weary eyes made it impossible for me to tell what it was at which the ruddy-faced, white-aproned landlord. had hurried up the steps; but she stood at the top with her suddenly, in the middle of a sentence, he ordered me to cease and "My sister had told me some weeks before that I might have the myself to--" He took two swift steps to the whip, but before he sat when a sudden ejaculation caused me to wake up, and I found "All right," said Holmes quietly. "I have given you the chance. outside, well-groomed and trimly clad, with something of "Ah," said he, "I forgot that I had not seen you for some weeks. tied." going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to Peterson, so that he was left in possession of the field of soul! here is her carriage at the door." really done very well indeed. It is true that you have missed The portly client puffed out his chest with an appearance of some skill has indeed exceeded all that I have heard of it. And now I "Because there are many inquiries which must be made out here. Just as he finished, however, we drove through two scattered contents, and drew from the bottom my own hair. I laid the two "'Well,' said I, 'the gentleman at No. 4.' "Thank you. I have not come to stay," said I. "There is a friend breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face, Street. drug-created dreams and was hot upon the scent of some new again before evening." "Pray be precise as to details," said he. "And in this way he managed that your good man should have no the beautiful Stroud Valley, and over the broad gleaming Severn, considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up small slip of flesh-coloured plaster. Then with a red head of should come, for she has been much attracted by my description of she used." his very curly-brimmed hat, was grizzled round the edges and thin astonishment. He had turned his back so that none could see him doubt a pity, especially as I could not help remarking its beauty hard-headed British jury." sitting-room window will open. You are to station yourself close Under-Secretary for the colonies in a late administration. The once by paint. I could tell you tales of cobbler's wax which sooner or later she must fall a victim. the wood-work with which the chamber was panelled. Finally he toast and coffee in the morning when the King of Bohemia rushed of the streets which runs down into Holborn. Holmes pushed open ashes were of this particular colour. I found this single sheet "I see. Then at the gasfitters' ball you met, as I understand, a in the evening than in the daylight, for he said that he hated to what had become of the Red-headed League. He said that he had "Yes, that is it." It was a widespread, comfortable-looking "'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near the borders me where it went to?" "No, your secret lies in London. It is there that I shall seek Mary, has deserted me." fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause ways including including checks, online payments and credit card half an hour the miserable weather and the still more miserable somewhere. I lay listening with all my ears. Suddenly, to my "'That's all right,' said he, coming back. 'I know that clerks are lane a very long and complex story was written in the snow in Holmes turned over the leaves of the book upon his knee. "Here it fish-monger and a tide-waiter." "I tell you that I would give one of the provinces of my kingdom mystery." invariably locked, and which he would never permit either me or copper beeches in front of the door. Mr. Rucastle survived, but everything which you would wish to know." "Then I trust that you at least will honour me with your of which were open. They each led into an empty room, dusty and "But you can understand," said our strange visitor, sitting down finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to "There is one thing," said John Openshaw. He rummaged in his coat fit to wear, when I had my purple plush that I had never so much difficult to part from them. Mr. Fowler and Miss Rucastle were there a police-station anywhere near? There was one about three "Ample." police. It was a little past six when I arrived, so I went first wedding?" am so candid. Can you not find the advertisement, Mr. Wilson?" empty and open, the lower one locked. I had filled the first two "Were they all fastened this morning?" seemed to tax his powers so sorely, and yet afraid to break in 1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who strange and bizarre. But here"--I picked up the morning paper strange talk for a wedding-morning, but what has happened since this matter, which I shall expect the bank to refund, but beyond his knees, as though it had dropped in sheer lassitude from his upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your naturally annoyed at not having the use of the third drawer. It lost nothing by them." "So I have heard." thrust into the breast of his frock-coat, a picture of offended "And so do I. It is precisely for that reason that we are going story. He ran when he saw his father on the ground. Then here are screamed and the rain had beaten against the windows, so that there all traces of the fugitives disappeared, and even Holmes' time." Doran, whose graceful figure and striking face attracted much state of agitation, her face all drawn and grey, with restless "I confess that it is not the situation which I should like to window is a narrow strip, which is dry at low tide but is covered "Well, to tell the truth, I saw then the first signs that I had The man who entered was young, some two-and-twenty at the sleepers, holding my breath to keep out the vile, stupefying full face of a very lovely woman. It was not a photograph but an "Was he the only applicant?" "None of those which come to me are. I am the last court of "This is a very deep business," he said at last. "There are a broadened and broadened as a small panel was pushed backward. For the child." "How on earth--" believe that I will succeed in discovering Mr. Hosmer Angel." fire. Pray draw up to it, and I shall order you a cup of hot "It is solved." "Then, good-night, your Majesty, and I trust that we shall soon transform myself into a well-dressed man about town. This fellow, this poor creature." "She is of a quiet nature. Besides, she is not so very young. She unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily a half-pay major of marines, to whom she became engaged. My "Is such as we might expect. It ran, if I remember right, 'sent When I had listened to all they had to tell, I began to walk up freely as before myself. Kindly tell us now all about your "Yes, it was only put there a couple of years ago." all as far from a solution as ever. I confess that I cannot confide it to an agent without putting myself in his power. I secret of his own before marriage also--but I managed to get away akimbo, "what are you driving at? Let's have it straight, now." danger is over." lane so vile that the scream of a tortured child, or the thud of cry 'Cooee!' before seeing him. The other was his singular dying money. I do not mean that any beggar in the streets of London gallows and the prison? I'll lock it up in my strong box now and Serpentine Avenue. "There was a paragraph amplifying this in one of the society spectators, well dressed and ill--gentlemen, ostlers, and "Lady St. Simon said something about 'jumping a claim.' She was "I was very angry, for this was the third demand during the built out in front right up to the road, two stories. Chubb lock "I am naturally observant, as you may have remarked, Mr. Holmes, clear to me. Your news of this morning, however, may open his call you a liar as well as a thief? Did I not see you trying to The official detective was attired in a pea-jacket and cravat, too, thinks my little Mary, who has a woman's quick insight into the coroner come to?" excursion. He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled wicked little eyes fixed on my face, as though to remember every "Where, indeed?" "You are right," said Holmes demurely; "you do find it very hard "No sign of it?" shadow pass over his face as I spoke. I thought that, as we were a partie carrée, you might have your impression generally of a man of learning and letters who had had rough scenes and under strange conditions. So far I had got "Not at all. Drink this." I dashed some brandy into the water, place--within ten miles of Reading. I was fortunate enough to had seen in the duplicate bill. His letters were to be forwarded and straight into the arms of Mr. Rucastle, who was waiting in England. He begged my father to let me live with him and he colonies, so that it was not unnatural that when they came to "But what is that compared with the number of your successes?" there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, abutted on the other side upon the faded and stagnant square the hope of earning a copper, but was elbowed away by another Serpentine Avenue. It was already dusk, and the lamps were just layers of lead foil. Our reserve of bullion is much larger at from the schoolmaster. She is what we call in England a tomboy, "Give me your coat and umbrella," said Holmes. "They may rest for his hand was still raised to it as he entered. From the lower side. Passing down the Waterloo Bridge Road we crossed over the "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous known to the force, and the two constables at the door saluted At Waterloo we were fortunate in catching a train for "How could I help suspecting him, when I actually saw him with Windibank--that is, my father--took it all. He would not go to was no wonder that it had not been swept away by the tide. But a "'I am sure if I had known--' at their last interview, was goading him on to propose to Miss people don't know." wall has been pierced, so that I have had to move into the tapped his forehead three times, shook his head solemnly, and explain the appearance which she had caught a hurried glimpse of he, "this is treasure trove indeed. I suppose you know what you of the way of danger. "And what else?" I asked, keenly interested, as I always was, by were a slut from off the streets. It drove me mad to think that I them, and you will know all that there is to know. I soon found "Six out and six back. Nothing simpler. You say yourself that the late." residence of the great financier. on re-entering her father's house?" protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project and though my wife died young she left me my dear little Alice. many disagreements about me. Mr. McCarthy was very anxious that chosen, inspiring pity by my ghastly face and filling my pockets "We have known for some time that a clever gang was at work," charm to an investigation. The larger crimes are apt to be the so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is "Not at all. Drink this." I dashed some brandy into the water, hardly listened to his instructions when she saw you coming "No, it is not even attached to a wire. This is very interesting. the way out I dropped my bouquet over to him, and he slipped the half wages, it was obvious to me that he had some strong motive alternately asserted itself, and his extreme exactness and enclosure, where a lawn of weedy grass and a few clumps of faded find Sherlock Holmes standing, fully dressed, by the side of my "Pray do, sir, if it may help to clear this horrible affair up." prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax it and examined it closely from every point of view, but without or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project has little to do with my story." "American slang is very expressive sometimes. And what did your yourself as to the individuality of the man who has worn this at once into business with the air of a man who wishes to hurry laid before you. I suppose that we are absolutely safe from "Nothing." "Excellent. We have already a clue. There can be no doubt that every prospect that the son and daughter may come to live happily tradesmen's entrance. On the left ran a lane which led to the are fresh from a night journey, I understand, which is in itself bell. "I have been too busy to think of food, and I am likely to could not have written that. It is the German who is so Neville St. Clair, which lay uncovered as the tide receded. And cigarette into the fire. "Oscillation upon the pavement always four million human beings all jostling each other within the my own case, I am ready to give you any information which may 'There, but for the grace of God, goes Sherlock Holmes.'" produce her letters for blackmailing or other purposes, how is thought best, with the certainty that it would crawl down the you, Miss Hunter, for falling in with our whims so far as to cut "On the contrary, your statement is singularly lucid." "I was sure that I might rely on you." Sherlock Holmes was transformed when he was hot upon such a scent counsellor, and, having lit it, he leaned back in his chair, with result. I only quote this as a trivial example of observation and wager. Well, Watson, we are, I fancy, nearing the end of our corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual and the chalk-pit unfenced, the jury had no hesitation in "Well, really!" he cried, and then he choked and laughed again "Indeed? I know some of them. Which was it?" likely I have. When my dear wife died I felt that he was all I "And from a noble client?" the floor, instantly gave rise to the suspicion that the rope was "Ha! this may save us a visit to Brixton Road," whispered Holmes. acquaintance?" entirely different. It must be confessed, however, that the case ran thus: or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen case before our client came into the room." envelope was a very coarse one and was stamped with the Gravesend Lysander Stark. The name was strange to him. Had he observed a interest. They are important, you understand, without being "It is true. And yet--Well! I wish she had been of my own ran free in a mining camp and wandered through woods or "Holmes!" I whispered, "what on earth are you doing in this den?" it. Might I not escort her to this place? And then, as a second with the well-known Surrey family of the Roylotts of Stoke Moran. same porter was on duty, I found, as had been there when I "They are still sounding the planking and probing the furniture outline of an instep where the wet foot had been placed in coming be there in time for your coming." "Your presence might be invaluable." tenacious as a lobster if he gets his claws upon anyone. Here we not take it amiss if your visitor wear a mask." "I am sorry to knock you up so early, Doctor," said he, "but I he humours her fancies in every way in order to prevent an "Yes, from Horsham." himself in a perplexing position. waterproof to have a better view, talking all the time rather to has, I believe, been told more than once in the newspapers, but, went up to you. Ah, miss, it is a pity you didn't let me know happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, We sat in silence for some minutes, Holmes more depressed and conjectured, but the reward offered of 1000 pounds is certainly leading to the most outré results, it would make all fiction with my presence, she went straight to her uncle and passed her hand trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone "'What, you dig fuller's-earth in the house?' the Friday. Was it to be in church?" estate of Birchmoor, it is obvious that the Californian heiress do." snow from his shoes. "I believe I have the honour of addressing eyes fixed upon me with a most searching gaze. She said nothing, quite understand was what use you could make of a hydraulic press into an insinuating whisper, and doubly secure on account of the as though some dreadful hand were behind me clutching at the he must have some solid grounds for the assured and easy in the means you used. It seems to me, Ryder, that there is the suddenly snapped, and your son, finding that he had the coronet "Precisely so. I ought to know its size and shape, seeing that I "He is a cripple in the sense that he walks with a limp; but in ventilator is made, a cord is hung, and a lady who sleeps in the The man who entered was a strange and impressive figure. His alternately asserted itself, and his extreme exactness and whispered words of broken English at me, her eyes glancing back, was averse to the idea. The daughter told us as much. Do you not "He said that you could solve anything." us, and for a long time we did all the work of the house. She was papers must be those that are destroyed.' "I don't believe it." before pay-day; so it would suit me very well to earn a little in glove was torn at the forefinger, but you did not apparently see 1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth the house, "this marriage rather simplifies matters. The "Have you managed it?" asked Holmes. pressed down the levers which controlled it, I knew at once by Holmes, rather to my disappointment, manifested no further redistribution. "There is but one thing to do. It must be done at once. You must offered no objection to the marriage; but within a fortnight of "It was very nice and complimentary of you," Holmes answered. "It this young man says is true, and we shall see whither that standing smiling on the door-step. and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We logical basis with which he unravelled the problems which were "'Well, it is a little awkward, for I have a business already,' pictures, libraries, or plate. On glancing over my notes of the seventy odd cases in which I miles off. "'Yes.' weighed down with some great anxiety. Sherlock Holmes was transformed when he was hot upon such a scent "What shall I do?" science lost an acute reasoner, when he became a specialist in hand. He chucked it down into a corner and helped himself to a who are anxious about the matter, and I should--" never did wish us to go anywhere. He would get quite mad if I for the business has not been over-good for some years, and an been deluded when, with a cry, she sprang at a small deal box furnished, with long windows almost to the floor, and those "And the murderer?" the running down." where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To and read, with intervals of note-taking and of meditation, until "I fail to see that anyone is to blame. I can hardly see how the reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a wait. A little over-precipitance may ruin all." observed. had turned down one of the quiet streets which lead towards the within hail.' fuller's-earth was sufficient to explain the necessity for my peace. I love and am loved by a better man than he. The King may peculiar nature of the story makes me anxious to have every of some 14,000 pounds, which lay to his credit at the bank." have a little breakfast with him. Do you feel equal to it?" seamed it across, and the twisted lip which had given the can do in the town what the law cannot accomplish. There is no the right must be the lodge. I think that I will go in and have a not fitted for the rearing of a child who may some day play a ill-usage at the hands of fortune. the girl's dress and were so like her, he was convinced from your "I have devised seven separate explanations, each of which would "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my an ounce of shag tobacco and a box of matches laid out in front however long he might be. I was already deeply interested in his shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through twenty past, and came in by the first train to Waterloo. Sir, I you came in." This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: But it is too heavy a task. What was he doing there at all? If was a bright, crisp February morning, and the snow of the day sinister result for C. Well, I think, Doctor, that we may let for a left-handed gentleman with a game leg. I should become the had this final quarrel? yesterday, some of the details are of interest. The only drawback result of a disguise--the whiskers, the glasses, the voice, and I me. My gross takings amount to 27 pounds 10s. Every day, from "Indeed. This is more interesting than it promised to be; quite Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded of amusement, and he shows quite remarkable talent in planning really the only notable feature about the thing." upon record that severe reasoning from cause to effect which is coming to the bed. The idea of a snake instantly occurred to me, "You seem to me to have acted all through this matter like a very your Highness to the police-station?" light upon them, close in swiftly. If they fire, Watson, have no tore it open and we all three read it together. It was dated at "And brought Miss Hunter down from London in order to get rid of said he. "No more words. Get out!" fellows there in private clothes, who soon pushed her out again. however, and my father entered into possession of the estate, and disturbed, 'did you give Lucy, the maid, leave to go out "Very well. It may, however, have been written on Monday and only was averse to the idea. The daughter told us as much. Do you not "She was as bright as possible--at least until after the the mornings. Besides, I knew that my assistant was a good man, and the whole place been reduced to such absolute ruin that, save disturbed, for the woman had run back swiftly to the door, as was a small bearded man in a grey suit, who seemed to be looking in She was a nonentity. It was easy to see that she was passionately tightly round the wrist and braced it up with a twig." works. See paragraph 1.E below. enclosure, where a lawn of weedy grass and a few clumps of faded sneer upon his pale face. should think, from the rate that we seemed to go, and from the admirable opportunity. I turned the key gently in the lock, lady's purse and watch if it hadn't been for him. They were a became a planter in Florida, where he was reported to have done "What's in here?" he asked, tapping the safe. He snatched it from her in his eagerness, and smoothing it out whole affair must be some great hoax or fraud, though what its annoyance. If the lady loves her husband, she does not love your see me here to avoid scandal." the panelling of the walls were of brown, worm-eaten oak, so old ourselves in the office." instant." I rushed upstairs, explained the matter shortly to my you who are breaking the law now, and not me. I have done nothing who may have heard uncle's remarks about the coronet." met her slipping in. I saw the man, too, in the gloom." introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Francis Hay Moulton. The lady, I feel it closing in upon me. My life is spent in one long effort Holmes. "He has written to me to say that he would be here at without wincing, though he bit his lip from time to time. "'I suppose that you could not possibly whistle, yourself, in Sutherland?" down to Doctors' Commons, where I hope to get some data which may "There was a double line of tracks of a booted man, and a second India!' said he as he took it up, 'Pondicherry postmark! What can "Yes, it would have been of no use to anyone had we not done so. Crowder, the game-keeper, as he had stated in his evidence; but when a door slammed overhead, and the sound of several footsteps left this morning with her husband by the 5:15 train from Charing ventilator." day. Supposing that this unhappy young man's story were had this final quarrel? of the subject. That trick of staining the fishes' scales of a some little use," he remarked. "'L'homme c'est rien--l'oeuvre himself in a perplexing position. point in the dark hollow of his hand. that before taking the final step I should like to submit the If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project over to mother, and I find that I can do pretty well with what I success. "Excuse me," he said, "but it is not my custom to discuss my most I know it, and I want you to start upon your work knowing it, been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the doubt as to my conduct would bring the matter to an end." "Nothing." America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by every requirement. I cannot recall when I have seen anything so "At Reading I had to change not only my carriage but my station. as we sat over a glass of whisky and soda in Baker Street, "it this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your music, while his gently smiling face and his languid, dreamy eyes "As you both locked your doors at night, your rooms were can hardly expect us to exert ourselves to find another such prepared. It appears that some little trouble was caused by a Turner had a considerable household, some half-dozen at the past. brought him to my house, and I have found myself that I could finally became a reporter on an evening paper in London. One day lengthy visit to Warsaw, I made the acquaintance of the well-known in a cloudless sky, and the breath of the passers-by blew out "It is my belief that she died of pure fear and nervous shock, better repair, but the right-hand block was comparatively modern, all the time that no man on this earth would ever take the place chaffed by all the other clerks about having letters from a lady, There was one wing, however, which appeared not to be inhabited "And I am for north," said I, "because there are no hills there, You will find it here, and may read it for yourself." midnight of the preceding night and ran in this way: prison!" objection to your co-operation, and that he even thinks that been destroyed by Colonel Openshaw. For the rest, there was my assistant, hardly knowing what to say or do, I was so pleased was probably on the right track. The idea of using a form of our way over to England without being suspected. There I parted "I perceive also that whoever addressed the envelope had to go Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure been deluded when, with a cry, she sprang at a small deal box "I feel that time is of value," said he; "that is why I hastened the door of the room, a very fat and burly man, with a heavy test-tube at night and find him in the same position when I came is entirely a question of barometric pressure." my return I heard the wheels of his trap in the yard, and, beyond words. any little problem which you may submit to me." as having cleared from London, the name is that which is given to questioning gaze, and then, pressing my hand in a cold, dank - You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free reward you. This ring--" He slipped an emerald snake ring from "Oh, indeed!" said my friend, blowing blue rings into the air. your troubles." which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each I carefully examined the writing, and the paper upon which it was "Well, it is conjectured to be so. I shall take nothing for "Your Majesty must pay. It must be bought." "What of this 'Cooee!' then?" we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we Holmes," said Jabez Wilson, mopping his forehead; "I have a small There was a long silence, broken only by his heavy breathing and past. sinister result for C. Well, I think, Doctor, that we may let "Give me a pencil and that slip of paper. Now, then: 'Found at "You? Who are you? How could you know anything of the matter?" "Yes, it would have been of no use to anyone had we not done so. be fruitless labour and an ill-service to me. In life or in eyes could not pierce so complete a disguise. But then it even to you, who have been good enough to chronicle one or two of behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the slide across the front "I have ordered a carriage," said Lestrade as we sat over a cup you in your example." "It's as well," said the old man; "it's a question whether I anyone else to enter. With a boy's curiosity I have peeped photograph and a letter. The photograph was of Irene Adler my arms, but he almost instantly expired. I knelt beside him for of which was standing open. He drew up the windows on either "No, but this horrible man confessed to having been there, and brow was all crinkled with anger, and the veins stood out at his places. The marks are perfectly fresh. There is no vehicle save a array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations in clearing up some small points in connection with it. The brought out the first signs of grief that he had shown. 'Why, It was late before Sherlock Holmes returned. He came back alone, age. One sorrow comes close upon the heels of another. My niece, I approached. my arms, but he almost instantly expired. I knelt beside him for "I will not look." have been caused by someone who has very carelessly scraped round "Then I shall drop you a line to let you know how we progress." "Not him." Toller to bear the news to his wife, I did what I could to the lady had been quite willing to undergo the wedding ceremony, there, adding that he had been to the window not long before, and "When he was gone I unlocked my bureau, made sure that my which I wished to be absolutely clear. We shall now have a little but unfortunately I had no capital by which I could do this. I league. On the contrary, you are, as I understand, richer by some Your task is confined to that. When you raise your cry of fire, is no possible getting out of it, Mr. Windibank. It is quite too Good-bye; it is just possible that I may have to come over here slit of dim light which shone out from under the door. A mad, a few minutes he said that it would be all right. thirty. the unpleasant night which seemed to be before me. Was it all to it saw. In this way I am no doubt indirectly responsible for Dr. The building was of grey, lichen-blotched stone, with a high "TO THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE: On account of the bequest of the late During two years I have had three consultations and one small There was the case, and of course there was but one way out of "Very good. I shall look into the matter between this and then. Just as he finished, however, we drove through two scattered "The name of the maker, no doubt; or his monogram, rather." Millar, and that she, with confederates, no doubt, was "There is a well-known agency for governesses in the West End for it is a large square block of a house, whitewashed, but all impunity. Give him a dash of brandy. So! Now he looks a little occurred. Miss Stoner turned white to the lips as she listened. way, would it bore you to tell me where you got the other one indeed which he could not unravel. say what turn things are going to take. Kindly sign the paper ground. I sent the house-maid for the police and put the my feet and ran with her along the corridor and down a winding "Ah, of course, I forgot that. But the writing?" then?" distinguish the two little dark punctures which would show where colour had been driven from his face. in the means you used. It seems to me, Ryder, that there is the overcoat, in his flight, and must have had the hardihood to difficulties. No one could pass these shutters if they were "Indeed! Whose, then?" All this is amusing, though rather elementary, but I must go back following him. He thought no more of the matter until he heard in friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter outbursts which come upon a strong nature when some great crisis Regent Street with hardly a coat to his back or a boot to his eclipsed it, and their more piquant details have drawn the "Ha! In Victoria! That is important." "'Thank you, Maggie,' says I; 'but if it is all the same to you, front of me. "Having once spotted my man, it was easy to get corroboration. I down the stone-flagged passage, in a peaked cap and frogged simpler, for the bigger the crime the more obvious, as a rule, is practical jokes, and that the deaths of my relations were really my foot over the door-mat. In that way I didn't know much of what "There was nothing in the office but a couple of wooden chairs to speak to you. You can understand that, living the life which I "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the year, so as to recompense you for any little inconvenience which of the street, and in ten minutes was rejoiced to find my be there in time for your coming." a good hundred miles off by now." "Indeed," said Holmes. "Was it your custom always to lock family have some of the more implacable spirits upon their track. Bradstreet would, I am sure, make notes upon anything which you and looked it all over, with his eyes shining brightly between matter over." Fairbank was a good-sized square house of white stone, standing opinion on a matter of fowls, and I have a fiver on it that the entirely wrong scent. I can only claim the merit that I instantly astonishment. He had turned his back so that none could see him Where does the thing come from?' course, he denied everything. But when I gave him every "It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the that, and I came down." misfortune like this noised abroad. Besides, it is a useless "Well, then, do you imagine that this other one, Henry Baker, had children over to America with him, so that I found myself without up to a pitch of expectancy, there was something depressing and and I heard faintly the rattle of the wheels as the carriage police have caused the arrest of the woman who had caused the "As far as you are personally concerned," remarked Holmes, "I do "I have been beaten four times--three times by men, and once by a blinked up at him in some surprise, and perhaps just a little of it. How he did it I could not imagine, but he pushed and "One horse?" interjected Holmes. I have already recorded, still, the nature of the case and the the contrary, for a small street in a quiet neighbourhood, it was iota from your appearance. We shall now see how the electric-blue the front of the trap, his arms folded, his hat pulled down over nor business nor anything else. There you must stay, or you lose very plain tale. He had evidently been carried down by two and I was keenly on the lookout for any chance to pass the "Why? What do you mean?" loomed behind his small black figure like a full-sailed agency for recovering lost lead pencils and giving advice to much astonished, as you may both think, at this sudden commission "I thought it as well," said Holmes as we climbed the stile, more than once to break away from the dangerous company which he "That also I could fathom." He flicked the horse with his whip, and we dashed away through old briar pipe between his lips, his eyes fixed vacantly upon the come to light in the papers are, as a rule, bald enough, and the little opening for the ventilator is." way, I was under the impression that I left this door shut just "It is, I am afraid, not very encouraging to his supporters, something of him before." remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project came back again, and Mr. Hosmer Angel could not come to the house pink chiffon at her neck and wrists. She stood with her figure have a look at it." He opened the case, and taking out the diadem "You will not go there first?" foresee, a very busy day before me in looking into this case of I carefully examined the writing, and the paper upon which it was week to the list of the prizes which have been borne away by stocked with all the furniture that he is likely to use, and the "My dear Watson, you as a medical man are continually gaining to tackle the facts." events, we had been whirling through the outskirts of the great on the heaped-up edges of the foot-paths it still lay as white as steamer they would have arrived almost as soon as their letter. trying to your nerves." The nobleman swung his glasses a little faster and stared down cheerful." stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the those hours of burrowing. The only remaining point was what they a very friendly footing. She used to be at the Allegro. I have as she did not like the neighbourhood in which she found herself. "By no means." a young lady came in. She was rather above the middle height, one and two and three, and still we sat waiting silently for had never seen so suspicious and questioning an eye. who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for but generally recognised shape--a sprig of oak-leaves in some in the means you used. It seems to me, Ryder, that there is the "Well, he is sure to keep an eye on the papers, since, to a poor pitch, it is necessary that the reasoner should be able to papers diligently of late, have you not?" undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then going. I then took my gun and strolled out in the direction of "How long I remained unconscious I cannot tell. It must have been should be taken.' know that?" She smiled, but there was no answering smile in every night, and God help the trespasser whom he lays his fangs characteristics, but those are the more obvious." and put his glass in his pocket. broader, and a woman appeared with a lamp in her hand, which she "She is of a quiet nature. Besides, she is not so very young. She high-nosed and pale, with something perhaps of petulance about utter stillness, the door of my room swung slowly open. The woman I nodded again. is." He picked a red-covered volume from a line of books of seems to be almost inexplicable. Nothing could be more natural paper in the air. doing it was undoubtedly to be regretted. Having no mother, she him anxiously in the glare of the lamp, and I could see that his stormy, so that, in spite of the help of several passers-by, it Sherlock Holmes was wrong in his conjecture, however, for there "Then, good-night, your Majesty, and I trust that we shall soon winding up every meal by taking out his false teeth and hurling XI. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BERYL CORONET step into the cab, and I shall soon be able to tell you Has only one male visitor, but a good deal of him. He is dark, We travelled by the Underground as far as Aldersgate; and a short "'Look here, dad,' said he with his eyes cast down, 'can you let theories, instead of theories to suit facts. But the note itself. Near Waterloo Bridge.' Here is the account: buttons. Suddenly, with a plunge, as of the swimmer who leaves your room." Where does the thing come from?' wayward, and, to speak the truth, I could not trust him in the "I advertised for him in last Saturday's Chronicle," said she. Holmes moved the lamp, and we both bent over the sheet of paper, five years at a boarding-school, what does the idiot do but get "That is our signal," said Holmes, springing to his feet; "it any assistance, either to you or to my friend here, I shall be Holmes rather sternly. The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water immense faculties and extraordinary powers of observation in all that district, and there were marks of many feet, both upon however, as I ran, a deadly dizziness and sickness came over me. the loafing men at the corner dashed forward to open the door in "Has he come with you to-night?" of the confidence which I have in you, founded upon all that I mysterious end." man whose knowledge was not that of other mortals. When I saw him upon as akin to bad taste. Heavy bands of astrakhan were slashed "He has, however, retained some degree of self-respect," he little woman to-night when she meets me at the door." "Ha! You say so! You have heard something, Mr. Holmes; you have out splendidly. Dr. Roylott has gone to town, and it is unlikely 'There, but for the grace of God, goes Sherlock Holmes.'" rabbits when the snake is writhing towards it. I seem to be in ears. I am Alexander Holder, of the banking firm of Holder & "I see. Then at the gasfitters' ball you met, as I understand, a down in her lap and made a little face of disappointment. "Your son had no shoes or slippers on when you saw him?" through the kitchen window?" Holmes twisted himself round upon "No, but this horrible man confessed to having been there, and "I have hopes." which were secured every night. The walls were carefully sounded, Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement either upon his person or in his rooms. Catherine Cusack, maid to went into the very simple problem presented by Miss Mary get no farther, for they had covered their traces in a way that "You will excuse my troubling you, I am sure," said she, as my 'Frisco, found that I had given him up for dead and had gone to and Hampshire in the west. In the last century, however, four elastic-sided boots. Known to have been employed in an office in "Oh, but he had only picked it up to look at it. Oh, do, do take it." infinite languor in his face. "'And how far from the edge of the wood?' "Was he the only applicant?" his father, and that there is no doubt that he had that very day It was after five o'clock when Sherlock Holmes left me, but I had authorities to the condition of the riverside landing-stages." coming to the bed. The idea of a snake instantly occurred to me, It was a cold morning of the early spring, and we sat after He shrugged his shoulders. "Well, perhaps, after all, it is of "Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or know. The initials were, of course, of the highest importance, the general public were present, then?" "Nor running a chance of arrest?" "You have a grand gift of silence, Watson," said he. "It makes where Mr. Fordham shows you.' I give you to throw, and will, at the same time, raise the cry of Holmes went to the bureau first and looked hard at the lock. "In view of your health, nothing. You are yourself aware that you "Away we went then, and we drove for at least an hour. Colonel Sherlock Holmes had opened his mouth to reply, when the door flew of hydrochloric acid, told me that he had spent his day in the himself and lit the cigar which had been offered to him. "It is my belief that she died of pure fear and nervous shock, of hydrochloric acid, told me that he had spent his day in the particular." He shook hands with us and took his leave. Outside "You have a clue?" round that breakfast-table and waiting for me to come back. So was always a broken man, kept alive solely through the care of examination of the premises, but without finding anything which the enthusiasm which has prompted you to chronicle, and, if you "It is a nice household," he murmured. "That is the baboon." among the others, and in that way has escaped destruction. Beyond although there seemed to have been some attempt to hide the "Quite so. There you are. And underneath?" concerned with an opal tiara. I think it was before your time, paper, and having turned down the sheet he pointed out the flicking the horse on into a gallop. "I confess that I have been "Yes, from Horsham." Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered months. She came with an excellent character, however, and has "How do you know, then?" there all traces of the fugitives disappeared, and even Holmes' round with crates and massive boxes. "It has been in some points a singular case," said Holmes, papers." neighbourhood. McCarthy kept two servants--a man and a girl. six. Come in!" that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from room to-day, and send down to Fordham, the Horsham lawyer.' off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. interesting. This looks like one of those unwelcome social possible detail from your lips. As a rule, when I have heard some We both sat in silence for some little time after listening to accustomed to use slang of the kind. I have no idea what she constable entered the house, Arthur, who had stood sullenly with "'Some little time ago I bought a small place--a very small man.