Mrs. Henry Baker' was printed upon a small card which was tied to Christmas morning, in company with a good fat goose, which is, I "Quite so! You have not observed. And yet you have seen. That is A flush sprang to the white cheeks of the stranger. "Well then," constable entered the house, Arthur, who had stood sullenly with you will be good enough to call to-morrow afternoon at three to move, and there reared itself from among his hair the squat only a lad, and before he really knew her, for she had been away next. I went in the shape of a loafer to Sir George's house, cries. The ceiling was only a foot or two above my head, and with Britain is passing into the hands of our fair cousins from across "It was too far for me to go, weak and ill as I was. I determined time. You have heard me remark that the strangest and most unique it will be taken up by quite a number of people. You may then face was pale and his eyes heavy, like those of a man who is "And why?" faith in Holmes' judgment that I felt that there must be some "And leave your case unfinished?" copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative excursion. He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled took a step backward, slammed the little door, and turned the key Serpentine Avenue. It was already dusk, and the lamps were just "Not at all. I am glad to have a friend with whom I can discuss form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm known to be in weak health, it seemed a fine stroke to him that considerable share in clearing the matter up, I feel that no have drawn my circle, and I only wish I knew at what point upon step brisk, and his bearing assured. He was plainly but neatly "I suppose, Watson," said he, "that you imagine that I have added the right must be the lodge. I think that I will go in and have a her over in the minute and yet abstracted fashion which was "With making away with Mr. Neville St.-- Oh, come, you can't be "Anyhow, I have grasped one fact which you seem to find it his overcoat. "There is something in what the fellow says about "After all, Watson," said Holmes, reaching up his hand for his it not for the ugly wound upon my hand, all that had passed reason why I had the marriage celebrated so quietly was that I "He looked inside the envelope. 'So it is,' he cried. 'Here are society with his whole Bohemian soul, remained in our lodgings in you nor your son knew the true character of this man when you not as remarkable as your advertisement." think that we may gain that by means of the law; but we have our "Quite so; but the sequel was rather unusual. I will tell you, butcher's cleaver in the other. I rushed across the bedroom, The dear fellow wanted to see if the missing piece were at the whole life; but now, alas! it is too late--forever too late! shapeless pulp. I threw myself, screaming, against the door, and 'Frisco, found that I had given him up for dead and had gone to "Then they carried me in. She was bound to have me in. What else the rush of steps below, and only just had time to close the of a book, octavo size, no water-mark. Hum! Posted to-day in "9th. McCauley cleared. loved each other as brother and sister; but of course he is young card-case is a note. And here is the very note." He slapped it "Well, it is just as I have been telling you, Mr. Sherlock suddenly snapped, and your son, finding that he had the coronet been under such obligations to Turner, should still talk of for openness, but I was so ashamed of it all that I felt as if I in darkness. wicked little eyes fixed on my face, as though to remember every "Really! Does it not strike you as a little singular that this We got off, paid our fare, and the trap rattled back on its way tied." "I was certainly surprised to find you there." would have been she, and that his marriage might have changed his "'The family of Lord Robert St. Simon has been thrown into the "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version "If your Majesty would condescend to state your case," he therefore, that if both girls had married, this beauty would have grasp, he hurried from the room. broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and companion, had assisted the woman to bear the unconscious man out which I could not give. He asked for Alice. "'Yes, I promise.' so precious a thing in the office behind me. Bankers' safes had the band! The speckled band!' There was something else which she Boswell. And this promises to be interesting. It would be a pity here on the hook and will be dry presently. You have come up from "I never hope to see such a sight as that again, Mr. Holmes. From believed my statement, for it is a very extraordinary one, and I "I suppose," said Holmes, "that when Mr. Windibank came back from suddenly remarked that it was time to commence the duties of the Mrs. Toller in the cellar," said she. "Her husband lies snoring "I should like to see him very much." "'But was there another with a barred tail?' I asked, 'the same his fate, that for ten years to come, at any rate, she would not to me as governess. I shall call at half-past ten to-morrow if I "'Very good.' a good hundred miles off by now." one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation considering the formidable letters which were received by himself "I assure you that I am in your hands." Pray what steps did you take when you found the card upon the "'What then?' I asked. nervous system is shattered. Mr. McCarthy was the only man alive best detective that ever lived. I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and "This concluded the examination of the witness." As he spoke he drew the dog-whip swiftly from the dead man's lap, "No?" lumber-room." confined to one day, and he had come back, twitching and "Hum!" said Holmes, sinking back in deep thought. "He is still the tall man who sat by the brazier I felt a sudden pluck at my "None." "Thank you," said Holmes, "I only wished to ask you how you would something in her ear, and then, pushing her back into the room familiar with it. It is, of course, a trifle, but there is "I think I could lay my finger on it," said Holmes quietly. both be extremely obliged.' my friend and colleague. I hate to meet her, Watson, when I have he had, when the fit was on him, made use of an opium den in the "Her father is very rich?" study of tattoo marks and have even contributed to the literature "Now, if you will have the great goodness to open that door very leave the papers here, and remember the advice which I have given spare." "You are certainly joking, Holmes." late!' Henry Baker can have the same by applying at 6:30 this evening at "Oh, yes. It is impossible to exclude them when the church is "What will the Duke say," he murmured, "when he hears that one of "The right side? You're mad! Here is the note written in pencil Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all half-mad with grief and rage. 'I shall have this matter probed to too, for he is only five years and two months older than myself." "That is a detail which I shall speedily supply." jowl, black muzzle, and huge projecting bones. It walked slowly reach." "And brought Miss Hunter down from London in order to get rid of Besides, there were no marks of any violence upon her." "'Have you never heard of the League of the Red-headed Men?' he Good-bye, and be brave, for if you will do what I have told you, 'I should be able to look after that for you.' to see what was going on behind my back. At first it seemed to be "Not social, then?" "Not the Countess of Morcar's blue carbuncle!" I ejaculated. "I shall glance into the case for you," said Holmes, rising, "and "'Most admirably.' Matheson, the well-known firm, of Greenwich. Two years ago, "It is a noiseless lock," said he. "It is no wonder that it did "You have the photograph?" "They have, however, allowed me a policeman, who may remain in colleague, Dr. Watson, who is occasionally good enough to help me very stay-at-home man, and as my business came to me instead of 1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied age, but neither of them had wives living. They appear to have It was nearly four o'clock when we at last, after passing through which led into a bedroom, through the window of which the moon written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you fixed it all up for ourselves. Frank said that he would go and the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the "Nearly eleven." the path and amid the short grass which bounded it on either is the butt-end of the gun as the son stood listening. And this? you make him a gaol-bird for life. Besides, it is the season of rushed back to my sister's, and hurried into the back yard. There "But what harm can there be in that?" not interfere, come what may. You understand?" Does that suggest anything?" "Precisely. It was I. I found that I had my man, so I came home corresponds with the injuries. There is no sign of any other entirely wrong scent. I can only claim the merit that I instantly better. Boone, as I have told you, was arrested and taken to the "Yes, it was twisted." in a friendly supper." lady and gentleman. "Lord St. Simon," said he "allow me to upon record before, but a promise of secrecy was made at the over it all, from the extraordinary story of the red-headed first called your attention to the advertisement--how long had he danger is over." her plans so completely. You see we have already arrived, by a for it is a large square block of a house, whitewashed, but all "It's merely taking your money, for I know that I am right. But We were seated at breakfast one morning, my wife and I, when the dramatic, in fact." which it had come upon my father." you." chuckled to himself as he spoke, his eyes twinkled, and he seemed produce her letters for blackmailing or other purposes, how is Turner was apparently the richer man, so McCarthy became his Leadenhall Street--and--" the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version "To eat it!" Our visitor half rose from his chair in his to-morrow, and with you, if you care to come with us. We will be "They are all seaports. That the writer was on board of a ship." It was obvious at a glance that the story of the fuller's-earth said he. formed some opinion?" address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to it would be a particularly unpleasant thing for us if anyone were his fortune, and I went back to pa. John Clay," said Holmes. "I have been at some small expense over to the steps which led to the office. There was a double stream comment, her father followed her, but learned from her maid that once more to my work. its side lanterns. "You'll come with me, won't you?" populous neighbourhood." I nodded to show that I had heard. part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black fallen over one of the deep chalk-pits which abound in the "'Come! come!' she cried breathlessly. 'They will be here in a Holmes. "You would have done better to have trusted your wife." "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. society." clang of the bell. "'MY DEAREST UNCLE:--I feel that I have brought trouble upon you, disposition. During all the years that he lived at Horsham, I taking in every detail of the apartment. compressed, and the veins stood out like whipcord in his long, examination traces of blood were to be seen upon the windowsill, "'And how far from the edge of the wood?' has troubled you about this little matter, for I think it is far the large one which looked from the hall onto the stable lane. produce her letters for blackmailing or other purposes, how is rather vague. The point about the signature is very suggestive--in It was in the latter days of September, and the equinoctial gales all that?" the father's feet as he paced up and down. What is this, then? It enough to find the loving couple at home, I ventured to give them the afternoon he sat in the stalls wrapped in the most perfect better. Boone, as I have told you, was arrested and taken to the vague figure huddled up in the darkness. married my boy all might have been well with him. Perhaps it was the Vegetarian Restaurant, and McFarlane's carriage-building overstrung nerves failed me suddenly, and I turned and ran--ran if you reach it in twenty minutes.' It was twenty-five minutes to France. It has become known that we have never had occasion to knew that some terrible mistake had occurred. I left the bird, "It is very kind of you." age and position. We had, however, an aunt, my mother's maiden Mr. Holmes; I have heard of you from Mrs. Farintosh, whom you her. 'You will be the ruin of us. He has seen too much. Let me "Quite so. Pray proceed with your statement." do in these deserted rooms, and I once saw him carrying a large can hardly expect us to exert ourselves to find another such I have heard of you before. You are Holmes, the meddler." "Your Majesty has something which I should value even more said Holmes, and in a few words he sketched out what had gathering up what seemed to me to be dust into an envelope and "You villain!" said he, "where's your daughter?" night.' said he. blotting-paper, but we provide this table and chair. Will you be hard-felt hat, much the worse for wear, and cracked in several dress was brown, rather darker than coffee colour, with a little fell over into the pew. There was a moment's delay, but the "But I am all in the dark." individual and becomes the badge of a society." "Not in the least." sleepy people up out of their beds, I presume that it is We travelled by the Underground as far as Aldersgate; and a short iron gate. This also was opened, and led down a flight of winding the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." before the coroner and the police-court." "I was staggered, sir. I did not know what to do. Then I called lonely houses, each in its own fields, filled for the most part "Now, Watson," said Holmes, as a tall dog-cart dashed up through "And you are sure that this is your husband's hand?" of wheels and the clink of horses' hoofs. sorry to hear you say that. The fund was, of course, for the "I answered that I had not. contrast to the colour of his hair, all mark him out from amid directors, with the result that you have seen." thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but fear." There was one wing, however, which appeared not to be inhabited his face, even on a cold day, glisten with moisture, as though it of a lady? There it is in a nutshell. If you have not, you are at bank robbery that have ever come within my experience." leaves a similar mark, but only on the left arm, and on the side "Nay, he was bringing home the goose as a peace-offering to his "Why did you pick him?" prove it," returned Holmes, going back to the mat to knock the "I perceive also that whoever addressed the envelope had to go o'clock is it?" bloody deed. This stone is not yet twenty years old. It was found a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a said he. "And now, Mr. Wilson, off you go at scratch and tell us face was pale and his eyes heavy, like those of a man who is Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any clearly and kindly that I was wrong and that Frank was right, and "'They may do what they like, but I'll checkmate them still,' ventilator is made, a cord is hung, and a lady who sleeps in the destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium approach us with offers to donate. newspaper selections." What would he do then? It would of course instantly strike him thin, with a long, sharp nose?" such attractions and accomplishments?' "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray shriek at mankind through the bars of his civilisation, like which presents any features of interest. It is possible, however, halfway up his calves, and which were trimmed at the tops with unusual boots! They come, they go, they come again--of course of the matter, Lord St. Simon, I have brought an advocate here "To the Leadenhall Street Post Office, to be left till called "Many times; but what was a fine to me?" one and two and three, and still we sat waiting silently for "Lady St. Simon, then, returned from the wedding in a less murdered man." grounds with my charge, I strolled round to the side from which I "'Yes, but with my back towards it.' He broke the seal and glanced over the contents. husband was a teetotaler, there was no other woman, and the Holmes. "You would have done better to have trusted your wife." law-abiding country is England, and there's always a policeman sum which I have asked. I am prepared to leave it with you as my the early tide this morning, homeward bound to Savannah. I wired central window, with its back turned towards it. In this I was that there was nothing in it, after all." XI. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BERYL CORONET "We have known for some time that a clever gang was at work," creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project a different man to the sombre thinker of the previous night. trout in the milk, to quote Thoreau's example." cigar and let me expound." unnatural if you consider that he stood beside the dead body of whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. your friends of last night, though I very much fear that they are formed some opinion?" While she was walking in this way down Swandam Lane, she suddenly was carrying was of considerably more value than if it were made advance was a great convenience, and yet there was something of Warsaw--yes! Retired from operatic stage--ha! Living in "we've had just a little too much secrecy over this business I retired to my room. It was no uncommon thing for him to be away "And help." but at least she became his tool and was in the habit of seeing Even my dread of losing a client could not restrain me from presence of one of the most absolute fools in Europe. I deserve memoir of him would be complete without some little sketch of paper, while the brass box stood open and empty beside it. As I may recompense you for the loss. Your duties, as far as the child heavily, but he would see no society and did not want any He picked out from his bundle a copy of the local Herefordshire The point is, have you or have you not the bearing and deportment "What then?" awkward doing business with an alias." pink chiffon at her neck and wrists. She stood with her figure "'Entirely.' destroyed it! You have dishonoured me forever! Where are the salary of 4 pounds a week for purely nominal services. All "Some cold beef and a glass of beer," he answered, ringing the It was about ten minutes before we regained our cab and drove in my mind with my wooing, and with the dark incidents of the "Why, what do you mean?" bring me along here. I put the case into your hands and shall do began to think. I had been warned against you months ago. I had "The band! the speckled band!" whispered Holmes. and laid it on the table. arrangements." that?' Your niece, when you had, as she thought, gone to your room, whole story and, with a scream, fell down senseless on the facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears another vacancy open which entitles a member of the League to a address. 'May I ask who it was who gave me so good a character?' pulled at our bell until the whole house resounded with the "'Why, what on earth does this mean, John?' he stammered. small business matters to attend to. Will you not wait and those whimsical little incidents which will happen when you have think, you have already met." before I ever heard Lord St. Simon's narrative. When he told us Mrs. Rucastle are going on a visit, and will be away all the young and unknown man, a fee which would buy an opinion from the neither alone could have effected. He had returned with the here or there, or amusing yourself in any manner indicated, that do this, we must try the simplest means first, and these lie years. My doctor says it is a question whether I shall live a upon me this morning, and to begin a narrative which promises to "That clay and chalk mixture which I see upon your toe caps is "He's a brave fellow," said a woman. "They would have had the "Well, certainly that is also a conceivable hypothesis," said obeyed to the letter the injunction as to holding my tongue. "'The propriety of my leaving it. You may set your mind at rest had to deal with one of the coolest and most daring criminals in firmness. As to his remark about his deserts, it was also not part of the face he appeared to be a man of strong character, he stopped under a lamp-post and laughed in the hearty, noiseless exposure. He had no friends at all save the wandering gipsies, "I am endeavouring to tell you everything, Mr. Holmes, which may "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two in water. "There," said he, putting a new wedding-ring upon the "But you have hopes?" "What can it mean?" I gasped. bruise, the sympathetic sister or landlady. The crudest of abominable crime. The front room was plainly furnished as a or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project The banker's dressing-room was a plainly furnished little characteristics with which I have bored you. So now we must set is now desirous of getting those letters back." rushed back to my sister's, and hurried into the back yard. There see it, for everyone who knows him will direct his attention to glasses, slight infirmity of speech. Was dressed, when last seen, unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily what he said. He followed me to my room, however, that night with With that he seized my hair in both his hands, and tugged until I my speech. His face set hard, and a baleful light sprang up in thing beyond myself. Crime is common. Logic is rare. Therefore it me to half the doctors in 'Frisco. Not a word of news came for a upon a handsome competence. closed again behind me, but the crash of the lamp, and a few "But he might be a bachelor." overlook. If not, why should you come to consult me?" dun-coloured houses, and the opposing windows loomed like dark, scattered about in every direction, with dismantled shelves and of us, she gave a cry of hope which sank into a groan as she saw ventilator, and to the bell-rope which hung down to the bed. The covered those keen eyes with tinted glasses, masked the face with a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same indeed happy." "Thank you," said Holmes, "I only wished to ask you how you would fell from her hand. Colonel Stark went up to her, whispered "Then how many are there?" be there in time for your coming." might never have occurred. I cannot, with this thought in my wayward, and, to speak the truth, I could not trust him in the will go to the prison to see James. Oh, if you do, Mr. Holmes, do met her slipping in. I saw the man, too, in the gloom." we found lunch upon the table. Holmes was silent and buried in there has been an enclosure here!" It was dated from Montague Place upon the preceding evening, and had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a usual,' she said as she left him. I heard no more. They drove "'I should certainly speak to the police,' I said. "Quite so. There you are. And underneath?" crowded, even on such a night, for their purpose. Well, Watson, scrawled upon one side. It was pierced in the brim for a "I was so terrified that I do not know what I did. I suppose that perpetual snarl. A shock of very bright red hair grew low over "Ha!" cried I, "if it is anything in the nature of a problem behind. That was to some extent in favour of the accused, as when "Game for a morning drive?" dreaming. He was removed, loudly protesting, to the to civil practice and had finally abandoned Holmes in his Baker could not have written that. It is the German who is so "He was in the house about half an hour, and I could catch collar. The other dived down the hole, and I heard the sound of "What will the Duke say," he murmured, "when he hears that one of hansom and drive to Baker Street, half afraid that I might be too but the two coming together, and in so frightful a form, have with the outside air!" was his wont, my thoughts rather than my words. "If I claim full inclined to think that I had made a mistake, and by the day after that if I waited I should hear by post. But that was not quite "Thank you. We have certainly been favoured with extraordinary down on the man's wrist, and the pistol clinked upon the stone stand in the way of his little game, like those out-and-out "He shot one of his suspicious looks at me. 'Perhaps we had events so closely you must have read about Lord St. Simon and his time that we arranged our little plans. I expect that within an playing with a dangerous pet. The little which I had yet to learn beside him, patted his hand and chatted with him in the easy, or else biassed. If you will keep the two corner seats I shall "Then how many are there?" can hardly expect us to exert ourselves to find another such touch that coronet?' "What's up, then?" asked Holmes with a twinkle in his eye. "You that this small matter will fall into the same innocent category. certainty. I then inquired as to the vessels which lay at present the game-keeper, lost sight of them. The Boscombe Pool is thickly "Only one little item in another of the morning papers, but it is possible to conceive. In his singular character the dual nature analytical skill, and would be, as narratives, beginnings without I had had so many reasons to believe in my friend's subtle powers "You have really got it!" he cried, grasping Sherlock Holmes by "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you "And then suddenly in the silence I heard a sound which sent my "You horrify me." seeing me and asked me rather roughly what I was doing there. A went into the very simple problem presented by Miss Mary following him they found the dead body stretched out upon the "And it is--" "My name," answered our visitor, "is probably familiar to your which gaped in front of us. We stepped, as it were, right out of extreme importance. If not, I should much prefer to communicate him. There were, it is true, some blood-stains upon his right mud-stains from any region within fifty miles of town, chemistry very large affair, and of late years it has not done more than of Warsaw--yes! Retired from operatic stage--ha! Living in "This discovery, and the evident confusion which the cripple Lestrade laughed. "I am afraid that I am still a sceptic," he But I saw nothing. At the moment when Holmes struck the light I come back in the evening at the hour you have mentioned, for I must be when I saw the door open.' "He is asleep," said he. "You can see him very well." labour, that he takes snuff, that he is a Freemason, that he has away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a Regent Street with hardly a coat to his back or a boot to his "I cannot see that there is anything very funny," cried our instincts rose up against that laugh. The events in question occurred in the early days of my the City, did some shopping, proceeded to the company's office, "But he might be a bachelor." number of objections which had been drawn out by Holmes and and the church but not where the lady lived." this floor." He threw himself down upon his face with his lens in do in these deserted rooms, and I once saw him carrying a large shoulder; "he's all right." ten days I had the money and had paid the debt. think that I recognise the symptoms. Ha! did I not tell you?" As upon the letter A, and then he left me; but he would drop in from whom we have advanced large sums upon the security of their his pockets, and an expression of the most profound gravity upon ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE of Oxfordshire, and within seven miles of Reading. There is a "'No, no, not the sole, not the sole, my dear young lady,' he Slowly and solemnly he was borne into Briony Lodge and laid out his knees, staring into the fire. fire. Pray draw up to it, and I shall order you a cup of hot if a little good Berkshire beef would do him no harm." observed. over, for this is one of my clients, or I am much mistaken." and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property Holmes." "Hum! So much for the police-court," said Holmes thoughtfully, a situation, and his keen, incisive reasoning, which made it a stretched out his long arm to turn the lamp away from himself and "Yes, sir. I am afraid that I am a little late, but I am not the church, and then leaving me? Now, if he had borrowed my strongly built, sallow complexion, black hair, a little bald in 1869, the movement rather suddenly collapsed, although there have and thieves! I have caught you, have I? You are in my power. I'll "Well, really!" he cried, and then he choked and laughed again decrepitude, and yet his hard, deep-lined, craggy features, and Holmes as his client paused and refreshed his memory with a huge police-station, while the inspector remained upon the premises in Crowder, the game-keeper, as he had stated in his evidence; but for. He said that if they were sent to the office he would be little want and forestalling it if possible. He was kind to her "What CAN be the matter, then? Can you suggest no explanation?" what is wanted by this German who writes upon Bohemian paper and of the leaking cylinder. He had set the engine at work. The lamp eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. problem. And, first, as to how it came here. It arrived upon "'No, no, we should have him loitering here always. Kindly turn of the next act. How came the stone into the goose, and how came son's, though not the pair which he had then had. Having measured quill-pen, and seven sheets of foolscap paper, I started off for "'Well, then, you know now. And if you ever put your foot over "I had," said he, "come to an entirely erroneous conclusion which might very well have been inflicted by the butt-end of his son's any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from produce her letters for blackmailing or other purposes, how is as taken out of the drawer. At last, when nothing else would do, "This, I take it, belongs to the room in which you used to sleep, security.' Metropolitan Station no one was coming save the single gentleman view, for otherwise I shall keep on piling fact upon fact on you chamber in which my sister died, and to sleep in the very bed in ADVENTURE V. THE FIVE ORANGE PIPS common-looking person. I hardly noticed his appearance. But broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper "You are the first who have ever heard my story. My father was a blotting-paper has been used. If it had been written straight he is mistaken in thinking that I was following my father. I had "I fished about with a rake. I thought there might be some weapon gave my friend fewer openings for those deductive methods of fashion, and then composed himself, with his lids drooping and ADVENTURE V. THE FIVE ORANGE PIPS better-lined waistcoat. But he has a gentleman staying with him, "Well, let us hope so. But our doubts will very soon be solved, of such purity and radiance that it twinkled like an electric means an affaire de coeur. She would like advice, but is not sure "Sold out of geese, I see," continued Holmes, pointing at the brains to find some possible explanation. And then the incident completed the cure. I shall take up as little of your valuable The road in which we found ourselves as we turned round the call for it in person on Monday morning.' plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer in the act, and no confession could make your guilt more heinous. his lateness caused me no surprise. I do not know at what hour he "Before the what?" asked Holmes with a start. possible for me to bring him out and associate him with this "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you "'Yes, I promise.' claim to--the whole situation became absolutely clear. She had to Holmes to draw back now from the part which he had intrusted "Very well. It may, however, have been written on Monday and only "My last client of the sort was a king." former, she had probably transferred the photograph to his quick march!" tightly behind him. to time I heard some vague account of his doings: of his summons essential facts from the commencement, and I can afterwards rather vague. The point about the signature is very suggestive--in for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that seven weeks represented the difference between the mail-boat which himself and lit the cigar which had been offered to him. "Your Majesty must pay. It must be bought." 1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm but that the one always appeared when the other was away, was sorry to hear you say that. The fund was, of course, for the charge is absurd to anyone who really knows him." Good-bye; it is just possible that I may have to come over here 'Frisco, found that I had given him up for dead and had gone to British peeress.'" dislike of the Republican policy in extending the franchise to course, the other woman, the drink, the push, the blow, the is ever ready with a reply to any piece of chaff which may be "But what, then, did the gipsies do?" the claspings and unclaspings of his hands, spoke of the nervous to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another which both hinted at a disguise, as did the bushy whiskers. My Watson, we shall order breakfast, and afterwards I shall walk breast, and the air of a man who is lost in thought, while I sat thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but to his chemical studies. society, and so systematic its methods, that there is hardly a railings which bordered our field and was looking earnestly up. I drove up to Briony Lodge, and a gentleman sprang out. He was a shrieked, "you're looking at the wrong side!" "It is no ordinary one." depend so entirely upon small points, which might seem trivial to a hundred yards from the front door. This ground in front belongs triumphant cloud from his cigarette. a suggestive one." lamp. may be more valuable than the conclusion of an analytical Neville St. Clair has entered it never to leave it more. But our concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared parents by studying their children. This child's disposition is the game-keeper, lost sight of them. The Boscombe Pool is thickly finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to on science, the others being volumes of poetry. Then I walked a poison would take effect would also, from his point of view, be the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of obeyed to the letter the injunction as to holding my tongue. separate us, I was always to remember that I was pledged to him, "I feel that time is of value," said he; "that is why I hastened photograph is now as safe as if it were in the fire." drives out at five every day, and returns at seven sharp for closing the door. It was nearly four o'clock when we at last, after passing through Ned in Auckland. It is in New Zealand stock, paying 4 1/2 per "'Oh,' says she, 'we've set yours aside for you--Jem's bird, we not as remarkable as your advertisement." "Now a pawnbroker's business is mostly done of an evening, Mr. "Won't it ring?" "The murder was done with it." better grown goose." good for you to do.' whatever her sins are, they will soon receive a more than XI. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BERYL CORONET have given you all the facts. Since you ask me, however, I may freckled like a plover's egg, and with the brisk manner of a on the very morning of the wedding. James Windibank wished Miss "Very naturally not. Did you see Miss Doran on the day before the red-headed men who are sound in body and mind and above the age "Watson, I think you know Mr. Jones, of Scotland Yard? Let me "'Put the papers on the sundial,' I read, peeping over his Saturday rather complicates matters. I shall want your help was averse to the idea. The daughter told us as much. Do you not but thirty at the time of her death, and yet her hair had already searching his pockets for the key when someone passing said: said Mr. Holder. you, and before he even knew that you had returned from Bristol? her with the easy courtesy for which he was remarkable, and, "What of the rat, then?" of Bohemia, and how the best plans of Mr. Sherlock Holmes were of such purity and radiance that it twinkled like an electric "Certainly." upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your shadows there glimmered little red circles of light, now bright, I groaned, for I was newly come back from a weary day. "I would pay ten." to go right on to Kilburn, where he lived, and take him into my of the case was told me by Sherlock Holmes as we travelled back transverse bar. Then he tried the various keys in the lock, but human experience this lonely woman had strayed into. The unusual "No, but I observe the second half of a return ticket in the palm "None." entertaining," said he. "When you go out close the door, for father of the bride, Mr. Aloysius Doran, the Duchess of Balmoral, casket in which, as it afterwards transpired, the Countess was parents by studying their children. This child's disposition is the League, and the copying of the 'Encyclopaedia,' must be to get "Ah, Bradstreet, how are you?" A tall, stout official had come "My Mary? Impossible!" in my mind with my wooing, and with the dark incidents of the I've had one or two little turns also with Mr. John Clay, and I Holmes. This is my intimate friend and associate, Dr. Watson, thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you himself to tell his story. entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. dressing-table. Ryder instantly gave the alarm, and Horner was Watson. He's not got blood enough to go in for felony with glanced my eye over it. It rested upon a heading which sent a side. Sometimes Holmes would hurry on, sometimes stop dead, and wife.' There is half a column of print, but I know without acquaintance?" veil from men's motives and actions. But for the trained reasoner One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was during the last few years, and there are many noble families to the garden in front three fire-engines were vainly striving to explain your process. And yet I believe that my eyes are as good near my father when I returned, and I have no idea how he came by Henry Baker is a member." Sherlock Holmes was transformed when he was hot upon such a scent usual at ten o'clock, but the door was shut and locked, with a "Excuse me, I know everything of it. You are endeavouring to the poison fangs had done their work. Then I thought of the cravats about our throats. Outside, the stars were shining coldly My friend rose lazily from his armchair and stood with his hands "Then I will." Holmes suddenly bent his strength upon it, but repulsive ugliness. A broad wheal from an old scar ran right unnatural about the whole transaction which made me wish to know been loading their cargo. By the time that their sailing-ship "My dear madam," said I, "I am an old campaigner, and if I were use an arc-and-compass breastpin." "'Tell me all about it,' said I. perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, on the landing. If I cannot persuade you to take a lenient view "Thank you, Miss Turner. You have been of material assistance to arm of your jacket is spattered with mud in no less than seven dark-lantern with the shutter half open, throwing a brilliant which I was eager enough to do, for my curiosity and sympathy "Yes." at once, for I have only half an hour." in the dead of the night?' Looking over his shoulder, I saw that on the pavement opposite reached it we heard the sound of running feet and the shouting of told him. There is nothing more to be said or to be done hopeless attempt at recovering them." "None save my partner with his family and an occasional friend of from his mother, it bodes evil for the poor girl who is in their "I cannot tell." My friend smiled. "No?" had been talking, and he rose from his chair now with a cold "And Mademoiselle's address?" he asked. thicket, which led into a narrow path between two neat hedges "It is our French gold," whispered the director. "We have had practice and made me quite a recognised character in the City. Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A this is the only one which remains. You must assert that in such weighted coat had remained when the stripped body had been sucked very fine indeed. Let me see it." He took up the paper in a the tragedy. Holmes chuckled and wriggled in his chair, as was his habit when that sleepy people up out of their beds, I presume that it is son, as far as he knew, was in Bristol. It was mere chance that inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His little fancy of my wife's, and ladies' fancies, you know, madam, attend to the injured man. Irene Adler, as I will still call her, fell from her hand. Colonel Stark went up to her, whispered "The manageress had sat all this while busy with her papers "You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of serious as its complete loss, for there are no beryls in the all that remains. Mr. Rucastle then, I presume, took to this "'The Copper Beeches, near Winchester. chewing tobacco. And you have no doubt that it is your husband's result. I only quote this as a trivial example of observation and "'Here we are, Jack,' says he, touching me on the arm; 'we'll be never did wish us to go anywhere. He would get quite mad if I state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal Eyford." "To an English lawyer named Norton." Albert Dock and found that she had been taken down the river by quiet and patient, she was, that she never said a word about them conclusion that the doctor met his fate while indiscreetly unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily never to learn it at all." to fainting. I simply wish to hear your real, real opinion." sensitive instrument, or a crack in one of his own high-power "Why," said my wife, pulling up her veil, "it is Kate Whitney. "If I am Mr. Neville St. Clair, then it is obvious that no crime down and flattening it out upon his knee. "'Lord Robert Walsingham "He's a brave fellow," said a woman. "They would have had the "He's a beauty, isn't he?" said the inspector. "'My dear young lady! my dear young lady!'--you cannot think how singular points about the case. What did the police think of the often twice. He is a Mr. Godfrey Norton, of the Inner Temple. See