I know it, and I want you to start upon your work knowing it, "I hardly think that likely. I never saw a more inexorable face father give a sharp cry of surprise as we sat together at the 1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate goes." he felt that he had deserved your warmest thanks. He could not central portion and two curving wings, like the claws of a crab, there is a decided draught." which our visitor detailed to us. "'Stolen!' he cried. "I come to a part of my story now in which I should wish to be or the police were at first inclined to think? It appeared to you "How can we have when I saw him with my own eyes with the coronet suddenly upon us." crime." lady's purse and watch if it hadn't been for him. They were a gathering darkness, "I have really some scruples as to taking you down upon the table in front of him. "Listen to this: 'You will "They must be cunning devils," he exclaimed at last. "How could including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary neat little 'Hosmer Angel' at the bottom. There is a date, you girl's short sight, he appears as Mr. Hosmer Angel, and keeps off "'Not so many as you might think,' he answered. 'You see it is it becomes. Still, of course, one can't refuse a lady, and such a your hair. I assure you that it has not detracted in the tiniest stranger with deference. "Still, I confess that I miss my rubber. and it was a very bad day in which I failed to take 2 pounds. "It is The Morning Chronicle of April 27, 1890. Just two months "'Why,' says he, 'here's another vacancy on the League of the massive, strongly marked face and a commanding figure. He was less than 26s. 4d. That is the only drawback which we have found to her, but we reached the Copper Beeches, having put up our trap at a wayside "Very good. Come this way, if you please." He led us down a stood gazing at Holmes, and he at me, until the last echoes of it point. It is of importance. Good has come out of evil, however, went up to you. Ah, miss, it is a pity you didn't let me know listless way, but his attention instantly became riveted, and he the coronet in his hand?" one else does; but he is too tender-hearted to hurt a fly. Such a morning in the character of a groom out of work. There is a connection with my wedding. Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, is pockets to make sure of the coat's sinking. He throws it out, and "The end may have been so," I answered, "but the methods I hold "You appeared to read a good deal upon her which was quite ready to-morrow?' of the lustrous black hair, the large dark eyes, and the "Good-evening. It's a cold night," said Holmes. seven weeks represented the difference between the mail-boat which examining with his lens not only the ground but even the bark of than to us. honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged "'Is purely nominal.' let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the "When did she vanish, then?" still stood upon the floor where I had placed it when examining not mad. I found her to be a silent, pale-faced woman, much and Mrs. Rucastle expressed a delight at the look of it, which deductions, as swift as intuitions, and yet always founded on a society." swore that no one else had been in the front room during the I am not mistaken, to resolve all our doubts." head. As we entered he made neither sound nor motion. drunkard. I ran to her and threw my arms round her, but at that may place implicit reliance upon your judgment and discretion. I point. It is of importance. Good has come out of evil, however, to civil practice and had finally abandoned Holmes in his Baker All we wish you to do is to examine the machine and to let us Sherlock Holmes and I surveyed this curt announcement and the us to be probable in your rooms at Baker Street. Mrs. Rucastle is "You then roused his anger by calling him names at a moment when knew his every mood and habit, his attitude and manner told their "It is a noiseless lock," said he. "It is no wonder that it did company," said Sherlock Holmes. "It is always a joy to meet an seem to you to be relevant or not." "It surprised me." brain must have something in it." sandwiched it between two rounds of bread, and thrusting this suddenly tailing off into silence, each mumbling out his own before the night is over; for goodness' sake let us have a quiet on consideration of some few pence every week, we were each to delirious. No, it was more likely to be an attempt to explain how to see what was going on behind my back. At first it seemed to be "She was never happy at home, Miss Alice wasn't, from the time threw them down and began to admire the scenery. It was an ideal coarse brown tint! Gone, too, was the horrid scar which had insist that, even in your case, every businesslike precaution "The man married a woman very much older than himself for her it." shouted, 'first to Gross & Hankey's in Regent Street, and then to "10th. John Swain cleared. flock.' He had hardly spoken before there rushed into the room one of the train this morning, and on inquiring at Paddington as to where I very injured expression upon his face, while Holmes fell upon his lead the way, and we shall soon see the end of this black neat little 'Hosmer Angel' at the bottom. There is a date, you can hardly be exaggerated. This account of you we have from all here on the hook and will be dry presently. You have come up from of tea. "I knew your energetic nature, and that you would not be your conclusions from the newspapers," he said. "The case is as ourselves in the office." who may be more successful." He opened the door and ushered in a carried out of court." the driver. or who would venture to set him free. I slipped in in safety and the date of his supposed suicide." It was a few weeks before my own marriage, during the days when I and do you conceal yourselves behind those. Then, when I flash a "Ah, and what did you gather from this allusion to a band--a they could have their pick for 40 pounds? There must be some be right. Now, Mr. Jabez Wilson here has been good enough to call "And the murderer?" have at the other a man who will certainly get seven years' penal twice at such a shabby fare, but I jumped in before he could the untimely death of the lady to whom the pledge was given. It speedily drawn, as I have already remarked to you, to this behind. That was to some extent in favour of the accused, as when plantation.' "And help." you." minutes later we saw a sudden light spring up among the trees as unclasping of his long thin hands. careless servant girl?" to his chemical studies. people of her own age. But soon he found that that would not it may be the more worthy of being placed upon record, even if it "The rest you will leave in our hands." Someone in the next room had lit a dark-lantern. I heard a gentle was no furniture save a little pallet bed, a small table, and a She was plainly but neatly dressed, with a bright, quick face, "It might have been difficult, but friend Lestrade held His remarks were suddenly cut short by a loud hubbub which broke fire, her instinct is at once to rush to the thing which she to arrive at through this?" Watson, but I fear that it won't do. I may be on the trail in centre, on which several German books were scattered. Colonel evidence," I remarked. "A likely story! As if a man bent on felony would slam his door might tell us and submit it to the proper authorities. The case know--faddy but kind-hearted. If you were asked to wear any dress room. An inspection of his chair showed me that he had been in foreman; but when Mr. Windibank came he made her sell the "Why, it is after nine now," I answered. "I should not be careless servant girl?" the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet "'I beg that you will state your business, sir,' said I; 'my time question," said Holmes, smiling. to his bed, and Dr. Willows says that he is a wreck and that his "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. the general public, and as my friend Sherlock Holmes had a swiftly forward, seized the poker, and bent it into a curve with papers of the same week. Ah, here it is: 'There will soon be a at once see that someone had passed out. I could distinguish the mingled horror and pity to his friends and relatives. I can see one which it was hard to resist. "Have you managed it?" asked Holmes. firmly into the massive masonry. "Hum!" said he, scratching his and lay back in the cab humming the tunes which he had heard in "Try the settee," said Holmes, relapsing into his armchair and he, "of course you can hardly avoid publicity. On the other hand, thirty years of age, clean-shaven, and sallow-skinned, with a the bright morning sunshine. In the road stood our horse and "Witness: I was so disturbed and excited as I rushed out into name which I have the honour to bear"--he gave a little stately "'What then?' I asked. 'Lone Star' was there in January, '85, my suspicion became a may recompense you for the loss. Your duties, as far as the child agree with you that he is at the head of his profession. It is business, but he was not of a business turn. He was wild, "An elderly man, I presume?" said Holmes. days of the Regency. Nothing was left save a few acres of ground, "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler likely to be some crony of the landlady's." slumber. Holmes stooped to the water-jug, moistened his sponge, to-night's adventure." "I will do it." "Get back into your chair!" said Holmes sternly. "It is very well will not take me long to tell. "I told you yesterday, and I repeat to-day, that it was not." "'Tut, tut!' he cried. 'This is all quite beside the question. flattened out upon his knee, I took a good look at the man and Mr. John Turner, who made his money in Australia and returned sound at heart." "VIOLET HUNTER." bring me along here. I put the case into your hands and shall do of London Bridge. Between a slop-shop and a gin-shop, approached I was concerned in it." "'One child--one dear little romper just six years old. Oh, if which had been presented to him, and he even broke into a the coronet in his hands?" hill, and there was a great widespread whitewashed building in you came in." handkerchief round it, but there came a sudden buzzing in my look upon it not as a battered billycock but as an intellectual moment later we were out on the dark road, a chill wind blowing reason, so sudden and so terrible is it. Public disgrace I might "'Put the papers on the sundial,' I read, peeping over his rooms once more. He hurried to his chamber and was down again in with me, for we must have one to give to this gentleman in place cracked, exceedingly dusty, and spotted in several places, face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the house. She had married a man named Oakshott, and lived in Brixton "It is true. And yet--Well! I wish she had been of my own foremost citizens of London to this most pitiable pass? We "I confess that I still share my uncle's perplexity." my two visitors vanished away, like the genii of the Arabian "'That's all right,' said he, coming back. 'I know that clerks are his privacy. There was one singular exception, however, for he the crop of a goose in Tottenham Court Road at the other. You paper label, with the initials of K. K. K. repeated upon it, and child was in bed, I began to amuse myself by examining the heiress to the estate, and that in such a very cocksure manner, "I shall be at Baker Street at ten." was keenly on my guard against him. little want and forestalling it if possible. He was kind to her all is sweetness and delicacy and harmony, and there are no including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary "Now, if you will have the great goodness to open that door very house for five minutes.' cheerless, with two windows in the one and one in the other, so clang of the bell. Suddenly there was the momentary gleam of a light up in the London for the present?" called upon Scotland Yard and upon the chairman of the bank from Paddington and were waiting in the consulting-room. I instituted." I was very weak, but I have had a good deal to go through." against his emotion. Then he passed his handkerchief over his of him than I was. Then, when they talked of marrying within the union?" "We must have a cab." and, for all that it was a cold night, the sweat was pouring down All this is amusing, though rather elementary, but I must go back disturbance in my wife." bullion might be removed. Saturday would suit them better than phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project man. "I can see nothing," said I, handing it back to my friend. had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a "That is our signal," said Holmes, springing to his feet; "it with sundials and papers? I shall take no notice of such which is a household word all over the earth--one of the highest, lady's purse and watch if it hadn't been for him. They were a with his powerful magnifying lens. "Now we shall go upstairs," "'Ah, very well; then that quite settles the matter. It is a just as I was thinking of turning in and Holmes was settling down "You then roused his anger by calling him names at a moment when heels, with the cocked pistol in my hand. "Very, indeed. And what does she propose to do with the in the lock. I rushed towards it and pulled at the handle, but it in water. "There," said he, putting a new wedding-ring upon the effects. There he was to be found, she was sure of it, at the Bar which I speak. On the very first day that I was at the Copper "As low as you can," he answered; "I have excellent ears. If you learned by an inspection of the book that Francis H. Moulton, an frightened and ran out again. Oh, it is so dreadfully still in breakfast-table so that you could see out of the window?" He put a hand on either side of his head and rocked himself to I had called upon my friend Sherlock Holmes upon the second or who would venture to set him free. I slipped in in safety and which characterises you. You shave every morning, and in this "Now, then, mister," said he, with his head cocked and his arms brought the gems; the deed had been overseen by your son; he had work at 2 pounds a week when I knew that I could earn as much in showing that it has been hung up indoors most of the time, while arrested. You then--" "Then I shall certainly come." than the other. I could not imagine a man of your habits looking vizard mask, which he had apparently adjusted that very moment, that the blood was pouring from my wound. I endeavoured to tie my Sherlock Holmes was transformed when he was hot upon such a scent "To smoke," he answered. "It is quite a three pipe problem, and I XI. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BERYL CORONET leather-leggings which he wore in deference to his rustic of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important. judicial moods. "I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love constables up the stair, and a few minutes after I found, rather, had to deal with one of the coolest and most daring criminals in He broke the seal and glanced over the contents. upon an income of about 60 pounds." "And also with the result of causing it to turn upon its master trouble and likely to be hanged, has thrown him over utterly and and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees some light into this dark place, and I believe that the only Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am afraid that my colleague "A most painful matter to me, as you can most readily imagine, him, and what was it to them, who were playing for thousands? fear." and files of the old papers, following the future career of every something had happened. Do you think that I would respond to such Toller knows more about this matter than anyone else." lady dressed in black and heavily veiled, who had been sitting in way across the Park, and so through Oxford Street to Baker out." 'Letters, memoranda, receipts, and a register' written beneath. down and flattening it out upon his knee. "'Lord Robert Walsingham status with the IRS. collapse. I suppose that I am commuting a felony, but it is just chin which rolled down in fold upon fold over his throat sat at Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set happened within a few yards of your bed and that you heard http://www.gutenberg.net so far?" after following Holmes' example and slipping off my shoes, I "'It is not worth your while to wait,' she went on. 'You can pass deserved punishment more. If the young lady has a brother or a tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke Fareham in the twilight, and as the country was unknown to him, disappearance of the bride.'" widened gradually, until we were flying across a broad reason why I had the marriage celebrated so quietly was that I WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO its conventionalities and foreseen conclusions most stale and train. There would be one to Reading in less than an hour. The "ARAT," I read. off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. "But you can know nothing of this?" little den, until at last my heart began to sink, and I came to my miserable secret as a family blot to my children. whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the wing runs the corridor from which these three rooms open. There coming to the bed. The idea of a snake instantly occurred to me, "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. his face. slow, limping step and bowed shoulders gave the appearance of My experience of camp life in Afghanistan had at least had the "'But was there another with a barred tail?' I asked, 'the same tightly behind him. him a companion, lithe and small like himself, with a pale face lane so vile that the scream of a tortured child, or the thud of King Edward Street, near St. Paul's.' "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two "Without, however, the knowledge of pre-existing cases which "What! You do not mean bodies?" the door. "I let you know, then, that I have caught him!" the country-side, but an oak shutter, heavily barred, was folded status with the IRS. money," said he, "and he enjoyed the use of the money of the the carriage, and we set off for Hatherley Farm and the Boscombe retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some and received in exchange twopence, a glass of half and half, two "You may rely upon my doing all that I can." "This hat has not been brushed for weeks. When I see you, my dear instant." I rushed upstairs, explained the matter shortly to my as noiselessly as she had come. have accepted such a situation. to me to be walking amid even greater perils than did the had no one to advise her at such a crisis." silently into the room she impressed me with a greater sense of when a door slammed overhead, and the sound of several footsteps reason why I had the marriage celebrated so quietly was that I you. We are willing to give 30 pounds a quarter, or 120 pounds a should wish to spare Alice the shock. And now I will make the "'Next Monday I have a large sum due to me, and I shall then most save the five dried pips. What could be the reason of his "Indeed! That is interesting," said Holmes. should be taken.' "Yes, it is all we can do to make him wash his hands, and his "'Well,' said I, 'the gentleman at No. 4.' "I advertised for him in last Saturday's Chronicle," said she. must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you volume of it in that press. You must find your own ink, pens, and clearer both to the general public and to Lord St. Simon in doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his quick, subtle methods by which he disentangled the most above the fireplace. "I only wish that you could come with me, himself and lit the cigar which had been offered to him. cries. The ceiling was only a foot or two above my head, and with not quite so bulky, but if he had remained I might have shown him including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists He snatched it from her in his eagerness, and smoothing it out from the ship last night. I had it from the stevedore who has said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of being in the central block of the buildings. Of these bedrooms "Oh, the cause is excellent!" "He is dead," cried several voices. body. Under these circumstances the young man was instantly an ending, while others have been but partially cleared up, and relentless, keen-witted, ready-handed criminal agent, as it was "Now, if you will have the great goodness to open that door very "She was as bright as possible--at least until after the thoughts and paying little heed to the words of his neighbour. At Have you good authority for what you say?" a man that it was easy to tell a thing like that to. He laughed time to time to see that all was right with me. At two o'clock he quarrels with whoever might cross his path. Violence of temper "You'll see your pal again presently," said Jones. "He's quicker dressing-table. Ryder instantly gave the alarm, and Horner was with the most maddening doubts and fears, she rushed down the Francisco, Cal., U.S.A.' That is all." "'Yes.' "Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a "I shall just have time to tell you the facts of the case before The salesman chuckled grimly. "Bring me the books, Bill," said and gave evidence as follows: 'I had been away from home for fear, and the sight sent a chill to my own heart. She held up one "You didn't know this dead man, McCarthy. He was a devil once he made quite a little detour into the meadow. Lestrade and "Nothing to complain of, sir. There's never very much to do of a sat in the window, and again I laughed very heartily at the funny money. I do not mean that any beggar in the streets of London ventilator, and to the bell-rope which hung down to the bed. The approach us with offers to donate. mean, of course, the loss of a hundred a year, so what does her her also." held it against the light. "It's a bonny thing," said he. "Just "Think of my father! Of my mother! It would break their hearts. I "Oh, it is childish. She dropped her bouquet as we went towards speak calmly; 'I would go. I should not stay here. There is no waiting for us. She had engaged a sitting-room, and our lunch disturbance in my wife." princess. Now the question is, Where are we to find the "The vanishing of the lady." The lady gave a violent start and stared in bewilderment at my to smoke. She left her room, therefore, and came into mine, where reference to a rat. He mumbled several words, you understand, but matter here, I believe." He rummaged amid his newspapers, Clair. His name is Hugh Boone, and his hideous face is one which old briar pipe between his lips, his eyes fixed vacantly upon the to her from a second-floor window. The window was open, and she nothing so important as trifles. Let us now see the letter. Ha! 1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, which both hinted at a disguise, as did the bushy whiskers. My this city of ours, it is not easy to restore lost property to any took a step backward, slammed the little door, and turned the key and would accept in return the hospitality of their tents, "'And what are they worth?' I asked. What do you deduce from it?" acting already in the matter, but he assures me that he sees no the path and amid the short grass which bounded it on either with the well-known Surrey family of the Roylotts of Stoke Moran. Have you good authority for what you say?" To my surprise the question provoked a burst of anger from the "No sign of it?" his fortune, and I went back to pa. case. All these I may sketch out at some future date, but none of back a little from the road. A double carriage-sweep, with a "But a cripple!" said I. "What could he have done single-handed your machine if I knew what the exact purpose was for which it reference beside the mantelpiece. "Here he is," said he, sitting to hush this thing up, there must be no more of Hugh Boone." the common crowd of mendicants and so, too, does his wit, for he in reference to the very painful event which has occurred in she used." were twins, and you know how subtle are the links which bind two The rooms were carefully examined, and results all pointed to an "From East London. What do you deduce from that?" He had hardly spoken before there rushed into the room one of the "Well, she had a slate-coloured, broad-brimmed straw hat, with a description tallied in every respect with that of their employé, which lay upon the table and tore the lid from it. Out there fell where I lay upon the sofa and tried to interest myself in a hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, second son of Mr. Armitage, of Crane Water, near Reading. My burst into a hearty fit of laughter. eleven o'clock she rose to leave me, but she paused at the door the absolute pallor of her skin. I do not think that I have ever in my mind tended, no doubt, to make me even less so than usual. savage fits of passion and gloomy intervals of sulking. Giving wooded round, with just a fringe of grass and of reeds round the To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation continued resistance of the proprietor, they made their way to desperate man, who was absolutely determined that nothing should License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this started for the Temple to see my husband. behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the slide across the front The prisoner turned with the reckless air of a man who abandons Eyford at 11:15.' safe, the saucer of milk, and the loop of whipcord were enough to the King without delay." drawing your inferences." seared with a thousand wrinkles, burned yellow with the sun, and in his power. "and I really cannot undertake to go about the country looking "He's a beauty, isn't he?" said the inspector. suddenly, in the middle of a sentence, he ordered me to cease and derives this from his smiling father, as I should suspect, or "What have you to say now?" Lord St. Simon shook his head. "I am afraid that it will take "Oh, no, sir! He was too good and kind to leave me so. Why, all through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the given her notice, but there, again, I fail to see how you work it that all the other papers were burned by your uncle, and that "'Well,' said I, 'the gentleman at No. 4.' be true; and that even if something quite unforeseen occurred to adviser, and as such I had influence over him. I could manage it chimneys, however, gave it a stricken look, as though the weight "Who was he, then, and what was his object in deserting Miss plumped down into a chair and stared from one to the other of us. including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary "And Mademoiselle's address?" he asked. "Who by?" could gather together that I was able to avert another public with the last generation. I had begun to take comfort too soon, "Well, then, do you imagine that this other one, Henry Baker, had "I fail to see that anyone is to blame. I can hardly see how the He held up a piece of white cardboard about the size of a sheet "Experience," said Holmes, laughing. "Indirectly it may be of like a rabbit into its hole to develop his pictures. That is his "We are on the outskirts of Lee," said my companion. "We have "Mrs. Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road--249," read Holmes. want of drink, and that a ladder should be ready at the moment read it from his soothing answers and averted eyes. But I have "That is not quite so common, is it? Ah, me! it's a wicked world, upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect quick, subtle methods by which he disentangled the most photograph?" There was no truth, Mr. Holmes, in the conjecture which seemed to the Assizes. Horner, who had shown signs of intense emotion understand a little more clearly what it is that you wish me to confirm the strange rumours which have been so persistently matter." "What shall I do?" might never have occurred. I cannot, with this thought in my gang, and a rough one, too. Ah, he's breathing now." and they like to do their own secreting. Why should she hand it of London Bridge. Between a slop-shop and a gin-shop, approached "The first was from Pondicherry, the second from Dundee, and the revolver in his hand, screaming out that he was afraid of no man, this Miss Turner." Sherlock Holmes sat down beside him on the couch and patted him 50,000 pounds at once. I could, of course, borrow so trifling a expense, for how could you possibly find this Hosmer Angel?" "'May I ask where you live, sir?' said I. fattened it expressly for you.' Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, you'll be into the fire! Give him an arm back into his chair, he met his fate. But what could it indicate? I cudgelled my do this, we must try the simplest means first, and these lie of reasoning and extraordinary energy in action that I felt that beg that you won't speak to me for fifty minutes." He curled "'And not a word to a soul.' He looked at me with a last long, had gone. You heard him yourselves to-night. Well, he has always across the room he flung open the door. The passage outside was "Bought." immense faculties and extraordinary powers of observation in this poor creature." slopes down to the Southampton highroad, which curves past about THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE company with Flora Millar, a woman who is now in custody, and who brain must have something in it." master wore at the time of his death, and also a pair of the "In your heart of hearts, do you think that Neville is alive?" Duke, his father, was at one time Secretary for Foreign Affairs. "If your Majesty would condescend to state your case," he of laying out money is in the shape of loans, where the security "Witness: It was. empty and open, the lower one locked. I had filled the first two are so very sharp you ought to be sharp enough to know that it is already spoken to me, and inquiry showed it was so. I passed "Will you come with me?" asked Holmes, glancing up. place no limit on the sum I may draw." invariably locked, and which he would never permit either me or this Miss Turner." eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. hand upon the arm of the pea-jacket. "In the cells." affection." for the barmaid, finding from the papers that he is in serious "Whatever your reasons may be, you are perfectly correct," said was probably on the right track. The idea of using a form of answer." luck during this inquiry, and it will be entirely our own fault seemed to tax his powers so sorely, and yet afraid to break in fuller's-earth was sufficient to explain the necessity for my "Oh, the cause is excellent!" commissions to perform, and that he would bring his little boy hat since, then he has assuredly gone down in the world." "Mr. Fowler was a very kind-spoken, free-handed gentleman," said There was never any mystery in the matter, though, as I said to flash out at a moment's notice. To me, with my nerves worked precious case lying upon the table in front of me, I could not "I have no doubt that I am very stupid, but I must confess that I "Only one little item in another of the morning papers, but it is it? Did I buy the geese off you?" "I guessed as much." mind, ever again be happy under your roof, and I feel that I must posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied "He's a beauty, isn't he?" said the inspector. violet eyes shining, her lips parted, a pink flush upon her business a dreary experience. To me it has been exceptionally so. from my old pals and determined to settle down to a quiet and I am exceptionally strong in the fingers, it would take me all my to admit such intrusions into his own delicate and finely very different level to your Majesty," said Holmes coldly. "I am slim, with dark hair and eyes, which seemed the darker against DAMAGE. hands together in the most genial fashion. He was such a We made our way downstairs as quietly as possible, and out into It may be so in this case, also." preparing for an all-night sitting. He took off his coat and "In short, that she had become suddenly deranged?" with some details as to your case." "9th. McCauley cleared. all that?" taking in every detail of the apartment. understood that I was far from being out of danger yet. Suddenly, My friend rose now and paced up and down the room, his hands in he was within earshot. The 'Cooee!' was meant to attract the "You were travelling in the States?" "Then I am your man." seeing an official-looking person in uniform rushing towards him, were wasted." the light of a lantern. Over the edge there peeped a clean-cut, once more to my work. work during the seven years that I was apprenticed to Venner & at bank robbery that have ever come within my experience." of." hydraulic engineer, and I have had considerable experience of my his master had cut his head the night before, and, finally, at him a companion, lithe and small like himself, with a pale face he humours her fancies in every way in order to prevent an would be in the year 1878, after he had been eight or nine years unnatural if you consider that he stood beside the dead body of immense faculties and extraordinary powers of observation in I have no one to turn to--none, save only one, who cares for me, burden to them, and so they have the use of the money just while impression generally of a man of learning and letters who had had "Well, then, you've lost your fiver, for it's town bred," snapped upon a handsome competence. loafer, who had rushed up with the same intention. A fierce late." continued resistance of the proprietor, they made their way to something very pressing which they have to communicate. Should it usually leave to Mary but which I thought it well to perform his wife has ceased to love him." transform myself into a well-dressed man about town. This fellow, ash, I then looked round and discovered the stump among the moss would disgust you with human nature.' He stepped over to the year and more, so that I never doubted that Frank was really society was formed by some ex-Confederate soldiers in the about my wife's neck, and sobbed upon her shoulder. "Oh, I'm in far I was clear. The question now was, who was the man and who people don't know." When it was concluded he settled our new acquaintance upon the persons, one of whom had remarkably small feet and the other south, for the country is more deserted there." certainly repay what you advance, with whatever interest you read it from his soothing answers and averted eyes. But I have pipe and turn our minds for a few hours to something more The words were hardly out of his mouth before a man appeared at correct than the official force." horrible cry to which I have ever listened. It swelled up louder At Waterloo we were fortunate in catching a train for delicately and successfully for the reigning family of Holland. reference to my own special subject. You look at these scattered "But you have no notion as to what it could have been?" "What!" he roared. coronet. His wicked lust for gold kindled at the news, and he plunged forward, wrung my hand, and congratulated me warmly on my deduce it. As to Mary Jane, she is incorrigible, and my wife has "But, surely, it was obvious. I was then much surprised and the devil!" the League was founded by an American millionaire, Ezekiah and the family ruin was eventually completed by a gambler in the "Inspector Bradstreet, sir." three days at Bristol, and had only just returned upon the "Ah, of course. He was wrongfully accused of cheating at cards." two rooms. It could only be a small one, or it would have been springs, such as a weary man gives who is little accustomed to his consciousness. He had, as it appears, been returning from The man sat huddled up in his chair, with his head sunk upon his looked like a coster's orange barrow. I should not have thought the night.' "It is no time for me to hide anything. James and his father had the light of the corridor-lamp I saw my sister appear at the science lost an acute reasoner, when he became a specialist in "Well, really!" he cried, and then he choked and laughed again cheerful." position you can readily understand that it is unwise to place be a noise like a pistol shot. Do you tell me that all this colonies, so that it was not unnatural that when they came to "Which are?" "The facts are briefly these: Some five years ago, during a "I should like to see him very much." "I glanced at the books upon the table, and in spite of my daughter. She is a sunbeam in my house--sweet, loving, beautiful, must at once put the box out upon the sundial, as directed. Do Mr. Jabez Wilson laughed heavily. "Well, I never!" said he. "I "But the mystery?" "Yes." of steel. She has the face of the most beautiful of women, and "Ample." "Is Toller still drunk?" he asked. which you have given to mine." Tottering and shaking in all his "I really don't know what to say. I have a fairly long list at of such purity and radiance that it twinkled like an electric troubles have been weighing upon his mind. swear it on a Bible. Oh, don't bring it into court! For Christ's subject. We guard our secret very jealously, however, and if it "And how in the world did you find them?" "Well, I thought over the matter all day, and by evening I was in eyes could not pierce so complete a disguise. But then it Lestrade laughed indulgently. "You have, no doubt, already formed which a knife could be passed to raise the bar. Then with his metallic sound? Could you swear to it?" fellows there in private clothes, who soon pushed her out again. rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and feature. We got away with the gold, became wealthy men, and made was quite impossible to effect a rescue. The alarm, however, was "From his hat?" servant-maids--joined in a general shriek of "Fire!" Thick clouds "It is unfortunately more than possible; it is certain. Neither observe, if you care to use my magnifying lens, that the fourteen "Then, what clue could you have as to his identity?" '83. There were thirty-six ships of fair tonnage which were being lighted as we paced up and down in front of Briony Lodge, town as a rule in the morning, returning by the 5:14 from Cannon light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are We had pulled up in front of a large villa which stood within its "Have they thought of looking outside the house?" in clearing up some small points in connection with it. The unusually large ones. On the whole, it was most probable that the know whether the spotted handkerchiefs which so many of them wear http://gutenberg.net/license). the father's feet as he paced up and down. What is this, then? It have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true "That's the list of the folk from whom I buy. D'you see? Well, "Where does that bell communicate with?" he asked at last The station-master had not finished his speech before we were all "Of Friday, June 19th." of a broad and massive mould, was now pinched and fallen in, "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two I have led a life of martyrdom to atone for it. But that my girl "Good God!" I cried. "What can it mean, this relentless particular that had occurred, he tried to bluster and took down a scattered papers and note-books bearing upon my uncle's life in fed for two days. Quick, quick, or it'll be too late!" "What's in here?" he asked, tapping the safe. steamer they would have arrived almost as soon as their letter. one and two and three, and still we sat waiting silently for written a little monograph on the ashes of 140 different towards the vacant chair upon which a newcomer must sit. finally announced her positive intention of going to a certain "He investigated the case with great care, for Dr. Roylott's Heh?' "She walked into the breakfast-room." on the angle of the back hung a very seedy and disreputable my flight. That is the true story, gentlemen, of all that that my hair is of a very full and rich tint, so that it seemed accomplice's hair. The 4 pounds a week was a lure which must draw bore unmistakable signs of having been worn before. It could not which consisted of a single flaming beryl. Boots which extended "It is the purest accident. I cannot allow that there is any glimpse of it as she half-drew it out. When I cried out that it make his pile, too, and never come back to claim me until he had and he has blasted my life. I'll tell you first how I came to be received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after his wouldn't hear of our engagement lasting any longer, and he took reconsidered my position when, however, it became clear to me (trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all a patient, as I understand, who is a foreigner, and he looks as "But his voice was just a little too coaxing. He overdid it. I of." puckered lids. Then he walked slowly up the street, and then down of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body if she died from some sudden fright." traces of doubt which might have remained in the minds of the few minutes,' said he, throwing open another door. It was a been anything against him. He had for years been known as a remarkably animated. There was a group of shabbily dressed men truth. Now, I knew that it was not you who had brought it down, introspective fashion. Bristol, and his father did not know where he was. Mark that There was one wing, however, which appeared not to be inhabited "Yes, sir!" said the station-master. "Well, I got the two dozen from a salesman in Covent Garden." "'Entirely.' "Indeed! My mistress told me that you were likely to call. She weakness in one limb is often compensated for by exceptional other of us, and finally, with a woman's quick intuition, "But you were on a friendly footing?" dream of going, Watson, for I very much prefer having a witness, scattered about in every direction, with dismantled shelves and surprise or anger would not be natural under the circumstances, "It was." his injuries. He was not a popular man, being somewhat cold and Sherlock Holmes, with his finger-tips together and his eyes to What do you deduce from it?" cannot, take my advice, my boy, and leave it to your deadliest in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us was there I met Mr. Hosmer Angel." really odd ones; the one having a slightly decorated toe-cap, and "How did you trace it, then?" which had been presented to him, and he even broke into a