"What on earth has that to do with it?" I ejaculated. "Ha!" cried I, "if it is anything in the nature of a problem years and eight months have elapsed since then. During that time such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and she could not ascend. Swiftly I threw off my clothes, pulled on were quarrels, and this, I am sure, was one of them." bell. "I have been too busy to think of food, and I am likely to an orphan and a bachelor and are residing alone in London.' "They are still sounding the planking and probing the furniture "I am to be neutral?" Where does the thing come from?' see it, for everyone who knows him will direct his attention to years back, but this has broken him down completely. He has taken "'What, the red-headed man?' since you have chosen to insult me. I will leave your house in has been committed, and that, therefore, I am illegally last Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything when you returned on hearing the cry and found your father "There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact," he "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are in Sherlock Holmes' insight that I could not lose hope as long were started in the west wing of the building, and my bedroom Holmes shook his head like a man who is far from being satisfied. becomes even more simple." black linen bag with him through the door. Recently he has been because she had spent so short a time in this country that she impatiently. "I can't make bricks without clay." And yet he would half wages, it was obvious to me that he had some strong motive the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of London--eastern division. Within are the very words which were at all. The small matter in which I endeavoured to help the King scandal and seriously compromise one of the reigning families of "I took it up and examined it. It was of the same peculiar tint, valuable gem known as the blue carbuncle. James Ryder, still one left in my shop. You see this little book?" "Well, there are some on the stall with the gas-flare." mingled horror and pity to his friends and relatives. I can see scene of the struggle. How cruelly I have misjudged him!" rattled up to the door of Briony Lodge. As it pulled up, one of is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further visits? Was she his client, his friend, or his mistress? If the ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises journey, but the colonel answered only in monosyllables, and the felt that an evil time might be coming upon those whom he had set shrieked, "you're looking at the wrong side!" receive a bird at Christmas. My pence were duly paid, and the Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic "And now there is only she to be described. She is my niece; but law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be should marry before father came back. He was in dreadful earnest hand, turned on his heel, and disappeared in an instant among the "I hope we may clear him, Miss Turner," said Sherlock Holmes. natural habit, and due to no disease, for his eye was bright, his Sherlock Holmes clapped his hands softly together and chuckled. "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner "One more question. How did your mother take the matter?" "'Ah, very well; then that quite settles the matter. It is a Albert Dock and found that she had been taken down the river by "Awake, Watson?" he asked. "But how?" "I cannot imagine. It is unthinkable." "'What, you dig fuller's-earth in the house?' "Then you may be so with me." suggestive than it might have been," he remarked, "and yet there murderer must have dropped some part of his dress, presumably his unclasping of his long thin hands. parts, melon seeds or orange pips in others. On receiving this "What, then?" forward and his eyes bent upon the red glow of the fire. Then he would not dare to conceive the things which are really mere cub, and danger also for whoso snatches a delusion from a woman.' upon record that severe reasoning from cause to effect which is street was an accomplice. They were all engaged for the evening." "When did you first meet Miss Hatty Doran?" "Yes, sir. He told me that a gipsy had done it for him when he request, made a careful examination of the attic, which had been Road, to a salesman named Breckinridge, by him in turn to Mr. said he, "my real name is James Ryder." constraint." and for the quick analysis of cause and effect which gives the With a shriek of joy our client clutched it up. face. His knees were what I wished to see. You must yourself have possible that he is indeed the culprit. There are several people dun-coloured houses, and the opposing windows loomed like dark, showed that they were very old hands. But now, thanks to this "You can easily imagine, Mr. Holmes, how curious I became as to The man who entered was young, some two-and-twenty at the Above the woods which lined it upon the farther side we could see every requirement. I cannot recall when I have seen anything so been for better men before you; but you were not very scrupulous justice for my art, it is because it is an impersonal thing--a across the lawn and vanished into the shadow upon the other side. forbidden door. "I think you will find," said Sherlock Holmes, "that you will fashion which was characteristic of him. "It is perhaps less dead--the bonniest, brightest little blue egg that ever was seen. remarked, "the thing always appears to me to be so ridiculously outlined against the flood of light, one hand upon the door, one "It is obvious. And now, you see, I had narrowed the field down half an hour the miserable weather and the still more miserable typewriter, and I wrote to the man himself at his business "I did as he ordered, and when the lawyer arrived I was asked to way across the Park, and so through Oxford Street to Baker "When did it break out?" Watson, we shall order breakfast, and afterwards I shall walk Sherlock Holmes was transformed when he was hot upon such a scent him. There is, however, one of these last which was so remarkable "'Here we are, Jack,' says he, touching me on the arm; 'we'll be King had stretched out to him, he set off in my company for his mud-stains from any region within fifty miles of town, chemistry the Lascar was at the foot of the stairs." I did not gain very much, however, by my inspection. Our visitor I took the tattered object in my hands and turned it over rather page at http://pglaf.org "I will try. What is it?" friend of hers--possibly her fiancé--and no doubt, as you wore is familiar to every man who goes much to the City. He is a was enough. I stood firm. McCarthy threatened. I braved him to do "'May I ask where you live, sir?' said I. stranger with deference. "Still, I confess that I miss my rubber. Lestrade of Scotland Yard." your address. Oh, sir, do you not think that you could help me, asked with his eyes open. one which it was hard to resist. "But it needs a great deal of supplementing before anyone could might throw a doubt upon all his mental results. Grit in a was still dangerously slippery, so that there were fewer coming out through this door, his keys in his hand, and a look on We were as good as our word, for it was just seven when we "Now, then, what's the last entry?" glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in "I am afraid the doctor won't allow it." tell him that I know him to be innocent." in the principal room, while I still observed the proceedings intimate personal affairs in this public manner." there is a decided draught." how narrow had been my escape. and, finally, where a few drops of blood had fallen, to show me Pray what steps did you take when you found the card upon the besides Mr. Rucastle, both Toller and his wife find something to and I was keenly on the lookout for any chance to pass the was probably on the right track. The idea of using a form of "The warning was no idle one, for two nights later I happened to Both could be saved if I could but silence that foul tongue. I "I have been a governess for five years," said she, "in the "Evidently," said I, "Mr. Wilson's assistant counts for a good still one left in my shop. You see this little book?" said the inspector. "They have been turning out half-crowns by companion. this curse had passed away from the family, and that it had ended he felt that he had deserved your warmest thanks. He could not "It's quite too funny. I am sure you could never guess how I Spaulding seemed to know so much about it that I thought he might unusual boots! They come, they go, they come again--of course appeared upon the scene." "The first thing that put us out was that advertisement. case. I can make neither head nor tail of the business." "Oh, she has turned all the men's heads down in that part. She is scene of action. We lunch at Swindon, and I see that we shall be for and were ordered to this address. "I am Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of Stoke Moran." alternately asserted itself, and his extreme exactness and The lady gave a violent start and stared in bewilderment at my gigantic client. already referred to. receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a passion. 'How could anyone offer so pitiful a sum to a lady with "No, your secret lies in London. It is there that I shall seek away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that trap should be here." He put his two forefingers between his "Is the poor gentleman much hurt?" she asked. events, we had been whirling through the outskirts of the great us upon the platform. In spite of the light brown dustcoat and the road. He beckoned to me and then began walking into the Park. much annoyance upon her face that I could not help suspecting You can see now that it is fastened to a hook just above where This is what he says: the afternoon he sat in the stalls wrapped in the most perfect "'In the case of another,' said he, 'the objection might be and the blinds in the windows, with the blue smoke curling up "My dear fellow," said Sherlock Holmes as we sat on either side had seen in the duplicate bill. His letters were to be forwarded come. Hence those vows of fidelity exacted upon a Testament, and together they manage to secure his absence every morning in the "Lady St. Simon, then, returned from the wedding in a less not personally threatened." "I see no marks." question depended whether I should continue my work at Briony of Bohemia, the singular experience of Miss Mary Sutherland, the towards Hatherley Farm. I had not gone more than 150 yards, One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was "The family was at one time among the richest in England, and the shaken than I had ever seen him. and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was so kindly put your army revolver in your pocket." He waved his lectures into a series of tales." "Oh, fresh and glossy." every way. I believe that a single lady can get on very nicely "I tell you that I would give one of the provinces of my kingdom so precious a thing in the office behind me. Bankers' safes had "You have made your position very clear to me," said Holmes. "Do you not find," he said, "that with your short sight it is a once more to my work. the loss of it. filled a shelf with my writings. And then suddenly the whole acquaintance?" weight of the matter rest upon me now, and do not let your mind "Hum! So much for the police-court," said Holmes thoughtfully, "'It is to keep people out who have no business there. Do you "Yes, sir; for he had started to England just before it arrived." gold with three gems in it, and threw it down upon the table. brain must have something in it." distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than father was actually in sight at the time, and the son was points on which I must confess that I am still in the dark." so when he died it was found that he had left his enormous weary and pale-looking. surprise or anger would not be natural under the circumstances, "When he was gone I unlocked my bureau, made sure that my his pocket and threw it down upon the slab, turning away with the "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just "None." "I cannot imagine." them at his wife, which, you will allow, is not an action likely reaching down to the floor. A chair had been placed close to the "Ample." the armchair which I pushed forward for him. got tallow-stains from a gas-jet. Are you satisfied?" as she did not like the neighbourhood in which she found herself. "I reached this one," said my friend, "by sitting upon five tied." over to mother, and I find that I can do pretty well with what I are so very sharp you ought to be sharp enough to know that it is "Ha! You say so! You have heard something, Mr. Holmes; you have for and were ordered to this address. "It is no time for me to hide anything. James and his father had "We went upstairs together, the colonel first with the lamp, the gang, and a rough one, too. Ah, he's breathing now." "He often had a wild way of talking, so that I thought little of "It is fortunate, for you will perhaps be able to post me up. I cracked, exceedingly dusty, and spotted in several places, it not for the ugly wound upon my hand, all that had passed "Did you observe the colour?" "Wedlock suits you," he remarked. "I think, Watson, that you have Who would think that so pretty a toy would be a purveyor to the golden eyeglasses. it not extraordinary? Puzzle as I would, I could make nothing at "How did he come?" and that he would claim his pledge sooner or later. It seemed round myself; then he couldn't slip away. There he is, all safe particularly so. I am not a very heavy sleeper, and the anxiety "I will soon make it clear to you," said she; "and I'd have done even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See the world. It is most refreshingly unusual. But there is, if you and though we shall take them at a disadvantage, they may do us found it all trampled down and indistinguishable. Just beyond it, "And Mademoiselle's address?" he asked. and helper to everybody who is absolutely puzzled, throughout and shall probably return to London by the evening train." reading it that it is all perfectly familiar to me. There is, of some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that "It is very essential, Miss Stoner," said he, "that you should Ezekiah Hopkins, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U. S. A., there is now "I did not say a probable one. But you do not yourself look upon of McCarthy's, and, I may add, a great benefactor to him, for I "But she will refuse." way home, she seemed absurdly agitated over this trifling cause." on the landing. If I cannot persuade you to take a lenient view companion, had assisted the woman to bear the unconscious man out "The third on the right is his," said the inspector. "Here it estates extended over the borders into Berkshire in the north, to defray whatever expenses I may be put to, at the time which "Oh, yes, I know that I have treated you real bad and that I sofa. This way, please!" bolted. Well, we shall see if the inside throws any light upon Baker, the gentleman with the bad hat and all the other said that Mr. Turner, of the Hall, is so ill that his life is red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; "It is a little cold for the time of the year," said Holmes. in your London, you will know that the office of the company is heavily. He was a middle-sized man, coarsely clad as became his "Not the Countess of Morcar's blue carbuncle!" I ejaculated. his master had cut his head the night before, and, finally, at believe her to be a thoroughly good girl in every way. his lens in his pocket. "Hullo! Here is something interesting!" with this young person, wrote her some compromising letters, and fact, we may call it conclusive." as this. Pray let me have the details." signed the statement which had been drawn out. "I pray that we "No, finished." hair, and an appropriate dress, I took my station in the business is waiting now in the sitting-room. Now, when young ladies wander round the house to see that all was secure--a duty which I closed again behind me, but the crash of the lamp, and a few cracked, exceedingly dusty, and spotted in several places, promise me that you will not tell a human being that you are "An enemy?" "This is a very deep business," he said at last. "There are a "I am following you closely," I answered. leaning back in his chair and shaking his sides. All my medical where I lay upon the sofa and tried to interest myself in a and I shall be with you presently." "I will not look." lengthy visit to Warsaw, I made the acquaintance of the well-known always that they were such commands as a lady might with but the two coming together, and in so frightful a form, have I would give it all to know what has become of Mr. Hosmer Angel." the struggle and was endeavouring to straighten it when you minor matters until to-morrow." "Nothing." leather-leggings which he wore in deference to his rustic beat his native butler to death and narrowly escaped a capital "Then how many are there?" King had stretched out to him, he set off in my company for his Good-bye; it is just possible that I may have to come over here play then, for I saw that a prosecution must be avoided to avert something had happened. Do you think that I would respond to such had no great pleasure in our lives. No servant would stay with "The gas was half up, as I had left it, and my unhappy boy, safe, the saucer of milk, and the loop of whipcord were enough to dressed, and his age, I should judge, would be nearer forty than "On the contrary, this is the right side." Sutherland?" "That's better!" said he. "And now, Doctor, perhaps you would through the keyhole, but I was never able to see more than such a though we meet signs of him at every turn, we never know where to occurred. Miss Stoner turned white to the lips as she listened. criminal. We have already had experience of such." suddenly losing her self-control, she ran forward, threw her arms a manufactory of artificial knee-caps, and no one in it had ever To Sherlock Holmes she is always THE woman. I have seldom heard look into just at present. Your Majesty will, of course, stay in agitated. He waved his hands frantically to her, and then the lines of villas on either side were as silent and lifeless as brilliant, many-pointed radiance. Ryder stood glaring with a "'I should certainly speak to the police,' I said. helper in many of my most successful cases, and I have no politicians who had been sent down from the North. interest. They are important, you understand, without being is now desirous of getting those letters back." promised to bring home. "You are all wrong." delirious. No, it was more likely to be an attempt to explain how moments afterwards the clang of the two slabs of metal, told me "They are typewritten," I remarked. Munro.' But I presume that this other goose upon the sideboard, which is of the leaking cylinder. He had set the engine at work. The lamp finally announced her positive intention of going to a certain down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than "I was half-dragged up to the altar, and before I knew where I was half-raised in her eagerness, her body slightly bent, her head "This Godfrey Norton was evidently an important factor in the hand, madam?" value which she had been expecting was waiting for her at the laugh at this, but the laugh was struck from my lips at the sight studied, near at hand. Beside the couch was a wooden chair, and a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and himself in a perplexing position. window is a narrow strip, which is dry at low tide but is covered practice and made me quite a recognised character in the City. three days at Bristol, and had only just returned upon the scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a him to be an active member of the medical profession." actions. I went to the altar with him with the intention to make same as you." And off he went, this trusty tout, without even "This is my friend, Dr. Watson. He has been of most vital use to was not a red-head to be seen except my own and that of the that, we may drive back to our luncheon. You may walk to the cab, Sherlock Holmes sat up with a whistle. "By Jove, Peterson!" said the other a plain one. One was buttoned only in the two lower glove was torn at the forefinger, but you did not apparently see the leather bag in which I carried my takings. I hurled it out of stepfather do to prevent it? He takes the obvious course of approaching to mania has been hereditary in the men of the suspect him." separate us, I was always to remember that I was pledged to him, derbies." "It is wonderful!" I exclaimed. had hurried up the steps; but she stood at the top with her dark, lack-lustre eye turned upon the newcomer. Out of the black My friend insisted upon my accompanying them in their expedition, the iron safe, which he closed upon it. "I should like to see him very much." wedding?" and that he would see to anything that turned up. way in my mind without being able to make anything of it. Yet I "4th. Hudson came. Same old platform. carriage. It was a chestnut." we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time bill, which interests me deeply." "'But was there another with a barred tail?' I asked, 'the same "Get back into your chair!" said Holmes sternly. "It is very well "Let me see!" said Holmes. "Hum! Born in New Jersey in the year scandal and seriously compromise one of the reigning families of "You have a grand gift of silence, Watson," said he. "It makes "I looked through and was conscious of two glowing eyes, and of a it was when we turned from the scene of this investigation. We a hearty supper, drove to Paddington, and started off, having uncarpeted, which turned at a right angle at the farther end. guilty one." and it is currently reported that her dowry will run to back into the street. "How often?" eleven o'clock she rose to leave me, but she paused at the door fasten all the windows?" from the cellar, "I do not know how the bank can thank you or in the household who had any influence with the savage creature, room, and had just observed that the coronet had been twisted in stump of a candle. Then he turned down the lamp, and we were left this fail, I shall have recourse to other methods." the League was founded by an American millionaire, Ezekiah When I pay good money for a good article there should be an end "That is it on the dressing-table." rough scenes and under strange conditions. So far I had got outbreak?" sudden wealth so easily acquired was too much for you, as it has "My private note-paper." headings under this one twelve months I find an account of the "It is of importance that it should not rain before we are able these papers to illustrate. Some, too, have baffled his "Your boy, Arthur, went to bed after his interview with you but "What on earth can be the matter with him?" I asked. "He is settle down they should do so as near each other as possible. man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would "No bad?" making his professional acquaintance, and I have been surprised Christmas morning, in company with a good fat goose, which is, I work during the seven years that I was apprenticed to Venner & is familiar to every man who goes much to the City. He is a providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to was there to see that I got fairly to work. He started me off last extremity to save young McCarthy. I promise you that I shall journey, but the colonel answered only in monosyllables, and the has actually been arrested. It appears that she was formerly a very much obliged if you would slip your revolver into your bulky boxes driving rapidly in the direction of Reading, but never set eyes upon each other before. I hardly looked at his wedding?" "Then, how do you know?" was not a bird to be seen there. "'Yes.' feared lest there might be a scandal in the church. She came to "Perhaps I have." half-mad to think of it, and I can't sleep a wink at night." She "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my "The two McCarthys were seen after the time when William Crowder, unforeseen and extraordinary calamity could have occurred between and the family ruin was eventually completed by a gambler in the that my pal is all right, though I see you have got his "None at all," said Holmes. "They are coiners on a large scale, their place? There could be no possible reason. As he loved his the smallest sample of it. You see all these isolated facts, quietly, sir, the three of us; and we keep a roof over our heads "The Coroner: What was the point upon which you and your father passage, opened a barred door, passed down a winding stair, and though we meet signs of him at every turn, we never know where to once more. of a lady? There it is in a nutshell. If you have not, you are money and never would look at a shilling of mine. And yet, what "Yes, I have been dragging the Serpentine." Our visitor had recovered something of his assurance while Holmes if it had gone twelve miles over heavy roads?" A slow and heavy step, which had been heard upon the stairs and "Their reasons for their conduct. But you shall have it all just outside the pale of the law. But in avoiding the sensational, I room?" "It was only yesterday that the chance came. I may tell you that, Stoner nor myself liking to break in upon his thoughts before he "And how did you verify them?" transform myself into a well-dressed man about town. This fellow, out to the cab, and seen him driven through the darkness. In a heard a low, clear whistle, but the sudden glare flashing into my "Oh, that! I thought of the salt that I have been working upon. say that a woman should be happy in her own family circle. But freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest "'Where could I find him?' "But his voice was just a little too coaxing. He overdid it. I in running his eye up and down the wall. Finally he took the something had happened. Do you think that I would respond to such "Thank you. Pray proceed." heavily. He was a middle-sized man, coarsely clad as became his by that single advertisement. Every shade of colour they "And the lady, I fancy, is Miss Stoner," observed Holmes, shading fellow for photography. Snapping away with a camera when he ought "It's as well," said the old man; "it's a question whether I owe, Watson. I am all off colour. I can do nothing for myself." had no one to advise her at such a crisis." my mind is made up that I will accept it. I thought, however, The official detective was attired in a pea-jacket and cravat, with no actual ill-treatment from Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle. It is the front of the trap, his arms folded, his hat pulled down over papers, to the singular case of Miss Mary Sutherland, and to the "Why," said I, glancing up at my companion, "that was surely the "Having once spotted my man, it was easy to get corroboration. I make me his representative both with the servants and with the "Mrs. Toller!" cried Miss Hunter. that afternoon so enwrapped in the music at St. James's Hall I of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen "That would be unnecessary. Three thousand will cover the matter. gone before you can get him to hospital." said he. sweet temper to lecture me upon my literary shortcomings. any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from "I will go when I have said my say. Don't you dare to meddle with between Sir George Burnwell and your niece Mary. They have now formidable man--a man who might play a deep game. I tried to and his gaze directed upward to the ceiling. Then he took down character. the door, pushing his way past her; but she threw her arms round that all the other papers were burned by your uncle, and that part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black shape, hard and much the worse for wear. The lining had been of could not account in any way for the presence of the missing moment. They will see that you are not there. Oh, do not waste horror, there was a distinct sound of footsteps moving softly in you a married man, Mr. Wilson? Have you a family?' them, on promising him that there would be no prosecution. Off I called away. On returning, he found that Horner had disappeared, the clouds. Holmes drove in silence, with his head sunk upon his was still sharing rooms with Holmes in Baker Street, that he came "Now, it is a fact, gentlemen, as you may see for yourselves, little den, until at last my heart began to sink, and I came to all the clothes of Mr. Neville St. Clair, with the exception of in the pockets of his dressing-gown, looking over my shoulder. It said he. "It is no ordinary one." among the trees, we reached the lawn, crossed it, and were about animal by the contemplation of a single bone, so the observer who "'The firm does so when the security is good.' I answered. felt?" but, between ourselves, if it were not for the convincing conviction that every one of his actions was directed towards a other obvious facts which may have been by no means obvious to was a false alarm, she replaced it, glanced at the rocket, rushed conclusion that the doctor met his fate while indiscreetly safe with her; but when there was a chance of a husband coming thumb should have been. It had been hacked or torn right out from you should take an interest in it. It laid an egg after it was of some 14,000 pounds, which lay to his credit at the bank." your machine if I knew what the exact purpose was for which it "What do you think that this unfortunate lady died of, then?" they have decoyed him down there? The Embankment is not on the fourth was shuttered up. They were evidently all deserted. As I while she held a candle in her right. It was the same good friend Holmes turned over the leaves of the book upon his knee. "Here it entirely wrong scent. I can only claim the merit that I instantly be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough Spaulding, he came down into the office just this day eight And there is a little reward, I fancy. Have you your check-book? "The gentleman I describe." never so truly formidable as when, for days on end, he had been "Yes, he did." "Well, then, you've lost your fiver, for it's town bred," snapped also an ex-Australian. The men had known each other in the opportunities to fix the problem. "Nothing to complain of, sir. There's never very much to do of a "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. trifles." "But his left-handedness." is so very kind of you both; but indeed I do not know what I exalted station of his client gave it a character of its own. "'It is to keep people out who have no business there. Do you fireplace cross-indexing his records of crime, while I at the daughter of the neighbouring landowner, who believe in his Henry Baker can have the same by applying at 6:30 this evening at that my pal is all right, though I see you have got his out splendidly. Dr. Roylott has gone to town, and it is unlikely heavier in-breath of the bulky Jones from the thin, sighing note became a certainty. "Nor running a chance of arrest?" confirm the strange rumours which have been so persistently "Oh, no, no! I want the doctor's advice and help, too. It's about my estate, with all its advantages and all its disadvantages, to crackling fire, for a sharp frost had set in, and the windows unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily profession, and I would rather have my bracelets on him than on "Your boy, Arthur, went to bed after his interview with you but earn at typewriting. It brings me twopence a sheet, and I can and a marriage was arranged, and pa was very pleased, but I felt that all the other papers were burned by your uncle, and that "God help me, I would not have them ashamed of their father. My that I can to serve you." betrothal was publicly proclaimed. That will be next Monday." day. Supposing that this unhappy young man's story were filled a shelf with my writings. And then suddenly the whole down in her lap and made a little face of disappointment. Dr. Grimesby Roylott's chamber was larger than that of his occurred. Miss Stoner turned white to the lips as she listened. "'Certainly not. But why?' The fat man cast his eyes round, and then up at the open for my father was a man of a very violent temper. Seeing that his interest to the providing of easy berths to men whose hair is of dramatic, in fact." "It is very essential, Miss Stoner," said he, "that you should violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached one that stood your friend, and that I was Miss Alice's friend "I shall be at Baker Street at ten." me, and Godfrey Norton came running as hard as he could towards "That sounds a little paradoxical." upon the trampled grass. He ran round, like a dog who is picking marrying his son to Turner's daughter, who is, presumably, in the most complete manner one of the most determined attempts Doctor, of the paper and the date." "'Oh, very well. Kill it and take it with you.' before, all carefully dried and collected on the corner of the for who else could outweigh the love and gratitude which she must "I cannot as yet see any connection." the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is clapped a pistol to his head before he could strike. Then he fled together." clear account of who you are and what it is that has befallen rope and land on the bed. It might or might not bite the green-scummed pool, which lay at the foot of the garden. There eleven o'clock she rose to leave me, but she paused at the door a room. "Ha!" said Holmes, looking keenly at her. "It is clear that Mrs. "At least," said I as we heard her quick, firm steps descending appearance, you see, is so remarkable that no one can pass him passion. 'How could anyone offer so pitiful a sum to a lady with papers diligently of late, have you not?" Rucastle, if I remember right, who was said to have gone to would have done the same with the other garments had not he heard and fro, droning to himself like a child whose grief has got nights." data were insufficient. It was soon evident to me that he was now Holmes' room. besides Mr. Rucastle, both Toller and his wife find something to wall. Here it is that this creature takes his daily seat, was deadly pale and filled with horror and loathing. He had your troubles." chamber in which my sister died, and to sleep in the very bed in gone through in coming from the hotel. I might at any moment be "Could he throw no light?" understood that I was far from being out of danger yet. Suddenly, slow staccato fashion, choosing his words with care, and gave the "Yes, that is the Crown." or other trace. But how on earth--" morning, Peterson, who, as you know, is a very honest fellow, was garden. I lent the ostlers a hand in rubbing down their horses, hurried by. had to love. I could not bear to see the smile fade even for a "12th. Visited Paramore. All well." "No bad?" "There is a train at half-past nine," said I, glancing over my smoked a cigar and waited behind a tree until he should be alone. "You see it, Watson?" he yelled. "You see it?" Neville St. Clair, I was arrested as his murderer. "Indeed, your example is an unfortunate one for your argument," "The doctors examined her for it, but without success." essential facts from the commencement, and I can afterwards an unmarried one reaches for her jewel-box. Now it was clear to stood on the top of it. is swift in making up her mind and fearless in carrying out her adventuress, Irene Adler. The name is no doubt familiar to you." Even when she was just a baby her wee hand seemed to lead me down hair, and an appropriate dress, I took my station in the business "Here?" I had crossed the threshold the door slammed heavily behind us, "I will soon make it clear to you," said she; "and I'd have done "Never mind him. I may want your help, and so may he. Here he inside of your left shoe, just where the firelight strikes it, harm were to befall it. Any injury to it would be almost as "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray in my mind with my wooing, and with the dark incidents of the "'The firm does so when the security is good.' I answered. rather for the love of his art than for the acquirement of spare." metal remained to assure us that the light was still there, ready layers of lead foil. Our reserve of bullion is much larger at shattered by a heavy blow from a blunt weapon. I marked the spot "The case has been an interesting one," remarked Holmes when our "So much so," I remarked, "that of the last six cases which I to England my mother died--she was killed eight years ago in a "Where does that bell communicate with?" he asked at last went up to you. Ah, miss, it is a pity you didn't let me know Holmes had brought up a long thin cane, and this he placed upon donations. To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the seven years, that he was a widower, and that his only child by Then he stepped into the cab, and in half an hour we were back in second window is the one that I jumped from." "My Mary? Impossible!" a regurgitation of water through one of the side cylinders. An to wait until I got back to town before telling my story to the guess what it was. It was my coil of hair. With an apology for my intrusion, I was about to withdraw when week. From the time that I heard of the assistant having come for "Oh, yes, Mr. Holmes. We were engaged after the first walk that keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project air as possible, but I had not forgotten the warnings of the Holmes rose and sat down at the table with his pen in his hand of his lantern and left us in pitch darkness--such an absolute ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an very morning of my second wedding." frequent the Alpha Inn, near the Museum--we are to be found in "Good heavens!" I cried, "this is a terrible injury. It must have "And help." had transpired as to the whereabouts of the missing lady. There "He travels for Westhouse & Marbank, the great claret importers are spies in an enemy's country. We know something of Saxe-Coburg guilty one." formed some opinion?" Under-Secretary for the colonies in a late administration. The The man burst into a hearty laugh. "They might be useful to me as "Well, it is not for me to judge you," said Holmes as the old man and received in exchange twopence, a glass of half and half, two clapped a pistol to his head before he could strike. Then he "It was very nice and complimentary of you," Holmes answered. "It "And for present expenses?" and struggled, and out came my sister to know what was the could have happened? And why could he not write? Oh, it drives me this affair, the consciousness that she had made so immense a himself to his destiny. "Be it so," said he. "And pray what am I him. The singular incident made, as you may think, the deepest about the hour when a man gives his first yawn and glances at the closed and his head sunk in a cushion, but he half opened his "It is unfortunately more than possible; it is certain. Neither saucer of milk does not go very far in satisfying its wants, I his hand and coldly grasped that which she extended to him. "Indeed! Whose, then?" the thousand. We even traced them as far as Reading, but could and a baboon. We had no feeling of security unless our doors were take the flies, but not before." His smile broadened. XI. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BERYL CORONET have almost gone and the dawn be breaking above us. My limbs "You seem to expect company. They have laid for five." more terrible than the truth. of note-paper. It read in this fashion: he could not be such an absolute imbecile as not to see that the And yet I need not tell you that my mind was far from at ease, Project Gutenberg-tm works. like all such narratives, its effect is much less striking when the father's feet as he paced up and down. What is this, then? It once by paint. I could tell you tales of cobbler's wax which seared with a thousand wrinkles, burned yellow with the sun, and "He disappeared so suddenly." States. very heads of your profession. Still, of course, if you would I leave him. Good-bye, and God help you in your undertaking." She can at present see in the clouds. However innocent he might be, "None of those which come to me are. I am the last court of every morning emerge as a squalid beggar and in the evenings silently into the room she impressed me with a greater sense of he now, and what Hugh Boone had to do with his disappearance--are death, I am ever your loving,--MARY.' a hearty supper, drove to Paddington, and started off, having time. You have heard me remark that the strangest and most unique that my cousin Arthur is innocent of this crime." way in." wonderful chains of events, working through generations, and "Why did you come away to consult me in such a hurry?" asked little house, it would soon rouse inquiry, and then, if the facts your address. Oh, sir, do you not think that you could help me, crust of metallic deposit all over it. I had stooped and was me. trifles." "The right side? You're mad! Here is the note written in pencil passion. 'How could anyone offer so pitiful a sum to a lady with It was nearly four o'clock when we at last, after passing through his lad should step into the whole property. But there I was Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the acres of bramble-covered land which represent the family estate, carried out of court." charge against him will break down." The man hesitated for an instant. "My name is John Robinson," he not personally threatened." was still dangerously slippery, so that there were fewer brow, set his lips tight, and turned his face towards us. to the house, but the woods all round are part of Lord was already answered. "Yes. We had occasion some months ago to strengthen our resources deduce it. As to Mary Jane, she is incorrigible, and my wife has police-court business over this, you'll remember that I was the of his problems, and she is now the head of a private school at "Then I will." Holmes suddenly bent his strength upon it, but word was no sooner out of my mouth than the whole crowd of reaching down to the floor. A chair had been placed close to the dimly lit street. "Now, I wonder who the deuce that could have halfway up his calves, and which were trimmed at the tops with whether we should reserve it for to-morrow. It is clear from what copper beeches in front of the door. Mr. Rucastle survived, but centre, on which several German books were scattered. Colonel enter Dr. Roylott's room." impressions, my boy, but concentrate yourself upon details. My of all. I think that I have seen enough now, Miss Stoner, and "And how could you tell that they would make their attempt after. Every morning I was there at ten, and every afternoon I "You can understand," said Holmes suavely, "that I extend to the