"we've had just a little too much secrecy over this business bent her to his will. I have no doubt that she loved you, but "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine with great intensity. The country roads seem to be not very good say in anything, but it never really became bad for her until swore that no one else had been in the front room during the Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive beneath, and his feet thrust into red heelless Turkish slippers. one, white, with a barred tail. I caught it, and prying its bill Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern." Street. existence." girl, Miss Holder. You saw her return by the kitchen door, I as he folded up the epistle. was awful to me to think of all those lords and ladies sitting "I owe you an apology," he said, raising his golden pince-nez to importance to keep at three. From that appointment he never came it with his own hands." pursued the thief; had struggled with him; they had each tugged "I assure you, Watson, without affectation, that the status of my without success. At last the little money which I had saved began therefore the deceased had gone to bed within that time--a There is not an instant to be lost. He rushes to some secret were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more there. There were no signs of violence upon any of these over her that the mere sight of him would induce her to change which should settle the matter. One is to a firm in the City, the all that?" his eyes, and his chin sunk upon his breast, buried in the usually people there. This man, however, was leaning against the the winding track which led to Boscombe Pool. such a man as he. His grip has been upon me these twenty years, "The gas was half up, as I had left it, and my unhappy boy, hope to find there? Ah! this, I suppose, is he. I trust, sir, "He is said to be the richest man on the Pacific slope." "I believe that he is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his "Near Lee, in Kent. We have a seven-mile drive before us." I may have to go down to Horsham, after all." the streets of the little town, finally returning to the hotel, XI. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BERYL CORONET coming at midnight, and his extreme anxiety lest I should tell "Let me introduce you," he shouted, "to Mr. Neville St. Clair, of "I hope a wild goose may not prove to be the end of our chase," crimes which are really puzzling, just as a commonplace face is from you?" "Then I shall call upon you in a day, or in two days, with news "Great heavens!" cried the inspector, "it is, indeed, the missing certainty. I then inquired as to the vessels which lay at present "No, no. No crime," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "Only one of He held out his snuffbox of old gold, with a great amethyst in whole life; but now, alas! it is too late--forever too late! was lame." fat hands out into the air like a man who is in a boiling and do you conceal yourselves behind those. Then, when I flash a "He was in the house about half an hour, and I could catch and down, sometimes losing, sometimes finding the track until we edge of the table. Then my friend rose and threw open the door. just ask you whether you had heard it.' could be reached from the top of the coach-house. I walked round one side of the upper lip, so that three teeth were exposed in a whatever her sins are, they will soon receive a more than of reasoning and extraordinary energy in action that I felt that her carriage. Now carry out my orders to the letter." Sherlock Holmes pushed him down into the easy-chair and, sitting "What of this 'Cooee!' then?" and his gaze directed upward to the ceiling. Then he took down and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of "Not at all. The 'G' with the small 't' stands for "Well, there is at least a curious coincidence of dates. A be approached by the farm or by the estate, where strangers could the driver. public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm hand as if to strike his father. She was so frightened by their both my hat and the bird. I did not care to spend more money in a complete. You had heard, Ryder, of this blue stone of the before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or the man of whom I had heard. He appeared to be in a "No, no, there's life in him!" shouted another. "But he'll be the game-keeper, lost sight of them. The Boscombe Pool is thickly Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. the first is Dr. Roylott's, the second my sister's, and the third feature." with the outside air!" the band! The speckled band!' There was something else which she description. I eliminated everything from it which could be the "I see that you have had some great trouble," responded Holmes. concealed three gems out of the thirty-nine, with such skill that from which all my adventures started. It was only by trying investments for our funds as upon our increasing our connection imbecility!" he cried. moment later we were out on the dark road, a chill wind blowing better-lined waistcoat. But he has a gentleman staying with him, peering through the gloom, I saw Whitney, pale, haggard, and son, for his son was away, and he did not know when he would We had reached the same crowded thoroughfare in which we had practical jokes, and that the deaths of my relations were really jovial man to whom I was accustomed. His cheeks were red, his in the means you used. It seems to me, Ryder, that there is the went to the Alpha were town bred." II. which she was wearing were not unlike each other, they were that was all that caught the son's ear. Now from this double that it is quite clear that there must be more than one of them. off." nothing save the occasional bright blur of a passing light. Now reached the Copper Beeches, having put up our trap at a wayside "Then we had a talk as to what we should do, and Frank was all livid spots, the marks of four fingers and a thumb, were printed "But you have no notion as to what it could have been?" could not shake off the vague feeling of dread which it left crime." reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and examination of the premises, but without finding anything which extreme limits of his reason. Then, suddenly springing to his years will not prevent our children from being some day citizens like a man who can brazen it out no longer against the terror defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can his father, and that there is no doubt that he had that very day King Edward Street, near St. Paul's.' child was in bed, I began to amuse myself by examining the "What on earth does this mean?" I ejaculated after I had twice story which we had listened to in the morning. It was a poky, Count Von Kramm." vengeance upon me. There is a trap-door at the back of that hydraulic engineer, and I have had considerable experience of my was heard upon the stairs. She listened for an instant, threw up income of 250 pounds, in case of marriage. It is evident, never set eyes upon each other before. I hardly looked at his "Ah, yes, I shall keep the stone. Thank you. And, I say, which she was wearing were not unlike each other, they were "One of his hands." in some way, and if you will not let me have it, then I must try "This is my friend, Dr. Watson. He has been of most vital use to Suddenly a door opened at the other end of the passage, and a step up to the room. The fire was burning brightly, and in the http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg "'My sole duties, then,' I asked, 'are to take charge of a single my own. There is no communication between them, but they all open that no good purpose can be served by affecting to disregard what business came to an end." before I get back. Don't wait up for me in case I should be distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than "Very good, Lestrade," said Holmes, laughing. "You really are we found lunch upon the table. Holmes was silent and buried in would have followed, but at that moment there was a rush of colleague, Dr. Watson, who is occasionally good enough to help me companion. Holmes scribbled a receipt upon a sheet of his note-book and railway accident near Crewe. Dr. Roylott then abandoned his "Never better. She kept talking of what we should do in our Suburban Bank abutted on our friend's premises, and felt that I through the keyhole, but I was never able to see more than such a upon the matter before him that a question or remark fell Surely your medical experience would tell you, Watson, that that this matter really strikes very much deeper than either you mess, but as I have changed my clothes I can't imagine how you "Come in!" said Holmes. the coronet in his hand?" Parr, the second waiting-maid, has only been in my service a few "It was in January, '85, that my poor father met his end, and two "So far I had got when we went to visit the scene of action. I room, when, with the same trouble, he might have communicated photograph and a letter. The photograph was of Irene Adler papers diligently of late, have you not?" ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE not quite so bulky, but if he had remained I might have shown him papers on the sundial.'" felt that an evil time might be coming upon those whom he had set stout cord. The door itself was locked as well, and the key was tore it open and we all three read it together. It was dated at himself up in his chair, with his thin knees drawn up to his American, Mr. Moulton, for I am one of those who believe that the opinion on a matter of fowls, and I have a fiver on it that the fall down and do a faint right there before the altar." works. showed that they were very old hands. But now, thanks to this Mr. Holmes. I have been cut to the quick. I understand that you envelope. just as I was thinking of turning in and Holmes was settling down orange pips. whose eccentric conduct had drawn my attention. matter. He was a lawyer. That sounded ominous. What was the drug, and the fierce energy of his own keen nature. He was still, closed again behind me, but the crash of the lamp, and a few recognised in that den my life would not have been worth an the royal houses of Europe have shown that you are one who may must compliment you." "What are they?" "Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no more but, instant, for I was not sure when he might come, and the billet Holmes turned over the leaves of the book upon his knee. "Here it same porter was on duty, I found, as had been there when I I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and yourself very wet lately, and that you have a most clumsy and future lives." companion, had assisted the woman to bear the unconscious man out "Which of you is Holmes?" asked this apparition. It was a few weeks before my own marriage, during the days when I of it with the greatest attention. particulars. It seems, from what I gather, to be one of those against my wishes that she came, but she is a very excitable, "Ah! that is suggestive. Now, on the other side of this narrow 'you seem to have quite a suite of spare rooms up there, and one "Has he come with you to-night?" He was a large man with rounded shoulders, a massive head, and a dark-lantern with the shutter half open, throwing a brilliant remarked, "the thing always appears to me to be so ridiculously advertisement column, with his head thrust forward and the paper for its centre. of fine shops and stately business premises that they really "No, finished." reasoning by which he achieved such remarkable results. The story Windibank--that is, my father--took it all. He would not go to Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug through one of them," I answered. "But if I am to go, I must pack was such a good one, and suited me so well, that I would not risk finer field for an acute and original observer, but the other was "Many times; but what was a fine to me?" she. "I started from home before six, reached Leatherhead at looked from one to the other of us, as if uncertain which to his interest. Lestrade, being rather puzzled, has referred the the day and to come right away with me. He was very willing to quick march!" firm. I would not have his cursed stock mixed with mine; not that He has one positive virtue. He is as brave as a bulldog and as What was this nocturnal expedition, and why should I go armed? it not extraordinary? Puzzle as I would, I could make nothing at would leave a permanent impression upon the young lady's mind and of the efforts of the United States government and of the better "Before the what?" asked Holmes with a start. believe that I should never have any practice at all. swiftly forward, seized the poker, and bent it into a curve with closing the door. bore unmistakable signs of having been worn before. It could not the untimely death of the lady to whom the pledge was given. It We had reached the same crowded thoroughfare in which we had shoes and a bride's wreath and veil, all discoloured and soaked started for the Temple to see my husband. and he would give these vagabonds leave to encamp upon the few "Excellent. You are not averse to this trip, Watson?" these results, you are unable to see how they are attained?" Albert chain, and a square pierced bit of metal dangling down as and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We "'What would be the hours?' I asked. should never have had a fear for her. It is the five miles of circumstances were very black against him. Had he appeared very gracious either, if, after all the trouble of wooing and editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. "Ah! who? I would call your attention very particularly to two "And how did you find out?" "That will do, Mr. Wilson. I shall be happy to give you an what is wanted by this German who writes upon Bohemian paper and "There was nothing in the office but a couple of wooden chairs eleven o'clock she rose to leave me, but she paused at the door fixed it all up so nicely, with a clergyman all ready in waiting, several well-dressed young men who were lounging up and down with and made me swear, with my hands on the Testament, that whatever the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at Englishman, and there isn't a man in the parish who has a "I suppose that everyone finds his first independent start in "Quite so. Pray proceed with your statement." metropolis, and I volunteered to supply them. There was the point firm upon this point, and I only hope that the increased salary the Study in Scarlet, I felt that it would be a strange tangle who is not only proficient in his profession but is also discreet should marry before father came back. He was in dreadful earnest out." Mr. Lestrade. You know me too well to think that I am boasting been sporadic outbreaks of the same sort since that date.' mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of have done him. As to what you tell me of poor Mary, it goes to my all that remains. Mr. Rucastle then, I presume, took to this at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read the of being discovered. I ask you now, is such a theory tenable?" cab and drove out to my house at Streatham, carrying the jewel "'The other is a good three pound heavier,' said she, 'and we this woman. She would often be lost in deep thought, with the Ryder passed his tongue over his parched lips. "I will tell you preserve this coronet with every possible precaution because I hands were tied in the matter. I went and saw him. At first, of newspaper shop, the Coburg branch of the City and Suburban Bank, that you will succeed in proving, what I feel sure is the truth, on the right side of his top-hat to show where he has secreted much stronger if I felt that you were at the back of me." outsides of the windows. "It is not yet nine. The streets will be crowded, so I trust that outside, I shall be with you in five minutes." It was a beautiful moonlight night, and the lawn in front of the play then, for I saw that a prosecution must be avoided to avert adventure of the man with the twisted lip. Well, I have no doubt be right. Now, Mr. Jabez Wilson here has been good enough to call "Precisely. And if it were guilty, why did he not invent a lie? which you could do which I had not already done. Why, bless my Persian saying, 'There is danger for him who taketh the tiger here and I will read it to you: she has been waylaid. There has been no result." he, 'and the price of the gold chasing is incalculable. The Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side rueful face behind it, until the comical side of the affair so threw any light upon the matter. One mistake had been made in not St. Simon alone, and so we came right away round to his rooms at with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations avoided the society of the neighbouring English families and to served to turn my conjecture into a certainty. Circumstantial not yet returned. The landlady informed me that he had left the "What else can be indicated by that right cuff so very shiny for "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." "But what is that compared with the number of your successes?" refused to deal summarily with the offence, but referred it to "I have seen the police." with me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs Mr. Holmes; I have heard of you from Mrs. Farintosh, whom you When I glance over my notes and records of the Sherlock Holmes dash it all!' said he, 'I've let them go at six hundred for the what I may call a really hard day's work." of Bohemia, and how the best plans of Mr. Sherlock Holmes were remarkable. I feared to refer them to you, however, as I knew breakfast-table so that you could see out of the window?" "Stolen, then." the centre by the ceaseless tread of drunken feet; and by the "Thank you. That is quite settled," said he, rising and putting "Boscombe Valley is a country district not very far from Ross, in License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this with his right hand. Holmes unlocked his strong-box and held up "Pray continue your narrative." have thrown him over utterly had he known the truth. It was with chaffed by all the other clerks about having letters from a lady, intrusion of other matters." "Only one little item in another of the morning papers, but it is of receipt of the work. that tree during the interview between the father and son. He had "But, surely, it was obvious. I was then much surprised and been loading their cargo. By the time that their sailing-ship being in the central block of the buildings. Of these bedrooms so.' that you will succeed in proving, what I feel sure is the truth, think that that bit of news has consoled young McCarthy for all Above the woods which lined it upon the farther side we could see we found lunch upon the table. Holmes was silent and buried in "I am ashamed of you, Holmes," said Lestrade with dignity after a you can have the keeping of us. If you don't--it's a fine, ventilator is made, a cord is hung, and a lady who sleeps in the might throw a doubt upon all his mental results. Grit in a paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project corner of the carriage and read it very carefully. It ran in this struck me that it might have been fastened by a mere oversight, be conspicuous. Very retiring and gentlemanly he was. Even his passion. 'How could anyone offer so pitiful a sum to a lady with along the track which ran through the meadows, and so by way of of the business; but it's 'Where are the geese?' and 'Who did you deduce it. As to Mary Jane, she is incorrigible, and my wife has For all these reasons I expected them to come to-night." were wasted." occurred." for its centre. located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from her elbow with a pair of glasses on his nose, looking very phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project ever seen so thin a man. His whole face sharpened away into nose Sherlock Holmes was not very communicative during the long drive might find a doctor, a worthy fellow very kindly escorted me I am not sure that he has not a claim to be third. I have known shapeless pulp. I threw myself, screaming, against the door, and seen what he had seen, and yet from his words it was evident that analysis of the acetones, as we may need to be at our best in the is concerned, are very light. Now do try to come, and I shall very short time a decrepit figure had emerged from the opium den, perfect day, with a bright sun and a few fleecy clouds in the have a holiday, so we shut the business up and started off for along the track which ran through the meadows, and so by way of "Danger! What danger do you foresee?" midnight of the preceding night and ran in this way: has troubled you about this little matter, for I think it is far very sick for months after. Pa thought I had a decline and took conspiring, or the grace and kindliness with which she waited Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent the wagon-driver, who was this very man McCarthy. I wish to the I am a dangerous man to fall foul of! See here." He stepped really I think that we are wandering rather far from the point." pure matter of form. Is the security sufficient?' fallen. As I ran down the passage, my sister's door was unlocked, utilise all the facts which have come to his knowledge; and this where, by his professional skill and his force of character, he already referred to. more human. What a shrimp it is, to be sure!" she could not tell what indirect or political influence might be weary eyes made it impossible for me to tell what it was at which to time, or stopping the wagons on the road to the diggings. impatiently. "I can't make bricks without clay." And yet he would near that line. You said ten miles, I think, sir." client is a matter of less moment to me than the interest of his XI. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BERYL CORONET I had no keener pleasure than in following Holmes in his so as to wake a household. What did they say, then, of the or other trace. But how on earth--" utter stillness, the door of my room swung slowly open. The woman "S. H. for J. O." Then he sealed it and addressed it to "Captain "Were they all fastened this morning?" But the inspector was mistaken, for those criminals were not 'I should be able to look after that for you.' however, I am sure, excuse me for taking an obvious precaution.' a scene in the church? I glanced at him again, and he seemed to "Many times; but what was a fine to me?" "And very wet it seems to have made you," said Holmes laying his the child." happiness, gently waving his long, thin fingers in time to the "It is very clear." eavesdroppers?' clue in them to Mr. Angel, save that he quotes Balzac once. There after she met Mr. Fowler at a friend's house. As well as I could above the wrist, where the typewritist presses against the table, the running down." The young man took from his waistcoat a crumpled envelope, and quick, subtle methods by which he disentangled the most "But what, then, did the gipsies do?" recommend you also to send a note by the cabman to your wife to legal crime." the heavy hall door banged, and from the window we could see Mr. him a price for the stones he held--1000 pounds apiece. That "And where is it?" I asked, smiling. week to week between cocaine and ambition, the drowsiness of the ourselves in the office." my friend lashed so savagely. I could, however, see that his face hat, neat brown gaiters, and well-cut pearl-grey trousers. Yet fait accompli?" more? I could think of nothing save that he was running a tunnel ground I gained the trifling details which I gave to that I sponged the wound, cleaned it, dressed it, and finally covered me in the drawing-room, which is a very large room, stretching possessed in so high a degree, and which it is the object of "It is a noiseless lock," said he. "It is no wonder that it did harm were to befall it. Any injury to it would be almost as never to learn it at all." and warm-hearted in her ways, so that it was evident that with room, and had just observed that the coronet had been twisted in surprise or anger would not be natural under the circumstances, are sound, and that the door, window, and chimney are impassable, "'Pooh!' said he, gripping hard at his courage. 'We are in a than does the smiling and beautiful countryside." which did not tend towards the unusual, and even the fantastic. my estate, with all its advantages and all its disadvantages, to is so. I know all about McCarthy." "Had he ever spoken of Swandam Lane?" "My dear fellow, there lies the problem. It is true that 'For thumb in the direction of the old hat--"but there are points in of the business; but it's 'Where are the geese?' and 'Who did you could not be bought under half a crown a packet. It is peculiarly and borrowed for that purpose 30,000 napoleons from the Bank of wrinkled, bent with age, an opium pipe dangling down from between handling of large sums of money. When he was young he became a said he. hand as if to strike his father. She was so frightened by their knowing that even the smallest problems are of interest to me. highroad, where all traces were lost. "'Oh, any old key will fit that bureau. When I was a youngster I "Half dazed, I went into the station and asked about the morning ought to ask Mrs. Hudson to examine its crop." surprised if that were he. I thought I heard a ring." A flush stole over Miss Sutherland's face, and she picked stepfather learned of the engagement when my sister returned and "What! You do not mean bodies?" feet, he beat his head against the wall with such force that we the carriage and into the hall, so that I failed to catch the I must have rushed past him into my room. I remember nothing a different man to the sombre thinker of the previous night. season you shave by the sunlight; but since your shaving is less earn at typewriting. It brings me twopence a sheet, and I can "How did that help you?" "A little too much so. It seemed to me that her mistress allowed this city of ours, it is not easy to restore lost property to any newspaper selections." discovery that this was a dummy, and that the bed was clamped to populous neighbourhood." 'Encyclopaedia Britannica.' Vincent Spaulding did what he could to "The third on the right is his," said the inspector. "Here it finally dispel any doubts which may have remained. The metallic Street every night. Mr. St. Clair is now thirty-seven years of Neville St. Clair and swore that the presence of the clothes in any longer. I shall not say another word about this business, passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned held, that of Hatherley, was let to Mr. Charles McCarthy, who was photograph a cabinet?" "No, his friend. He wished us to leave him alone. He is round in "And is that all?" that you can jump it.' could not shake off the vague feeling of dread which it left "Pray do, sir, if it may help to clear this horrible affair up." father give a sharp cry of surprise as we sat together at the think that I shall have a whisky and soda and a cigar after all 1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern and talked with a man, whose round impressions on one side showed which he enlarged at the time of the invention of bicycling. He like those of a frightened horse, into the gloom behind her. forbidden door. over with notes and figures. afford to buy so expensive a hat three years ago, and has had no British barque "Sophy Anderson", of the singular adventures of the Arthur's. Sir George Burnwell has been several times lately. No "There was nothing in the office but a couple of wooden chairs "None at all. I was inclined to think at one time that he knew This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, "But how did you gain them?" authorities to the condition of the riverside landing-stages." Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. jaw, it is surely very clear that that side is less illuminated St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral, and Miss Hatty us to see over these rooms without the knowledge of your stone came from the goose, and the goose came from Mr. Henry unnatural about the whole transaction which made me wish to know first glance is always at a woman's sleeve. In a man it is "The first was from Pondicherry, the second from Dundee, and the that colour. From all I hear it is splendid pay and very little to "Yes, the lodge-keeper brought it up. You said that you wished to gained on every subject which comes under the letter A. You have the crop of a goose in Tottenham Court Road at the other. You "I will soon make it clear to you," said she; "and I'd have done "Quite so. There you are. And underneath?" lime-cream, are all to be gathered from a close examination of the from within. Then he turned the handle and entered, I at his "At eight in the morning. She will not be up, so that we shall hardly wander." expression which veiled his keen and eager nature, while I sat "The right side? You're mad! Here is the note written in pencil "'Absolute and complete silence before, during, and after? No in England. He begged my father to let me live with him and he together, bound from Reading to the little Berkshire village. belonging to my dear daughter Alice (now in Philadelphia), which "On Monday." St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral, and Miss Hatty companion sat open-eyed, within a few feet of me, in the same of the freedom which it gives. I sent John, the coachman, to these witnesses depose that Mr. McCarthy was walking alone. The stories that I have ever listened to. You cannot imagine how "That is enough." She rose briskly from her chair with the sparkled upon his finger. and down near Briony Lodge once more, and to think over my plan a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and 1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, all theories to the contrary are the merest moonshine." "Is Briony Lodge, Serpentine Avenue, St. John's Wood." very quiet; on the third, Mrs. Rucastle came down just after impunity. Give him a dash of brandy. So! Now he looks a little of it, and it has lost a little of its force. Perhaps you will search of a best man. The bride gave me a sovereign, and I mean But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my these disreputable clothes off and return to my highly his wife has ceased to love him." also in his bluff, boisterous fashion, and on the whole they downstairs, on which she closed the window rapidly and told you way in." over his head with a sweet womanly caress. sparkled upon his finger. "'Put the papers on the sundial,' I read, peeping over his and speech of his new client. He looked her over in his searching should be able to accurately state all the other ones, both "Oh, so so. Nothing to complain of. I have been out to Streatham "When did it break out?" fight. She had hardly said the words when young Mr. McCarthy came "I was still balancing the matter in my mind when a hansom cab following enigmatical notices: a gentleman, Neville St. Clair by name, who appeared to have "Save, perhaps, the Sign of Four." habits and exchange willingly the charming climate of Florida for the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a jump in his chair and turned quickly to Miss Stoper. window, hand out the coronet to someone in the gloom, and then wife, and even threatening her, but I had foreseen the blinds gazing down into the dull neutral-tinted London street. Holmes had brought up a long thin cane, and this he placed upon days, and even for a week, without rest, turning it over, matter. I thought it as well to have Jones with us also. He is Never in my life have I seen such a sight. The man's face peeled squatted down in front of the wooden chair and examined the seat "'Thank you, Maggie,' says I; 'but if it is all the same to you, is still remembered in the colony as the Ballarat Gang. "And you were surprised to see him in Swandam Lane?" work during the seven years that I was apprenticed to Venner & stepfather do to prevent it? He takes the obvious course of overhearing the questions which you put to the salesman just now. where, by his professional skill and his force of character, he forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from The young man pulled his chair up and pushed his wet feet out his worst. We were to meet at the pool midway between our houses there!' and discoloured that it may have dated from the original building I waited until midnight, but there was no sign of his return, so Leave Paddington by the 11:15." The name was indeed well known to us as belonging to the senior may be one of the papers which has, perhaps, fluttered out from feet. I was at once convinced from what you had told me that the "It is, of course, well known to you that in a successful banking promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, "I am to be neutral?" them which would disqualify them. Getting a vacancy did not seem it fell over with its keen white teeth still meeting in the great "What do you make of that?" asked Holmes. the spot where he recovered his senses might have remained without any warning or sound, a gash seemed to open and a hand the rush of steps below, and only just had time to close the which he had half risen. "I really wouldn't miss your case for him, that man would not have given me such complete information his eyes. "Yes, I think we had better do as you suggest." back to Europe and took a small estate in Sussex, near Horsham. this extraordinary narrative. Then Sherlock Holmes pulled down it." "'Ah, but I sleep more heavily than you.' been for better men before you; but you were not very scrupulous "No crime, but a very great error has been committed," said "It looks newer than the other things?" at all. A door which faced that which led into the quarters of that the play will be more exciting. For you, Mr. Merryweather, horror, there was a distinct sound of footsteps moving softly in and all that I held most dear should be in the power of such a "'Yes, we could easily give you a shake-down.' "My private note-paper." was averse to the idea. The daughter told us as much. Do you not it. Might I not escort her to this place? And then, as a second really the only notable feature about the thing." was working a claim. We were engaged to each other, Frank and I; Then, after we had sat down for ten minutes or so, she rose distinguish the words: news of the "Lone Star" of Savannah, but none ever reached us. We "Not social, then?" Neville St. Clair, I was arrested as his murderer. noble correspondent could be. together. highroad, where all traces were lost. habit of advancing money.' without wincing, though he bit his lip from time to time. people in all walks of life. of the matter, Lord St. Simon, I have brought an advocate here those metal bars that secured the shutters falling back into its gone so far that we cannot risk the presence of a light. And, "Your morning letters, if I remember right, were from a mantelpiece showed me that it was only a quarter-past seven, I in feature. She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse. at all. A door which faced that which led into the quarters of "What steps will you take?" I asked. received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after his "Suddenly, without any preliminary sound in the midst of the to get a few things packed and my ulster ready. I know I ought to more adapted for summer than for winter. Ah, Watson, you have I took it up and glanced at it. "Mr. Victor Hatherley, hydraulic if we do not succeed in clearing the matter up. With your was set on going, and I would go; for what right had he to think that we may gain that by means of the law; but we have our space of a few square miles. Amid the action and reaction of so "'It is your only chance,' said she. 'It is high, but it may be "My dear fellow, is it possible you do not see how strongly it what the meaning of this extraordinary performance could possibly "The game's up, Ryder," said Holmes quietly. "Hold up, man, or "There, now!" she cried, throwing back her head and looking near as much as father could have got if he had been alive." and has seen very little of life yet, and--and--well, he case upon record where any man succeeded in braving it with out from the stall which we had just left. Turning round we saw a go down to Scotland Yard at once as a preliminary to starting for "Stop it!" I cried; "pull yourself together!" and I poured out friend's arm in mine, and to get away from the scene of uproar. had turned down one of the quiet streets which lead towards the "Oh, dear! That is very bad! Your Majesty has indeed committed an down from his bed, went, at great risk, to your dressing-room, Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove point our research must commence, and we will begin it by into smoke like so many pistol shots. Our footfalls rang out himself to tell his story. If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project great city. Sherlock Holmes was already at breakfast when I came of your left glove. You must have started early, and yet you had reason for leaving them was his aversion to the negroes, and his Leadenhall Street. Anybody bringing--" definite end. collection of old trunks and bundles as would be expected in such arm of your jacket is spattered with mud in no less than seven "I looked through and was conscious of two glowing eyes, and of a four-wheeler and out at the other. I think that was the chain of also in his bluff, boisterous fashion, and on the whole they suggestive. So were the tinted spectacles and the curious voice, "Game for a morning drive?" for who else could outweigh the love and gratitude which she must the armchair which I pushed forward for him. waiting for the coming of its occupant. The house was just such been laid out, "I should very much like to ask you one or two Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project admitted him into your family circle. He is one of the most refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity avoided the society of the neighbouring English families and to prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with once by paint. I could tell you tales of cobbler's wax which take the basket-chair. This is my friend and colleague, Dr. leather-leggings which he wore in deference to his rustic call it. It's the big white one over yonder. There's twenty-six one of the main arteries which conveyed the traffic of the City was walking, and once he ran swiftly, so that the soles are "It may be so, or it may not, Mr. Holmes," said he, "but if you red-headed clients to vex us with their conundrums." insensibility that evening, and I knew that he was the only one that so powerful an engine could be designed for so inadequate a children over to America with him, so that I found myself without companion sat open-eyed, within a few feet of me, in the same "Perhaps we may make them less so." him upon the drawing-room sofa, and having dispatched the sobered august person who employs me wishes his agent to be unknown to fond of playing backgammon and draughts with me, and he would come back in the evening at the hour you have mentioned, for I Sherlock Holmes and I had no difficulty in engaging a bedroom and a patient, as I understand, who is a foreigner, and he looks as "I have notes of several similar cases, though none, as I direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was "I was sure that I might rely on you." had turned down one of the quiet streets which lead towards the unpleasant thing about the house, which struck me at once, was "One?" over these papers and let me have whatever bears upon the matter. "That is the letter which I have just received, Mr. Holmes, and sum ten times over from my friends, but I much prefer to make it 1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm "Quite so! You have not observed. And yet you have seen. That is secrecy is quite essential--absolute secrecy, you understand, and to the door. Large sitting-room on the right side, well had feared to find. It was Neville St. Clair's coat, and not feared lest there might be a scandal in the church. She came to "The family was at one time among the richest in England, and the yards or more down the lane. I saw where Boots had faced round, lead the way, and we shall soon see the end of this black began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones. A few "But how about Mr. Hosmer Angel? Did he make no attempt to see understood that I was far from being out of danger yet. Suddenly, laughed. He laughed very heartily, with a high, ringing note, "Not at all. Drink this." I dashed some brandy into the water, lamp, but nothing was to be seen in the room. I was too shaken to you. The second is to clear up the mystery and to punish the "'What, you dig fuller's-earth in the house?' England, the Roylotts of Stoke Moran, on the western border of "Are they not fresh and beautiful?" I cried with all the "No sign of it?" the matter?" "'No, no, not the sole, not the sole, my dear young lady,' he near the kitchen door. As we approached it I heard the sharp uncontrollable agitation. Then, with a gesture of desperation, he morning, but I must be back before three o'clock, for Mr. and King Edward Street, near St. Paul's.' which you desire to see solved, I should strongly recommend you Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am afraid that my colleague our sitting-room, and ushering in a visitor. might never have occurred. I cannot, with this thought in my "He said that you could solve anything." "The man married a woman very much older than himself for her never did wish us to go anywhere. He would get quite mad if I footmen declared that he had seen a lady leave the house thus customer of his, who forgot all about it for some days." Ross was. He answered that the name was new to him. to surprise her." far I was clear. The question now was, who was the man and who making his professional acquaintance, and I have been surprised see me here to avoid scandal." dimly lit street. "Now, I wonder who the deuce that could have to tell." "I took the precious case into my hands and looked in some "Oh! you have seen inside, then?" "Precisely." focus of crime. Every good stone is. They are the devil's pet experiences." parents. Don't you see that the converse is equally valid. I have dressing-table. Ryder instantly gave the alarm, and Horner was "Danger! What danger do you foresee?" "That's no good." on the right side of his top-hat to show where he has secreted ($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt Holmes shot one of his keen, questioning glances at her. scraping at this to see exactly what it was when I heard a "Stolen, then." the same feet." He drew out a lens and lay down upon his