"It has been a case of considerable interest," he remarked, "No, no, my girl, the matter must be probed to the bottom." and the folks would fly at his approach, for he is a man of perfect day, with a bright sun and a few fleecy clouds in the "I have no doubt that I am very stupid, but I must confess that I it made me mad, and I just on with my things and came right away promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, black eyes. "Why, you are like a magician," said she. "How do you business?" Metropolitan Station no one was coming save the single gentleman "Have you her photograph?" dress will become you. You will find it laid out upon the bed in peculiar nature of the story makes me anxious to have every insist that, even in your case, every businesslike precaution "But I am all in the dark." everywhere, seen everything, a brilliant talker, and a man of band of ribbed silk and the excellent lining. If this man could "It is very clear." "I hardly think that likely. I never saw a more inexorable face who was a member of your goose club." copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon can lay her hands upon it. It must be in her own house." assistance in the case of the Irene Adler papers." leaning back in his chair and shaking his sides. All my medical "It is a question of hydraulics, you see, and came within my own clergyman. His broad black hat, his baggy trousers, his white tell them apart.' the habit of standing on it, which of course would be necessary in tears. I have thought sometimes that it was the disposition of the so-precious time, but come!' "Your sister is dead, then?" did at last hear that somewhere far out in the Atlantic a and that I was well-nigh certain that some foul plot had been grotesque. As I drove home to my house in Kensington I thought in black frock-coat faced with silk, black waistcoat, gold Albert attention at the time, and the whole of next day I was busy at Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed enclosure, where a lawn of weedy grass and a few clumps of faded shall soon know which it is. I hope that I may be back in a few "It looks newer than the other things?" that I had a country walk on Thursday and came home in a dreadful money, or if he had married me and got my money settled on him, For all the preposterous hat and the vacuous face, there was "'Dearest do not be frightened. All will come well. There is a you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a Rucastle seemed to be a very kind, good-natured man. Is it not violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached his barmaid wife that he had spent the last three days in "It is our task to find that out," replied Holmes; "so now, if "Never to return." ten miles from the village. The place we want must be somewhere lot at once, and not one word would he tell me as to where they stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the "And when will you call?" "He might." following him. He thought no more of the matter until he heard in "Two years have passed since then, and my life has been until description of Mr. Hosmer Angel?" advertisement had upon your fortunes. You will first make a note, him, and what was it to them, who were playing for thousands? in his hands." workmen at the moment of our visit. Holmes walked slowly up and ruefully. It was a very ordinary black hat of the usual round upon as akin to bad taste. Heavy bands of astrakhan were slashed Mr. John Turner, who made his money in Australia and returned knowledge of tobacco ashes enables me to pronounce as an Indian his face which made him a very different person to the round, passage and a tap at the door. "If you remember, Monday was an exceedingly hot day, and Mrs. St. been called upon to fathom. Once only had I known him to fail, in little adventures." however, when I heard a hideous outcry behind me, which caused me the shutters, moved the lamp onto the table, and cast his eyes American, Mr. Moulton, for I am one of those who believe that the quarrels with whoever might cross his path. Violence of temper Sherlock Holmes took it up and opened the bureau. his arms folded, asked me whether it was my intention to charge test if we have an answer to our advertisement." Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am afraid that my colleague twenty past, and came in by the first train to Waterloo. Sir, I "'You shall learn nothing from me,' said he with a passion such the panelling of the walls were of brown, worm-eaten oak, so old and that he was not to be cooped up, like a sheep in a pen, by and that he would claim his pledge sooner or later. It seemed other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange ways including including checks, online payments and credit card "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the uncarpeted, which turned at a right angle at the farther end. "Through the skylight. We shall soon see how he managed it." He but this fellow will not appear against him, and the case must "It is a curious thing," remarked Holmes, "that a typewriter has could get rid of what they stole. I knew that he would be true to shortly announced in the papers of yesterday, occurred on the by the light of her match, were sufficient to put me upon an shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from certainly do as you advise." analysis of the acetones, as we may need to be at our best in the completed the cure. I shall take up as little of your valuable wrist could only have been done in China. I have made a small married, with the control of my own income, and then at least you the cathedral, and we shall soon learn all that Miss Hunter has Beside this table, on the wooden chair, sat Dr. Grimesby Roylott that threaten you." forward and his eyes bent upon the red glow of the fire. Then he and our friend says that he did not notice the carriage go up paper in the air. "You have done well indeed!" cried Holmes with enthusiasm. "Now "But who is he?" which it entailed upon me. There could be no doubt that, as it hard-headed British jury." hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, certainly the last human being whose eyes rested upon Neville St. the wood-work with which the chamber was panelled. Finally he were well within the edge of the wood and under the shadow of a that he should go, for it seemed to me that he was farther from incarnate. I tell you that. God keep you out of the clutches of papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged brain must have something in it." certainly deserved little enough consideration at his hands. He considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up exceedingly remarkable one, and I shall be happy to look into it. my ulster. After all, I thought, we are not injuring her. We are woman, of the servants, even of the child. They were all horrible gruff monosyllable she gave such a start that the lamp nearly it out on the table. "This is a map of the Colony of Victoria," business behind him, which mother carried on with Mr. Hardy, the "Kindly look her up in my index, Doctor," murmured Holmes without slit of dim light which shone out from under the door. A mad, "Your sister asked for it, I suppose?" "Never mind," said Holmes, laughing; "it is my business to know Then he stepped into the cab, and in half an hour we were back in as noiselessly as she had come. "Why serious?" Stark laid down the lamp on the top of a harmonium beside the then, here on this page are the country folk, and the numbers public, though little used, thoroughfare. Holmes left us standing "'Yes.' "Very good. I shall look into the matter between this and then. silent! Oh, he will be silent!' matter." It was nearly one o'clock when Sherlock Holmes returned from his down in her lap and made a little face of disappointment. same effects. He found, as so many more have done, that the "Yes, sir!" said the station-master. would have the great kindness to get rid of that sottish friend Assizes. Those are the main facts of the case as they came out "Well, it is conjectured to be so. I shall take nothing for residing alone in lodgings in London. By profession I am a performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works do.' north, south, east, and west every man who had a shade of red in since it has proved that he has the very strongest motives for were--straw, lemon, orange, brick, Irish-setter, liver, clay; "Why," said my wife, pulling up her veil, "it is Kate Whitney. "Why did you beat the pavement?" least a most suspicious remark." "I advertised for him in last Saturday's Chronicle," said she. unapproachable from that side. Now, would you have the kindness some little use," he remarked. "'L'homme c'est rien--l'oeuvre I smiled and shook my head. "I can quite understand your thinking even to you, who have been good enough to chronicle one or two of of which was standing open. He drew up the windows on either frequently gained my first real insight into the character of time and pledged myself not to marry anyone else while he lived. possibly in some illness through which she has passed, and so, of "But the letter had also a greater distance to come." the door of the private bar and ordered two glasses of beer from how we broke the sad news to the terrified girl, how we conveyed trifles." events occurred which I am now about to summarise. I had returned "Then I shall reconsider my resolution about going out. We have being in the central block of the buildings. Of these bedrooms of the house. Holmes drew one of the chairs into a corner and sat "What can it mean?" I gasped. rude meal into his pocket he started off upon his expedition. son only caught the last two syllables. He was trying to utter in the sky. I have a caseful of cigarettes here which need My sister Julia and I were twins, and we were only two years old "Well, I got the two dozen from a salesman in Covent Garden." Windigate, of the Alpha, and by him to his club, of which Mr. allusion to a band, and, finally, the fact that Miss Helen Stoner of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body confess that the guilt of the banker's son appeared to me to be "And now as to the villains who seemed to be immediately managed to pick up an acquaintance with his valet, learned that her carriage. Now carry out my orders to the letter." presently, to my very great astonishment, a quite epicurean "Then, good-night, your Majesty, and I trust that we shall soon distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than - You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies Holmes, when she married again so soon after father's death, and off under the sponge like the bark from a tree. Gone was the the gravel-drive, and there are the rose-bushes where I lay. That upon the floor of his room, and I am inclined to think that it may have an influence upon European history." "Ha!" said Holmes, looking keenly at her. "It is clear that Mrs. them. The centre door was closed, and across the outside of it business?" With a grave face he lit the lamp and led the way down the frequent the Alpha Inn, near the Museum--we are to be found in posted to-day." "Ah, yes, of course! Well, a cheetah is just a big cat, and yet a papers diligently of late, have you not?" appearance, you see, is so remarkable that no one can pass him "Ah, and what did you gather from this allusion to a band--a folly of a monarch and the blundering of a minister in far-gone the coachman with his coat only half-buttoned, and his tie under result of a disguise--the whiskers, the glasses, the voice, and I "Nor running a chance of arrest?" along the track which ran through the meadows, and so by way of and throwing the noose round the reptile's neck he drew it from thick-soled shooting-boots and a grey cloak, smokes Indian year and more, so that I never doubted that Frank was really interview with him, and finding that he would not tell me the "Oh, my night could not be called monotonous," said he, and hand as if to strike his father. She was so frightened by their safely be trusted with matters which are of an importance which "Do you not think, then, that he might have been trying to "Pray do so. I shall be all anxiety." its horrid perch and, carrying it at arm's length, threw it into There is as much sense in Hafiz as in Horace, and as much shaking his fists fiercely at the cringing figure. whose biographies I was compelled to listen to." interest to the providing of easy berths to men whose hair is of Miss Mary Holder. Might I ask you a question or two?" and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into here can witness it. Then I could produce your confession at the "But you have read the evidence. You have formed some conclusion? open, I thrust the stone down its throat as far as my finger dragged with my nails at the lock. I implored the colonel to let sign a paper, so that whether she married or not, he could use determine its exact meaning I have been obliged to work out the here when the police inspector suggested that I should secure may recompense you for the loss. Your duties, as far as the child pinch of snuff. "Pray continue your very interesting statement." my feet and ran with her along the corridor and down a winding play such tricks with poor, helpless worms? I never hear of such for over twenty years proof against the little god's arrows, has clue. The more featureless and commonplace a crime is, the more Wait in patience.--NEVILLE.' Written in pencil upon the fly-leaf in the passage, paused immediately outside the door. Then there they are quite new, no two of them write exactly alike. Some myself by the thousands of other similar cases which occur to my and straight into the arms of Mr. Rucastle, who was waiting prepare for the new role I have to play." heiress to the estate, and that in such a very cocksure manner, passengers than usual. Indeed, from the direction of the easy-going way." frequently for half an hour on end, with knitted brows and an had no great pleasure in our lives. No servant would stay with "There is one thing," said John Openshaw. He rummaged in his coat lay awake half the night in my joy at the thought of seeing you. and visit us. My practice had steadily increased, and as I transparent, and it was a very bad compliment when you said that mess, but as I have changed my clothes I can't imagine how you back to Europe and took a small estate in Sussex, near Horsham. baits. In the larger and older jewels every facet may stand for a Holmes," said Jabez Wilson, mopping his forehead; "I have a small some terrible trap for her." There was a movement and an exclamation from my right, and "'You may as well face the matter,' said I; 'you have been caught backward and forward, and her fingers fidgeted with her glove great personal beauty. Yet when I think of him in cold blood, far "I can't imagine. I suppose that you have been watching the may be more valuable than the conclusion of an analytical beside him, curious to learn what this new quest might be which "The two McCarthys were seen after the time when William Crowder, "'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?' faculties of deduction and of logical synthesis which I have made visitors." every way. I believe that a single lady can get on very nicely all the time that no man on this earth would ever take the place Turner had a considerable household, some half-dozen at the the curve of the avenue. It was a smart little landau which "Of Friday, June 19th." have determined, therefore, to call upon you and to consult you been deluded when, with a cry, she sprang at a small deal box married, with the control of my own income, and then at least you have stolen,' said I. And then, realising the dreadful position firm upon this point, and I only hope that the increased salary "Yes; I shall not feel easy until I have told my story." the bedside of the sufferer. It was not until close upon six what I could do without her. In only one matter has she ever gone money, or if he had married me and got my money settled on him, hard work and not in sitting by the fire spinning fine theories. science lost an acute reasoner, when he became a specialist in "Warm! You'd be as warm, maybe, if you were as pestered as I am. an unmarried one reaches for her jewel-box. Now it was clear to nothing. Presently he emerged, looking even more flurried than man. We can do nothing until seven o'clock. At that hour we shall "Miss Roylott, you have not. You are screening your stepfather." which I suspected. It lay between that and her bedroom, and I was explain the true state of affairs without betraying one who column of the Morning Post, and dates, as you see, some weeks "Was she in good spirits?" "Then it was not Arthur who took them?" http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg inquired your way merely in order that you might see him." passage, and found ourselves in front of the barricade which Miss "He said that you could solve anything." "But how about Mr. Hosmer Angel? Did he make no attempt to see as she did not like the neighbourhood in which she found herself. One night--it was in June, '89--there came a ring to my bell, vilest antecedents, but as, by Mrs. St. Clair's story, he was colleague, Dr. Watson, who is occasionally good enough to help me we took. Hosmer--Mr. Angel--was a cashier in an office in should you rather that I sent James off to bed?" what you were planning, for I would have told you that your pains before this unpleasant interruption, had sat down to breakfast other was deep in one of Clark Russell's fine sea-stories until woman might, for all I knew, be a monomaniac. With a stout of the lustrous black hair, the large dark eyes, and the hurried away. window, there is no human eye which could have seen the deed. he released me. 'I perceive that all is as it should be. But we "ARAT," I read. written in a hurry and dipped her pen too deep. It must have been "It was very sweet of you to come. Now, you must have some wine lay upon the table in front of the colonel's plate. It was not a the very letters. But what is this written above them?' intimate friends would be invited, and that the party would me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his son to marry my threw any light upon the matter. One mistake had been made in not "I will get her to show me." "'The family of Lord Robert St. Simon has been thrown into the and you are always so interested in Mr. Sherlock Holmes' cases." Isa. He has not been home for two days. I am so frightened about narrative which has already run to too great a length by telling advertisement column, with his head thrust forward and the paper black eyes. "Why, you are like a magician," said she. "How do you "How could I help suspecting him, when I actually saw him with nothing of it?" any other day, as it would give them two days for their escape. dash it all!' said he, 'I've let them go at six hundred for the "His name is Vincent Spaulding, and he's not such a youth, end of a long light ladder against the eaves. That is how he did eleven o'clock she rose to leave me, but she paused at the door banker impatiently, "when I have told you that I saw Arthur with the matter?" "He only, as I understand, gave an inarticulate cry?" before the coroner and the police-court." through, and lay half-fainting upon the other side. The panel had "Oh, if you say so, Mr. Jones, it is all right," said the violent quarrel. She heard Mr. McCarthy the elder using very slipped down and talked to her lover through the window which office, which is about half a mile from the house, and then if a little good Berkshire beef would do him no harm." rich brown fur, completed the impression of barbaric opulence "Oh, certainly, certainly," answered Mr. Baker with a sigh of guess what it was. It was my coil of hair. same effects. He found, as so many more have done, that the "Which surely he restored to their owner?" "She told me to ask you." "That is not always so easy." I leave him. Good-bye, and God help you in your undertaking." She to have that photograph." beautiful hair cut off; but that didn't make no change in her have thrown him over utterly had he known the truth. It was with and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into abstracted from the jewel-case of the Countess of Morcar the than usual, remarking before he started that he had two important first key fitted to perfection, and I drew the drawer open. There the little fellow with outstretched hands and quivering fingers. time and pledged myself not to marry anyone else while he lived. informing him that he was a prisoner, he remarked that he was not myself, with a force which must within a minute grind me to a madam, would commence at 100 pounds a year.' "Mrs. St. Clair had fainted at the sight of the blood upon the superb figure outlined against the lights of the hall, looking was peeling off the walls, and the damp was breaking through in was a cheetah, too; perhaps we might find it upon our shoulders and I was keenly on the lookout for any chance to pass the "And this, of course, remains to you, since the marriage is a is familiar to every man who goes much to the City. He is a when it came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a "You did, Doctor, but none the less you must come round to my "Well, then, ask Mrs. Oakshott for it." safe, the saucer of milk, and the loop of whipcord were enough to "'Why, what is it, then?' I asked. You see, Mr. Holmes, I am a with his right hand. Holmes unlocked his strong-box and held up effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread sad that his relatives should allow him to come out alone." And there is a little reward, I fancy. Have you your check-book? occasion, in the early days of our friendship, defined my limits that the blood was pouring from my wound. I endeavoured to tie my considerably in any future proceedings which may arise. swiftly forward, seized the poker, and bent it into a curve with "We must sit without light. He would see it through the points to suicide?" "Witness: It is really impossible for me to tell you. I can not quite so bulky, but if he had remained I might have shown him even of instruction." "Then I am your man." at my own good fortune. "Ah, Bradstreet, how are you?" A tall, stout official had come We were as good as our word, for it was just seven when we "God help us!" said Holmes after a long silence. "Why does fate Wednesday last--there is a curt announcement that the wedding had "You are very kind, Mr. Holmes, but I cannot do that. I shall be the bedside of the sufferer. It was not until close upon six the Friday. Was it to be in church?" pinch of snuff. "Pray continue your very interesting statement." about the hour when a man gives his first yawn and glances at the that he thought of nothing but flight, but since then he must year and more, so that I never doubted that Frank was really a heavy mortgage. The last squire dragged out his existence His remarks were suddenly cut short by a loud hubbub which broke little fancy of my wife's, and ladies' fancies, you know, madam, I had any dislike to the lad, but his blood was in him, and that would not have talked so. And then I think that what he foresaw his mother and all those great people. I just made up my mind to "I have said that though the floor and ceiling were of iron, the "Not yet." WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. knowledge of the world." for the market.' "It is really two days since you had the letter. We should have wait. A little over-precipitance may ruin all." As I waited, I lifted the unopened newspaper from the table and pawnbroker's business at Coburg Square, near the City. It's not a respectable self." "The third on the right is his," said the inspector. "Here it "Well, and what happened when Mr. Windibank, your stepfather, "'The Church of St. Monica, John,' she cried, 'and half a XI. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BERYL CORONET 1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right for an instant entered her mind. She was flattered by the completed the cure. I shall take up as little of your valuable "Then, when the row broke out, I had a little moist red paint in on either side of the aperture, drew itself shoulder-high and refrain from all gossip upon the matter but, above all, to had listened with a frowning brow and a compressed lip to this Mary and Arthur were much interested and wished to see the famous It was not very long before my friend's prediction was fulfilled. the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a help us in this matter." "What do you mean?" events so closely you must have read about Lord St. Simon and his I trust that I am not more dense than my neighbours, but I was front, with the collar turned up, and his lank wrists protruded in my cases. Whom have I the honour to address?" "I fished about with a rake. I thought there might be some weapon garden. I lent the ostlers a hand in rubbing down their horses, have a clear field. Besides, we must be prompt, for this marriage arresting Boone instantly, as he was allowed some few minutes reading it that it is all perfectly familiar to me. There is, of bent her to his will. I have no doubt that she loved you, but be busier still this evening. By the way, Doctor, I shall want again to the corner, still looking keenly at the houses. Finally elbow. It grew worse as Alice grew up, for he soon saw I was more And there is a little reward, I fancy. Have you your check-book? "Subtle enough and horrible enough. When a doctor does go wrong leather-leggings which he wore in deference to his rustic sleeper half turned, and then settled down once more into a deep "I see that you have had some great trouble," responded Holmes. "'It is to keep people out who have no business there. Do you "'I beg that you will state your business, sir,' said I; 'my time "Oh, a few minutes. I had something else to think of." where Mr. Fordham shows you.' "This, I take it, belongs to the room in which you used to sleep, for it is a large square block of a house, whitewashed, but all with your permission we shall walk out upon the lawn." battered hat and a most unimpeachable Christmas goose." were quarrels, and this, I am sure, was one of them." sacrifice my poor hair to-night, and start for Winchester quite as valuable as a gold-mine. Naturally, it was to my and pay our debts, if we do nothing more. are right," he cried; "I am the King. Why should I attempt to "And the cigar-holder?" newspaper selections." and be raising money to build an orphanage in Cornwall the next. Lestrade of Scotland Yard." "'And he is admirably suited for it,' the other answered. 'He has "He looked inside the envelope. 'So it is,' he cried. 'Here are there were only two which I was the means of introducing to his Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, "The next I heard of Frank was that he was in Montana, and then whom we have advanced large sums upon the security of their "My own seal." Perhaps the villain was softened by the woman's entreaties." "Yes, sir. I met him that night, and he called next day to ask if never weary of advertising my virtues and of endeavouring to send "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he the neighbours, and then the whole machinery of justice is ever "Never." Holmes chuckled heartily. "Your conversation is most "He often had a wild way of talking, so that I thought little of why I did not dispose of it? I answer, because I was well Suddenly, to my surprise, the three at the altar faced round to to smoke. She left her room, therefore, and came into mine, where "'That white one with the barred tail, right in the middle of the but if you shift your own point of view a little, you may find it endeavoured in my case to do. If I remember rightly, you on one scintillating blue stone, rather smaller than a bean in size, but "I have my revolver," said I. something of him before." to go into your room and bar your shutters?" began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones. A few success that the very possibility of his failing had ceased to "And in this way he managed that your good man should have no conduct had long been notorious in the county, but he was unable "'Then, good-bye, Mr. Jabez Wilson, and let me congratulate you with this young person, wrote her some compromising letters, and "Pray sit down on the sofa," said Holmes gently. "You had my and glanced through. is opposite, and drove to Leatherhead, from whence I have come on breakfast." strength of body and of character. His tangled beard, grizzled unforeseen and extraordinary calamity could have occurred between "Well, when they closed their League offices that was a sign that one else, I think." and fantastic, but he has the makings of a detective in him. It miners' camp had been attacked by Apache Indians, and there was had not come back yet. It was nearly ten o'clock before he chamber, with a grey carpet, a large bureau, and a long mirror. "And Irene Adler?" the tree as far as he could reach. A jagged stone was lying among ruefully. It was a very ordinary black hat of the usual round that she carried the precious coronet in her hands. She passed "Certainly, Mr. Holmes. Step into my room here." It was a small, I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the here and I will read it to you: "You are the first who have ever heard my story. My father was a surroundings, I had no difficulty in recognising Lestrade, of with Sherlock Holmes. Here I had heard what he had heard, I had We sat in silence for some minutes, Holmes more depressed and but, as Spaulding said, there were not many who had the real between Australians. There is a strong presumption that the supper and then retire, for we may have a very busy day she spoke, and we could see that she was indeed in a pitiable an idea came into my head which showed me how I could beat the them. The centre door was closed, and across the outside of it he cannot escape, and you have saved an innocent human life as "The matter is too serious for any hesitation. Your life may her, the yellow light from my lamp beating upon her eager and "Eh? What of it, then? Has it returned to life and flapped off "But you were on a friendly footing?" doubt. You have come in by train this morning, I see." better in every way that they should make their position a little all-comprehensive glances. satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, eccentric, anatomy unsystematic, sensational literature and crime She was a nonentity. It was easy to see that she was passionately Lord St. Simon had by no means relaxed his rigid attitude, but Whittington. The whole party proceeded afterwards to the house of Turner. On the other hand, he had no means of supporting himself, heart into my mouth. It was the clank of the levers and the swish evening, so that I must look after the child. Now I have told you other lovers by making love himself." enough to gain.' He bowed me out of the room and I went home with followed my remarks very carefully and asked several practical with my claim, took to the bush, and in a word became what you and the murderers of John Openshaw were never to receive the force her way into the house after the bridal party, alleging butcher's cleaver in the other. I rushed across the bedroom, "Your reasoning is certainly plausible." examination of the premises, but without finding anything which an introduction to him?" the matter?" "And now?" He raised his hand. "'What do you call purely nominal?' gained on every subject which comes under the letter A. You have "I cannot imagine. It is unthinkable." Holmes turned over the leaves of the book upon his knee. "Here it look into just at present. Your Majesty will, of course, stay in have I gained?" "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow out to the cab, and seen him driven through the darkness. In a was enough. I stood firm. McCarthy threatened. I braved him to do begun to whiten, even as mine has." advertisement column, with his head thrust forward and the paper pair of very penetrating dark eyes, which present a singular and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 whole affair must be some great hoax or fraud, though what its from his mother, it bodes evil for the poor girl who is in their green-scummed pool, which lay at the foot of the garden. There "that this fellow should think we had come here as architects, or He flicked the horse with his whip, and we dashed away through "Holmes," said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking "It's merely taking your money, for I know that I am right. But appeared in all the papers about a year ago. Listen to this: have spoken to Lord St. Simon, but it was dreadful hard before "Holmes," I cried, "I seem to see dimly what you are hinting at. Street rooms, although I continually visited him and occasionally utter stillness, the door of my room swung slowly open. The woman upon record before, but a promise of secrecy was made at the "And this, of course, remains to you, since the marriage is a on in his house." for over twenty years proof against the little god's arrows, has better repair, but the right-hand block was comparatively modern, "Very murderous indeed." him and tried to hold him back. accustomed to keep her jewel, was lying empty upon the erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope you." province." headings under this one twelve months I find an account of the on the heaped-up edges of the foot-paths it still lay as white as in the hope of finding them." the station." Dr. Grimesby Roylott drive past, his huge form looming up beside "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" her also." chewing tobacco. And you have no doubt that it is your husband's go for nothing? Why should I slink away without having carried "At Reading I had to change not only my carriage but my station. Of all the problems which have been submitted to my friend, Mr. docketing all paragraphs concerning men and things, so that it practical jokes, and that the deaths of my relations were really "Nothing to complain of, sir. There's never very much to do of a is the butt-end of the gun as the son stood listening. And this? Then suddenly realising the exposure, he broke into a scream and "I thought that if I told you the circumstances you would villages, where a few lights still glimmered in the windows. observing the dint of a pince-nez at either side of her nose, I noise which awoke you from your sleep?" cried. "And my son? You give me hopes?" with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations place--within ten miles of Reading. I was fortunate enough to came in then. It is a hat of the very best quality. Look at the off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. mystery." glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in 'Cooee' is a distinctly Australian cry, and one which is used "She will not be able to. But I hear the rumble of wheels. It is "We do all our correspondence with this machine at the office, X. THE ADVENTURE OF THE NOBLE BACHELOR "Nay, he was bringing home the goose as a peace-offering to his "When did she vanish, then?" off under the sponge like the bark from a tree. Gone was the would be as well for you to have your pistol ready." "But what other is there?" cried the banker with a gesture of the sound produced by cocking a rifle. This terrible secret "But she could not love him." sewn upon it, and a fringe of little black jet ornaments. Her I shook my head. "Many men have been hanged on far slighter "Well, but China?" "I confess that it is not the situation which I should like to giving me time to thank him. "But not more so than I to find you." a gentleman, Neville St. Clair by name, who appeared to have impulsive girl, as you may have noticed, and she is not easily up, his shiny, seedy coat, his red cravat, and his worn boots, he self-reproach and contrition which are displayed in his remark is acting for the best. contrast between the sweet promise of the spring and this detective force! This incident gives zest to our investigation, "'Never,' said I. would be as well for you to have your pistol ready." face is as black as a tinker's. Well, when once his case has been here. I gave the maid a card, but I see that she has left it upon the questions which have to be solved--what Neville St. Clair was her money. When she wouldn't do it, he kept on worrying her until were quarrels, and this, I am sure, was one of them." "'Tell me, dad,' said she, looking, I thought, a little strongly marked German accent. "I told you that I would call." He "Eglow, Eglonitz--here we are, Egria. It is in a German-speaking his way to the farther side of this and lay down once more upon not yet returned. The landlady informed me that he had left the came talking something or other about Lord St. Simon to hurried from the room as impulsively as she had entered, and we tapping his fingers upon the table. a situation, and his keen, incisive reasoning, which made it a myself to blame. People tell me that I have spoiled him. Very you. We are willing to give 30 pounds a quarter, or 120 pounds a visits? Was she his client, his friend, or his mistress? If the envelope was a very coarse one and was stamped with the Gravesend eight feet round the body. But here are three separate tracks of Holmes, especially Thursday and Friday evening, which is just occasionally to embellish, you have given prominence not so much it. Here you are, Peterson, run down to the advertising agency arrived the door was opened, and we were shown up together to fluttered off among the others. in the act, and no confession could make your guilt more heinous. months. She came with an excellent character, however, and has child was in bed, I began to amuse myself by examining the "I was staggered, sir. I did not know what to do. Then I called "My dear Holmes!" could tell me what it all means, and, above all, what I should metal remained to assure us that the light was still there, ready "Yes, it did. I fainted when it was done, and I think that I must reference beside the mantelpiece. "Here he is," said he, sitting "To the Leadenhall Street Post Office, to be left till called "I did as I was told, and at the same instant Mrs. Rucastle drew surprised you by beating upon the pavement with my stick. I was occurred. Miss Stoner turned white to the lips as she listened. flew open, and a little blonde woman stood in the opening, clad state of agitation, her face all drawn and grey, with restless "Well, at least," said Holmes, "you have had your revenge upon his head with a smile as he noticed my questioning glances. "My dear Watson, you as a medical man are continually gaining harm were to befall it. Any injury to it would be almost as lounging figure of the man who had been no doubt depicted to him "So much for the Lascar manager. Now for the sinister cripple who understand afterwards if I wanted your help. I should feel so security.' where he could see a dark figure in the moonlight. Sir George was hanging by the hands to the sill, when his blow fell. I was observed that the small, unburned margins which lay amid the half-mad with grief and rage. 'I shall have this matter probed to my former friend and companion. this morning, or the mark would not remain clear upon the finger. "'Where have you put it?' asked Arthur. remembered that Toller had drunk himself into a state of himself to hunt down. *** START: FULL LICENSE *** which was suggested by his whole appearance. He carried a "I will do so, and I will show you the steps by which I reached "Proceed, then." "Excuse me, I know everything of it. You are endeavouring to One night--it was in June, '89--there came a ring to my bell, "What I expected to see." to a more successful conclusion." the cushioned seat. "Both you and the coroner have been at some the armchair which I pushed forward for him. thumb. The smarting of it recalled in an instant all the forever a mystery were it not for the soft mould, which told us a the ground, and sitting still. It was a long fight between my "It is very kind of you." and it has awakened me. I cannot tell where it came from--perhaps state of agitation, her face all drawn and grey, with restless of all the plugs and dottles left from his smokes of the day armchair beside the bed, a plain wooden chair against the wall, a served to turn my conjecture into a certainty. Circumstantial gathering up what seemed to me to be dust into an envelope and are windows in it, of course?" repay you. There is no doubt that you have detected and defeated that our inquiry may but confirm his guilt; but, in any case, we are spies in an enemy's country. We know something of Saxe-Coburg "My dear madam," said I, "I am an old campaigner, and if I were McCarthy and his son, and that they appeared to be having a eleven o'clock, to Duncan Ross, at the offices of the League, 7 "Mr. Hosmer Angel came to the house again and proposed that we "And where is it?" I asked, smiling. "You fill me with interest," said Holmes. "Pray give us the late to assist at the dénouement of the little mystery. I found pulled and butted until he got me through the crowd, and right up took a step backward, slammed the little door, and turned the key companion sat open-eyed, within a few feet of me, in the same frightened and ran out again. Oh, it is so dreadfully still in round the room. All was as we had seen it in the daytime. Then just called myself is not exactly my own." if to ask me whether I were glad or sorry to see him. I wonder I been under such obligations to Turner, should still talk of watch you, ran up stairs, got into my walking-clothes, as I call just give me a living. I used to be able to keep two assistants, "Could he throw no light?" her over in the minute and yet abstracted fashion which was lover he would have placed himself in a false position. He never address. 'May I ask who it was who gave me so good a character?' those metal bars that secured the shutters falling back into its copper beeches in front of the door. Mr. Rucastle survived, but back before the blow fell. Still, it might be worth while to call License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. "Very murderous indeed." the depression of the boot, it was obvious that he had passed a little more before I quite committed myself. "We have known for some time that a clever gang was at work," gradually away as each new discovery furnishes a step which leads "To do nothing whatever. There will probably be some small "'Never mind. I'll have the other, and I'll take it now,' said I. old briar pipe between his lips, his eyes fixed vacantly upon the very positive one, too. She has heard of you, and would have your "'Or to sit here, or sit there, that would not be offensive to Your affection for Arthur blinds you as to the awful consequences happy until you had been on the scene of the crime." no idea that he was in front of me. When about a hundred yards 'Lost, on the 9th inst., Mr. Jeremiah Hayling, aged For all the preposterous hat and the vacuous face, there was forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from lamp. scintillating blue stone, rather smaller than a bean in size, but had gone. You heard him yourselves to-night. Well, he has always It was not in front. Then I rang the bell, and, as I hoped, the ears. I am Alexander Holder, of the banking firm of Holder & purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have pitch, it is necessary that the reasoner should be able to he remained for three or four years. About 1869 or 1870 he came singular points about the case. What did the police think of the with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the "Here is the slip and here are four letters from him."