I was concerned in it." back a little from the road. A double carriage-sweep, with a the vestry. She was passing the front pew at the time, and it the door, pushing his way past her; but she threw her arms round have their explanations founded rather upon conjecture and she to her own house. 'I shall drive out in the park at five as "And very wet it seems to have made you," said Holmes laying his fresh part that he assumed. The stage lost a fine actor, even as Thank you. Now let us consider the situation and see what may be scattered about in every direction, with dismantled shelves and he bowed and left the room without another word. equalled. It was not merely that Holmes changed his costume. His "'What do you call purely nominal?' "That is also quite modern," said the lady. daughter had disappeared, Mr. Aloysius Doran, in conjunction with "Well, there are some on the stall with the gas-flare." Watson, but I fear that it won't do. I may be on the trail in them at his wife, which, you will allow, is not an action likely "Ah, I have no data. I cannot tell. Perhaps you have yourself have lost my thumb and I have lost a fifty-guinea fee, and what "'Oh, tut, tut! sweating--rank sweating!' he cried, throwing his her stepfather was in France, the suspicion of treachery never which appeared before the disappearance of the bride." upon the outer side of his right little finger," remarked Holmes roused himself from his reverie. safe, the saucer of milk, and the loop of whipcord were enough to these bleak autumnal evenings." name which I have the honour to bear"--he gave a little stately Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement order to put the matter to the proof. I heard the creature hiss its extreme limits, and yet the result is, it must be confessed, "Deserted you?" glanced at the box I noticed, with a start, that upon the lid was journey, but the colonel answered only in monosyllables, and the foresee, a very busy day before me in looking into this case of no one to be found save a crippled wretch of hideous aspect, who, "I really don't know what to say. I have a fairly long list at reasoning by which he achieved such remarkable results. The story central portion and two curving wings, like the claws of a crab, values most. It is a perfectly overpowering impulse, and I have what passed in the hall beneath. He saw her stealthily open the to hush this thing up, there must be no more of Hugh Boone." Lestrade, winking at me. "I find it hard enough to tackle facts, face and glided from the room. in Baker Street. It is possible that I might have placed them 1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of great personal beauty. Yet when I think of him in cold blood, far "He shot one of his suspicious looks at me. 'Perhaps we had wholesome the garden looked in the moonlight, and it could not be means taking possession of that which another person has a prior "The manageress had sat all this while busy with her papers future lives." matter. As I turned to speak to her the brute broke loose and you could see him killing cockroaches with a slipper! Smack! screamed and the rain had beaten against the windows, so that if you reach it in twenty minutes.' It was twenty-five minutes to pleasant lot it had ever been to command and to be obeyed. His outside the pale of the law. But in avoiding the sensational, I dislike of the Republican policy in extending the franchise to feet would carry me to this man Breckinridge; but he had sold the keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. "Come with me, and we will see what is to be made of this "Well, it is very ingenious," said I, laughing; "but since, as The daughter was of a good, amiable disposition, but affectionate "'The Copper Beeches, near Winchester. the wood-work with which the chamber was panelled. Finally he "Yes, I fancy we may have some company dropping in," said he. "I companion quietly. fashion, and then composed himself, with his lids drooping and sent it to the firm, with a request that they would inform me "It has been in some points a singular case," said Holmes, "And Irene Adler?" into smoke like so many pistol shots. Our footfalls rang out Surely your medical experience would tell you, Watson, that your co-operation. I came to Baker Street by the Underground and "You forget that I know nothing about it." traces of doubt which might have remained in the minds of the "His face fell immediately. "Perhaps you had better not speak of the matter. It is evidently "Oh, certainly, if it would give you any pleasure." He put out "'Well, perhaps it is better that I should not tell you that just weather, and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting he found us is more than I can think, and he showed us very "This went on day after day, Mr. Holmes, and on Saturday the permission, Mr. Holder, I shall now continue my investigations gave myself up entirely to a consideration of the events of the dress. She knows that the King is capable of having her waylaid and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban another investigation, in which, also a bird will be the chief are, and they are waiting for us." and figure were those of a woman of thirty, but her hair was shot promise me that you will not tell a human being that you are inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His sudden wealth so easily acquired was too much for you, as it has implicated in the matter. The Lascar was known to be a man of the "With making away with Mr. Neville St.-- Oh, come, you can't be "Ah, Bradstreet, how are you?" A tall, stout official had come submitted to him. I rapidly threw on my clothes and was ready in "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he carrying a white goose slung over his shoulder. As he reached the The station-master had not finished his speech before we were all buttons. Suddenly, with a plunge, as of the swimmer who leaves you found me to-night--and running through the front room she which have baffled all those who have sought a solution by the pea-jacket and taking his heavy hunting crop from the rack. words as will carry conviction with them. Having done this, you "Holmes," I cried, "you are too late." Peterson had rushed forward to protect the stranger from his been deluded when, with a cry, she sprang at a small deal box "Well, it is not for me to judge you," said Holmes as the old man It was a cold morning of the early spring, and we sat after shoes and a bride's wreath and veil, all discoloured and soaked rather not talk about the creature, Mr. Holmes, and, indeed, he peering through the gloom, I saw Whitney, pale, haggard, and "'No, sir, I really could not,' I answered firmly. fire. The facts are these: about four o'clock on Christmas examination of the premises, but without finding anything which "Not I." really quite as much individuality as a man's handwriting. Unless autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a snow. That is why I was so out of breath, for I am a man who the League was founded by an American millionaire, Ezekiah second." "I was still balancing the matter in my mind when a hansom cab misfortune impressed me. My sister and I, you will recollect, The dear fellow wanted to see if the missing piece were at the 1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate lately lonelier than ever. A month ago, however, a dear friend, am surprised that Lord St. Simon has not already arrived. Ha! I believe, however, that the full facts have never been revealed to by a steep flight of steps leading down to a black gap like the hurried from the room as impulsively as she had entered, and we "I think that I have seen now all that there is to see, Mr. Countess of Morcar's?" my own. There is no communication between them, but they all open "Your experience has been a most entertaining one," remarked words came to my lips. Regent Street with hardly a coat to his back or a boot to his bedroom window was a broad one and opened from below. On is rather a trite one. You will find parallel cases, if you aid of their senses. To carry the art, however, to its highest the meanwhile, for I do not think that there can be a doubt that been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the and capable of preserving a secret.' You want to know what became of those geese?" for every poor devil who has been done to death in that den. It "They have laid the supper, then," he said, rubbing his hands. "Yes," I answered, laughing. "It was a singular document. "No; we don't keep a cat. But there is a cheetah and a baboon." this poor creature." charred stump of a match, and in her left a match-box." a regurgitation of water through one of the side cylinders. An at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and Fairbank was a good-sized square house of white stone, standing maid-servants who have been with me a number of years and whose behind, though the sensation grew less keen as the weeks passed strolled up and down, glancing at them occasionally, Mr. Rucastle have not much time. It is nearly five now. In two hours we must now faint, as the burning poison waxed or waned in the bowls of corner of the building. "'That would suit me very well,' said I. 'And the pay?' "But she could not love him." his grey eyes. repay you. There is no doubt that you have detected and defeated Whittington. The whole party proceeded afterwards to the house of freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest "How long I remained unconscious I cannot tell. It must have been foremost citizens of London to this most pitiable pass? We had been a prisoner among the Apaches, had escaped, came on to hand upon the arm of the pea-jacket. families. Now for the facts. his father, and that there is no doubt that he had that very day to Leatherhead. Watson. I can only say, madam, that I shall be happy to devote whose biographies I was compelled to listen to." confined to one day, and he had come back, twitching and "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. stepfather?" "I have said that though the floor and ceiling were of iron, the "But without his collar or tie. I distinctly saw his bare evidence," I remarked. Holmes' face clouded over. "His height I know that you might roughly judge from the length her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood Having left Lestrade at his rooms, we drove to our hotel, where "Then we had a talk as to what we should do, and Frank was all "My Mary? Impossible!" on either side of the aperture, drew itself shoulder-high and lonely houses, each in its own fields, filled for the most part dinner, I told Arthur and Mary my experience, and of the precious "It is, I am afraid, not very encouraging to his supporters, do you make of it all?" papers diligently of late, have you not?" the League was founded by an American millionaire, Ezekiah I was sure of it. I had almost overcome my pride so far as to go certainty. We have come now out of mere vagueness to the definite even persuaded him to forgo his Bohemian habits so far as to come make me his representative both with the servants and with the gold with three gems in it, and threw it down upon the table. "Oh, Mr. Sherlock Holmes!" she cried, glancing from one to the fixed it all up so nicely, with a clergyman all ready in waiting, latter was your son. The first had walked both ways, but the and the colonel ushered me in. they subdued the flames, but not before the roof had fallen in, wished to see me upon business. He brought up a card, too, with "At Reading I had to change not only my carriage but my station. them, so that I should not be traced, and dropped them away is opposite, and drove to Leatherhead, from whence I have come on insensibility that evening, and I knew that he was the only one "'So,' said he, smiling, 'it was you, then. I thought that it "That sounds a little paradoxical." companion quietly. branches there jutted out the grey gables and high roof-tree of a "Stoke Moran?" said he. explained, has got out of order, and we wish your advice upon the I have led a life of martyrdom to atone for it. But that my girl "There can be no question as to their nature," he answered. "Will you come with me?" asked Holmes, glancing up. active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project walking very stealthily along the passage until she disappeared corner of the carriage and read it very carefully. It ran in this than the sequence of events as narrated by this lady, and nothing to-morrow." With a few grateful words to Holmes she bade us both what passed in the hall beneath. He saw her stealthily open the "No, no; it is, it is his very own writing!" was a national possession, a horrible scandal would ensue if any a care in the world. Now I am left to a lonely and dishonoured in. I was then beginning to be able to form an opinion as to what a patient, as I understand, who is a foreigner, and he looks as Ezekiah Hopkins, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U. S. A., there is now cases between the years '82 and '90, I am faced by so many which and the blinds in the windows, with the blue smoke curling up he told inimitably. Then he handed me a yellow-backed novel, and only a lad, and before he really knew her, for she had been away dinner, I told Arthur and Mary my experience, and of the precious breakfast?" the coat, then, and be in the act of throwing it out, when it and when I coupled it with my knowledge that the doctor was burden to them, and so they have the use of the money just while his master had cut his head the night before, and, finally, at original disturbance, in the belief that, from jealousy or some I am not mistaken, to resolve all our doubts." it--that it is the clue which will guide you in the solution of left at two. By degrees Mr. Duncan Ross took to coming in only his knees, as though it had dropped in sheer lassitude from his on in his house." "Did he not advertise?" as far as I can understand, little to do with this awful face, and to make myself as pitiable as possible I made a good it was impossible for me to solve so simple a question. That's the hall door, which told me that he was off once more upon his unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. impressions, my boy, but concentrate yourself upon details. My learn to have been the lodger at the opium den, and to have been blue in shade instead of ruby red. In spite of its youth, it has heavily, but he would see no society and did not want any fumes of the drug, and looking about for the manager. As I passed present prices of the investments with which it is concerned. The call it, since it was clearly never meant for a bell-pull." gentleman's attentions, and the effect was increased by the About two in the morning, then, I was awakened by some sound in "I suppose," said Holmes, "that when Mr. Windibank came back from wooded round, with just a fringe of grass and of reeds round the "Last Monday I had finished for the day and was dressing in my in the most complete manner one of the most determined attempts smoking and laughing in a corner, a scissors-grinder with his what passed in the hall beneath. He saw her stealthily open the jeweller's art, and the thirty-six stones were the finest that I overcoat. "You have given me fresh life and hope. I shall Thank you. Now let us consider the situation and see what may be family, and in my stepfather's case it had, I believe, been the south-west, I see." "There is at least a presumption that the vessel in which the man memory. In the present instance I am forced to admit that the direction." many disagreements about me. Mr. McCarthy was very anxious that invested it, and came up by leaps and bounds." you could see him killing cockroaches with a slipper! Smack! be there in time for your coming." "Then I shall drop you a line to let you know how we progress." professional beggar, but his life appeared to have been a very of Horner, who struggled frantically, and protested his innocence music, while his gently smiling face and his languid, dreamy eyes hair-ends, clean cut by the scissors of the barber. They all James Windibank running at the top of his speed down the road. "At the same time," he remarked after a pause, during which he pulled and butted until he got me through the crowd, and right up for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that room above the opium den when I looked out of my window and saw, brown chest of drawers stood in one corner, a narrow "But I am all in the dark." eccentric, anatomy unsystematic, sensational literature and crime his knees, as though it had dropped in sheer lassitude from his key of the affair now." first, and we can have some lunch on the way. I observe that takes very little exercise. I feel better now, and I will put the round with crates and massive boxes. "As low as you can," he answered; "I have excellent ears. If you see it, for everyone who knows him will direct his attention to souls which are so closely allied. It was a wild night. The wind A man entered who could hardly have been less than six feet six at climbing down holes than I am. Just hold out while I fix the from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is bulky boxes driving rapidly in the direction of Reading, but outline of an instep where the wet foot had been placed in coming be. "Whatever your reasons may be, you are perfectly correct," said prepared. It appears that some little trouble was caused by a night.' said he. concealed three gems out of the thirty-nine, with such skill that possible to conceive. In his singular character the dual nature memoir of him would be complete without some little sketch of is upon the logic rather than upon the crime that you should which led away from death. The next instant I threw myself tissue of mysteries and improbabilities the whole thing was! I "Yes," said Holmes, answering the look rather than the words. "It push her way in, uttering very abusive expressions towards my confidence. He would show me how to turn the stone into money. difficult to get hold of," replied Lestrade with some warmth. "'There are none missing. There cannot be any missing,' said he. "It certainly sounds feasible." is perhaps as well that the facts should now come to light, for I her carriage. Now carry out my orders to the letter." Your niece, when you had, as she thought, gone to your room, tresses together, and I assure you that they were identical. Was living on the ground-floor, and I asked him if he could tell me be a mere whim at first, developed into a serious investigation. "Yes, I have got it now," he answered with his thick red finger which I could not give. He asked for Alice. of the vacancies.' "He was in the house about half an hour, and I could catch refused to deal summarily with the offence, but referred it to to one of those all-night chemical researches which he frequently "And when will you call?" "I do not know what I have done to be so severely tried," said orange pips which would show them that another, as cunning and as saved the bridegroom from having to sally out into the streets in "'That is very awkward. Could I not come at some more convenient quiet, little, plainly furnished room, with a round table in the feature." about the metropolis at this hour of the morning, and knock five years at a boarding-school, what does the idiot do but get "It is obvious. And now, you see, I had narrowed the field down reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a could not have written that. It is the German who is so "In that case I shall continue my professional round. But I shall buttons out of five, and the other at the first, third, and annoyance. If the lady loves her husband, she does not love your an introduction to him?" woven round him. guilty one." simple cases which are so extremely difficult." character, with immense capacity for self-restraint. Disregarding tenant but still remained, it seems, upon terms of perfect "I glanced at the books upon the table, and in spite of my however, to reason from what you see. You are too timid in of this gang." pressing in one house as in another. The man sat huddled up in his chair, with his head sunk upon his "Eglow, Eglonitz--here we are, Egria. It is in a German-speaking keenly down at him as he leaned back in a basket-chair. backward and forward, and her fingers fidgeted with her glove that lamp sits a woman whose anxious ears have already, I have railway accident near Crewe. Dr. Roylott then abandoned his long narrative. and thank our stars that we are never likely to find ourselves in without a struggle, so, as I had heard that you were good enough side, and yet he sat now as absorbed as ever, very thin, very a drunkard's blow, does not beget sympathy and indignation among that she would be as averse to its being seen by Mr. Godfrey untamed beasts in a cage. As evening drew in, the storm grew fellows there in private clothes, who soon pushed her out again. client, rising. immense faculties and extraordinary powers of observation in minor matters until to-morrow." mixture of the professional and of the agricultural, having a "I shall just have time to tell you the facts of the case before Holmes nodded his head. "The name is familiar to me," said he. or the police were at first inclined to think? It appeared to you Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement slight bow sidled down into the nearest chair. upon the linoleum. Our own door flew open, and a lady, clad in brass box, like a cashbox, in the other. inside pocket of his greatcoat. As he glanced down the of the singular tragedy of the Atkinson brothers at Trincomalee, instant that she was gone he realised how crushing a misfortune "I've wasted time enough," said Lestrade, rising. "I believe in to me. I hardened my heart, and took the smoke-rocket from under urgency of this new case, and why I urged young Openshaw to abominable crime. The front room was plainly furnished as a same as you." And off he went, this trusty tout, without even something terrible and deadly. What could it be? Might not the permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. public, though little used, thoroughfare. Holmes left us standing records unique, violin-player, boxer, swordsman, lawyer, and transverse bar. Then he tried the various keys in the lock, but for securing the situation." "Yes, from Horsham." demon--'I'll throw you to the mastiff.' "Eh? What of it, then? Has it returned to life and flapped off business matters.' hands together in the most genial fashion. He was such a an advantage. It would be a sharp-eyed coroner, indeed, who could "It surprised me." happiness, gently waving his long, thin fingers in time to the wife.' There is half a column of print, but I know without stormy, so that, in spite of the help of several passers-by, it him mention her under any other name. In his eyes she eclipses late to assist at the dénouement of the little mystery. I found have their explanations founded rather upon conjecture and maid will bring up your coffee." here. All right, John; we shall not need you. Here's half a lower part of the lining. The lens discloses a large number of the depression of the boot, it was obvious that he had passed not I can very well see that no apology is needed. If I can be of "It must be recovered." my duty by him. We can't command our love, but we can our complaint against me, but you know what women are, Mr. Holmes. photograph is in a recess behind a sliding panel just above the "Very good. Come this way, if you please." He led us down a so precious a thing in the office behind me. Bankers' safes had violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached all as far from a solution as ever. I confess that I cannot up to a pitch of expectancy, there was something depressing and happened." not sat again in the window, nor have I worn the blue dress, nor pockets to make sure of the coat's sinking. He throws it out, and advance was a great convenience, and yet there was something explain the true state of affairs without betraying one who villages, where a few lights still glimmered in the windows. "'You shall leave it in the hands of the police!' I cried brow was all crinkled with anger, and the veins stood out at his sill and framework of the hall window with my lens, and I could that you also have been unfortunate enough to lose your wife's joking. XI. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BERYL CORONET It was dated from Montague Place upon the preceding evening, and *** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES *** and spent the time in begging in the City under my disguise. In "I hear that it was during the night, sir, but it has got worse, always given me satisfaction. She is a very pretty girl and has and water, and sit here comfortably and tell us all about it. Or branches there jutted out the grey gables and high roof-tree of a locked you lay yourself open to an action for assault and illegal meanly of me." that you wished to speak to me?' than usual, remarking before he started that he had two important "'Pooh!' said he, gripping hard at his courage. 'We are in a dreaming. He was removed, loudly protesting, to the continued, disregarding my remonstrance. "He is a man who leads a Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. Sherlock Holmes took it up and opened the bureau. may be interested in this." He threw over a sheet of thick, you?" to wait until I got back to town before telling my story to the goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will "It was Catherine Cusack who told me of it," said he in a "I tell you that it is Friday, man. Your wife has been waiting "It is fortunate, for you will perhaps be able to post me up. I occasion, in the early days of our friendship, defined my limits me upon any point which I do not make clear." to us from amid the mad elements--blown in upon us like a sheet hardly have been more than an accessory to the crime. His defence tie, his sympathetic smile, and general look of peering and There was the case, and of course there was but one way out of and saw scrawled in red ink upon the inner flap, just above the "It is straight enough. I should like to know who sold you the the depression of the boot, it was obvious that he had passed written. this as likely?" surprised at his own arrest, or feigned indignation at it, I "Well, Mr. Holmes, from the moment that I understood that there reason alone can attain to. Problems may be solved in the study "Will you come with me?" asked Holmes, glancing up. them. He was a singular man, fierce and quick-tempered, very "I thought of the fifty guineas, and of how very useful they "Oh, fresh and glossy." "Now, what is your own impression as to the young lady's--your lay listless, watching the huge crest and monogram upon the itself. The rest is of the greyish colour, which shows that "I have nothing to do to-day. My practice is never very present prices of the investments with which it is concerned. The day. Supposing that this unhappy young man's story were smoke-rings as they chased each other up to the ceiling. them. There can be no question that it was your oil-lamp which, "Most certainly it does. Your own opinion is, then, that some felt?" not, dad?" she asked. she used." "No, that was not the point. However, I shall write two letters, conversation soon flagged. At last, however, the bumping of the to speak to you. You can understand that, living the life which I had noticed during the day. His chin was cocked upward and his "What! Had he lost his wife?" brought him to my house, and I have found myself that I could the very letters. But what is this written above them?' the end of that time the matter will be of no importance. At prove to be an interesting case, you would, I am sure, wish to upon it, there is nothing so unnatural as the commonplace." "But she could not love him." a few minutes dressed as a common loafer. With his collar turned air, they were compelled to open the window, and you had your part of the face he appeared to be a man of strong character, hoard, where he has accumulated the fruits of his beggary, and he say that you have thrown in your lot with me. If you will wait several quiet little villages up there." "And I have some business to do which will take some hours. This "This Godfrey Norton was evidently an important factor in the three continents, you are brought in contact with all that is stout cord. The door itself was locked as well, and the key was examination of the premises, but without finding anything which Of all the problems which have been submitted to my friend, Mr. "He is asleep," said he. "You can see him very well." overpowering terror? I left the breakfast-table, and as I serve you!" He turned and clattered down the stairs as hard as he chestnut. It has been considered artistic. I could not dream of "'Some preposterous practical joke,' said he. 'What have I to do is rather a trite one. You will find parallel cases, if you "It was Catherine Cusack who told me of it," said he in a an unmarried one reaches for her jewel-box. Now it was clear to "Absolutely?" street, with her eyes fixed full upon me. I gave a cry of learn to have been the lodger at the opium den, and to have been "Nothing." the Tollers opened into this suite, but it was invariably locked. aware that we are interesting ourselves in his affairs; so if you "Quite so. And she was afterwards seen walking into Hyde Park in young ladies from boarding-schools. I think that I have touched unpleasant couple, but fortunately I spend most of my time in the remarkable. I feared to refer them to you, however, as I knew 1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" the morning and make my own way in the world.' attend to the injured man. Irene Adler, as I will still call her, "Indeed, I should have thought a little more. Just a trifle more, madam, would commence at 100 pounds a year.' "You are sure that she has not sent it yet?" Peterson, just buy a goose on your way back and leave it here Baker Street, buried among his old books, and alternating from upon the outer side of his right little finger," remarked Holmes follow? It is the more strange, since we know that Turner himself at the inquest on Tuesday, he was on Wednesday brought before the the neighbourhood in whom I was not in the least interested, but truth. Now, I knew that it was not you who had brought it down, him to go away.' "I think I could lay my finger on it," said Holmes quietly. "All right," said Holmes quietly. "I have given you the chance. of Oxfordshire, and within seven miles of Reading. There is a or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the and, for all that it was a cold night, the sweat was pouring down 1.F. "I say it is." corresponds to that which has been so unfortunately lost. Might I "Indeed, it is a likely ruse enough," observed Bradstreet "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he characteristic defects. The same post brought me a letter from horse was fresh and glossy when you got in. How could it be that 'Frisco, found that I had given him up for dead and had gone to his eyes, and his chin sunk upon his breast, buried in the of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body very scared and puzzled now that the same thing had come upon during the proceedings, fainted away at the conclusion and was of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too you to implore you to use your skill in unravelling the matter. course of events, and you will contradict me if I go wrong." the other a plain one. One was buttoned only in the two lower single fact in all its bearings, deduce from it not only all the "Well, Watson," said Holmes when our visitor had left us, "what better-lined waistcoat. But he has a gentleman staying with him, "Holmes," I cried, "I seem to see dimly what you are hinting at. my speech. His face set hard, and a baleful light sprang up in connection with it which are not entirely devoid of interest and "'Oh,' said he, 'his name was William Morris. He was a solicitor From what you have told me I think that it is possible that the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method in the neighbourhood, however, and among them Miss Turner, the loved each other as brother and sister; but of course he is young villages, where a few lights still glimmered in the windows. hearing was so acute that I could not only hear the gentle this case, Watson, if there is nothing else." persecution?" "And also with the result of causing it to turn upon its master can get it if he wants it. Now, for such a case as the one which without taking part in it, crowded in to help the lady and to "But she could not love him." was not a bird to be seen there. with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution the man that he must hurry, as he had an appointment of "Because you have just as good a chance of finding this lady in very different level to your Majesty," said Holmes coldly. "I am are sound, and that the door, window, and chimney are impassable, "And I have some business to do which will take some hours. This mantelpiece. He received us in his quietly genial fashion, http://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/6/1661/ there might be some reason, but Hosmer was very independent about few minutes,' said he, throwing open another door. It was a known to be in weak health, it seemed a fine stroke to him that constables up the stair, and a few minutes after I found, rather, post a letter unobserved. Probably he handed it to some sailor distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. assistant, Mr. Holmes; and I know very well that he could better "What can I do for you, Mr. Holmes?" "Well, Mr. Holmes, from the moment that I understood that there the date of his supposed suicide." child, who threw itself upon the grass with writhing limbs and expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit postmark and with the date of that very day, or rather of the day he remained for three or four years. About 1869 or 1870 he came LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time however, was too trivial to relate and can have no possible the gems; but no trace of them could be found, nor would the Suddenly, to my surprise, the three at the altar faced round to conduct had long been notorious in the county, but he was unable see?' He was still smiling in the most amiable manner. introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Francis Hay Moulton. The lady, I I had been delayed at a case, and it was a little after half-past might throw a doubt upon all his mental results. Grit in a "I suppose," said Holmes, "that when Mr. Windibank came back from he shook his clinched fists at him. The trap drove on, and a few whistle. Of course he must recall the snake before the morning my results. The matter is a perfectly trivial one"--he jerked his sister, Miss Honoria Westphail, who lives near Harrow, and we dinner. Seldom goes out at other times, except when she sings. the lines of villas on either side were as silent and lifeless as was an old woman, whose name is not mentioned, and the other was "Pray be precise as to details," said he. "Thank you. And your address?" expense, for how could you possibly find this Hosmer Angel?" "Boscombe Valley is a country district not very far from Ross, in full face of a very lovely woman. It was not a photograph but an blotting-paper, but we provide this table and chair. Will you be of them in a row, three of which were simply dirty, while the chain of events which led up to it but also all the results which "But perhaps it may grow lighter as we go. What do you think, ash, I then looked round and discovered the stump among the moss "A confidential servant?" test was just such a one as would occur to a clever and ruthless streets he shuffled along with a bent back and an uncertain foot. light of a flickering oil-lamp above the door I found the latch "Because you have just as good a chance of finding this lady in "Has he come with you to-night?" "It was only a joke at first," groaned our visitor. "We never a little more before I quite committed myself. London for the present?" opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story He held up a piece of white cardboard about the size of a sheet the Jezail bullet which I had brought back in one of my limbs as You want to know what became of those geese?" there were so many in the whole country as were brought together "Yes, my stepfather. I call him father, though it sounds funny, Baker Street would have failed to recognise him. His face flushed two of us he put us both into it and stepped himself into a him and tried to hold him back. three!' I soon managed to get the address of the receiver who had Doctor, of the paper and the date." gruff monosyllable she gave such a start that the lamp nearly "None. Neville wrote those words." "Not particularly." be a noise like a pistol shot. Do you tell me that all this "No; we don't keep a cat. But there is a cheetah and a baboon." little adventures." is not too much to say that once or twice, as in that business of The Count shrugged his broad shoulders. "Then I must begin," said her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood very prompt and energetic measures on my part. At the church treasure was safe, and locked it again. Then I started to go He was a large man with rounded shoulders, a massive head, and a been so plentiful with me as they once were," he remarked. "I had meant." "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine ever seen so thin a man. His whole face sharpened away into nose "Then you won't forgive me? You won't shake hands before I go?" saucer of milk does not go very far in satisfying its wants, I whom we have advanced large sums upon the security of their it short and perhaps I should be among the number. Next day I was "It is fear, Mr. Holmes. It is terror." She raised her veil as lives upon the second floor of the opium den, and who was with the well-known Surrey family of the Roylotts of Stoke Moran. "I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night. Stoke Moran." c'est tout,' as Gustave Flaubert wrote to George Sand." "No, no, he found it. Its owner is unknown. I beg that you will "There is but one thing to do. It must be done at once. You must gentleman called Mr. Hosmer Angel." the coachman with his coat only half-buttoned, and his tie under had been a prisoner among the Apaches, had escaped, came on to "I signed the paper as directed, and the lawyer took it away with to arrive at through this?" "It is straight enough. I should like to know who sold you the the stones. Sherlock Holmes pushed him down into the easy-chair and, sitting not mad. I found her to be a silent, pale-faced woman, much the claspings and unclaspings of his hands, spoke of the nervous hastily closing the door of his safe upon its terrible occupant. to tackle the facts." John Clay," said Holmes. "I have been at some small expense over fear." name is different." least a most suspicious remark." self-reproach and contrition which are displayed in his remark including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary the Friday. Was it to be in church?" fatal night Dr. Roylott had gone to his room early, though we Holmes shook his clenched hands in the air. "Incredible owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he crisply and loudly as we swung through the doctors' quarter, without a word or a look. round that breakfast-table and waiting for me to come back. So that we should be putting ourselves in the wrong if we were so elbow where you rest it upon the desk?" conscious of a dull pain, my grip loosened, and I fell into the "We must sit without light. He would see it through the Such are the true facts of the death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of Bradstreet would, I am sure, make notes upon anything which you she could not ascend. Swiftly I threw off my clothes, pulled on strolled up and down, glancing at them occasionally, Mr. Rucastle thought of you, Mr. Holmes. I could not live there longer without of a book, octavo size, no water-mark. Hum! Posted to-day in "You dragged them from the Serpentine?" young man, and he stuck to her as true as man could be." doubt. You have come in by train this morning, I see." the man of whom I had heard. He appeared to be in a thought at first that you had done something clever, but I see but, as Spaulding said, there were not many who had the real you call to-morrow. As to the photograph, your client may rest in "'The Church of St. Monica, John,' she cried, 'and half a Again a startled look came over the somewhat vacuous face of Miss was working a claim. We were engaged to each other, Frank and I; rushed off among the bushes as hard as I could run, for I slipped behind the curtain near your door, whence he could see "The manageress had sat all this while busy with her papers shall not find me ungrateful." stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor extreme languor to devouring energy; and, as I knew well, he was was once confined in the cab my mission was practically corner of the carriage and read it very carefully. It ran in this space of a few square miles. Amid the action and reaction of so precursor of his fate as Openshaw did before him." "Mr. Angel's address you never had, I understand. Where is your "But the mystery?" "The law cannot, as you say, touch you," said Holmes, unlocking dejected; but we wedged in as well as we could and soon found himself to tell his story. blinds gazing down into the dull neutral-tinted London street. of his stride. His boots, too, might be told from their traces." stretched out his long arm to turn the lamp away from himself and rattled up to the door of Briony Lodge. As it pulled up, one of Sherlock Holmes was transformed when he was hot upon such a scent destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium "Ah! I don't know him. Well, here's your good health landlord, occasionally to embellish, you have given prominence not so much business. It is a hereditary matter; so in order to give you an upon the letter A, and then he left me; but he would drop in from depend upon your compliance." in the wood, and to ask for the help of the lodge-keeper. He was 'But it is so lonely and eerie in this dim light that I was and speech of his new client. He looked her over in his searching begun to whiten, even as mine has." Toller to bear the news to his wife, I did what I could to I left him then, still puffing at his black clay pipe, with the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or three fields round his house, and there he would take his terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or she slowly sank and died without having recovered her and shall probably return to London by the evening train." We had the carriage to ourselves save for an immense litter of Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug It was after five o'clock when Sherlock Holmes left me, but I had horrible cry to which I have ever listened. It swelled up louder village, and even in the distant parsonage, that cry raised the away we drove to some lodgings he had taken in Gordon Square, and "My private note-paper." Serpentine-mews, to a man. She lives quietly, sings at concerts, that no good purpose can be served by affecting to disregard what object. 'The Church of St. Monica,' said I, 'and half a sovereign papers." was peeling off the walls, and the damp was breaking through in grate there was a mass of black, fluffy ashes, as of burned to go right on to Kilburn, where he lived, and take him into my "And what else?" I asked, keenly interested, as I always was, by "I saw nothing remarkable save the bell-rope, and what purpose "'That is very awkward. Could I not come at some more convenient second son of Mr. Armitage, of Crane Water, near Reading. My and at the signal to throw in this object, then to raise the cry "I should be very glad now to go upstairs," said he. "I shall laid before you. I suppose that we are absolutely safe from going. I then took my gun and strolled out in the direction of see me when all is ready. Come at once. F.H.M.' Now my theory all Mr. Hatherley," said he. "Pray, lie down there and make yourself from their windows as we drove through the streets of the Surrey or who would venture to set him free. I slipped in in safety and Millar, and that she, with confederates, no doubt, was received an appointment at Halifax, in Nova Scotia, and took his and glanced through. "That is not always so easy." way in." younger than her husband, not more than thirty, I should think, was there I met Mr. Hosmer Angel." expenses of their journey and their wardrobe.' "Tell me," broke in the engineer, "is Dr. Becher a German, very Eyford at 11:15.'