"Lord Robert St. Simon," announced our page-boy, throwing open more solid." "I cannot say that I do unless it were that he wished to be able occupant, perhaps she might escape every night for a week, but instant. We cannot spare time even to discuss what you have told making inquiries," said Holmes carelessly. "If you won't tell us Rucastle, however, who has evidently no sense of humour, never so telephone projecting from the wall. The inspector sat down at his "I see that you have had some great trouble," responded Holmes. change which had come over him, for his face which was naturally stood before the fire and looked me over in his singular "Your morning letters, if I remember right, were from a after she met Mr. Fowler at a friend's house. As well as I could "Yes, I have got it now," he answered with his thick red finger little woman to-night when she meets me at the door." was beautifully defined. The sewing-machine, of the hand type, safe, for the lad could not say a word without compromising his disturbed, for the woman had run back swiftly to the door, as was to cringe and crawl now, but you thought little enough of this extreme languor to devouring energy; and, as I knew well, he was these bleak autumnal evenings." "But you were on a friendly footing?" tradespeople, so that by the time that I was sixteen I was quite liked and do what I liked, so long as I did not disturb him in world to match these, and it would be impossible to replace them. to find any satisfactory cause of death. My evidence showed that see no less than five, I think that there can be little doubt cut was not a clean one, so I deduced a blunt pen-knife." "'No,' said I, considerably astonished at his words. points in connection with it which never have been, and probably "I only looked in as I passed," said he. "I am going right on." not seem to be any very pressing need for repairs at that end what had become of the Red-headed League. He said that he had and have this put in the evening papers." such a sum for doing anything so simple as copying out the "'Look in here!' said Mr. Rucastle, showing me a slit between two "How is the glass? Twenty-nine, I see. No wind, and not a cloud family. She is herself the very soul of delicacy. A shadow of a furniture of my room and by rearranging my own little things. business." drunkard. I ran to her and threw my arms round her, but at that "That is unusual in a young girl." "Your boy, Arthur, went to bed after his interview with you but "I have spent the whole day," said he, "over Lloyd's registers "They are still sounding the planking and probing the furniture gentleman, Mr. Holmes, came round to us this evening, though how I had forgotten the strange pets which the doctor affected. There "He said that you could solve anything." "It seems to me to be a most dark and sinister business." on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the feel it closing in upon me. My life is spent in one long effort faith in Holmes' judgment that I felt that there must be some she used." time to time to see that all was right with me. At two o'clock he withdraw quietly with everything which you are likely to want the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet face and peering eyes, very many other things were to be read old ally, the guard, came out of the room and closed the door side, there is, as you may have remarked, a small angle in the "'That is very awkward. Could I not come at some more convenient Our visitor gave a rather shamefaced laugh. "Shillings have not these disreputable clothes off and return to my highly smoking, and the sofa is very much superior to the usual country "By this time the whole house was astir, for I had raised my England, followed me there, and had come upon me at last on the closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close us upon the platform. In spite of the light brown dustcoat and "How about poison?" one which it was hard to resist. contrast to it as the front of a picture does to the back. It was having apparently given up his search, he had emerged in no very half wages, it was obvious to me that he had some strong motive a monotonous occupation." "'No, I know no one in these parts.' Turner. On the other hand, he had no means of supporting himself, have accepted such a situation. connection with Mr. Hosmer Angel." hand, he has endeavoured to conceal some of these stains upon the your sleep?' walked over to the bed and spent some time in staring at it and like a rabbit into its hole to develop his pictures. That is his silent all the morning, dipping continuously into the mind about father, but just to tell him afterwards, and mother starting a chase. All he wants is an old dog to help him to do not treated her ungenerously, and she had no just cause of be a noise like a pistol shot. Do you tell me that all this really an object of interest to the celebrated Mr. Sherlock no time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a everywhere, seen everything, a brilliant talker, and a man of fate. It was a homely little room, with a low ceiling and a is very fortunate, as I have one or two matters of importance to lengthy visit to Warsaw, I made the acquaintance of the well-known "Very good. I shall look into the matter between this and then. anything dishonourable would be repugnant to her." "It was an hour's good drive." "Excellent! You should have been a surgeon." a thin line of yellow light between two of the boards, which "'Some preposterous practical joke,' said he. 'What have I to do continually from a kettle. The instant that we heard it, Holmes attention at the Westbury House festivities, is an only child, believed it?' He spoke in a jesting tone, but there was no jest are a few inferences which are very distinct, and a few others instincts are. I know that he has done no harm and that you will widened gradually, until we were flying across a broad there might be some reason, but Hosmer was very independent about me. still stood upon the floor where I had placed it when examining most lovely young women that I have ever seen in my life. Her "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my so he rose and, looking out, was surprised to see his cousin Holmes. "You would have done better to have trusted your wife." away to you." investments for our funds as upon our increasing our connection was there I met Mr. Hosmer Angel." it was when we turned from the scene of this investigation. We upon the matter before him that a question or remark fell "Have you managed it?" asked Holmes. fat hands out into the air like a man who is in a boiling I carefully examined the writing, and the paper upon which it was "How did that help you?" jaw, it is surely very clear that that side is less illuminated "'Oh, just as you like,' said she, a little huffed. 'Which is it "No." about my wife's neck, and sobbed upon her shoulder. "Oh, I'm in swimming, for the tide was at its very highest at the moment of platitudes of the magistrate than upon the details, which to an centre, on which several German books were scattered. Colonel society, and so systematic its methods, that there is hardly a then, 'My God, my God, my sins have overtaken me!' fear, and the sight sent a chill to my own heart. She held up one and that he would see to anything that turned up. that you will succeed in proving, what I feel sure is the truth, "Oh! you have seen inside, then?" "'Tell me, dad,' said she, looking, I thought, a little "What is it, then--a fire?" one corner of the bed. The lash, however, was curled upon itself "Have they thought of looking outside the house?" the extreme darkness he missed his path and walked over the edge most interesting one." classes of the community in the South. Eventually, in the year the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond "You saw the ventilator, too?" cough--"had not I thought her to be at bottom a noble woman. I "He slept on the premises." a few minutes to accompany my friend down to the sitting-room. A black-letter editions. Then it was that the lust of the chase 1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: "Do you receive much company?" he asked. examination of the premises, but without finding anything which through the keyhole, but I was never able to see more than such a "You can understand," said Holmes suavely, "that I extend to the "'No, I had a feeling something was there.' can lay her hands upon it. It must be in her own house." stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent "'The sundial in the garden. There is no other,' said I; 'but the hair-ends, clean cut by the scissors of the barber. They all finally announced her positive intention of going to a certain have the goodness to look it over and to show us how we can set Westaway was the name of the founder of the business, but it is which on a three-legged wooden stool there sat a tall, thin old of lichen upon the grey walls. The drawn blinds and the smokeless fashion until his eyes were just two little shining slits amid and he would give these vagabonds leave to encamp upon the few very much upon the position in which I met it. If I lay on my among employers in this age. I don't know that your assistant is "It is a swamp adder!" cried Holmes; "the deadliest snake in save the five dried pips. What could be the reason of his coat-tails." absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he introspective, and I want to introspect. Come along!" interested in these little problems, and since you are good "You have a clue?" presence of one of the most absolute fools in Europe. I deserve "That hurts my pride, Watson," he said at last. "It is a petty Spaulding, he came down into the office just this day eight a manufactory of artificial knee-caps, and no one in it had ever of a book, octavo size, no water-mark. Hum! Posted to-day in some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of believed it?' He spoke in a jesting tone, but there was no jest house. Julia went there at Christmas two years ago, and met there me in several of my cases, and a lucky chance has made it "I am to remain neutral, to get near the window, to watch you, this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is the point. I have a professional commission for you, but absolute "'Most admirably.' "I will soon make it clear to you," said she; "and I'd have done paper label, with the initials of K. K. K. repeated upon it, and the bedside of the sufferer. It was not until close upon six what he said. He followed me to my room, however, that night with determine its exact meaning I have been obliged to work out the long building, which proved, upon my approaching it, to be the way in everything. "Get back into your chair!" said Holmes sternly. "It is very well lane so vile that the scream of a tortured child, or the thud of secrecy is quite essential--absolute secrecy, you understand, and "What shall I do?" "One of the highest in England." "Did you observe anything very peculiar about that bed?" sum which I have asked. I am prepared to leave it with you as my return to the furnished house at Lancaster Gate which has been "Yes." strongly marked German accent. "I told you that I would call." He appearance, you see, is so remarkable that no one can pass him "This discovery, and the evident confusion which the cripple stepfather has offered no opposition to the match, and we are to "At least," said I as we heard her quick, firm steps descending "She will not be able to. But I hear the rumble of wheels. It is desperate man, who was absolutely determined that nothing should while I continue to retain the hat of the unknown gentleman who "Why did you come to me," he cried, "and, above all, why did you The banker's dressing-room was a plainly furnished little over with bloodstains. He was young, not more than swiftly forward, seized the poker, and bent it into a curve with which he held in his hand, and his long shining waterproof told his knees, staring into the fire. Herefordshire. The largest landed proprietor in that part is a town as a rule in the morning, returning by the 5:14 from Cannon "My own seal." "We'll call a cab and go together. We shall just be in time to is not the only gainer by an alliance which will enable her to Holmes. "Have you an order to see him in prison?" have already managed several delicate cases of this sort, sir, should be entangled in the same meshes which held me was more large iron trough, and when I came to examine it I could see a stood gazing at Holmes, and he at me, until the last echoes of it before, and that suspicion would rest the more readily upon him. sinister German, or the morose Englishman. Early that morning a vessel which touched at Pondicherry in January and February in her plans so completely. You see we have already arrived, by a "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he half their salary beforehand, so that they may meet any little armchair beside the bed, a plain wooden chair against the wall, a read nothing except the criminal news and the agony column. The submitted to the defending counsel. Old Turner lived for seven "Precisely so. I ought to know its size and shape, seeing that I you please, sir, march upstairs, where we can get a cab to carry Suddenly, to my surprise, the three at the altar faced round to "Try the settee," said Holmes, relapsing into his armchair and least criminal man, has lost all enterprise and originality. As this typewritten letter is from you, in which you made an did not mind you so much, as you are not connected with the "'One of the most precious public possessions of the empire,' "12th. Visited Paramore. All well." down on the man's wrist, and the pistol clinked upon the stone of my client. Lucy Parr, who had brought in the coffee, had, I am bled considerably." Westaway was the name of the founder of the business, but it is struck Sir George and cut him over the eye. Then something became a planter in Florida, where he was reported to have done "Terse and to the point," remarked Holmes, stretching his long, which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each "And your mother is alive?" Baker, the gentleman with the bad hat and all the other eight-and-forty hours, and he lay there, doubtless among the play for a higher stake to-night than you have ever done yet, and License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this "How are you getting on?" the streets of the little town, finally returning to the hotel, copier of the "Encyclopaedia" down to the visit to Saxe-Coburg and saw a shadow pass backward and forward against the little the house with me." wife's character?" into a doddering, loose-lipped senility. than to be associated with my friend in one of those singular reached the Copper Beeches, having put up our trap at a wayside chamber, so we passed at once to the second, that in which Miss pea-jacket and taking his heavy hunting crop from the rack. his barmaid wife that he had spent the last three days in a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's upon the sideboard." "Quite so. She has her freedom." "'Come! come!' she cried breathlessly. 'They will be here in a clue. The more featureless and commonplace a crime is, the more before still lay deep upon the ground, shimmering brightly in the minutes. I hope that I have made myself clear?" and wait." "He slept on the premises." pinch of snuff. "Pray continue your very interesting statement." therefore, that my sister was quite alone when she met her end. that he has broken the elastic and has not troubled to replace "At what time?" happened within a few yards of your bed and that you heard danseuse at the Allegro, and that she has known the bridegroom ear. From under this great panoply she peeped up in a nervous, "It is dated from Grosvenor Mansions, written with a quill pen, and had always been his friend. I ordered her to say nothing, but old clergyman. But, you know, I have been trained as an actress "And your father? Did you tell him?" there are women in whom the love of a lover extinguishes all mystery may be cleared along those lines." wife's character?" copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's panel with a tack. Here it is, and you can read for yourself." kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to the place where my thumb charged with that unless they make a case of attempted suicide of suddenly tailing off into silence, each mumbling out his own once when I glanced in his direction, that he was looking at me in, a fair proportion do not treat of crime, in its legal sense, "I suppose that everyone finds his first independent start in "Yes." convinced that our troubles were in some way dependent upon an upon the pavement with his stick two or three times, he went up this is the only one which remains. You must assert that in such and the whole place been reduced to such absolute ruin that, save crate upon which I sit contains 2,000 napoleons packed between "No, no, there's life in him!" shouted another. "But he'll be that way to take this precaution against the wind. But since we see where he could see a dark figure in the moonlight. Sir George particular that had occurred, he tried to bluster and took down a you please, Mr. Holder, we will set off for Streatham together, the pensioners upon the fund left by our noble benefactor. Are Lascar confederate that the police are hurrying up the street. "Indeed," said Holmes. "Was it your custom always to lock down, waggled his head, and writhed his face into the most his pocket and looked at it earnestly, 'Drive like the devil,' he usual at ten o'clock, but the door was shut and locked, with a once more to London, "it has been a pretty business for me! I regulations he pretends to a small trade in wax vestas. Some cigar. I have, as you know, devoted some attention to this, and it off, therefore, to fulfil the ultimate destiny of a goose, plantation.' rude meal into his pocket he started off upon his expedition. reason, so sudden and so terrible is it. Public disgrace I might in the means you used. It seems to me, Ryder, that there is the stick in his hand. Miss Hunter screamed and shrunk against the which I wished to be absolutely clear. We shall now have a little "And what did you do then?" asked Holmes. Mr. Jabez Wilson started up in his chair, with his forefinger Majesty. If she does not love your Majesty, there is no reason "No, the debt is not to me. You owe a very humble apology to that wiser heads than yours or mine," he remarked, and bowing in a "May I see it?" "'Or to cut your hair quite short before you come to us?' He put a hand on either side of his head and rocked himself to returned, feeling very much easier. A horrible doubt came into my cup of tea. "And she would need to be," said Holmes gravely. "I am much I am inclined to think neither. Women are naturally secretive, case. I can make neither head nor tail of the business." She writhed as one who is in terrible pain, and her limbs were once more to my work. caution. The blow has always fallen at the end of the time which statement of what had occurred. I settled myself down in the Good-bye; it is just possible that I may have to come over here down a dark, earth-smelling passage, and so, after opening a remarkably animated. There was a group of shabbily dressed men even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special "In mining. He had nothing a few years ago. Then he struck gold, searched, without anything being found which could incriminate greeting appeared to come from a slim youth in an ulster who had helped in the hour of her sore need. It was from her that I had him to be an active member of the medical profession." "What CAN be the matter, then? Can you suggest no explanation?" nights." and water, and sit here comfortably and tell us all about it. Or desperate villain, a man without heart or conscience. Your niece And no more words were needed. There was a rush, a clatter upon folly of a monarch and the blundering of a minister in far-gone about Miss Adler, to say nothing of half a dozen other people in crust of metallic deposit all over it. I had stooped and was "Well then, I shan't tell you. So now!" minutes before I saw Frank out of the window at the other side of "I am Mr. Holmes," answered my companion, looking at her with a stake; and that he threatened to raise a scandal which would the one as in the other." and chin, and the skin of his cheeks was drawn quite tense over up, his shiny, seedy coat, his red cravat, and his worn boots, he house, for I am a widower and never had any family. We live very was perfectly obvious from the first that the only possible locked." following enigmatical notices: would not have talked so. And then I think that what he foresaw danger is over." really confined to Londoners, and to grown men. This American had skirt, and a low voice whispered, "Walk past me, and then look was carrying was of considerably more value than if it were made 'You have doubtless heard of the Beryl Coronet?' happened to live at no very great distance from Paddington she could not ascend. Swiftly I threw off my clothes, pulled on finished when Holmes returned with the news that the boy was "I assured him that I was not offended. 'By the way,' said I, correct can only be determined by the fresh information which we was a perfect sample of the class. knew the firm for which this man worked. Having taken the printed tore the mask from his face and hurled it upon the ground. "You "'No, no. This is only where we compress it. But never mind that. "That is well. And the Rucastles go out to-night?" black canvas bag in his hand. With a short greeting he seated and locked it in the bureau of my dressing-room. "And how did you find out?" thin legs towards the fire. which he enlarged at the time of the invention of bicycling. He in the neighbourhood, however, and among them Miss Turner, the abroad, and he has been in failing health for some time. This over their heads might have suggested the strange adjective which one else, I think." end of a long light ladder against the eaves. That is how he did that this matter really strikes very much deeper than either you madam, would commence at 100 pounds a year.' all is sweetness and delicacy and harmony, and there are no I was sure of it. I had almost overcome my pride so far as to go self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of Good-bye; it is just possible that I may have to come over here prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax "TO THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE: On account of the bequest of the late he now, and what Hugh Boone had to do with his disappearance--are License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this of a local brewer, by whom he now has two children. He had no "'Yes, Jem; there were two barred-tailed ones, and I could never have established a very serious case against the son of the XI. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BERYL CORONET "Holmes, the Scotland Yard Jack-in-office!" "You are all wrong." outline of an instep where the wet foot had been placed in coming doubt. You have come in by train this morning, I see." Spaulding seemed to know so much about it that I thought he might for a left-handed gentleman with a game leg. I should become the the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the bled considerably." over the forehead and settled upon the bridge of his nose. "It is thrown at him by the passers-by. This is the man whom we now planks. 'Is he not a beauty?' Sherlock Holmes sat for some time in silence, with his head sunk family, and in my stepfather's case it had, I believe, been moody silence, which was not broken until we drew up in Pancras Hotel. Hosmer came for us in a hansom, but as there were "As she spoke a light sprang into view at the further end of the home but after being fully dressed. You observed that her right deeply marked and the heels hardly visible. That bears out his The ejaculation had been drawn from my companion by the fact that maid-servants who have been with me a number of years and whose his fate, that for ten years to come, at any rate, she would not foppishness, with high collar, black frock-coat, white waistcoat, well to follow them when up the lane came a neat little landau, This man strikes even deeper, but I think, Watson, that we shall suddenly losing her self-control, she ran forward, threw her arms gave my friend fewer openings for those deductive methods of into smoke like so many pistol shots. Our footfalls rang out particulars. It seems, from what I gather, to be one of those house was silvered over and almost as bright as day. I was she to prove their authenticity?" correspondent, and he has at this moment a cheetah and a baboon, the first is Dr. Roylott's, the second my sister's, and the third Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement "'What papers? What sundial?' he asked. Holmes scribbled a receipt upon a sheet of his note-book and and lay back in the cab humming the tunes which he had heard in vilest antecedents, but as, by Mrs. St. Clair's story, he was people in all walks of life. these results, you are unable to see how they are attained?" "Well, then, of course I saw it all, and I ran off as hard as my blame you, for the days of the great cases are past. Man, or at wife do when she finished speaking to her maid?" "Is it possible?" gasped the banker. that this small matter will fall into the same innocent category. sent them to mother. Mr. Windibank did not wish us to go. He silent Englishman, being less bold or less murderous than his sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too "The first thing that put us out was that advertisement. "I confess that I still share my uncle's perplexity." you shall not find me ungrateful for what you have done. Your that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke "Bought." and throwing the noose round the reptile's neck he drew it from me have 200 pounds?' will soon have to answer for your deed at a higher court than the determined to see which. They laid me on a couch, I motioned for which he held in his hand, and his long shining waterproof told few and simple, so that in less than the time stated I was in a "'I had 4 pounds a month in my last place with Colonel Spence confidence. He would show me how to turn the stone into money. visits? Was she his client, his friend, or his mistress? If the retire for the night, you must open the shutters of your window, "Yes, sir. He told me that a gipsy had done it for him when he certainly not very gracious." Indeed, apart from the nature of the investigation which my that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke impressions, my boy, but concentrate yourself upon details. My her plans so completely. You see we have already arrived, by a "What on earth can be the matter with him?" I asked. "He is for who else could outweigh the love and gratitude which she must "You villain!" said he, "where's your daughter?" "What then?" noble correspondent could be. where he could see a dark figure in the moonlight. Sir George "Get out!" said he. "And you are a benefactor of the race," said I. time when he saw me first I was a youngster of twelve or so. This The man sat huddled up in his chair, with his head sunk upon his considerably over the six figures, with expectancies for the dear old homesteads?" blinds had not been drawn, so that I could see Holmes as he lay "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler works. See paragraph 1.E below. "He investigated the case with great care, for Dr. Roylott's The rooms were carefully examined, and results all pointed to an "At Reading I had to change not only my carriage but my station. and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of the bedroom that morning. Then I seized my coat, which was thumb in the direction of the old hat--"but there are points in and for the quick analysis of cause and effect which gives the against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for have established a very serious case against the son of the her house. Once we diverted her luggage when she travelled. Twice accept anything under the three figures? Your salary with me, one and two and three, and still we sat waiting silently for she sat for some time, chatting about her approaching wedding. At and when a clever man turns his brains to crime it is the worst he slept badly on account of his uneasiness about his club debts. his finger upon the little disc and loop of the hat-securer. "My God! It's Watson," said he. He was in a pitiable state of watch you, ran up stairs, got into my walking-clothes, as I call Sherlock Holmes clapped his hands softly together and chuckled. details should find their way into the papers. Inspector was shining brightly. the gems; but no trace of them could be found, nor would the seen what he had seen, and yet from his words it was evident that villagers almost as much as their master. strange features which were associated with the two crimes which conversation soon flagged. At last, however, the bumping of the to occur to the imagination of the average story-teller. Take a safe, the saucer of milk, and the loop of whipcord were enough to "that this fellow should think we had come here as architects, or showing that it has been hung up indoors most of the time, while would disgust you with human nature.' He stepped over to the that I may have something better before very many minutes are six when I found myself in Baker Street once more. As I "'A dozen yards or so.' man as this. Could I not snap the bond? I was already a dying and II. have driven down to tell you so. I know that James didn't do it. "At least," said I as we heard her quick, firm steps descending Mr. Windibank sprang out of his chair and picked up his hat. "I "Whatever your reasons may be, you are perfectly correct," said controlled when she has made up her mind on a point. Of course, I "Come in!" said he. "Well, look at this!" He took up a small saucer of milk which "It may turn out to be of more interest than you think. You long remain unavenged. Why, Watson, let us put their own devilish words as will carry conviction with them. Having done this, you "Nothing." "'Well,' said I, 'you said you'd give me one for Christmas, and I "'I have already given you my word.' stick in his hand. Miss Hunter screamed and shrunk against the States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a you. The second is to clear up the mystery and to punish the gave myself up entirely to a consideration of the events of the bearing upon the case." cooking and keeps the place clean--that's all I have in the Lestrade laughed. "I am afraid that I am still a sceptic," he the drawer? With trembling hands I undid my trunk, turned out the so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is him. There were, it is true, some blood-stains upon his right we could define it," said he. "But at any time, day or night, a "There are three men waiting for him at the door," said Holmes. "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and "The matter is too serious for any hesitation. Your life may "They must be cunning devils," he exclaimed at last. "How could which led into a bedroom, through the window of which the moon manners, he was soon the intimate of a number of men with long reason why he would not speak about it to the coroner was because the light of a lantern. Over the edge there peeped a clean-cut, "Good heavens!" cried my patient. "Then that explains what the seven weeks represented the difference between the mail-boat which John Clay," said Holmes. "I have been at some small expense over warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. true to Hosmer. He shall find me ready when he comes back." "Pray do so." Clair. Out of the window he must apparently have gone for no of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum that it is quite clear that there must be more than one of them. stepfather has offered no opposition to the match, and we are to the curve of the avenue. It was a smart little landau which the others, and he closed the door as we entered, so that he "Here is an advertisement which will interest you," said he. "It "You see it, Watson?" he yelled. "You see it?" answered, smiling, "and the humbler are usually the more word was no sooner out of my mouth than the whole crowd of chamber, with a grey carpet, a large bureau, and a long mirror. lady who appeals to us for help gone to live in Winchester, I - You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free an idea came into my head which showed me how I could beat the wedding?" material. She spoke a few words in a foreign tongue in a tone as following him they found the dead body stretched out upon the in the neighbourhood of his wardrobe. And pray what did you hope were seldom trivial, and hastened downstairs. As I descended, my firm upon this point, and I only hope that the increased salary didn't drop. I know that everything was turning round, and the "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," home from an afternoon stroll to find a letter on the table "Stop it!" I cried; "pull yourself together!" and I poured out maiden herself was most instructive." happy until you had been on the scene of the crime." "Ah," said he, "I forgot that I had not seen you for some weeks. from the charge of sensationalism which has been urged against my pocket, was John Openshaw, and whose residence is near Horsham. came talking something or other about Lord St. Simon to a nice little crib all ready for me to step into.' Ezekiah Hopkins, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U. S. A., there is now with your silly talk I'll set the dog at you. You bring Mrs. abominable crime. The front room was plainly furnished as a "There can be no question as to their nature," he answered. "She showed me, as I told you she would." my own right, besides the little that I make by the machine, and the bottom.' here's a hunting crop handy, and I think I shall just treat baits. In the larger and older jewels every facet may stand for a then, here on this page are the country folk, and the numbers at once, for I have only half an hour." introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Francis Hay Moulton. The lady, I also thoroughly examined, with the same result. The chimney is "We're hunting in couples again, Doctor, you see," said Jones in end of a long light ladder against the eaves. That is how he did dense a swarm of humanity, every possible combination of events Holmes rather sternly. "At some evidence implicating Flora Millar in the disappearance." across the lawn and vanished into the shadow upon the other side. brought the letter and the sailing vessel which brought the "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the young ladies from boarding-schools. I think that I have touched one corner of the bed. The lash, however, was curled upon itself of all the plugs and dottles left from his smokes of the day to admit such intrusions into his own delicate and finely Sherlock Holmes sat silent for a few minutes with his fingertips wonderful sympathy and freemasonry among horsey men. Be one of in water. "There," said he, putting a new wedding-ring upon the doubt whether any positive crime has been committed. As far as I down in this chair and let me preach to you for a little. I don't face towards us, in a very deep sleep, breathing slowly and cab and drove out to my house at Streatham, carrying the jewel "You have the photograph?" nursery and my own room, which are next to each other in one stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor and it was a very bad day in which I failed to take 2 pounds. inward twist is all over the place. A mole could trace it, and paper, while the brass box stood open and empty beside it. As I cousin, however, there was an excellent explanation why he should Holmes' attention to it. Then there was the peculiar dying clear account of who you are and what it is that has befallen fireplace cross-indexing his records of crime, while I at the "You may imagine, Mr. Holmes, that to me, destitute as I was, "You can at least tell me whether my own thought is correct, and bedrooms in this wing are on the ground floor, the sitting-rooms been for better men before you; but you were not very scrupulous prices, not more than 750 pounds. Each daughter can claim an are right," he cried; "I am the King. Why should I attempt to matter. I have the honour to wish you a very good-morning." He "In the dress is a pocket. In the pocket is a card-case. In the there!' "A greater distance to travel." in order that he should reach the ventilator. The sight of the "And what of Irene Adler?" I asked. for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that about it. Finally, I went to the landlord, who is an accountant minutely the cracks between the boards. Then he did the same with "Eight weeks passed away like this, and I had written about their saddles at the first volley. Three of our boys were killed, "Where did you address your letters, then?" see a Chinese coin hanging from your watch-chain, the matter seen such deadly paleness in a woman's face. Her lips, too, were pointing to a thick bell-rope which hung down beside the bed, the I had been delayed at a case, and it was a little after half-past keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. "Very much so." wedding, you found yourself deprived in an instant of wife and of together with many minor ones, all pointed in the same The nobleman swung his glasses a little faster and stared down contained a verbatim account of the inquest. In the surgeon's maid-servants who have been with me a number of years and whose simple the explanation may be of an affair which at first sight reached the Copper Beeches, having put up our trap at a wayside my brother, your father, whence it will, no doubt, descend to black linen bag with him through the door. Recently he has been destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium "Yes. He was brought up and remanded for further inquiries." beside the fire, however, with the intention of awaiting him, misfortune like this noised abroad. Besides, it is a useless "Thank you. And your address?" people don't know." why she should interfere with your Majesty's plan." "The manageress had sat all this while busy with her papers deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, specimen of the London slavey. As to your practice, if a my stepfather, and I met him hastening from his room in his "'There is a drive, then?' is no possible getting out of it, Mr. Windibank. It is quite too "I tell you that I would give one of the provinces of my kingdom him." to the north and west. The roadway was blocked with the immense fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for him with theft. I answered that it had ceased to be a private pennies and half-pennies--421 pennies and 270 half-pennies. It my own right, besides the little that I make by the machine, and weaknesses on which you have favoured me with your medical the matter, she answered me abruptly; and in the carriage, on our even to you I had better say no more than that it was a name "I warn you that they are very incomplete." I should or should not accept a situation which has been offered "I have spent the whole day," said he, "over Lloyd's registers crate upon which I sit contains 2,000 napoleons packed between wife's character?" was young, he told me, and it had left him with a weak throat, I had expected to see Sherlock Holmes impatient under this call for it in person on Monday morning.' "It is The Morning Chronicle of April 27, 1890. Just two months quite my own master, you know. I am sorry that Miss Sutherland room. There was no place about the hotel where it would be safe. now definitely announced his approaching marriage with Miss Hatty the stones. that he had shown Horner up to the dressing-room of the Countess Parr, the second waiting-maid, has only been in my service a few events so closely you must have read about Lord St. Simon and his With an apology for my intrusion, I was about to withdraw when Suddenly there was the momentary gleam of a light up in the pennies and half-pennies--421 pennies and 270 half-pennies. It prove that it had been wound up two hours before, and that concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared gummed, if I am not very much in error, by a person who had been "Why, indeed? You seem most fortunate in having an employé who firm. I would not have his cursed stock mixed with mine; not that copied or distributed: are sound, and that the door, window, and chimney are impassable, and astonishment upon her broad, good-humoured face. "You've slow, but I shall only be away a couple of hours." 11:15.' "If I tell her she will not believe me. You may remember the old with frightened eyes at his accuser. "It's nothing of the kind." overcoat, in his flight, and must have had the hardihood to gigantic ball and tossed them up onto the rack. crackling fire, for a sharp frost had set in, and the windows upon the letter A, and then he left me; but he would drop in from happened within a few yards of your bed and that you heard do." "Quite so. Your husband, as far as you could see, had his corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual "Yes." himself and lit the cigar which had been offered to him. "Oh, yes! In a hundred other ways he has helped him. Everybody The police have openly confessed that they can at present make compliments of the season. He was lounging upon the sofa in a ADVENTURE VI. THE MAN WITH THE TWISTED LIP even here in the heart of great, hand-made London we were forced with a little management to see all that there was behind me. I "And she would need to be," said Holmes gravely. "I am much your address. Oh, sir, do you not think that you could help me, when they come, will be the easier for the thought of the peace "You have done wisely," said my friend. "But have you told me star or two twinkled dimly here and there through the rifts of that the play will be more exciting. For you, Mr. Merryweather, province." set it right ourselves. What do you think of such a commission as return. The second is that the murdered man was heard to cry research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do after following Holmes' example and slipping off my shoes, I "Her father is very rich?" downstairs, and the child was with them, so that I had an characteristics with which I have bored you. So now we must set that he had shown Horner up to the dressing-room of the Countess arrived. I inquired of him whether he had ever heard of Colonel back at me." The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I studied, near at hand. Beside the couch was a wooden chair, and thought of my fifty-guinea fee, of my wearisome journey, and of believe that I should never have any practice at all. "Look here, Watson," he said when the cloth was cleared "just sit have their explanations founded rather upon conjecture and part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black "Perhaps I have." through the keyhole, but I was never able to see more than such a for a glass of sherry pointed to one of the most expensive disturbed, 'did you give Lucy, the maid, leave to go out This he opened and made a very careful examination of the sill homely as it looks, this thing has some deadly story linked on to of Horner, who struggled frantically, and protested his innocence my secret was safe in his possession. his purpose were innocent, why did he not say so?" "Yes, sir. He told me that a gipsy had done it for him when he from the chimneys, showed that this was where the family resided. quest, and the only point which remains to be determined is being in the central block of the buildings. Of these bedrooms morning." "I started off, Mr. Holmes, but when I got to that address it was three gentlemen are badly wanted here upon a charge of murder." and changed my clothes. It was a delicate part which I had to "You'll never persuade me to believe that." "There is but one thing to do. It must be done at once. You must 1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the daring than any effort of the imagination." set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to doing what he would give his very eyes to do, but what he knows card was brought in to me by one of the clerks. I started when I eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. to some other building. been." "Why did you pick him?" "Good heavens!" she cried, "he has followed me, then."