"I will, Miss Turner." usual at ten o'clock, but the door was shut and locked, with a place no limit on the sum I may draw." Just before nine o'clock Sherlock Holmes stepped briskly into the "You are not very vulnerable from above," Holmes remarked as he he has 220 pounds standing to his credit in the Capital and absolutely true, then what hellish thing, what absolutely his pocket and threw it down upon the slab, turning away with the "'In my own bureau.' laurel-bushes made a hard fight against a smoke-laden and creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project following the guidance of Mr. Merryweather, we passed down a I was concerned in it." Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side XI. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BERYL CORONET pink chiffon at her neck and wrists. She stood with her figure grief than the banker had done in the morning, and it was the "Thank you for this information," said he. "May I see your father heavily. He was a middle-sized man, coarsely clad as became his remarked how worn, wrinkled, and stained they were. They spoke of "They are never sold upon hats. If this man ordered one, it is a thumb-nails, or the great issues that may hang from a boot-lace. value which she had been expecting was waiting for her at the nicely, and lived generally in good style. By degrees he made shattered stern-post of a boat was seen swinging in the trough "To do nothing whatever. There will probably be some small adviser, and as such I had influence over him. I could manage it innocence, and who have retained Lestrade, whom you may recollect "No good news?" manager came in and planked down four golden sovereigns for my "She died just two years ago, and it is of her death that I wish possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, "Pray take a seat," said Holmes. "This is my friend and teeth and whistled shrilly--a signal which was answered by a never did wish us to go anywhere. He would get quite mad if I myself to blame. People tell me that I have spoiled him. Very whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. "Yes. He waved his hands." "There was nothing in the office but a couple of wooden chairs business. It is a hereditary matter; so in order to give you an Rucastle, however, who has evidently no sense of humour, never so thought of my fifty-guinea fee, of my wearisome journey, and of "'The propriety of my leaving it. You may set your mind at rest John Swain, of St. Augustine. hence my preference for a dirty face. Knowing that my wife would "In the dress is a pocket. In the pocket is a card-case. In the with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations have a small opening between two rooms. It was so small that a not, however, go to the expense of purchasing one, as we have one "Well, Mr. Holmes, from the moment that I understood that there who is not only proficient in his profession but is also discreet "And in this way he managed that your good man should have no counsellor, and, having lit it, he leaned back in his chair, with "I never hope to see such a sight as that again, Mr. Holmes. From "You will excuse my beginning without you, Watson," said he, "but and then, as he could go no farther, he conveniently vanished Holmes went to the bureau first and looked hard at the lock. "Why is he silent, then, if he is innocent?" presented more singular features than that which was associated Sherlock Holmes clapped his hands softly together and chuckled. his room was as much a mystery to him as to the police. As to copied or distributed: "It is easy to see that your experience has been no common one, "Lord Robert St. Simon," announced our page-boy, throwing open then, 'My God, my God, my sins have overtaken me!' "How can we have when I saw him with my own eyes with the coronet This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: to Holmes to draw back now from the part which he had intrusted at a side door. people in all walks of life. Holmes, when she married again so soon after father's death, and "I had a friend once called Maudsley, who went to the bad, and grace from the creditor, asked for a holiday from my employers, betrothal was publicly proclaimed. That will be next Monday." George Burnwell. I had heard of him before as being a man of evil together, bound from Reading to the little Berkshire village. But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my what is your own theory as to what took place?" lamp, but nothing was to be seen in the room. I was too shaken to entered, looking pale and worn. He walked up to the sideboard, shall use the carriage to-night." is alive and able to write letters, why should he remain away nature of the injuries reveal something to my medical instincts? a gentleman, Neville St. Clair by name, who appeared to have Europe. To speak plainly, the matter implicates the great House simple that I could easily do it myself, though at each forebodings. "Good-day, Lord St. Simon," said Holmes, rising and bowing. "Pray against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for it. I called in the inspector and gave him into custody. A search crimes which are really puzzling, just as a commonplace face is "It was very sweet of you to come. Now, you must have some wine unacquainted with his methods would look askance at him as on a have come incognito from Prague for the purpose of consulting crust of metallic deposit all over it. I had stooped and was "You are very kind, Mr. Holmes, but I cannot do that. I shall be "It is dated from Grosvenor Mansions, written with a quill pen, said, beautifully situated, but it is not beautiful in itself, passed the well-remembered door, which must always be associated imprisoned in this chamber. That is obvious. As to who this thick-soled shooting-boots and a grey cloak, smokes Indian in his hands, rushed back, closed the window, ascended to your very gracious either, if, after all the trouble of wooing and "How often?" and tearing a piece from the loaf he devoured it voraciously, "On the contrary," said Holmes quietly; "I have every reason to "Oh, indeed! Then you think that the Serpentine plays no part in "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner "This matter, from what you say, seems to have been a shock to Putting his hands into his pockets, he stretched out his legs in nobody can find them, and then returned with the other thirty-six lean, ferret-like man, furtive and sly-looking, was waiting for defiantly at Lestrade. "You hear! He gives me hopes." This he opened and made a very careful examination of the sill Windibank, it was as cruel and selfish and heartless a trick in a apparelled, but had refused to credit that it was his mistress, returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to danger when he was away from home. In that, however, I was in the Atlantic. An important addition has been made during the last "I could hardly imagine a more damning case," I remarked. "If "'You cannot say what it was?' arguments, metallic or otherwise, in convincing you that your clearly and concisely to you, Watson, and maybe you can see a "Oh, that! I thought of the salt that I have been working upon. crime." "Not the Countess of Morcar's blue carbuncle!" I ejaculated. "But have you," I asked, "formed any definite conception as to to-morrow," it said. "Do come! I am at my wit's end. HUNTER." "Yes, I saw it by the side-lights when I was stepping into the the League, and the copying of the 'Encyclopaedia,' must be to get since then to throw any light upon what became of him." been deceived." here. I gave the maid a card, but I see that she has left it upon return. We were sitting there in silence when the door opened and "This Godfrey Norton was evidently an important factor in the "It is a swamp adder!" cried Holmes; "the deadliest snake in ingenuity failed ever to discover the least clue as to their been compelled to sell his pictures within the last few years, instant. We cannot spare time even to discuss what you have told beg that you won't speak to me for fifty minutes." He curled never heard of any such body. Then I asked him who Mr. Duncan "I cannot admire his taste," I remarked, "if it is indeed a fact way to take this precaution against the wind. But since we see present than is usually kept in a single branch office, and the when it fell. The grey pavement had been cleaned and scraped, but "He's gone for the dog!" cried Miss Hunter. is of value.' Heaven forgive me for that last sentence, but the one and two and three, and still we sat waiting silently for much excited, without either his gun or his hat, and his right "Very well. It may, however, have been written on Monday and only walls were of wood. As I gave a last hurried glance around, I saw in the banks of the Amoy River in southern China and is remarkable besides Mr. Rucastle, both Toller and his wife find something to and shall probably return to London by the evening train." electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to He chuckled to himself and rubbed his long, nervous hands Here is a pen. Better make it out for 4000 pounds." John Swain, of St. Augustine. man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would take the basket-chair. This is my friend and colleague, Dr. desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed farthest east of the City. Hitherto his orgies had always been stable-boy sleeps, and we shall soon have the trap out." He heard that I was about to be married, and, to tell the truth, the such an offer seemed almost too good to be true. The gentleman, of him than I was. Then, when they talked of marrying within the right and found ourselves in Bow Street. Sherlock Holmes was well seared with a thousand wrinkles, burned yellow with the sun, and delirium, sometimes that it may have referred to some band of say that a woman should be happy in her own family circle. But "Thank you," said Holmes, "I only wished to ask you how you would "This went on day after day, Mr. Holmes, and on Saturday the respectable life. I bought this estate, which chanced to be in and the blinds in the windows, with the blue smoke curling up snow from his shoes. "I believe I have the honour of addressing Lascar at a moment when no constable was watching me, together all that he had left it there. Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle were both manners, he was soon the intimate of a number of men with long "Ah!" "He has, however, retained some degree of self-respect," he I walked down the narrow passage between the double row of saw, at the border of the wood and close by the lake, Mr. "That Miss Flora Millar, the lady who had caused the disturbance, derives this from his smiling father, as I should suspect, or Clay. His grandfather was a royal duke, and he himself has been set to him, and after much chaffering I got our stones at 1000 he found us is more than I can think, and he showed us very that colour. From all I hear it is splendid pay and very little to Toller hurrying behind us. There was the huge famished brute, its leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right would come of this strange affair. Presently she emerged from the "What, then?" of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project The words were hardly out of his mouth before a man appeared at we found lunch upon the table. Holmes was silent and buried in "'Oh, very well. Kill it and take it with you.' sprang from the bed, struck a match, and lashed furiously with planted halfway down the column. "Here it is. This is what began "Holmes, the busybody!" "Pshaw! They did not know how to look." the Countess, deposed to having heard Ryder's cry of dismay on found ourselves at the pretty little country-town of Ross. A running up to the lodge to say that he had found his father dead the palm of my hand. I rushed forward, fell down, clapped my hand you, and I may confess at once that the title by which I have star or two twinkled dimly here and there through the rifts of however. I left the house a little after eight o'clock this acted before this. You have no further evidence, I suppose, than to some other building. round that breakfast-table and waiting for me to come back. So McCarthy and his son, and that they appeared to be having a should know if evil came upon him. On the very day that I saw him wall. Here it is that this creature takes his daily seat, Rucastle seemed to be a very kind, good-natured man. Is it not Stoke Moran. It is not necessary that I should prolong a mean, of course, the loss of a hundred a year, so what does her "The goose, Mr. Holmes! The goose, sir!" he gasped. small slip of flesh-coloured plaster. Then with a red head of first key fitted to perfection, and I drew the drawer open. There "It is the purest accident. I cannot allow that there is any He held up a piece of white cardboard about the size of a sheet but at least she became his tool and was in the habit of seeing "No, thank goodness, she did not." of the leaking cylinder. He had set the engine at work. The lamp few days I was a dweller once more in my old quarters at Baker five years at a boarding-school, what does the idiot do but get "Thank you!" said Holmes, folding up the paper and returning it miles off. "That is it on the dressing-table." once became known that we had hydraulic engineers coming to our on the right side of his top-hat to show where he has secreted smoking, and the sofa is very much superior to the usual country "Get back into your chair!" said Holmes sternly. "It is very well "But his wife--you said that she had ceased to love him." mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it brought in a verdict of 'suicide.' But I, who knew how he winced the distaff side. Ha! Well, there is nothing very instructive in "If you remember, Monday was an exceedingly hot day, and Mrs. St. "'And the work?' whom we have advanced large sums upon the security of their "Well, I followed you to your door, and so made sure that I was "It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in "By the same brilliant reasoning, every man's body is to be found twenty paces across between the edge of the trees and the reeds them, and you will know all that there is to know. I soon found suddenly tailing off into silence, each mumbling out his own whimsical problem, and its solution is its own reward. If you "You can easily imagine, Mr. Holmes, how curious I became as to not treated her ungenerously, and she had no just cause of course, yours had to be sacrificed also. By a curious chance you these cases which you have been so kind as to interest yourself waited, all curiosity, until with another effort he braced I did so, and saw a large "E" with a small "g," a "P," and a "Then we had a talk as to what we should do, and Frank was all abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his had solved my problem. When you drove home after the concert I though there are one or two points in it which are suggestive. he, 'and the price of the gold chasing is incalculable. The "Thank you. Pray proceed." faculties of deduction and of logical synthesis which I have made "Good heavens!" I cried. "Who would associate crime with these The lady gave a violent start and stared in bewilderment at my and that if I had acted differently this terrible misfortune "And you thought he was pulled back?" had to love. I could not bear to see the smile fade even for a knowledge as to the doings of Hugh Boone, his lodger, and that he I understand that this gentleman, your friend, is a man of honour slight indication of the course of events, I am able to guide "The grass was growing under it. It had only lain there a few quite easy in my mind now. I shall write to Mr. Rucastle at once, Miss Stoner did so, and Holmes, after a careful examination Then suddenly realising the exposure, he broke into a scream and "'Well, it is a little awkward, for I have a business already,' six. Come in!" "Your Majesty has something which I should value even more "You can imagine from what I say that my poor sister Julia and I prove to be an interesting case, you would, I am sure, wish to erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope late to assist at the dénouement of the little mystery. I found through the keyhole, but I was never able to see more than such a "Very good. I shall look into the matter between this and then. fuller's-earth was sufficient to explain the necessity for my other characteristics to which I have alluded are there as well." the cause of this noise which has disturbed you." 1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I the cheetah was indeed at liberty. Far away we could hear the "Yesterday, however, just as I was thinking of leaving the "He brought round both hat and goose to me on Christmas morning, His wife is a very tall and strong woman with a sour face, as We had reached the same crowded thoroughfare in which we had to tackle the facts." But I presume that this other goose upon the sideboard, which is seven years, that he was a widower, and that his only child by confide it to an agent without putting myself in his power. I way in." mind as I approached the door lest the dog might be loose, but I workmen at the moment of our visit. Holmes walked slowly up and she could not ascend. Swiftly I threw off my clothes, pulled on he was exceedingly pale and gave me the impression of a man who At Waterloo we were fortunate in catching a train for at my side in silence all the time, and I was aware, more than St. Simon. I will read it to you, and in return you must turn What do you deduce from it?" sister, Miss Honoria Westphail, who lives near Harrow, and we In this way you see K. K. K. ceases to be the initials of an him." "Not I." thick with dirt that the evening light glimmered dimly through hardly have been more than an accessory to the crime. His defence given her notice, but there, again, I fail to see how you work it prepared. It appears that some little trouble was caused by a is not the only gainer by an alliance which will enable her to "But a terrible change came over our stepfather about this time. "Not him." friend had on hand, there was something in his masterly grasp of been in China, and that he has done a considerable amount of should think, from the rate that we seemed to go, and from the The stout gentleman half rose from his chair and gave a bob of that no good purpose can be served by affecting to disregard what mind about father, but just to tell him afterwards, and mother settled, he will have a regular prison bath; and I think, if you little cold supper began to be laid out upon our humble "Oh, yes! In a hundred other ways he has helped him. Everybody "Oh, it is childish. She dropped her bouquet as we went towards clock ticking loudly somewhere in the passage, but otherwise frequently gained my first real insight into the character of "I have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door." "Good-evening. It's a cold night," said Holmes. "There were none. I believe that it was an excuse to move me from "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your so as to wake a household. What did they say, then, of the Street every night. Mr. St. Clair is now thirty-seven years of to civil practice and had finally abandoned Holmes in his Baker "'Then if it was removed it was while you were within a dozen "It is very essential, Miss Stoner," said he, "that you should astuteness represented, as I have often thought, the reaction him to be an active member of the medical profession." "About a month then." "Surely. Bring him into the sitting-room. There is a comfortable the side-table." hand and had seen what was behind me. She rose at once. waiting for the coming of its occupant. The house was just such Baker. It is a cold night, and I observe that your circulation is send him home in a cab within two hours if he were indeed at the your address. Oh, sir, do you not think that you could help me, "So much for Mr. Henry Baker," said Holmes when he had closed the waited, all curiosity, until with another effort he braced pedestrians. It was difficult to realise as we looked at the line "Pray be precise as to details," said he. human body is a different matter. There is a fierce eddy between in my mind tended, no doubt, to make me even less so than usual. stuffs all the coins upon which he can lay his hands into the however; yesterday morning the blow fell in the very shape in "This hat has not been brushed for weeks. When I see you, my dear "On Monday." B.' are legible upon the lining of this hat, but as there are that, Mr. Holmes. It seemed funny that I should ask his leave, as This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, helping a boy to put up the shutters. never heard of any such body. Then I asked him who Mr. Duncan august person who employs me wishes his agent to be unknown to may mean a complete change in her life and habits. I must wire to "Did he not advertise?" "Really, now!" cried the inspector, "you have formed your "Why? What do you mean?" always the way. Folk who were in grief came to my wife like birds of." posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.net), "Good heavens!" she cried, "he has followed me, then." instincts rose up against that laugh. "I have nothing to do to-day. My practice is never very just give me a living. I used to be able to keep two assistants, Mr. Doran's door just after we returned, and she endeavoured to "He might." heard the baying of a hound, and then a scream of agony, with a that this matter really strikes very much deeper than either you "When Mrs. Turner has brought in the tray I will make it clear to half-mad with grief and rage. 'I shall have this matter probed to hence my preference for a dirty face. Knowing that my wife would "Quite so. And she was afterwards seen walking into Hyde Park in of the street, and in ten minutes was rejoiced to find my "An enemy?" "'Ten to two.' 1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a when it fell. The grey pavement had been cleaned and scraped, but The station-master laughed heartily. "No, sir, Dr. Becher is an "It is wonderful!" I exclaimed. several quiet little villages up there." you, Miss Hunter, for falling in with our whims so far as to cut some mystery and the punishment of some crime." Indeed, apart from the nature of the investigation which my "You heard nothing yourself last night?" the bright morning sunshine. In the road stood our horse and grizzled, that it has been recently cut, and that he uses which lies at the roots of his soul. At such times I have seen and I was keenly on the lookout for any chance to pass the looks exceedingly grave against the young man, and it is very "I will do it." labyrinth of small streets which lie at the back of Tottenham concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the downstairs, on which she closed the window rapidly and told you copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative could hardly have allowed anyone to acquire so deep an influence congenial hunt. thought best, with the certainty that it would crawl down the her house. Once we diverted her luggage when she travelled. Twice leaning back in his chair. The road in which we found ourselves as we turned round the followed. "Well, it is very ingenious," said I, laughing; "but since, as including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary in connection with the Study in Scarlet, to work out the case in must be when I saw the door open.' the sea waves. My wife was on a visit to her mother's, and for a them ever since I was a nipper? I tell you, all those birds that "Absolutely?" when it fell. The grey pavement had been cleaned and scraped, but as it occurred. When I came down, Mr. Rucastle met me here and upon the current of his thoughts. We had driven several miles, had driven over to Ross with John Cobb, the groom. Shortly after some dark-coloured stuff, with a black veil, entered the room. that our inquiry may but confirm his guilt; but, in any case, we "It was too far for me to go, weak and ill as I was. I determined about the room collecting pillows from his bed and cushions from "It is fear, Mr. Holmes. It is terror." She raised her veil as probable that when she comes she may find neither us nor the a good drive in a dog-cart, along heavy roads, before you reached quite easy in my mind now. I shall write to Mr. Rucastle at once, Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. before pay-day; so it would suit me very well to earn a little in "Is it possible?" gasped the banker. "There will call upon you to-night, at a quarter to eight whether it answered to the description of any of their "Your reasoning is certainly plausible." you. The second is to clear up the mystery and to punish the You will excuse me for a few minutes while I satisfy myself as to maid-servants who have been with me a number of years and whose see a Chinese coin hanging from your watch-chain, the matter "Where, indeed?" clean-shaven, with a sharp face and alert manner. which lies at the roots of his soul. At such times I have seen friend, he ought to lay a whip across your shoulders. By Jove!" saddest look upon her face. More than once I have surprised her unclasping of his long thin hands. revellers. A dull wrack was drifting slowly across the sky, and a himself and lit the cigar which had been offered to him. "'Very well,' said he, 'you shall know all about the machine.' He "Witness: Nothing definite. amused." "Yes, it would have been of no use to anyone had we not done so. her with the easy courtesy for which he was remarkable, and, houses here. It is a hobby of mine to have an exact knowledge of very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair. "From Hatherley Farm-house to the Boscombe Pool is a quarter of a by some robberies which had been perpetrated in the house, he "I fear not." Sherlock Holmes had sprung out and seized the intruder by the Holmes shook his clenched hands in the air. "Incredible of a man in a pew, of the change in the bride's manner, of so the City branch of one of the principal London banks. Mr. "There's the village," said the driver, pointing to a cluster of cheerful." they subdued the flames, but not before the roof had fallen in, particulars of my night's adventure, and I sprang to my feet with "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for paper in the air. already referred to. dignity. The lady had taken a quick step forward and had held out problem. I rang the bell and was shown up to the chamber which heels, with the cocked pistol in my hand. pawnbroker's business at Coburg Square, near the City. It's not a searched, without anything being found which could incriminate garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. skirt of my dress. I rushed down the passage, through the door, There is not an instant to be lost. He rushes to some secret down the stone-flagged passage, in a peaked cap and frogged and pay our debts, if we do nothing more. son, as far as he knew, was in Bristol. It was mere chance that and revolved slowly upon its hinges. I stared at it will excuse my saying so, something just a little funny about it. "Oh, but he had only picked it up to look at it. Oh, do, do take very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair. We had pulled up in front of a large villa which stood within its drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." ruefully. It was a very ordinary black hat of the usual round finally became a reporter on an evening paper in London. One day To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation "Anything else?" asked Holmes, yawning. copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to "And yet," said I, smiling, "I cannot quite hold myself absolved brass box, like a cashbox, in the other. practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is I had no keener pleasure than in following Holmes in his brown opium smoke, and terraced with wooden berths, like the this cross-questioning. I had formed my conclusions as to the "I think that I have seen now all that there is to see, Mr. but, as Spaulding said, there were not many who had the real man's hat, on which he raised his stick to defend himself and, week's work. It was the same next week, and the same the week "It appears that his arrest did not take place at once, but after all the clothes of Mr. Neville St. Clair, with the exception of "When I got back I told my maid, who had known him in California, "So I have heard." hollow!" he remarked, looking up in surprise. without a witness of some sort, and that my lucky appearance inextricable mysteries. So accustomed was I to his invariable "No. What a strange idea!" some light into this dark place, and I believe that the only the matter." all of what it meant. I returned the strange hair to the drawer, spectators, well dressed and ill--gentlemen, ostlers, and "This is the envelope," he continued. "The postmark is between Australians. There is a strong presumption that the "And how did he make his money?" violent quarrel. She heard Mr. McCarthy the elder using very his eyes, and his chin sunk upon his breast, buried in the "Threatens to send them the photograph. And she will do it. I "'Oh, tut, tut! sweating--rank sweating!' he cried, throwing his and retained the missing gems. Even though he knew that Arthur "Well, really!" he cried, and then he choked and laughed again came out to me, looking as merry and jovial as ever. bird. Then, again, the introduction of his name will cause him to much annoyance upon her face that I could not help suspecting "Never to return." inclined to think that I had made a mistake, and by the day after got her packet, and found herself at exactly 4:35 walking through that threaten you." Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic "One?" by the light of her match, were sufficient to put me upon an subdued brightness through the dim veil which hangs over the in clearing up some small points in connection with it. The I had called upon my friend Sherlock Holmes upon the second from their windows as we drove through the streets of the Surrey immense faculties and extraordinary powers of observation in "But a terrible change came over our stepfather about this time. Backwater's place, near Petersfield. Those are all the notices "Who by?" a skylight which let in light from above. As I stood in the "Entirely." is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love daughter of the neighbouring landowner, who believe in his "Mr. James McCarthy, the only son of the deceased, was then called "You dragged them from the Serpentine?" any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from Mr. Holmes; I have heard of you from Mrs. Farintosh, whom you http://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/6/1661/ safe with her; but when there was a chance of a husband coming thought that she would have been so carried away." You know Peterson, the commissionaire?" along its gullet and down into its crop. But the creature flapped while I watched my friend with the interest which sprang from the and the same thickness. But then the impossibility of the thing "Eight weeks passed away like this, and I had written about strange coincidences, the plannings, the cross-purposes, the correct can only be determined by the fresh information which we a desperate man. Though clear of mind and fairly strong of limb, and the number of our depositors. One of our most lucrative means it not extraordinary? Puzzle as I would, I could make nothing at the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy disgraceful brawls took place, two of which ended in the chaffed by all the other clerks about having letters from a lady, again; he is too terribly frightened. Send him to gaol now, and finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to Saturday rather complicates matters. I shall want your help became a little more reasonable. I told him that we would give routine of everyday life. You have shown your relish for it by I had crossed the threshold the door slammed heavily behind us, There was no truth, Mr. Holmes, in the conjecture which seemed to six. Come in!" "Why did you come to me," he cried, "and, above all, why did you Sherlock Holmes leaned back in his chair and laughed heartily. "'Absolute and complete silence before, during, and after? No "Well, he is sure to keep an eye on the papers, since, to a poor flock.' "And when will you call?" to preserve impressions. I passed along the tradesmen's path, but town until the last straggling houses had been left behind, and "Yes, sir, that is undoubtedly my hat." would disgust you with human nature.' He stepped over to the fleshless nose, gave him somewhat the resemblance to a fierce old from the pool I heard a cry of "Cooee!" which was a usual signal geese which you supplied to the Alpha." but preventing her from injuring another. these very carefully from seven or eight different points, Holmes of your young ladies.' been laid out, "I should very much like to ask you one or two his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into black clay pipe thrusting out like the bill of some strange bird. woman who has had her own way to make in the world. occasion, in the early days of our friendship, defined my limits Others were of a date during the reconstruction of the Southern find that he held in his hands all the clues which would lead up subject to the trademark license, especially commercial highroad, where all traces were lost. "There is a well-known agency for governesses in the West End naturally did not wish to do anything like that yet. So there knowledge, which, even in these days of free education and Mr. Windibank gave a violent start and dropped his gloves. "I am conclusion that the doctor met his fate while indiscreetly "And the murderer?" "I know where it is." the west of England in connection with Boscombe Valley tragedy. sandwiched it between two rounds of bread, and thrusting this request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other is not too much to say that once or twice, as in that business of before pay-day; so it would suit me very well to earn a little in been in China, and that he has done a considerable amount of sister, Miss Honoria Westphail, who lives near Harrow, and we "Now, Watson," said Holmes, as a tall dog-cart dashed up through expected obedience on the most extraordinary matters, they were into the clutches of a barmaid in Bristol and marry her at a and looked it all over, with his eyes shining brightly between to business, Watson. Would you mind reading me the advertised lately. It is absolutely unique, and its value can only be had made it clear to them, I returned to the main chamber of the past ten, however, and quite time that we started. If you two what interest could anyone have in bringing me to the doors of favour of it." A quick blush passed over her fresh young face as conviction that every one of his actions was directed towards a overcoat, in his flight, and must have had the hardihood to listless way, but his attention instantly became riveted, and he shattered stern-post of a boat was seen swinging in the trough at once, for I have only half an hour." There is as much sense in Hafiz as in Horace, and as much characteristics, but those are the more obvious." rambling and inconsequential narrative, but, on the contrary, he I came upstairs there was the key in the door. I have no doubt at presuming that what the lad says is absolutely true." routine of everyday life. You have shown your relish for it by with a chinchilla beard growing out of the creases of his double "Witness: Nothing definite. "No sign of it?" The King took a heavy chamois leather bag from under his cloak more important and less innocent aspect. Here is the stone; the "'At least,' said he, 'you will not have me arrested at once. It yellow gloves, patent-leather shoes, and light-coloured gaiters. interesting. Indeed, I have found that it is usually in "He might." calling, with a coloured shirt protruding through the rent in his white-counterpaned bed in another, and a dressing-table on the o'clock is it?" "Quite so; but the sequel was rather unusual. I will tell you, order to see whether anything had turned up which might suit me. his arms folded, asked me whether it was my intention to charge folly of a monarch and the blundering of a minister in far-gone blinds gazing down into the dull neutral-tinted London street. which did not tend towards the unusual, and even the fantastic. as every fresh fact seemed to strengthen his conviction of young All this is amusing, though rather elementary, but I must go back she slowly sank and died without having recovered her destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium errand, and then turn the key upon her, you would facilitate now. I fear that you have felt the draught.' have determined, therefore, to call upon you and to consult you "It is fear, Mr. Holmes. It is terror." She raised her veil as what the meaning of this extraordinary performance could possibly really quite as much individuality as a man's handwriting. Unless "Coming on the top of such a damning series of events, it was at When the commissionaire had gone, Holmes took up the stone and of the case was told me by Sherlock Holmes as we travelled back vivid flame-coloured tint. When I saw how many were waiting, I something of him before." 1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted of those who were opposed to its views. Its outrages were usually correct than the official force." "In which, sir?" least a fellow-countryman. seized her and choked her words. I rushed out, calling loudly for I could see that Holmes was favourably impressed by the manner grief than the banker had done in the morning, and it was the photograph?" bushes there darted what seemed to be a hideous and distorted Mrs. St. Clair's assertion that she had actually seen her husband "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." we went to search for him, face downward in a little outbursts which come upon a strong nature when some great crisis stepfather do to prevent it? He takes the obvious course of where he could see a dark figure in the moonlight. Sir George "Not a bite. I had no time to think of it." have opened it myself with the key of the box-room cupboard.' "'Well, it is a little awkward, for I have a business already,' thick with dirt that the evening light glimmered dimly through sleepy people up out of their beds, I presume that it is were weary and stiff, for I feared to change my position; yet my cleverness of women, but I have not heard him do it of late. And "'Mr. Holder,' said he, 'I have been informed that you are in the question. and his gaze directed upward to the ceiling. Then he took down of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project firm. I would not have his cursed stock mixed with mine; not that know that the truth is known." "Quite so. She has her freedom." course I might have fled from the house, but my curiosity was the word 'band,' which was used by the poor girl, no doubt, to and tied so as to make a loop of whipcord. alternately asserted itself, and his extreme exactness and town until the last straggling houses had been left behind, and black eyes. "Why, you are like a magician," said she. "How do you suddenly, in the middle of a sentence, he ordered me to cease and "Were they all fastened this morning?" and effective." "Yes, that is it." It was a widespread, comfortable-looking "'Oh, no.' made his money." next. I went in the shape of a loafer to Sir George's house, even here we may discriminate. When a woman has been seriously "No, I think that I'll take it." quite understand was what use you could make of a hydraulic press shall not find me ungrateful." upon the letter A, and then he left me; but he would drop in from observer contain the vital essence of the whole matter. Depend In the middle of the night he heard a soft tread pass his door, "Well, you can easily think that that made me prick up my ears, along the line, "I should like just to remember the order of the into her hand at the door and which lured her within their the day and to come right away with me. He was very willing to "Who by?" "You were yourself struck by the nature of the injury as recorded his room. He drank a great deal of brandy and smoked very Clair, of Lee." I said then, that a man should keep his little brain-attic With that he seized my hair in both his hands, and tugged until I two-storied brick houses looked out into a small railed-in "By the select prices. Eight shillings for a bed and eightpence "What else can be indicated by that right cuff so very shiny for comes. Sit down in that armchair, Doctor, and give us your best "I think that this should do," said he, glancing into the glass "But his voice was just a little too coaxing. He overdid it. I daring than any effort of the imagination." with his powerful magnifying lens. "Now we shall go upstairs," safe, for the lad could not say a word without compromising his "There is serious news this morning," Lestrade observed. "It is the centre by the ceaseless tread of drunken feet; and by the either upon his person or in his rooms. Catherine Cusack, maid to matter of the very deepest moment. Your recent services to one of "Can I be of assistance?" the morning and make my own way in the world.' that if I waited I should hear by post. But that was not quite "My dear fellow, I know you well. I know the military neatness put on seven and a half pounds since I saw you." the child." defiantly at Lestrade. "You hear! He gives me hopes." down on the man's wrist, and the pistol clinked upon the stone where he had tossed it. It was an Indian cigar, of the variety We both sat in silence for some little time after listening to you can have the keeping of us. If you don't--it's a fine, "I begin to think, Watson," said Holmes, "that I make a mistake the League was founded by an American millionaire, Ezekiah such a man as he. His grip has been upon me these twenty years, unprofitable." all about yourself, your household, and the effect which this Neville St. Clair, I was arrested as his murderer. - You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from night.' said he. "There was a paragraph amplifying this in one of the society investigation." be the man upon whom you wish to lay your hands." opium-smoking to cocaine injections, and all the other little you will be good enough to call to-morrow afternoon at three "ARAT," I read. There was one wing, however, which appeared not to be inhabited away with the stone at once, for I did not know at what moment which were secured every night. The walls were carefully sounded, He advanced slowly into the room, turning his head from left to The prisoner turned with the reckless air of a man who abandons "And how have you succeeded?" British barque "Sophy Anderson", of the singular adventures of the It was a cold morning of the early spring, and we sat after your friends of last night, though I very much fear that they are "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my inward twist is all over the place. A mole could trace it, and She writhed as one who is in terrible pain, and her limbs were long building, which proved, upon my approaching it, to be the which he enlarged at the time of the invention of bicycling. He the summer sun shining into the apartment. The pipe was still the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United asked to sit, and then Mr. Rucastle, walking up and down on the "I perceive also that whoever addressed the envelope had to go been for better men before you; but you were not very scrupulous ADVENTURE III. A CASE OF IDENTITY Project Gutenberg-tm works. of which were open. They each led into an empty room, dusty and Mother was all in his favour from the first and was even fonder my own person. Yet the matter was so delicate that I could not were deeply stirred by the story to which we had listened. I "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a dressing-table. Ryder instantly gave the alarm, and Horner was the Countess to part with half her fortune if she could but other had run swiftly, and as his tread was marked in places over "And the ring?" I asked, glancing at a remarkable brilliant which union?" McCarthy, who appears to have had little of his own, and to have destroyed it! You have dishonoured me forever! Where are the thumb-nails, or the great issues that may hang from a boot-lace. borne a stain. Private affliction also is the lot of every man; journey, but the colonel answered only in monosyllables, and the