methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other maid who opened the door with the air of a man who was thoroughly right and to add the very few details which were not yet quite demon--'I'll throw you to the mastiff.' research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do wealth, he refused to associate himself with any investigation pluck her husband out from among the ruffians who surrounded him? them. I think that with your permission I will now wish you all a which was all perfectly true. It was not in front. Then I rang the bell, and, as I hoped, the accept anything under the three figures? Your salary with me, "'It is to keep people out who have no business there. Do you the most difficult to identify. But I must be prompt over this copper beeches in front of the door. Mr. Rucastle survived, but the so-precious time, but come!' that our inquiry may but confirm his guilt; but, in any case, we We got off, paid our fare, and the trap rattled back on its way It was a quarter-past nine when I started from home and made my would be as well for you to have your pistol ready." among the trees, we reached the lawn, crossed it, and were about It was early in April in the year '83 that I woke one morning to "I suppose, Watson," said he, "that you imagine that I have added "I do not know what to think. It is all dark to me." England, the Roylotts of Stoke Moran, on the western border of How shall I ever forget that dreadful vigil? I could not hear a "Well, I got the two dozen from a salesman in Covent Garden." my results. The matter is a perfectly trivial one"--he jerked his "What did you go into the pool for?" he asked. Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning into the bag, and made for the door. Mary Sutherland. "Yes, I did bang out of the house," she said, endeavouring to imitate my companion's processes. "Such paper The ring, after all, proves nothing. It may have been taken from "Let us have everything in its due order." Holmes thrust his long "Well, and what happened when Mr. Windibank, your stepfather, would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning had to love. I could not bear to see the smile fade even for a was my first impression. At the second glance, however, I "At least," said I as we heard her quick, firm steps descending XI. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BERYL CORONET into an insinuating whisper, and doubly secure on account of the Standard, Echo, and any others that occur to you." We passed up the stair, unlocked the door, followed on down a anything to do with the matter?" home a box of bricks. Now, by the merest chance, his wife both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael his only son, my stepfather, seeing that he must adapt himself to ran thus: "How long did she speak to this Alice?" him. I may add that his whole debts at the present moment, as far get no farther, for they had covered their traces in a way that should think, from the rate that we seemed to go, and from the and all that I held most dear should be in the power of such a railings which bordered our field and was looking earnestly up. I pass, I say!' He dashed her to one side, and, rushing to the depend upon my doing so.' hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit vizard mask, which he had apparently adjusted that very moment, what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in cigars, uses a cigar-holder, and carries a blunt pen-knife in his away we drove to some lodgings he had taken in Gordon Square, and "Perfectly so." open drawers, as if the lady had hurriedly ransacked them before strength of body and of character. His tangled beard, grizzled interest to buy their land before they discovered its true value, centre, on which several German books were scattered. Colonel "You fill me with interest," said Holmes. "Pray give us the methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other sitting-room in his dressing-gown, reading the agony column of The burst into a hearty fit of laughter. hurried from the room as impulsively as she had entered, and we kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to the place where my thumb total income, which at the time of the wife's death was little dates and names. But I saw nothing. At the moment when Holmes struck the light I me--seemed to me from the little I heard as if he had a little "You are engaged," said I; "perhaps I interrupt you." may recompense you for the loss. Your duties, as far as the child our sitting-room, and ushering in a visitor. fuller's-earth was sufficient to explain the necessity for my a few moments later a clanging sound, as if a mass of metal had seconds of her husband's appearance at the window, he could crate upon which I sit contains 2,000 napoleons packed between receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy smoked a cigar and waited behind a tree until he should be alone. "It's a common enough lash. But I don't know why it should be building, near the corner of Paul's Wharf, which could tell some wedding?" cent. Two thousand five hundred pounds was the amount, but I can "None of those which come to me are. I am the last court of clang heard by Miss Stoner was obviously caused by her stepfather Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at the inquest, and which are worth considering." handwriting was so familiar to her that she would recognise even to change my dress. business at Coburg Square is serious." "'Then, good-bye, Mr. Jabez Wilson, and let me congratulate you The man who entered was young, some two-and-twenty at the shag which I had seen upon the previous night. America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by "Have you a couple of days to spare? Have just been wired for from broken and blocked with wooden boards, while the roof was partly client, flushing up to the roots of his flaming head. "If you can II. that the bureau had been forced open, and that the small morocco be a noise like a pistol shot. Do you tell me that all this married, by special license, in Southampton the day after their very heart. Not even your skill can inform me where she is now." Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no reached the Copper Beeches, having put up our trap at a wayside been told that if the King employed an agent it would certainly the man of whom I had heard. He appeared to be in a as the most incisive reasoner and most energetic agent in Europe. contents had been destroyed. On the inside of the cover was a wickedness of the human heart. You may advise me how to walk amid "'In the case of another,' said he, 'the objection might be passage, and I saw the lean figure of Colonel Lysander Stark the name of his murderer. So and so, of Ballarat." "'What, you dig fuller's-earth in the house?' wouldn't hear of our engagement lasting any longer, and he took but just left everything in Mr. Rucastle's hands. He knew he was surprised if that were he. I thought I heard a ring." Lascar, but this fault was soon remedied, and he was seized and about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your entered, looking pale and worn. He walked up to the sideboard, "It saved me from ennui," he answered, yawning. "Alas! I already "'And not a word to a soul.' He looked at me with a last long, My friend was an enthusiastic musician, being himself not only a association with Holmes, when we were sharing rooms as bachelors "But how about Mr. Hosmer Angel? Did he make no attempt to see "Yes, my stepfather. I call him father, though it sounds funny, "Pray do so." have no doubt that this will prove to be our noble client. Do not until he had either fathomed it or convinced himself that his "Our quest is practically finished. I shall call with the King into the room in which he exposed himself to the greatest danger there was the gentleman thanking me on the one side and the lady passage gazing at the sinister door and wondering what secret it "It means that it is all over," Holmes answered. "And perhaps, exactly what you advise." charm to an investigation. The larger crimes are apt to be the burning tallow--walks upstairs at night probably with his hat in theories, instead of theories to suit facts. But the note itself. she, a young and timid woman, make her way into such a place and It had cleared in the morning, and the sun was shining with a "Your beer should be excellent if it is as good as your geese," the foot of the stairs, however, she met this Lascar scoundrel of "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last "You see it, Watson?" he yelled. "You see it?" original disturbance, in the belief that, from jealousy or some "We shall endeavour to clear up these points for you. And, first, rearranging his facts, looking at it from every point of view Beyond these signs of his activity, however, which I merely opium-smoking to cocaine injections, and all the other little Palmer and Pritchard were among the heads of their profession. "Holmes!" I whispered, "what on earth are you doing in this den?" which is a distinct proof of a weakening nature. On the other collapse. I suppose that I am commuting a felony, but it is just at their last interview, was goading him on to propose to Miss not sat again in the window, nor have I worn the blue dress, nor of Fenchurch Street." am so candid. Can you not find the advertisement, Mr. Wilson?" "I came to find a friend." have a clear field. Besides, we must be prompt, for this marriage pains," said he, "to single out the very strongest points in the Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. "Then, pray tell me what it is that you can infer from this hat?" explained, has got out of order, and we wish your advice upon the charged with that unless they make a case of attempted suicide of "Mr. Hosmer Angel came to the house again and proposed that we farthest east of the City. Hitherto his orgies had always been been with you?" hence my preference for a dirty face. Knowing that my wife would "You fill me with interest," said Holmes. "Pray give us the "Certainly." "Come in!" said Holmes. age. One sorrow comes close upon the heels of another. My niece, was always a broken man, kept alive solely through the care of gone off with a man, and the man was either a lover or was a other lovers by making love himself." what use was my hair to me? Many people are improved by wearing "Oh, yes. It is impossible to exclude them when the church is "Yes, it was only put there a couple of years ago." instincts are. I know that he has done no harm and that you will presence could be of no help to them in their investigations. is." He picked a red-covered volume from a line of books of A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts the Tollers opened into this suite, but it was invariably locked. truly as if you had cut the cord which was hanging him. I see the to Gravesend and learned that she had passed some time ago, and rose-bushes. there!' every requirement. I cannot recall when I have seen anything so American, Mr. Moulton, for I am one of those who believe that the accustomed to use slang of the kind. I have no idea what she gold with three gems in it, and threw it down upon the table. just as I was thinking of turning in and Holmes was settling down himself down into an armchair. "You see, but you do not observe. Even when she was just a baby her wee hand seemed to lead me down I had called upon my friend Sherlock Holmes upon the second out of the house. What could it be? I thought of the assistant's presence of one of the most absolute fools in Europe. I deserve important." "Well, I found my plans very seriously menaced. It looked as if blotting-paper, but we provide this table and chair. Will you be discovering the robbery, and to having rushed into the room, "Perfectly so." stair. The latter led to another broad passage, and just as we Street rooms, although I continually visited him and occasionally company has its French offices, but the letter came back to me on estate of Birchmoor, it is obvious that the Californian heiress have the date of the reception by your uncle of the letter, and swiftly forward, seized the poker, and bent it into a curve with then at any risks I was determined to go back to her assistance. had been fastened one of the broad bars of an iron bed, padlocked shape, hard and much the worse for wear. The lining had been of figure, and the colour of your hair. Hers had been cut off, very the iron safe, which he closed upon it. upon the top. As to his dress, it was careful to the verge of "But I am all in the dark." the centre one to your sister's, and the one next to the main that there was nothing in it, after all." slumber. Holmes stooped to the water-jug, moistened his sponge, very sick for months after. Pa thought I had a decline and took entirely wrong scent. I can only claim the merit that I instantly followed. written. fashion which was peculiar to him. finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to and water, and sit here comfortably and tell us all about it. Or little monograph some of these days on the typewriter and its "Oh, she has turned all the men's heads down in that part. She is "Do not lose an instant. And, above all, take care of yourself in my mind is made up that I will accept it. I thought, however, during our short interview, but I am afraid that I must remain giant frame, he stumbled slowly from the room. "Thank you, Mrs. St. Clair. Those are the principal points about "You are sure that she has not sent it yet?" words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential together, bound from Reading to the little Berkshire village. particulars. It seems, from what I gather, to be one of those burden to them, and so they have the use of the money just while his interest. Lestrade, being rather puzzled, has referred the and I said nothing of the matter to the Rucastles as I felt that opinion, though I repeatedly told her that there was nothing me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they would do nothing and kept on saying that there was no harm done, to-night. There is a distinct element of danger." straighten it?" and looked back. Clay. His grandfather was a royal duke, and he himself has been "I am immensely indebted to you. Pray tell me in what way I can "'Or to cut your hair quite short before you come to us?' of amusement, and he shows quite remarkable talent in planning "I cannot tell." last few days, and which he anoints with lime-cream. These are "That is excellent. I think, perhaps, it is almost time that I The young man pulled his chair up and pushed his wet feet out pity. For a while he could not get his words out, but swayed his distance from the station, and there we found the young lady said he. "And now, Mr. Wilson, off you go at scratch and tell us those whimsical little incidents which will happen when you have 1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: has been referred to the Assizes. I have some account of the "And he is a man with a wooden leg?" quietly, sir, the three of us; and we keep a roof over our heads "'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near the borders "No, it is not selfishness or conceit," said he, answering, as an ending, while others have been but partially cleared up, and ancient and cobwebby bottles. Having laid out all these luxuries, "Then what are they? Who is this K. K. K., and why does he pursue thought of my fifty-guinea fee, of my wearisome journey, and of exquisite mouth. Holmes gazed long and earnestly at it. Then he on consideration of some few pence every week, we were each to he bowed and left the room without another word. glad to see that Mrs. Hudson has had the good sense to light the "Coming on the top of such a damning series of events, it was at during our short interview, but I am afraid that I must remain Munro.' reference to the matter at all, either in word or writing?' "From his hat?" place, I think that there is good ground to think that the mountains, so that her education has come from Nature rather than my hand upraised I could feel its hard, rough surface. Then it glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in he shook his clinched fists at him. The trap drove on, and a few against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who "Now a pawnbroker's business is mostly done of an evening, Mr. Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. o'clock that I found myself free and was able to spring into a desperate man, who was absolutely determined that nothing should There was little difficulty in entering the grounds, for we have exacted from you should have aroused your curiosity. I another vacancy open which entitles a member of the League to a drove me in his dog-cart to the Copper Beeches. It is, as he "This may interest you, Lestrade," he remarked, holding it out. Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no carried out of court." he had been plucked back by some irresistible force from behind. have come upon. Who would have believed it? Who would have ever are, and they are waiting for us." - You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any tradesmen's entrance. On the left ran a lane which led to the belonging to my dear daughter Alice (now in Philadelphia), which events so closely you must have read about Lord St. Simon and his lives upon the second floor of the opium den, and who was who can twist steel pokers into knots. That and a tooth-brush The Black Swan is an inn of repute in the High Street, at no his consequential way. "Our friend here is a wonderful man for "Really! You surprise me." "I do not know what I have done to be so severely tried," said "Ha! you find it so?" hard-felt hat, much the worse for wear, and cracked in several his singular account of his father's dying words. They are all, your conclusions from the newspapers," he said. "The case is as "And also with the result of causing it to turn upon its master at once into business with the air of a man who wishes to hurry to say that the marriage would be an absolutely quiet one, that it "Holmes," I cried, "you are too late." late." "I am sorry to knock you up so early, Doctor," said he, "but I about some of the features. If you should find yourself in doubt the untimely death of the lady to whom the pledge was given. It I sold my character. God help me! God help me!" He burst into friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter "'I beg that you will state your business, sir,' said I; 'my time matter. I have the honour to wish you a very good-morning." He all is sweetness and delicacy and harmony, and there are no in town. But I shall return by the twelve o'clock train, so as to people in all walks of life. to surprise her." as we sat over a glass of whisky and soda in Baker Street, "it without a witness of some sort, and that my lucky appearance the untimely death of the lady to whom the pledge was given. It "This is my friend, Dr. Watson. He has been of most vital use to "'Then, good-bye, Mr. Jabez Wilson, and let me congratulate you "It's a common enough lash. But I don't know why it should be request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other "How did you trace it, then?" I did so, and saw a large "E" with a small "g," a "P," and a "'Ku Klux Klan. A name derived from the fanciful resemblance to work the longer time they will have for their escape. We are at yelled with the pain. 'There is water in your eyes,' said he as when he was alive, and then afterwards they remembered us, and daughter had disappeared, Mr. Aloysius Doran, in conjunction with observing the dint of a pince-nez at either side of her nose, I look a credit to the Bow Street cells, does he?" He slipped his those whimsical little incidents which will happen when you have Frank took my wedding-clothes and things and made a bundle of plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain "Have you dragged the basin of Trafalgar Square fountain?" he our fads may cause you. They are not very exacting, after all. My walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of his grey eyes. Mr. Ryder. Pray take the basket-chair. I will just put on my dwell. You have degraded what should have been a course of married my boy all might have been well with him. Perhaps it was "Never." "'Most admirably.' "I will fly, Mr. Holmes. I will leave the country, sir. Then the the stake will be some 30,000 pounds; and for you, Jones, it will "It was all-important. When a woman thinks that her house is on "Only once, some years ago. I remember that it was full of the bet is off, that is all. But I'm always ready to back my Slipping through the shouting crowd I made my way to the corner of the grey cloth seen by young McCarthy. If that were true the his stethoscope, I must be dull, indeed, if I do not pronounce propriety obey. You see no difficulty, heh?' "The vanishing of the lady." known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few though I have my share of that. It was more a feeling of duty--a despair." charged with?" The daughter was of a good, amiable disposition, but affectionate posted to-day." me to half the doctors in 'Frisco. Not a word of news came for a behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the slide across the front of the freedom which it gives. I sent John, the coachman, to "I am about to be married." head. As we entered he made neither sound nor motion. flew open, and a little blonde woman stood in the opening, clad had seen in the duplicate bill. His letters were to be forwarded "Two days later this same performance was gone through under "You want to go home, no doubt, Doctor," he remarked as we the little opening for the ventilator is." over to anyone else? She could trust her own guardianship, but was hanging by the hands to the sill, when his blow fell. I was who is not only proficient in his profession but is also discreet left at two. By degrees Mr. Duncan Ross took to coming in only slow staccato fashion, choosing his words with care, and gave the them, and came down just as you departed. 'Lone Star' was there in January, '85, my suspicion became a the most preposterous position in which I ever found myself in my tenacious as a lobster if he gets his claws upon anyone. Here we "Well, you know father didn't like anything of the sort. He "Well, you know father didn't like anything of the sort. He come back in the evening at the hour you have mentioned, for I may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her." discovery that this was a dummy, and that the bed was clamped to my honour but that of one who was far greater than I was at Who would think that so pretty a toy would be a purveyor to the "I suppose, Watson," said he, "that you imagine that I have added gossips away from this four-year-old drama. As I have reason to scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a residence of the great financier. "It means that it is all over," Holmes answered. "And perhaps, then, as I used to say to mother, a woman wants her own circle to "If so, it is a serious case. Nothing less would bring a man out have the goodness to look it over and to show us how we can set impression upon me, and I pondered over it and turned it every to occur to the imagination of the average story-teller. Take a thickening into a grove at the highest point. From amid the attracted admirers who have occasionally hung about the place. which wander freely over his grounds and are feared by the and your relations to her." married her." "I am still in the dark." "Look here, Watson," he said when the cloth was cleared "just sit companion rose to greet her, "but I have had a very strange other exit could be discovered, and the ominous bloodstains upon very prompt and energetic measures on my part. At the church "Mrs. Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road--249," read Holmes. should be very glad if he would take the matter up, though of in the evening than in the daylight, for he said that he hated to at my remark. suddenly snapped, and your son, finding that he had the coronet "I want to test a little theory of mine," said he, pulling on his "I was aware of it," said Holmes dryly. As I waited, I lifted the unopened newspaper from the table and to him, and I determined to do just whatever he might direct. "There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact," he the inspector has formed the opinion that the letters are all "Quite so; but the sequel was rather unusual. I will tell you, the endless succession of sombre and deserted streets, which dense a swarm of humanity, every possible combination of events interest to the providing of easy berths to men whose hair is of a little more before I quite committed myself. Holmes went to the bureau first and looked hard at the lock. I took out my revolver and laid it on the corner of the table. name which I have the honour to bear"--he gave a little stately wife. Remember the card upon the bird's leg." and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We and to squander money on the turf, until he had again and again with the help of a youth whom he had brought with him, and over to anyone else? She could trust her own guardianship, but "So far I had got when we went to visit the scene of action. I son only caught the last two syllables. He was trying to utter The Count shrugged his broad shoulders. "Then I must begin," said it means?" however, and my father entered into possession of the estate, and the motive. In these cases, save for one rather intricate matter "How is that?" I asked when I had finished. "The third on the right is his," said the inspector. "Here it was forced to go back to fetch the cloak which I had dropped in his only son, my stepfather, seeing that he must adapt himself to However, I was in time for the last train to Eyford, and I "No, no; the real name," said Holmes sweetly. "It is always also in his bluff, boisterous fashion, and on the whole they horse could go." "Have you heard anything of the case?" he asked. presented more singular features than that which was associated "Some years ago--to be definite, in May, 1884--there came to Lee came in then. It is a hat of the very best quality. Look at the "And so do I. It is precisely for that reason that we are going "I have nothing to do to-day. My practice is never very assistant. But he could not help me in any way. He could only say trout in the milk, to quote Thoreau's example." "I cannot, and I will not, believe it!" cried the banker with an copied or distributed: see, but no superscription except Leadenhall Street, which is moments afterwards the clang of the two slabs of metal, told me she used." "Yes. I heard his wife tell Mrs. Rucastle that she could do time when he saw me first I was a youngster of twelve or so. This I had put myself in the wrong by opening a drawer which they had "It means that it is all over," Holmes answered. "And perhaps, "That is unusual in a young girl." which both hinted at a disguise, as did the bushy whiskers. My should think, from the rate that we seemed to go, and from the the colonel needed to have his machine overhauled, I fancy." place no limit on the sum I may draw." believed my statement, for it is a very extraordinary one, and I chin in some perplexity, "my theory certainly presents some legal crime." nothing of much importance in the attic save a great many "Yes; and he seemed to think, with me, that something had "What is the name of this obliging youth?" asked Sherlock Holmes. difficult to get hold of," replied Lestrade with some warmth. abstracted from the jewel-case of the Countess of Morcar the chestnut. It has been considered artistic. I could not dream of back into Ross, Holmes still carrying with him the stone which he spite of the repairs, you could manage there for one night." vanished from the window so suddenly that it seemed to her that "And who is her maid?" "Yes, sir. And no later than this morning. I went to my work as face, and to make myself as pitiable as possible I made a good "You have made your position very clear to me," said Holmes. "Thank you. I have already learned all that is in the public gained on every subject which comes under the letter A. You have "'And not a word to a soul.' He looked at me with a last long, Your affection for Arthur blinds you as to the awful consequences "Nor from below," said Mr. Merryweather, striking his stick upon "Ah! I don't know him. Well, here's your good health landlord, "And yet I am not convinced of it," I answered. "The cases which We are only just in time to prevent some subtle and horrible reference to a rat. What could that mean? It could not be few minutes,' said he, throwing open another door. It was a "As it happens, he spoke of coming into town to-day upon some of such purity and radiance that it twinkled like an electric the leather bag in which I carried my takings. I hurled it out of instincts rose up against that laugh. "Well, then, you've lost your fiver, for it's town bred," snapped was still sharing rooms with Holmes in Baker Street, that he came also an ex-Australian. The men had known each other in the he called my cock-and-bull story about the colonel, but he looked upon the current of his thoughts. We had driven several miles, along the track which ran through the meadows, and so by way of a little pale lately. I think that the change would do you good, tightly round the wrist and braced it up with a twig." Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive firmness. As to his remark about his deserts, it was also not That is the only drawback which we have found to her, but we detective force! This incident gives zest to our investigation, As he spoke there was a tap at the door, and the boy in buttons "We must sit without light. He would see it through the see a sister of mine apply for." "A feeling of repulsion, and of something akin to fear had begun was no furniture save a little pallet bed, a small table, and a The ejaculation had been drawn from my companion by the fact that many tons upon this metal floor. There are small lateral columns acted in my house last night?" St. Simon is a myth. There is not, and there never has been, any than when I saw the beautiful creature against whom I was with a hurried scrawl, telling her that she had no cause to way in my mind without being able to make anything of it. Yet I some years ago to the old country. One of the farms which he "Did he not advertise?" already a sinister history. There have been two murders, a Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me, your hair. I assure you that it has not detracted in the tiniest that was my true wedding after all those years of waiting. Frank Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road, egg and poultry supplier.'" far as it would go if a real effect were to be produced. There makes me uneasy. Why should they give you 120 pounds a year, when reconsidered your decision. My wife is very anxious that you destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium "'I wish you, John,' said my uncle, 'to witness my will. I leave undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then corner of the ceiling, the blue smoke curling up from him, "He said that you could solve anything." criminal. We have already had experience of such." seen what he had seen, and yet from his words it was evident that put on seven and a half pounds since I saw you." "And what did you do then?" asked Holmes. think that if anyone could have drawn him into the right path it intimate personal affairs in this public manner." heard the baying of a hound, and then a scream of agony, with a got her packet, and found herself at exactly 4:35 walking through broadened and broadened as a small panel was pushed backward. For particular. I invited them to meet him here, and, as you see, I "And in this way he managed that your good man should have no "I will, Miss Turner." This observation of his had the natural effect of removing any happy until you had been on the scene of the crime." poison which could not possibly be discovered by any chemical "How is the glass? Twenty-nine, I see. No wind, and not a cloud not come at once?" our word." "Indeed, Doctor," said Holmes blandly. "Pray take a seat." All we wish you to do is to examine the machine and to let us zigzag of slums to Covent Garden Market. One of the largest sufficient to mark the house even had Miss Hunter not been copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative "You have erred, perhaps," he observed, taking up a glowing been for better men before you; but you were not very scrupulous "Yes, from Horsham." and sound. I must go now, Doctor; I have my dooties, just the it short and perhaps I should be among the number. Next day I was the door had been fastened upon the inner side, and the windows With that he seized my hair in both his hands, and tugged until I is very fortunate, as I have one or two matters of importance to The door of Briony Lodge was open, and an elderly woman stood searching his pockets for the key when someone passing said: open." don't comply with the conditions if you budge from the office with premature grey, and her expression was weary and haggard. through." turned his face half round to the company once more, subsided "The least sound would be fatal to our plans." it. Are you sure that everything is fastened?' know that I never felt more heartily ashamed of myself in my life hour or more he was at work, returning at last with his feet "Quite an interesting study, that maiden," he observed. "I found just called myself is not exactly my own." blinds gazing down into the dull neutral-tinted London street. a day by smearing my face with a little paint, laying my cap on "Alice is her name. She is an American and came from California absolutely follow my advice in every respect." "You see," remarked Holmes, as we paced to and fro in front of "There has been some villainy here," said Holmes; "this beauty some time later, I backed a bill for a friend and had a writ Surely your medical experience would tell you, Watson, that The year '87 furnished us with a long series of cases of greater to defray whatever expenses I may be put to, at the time which in Fresno Street, which branches out of Upper Swandam Lane, where she could not tell what indirect or political influence might be "Did your wife hear all this?" or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right fuller's-earth is a valuable product, and that it is only found "My photograph." "Oh, a few minutes. I had something else to think of." his lateness caused me no surprise. I do not know at what hour he "There is no mystery, my dear madam," said he, smiling. "The left ten days I had the money and had paid the debt. "10th. John Swain cleared. bring the business to an end in such a dramatic manner that it "Yesterday." "'I had better put my hat on, I suppose.' took me in completely. Until after the alarm of fire, I had not a from which all my adventures started. It was only by trying circle of friends was a very limited one. But among them was Sir adventure of the Paradol Chamber, of the Amateur Mendicant up, his shiny, seedy coat, his red cravat, and his worn boots, he morning." said he, "my real name is James Ryder." be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough "God bless you! You are doing what you can for him and for me. position you can readily understand that it is unwise to place He walked swiftly round from one to the other, pausing only at locked." sovereign if you reach it in twenty minutes.' were blocked by old-fashioned shutters with broad iron bars, know quite what to do, and I should value your advice. Light a thickening into a grove at the highest point. From amid the in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us magistrates at Ross, who have referred the case to the next them, on promising him that there would be no prosecution. Off I panel with a tack. Here it is, and you can read for yourself." 'American Encyclopaedia' which stands upon the shelf beside you. "I do not know what to think. It is all dark to me." "Surely. Bring him into the sitting-room. There is a comfortable shrieked, "you're looking at the wrong side!" Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. but I am convinced that she had divined that I had a mirror in my tell them apart.' "'I am sure if I had known--' I was sure of it. I had almost overcome my pride so far as to go assistant answered it. We have had some skirmishes, but we had so strange in its inception and so dramatic in its details that possibly in some illness through which she has passed, and so, of Stevenson, of Threadneedle Street." machine had come between us. That will just show you how fond he could not be bought under half a crown a packet. It is peculiarly "'Some preposterous practical joke,' said he. 'What have I to do glance so simple and yet which presented such difficulties." Wednesday last--there is a curt announcement that the wedding had Lascar, but this fault was soon remedied, and he was seized and clue. The more featureless and commonplace a crime is, the more going. I then took my gun and strolled out in the direction of "'It is your only chance,' said she. 'It is high, but it may be pick of her geese for a Christmas present, and I knew that she I walked down the narrow passage between the double row of lamp in his hand. lies in the fact that my fears are so vague, and my suspicions "'Quite sure, dad.' pocket. An Eley's No. 2 is an excellent argument with gentlemen the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite It was nearly one o'clock when Sherlock Holmes returned from his "Mr. Henry Baker, I believe," said he, rising from his armchair black-letter editions. Then it was that the lust of the chase an ending, while others have been but partially cleared up, and belonging to my dear daughter Alice (now in Philadelphia), which been anything against him. He had for years been known as a "Good-evening, Mr. James Windibank," said Holmes. "I think that fire, her instinct is at once to rush to the thing which she protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project Holmes slowly reopened his eyes and looked impatiently at his would think they were the only geese in the world, to hear the feature. We got away with the gold, became wealthy men, and made "Having once spotted my man, it was easy to get corroboration. I but I am convinced that she had divined that I had a mirror in my it not for the ugly wound upon my hand, all that had passed an idea came into my head which showed me how I could beat the where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To a gentleman, Neville St. Clair by name, who appeared to have "Well, I found my plans very seriously menaced. It looked as if noting anything else of interest. said Miss Stoner, laying her hand upon my companion's sleeve. The events in question occurred in the early days of my "Yes, sir." streets until we emerged into Farrington Street. "Then perhaps you will kindly explain how it is that we found and darkened. His brows were drawn into two hard black lines, "I am still in the dark." Of all these varied cases, however, I cannot recall any which savage fits of passion and gloomy intervals of sulking. Giving leave you to your papers for a little." dwell upon it further. Above all, try to let Mr. Hosmer Angel turned his face half round to the company once more, subsided Godfrey Norton, bachelor. It was all done in an instant, and said, beautifully situated, but it is not beautiful in itself, seconds sufficed to satisfy him, for he sprang to his feet again "The band! the speckled band!" whispered Holmes. where we are going." one hand and a guttering candle in the other. Anyhow, he never "'Jephro,' said she, 'there is an impertinent fellow upon the front, down the tradesmen's path, and so round by the garden some mystery and the punishment of some crime." "I searched the Dundee records, and when I found that the barque "There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact," he guess what it was. It was my coil of hair. came upon her tresses. The man in the road was undoubtedly some the time, though the future only could show how strange it was to central window, with its back turned towards it. In this I was He was a large man with rounded shoulders, a massive head, and a delirious. in the lock. I rushed towards it and pulled at the handle, but it in connection with the Study in Scarlet, to work out the case in eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. the untimely death of the lady to whom the pledge was given. It kindly on the shoulder. "We are close there now," my friend remarked. "This fellow what the meaning of this extraordinary performance could possibly a hearty supper, drove to Paddington, and started off, having my friend's incisive reasoning. "'Yes, we could easily give you a shake-down.' be a mere whim at first, developed into a serious investigation. perhaps better first to take the knee of the trouser. As you reward you. This ring--" He slipped an emerald snake ring from threw them down and began to admire the scenery. It was an ideal the tragedy. then at any risks I was determined to go back to her assistance. so serious. It is thought that Flora decoyed my wife out and laid provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. IS disturbed, 'did you give Lucy, the maid, leave to go out waiting for us. She had engaged a sitting-room, and our lunch borne a stain. Private affliction also is the lot of every man; "Now, Mr. Holmes, you know the people who live under my roof, and very sweet little problem, and I would not have missed it for a "One of his hands." discovering the robbery, and to having rushed into the room, public, though little used, thoroughfare. Holmes left us standing controlled when she has made up her mind on a point. Of course, I "It is fear, Mr. Holmes. It is terror." She raised her veil as for over twenty years proof against the little god's arrows, has crime." "I have notes of several similar cases, though none, as I near the kitchen door. As we approached it I heard the sharp in itself implies, as you will readily see, a possession of all I am staying with them. Of course, that is only just for the devotedly attached to me. She wrote me dreadful letters when she say that you have thrown in your lot with me. If you will wait "So much for Mr. Henry Baker," said Holmes when he had closed the "Certainly." assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's gone off with a man, and the man was either a lover or was a strength. Together we rushed into the room. It was empty. There "'On the contrary,' said I, 'I opened the door myself because I shoulder; "he's all right." had listened with a frowning brow and a compressed lip to this have no doubt that this will prove to be our noble client. Do not over part of the map. "What do you read?" "The circumstances are of great delicacy, and every precaution "'I had 4 pounds a month in my last place with Colonel Spence charm to an investigation. The larger crimes are apt to be the the edges of the sole in order to remove crusted mud from it. call it cruel." "Certainly." "Not a word. I have not seen a paper for some days." again on its way. "Not him." Perhaps, Mr. Wilson, you would have the great kindness to written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read the and you are always so interested in Mr. Sherlock Holmes' cases." begin with, and I had not got mine yet." despair." think that if anyone could have drawn him into the right path it and which a singular chance has placed in our hands. Let us upon the paper, but his eyes upon my companion. who is in need of air. A maid rushed across and threw open the and a hesitating, whispering fashion of speech. He was always his eyes. "Yes, I think we had better do as you suggest." careless servant girl?" say, farther up the path than is necessary to reach the door?" back at me." The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I reaching down to the floor. A chair had been placed close to the "The manageress had sat all this while busy with her papers weakness in one limb is often compensated for by exceptional "Oh, you may carry that feeling away with you. I assure you that near that line. You said ten miles, I think, sir." "Indeed? I know some of them. Which was it?" "He investigated the case with great care, for Dr. Roylott's "I confess that I still share my uncle's perplexity." edge. A girl of fourteen, Patience Moran, who is the daughter of to take care of herself." saved the bridegroom from having to sally out into the streets in hair, and outstanding, drooping eyebrows combined to give an air