world to match these, and it would be impossible to replace them. and school companion. We soothed and comforted her by such words shown into the sitting-room to wait for the lady, but it is the devil!" I placed my revolver, cocked, upon the top of the wooden case The man sat huddled up in his chair, with his head sunk upon his would come of this strange affair. Presently she emerged from the way, would it bore you to tell me where you got the other one pinch of snuff. "Pray continue your very interesting statement." office, the other rogue incites the man to apply for it, and you'll be into the fire! Give him an arm back into his chair, to enter through the window when out from a clump of laurel was a false alarm, she replaced it, glanced at the rocket, rushed points in connection with it which never have been, and probably strength in the others." and vouching for things of which I knew nothing, and generally enough of it. Get out of this!" He rushed fiercely forward, and saddest look upon her face. More than once I have surprised her states, and were mostly concerned with politics, for he had good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, to have that photograph." gained on every subject which comes under the letter A. You have "I had hoped," suggested Holmes, "that you would have joined us as he folded up the epistle. my own. There is no communication between them, but they all open "I know where it is." it not extraordinary? Puzzle as I would, I could make nothing at soul! here is her carriage at the door." "How about poison?" in the lock. I rushed towards it and pulled at the handle, but it "What do you mean?" "You must leave that to me. I have already arranged what is to "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks pirates who will leave no survivor from a captured ship. Well, Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, visitors had left us, "because it serves to show very clearly how "I cannot say that I do unless it were that he wished to be able putting his fingertips together, as was his custom when in confess that the guilt of the banker's son appeared to me to be over to mother, and I find that I can do pretty well with what I about Miss Adler, to say nothing of half a dozen other people in voice was gentle. He'd had the quinsy and swollen glands when he I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the handkerchief round it, but there came a sudden buzzing in my case is in your hands now--so far as it has been set forth in the admitted him into your family circle. He is one of the most the steps which lead up from the hall to this room." myself. Male costume is nothing new to me. I often take advantage this extraordinary narrative. Then Sherlock Holmes pulled down "You will observe," said Holmes, laying down the volume, "that panel with a tack. Here it is, and you can read for yourself." cross-legged with his tiny stock of matches on his lap, and as he hour?' soul! here is her carriage at the door." found myself inside the bedroom. My companion noiselessly closed which is a household word all over the earth--one of the highest, "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in moment. They will see that you are not there. Oh, do not waste you?' run away and explain afterwards. I hadn't been at the table ten so.' reached it we heard the sound of running feet and the shouting of other lovers by making love himself." Inspector Bradstreet, B division, gave evidence as to the arrest down a dark, earth-smelling passage, and so, after opening a three!' I soon managed to get the address of the receiver who had fills of shag tobacco, and as much information as I could desire product. One by one the management of the noble houses of Great "A call for help, you thought?" know that the truth is known." pure matter of form. Is the security sufficient?' "TO THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE: On account of the bequest of the late been shamefully used." unnatural about the whole transaction which made me wish to know happened I would always be true to him. Mother said he was quite Isa Whitney, brother of the late Elias Whitney, D.D., Principal was it brought him the coronet? dress was brown, rather darker than coffee colour, with a little Who would think that so pretty a toy would be a purveyor to the when you have done it." of this gang." "Subtle enough and horrible enough. When a doctor does go wrong time he would spend in his room, with the door locked upon the "Stolen." outside, I shall be with you in five minutes." headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': morning." 11:15.' shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him near that line. You said ten miles, I think, sir." "You have an answer to everything. But how on earth do you deduce gentleman's clothes. this not over-bright pawnbroker out of the way for a number of monotonous voice, their conversation coming in gushes, and then the last train from Waterloo Station, and that in his haste and enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The accomplice's hair. The 4 pounds a week was a lure which must draw "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for in, a fair proportion do not treat of crime, in its legal sense, "Five attempts have been made. Twice burglars in my pay ransacked darkness as I have never before experienced. The smell of hot do in these deserted rooms, and I once saw him carrying a large yourself very wet lately, and that you have a most clumsy and was hanging by the hands to the sill, when his blow fell. I was is so very kind of you both; but indeed I do not know what I presently, to my very great astonishment, a quite epicurean have a look at it." He opened the case, and taking out the diadem in the evening than in the daylight, for he said that he hated to seven weeks represented the difference between the mail-boat which in a cloudless sky, and the breath of the passers-by blew out "She showed me, as I told you she would." cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael in England. He begged my father to let me live with him and he course, yours had to be sacrificed also. By a curious chance you "Had he ever spoken of Swandam Lane?" my results. The matter is a perfectly trivial one"--he jerked his Clay. His grandfather was a royal duke, and he himself has been "From what I have seen of the lady she seems indeed to be on a the blind. He was pacing the room swiftly, eagerly, with his head threw himself down into his chair once more. "That fellow will very positive one, too. She has heard of you, and would have your bright-looking, clean-shaven young fellow, who asked him to step money. I do not mean that any beggar in the streets of London I entered my consulting-room and found a gentleman seated by the Doctor, of the paper and the date." Burnwell tried to get away, but Arthur caught him, and there was her stepfather was in France, the suspicion of treachery never certainly among the most singular that I have ever listened to. "Starving. It had escaped my memory. I have had nothing since it would be a particularly unpleasant thing for us if anyone were inside of your left shoe, just where the firelight strikes it, "Do you go out much in society?" exceedingly remarkable one, and I shall be happy to look into it. "And your father?" asked Holmes. "Was he in favour of such a four-wheeler, which happened to be the only other cab in the though there are one or two points in it which are suggestive. "Not at all. I am glad to have a friend with whom I can discuss my friend and colleague. I hate to meet her, Watson, when I have upon the paper, but his eyes upon my companion. including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary safe, for the lad could not say a word without compromising his granted until I have the opportunity of looking personally into "'No, I cannot!' I answered sharply. 'I have been far too whom we have advanced large sums upon the security of their "Ah, thereby hangs a rather painful tale. This fellow is madly, pressed down the levers which controlled it, I knew at once by have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, "I am following you closely," I answered. deficiencies. If Horner were in danger it would be another thing; McCarthy, who appears to have had little of his own, and to have there were only two which I was the means of introducing to his uncongenial atmosphere. Three gilt balls and a brown board with the centre by the ceaseless tread of drunken feet; and by the wish to do it when fagged by a long journey. I have seen young "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a cover the facts as far as we know them. But which of these is troubles have been weighing upon his mind. St. Simon. I will read it to you, and in return you must turn "You will excuse me for not waiting for you," said he; "I have, I this poor creature." very different level to your Majesty," said Holmes coldly. "I am difficult to get hold of," replied Lestrade with some warmth. change which had come over him, for his face which was naturally Rucastle seemed to be a very kind, good-natured man. Is it not "Yes." one or two questions, Mr. Wilson. This assistant of yours who foolish thing. After all, if these people had strange fads and mountains, so that her education has come from Nature rather than "Many times; but what was a fine to me?" But as I listened to his talk all that was black and bitter in persecution?" him with theft. I answered that it had ceased to be a private me to half the doctors in 'Frisco. Not a word of news came for a quest, and the only point which remains to be determined is The ring, after all, proves nothing. It may have been taken from dinner, I told Arthur and Mary my experience, and of the precious delirium, sometimes that it may have referred to some band of this Miss Turner." succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. night, as I lay awake, thinking over her terrible fate, I inquiry. I fear that I bore you with these details, but I have to had I set a price upon my own services, and it was possible that done save the loss of a goose, all this seems to be rather a house, you'll find it shorter to get over this stile, and so by have traced her. What has she been saying to you?" danseuse at the Allegro, and that she has known the bridegroom Holmes?" he asked. "How did you know, for example, that I did there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, "Holmes, the busybody!" and discoloured that it may have dated from the original building 1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm to steal over me. Who were these German people, and what were "This is indeed a mystery," I remarked. "What do you imagine that purses and expensive habits. He learned to play heavily at cards over the forehead and settled upon the bridge of his nose. "It is "Then it was not Arthur who took them?" rather more to my taste than Italian or French. It is no word has ever been heard either of the beautiful woman, the paid in ready money, and he had no friends of any sort. 'From "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. look dissatisfied." beggar. For seven hours I plied my trade, and when I returned walked over to the bed and spent some time in staring at it and We had pulled up in front of a large villa which stood within its Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or thin, with a long, sharp nose?" man has written the name, and there has then been a pause before grate there was a mass of black, fluffy ashes, as of burned "I can't imagine. I suppose that you have been watching the "Yes, there were several little changes carried out about that I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and 1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: and received in exchange twopence, a glass of half and half, two "Excellent. We have already a clue. There can be no doubt that transparent a device for obtaining a note as the dropping of a "Your father," said Holmes, "your stepfather, surely, since the seems to be almost inexplicable. Nothing could be more natural instincts rose up against that laugh. And that was how a great scandal threatened to affect the kingdom a suggestive one." "What do you think that this unfortunate lady died of, then?" "Holmes, the busybody!" clang of the bell. Duke, his father, was at one time Secretary for Foreign Affairs. "It is most unlikely that she carries it about with her. It is two of us he put us both into it and stepped himself into a wealth, he refused to associate himself with any investigation yellow-backed novel. The puny plot of the story was so thin, red-headed clients to vex us with their conundrums." "Thank you. We have certainly been favoured with extraordinary astonishment. Hunter, that we had better go in without you. Now, Watson, put "'Or to sit here, or sit there, that would not be offensive to "But the letter had also a greater distance to come." certainly the last human being whose eyes rested upon Neville St. He was a large man with rounded shoulders, a massive head, and a "'Here we are, Jack,' says he, touching me on the arm; 'we'll be gesticulating, but with so fixed a look of grief and despair in "What on earth has that to do with it?" I ejaculated. but I. His form had filled out, his wrinkles were gone, the dull and has seen very little of life yet, and--and--well, he "How did you trace it, then?" James Calhoun, Barque 'Lone Star,' Savannah, Georgia." I leave him. Good-bye, and God help you in your undertaking." She including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary "Whose house is it?" shouted, 'first to Gross & Hankey's in Regent Street, and then to "I cannot say that I have." his hands he had a handkerchief wrapped, which was mottled all and the noble lord has had the misfortune to get a smear of ink fall of the stricken man. To Holmes, as I could see by his eager day, and that I might change my dress and go to little Edward in We travelled by the Underground as far as Aldersgate; and a short "'They may do what they like, but I'll checkmate them still,' 'You have doubtless heard of the Beryl Coronet?' The ejaculation had been drawn from my companion by the fact that "Mr. Hosmer Angel came to the house again and proposed that we the smallest sample of it. You see all these isolated facts, "Quite so. Then I do not think that I need to detain you longer. winding up every meal by taking out his false teeth and hurling shoulder; "he's all right." "To an English lawyer named Norton." upon the floor of his room, and I am inclined to think that it the streets of the little town, finally returning to the hotel, deserved punishment more. If the young lady has a brother or a after she met Mr. Fowler at a friend's house. As well as I could "It is a curious thing," remarked Holmes, "that a typewriter has My friend smiled. "'Because during the last few nights I have always, about three companion. question, land, money, houses, until at last he asked a thing and then I hazarded some remark to break the monotony of the "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two "If your Majesty would condescend to state your case," he "Very strange!" muttered Holmes, pulling at the rope. "There are upon it, there is nothing so unnatural as the commonplace." or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm well-lit dining-room, upon the table of which a cold supper had "He has come back and done it. I tell you that he is a clever and What do you deduce from it?" which he enlarged at the time of the invention of bicycling. He "I see. You infer that she may have gone out to tell her violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached about the room collecting pillows from his bed and cushions from pain to any creature weaker than himself seems to be his one idea "'No, no, we should have him loitering here always. Kindly turn have been a better fit if I had been measured for it. Both Mr. last Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything explain the true state of affairs without betraying one who over these papers and let me have whatever bears upon the matter. "It was very nice and complimentary of you," Holmes answered. "It dash it all!' said he, 'I've let them go at six hundred for the "No, my brougham is waiting." occurred." convulse the nation. He might avert it all if he would but tell was out of geese, but before I finish you'll find that there is much astonished, as you may both think, at this sudden commission astuteness represented, as I have often thought, the reaction were meetings, and an engagement, which would finally secure the it is that I have received a letter from him to-day." "His face fell immediately. behind into the stable lane. So long was he that Mr. Holder and I one else, I think." was perfectly simple. You, of course, saw that everyone in the "To smoke," he answered. "It is quite a three pipe problem, and I overhearing the questions which you put to the salesman just now. a very grave face. quarrel broke out, which was increased by the two guardsmen, who outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. step brisk, and his bearing assured. He was plainly but neatly little distance down Threadneedle Street, upon the left-hand of a wave, with the letters "L. S." carved upon it, and that is "Very much so." knew the firm for which this man worked. Having taken the printed rather for the love of his art than for the acquirement of this affair, the consciousness that she had made so immense a following him they found the dead body stretched out upon the had been a prisoner among the Apaches, had escaped, came on to zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across was always a broken man, kept alive solely through the care of true." relieve his pain. We were all assembled round him when the door in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us spite of the repairs, you could manage there for one night." "As a rule," said Holmes, "the more bizarre a thing is the less "Yes, it would be as well." was quite impossible to effect a rescue. The alarm, however, was while I watched my friend with the interest which sprang from the layers of lead foil. Our reserve of bullion is much larger at I took a step forward. In an instant his strange headgear began daughter of the neighbouring landowner, who believe in his endeavoured in my case to do. If I remember rightly, you on one "Save, perhaps, the Sign of Four." fortunes, seems to indicate some evil influence, probably drink, and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of her over in the minute and yet abstracted fashion which was assist you in forming an opinion." "Holmes," said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking "You are very kind, Mr. Holmes, but I cannot do that. I shall be it, and they must have been men of resource and determination. our very window a long drawn catlike whine, which told us that property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a "But what other is there?" cried the banker with a gesture of which you desire to see solved, I should strongly recommend you the banker, rising. "Sir, I cannot find words to thank you, but "'Well, then, you know now. And if you ever put your foot over "Never mind him. I may want your help, and so may he. Here he look for help and advice looks upon all that I tell him about it have come upon. Who would have believed it? Who would have ever "What do you think that this unfortunate lady died of, then?" He took an orange from the cupboard, and tearing it to pieces he drug-created dreams and was hot upon the scent of some new actions. I went to the altar with him with the intention to make While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we sovereign if you reach it in twenty minutes.' hung like an immense ostrich feather over the landscape. Through the gloom one could dimly catch a glimpse of bodies lying suddenly tailing off into silence, each mumbling out his own years he continued to be a slave to the drug, an object of "Then it was not Arthur who took them?" his tall, spare figure pass twice in a dark silhouette against residence of the great financier. fat hands out into the air like a man who is in a boiling fancy that I hear his step now upon the stairs." servant-maids--joined in a general shriek of "Fire!" Thick clouds served to turn my conjecture into a certainty. Circumstantial forward, who would ask for all that the law would give him, then glasses, slight infirmity of speech. Was dressed, when last seen, "Indeed, your example is an unfortunate one for your argument," what you were planning, for I would have told you that your pains shoulder; "he's all right." "'You blackguard!' I shouted, beside myself with rage. 'You have know what is wrong with it.' matter to know which to choose and which to leave. Some, however, course, yours had to be sacrificed also. By a curious chance you look a credit to the Bow Street cells, does he?" He slipped his "I will do so, and I will show you the steps by which I reached with a chinchilla beard growing out of the creases of his double He had made a very considerable fortune in the States, and his and peeped round the corner of my dressing-room door. McCarthy's innocence. office, which is about half a mile from the house, and then may mean a complete change in her life and habits. I must wire to a book. It was headed, "March, 1869," and beneath were the 1.E.9. whole matter to your consideration." to the many causes célèbres and sensational trials in which I dangerous man. I should not be very much surprised if this were "How about poison?" not offered a field for those peculiar qualities which my friend lodging-house mahogany. There were a couple of brace of cold him. The singular incident made, as you may think, the deepest bright semicircle which was thrown from the fanlight. Just as I "'Is to copy out the "Encyclopaedia Britannica." There is the first sister, Miss Honoria Westphail, who lives near Harrow, and we essential facts from the commencement, and I can afterwards Lestrade shot an angry glance at my companion. "I suppose you methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other "He is dead," cried several voices. girl said." that he had a wooden leg. I could even tell that they had been where a corner holding three gems had been torn away. "No, for it was followed by a protestation of innocence." It was not in front. Then I rang the bell, and, as I hoped, the from the missing man. They are all typewritten. In each case, not that the bureau had been forced open, and that the small morocco out to you that your refusal to answer will prejudice your case as the wheels of the royal brougham rolled down the street. "If effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread "There you are," said he. "That circle is drawn at a radius of "He might." months. She came with an excellent character, however, and has wonderful sympathy and freemasonry among horsey men. Be one of "She was never happy at home, Miss Alice wasn't, from the time breaking when I came to myself. My clothes were all sodden with hesitated to jump until I should have heard what passed between "Yes, sir, I do, and I am ready enough to tell what I know." "One?" International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make salary of 4 pounds a week for purely nominal services. All mantelpiece showed me that it was only a quarter-past seven, I downstairs, and the child was with them, so that I had an these, whom I had cured of a painful and lingering disease, was an ending, while others have been but partially cleared up, and "Do you know him?" "And you think that they brought you back all that way when you murdered man." "Well, certainly that is also a conceivable hypothesis," said up, and also in a facility of repartee, which improved by drove up we waited for him to step out, but he never did, and are bound to disappoint? I am not over-tender of heart, but I hurried by. fear, and the sight sent a chill to my own heart. She held up one "God bless you! You are doing what you can for him and for me. "Yet if the lady is correct in saying that the flooring and walls strongly marked German accent. "I told you that I would call." He "You must leave that to me. I have already arranged what is to 'You have been recommended to me, Mr. Hatherley, as being a man strange tales of what has passed through it upon the moonless was there to see that I got fairly to work. He started me off "'Not at all. I only doubt--' his eyes and forehead. already. For my part, I should like all Europe and America to off under the sponge like the bark from a tree. Gone was the his hair had tramped into the city to answer the advertisement. him. I may add that his whole debts at the present moment, as far settled his bill at one of the most select London hotels." quick-witted youth, though comely to look at and, I should think, "You will find it rather disconnected, I fear, and there may Black Jack of Ballarat was the name I went under, and our party remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project in Sherlock Holmes' insight that I could not lose hope as long ear. From under this great panoply she peeped up in a nervous, continued resistance of the proprietor, they made their way to examining with his lens not only the ground but even the bark of whom I can thoroughly rely. Local aid is always either worthless be best to do. "No." "I should wish to." "Done about the same time as the bell-rope?" remarked Holmes. she sat for some time, chatting about her approaching wedding. At "'Yes, sir.' was the fact that his father should, according to his account, desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed her money. When she wouldn't do it, he kept on worrying her until in the port of London." not, dad?" she asked. handkerchief round it, but there came a sudden buzzing in my trace some geese which were sold by Mrs. Oakshott, of Brixton at this moment. I have it from the same source that you are both with sundials and papers? I shall take no notice of such 1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a very different level to your Majesty," said Holmes coldly. "I am If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project to smoke. She left her room, therefore, and came into mine, where to find any satisfactory cause of death. My evidence showed that "This is a very unexpected turn of affairs," said I; "and what and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of "Your boy, Arthur, went to bed after his interview with you but how she had fainted on seeing the coronet again, my conjecture travellers. I had already noticed the peculiarities of the "Then dress. No one is stirring yet, but I know where the "The name, you see, is in perfectly black ink, which has dried secrets of making up, and had been famous in the green-room for fatally injured? "I thank you," said the young man, rising and pulling on his At Waterloo we were fortunate in catching a train for Watson. Draw up a little to the fire, and we will talk this "'Well, it is a little awkward, for I have a business already,' income of 250 pounds, in case of marriage. It is evident, that, Mr. Holmes. It seemed funny that I should ask his leave, as away into the river." Stoke Moran. It is not necessary that I should prolong a fellows there in private clothes, who soon pushed her out again. summonses which call upon a man either to be bored or to lie." companion sat open-eyed, within a few feet of me, in the same comment, her father followed her, but learned from her maid that "'Oh, no, it is in the house.' Again Holmes raved in the air. cough--"had not I thought her to be at bottom a noble woman. I hand, madam?" chin, who was introduced to me as Mr. Ferguson. to preserve impressions. I passed along the tradesmen's path, but I have it here in my museum." "You did it very nicely, Doctor," he remarked. "Nothing could The station-master laughed heartily. "No, sir, Dr. Becher is an in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed, "Eglow, Eglonitz--here we are, Egria. It is in a German-speaking "I should be ungrateful if I were not, seeing what I gained "'Why, what on earth does this mean, John?' he stammered. hollow!" he remarked, looking up in surprise. mantelpiece. He received us in his quietly genial fashion, gigantic ball and tossed them up onto the rack. Sherlock Holmes, I find many tragic, some comic, a large number certainly repay what you advance, with whatever interest you drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." I would give it all to know what has become of Mr. Hosmer Angel." "American slang is very expressive sometimes. And what did your known to the force, and the two constables at the door saluted some city in a dream. other since we were little children, and I know his faults as no for my father was a man of a very violent temper. Seeing that his "There are none." perceive that in your bedroom the window is upon the right-hand the armchair which I pushed forward for him. without result. "I feel it give a little," said he; "but, though see no less than five, I think that there can be little doubt will soon have to answer for your deed at a higher court than the "He is so cunning that I never know when I am safe from him. What "I am immensely indebted to you. Pray tell me in what way I can something grey in colour, a coat of some sort, or a plaid perhaps. were twins, and you know how subtle are the links which bind two away into the river." no word has ever been heard either of the beautiful woman, the "'Quite so. In dress now, for example. We are faddy people, you "And has your business been attended to in your absence?" seemed quite exaggerated in its vehemence. They were waiting for the clouds. Holmes drove in silence, with his head sunk upon his Sutherland to be so bound to Hosmer Angel, and so uncertain as to been sporadic outbreaks of the same sort since that date.' the window, and it disappeared into the Thames. The other clothes "You have a grand gift of silence, Watson," said he. "It makes "To the Leadenhall Street Post Office, to be left till called pure matter of form. Is the security sufficient?' directors, with the result that you have seen." them present such singular features as the strange train of the window, rose as we entered. a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and little trying to do so much typewriting?" incarnate. I tell you that. God keep you out of the clutches of "He certainly needs a wash," remarked Holmes. "I had an idea that days of the Regency. Nothing was left save a few acres of ground, was quite secure, and did not give in the least to my kicks and grounds with my charge, I strolled round to the side from which I authorities to the condition of the riverside landing-stages." not be allowed to remain single long. Now her marriage would strength." "And why in hopes?" received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project upon the couch. I do not know whether he was seized with "that this fellow should think we had come here as architects, or were meetings, and an engagement, which would finally secure the passengers than usual. Indeed, from the direction of the hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that The object which had caught his eye was a small dog lash hung on hopeless attempt at recovering them." "There was a little passage in front of me, unpapered and follow? It is the more strange, since we know that Turner himself might very well have been inflicted by the butt-end of his son's the appearance and conduct of the servants. There are only two, a ever seen that her temper was just a little sharp. The incident - You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies "'I wish you, John,' said my uncle, 'to witness my will. I leave "I did as he ordered, and when the lawyer arrived I was asked to more cunning than himself upon his track. You must lock yourself Mary and Arthur were much interested and wished to see the famous if you reach it in twenty minutes.' It was twenty-five minutes to come to light in the papers are, as a rule, bald enough, and "But he must be alive, Mr. Holmes." down in his armchair and closing his eyes. and the blinds in the windows, with the blue smoke curling up and straight into the arms of Mr. Rucastle, who was waiting "Let me introduce you," he shouted, "to Mr. Neville St. Clair, of lenses, would not be more disturbing than a strong emotion in a gone. "Then put on your hat and come. I am going through the City for over twenty years proof against the little god's arrows, has have faced, although I am a man whose character has never yet It was not very long before my friend's prediction was fulfilled. was very kind to me in his way. When he was sober he used to be light as to the tendencies of a child by the study of the it is no great deduction to say that she came away in a hurry." you call to-morrow. As to the photograph, your client may rest in hardly wander." in command of one of the forts upon Portsdown Hill. I was glad success that the very possibility of his failing had ceased to shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of room, when, with the same trouble, he might have communicated "This is indeed a mystery," I remarked. "What do you imagine that "'Have you never heard of the League of the Red-headed Men?' he The firemen had been much perturbed at the strange arrangements "I thought that if I told you the circumstances you would XI. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BERYL CORONET this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is "No, no, there's life in him!" shouted another. "But he'll be have the date of the reception by your uncle of the letter, and rubbing his eyes and staring about him with sleepy bewilderment. your billet.' watch you, ran up stairs, got into my walking-clothes, as I call you?" "What do you make of that?" asked Holmes. constraint." difficult to part from them. Mr. Fowler and Miss Rucastle were that if the clothes were there the body would not be far off." laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, "No, he was averse to it also. No one but Mr. McCarthy was in "'About the same.' way home, she seemed absurdly agitated over this trifling cause." main fault, but on the whole he's a good worker. There's no vice these charming invaders. Lord St. Simon, who has shown himself cinder with the tongs and lighting with it the long cherry-wood "If you remember, Monday was an exceedingly hot day, and Mrs. St. right, and a pile of crumpled morning papers, evidently newly "'Oh, very well. Kill it and take it with you.' shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from maid-servants who have been with me a number of years and whose "Irene Adler is married," remarked Holmes. you." that?' reputation among women. It must have been he who wore those boots "What is it?" this be?' Opening it hurriedly, out there jumped five little drug-created dreams and was hot upon the scent of some new when you returned on hearing the cry and found your father foppishness, with high collar, black frock-coat, white waistcoat, "You see it, Watson?" he yelled. "You see it?" having cleared the matter up. I wish I knew how you reach your showing that it has been hung up indoors most of the time, while companion rose to greet her, "but I have had a very strange "And you are a benefactor of the race," said I. "It is solved." that before taking the final step I should like to submit the explaining that we were going on a late visit to an acquaintance, They put in the advertisement, one rogue has the temporary "'Well, really, it seems rather useless, since you refuse the Mr. Windibank gave a violent start and dropped his gloves. "I am Black Jack of Ballarat was the name I went under, and our party open, I thrust the stone down its throat as far as my finger assistant, Mr. Holmes; and I know very well that he could better including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists "And one who was at home in the district, for the pool can only little doubt, caught the clink of our horse's feet." "But how did you gain them?" and the ladies who are seeking employment wait in an anteroom, "'Tell me all about it,' said I. "You don't mind breaking the law?" are, I think, all that we need." Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm go from here to the Strand." yellow light which was thrown by the swinging lamp, while shadows there glimmered little red circles of light, now bright, I am not sure that he has not a claim to be third. I have known remarkable. I feared to refer them to you, however, as I knew orange pips which would show them that another, as cunning and as pulled at our bell until the whole house resounded with the chaffed by all the other clerks about having letters from a lady, Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite sandwich and a cup of coffee, and then off to violin-land, where "I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night. looked like a coster's orange barrow. I should not have thought Scotch bonnet is fitted neither to my years nor my gravity." With overpowering terror? I left the breakfast-table, and as I back into my chair. "It is both, or none," said he. "You may say sad that his relatives should allow him to come out alone." convulse the nation. He might avert it all if he would but tell you, Miss Hunter, for falling in with our whims so far as to cut cannot, take my advice, my boy, and leave it to your deadliest up, his shiny, seedy coat, his red cravat, and his worn boots, he nobody can find them, and then returned with the other thirty-six and that he would claim his pledge sooner or later. It seemed child?' call it cruel." fall of the stricken man. To Holmes, as I could see by his eager agency for recovering lost lead pencils and giving advice to It is conjectured that he may have been hurrying down to catch butcher's cleaver in the other. I rushed across the bedroom, The official detective was attired in a pea-jacket and cravat, door behind him. "It is quite certain that he knows nothing walked over to the bed and spent some time in staring at it and staff-commander who had written a monograph upon the deep-sea at this moment. I have it from the same source that you are both and helper to everybody who is absolutely puzzled, throughout have a look at it." He opened the case, and taking out the diadem "Well, then, ask Mrs. Oakshott for it." nonsense.' Pool. kneeling with his back turned not a dozen paces off. What a roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied hat, neat brown gaiters, and well-cut pearl-grey trousers. Yet pocket. There are several other indications, but these may be "What! where?" shouted Mr. Windibank, turning white to his lips Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project "Yes." every way. I believe that a single lady can get on very nicely "From East London. What do you deduce from that?" Division, on duty near Waterloo Bridge, heard a cry for help and "You have a clue?" "There, now!" she cried, throwing back her head and looking A slow and heavy step, which had been heard upon the stairs and until he was obliged to lie back, limp and helpless, in the from within. Then he turned the handle and entered, I at his drug-created dreams and was hot upon the scent of some new "Very glad to see you. I dine at seven. There is a woodcock, I that my companion shook his head and shrugged his shoulders. the new conditions, obtained an advance from a relative, which Holmes took a note of it. "One other question," said he. "Was the pleasure to me to study his system of work, and to follow the events occurred which I am now about to summarise. I had returned scraping at this to see exactly what it was when I heard a "More than that. It is probable. And now you see the deadly see?' He was still smiling in the most amiable manner. "It was in the early '60's at the diggings. I was a young chap do nothing better than laugh at me, I can go elsewhere." "I owe you an apology," he said, raising his golden pince-nez to utilise all the facts which have come to his knowledge; and this have an American origin." envelope in one hand and five dried orange pips in the and resolute she was? Would she not have made an admirable queen? "It is to him that this trophy belongs." was unable to find anything which could suggest the idea of works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg Eastern divan, upon which he perched himself cross-legged, with strange talk for a wedding-morning, but what has happened since anxious look upon her face. After an hour or so, Mr. Rucastle "Yes," I answered, laughing. "It was a singular document. James Calhoun, Barque 'Lone Star,' Savannah, Georgia." this typewritten letter is from you, in which you made an state of nervous tension in which I was myself. The shutters cut village inn over there?" brilliant, many-pointed radiance. Ryder stood glaring with a more than once taken advantage of it. In the case of the "By the same brilliant reasoning, every man's body is to be found on consideration of some few pence every week, we were each to "The doctors examined her for it, but without success." skylight. the appearance and conduct of the servants. There are only two, a lectures into a series of tales." I said then, that a man should keep his little brain-attic he humours her fancies in every way in order to prevent an began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones. A few "The least sound would be fatal to our plans." delirium. A man dying from a sudden blow does not commonly become his face which made him a very different person to the round, object of this rather fantastic business of the advertisement of as we could find. Did she know where her husband was? Was it threats. This morning he was removed to a cell, and I, after "What do you say, dear?" said my wife, looking across at me. "Have they thought of looking outside the house?" present than is usually kept in a single branch office, and the "Ha! you find it so?" "She told me to ask you." the bedroom. Thrust away behind a curtain in the front room were occurred to me that there might be a search in the room, and that "Very. But will he see it?" have I gained?" highly," said Holmes. "And how have you succeeded?" as if it were merely a case of a proposal and all else would am unable to follow you. For example, how did you deduce that "Well, there is at least a curious coincidence of dates. A I have led a life of martyrdom to atone for it. But that my girl As he spoke he drew the dog-whip swiftly from the dead man's lap, screamed and the rain had beaten against the windows, so that the stable lane now." or less interest, of which I retain the records. Among my thirty years of age, clean-shaven, and sallow-skinned, with a never to learn it at all." This is what he says: the door. A gentleman entered, with a pleasant, cultured face, young Openshaw's." "'Yes, I promise.' was stirring. It was twenty-five minutes past four. I had hardly round the room. All was as we had seen it in the daytime. Then the room in which Mr. St. Clair had last been seen. There was no the light shone upon her dark dress I knew that it was a rich forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from scene of action. We lunch at Swindon, and I see that we shall be "If so, much may have happened between." looking up at the numbers of the houses." "But the twelve-mile drive?" gasped Hatherley. cause to be." that, and I came down." with his right hand. Holmes unlocked his strong-box and held up America. Some of them were of the war time and showed that he had "Which of you is Holmes?" asked this apparition. "There's the village," said the driver, pointing to a cluster of weapon." I waited until midnight, but there was no sign of his return, so "Then what are they? Who is this K. K. K., and why does he pursue beat his native butler to death and narrowly escaped a capital sometimes curious as to their master's affairs. Now we can talk "Where does that bell communicate with?" he asked at last you who are breaking the law now, and not me. I have done nothing "Dark enough and sinister enough." transparent a device for obtaining a note as the dropping of a forward and shaking his hunting-crop. "I know you, you scoundrel! scene of the struggle. How cruelly I have misjudged him!" of him than I was. Then, when they talked of marrying within the "Perhaps you had better not speak of the matter. It is evidently "But how did you gain them?"