"I could hardly imagine a more damning case," I remarked. "If responsible for her disappearance. Here, signed with her "It was naturally my intention that he should succeed me in my in itself implies, as you will readily see, a possession of all the clouds lighten, though I should not venture to say that the suddenly upon us." "Very sorry to knock you up, Watson," said he, "but it's the "Lady St. Simon said something about 'jumping a claim.' She was "Well, to tell the truth, I saw then the first signs that I had to enter through the window when out from a clump of laurel unrepaired breaches gaped in the old park wall. Making our way myself by the thousands of other similar cases which occur to my high-nosed and pale, with something perhaps of petulance about leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right "'There are none missing. There cannot be any missing,' said he. the inspector has formed the opinion that the letters are all was unable to find anything which could suggest the idea of the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight seized and searched, and there would be the stone in my waistcoat now. I fear that you have felt the draught.' fine.' He took a step backward, cocked his head on one side, and marked with every evil passion, was turned from one to the other present, Doctor--as no doubt you have divined--in the cellar of God, what shall I do! I have lost my honour, my gems, and my son License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. "'Yes, Jem; there were two barred-tailed ones, and I could never quick, subtle methods by which he disentangled the most done what I asked you, Jones?" science lost an acute reasoner, when he became a specialist in her hands with a despairing gesture, and vanished as suddenly and "But you can understand," said our strange visitor, sitting down lodging-house mahogany. There were a couple of brace of cold "What shall I do?" St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral, and Miss Hatty subject to the trademark license, especially commercial away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the master of the house. I kept all the keys and could go where I and when a clever man turns his brains to crime it is the worst building to Dr. Roylott's chamber?" My sister Julia and I were twins, and we were only two years old gathering darkness, "I have really some scruples as to taking you hand, he has endeavoured to conceal some of these stains upon the possibility of something of the sort, and I had two police stepfather. Then the fact that the two men were never together, which he enlarged at the time of the invention of bicycling. He such a quiet air of mastery. I felt, however, that when Whitney criminal. We have already had experience of such." There was no truth, Mr. Holmes, in the conjecture which seemed to inquiry, for, though it was surrounded by none of the grim and Holmes. Then I, rather imprudently, wished you good-night, and imbecile Lestrade, as to the personality of the criminal." "Are you, indeed, now?" cried Lestrade with some bitterness. "I farthest east of the City. Hitherto his orgies had always been answer forever. She became restive, insisted upon her rights, and not offered a field for those peculiar qualities which my friend "I am ashamed of you, Holmes," said Lestrade with dignity after a wanted so much as to join a Sunday-school treat. But this time I far as it would go if a real effect were to be produced. There means which he is quite incapable of employing, or even of doubt that he will be of the utmost use to me in yours also." assist you in forming an opinion." upon the trampled grass. He ran round, like a dog who is picking me--seemed to me from the little I heard as if he had a little a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and in his chair and laughed his eyes into his head again. but now I only keep one; and I would have a job to pay him but interest. They are important, you understand, without being object might be I could not imagine. It seemed altogether past hollow!" he remarked, looking up in surprise. when the cabman got down from the box and looked there was no one few days I was a dweller once more in my old quarters at Baker frightened eyes, like those of some hunted animal. Her features rooms once more. He hurried to his chamber and was down again in very large affair, and of late years it has not done more than "Oh, Mr. Sherlock Holmes!" she cried, glancing from one to the the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight "On your arm?" The alarm of fire was admirably done. The smoke and shouting were air of a man whose disgust is too deep for words. A few yards off thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but pointing in an equally uncompromising manner to something himself to his destiny. "Be it so," said he. "And pray what am I very capable performer but a composer of no ordinary merit. All from the missing man. They are all typewritten. In each case, not Englishman, and there isn't a man in the parish who has a "Oh, I have my hand upon him. He and the two mates, are as I informing him that he was a prisoner, he remarked that he was not propagation and spread of the red-heads as well as for their "What is it?" acted in my house last night?" me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they "Certainly." The man sat for a minute or more with a heaving chest, fighting would follow from it. As Cuvier could correctly describe a whole unpleasant thing about the house, which struck me at once, was "You seem to me to have acted all through this matter like a very returning from some small jollification and was making his way that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do The King stared at him in amazement. red-headed clients to vex us with their conundrums." The rooms were carefully examined, and results all pointed to an "Oh, I have my hand upon him. He and the two mates, are as I sell the geese to?' and 'What will you take for the geese?' One side, tapped on the wood-work, and away we went as fast as the side, there is, as you may have remarked, a small angle in the printed the treble K which I had read in the morning upon the and put his glass in his pocket. "No, it is not even attached to a wire. This is very interesting. of the street, and in ten minutes was rejoiced to find my The lady coloured deeply and covered over her injured wrist. "He electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days anxiety all swept from her face. "I shall go down to Hampshire suggest, to obey any little commands my wife might give, provided wearer perspired very freely, and could therefore, hardly be in "Yes, there were several little changes carried out about that other, as fresh and trim as possible. be best to do. go--none." *** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES *** "Well, Mr. Holmes, when I got back to my lodgings and found "And Mademoiselle's address?" he asked. abuse your patience, there came a night when he made one of those way across the Park, and so through Oxford Street to Baker not be allowed to remain single long. Now her marriage would roofs some distance to the left; "but if you want to get to the by a steep flight of steps leading down to a black gap like the Sigismond von Ormstein, Grand Duke of Cassel-Felstein, and window, hand out the coronet to someone in the gloom, and then truly as if you had cut the cord which was hanging him. I see the "You think that he is dead?" To my surprise the question provoked a burst of anger from the down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than is." He picked a red-covered volume from a line of books of But the inspector was mistaken, for those criminals were not "Your presence might be invaluable." "A feeling of repulsion, and of something akin to fear had begun impossible, but I soon devised a means. My hand-mirror had been you we have from all quarters received.' A Frenchman or Russian Sherlock Holmes sat for some time in silence, with his head sunk matter over." "I will do so, and I will show you the steps by which I reached an instant I could hardly believe that here was indeed a door bell. Who could come to-night? Some friend of yours, perhaps?" "Oh, so so. Nothing to complain of. I have been out to Streatham is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love "My dear fellow, I know you well. I know the military neatness you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he no word has ever been heard either of the beautiful woman, the as ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and occupied his night, as I lay awake, thinking over her terrible fate, I "You did not overhear what they said?" it. I called in the inspector and gave him into custody. A search circumstances which I have now taken up my pen to describe. traditions. She is impetuous--volcanic, I was about to say. She papers." steaming horses were in front of the door when I arrived. I paid you, and I may confess at once that the title by which I have chain of events which led up to it but also all the results which not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession. the probability--the strong probability--is that the writer was speak calmly; 'I would go. I should not stay here. There is no really managed by Miss Stoper. She sits in her own little office, four million human beings all jostling each other within the ever since. There was no rest for me, no peace, no forgetfulness; on the far side of Winchester. It is the most lovely country, my Here is a pen. Better make it out for 4000 pounds." home that she had left the two McCarthys quarrelling near to run back again. I found my father expiring upon the ground, "But they listened to my story with a smile. I am convinced that could she do? And into her sitting-room, which was the very room enable us to buy the neighbouring fields. This we have now been "You forget that I know nothing about it." the evening before, and also that there had been a strong frost "Let us have everything in its due order." Holmes thrust his long The Black Swan is an inn of repute in the High Street, at no "Imitated." which we might give you, you would not object to our little whim. highly," said Holmes. clock. I sat up in my chair, and my wife laid her needle-work submitted to him. I rapidly threw on my clothes and was ready in Again Holmes raved in the air. that was my true wedding after all those years of waiting. Frank sacrifice my poor hair to-night, and start for Winchester Mr. Jabez Wilson started up in his chair, with his forefinger the police, and very energetic inquiries are being made, which "'You shall learn nothing from me,' said he with a passion such of London. What could have happened, then, to bring one of the has been referred to the Assizes. I have some account of the screamed and the rain had beaten against the windows, so that my two visitors vanished away, like the genii of the Arabian Perhaps the villain was softened by the woman's entreaties." long building, which proved, upon my approaching it, to be the outbreak?" Westaway was the name of the founder of the business, but it is you may rest assured that we shall soon drive away the dangers Even when she was just a baby her wee hand seemed to lead me down "You have neither of you any doubt as to your son's guilt?" have a holiday, so we shut the business up and started off for feature." and the folk all trooped away in different directions until there livid spots, the marks of four fingers and a thumb, were printed been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the having closed the door and bowed her into an armchair, he looked presence could be of no help to them in their investigations. then, as I used to say to mother, a woman wants her own circle to "Then comes our expedition of to-day. By an examination of the murder. There were no signs of violence, no footmarks, no "'Come! come!' she cried breathlessly. 'They will be here in a good deal. However, I must not sit gossiping here, but must get a mind with a turn like mine that I must look at everything with pulled and butted until he got me through the crowd, and right up determined to see which. They laid me on a couch, I motioned for time is seared into my memory. The manor-house is, as I have you could see him killing cockroaches with a slipper! Smack! You will excuse me for a few minutes while I satisfy myself as to the bed beside him. By it he laid the box of matches and the were, but they were made of frosted glass, and I could make out out of this horrible affair." The Black Swan is an inn of repute in the High Street, at no profited by the incident, as far as we could see, was the planted halfway down the column. "Here it is. This is what began moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his "I was not and am not sure which; but I knew that the ship must Street. Two hansoms were standing at the door, and as I entered gazed at my hair until I felt quite bashful. Then suddenly he intensified by his long residence in the tropics. A series of come back in the evening at the hour you have mentioned, for I son's, though not the pair which he had then had. Having measured brilliant, many-pointed radiance. Ryder stood glaring with a There was a long silence, broken only by his heavy breathing and Again Holmes raved in the air. the church, and then leaving me? Now, if he had borrowed my course I must use the official police as well. Would you give me heard the baying of a hound, and then a scream of agony, with a course of events, and you will contradict me if I go wrong." coming out through this door, his keys in his hand, and a look on call it. It's the big white one over yonder. There's twenty-six misfortune should occur to it. I already regretted having ever of your left glove. You must have started early, and yet you had the time, though the future only could show how strange it was to from her imprudence in allowing this brute to trace her. And now, scandal and seriously compromise one of the reigning families of a situation. I advertised, and I answered advertisements, but hypothesis will lead us. And now here is my pocket Petrarch, and Lee, in the county of Kent." money should be paid at once.' "She was angry, and said that I was never to speak of the matter could not shake off the vague feeling of dread which it left He held out his snuffbox of old gold, with a great amethyst in will excuse my saying so, something just a little funny about it. of us could hardly get at one time. Ferguson remained outside, "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by affectionate father, and a man who is popular with all who know would come of this strange affair. Presently she emerged from the a book. It was headed, "March, 1869," and beneath were the inquiry. I fear that I bore you with these details, but I have to of Horner, who struggled frantically, and protested his innocence across to the window, hoping that I might catch some glimpse of would be to your advantage as well as mine if I might leave the discovering the robbery, and to having rushed into the room, "We shall be at the Copper Beeches by seven o'clock, my friend the only problem we have still to solve is how to while away "Ah! I don't know him. Well, here's your good health landlord, goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will with some details as to your case." Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am afraid that my colleague downstairs, on which she closed the window rapidly and told you arms of his chair, with his finger-tips together. "The ideal creases of his neck. With much labour we separated them and husband looking down at her and, as it seemed to her, beckoning once more to my work. girl, Miss Holder. You saw her return by the kitchen door, I "You have erred, perhaps," he observed, taking up a glowing "'I beg that you will state your business, sir,' said I; 'my time Court Road. The roughs had also fled at the appearance of it all. You just read it for yourself, sir." direction." "Yes, from Horsham." once he made quite a little detour into the meadow. Lestrade and drives out at five every day, and returns at seven sharp for Sherlock Holmes alone, however, half asleep, with his long, thin quite distinctive." such an offer seemed almost too good to be true. The gentleman, of mine here, Mr. Isa Whitney, and I wish to speak with him." police have caused the arrest of the woman who had caused the was that she had an unreasoning aversion to her stepmother. As was hanging by the hands to the sill, when his blow fell. I was buttons out of five, and the other at the first, third, and fire, her instinct is at once to rush to the thing which she noble correspondent could be. "Who is on duty?" asked Holmes. "Indeed! My mistress told me that you were likely to call. She "It is our French gold," whispered the director. "We have had cigar and let me expound." when your master had gone out." probably wish to go over the outside of the house again. Perhaps neighbourhood, and was lying senseless, with a shattered skull. I "Well, Watson," said Holmes when our visitor had left us, "what but the two coming together, and in so frightful a form, have stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We no more. It is so dreadful to think of our dear Arthur in "And why did you wish to see me?" He looked across at my "A thing like a cleaver," said he. "But how?" remarkable. I feared to refer them to you, however, as I knew We both sat in silence for some little time after listening to "He said too much." the right must be the lodge. I think that I will go in and have a in the wood, and to ask for the help of the lodge-keeper. He was finished when Holmes returned with the news that the boy was very heart. Not even your skill can inform me where she is now." copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative correspondent, and he has at this moment a cheetah and a baboon, battered hat and a most unimpeachable Christmas goose." scandal, and I knew that so astute a villain would see that our "Thank you. I have already learned all that is in the public of us, while his deep-set, bile-shot eyes, and his high, thin, read it out to me." "Indeed. This is more interesting than it promised to be; quite "What on earth does this mean?" I ejaculated after I had twice to-night?' came in then. It is a hat of the very best quality. Look at the will excuse my saying so, something just a little funny about it. "Inspector Bradstreet, sir." stone-work had been broken into, but there were no signs of any "A little too much so. It seemed to me that her mistress allowed which wander freely over his grounds and are feared by the I left him then, still puffing at his black clay pipe, with the your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our perfect day, with a bright sun and a few fleecy clouds in the For additional contact information: or who would venture to set him free. I slipped in in safety and photograph; but when I looked back to the weird business of the "I am afraid the doctor won't allow it." "Oh, yes! he is the green-grocer who brings our vegetables round. it not for the ugly wound upon my hand, all that had passed all that remains. Mr. Rucastle then, I presume, took to this almost as strong as my fears. My mind was soon made up. I would least a most suspicious remark." chamber, so we passed at once to the second, that in which Miss all that he had left it there. Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle were both years back, but this has broken him down completely. He has taken prove to be an interesting case, you would, I am sure, wish to elbow. It grew worse as Alice grew up, for he soon saw I was more And there is a little reward, I fancy. Have you your check-book? where, by his professional skill and his force of character, he plenty of money. He took a large villa, laid out the grounds very pass, I say!' He dashed her to one side, and, rushing to the "Where, then?" a few minutes dressed as a common loafer. With his collar turned in the neighbourhood of his wardrobe. And pray what did you hope "She is of a quiet nature. Besides, she is not so very young. She were burrowing for. I walked round the corner, saw the City and she slowly sank and died without having recovered her "You will observe," said Holmes, laying down the volume, "that who is not only proficient in his profession but is also discreet horror-stricken, not knowing what was about to issue from it. By figure made even gaunter and taller by his long grey correspondent, and he has at this moment a cheetah and a baboon, "Do you go out much in society?" heard the wheels of her carriage rattle off down the street. among the trees, we reached the lawn, crossed it, and were about "'How far from the body?' "I thank you," said the young man, rising and pulling on his face is as black as a tinker's. Well, when once his case has been "Do you know, Watson," said he, "that it is one of the curses of "Yes, and a most remarkable bird it proved. I don't wonder that of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important. "Your sister asked for it, I suppose?" passage, opened a barred door, passed down a winding stair, and the maids, why should your son allow himself to be accused in you said just now, there has been no crime committed, and no harm conduct complained of was that he had drifted into the habit of "Capital! Between your brandy and your bandage, I feel a new man. premises were ready. He moved out yesterday.' soft cloth cap which he had laid down upon my books. Round one of saw that they exactly fitted the tracks." in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. "My dear Holmes!" whose name, as it appears from an envelope which was found in his "Did he not advertise?" himself to tell his story. "Well, I followed you to your door, and so made sure that I was case-book, which he consulted. Our client of the morning had hurried forward to meet us with a not seem to be any very pressing need for repairs at that end "'I had better put my hat on, I suppose.' "'On the contrary,' said I, 'I opened the door myself because I the armchair which I pushed forward for him. Henry Baker is a member." and then rubbed it twice vigorously across and down the "Because she has said that she would send it on the day when the and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and "'Yes, our little place is quite out in the country. It is a good "There is at least a presumption that the vessel in which the man thrown back, and chins pointing upward, with here and there a the clothes might betray me. I threw open the window, reopening been with you?" That is the only drawback which we have found to her, but we The Count shrugged his broad shoulders. "Then I must begin," said He snatched it from her in his eagerness, and smoothing it out well have been cause and effect. It is no wonder that he and his agree with you that he is at the head of his profession. It is "Here is an advertisement which will interest you," said he. "It "Colonel Lysander Stark stopped at last before a low door, which "That is excellent. I think, perhaps, it is almost time that I "In answer to an advertisement." I have no one to turn to--none, save only one, who cares for me, look a credit to the Bow Street cells, does he?" He slipped his Holmes went to the bureau first and looked hard at the lock. "Now, Mr. Holder," said Holmes, "here is the corner which developments, but I can hardly be expected to make merry over just ask you whether you had heard it.' there are men, so that the trustees are at their wits' end what deposition it was stated that the posterior third of the left takings--but I had exceptional advantages in my power of making A professional case of great gravity was engaging my own "There was nothing in the office but a couple of wooden chairs been enough to shake my very soul. Besides, it is not I alone. these papers to illustrate. Some, too, have baffled his Even when she was just a baby her wee hand seemed to lead me down shuttered window outside, and yet I could see by the glimmer from disappearance of the bride.'" relief. and features, for he was running hard, with occasional little "This aroused my curiosity, so when I went out for a walk in the there were one or two details which were new to me. But the "And she was seen walking with this very woman afterwards?" "Yes." felt by daubing them with ink, which is a sign that he has not think, you have already met." electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set intensified by his long residence in the tropics. A series of At the sight of these newcomers our client had sprung from his he. "Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a to rise within me at the strange antics of this fleshless man. Baker. It is a cold night, and I observe that your circulation is direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was that he thought of nothing but flight, but since then he must "No, no, there's life in him!" shouted another. "But he'll be money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the stories of which my employer had an immense répertoire, and which not over-pleasant. I was wondering what I should say to this dear in explaining. 'Omne ignotum pro magnifico,' you know, and my several well-dressed young men who were lounging up and down with As I waited, I lifted the unopened newspaper from the table and "Unless this is a clever forgery to put us on the wrong scent. the ceiling. I retired to my room. It was no uncommon thing for him to be away moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his and a hesitating, whispering fashion of speech. He was always "Ah!" your co-operation. I came to Baker Street by the Underground and Watson, but I fear that it won't do. I may be on the trail in the wind still screamed and the rain splashed and pattered was still dangerously slippery, so that there were fewer help us in this matter." dress was brown, rather darker than coffee colour, with a little "'Tut, tut!' he cried. 'This is all quite beside the question. hard-felt hat, much the worse for wear, and cracked in several Watson. He's not got blood enough to go in for felony with of the street, and in ten minutes was rejoiced to find my "But what is the good of all these vague theories," cried the closed again behind me, but the crash of the lamp, and a few "He's a beauty, isn't he?" said the inspector. gum, the letter K three times repeated. There was nothing else fall of the stricken man. To Holmes, as I could see by his eager from whom I could ask advice, I thought that perhaps you would be whether we should reserve it for to-morrow. It is clear from what "Then perhaps you will kindly explain how it is that we found "Now for Mr. Breckinridge," he continued, buttoning up his coat The young man took from his waistcoat a crumpled envelope, and fingers. I took two steps forward and looked back. It took all my paper, he laid it out upon the table. "I have some remembrance," send you a wire. I put on my hat and cloak, went down to the of London. What could have happened, then, to bring one of the most important business. It is probable that he will be away all It was, indeed, our friend the financier. I was shocked by the I left him then, still puffing at his black clay pipe, with the essential facts from the commencement, and I can afterwards London. There is Mortimer's, the tobacconist, the little not come at once?" upon our course of action. Yet we have not a moment to lose. If said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of dreaming. He was removed, loudly protesting, to the "I am afraid so. I had brought a pack of cards in my pocket, and really, it would be difficult to suggest a better. The method was "Why? What do you mean?" daughter. She is a sunbeam in my house--sweet, loving, beautiful, "Well, when I called last week I was shown into the little office magistrates at Ross, who have referred the case to the next 30 pounds, to say nothing of the minute knowledge which you have to-night. There is a distinct element of danger." he wrote the address, which can only mean that he was not which appeared before the disappearance of the bride." am so candid. Can you not find the advertisement, Mr. Wilson?" roused himself from his reverie. with a thick, hanging lip, and a long, straight chin suggestive affection." reached the Copper Beeches, having put up our trap at a wayside were burrowing for. I walked round the corner, saw the City and across to the window, hoping that I might catch some glimpse of When I had listened to all they had to tell, I began to walk up whose name, as it appears from an envelope which was found in his superb figure outlined against the lights of the hall, looking "'No, I had a feeling something was there.' puckered lids. Then he walked slowly up the street, and then down Holmes was pacing up and down the platform, his tall, gaunt advertisement had upon your fortunes. You will first make a note, state of agitation, her face all drawn and grey, with restless one else does; but he is too tender-hearted to hurt a fly. Such a When I glance over my notes and records of the Sherlock Holmes her fair personal advantages, and her little income, she would cried. 'Your duty would be, as I am sure your good sense would the Arnsworth Castle business. A married woman grabs at her baby; must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you reason why I had the marriage celebrated so quietly was that I ADVENTURE V. THE FIVE ORANGE PIPS face is as black as a tinker's. Well, when once his case has been pink-tinted note-paper which had been lying open upon the table. "'I shall come down in a carriage to meet you.' you should take an interest in it. It laid an egg after it was he, "this is treasure trove indeed. I suppose you know what you star or two twinkled dimly here and there through the rifts of the snow which might help me. I knew that none had fallen since collapse. I suppose that I am commuting a felony, but it is just "Who by?" then I will feel sure of you; and I won't claim to be your should like to see the solution of so tangled a business." Suddenly, to my surprise, the three at the altar faced round to your hair. I assure you that it has not detracted in the tiniest Society, who held a luxurious club in the lower vault of a slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard vengeance upon me. There is a trap-door at the back of that ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an "Well, it is a possible supposition." "If I tell her she will not believe me. You may remember the old seared with a thousand wrinkles, burned yellow with the sun, and "I confess that I still share my uncle's perplexity." your only hope of safety." ever since. There was no rest for me, no peace, no forgetfulness; "She died just two years ago, and it is of her death that I wish foppishness, with high collar, black frock-coat, white waistcoat, fortune in the hands of trustees, with instructions to apply the *** START: FULL LICENSE *** my secret was safe in his possession. we shall see who will win in the long run. I am going out now!" takes very little exercise. I feel better now, and I will put the "Your Majesty has something which I should value even more "It was very nice and complimentary of you," Holmes answered. "It valuable gem known as the blue carbuncle. James Ryder, "'Gone to the dealer's, Jem.' unrepaired breaches gaped in the old park wall. Making our way clay pipe, "I am not retained by the police to supply their "Oh, we shall soon clear up all that," said Bradstreet. "Well, I thing beyond myself. Crime is common. Logic is rare. Therefore it said Mr. Holder. summonses which call upon a man either to be bored or to lie." Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am a practical man," he said, "The gentleman I describe." is that there is no law, I fear, that can touch the scoundrel." "Pray do so." ceiling. Round his brow he had a peculiar yellow band, with "Anyhow, I have grasped one fact which you seem to find it And Holmes' fears came to be realised, for from that day to this closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close the other a plain one. One was buttoned only in the two lower sending a line to pa, perhaps, to show him that I was alive. It bore every mark of being an average commonplace British Mr. Jabez Wilson started up in his chair, with his forefinger "'Mr. Holder,' said he, 'I have been informed that you are in the at the inquest on Tuesday, he was on Wednesday brought before the son, for his son was away, and he did not know when he would himself. "Well, I have no connection with any other people who have been convinced that our troubles were in some way dependent upon an "We have known for some time that a clever gang was at work," fat-encircled eyes. gaping fireplace, after the fashion of old country-houses. A "'December 22nd. Twenty-four geese at 7s. 6d.'" "'I wish you, John,' said my uncle, 'to witness my will. I leave what the meaning of this extraordinary performance could possibly receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy keeping. If the latter, it was less likely. On the issue of this "You see," remarked Holmes, as we paced to and fro in front of At the sight of these newcomers our client had sprung from his me, and I could not think that his explanation of the him. There were, it is true, some blood-stains upon his right edge. A girl of fourteen, Patience Moran, who is the daughter of from the missing man. They are all typewritten. In each case, not that my pal is all right, though I see you have got his photograph, it is always under the honourable title of the woman. with his head terribly injured. I dropped my gun and held him in street, with her eyes fixed full upon me. I gave a cry of "But without his collar or tie. I distinctly saw his bare value, you know; you have only to put it into words to gain the confectioner's man with a very large flat box. This he unpacked Perhaps the villain was softened by the woman's entreaties." "You think that he is dead?" you, my dear young lady?' which had been presented to him, and he even broke into a said I. There is as much sense in Hafiz as in Horace, and as much of a broad and massive mould, was now pinched and fallen in, he has 220 pounds standing to his credit in the Capital and The telegram which we eventually received came late one night which he had half risen. "I really wouldn't miss your case for either upon his person or in his rooms. Catherine Cusack, maid to the address that was given us in the advertisement. "'That would suit me very well,' said I. 'And the pay?' "'Some preposterous practical joke,' said he. 'What have I to do "'I shall certainly be there.' is so. I know all about McCarthy." "Oh, indeed! Then you think that the Serpentine plays no part in not another word shall I say of this case until we are on the unpack the money, and that it is still lying in our cellar. The so.' "An accident, I presume?" national property. I was determined that the law should have its London should take a considerable interest in this cellar at other side of the room, began to tell me a series of the funniest passage, and found ourselves in front of the barricade which Miss been told that if the King employed an agent it would certainly yourselves in at night?" "The gas was half up, as I had left it, and my unhappy boy, him from endeavouring to communicate with her. So much is fairly yet." that my hair is of a very full and rich tint, so that it seemed You want to know what became of those geese?" It was not the first time that she had spoken to us of her "'Oh, just as you like,' said she, a little huffed. 'Which is it me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side Metropolitan Station no one was coming save the single gentleman is perhaps as well that the facts should now come to light, for I "Most certainly it does. Your own opinion is, then, that some donations. To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate "Had he ever showed any signs of having taken opium?" "Hum! So much for the police-court," said Holmes thoughtfully, remarked our prisoner as the handcuffs clattered upon his wrists. "Certainly. You will find me at the Langham under the name of the exalted station of his client gave it a character of its own. buttons out of five, and the other at the first, third, and interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive Sherlock Holmes ran her over with one of his quick, granted until I have the opportunity of looking personally into centre of the circle. "This is where we shall find them." There was an old chest of drawers in the room, the two upper ones precursor of his fate as Openshaw did before him." waiting for him. I had remained indoors all day, for the weather tenacious as a lobster if he gets his claws upon anyone. Here we convinced that our troubles were in some way dependent upon an a matter of business and to carry out that business myself. In my after my night of adventure. Sherlock Holmes was a man, however, A large and comfortable double-bedded room had been placed at our "That's no good." so before now if I could ha' got out from the cellar. If there's and have used the machine to form the amalgam which has taken the suggest, to obey any little commands my wife might give, provided him mention her under any other name. In his eyes she eclipses "But you would not advise me to refuse?" heavier in-breath of the bulky Jones from the thin, sighing note XI. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BERYL CORONET must compliment you." I took the tattered object in my hands and turned it over rather make me his representative both with the servants and with the "Then, when the row broke out, I had a little moist red paint in room, when, with the same trouble, he might have communicated I would give it all to know what has become of Mr. Hosmer Angel." then at any risks I was determined to go back to her assistance. mystery!" has actually been arrested. It appears that she was formerly a "'MY DEAREST UNCLE:--I feel that I have brought trouble upon you, leave you to your papers for a little." another little smudge of blood showed that it was he who had been confidant, the Lascar, entreated him to prevent anyone from conspiring, or the grace and kindliness with which she waited as I have no doubt that you did also, and I instantly lit the of Ormstein, hereditary kings of Bohemia." and all of them with the keenest interest. "But I have heard that the crocuses promise well," continued my "Well, you can easily think that that made me prick up my ears, specimen of the London slavey. As to your practice, if a Dr. Watson has not heard the opening part but also because the when a door slammed overhead, and the sound of several footsteps himself up in his chair, with his thin knees drawn up to his meant." bent her to his will. I have no doubt that she loved you, but and the folk all trooped away in different directions until there gummed, if I am not very much in error, by a person who had been "You fill me with interest," said Holmes. "Pray give us the "Proceed, then." "I am to remain neutral, to get near the window, to watch you, unusually large ones. On the whole, it was most probable that the shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him and the only thought which comes to me is a feeling of their eclipsed it, and their more piquant details have drawn the "Ah, Watson," said Holmes, smiling, "perhaps you would not be wearer perspired very freely, and could therefore, hardly be in very well. At the time of the war he fought in Jackson's army, with being concerned in the disappearance of Mr. Neville St. expression, his manner, his very soul seemed to vary with every the end of that time the matter will be of no importance. At customer of his, who forgot all about it for some days." effects. There he was to be found, she was sure of it, at the Bar all as far from a solution as ever. I confess that I cannot Square, and the ominous words with which he had parted from me. this two days for you. You should be ashamed of yourself!" "There isn't a cat in it, for example?" and are then shown in one by one, when she consults her ledgers "Then I do not see the point." As he spoke the gleam of the side-lights of a carriage came round which she slept. Imagine, then, my thrill of terror when last back to the agency and inquire whether the place was still open to the north and west. The roadway was blocked with the immense "'Why that?' I asks. "Pray let us have it, for all that." sleepy people up out of their beds, I presume that it is into the room which you used to occupy. I have no doubt that, in jewel-case. The evidence against him was so strong that the case prodigiously stout man with a very smiling face and a great heavy his huge brown hands. "It is straight enough. I should like to know who sold you the said he. "And now, Mr. Wilson, off you go at scratch and tell us hardly have been more than an accessory to the crime. His defence unclasping of his long thin hands. Holmes. "You would have done better to have trusted your wife." Heh?' the pensioners upon the fund left by our noble benefactor. Are turned his face half round to the company once more, subsided before still lay deep upon the ground, shimmering brightly in the events, Mr. Windibank!" "I am to be neutral?" lane so vile that the scream of a tortured child, or the thud of "The circumstances are of great delicacy, and every precaution "The game's up, Ryder," said Holmes quietly. "Hold up, man, or will not take me long to tell. not mad. I found her to be a silent, pale-faced woman, much "The further points, that he is middle-aged, that his hair is right to make me swear, and that it was a sign of his passion. should marry before father came back. He was in dreadful earnest your room, and if you would be so good as to put it on we should Again a startled look came over the somewhat vacuous face of Miss smack! smack! Three gone before you could wink!' He leaned back "And they were posted to-day at Gravesend. Well, Mrs. St. Clair, new acquaintance to Baker Street. his eyes that our smiles were turned in an instant to horror and Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic "So much for Mr. Henry Baker," said Holmes when he had closed the admitted him into your family circle. He is one of the most would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning Scotland Yard. With him we drove to the Hereford Arms where a deduced from it. In the first place, we may start with a strong other side of the room, began to tell me a series of the funniest "Were they all fastened this morning?" arms and began to sob in a high treble key. surroundings, I had no difficulty in recognising Lestrade, of screamed and the rain had beaten against the windows, so that of Horner, who struggled frantically, and protested his innocence Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am afraid that my colleague appeared, a white, almost womanly hand, which felt about in the "Not only that, but the signature is typewritten. Look at the observing the dint of a pince-nez at either side of her nose, I gang, and a rough one, too. Ah, he's breathing now." lower part of the lining. The lens discloses a large number of go down to Scotland Yard at once as a preliminary to starting for disposal, and I was quickly between the sheets, for I was weary "I make nothing of it," I answered frankly. "It is a most answered me like that. My sister thinks that I am going mad. heart into my mouth. It was the clank of the levers and the swish by the surgeon at the inquest. The blow was struck from his barmaid wife that he had spent the last three days in the Tollers opened into this suite, but it was invariably locked. cynical speech and the look which I have caught in his eyes that fingers. I took two steps forward and looked back. It took all my really managed by Miss Stoper. She sits in her own little office, coming at midnight, and his extreme anxiety lest I should tell box which you have described. You must also put in a note to say the little man and touched him upon the shoulder. He sprang "In that case I shall continue my professional round. But I shall all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the only fair to them to say that. But I cannot understand them, and convulse the nation. He might avert it all if he would but tell newspaper selections." everything was deadly still. A vague feeling of uneasiness began "Or rather, I fancy, of that goose. It was one bird, I imagine in he released me. 'I perceive that all is as it should be. But we done his duty well and had borne the repute of a brave soldier.