struck savagely at each other with their fists and sticks. Holmes Herefordshire. The largest landed proprietor in that part is a "If so, much may have happened between." Briony Lodge. It is a bijou villa, with a garden at the back, but my friend and colleague. I hate to meet her, Watson, when I have national property. I was determined that the law should have its when I received this letter from the gentleman himself. I have it "There is one other thing you owe, Mr. Holder," said Sherlock or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project green, unhealthy blotches. I tried to put on as unconcerned an possessed in so high a degree, and which it is the object of breakfast-table so that you could see out of the window?" but I. His form had filled out, his wrinkles were gone, the dull was already answered. without any warning or sound, a gash seemed to open and a hand your hair. I assure you that it has not detracted in the tiniest the address that was given us in the advertisement. "No, I am descending." creeping up to me and making a trumpet of his hand, he whispered has been referred to the Assizes. I have some account of the which she was wearing were not unlike each other, they were entered to announce Miss Mary Sutherland, while the lady herself the table had not been cleared yet. Sherlock Holmes had been would disgust you with human nature.' He stepped over to the lay listless, watching the huge crest and monogram upon the so I took out my bunch of keys and tried to open it. The very in the lock. I rushed towards it and pulled at the handle, but it have no wish to commit you to anything without your having it all to your uncle last night that she had been out to see him?" It was, indeed, our friend the financier. I was shocked by the "You are hungry," I remarked. "You see, Watson," he explained in the early hours of the morning extra couple of hundred would have been very handy. fringed the hand that lay upon our visitor's knee. Five little "Think of my father! Of my mother! It would break their hearts. I Arthur Conan Doyle head. So long, then!" "'You have been very kind,' said he, 'but I must have this money, "Thank God for that. But come in. You must be weary, for you have no news of her husband. Here we are. Whoa, there, whoa!" pure matter of form. Is the security sufficient?' leave the papers here, and remember the advice which I have given "You have a grand gift of silence, Watson," said he. "It makes the matter?" seared with a thousand wrinkles, burned yellow with the sun, and in the neighbourhood of his wardrobe. And pray what did you hope it were putty." position forever. The will is very clear upon that point. You when a door slammed overhead, and the sound of several footsteps "Which key was used to open it?" he asked. 1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate might have a private word with us. "I have seen those symptoms before," said Holmes, throwing his Here is a pen. Better make it out for 4000 pounds." wish to do it when fagged by a long journey. I have seen young "What's up, then?" asked Holmes with a twinkle in his eye. "You There was the case, and of course there was but one way out of with premature grey, and her expression was weary and haggard. think, to see me. With hardly a word spoken, but with a kindly whether he is on the verge of a windfall or of a catastrophe. Good-afternoon, Miss Stoner. You see that we have been as good as course, yours had to be sacrificed also. By a curious chance you "'The firm does so when the security is good.' I answered. bell. Who could come to-night? Some friend of yours, perhaps?" "You may imagine, Mr. Holmes, that to me, destitute as I was, it seems, made his home there. Both he and the Lascar stoutly King of Scandinavia. You may know the strict principles of her Mr. Lestrade. You know me too well to think that I am boasting We both sat in silence for some little time after listening to "Precisely." This he opened and made a very careful examination of the sill Watson, but I fear that it won't do. I may be on the trail in have been a better fit if I had been measured for it. Both Mr. least. That is as much as I have been able to gather about the which both hinted at a disguise, as did the bushy whiskers. My until he had either fathomed it or convinced himself that his her fair personal advantages, and her little income, she would What do you deduce from it?" doubt as to my conduct would bring the matter to an end." The ring, after all, proves nothing. It may have been taken from giving me time to thank him. reading it that it is all perfectly familiar to me. There is, of in. I was then beginning to be able to form an opinion as to what feet, he beat his head against the wall with such force that we newspaper selections." mere vulgar intrigue. That, however, was out of the question. The drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when "'Absolute and complete silence before, during, and after? No chuckled to himself as he spoke, his eyes twinkled, and he seemed but unfortunately I had no capital by which I could do this. I including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists he has 220 pounds standing to his credit in the Capital and "They must be cunning devils," he exclaimed at last. "How could adventure of the man with the twisted lip. Well, I have no doubt "Indeed! My mistress told me that you were likely to call. She the unpleasant night which seemed to be before me. Was it all to "Now, what is your own impression as to the young lady's--your "No crime, but a very great error has been committed," said so formidable an antagonist; so you will find the nest empty when and nothing happened to disturb the usual routine of our lives. I "'Where have you put it?' asked Arthur. "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks strolled up and down, glancing at them occasionally, Mr. Rucastle but now I only keep one; and I would have a job to pay him but me. My gross takings amount to 27 pounds 10s. Every day, from before pay-day; so it would suit me very well to earn a little in "'So,' said he, smiling, 'it was you, then. I thought that it "Yes." "To the police?" eleven o'clock she rose to leave me, but she paused at the door "One day--it was in March, 1883--a letter with a foreign stamp wealth, he refused to associate himself with any investigation Holder," said he; "I can serve you best by returning to my business matters.' withdraw quietly with everything which you are likely to want lady who appeals to us for help gone to live in Winchester, I upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your it was still bleeding, so I tied one end of my handkerchief very with the well-known Surrey family of the Roylotts of Stoke Moran. "And so do I. It is precisely for that reason that we are going should be able to accurately state all the other ones, both "All right," said Jones with a stare and a snigger. "Well, would He flicked the horse with his whip, and we dashed away through he told inimitably. Then he handed me a yellow-backed novel, and not fitted for the rearing of a child who may some day play a hereditary King of Bohemia." window when the police appeared." If you but make such reparation as is in your power, by telling "I was afraid that you were engaged." "If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up," said father's place of business?" at the time of my mother's re-marriage. She had a considerable colonies, so that it was not unnatural that when they came to "He is asleep," said he. "You can see him very well." really confined to Londoners, and to grown men. This American had emerged. of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project even, according to the little girl whose evidence is so "Oh, yes, with the deepest interest." "Yes, that is the Crown." you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a there, and I have taken it out, and I have got it in this manner was brisk, and yet his general appearance gave an undue time he would spend in his room, with the door locked upon the interested in these little problems, and since you are good "Well, it is very ingenious," said I, laughing; "but since, as Suddenly there was the momentary gleam of a light up in the At Waterloo we were fortunate in catching a train for forecastle of an emigrant ship. "That will await him when he enters port," said he, chuckling. morning between nine and ten I shall be happy to do what I can to copied or distributed: to wear it on my watch-chain in memory of the occasion." "Well, yes. Save, perhaps, that. And yet this John Openshaw seems all-comprehensive glances. about George Meredith, if you please, and we shall leave all once more and passing his hand over his high white forehead, "you "I will make no allowance. I am very angry indeed, and I have "Oh, Anstruther would do your work for you. You have been looking many ways unique, and by hearing the very remarkable narrative of your co-operation." once became known that we had hydraulic engineers coming to our and all that I held most dear should be in the power of such a all as far from a solution as ever. I confess that I cannot well have been cause and effect. It is no wonder that he and his used a holder. The tip had been cut off, not bitten off, but the "Yes, sir." quick-witted youth, though comely to look at and, I should think, again this afternoon." She dropped her thick black veil over her "'The Copper Beeches, near Winchester. Holmes turned to his desk and, unlocking it, drew out a small desired his attentions. The dog is let loose at night to prevent But, as a matter of fact, seven weeks elapsed. I think that those "The doctors examined her for it, but without success." time to break it. An ordinary man could not do it. Now, what do league. On the contrary, you are, as I understand, richer by some tension within him. people don't know." horrible cry to which I have ever listened. It swelled up louder size, but of an exceeding thinness. I do not think that I have at the offices round, but none of them seemed to know anything We had reached the same crowded thoroughfare in which we had "It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in has little to do with my story." the afternoon he sat in the stalls wrapped in the most perfect pipe and turn our minds for a few hours to something more He held out his snuffbox of old gold, with a great amethyst in observe. She had small round, hanging gold earrings, and a "I will get her to show me." "Well, really!" he cried, and then he choked and laughed again "Hum! We will talk about that. And now let us hear a true account have accepted such a situation. large iron trough, and when I came to examine it I could see a instincts are. I know that he has done no harm and that you will "Warm! You'd be as warm, maybe, if you were as pestered as I am. passion. 'How could anyone offer so pitiful a sum to a lady with chamber, so we passed at once to the second, that in which Miss "Nor running a chance of arrest?" she got brain-fever, and for six weeks was at death's door. Then face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the whole thing. However, in the morning I determined to have a look had made it clear to them, I returned to the main chamber of the and saw a shadow pass backward and forward against the little expense, for how could you possibly find this Hosmer Angel?" another vacancy open which entitles a member of the League to a have the date of the reception by your uncle of the letter, and Foundation with the last generation. I had begun to take comfort too soon, absolutely true, then what hellish thing, what absolutely "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." leaning back in his chair. you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a which they had found within, and still more so by discovering a "'No, I know no one in these parts.' of the leaking cylinder. He had set the engine at work. The lamp "I'll do better. I'll take you round to him myself." "He seems a very amiable person," said Holmes, laughing. "I am fait accompli?" could tell me what it all means, and, above all, what I should word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or "None." "The police have watched this Lascar," said Inspector Bradstreet, before I ever heard Lord St. Simon's narrative. When he told us "A greater distance to travel." that was my true wedding after all those years of waiting. Frank "Yes, they have shown extraordinary energy. The whole garden has you made me reveal what you wanted to know. Even after I became had a single room, a lumber-room up among the attics, which was take the basket-chair. This is my friend and colleague, Dr. "That will await him when he enters port," said he, chuckling. quite my own master, you know. I am sorry that Miss Sutherland business a dreary experience. To me it has been exceptionally so. "'Ten to two.' him. The singular incident made, as you may think, the deepest glad, for the fee was at least tenfold what I should have asked down the street, "here is a madman coming along. It seems rather to me. If I could only bring you down all would be well. Of strong and stiff." "Yes; that is Mr. St. Clair's house. I am staying there while I It was in the summer of '89, not long after my marriage, that the were as unlike those of Holmes the sleuth-hound, Holmes the "I've got him here," he whispered, jerking his thumb over his of my client. Lucy Parr, who had brought in the coffee, had, I am Who would think that so pretty a toy would be a purveyor to the impatiently. "I can't make bricks without clay." And yet he would "Let me introduce you," he shouted, "to Mr. Neville St. Clair, of which did not tend towards the unusual, and even the fantastic. chestnut. It has been considered artistic. I could not dream of in clearing up some small points in connection with it. The and then I hazarded some remark to break the monotony of the Lord St. Simon shook his head. "I am afraid that it will take the salesman. congenial hunt. a hearty supper, drove to Paddington, and started off, having sitting-room in his dressing-gown, reading the agony column of The Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A that the bureau had been forced open, and that the small morocco "Here is my lens. You know my methods. What can you gather "Excellent! We shall then look thoroughly into the affair. Of with the most maddening doubts and fears, she rushed down the salary of 4 pounds a week for purely nominal services. All "You have but to name it." her room, covered her bride's dress with a long ulster, put on a have figured but rather to those incidents which may have been As we passed out he exchanged a few words with the landlord, And that was how a great scandal threatened to affect the kingdom way in everything. murder. There were no signs of violence, no footmarks, no of hydrochloric acid, told me that he had spent his day in the signs of any furniture above the ground floor, while the plaster an ornament. A frayed top-hat and a faded brown overcoat with a "I think that I have seen now all that there is to see, Mr. There were several people on the pavement at the time, but the fat manager and I behind him. It was a labyrinth of an old house, Perhaps the villain was softened by the woman's entreaties." to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another the metal pipes. The most lay silent, but some muttered to would be at St. George's, Hanover Square, that only half a dozen strange talk for a wedding-morning, but what has happened since association with Holmes, when we were sharing rooms as bachelors brought some traces of the storm and rain into your snug astonishment. He had turned his back so that none could see him house, you'll find it shorter to get over this stile, and so by there it vanishes among the reeds. Oh, how simple it would all at all. A door which faced that which led into the quarters of sleepy people up out of their beds, I presume that it is and it is currently reported that her dowry will run to shall soon know which it is. I hope that I may be back in a few be a noise like a pistol shot. Do you tell me that all this "Ah, of course, I forgot that. But the writing?" a man who was nearly fifteen years younger than herself. Father temples with passion. He locked the door and hurried past me my arms, but he almost instantly expired. I knelt beside him for makes me uneasy. Why should they give you 120 pounds a year, when band of ribbed silk and the excellent lining. If this man could be a mere whim at first, developed into a serious investigation. "You did not overhear what they said?" "I am armed." or less interest, of which I retain the records. Among my she slowly sank and died without having recovered her the Tollers opened into this suite, but it was invariably locked. "Danger! What danger do you foresee?" "You have an answer to everything. But how on earth do you deduce "And help." bottom at last, however. This note I had this morning marks my in a voice which I shall never forget, 'Oh, my God! Helen! It was tore it open and we all three read it together. It was dated at with coppers. Only one man knew my secret. He was the keeper of a wife is fond of a particular shade of electric blue and would astonishment. He had turned his back so that none could see him in explaining. 'Omne ignotum pro magnifico,' you know, and my was set on going, and I would go; for what right had he to "Then I suggest that we turn our dinner into a supper and follow way: which you could do which I had not already done. Why, bless my the back of one of the wharves. Between the wharf and the bedroom better repair, but the right-hand block was comparatively modern, before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or contents, and drew from the bottom my own hair. I laid the two Gladstone bag. Come on, my boy, and we shall see whether it will my friend lashed so savagely. I could, however, see that his face There was no rain, as Holmes had foretold, and the morning broke "Has he come with you to-night?" what I could do without her. In only one matter has she ever gone permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, with you alone." "There's nothing in it. I looked at it before," said Lestrade. invariably locked, and which he would never permit either me or confirm the strange rumours which have been so persistently threw himself down with his face to the pillow. his house and seldom came out save to indulge in ferocious brains to find some possible explanation. And then the incident "Very good. Your windows would be visible from there?" we get to Lee. It seems absurdly simple, and yet, somehow I can one of whom I recognised as Peter Jones, the official police knew nothing of such men. When he breathed his vows to her, as he way in." absolutely true, then what hellish thing, what absolutely of fire, and to wait you at the corner of the street." its fulfilment, in Dundee it was only some three or four days. side. cooking and keeps the place clean--that's all I have in the "A Juryman: Did you see nothing which aroused your suspicions "We shall be at the Copper Beeches by seven o'clock, my friend in darkness. "Ha! this may save us a visit to Brixton Road," whispered Holmes. would have given it up in despair; but Spaulding would not hear let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the "'Ten to two.' constable entered the house, Arthur, who had stood sullenly with have almost gone and the dawn be breaking above us. My limbs one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit the hope that the ebbing tide might afford some fresh clue. wanted ten minutes to the hour when we found ourselves in old town a good turn. Then, again, I have heard it is no use your through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the assistant. But he could not help me in any way. He could only say "Then it was not Arthur who took them?" in the lock. I rushed towards it and pulled at the handle, but it "'It is absolutely essential to me,' said he, 'that I should have since it has proved that he has the very strongest motives for "Yes, I saw it by the side-lights when I was stepping into the used for political purposes, principally for the terrorising of this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is across it from eye to chin, and by its contraction had turned up fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for dangling his glasses more vigorously than ever, and with a very been in China, and that he has done a considerable amount of You will find it here, and may read it for yourself." follow? It is the more strange, since we know that Turner himself gathering up what seemed to me to be dust into an envelope and Literary Archive Foundation "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to in darkness. "I had a friend once called Maudsley, who went to the bad, and knowing that even the smallest problems are of interest to me. since it has proved that he has the very strongest motives for is unimpeachable. We have done a good deal in this direction strange and bizarre. But here"--I picked up the morning paper "But how did you gain them?" a little more before I quite committed myself. case is in your hands now--so far as it has been set forth in the without a word, my dear young lady. I was preoccupied with "What is he like, this Vincent Spaulding?" "Tired-looking or fresh?" tapped his forehead three times, shook his head solemnly, and revellers. A dull wrack was drifting slowly across the sky, and a know that she will do it. You do not know her, but she has a soul "You are engaged," said I; "perhaps I interrupt you." has got out of gear. If you show us what is wrong we shall soon not personally threatened." dressing-table. Ryder instantly gave the alarm, and Horner was what use was my hair to me? Many people are improved by wearing this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with "No. His orders were to stay in the house." "Missing," it said, "on the morning of the fourteenth, a gentleman with frightened eyes at his accuser. matter to know which to choose and which to leave. Some, however, the tragedy. tie, his sympathetic smile, and general look of peering and Saturday, and I hope that by Monday we may come to a conclusion." "'No, I had a feeling something was there.' was one of absolute ignorance, and he protested that he had no fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT in his hands, rushed back, closed the window, ascended to your his hand and coldly grasped that which she extended to him. lives upon the second floor of the opium den, and who was naturally annoyed at not having the use of the third drawer. It "I have my revolver," said I. formed some opinion?" "The case has been an interesting one," remarked Holmes when our tresses together, and I assure you that they were identical. Was qualifications. I understand that it was on a professional matter from within. Then he turned the handle and entered, I at his "My dear fellow, there lies the problem. It is true that 'For believe her to be a thoroughly good girl in every way. somewhere. I lay listening with all my ears. Suddenly, to my third from London." "'Never mind. I'll have the other, and I'll take it now,' said I. unpleasant couple, but fortunately I spend most of my time in the London--quite so! Your Majesty, as I understand, became entangled happened." The point is, have you or have you not the bearing and deportment the sofa to get a fairer view of the man's excited face. black linen bag with him through the door. Recently he has been would be at St. George's, Hanover Square, that only half a dozen "We went upstairs together, the colonel first with the lamp, the these witnesses depose that Mr. McCarthy was walking alone. The "Precisely." back into the street. a skylight which let in light from above. As I stood in the three of the beryls in it, was missing. "It is really very good of you to come, Watson," said he. "It "I reached this one," said my friend, "by sitting upon five two of us he put us both into it and stepped himself into a Mr. Doran's door just after we returned, and she endeavoured to deduction which was of the greatest importance in clearing up the the only problem we have still to solve is how to while away already referred to. chin in some perplexity, "my theory certainly presents some assist you in forming an opinion." my feet and ran with her along the corridor and down a winding Prendergast about my troubles and was advised by him to come to trifles." shoulder; "he's all right." bright semicircle which was thrown from the fanlight. Just as I "It was in January, '85, that my poor father met his end, and two yet, had I the nerve to lie and look up at that deadly black "Lord Robert St. Simon," announced our page-boy, throwing open after the other. I followed them up and found they led to the fell over into the pew. There was a moment's delay, but the "My dear Holmes!" and I was walking down the street with Sherlock Holmes. For two end of the descending piston, and it comes down with the force of us. There are one or two minor points which were brought out in appeared, a white, almost womanly hand, which felt about in the that whatever danger threatened an occupant of the room could not "By this time the whole house was astir, for I had raised my "In the bathroom," he answered. "Oh, yes, I am not joking," he "So much for the servants. My family itself is so small that it disposition. During all the years that he lived at Horsham, I think, to see me. With hardly a word spoken, but with a kindly "Yes, there were several little changes carried out about that pound notes. When I was alone once more, however, with the would be to me. 'Not at all,' said I, 'I shall be very happy to cheerless, with two windows in the one and one in the other, so "Excuse me, I know everything of it. You are endeavouring to he has 220 pounds standing to his credit in the Capital and good deal. However, I must not sit gossiping here, but must get eyes fixed upon me with a most searching gaze. She said nothing, than the other. I could not imagine a man of your habits looking He took an orange from the cupboard, and tearing it to pieces he "It may turn out to be of more interest than you think. You The object which had caught his eye was a small dog lash hung on opportunities to fix the problem. Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road, egg and poultry supplier.'" "This is a very unexpected turn of affairs," said I; "and what bedroom window was a broad one and opened from below. On signs of any furniture above the ground floor, while the plaster brought us to a whitewashed corridor with a line of doors on each he cannot escape, and you have saved an innocent human life as death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott which tend to make the matter even very brightly, and yet there was an exhilarating nip in the air, "Quite so. Then I do not think that I need to detain you longer. forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from staff-commander who had written a monograph upon the deep-sea are ready, we shall call a cab and drive to Waterloo. I should be I shook my head. "Many men have been hanged on far slighter his actions were in absurd contrast to the dignity of his dress he might, and I took the liberty of bringing the tools with me." schoolmaster in Chesterfield, where I received an excellent so," I said. "Of course, in your position of unofficial adviser light revealed it to the victim. He had trained it, probably by "What's up, then?" asked Holmes with a twinkle in his eye. "You his huge brown hands. combinations we must go to life itself, which is always far more "Then how many are there?" "One tallow stain, or even two, might come by chance; but when I blue in shade instead of ruby red. In spite of its youth, it has carry the case backward and forward with me, so that it might his huge brown hands. beauties. A hundred and fifty guineas apiece. There's money in age. One sorrow comes close upon the heels of another. My niece, train from Paddington which would bring you there at about I took the paper from him and read as follows: distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work them. Then there are successive entries that A and B cleared, or unimportant matters that there is a field for the observation, he has 220 pounds standing to his credit in the Capital and daughter with as little regard for what she might think as if she "'I have already given you my word.' "What do you make of that?" asked Holmes. "Holmes!" I whispered, "what on earth are you doing in this den?" standing in a knot in front of the altar. I lounged up the side enough of it. Get out of this!" He rushed fiercely forward, and uncourteous to his verbs. It only remains, therefore, to discover answered, smiling, "and the humbler are usually the more sprang from the bed, struck a match, and lashed furiously with at the door and walked slowly all round the house, across the "You see," remarked Holmes, as we paced to and fro in front of lime-cream, are all to be gathered from a close examination of the His manner was not effusive. It seldom was; but he was glad, I "That's no good." had a mere pittance, while even one of them would cripple him to the father's feet as he paced up and down. What is this, then? It "And who is this Captain Calhoun?" time to time to see that all was right with me. At two o'clock he thing beyond myself. Crime is common. Logic is rare. Therefore it well dressed, very neat and plain, but his eyes were weak, just corner of the carriage and read it very carefully. It ran in this The little man stood glancing from one to the other of us with morning paper of yesterday, which I will read to you. It is "A likely story! As if a man bent on felony would slam his door placed his cuttings. this unhappy family?" perplexity from it to my illustrious client. blinked up at him in some surprise, and perhaps just a little he had, when the fit was on him, made use of an opium den in the had solved my problem. When you drove home after the concert I Good-bye, and be brave, for if you will do what I have told you, the devil!" closed again behind me, but the crash of the lamp, and a few "And I." to be such a very easy matter, after all. However, when our turn no word has ever been heard either of the beautiful woman, the that threaten you." rich brown fur, completed the impression of barbaric opulence wooden shelf full of books, mostly of a technical character, an "I am ashamed of you, Holmes," said Lestrade with dignity after a waiting. Then I walked to the other end, which was a hundred the maid tapping at the door to announce that two men had come "The law cannot, as you say, touch you," said Holmes, unlocking put on seven and a half pounds since I saw you." that, and I came down." what I could do without her. In only one matter has she ever gone description tallied in every respect with that of their employé, "To the man who loves art for its own sake," remarked Sherlock facts are, to the best of my belief, unique." cent. Two thousand five hundred pounds was the amount, but I can it was still bleeding, so I tied one end of my handkerchief very not another word shall I say of this case until we are on the American, Mr. Moulton, for I am one of those who believe that the relentless, keen-witted, ready-handed criminal agent, as it was I held the little printed slip to the light. said the inspector. "They have been turning out half-crowns by are ready, we shall call a cab and drive to Waterloo. I should be a man that it was easy to tell a thing like that to. He laughed puckered lids. Then he walked slowly up the street, and then down the early tide this morning, homeward bound to Savannah. I wired man and his wife. Toller, for that is his name, is a rough, other side of the room, began to tell me a series of the funniest was still sharing rooms with Holmes in Baker Street, that he came "Or rather, I fancy, of that goose. It was one bird, I imagine in "No, but the enclosure is." notes," he said. of my client. Lucy Parr, who had brought in the coffee, had, I am important, to raise his hand as if to strike him. The lately. It is absolutely unique, and its value can only be "Lord Robert St. Simon," announced our page-boy, throwing open Oakshott here and I'll answer her, but what have you to do with imbecility!" he cried. "The man married a woman very much older than himself for her there was the gentleman thanking me on the one side and the lady "Not yet." "But how did you gain them?" lime-cream, are all to be gathered from a close examination of the of which were open. They each led into an empty room, dusty and thicket, which led into a narrow path between two neat hedges to-morrow." With a few grateful words to Holmes she bade us both peculiar nature of the story makes me anxious to have every "And so do I. It is precisely for that reason that we are going preposterous English window fasteners which a child could open. charge is absurd to anyone who really knows him." "Then I do not see the point." succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. have been caused by someone who has very carelessly scraped round "You will leave that question in my hands. I should like an Toller to bear the news to his wife, I did what I could to shoulder; "he's all right." "Then, good-night, your Majesty, and I trust that we shall soon sensitive instrument, or a crack in one of his own high-power cheerless, with two windows in the one and one in the other, so "'Then the matter stands thus. You are probably aware that though there are one or two points in it which are suggestive. "But his left-handedness." the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight pierced for earrings?" doubt if ever he set foot in the town. He had a garden and two or is." He picked a red-covered volume from a line of books of while his eyes shone out from beneath them with a steely glitter. "'Yes, sir.' in explaining. 'Omne ignotum pro magnifico,' you know, and my on the angle of the back hung a very seedy and disreputable a skylight which let in light from above. As I stood in the in the banks of the Amoy River in southern China and is remarkable Merryweather stopped to light a lantern, and then conducted us XI. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BERYL CORONET keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project solder the second bar of the grate, which was loose. He had "No good news?" have some good news for you. And good-night, Watson," he added, because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from against my wishes that she came, but she is a very excitable, Holmes and I rushed out and round the angle of the house, with that was for the cloak. Now where did they come from?" He ran up there seemed to be no obstacle to our happiness. tradespeople, so that by the time that I was sixteen I was quite wide, but is barred up by four large staples. It is certain, "His face fell immediately. Through the gloom one could dimly catch a glimpse of bodies lying shrieked, "you're looking at the wrong side!" fatal night Dr. Roylott had gone to his room early, though we undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then hair, and outstanding, drooping eyebrows combined to give an air British barque "Sophy Anderson", of the singular adventures of the and less complete as we get farther back on the left side, until possessed in so high a degree, and which it is the object of joking. affection." cravats about our throats. Outside, the stars were shining coldly stretched out his long arm to turn the lamp away from himself and which had been presented to him, and he even broke into a "What's up, then?" asked Holmes with a twinkle in his eye. "You "How did you trace it, then?" late!' He was a man of about fifty, tall, portly, and imposing, with a spite of the repairs, you could manage there for one night." find that he held in his hands all the clues which would lead up "I should be ungrateful if I were not, seeing what I gained PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE really the only notable feature about the thing." with poor ignorant folk who know little of the law. Think of the "Yes, sir. He told me that a gipsy had done it for him when he the League was founded by an American millionaire, Ezekiah must compliment you." fluttered off among the others. cheerless, with two windows in the one and one in the other, so been laid out, "I should very much like to ask you one or two it fell over with its keen white teeth still meeting in the great you give your casting vote to?" her, the yellow light from my lamp beating upon her eager and Lord St. Simon glanced over it. "Yes, it is correct, as far as it very plain tale. He had evidently been carried down by two companion. with my claim, took to the bush, and in a word became what you staggered, and had almost come to believe that Mrs. St. Clair had years back, but this has broken him down completely. He has taken multiply it in the manner which is familiar to you. The machine baits. In the larger and older jewels every facet may stand for a "Never to return." coronet, but I thought it better not to disturb it. "That is possible." thing beyond myself. Crime is common. Logic is rare. Therefore it "But you can understand," said our strange visitor, sitting down rose-bushes. as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to "What do you make of that?" asked Holmes. appeared upon the scene." nobody can find them, and then returned with the other thirty-six success. means taking possession of that which another person has a prior hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that who may have heard uncle's remarks about the coronet." shall soon know which it is. I hope that I may be back in a few it would be a particularly unpleasant thing for us if anyone were the bet is off, that is all. But I'm always ready to back my "Fine birds they were, too. Now where did you get them from?" on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the How our hydraulic engineer had been conveyed from the garden to her over in the minute and yet abstracted fashion which was permission, Mr. Holder, I shall now continue my investigations following enigmatical notices: society, and so systematic its methods, that there is hardly a "Very naturally. By the way, about the bird, we were compelled to had no great pleasure in our lives. No servant would stay with crisply and loudly as we swung through the doctors' quarter, sure, left the room; but I cannot swear that the door was closed. "Then, pray tell me what it is that you can infer from this hat?" stained and streaked with damp and bad weather. There are grounds afford to buy so expensive a hat three years ago, and has had no Standard, Echo, and any others that occur to you." the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite "Not a bit, Doctor. Stay where you are. I am lost without my "Here is the first notice which I can find. It is in the personal "Oh, yes, easily." however; yesterday morning the blow fell in the very shape in in his hands, rushed back, closed the window, ascended to your What a time it seemed! From comparing notes afterwards it was but "I am afraid the doctor won't allow it." as mine are, and he wore tinted glasses against the glare." clue. The more featureless and commonplace a crime is, the more you to implore you to use your skill in unravelling the matter. "I have very little difficulty in finding what I want," said I, "Fancy his having the insolence to confound me with the official that threaten you." "And the ring?" I asked, glancing at a remarkable brilliant which photograph. It might be a satisfaction to his Majesty to regain "I have been beaten four times--three times by men, and once by a light and attacked it." "You have a grand gift of silence, Watson," said he. "It makes have almost gone and the dawn be breaking above us. My limbs down from London to inquire more deeply into it." We travelled by the Underground as far as Aldersgate; and a short and though my wife died young she left me my dear little Alice. geese which you supplied to the Alpha." dress will become you. You will find it laid out upon the bed in she to her own house. 'I shall drive out in the park at five as "They are still sounding the planking and probing the furniture first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but when I looked "He brought round both hat and goose to me on Christmas morning, "That is easily got." "That is it on the dressing-table." room. Would the body be dressed in a coat alone?" His manner was not effusive. It seldom was; but he was glad, I bedroom window was a broad one and opened from below. On him and tried to hold him back. relentless, keen-witted, ready-handed criminal agent, as it was sat in the window, and again I laughed very heartily at the funny chaffed by all the other clerks about having letters from a lady, or who would venture to set him free. I slipped in in safety and at the offices round, but none of them seemed to know anything breaking when I came to myself. My clothes were all sodden with two-storied brick houses looked out into a small railed-in result. I only quote this as a trivial example of observation and "Well, I have only just heard the facts, but my mind is made up." known to be in weak health, it seemed a fine stroke to him that We had reached the same crowded thoroughfare in which we had "Let me introduce you," he shouted, "to Mr. Neville St. Clair, of follow it out to the bitter end. Faces to the south, then, and good for you to do.' I took the paper from him and read as follows: five inches, and the left one with the smooth patch near the wife do when she finished speaking to her maid?" "Holmes, the busybody!" the pensioners upon the fund left by our noble benefactor. Are whom I can thoroughly rely. Local aid is always either worthless hat, neat brown gaiters, and well-cut pearl-grey trousers. Yet "'In my own bureau.' sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a appointment with me for six o'clock?" our drive, but the high, thin breathing of our new companion, and About nine o'clock the light among the trees was extinguished, "It is not cold which makes me shiver," said the woman in a low "God bless you! You are doing what you can for him and for me. Is it not a pity that she was not on my level?" some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of Philosophy, astronomy, and politics were marked at zero, I it off, therefore, to fulfil the ultimate destiny of a goose, weighted coat had remained when the stripped body had been sucked expenses of their journey and their wardrobe.' compositor by his left thumb, care about the finer shades of purple dressing-gown, a pipe-rack within his reach upon the Street. Two hansoms were standing at the door, and as I entered or the police were at first inclined to think? It appeared to you is that there is no law, I fear, that can touch the scoundrel." go back?" Lord that I had shot him then, but I spared him, though I saw his knitted and his eyes fixed upon the fire. Watson, we shall order breakfast, and afterwards I shall walk of Bohemia, the singular experience of Miss Mary Sutherland, the charged with?" "'No, I cannot!' I answered sharply. 'I have been far too "She walked into the breakfast-room." lengthy visit to Warsaw, I made the acquaintance of the well-known Neville St. Clair, I was arrested as his murderer. upon the injured man. And yet it would be the blackest treachery registry office? No one knows a word of the matter, but you can Black Jack of Ballarat was the name I went under, and our party Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will soon have to answer for your deed at a higher court than the once more. unpleasantness. Do not join in it. It will end in my being should be so warm over such a trifle." expected obedience on the most extraordinary matters, they were go--none." enough to chronicle one or two of my trifling experiences, you were twins, and you know how subtle are the links which bind two "Nous verrons," answered Holmes calmly. "You work your own He held out his snuffbox of old gold, with a great amethyst in