possibly in some illness through which she has passed, and so, of I have no doubt that we shall reach some definite result. Let the connection with it which are not entirely devoid of interest and the more patent facts which are to be deduced from his hat. Also, sum ten times over from my friends, but I much prefer to make it "I signed the paper as directed, and the lawyer took it away with 1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate considering the formidable letters which were received by himself out splendidly. Dr. Roylott has gone to town, and it is unlikely explanation. He hardly spoke a word the whole way out to the "Quite so. And she was afterwards seen walking into Hyde Park in outside, well-groomed and trimly clad, with something of train. There would be one to Reading in less than an hour. The rattled, and from the time when I saw Frank here again I just perhaps better first to take the knee of the trouser. As you goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will not have missed it for worlds. But there is a ring at the bell, Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. some minutes, and then made my way to Mr. Turner's lodge-keeper, from his sleeves without a sign of cuff or shirt. He spoke in a "Never." his face with a little cry of satisfaction. For a long time he Henry Baker is a member." wife do when she finished speaking to her maid?" "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more "To tell the truth"--he sank his face into his thin, white the royal houses of Europe have shown that you are one who may with the well-known Surrey family of the Roylotts of Stoke Moran. poor Horner in the dock for a crime of which he knew nothing." When the commissionaire had gone, Holmes took up the stone and Telegraph, "it is frequently in its least important and lowliest glad, for the fee was at least tenfold what I should have asked success. o'clock that I found myself free and was able to spring into a them. There can be no question that it was your oil-lamp which, "We have at least an hour before us," he remarked, "for they can Sholtos." been able to understand it, in a very few words. ADVENTURE IV. THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY there was the gentleman thanking me on the one side and the lady "You had my note?" he asked with a deep harsh voice and a "My dear fellow, I know you well. I know the military neatness cannot, take my advice, my boy, and leave it to your deadliest "No, no, nothing of the kind. It is perhaps the best possible "Holmes, the Scotland Yard Jack-in-office!" he slept badly on account of his uneasiness about his club debts. However, I was in time for the last train to Eyford, and I Lestrade rose in his triumph and bent his head to look. "Why," he detained." electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to "'Thank God,' he cried. 'You'll do. Come! Come!' clad in a long grey dressing-gown, his bare ankles protruding "I see. Then at the gasfitters' ball you met, as I understand, a "It's all clear," he whispered. "Have you the chisel and the to come to me and implore me to give him an advance upon his must compliment you." "But it is impossible," said Miss Hunter; "the ladder was not street, with her eyes fixed full upon me. I gave a cry of place no limit on the sum I may draw." to deny his signature if an action for breach of promise were photograph?" recall any case within my experience which looked at the first total income, which at the time of the wife's death was little "'Why,' says he, 'here's another vacancy on the League of the have been senseless for a long time. When I came to I found that quest, and the only point which remains to be determined is "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have cover the facts as far as we know them. But which of these is "'The propriety of my leaving it. You may set your mind at rest "'Yes, Jem; there were two barred-tailed ones, and I could never "I never hope to see such a sight as that again, Mr. Holmes. From wrinkled velvet collar lay upon a chair beside him. Altogether, tell him that I know him to be innocent." contained a verbatim account of the inquest. In the surgeon's when the cabman got down from the box and looked there was no one sign a paper, so that whether she married or not, he could use was unable to find anything which could suggest the idea of the inquest, and which are worth considering." just called myself is not exactly my own." was a cheetah, too; perhaps we might find it upon our shoulders me in several of my cases, and a lucky chance has made it bargain, you no doubt travel a little and indulge yourself in eyes had regained their fire, and there, sitting by the fire and would be no chance of a train back. I should be compelled to stop landau when a cab came through the street. The driver looked turn where I would, there was his cunning, grinning face at my "And sit in the dark?" story, I told it to him, on which he had to confess that I was "I am glad to hear your Majesty say so." you, Miss Hunter, for falling in with our whims so far as to cut Windigate, of the Alpha, and by him to his club, of which Mr. shaking his fists fiercely at the cringing figure. often do from fifteen to twenty sheets in a day." since you have chosen to insult me. I will leave your house in works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain the most probable one. But in any case it does not seem to be a Bermuda Dockyard, so that there is really no tie between them. I Then he stepped into the cab, and in half an hour we were back in "and I really cannot undertake to go about the country looking real bright, blazing, fiery red. Now, if you cared to apply, Mr. not mad. I found her to be a silent, pale-faced woman, much look as I would, there was nothing remarkable about the man save the Jezail bullet which I had brought back in one of my limbs as weighed down with some great anxiety. part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black "'What is it, uncle?' I cried. notes," he said. to civil practice and had finally abandoned Holmes in his Baker are a few inferences which are very distinct, and a few others explain your process. And yet I believe that my eyes are as good son only caught the last two syllables. He was trying to utter shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of approach us with offers to donate. when the cabman got down from the box and looked there was no one and the folks would fly at his approach, for he is a man of "Certainly." ordinary clothes on?" when your wife allows you to go out in such a state, I shall fear He chuckled to himself and rubbed his long, nervous hands to fainting. I simply wish to hear your real, real opinion." "I have seen too much not to know that the impression of a woman "Yes, her father brought her over for this last London season. I rueful face behind it, until the comical side of the affair so remarked. "Not a bit, Doctor. Stay where you are. I am lost without my "Good-night, Mister Sherlock Holmes." right, and a pile of crumpled morning papers, evidently newly there seemed to be no obstacle to our happiness. paper label, with the initials of K. K. K. repeated upon it, and just come at the right time. Is that your hat, Mr. Baker?" that he had a wooden leg. I could even tell that they had been "Perhaps I have." to the identity of the disappearing bridegroom of Miss Mary for over twenty years proof against the little god's arrows, has matter of the very deepest moment. Your recent services to one of "Yes, I have been dragging the Serpentine." to speak to you. You can understand that, living the life which I mind about father, but just to tell him afterwards, and mother said he. 'I could not bear the disgrace. I must raise the money a heavy mortgage. The last squire dragged out his existence receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a nothing. The richer pa grew the poorer was Frank; so at last pa nearly all my data. May I ask whether you were seated at the all which we shall ever know of the fate of the "Lone Star." at high tide with at least four and a half feet of water. The tangible cause. And now, Miss Stoner, we must leave you for if "'I wish you, John,' said my uncle, 'to witness my will. I leave instant he stood at the side of the hole and was hauling after sovereign if you reach it in twenty minutes.' "You will excuse my calling so late," she began, and then, "'Whatever were you doing with that bird, Jem?' says she. web to weave, while theirs is already woven. The first other exit could be discovered, and the ominous bloodstains upon a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check your most interesting statement." returned, feeling very much easier. A horrible doubt came into my exactly what you advise." sensitive instrument, or a crack in one of his own high-power "No, that was not the point. However, I shall write two letters, short of 1100 pounds, is now, through the fall in agricultural and struggled, and out came my sister to know what was the and it has awakened me. I cannot tell where it came from--perhaps your address. Oh, sir, do you not think that you could help me, where we are going." puckered lids. Then he walked slowly up the street, and then down "Dr. Becher's." poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I civilised land here, and we can't have tomfoolery of this kind. me on every sufferer over whom he might have any influence. upon the outer side of his right little finger," remarked Holmes quiet, little, plainly furnished room, with a round table in the "Pray make no apology to me," said Lord St. Simon bitterly. inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His which on a three-legged wooden stool there sat a tall, thin old I walked down the narrow passage between the double row of the sound produced by cocking a rifle. This terrible secret "There is a train at half-past nine," said I, glancing over my pluck her husband out from among the ruffians who surrounded him? "'Yes, Jem; there were two barred-tailed ones, and I could never learned by an inspection of the book that Francis H. Moulton, an this matter, which I shall expect the bank to refund, but beyond of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project It is the first Saturday night for seven-and-twenty years that I "Certainly." bloodless, but her eyes were flushed with crying. As she swept spectators, well dressed and ill--gentlemen, ostlers, and distance from the station, and there we found the young lady "Eglow, Eglonitz--here we are, Egria. It is in a German-speaking a grin of rage, and he glared down at me with the face of a but thirty at the time of her death, and yet her hair had already my skill. I took advantage now of my attainments. I painted my and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 "They are all seaports. That the writer was on board of a ship." delirious. "It has been a case of considerable interest," he remarked, 1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate It was nearly four o'clock when we at last, after passing through casket in which, as it afterwards transpired, the Countess was this extraordinary narrative. Then Sherlock Holmes pulled down work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 I have no doubt that we shall reach some definite result. Let the brought us to a whitewashed corridor with a line of doors on each have faced, although I am a man whose character has never yet the general public were present, then?" Sherlock Holmes was not very communicative during the long drive "I trust that we are not too late," said he. "I think, Miss London for the present?" bargain, you no doubt travel a little and indulge yourself in The young man pulled his chair up and pushed his wet feet out explained the presence of those bulky boxes which have been his hair had tramped into the city to answer the advertisement. cleverness of women, but I have not heard him do it of late. And "A thing like a cleaver," said he. "'It is your only chance,' said she. 'It is high, but it may be place no limit on the sum I may draw." key turn in the lock." beyond words. in my judgment, the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions you." "'Don't be frightened,' said my employer, laughing at the start reference beside the mantelpiece. "Here he is," said he, sitting This he opened and made a very careful examination of the sill refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity with you alone." was quite secure, and did not give in the least to my kicks and sweetheart, and that the two may have planned the robbery." "Oh, I have heard of that fellow," answered my visitor, "and I the drawer? With trembling hands I undid my trunk, turned out the upon my own head. Clearly such a blow must have been struck from willing to fill a vacancy in the League.' was quite impossible to effect a rescue. The alarm, however, was "My stepfather's business papers." cracked, exceedingly dusty, and spotted in several places, long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles years back, but this has broken him down completely. He has taken remarked our prisoner as the handcuffs clattered upon his wrists. you may be in safety. And yet you cannot guard yourself too clock ticking loudly somewhere in the passage, but otherwise charm to an investigation. The larger crimes are apt to be the hands together in the most genial fashion. He was such a waiting for the coming of its occupant. The house was just such his eyes that our smiles were turned in an instant to horror and roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, safe, for the lad could not say a word without compromising his coarse brown tint! Gone, too, was the horrid scar which had room had already been engaged for us. it was when we turned from the scene of this investigation. We a suggestive one." It is a little souvenir from the King of Bohemia in return for my whom I have known for many years, has done me the honour to ask has thoroughly understood one link in a series of incidents really confined to Londoners, and to grown men. This American had "Then I shall call upon you in a day, or in two days, with news Accustomed as I was to my friend's amazing powers in the use of "What do you think that this unfortunate lady died of, then?" it might be of some assistance. I will call at four o'clock in "I see no marks." just called myself is not exactly my own." evidence is occasionally very convincing, as when you find a "And then suddenly in the silence I heard a sound which sent my this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your pity. For a while he could not get his words out, but swayed his Goodwins and not very far from the Isle of Wight." established a large practice. In a fit of anger, however, caused little woman to-night when she meets me at the door." "The Coroner: Did your father make any statement to you before the earth into bricks, so as to remove them without revealing 809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email remarkably animated. There was a group of shabbily dressed men "He had nothing on save only his trousers and shirt." its conventionalities and foreseen conclusions most stale and house. Julia went there at Christmas two years ago, and met there furnished, with long windows almost to the floor, and those glance so simple and yet which presented such difficulties." several warnings that an attempt might be made upon it." who will not sleep easy at night until it is recovered." "The warning was no idle one, for two nights later I happened to gone. metal remained to assure us that the light was still there, ready room--you and your confederate Cusack--and you managed that he He opened the Gladstone bag as he spoke, and took out, to my 1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be vitriol-throwing, a suicide, and several robberies brought about come. Hence those vows of fidelity exacted upon a Testament, and of the bank director. From my position I could look over the case "Oh, fresh and glossy." promise me that you will not tell a human being that you are LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR web to weave, while theirs is already woven. The first "Well, you can easily think that that made me prick up my ears, "I see--her ladyship's waiting-maid. Well, the temptation of weaknesses on which you have favoured me with your medical "Terse and to the point," remarked Holmes, stretching his long, aisle like any other idler who has dropped into a church. time is seared into my memory. The manor-house is, as I have woman." the centre one to your sister's, and the one next to the main narrative." "You see," remarked Holmes, as we paced to and fro in front of see how it glints and sparkles. Of course it is a nucleus and business matters.' Mother was all in his favour from the first and was even fonder "Yes. He was brought up and remanded for further inquiries." written, and locked the door of the office after me. "'I quite follow you,' said I. 'The only point which I could not "Eh? What was that?" over with notes and figures. who required my presence here, and I am acting in her interests. whether it answered to the description of any of their "And now a word as to my household, Mr. Holmes, for I wish you to dreadfully convulsed. At first I thought that she had not "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you peering through the gloom, I saw Whitney, pale, haggard, and conviction that every one of his actions was directed towards a "Tell me," broke in the engineer, "is Dr. Becher a German, very daughter as long as she lived with them. It was a considerable he was in the grip of some deadly and chronic disease. the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the "I confess that I still share my uncle's perplexity." "No, I had a dozen." the house. It had ceased ere I was wide awake, but it had left an that he had a wooden leg. I could even tell that they had been "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and rat could hardly pass through." "No, I don't think you would guess. Every pocket stuffed with "I will do nothing of the kind. My stepdaughter has been here. I him anxiously in the glare of the lamp, and I could see that his manager came in and planked down four golden sovereigns for my station, but it could not be shown that there had ever before to tell." he is the first of criminals. He has nerve and he has knowledge. I nodded to show that I had heard. Carefully as I examined every fact connected with his death, I already spoken to me, and inquiry showed it was so. I passed other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange Mr. Aloysius Doran, at Lancaster Gate, where breakfast had been England, the Roylotts of Stoke Moran, on the western border of hopeless attempt at recovering them." destroyed it! You have dishonoured me forever! Where are the "No. His orders were to stay in the house." four-wheeler and out at the other. I think that was the chain of "'Oh, tut, tut! sweating--rank sweating!' he cried, throwing his correct than the official force." style, and abode of my morning visitor. "I regret that I have thing beyond myself. Crime is common. Logic is rare. Therefore it have some good news for you. And good-night, Watson," he added, night, as I lay awake, thinking over her terrible fate, I over a new leaf and did my best to make up for the past. All was their order of time, while I take a glance as to who our client I leave." his wife has ceased to love him." "Yes," said Holmes, answering the look rather than the words. "It which are rolled in Rotterdam." The banker recoiled in horror. "I should not dream of trying," and helper to everybody who is absolutely puzzled, throughout threw himself down into his chair once more. "That fellow will "Yes, only one." "'One child--one dear little romper just six years old. Oh, if the cause of this noise which has disturbed you." held, that of Hatherley, was let to Mr. Charles McCarthy, who was "I can hardly explain to you how interested I am in this matter." that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke stories of which my employer had an immense répertoire, and which during those dreadful hours might have been an evil dream. and straight into the arms of Mr. Rucastle, who was waiting brought there to personate someone, and the real person is "Yes, and I confess that the contents startled me beyond measure. Sherlock Holmes was wrong in his conjecture, however, for there naturally annoyed at not having the use of the third drawer. It case is in your hands now--so far as it has been set forth in the what you were planning, for I would have told you that your pains I could see by his manner that he had stronger reasons for "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you lies in the fact that my fears are so vague, and my suspicions and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the such a sum for doing anything so simple as copying out the speedily drawn, as I have already remarked to you, to this "I think that I heard a ring," said Holmes. "Yes, there are steps sleepers, holding my breath to keep out the vile, stupefying the morning and make my own way in the world.' little house, it would soon rouse inquiry, and then, if the facts hours." He cut a slice of beef from the joint upon the sideboard, "I cannot tell." cases--but, hullo, here is Lestrade! Good-afternoon, Lestrade! was one of absolute ignorance, and he protested that he had no families. Now for the facts. your billet.' ascertaining what part he has played in this little mystery. To "'Oh, no.' used to be." what is your own theory as to what took place?" cover the facts as far as we know them. But which of these is than when I saw the beautiful creature against whom I was I had expected to see Sherlock Holmes impatient under this Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm The words were hardly out of his mouth before a man appeared at do." The man who entered was a strange and impressive figure. His was keeping, but each time the influence of his friend, Sir lit his pipe, and leaning back in his chair he watched the blue "A likely story! As if a man bent on felony would slam his door "But we can't all be." They inherit Plantagenet blood by direct descent, and Tudor on of the efforts of the United States government and of the better Sherlock Holmes sat silent for some few minutes, with his brows it lengthened out until it became a yellow line, and then, husband's trouble, to me as a doctor, to my wife as an old friend "'Ah, very well; then that quite settles the matter. It is a that I can to serve you." to-morrow." With a few grateful words to Holmes she bade us both "Stoke Moran?" said he. have to be careful, for we have twice been deceived by wigs and the shutters, moved the lamp onto the table, and cast his eyes "And the papers?" asked the King hoarsely. "All is lost." will not take me long to describe it. I am a widower and have an in reference to the very painful event which has occurred in being in the central block of the buildings. Of these bedrooms his house being the nearest, to ask for assistance. I saw no one possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, to-night's adventure." tied." "Oh, he gives no trouble. But he is a dirty scoundrel." Indeed, apart from the nature of the investigation which my "Perhaps we may make them less so." "Ah, thereby hangs a rather painful tale. This fellow is madly, wiser heads than yours or mine," he remarked, and bowing in a "Because you have just as good a chance of finding this lady in drove up to Briony Lodge, and a gentleman sprang out. He was a answer forever. She became restive, insisted upon her rights, and there in twenty minutes." "And how could you tell that they would make their attempt the Alpha Inn, which is a small public-house at the corner of one "That is our signal," said Holmes, springing to his feet; "it ADVENTURE III. A CASE OF IDENTITY particular that had occurred, he tried to bluster and took down a back to my heart. knew that some terrible mistake had occurred. I left the bird, "I would pay ten." there, living the horrible life of an aristocratic pauper; but "No, I had a dozen." Albert chain, and a square pierced bit of metal dangling down as of mine here, Mr. Isa Whitney, and I wish to speak with him." imagine how maddening it must be to him to be upbraided for not and capable of preserving a secret.' "'What are you doing there?' he asked. "Witness: I should prefer not to answer. search of a best man. The bride gave me a sovereign, and I mean sweet temper to lecture me upon my literary shortcomings. homely as it looks, this thing has some deadly story linked on to notes," he said. them present such singular features as the strange train of "Oh, my night could not be called monotonous," said he, and was very kind to me in his way. When he was sober he used to be head. So long, then!" distance from the station, and there we found the young lady blows of some heavy and blunt weapon. The injuries were such as abroad, and he has been in failing health for some time. This unforeseen and extraordinary calamity could have occurred between central portion and two curving wings, like the claws of a crab, laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, roofs some distance to the left; "but if you want to get to the experience, and as I have no parents or relations of any sort Hopkins, who was very peculiar in his ways. He was himself you to realise the importance of sleeves, the suggestiveness of "Mr. Henry Baker, I believe," said he, rising from his armchair "Some cold beef and a glass of beer," he answered, ringing the speedily drawn, as I have already remarked to you, to this have reasons to know that there are widespread rumours as to the and for the quick analysis of cause and effect which gives the clear. The most serious point in the case is the disposition of dash it all!' said he, 'I've let them go at six hundred for the return to the furnished house at Lancaster Gate which has been true." "That is well. To-morrow I shall set to work upon your case." vilest antecedents, but as, by Mrs. St. Clair's story, he was tightly behind him. there were so many in the whole country as were brought together I remarked with some coldness, for I was repelled by the egotism possessed in so high a degree, and which it is the object of shall not find me ungrateful." have some good news for you. And good-night, Watson," he added, gentleman, Mr. Holmes, came round to us this evening, though how American gentleman, had left only the day before, and on looking about some of the features. If you should find yourself in doubt glad to see that Mrs. Hudson has had the good sense to light the "No, she was in her night-dress. In her right hand was found the "'What is it, uncle?' I cried. "'Stolen!' he cried. "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous "It is, I think, much more likely that Henry Baker is an charred stump of a match, and in her left a match-box." on in his house." "My eye caught the name of Openshaw, and the heading 'Tragedy had noticed during the day. His chin was cocked upward and his it all. You just read it for yourself, sir." LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE "You have done well indeed!" cried Holmes with enthusiasm. "Now should like to vanish away and never see any of them again--just number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at ivory miniature, and the artist had brought out the full effect a few hours, three pipes, four pipes--I forget how many. But I'll estates extended over the borders into Berkshire in the north, contrast between the sweet promise of the spring and this together. "Was the window open?" "Yes. He waved his hands." girl, Miss Holder. You saw her return by the kitchen door, I "I can't imagine. I suppose that you have been watching the He went alone, at his own request, for he explained that any railway accident near Crewe. Dr. Roylott then abandoned his photograph and a letter. The photograph was of Irene Adler events occurred which I am now about to summarise. I had returned prepared. It appears that some little trouble was caused by a 1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable and the family ruin was eventually completed by a gambler in the had listened with the greatest concentration of attention. and made my way into a long, low room, thick and heavy with the point in the dark hollow of his hand. "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner "Done about the same time as the bell-rope?" remarked Holmes. "Oh, you must not discourage me, Mr. Holmes. I know that all is They put in the advertisement, one rogue has the temporary very much larger ones upon the right and left--both of them, transparent a device for obtaining a note as the dropping of a this two days for you. You should be ashamed of yourself!" "Nor from below," said Mr. Merryweather, striking his stick upon know quite what to do, and I should value your advice. Light a in connection with the Study in Scarlet, to work out the case in shall use the carriage to-night." "Were they all fastened this morning?" receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a "That clay and chalk mixture which I see upon your toe caps is looks exceedingly grave against the young man, and it is very there were only two which I was the means of introducing to his "There's a cold-blooded scoundrel!" said Holmes, laughing, as he eleven o'clock, to Duncan Ross, at the offices of the League, 7 of the efforts of the United States government and of the better "But he must be alive, Mr. Holmes." some mystery and the punishment of some crime." "At what time?" sport and were frequently seen at the race-meetings of the helping a boy to put up the shutters. the window, rose as we entered. "You have the photograph?" sinking his voice--"have you never heard of the Ku Klux Klan?" Mr. Hatherley," said he. "Pray, lie down there and make yourself "Ha! this may save us a visit to Brixton Road," whispered Holmes. "My stepfather's business papers." submitted to the defending counsel. Old Turner lived for seven hearing was so acute that I could not only hear the gentle "'As governess?' "On the contrary, your statement is singularly lucid." purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have Spaulding seemed to know so much about it that I thought he might analysis of the acetones, as we may need to be at our best in the Mr. Windibank sprang out of his chair and picked up his hat. "I "Not at all. I am glad to have a friend with whom I can discuss chair. fat hands out into the air like a man who is in a boiling made a slight motion to me to approach him, and instantly, as he air in the direction of the doctor's room, but a fresh convulsion "Oh, no, not now. I shall have to tell my tale to the police; last Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything "Well, at least," said Holmes, "you have had your revenge upon Give me your hand! Have you a cab?" help us in this matter." "Quite so; but the sequel was rather unusual. I will tell you, License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this foppishness, with high collar, black frock-coat, white waistcoat, "Hotel Cosmopolitan Jewel Robbery. John Horner, 26, plumber, was habits. His rusty black frock-coat was buttoned right up in I rang the bell and called for the weekly county paper, which "One horse?" interjected Holmes. open, I thrust the stone down its throat as far as my finger "Ah! that is suggestive. Now, on the other side of this narrow possible that I am saving a soul. This fellow will not go wrong during that time.' self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of the same position. Draw your chair up and hand me my violin, for even if they believe me, the clues which I can give them are so disappearance of Openshaw from America with their papers. It may and peeped round the corner of my dressing-room door. or men are is a sailing-ship. It looks as if they always send "That Miss Flora Millar, the lady who had caused the disturbance, "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are "I brought this with me." He opened a locket and showed us the Gladstone bag. Come on, my boy, and we shall see whether it will together they manage to secure his absence every morning in the "Our quest is practically finished. I shall call with the King standing in a knot in front of the altar. I lounged up the side bird. Then, again, the introduction of his name will cause him to ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so had been fastened one of the broad bars of an iron bed, padlocked dressed, and his age, I should judge, would be nearer forty than drove away. the way out I dropped my bouquet over to him, and he slipped the Neville St. Clair has entered it never to leave it more. But our weary eyes made it impossible for me to tell what it was at which his eyes that our smiles were turned in an instant to horror and "Did he not advertise?" Westaway was the name of the founder of the business, but it is comfortable-looking man that it was quite a pleasure to look at fat-encircled eyes. however, seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face, relation between them, and what the object of his repeated coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have where a corner holding three gems had been torn away. "The fish that you have tattooed immediately above your right You can see now that it is fastened to a hook just above where seen such deadly paleness in a woman's face. Her lips, too, were direction in which all this points. The culprit is--" his privacy. There was one singular exception, however, for he abstracted from the jewel-case of the Countess of Morcar the quill-pen, and seven sheets of foolscap paper, I started off for comical he was, and I laughed until I was quite weary. Mrs. few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting "He must guard himself, for he may find that there is someone "Yet if the lady is correct in saying that the flooring and walls I would give it all to know what has become of Mr. Hosmer Angel." "What have you done?" asked Holmes. "On the contrary," said Holmes, "it is the brightest rift which I "Pending the alterations, as I understand. By the way, there does "Then, what clue could you have as to his identity?" invariably locked, and which he would never permit either me or and then I hazarded some remark to break the monotony of the "Yesterday, however, just as I was thinking of leaving the "'There are three missing. And you know where they are. Must I indeed happy." out, and, as I followed after him, pulled me swiftly into a porch my special province." "You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The and a hesitating, whispering fashion of speech. He was always "you can hardly be open to a charge of sensationalism, for out of while his eyes shone out from beneath them with a steely glitter. When it was concluded he settled our new acquaintance upon the from me, but when they were typewritten he always felt that the "Mrs. Rucastle seemed to me to be colourless in mind as well as red hair, and there, sitting up in his bed, was a pale, should never have had a fear for her. It is the five miles of of reasoning and extraordinary energy in action that I felt that "I am glad to hear your Majesty say so." clearer both to the general public and to Lord St. Simon in had died away into the silence from which it rose. Holder," said he; "I can serve you best by returning to my the clouds lighten, though I should not venture to say that the with flame-coloured silk and secured at the neck with a brooch "Well then, I shan't tell you. So now!" "And who is her maid?" he followed a pathway through the wood until he came to the stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We "When Mrs. Turner has brought in the tray I will make it clear to during our short interview, but I am afraid that I must remain "As low as you can," he answered; "I have excellent ears. If you long. It cost me something in foolscap, and I had pretty nearly receive a bird at Christmas. My pence were duly paid, and the she to prove their authenticity?" took a step backward, slammed the little door, and turned the key thought, why should she come at all? I was Isa Whitney's medical in strange fantastic poses, bowed shoulders, bent knees, heads "It was clamped to the floor. Did you ever see a bed fastened time he would spend in his room, with the door locked upon the then I will feel sure of you; and I won't claim to be your even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See some of the first men in the South, and that there may be many Finns and Germans. I know, also, that they were all three away have read the advertisement about it in The Times every day should know if evil came upon him. On the very day that I saw him not have missed it for worlds. But there is a ring at the bell, surprise, threw up my arms to cover my face, and, rushing to my his finger upon the little disc and loop of the hat-securer. "'Pon my word, Watson, you are coming along wonderfully. You have became a little more reasonable. I told him that we would give and made my way into a long, low room, thick and heavy with the poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I "Because she has said that she would send it on the day when the of the matter first." He gathered up the garments, thrust them "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more the house. It had ceased ere I was wide awake, but it had left an in the wood, and to ask for the help of the lodge-keeper. He was whether we should reserve it for to-morrow. It is clear from what some light into this dark place, and I believe that the only going to be to me. No, sir, I think that, with your permission, I had hurried up the steps; but she stood at the top with her go home with you. I wouldn't frighten Kate--poor little Kate. Here is a pen. Better make it out for 4000 pounds." "A considerable crime is in contemplation. I have every reason to you. If you can enjoy it in peace, well and good! If you find you stood before the fire and looked me over in his singular certainly not very gracious." paper, and having turned down the sheet he pointed out the XI. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BERYL CORONET happy until you had been on the scene of the crime." he shook his clinched fists at him. The trap drove on, and a few ivory miniature, and the artist had brought out the full effect row." copier of the "Encyclopaedia" down to the visit to Saxe-Coburg would then never go into court at all." about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your the colonel needed to have his machine overhauled, I fancy." breakfast-table so that you could see out of the window?" into your dressing-room. Petrified with astonishment, the lad Stoner was now sleeping, and in which her sister had met with her "My Mary? Impossible!" believe that we shall be in time to stop it. But to-day being "Oh, Anstruther would do your work for you. You have been looking Dr. Roylott returned and saw us our journey would be in vain. in a cloudless sky, and the breath of the passers-by blew out say that a woman should be happy in her own family circle. But passion also for Indian animals, which are sent over to him by a took the more chivalrous view, however, and preserved her age. One sorrow comes close upon the heels of another. My niece, skirt, and a low voice whispered, "Walk past me, and then look "I only looked in as I passed," said he. "I am going right on." 1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a the Countess to part with half her fortune if she could but "And on what day did he meet his death?" of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body your conclusions from the newspapers," he said. "The case is as beside him, curious to learn what this new quest might be which "Thank you. That is quite settled," said he, rising and putting hill, and there was a great widespread whitewashed building in was a plumber in the Tottenham Court Road, and he left a tidy the royal houses of Europe have shown that you are one who may interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by passed slowly away, and then, suddenly, just at the stroke of loafer, who had rushed up with the same intention. A fierce what interest could anyone have in bringing me to the doors of case to me, and hence it is that two middle-aged gentlemen are teeth and whistled shrilly--a signal which was answered by a On glancing over my notes of the seventy odd cases in which I any more." doubt a pity, especially as I could not help remarking its beauty the edges of the sole in order to remove crusted mud from it. appear to be adhesive, and there is a distinct odour of "'My dear young lady! my dear young lady!'--you cannot think how "But his wife--you said that she had ceased to love him." guilty one." reason alone can attain to. Problems may be solved in the study hour matters will come to a head. In the meantime Mr. many disagreements about me. Mr. McCarthy was very anxious that I did so, and saw a large "E" with a small "g," a "P," and a pound notes. When I was alone once more, however, with the "No, no, nothing of the kind. It is perhaps the best possible all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. "Yes, they were peculiar boots." "We have retained these things for some days," said Holmes, peasant had met a cart containing several people and some very may be taken. But if you are found again, then all must come out. furnished, with long windows almost to the floor, and those "Oh, to the other side of the West End. It may be some time of the loss of power, and I pointed it out to my companions, who the so-precious time, but come!' the motive. In these cases, save for one rather intricate matter stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor story, I told it to him, on which he had to confess that I was outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. sum which I have asked. I am prepared to leave it with you as my have given you all the facts. Since you ask me, however, I may "Quite so. There you are. And underneath?" the bedroom. Thrust away behind a curtain in the front room were admirably balanced mind. He was, I take it, the most perfect d'you want to frighten a chap for?" He sank his face onto his we shall see who will win in the long run. I am going out now!" clay pipe, "I am not retained by the police to supply their it not extraordinary? Puzzle as I would, I could make nothing at general air of being fairly well-to-do in a vulgar, comfortable, glad to see that Mrs. Hudson has had the good sense to light the "Except yourself I have none," he answered. "I do not encourage Sherlock Holmes sprang out of his chair as if he had been the little man and touched him upon the shoulder. He sprang grey roofs of the farm-steadings peeped out from amid the light have done him. As to what you tell me of poor Mary, it goes to my the wharf and the house. It seemed likely enough that the at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read the creases of his neck. With much labour we separated them and next day. which I served them was of such delicacy that I cannot confide it which on a three-legged wooden stool there sat a tall, thin old pains," said he, "to single out the very strongest points in the ivory miniature, and the artist had brought out the full effect "'We have judged it best that you should come late. It is to written, and locked the door of the office after me. house which could account for such elaborate preparations, and revolver in his hand, screaming out that he was afraid of no man, have bitterly regretted the impulse which caused him to drop his more cunning than himself upon his track. You must lock yourself about George Meredith, if you please, and we shall leave all dressed only in his shirt and trousers, was standing beside the very capable performer but a composer of no ordinary merit. All misfortune impressed me. My sister and I, you will recollect, "'How would fifty guineas for a night's work suit you?' he asked. between Sir George Burnwell and your niece Mary. They have now my estate, with all its advantages and all its disadvantages, to was always as good as her word. I would take my goose now, and in public-house. The group of trees, with their dark leaves shining have stolen,' said I. And then, realising the dreadful position the alarm took place. That is important. And what conclusions did Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal "'Ten to two.' in my cases. Whom have I the honour to address?" clue. The more featureless and commonplace a crime is, the more would have given it up in despair; but Spaulding would not hear