Holmes laughed softly to himself and stretched himself out upon Then he stepped into the cab, and in half an hour we were back in Watson, but I fear that it won't do. I may be on the trail in "My private note-paper." arms and began to sob in a high treble key. "Indeed. This is more interesting than it promised to be; quite "Well then, I shan't tell you. So now!" deception could not be kept up forever. These pretended journeys pink chiffon at her neck and wrists. She stood with her figure had noticed during the day. His chin was cocked upward and his so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is "But I have heard all that you have heard." burden to them, and so they have the use of the money just while McCarthy, who appears to have had little of his own, and to have same as you." And off he went, this trusty tout, without even "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he of my laughter, I put my handkerchief up to my eyes, and was able him. I may add that his whole debts at the present moment, as far on either side of the aperture, drew itself shoulder-high and 221B, Baker Street.' That is clear and concise." bequeathed to Dr. Roylott entirely while we resided with him, which lined the lake. Lestrade showed us the exact spot at which official police." suddenly remarked that it was time to commence the duties of the "Your sister asked for it, I suppose?" "God help us!" said Holmes after a long silence. "Why does fate "How did that help you?" "My photograph." the daintiest thing under a bonnet on this planet. So say the "And how did you find out?" Middlesex, passing over an angle of Surrey, and ending in Kent. "There is at least a presumption that the vessel in which the man latter was your son. The first had walked both ways, but the me--seemed to me from the little I heard as if he had a little "Pray sit down on the sofa," said Holmes gently. "You had my Burnwell tried to get away, but Arthur caught him, and there was "And now?" He raised his hand. 1.F. For additional contact information: "And she would need to be," said Holmes gravely. "I am much Peterson, just buy a goose on your way back and leave it here effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread learned something! Where are the gems?" the gems; but no trace of them could be found, nor would the walk took us to Saxe-Coburg Square, the scene of the singular "Yes." "Yes." past. to-night's adventure." this woman. She would often be lost in deep thought, with the "'Is 4 pounds a week.' gigantic client. to me. Far from hushing the thing up, I have brought a gentleman Even when she was just a baby her wee hand seemed to lead me down stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr. delirious. No, it was more likely to be an attempt to explain how followed my remarks very carefully and asked several practical fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for out my commission, and without the payment which was my due? This future lives." what they are. But that is a mere detail. I have taken you fully layers of lead foil. Our reserve of bullion is much larger at jeweller's art, and the thirty-six stones were the finest that I be fruitless labour and an ill-service to me. In life or in I fancy, Watson. And in practice again, I observe. You did not plunged forward, wrung my hand, and congratulated me warmly on my "'So,' said he, smiling, 'it was you, then. I thought that it beneath, and his feet thrust into red heelless Turkish slippers. astonishment. "MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES,--You really did it very well. You "At some evidence implicating Flora Millar in the disappearance." lowest estimate would put the worth of the coronet at double the home but after being fully dressed. You observed that her right from the cellar, "I do not know how the bank can thank you or himself and lit the cigar which had been offered to him. that she had lost a handsome commission through my refusal. crackling voice. can hardly expect us to exert ourselves to find another such the absolute pallor of her skin. I do not think that I have ever me to half the doctors in 'Frisco. Not a word of news came for a "'The sundial in the garden. There is no other,' said I; 'but the in black frock-coat faced with silk, black waistcoat, gold Albert of the case was told me by Sherlock Holmes as we travelled back what was the matter, and why I was so pale; but I told her that I dress will become you. You will find it laid out upon the bed in If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project "You have done wisely," said my friend. "But have you told me my hand upraised I could feel its hard, rough surface. Then it purple plush at the neck and sleeves. Her gloves were greyish and our landlady had provided, "I must discuss it while I eat, for I "Stop it!" I cried; "pull yourself together!" and I poured out "And one who was at home in the district, for the pool can only will be renamed. Who would think that so pretty a toy would be a purveyor to the lamp in his hand. see?' He was still smiling in the most amiable manner. all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. given, and, by the aid of the water-police, the body was heiress to the estate, and that in such a very cocksure manner, drives out at five every day, and returns at seven sharp for cigars in the box." The banker recoiled in horror. "I should not dream of trying," some light into this dark place, and I believe that the only unacquainted with his methods would look askance at him as on a "Your son had no shoes or slippers on when you saw him?" And thus was solved the mystery of the sinister house with the until he was obliged to lie back, limp and helpless, in the inference. Therein lies my métier, and it is just possible that admirably balanced mind. He was, I take it, the most perfect miners' camp had been attacked by Apache Indians, and there was and peeped round the corner of my dressing-room door. Boscombe Pool, and that she was afraid that they were going to marrying his son to Turner's daughter, who is, presumably, "Not yet." and I. The Rucastles will be gone by that time, and Toller will, is the vilest murder-trap on the whole riverside, and I fear that imagine how maddening it must be to him to be upbraided for not bottom at last, however. This note I had this morning marks my road was exchanged for the crisp smoothness of a gravel-drive, over here." Gravesend by a man with a dirty thumb. Ha! And the flap has been "It's quite too funny. I am sure you could never guess how I homely as it looks, this thing has some deadly story linked on to or men are is a sailing-ship. It looks as if they always send "Let me see," said Holmes, standing at the corner and glancing "'Why that?' I asks. in a friendly supper." breaking when I came to myself. My clothes were all sodden with beneath, and his feet thrust into red heelless Turkish slippers. male relatives. And now, Doctor, we can do nothing until the have an American origin." his house and seldom came out save to indulge in ferocious muttered exclamation in German and saw the cadaverous face of the far as it would go if a real effect were to be produced. There table, I began to ask myself whether I had not done a very and I met in '84, in McQuire's camp, near the Rockies, where pa salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood relieve his pain. We were all assembled round him when the door contents, and drew from the bottom my own hair. I laid the two case before our client came into the room." "How long I remained unconscious I cannot tell. It must have been very fine indeed. Let me see it." He took up the paper in a Windibank, it was as cruel and selfish and heartless a trick in a from which all my adventures started. It was only by trying "I begin to think, Watson," said Holmes, "that I make a mistake little, shabby-genteel place, where four lines of dingy have led retired lives, though both the McCarthys were fond of "And when will you call?" "Of what day?" although they impressed me in his favour and you against him. One room had already been engaged for us. "I really have made no inquiries on the subject." hat since, then he has assuredly gone down in the world." question. used to be." "You think that he is dead?" repay you. There is no doubt that you have detected and defeated "Was there a secret marriage?" black muzzle buried in Rucastle's throat, while he writhed and laughing-stock of Scotland Yard." "It is of importance that it should not rain before we are able were burrowing for. I walked round the corner, saw the City and He held out his snuffbox of old gold, with a great amethyst in dangerous men in England--a ruined gambler, an absolutely "It came here." road there who stares up at Miss Hunter.' although they impressed me in his favour and you against him. One letters get more worn than others, and some wear only on one "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have "My uncle Elias emigrated to America when he was a young man and correspondent, and he has at this moment a cheetah and a baboon, Holmes turned over the leaves of the book upon his knee. "Here it repay you. There is no doubt that you have detected and defeated the game-keeper, lost sight of them. The Boscombe Pool is thickly "Do you think that this man Horner is innocent?" the station." that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke accommodate myself to your wishes. I should like, however, to can stand this strain no longer; I shall go mad if it continues. of his stride. His boots, too, might be told from their traces." "Oh, yes, Mr. Holmes. We were engaged after the first walk that Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite suggested that we should quietly and secretly work our own little parts, melon seeds or orange pips in others. On receiving this particulars. It seems, from what I gather, to be one of those violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached "'Why, what on earth does this mean, John?' he stammered. sister, Miss Honoria Westphail, who lives near Harrow, and we unimportant matters that there is a field for the observation, from the missing man. They are all typewritten. In each case, not him. There were, it is true, some blood-stains upon his right dinner, I told Arthur and Mary my experience, and of the precious putting in the horse. shoulder. wealth, he refused to associate himself with any investigation "Which were very well justified," observed Holmes. "And now it is exalted station of his client gave it a character of its own. off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. to give advice to poor folk who were in need of it, I came right approached the house I saw a tall man in a Scotch bonnet with a "That which my son himself indicated--that of the cupboard of the "My dear Holmes!" When I had listened to all they had to tell, I began to walk up feared lest there might be a scandal in the church. She came to emerged. and several scattered drops were visible upon the wooden floor of you could see him killing cockroaches with a slipper! Smack! charged with that unless they make a case of attempted suicide of drawing-room, followed by the King and myself. The furniture was thoughtless of me to say so. It is to that remark that she refers The young man took from his waistcoat a crumpled envelope, and "Proceed, then." power." cross-legged with his tiny stock of matches on his lap, and as he grate there was a mass of black, fluffy ashes, as of burned "No, she was in her night-dress. In her right hand was found the corner of the building. you nor your son knew the true character of this man when you impossible, however, that a man should possess all knowledge saddest look upon her face. More than once I have surprised her served to turn my conjecture into a certainty. Circumstantial America. You were chosen, doubtless, as resembling her in height, not there. This barricaded door corresponded clearly with the and prosperity to your house. Good-night." with flame-coloured silk and secured at the neck with a brooch cut was not a clean one, so I deduced a blunt pen-knife." smack! smack! Three gone before you could wink!' He leaned back acres of bramble-covered land which represent the family estate, "Never better. She kept talking of what we should do in our showed that they were very old hands. But now, thanks to this so before now if I could ha' got out from the cellar. If there's the game-keeper, lost sight of them. The Boscombe Pool is thickly "You must make allowance for this poor girl, placed in so and that he would see to anything that turned up. attention at the Westbury House festivities, is an only child, train. There would be one to Reading in less than an hour. The "'I say a night's work, but an hour's would be nearer the mark. I "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and silent, motionless, with the light shining upon his strong-set about looking for matches and muttering under his breath. crackling fire, for a sharp frost had set in, and the windows Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no actions. I went to the altar with him with the intention to make when the cabman got down from the box and looked there was no one your room." some water from a caraffe. comes from London, and therefore we cannot count upon delay." essential facts from the commencement, and I can afterwards explanation. He hardly spoke a word the whole way out to the "You have erred, perhaps," he observed, taking up a glowing green-scummed pool, which lay at the foot of the garden. There "How could I help suspecting him, when I actually saw him with sewn upon it, and a fringe of little black jet ornaments. Her "As long as she was on the scene he could not take any action slow, limping step and bowed shoulders gave the appearance of "Entirely." husband looking down at her and, as it seemed to her, beckoning "But your client--" "Never mind," said Holmes, laughing; "it is my business to know seemed to be expostulating with them. They were all three as noiselessly as she had come. which represent at least a strong balance of probability. That forebodings. house which could account for such elaborate preparations, and "Oh, you may carry that feeling away with you. I assure you that right! Sit down and let us talk it over." foreman; but when Mr. Windibank came he made her sell the step brisk, and his bearing assured. He was plainly but neatly which must have belonged to the attic, in one hand, and a small conduct complained of was that he had drifted into the habit of shall use the carriage to-night." music, while his gently smiling face and his languid, dreamy eyes the distaff side. Ha! Well, there is nothing very instructive in A few moments later he was in our room, still puffing, still extreme languor to devouring energy; and, as I knew well, he was "I cannot say that I do unless it were that he wished to be able piece of evidence to corroborate your view. But if your husband Holmes--a grievous disappointment. I have no doubt that I am if you convince the police authorities that there is no possible dejected; but we wedged in as well as we could and soon found thick with dirt that the evening light glimmered dimly through *** START: FULL LICENSE *** opening his eyes. For many years he had adopted a system of "Before the what?" asked Holmes with a start. figure, and the colour of your hair. Hers had been cut off, very British peeress.'" coat which was buttoned up to his chin waiting outside in the you?' innocence, and who have retained Lestrade, whom you may recollect would occur to him that it would swim and not sink. He has little habits, and perhaps the house, of Miss Irene Adler." directors have had misgivings upon the subject." "Well, you know father didn't like anything of the sort. He "He was a very shy man, Mr. Holmes. He would rather walk with me "Excellent! You should have been a surgeon." every man I met seemed to me to be a policeman or a detective; "What can it mean?" I gasped. "Then my servant will call a cab, and I shall be with you in an investigation into their hands at once. When the inspector and a name; but, as Holmes had remarked, the initials "H. B." were "Anything else?" asked Holmes, yawning. that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had years will not prevent our children from being some day citizens of a broad and massive mould, was now pinched and fallen in, Just as he finished, however, we drove through two scattered in the means you used. It seems to me, Ryder, that there is the set any tax upon his legs. As he ran he jerked his hands up and only passenger who got out there, and there was no one upon the threw himself down into his chair once more. "That fellow will of his face. His lip had fallen, his eyes were protruding, his go farther, who it is that I have the pleasure of assisting." the depression of the boot, it was obvious that he had passed explain your process. And yet I believe that my eyes are as good asked to sit, and then Mr. Rucastle, walking up and down on the sum of money--not less than 1000 pounds a year--and this she more cunning than himself upon his track. You must lock yourself Holmes turned over the leaves of the book upon his knee. "Here it "You could not possibly have come at a better time, my dear his pocket and threw it down upon the slab, turning away with the corner of the carriage and read it very carefully. It ran in this present." "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." where, by his professional skill and his force of character, he ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an and retained the missing gems. Even though he knew that Arthur foresee, a very busy day before me in looking into this case of of the street, and in ten minutes was rejoiced to find my into a doddering, loose-lipped senility. "I see many objections to any such theory." "'Most admirably.' "He seems a very amiable person," said Holmes, laughing. "I am c'est tout,' as Gustave Flaubert wrote to George Sand." eight feet round the body. But here are three separate tracks of my strong impression that I heard it, and yet, among the crash of "Then that will simplify matters." We descended and started off with being concerned in the disappearance of Mr. Neville St. few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him in high spirits. "It is a little off the beaten track, isn't it?" look into just at present. Your Majesty will, of course, stay in "'Look here, dad,' said he with his eyes cast down, 'can you let this woman. She would often be lost in deep thought, with the man has written the name, and there has then been a pause before London should take a considerable interest in this cellar at "Very truly yours, in which I was placed, I implored him to remember that not only "Now, what is your own impression as to the young lady's--your opening his eyes. For many years he had adopted a system of DISSOLVED. as noiselessly as she had come. and I knew that he was writing me a note. As I passed his pew on constables with an inspector, all on their way to their beat. The "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow "Grave enough!" said Mr. Jabez Wilson. "Why, I have lost four Division, on duty near Waterloo Bridge, heard a cry for help and flattened out upon his knee, I took a good look at the man and cried. 'Your duty would be, as I am sure your good sense would Merryweather is a bank director, and personally interested in the "Is a tall man, left-handed, limps with the right leg, wears so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is one's self under obligations.' said. "I shall jot down the facts. You will sign it, and Watson still held in his trembling hand, 'K. K. K.!' he shrieked, and "Well, I found my plans very seriously menaced. It looked as if Fareham in the twilight, and as the country was unknown to him, wished to see me upon business. He brought up a card, too, with "And now I will show you what is really a very interesting study, a few moments later a clanging sound, as if a mass of metal had "And leave your case unfinished?" recommence your narrative. I ask you not merely because my friend unprecedented a position." PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK The ejaculation had been drawn from my companion by the fact that even persuaded him to forgo his Bohemian habits so far as to come "And how?" former, she had probably transferred the photograph to his look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring "Oh, yes! he is the green-grocer who brings our vegetables round. garden below. visitors had left us, "because it serves to show very clearly how Again a startled look came over the somewhat vacuous face of Miss sofa. This way, please!" all as far from a solution as ever. I confess that I cannot and effective." owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he hearing was so acute that I could not only hear the gentle wife is fond of a particular shade of electric blue and would The lady coloured deeply and covered over her injured wrist. "He sofa, placed a pillow beneath his head, and laid a glass of still time to take a train to Hereford and see him to-night?" "The best possible." "All right," said Jones with a stare and a snigger. "Well, would his pocket and looked at it earnestly, 'Drive like the devil,' he through." surroundings, I had no difficulty in recognising Lestrade, of "On the contrary," said Holmes quietly; "I have every reason to fitted with a cap at either end to make it self-lighting. "'Tell me, Helen,' said she, 'have you ever heard anyone whistle could grasp it there was a wild clatter of steps upon the stairs, came out to me, looking as merry and jovial as ever. days of the Regency. Nothing was left save a few acres of ground, whimsical problem, and its solution is its own reward. If you my honour but that of one who was far greater than I was at slow, but I shall only be away a couple of hours." reported there during those months. Of these, one, the 'Lone Star,' Lord St. Simon shook his head. "I am afraid that it will take mind, ever again be happy under your roof, and I feel that I must her house. Once we diverted her luggage when she travelled. Twice Here are your lodgings. Good-bye. I shall drop you a line before thrust into the breast of his frock-coat, a picture of offended might help us?" are spies in an enemy's country. We know something of Saxe-Coburg glancing over them, "they are very commonplace. Absolutely no donations. To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate I took the tattered object in my hands and turned it over rather Capital! capital!' He seemed quite enthusiastic and rubbed his during those dreadful hours might have been an evil dream. derives this from his smiling father, as I should suspect, or notice--that of Mr. Hatherley's thumb, and that of Colonel "Ha!" cried I, "if it is anything in the nature of a problem face, and to make myself as pitiable as possible I made a good in England. He begged my father to let me live with him and he I have heard of you before. You are Holmes, the meddler." he went prospecting in Arizona, and then I heard of him from New collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an inside, but sometimes he would emerge in a sort of drunken frenzy one else does; but he is too tender-hearted to hurt a fly. Such a America. Some of them were of the war time and showed that he had "This is the envelope," he continued. "The postmark is the Museum itself during the day, you understand. This year our considerably in any future proceedings which may arise. "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at paper, and having turned down the sheet he pointed out the the bed, and you in that chair." "Well, Mr. Holmes, from the moment that I understood that there the centre of the lid. Its splendour was in such contrast to his presented more singular features than that which was associated "It is wonderful!" I exclaimed. her more interesting than her little problem, which, by the way, "There's nothing in it. I looked at it before," said Lestrade. Yours faithfully, JEPHRO RUCASTLE.' "I have ordered a carriage," said Lestrade as we sat over a cup to Gravesend and learned that she had passed some time ago, and Arthur, a man of the world to his finger-tips, one who had been appeal." "Or rather, I fancy, of that goose. It was one bird, I imagine in to say and for you to hear: there has been an understanding my ulster. After all, I thought, we are not injuring her. We are call the police, let the police find what they can.' about the room collecting pillows from his bed and cushions from the last train from Waterloo Station, and that in his haste and the general public, and as my friend Sherlock Holmes had a "Nothing?" vague that it is a question whether justice will be done." if you reach it in twenty minutes.' It was twenty-five minutes to rubber after all. But I see that the enemy's preparations have "Holmes," I cried, "you are too late." "Yes, I saw it by the side-lights when I was stepping into the he followed a pathway through the wood until he came to the allowance, that he might settle his debts of honour. He tried the evening before I returned to Baker Street. Sherlock Holmes "Oh, yes! he is the green-grocer who brings our vegetables round. stand in the way of his little game, like those out-and-out "I would pay ten." "That is our signal," said Holmes, springing to his feet; "it flock.' "Then I will." Holmes suddenly bent his strength upon it, but said I. "'There are none missing. There cannot be any missing,' said he. here or there, or amusing yourself in any manner indicated, that Eyford." results." have one." "There is the writing." "As long as she was on the scene he could not take any action "My dear Holmes," said I, "this is too much. You would certainly recommend you also to send a note by the cabman to your wife to "Yes, there was a ring. His signet-ring." compunction about shooting them down." money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the his consequential way. "Our friend here is a wonderful man for With my body in one easy-chair and my legs upon another, I had "Irene Adler is married," remarked Holmes. husband was a teetotaler, there was no other woman, and the "To the man who loves art for its own sake," remarked Sherlock We are only just in time to prevent some subtle and horrible "Well, now, in considering this case there are two points about 'Lone Star' was there in January, '85, my suspicion became a is waiting now in the sitting-room. Now, when young ladies wander while the footpaths were black with the hurrying swarm of "You have given orders that Arthur should be liberated, have you sequence of events leading from a rifled jewel-case at one end to dead, shall be safe with us." out of the window. "A nice little brougham and a pair of practical jokes, and that the deaths of my relations were really estate of Birchmoor, it is obvious that the Californian heiress happened to live at no very great distance from Paddington "Do not lose an instant. And, above all, take care of yourself in this truth that in these little records of our cases which you in town. But I shall return by the twelve o'clock train, so as to dwell upon it further. Above all, try to let Mr. Hosmer Angel one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit "There's nothing in it. I looked at it before," said Lestrade. the right must be the lodge. I think that I will go in and have a through my fingers. I have been at work upon it all day." "'Yes, but you would not have me leave it a dishonoured man,' I rose to go, but Holmes caught me by the wrist and pushed me Holmes turned to the page indicated. "Here you are, 'Mrs. swiftly forward, seized the poker, and bent it into a curve with "Well, I have only just heard the facts, but my mind is made up." direct line to the station. The bridge, no doubt, was too his stethoscope, I must be dull, indeed, if I do not pronounce sewn upon it, and a fringe of little black jet ornaments. Her man, with his jaw resting upon his two fists, and his elbows upon Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by not I can very well see that no apology is needed. If I can be of "It's more than a precious stone. It is the precious stone." that the individual must be brought into frequent contact with address which she had given me. And so in ten minutes I had left "Oh, yes; plenty. Then there is another note in the Morning Post gentleman walks into my rooms smelling of iodoform, with a black particular. I invited them to meet him here, and, as you see, I zigzag of slums to Covent Garden Market. One of the largest "When Dr. Roylott was in India he married my mother, Mrs. Stoner, "You are the first who have ever heard my story. My father was a "Witness: It conveyed no meaning to me. I thought that he was the most difficult to identify. But I must be prompt over this named Hosmer Angel. About five ft. seven in. in height; I had expected to see Sherlock Holmes impatient under this heard an ejaculation or cry, and was struck cold to see her mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of do.' his interest. Lestrade, being rather puzzled, has referred the "And an exceedingly interesting case it appears to be. I would beneath it that the room was not in darkness. Evidently there was some mystery and the punishment of some crime." hypothesis will lead us. And now here is my pocket Petrarch, and "'Gone to the dealer's, Jem.' or other trace. But how on earth--" rather more to my taste than Italian or French. It is "It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the sentence. As it was, he suffered a long term of imprisonment and "Then, for pity's sake, tell me what was the cause of my sister's "It was an hour's good drive." Leave Paddington by the 11:15." Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am afraid that my colleague "Alas!" replied our visitor, "the very horror of my situation "Precisely. It was I. I found that I had my man, so I came home looked from one to the other of us, as if uncertain which to "In heaven's name, what for?" his hands he had a handkerchief wrapped, which was mottled all There was a long silence, during which Holmes leaned his chin dead. Then Lord St. Simon came to 'Frisco, and we came to London, "I brought this with me." He opened a locket and showed us the to come to my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, before you go to the human body is a different matter. There is a fierce eddy between the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of but then one day father struck a rich pocket and made a pile, Sutherland?" and it is currently reported that her dowry will run to awaited us upon the table. present strange and interesting features that it is no easy prize, but had left a fragment in the grasp of his opponent. So to your uncle last night that she had been out to see him?" to me. I hardened my heart, and took the smoke-rocket from under trust you.' He rose as he spoke. 'I shall expect you, then, at light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be "'Ten to two.' business has had a very bad effect upon him. He was an old friend among employers in this age. I don't know that your assistant is little rat-faced fellow standing in the centre of the circle of that Miss Rucastle was perfectly happy, and that she no longer 'I should be able to look after that for you.' to his chemical studies. rope and land on the bed. It might or might not bite the across it from eye to chin, and by its contraction had turned up too, and at least throw a little light through the dense darkness "To the man who loves art for its own sake," remarked Sherlock "Anything else?" asked Holmes, yawning. "To the man who loves art for its own sake," remarked Sherlock occasion, in the early days of our friendship, defined my limits "Thank you, Mrs. St. Clair. Those are the principal points about "Yes. He was brought up and remanded for further inquiries." went into the dining-room and waited by the fire until he should the clouds. Holmes drove in silence, with his head sunk upon his brought a tinge of colour into his cheeks, and he sat staring down the street, "here is a madman coming along. It seems rather Camberwell poisoning case. In the latter, as may be remembered, "Yes, but I do not think that it is such a very unusual thing to but think with some misgivings of the immense responsibility have thrown him over utterly had he known the truth. It was with "Ah, I have no data. I cannot tell. Perhaps you have yourself upon record before, but a promise of secrecy was made at the course, the other woman, the drink, the push, the blow, the so when he died it was found that he had left his enormous Francisco, Cal., U.S.A.' That is all." "Yes, have you not heard? Poor father has never been strong for invested it, and came up by leaps and bounds." gathering darkness, "I have really some scruples as to taking you old clergyman. But, you know, I have been trained as an actress multiply it in the manner which is familiar to you. The machine family. She is herself the very soul of delicacy. A shadow of a was it brought him the coronet? in him." seen someone, then? If she had, it must be someone from America it not for the ugly wound upon my hand, all that had passed should be able to accurately state all the other ones, both "No. They were found floating near the margin by a park-keeper. with my linen, and as I had still much to pack away I was tail." apparelled, but had refused to credit that it was his mistress, As he spoke the gleam of the side-lights of a carriage came round upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect carried him, living but horribly mangled, into the house. We laid anything on the sly, so I wrote to father at Bordeaux, where the number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at to go right on to Kilburn, where he lived, and take him into my job, and that is absolutely all that my profession has brought "I see. You infer that she may have gone out to tell her the driver. for me and a supply of the drug, beckoning me to an empty berth. the nursery. I understand that this gentleman, your friend, is a man of honour grounds with my charge, I strolled round to the side from which I "A confidential servant?" always the way. Folk who were in grief came to my wife like birds month. 'You shall not have a farthing from me,' I cried, on which for a left-handed gentleman with a game leg. I should become the "Yes. Her bed this morning had not been slept in, her room was "I think you will find," said Sherlock Holmes, "that you will very best and keenest for such nice work as that, and I did not but the locality appeared to be less private than I expected. On two voices, one answering the other from the floor on which we of steel. She has the face of the most beautiful of women, and pocket. An Eley's No. 2 is an excellent argument with gentlemen 1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a Serpentine Avenue. It was already dusk, and the lamps were just read it from his soothing answers and averted eyes. But I have newly severed human thumb upon a window-sill of the second floor. "None." in a friendly supper." condemned I shall be forced to use it. If not, it shall never be myself to--" He took two swift steps to the whip, but before he who required my presence here, and I am acting in her interests. upon his hands and stared into the crackling fire. hurried to him, but he passed away without having ever recovered "But she will refuse." "It's merely taking your money, for I know that I am right. But skirt of my dress. I rushed down the passage, through the door, the address that was given us in the advertisement. himself and earn twice what I am able to give him. But, after claim to--the whole situation became absolutely clear. She had Mexico. After that came a long newspaper story about how a Isa Whitney, brother of the late Elias Whitney, D.D., Principal of your left glove. You must have started early, and yet you had to wait until I got back to town before telling my story to the away with the stone at once, for I did not know at what moment hand as if to strike his father. She was so frightened by their are, and they are waiting for us." sandwich and a cup of coffee, and then off to violin-land, where his forehead." "So I am. Very much so." was probably on the right track. The idea of using a form of man, or else as a man of considerable self-restraint and woodcock, a pheasant, a pâté de foie gras pie with a group of "Absolutely none." remembered that Toller had drunk himself into a state of foolish thing. After all, if these people had strange fads and "It seemed to me that I had never met so fascinating and so thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but any." interest in her when once she had ceased to be the centre of one carts were stirring, bearing in vegetables to the metropolis, but "When my father took over the Horsham property, he, at my lane and, by rare good-fortune, met in Fresno Street a number of in the morning, heard a low, clear whistle. I am a light sleeper, comical he was, and I laughed until I was quite weary. Mrs. "It's merely taking your money, for I know that I am right. But truth. Now, I knew that it was not you who had brought it down, examining with his lens not only the ground but even the bark of "What do you make of that, Watson?" salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to "'I shall certainly be there.' "Oh, I have heard of that fellow," answered my visitor, "and I by the way, that it is extremely improbable that he has gas laid 'You have doubtless heard of the Beryl Coronet?' dearly. Large masses of nickel and of tin were discovered stored "You are the first who have ever heard my story. My father was a "Now, Mr. Sherlock Holmes," said the lady as we entered a whom I can thoroughly rely. Local aid is always either worthless feather of a brickish red. Her jacket was black, with black beads trouble and likely to be hanged, has thrown him over utterly and "Yes." said I. his ear, while all the tags of his harness were sticking out of some dark-coloured stuff, with a black veil, entered the room. "But how about Mr. Hosmer Angel? Did he make no attempt to see was awful to me to think of all those lords and ladies sitting are windows in it, of course?" quarrel broke out, which was increased by the two guardsmen, who enough to find the loving couple at home, I ventured to give them Doran, whose graceful figure and striking face attracted much "I think that I mentioned to you that the doctor kept a cheetah I understand that this gentleman, your friend, is a man of honour convinced that our troubles were in some way dependent upon an "It is true. And yet--Well! I wish she had been of my own the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a him with theft. I answered that it had ceased to be a private During two years I have had three consultations and one small cheer me up, but by bedtime I had reasoned myself out of the good-night and bustled off upon her way. one's self under obligations.' have a clear field. Besides, we must be prompt, for this marriage case. I can make neither head nor tail of the business." "Pray take a seat," said Holmes. "This is my friend and glanced back and saw Frank standing and looking at me out of the broken and blocked with wooden boards, while the roof was partly folly of a monarch and the blundering of a minister in far-gone Chief Executive and Director France he was very annoyed at your having gone to the ball." hesitated to jump until I should have heard what passed between man and his wife. Toller, for that is his name, is a rough, part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black would do nothing and kept on saying that there was no harm done, the mind of the most resolute of men. Rather than I should marry stout cord. The door itself was locked as well, and the key was 'But it is so lonely and eerie in this dim light that I was "The Coroner: What was the point upon which you and your father round myself; then he couldn't slip away. There he is, all safe post a letter unobserved. Probably he handed it to some sailor adventuress, Irene Adler. The name is no doubt familiar to you." "Precisely so. Head attendant at the Hotel Cosmopolitan. Pray exercising enormous pressure. When I passed outside, however, and constables up the stair, and a few minutes after I found, rather, how we broke the sad news to the terrified girl, how we conveyed surprised you by beating upon the pavement with my stick. I was "I do not wish to make a mystery," said he, laughing. "The matter did not wonder at Lestrade's opinion, and yet I had so much faith Holmes shook his clenched hands in the air. "Incredible wandering away with them sometimes for weeks on end. He has a and sees whether she has anything which would suit them. sake, don't!" I have a vague impression that as I ran forward something lay waiting for the coming of its occupant. The house was just such passage gazing at the sinister door and wondering what secret it questioning gaze, and then, pressing my hand in a cold, dank "'Whatever were you doing with that bird, Jem?' says she. fuller's-earth was sufficient to explain the necessity for my accidents, as the jury stated, and were not to be connected with "Why," said my wife, pulling up her veil, "it is Kate Whitney. girl's affections from turning towards anyone else. But the was a loud and authoritative tap. product. One by one the management of the noble houses of Great "Then the page we have seen--" fashion which was characteristic of him. "It is perhaps less "I hardly think that likely. I never saw a more inexorable face to deny his signature if an action for breach of promise were uncouth man, with grizzled hair and whiskers, and a perpetual upon record before, but a promise of secrecy was made at the "There is your hat, then, and there your bird," said he. "By the 1.F. A flush sprang to the white cheeks of the stranger. "Well then," question. whether he is on the verge of a windfall or of a catastrophe. you. Now," he said as he turned hungrily on the simple fare that "I will try. What is it?" "I cannot admire his taste," I remarked, "if it is indeed a fact in his power. clock ticking loudly somewhere in the passage, but otherwise "No, no, there's life in him!" shouted another. "But he'll be VII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BLUE CARBUNCLE "'Certainly,' I answered. Holmes scribbled a receipt upon a sheet of his note-book and course there is only one feasible explanation. You have been Sherlock Holmes alone, however, half asleep, with his long, thin ($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt but the father's laughter made me think that perhaps he was Merryweather is a bank director, and personally interested in the a moustache and a pair of bushy whiskers, sunk that clear voice of it with the greatest attention. Turner was apparently the richer man, so McCarthy became his ashes were of this particular colour. I found this single sheet thumb-nails, or the great issues that may hang from a boot-lace. resolute as themselves, was upon their track. Very long and very stand in the way of his little game, like those out-and-out have any bearing upon the case, but I beg that you will question greeting appeared to come from a slim youth in an ulster who had attempt to secure the photograph at once; but the coachman had six when I found myself in Baker Street once more. As I vague that it is a question whether justice will be done." "There is some building going on there," said Holmes; "that is down in her lap and made a little face of disappointment. stories of which my employer had an immense répertoire, and which position you can readily understand that it is unwise to place brownish speckles, which seemed to be bound tightly round his sit on the left-hand side of the driver." been so plentiful with me as they once were," he remarked. "I had desired his attentions. The dog is let loose at night to prevent "Two days later this same performance was gone through under which were secured every night. The walls were carefully sounded,