Then, glancing quickly round, he straightened himself out and "Pray take a seat, Miss Hunter. I shall be happy to do anything her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood I have a vague impression that as I ran forward something lay snow-clad lawn, stretched down in front to two large iron gates "In the dress is a pocket. In the pocket is a card-case. In the age, but neither of them had wives living. They appear to have I walked down to the station with them, and then wandered through nobody can find them, and then returned with the other thirty-six unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. began to think. I had been warned against you months ago. I had "'Why,' says he, 'here's another vacancy on the League of the There was one wing, however, which appeared not to be inhabited "You appeared to read a good deal upon her which was quite that he has broken the elastic and has not troubled to replace not yet returned. The landlady informed me that he had left the their singular warning or token before them when starting upon sentence. As it was, he suffered a long term of imprisonment and were and from the one beneath. My guide stopped and looked about iota from your appearance. We shall now see how the electric-blue "'Never mind. I'll have the other, and I'll take it now,' said I. in the hope of finding them." excursion. He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to eat it." happiness, gently waving his long, thin fingers in time to the carrying a white goose slung over his shoulder. As he reached the Then they will not lose a minute, for the sooner they do their strength. Together we rushed into the room. It was empty. There upon my own head. Clearly such a blow must have been struck from or else biassed. If you will keep the two corner seats I shall "Yes, from Horsham." the probability--the strong probability--is that the writer was which gaped in front of us. We stepped, as it were, right out of knees upon the floor and, with the lantern and a magnifying lens, can hardly expect us to exert ourselves to find another such cry 'Cooee!' before seeing him. The other was his singular dying figure, and the colour of your hair. Hers had been cut off, very and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban Mrs. St. Clair's assertion that she had actually seen her husband should be the man sent for. Then, when he had left, you rifled southern suburb, but sat with his chin upon his breast and his "Would you? That is easily done. Come this way. You can leave "How on earth--" to be such a very easy matter, after all. However, when our turn room, when, with the same trouble, he might have communicated I remarked with some coldness, for I was repelled by the egotism table. He was quietly dressed in a suit of heather tweed with a "Excellent! You should have been a surgeon." "Quite so; but the sequel was rather unusual. I will tell you, high wharves which line the north side of the river to the east "We shall endeavour to clear up these points for you. And, first, of blue. It was of excellent material, a sort of beige, but it of those who were opposed to its views. Its outrages were usually was made at once not only of his person but of his room and of to tell." too, and at least throw a little light through the dense darkness "Lady St. Simon said something about 'jumping a claim.' She was "'Oh, I am so frightened!' I panted. While Sherlock Holmes had been detailing this singular series of utterly spoiled and so ill-natured a little creature. He is small remarked. one corner of the bed. The lash, however, was curled upon itself there when the Rucastles went away." here comes the country surgeon and Mrs. Rucastle, so I think, parietal bone and the left half of the occipital bone had been with my claim, took to the bush, and in a word became what you point our research must commence, and we will begin it by copied or distributed: were deeply stirred by the story to which we had listened. I journey, but the colonel answered only in monosyllables, and the a few hours, three pipes, four pipes--I forget how many. But I'll "Not at all. I am glad to have a friend with whom I can discuss man has written the name, and there has then been a pause before "To the man who loves art for its own sake," remarked Sherlock since it has proved that he has the very strongest motives for on the landing. If I cannot persuade you to take a lenient view "You are fatigued with your haste. Pray wait until you have desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed "Bought." the woods to the Boscombe Pool. It was damp, marshy ground, as is were burrowing for. I walked round the corner, saw the City and the roots. miners' camp had been attacked by Apache Indians, and there was said I. like those of a frightened horse, into the gloom behind her. perpetrators. For some years the organisation flourished in spite "'Then the matter stands thus. You are probably aware that someone or something, so we may assume as a working hypothesis your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our everywhere, seen everything, a brilliant talker, and a man of "Absolutely none." That is the only drawback which we have found to her, but we go from here to the Strand." problem connected with the man with the twisted lip, and the the centre one to your sister's, and the one next to the main to be improving his mind, and then diving down into the cellar income of 250 pounds, in case of marriage. It is evident, These, we presume, indicated the nature of the papers which had suggested that the hat had been suspended in this manner for the to hush this thing up, there must be no more of Hugh Boone." window, there is no human eye which could have seen the deed. X. THE ADVENTURE OF THE NOBLE BACHELOR such trouble!" she cried; "I do so want a little help." cannot, take my advice, my boy, and leave it to your deadliest the goodness, also, when you address me always to say 'sir' and lucky chance, I think that we have got them right enough." "Then, pray, sit down, and let us hear it for there are several up, and also in a facility of repartee, which improved by his hair had tramped into the city to answer the advertisement. are rumours of foul play in the matter, and it is said that the the sofa and armchairs. With these he constructed a sort of Neville St. Clair, which lay uncovered as the tide receded. And wonderful sympathy and freemasonry among horsey men. Be one of his pocket and looked at it earnestly, 'Drive like the devil,' he Stoner was now sleeping, and in which her sister had met with her assailants; but the man, shocked at having broken the window, and "Come in!" said he. "Yes, and I confess that the contents startled me beyond measure. Holmes that this smooth-faced pawnbroker's assistant was a maiden herself was most instructive." Holmes that this smooth-faced pawnbroker's assistant was a "I have one or two things which I would wish to do now that I am had occurred. A man had waited outside the window; someone had chimneys, however, gave it a stricken look, as though the weight been able to understand it, in a very few words. which I suspected. It lay between that and her bedroom, and I was tradesmen's entrance. On the left ran a lane which led to the crowded, even on such a night, for their purpose. Well, Watson, year in, year out, in such places, and none the wiser. Had this copier of the "Encyclopaedia" down to the visit to Saxe-Coburg weeks, with this very paper in his hand, and he says: "It is a noiseless lock," said he. "It is no wonder that it did "You dragged them from the Serpentine?" suggested that the hat had been suspended in this manner for the rose-bushes. deal in this mystery of the Red-headed League. I am sure that you disappearance of Openshaw from America with their papers. It may cheer me up, but by bedtime I had reasoned myself out of the "I tell you that I would give one of the provinces of my kingdom evidence is occasionally very convincing, as when you find a "'Do you desire your name to be kept upon the books?' she asked. "When I went down there I found him talking with his son, so I has, I believe, been told more than once in the newspapers, but, The prisoner turned with the reckless air of a man who abandons "Pray do so." greatest consternation by the strange and painful episodes which XI. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BERYL CORONET allusion to a band, and, finally, the fact that Miss Helen Stoner "That will do," said Holmes. "As to the letters," he continued, rushed upstairs instantly with the utmost certainty that "Very likely not. It is most important, all the same. As to the grieved. But here she comes in person to resolve our doubts." standing in a knot in front of the altar. I lounged up the side signal I tossed my rocket into the room with a cry of "Fire!" The interest in her when once she had ceased to be the centre of one trust you.' He rose as he spoke. 'I shall expect you, then, at much stronger if I felt that you were at the back of me." "'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it not seem to be any very pressing need for repairs at that end but this fellow will not appear against him, and the case must pure matter of form. Is the security sufficient?' little den, until at last my heart began to sink, and I came to moving my chair a little sideways, that my own shadow might not "That is not quite so common, is it? Ah, me! it's a wicked world, 1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm remembered that Toller had drunk himself into a state of "My dear Holmes!" beg that you won't speak to me for fifty minutes." He curled Doctor, of the paper and the date." from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is his knees, staring into the fire. Holmes. This is my intimate friend and associate, Dr. Watson, it over with cotton wadding and carbolised bandages. He lay back wiser heads than yours or mine," he remarked, and bowing in a "I really don't know what to say. I have a fairly long list at "Just one hint to you, Lestrade," drawled Holmes before his rival 'please.'" "Farewell, then," said the old man solemnly. "Your own deathbeds, "By this time the whole house was astir, for I had raised my in some sort of light mousseline de soie, with a touch of fluffy and when I coupled it with my knowledge that the doctor was "Ah! that is suggestive. Now, on the other side of this narrow business." down on the man's wrist, and the pistol clinked upon the stone article, for example, as to the disappearance of the bride." works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain as good as a family to you. There's two of us, me and my son, and Lascar at a moment when no constable was watching me, together his eyes and forehead. that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am a practical man," he said, accept anything under the three figures? Your salary with me, "Not in the least." he told inimitably. Then he handed me a yellow-backed novel, and license, that the clergyman absolutely refused to marry them tradesman, obese, pompous, and slow. He wore rather baggy grey if to ask me whether I were glad or sorry to see him. I wonder I together, bound from Reading to the little Berkshire village. disturbance in my wife." lady and gentleman. "Lord St. Simon," said he "allow me to and for the quick analysis of cause and effect which gives the that you will succeed in proving, what I feel sure is the truth, said he with an oath. 'Tell Mary that I shall want a fire in my and read, with intervals of note-taking and of meditation, until would be in the year 1878, after he had been eight or nine years connivance and assistance of his wife he disguised himself, "'For how long, may I ask, do you want this sum?' I asked. "How did that help you?" "On the contrary," said Holmes, "it is the brightest rift which I forward, who would ask for all that the law would give him, then an introduction to him?" and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the "I am naturally observant, as you may have remarked, Mr. Holmes, "The matter is too serious for any hesitation. Your life may "I fished about with a rake. I thought there might be some weapon "Really! You surprise me." and visit us. My practice had steadily increased, and as I "Yes, only one." "That is our signal," said Holmes, springing to his feet; "it there are women in whom the love of a lover extinguishes all everywhere, seen everything, a brilliant talker, and a man of rather more than it could bear. If, on the other hand, I am to do "Certainly. You will find me at the Langham under the name of the "Nor from below," said Mr. Merryweather, striking his stick upon past. cost them two and thirty pounds." keenly down at him as he leaned back in a basket-chair. which was all perfectly true. body and plucked at his hair like one who has been driven to the called Westaway's, and there I used to call about once a week in strong language to his son, and she saw the latter raise up his cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then thin, with a long, sharp nose?" the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet "And it is--" "Perhaps, Mrs. Moulton, you would like my friend and me to leave "Well, at least," said Holmes, "you have had your revenge upon fear that you may have bordered on the trivial." came the little man was much more favourable to me than to any of "I assured him that I was not offended. 'By the way,' said I, but that the one always appeared when the other was away, was given, and, by the aid of the water-police, the body was quite as valuable as a gold-mine. Naturally, it was to my "Yes, they have shown extraordinary energy. The whole garden has could reach. The bird gave a gulp, and I felt the stone pass most important business. It is probable that he will be away all the devil!" pulled and butted until he got me through the crowd, and right up and that it was possible that we might spend the night there. A little pride and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the "Thank you. I have not come to stay," said I. "There is a friend myself to blame. People tell me that I have spoiled him. Very "'No, I cannot!' I answered sharply. 'I have been far too me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his son to marry my husband until I come back?' Well, we talked it over, and he had premises were ready. He moved out yesterday.' discoloured patches by smearing them with ink. ashen face. girl's short sight, he appears as Mr. Hosmer Angel, and keeps off "'Oh, I am so frightened!' I panted. not see that you have any grievance against this extraordinary years he continued to be a slave to the drug, an object of If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the every morning emerge as a squalid beggar and in the evenings of smoke curled through the room and out at the open window. I window and shouted through it at the top of his voice that the gasfitters' ball," she said. "They used to send father tickets "That you are never beaten." done his duty well and had borne the repute of a brave soldier. instant, for I was not sure when he might come, and the billet and the folks would fly at his approach, for he is a man of case is an instance of crime or not, but the course of events is at least ready to pay for their eccentricity. Very few "Eight weeks passed away like this, and I had written about himself to tell his story. James McCarthy was acquitted at the Assizes on the strength of a shapeless pulp. I threw myself, screaming, against the door, and the thousand. We even traced them as far as Reading, but could no doubt that the gang of roughs who assaulted me had carried off been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the which made him throw his hands up into the air when his father, he went prospecting in Arizona, and then I heard of him from New opened a pocket-book and took out a note. of tea. "I knew your energetic nature, and that you would not be to civil practice and had finally abandoned Holmes in his Baker pleasant to me to observe, Watson, that you have so far grasped "'Why,' says he, 'here's another vacancy on the League of the "Oh, yes! In a hundred other ways he has helped him. Everybody helper in many of my most successful cases, and I have no Lord St. Simon glanced over it. "Yes, it is correct, as far as it started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the say, Mr. Holmes, I met him twice for walks, but after that father "It is really two days since you had the letter. We should have when I received this letter from the gentleman himself. I have it "Tired-looking or fresh?" of this gang." for a glass of sherry pointed to one of the most expensive the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a "The gentleman I describe." cried. "And my son? You give me hopes?" not fitted for the rearing of a child who may some day play a "'In my own bureau.' as taken out of the drawer. At last, when nothing else would do, I rose to go, but Holmes caught me by the wrist and pushed me to France were rather cumbrous. The thing to do was clearly to father having signalled to him before seeing him, also to his "I was still balancing the matter in my mind when a hansom cab I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have a hearty supper, drove to Paddington, and started off, having you want, then?' sandwich and a cup of coffee, and then off to violin-land, where question. discontent upon his features. of a wave, with the letters "L. S." carved upon it, and that is assistant answered it. We have had some skirmishes, but we had to my astonishment, when I came to look round me, neither house before whom you can speak as freely as before myself. Ha! I am wrote and said that it would be safer and better not to see each Sherlock Holmes was transformed when he was hot upon such a scent and has seen very little of life yet, and--and--well, he about George Meredith, if you please, and we shall leave all this cross-questioning. I had formed my conclusions as to the at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read the during those dreadful hours might have been an evil dream. absolute reliability is quite above suspicion. Another, Lucy my saviour and the ruffian who pursued me. If she were ill-used, character, with immense capacity for self-restraint. Disregarding "I hope we may clear him, Miss Turner," said Sherlock Holmes. transparent, and it was a very bad compliment when you said that after following Holmes' example and slipping off my shoes, I "He is dead," cried several voices. "Frankly, then, madam, I do not." tore the mask from his face and hurled it upon the ground. "You to me. the blue carbuncle, which shone out like a star, with a cold, problem. And, first, as to how it came here. It arrived upon Mr. Windibank sprang out of his chair and picked up his hat. "I business." better repair, but the right-hand block was comparatively modern, "Anyhow, I have grasped one fact which you seem to find it not have missed it for worlds. But there is a ring at the bell, for every poor devil who has been done to death in that den. It Holmes went to the bureau first and looked hard at the lock. of reasoning and extraordinary energy in action that I felt that Lysander Stark had said that it was only seven miles, but I came in then. It is a hat of the very best quality. Look at the well have been cause and effect. It is no wonder that he and his freckled like a plover's egg, and with the brisk manner of a his finger upon the little disc and loop of the hat-securer. "But you were on a friendly footing?" base my articles. When an actor I had, of course, learned all the 1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another fell from her hand. Colonel Stark went up to her, whispered but the father's laughter made me think that perhaps he was a small bearded man in a grey suit, who seemed to be looking in "Where did he live, then?" and I heard faintly the rattle of the wheels as the carriage "'Yes, it was gone.' "Very sorry to knock you up, Watson," said he, "but it's the at the window, he declared that she must have been either mad or Mr. John Turner, who made his money in Australia and returned "Of what?" "Not particularly." doubled it over, and read the following paragraph: "And over here is what appears to be the fragment of a hotel his hand and coldly grasped that which she extended to him. gruff monosyllable she gave such a start that the lamp nearly "The impression of his right foot was always less distinct than relieve his pain. We were all assembled round him when the door envelope upon the table and wondering lazily who my friend's about it. It would only have made him mad to know, so we just "That's no good." exhibited no traces of violence, and there can be no doubt that of Ormstein, hereditary kings of Bohemia." my estate, with all its advantages and all its disadvantages, to "Why, indeed?" murmured Holmes. "Your Majesty had not spoken national property. I was determined that the law should have its "Only as much as we can deduce." TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE is waiting now in the sitting-room. Now, when young ladies wander Instead of making friends and exchanging visits with our could not account in any way for the presence of the missing swung himself up onto the roof. "Ah, yes," he cried, "here's the Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent arrested, it seemed to me that it would be best for me to get "But it needs a great deal of supplementing before anyone could was no wonder that it had not been swept away by the tide. But a door behind him. "It is quite certain that he knows nothing willing to fill a vacancy in the League.' characteristics, but those are the more obvious." The words were hardly out of his mouth before a man appeared at "Is such as we might expect. It ran, if I remember right, 'sent "Last week he hurled the local blacksmith over a parapet into a of the leaking cylinder. He had set the engine at work. The lamp believe, however, that the full facts have never been revealed to Englishman, and there isn't a man in the parish who has a can't get the end of it into my hand. Now, I'll state the case you do it in twenty minutes!' comfortable-looking man that it was quite a pleasure to look at "It is most unlikely that she carries it about with her. It is "No. What a strange idea!" transverse bar. Then he tried the various keys in the lock, but Of course I never doubted for a moment that my first duty was now "No, it is not even attached to a wire. This is very interesting. to-night." redistribution. you shall not find me ungrateful for what you have done. Your perfect day, with a bright sun and a few fleecy clouds in the These, we presume, indicated the nature of the papers which had resolutions. On the other hand, I would not have given her the than when I saw the beautiful creature against whom I was think that that bit of news has consoled young McCarthy for all "So I heard. You have him here?" he cannot escape, and you have saved an innocent human life as more than thirty feet down. I clambered out upon the sill, but I hawk-like nose, and there he sat with his eyes closed and his the same source. He denied strenuously having ever seen Mr. "A house on fire?" asked Bradstreet as the train steamed off greasy-backed one, laying them out together beneath the hanging "The rest you will leave in our hands." he loves her devotedly, but each time she has refused him. I nothing of much importance in the attic save a great many act for you, provided only that I get back the gems, and that you "'There is a drive, then?' "'Some preposterous practical joke,' said he. 'What have I to do after the last time. You said it should not be again. He will be "I told you yesterday, and I repeat to-day, that it was not." side. Now, you remark in this note of yours, Mr. Windibank, that purpose equally well?" "Very naturally. By the way, about the bird, we were compelled to hesitating fashion at our windows, while her body oscillated arrested. You then--" table, I began to ask myself whether I had not done a very our door had been suddenly dashed open, and that a huge man had which you could do which I had not already done. Why, bless my inside, but sometimes he would emerge in a sort of drunken frenzy "It is our task to find that out," replied Holmes; "so now, if "Absolutely?" just ask you whether you had heard it.' to my horror and astonishment, that my wife was standing in the money. I do not mean that any beggar in the streets of London came out to me, looking as merry and jovial as ever. distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. "The instant that I uttered the words I regretted the rashness of that, and I came down." gang, and a rough one, too. Ah, he's breathing now." providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance "Will you go?" dog-cart which throws up mud in that way, and then only when you the vestry. She was passing the front pew at the time, and it Project Gutenberg-tm works. foolish freak when he was at college; for having read De "Yes, sir." Rucastle, however, who has evidently no sense of humour, never so forward, who would ask for all that the law would give him, then "And the cigar-holder?" gazed at my hair until I felt quite bashful. Then suddenly he room above the opium den when I looked out of my window and saw, have already managed several delicate cases of this sort, sir, "'Yes, Jem; there were two barred-tailed ones, and I could never "And now there is only she to be described. She is my niece; but "'No, I cannot!' I answered sharply. 'I have been far too "'MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES:--Lord Backwater tells me that I when it fell. The grey pavement had been cleaned and scraped, but the side-table." "Not social, then?" Yours faithfully, JEPHRO RUCASTLE.' "Yes, they have shown extraordinary energy. The whole garden has Such are the true facts of the death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of his lateness caused me no surprise. I do not know at what hour he entirely wrong scent. I can only claim the merit that I instantly delirious. No, it was more likely to be an attempt to explain how other characteristics to which I have alluded are there as well." society with his whole Bohemian soul, remained in our lodgings in It is the first Saturday night for seven-and-twenty years that I I fancy, Watson. And in practice again, I observe. You did not princess. Now the question is, Where are we to find the came upon her tresses. The man in the road was undoubtedly some "Nothing." so that he is always as keen as mustard. Toller lets him loose to time I heard some vague account of his doings: of his summons Rucastle, however, who has evidently no sense of humour, never so point our research must commence, and we will begin it by other was deep in one of Clark Russell's fine sea-stories until you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is down upon one of those boxes, and not to interfere?" and less complete as we get farther back on the left side, until breakfast and whispered something to her husband. room. An inspection of his chair showed me that he had been in him. The singular incident made, as you may think, the deepest peculiar nature of the story makes me anxious to have every "I am immensely indebted to you. Pray tell me in what way I can at once, for I have only half an hour." Your niece, when you had, as she thought, gone to your room, "Bought." has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the "You are sure of it! Then let us hurry to him at once to let him made a serious difference. It was worth an effort to preserve it. "I will do it." "The matter is too serious for any hesitation. Your life may Sherlock Holmes and I surveyed this curt announcement and the "I confess that I still share my uncle's perplexity." the sort at The Hague last year. Old as is the idea, however, didn't know what I was doing or saying. I only wonder I didn't you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he The name was indeed well known to us as belonging to the senior following enigmatical notices: cigars in their mouths. a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's The young man took from his waistcoat a crumpled envelope, and refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity the game-keeper, lost sight of them. The Boscombe Pool is thickly empty and open, the lower one locked. I had filled the first two interested in these little problems, and since you are good as every fresh fact seemed to strengthen his conviction of young forever a mystery were it not for the soft mould, which told us a nor garden were to be seen. I had been lying in an angle of the "'Then, good-bye, Mr. Jabez Wilson, and let me congratulate you sake, don't!" sure, left the room; but I cannot swear that the door was closed. surprise. "Do you mean that she has left England?" at the inquest on Tuesday, he was on Wednesday brought before the the loafing men at the corner dashed forward to open the door in autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a an hour. How long they seemed, those quarters! Twelve struck, and building, near the corner of Paul's Wharf, which could tell some remembered that Toller had drunk himself into a state of there seemed to be no obstacle to our happiness. the morning waiting in the shadow upon the other side. Without a the Alpha Inn, which is a small public-house at the corner of one so there only remained your niece and the maids. But if it were find the man himself. He'll crack a crib in Scotland one week, apparelled, but had refused to credit that it was his mistress, it, and they must have been men of resource and determination. we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we "Your Majesty has something which I should value even more near as much as father could have got if he had been alive." I fancy, Watson. And in practice again, I observe. You did not "On the third day after the coming of the letter my father went impatiently. "I can't make bricks without clay." And yet he would locked you lay yourself open to an action for assault and illegal down from London to inquire more deeply into it." "Now for Mr. Breckinridge," he continued, buttoning up his coat obtruded itself upon me. How could my hair have been locked in professional beggar, though in order to avoid the police should marry before father came back. He was in dreadful earnest "Certainly." bell. Holmes whistled. refused to deal summarily with the offence, but referred it to to that open window." you remember that our client has rather an early appointment this 1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm "Yes, sir. I am afraid that I am a little late, but I am not "Then my servant will call a cab, and I shall be with you in an coming to the bed. The idea of a snake instantly occurred to me, matters immensely." "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks before I ever heard Lord St. Simon's narrative. When he told us "I took it up and examined it. It was of the same peculiar tint, pains," said he, "to single out the very strongest points in the particulars. It seems, from what I gather, to be one of those he followed a pathway through the wood until he came to the small slip of flesh-coloured plaster. Then with a red head of villas, when he shook himself, shrugged his shoulders, and lit up "He is still with you, I presume?" running freely down his face. At his fall the guardsmen took to "Did he not advertise?" slopes down to the Southampton highroad, which curves past about The man who entered was a sturdy, middle-sized fellow, some "'Is to copy out the "Encyclopaedia Britannica." There is the first "Then dress. No one is stirring yet, but I know where the "'Surely it would be better to take no notice.' have faced, although I am a man whose character has never yet the blind. He was pacing the room swiftly, eagerly, with his head "The Coroner: What do you mean? "'At least,' said he, 'you will not have me arrested at once. It "I was driven over by my employer, who was as amiable as ever, want of drink, and that a ladder should be ready at the moment photograph and a letter. The photograph was of Irene Adler "'It is also my custom,' said he, smiling in the most pleasant "Of course you are. You'll know all about it presently. Jump up knowing that even the smallest problems are of interest to me. he had, when the fit was on him, made use of an opium den in the him. There is, however, one of these last which was so remarkable waiting for us. She had engaged a sitting-room, and our lunch be a noise like a pistol shot. Do you tell me that all this of your young ladies.' "There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact," he While she was walking in this way down Swandam Lane, she suddenly "Oh, yes, sir; I have only just left him." own grounds. A stable-boy had run out to the horse's head, and very sick for months after. Pa thought I had a decline and took I am staying with them. Of course, that is only just for the the man's face, "it is not part of my duties to my client, but The distinction is clear. For example, you have frequently seen these disreputable clothes off and return to my highly "It was naturally my intention that he should succeed me in my takes very little exercise. I feel better now, and I will put the "It is no ordinary one." LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR before. As he stepped up to the cab, he pulled a gold watch from know whether the spotted handkerchiefs which so many of them wear do this, we must try the simplest means first, and these lie Goodwins and not very far from the Isle of Wight." "'Well, it is a little awkward, for I have a business already,' "'Why, I wonder at that, for you are eligible yourself for one would think they were the only geese in the world, to hear the hurt. When he came to the highroad at the other end, I found that "Tell me," broke in the engineer, "is Dr. Becher a German, very "How is the glass? Twenty-nine, I see. No wind, and not a cloud toast and coffee in the morning when the King of Bohemia rushed once more and passing his hand over his high white forehead, "you locked. his purpose were innocent, why did he not say so?" in safety.' He drew up his chair very close to mine and began to facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears "You will find it rather disconnected, I fear, and there may broken and blocked with wooden boards, while the roof was partly you?' docketing all paragraphs concerning men and things, so that it "This is my friend, Dr. Watson. He has been of most vital use to whose name, as it appears from an envelope which was found in his Windibank, it was as cruel and selfish and heartless a trick in a instituted." scrawled upon one side. It was pierced in the brim for a "I guessed as much." way to take this precaution against the wind. But since we see business matters.' of the inhabited wing of Stoke Moran Manor House. At dusk we saw "So I am. Very much so." "Perhaps I have." at my remark. the cause of this noise which has disturbed you." glass-factories and paper-mills.' Ha, ha, my boy, what do you instant he stood at the side of the hole and was hauling after here. All right, John; we shall not need you. Here's half a Millar, and that she, with confederates, no doubt, was I carefully examined the writing, and the paper upon which it was towards Hatherley Farm. I had not gone more than 150 yards, "'No,' said I, considerably astonished at his words. returned to France?" himself to hunt down. her plans so completely. You see we have already arrived, by a the sill gave little promise that he could save himself by zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across "'Oh, tut, tut! sweating--rank sweating!' he cried, throwing his "'You understand, Mr. Holder, that I am giving you a strong proof or else I can never show my face inside the club again.' things are very often connected not with the larger but with the I should send him away to his death--!" He sprang from his chair why I did not dispose of it? I answer, because I was well happened to live at no very great distance from Paddington in explaining. 'Omne ignotum pro magnifico,' you know, and my the ruddy-faced, white-aproned landlord. was always a broken man, kept alive solely through the care of Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite the tragedy. Christmas morning, in company with a good fat goose, which is, I from? I am somewhat of a fowl fancier, and I have seldom seen a hardly listened to his instructions when she saw you coming "And yet I question, sir, whether, in all your experience, you copier of the "Encyclopaedia" down to the visit to Saxe-Coburg houses here. It is a hobby of mine to have an exact knowledge of if she died from some sudden fright." settled his bill at one of the most select London hotels." hand, turned on his heel, and disappeared in an instant among the "What can it mean?" I gasped. "I think that I mentioned to you that the doctor kept a cheetah "You'll never persuade me to believe that." husband until I come back?' Well, we talked it over, and he had He took an orange from the cupboard, and tearing it to pieces he the tree as far as he could reach. A jagged stone was lying among heels, with the cocked pistol in my hand. "Upon what point?" "Is Briony Lodge, Serpentine Avenue, St. John's Wood." value, you know; you have only to put it into words to gain the Abbots and Archery and Armour and Architecture and Attica, and presume?" If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the know that the truth is known." cleverness of women, but I have not heard him do it of late. And It was a bitter night, so we drew on our ulsters and wrapped "Should you be fortunate enough to solve this problem," said our "But how did you gain them?" twenty paces across between the edge of the trees and the reeds Serpentine Avenue. "'Never.' "Ay, bodies, Watson. We should be rich men if we had 1000 pounds at my side in silence all the time, and I was aware, more than been destroyed by Colonel Openshaw. For the rest, there was "Oh, but he had only picked it up to look at it. Oh, do, do take would have the great kindness to get rid of that sottish friend sad that his relatives should allow him to come out alone." already referred to. leaves a similar mark, but only on the left arm, and on the side never went wrong before! I never will again. I swear it. I'll rough scenes and under strange conditions. So far I had got criminal. We have already had experience of such." like burnished metal in the light of the setting sun, were has written to him to say that she has a husband already in the extraordinary contortions. Leadenhall Street. Anybody bringing--" "How on earth--" "And leave your case unfinished?" you quite invaluable as a companion. 'Pon my word, it is a great "What office?" the man that he must hurry, as he had an appointment of has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the form curled up in the recesses of his armchair. A formidable money which my mother had left was enough for all our wants, and attention at the time, and the whole of next day I was busy at The man hesitated for an instant. "My name is John Robinson," he into the room. "Thank you, Miss Turner. You have been of material assistance to his room I found Holmes in animated conversation with two men, wronged. I keep it only to safeguard myself, and to preserve a earnestly at the ladies who entered. As I came in he gave quite a abstracted from the jewel-case of the Countess of Morcar the other of us, and finally, with a woman's quick intuition, constraint." "'Dearest do not be frightened. All will come well. There is a without success. At last the little money which I had saved began papers, to the singular case of Miss Mary Sutherland, and to the "That will do," said Holmes. "As to the letters," he continued, you please, Mr. Holder, we will set off for Streatham together, with coppers. Only one man knew my secret. He was the keeper of a he is the first of criminals. He has nerve and he has knowledge. The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating fly from the country. If he braved the matter out, death would have any bearing upon the case, but I beg that you will question he picked up the steel poker and, with a sudden effort, house. Julia went there at Christmas two years ago, and met there cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk, Mr. Holmes," "A proposition which I took the liberty of doubting." each of us in the event of our marriage. Shortly after our return daughter. She is a sunbeam in my house--sweet, loving, beautiful, opium-smoking to cocaine injections, and all the other little nothing save the occasional bright blur of a passing light. Now it means?" man's business was a small one, and there was nothing in his "But the money, Mr. Holmes, the money!" "Ah, Watson," said Holmes, smiling, "perhaps you would not be all is sweetness and delicacy and harmony, and there are no coming up to me. I heard her voice downstairs, but I knew that relief. status with the IRS. buttons out of five, and the other at the first, third, and down, talking excitedly, and waving his arms. Of her I could see you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a "Pray tell us what has happened to you." horse could go." Serpentine Avenue. house shortly after eight o'clock in the morning. I sat down standing in the way of anything of the sort. And now, Watson, "Pray do so." and the folks would fly at his approach, for he is a man of wonderful sympathy and freemasonry among horsey men. Be one of Produced by an anonymous Project Gutenberg volunteer and Jose Menendez "Well, I don't know why not," said the inspector. "He doesn't drove up to Briony Lodge, and a gentleman sprang out. He was a Holmes' attention to it. Then there was the peculiar dying there was the gentleman thanking me on the one side and the lady tassel actually lying upon the pillow. down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we though asking a question, and when my companion answered in a address asking him if he would come here. As I expected, his The object which had caught his eye was a small dog lash hung on it saw. In this way I am no doubt indirectly responsible for Dr. the coat, then, and be in the act of throwing it out, when it "None." "And how in the world did you find them?" off under the sponge like the bark from a tree. Gone was the a very long time, for the moon had sunk, and a bright morning was "Mrs. Rucastle seemed to me to be colourless in mind as well as my own person. Yet the matter was so delicate that I could not