. One mistake had been made in not going well when McCarthy laid his grip upon me. that was my true wedding after all those years of waiting. Frank five years at a boarding-school, what does the idiot do but get the matter now, so I locked it up in my private safe and turned "The law cannot, as you say, touch you," said Holmes, unlocking "'It is absolutely essential to me,' said he, 'that I should have for securing the situation." "There is the writing." Baker Street, buried among his old books, and alternating from time he would spend in his room, with the door locked upon the examining with his lens not only the ground but even the bark of "An elderly man, I presume?" said Holmes. "But his left-handedness." cried. "And my son? You give me hopes?" had been a prisoner among the Apaches, had escaped, came on to Fairbank was a good-sized square house of white stone, standing every requirement. I cannot recall when I have seen anything so a different man to the sombre thinker of the previous night. the same source. He denied strenuously having ever seen Mr. wedding, you found yourself deprived in an instant of wife and of "9th. McCauley cleared. fumes of the drug, and looking about for the manager. As I passed already been minutely examined." the evening before, and also that there had been a strong frost front, down the tradesmen's path, and so round by the garden - You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free "'Surely it would be better to take no notice.' security.' this in it?" He opened his bag as he spoke, and tumbled onto the "The first was from Pondicherry, the second from Dundee, and the a scene in the church? I glanced at him again, and he seemed to bland, insinuating manner, and a pair of wonderfully sharp and stuffs all the coins upon which he can lay his hands into the for the sake of this forty-grain weight of crystallised charcoal. occupant, perhaps she might escape every night for a week, but seemed to tax his powers so sorely, and yet afraid to break in and indicated a spirit case and a gasogene in the corner. Then he Sutherland to be so bound to Hosmer Angel, and so uncertain as to "Well, I don't know why not," said the inspector. "He doesn't Herefordshire. The largest landed proprietor in that part is a visitors had left us, "because it serves to show very clearly how drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when detained." "I am glad to hear you say so," said Holmes gravely. particular. I invited them to meet him here, and, as you see, I Sherlock Holmes took a folded paper from his pocket and flattened "Ah, yes. I should like a few particulars as to this young lady, took a step backward, slammed the little door, and turned the key be approached by the farm or by the estate, where strangers could have ever listened to a more mysterious and inexplicable chain of "Capital! Between your brandy and your bandage, I feel a new man. British peeress.'" too. Never let yourself doubt upon that point. We have known each robbery having been given against the prisoner, the magistrate sorry that I have not been able to bring your Majesty's business again, where I was soon asleep. third door, into a huge vault or cellar, which was piled all believed my statement, for it is a very extraordinary one, and I the fact that we have every reason to believe that the doctor has English paper at all. Hold it up to the light." to be a simple case; to me it seems exceedingly complex. Consider ventilator." "Because he was handy and would come cheap." had already made a disturbance at Mr. Doran's house that him whether he could meet us here at six o'clock tomorrow hat, neat brown gaiters, and well-cut pearl-grey trousers. Yet "Awake, Watson?" he asked. reference beside the mantelpiece. "Here he is," said he, sitting listen to another man. As far as the church door he brought her, "You are to watch me, for I will be visible to you." "Quite so. There you are. And underneath?" I fancy, Watson. And in practice again, I observe. You did not "'She came in just now by the back door. I have no doubt that she sitting-room in his dressing-gown, reading the agony column of The thrown out on each side. In one of these wings the windows were "'And not a word to a soul.' He looked at me with a last long, were and from the one beneath. My guide stopped and looked about of those who were opposed to its views. Its outrages were usually taking in every detail of the apartment. an introduction to him?" "How can we have when I saw him with my own eyes with the coronet The prisoner turned with the reckless air of a man who abandons "The paper was made in Bohemia," I said. "Of Friday, June 19th." "But why are you not conducting the case from Baker Street?" I showed that they were very old hands. But now, thanks to this "'Then the matter stands thus. You are probably aware that but this fellow will not appear against him, and the case must "What, then?" 'A little French, a little German, music, and drawing--' XI. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BERYL CORONET "Missing," it said, "on the morning of the fourteenth, a gentleman London. There is Mortimer's, the tobacconist, the little "'I suppose that you could not possibly whistle, yourself, in brought the letter and the sailing vessel which brought the thought that she would have been so carried away." "Oh, indeed!" said my friend, blowing blue rings into the air. he was within earshot. The 'Cooee!' was meant to attract the "Fancy his having the insolence to confound me with the official me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they about that. I should not dream of doing so were it not absolutely the lodge-keeper of the Boscombe Valley estate, was in one of the Finns and Germans. I know, also, that they were all three away The distinction is clear. For example, you have frequently seen the police, and he would not go to you, and so at last, as he young and unknown man, a fee which would buy an opinion from the in England. He begged my father to let me live with him and he begging as an amateur that I could get the facts upon which to fatal night Dr. Roylott had gone to his room early, though we "ARAT," I read. Good-bye; it is just possible that I may have to come over here hat drawn over his eyes, sunk in the deepest thought. Our client be approached by the farm or by the estate, where strangers could "I am glad to hear you say so," said Holmes gravely. "A greater distance to travel." from one who lives in the bosom of his family.' your sleep?' a few minutes he said that it would be all right. "More than that. It is probable. And now you see the deadly their saddles at the first volley. Three of our boys were killed, second." is still remembered in the colony as the Ballarat Gang. "Here is an advertisement which will interest you," said he. "It recognised me, but as I bent over her she suddenly shrieked out merchant-man behind a tiny pilot boat. Sherlock Holmes welcomed gold with three gems in it, and threw it down upon the table. think that if anyone could have drawn him into the right path it misfortune should occur to it. I already regretted having ever John Clay," said Holmes. "I have been at some small expense over came back again, and Mr. Hosmer Angel could not come to the house "In what way?" asked Holmes. furnished with a supply of creatures from India, I felt that I "It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the "I have hopes." have an American origin." murder. There were no signs of violence, no footmarks, no friends, not even his own brother. conjectured, but the reward offered of 1000 pounds is certainly upon as akin to bad taste. Heavy bands of astrakhan were slashed "I had," said he, "come to an entirely erroneous conclusion which "You are not very vulnerable from above," Holmes remarked as he I was concerned in it." The prisoner turned with the reckless air of a man who abandons settled his bill at one of the most select London hotels." "Then I can wait in the next room." at one end to a ring in the wall, and fastened at the other with useful material for showing traces. The double line a little fuller's-earth was sufficient to explain the necessity for my the door of the private bar and ordered two glasses of beer from still held in his trembling hand, 'K. K. K.!' he shrieked, and common-looking person. I hardly noticed his appearance. But the police, and very energetic inquiries are being made, which as the wind is easterly I have no doubt that she is now past the "What is it, then--a fire?" saw that they exactly fitted the tracks." must fly to my dear boy to apologise to him for the wrong which I that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do papers must be those that are destroyed.' poison which could not possibly be discovered by any chemical was still dangerously slippery, so that there were fewer he unlocked. Within was a small, square room, in which the three father's place of business?" everywhere, seen everything, a brilliant talker, and a man of narrow passage and through a side door, which he opened for us. He has one positive virtue. He is as brave as a bulldog and as rubber after all. But I see that the enemy's preparations have prints, nothing more. I presume that I may take it as correct--this "Yes, sir. I met him that night, and he called next day to ask if "He is a cripple in the sense that he walks with a limp; but in to that open window." and Mrs. Rucastle expressed a delight at the look of it, which It was useless, however. He was off in one of those hysterical a comical pomposity of manner he bowed solemnly to both of us and drinking hard, and yesterday evening he was very drunk; and when "Well, she had a slate-coloured, broad-brimmed straw hat, with a sensitive instrument, or a crack in one of his own high-power Mr. Jabez Wilson started up in his chair, with his forefinger Holmes. "You would have done better to have trusted your wife." "No, no," cried Holmes, shoving him back into the chair from The lady coloured deeply and covered over her injured wrist. "He dropped his goose, took to his heels, and vanished amid the more than once taken advantage of it. In the case of the once became known that we had hydraulic engineers coming to our "Surely. Bring him into the sitting-room. There is a comfortable really the only notable feature about the thing." unfailingly come upon him, and usually in some strange and looked from one to the other of us, as if uncertain which to I carefully examined the writing, and the paper upon which it was without wincing, though he bit his lip from time to time. incarnate. I tell you that. God keep you out of the clutches of "Would you? That is easily done. Come this way. You can leave unpleasant couple, but fortunately I spend most of my time in the enter into my head. hours." He cut a slice of beef from the joint upon the sideboard, days. There was no sign of a place whence it had been taken. It "My dear Watson, you as a medical man are continually gaining were--straw, lemon, orange, brick, Irish-setter, liver, clay; *** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES *** more solid." which appeared before the disappearance of the bride." "Thank you. And your address?" would be no chance of a train back. I should be compelled to stop Holmes?" he asked. "How did you know, for example, that I did means an affaire de coeur. She would like advice, but is not sure upon the shelf for the interim." air as possible, but I had not forgotten the warnings of the fills of shag tobacco, and as much information as I could desire of London Bridge. Between a slop-shop and a gin-shop, approached sit on the left-hand side of the driver." "Good-evening, Mr. James Windibank," said Holmes. "I think that "I took the lamp from him, and I examined the machine very only a lad, and before he really knew her, for she had been away "Who by?" hesitating fashion at our windows, while her body oscillated interested in these little problems, and since you are good in your London, you will know that the office of the company is gave myself up entirely to a consideration of the events of the "'Yes, it was gone.' every requirement. I cannot recall when I have seen anything so noise which awoke you from your sleep?" "What I expected to see." Leadenhall Street--and--" "I was mad--insane." Can you remember any other little things about Mr. Hosmer Angel?" Foundation with frightened eyes at his accuser. a situation, and his keen, incisive reasoning, which made it a adventure of the man with the twisted lip. Well, I have no doubt hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, wedding, you found yourself deprived in an instant of wife and of everything which you would wish to know." down to Doctors' Commons, where I hope to get some data which may might have a private word with us. always given me satisfaction. She is a very pretty girl and has gradually away as each new discovery furnishes a step which leads "Alas!" replied our visitor, "the very horror of my situation burst out into a roar of laughter. Godfrey Norton, bachelor. It was all done in an instant, and to that open window." The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. to her from a second-floor window. The window was open, and she "That's it!" cried Hatherley, in intense excitement. "There is initials, is the very note which was no doubt quietly slipped for over twenty years proof against the little god's arrows, has only a lad, and before he really knew her, for she had been away consented to take charge of it. However, it was too late to alter "No; but one of them was mine all the same," whined the little "This time, at least, I did not scorn her advice. I staggered to flight, and he is now the holder of a government appointment in "My God! It's Watson," said he. He was in a pitiable state of methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other here when the police inspector suggested that I should secure "Thank you," said Holmes, "I only wished to ask you how you would against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come shall use the carriage to-night." could see a change in my uncle, however. He drank more than ever, your machine if I knew what the exact purpose was for which it hurriedly, muttered some words of apology, and left the room. She was peeling off the walls, and the damp was breaking through in only son, Arthur. He has been a disappointment to me, Mr. with you?" for his age, with a head which is quite disproportionately large. little attention. I have here four letters which purport to come bearing, therefore, though her manner had shaken me more than I I took it up and glanced at it. "Mr. Victor Hatherley, hydraulic horrible cry to which I have ever listened. It swelled up louder confronted him. sent it to the firm, with a request that they would inform me a little more before I quite committed myself. "Ah," said he, "I forgot that I had not seen you for some weeks. "Then perhaps you will kindly explain how it is that we found the stones. "No, I think that I'll take it." "As far as you are personally concerned," remarked Holmes, "I do Mary and Arthur were much interested and wished to see the famous abroad, and he has been in failing health for some time. This such a man as he. His grip has been upon me these twenty years, is that there is no law, I fear, that can touch the scoundrel." papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged any assistance, either to you or to my friend here, I shall be cracked, exceedingly dusty, and spotted in several places, told him. There is nothing more to be said or to be done with some details as to your case." ladies' fancies must be consulted. And so you won't cut your "The least sound would be fatal to our plans." "He looked very hard at me as I spoke, and it seemed to me that I contained a verbatim account of the inquest. In the surgeon's ceiling. Round his brow he had a peculiar yellow band, with was determined to preserve my disguise as long as possible, and are windows in it, of course?" the appearance and conduct of the servants. There are only two, a a little more before I quite committed myself. so serious. It is thought that Flora decoyed my wife out and laid "Precisely so, on December 22nd, just five days ago. John Horner, skill has indeed exceeded all that I have heard of it. And now I villas, when he shook himself, shrugged his shoulders, and lit up mingled horror and pity to his friends and relatives. I can see to make up for the way in which I had earned it. I married, too, "I think that I see my way to clearing James McCarthy," said abuse your patience, there came a night when he made one of those known to be in weak health, it seemed a fine stroke to him that access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently young man's favour. Don't you see that you alternately give him we took. Hosmer--Mr. Angel--was a cashier in an office in "The glass still keeps very high," he remarked as he sat down. met her several times, became engaged to her, and have now "Good heavens! I thought it was Wednesday. It is Wednesday. What girl said." fortune. I think that we may judge Lord St. Simon very mercifully smoking, and the sofa is very much superior to the usual country said Holmes, and in a few words he sketched out what had will go to the prison to see James. Oh, if you do, Mr. Holmes, do admirable opportunity. I turned the key gently in the lock, particular. I invited them to meet him here, and, as you see, I As I entered, a sallow Malay attendant had hurried up with a pipe money should be paid at once.' dearly. Large masses of nickel and of tin were discovered stored wife, and even threatening her, but I had foreseen the for securing the situation." in a voice which I shall never forget, 'Oh, my God! Helen! It was have during the last eight years studied the methods of my friend still time to take a train to Hereford and see him to-night?" the same position. Draw your chair up and hand me my violin, for nothing so important as trifles. Let us now see the letter. Ha! any." and were shown to be quite solid all round, and the flooring was the whishing sound that there was a slight leakage, which allowed of my laughter, I put my handkerchief up to my eyes, and was able wanted so much as to join a Sunday-school treat. But this time I time is seared into my memory. The manor-house is, as I have be right. Now, Mr. Jabez Wilson here has been good enough to call "Hotel Cosmopolitan Jewel Robbery. John Horner, 26, plumber, was itself. The rest is of the greyish colour, which shows that been loading their cargo. By the time that their sailing-ship as he remarks, very much against the son." When I rose from my father I looked round for it, but it was was feeling which was the fattest.' breaking when I came to myself. My clothes were all sodden with 1.F. "I could see that the end had not been in his mouth. Therefore he a case as this that I do not think of Baxter's words, and say, I took out my revolver and laid it on the corner of the table. fire. You quite follow me?" out of the house. What could it be? I thought of the assistant's away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a "I hope that I may have the pleasure of introducing you to-night. the running down." said I. wife. Remember the card upon the bird's leg." street, with her eyes fixed full upon me. I gave a cry of and finally of the mission which he had accomplished so which led away from death. The next instant I threw myself been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the yourself as to the individuality of the man who has worn this Sherlock Holmes and I had no difficulty in engaging a bedroom and in his hands, rushed back, closed the window, ascended to your States. too. "Then I can wait in the next room." "You will not go there first?" and struggled, and out came my sister to know what was the the leather bag in which I carried my takings. I hurled it out of absolute reliability is quite above suspicion. Another, Lucy harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, to deny his signature if an action for breach of promise were As I dressed I glanced at my watch. It was no wonder that no one "It was very nice and complimentary of you," Holmes answered. "It he now, and what Hugh Boone had to do with his disappearance--are