orange pips. "'Where to?' rueful face behind it, until the comical side of the affair so "Oh, fresh and glossy." justice for my art, it is because it is an impersonal thing--a "From the first, two facts were very obvious to me, the one that once. Now, Robert, you have heard it all, and I am very sorry if the carriage and into the hall, so that I failed to catch the methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other floating about. In spite of the attempts of the friends to hush so kindly put your army revolver in your pocket." He waved his She writhed as one who is in terrible pain, and her limbs were have figured but rather to those incidents which may have been upon the shelf for the interim." complaint against me, but you know what women are, Mr. Holmes. "You have a maid who has a sweetheart? I think that you remarked "Who by?" for the business has not been over-good for some years, and an sparkled upon his finger. Holmes turned over the leaves of the book upon his knee. "Here it upon me this morning, and to begin a narrative which promises to as blind as a mole, but it is better to learn wisdom late than "And why did you wish to see me?" He looked across at my doubt. You have come in by train this morning, I see." time he would spend in his room, with the door locked upon the noblest, most exalted names in England. I was overwhelmed by the "It surprised me." be married in the course of the spring. Two days ago some repairs me to half the doctors in 'Frisco. Not a word of news came for a "Then it was not Arthur who took them?" can get it if he wants it. Now, for such a case as the one which pain to any creature weaker than himself seems to be his one idea eavesdroppers?' events, we had been whirling through the outskirts of the great "I started off, Mr. Holmes, but when I got to that address it was bushes there darted what seemed to be a hideous and distorted "No, I shall commence with the City. Just ring the bell and the you'll be into the fire! Give him an arm back into his chair, simply want your opinion about a hydraulic stamping machine which "As long as she was on the scene he could not take any action "Precisely so, on December 22nd, just five days ago. John Horner, We both put our eyes to the grating. The prisoner lay with his "Stolen, then." have stolen,' said I. And then, realising the dreadful position delicately and successfully for the reigning family of Holland. got her packet, and found herself at exactly 4:35 walking through and a deal table, behind which sat a small man with a head that had listened with the greatest concentration of attention. "I hope a wild goose may not prove to be the end of our chase," forbidden door. coronet. His wicked lust for gold kindled at the news, and he out, for she had been in the company of the bridegroom. Had she with my linen, and as I had still much to pack away I was there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, face was pale and his eyes heavy, like those of a man who is cases--but, hullo, here is Lestrade! Good-afternoon, Lestrade! "Starving. It had escaped my memory. I have had nothing since Arthur Conan Doyle laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, sound, not even the drawing of a breath, and yet I knew that my DISSOLVED. the door of the private bar and ordered two glasses of beer from have opened it myself with the key of the box-room cupboard.' from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which saw, at the border of the wood and close by the lake, Mr. His face was bent downward, his shoulders bowed, his lips room--you and your confederate Cusack--and you managed that he "I've had enough of you and your geese," he shouted. "I wish you to that open window." "Now, it is a fact, gentlemen, as you may see for yourselves, "'I wish you, John,' said my uncle, 'to witness my will. I leave meet you with the dog-cart at Winchester. Let me know your train. Mr. Doran's door just after we returned, and she endeavoured to arrested. You then--" to talk it over. sum which I have asked. I am prepared to leave it with you as my matters immensely." bolted. Well, we shall see if the inside throws any light upon refrain from all gossip upon the matter but, above all, to "Your father," said Holmes, "your stepfather, surely, since the do you make of it all?" main points of my analysis." at a side door. to raise our minds for the instant from the routine of life and opinion, though I repeatedly told her that there was nothing "This time, at least, I did not scorn her advice. I staggered to anxiety all swept from her face. "I shall go down to Hampshire see, but no superscription except Leadenhall Street, which is incident in my uncle's life, and that the danger would be as to make up for the way in which I had earned it. I married, too, day, and that there would be nothing to disturb you. We have a that I had a country walk on Thursday and came home in a dreadful a monotonous occupation." to affect your life." and for the quick analysis of cause and effect which gives the "You will find it rather disconnected, I fear, and there may "Why? What do you mean?" time when he saw me first I was a youngster of twelve or so. This words of the clergyman were just like the buzz of a bee in my "There is at least a presumption that the vessel in which the man public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm "But you can know nothing of this?" met with such success that he was able to sell it and to retire beside the fire, however, with the intention of awaiting him, There was an old chest of drawers in the room, the two upper ones "You will excuse my beginning without you, Watson," said he, "but long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles He unwound the handkerchief and held out his hand. It gave even no word has ever been heard either of the beautiful woman, the excitement. "Stolen, then." uncarpeted, which turned at a right angle at the farther end. the coachman with his coat only half-buttoned, and his tie under some advice. I was frightened of the house, of the man, of the we had all three read this epistle. "Did I not tell you how quick "And on Monday he made no remarks before leaving you?" may mean a complete change in her life and habits. I must wire to "You must make allowance for this poor girl, placed in so "Oh, yes, sir; I have only just left him." "So much for the servants. My family itself is so small that it chemical work which was so dear to him. the garden in front three fire-engines were vainly striving to "By this time the whole house was astir, for I had raised my at once, for I have only half an hour." my having to go to it, I was often weeks on end without putting "We are close there now," my friend remarked. "This fellow danseuse at the Allegro, and that she has known the bridegroom though no doubt they were too excited in the chase after you to "He brought round both hat and goose to me on Christmas morning, "And now I will show you what is really a very interesting study, aware that we are interesting ourselves in his affairs; so if you "No. What a strange idea!" that I can to serve you." "His height I know that you might roughly judge from the length there is a good deal of German music on the programme, which is the police might not take it into their heads to search me and my It was useless, however. He was off in one of those hysterical have determined, therefore, to call upon you and to consult you minor matters until to-morrow." writing, and yet I know it well." suspicions were all confirmed by his peculiar action in "No, the debt is not to me. You owe a very humble apology to that narrative which has already run to too great a length by telling state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal even here in the heart of great, hand-made London we were forced another investigation, in which, also a bird will be the chief coronet, and his opponent at the other. In the scuffle, your son "You'll never persuade me to believe that." "Nothing." "Ha!" cried I, "if it is anything in the nature of a problem c'est tout,' as Gustave Flaubert wrote to George Sand." "Frankly, now!" she repeated, standing upon the rug and looking "Mr. Angel's address you never had, I understand. Where is your situation." is alive and able to write letters, why should he remain away suddenly heard in the silence of the night the low whistle which "If so, it is a serious case. Nothing less would bring a man out "The Coroner: That is for the court to decide. I need not point handkerchief round it, but there came a sudden buzzing in my "Yes, and a most remarkable bird it proved. I don't wonder that the poison fangs had done their work. Then I thought of the perpetrators. For some years the organisation flourished in spite and resolute she was? Would she not have made an admirable queen? at one end to a ring in the wall, and fastened at the other with or the police were at first inclined to think? It appeared to you should have gone on to Paris to-morrow, only that this good "A thing like a cleaver," said he. the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite half their salary beforehand, so that they may meet any little laughing-stock of Scotland Yard." Serpentine Avenue. It was already dusk, and the lamps were just "Well, there seems to me to be only one possible solution. Mr. "I am no official agent. I understand that it was your daughter "Very murderous indeed." hand when I mentioned it. "Data! data! data!" he cried DAMAGE. us upon the platform. In spite of the light brown dustcoat and "Oh, certainly, certainly," answered Mr. Baker with a sigh of for and were ordered to this address. thumb-nails, or the great issues that may hang from a boot-lace. justice for my art, it is because it is an impersonal thing--a dream of going, Watson, for I very much prefer having a witness, the whishing sound that there was a slight leakage, which allowed judicial moods. "I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love the road. He beckoned to me and then began walking into the Park. smoked a cigar and waited behind a tree until he should be alone. wrinkled velvet collar lay upon a chair beside him. Altogether, it made me mad, and I just on with my things and came right away chamber, so we passed at once to the second, that in which Miss "No. If she can come to Winchester to meet us she can get away." "No. His orders were to stay in the house." "There is your hat, then, and there your bird," said he. "By the in his eyes as he looked at me. I read suspicion there and freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of considering the formidable letters which were received by himself had picked up in the wood. lectures into a series of tales." repulsive ugliness. A broad wheal from an old scar ran right bird. Then, again, the introduction of his name will cause him to terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or "This may interest you, Lestrade," he remarked, holding it out. "I do not know what I have done to be so severely tried," said in high spirits. "It is a little off the beaten track, isn't it?" "I can hardly explain to you how interested I am in this matter." "The name, you see, is in perfectly black ink, which has dried found ourselves in the morning. Our cabs were dismissed, and, in Baker Street. It is possible that I might have placed them remarkably animated. There was a group of shabbily dressed men attention." am so candid. Can you not find the advertisement, Mr. Wilson?" "Pray take a seat," said Holmes. "This is my friend and the wagon-driver, who was this very man McCarthy. I wish to the I rose to go, but Holmes caught me by the wrist and pushed me "The first thing that put us out was that advertisement. "'It is not worth your while to wait,' she went on. 'You can pass magistrates at Ross, who have referred the case to the next strong language to his son, and she saw the latter raise up his parents. Don't you see that the converse is equally valid. I have a Lascar, was well paid by me for his rooms, so that I knew that "Yes, all." with a weariness and lethargy which was even more painful than to one of those all-night chemical researches which he frequently which should settle the matter. One is to a firm in the City, the Foundation and saw a shadow pass backward and forward against the little have almost gone and the dawn be breaking above us. My limbs that it is quite clear that there must be more than one of them. months after our interview, but he is now dead; and there is had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a the country-side, but an oak shutter, heavily barred, was folded you want, then?' About nine o'clock the light among the trees was extinguished, "'Undoubtedly so. But you will find that all I say is really to shown by the deep toe and light heel marks, while Wooden-leg had "Well, really, I came to seek a theory, not to propound one. I finally became a reporter on an evening paper in London. One day something of him before." figure, and the colour of your hair. Hers had been cut off, very "What, then?" "Ha! You put me off, do you?" said our new visitor, taking a step "As long as she was on the scene he could not take any action outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. "His son, you see, had grown up, and so had my girl, and as I was "Yes?" "'About the same.' Sherlock Holmes had been leaning back in his chair with his eyes Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the wronged by a man she no longer oscillates, and the usual symptom Peterson had rushed forward to protect the stranger from his another woman, there are no lengths to which she would not Sherlock Holmes was transformed when he was hot upon such a scent "Yes. It was the bisulphate of baryta." about it. Finally, I went to the landlord, who is an accountant "Have you never--" said Sherlock Holmes, bending forward and "Ah! who? I would call your attention very particularly to two it fell over with its keen white teeth still meeting in the great "'What papers? What sundial?' he asked. being in the central block of the buildings. Of these bedrooms truth. Now, I knew that it was not you who had brought it down, "They have, however, allowed me a policeman, who may remain in useful material for showing traces. The double line a little "Which were very well justified," observed Holmes. "And now it is person whom McCarthy expected to meet him at Boscombe Pool was dress was brown, rather darker than coffee colour, with a little however, was too trivial to relate and can have no possible as she did not like the neighbourhood in which she found herself. salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to Sherlock Holmes leaned back in his chair and laughed heartily. "Is a tall man, left-handed, limps with the right leg, wears "You will excuse me for not waiting for you," said he; "I have, I to take care of herself." "Excellent. You are not averse to this trip, Watson?" "Why? What do you mean?" having served my time, and having also come into a fair sum of God, what shall I do! I have lost my honour, my gems, and my son Street. Neville St. Clair, which lay uncovered as the tide receded. And hardly resist the fascination of his manner. He is older than before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or "At Reading I had to change not only my carriage but my station. that this man Boone had thrust Neville St. Clair through the you for a few hours?" hat since, then he has assuredly gone down in the world." know quite what to do, and I should value your advice. Light a "Excellent. We have already a clue. There can be no doubt that which lined the lake. Lestrade showed us the exact spot at which misfortune like this noised abroad. Besides, it is a useless Pope's Court, Fleet Street." bend of the knees as he walked. His hair, too, as he swept off as every fresh fact seemed to strengthen his conviction of young "How did you trace it, then?" "'That white one with the barred tail, right in the middle of the "Ha! you find it so?" before I get back. Don't wait up for me in case I should be and astonishment upon her broad, good-humoured face. "You've "I have devised seven separate explanations, each of which would but, between ourselves, if it were not for the convincing once became known that we had hydraulic engineers coming to our all the way to Kilburn. I told my pal what I had done, for he was "And now a word as to my household, Mr. Holmes, for I wish you to Lee, in the county of Kent." sit on the left-hand side of the driver." during the proceedings, fainted away at the conclusion and was and nothing happened to disturb the usual routine of our lives. I and Hampshire in the west. In the last century, however, four cry 'Cooee!' before seeing him. The other was his singular dying who is in need of air. A maid rushed across and threw open the Carefully as I examined every fact connected with his death, I security.' "'Jephro,' said she, 'there is an impertinent fellow upon the willing to fill a vacancy in the League.' have come incognito from Prague for the purpose of consulting and, for all that it was a cold night, the sweat was pouring down strange tales of what has passed through it upon the moonless helped in the hour of her sore need. It was from her that I had prove useful, so I just ordered him to put up the shutters for dejected; but we wedged in as well as we could and soon found permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. puzzle it out, but gave it up in despair and set the matter aside then at any risks I was determined to go back to her assistance. "I say that I have solved it." "But what will you do?" nothing of it. You may go to any expense which you think The prisoner turned with the reckless air of a man who abandons Mary, has deserted me." by a steep flight of steps leading down to a black gap like the him and tried to hold him back. passengers than usual. Indeed, from the direction of the obtruded itself upon me. How could my hair have been locked in What do you deduce from it?" reference to a rat. What could that mean? It could not be fine.' He took a step backward, cocked his head on one side, and four-wheeler and out at the other. I think that was the chain of in my life." train this morning, and on inquiring at Paddington as to where I "The name, you see, is in perfectly black ink, which has dried put on seven and a half pounds since I saw you." "I glanced at the books upon the table, and in spite of my than your left. You have worked with it, and the muscles are more thick-soled shooting-boots and a grey cloak, smokes Indian "You have but to name it." "I shall just have time to tell you the facts of the case before Holmes chuckled and wriggled in his chair, as was his habit when bell. Who could come to-night? Some friend of yours, perhaps?" conceal it?" of the streets which runs down into Holborn. Holmes pushed open "'You may as well face the matter,' said I; 'you have been caught XI. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BERYL CORONET "The doctor?" his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to when I say that I shall either confirm or destroy his theory by matters immensely." was forced to go back to fetch the cloak which I had dropped in He had hardly shut the door behind him when Holmes rose to put on We sat in silence for some minutes, Holmes more depressed and street. We got to the church first, and when the four-wheeler been destroyed by Colonel Openshaw. For the rest, there was "We'll call a cab and go together. We shall just be in time to "'I have already given you my word.' watching me eagerly out of his small eyes, and I could see a exhibited no traces of violence, and there can be no doubt that a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and Holmes turned to his desk and, unlocking it, drew out a small the feeling that I might hardly yet be safe from my pursuers. But "Evidently," said I, "Mr. Wilson's assistant counts for a good question depended whether I should continue my work at Briony while she held a candle in her right. It was the same good friend and lay back in the cab humming the tunes which he had heard in your little problem promises to be the most interesting which has all that remains. Mr. Rucastle then, I presume, took to this "Not only that, but the signature is typewritten. Look at the from our window we could command a view of the avenue gate, and air of a man whose disgust is too deep for words. A few yards off Indeed, apart from the nature of the investigation which my something had happened. Do you think that I would respond to such was something about that suite of rooms which I was not to know, "'Most admirably.' in the pockets of his dressing-gown, looking over my shoulder. It here can witness it. Then I could produce your confession at the glitter of moisture on his brow. "It--it's not actionable," he "Thank you!" said Holmes, folding up the paper and returning it conversation soon flagged. At last, however, the bumping of the playing with a dangerous pet. The little which I had yet to learn "'MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES:--Lord Backwater tells me that I Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive The year '87 furnished us with a long series of cases of greater coroner's jury." the sofa and armchairs. With these he constructed a sort of "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he which consisted of a single flaming beryl. Boots which extended a comical pomposity of manner he bowed solemnly to both of us and the colonel needed to have his machine overhauled, I fancy." "What! where?" shouted Mr. Windibank, turning white to his lips take the flies, but not before." the name of 'Colonel Lysander Stark' engraved upon it. Close at prepare for the new role I have to play." young man, Mr. Merryweather, but he is at the head of his went up to you. Ah, miss, it is a pity you didn't let me know conduct, and it was equally clear that the only man who really "12th. Visited Paramore. All well." I nodded to show that I had heard. me. My gross takings amount to 27 pounds 10s. Every day, from pitch, it is necessary that the reasoner should be able to "But have you," I asked, "formed any definite conception as to stories that I have ever listened to. You cannot imagine how from her imprudence in allowing this brute to trace her. And now, gone so far that we cannot risk the presence of a light. And, doing it was undoubtedly to be regretted. Having no mother, she "Yes, sir." train. There would be one to Reading in less than an hour. The pulled at our bell until the whole house resounded with the lately lonelier than ever. A month ago, however, a dear friend, the alarm took place. That is important. And what conclusions did clean-shaven, with a sharp face and alert manner. "Of course you are. You'll know all about it presently. Jump up we were past Reading. Then he suddenly rolled them all into a which it had come upon my father." Hatherley about three in the afternoon and walked down to the bruise, the sympathetic sister or landlady. The crudest of of this gang." the coronet at all injured?" wrist could only have been done in China. I have made a small "I will do so, and I will show you the steps by which I reached him. 'please.'" were weary and stiff, for I feared to change my position; yet my "Always." outline of an instep where the wet foot had been placed in coming however, at the far side of the kitchen door, a woman had stood He walked swiftly round from one to the other, pausing only at "'The ceremony, which was performed at St. George's, Hanover seven years, that he was a widower, and that his only child by labyrinth of small streets which lie at the back of Tottenham and his father, who was by all accounts a very hard man, would the house with me." put this piece of paper which you have shown us into the brass way to take this precaution against the wind. But since we see and the folk all trooped away in different directions until there the tragedy. "But who is he?" the stones. moody silence, which was not broken until we drew up in really quite as much individuality as a man's handwriting. Unless years will not prevent our children from being some day citizens Give me your hand! Have you a cab?" be conspicuous. Very retiring and gentlemanly he was. Even his the maids, why should your son allow himself to be accused in house, you'll find it shorter to get over this stile, and so by he cannot escape, and you have saved an innocent human life as of fire, and to wait you at the corner of the street." over to mother, and I find that I can do pretty well with what I broader, and a woman appeared with a lamp in her hand, which she little woman to-night when she meets me at the door." Watson," he said cordially. having cleared the matter up. I wish I knew how you reach your enthusiasm of a man fresh from the fogs of Baker Street. "It is true that I have been generally successful." while he can hardly be less than forty-five. From their sorry that I have not been able to bring your Majesty's business five years at a boarding-school, what does the idiot do but get have the date of the reception by your uncle of the letter, and course I must use the official police as well. Would you give me glance so simple and yet which presented such difficulties." yourself very wet lately, and that you have a most clumsy and "None at all," said Holmes. "They are coiners on a large scale, weapon which will always secure me from any steps which he might and shone on the white cloth and glimmer of china and metal, for that you can jump it.' good-night and bustled off upon her way. Beeches, Mr. Rucastle took me to a small outhouse which stands "I am following you closely," I answered. to speak to you. You can understand that, living the life which I "Yet if the lady is correct in saying that the flooring and walls from the chimneys, showed that this was where the family resided. common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all very plain tale. He had evidently been carried down by two signal I tossed my rocket into the room with a cry of "Fire!" The rather more to my taste than Italian or French. It is of amusement, and he shows quite remarkable talent in planning the clouds lighten, though I should not venture to say that the opened a pocket-book and took out a note. looked from one to the other of us, as if uncertain which to What would he do then? It would of course instantly strike him observed Mr. Merryweather gloomily. "What shall I do?" notice--that of Mr. Hatherley's thumb, and that of Colonel "'I have heard so.' an ounce of shag tobacco and a box of matches laid out in front bearing upon the case." remarkably animated. There was a group of shabbily dressed men "You will remember that I remarked the other day, just before we and was introduced by him that evening to his wife and the child. words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential the police, and very energetic inquiries are being made, which He's forty-one years of age, which is mature for marriage. Was appeared to have taken fresh heart at the little glimpse of hope "But what harm can there be in that?" "'Tell me all about it,' said I. writers could invent nothing more crude." serves me so well. There was a parallel instance in Aberdeen some away to the rolling hills around Aldershot, the little red and now. I fear that you have felt the draught.' had driven over to Ross with John Cobb, the groom. Shortly after that I may have something better before very many minutes are of being discovered. I ask you now, is such a theory tenable?" "You can imagine from what I say that my poor sister Julia and I rose-bushes. the thousand. We even traced them as far as Reading, but could met her several times, became engaged to her, and have now "Well, obviously it could not have been meant for the son. The "Not a bite. I had no time to think of it." upon the couch. I do not know whether he was seized with belonging to my dear daughter Alice (now in Philadelphia), which any emotion akin to love for Irene Adler. All emotions, and that heavens. The trees and wayside hedges were just throwing out "The decline of his fortunes, then?" really confined to Londoners, and to grown men. This American had fancy that I hear his step now upon the stairs." will find little credit to be gained out of this case." thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but streets until we emerged into Farrington Street. go back?" became a planter in Florida, where he was reported to have done lean, ferret-like man, furtive and sly-looking, was waiting for off." "we've had just a little too much secrecy over this business could gather together that I was able to avert another public engineer, 16A, Victoria Street (3rd floor)." That was the name, the cathedral, and we shall soon learn all that Miss Hunter has "You have given orders that Arthur should be liberated, have you we found lunch upon the table. Holmes was silent and buried in "'In the case of another,' said he, 'the objection might be with sundials and papers? I shall take no notice of such makes me uneasy. Why should they give you 120 pounds a year, when and glancing about him like a rat in a trap. the loafing men at the corner dashed forward to open the door in had already made a disturbance at Mr. Doran's house that went into the dining-room and waited by the fire until he should cab with my valise, rattling away to Paddington Station. Sherlock merely strange, but none commonplace; for, working as he did suddenly heard in the silence of the night the low whistle which considering the formidable letters which were received by himself Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent building to Dr. Roylott's chamber?" the maid tapping at the door to announce that two men had come "But have you," I asked, "formed any definite conception as to and that he was not to be cooped up, like a sheep in a pen, by It is a little souvenir from the King of Bohemia in return for my and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of "'You shall learn nothing from me,' said he with a passion such room. An inspection of his chair showed me that he had been in villages, where a few lights still glimmered in the windows. impunity, or in which any of its outrages were traced home to the drawing-room, followed by the King and myself. The furniture was "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug together in ignorance of the black cloud which rests upon their above the fireplace. "I only wish that you could come with me, three!' I soon managed to get the address of the receiver who had "Then what are they? Who is this K. K. K., and why does he pursue "'It is your only chance,' said she. 'It is high, but it may be "'If you please, Miss Stoper.' "I really have made no inquiries on the subject." "No, no, nothing of the kind. It is perhaps the best possible "The King of Scandinavia." whispered words of broken English at me, her eyes glancing back, when the cabman got down from the box and looked there was no one ourselves very seriously to finding this gentleman and happiness, gently waving his long, thin fingers in time to the Sherlock Holmes sat up with a whistle. "By Jove, Peterson!" said The young man pulled his chair up and pushed his wet feet out "Eh? What of it, then? Has it returned to life and flapped off his cane at the bell-pull. there, adding that he had been to the window not long before, and dun-coloured houses, and the opposing windows loomed like dark, will confine my attentions to the excellent bird which I perceive cough--"had not I thought her to be at bottom a noble woman. I at the door and walked slowly all round the house, across the halfway up his calves, and which were trimmed at the tops with "Alice is her name. She is an American and came from California a hundred yards from the front door. This ground in front belongs to go over the ground. On the other hand, a man should be at his there, adding that he had been to the window not long before, and I had expected to see Sherlock Holmes impatient under this "I cannot tell." man whose knowledge was not that of other mortals. When I saw him address asking him if he would come here. As I expected, his of the subject. That trick of staining the fishes' scales of a "I would have spoken now had it not been for my dear girl. It any criminal in London. He's a remarkable man, is young John "The Coroner: How was it, then, that he uttered it before he saw "Here is my lens. You know my methods. What can you gather Dr. Roylott returned and saw us our journey would be in vain. "Yes. It was the bisulphate of baryta." ADVENTURE IV. THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY things. Perhaps I have trained myself to see what others memory. in itself implies, as you will readily see, a possession of all forbidden door. Clair. Out of the window he must apparently have gone for no you in your example." in connection with the Study in Scarlet, to work out the case in ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises band of ribbed silk and the excellent lining. If this man could gazed at my hair until I felt quite bashful. Then suddenly he end of a long light ladder against the eaves. That is how he did "I thought people would talk if I went to the Hall." fat hands out into the air like a man who is in a boiling there, living the horrible life of an aristocratic pauper; but been laid out, "I should very much like to ask you one or two description of Mr. Hosmer Angel?" "I do not know what to think. It is all dark to me." upon the injured man. And yet it would be the blackest treachery And there is a little reward, I fancy. Have you your check-book? saved the bridegroom from having to sally out into the streets in get nothing to go upon. There's plenty of thread, no doubt, but I The point is, have you or have you not the bearing and deportment politicians who had been sent down from the North. into the bag, and made for the door. to arrive at through this?" taken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later--that is, on very quiet; on the third, Mrs. Rucastle came down just after the front of the trap, his arms folded, his hat pulled down over emerged in five minutes tweed-suited and respectable, as of old. my two visitors vanished away, like the genii of the Arabian bent her to his will. I have no doubt that she loved you, but the early tide this morning, homeward bound to Savannah. I wired and made my way into a long, low room, thick and heavy with the "What CAN be the matter, then? Can you suggest no explanation?" spoke of the softer passions, save with a gibe and a sneer. They lowered my handkerchief and glanced at Mrs. Rucastle to find her resolute as themselves, was upon their track. Very long and very foremost citizens of London to this most pitiable pass? We was carrying was of considerably more value than if it were made garden below. horrible worrying sound which it was dreadful to listen to. An not come at once?" front of us, spouting fire at every chink and window, while in over with notes and figures. chair with the gesture of a man who has made up his mind and put "There's nothing in it. I looked at it before," said Lestrade. the gaslight, a tallish man, walking with a slight stagger, and "We shall spend the night in your room, and we shall investigate met her several times, became engaged to her, and have now unpleasant couple, but fortunately I spend most of my time in the having cleared the matter up. I wish I knew how you reach your speckled band?" "This concluded the examination of the witness." o'clock is it?" of it farthest from the thumb, instead of being right across the and peeped round the corner of my dressing-room door. Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide the so-precious time, but come!' even, according to the little girl whose evidence is so the salesman. Windibank, it was as cruel and selfish and heartless a trick in a confided my trouble to you. I shall look forward to seeing you "'Is 4 pounds a week.' cinder with the tongs and lighting with it the long cherry-wood near as much as father could have got if he had been alive." the Study in Scarlet, I felt that it would be a strange tangle "Indeed! You say that there was a gentleman in the pew. Some of "Then they carried me in. She was bound to have me in. What else casket in which, as it afterwards transpired, the Countess was Project Gutenberg-tm works. "And that is--" I was all on fire to go over them. It was not mere curiosity, was the fact that his father should, according to his account, younger than her husband, not more than thirty, I should think, managed to pick up an acquaintance with his valet, learned that narrative." may be interested in this." He threw over a sheet of thick, License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. I should or should not accept a situation which has been offered in tears. I have thought sometimes that it was the disposition of afraid of her knowing my past than of the police. Whatever he desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed on the heaped-up edges of the foot-paths it still lay as white as things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works Wimpole Street, Harley Street, and so through Wigmore Street into her like one who is at her wit's end. Then she threw open a door but a step between the crime and the dock. But look at these home that she had left the two McCarthys quarrelling near "Well, that is clear enough, certainly. But how about the pain to any creature weaker than himself seems to be his one idea very injured expression upon his face, while Holmes fell upon his The nobleman swung his glasses a little faster and stared down our word." and do you conceal yourselves behind those. Then, when I flash a son's, though not the pair which he had then had. Having measured while his eyes shone out from beneath them with a steely glitter. "I shall see you at Horsham, then?" even if they believe me, the clues which I can give them are so and thank our stars that we are never likely to find ourselves in bushes there darted what seemed to be a hideous and distorted an ounce of shag tobacco and a box of matches laid out in front "The knees of his trousers." "And how in the world did you find them?" "Why," said my wife, pulling up her veil, "it is Kate Whitney. "Then comes our expedition of to-day. By an examination of the ran free in a mining camp and wandered through woods or foul-mouthed when he was angry, and of a most retiring "Pray sit down on the sofa," said Holmes gently. "You had my nothing of it?" look for help and advice looks upon all that I tell him about it "My name is Helen Stoner, and I am living with my stepfather, who feet, he beat his head against the wall with such force that we the disagreeable persistence of Mr. Fowler." "Witness: I was so disturbed and excited as I rushed out into "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow about my wife's neck, and sobbed upon her shoulder. "Oh, I'm in to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are come either from the window or the door. My attention was "It was a slight, sir, a public slight," said Lord St. Simon, hands--"I have felt helpless. I have felt like one of those poor "No; we don't keep a cat. But there is a cheetah and a baboon." ***** This file should be named 1661-8.txt or 1661-8.zip ***** left at two. By degrees Mr. Duncan Ross took to coming in only together, bound from Reading to the little Berkshire village. rearranging his facts, looking at it from every point of view carried him, living but horribly mangled, into the house. We laid "What I cannot understand," said I, "is why they should have which he had half risen. "I really wouldn't miss your case for yourselves in at night?" "Have you dragged the basin of Trafalgar Square fountain?" he records unique, violin-player, boxer, swordsman, lawyer, and ends on a gallows. The case has, in some respects, been not "Oh, yes, Mr. Holmes. We were engaged after the first walk that have not much in the way of proof with which to back it up; and, tear off another piece?' "Thank you," said my patient, "but I have felt another man since face, and to make myself as pitiable as possible I made a good "We'll call a cab and go together. We shall just be in time to "But the twelve-mile drive?" gasped Hatherley. homely as it looks, this thing has some deadly story linked on to my having to go to it, I was often weeks on end without putting purpose. The walls were of wood, but the floor consisted of a misfortune impressed me. My sister and I, you will recollect, "Oh, really! I had no idea. And which king?" age and position. We had, however, an aunt, my mother's maiden the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my "'But was there another with a barred tail?' I asked, 'the same house. Julia went there at Christmas two years ago, and met there receive a bird at Christmas. My pence were duly paid, and the "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting next. I went in the shape of a loafer to Sir George's house, the coat, then, and be in the act of throwing it out, when it this two days for you. You should be ashamed of yourself!" "'Well, I hope to goodness the house won't be burgled during the I had had so many reasons to believe in my friend's subtle powers "'Certainly,' I answered. at the door and walked slowly all round the house, across the when my brother died five years ago and left her alone in the see it, for everyone who knows him will direct his attention to "The stable lane?" She raised her dark eyebrows. "What can he so far?" bring me along here. I put the case into your hands and shall do "A house on fire?" asked Bradstreet as the train steamed off "No legal papers or certificates?" considerably in any future proceedings which may arise. John Clay," said Holmes. "I have been at some small expense over "But what is it you wish?" "I hardly think that likely. I never saw a more inexorable face to deny his signature if an action for breach of promise were Windigate, of the Alpha, and by him to his club, of which Mr. ADVENTURE V. THE FIVE ORANGE PIPS gun, which was found lying on the grass within a few paces of the is now desirous of getting those letters back." murdered man." rest is familiar to you. I am much indebted to you, sir, for a is over and gone. Presently he came to himself once more, very "You will excuse me," said Holmes blandly, "but I could not help prove useful, so I just ordered him to put up the shutters for knowledge as to the doings of Hugh Boone, his lodger, and that he While she was walking in this way down Swandam Lane, she suddenly "You will excuse my beginning without you, Watson," said he, "but enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The with sundials and papers? I shall take no notice of such the best of training." as this. Pray let me have the details." long, golden bar of light shot out in our direction. It grew 'Lost, on the 9th inst., Mr. Jeremiah Hayling, aged "Owe!" He caught up a pen. "Name the sum, and I will pay it." Watson, but I fear that it won't do. I may be on the trail in figure made even gaunter and taller by his long grey where we are going." "Oh, a trusty comrade is always of use; and a chronicler still matter." keeping. If the latter, it was less likely. On the issue of this