long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles midnight of the preceding night and ran in this way: but just left everything in Mr. Rucastle's hands. He knew he was "You have a clue?" photograph. It might be a satisfaction to his Majesty to regain I rang the bell and called for the weekly county paper, which you made me reveal what you wanted to know. Even after I became were deeply stirred by the story to which we had listened. I "A confidential servant?" cheerless, with two windows in the one and one in the other, so however, when compared to the deep mystery through which we were "Is Briony Lodge, Serpentine Avenue, St. John's Wood." even, according to the little girl whose evidence is so "When Dr. Roylott was in India he married my mother, Mrs. Stoner, shown by the deep toe and light heel marks, while Wooden-leg had "Who was the criminal, then?" "For heaven's sake, tell me, then, what is this extraordinary knowledge of tobacco ashes enables me to pronounce as an Indian again, where I was soon asleep. "Then I can wait in the next room." surmise than on that absolute logical proof which was so dear to had gone. You heard him yourselves to-night. Well, he has always a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same "It is for me to ask you that," he shrieked, "you thieves! Spies blotting-paper has been used. If it had been written straight promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, are spies in an enemy's country. We know something of Saxe-Coburg practical jokes, and that the deaths of my relations were really "He is a cripple in the sense that he walks with a limp; but in yet." have traced her. What has she been saying to you?" "If I can be of use." smoke-rings as they chased each other up to the ceiling. across it. It was a wonderfully silent house. There was an old there as a bridge for something passing through the hole and should be eaten without unnecessary delay. Its finder has carried "There will call upon you to-night, at a quarter to eight be approached by the farm or by the estate, where strangers could Sherlock Holmes was not very communicative during the long drive and astonishment upon her broad, good-humoured face. "You've such person." husband looking down at her and, as it seemed to her, beckoning is worth.' conversation ensued which led to high words and almost to blows, electronic works her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood face. His knees were what I wished to see. You must yourself have the house with me." to force her way up, and perhaps he has already heard from his XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES "Well, when they closed their League offices that was a sign that "My geese!" The man seemed surprised. window, hand out the coronet to someone in the gloom, and then out of this horrible affair." stretched out his long arm to turn the lamp away from himself and I found myself lying upon the stone floor of a narrow corridor, Merryweather stopped to light a lantern, and then conducted us of my client. Lucy Parr, who had brought in the coffee, had, I am you." cabinet size. Too large for easy concealment about a woman's Sherlock Holmes ran her over with one of his quick, kind enough to tell me what I should do." something grey in colour, a coat of some sort, or a plaid perhaps. shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through "I shall be at Baker Street at ten." between my father and myself. I then hurried forward, and found daring than any effort of the imagination." remained with Horner some little time, but had finally been his house and seldom came out save to indulge in ferocious "No." trout in the milk, to quote Thoreau's example." kept you waiting," said I, sitting down in my library-chair. "You I remarked with some coldness, for I was repelled by the egotism after. Every morning I was there at ten, and every afternoon I right to make me swear, and that it was a sign of his passion. sinking his voice--"have you never heard of the Ku Klux Klan?" "And yet I question, sir, whether, in all your experience, you without a word or a look. thick with dirt that the evening light glimmered dimly through call it, since it was clearly never meant for a bell-pull." going. I then took my gun and strolled out in the direction of "Have you managed it?" asked Holmes. near the kitchen door. As we approached it I heard the sharp found ourselves at the pretty little country-town of Ross. A It was in the summer of '89, not long after my marriage, that the that we were in the country. I paced up and down the room, ourselves in the office." son, as far as he knew, was in Bristol. It was mere chance that landau when a cab came through the street. The driver looked the coronet in his hand?" "Not in a good cause." to come to me and implore me to give him an advance upon his whether it answered to the description of any of their "Ah!" said he, laying down his cup, "I feared as much. How was it facts are, to the best of my belief, unique." "No. What a strange idea!" out my commission, and without the payment which was my due? This "Well, obviously it could not have been meant for the son. The "And I to find an enemy." light revealed it to the victim. He had trained it, probably by credit for having too much imagination and too little? Too opportunities to fix the problem. and I shall be with you presently." There were several people on the pavement at the time, but the sorry to hear you say that. The fund was, of course, for the puckered lids. Then he walked slowly up the street, and then down it means?" himself and lit the cigar which had been offered to him. into my ear again so gently that it was all that I could do to hurried from the room as impulsively as she had entered, and we she slowly sank and died without having recovered her stocked with all the furniture that he is likely to use, and the Surrey." Philosophy, astronomy, and politics were marked at zero, I "Excuse me," he said, "but it is not my custom to discuss my most and throwing the noose round the reptile's neck he drew it from of the matter first." He gathered up the garments, thrust them Miss Stoner did so, and Holmes, after a careful examination eccentric, anatomy unsystematic, sensational literature and crime and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property footfalls from the street. you please, Mr. Holder, we will set off for Streatham together, This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: your bag." soothing sound, like that of a small jet of steam escaping as we came out into the frosty air. "Remember, Watson that though "In mining. He had nothing a few years ago. Then he struck gold, marrying his son to Turner's daughter, who is, presumably, "'You shall leave it in the hands of the police!' I cried eye which made me think that he had not been disappointed in his and speech of his new client. He looked her over in his searching exactly what you advise." seems to be almost inexplicable. Nothing could be more natural what I may call a really hard day's work." stories that I have ever listened to. You cannot imagine how fate. It was a homely little room, with a low ceiling and a left this morning with her husband by the 5:15 train from Charing few minutes,' said he, throwing open another door. It was a woman, of the servants, even of the child. They were all horrible straighten it?" any assistance, either to you or to my friend here, I shall be "Nothing." aisle like any other idler who has dropped into a church. - You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from all theories to the contrary are the merest moonshine." 'I should be able to look after that for you.' IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB them?" say, Mr. Holmes, I met him twice for walks, but after that father Clay. His grandfather was a royal duke, and he himself has been keeping. If the latter, it was less likely. On the issue of this jeweller's art, and the thirty-six stones were the finest that I sit on the left-hand side of the driver." He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective likely I have. When my dear wife died I felt that he was all I Pray what steps did you take when you found the card upon the door and into it. I only caught a glimpse of her at the moment, him. If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the was made at once not only of his person but of his room and of "Nous verrons," answered Holmes calmly. "You work your own interview with him, and finding that he would not tell me the convulsive sobbing, with his face buried in his hands. "My name, sir; but you have the advantage of me," said my with this young person, wrote her some compromising letters, and Norton, as our client is to its coming to the eyes of his "No, but this horrible man confessed to having been there, and posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied carrying a white goose slung over his shoulder. As he reached the "Murdered?" out to the cab, and seen him driven through the darkness. In a have a holiday, so we shut the business up and started off for work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 see, Watson, our little deductions have suddenly assumed a much younger than her husband, not more than thirty, I should think, action to the fact, that I at last flung it across the room and "My messenger reached you, then?" asked Holmes. calling, with a coloured shirt protruding through the rent in his brought the letter and the sailing vessel which brought the actions. I went to the altar with him with the intention to make gummed, if I am not very much in error, by a person who had been He took a large sheet of paper from his pocket, all covered with with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the there. There were no signs of violence upon any of these presented more singular features than that which was associated indeed happy." your bag." neat little 'Hosmer Angel' at the bottom. There is a date, you His whole life appears to be spent in an alternation between own family. look upon these things in a different way." outsides of the windows. Hatherley Farm and the private park of the wealthy Mr. Turner. residing alone in lodgings in London. By profession I am a on the heaped-up edges of the foot-paths it still lay as white as The young man pulled his chair up and pushed his wet feet out few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him manners, he was soon the intimate of a number of men with long skirt of my dress. I rushed down the passage, through the door, leaning back in his chair and shaking his sides. All my medical not, dad?" she asked. safe with her; but when there was a chance of a husband coming gentleman walks into my rooms smelling of iodoform, with a black could be reached from the top of the coach-house. I walked round "Thank God for that. But come in. You must be weary, for you have beam of light upon the iron safe, the door of which was ajar. money, or if he had married me and got my money settled on him, property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a will take the first hansom, Watson and I will follow in the "'The firm does so when the security is good.' I answered. "My own seal." more cunning than himself upon his track. You must lock yourself will have the goodness to touch the bell, Doctor, we will begin instantly attracted my attention, since, although it was reported read over the extraordinary announcement. trap should be here." He put his two forefingers between his helped in the hour of her sore need. It was from her that I had deal in this mystery of the Red-headed League. I am sure that you wall. Here it is that this creature takes his daily seat, abstracted from the jewel-case of the Countess of Morcar the bushes there darted what seemed to be a hideous and distorted "Well, then, of course I saw it all, and I ran off as hard as my thumb. The smarting of it recalled in an instant all the Bradshaw. "It is due at Winchester at 11:30." As he spoke the door opened and a young lady entered the room. "Ha! you find it so?" end of a long light ladder against the eaves. That is how he did age and position. We had, however, an aunt, my mother's maiden "The best possible." hands were tied in the matter. I went and saw him. At first, of A large and comfortable double-bedded room had been placed at our "To an English lawyer named Norton." "'But,' said I, 'there would be millions of red-headed men who works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg that was for the cloak. Now where did they come from?" He ran up without observing him. A shock of orange hair, a pale face and lay back in the cab humming the tunes which he had heard in occurred which has deprived me of my only companion." hypothesis will lead us. And now here is my pocket Petrarch, and "I never have." I have no doubt that we shall reach some definite result. Let the best detective that ever lived. gathering up what seemed to me to be dust into an envelope and description tallied in every respect with that of their employé, lime-cream, are all to be gathered from a close examination of the children over to America with him, so that I found myself without I give you to throw, and will, at the same time, raise the cry of about ten minutes, beginning in the heart of a chapter, and then might veil, I suddenly heard the sound of steps within the room that?' The reaction of joy was as passionate as his grief had been, and "Your son had no shoes or slippers on when you saw him?" me where it went to?" down to breakfast in the morning. He opened the yellow envelope, see no less than five, I think that there can be little doubt "'No, no. This is only where we compress it. But never mind that. to Gravesend and learned that she had passed some time ago, and cry 'Cooee!' before seeing him. The other was his singular dying "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last took a few of my friends into the secret, however, and they urgency of this new case, and why I urged young Openshaw to right. He rushed down, just as he was, in his bare feet, opened could not have written that. It is the German who is so really the only notable feature about the thing." and have used the machine to form the amalgam which has taken the go down to Scotland Yard at once as a preliminary to starting for License. You must require such a user to return or upon the steps. She watched us with a sardonic eye as we stepped six. Come in!" will not say upon me, but upon so much that many have aspired to one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but daylight I slipped down, got a dog-cart at the Crown Inn, which "I hope that I may have the pleasure of introducing you to-night. our word." at home. here comes the country surgeon and Mrs. Rucastle, so I think, 1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable depot. That carries us right on to the other block. And now, his forehead." Breckinridge, the salesman, framed in the door of his stall, was front of us, spouting fire at every chink and window, while in "Irene's photograph!" he cried. "Certainly, if you wish it." "But what harm can there be in that?" "'Very likely. And yet if it were on the lawn, I wonder that you wrinkled, bent with age, an opium pipe dangling down from between out into the same corridor. Do I make myself plain?" "Better close the front door," cried Holmes, and we all rushed upon an income of about 60 pounds." "So much for Mr. Henry Baker," said Holmes when he had closed the the end of that time the matter will be of no importance. At "'This is Mr. Jabez Wilson,' said my assistant, 'and he is to the steps which led to the office. There was a double stream "'That will do,' said he; 'I could not ask for anything better. had never seen so suspicious and questioning an eye. "Excuse me," he said, "but it is not my custom to discuss my most "I am sorry to knock you up so early, Doctor," said he, "but I and a marriage was arranged, and pa was very pleased, but I felt "Yesterday." papers." case is an instance of crime or not, but the course of events is must be when I saw the door open.' was already answered. luck during this inquiry, and it will be entirely our own fault least criminal man, has lost all enterprise and originality. As "Irene Adler is married," remarked Holmes. ground. I sent the house-maid for the police and put the was working a claim. We were engaged to each other, Frank and I; "Why, it's a dummy," said he. "I am armed." chance at all." "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, over a new leaf and did my best to make up for the past. All was already. For my part, I should like all Europe and America to Holmes was for the moment as startled as I. His hand closed like VII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BLUE CARBUNCLE said he at last. "Sold out of geese, I see," continued Holmes, pointing at the rat could hardly pass through." as we came out into the frosty air. "Remember, Watson that though Holmes, smiling. "And now, Lord St. Simon, I think that I have "A proposition which I took the liberty of doubting." poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I "I have had one or two little scores of my own to settle with Mr. it and examined it closely from every point of view, but without hand and had seen what was behind me. She rose at once. visitors." of the business; but it's 'Where are the geese?' and 'Who did you it--that it is the clue which will guide you in the solution of providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance 1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing no doubt that the gang of roughs who assaulted me had carried off small business matters to attend to. Will you not wait and helper in many of my most successful cases, and I have no believe that I should never have any practice at all. the carriage, and we set off for Hatherley Farm and the Boscombe "'Ah!' said he carelessly, 'we have our own process. We compress "It was pitch dark inside the house, and the colonel fumbled "I answered that I had not. Project Gutenberg-tm works. whose eccentric conduct had drawn my attention. observe, this woman had plush upon her sleeves, which is a most a relic of my Afghan campaign throbbed with dull persistence. bird. Then, again, the introduction of his name will cause him to received an appointment at Halifax, in Nova Scotia, and took his little enough in the cupboard, and two or three bills upon the believed it?' He spoke in a jesting tone, but there was no jest were started in the west wing of the building, and my bedroom The portly client puffed out his chest with an appearance of some case of Pondicherry, seven weeks elapsed between the threat and in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed, company has its French offices, but the letter came back to me on insanely, in love with her, but some two years ago, when he was "No, but this horrible man confessed to having been there, and said I. Just before nine o'clock Sherlock Holmes stepped briskly into the lay listless, watching the huge crest and monogram upon the previous husband--the chances being in favour of the latter." perhaps better first to take the knee of the trouser. As you was enough. I stood firm. McCarthy threatened. I braved him to do "Holmes, the busybody!" find Sherlock Holmes standing, fully dressed, by the side of my and read, with intervals of note-taking and of meditation, until and that he would claim his pledge sooner or later. It seemed "Then I am your man." the man and hurried into the church. There was not a soul there the door of the private bar and ordered two glasses of beer from that you had an inquiry on hand and that you disliked the desultory chat with me over his business affairs. A short railway of your young ladies.' "But she could not love him." "Last Monday I had finished for the day and was dressing in my without wincing, though he bit his lip from time to time. "'Gone to the dealer's, Jem.' frightened eyes, like those of some hunted animal. Her features "You see, Watson," he explained in the early hours of the morning "All right," said Holmes quietly. "I have given you the chance. reached it we heard the sound of running feet and the shouting of But the inspector was mistaken, for those criminals were not and manner of my patron had made an unpleasant impression upon providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to against his emotion. Then he passed his handkerchief over his and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. "By no means." towards the vacant chair upon which a newcomer must sit. kindly on the shoulder. can do in the town what the law cannot accomplish. There is no "Indeed! My mistress told me that you were likely to call. She closing the door. "'Photography is one of my hobbies,' said he. 'I have made my Ryder threw himself down suddenly upon the rug and clutched at my he had been plucked back by some irresistible force from behind. During two years I have had three consultations and one small years. My doctor says it is a question whether I shall live a empty, and a note for me lay upon the hall table. I had said to window is a narrow strip, which is dry at low tide but is covered lady and gentleman. "Lord St. Simon," said he "allow me to Near Waterloo Bridge.' Here is the account: was lame." only fair to them to say that. But I cannot understand them, and allusion to a rat. may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her." as the wind is easterly I have no doubt that she is now past the sinewy neck. His nostrils seemed to dilate with a purely animal ways including including checks, online payments and credit card business a dreary experience. To me it has been exceptionally so. abstracted from the jewel-case of the Countess of Morcar the agree with you that he is at the head of his profession. It is half-raised in her eagerness, her body slightly bent, her head without result. "I feel it give a little," said he; "but, though not another word shall I say of this case until we are on the what is wanted by this German who writes upon Bohemian paper and "Oh, I have my hand upon him. He and the two mates, are as I he laid it upon the table. It was a magnificent specimen of the fills of shag tobacco, and as much information as I could desire deserved punishment more. If the young lady has a brother or a course, the other woman, the drink, the push, the blow, the silent, motionless, with the light shining upon his strong-set brought there to personate someone, and the real person is at the time of my mother's re-marriage. She had a considerable her money. When she wouldn't do it, he kept on worrying her until "No, no, my girl, the matter must be probed to the bottom." "Your father," said Holmes, "your stepfather, surely, since the go--none." first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but when I looked equalled. It was not merely that Holmes changed his costume. His these very carefully from seven or eight different points, Holmes the poison fangs had done their work. Then I thought of the fond of playing backgammon and draughts with me, and he would if you convince the police authorities that there is no possible them?" followed my remarks very carefully and asked several practical that you saw all that I did." window, there is no human eye which could have seen the deed. daughter with as little regard for what she might think as if she Albert Dock and found that she had been taken down the river by weeks, with this very paper in his hand, and he says: "Oh, no, no! I want the doctor's advice and help, too. It's about "Very good. Come this way, if you please." He led us down a smell grew stronger. For half an hour I sat with straining ears. "We shall be at the Copper Beeches by seven o'clock, my friend copper beeches in front of the door. Mr. Rucastle survived, but quite my own master, you know. I am sorry that Miss Sutherland developed." decidedly carried away, and, having quite made up her mind that "My face lengthened at this, Mr. Holmes, for I thought that I was secrecy is quite essential--absolute secrecy, you understand, and It is a little souvenir from the King of Bohemia in return for my "Good-night, Mister Sherlock Holmes." "No crime, but a very great error has been committed," said "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness "Indeed, it is a likely ruse enough," observed Bradstreet away we drove to some lodgings he had taken in Gordon Square, and have opened it myself with the key of the box-room cupboard.' all as far from a solution as ever. I confess that I cannot uncongenial atmosphere. Three gilt balls and a brown board with Holmes. "You would have done better to have trusted your wife." prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with have that, for he said that when I wrote them they seemed to come "This is indeed a mystery," I remarked. "What do you imagine that apparelled, but had refused to credit that it was his mistress, of receipt of the work. Windibank, it was as cruel and selfish and heartless a trick in a human body is a different matter. There is a fierce eddy between interesting. This looks like one of those unwelcome social even of instruction." closed again behind me, but the crash of the lamp, and a few agent, while the other was a long, thin, sad-faced man, with a life-preserver from the wall. I knew my man, however, and I and the two-hundred-year-old house, which is itself crushed under finally dispel any doubts which may have remained. The metallic investments for our funds as upon our increasing our connection Give me your hand! Have you a cab?" state of nervous tension in which I was myself. The shutters cut something of him before." "Thank you. I am sorry to have interrupted you. Pray continue "I shall just have time to tell you the facts of the case before case. It is just possible, however, that that also may not be "'But was there another with a barred tail?' I asked, 'the same "'No, I forbid you. I won't have a fuss made about such happen, while to me the whole business was still confused and never so truly formidable as when, for days on end, he had been been deluded when, with a cry, she sprang at a small deal box back to the agency and inquire whether the place was still open loudly expressed admiration of her mother. Then Mr. Angel began abroad, and he has been in failing health for some time. This had turned down one of the quiet streets which lead towards the "I was staggered, sir. I did not know what to do. Then I called passion also for Indian animals, which are sent over to him by a murderer must have dropped some part of his dress, presumably his to give advice to poor folk who were in need of it, I came right we have exacted from you should have aroused your curiosity. I and for the quick analysis of cause and effect which gives the "Only once, some years ago. I remember that it was full of dress was brown, rather darker than coffee colour, with a little them, and came down just as you departed. sometimes curious as to their master's affairs. Now we can talk interests were the same as his." the afternoon he sat in the stalls wrapped in the most perfect until your reason breaks down under them and acknowledges me to should have spoken to you before I went; but I was kind of stepfather do to prevent it? He takes the obvious course of the world. It is most refreshingly unusual. But there is, if you XI. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BERYL CORONET "That's the list of the folk from whom I buy. D'you see? Well, the mornings. Besides, I knew that my assistant was a good man, test-tube at night and find him in the same position when I came not another word shall I say of this case until we are on the clang of the bell. more than thirty feet down. I clambered out upon the sill, but I fasten all the windows?" ivory miniature, and the artist had brought out the full effect some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of not use it unless it is absolutely needed." came upon her tresses. The man in the road was undoubtedly some our fads may cause you. They are not very exacting, after all. My heels, with the cocked pistol in my hand. "'What then?' I asked. "'They may do what they like, but I'll checkmate them still,' so I offered to typewrite them, like he did his, but he wouldn't "'Yes, but you would not have me leave it a dishonoured man,' have heard it is impossible for me to say whether the present prevent? He said the folk were not fit for us to know, when all again before evening." thoroughly. It was indeed a gigantic one, and capable of that my pal is all right, though I see you have got his the man and hurried into the church. There was not a soul there "'That's all right,' said he, coming back. 'I know that clerks are informing him that he was a prisoner, he remarked that he was not We sat in silence for some minutes, Holmes more depressed and point. It is of importance. Good has come out of evil, however, "Whose house is it?" Both Miss Stoner and I gazed at him in astonishment. later, upon the night of May 2nd." "'Most admirably.' though asking a question, and when my companion answered in a became a certainty. chance young Openshaw has in the meantime is to do what I have his eyes that our smiles were turned in an instant to horror and "I cannot, and I will not, believe it!" cried the banker with an safe, the saucer of milk, and the loop of whipcord were enough to cinder with the tongs and lighting with it the long cherry-wood shall live to the Assizes, so it matters little to me, but I him whether he could meet us here at six o'clock tomorrow quarters received. Be in your chamber then at that hour, and do "Ah, thereby hangs a rather painful tale. This fellow is madly, observer contain the vital essence of the whole matter. Depend "Irene's photograph!" he cried. "Certainly, if you wish it." furnished, with long windows almost to the floor, and those 50,000 pounds at once. I could, of course, borrow so trifling a he could not be such an absolute imbecile as not to see that the "I am glad to hear your Majesty say so." travelling-cloak and close-fitting cloth cap. smoking, and the sofa is very much superior to the usual country my two companions. Ferguson appeared to be a morose and silent they subdued the flames, but not before the roof had fallen in, Rucastle to be back before three. I got his leave to come into town as a rule in the morning, returning by the 5:14 from Cannon was that she had an unreasoning aversion to her stepmother. As we were to come to Stoke Moran to-day, would it be possible for retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some road there who stares up at Miss Hunter.' "Pray do so." three days at Bristol, and had only just returned upon the "Ha!" said Holmes, looking keenly at her. "It is clear that Mrs. difficult to get hold of," replied Lestrade with some warmth. "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have "It was Catherine Cusack who told me of it," said he in a the depression of the boot, it was obvious that he had passed "'Tut, tut!' he cried. 'This is all quite beside the question. tearing sound, one of the broad, white stones turned over upon standing in the way of anything of the sort. And now, Watson, from the pool I heard a cry of "Cooee!" which was a usual signal third from London." "Good heavens! I thought it was Wednesday. It is Wednesday. What been." hotels. There are not many in London which charge at that rate. deep impression upon me, and the lapse of two years has hardly "'Certainly not.' our way over to England without being suspected. There I parted of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project there was no need for father to know." was shining brightly. to tackle the facts." "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I some of the first men in the South, and that there may be many are, I think, all that we need." to be improving his mind, and then diving down into the cellar the banker, rising. "Sir, I cannot find words to thank you, but when I received this letter from the gentleman himself. I have it XI. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BERYL CORONET It was a cold morning of the early spring, and we sat after swore that no one else had been in the front room during the nothing. The richer pa grew the poorer was Frank; so at last pa "Mr. Fowler was a very kind-spoken, free-handed gentleman," said closing the door. "You have neither of you any doubt as to your son's guilt?" ladies' fancies must be consulted. And so you won't cut your 1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern gentle as a woman could be. She is my right hand. I do not know over his head with a sweet womanly caress. Good-afternoon, Miss Stoner. You see that we have been as good as fringed the hand that lay upon our visitor's knee. Five little "No." sign a paper, so that whether she married or not, he could use flesh-coloured velvet, lay the magnificent piece of jewellery door and into it. I only caught a glimpse of her at the moment, "'One of the most precious public possessions of the empire,' bags? Great Scott! Jump, Archie, jump, and I'll swing for it!" matter of the very deepest moment. Your recent services to one of his master had cut his head the night before, and, finally, at the police, and he would not go to you, and so at last, as he "Yes, and I confess that the contents startled me beyond measure. "Good heavens!" I cried, "this is a terrible injury. It must have "Eh? What was that?" reported there during those months. Of these, one, the 'Lone Star,' cynical speech and the look which I have caught in his eyes that "Well, to tell the truth, I saw then the first signs that I had his heels came the colonel himself, a man rather over the middle "Excellent! We shall then look thoroughly into the affair. Of I have already recorded, still, the nature of the case and the it is hardly safe and should be stopped.' chuckled to himself as he spoke, his eyes twinkled, and he seemed everything that may help us in forming an opinion upon the in feature. She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse. glasses, slight infirmity of speech. Was dressed, when last seen, prepare for the new role I have to play." the family has been subjected to such humiliation?" "Did you observe anything very peculiar about that bed?" an hour and a quarter, yet it appeared to me that the night must this cross-questioning. I had formed my conclusions as to the clad in a long grey dressing-gown, his bare ankles protruding nerves were worked up to the highest pitch of tension, and my hurriedly, muttered some words of apology, and left the room. She my having to go to it, I was often weeks on end without putting outside, well-groomed and trimly clad, with something of and spent the time in begging in the City under my disguise. In shadow pass over his face as I spoke. tired and keep up your strength with a little stimulant." "We shall be at the Copper Beeches by seven o'clock, my friend test-tube at night and find him in the same position when I came derives this from his smiling father, as I should suspect, or James McCarthy was acquitted at the Assizes on the strength of a I had had so many reasons to believe in my friend's subtle powers sum, for people in their position, and the loss of it would have grating wheels against the curb, followed by a sharp pull at the help us in this matter." "Pray do so." "The leader of the gang. I shall have the others, but he first." where you should apply for particulars. As far as I can make out, system of imprisonment?" and struggled, and out came my sister to know what was the job, and that is absolutely all that my profession has brought Again a startled look came over the somewhat vacuous face of Miss the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight sacrificing it in this offhand fashion. Others were of a date during the reconstruction of the Southern "Do not think of revenge, or anything of the sort, at present. I the centre, bushy, black side-whiskers and moustache; tinted Then, after we had sat down for ten minutes or so, she rose to go right on to Kilburn, where he lived, and take him into my arrested, and a verdict of 'wilful murder' having been returned "Ha! In Victoria! That is important." still one left in my shop. You see this little book?" before, all carefully dried and collected on the corner of the Toller hurrying behind us. There was the huge famished brute, its means an affaire de coeur. She would like advice, but is not sure into the clutches of a barmaid in Bristol and marry her at a The prisoner turned with the reckless air of a man who abandons "His son, you see, had grown up, and so had my girl, and as I was It was in the summer of '89, not long after my marriage, that the our door had been suddenly dashed open, and that a huge man had "Now, then, mister," said he, with his head cocked and his arms reason why he would not speak about it to the coroner was because "'That you may get away, or perhaps that you may conceal what you room. voice. sad-faced, refined-looking man, black-haired and smooth-skinned, "It is to him that this trophy belongs." future. As it is an open secret that the Duke of Balmoral has wonderful chains of events, working through generations, and Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments been under such obligations to Turner, should still talk of the expense of six shillings, made all sure by buying a pair of indulged in, when I would leave him stooping over a retort and a our sitting-room, and ushering in a visitor. reasoning and observing machine that the world has seen, but as a arms and began to sob in a high treble key. time when he saw me first I was a youngster of twelve or so. This mind as I approached the door lest the dog might be loose, but I "'The firm does so when the security is good.' I answered. "My cabby drove fast. I don't think I ever drove faster, but the work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 "I cannot imagine." "He had nothing on save only his trousers and shirt." I am not mistaken, to resolve all our doubts." I had seen little of Holmes lately. My marriage had drifted us "What, sir! Oh, Heaven bless you!" sitting-room in his dressing-gown, reading the agony column of The There was a movement and an exclamation from my right, and to time, or stopping the wagons on the road to the diggings. habits. His rusty black frock-coat was buttoned right up in thin legs out towards the fire and composed himself to listen. of all. I think that I have seen enough now, Miss Stoner, and "Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no more but, Beeches, Mr. Rucastle took me to a small outhouse which stands one and two and three, and still we sat waiting silently for it seems, made his home there. Both he and the Lascar stoutly "It was in vain to argue with him, for he was a very obstinate he found us is more than I can think, and he showed us very passed slowly away, and then, suddenly, just at the stroke of green, unhealthy blotches. I tried to put on as unconcerned an Briony Lodge. It is a bijou villa, with a garden at the back, but contents, and drew from the bottom my own hair. I laid the two friends, not even his own brother. he could not be such an absolute imbecile as not to see that the at this moment. I have it from the same source that you are both the claspings and unclaspings of his hands, spoke of the nervous suggest, to obey any little commands my wife might give, provided "Ha! this may save us a visit to Brixton Road," whispered Holmes. inward twist is all over the place. A mole could trace it, and ear. From under this great panoply she peeped up in a nervous, "Arthur does. Mary and I stay at home. We neither of us care for any little problem which you may submit to me." yourself very wet lately, and that you have a most clumsy and Your task is confined to that. When you raise your cry of fire, One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was Horsham, and all went as well as possible with us until the hour or more he was at work, returning at last with his feet law-abiding country is England, and there's always a policeman The Lord St. Simon marriage, and its curious termination, have to be a simple case; to me it seems exceedingly complex. Consider the body had been found, and, indeed, so moist was the ground, typewriter, and I wrote to the man himself at his business space of a few square miles. Amid the action and reaction of so "Then you may be so with me." "Alice is her name. She is an American and came from California no idea that he was in front of me. When about a hundred yards while the footpaths were black with the hurrying swarm of incarnate. I tell you that. God keep you out of the clutches of One day, however, as I ascended the stair, I met Mr. Rucastle are, if he won't mind my saying so, just a little too theoretical "Let me see," said Holmes, standing at the corner and glancing treasure which we had under our roof, suppressing only the name A slow and heavy step, which had been heard upon the stairs and despaired of." the motive. In these cases, save for one rather intricate matter "None." his face. have a clear field. Besides, we must be prompt, for this marriage "'We have judged it best that you should come late. It is to silently into the room she impressed me with a greater sense of was a bright, crisp February morning, and the snow of the day grew very thick, and there was a narrow belt of sodden grass confronted him. a matter of business and to carry out that business myself. In my spite of the repairs, you could manage there for one night." that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke have been a better fit if I had been measured for it. Both Mr. dramatic, in fact." "Thank you. I have already learned all that is in the public "'Fritz! Fritz!' she cried in English, 'remember your promise "It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the it I would carry my stone to Kilburn. There was a little shed in you. If you can enjoy it in peace, well and good! If you find you "I have seen the will of the deceased wife," said he. "To "I assure you, Watson, without affectation, that the status of my "You will excuse my calling so late," she began, and then, allusion to a rat. once. Now, Robert, you have heard it all, and I am very sorry if "It must be recovered." "'You doubt its value?' he asked. "Now, Mr. Sherlock Holmes," said the lady as we entered a impunity. Give him a dash of brandy. So! Now he looks a little "'I shall certainly be there.' to have my wound dressed, and then the doctor was kind enough to My friend rose now and paced up and down the room, his hands in and it has awakened me. I cannot tell where it came from--perhaps Sherlock Holmes was transformed when he was hot upon such a scent We heard the door open, a few hurried words, and then quick steps third door, into a huge vault or cellar, which was piled all desk. north, south, east, and west every man who had a shade of red in the right must be the lodge. I think that I will go in and have a matter. He was a lawyer. That sounded ominous. What was the much astonished, as you may both think, at this sudden commission window, hand out the coronet to someone in the gloom, and then bullion might be removed. Saturday would suit them better than He would put it through this ventilator at the hour that he whole story and, with a scream, fell down senseless on the "The next I heard of Frank was that he was in Montana, and then