me." "Your Majesty must pay. It must be bought." even to you, who have been good enough to chronicle one or two of "Well, I got the two dozen from a salesman in Covent Garden." "She brought, I understand, a considerable dowry?" and the number of our depositors. One of our most lucrative means "Had he ever spoken of Swandam Lane?" chance at all." magistrates at Ross, who have referred the case to the next human body is a different matter. There is a fierce eddy between The very noblest in the land may suffer unless some way be found sum, for people in their position, and the loss of it would have pocket, was John Openshaw, and whose residence is near Horsham. its extreme limits, and yet the result is, it must be confessed, wanted so much as to join a Sunday-school treat. But this time I stepfather has offered no opposition to the match, and we are to meanly of me." my stepfather, and I met him hastening from his room in his bloody deed. This stone is not yet twenty years old. It was found the streets of the little town, finally returning to the hotel, me out, but the remorseless clanking of the levers drowned my end of a long light ladder against the eaves. That is how he did new duties?' weighted by the coppers which I had just transferred to it from they have decoyed him down there? The Embankment is not on the deception could not be kept up forever. These pretended journeys "And very wet it seems to have made you," said Holmes laying his "A Juryman: Did you see nothing which aroused your suspicions held it against the light. "It's a bonny thing," said he. "Just "By this time the whole house was astir, for I had raised my goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will the same position. Draw your chair up and hand me my violin, for note, it is important also, or at least the initials are, so I set any tax upon his legs. As he ran he jerked his hands up and and the splash of the rain to lengthen out into the long swash of some paternal advice and to point out to them that it would be as having cleared from London, the name is that which is given to "No, she was in her night-dress. In her right hand was found the slumber. Holmes stooped to the water-jug, moistened his sponge, "I had," said he, "come to an entirely erroneous conclusion which manners, he was soon the intimate of a number of men with long forever a mystery were it not for the soft mould, which told us a "'Where to?' Good-afternoon, Miss Stoner. You see that we have been as good as "I took it up and examined it. It was of the same peculiar tint, cinder with the tongs and lighting with it the long cherry-wood ADVENTURE III. A CASE OF IDENTITY who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for it fell over with its keen white teeth still meeting in the great it was impossible for me to solve so simple a question. That's from the room, and I have not seen her since. I rose, and, making "Yes, sir." ten miles from the village. The place we want must be somewhere effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread been anything against him. He had for years been known as a The young man took from his waistcoat a crumpled envelope, and "Indeed! Whose, then?" "Then, how do you know?" brow, set his lips tight, and turned his face towards us. thumb-nails, or the great issues that may hang from a boot-lace. chin in some perplexity, "my theory certainly presents some of the house. Holmes drew one of the chairs into a corner and sat following out those clues, and clearing up those mysteries which black canvas bag in his hand. With a short greeting he seated in the principal room, while I still observed the proceedings back at me." The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I I went out, as if on some commission, and I made for my sister's appear to be the worse for the fall. Yet when I spoke to her of through." between Australians. There is a strong presumption that the certainly do as you advise." air of a man whose disgust is too deep for words. A few yards off claim to--the whole situation became absolutely clear. She had father's place of business?" mean, of course, the loss of a hundred a year, so what does her for some years. There are no further particulars, and the whole exposure. He had no friends at all save the wandering gipsies, "But what harm can there be in that?" better not to wash linen of the sort in public. It was quite "By this time the whole house was astir, for I had raised my "One tallow stain, or even two, might come by chance; but when I enter Dr. Roylott's room." the right must be the lodge. I think that I will go in and have a time as possible, so I shall start at once upon my peculiar rather not talk about the creature, Mr. Holmes, and, indeed, he "Oh, yes, I did. You remember in her statement she said that her "Your presence might be invaluable." "That is well. And the Rucastles go out to-night?" very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in believe that I will succeed in discovering Mr. Hosmer Angel." were deeply stirred by the story to which we had listened. I suggested at once that there must be a communication between the and greeting his visitor with the easy air of geniality which he you. Now," he said as he turned hungrily on the simple fare that mountains, so that her education has come from Nature rather than Holmes," said Jabez Wilson, mopping his forehead; "I have a small in the wood, and to ask for the help of the lodge-keeper. He was hurling the twisted poker into the fireplace he strode out of the instincts rose up against that laugh. garden. I lent the ostlers a hand in rubbing down their horses, His whole life appears to be spent in an alternation between away in different directions, and I went off to make my own "Yesterday morning I was seated in my office at the bank when a whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the "'And not a word to a soul.' He looked at me with a last long, ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises "'One child--one dear little romper just six years old. Oh, if public-house. The group of trees, with their dark leaves shining "You were not yourself at fault at all, then?" savage fits of passion and gloomy intervals of sulking. Giving for who else could outweigh the love and gratitude which she must main fault, but on the whole he's a good worker. There's no vice "When I arrived at the house," continued Holmes, "I at once went though we meet signs of him at every turn, we never know where to "He disappeared so suddenly." "What are you going to do, then?" I asked. and throwing the noose round the reptile's neck he drew it from one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation he called my cock-and-bull story about the colonel, but he looked the matter, she answered me abruptly; and in the carriage, on our with premature grey, and her expression was weary and haggard. "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are "And you are a benefactor of the race," said I. future. As it is an open secret that the Duke of Balmoral has Munro.' the pair might take an immediate departure, and so necessitate "Your boy, Arthur, went to bed after his interview with you but furniture warehouse, of the facts connected with the loss of the Parr, the second waiting-maid, has only been in my service a few never will be, entirely cleared up. warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. my two visitors vanished away, like the genii of the Arabian "But you can know nothing of this?" screamed upon the ground. Running up, I blew its brains out, and and a marriage was arranged, and pa was very pleased, but I felt hesitating fashion at our windows, while her body oscillated promise me that you will not tell a human being that you are whole affair must be some great hoax or fraud, though what its "'Have you never heard of the League of the Red-headed Men?' he the path and amid the short grass which bounded it on either a grin of rage, and he glared down at me with the face of a "Give me your coat and umbrella," said Holmes. "They may rest fuller's-earth is a valuable product, and that it is only found "Which surely he restored to their owner?" husband looking down at her and, as it seemed to her, beckoning wedding?" first, and we can have some lunch on the way. I observe that go from here to the Strand." met her slipping in. I saw the man, too, in the gloom." be married in the course of the spring. Two days ago some repairs coroner's jury." "Well, really, I came to seek a theory, not to propound one. I attracted admirers who have occasionally hung about the place. when the cabman got down from the box and looked there was no one rather more to my taste than Italian or French. It is "And how have you succeeded?" room. His features were gravely set, but there was a light in his arms of his chair, with his finger-tips together. "The ideal things. Perhaps I have trained myself to see what others Stark laid down the lamp on the top of a harmonium beside the half wages, it was obvious to me that he had some strong motive the best of training." written, and locked the door of the office after me. thrust into the breast of his frock-coat, a picture of offended We had pulled up in front of a large villa which stood within its so I offered to typewrite them, like he did his, but he wouldn't way in." "He often had a wild way of talking, so that I thought little of red-headed clients to vex us with their conundrums." of his shoulders. five years at a boarding-school, what does the idiot do but get may be expected to take place, and many a little problem will be We had reached Baker Street and had stopped at the door. He was was walking, and once he ran swiftly, so that the soles are guilty one." here. All right, John; we shall not need you. Here's half a "'And a very good thing, too!' I cried. "I did as he ordered, and when the lawyer arrived I was asked to "That is not always so easy." beside him, patted his hand and chatted with him in the easy, had no great pleasure in our lives. No servant would stay with like to draw out of the business, there is plenty of time to do purple plush at the neck and sleeves. Her gloves were greyish and "Nearly eleven." certainly among the most singular that I have ever listened to. nothing. Presently he emerged, looking even more flurried than to-morrow," it said. "Do come! I am at my wit's end. HUNTER." "No sign of it?" feared lest there might be a scandal in the church. She came to "Well, at least," said Holmes, "you have had your revenge upon that he will be back before evening." It seems that it was. She had the surest information that of late the large one which looked from the hall onto the stable lane. these bleak autumnal evenings." colleague, Dr. Watson, who is occasionally good enough to help me questioning gaze, and then, pressing my hand in a cold, dank as she did not like the neighbourhood in which she found herself. "There isn't a cat in it, for example?" them. Then there are successive entries that A and B cleared, or she might be summoned. companion's knees. "For God's sake, have mercy!" he shrieked. "'And how far from the edge of the wood?' heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold "You have been cruelly used," said Holmes. "Married! When?" "And the ring?" I asked, glancing at a remarkable brilliant which "I thought that if I told you the circumstances you would surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, imbecility!" he cried. London. He was doing something in the cellar--something which "He is asleep," said he. "You can see him very well." at all. The small matter in which I endeavoured to help the King very station at which I had arrived upon the previous night. Were weeks, with this very paper in his hand, and he says: him anxiously in the glare of the lamp, and I could see that his Our visitor staggered to his feet and clutched the mantelpiece flush upon his sallow cheeks and a nervous clasping and however, seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face, danseuse at the Allegro, and that she has known the bridegroom note?" "To eat it!" Our visitor half rose from his chair in his Then they will not lose a minute, for the sooner they do their was a false alarm, she replaced it, glanced at the rocket, rushed his heels came the colonel himself, a man rather over the middle morning, but I must be back before three o'clock, for Mr. and the return to Hatherley Farm. On the inspector of constabulary which must have belonged to the attic, in one hand, and a small disguises, I had to look three times before I was certain that it "Will you go?" charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you observed. of Mr. Rucastle's." rambling and inconsequential narrative, but, on the contrary, he "My dear Holmes!" that if the clothes were there the body would not be far off." remarked. have watched the fellow more than once before ever I thought of I found myself lying upon the stone floor of a narrow corridor, "It must stop here, however," said Bradstreet. "If the police are light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be off." I have no one to turn to--none, save only one, who cares for me, peculiar to him. train this morning, and on inquiring at Paddington as to where I out to you that your refusal to answer will prejudice your case "He must guard himself, for he may find that there is someone "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" Road, to a salesman named Breckinridge, by him in turn to Mr. International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make house. She had married a man named Oakshott, and lived in Brixton her over in the minute and yet abstracted fashion which was strange tales of what has passed through it upon the moonless "Your hands, my dear sir. Your right hand is quite a size larger ADVENTURE III. A CASE OF IDENTITY "Done about the same time as the bell-rope?" remarked Holmes. "Grave enough!" said Mr. Jabez Wilson. "Why, I have lost four all is sweetness and delicacy and harmony, and there are no scrawled upon one side. It was pierced in the brim for a strong and stiff." word was no sooner out of my mouth than the whole crowd of which they had found within, and still more so by discovering a "The circumstances are of great delicacy, and every precaution the inquirer flitted away into the darkness. and a deal table, behind which sat a small man with a head that Your niece, when you had, as she thought, gone to your room, can do in the town what the law cannot accomplish. There is no it short and perhaps I should be among the number. Next day I was during the last few years, and there are many noble families to anything to do with the matter?" "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have springs, such as a weary man gives who is little accustomed to out my commission, and without the payment which was my due? This been called upon to fathom. Once only had I known him to fail, in you said just now, there has been no crime committed, and no harm the floor, instantly gave rise to the suspicion that the rope was questioning gaze, and then, pressing my hand in a cold, dank begin with, and I had not got mine yet." in my judgment, the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring as it occurred. When I came down, Mr. Rucastle met me here and his hand and coldly grasped that which she extended to him. might veil, I suddenly heard the sound of steps within the room the geese which were waddling about round my feet, and suddenly written. Still, that little may as well be cleared up to make the case quick-witted youth, though comely to look at and, I should think, envelope. if it had gone twelve miles over heavy roads?" Behind there was nothing remarkable, save that the passage window legal crime." "I think that I mentioned to you that the doctor kept a cheetah "I am afraid so. I had brought a pack of cards in my pocket, and had no one to advise her at such a crisis." hat since, then he has assuredly gone down in the world." the metal pipes. The most lay silent, but some muttered to he dropped it from his grasp and turned as pale as death. I not have missed it for worlds. But there is a ring at the bell, everywhere, seen everything, a brilliant talker, and a man of keeping. If the latter, it was less likely. On the issue of this might tell us and submit it to the proper authorities. The case of amusement, and he shows quite remarkable talent in planning home a dozen times from Serpentine-mews, and knew all about him. There was a long silence, broken only by his heavy breathing and were meetings, and an engagement, which would finally secure the of the vacancies.' her father thought it time to put a stop on it. He wanted her to "Really! Does it not strike you as a little singular that this heard a metallic clang, which might have been caused by one of that my cousin Arthur is innocent of this crime." small slip of flesh-coloured plaster. Then with a red head of true." The little man stood glancing from one to the other of us with charged with?" could earn 700 pounds a year--which is less than my average the address that was given us in the advertisement. of a broad and massive mould, was now pinched and fallen in, our door had been suddenly dashed open, and that a huge man had "It seemed to me that I had never met so fascinating and so half-mad with grief and rage. 'I shall have this matter probed to said he. "And now, Mr. Wilson, off you go at scratch and tell us How you startled me, Kate! I had not an idea who you were when retorted upon me, and I on you." suggested at once that there must be a communication between the nothing save the occasional bright blur of a passing light. Now well with him. There is so keen a sympathy between us that I call for protection in the marriage market, for the present That is the only drawback which we have found to her, but we that woman was the late Irene Adler, of dubious and questionable Mrs. Henry Baker' was printed upon a small card which was tied to Gladstone bag. Come on, my boy, and we shall see whether it will that he has suffered." considerable share in clearing the matter up, I feel that no Holmes laughed. "It is quite a pretty little problem," said he. down the stone-flagged passage, in a peaked cap and frogged again, where I was soon asleep. "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I "An enemy?" "It was in vain to argue with him, for he was a very obstinate permission, Miss Stoner, we shall now carry our researches into would fain have said, and she stabbed with her finger into the "And your father?" asked Holmes. "Was he in favour of such a When I had listened to all they had to tell, I began to walk up lane a very long and complex story was written in the snow in observe it at the time. Now keep your eyes open in this crowd for years and eight months have elapsed since then. During that time maid who opened the door with the air of a man who was thoroughly congenial hunt. "Is he quiet?" "On the contrary," said Holmes, "it is the brightest rift which I returned, feeling very much easier. A horrible doubt came into my was of me, Mr. Holmes, and the little things that he would think at the inquest on Tuesday, he was on Wednesday brought before the I had no difficulty in getting leave to come into Winchester this word with Moran, and perhaps write a little note. Having done "Pray do so." must at once put the box out upon the sundial, as directed. Do "'Where have you put it?' asked Arthur. and prosperity to your house. Good-night." a number of better-dressed people, who had watched the scuffle making of a very pretty villain in you. You knew that this man "In view of your health, nothing. You are yourself aware that you problems help me to do so." were worn through at the right forefinger. Her boots I didn't behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the slide across the front that if the clothes were there the body would not be far off." neither alone could have effected. He had returned with the I trust that I am not more dense than my neighbours, but I was which were secured every night. The walls were carefully sounded, stormy, so that, in spite of the help of several passers-by, it story, I told it to him, on which he had to confess that I was he cannot escape, and you have saved an innocent human life as to preserve impressions. I passed along the tradesmen's path, but headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': "'How would fifty guineas for a night's work suit you?' he asked. 30 pounds, to say nothing of the minute knowledge which you have "You are engaged," said I; "perhaps I interrupt you." "Then I suggest that we turn our dinner into a supper and follow overpowering terror? I left the breakfast-table, and as I furniture van. That is quite cleared up now--though, indeed, it And no more words were needed. There was a rush, a clatter upon at once furnish information. In this case I found her biography of the lustrous black hair, the large dark eyes, and the combinations we must go to life itself, which is always far more of Holmes from within assuring them that it was a false alarm. your friends of last night, though I very much fear that they are Ryder passed his tongue over his parched lips. "I will tell you the sofa and armchairs. With these he constructed a sort of "Well, have you solved it?" I asked as I entered. "Oh, but he had only picked it up to look at it. Oh, do, do take "His name is Vincent Spaulding, and he's not such a youth, of the loss of power, and I pointed it out to my companions, who rooms once more. He hurried to his chamber and was down again in he dropped it from his grasp and turned as pale as death. I surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, British peeress.'" circumstances which I have now taken up my pen to describe. it lengthened out until it became a yellow line, and then, unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily Stark laid down the lamp on the top of a harmonium beside the would have done the same with the other garments had not he heard fond of playing backgammon and draughts with me, and he would find Sherlock Holmes standing, fully dressed, by the side of my McCarthy, who appears to have had little of his own, and to have all theories to the contrary are the merest moonshine." possible that his wife is a lunatic, that he desires to keep the the probability--the strong probability--is that the writer was saturated with the news of the day, I tossed them all aside and was it brought him the coronet? "It seems to me that I have done you full justice in the matter," breakfast-table so that you could see out of the window?" "This Godfrey Norton was evidently an important factor in the whole matter to your consideration." breakfast-table so that you could see out of the window?" upon my father's last message: 'K. K. K.'; and then 'Put the or less interest, of which I retain the records. Among my to tackle the facts." "I have solved it." thought at first that you had done something clever, but I see Holmes turned to the page indicated. "Here you are, 'Mrs. "You seem to expect company. They have laid for five." office-like room, with a huge ledger upon the table, and a attempt to secure the photograph at once; but the coachman had fear." if we do not succeed in clearing the matter up. With your "And I am for north," said I, "because there are no hills there, we drive to Baker Street we shall just be in time for breakfast." I sold my character. God help me! God help me!" He burst into or else I can never show my face inside the club again.' reconsidered your decision. My wife is very anxious that you this floor." He threw himself down upon his face with his lens in "I shall try not to miss anything of importance. The one "Deserted you?" I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and have been had I been here before they came like a herd of buffalo while a woman bent over me and tugged at me with her left hand, Beside this table, on the wooden chair, sat Dr. Grimesby Roylott yourself very wet lately, and that you have a most clumsy and four-wheeler, which happened to be the only other cab in the and down, sometimes losing, sometimes finding the track until we the yard, and behind this I drove one of the birds--a fine big "Stolen, then." records." hair-ends, clean cut by the scissors of the barber. They all believed it?' He spoke in a jesting tone, but there was no jest arrived. I inquired of him whether he had ever heard of Colonel walked over to the bed and spent some time in staring at it and occurred to me that there might be a search in the room, and that was my first impression. At the second glance, however, I my word that I would have spoken out if it went against him at rude meal into his pocket he started off upon his expedition. ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so "We shall endeavour to clear up these points for you. And, first, of them in a row, three of which were simply dirty, while the them?" peasant had met a cart containing several people and some very and the murderers of John Openshaw were never to receive the extraordinary contortions. and I heard faintly the rattle of the wheels as the carriage the armchair which I pushed forward for him. "God bless you! You are doing what you can for him and for me. about. "You think that he is dead?" "Oh, dear! That is very bad! Your Majesty has indeed committed an down the ill-trimmed lawn and examined with deep attention the Neville St. Clair and swore that the presence of the clothes in "You heard nothing yourself last night?" "What else can be indicated by that right cuff so very shiny for "And how did you verify them?" particularly so. I am not a very heavy sleeper, and the anxiety and your relations to her." enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The "Was there a secret marriage?" Sherlock Holmes was wrong in his conjecture, however, for there wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official used for political purposes, principally for the terrorising of his face which made him a very different person to the round, Mr. Windibank gave a violent start and dropped his gloves. "I am 1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a tradespeople, so that by the time that I was sixteen I was quite on consideration of some few pence every week, we were each to other is to the young lady's stepfather, Mr. Windibank, asking hair, and an appropriate dress, I took my station in the business "I think that we may safely say," returned Holmes, "that she is strolled up and down, glancing at them occasionally, Mr. Rucastle to you." them?" "From the first, two facts were very obvious to me, the one that "Yes." which I suspected. It lay between that and her bedroom, and I was "Your experience has been a most entertaining one," remarked a matter of business and to carry out that business myself. In my object might be I could not imagine. It seemed altogether past "But have you," I asked, "formed any definite conception as to after all. Yet it was quite certain, from the absolute stillness, "I will make no allowance. I am very angry indeed, and I have office, which is about half a mile from the house, and then years. My doctor says it is a question whether I shall live a result of a disguise--the whiskers, the glasses, the voice, and I furniture warehouse, of the facts connected with the loss of the half their salary beforehand, so that they may meet any little "Oh! you have seen inside, then?" wheel, two guardsmen who were flirting with a nurse-girl, and before the coroner and the police-court." figure made even gaunter and taller by his long grey low den in which I used to lodge in Swandam Lane, where I could "Very much so." and made me swear, with my hands on the Testament, that whatever an ounce of shag tobacco and a box of matches laid out in front think, you have already met." nights." the metal pipes. The most lay silent, but some muttered to "'My accomplishments, sir, may be less than you imagine,' said I. In the middle of the night he heard a soft tread pass his door, with a provision that a certain annual sum should be allowed to but, between ourselves, if it were not for the convincing permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, justice for my art, it is because it is an impersonal thing--a give him the sympathy of the jury; too much, if he evolved from occurred. Miss Stoner turned white to the lips as she listened. authorities to the condition of the riverside landing-stages." "'Oh, tut, tut! sweating--rank sweating!' he cried, throwing his that he was averse to a marriage with so charming a young lady as "Precisely." cab with my valise, rattling away to Paddington Station. Sherlock of hydrochloric acid, told me that he had spent his day in the every prospect that the son and daughter may come to live happily the case of the King of Bohemia and of the Irene Adler "It is, I am afraid, not very encouraging to his supporters, was a false alarm, she replaced it, glanced at the rocket, rushed "'What papers? What sundial?' he asked. dead, shall be safe with us." allusion to a rat. with the well-known Surrey family of the Roylotts of Stoke Moran. They have been identified as her clothes, and it seemed to me she might be summoned. that if the clothes were there the body would not be far off." Sometimes I think that I am myself. And now--and now I am myself up to a pitch of expectancy, there was something depressing and Street. "I am so delighted that you have come," she said earnestly. "It was keeping, but each time the influence of his friend, Sir demon--'I'll throw you to the mastiff.' eye which made me think that he had not been disappointed in his which should have the effect of calling the attention of the "The game's up, Ryder," said Holmes quietly. "Hold up, man, or and was introduced by him that evening to his wife and the child. The distinction is clear. For example, you have frequently seen threats. This morning he was removed to a cell, and I, after your sleep?' he, "of course you can hardly avoid publicity. On the other hand, basketful of linen. The skylight above was open, and the prisoner "One horse?" interjected Holmes. "But to whom?" and you are always so interested in Mr. Sherlock Holmes' cases." This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: took many hours a day for months on end. What could it be, once matters immensely." "Deserted you?" a vice upon my wrist in his agitation. Then he broke into a low "How on earth--" overstrung nerves failed me suddenly, and I turned and ran--ran back his son; but I had gained the cover of the wood, though I important, to raise his hand as if to strike him. The effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread waiting for us. She had engaged a sitting-room, and our lunch read it out to me." Walsall, where I believe that she has met with considerable success. been lifted and conveyed somewhere." incarnate. I tell you that. God keep you out of the clutches of a small bearded man in a grey suit, who seemed to be looking in that I could plainly see the traces which had been left by the the absolute pallor of her skin. I do not think that I have ever "'Then, good-bye, Mr. Jabez Wilson, and let me congratulate you happened to live at no very great distance from Paddington are, I think, all that we need." railings which bordered our field and was looking earnestly up. I "Then I shall certainly come." building, the whole time. If you leave, you forfeit your whole Slipping through the shouting crowd I made my way to the corner manifestations that the keenest pleasure is to be derived. It is "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I until your reason breaks down under them and acknowledges me to reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a some water from a caraffe. His silence appears to me to cut both ways. There are several you, my dear young lady?' machine had come between us. That will just show you how fond he down in his armchair and closing his eyes. George Burnwell. I had heard of him before as being a man of evil Lestrade laughed indulgently. "You have, no doubt, already formed terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked already been minutely examined." enough to find the loving couple at home, I ventured to give them isolation and of the impunity with which crime may be committed "'Yes, but with my back towards it.' broadened and broadened as a small panel was pushed backward. For Fleet Street was choked with red-headed folk, and Pope's Court Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom "Nothing?" have had a very serious accident during the night. I came in by "Miss Roylott, you have not. You are screening your stepfather." "But it has twice been burgled." answered with a sidelong glance. fled together." avoided the society of the neighbouring English families and to Watson. I can only say, madam, that I shall be happy to devote after all, it is for the best. Take your pistol, and we will entirely different. It must be confessed, however, that the case Fairbank was a good-sized square house of white stone, standing line asking me to join him when he made the sign to me to do so. The man sat huddled up in his chair, with his head sunk upon his companion. in a very precise fashion." notes," he said. although he wore some dark coat, such as he had started to town roofs some distance to the left; "but if you want to get to the "Yes." very morning of my second wedding." "Her banker or her lawyer. There is that double possibility. But License. You must require such a user to return or you to implore you to use your skill in unravelling the matter. his injuries. He was not a popular man, being somewhat cold and determined to see which. They laid me on a couch, I motioned for result of a disguise--the whiskers, the glasses, the voice, and I journey and a shorter walk brought us to Fairbank, the modest which, granting the son's statement to be correct, was a darkness as I have never before experienced. The smell of hot "'And not a word to a soul.' He looked at me with a last long, "Nothing?" All day I was engaged in my professional work, and it was late in conduct had long been notorious in the county, but he was unable XI. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BERYL CORONET laugh at this, but the laugh was struck from my lips at the sight "Thank you. I am sorry to have interrupted you. Pray continue seven miles from Eyford Station.' daughter. She is a sunbeam in my house--sweet, loving, beautiful, Count Von Kramm." "Now, then, mister," said he, with his head cocked and his arms interview with him, and finding that he would not tell me the "It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in "What, then, did Peterson do?" twenty-seven years in the force, but this really takes the cake." it made me mad, and I just on with my things and came right away "As long as she was on the scene he could not take any action scintillating blue stone, rather smaller than a bean in size, but shoulder. of all. I think that I have seen enough now, Miss Stoner, and me what he had done with the three missing stones. The salesman chuckled grimly. "Bring me the books, Bill," said unbuttoned in the front, and a drab waistcoat with a heavy brassy "This was quite too good to lose, Watson. I was just balancing and locked it in the bureau of my dressing-room. slow, but I shall only be away a couple of hours." word was no sooner out of my mouth than the whole crowd of whom I have spoken, who thrust her back and, aided by a Dane, who and I heard faintly the rattle of the wheels as the carriage before, all carefully dried and collected on the corner of the "And it is--" next day. absolutely true, then what hellish thing, what absolutely young and unknown man, a fee which would buy an opinion from the brilliant, many-pointed radiance. Ryder stood glaring with a emerged. "And Miss Sutherland?" "A patient!" said she. "You'll have to go out." case before our client came into the room." "Only once, some years ago. I remember that it was full of "Away they went, and I was just wondering whether I should not do searching his pockets for the key when someone passing said: the honeymoon; but I cannot call to mind anything quite so prompt providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance form curled up in the recesses of his armchair. A formidable lodge-keeper came, and they have covered all tracks for six or one of whom I recognised as Peter Jones, the official police light as to the tendencies of a child by the study of the "No; but one of them was mine all the same," whined the little "I came to find a friend." akimbo, "what are you driving at? Let's have it straight, now." strode off upon his way. paper, and having turned down the sheet he pointed out the vulgar enough. We have in our police reports realism pushed to no time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a gentleman's clothes. I have a vague impression that as I ran forward something lay Your niece, when you had, as she thought, gone to your room, even if they believe me, the clues which I can give them are so said Miss Stoner, laying her hand upon my companion's sleeve. deal in this mystery of the Red-headed League. I am sure that you Merryweather stopped to light a lantern, and then conducted us creases of his neck. With much labour we separated them and I smiled and shook my head. "I can quite understand your thinking There was one wing, however, which appeared not to be inhabited conduct the inquiry." people in all walks of life. broadest part, as this was. I then glanced at her face, and, have to be careful, for we have twice been deceived by wigs and was probably on the right track. The idea of using a form of well-lit dining-room, upon the table of which a cold supper had "I suppose, Watson," said he, "that you imagine that I have added "I have almost every link in my hands, and all the proofs which I "Do you know, Watson," said Holmes as we sat together in the Sherlock Holmes took a folded paper from his pocket and flattened Holmes pulled me abruptly into the room and closed the door events so closely you must have read about Lord St. Simon and his I could see by his manner that he had stronger reasons for 'There, but for the grace of God, goes Sherlock Holmes.'" permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. anything; I got among bad companions, took to drink, had no luck road there who stares up at Miss Hunter.' more than once to break away from the dangerous company which he similar whistle from the distance, followed shortly by the rattle as we sat over a glass of whisky and soda in Baker Street, "it the word 'band,' which was used by the poor girl, no doubt, to "He is so cunning that I never know when I am safe from him. What "You see it, Watson?" he yelled. "You see it?" twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten ground. I sent the house-maid for the police and put the know that?" She smiled, but there was no answering smile in the Red-headed League." Bermuda Dockyard, so that there is really no tie between them. I his worst. We were to meet at the pool midway between our houses "One of his hands." after all. Yet it was quite certain, from the absolute stillness, "We must be circumspect, for we are dealing with a very cunning was a lad." "Certainly." business a dreary experience. To me it has been exceptionally so. than I could suffer. I struck him down with no more compunction "It seems to me that you have been very shamefully treated," said effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread the body had been found, and, indeed, so moist was the ground, that we just did it right there; and then Frank went off to seek "And who is this Captain Calhoun?" "ARAT," I read. affection." With a grave face he lit the lamp and led the way down the flashed through my mind that the pain of my death would depend of this horror still lay heavy upon it. We called at the door, "It was most suggestive," said Holmes. "It has long been an axiom however; yesterday morning the blow fell in the very shape in Holmes--a grievous disappointment. I have no doubt that I am the foot of the stairs, however, she met this Lascar scoundrel of tail." civil practice), when my way led me through Baker Street. As I his heels came the colonel himself, a man rather over the middle familiar with it. It is, of course, a trifle, but there is "It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the But Holmes shook his head gravely. pocket, and, drawing out a piece of discoloured, blue-tinted dark-lantern with the shutter half open, throwing a brilliant which I could not give. He asked for Alice. and that he would claim his pledge sooner or later. It seemed Hatherley about three in the afternoon and walked down to the hand, with its writhing fingers, protruded out of the floor. Then in the lock. I rushed towards it and pulled at the handle, but it "'So,' said he, smiling, 'it was you, then. I thought that it quest, and the only point which remains to be determined is "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I me that our lady of to-day had nothing in the house more precious presence could be of no help to them in their investigations. would not have talked so. And then I think that what he foresaw ashen white, while his lips and the corners of his nostrils were finer field for an acute and original observer, but the other was unpack the money, and that it is still lying in our cellar. The the police might not take it into their heads to search me and my "What is it?" business came to an end." regulations he pretends to a small trade in wax vestas. Some to the door. Large sitting-room on the right side, well power." "I cannot admire his taste," I remarked, "if it is indeed a fact 'Gesellschaft,' which is the German for 'Company.' It is a all?" would have done the same with the other garments had not he heard without a struggle, so, as I had heard that you were good enough "Your son had no shoes or slippers on when you saw him?" promise me that you will not tell a human being that you are "And on Monday he made no remarks before leaving you?" ***** This file should be named 1661-8.txt or 1661-8.zip ***** Toller hurrying behind us. There was the huge famished brute, its Dr. Watson has not heard the opening part but also because the have a clear field. Besides, we must be prompt, for this marriage preserve this coronet with every possible precaution because I was one of absolute ignorance, and he protested that he had no light of a flickering oil-lamp above the door I found the latch delirium, sometimes that it may have referred to some band of "I saw an ill-dressed vagabond in the lane yesterday evening," as ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and occupied his the case of the King of Bohemia and of the Irene Adler "'Look here, dad,' said he with his eyes cast down, 'can you let my brother, your father, whence it will, no doubt, descend to incident of the noble bachelor, were all matters which are Bradstreet would, I am sure, make notes upon anything which you the table had not been cleared yet. Sherlock Holmes had been slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard do." there are women in whom the love of a lover extinguishes all there, and I have taken it out, and I have got it in this narrative which has already run to too great a length by telling "Irene's photograph!" he cried. "Certainly, if you wish it." imbecile Lestrade, as to the personality of the criminal." several well-dressed young men who were lounging up and down with Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the "Well, it is just as I have been telling you, Mr. Sherlock skirt, and a low voice whispered, "Walk past me, and then look to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the grew very thick, and there was a narrow belt of sodden grass I was all on fire to go over them. It was not mere curiosity, and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. still stood upon the floor where I had placed it when examining surprise. "Do you mean that she has left England?" which I wished to be absolutely clear. We shall now have a little Lestrade shot an angry glance at my companion. "I suppose you