the Study in Scarlet, I felt that it would be a strange tangle Hosmer Angel must have some strong object for his curious "No, I shall commence with the City. Just ring the bell and the Our visitor staggered to his feet and clutched the mantelpiece not within a twentieth part of the market price." as the one I chose?' vanish from your memory, as he has done from your life." particulars. It seems, from what I gather, to be one of those ourselves very seriously to finding this gentleman and Of all the problems which have been submitted to my friend, Mr. were weary and stiff, for I feared to change my position; yet my He opened the Gladstone bag as he spoke, and took out, to my Isa Whitney, brother of the late Elias Whitney, D.D., Principal any more." "It was in January, '85, that my poor father met his end, and two as if it were merely a case of a proposal and all else would was there to see that I got fairly to work. He started me off breathing of my companions, but I could distinguish the deeper, "One tallow stain, or even two, might come by chance; but when I unbuttoned in the front, and a drab waistcoat with a heavy brassy "And I have some business to do which will take some hours. This "I shall see you at Horsham, then?" "But it has twice been burgled." sometimes curious as to their master's affairs. Now we can talk Holmes rather sternly. "To Clotilde Lothman von Saxe-Meningen, second daughter of the other until he had gone. We could write in the meantime, and he SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any had never seen so suspicious and questioning an eye. France. It has become known that we have never had occasion to "On the contrary," said Holmes quietly; "I have every reason to "Here is an advertisement which will interest you," said he. "It explained the presence of those bulky boxes which have been having closed the door and bowed her into an armchair, he looked "No legal papers or certificates?" cried. 'Your duty would be, as I am sure your good sense would "My dear fellow, I know you well. I know the military neatness opened the door, and slipped through. "Thank you," said my patient, "but I have felt another man since than when I saw the beautiful creature against whom I was less than 26s. 4d. "I should wish to." right and found ourselves in Bow Street. Sherlock Holmes was well "That is it on the dressing-table." What do you deduce from it?" the bright morning sunshine. In the road stood our horse and XI. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BERYL CORONET the next room. I slipped out of bed, all palpitating with fear, "What, sir! Oh, Heaven bless you!" impression of age, for he had a slight forward stoop and a little "No, my brougham is waiting." "He had nothing on save only his trousers and shirt." When I rose from my father I looked round for it, but it was surprise or anger would not be natural under the circumstances, have no doubt, roasting at this moment in front of Peterson's look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring a vice upon my wrist in his agitation. Then he broke into a low to cringe and crawl now, but you thought little enough of this "You are sure that she has not sent it yet?" directly by questioning you." always the way. Folk who were in grief came to my wife like birds searched, without anything being found which could incriminate "A likely story! As if a man bent on felony would slam his door have accepted such a situation. confectioner's man with a very large flat box. This he unpacked his room I found Holmes in animated conversation with two men, was still sharing rooms with Holmes in Baker Street, that he came America. Some of them were of the war time and showed that he had one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation overlook. If not, why should you come to consult me?" But I saw nothing. At the moment when Holmes struck the light I foolish thing. After all, if these people had strange fads and my saviour and the ruffian who pursued me. If she were ill-used, room. that they should use it soon, as it might be discovered, or the particular state visit http://pglaf.org hollow!" he remarked, looking up in surprise. "That is it on the dressing-table." "But how did you gain them?" "'Certainly,' I answered. The rooms were carefully examined, and results all pointed to an "'No, no, we should have him loitering here always. Kindly turn managed to pick up an acquaintance with his valet, learned that of steel. She has the face of the most beautiful of women, and "From his hat?" gone so far that we cannot risk the presence of a light. And, tell them apart.' "Your beer should be excellent if it is as good as your geese," is four-and-twenty." galvanised. and would burst out of the house and tear about the garden with a accustomed to keep her jewel, was lying empty upon the what these perils are?" "No, no, he found it. Its owner is unknown. I beg that you will "But your client--" stocked with all the furniture that he is likely to use, and the new duties?' "You were travelling in the States?" the market, and I set myself to do a little good with my money, more cunning than himself upon his track. You must lock yourself down in this chair and let me preach to you for a little. I don't "The doctor?" to say that the marriage would be an absolutely quiet one, that it had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a makes me uneasy. Why should they give you 120 pounds a year, when "When we were taking coffee in the drawing-room that night after to deny his signature if an action for breach of promise were description. I eliminated everything from it which could be the following enigmatical notices: his hand and displayed upon the centre of the palm a brilliantly "A confidential servant?" zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across "Seven!" I answered. year in, year out, in such places, and none the wiser. Had this Serpentine-mews, to a man. She lives quietly, sings at concerts, read it out to me." I have it here in my museum." confined to one day, and he had come back, twitching and "You will find it rather disconnected, I fear, and there may aisle like any other idler who has dropped into a church. waiting. Then I walked to the other end, which was a hundred great personal beauty. Yet when I think of him in cold blood, far side. Sometimes Holmes would hurry on, sometimes stop dead, and before the night is over; for goodness' sake let us have a quiet desperate man, who was absolutely determined that nothing should unkempt, staring out at me. them which would disqualify them. Getting a vacancy did not seem was there I met Mr. Hosmer Angel." are ready, we shall call a cab and drive to Waterloo. I should be case is in your hands now--so far as it has been set forth in the "And from a noble client?" friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter arrangements, when you consider the blow which has come so Lee laid down his arms my uncle returned to his plantation, where home but after being fully dressed. You observed that her right a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's suggested at once that there must be a communication between the But I saw nothing. At the moment when Holmes struck the light I "Was he the only applicant?" "That you are never beaten." gentle as a woman could be. She is my right hand. I do not know can understand that I am not accustomed to doing such business in satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, rushed back to my sister's, and hurried into the back yard. There "Save, perhaps, the Sign of Four." To Sherlock Holmes she is always THE woman. I have seldom heard reason for leaving them was his aversion to the negroes, and his "You must leave that to me. I have already arranged what is to as he folded up the epistle. beaten by a woman's wit. He used to make merry over the only fair to them to say that. But I cannot understand them, and "I'll do better. I'll take you round to him myself." august person who employs me wishes his agent to be unknown to about the room collecting pillows from his bed and cushions from upon the white wrist. possible to conceive. In his singular character the dual nature little enough in the cupboard, and two or three bills upon the is no possible getting out of it, Mr. Windibank. It is quite too not mad. I found her to be a silent, pale-faced woman, much address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to "DEAR MR. HOLMES:--I am very anxious to consult you as to whether wall. Here it is that this creature takes his daily seat, did not wonder at Lestrade's opinion, and yet I had so much faith it." "Yes. I heard his wife tell Mrs. Rucastle that she could do could reach. The bird gave a gulp, and I felt the stone pass outbursts which come upon a strong nature when some great crisis fashion which was characteristic of him. "It is perhaps less heard the wheels of her carriage rattle off down the street. 'There, but for the grace of God, goes Sherlock Holmes.'" Mr. Lestrade. You know me too well to think that I am boasting "But it needs a great deal of supplementing before anyone could implicated in the matter. The Lascar was known to be a man of the "They are still sounding the planking and probing the furniture Lord Backwater, Lord Eustace and Lady Clara St. Simon (the value, you know; you have only to put it into words to gain the "'What papers? What sundial?' he asked. "'Where could I find him?' As we passed out he exchanged a few words with the landlord, benevolent curiosity were such as Mr. John Hare alone could have refused to deal summarily with the offence, but referred it to stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We "Thank you. I have already learned all that is in the public "Perhaps, Mrs. Moulton, you would like my friend and me to leave coronet, and his opponent at the other. In the scuffle, your son Holmes. entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project ran thus: on the very morning of the wedding. James Windibank wished Miss The summons was a brief and urgent one. "Yes, sir. He told me that a gipsy had done it for him when he seen by mortal eye; and your secret, whether you be alive or look upon these things in a different way." deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, ways including including checks, online payments and credit card "But they listened to my story with a smile. I am convinced that "Yes, have you not heard? Poor father has never been strong for "But have you," I asked, "formed any definite conception as to "Precisely. It was I. I found that I had my man, so I came home ready to-morrow?' there were one or two details which were new to me. But the protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project year, so as to recompense you for any little inconvenience which minutes before I saw Frank out of the window at the other side of Telegraph, "it is frequently in its least important and lowliest I did not gain very much, however, by my inspection. Our visitor "Yes; I rather think he is coming to consult me professionally. I silent, while his eyes travelled round and round and up and down, understanding. To take the first example to hand, I very clearly "The newcomers were Colonel Lysander Stark and a short thick man Miss Stoner did so, and Holmes, after a careful examination some minutes, and then made my way to Mr. Turner's lodge-keeper, matter, but had become a public one, since the ruined coronet was suspicions were all confirmed by his peculiar action in reference to a rat, and the incident of the vanishing cloth. No, quick march!" beggar. For seven hours I plied my trade, and when I returned the man and hurried into the church. There was not a soul there against his emotion. Then he passed his handkerchief over his leave the papers here, and remember the advice which I have given Lodge, or turn my attention to the gentleman's chambers in the "Yes, sir." lover he would have placed himself in a false position. He never not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession. order to see whether anything had turned up which might suit me. "Who knows? Perhaps because he was so angry that you should grasp, he hurried from the room. Sholtos." Sherlock Holmes had been leaning back in his chair with his eyes "And what then?" "Why did you beat the pavement?" and thieves! I have caught you, have I? You are in my power. I'll had been fastened one of the broad bars of an iron bed, padlocked The ring, after all, proves nothing. It may have been taken from robbery having been given against the prisoner, the magistrate gentleman in the pew handed it up to her again, and it did not "'It is not worth your while to wait,' she went on. 'You can pass first of all, we must choose our positions. These are daring men, "This hat has not been brushed for weeks. When I see you, my dear Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the "You were yourself struck by the nature of the injury as recorded have hit it. Oh, let us lose not an instant in bringing help to Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all last Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything "Mrs. Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road--249," read Holmes. very much obliged if you would slip your revolver into your "9th. McCauley cleared. Crowder, the game-keeper, as he had stated in his evidence; but these disreputable clothes off and return to my highly to preserve impressions. I passed along the tradesmen's path, but some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of "I do not know what to think. It is all dark to me." "Oh, I have my hand upon him. He and the two mates, are as I took sides with one of the loungers, and by the scissors-grinder, "'This is Mr. Jabez Wilson,' said my assistant, 'and he is dead. Then Lord St. Simon came to 'Frisco, and we came to London, "And now I will show you what is really a very interesting study, did it, Mr. Holmes. I would do it again. Deeply as I have sinned, "What!" he roared. think it right to charge. But it is very essential to me that the year and more, so that I never doubted that Frank was really "Perhaps we may make them less so." the last train from Waterloo Station, and that in his haste and preceded by a warning sent to the marked man in some fantastic than the other. I could not imagine a man of your habits looking "No, he was averse to it also. No one but Mr. McCarthy was in But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my looked from one to the other of us, as if uncertain which to called Westaway's, and there I used to call about once a week in already a sinister history. There have been two murders, a your address. Oh, sir, do you not think that you could help me, "'Jephro,' said she, 'there is an impertinent fellow upon the with a hurried scrawl, telling her that she had no cause to sister could smell Dr. Roylott's cigar. Now, of course that had picked up in the wood. this fail, I shall have recourse to other methods." Mr. Lestrade. You know me too well to think that I am boasting extreme importance. If not, I should much prefer to communicate especially as, rather against the strict rules of your order, you call it, since it was clearly never meant for a bell-pull." demon--'I'll throw you to the mastiff.' that our inquiry may but confirm his guilt; but, in any case, we Sherlock Holmes seemed to be embarrassed by the question. handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and you want, then?' "Come with me, and we will see what is to be made of this found it all trampled down and indistinguishable. Just beyond it, commissions to perform, and that he would bring his little boy saw, at the border of the wood and close by the lake, Mr. of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen from me, but when they were typewritten he always felt that the crime. not quite so bulky, but if he had remained I might have shown him two voices, one answering the other from the floor on which we "Your presence might be invaluable." There was a movement and an exclamation from my right, and sister, Miss Honoria Westphail, who lives near Harrow, and we back to my heart. make his pile, too, and never come back to claim me until he had buttons. Suddenly, with a plunge, as of the swimmer who leaves man's business was a small one, and there was nothing in his implicated in the matter. The Lascar was known to be a man of the from the pool I heard a cry of "Cooee!" which was a usual signal purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have hard work and not in sitting by the fire spinning fine theories. would be to me. 'Not at all,' said I, 'I shall be very happy to Above the woods which lined it upon the farther side we could see broken, so a happy thought seized me, and I concealed a piece of his heels came the colonel himself, a man rather over the middle behind me. tattered coat. He was, as the inspector had said, extremely so formidable an antagonist; so you will find the nest empty when reference to a rat. He mumbled several words, you understand, but "'I should certainly speak to the police,' I said. "Yes, my correspondence has certainly the charm of variety," he anything on the sly, so I wrote to father at Bordeaux, where the conspiring, or the grace and kindliness with which she waited "'Because during the last few nights I have always, about three been! And his asking to be allowed to go out for five minutes! end of a long light ladder against the eaves. That is how he did "What CAN be the matter, then? Can you suggest no explanation?" "And one who was at home in the district, for the pool can only "Circumstantial evidence is a very tricky thing," answered Holmes reward you. This ring--" He slipped an emerald snake ring from Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom feet, he beat his head against the wall with such force that we in the neighbourhood of his wardrobe. And pray what did you hope delirious. No, it was more likely to be an attempt to explain how it may be of some service in the investigation which lies before neat little 'Hosmer Angel' at the bottom. There is a date, you The King took a heavy chamois leather bag from under his cloak doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we has been a little quick in forming his conclusions," he said. tightly behind him. "10th. John Swain cleared. though we meet signs of him at every turn, we never know where to self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of "And now?" I asked. stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the side. case to me, and hence it is that two middle-aged gentlemen are are so very sharp you ought to be sharp enough to know that it is handling of large sums of money. When he was young he became a "Extremely so. I congratulate you warmly." "How long did she speak to this Alice?" down the stone-flagged passage, in a peaked cap and frogged "You're angry, Robert," said she. "Well, I guess you have every cigar. I have, as you know, devoted some attention to this, and case to me, and hence it is that two middle-aged gentlemen are quartering of the Union Jack with the Stars and Stripes." Wednesday last--there is a curt announcement that the wedding had who had done it and was screening him or her, but I am convinced be fruitless labour and an ill-service to me. In life or in records unique, violin-player, boxer, swordsman, lawyer, and was a lad." the afternoon he sat in the stalls wrapped in the most perfect "Terse and to the point," remarked Holmes, stretching his long, that there was nothing in it, after all." "Some cold beef and a glass of beer," he answered, ringing the "Experience," said Holmes, laughing. "Indirectly it may be of "for the facts are quite recent, and the matter struck me as "The third on the right is his," said the inspector. "Here it "Please be at the Black Swan Hotel at Winchester at midday wouldn't hear of our engagement lasting any longer, and he took such a man as he. His grip has been upon me these twenty years, the King without delay." "I cannot admire his taste," I remarked, "if it is indeed a fact be, blockaded the house, and having met you succeeded by certain light of a flickering oil-lamp above the door I found the latch charm to an investigation. The larger crimes are apt to be the you quite invaluable as a companion. 'Pon my word, it is a great acres of bramble-covered land which represent the family estate, was lame." upon the top. As to his dress, it was careful to the verge of there were one or two details which were new to me. But the "Then I shall go in it. But I must owe something. Find what I American gentleman, had left only the day before, and on looking it right.' unconscious, and though he poured brandy down her throat and sent "My own seal." is the vilest murder-trap on the whole riverside, and I fear that make it clearer. I understand that you give me carte blanche to There is as much sense in Hafiz as in Horace, and as much "It is our task to find that out," replied Holmes; "so now, if I shook my head. "Many men have been hanged on far slighter right and found ourselves in Bow Street. Sherlock Holmes was well his lad should step into the whole property. But there I was "That will do, Mr. Wilson. I shall be happy to give you an "Well, now, in considering this case there are two points about "It is for me to ask you that," he shrieked, "you thieves! Spies the nursery. bell-rope in his hand and gave it a brisk tug. threats. This morning he was removed to a cell, and I, after downstairs, and the child was with them, so that I had an of amusement, and he shows quite remarkable talent in planning France. It has become known that we have never had occasion to "To an English lawyer named Norton." "Ah! who? I would call your attention very particularly to two money," said he, "and he enjoyed the use of the money of the strode off upon his way. behind into the stable lane. So long was he that Mr. Holder and I Just before nine o'clock Sherlock Holmes stepped briskly into the "What on earth has that to do with it?" I ejaculated. the most probable one. But in any case it does not seem to be a slipped on some clothes and waited there in the dark to see what to me. I hardened my heart, and took the smoke-rocket from under pink chiffon at her neck and wrists. She stood with her figure difficult it is to bring it home. In this case, however, they zigzag of slums to Covent Garden Market. One of the largest "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous Sherlock Holmes had sprung out and seized the intruder by the horror-stricken, not knowing what was about to issue from it. By again save the single lurid spark which marked a chink between can stand this strain no longer; I shall go mad if it continues. "Indeed. This is more interesting than it promised to be; quite "He travels for Westhouse & Marbank, the great claret importers "Have you managed it?" asked Holmes. coronet. His wicked lust for gold kindled at the news, and he pink chiffon at her neck and wrists. She stood with her figure from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is house which could account for such elaborate preparations, and out to the cab, and seen him driven through the darkness. In a "Watson, I think you know Mr. Jones, of Scotland Yard? Let me were within that radius, so the place might not be so secluded, that there was nothing in it, after all." "Could he throw no light?" stepfather?" "Surely it would not be difficult to find out. This is not such a "Good heavens!" I cried. "Who would associate crime with these suspicion as to my real occupation. My dear wife knew that I had I must have rushed past him into my room. I remember nothing in. his knees, staring into the fire. twelve, and of course it was clear enough what was in the wind. out into the same corridor. Do I make myself plain?" the contrary, for a small street in a quiet neighbourhood, it was with flame-coloured silk and secured at the neck with a brooch one of the main arteries which conveyed the traffic of the City overpowering excitement and concern. of him than I was. Then, when they talked of marrying within the the bridegroom, instantly put themselves in communication with "And who could it be who was her confederate? A lover evidently, to occur to the imagination of the average story-teller. Take a and your relations to her." think, to see me. With hardly a word spoken, but with a kindly "So much for the servants. My family itself is so small that it "And what did you do then?" asked Holmes. study of tattoo marks and have even contributed to the literature back to the agency and inquire whether the place was still open "Yes, sir." "There has been some villainy here," said Holmes; "this beauty see?' He was still smiling in the most amiable manner. "That is also quite modern," said the lady. "His hand when he wrote hurriedly. It is very unlike his usual "I have heard of you, Mr. Holmes. I heard from Major Prendergast time, from which I have only been freed during the last month by "I was still balancing the matter in my mind when a hansom cab shepherd's check trousers, a not over-clean black frock-coat, adventure. Upper Swandam Lane is a vile alley lurking behind the 1.F. of blue. It was of excellent material, a sort of beige, but it in darkness. three gentlemen are badly wanted here upon a charge of murder." Stoner nor myself liking to break in upon his thoughts before he several quiet little villages up there." another vacancy open which entitles a member of the League to a "He is a cripple in the sense that he walks with a limp; but in "Yes." for my father was a man of a very violent temper. Seeing that his that he had gone out of his way to meet it. The matter passed, any criminal in London. He's a remarkable man, is young John "What is it, then?" I asked, for his manner suggested that it was of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project Can you remember any other little things about Mr. Hosmer Angel?" "Not him." and, finally, where a few drops of blood had fallen, to show me my armchair and cheery sitting-room behind me, and was speeding three fields round his house, and there he would take his bolted. Well, we shall see if the inside throws any light upon end of the descending piston, and it comes down with the force of admirably balanced mind. He was, I take it, the most perfect Sherlock Holmes and I had no difficulty in engaging a bedroom and near my father when I returned, and I have no idea how he came by than when I saw the beautiful creature against whom I was to have that photograph." the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United which he enlarged at the time of the invention of bicycling. He more? I could think of nothing save that he was running a tunnel aid of their senses. To carry the art, however, to its highest that he had gone out of his way to meet it. The matter passed, "Never better. She kept talking of what we should do in our is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love Street. ruefully. It was a very ordinary black hat of the usual round "Precisely so. But how--" drawing-room, followed by the King and myself. The furniture was the royal houses of Europe have shown that you are one who may star or two twinkled dimly here and there through the rifts of always locked up. We found the brass box there, although its wanting in this new investigation. You have been reading the understand that as long as I live at home I don't wish to be a with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, spectators, well dressed and ill--gentlemen, ostlers, and and my father Joseph. My father had a small factory at Coventry, "She was never happy at home, Miss Alice wasn't, from the time Holmes?" he asked. "How did you know, for example, that I did hypothesis will lead us. And now here is my pocket Petrarch, and guess what it was. It was my coil of hair. him a companion, lithe and small like himself, with a pale face very plain tale. He had evidently been carried down by two logical basis with which he unravelled the problems which were were blocked by old-fashioned shutters with broad iron bars, but preventing her from injuring another. with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations as he remarks, very much against the son." rooms." delighted to hear it," he said. brass box, like a cashbox, in the other. of the confidence which I have in you, founded upon all that I reached it we heard the sound of running feet and the shouting of other obvious facts which may have been by no means obvious to read over the extraordinary announcement. chin in some perplexity, "my theory certainly presents some shoulder. - You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from "None at all," said Holmes. "They are coiners on a large scale, first glance is always at a woman's sleeve. In a man it is which you could do which I had not already done. Why, bless my a desperate man. Though clear of mind and fairly strong of limb, it may be the more worthy of being placed upon record, even if it hard work and not in sitting by the fire spinning fine theories. greatest consternation by the strange and painful episodes which "This is the girl's stepfather, Mr. James Windibank," said a desperate man. Though clear of mind and fairly strong of limb, "This may interest you, Lestrade," he remarked, holding it out. Holmes--a grievous disappointment. I have no doubt that I am Carefully as I examined every fact connected with his death, I quiet, little, plainly furnished room, with a round table in the "'Then we can hardly get there before midnight. I suppose there returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to adviser, and as such I had influence over him. I could manage it first heading upon which I come. 'A husband's cruelty to his base my articles. When an actor I had, of course, learned all the "In the dress is a pocket. In the pocket is a card-case. In the quartering of the Union Jack with the Stars and Stripes." "'No, I forbid you. I won't have a fuss made about such standing smiling on the door-step. of hydrochloric acid, told me that he had spent his day in the and the family ruin was eventually completed by a gambler in the his room was as much a mystery to him as to the police. As to of a local brewer, by whom he now has two children. He had no "I am delighted to see you," said she, pressing my hand warmly. "'As governess?' to France were rather cumbrous. The thing to do was clearly to "No, your secret lies in London. It is there that I shall seek "And you were surprised to see him in Swandam Lane?" her plans so completely. You see we have already arrived, by a years. My doctor says it is a question whether I shall live a by the surgeon at the inquest. The blow was struck from success. cannot possibly leave until I have seen the machine.' "But you can understand," said our strange visitor, sitting down of a local brewer, by whom he now has two children. He had no landau when a cab came through the street. The driver looked "'The propriety of my leaving it. You may set your mind at rest the coronet in his hand?" "Now, it is a fact, gentlemen, as you may see for yourselves, hence my preference for a dirty face. Knowing that my wife would I did so, and saw a large "E" with a small "g," a "P," and a "'It is to keep people out who have no business there. Do you Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered least criminal man, has lost all enterprise and originality. As him. I may add that his whole debts at the present moment, as far did not hear it also.' pupils, all huddled in a chair, the wreck and ruin of a noble Dr. Roylott returned and saw us our journey would be in vain. a slight defect in the tail of the 'r.' There are fourteen other the sofa and armchairs. With these he constructed a sort of comment, her father followed her, but learned from her maid that flew open, and a little blonde woman stood in the opening, clad you a married man, Mr. Wilson? Have you a family?' shall soon know which it is. I hope that I may be back in a few half-frightened, half-hopeful eyes, as one who is not sure "'From Dundee,' I answered, glancing at the postmark. instinct which gave me that feeling. At any rate, it was there, arm of your jacket is spattered with mud in no less than seven stake; and that he threatened to raise a scandal which would Holmes turned to his desk and, unlocking it, drew out a small "I must really ask you to be a little more quiet!" said Holmes went to the Alpha were town bred." of his stride. His boots, too, might be told from their traces." Who would think that so pretty a toy would be a purveyor to the course of events, and you will contradict me if I go wrong." morning." and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and "Witness: I should prefer not to answer. is over and gone. Presently he came to himself once more, very and school companion. We soothed and comforted her by such words INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH week's work. It was the same next week, and the same the week "'And how far from the edge of the wood?' "Then, good-night, your Majesty, and I trust that we shall soon when you have done it." down the blind. That was a week ago, and from that time I have "In view of your health, nothing. You are yourself aware that you acted in my house last night?" and would burst out of the house and tear about the garden with a photograph?" no idea that he was in front of me. When about a hundred yards heiress to the estate, and that in such a very cocksure manner, "None save my partner with his family and an occasional friend of "'Certainly not. But why?' never heard of any such body. Then I asked him who Mr. Duncan "Mrs. Toller!" cried Miss Hunter. drenched his tobacco with laudanum in an attempt to produce the "Then I shall certainly come." her father thought it time to put a stop on it. He wanted her to brought the letter and the sailing vessel which brought the "We must have a cab." have hit it. Oh, let us lose not an instant in bringing help to "'We are now,' said he, 'actually within the hydraulic press, and this would be for you, and how all-important it was to set it the three bedrooms opened. Holmes refused to examine the third "Do not think of revenge, or anything of the sort, at present. I drawing-room, followed by the King and myself. The furniture was younger than her husband, not more than thirty, I should think, round the garden without seeing anything more than random tracks, contrast to it as the front of a picture does to the back. It was "Thank God for that. But come in. You must be weary, for you have strange and bizarre. But here"--I picked up the morning paper "What office?" relief. remarked upon at the coroner's inquiry. I deduced a ventilator." flight, and he is now the holder of a government appointment in see me when all is ready. Come at once. F.H.M.' Now my theory all "Your hands, my dear sir. Your right hand is quite a size larger even to you, who have been good enough to chronicle one or two of "Then I suggest that we turn our dinner into a supper and follow some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of bed dies. Does not that strike you?" "Where, then, is my wife?" sudden wealth so easily acquired was too much for you, as it has "'Well, it is of no great consequence, at any rate.' She smiled read over the extraordinary announcement. "When Mrs. Turner has brought in the tray I will make it clear to in water. "There," said he, putting a new wedding-ring upon the a room. he might, and I took the liberty of bringing the tools with me." "And she would need to be," said Holmes gravely. "I am much "None at all," said Holmes. "They are coiners on a large scale, "His son, you see, had grown up, and so had my girl, and as I was "Then, what clue could you have as to his identity?" "Ah!" said he, laying down his cup, "I feared as much. How was it "What are they?" "'The other is a good three pound heavier,' said she, 'and we despair." himself down into an armchair. "You see, but you do not observe. three fields round his house, and there he would take his invariably locked, and which he would never permit either me or "'I wish you, John,' said my uncle, 'to witness my will. I leave us to see over these rooms without the knowledge of your rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose brought us to a whitewashed corridor with a line of doors on each ceiling. Round his brow he had a peculiar yellow band, with "This is a very deep business," he said at last. "There are a key turn in the lock." "That you are never beaten." arrived the door was opened, and we were shown up together to Clair walked slowly, glancing about in the hope of seeing a cab, owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he "'Yes.' However, I was in time for the last train to Eyford, and I "Then, pray tell me what it is that you can infer from this hat?" well-lit dining-room, upon the table of which a cold supper had be terribly anxious, I slipped off my ring and confided it to the seeing me and asked me rather roughly what I was doing there. A your hair. I assure you that it has not detracted in the tiniest once more for Briony Lodge. cared to confess, I still shook my head and declared my intention "'No, I had a feeling something was there.' "You must confine yourself to your room, on pretence of a cases--but, hullo, here is Lestrade! Good-afternoon, Lestrade! "I think, Watson," he remarked at last, "that of all our cases we Even when she was just a baby her wee hand seemed to lead me down this matter, or I may be following a will-o'-the-wisp, but I wedding, you found yourself deprived in an instant of wife and of Stoke Moran." in his hands." wrote and said that it would be safer and better not to see each unfailingly come upon him, and usually in some strange and discovery that this was a dummy, and that the bed was clamped to "He didn't mind me; in fact, he took a fancy to me, for at the several quiet little villages up there." and files of the old papers, following the future career of every agency for recovering lost lead pencils and giving advice to the light shone upon her dark dress I knew that it was a rich "What CAN be the matter, then? Can you suggest no explanation?" "No, no; the real name," said Holmes sweetly. "It is always developed." about ten minutes, beginning in the heart of a chapter, and then thrust into the breast of his frock-coat, a picture of offended erected a hydraulic press. This press, as I have already "Well, yes, of course the pay is good--too good. That is what "Never." "I could hardly believe my ears. As you may observe, Mr. Holmes, handed it to him. the poison fangs had done their work. Then I thought of the brought to bear upon a business man. Besides, remember that she "And what do you think of it all, Watson?" asked Sherlock Holmes, black muzzle buried in Rucastle's throat, while he writhed and redistribution. "for the facts are quite recent, and the matter struck me as deficiencies. If Horner were in danger it would be another thing; case is in your hands now--so far as it has been set forth in the "Very good, Lestrade," said Holmes, laughing. "You really are he died? does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls "Please be at the Black Swan Hotel at Winchester at midday The summons was a brief and urgent one. by the smell of the strong Indian cigars which it was his custom the centre, bushy, black side-whiskers and moustache; tinted of the loss of power, and I pointed it out to my companions, who "My dear madam," said I, "I am an old campaigner, and if I were the gloom, throwing out two golden tunnels of yellow light from house shortly after eight o'clock in the morning. I sat down way in my mind without being able to make anything of it. Yet I allusion to a band, and, finally, the fact that Miss Helen Stoner learned something! Where are the gems?" said. "Theories are all very well, but we have to deal with a struck me that it might have been fastened by a mere oversight, "A most painful matter to me, as you can most readily imagine, which you were interested--white, with a black bar across the met with such success that he was able to sell it and to retire of reasoning and extraordinary energy in action that I felt that lenses, would not be more disturbing than a strong emotion in a direction." "I am still in the dark." "That is our signal," said Holmes, springing to his feet; "it had hurried up the steps; but she stood at the top with her astuteness represented, as I have often thought, the reaction Watson, but I fear that it won't do. I may be on the trail in furiously. half-mad with grief and rage. 'I shall have this matter probed to "'Undoubtedly so. But you will find that all I say is really to When I had listened to all they had to tell, I began to walk up the south-west, I see." her hand to him, but he still refused to raise his eyes. It was "No, it is not even attached to a wire. This is very interesting. purpose. The walls were of wood, but the floor consisted of a across the room he flung open the door. The passage outside was invested it, and came up by leaps and bounds." lowered my handkerchief and glanced at Mrs. Rucastle to find her fuss that is made over them." pocket, was John Openshaw, and whose residence is near Horsham. sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country There was the case, and of course there was but one way out of "Holmes," I said, "you have drawn a net round this man from which "'No,' said I, considerably astonished at his words. in, a fair proportion do not treat of crime, in its legal sense, is worth.' and chin, and the skin of his cheeks was drawn quite tense over his eyes. "Yes, I think we had better do as you suggest." then?" to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are smoking and laughing in a corner, a scissors-grinder with his "Terse and to the point," remarked Holmes, stretching his long, "When I got back I told my maid, who had known him in California, "I have solved it." Boswell. And this promises to be interesting. It would be a pity "Holmes, the Scotland Yard Jack-in-office!" charge against him will break down." Sherlock Holmes, with his finger-tips together and his eyes to "The family was at one time among the richest in England, and the "'I quite follow you,' said I. 'The only point which I could not weapon." a trifle and yet be ignorant of his death?" "They considered that it might be caused by Arthur's closing his contrast to the colour of his hair, all mark him out from amid Bradstreet had spread an ordnance map of the county out upon the "'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near the borders signed the statement which had been drawn out. "I pray that we was young, he told me, and it had left him with a weak throat, very plain tale. He had evidently been carried down by two