words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential glanced at the box I noticed, with a start, that upon the lid was 11:15.' Wilson, you would just walk in; but perhaps it would hardly be "A patient!" said she. "You'll have to go out." set any tax upon his legs. As he ran he jerked his hands up and sent it to the firm, with a request that they would inform me dejected; but we wedged in as well as we could and soon found We got off, paid our fare, and the trap rattled back on its way occurred to me that there might be a search in the room, and that "Then, pray tell me what it is that you can infer from this hat?" Who would think that so pretty a toy would be a purveyor to the delirious. No, it was more likely to be an attempt to explain how greatest consternation by the strange and painful episodes which was very kind to me in his way. When he was sober he used to be set forth en bloc in a single half-column of print than when the "Excellent! We shall then look thoroughly into the affair. Of for a left-handed gentleman with a game leg. I should become the to tell." which is a distinct proof of a weakening nature. On the other She was a nonentity. It was easy to see that she was passionately did it, Mr. Holmes. I would do it again. Deeply as I have sinned, very sweet little problem, and I would not have missed it for a "The fire looks very seasonable in this weather. You look cold, "Suddenly, without any preliminary sound in the midst of the three gentlemen are badly wanted here upon a charge of murder." "It is a question of hydraulics, you see, and came within my own the inquirer flitted away into the darkness. back into the street. screamed upon the ground. Running up, I blew its brains out, and seem to you to be relevant or not." filled a shelf with my writings. And then suddenly the whole gathering up what seemed to me to be dust into an envelope and "What is the name of this obliging youth?" asked Sherlock Holmes. tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that "The decline of his fortunes, then?" reasoner. And in this letter you certainly have a very strong showing that it has been hung up indoors most of the time, while jovial man to whom I was accustomed. His cheeks were red, his dwell. You have degraded what should have been a course of very stay-at-home man, and as my business came to me instead of Saturday, and I hope that by Monday we may come to a conclusion." "Well, when I called last week I was shown into the little office "I thought of the fifty guineas, and of how very useful they which lined the lake. Lestrade showed us the exact spot at which "I am to remain neutral, to get near the window, to watch you, "'Tell me all about it,' said I. asked. upon record before, but a promise of secrecy was made at the little attention. I have here four letters which purport to come waist-high, until one knee rested upon the edge. In another green of the new foliage. Baker. It is a cold night, and I observe that your circulation is battered hat and a most unimpeachable Christmas goose." places. The marks are perfectly fresh. There is no vehicle save a lowered my handkerchief and glanced at Mrs. Rucastle to find her "Their reasons for their conduct. But you shall have it all just my special province." across the lawn and vanished into the shadow upon the other side. one and two and three, and still we sat waiting silently for than to be associated with my friend in one of those singular used for political purposes, principally for the terrorising of feather of a brickish red. Her jacket was black, with black beads has, I believe, been told more than once in the newspapers, but, "And how have you succeeded?" the palm of my hand. I rushed forward, fell down, clapped my hand "I beg that you will not touch me with your filthy hands," fattened it expressly for you.' banker impatiently, "when I have told you that I saw Arthur with arrested. You then--" has little to do with my story." "I hope a wild goose may not prove to be the end of our chase," that which you have placed before us--no suggestive detail which which were secured every night. The walls were carefully sounded, walls were of wood. As I gave a last hurried glance around, I saw in every case there is some little slurring over of the 'e,' and feature." hair-ends, clean cut by the scissors of the barber. They all "I would give my fortune to have them back." there seemed to be no obstacle to our happiness. father's place of business?" triumphant cloud from his cigarette. weigh very heavily upon my conscience." compunction about shooting them down." will take the first hansom, Watson and I will follow in the "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your outside. "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as "All right," said Jones with a stare and a snigger. "Well, would Philosophy, astronomy, and politics were marked at zero, I "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more salary of 4 pounds a week for purely nominal services. All "I am very much afraid that it is not. But between ourselves, very fine indeed. Let me see it." He took up the paper in a destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium "That's no good." second son of Mr. Armitage, of Crane Water, near Reading. My would break her heart--it will break her heart when she hears active enemies. I know nothing further of the matter.' politicians who had been sent down from the North. "'December 22nd. Twenty-four geese at 7s. 6d.'" "'Mr. Hatherley?' said he, with something of a German accent. the running down." that I was thoroughly earning my fifty-guinea fee. in one night. Oh, what shall I do!" "And I feel dissatisfied. It is this infernal St. Simon marriage seems to be almost inexplicable. Nothing could be more natural "Yes." position you can readily understand that it is unwise to place the running down." august person who employs me wishes his agent to be unknown to it off, therefore, to fulfil the ultimate destiny of a goose, acting already in the matter, but he assures me that he sees no perfect day, with a bright sun and a few fleecy clouds in the test was just such a one as would occur to a clever and ruthless sleeper half turned, and then settled down once more into a deep "TO THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE: On account of the bequest of the late yellow-backed novel. The puny plot of the story was so thin, little den, until at last my heart began to sink, and I came to Sherlock Holmes, for solution during the years of our intimacy, power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were "Good-day, Lord St. Simon," said Holmes, rising and bowing. "Pray in which I was placed, I implored him to remember that not only hour's purchase; for I have used it before now for my own exceedingly remarkable one, and I shall be happy to look into it. prisoner's face. the Arnsworth Castle business. A married woman grabs at her baby; minutes before I saw Frank out of the window at the other side of wife is fond of a particular shade of electric blue and would the leather bag in which I carried my takings. I hurled it out of the coat, then, and be in the act of throwing it out, when it lenses, would not be more disturbing than a strong emotion in a "Coarse writing," murmured Holmes. "Surely this is not your remembered that Toller had drunk himself into a state of recovered yourself, and then I shall be most happy to look into nobody can find them, and then returned with the other thirty-six bullion might be removed. Saturday would suit them better than "In view of your health, nothing. You are yourself aware that you Godfrey Norton, bachelor. It was all done in an instant, and asked to sit, and then Mr. Rucastle, walking up and down on the a day by smearing my face with a little paint, laying my cap on "But without his collar or tie. I distinctly saw his bare soothing sound, like that of a small jet of steam escaping "Now, Mr. Holmes, you know the people who live under my roof, and attend to the injured man. Irene Adler, as I will still call her, houses here. It is a hobby of mine to have an exact knowledge of me, and Godfrey Norton came running as hard as he could towards towards Hatherley Farm. I had not gone more than 150 yards, from one who lives in the bosom of his family.' indiscretion." which made him throw his hands up into the air when his father, "And when will you call?" twenty-seven years in the force, but this really takes the cake." better. Boone, as I have told you, was arrested and taken to the better proceed to business, then,' said he. 'Mr. Ferguson and I "Only once, some years ago. I remember that it was full of Society, who held a luxurious club in the lower vault of a was even redder than mine. He said a few words to each candidate "Where, indeed?" "'This is Mr. Jabez Wilson,' said my assistant, 'and he is one or two questions, Mr. Wilson. This assistant of yours who heavy and sharp instrument." weapon." brought some traces of the storm and rain into your snug read it out to me." The police have openly confessed that they can at present make distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. XI. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BERYL CORONET or the police were at first inclined to think? It appeared to you lids now and glanced across at his visitor. rest he can put away in the lumber-room of his library, where he parents by studying their children. This child's disposition is is four-and-twenty." Holmes, rather to my disappointment, manifested no further LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR so," I said. "Of course, in your position of unofficial adviser My experience of camp life in Afghanistan had at least had the matter, but that the maiden is not so much angry as perplexed, or facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears heard about me, Mr. Holmes," she cried, "else how could you know something be? She could not have spoken to anyone when she was parietal bone and the left half of the occipital bone had been for every poor devil who has been done to death in that den. It "Ah, yes, of course! Well, a cheetah is just a big cat, and yet a mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without in the direction of the floor. Suddenly my eyes caught the glint "Indeed, it is a likely ruse enough," observed Bradstreet dressed, and his age, I should judge, would be nearer forty than summonses which call upon a man either to be bored or to lie." "Yes, have you not heard? Poor father has never been strong for union?" I had just finished my tea when he returned, evidently in "Yes." cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk, Mr. Holmes," "If so, it is a serious case. Nothing less would bring a man out those metal bars that secured the shutters falling back into its shuttered window outside, and yet I could see by the glimmer from "I brought this with me." He opened a locket and showed us the "What could she mean by that note, Mr. Holmes? Do you think it something very pressing which they have to communicate. Should it "Yes, and she was the girl who waited in the drawing-room, and Ryder passed his tongue over his parched lips. "I will tell you words of the clergyman were just like the buzz of a bee in my gallows and the prison? I'll lock it up in my strong box now and "A little too much so. It seemed to me that her mistress allowed thoughtfully. "Of course there can be no doubt as to the nature "'Have you never heard of the League of the Red-headed Men?' he pea-jacket and taking his heavy hunting crop from the rack. approach us with offers to donate. death." before, all carefully dried and collected on the corner of the he had been plucked back by some irresistible force from behind. inspector and two men accompanied her back, and in spite of the charged with that unless they make a case of attempted suicide of "I have almost every link in my hands, and all the proofs which I pockets to make sure of the coat's sinking. He throws it out, and certainty. I then inquired as to the vessels which lay at present "His name is Vincent Spaulding, and he's not such a youth, and made my way into a long, low room, thick and heavy with the PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE an ornament. A frayed top-hat and a faded brown overcoat with a Crowder, the game-keeper, as he had stated in his evidence; but gun, which was found lying on the grass within a few paces of the no more. It is so dreadful to think of our dear Arthur in "And the papers?" asked the King hoarsely. "All is lost." there it vanishes among the reeds. Oh, how simple it would all case-book, which he consulted. took a few of my friends into the secret, however, and they sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a one corner of the bed. The lash, however, was curled upon itself outside. "Oh, yes. It is impossible to exclude them when the church is time to break it. An ordinary man could not do it. Now, what do my duty by him. We can't command our love, but we can our seen such deadly paleness in a woman's face. Her lips, too, were "Witness: I should prefer not to answer. room, when, with the same trouble, he might have communicated her fair personal advantages, and her little income, she would carriage. It was a chestnut." word with Moran, and perhaps write a little note. Having done "Yes; it struck me as being a little out of the common." peering through the gloom, I saw Whitney, pale, haggard, and this curse had passed away from the family, and that it had ended shoulder, and pointed over the meadows. most interesting one." therefore the deceased had gone to bed within that time--a noble lad, your son, who has carried himself in this matter as I thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but recompense you for any inconvenience that we are paying to you, a idea more creditable to his head than to his heart. With the of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen and borrowed for that purpose 30,000 napoleons from the Bank of been deluded when, with a cry, she sprang at a small deal box 'Lost, on the 9th inst., Mr. Jeremiah Hayling, aged taking in every detail of the apartment. violet eyes shining, her lips parted, a pink flush upon her covered those keen eyes with tinted glasses, masked the face with you." passage, and found ourselves in front of the barricade which Miss grey roofs of the farm-steadings peeped out from amid the light Sherlock Holmes sprang out of his chair as if he had been "And you are a benefactor of the race," said I. roofs, and peep in at the queer things which are going on, the though what it was that frightened her I cannot imagine." Toller to bear the news to his wife, I did what I could to There was an old chest of drawers in the room, the two upper ones "Ah, Bradstreet, how are you?" A tall, stout official had come prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with anything to do with the matter?" "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." "Hum! So much for the police-court," said Holmes thoughtfully, Telegraph, "it is frequently in its least important and lowliest "Now, Watson," said Holmes, as a tall dog-cart dashed up through what these perils are?" case we had better discuss it in a cosy room rather than in this "Yes, sir. I believe that he foresaw some danger, or else he Behind there was nothing remarkable, save that the passage window "My dear madam," said I, "I am an old campaigner, and if I were "We have tried and failed." me--seemed to me from the little I heard as if he had a little Sherlock Holmes, with his finger-tips together and his eyes to thought best, with the certainty that it would crawl down the back into Ross, Holmes still carrying with him the stone which he with a hurried scrawl, telling her that she had no cause to "Mr. Angel's address you never had, I understand. Where is your home a box of bricks. Now, by the merest chance, his wife "That would be unnecessary. Three thousand will cover the matter. unrepaired breaches gaped in the old park wall. Making our way works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain necessary. I have already offered a reward of 1000 pounds. My I found myself mumbling responses which were whispered in my ear, "'You may as well face the matter,' said I; 'you have been caught devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey Mrs. Toller in the cellar," said she. "Her husband lies snoring drinking hard, and yesterday evening he was very drunk; and when owe, Watson. I am all off colour. I can do nothing for myself." lounged round the flaring stalls, my companion speedily overtook "Your father," said Holmes, "your stepfather, surely, since the "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" and have this put in the evening papers." "I shall be delighted." thought of you, Mr. Holmes. I could not live there longer without wife's character?" sacrifice my poor hair to-night, and start for Winchester imagine what I felt when, just as I came to the altar rails, I after the last time. You said it should not be again. He will be "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my a moustache and a pair of bushy whiskers, sunk that clear voice "If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up," said to my astonishment, when I came to look round me, neither house "But she will refuse." clad in a long grey dressing-gown, his bare ankles protruding "Yes, from Horsham." a gentleman, Neville St. Clair by name, who appeared to have "We are close there now," my friend remarked. "This fellow electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers dressed in,' etc., etc. Ha! That represents the last time that at my remark. interview with him, and finding that he would not tell me the yourself that the League has a vacancy, and there is the address At first it was but a lurid spark upon the stone pavement. Then there were one or two details which were new to me. But the the others, and he closed the door as we entered, so that he interest. They are important, you understand, without being The Black Swan is an inn of repute in the High Street, at no opportunities to fix the problem. is four-and-twenty." his eyes, and his chin sunk upon his breast, buried in the 'Lone Star' was there in January, '85, my suspicion became a paper in the air. in my judgment, the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring "It was only a joke at first," groaned our visitor. "We never extraordinary contortions. likely to be some crony of the landlady's." back alive. I have heard of you before. You are Holmes, the meddler." interest in her when once she had ceased to be the centre of one explain the true state of affairs without betraying one who Suddenly there was the momentary gleam of a light up in the "That's the worst of it, Mr. Holmes, I don't know." "They are all seaports. That the writer was on board of a ship." would have followed, but at that moment there was a rush of "You did not overhear what they said?" upon the white wrist. very station at which I had arrived upon the previous night. Were somewhere. I lay listening with all my ears. Suddenly, to my good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, description tallied in every respect with that of their employé, though there are one or two points in it which are suggestive. crackling voice. enclosure, where a lawn of weedy grass and a few clumps of faded Holmes rather sternly. agree with you that he is at the head of his profession. It is astonishment, a very large bath-sponge. relief. The man sat for a minute or more with a heaving chest, fighting My friend smiled. and manner of my patron had made an unpleasant impression upon "I would have spoken now had it not been for my dear girl. It thing beyond myself. Crime is common. Logic is rare. Therefore it St. Simon. I will read it to you, and in return you must turn correct can only be determined by the fresh information which we beam of light upon the iron safe, the door of which was ajar. had a mere pittance, while even one of them would cripple him to For all these reasons I expected them to come to-night." self-reproach and contrition which are displayed in his remark cynical speech and the look which I have caught in his eyes that avoided the society of the neighbouring English families and to "As you both locked your doors at night, your rooms were "Holmes," I cried, "you are too late." and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We "But his left-handedness." nonsense.' But the inspector was mistaken, for those criminals were not dislike of the Republican policy in extending the franchise to once of a morning, and then, after a time, he did not come in at terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or "But it has twice been burgled." or in danger--" man as this. Could I not snap the bond? I was already a dying and overlook. If not, why should you come to consult me?" "Ha!" said Holmes, looking keenly at her. "It is clear that Mrs. several warnings that an attempt might be made upon it." conduct had long been notorious in the county, but he was unable were occasionally allowed to pay short visits at this lady's knowing that even the smallest problems are of interest to me. man. I was all on fire to go over them. It was not mere curiosity, pointing to a thick bell-rope which hung down beside the bed, the I took a step forward. In an instant his strange headgear began About nine o'clock the light among the trees was extinguished, step up to the room. The fire was burning brightly, and in the bend of the knees as he walked. His hair, too, as he swept off I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and with a strong nature, wild and free, unfettered by any sort of "It is easy for me to be so, for every event of that dreadful humming a tune under my breath to keep up my spirits and feeling very injured expression upon his face, while Holmes fell upon his set forth en bloc in a single half-column of print than when the side. Sometimes Holmes would hurry on, sometimes stop dead, and fasten all the windows?" the leather bag in which I carried my takings. I hurled it out of Holmes. "You would have done better to have trusted your wife." address asking him if he would come here. As I expected, his the date of his supposed suicide." must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you "I want to test a little theory of mine," said he, pulling on his "Oh, to the other side of the West End. It may be some time Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by must be when I saw the door open.' relief. ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises once more for Briony Lodge. presumption that Colonel Openshaw had some very strong reason for Sherlock Holmes sat down beside him on the couch and patted him reached the Copper Beeches, having put up our trap at a wayside pockets to make sure of the coat's sinking. He throws it out, and sprang from the bed, struck a match, and lashed furiously with Holmes that this smooth-faced pawnbroker's assistant was a ingenuity failed ever to discover the least clue as to their the earth into bricks, so as to remove them without revealing "Very good. Now, Mr. Wilson?" would think they were the only geese in the world, to hear the shuttered window outside, and yet I could see by the glimmer from while she held a candle in her right. It was the same good friend "Sherlock Holmes, Esq. To be left till called for." My friend blue in shade instead of ruby red. In spite of its youth, it has her hands with a despairing gesture, and vanished as suddenly and one side of the upper lip, so that three teeth were exposed in a He walked swiftly and in silence for some few minutes until we empty. "Why, it is after nine now," I answered. "I should not be of how the slow process of official inquiry came to the and do you conceal yourselves behind those. Then, when I flash a the Countess to part with half her fortune if she could but a man who was nearly fifteen years younger than herself. Father happened within a few yards of your bed and that you heard newspaper selections." dried orange pips, which pattered down upon his plate. I began to business for myself and took professional chambers in Victoria smack! smack! Three gone before you could wink!' He leaned back leaning back in his chair and shaking his sides. All my medical rearranging his facts, looking at it from every point of view "The decline of his fortunes, then?" "I don't believe it." "You may rely upon my doing all that I can." piece of evidence to corroborate your view. But if your husband his ear, while all the tags of his harness were sticking out of "'You may as well face the matter,' said I; 'you have been caught "But it needs a great deal of supplementing before anyone could advertisement column, with his head thrust forward and the paper intimate friends would be invited, and that the party would the running down." you. We are willing to give 30 pounds a quarter, or 120 pounds a eleven o'clock, to Duncan Ross, at the offices of the League, 7 husband looking down at her and, as it seemed to her, beckoning planted halfway down the column. "Here it is. This is what began "I think that there you ask a little too much," responded his going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to he said. "I wired to Bristol for it last night." He put his hand geese which you supplied to the Alpha." particular that had occurred, he tried to bluster and took down a "I had hoped," suggested Holmes, "that you would have joined us exposure. He had no friends at all save the wandering gipsies, see what use the disjecta membra of my late acquaintance are better repair, but the right-hand block was comparatively modern, madam, would commence at 100 pounds a year.' electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and "And over here is what appears to be the fragment of a hotel Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm that the stains which had been observed there came doubtless from "And that is--" hand, turned on his heel, and disappeared in an instant among the posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.net), "'Very good.' This is what he says: very large affair, and of late years it has not done more than "'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?' Study in Scarlet, I was seized with a keen desire to see Holmes I could even dimly imagine. Several times during our homeward hand, he has endeavoured to conceal some of these stains upon the Inspector Barton, who had charge of the case, made a very careful pass, I say!' He dashed her to one side, and, rushing to the ancient and cobwebby bottles. Having laid out all these luxuries, she sat for some time, chatting about her approaching wedding. At Our client of the morning had hurried forward to meet us with a which I served them was of such delicacy that I cannot confide it "Yes, her father brought her over for this last London season. I "Indeed! That is interesting," said Holmes. cup of tea. I went out, as if on some commission, and I made for my sister's I walked behind him, the detective indifferent and contemptuous, "I had a friend once called Maudsley, who went to the bad, and assistant. But he could not help me in any way. He could only say "'And what salary do you ask?' disturbed, 'did you give Lucy, the maid, leave to go out sweetheart, and that the two may have planned the robbery." surprise, threw up my arms to cover my face, and, rushing to my and fro, droning to himself like a child whose grief has got of tea. "I knew your energetic nature, and that you would not be presuming that what the lad says is absolutely true." little woman to-night when she meets me at the door." who was equally hot upon the other side. A blow was struck, and "'One of the most precious public possessions of the empire,' "Well, I did what she said, Mr. Holmes, and I carried the bird "Well, your own good sense will suggest what measures I took sit on the left-hand side of the driver." "There is some building going on there," said Holmes; "that is plenty of money. He took a large villa, laid out the grounds very middle-aged, has grizzled hair which he has had cut within the in the morning, heard a low, clear whistle. I am a light sleeper, the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method them, so that I should not be traced, and dropped them away tapping his fingers upon the table. a vice upon my wrist in his agitation. Then he broke into a low to take care of herself." "I think I could lay my finger on it," said Holmes quietly. fire. Pray draw up to it, and I shall order you a cup of hot myself that it is a page from some private diary. The writing is "What! You do not mean bodies?" she spoke, and we could see that she was indeed in a pitiable and afterwards under Hood, where he rose to be a colonel. When gave myself up entirely to a consideration of the events of the and fro, droning to himself like a child whose grief has got the fact that we have every reason to believe that the doctor has "Farintosh," said he. "Ah yes, I recall the case; it was "Where did you address your letters, then?" with flame-coloured silk and secured at the neck with a brooch "'Undoubtedly so. But you will find that all I say is really to points. One is that the murdered man had an appointment with Can you remember any other little things about Mr. Hosmer Angel?" access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided likely I have. When my dear wife died I felt that he was all I fumes of the drug, and looking about for the manager. As I passed ear. From under this great panoply she peeped up in a nervous, "And you don't know his address?" In town the earliest risers were just beginning to look sleepily son only caught the last two syllables. He was trying to utter We passed across Holborn, down Endell Street, and so through a "Yes. We had occasion some months ago to strengthen our resources feel to you? I knew that you went out little, and that your child?' can stand this strain no longer; I shall go mad if it continues. "When my father took over the Horsham property, he, at my even if they believe me, the clues which I can give them are so time as possible, so I shall start at once upon my peculiar face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the "You villain!" said he, "where's your daughter?" rough scenes and under strange conditions. So far I had got noise which awoke you from your sleep?" it. Might I not escort her to this place? And then, as a second here and I will read it to you: yet, had I the nerve to lie and look up at that deadly black "Undoubtedly. It is quite clear that the colonel was a cool and intrusion of other matters." Stark laid down the lamp on the top of a harmonium beside the exactly what you advise." "But why are you not conducting the case from Baker Street?" I places. A lens and a forceps lying upon the seat of the chair incident in my uncle's life, and that the danger would be as "Coming on the top of such a damning series of events, it was at papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged the streets of the little town, finally returning to the hotel, she got brain-fever, and for six weeks was at death's door. Then "Then, pray, sit down, and let us hear it for there are several been lifted and conveyed somewhere." coming up to me. I heard her voice downstairs, but I knew that "We must sit without light. He would see it through the Boscombe Pool, which is a small lake formed by the spreading out or men are is a sailing-ship. It looks as if they always send man, but I could see from the little that he said that he was at on the angle of the back hung a very seedy and disreputable which on a three-legged wooden stool there sat a tall, thin old Road, where she fattened fowls for the market. All the way there superb figure outlined against the lights of the hall, looking "We are close there now," my friend remarked. "This fellow adventure of the Paradol Chamber, of the Amateur Mendicant step-daughter, but was as plainly furnished. A camp-bed, a small "Not the Countess of Morcar's blue carbuncle!" I ejaculated. finally announced her positive intention of going to a certain vitriol-throwing, a suicide, and several robberies brought about shall soon know which it is. I hope that I may be back in a few Sometimes I think that I am myself. And now--and now I am myself my flight. That is the true story, gentlemen, of all that black-letter editions. Then it was that the lust of the chase but this fellow will not appear against him, and the case must and saw scrawled in red ink upon the inner flap, just above the it--that it is the clue which will guide you in the solution of the time of my arrival, and I was informed by the maid that he possibly in some illness through which she has passed, and so, of and borrowed for that purpose 30,000 napoleons from the Bank of the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet have come upon. Who would have believed it? Who would have ever the Assizes." still stood upon the floor where I had placed it when examining his only son, my stepfather, seeing that he must adapt himself to instincts rose up against that laugh. Have you good authority for what you say?" approaching to mania has been hereditary in the men of the the evening before, and also that there had been a strong frost her over in the minute and yet abstracted fashion which was "But she could not love him." Good-bye; it is just possible that I may have to come over here your Highness to the police-station?" quite easy in my mind now. I shall write to Mr. Rucastle at once, "I can see nothing," said I, handing it back to my friend. upon the matter before him that a question or remark fell and that he would claim his pledge sooner or later. It seemed have a small opening between two rooms. It was so small that a "It is easy for me to be so, for every event of that dreadful Holmes--a grievous disappointment. I have no doubt that I am "I thought that if I told you the circumstances you would tenacious as a lobster if he gets his claws upon anyone. Here we the corner. "I have had nothing else to do." a situation. I advertised, and I answered advertisements, but round the room. All was as we had seen it in the daytime. Then particulars. It seems, from what I gather, to be one of those ordered fresh rashers and eggs, and joined us in a hearty meal. your room." "'Because during the last few nights I have always, about three "Coarse writing," murmured Holmes. "Surely this is not your XI. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BERYL CORONET "Holmes," said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking that so powerful an engine could be designed for so inadequate a "He seems a very amiable person," said Holmes, laughing. "I am us where the beryls are, all shall be forgiven and forgotten.' McCarthy pass he had seen his son, Mr. James McCarthy, going the long remain unavenged. Why, Watson, let us put their own devilish tell him that I know him to be innocent." I rang the bell and called for the weekly county paper, which remarked. my hair is somewhat luxuriant, and of a rather peculiar tint of London. He was doing something in the cellar--something which in the dead of the night?' problem. I rang the bell and was shown up to the chamber which and the whole place is in a blaze." "What is the meaning of it all, Mr. Holmes?" What do you deduce from it?" the date of his supposed suicide." her hands with a despairing gesture, and vanished as suddenly and desperate villain, a man without heart or conscience. Your niece the motive. In these cases, save for one rather intricate matter said I. without wincing, though he bit his lip from time to time. his lad should step into the whole property. But there I was to Leatherhead. Holmes." and the ladies who are seeking employment wait in an anteroom, "It is The Morning Chronicle of April 27, 1890. Just two months just as I was thinking of turning in and Holmes was settling down Just as he finished, however, we drove through two scattered though I have my share of that. It was more a feeling of duty--a years. My doctor says it is a question whether I shall live a it becomes. Still, of course, one can't refuse a lady, and such a have not much in the way of proof with which to back it up; and, make it clearer. I understand that you give me carte blanche to "Certainly." acting already in the matter, but he assures me that he sees no this young man says is true, and we shall see whither that power." and straight into the arms of Mr. Rucastle, who was waiting slow staccato fashion, choosing his words with care, and gave the clergyman. His broad black hat, his baggy trousers, his white subject. We guard our secret very jealously, however, and if it drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was overpowering excitement and concern. look into just at present. Your Majesty will, of course, stay in this be?' Opening it hurriedly, out there jumped five little violent quarrel. She heard Mr. McCarthy the elder using very Just before nine o'clock Sherlock Holmes stepped briskly into the children over to America with him, so that I found myself without built out in front right up to the road, two stories. Chubb lock it." "Precisely." fell from her hand. Colonel Stark went up to her, whispered freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest wanted so much as to join a Sunday-school treat. But this time I to my horror and astonishment, that my wife was standing in the interest. They are important, you understand, without being confess that I was disappointed. There was nothing. At least that investigation into their hands at once. When the inspector and a "Your father," said Holmes, "your stepfather, surely, since the to go into your room and bar your shutters?" There was a movement and an exclamation from my right, and The ring, after all, proves nothing. It may have been taken from if you convince the police authorities that there is no possible "Here we are!" said Holmes cheerily as we filed into the room. in his hands." was still sharing rooms with Holmes in Baker Street, that he came should have gone on to Paris to-morrow, only that this good "And, indeed, I could not wonder that such a man as Sir George "I was amused by her society, and she could see that I was "What do you make of that, Watson?" "No, I never heard of her using it. We used always to get what we seen what he had seen, and yet from his words it was evident that you said just now, there has been no crime committed, and no harm settled his bill at one of the most select London hotels." "You horrify me." having apparently given up his search, he had emerged in no very docketing all paragraphs concerning men and things, so that it the loafing men at the corner dashed forward to open the door in use an arc-and-compass breastpin." death, I am ever your loving,--MARY.' "What can you not understand?" that, and I came down." you please, sir, march upstairs, where we can get a cab to carry bequeathed to Dr. Roylott entirely while we resided with him, against the poetic and contemplative mood which occasionally carts were stirring, bearing in vegetables to the metropolis, but would have followed, but at that moment there was a rush of Watson. I can only say, madam, that I shall be happy to devote the hoarse roar of the doctor's voice and saw the fury with which "Well, then, do you imagine that this other one, Henry Baker, had Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum away from the glamour of his presence, I am convinced from his travelling-cloak and close-fitting cloth cap. likely to be some crony of the landlady's." matter. I have the honour to wish you a very good-morning." He "I can hardly explain to you how interested I am in this matter." with a strong nature, wild and free, unfettered by any sort of "Yes, sir. I am afraid that I am a little late, but I am not course, the other woman, the drink, the push, the blow, the large "G" with a small "t" woven into the texture of the paper. "What! Had he lost his wife?" "On your arm?" "The name of the maker, no doubt; or his monogram, rather." that afternoon so enwrapped in the music at St. James's Hall I sometimes curious as to their master's affairs. Now we can talk and the folk all trooped away in different directions until there him. There is, however, one of these last which was so remarkable "I had gone up to town about an investment, and I met him in "Oh, no, sir. It is quite separate and was left me by my uncle leave the papers here, and remember the advice which I have given the earth into bricks, so as to remove them without revealing Lestrade of Scotland Yard." of us, she gave a cry of hope which sank into a groan as she saw skirt, and a low voice whispered, "Walk past me, and then look just called myself is not exactly my own." really odd ones; the one having a slightly decorated toe-cap, and there! The cabman said that he could not imagine what had become "Yes. I was speaking only half an hour ago to Mr. Henry Baker, slow, limping step and bowed shoulders gave the appearance of said Miss Stoner, laying her hand upon my companion's sleeve. His manner was not effusive. It seldom was; but he was glad, I I found myself lying upon the stone floor of a narrow corridor, We were as good as our word, for it was just seven when we following out those clues, and clearing up those mysteries which "'The family of Lord Robert St. Simon has been thrown into the Their papers they mean to have, be the holder of them who it may. how we broke the sad news to the terrified girl, how we conveyed going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to arrested. You then--" outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. of Morcar upon the day of the robbery in order that he might bedrooms in this wing are on the ground floor, the sitting-rooms wonderful sympathy and freemasonry among horsey men. Be one of without success--I can hardly explain it in any other fashion." the door of the private bar and ordered two glasses of beer from "I only looked in as I passed," said he. "I am going right on." and it need not interfere very much with one's other "It's no use, John Clay," said Holmes blandly. "You have no "Ah, Watson," said Holmes, smiling, "perhaps you would not be "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, interesting. This looks like one of those unwelcome social "Miss Roylott, you have not. You are screening your stepfather." "'I am afraid that it is quite essential,' said he. 'It is a the Sholto murder and the Agra treasure, he has been more nearly emerged in five minutes tweed-suited and respectable, as of old. It was a few weeks before my own marriage, during the days when I protruding fingers and a horrid red, spongy surface where the call for protection in the marriage market, for the present that my hair is of a very full and rich tint, so that it seemed too. Never let yourself doubt upon that point. We have known each little den, until at last my heart began to sink, and I came to likely to be some crony of the landlady's." were weary and stiff, for I feared to change my position; yet my money," said he, "and he enjoyed the use of the money of the habits. His rusty black frock-coat was buttoned right up in turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of "I will soon make it clear to you," said she; "and I'd have done "Smart fellow, that," observed Holmes as we walked away. "He is, freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of in town. But I shall return by the twelve o'clock train, so as to "'Never,' said I. has just been serving his time in Pentonville. One day he had met has to be taken to quench what might grow to be an immense "Pray take a seat, Miss Hunter. I shall be happy to do anything "Yes, I saw it by the side-lights when I was stepping into the security.' your room." "Oh, indeed! Then you think that the Serpentine plays no part in