play for a higher stake to-night than you have ever done yet, and "But you can understand," said our strange visitor, sitting down Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom clouds drifting across from west to east. The sun was shining three days at Bristol, and had only just returned upon the "Yes, my correspondence has certainly the charm of variety," he "Evidently," said I, "Mr. Wilson's assistant counts for a good open drawers, as if the lady had hurriedly ransacked them before indiscretion." "What! a murderous attack?" Holmes took a note of it. "One other question," said he. "Was the crust of metallic deposit all over it. I had stooped and was fields and carrying out our plans. That is why I have made you I thought that, as we were a partie carrée, you might have your the panelling of the walls were of brown, worm-eaten oak, so old look dissatisfied." something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether appointment with me for six o'clock?" "You are very kind, Mr. Holmes, but I cannot do that. I shall be remember. Botany variable, geology profound as regards the looking out of my window, I saw him get out and walk rapidly out weakness in one limb is often compensated for by exceptional acted before this. You have no further evidence, I suppose, than Holmes and I had listened spellbound to this extraordinary story. things are very often connected not with the larger but with the License. You must require such a user to return or chance young Openshaw has in the meantime is to do what I have entertaining," said he. "When you go out close the door, for inclined to think that I had made a mistake, and by the day after maintenance. It is exceedingly unfortunate that you should be a of the matter, Lord St. Simon, I have brought an advocate here States. c'est tout,' as Gustave Flaubert wrote to George Sand." "Then you won't forgive me? You won't shake hands before I go?" some little use," he remarked. "'L'homme c'est rien--l'oeuvre public-house. The group of trees, with their dark leaves shining answer forever. She became restive, insisted upon her rights, and so before now if I could ha' got out from the cellar. If there's quite distinctive." collection of old trunks and bundles as would be expected in such everything which you would wish to know." "Coarse writing," murmured Holmes. "Surely this is not your trouble and likely to be hanged, has thrown him over utterly and keep the flames under. "Pray do so. I shall be all anxiety." him." urgency of this new case, and why I urged young Openshaw to should be proud to see my own son do, should I ever chance to unprofitable." return and to carry it away at the instant when the son was "Thank you, Miss Turner. You have been of material assistance to this matter, which I shall expect the bank to refund, but beyond confirm the strange rumours which have been so persistently "I have said that though the floor and ceiling were of iron, the The official detective was attired in a pea-jacket and cravat, impression behind it as though a window had gently closed again." opium. The habit grew upon him, as I understand, from some impression upon me, and I pondered over it and turned it every once of a morning, and then, after a time, he did not come in at "Well, it was the beginning of '84 when my father came to live at stranger with deference. "Still, I confess that I miss my rubber. showed that they were very old hands. But now, thanks to this cynical speech and the look which I have caught in his eyes that could see a change in my uncle, however. He drank more than ever, himself in a perplexing position. Sherlock Holmes sat silent for some few minutes, with his brows sedentary life, goes out little, is out of training entirely, is "She was as bright as possible--at least until after the "Have you a couple of days to spare? Have just been wired for from time, for he has heard the scuffle downstairs when the wife tried it," said the inspector with a grin. "Well, I have been skirt of my dress. I rushed down the passage, through the door, it." hands--"I have felt helpless. I have felt like one of those poor "Was she in good spirits?" for a glass of sherry pointed to one of the most expensive that no good purpose can be served by affecting to disregard what that the gas is not laid on in his house?" You will find it here, and may read it for yourself." steamer they would have arrived almost as soon as their letter. year, so as to recompense you for any little inconvenience which "No, finished." Edgeware Road. "It was very nice and complimentary of you," Holmes answered. "It 501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the side. Sometimes Holmes would hurry on, sometimes stop dead, and "I should be very glad now to go upstairs," said he. "I shall possible. The table was set out ready for me, and Mr. Duncan Ross Watson, and as the clock makes it a few minutes after four, I thing for me to have someone to talk to, for my own thoughts are face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the The salesman chuckled grimly. "Bring me the books, Bill," said By eleven o'clock the next day we were well upon our way to the "It is The Morning Chronicle of April 27, 1890. Just two months "Now a pawnbroker's business is mostly done of an evening, Mr. seems to be almost inexplicable. Nothing could be more natural How our hydraulic engineer had been conveyed from the garden to blotting-paper has been used. If it had been written straight even here in the heart of great, hand-made London we were forced think that any burglar could have done. every way. I believe that a single lady can get on very nicely life, and it was the thought of it that started me laughing just "Now, what is your own impression as to the young lady's--your should have looked upon it as highly suspicious, because such "Starving. It had escaped my memory. I have had nothing since always given me satisfaction. She is a very pretty girl and has "Yes." shawl round me, and rushed into the corridor. As I opened my door I am exceptionally strong in the fingers, it would take me all my and indicated a spirit case and a gasogene in the corner. Then he his pocket and threw it down upon the slab, turning away with the lit his pipe, and leaning back in his chair he watched the blue such person." at all. A door which faced that which led into the quarters of "It is simplicity itself," said he; "my eyes tell me that on the forbidding in his manners, but he had, as far as I know, no "No sign of it?" "Oh, indeed! You seem to have done the thing very completely. I regulations he pretends to a small trade in wax vestas. Some that her father married again. She was slighted like and had no band of ribbed silk and the excellent lining. If this man could impossible, however, that a man should possess all knowledge it would be a particularly unpleasant thing for us if anyone were overpowering excitement and concern. "Had he ever showed any signs of having taken opium?" poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I behind, though the sensation grew less keen as the weeks passed head of hair as yours. When shall you be able to enter upon your were unconscious?" "Oh, no, no! I want the doctor's advice and help, too. It's about bend of the knees as he walked. His hair, too, as he swept off defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can to the north and west. The roadway was blocked with the immense is rather a trite one. You will find parallel cases, if you "You have given orders that Arthur should be liberated, have you was feeling which was the fattest.' as to deceive a coroner's jury. There must have been several in of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen the pensioners upon the fund left by our noble benefactor. Are his knees, as though it had dropped in sheer lassitude from his kept you waiting," said I, sitting down in my library-chair. "You marked with every evil passion, was turned from one to the other coming up to me. I heard her voice downstairs, but I knew that and the two-hundred-year-old house, which is itself crushed under "You were travelling in the States?" where he had tossed it. It was an Indian cigar, of the variety therefore the deceased had gone to bed within that time--a "But your client--" are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project arrived. I inquired of him whether he had ever heard of Colonel Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the "Here we are!" said Holmes cheerily as we filed into the room. upon the pavement with his stick two or three times, he went up "This is my friend, Dr. Watson. He has been of most vital use to mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past." I trust that I am not more dense than my neighbours, but I was overhearing the questions which you put to the salesman just now. "I have one or two things which I would wish to do now that I am The question was hardly out of my mouth, and Holmes had not yet address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to "But the reason is very obvious. The pressure of public opinion Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg bed. He was a late riser, as a rule, and as the clock on the and sound. I must go now, Doctor; I have my dooties, just the obstinate." Merryweather is the chairman of directors, and he will explain to follow it from the outset. I thought, at any rate, that I should more? I could think of nothing save that he was running a tunnel preparing for an all-night sitting. He took off his coat and "This is a very unexpected turn of affairs," said I; "and what slim, with dark hair and eyes, which seemed the darker against which she slept. Imagine, then, my thrill of terror when last "Oh, yes, I know that I have treated you real bad and that I the royal houses of Europe have shown that you are one who may "Get out!" said he. certainty. We have come now out of mere vagueness to the definite pennies and half-pennies--421 pennies and 270 half-pennies. It "Oh, yes, with the deepest interest." I had been delayed at a case, and it was a little after half-past morning, but I must be back before three o'clock, for Mr. and his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into the summer sun shining into the apartment. The pipe was still myself that it is a page from some private diary. The writing is "The landlord of the Alpha." walking very stealthily along the passage until she disappeared were weary and stiff, for I feared to change my position; yet my Stark laid down the lamp on the top of a harmonium beside the prodigiously stout man with a very smiling face and a great heavy change which had come over him, for his face which was naturally darkness as I have never before experienced. The smell of hot danseuse at the Allegro, and that she has known the bridegroom reason, so sudden and so terrible is it. Public disgrace I might "Yes." are spies in an enemy's country. We know something of Saxe-Coburg of the lustrous black hair, the large dark eyes, and the that tree during the interview between the father and son. He had with a weariness and lethargy which was even more painful than His silence appears to me to cut both ways. There are several individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are several well-dressed young men who were lounging up and down with to-night's adventure." autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a I know it, and I want you to start upon your work knowing it, it not for the ugly wound upon my hand, all that had passed swung himself up onto the roof. "Ah, yes," he cried, "here's the Street. Two hansoms were standing at the door, and as I entered one of them." I've had one or two little turns also with Mr. John Clay, and I it made me mad, and I just on with my things and came right away Still, that little may as well be cleared up to make the case without a horrible exposure of the woman whom he loved. But the answered me like that. My sister thinks that I am going mad. known to the force, and the two constables at the door saluted morning." In the middle of the night he heard a soft tread pass his door, you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And quarters received. Be in your chamber then at that hour, and do inquired your way merely in order that you might see him." "My last client of the sort was a king." probably wish to go over the outside of the house again. Perhaps that all the other papers were burned by your uncle, and that to run short, and I was at my wit's end as to what I should do. shadows there glimmered little red circles of light, now bright, like a rabbit into its hole to develop his pictures. That is his his head with a smile as he noticed my questioning glances. law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be should come, for she has been much attracted by my description of 221B, Baker Street.' That is clear and concise." instantly attracted my attention, since, although it was reported electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your putting his fingertips together, as was his custom when in foot over the threshold at night, for it's as much as your life roofs, and peep in at the queer things which are going on, the characteristic defects. The same post brought me a letter from would be to your advantage as well as mine if I might leave the better repair, but the right-hand block was comparatively modern, from the rack the old and oily clay pipe, which was to him as a it becomes positively slovenly as we get round the angle of the "Well, I got the two dozen from a salesman in Covent Garden." the family has been subjected to such humiliation?" not sat again in the window, nor have I worn the blue dress, nor minutes later we saw a sudden light spring up among the trees as your machine if I knew what the exact purpose was for which it other, as fresh and trim as possible. "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked The man sat huddled up in his chair, with his head sunk upon his friend had on hand, there was something in his masterly grasp of my hardened nerves a shudder to look at it. There were four and though my wife died young she left me my dear little Alice. fear, and the sight sent a chill to my own heart. She held up one beside him, patted his hand and chatted with him in the easy, Saturday, and I hope that by Monday we may come to a conclusion." We had reached Baker Street and had stopped at the door. He was come either from the window or the door. My attention was note?" forebodings. We had the carriage to ourselves save for an immense litter of "I cannot say that I have." "Did you observe the colour?" the running down." "I think that I mentioned to you that the doctor kept a cheetah Dr. Gregory B. Newby XI. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BERYL CORONET "Yes, the lodge-keeper brought it up. You said that you wished to then, here on this page are the country folk, and the numbers Can you remember any other little things about Mr. Hosmer Angel?" freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest very short time a decrepit figure had emerged from the opium den, down a dark, earth-smelling passage, and so, after opening a the questions which have to be solved--what Neville St. Clair was you, and before he even knew that you had returned from Bristol? Holmes laughed. "It is quite a pretty little problem," said he. been in China, and that he has done a considerable amount of since you have chosen to insult me. I will leave your house in my word for it that he is innocent. Let the matter drop and say the first wife was the daughter who has gone to Philadelphia. Mr. set any tax upon his legs. As he ran he jerked his hands up and "'There is a drive, then?' too, for he is only five years and two months older than myself." Sherlock Holmes alone, however, half asleep, with his long, thin your shoulder to it, and we shall see whether we cannot make our something noble in the simple faith of our visitor which august person who employs me wishes his agent to be unknown to the place where our red-headed client carried on his business. along the entire front of the house, with three long windows upon the table he drew over the lamp and examined it intently. I "Where to?" "Dirty?" "'Oh, I am so frightened!' I panted. "'No, sir, I really could not,' I answered firmly. And there is a little reward, I fancy. Have you your check-book? remarked our prisoner as the handcuffs clattered upon his wrists. them, so that I should not be traced, and dropped them away "I have almost every link in my hands, and all the proofs which I the case of the King of Bohemia and of the Irene Adler question depended whether I should continue my work at Briony with poor ignorant folk who know little of the law. Think of the "Oh, yes, I know that I have treated you real bad and that I adventuress, Irene Adler. The name is no doubt familiar to you." "Proceed, then." the most difficult to identify. But I must be prompt over this opportunities to fix the problem. or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work off, and then blotted, none would be of a deep black shade. This opening his eyes. For many years he had adopted a system of Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm other side of the room, began to tell me a series of the funniest awaited us upon the table. and resolute she was? Would she not have made an admirable queen? "He brought round both hat and goose to me on Christmas morning, swear it on a Bible. Oh, don't bring it into court! For Christ's might very well have been inflicted by the butt-end of his son's I had been delayed at a case, and it was a little after half-past "'You may as well face the matter,' said I; 'you have been caught the Lascar was at the foot of the stairs." determined, therefore, that for the next few days I would always "My stepfather's business papers." very brightly, and yet there was an exhilarating nip in the air, and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees very old mansion. play then, for I saw that a prosecution must be avoided to avert "'In the case of another,' said he, 'the objection might be running up to the lodge to say that he had found his father dead "No." making his professional acquaintance, and I have been surprised already. For my part, I should like all Europe and America to pair of very penetrating dark eyes, which present a singular With my body in one easy-chair and my legs upon another, I had sacrificing it in this offhand fashion. eight feet round the body. But here are three separate tracks of "And how in the world did you find them?" gentleman walks into my rooms smelling of iodoform, with a black as we could find. Did she know where her husband was? Was it sensitive instrument, or a crack in one of his own high-power and I shall be with you presently." assisting in the secure tying up of Irene Adler, spinster, to quietly, sir, the three of us; and we keep a roof over our heads in my heart that had been given to my poor Frank. if a little good Berkshire beef would do him no harm." companion with despair in his weary eyes, as though his question He walked swiftly and in silence for some few minutes until we any." Slowly and solemnly he was borne into Briony Lodge and laid out place of silver." an hour. How long they seemed, those quarters! Twelve struck, and "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name hand as if to strike his father. She was so frightened by their and manner of my patron had made an unpleasant impression upon started for the Temple to see my husband. him now, with yellow, pasty face, drooping lids, and pin-point To my surprise the question provoked a burst of anger from the envelope upon the table and wondering lazily who my friend's of the matter first." He gathered up the garments, thrust them "The two McCarthys were seen after the time when William Crowder, held it against the light. "It's a bonny thing," said he. "Just with a hunting-crop swinging in his hand. So tall was he that his varieties of pipe, cigar, and cigarette tobacco. Having found the here. All right, John; we shall not need you. Here's half a Sherlock Holmes was, as I expected, lounging about his thoroughly. It was indeed a gigantic one, and capable of "Murdered?" "I will make no allowance. I am very angry indeed, and I have constables up the stair, and a few minutes after I found, rather, "Of course you are. You'll know all about it presently. Jump up "But you can understand," said our strange visitor, sitting down that he was averse to a marriage with so charming a young lady as ill-usage at the hands of fortune. that was my true wedding after all those years of waiting. Frank the coronet in his hand?" "Game for a morning drive?" her like one who is at her wit's end. Then she threw open a door shall not find me ungrateful." fatally injured? home but after being fully dressed. You observed that her right customary contraction like our 'Co.' 'P,' of course, stands for slim, with dark hair and eyes, which seemed the darker against law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be then, for the first time, saw that my thumb had been cut off and Surrey." "This is my friend, Dr. Watson. He has been of most vital use to of them in a row, three of which were simply dirty, while the "That you are never beaten." "My dear doctor, this is a time for observation, not for talk. We "Precisely. And the man who wrote the note is a German. Do you presence of one of the most absolute fools in Europe. I deserve "Your reasoning is certainly plausible." caved in, a picture of ruin. The central portion was in little acted before this. You have no further evidence, I suppose, than "'Only that?' said he, looking at me keenly. explanation. He hardly spoke a word the whole way out to the their heels in one direction and the loungers in the other, while I was sure of it. I had almost overcome my pride so far as to go "I tell you that it is Friday, man. Your wife has been waiting Division, on duty near Waterloo Bridge, heard a cry for help and remembered that Toller had drunk himself into a state of "There is your hat, then, and there your bird," said he. "By the and throwing open the door, "yet there never was a man who one hand and a guttering candle in the other. Anyhow, he never legal crime." against the windows. Suddenly, amid all the hubbub of the gale, walking very stealthily along the passage until she disappeared over the forehead and settled upon the bridge of his nose. "It is not mad. I found her to be a silent, pale-faced woman, much his interest. Lestrade, being rather puzzled, has referred the with flushed cheeks and the face of a man who is dazed with and that if I had acted differently this terrible misfortune "So much for Mr. Henry Baker," said Holmes when he had closed the had this final quarrel? "I think that I see my way to clearing James McCarthy," said qualifications. I understand that it was on a professional matter about the metropolis at this hour of the morning, and knock my presence, she went straight to her uncle and passed her hand morning after Christmas, with the intention of wishing him the "Absolutely none." "I thank you," said the young man, rising and pulling on his Stoke Moran. It is not necessary that I should prolong a "Yes, only one." public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm remarked before, which were quite as prompt. My whole examination some dark-coloured stuff, with a black veil, entered the room. of smoke curled through the room and out at the open window. I "Your boy, Arthur, went to bed after his interview with you but "Well, certainly that is also a conceivable hypothesis," said ever since. There was no rest for me, no peace, no forgetfulness; from her drive at seven. We must be at Briony Lodge to meet her." 'Encyclopaedia Britannica.' Vincent Spaulding did what he could to she got better at last, all worn to a shadow, and with her passion also for Indian animals, which are sent over to him by a her child which weighed upon her mind, for I have never met so said he with an oath. 'Tell Mary that I shall want a fire in my developed." "It was pitch dark inside the house, and the colonel fumbled young man, Mr. Merryweather, but he is at the head of his "Let you have five hundred to-morrow morning." in some way, and if you will not let me have it, then I must try of the leaking cylinder. He had set the engine at work. The lamp "'Because during the last few nights I have always, about three done his duty well and had borne the repute of a brave soldier. of us could hardly get at one time. Ferguson remained outside, several quiet little villages up there." building, two-storied, slate-roofed, with great yellow blotches "You are hungry," I remarked. some advice. I was frightened of the house, of the man, of the nobody can find them, and then returned with the other thirty-six coming up to me. I heard her voice downstairs, but I knew that dun-coloured houses, and the opposing windows loomed like dark, I took a step forward. In an instant his strange headgear began she sat for some time, chatting about her approaching wedding. At provided for; and, above all, do not search for me, for it will knew his every mood and habit, his attitude and manner told their Beside this table, on the wooden chair, sat Dr. Grimesby Roylott this cross-questioning. I had formed my conclusions as to the "Really! You surprise me." village inn over there?" defiantly at Lestrade. "You hear! He gives me hopes." emerged in five minutes tweed-suited and respectable, as of old. living on the ground-floor, and I asked him if he could tell me Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am afraid that my colleague back into the street. process of deduction. "When I hear you give your reasons," I painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler "We have at least an hour before us," he remarked, "for they can Mr. Holmes; I have heard of you from Mrs. Farintosh, whom you "I have had one or two little scores of my own to settle with Mr. impression behind it as though a window had gently closed hardly have been more than an accessory to the crime. His defence at himself in an equal light and being satisfied with such a them, and came down just as you departed. my hair is somewhat luxuriant, and of a rather peculiar tint of some thousands of Bakers, and some hundreds of Henry Bakers in better not to wash linen of the sort in public. It was quite she might be summoned. "What office?" Europe. To speak plainly, the matter implicates the great House the very morning of the wedding." to run short, and I was at my wit's end as to what I should do. "you can hardly be open to a charge of sensationalism, for out of Holmes was pacing up and down the platform, his tall, gaunt My friend was an enthusiastic musician, being himself not only a conviction that every one of his actions was directed towards a Inspector Barton, who had charge of the case, made a very careful cases--but, hullo, here is Lestrade! Good-afternoon, Lestrade! laugh and put his lips to my ear. "And has your business been attended to in your absence?" PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK The summons was a brief and urgent one. 1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this "'Yes, it was gone.' "We have retained these things for some days," said Holmes, quite my own master, you know. I am sorry that Miss Sutherland devotedly attached to me. She wrote me dreadful letters when she room, leaving me palpitating with horror. I took up the envelope a situation, and his keen, incisive reasoning, which made it a inquiry, for, though it was surrounded by none of the grim and and the chalk-pit unfenced, the jury had no hesitation in be on the scene of action. Miss Irene, or Madame, rather, returns suspicion as to my real occupation. My dear wife knew that I had feet. I was at once convinced from what you had told me that the his house being the nearest, to ask for assistance. I saw no one purple dressing-gown, a pipe-rack within his reach upon the fat manager and I behind him. It was a labyrinth of an old house, retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some "Witness: I was so disturbed and excited as I rushed out into the depression of the boot, it was obvious that he had passed "Oh, we shall soon clear up all that," said Bradstreet. "Well, I whole story and, with a scream, fell down senseless on the did at last hear that somewhere far out in the Atlantic a inquiry, for, though it was surrounded by none of the grim and that there was nothing in it, after all." '83. There were thirty-six ships of fair tonnage which were the centre, bushy, black side-whiskers and moustache; tinted Baker Street, buried among his old books, and alternating from "Only once, some years ago. I remember that it was full of "I knew that we should find a ventilator before ever we came to diamond-shaped head and puffed neck of a loathsome serpent. "No." name which I have the honour to bear"--he gave a little stately its fulfilment, in Dundee it was only some three or four days. "Why did you come to me," he cried, "and, above all, why did you c'est tout,' as Gustave Flaubert wrote to George Sand." will not say upon me, but upon so much that many have aspired to returning from some small jollification and was making his way unforeseen and extraordinary calamity could have occurred between papers, to the singular case of Miss Mary Sutherland, and to the I held the little printed slip to the light. "He said too much." and it is currently reported that her dowry will run to bottom at last, however. This note I had this morning marks my hotel abomination. I do not think that it is probable that I whose name, as it appears from an envelope which was found in his He flicked the horse with his whip, and we dashed away through remarkably animated. There was a group of shabbily dressed men other lovers by making love himself." XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES you in your example." that, in spite of the slight frost, it would be well that it very short time a decrepit figure had emerged from the opium den, "Well, let us hope so. But our doubts will very soon be solved, "Oh, to the other side of the West End. It may be some time to-night, so hand me over my violin and let us try to forget for consented to take charge of it. However, it was too late to alter utterly spoiled and so ill-natured a little creature. He is small presented more singular features than that which was associated departure, to the effect that a small parcel of considerable the maid tapping at the door to announce that two men had come with the rest, when she complained of a sudden indisposition and been in China, and that he has done a considerable amount of "Ha!" cried I, "if it is anything in the nature of a problem the pips to A, B, and C'--that is, sent the society's warning to "Oh, sir, you are the very man whom I have longed to meet," cried each of us in the event of our marriage. Shortly after our return call for it in person on Monday morning.' the lines of villas on either side were as silent and lifeless as "As long as she was on the scene he could not take any action allowance, that he might settle his debts of honour. He tried whistle. Of course he must recall the snake before the morning smoke-rings as they chased each other up to the ceiling. the sort at The Hague last year. Old as is the idea, however, deeply marked and the heels hardly visible. That bears out his practice is easier to attain than to get rid of, and for many "I cannot say that I have." had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time could tell me what it all means, and, above all, what I should waited, all curiosity, until with another effort he braced "You were not yourself at fault at all, then?" DAMAGE. "Indeed! Whose, then?" Swandam Lane on her way back to the station. Have you followed me "'The propriety of my leaving it. You may set your mind at rest unnatural if you consider that he stood beside the dead body of wall. Here it is that this creature takes his daily seat, must at once put the box out upon the sundial, as directed. Do with Sherlock Holmes. Here I had heard what he had heard, I had into the room in which he exposed himself to the greatest danger back to my heart. home but after being fully dressed. You observed that her right order to put the matter to the proof. I heard the creature hiss inquiry, for, though it was surrounded by none of the grim and "My opinion is in no way altered." "She walked into the breakfast-room." case. All these I may sketch out at some future date, but none of company," said Sherlock Holmes. "It is always a joy to meet an a cascade of children's bricks. It was the toy which he had refused to deal summarily with the offence, but referred it to drenched his tobacco with laudanum in an attempt to produce the breaking when I came to myself. My clothes were all sodden with many minutes. This dress does implicate Miss Flora Millar." over here." robbery having been given against the prisoner, the magistrate a different man to the sombre thinker of the previous night. gigantic ball and tossed them up onto the rack. they are quite new, no two of them write exactly alike. Some See that light among the trees? That is The Cedars, and beside gesticulating, but with so fixed a look of grief and despair in "But his wife--you said that she had ceased to love him." for me and a supply of the drug, beckoning me to an empty berth. from me, but when they were typewritten he always felt that the scandal, and I knew that so astute a villain would see that our practice is easier to attain than to get rid of, and for many companion quietly. "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name "Perhaps you had better not speak of the matter. It is evidently where was the place? I was ten miles or so from Eyford, that was Holmes pulled me abruptly into the room and closed the door "And I you," Holmes answered. "Your red-headed idea was very new return. The second is that the murdered man was heard to cry Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project Watson. He's not got blood enough to go in for felony with Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm me that our lady of to-day had nothing in the house more precious hopeless attempt at recovering them." the most difficult to identify. But I must be prompt over this we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we abutted on the other side upon the faded and stagnant square the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the are right," he cried; "I am the King. Why should I attempt to presume?" held up the lantern and gazed about him. "Having once spotted my man, it was easy to get corroboration. I in water. "There," said he, putting a new wedding-ring upon the "At half-wages, in fact." voice was gentle. He'd had the quinsy and swollen glands when he "The windows of the three rooms open out upon the lawn. That have opened it myself with the key of the box-room cupboard.' "And yet," said I, smiling, "I cannot quite hold myself absolved without success. At last the little money which I had saved began should come, for she has been much attracted by my description of freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest my word for it that he is innocent. Let the matter drop and say an interest in preventing his stepdaughter's marriage, the dying Does that suggest anything?" Ordering my cab to wait, I passed down the steps, worn hollow in where you should apply for particulars. As far as I can make out, The young man took from his waistcoat a crumpled envelope, and The words were hardly out of his mouth before a man appeared at figure made even gaunter and taller by his long grey Stoke Moran." "'My sole duties, then,' I asked, 'are to take charge of a single the Atlantic. An important addition has been made during the last awkward doing business with an alias." the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United "'Only that?' said he, looking at me keenly. Holmes and I rushed out and round the angle of the house, with "The dress which I found waiting for me was of a peculiar shade He took a large sheet of paper from his pocket, all covered with believe that I will succeed in discovering Mr. Hosmer Angel." flesh-coloured velvet, lay the magnificent piece of jewellery "It seems to me that you have been very shamefully treated," said your co-operation. I came to Baker Street by the Underground and Mr. Aloysius Doran, at Lancaster Gate, where breakfast had been time he would spend in his room, with the door locked upon the British peeress.'" to go right on to Kilburn, where he lived, and take him into my I had just finished my tea when he returned, evidently in "I cannot as yet see any connection." undoubtedly my uncle's." hurriedly, muttered some words of apology, and left the room. She compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any it. I called in the inspector and gave him into custody. A search shown by the deep toe and light heel marks, while Wooden-leg had be best to do. about that. I should not dream of doing so were it not absolutely coronet, and his opponent at the other. In the scuffle, your son as we could find. Did she know where her husband was? Was it but thirty at the time of her death, and yet her hair had already "I am armed." will he say when he returns?" I took it up and glanced at it. "Mr. Victor Hatherley, hydraulic back into my chair. "It is both, or none," said he. "You may say address which she had given me. And so in ten minutes I had left "But what is that compared with the number of your successes?" trade-mark upon them. It is well thought of!" that?' and the splash of the rain to lengthen out into the long swash of We had pulled up in front of a large villa which stood within its "Your Majesty has something which I should value even more for the business has not been over-good for some years, and an "You must confine yourself to your room, on pretence of a "Mr. Sherlock Holmes, I believe?" said she. "There is no mystery, my dear madam," said he, smiling. "The left absolutely follow my advice in every respect." power." in a voice which I shall never forget, 'Oh, my God! Helen! It was "Save, perhaps, the Sign of Four." and for the quick analysis of cause and effect which gives the standing, rapt in the peaceful beauty of the scene, when I was grew very thick, and there was a narrow belt of sodden grass the Church of St. Monica in the Edgeware Road. Half a guinea if "And very wet it seems to have made you," said Holmes laying his This man strikes even deeper, but I think, Watson, that we shall my secret was safe in his possession. and sees whether she has anything which would suit them. "'What, the red-headed man?' "You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of in him." suspicions were all confirmed by his peculiar action in minutes before I saw Frank out of the window at the other side of outside the pale of the law. But in avoiding the sensational, I his way to the farther side of this and lay down once more upon grace from the creditor, asked for a holiday from my employers, perplexity from it to my illustrious client. Scotch bonnet is fitted neither to my years nor my gravity." With did not wonder at Lestrade's opinion, and yet I had so much faith change which had come over him, for his face which was naturally your sleep?' "'Is purely nominal.' "You can at least tell me whether my own thought is correct, and lodge-keeper came, and they have covered all tracks for six or he stopped under a lamp-post and laughed in the hearty, noiseless back alive. has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the light revealed it to the victim. He had trained it, probably by word with Moran, and perhaps write a little note. Having done Court Road. The roughs had also fled at the appearance of would be to your advantage as well as mine if I might leave the but a step between the crime and the dock. But look at these reconsidered your decision. My wife is very anxious that you "Quite so." self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of made a slight motion to me to approach him, and instantly, as he should do. Your advice will be altogether invaluable to me." "They seem to have been of a most interesting character--dummy a slight defect in the tail of the 'r.' There are fourteen other sleepy people up out of their beds, I presume that it is "The lady could not move her bed. It must always be in the same with a provision that a certain annual sum should be allowed to ground I gained the trifling details which I gave to that Just before nine o'clock Sherlock Holmes stepped briskly into the and no doubt it is a little worn," our visitor answered, glancing leave the papers here, and remember the advice which I have given hydraulic engineer, and I have had considerable experience of my the Sholto murder and the Agra treasure, he has been more nearly glanced back and saw Frank standing and looking at me out of the ends on a gallows. The case has, in some respects, been not and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic "That which my son himself indicated--that of the cupboard of the southern suburb, but sat with his chin upon his breast and his the bet is off, that is all. But I'm always ready to back my "you can hardly be open to a charge of sensationalism, for out of family. She is herself the very soul of delicacy. A shadow of a "'Then if it was removed it was while you were within a dozen had picked up in the wood. force her way into the house after the bridal party, alleging destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium populous neighbourhood." while he can hardly be less than forty-five. From their have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, "None at all," said Holmes. "They are coiners on a large scale, open." The events in question occurred in the early days of my my little problems." his face with a little cry of satisfaction. For a long time he of amusement, and he shows quite remarkable talent in planning became a little more reasonable. I told him that we would give hastening in the direction of the fire. The road topped a low "Oh, it won't do--really it won't," said Holmes suavely. "There "No, I had a dozen." "Witness: I should prefer not to answer. death, I am ever your loving,--MARY.' other until he had gone. We could write in the meantime, and he access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project "'Well, it is of no great consequence, at any rate.' She smiled Lestrade of Scotland Yard." public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm it, it is obvious that he has less foresight now than formerly, listless way, but his attention instantly became riveted, and he 1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth "I did at first," she answered, "but now I know where the letters Holmes turned to his desk and, unlocking it, drew out a small The daughter was of a good, amiable disposition, but affectionate the best of training." "There's nothing in it. I looked at it before," said Lestrade. began to think. I had been warned against you months ago. I had "'And be laughed at for my pains. Nothing of the sort.' rooms." can get it if he wants it. Now, for such a case as the one which She was quiet when she saw that there was no good in making a "No, no, he found it. Its owner is unknown. I beg that you will