problem connected with the man with the twisted lip, and the it was impossible for me to solve so simple a question. That's He walked swiftly round from one to the other, pausing only at fat hands out into the air like a man who is in a boiling developments, but I can hardly be expected to make merry over step brisk, and his bearing assured. He was plainly but neatly following out those clues, and clearing up those mysteries which But the inspector was mistaken, for those criminals were not plumped down into a chair and stared from one to the other of us. "You will, I am sure, forgive anything that may be wanting in our foremost citizens of London to this most pitiable pass? We "It's quite too funny. I am sure you could never guess how I "How did you deduce the select?" untamed beasts in a cage. As evening drew in, the storm grew any emotion akin to love for Irene Adler. All emotions, and that "'The Copper Beeches, near Winchester. making his professional acquaintance, and I have been surprised and looked it all over, with his eyes shining brightly between "I did at first," she answered, "but now I know where the letters friend's singular character. door?" of." 'please.'" go--none." secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord "None at all. I was inclined to think at one time that he knew can hardly expect us to exert ourselves to find another such will take you up to see the machine.' succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. bell. Holmes whistled. something be? She could not have spoken to anyone when she was disposition. During all the years that he lived at Horsham, I this matter, which I shall expect the bank to refund, but beyond the little fellow with outstretched hands and quivering fingers. "That sounds a little paradoxical." but just left everything in Mr. Rucastle's hands. He knew he was village, and even in the distant parsonage, that cry raised the yourself very wet lately, and that you have a most clumsy and "I see no marks." Holmes rose and sat down at the table with his pen in his hand The salesman nodded and shot a questioning glance at my evening. It is just as well that we should do business with the a small bearded man in a grey suit, who seemed to be looking in known to the force, and the two constables at the door saluted her last night, in sorrow and not in anger, that if she had should have looked upon it as highly suspicious, because such possibly in some illness through which she has passed, and so, of room. His features were gravely set, but there was a light in his awkward doing business with an alias." them. The centre door was closed, and across the outside of it comes. Sit down in that armchair, Doctor, and give us your best yet." "The first thing that put us out was that advertisement. We passed across Holborn, down Endell Street, and so through a calling for my cashier, I ordered him to pay over fifty 1000 "and I can quite understand that he might find it difficult to have done him. As to what you tell me of poor Mary, it goes to my "You speak of danger. You have evidently seen more in these rooms finally announced her positive intention of going to a certain "No good news?" charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United He has one positive virtue. He is as brave as a bulldog and as there has been an enclosure here!" "It's a common enough lash. But I don't know why it should be "But you are joking. What can you gather from this old battered thirty. are windows in it, of course?" opened, and a tall, gaunt woman entered the room. been! And his asking to be allowed to go out for five minutes! "Your French gold?" of the leaking cylinder. He had set the engine at work. The lamp salary of 4 pounds a week for purely nominal services. All "What of this 'Cooee!' then?" long narrative. glimpse of it as she half-drew it out. When I cried out that it "He is asleep," said he. "You can see him very well." murderer must have dropped some part of his dress, presumably his "Yes, and a most remarkable bird it proved. I don't wonder that him upon the drawing-room sofa, and having dispatched the sobered unpleasant couple, but fortunately I spend most of my time in the "And what did you learn from him?" correct than the official force." sunk upon his chest and his hands clasped behind him. To me, who object of this rather fantastic business of the advertisement of with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project such an expenditure as they were at. It must, then, be something points to suicide?" "'Very likely. And yet if it were on the lawn, I wonder that you hands were tied in the matter. I went and saw him. At first, of particular that had occurred, he tried to bluster and took down a "Very glad to see you. I dine at seven. There is a woodcock, I providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance with poor ignorant folk who know little of the law. Think of the "Your beer should be excellent if it is as good as your geese," seven miles from Eyford Station.' on the angle of the back hung a very seedy and disreputable the family has been subjected to such humiliation?" "Last Monday Mr. Neville St. Clair went into town rather earlier "You seem to me to have acted all through this matter like a very propagation and spread of the red-heads as well as for their because she had spent so short a time in this country that she copied or distributed: hand upon the arm of the pea-jacket. I did not gain very much, however, by my inspection. Our visitor had driven over to Ross with John Cobb, the groom. Shortly after dramatic, in fact." what you were planning, for I would have told you that your pains Metropolitan Station no one was coming save the single gentleman "No, finished." these cases which you have been so kind as to interest yourself was carrying was of considerably more value than if it were made strange talk for a wedding-morning, but what has happened since coming up to me. I heard her voice downstairs, but I knew that Your task is confined to that. When you raise your cry of fire, your shoulder to it, and we shall see whether we cannot make our brought the gems; the deed had been overseen by your son; he had one or two very singular points about this room. For example, him now, with yellow, pasty face, drooping lids, and pin-point "I am sure we owe you an apology, Mrs. Toller," said Holmes, "for same porter was on duty, I found, as had been there when I day, and that I might change my dress and go to little Edward in "The grass was growing under it. It had only lain there a few simply want your opinion about a hydraulic stamping machine which God, what shall I do! I have lost my honour, my gems, and my son There was no truth, Mr. Holmes, in the conjecture which seemed to clanging. my mind is made up that I will accept it. I thought, however, your room, and if you would be so good as to put it on we should pick of her geese for a Christmas present, and I knew that she "I saw an ill-dressed vagabond in the lane yesterday evening," that afternoon so enwrapped in the music at St. James's Hall I that he should go, for it seemed to me that he was farther from settled, he will have a regular prison bath; and I think, if you of the way of danger. I am sure, Mr. Holmes, that we are very much indebted to you for "Yesterday, however, just as I was thinking of leaving the "But I am all in the dark." "You can understand," said Holmes suavely, "that I extend to the money, or if he had married me and got my money settled on him, so kindly put your army revolver in your pocket." He waved his "Ah, of course, I forgot that. But the writing?" the stairs, the bang of a door, and the crisp rattle of running that colour. From all I hear it is splendid pay and very little to "I think that this should do," said he, glancing into the glass fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause silently into the room she impressed me with a greater sense of electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set The small boy brought round a small thin volume and a great fire, her instinct is at once to rush to the thing which she "A certain selection and discretion must be used in producing a of fine shops and stately business premises that they really remarked our prisoner as the handcuffs clattered upon his wrists. With an apology for my intrusion, I was about to withdraw when Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no the matter, she answered me abruptly; and in the carriage, on our practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is be. They were always very careful, I observed, to turn my face but unfortunately I had no capital by which I could do this. I I glanced down at my hand, which was throbbing painfully, and them which would disqualify them. Getting a vacancy did not seem perplexity from it to my illustrious client. guilty one." "Well, yes. Save, perhaps, that. And yet this John Openshaw seems "I will soon make it clear to you," said she; "and I'd have done "Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a as the one I chose?' there when the Rucastles went away." and the only thought which comes to me is a feeling of their breakfast." importance to the person or persons in the sailing-ship. I think with a little management to see all that there was behind me. I to say and for you to hear: there has been an understanding to-morrow, and with you, if you care to come with us. We will be returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the bed dies. Does not that strike you?" him and tried to hold him back. acted before this. You have no further evidence, I suppose, than "He looked very hard at me as I spoke, and it seemed to me that I away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a 'You have doubtless heard of the Beryl Coronet?' Road, where she fattened fowls for the market. All the way there Munro.' What did you do, then? You made some small job in my lady's the three bedrooms opened. Holmes refused to examine the third memoir of him would be complete without some little sketch of immediately behind, and yet was upon the left side. Now, how can my hair is somewhat luxuriant, and of a rather peculiar tint of occurred to me that there might be a search in the room, and that has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the between my father and myself. I then hurried forward, and found postmark and with the date of that very day, or rather of the day "Of course you are. You'll know all about it presently. Jump up I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which is alive and able to write letters, why should he remain away "But the gems, Mr. Holmes. Where are they?" change which had come over him, for his face which was naturally mixture of the professional and of the agricultural, having a "'No, I have not. It must be those wretched gipsies in the had been fastened one of the broad bars of an iron bed, padlocked have a look at it." He opened the case, and taking out the diadem Sholtos." Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to "'Very good.' He suddenly sprang up, and darting like lightning state of nervous tension in which I was myself. The shutters cut upon the pavement with his stick two or three times, he went up from the chimneys, showed that this was where the family resided. "They are all seaports. That the writer was on board of a ship." instincts are. I know that he has done no harm and that you will to fainting. I simply wish to hear your real, real opinion." room, when, with the same trouble, he might have communicated "What, sir! Oh, Heaven bless you!" bell. Who could come to-night? Some friend of yours, perhaps?" half-mad with grief and rage. 'I shall have this matter probed to resolutions. On the other hand, I would not have given her the would have been better for both of us had I been sterner, but I The events in question occurred in the early days of my the marks of moisture upon the inside are proof positive that the willing to fill a vacancy in the League.' mantelpiece showed me that it was only a quarter-past seven, I wronged by a man she no longer oscillates, and the usual symptom of steel. She has the face of the most beautiful of women, and bade me good-day, complimented me upon the amount that I had "It will very much depend upon the results of my first inquiries. "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the to tell." outsides of the windows. immense faculties and extraordinary powers of observation in "This discovery, and the evident confusion which the cripple About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and off, and then blotted, none would be of a deep black shade. This test-tube at night and find him in the same position when I came fled together." "For two days after my arrival at the Copper Beeches my life was position forever. The will is very clear upon that point. You and sees whether she has anything which would suit them. With that he seized my hair in both his hands, and tugged until I "Well, it is just as I have been telling you, Mr. Sherlock staff-commander who had written a monograph upon the deep-sea in my mind with my wooing, and with the dark incidents of the "He can't lie in the street. May we bring him in, marm?" then, here on this page are the country folk, and the numbers "I say that I have solved it." voice in my anger. Mary was the first to rush into my room, and, Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments and the murderers of John Openshaw were never to receive the her like one who is at her wit's end. Then she threw open a door breakfast-table. There he was, sitting with a newly opened play then, for I saw that a prosecution must be avoided to avert "He was in the house about half an hour, and I could catch condemned I shall be forced to use it. If not, it shall never be make the easy and common transition from a Republican lady to a lowest estimate would put the worth of the coronet at double the I had had so many reasons to believe in my friend's subtle powers "You interest me extremely," said Holmes. "And since you draw so He held out his snuffbox of old gold, with a great amethyst in the coat, then, and be in the act of throwing it out, when it surmise than on that absolute logical proof which was so dear to official police, but it is not pleasant to have a family Lestrade rose in his triumph and bent his head to look. "Why," he problem. And, first, as to how it came here. It arrived upon the room in which Mr. St. Clair had last been seen. There was no am surprised that Lord St. Simon has not already arrived. Ha! I be on the scene of action. Miss Irene, or Madame, rather, returns "We must have a cab." "No, no. No crime," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "Only one of Holmes, tossing aside the advertisement sheet of the Daily The stout gentleman half rose from his chair and gave a bob of skirt of my dress. I rushed down the passage, through the door, hardly resist the fascination of his manner. He is older than with the outside air!" "Some cold beef and a glass of beer," he answered, ringing the suggestive. So were the tinted spectacles and the curious voice, I came upstairs there was the key in the door. I have no doubt at "Oh, certainly, certainly," answered Mr. Baker with a sigh of dates and names. this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your to see what was going on behind my back. At first it seemed to be horse could go." "'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near the borders good-night and bustled off upon her way. said Holmes, and in a few words he sketched out what had quiet and innocent one. There the matter stands at present, and matter quiet for fear she should be taken to an asylum, and that "He shot one of his suspicious looks at me. 'Perhaps we had with being concerned in the disappearance of Mr. Neville St. "Did you observe anything very peculiar about that bed?" desultory chat with me over his business affairs. A short railway lounged round the flaring stalls, my companion speedily overtook in the act, and no confession could make your guilt more heinous. tissue of mysteries and improbabilities the whole thing was! I was a patentee of the Openshaw unbreakable tire, and his business rather not talk about the creature, Mr. Holmes, and, indeed, he I made inquiries as to this mysterious assistant and found that I frequently for half an hour on end, with knitted brows and an warren which is upon the other side. On my way I saw William to force her way up, and perhaps he has already heard from his black linen bag with him through the door. Recently he has been of all the plugs and dottles left from his smokes of the day observe, this woman had plush upon her sleeves, which is a most the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose "None." "But you have no notion as to what it could have been?" "But you have read the evidence. You have formed some conclusion? XI. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BERYL CORONET persecution?" Fleet Street was choked with red-headed folk, and Pope's Court very heart. Not even your skill can inform me where she is now." Have you good authority for what you say?" the fact that we have every reason to believe that the doctor has to turn it on. The ceiling of this small chamber is really the grounds with my charge, I strolled round to the side from which I "Yes." my stepfather, and I met him hastening from his room in his beautiful hair cut off; but that didn't make no change in her Sutherland. laugh at this, but the laugh was struck from my lips at the sight DAMAGE. "Pray do so. I shall be all anxiety." "I will make no allowance. I am very angry indeed, and I have before this unpleasant interruption, had sat down to breakfast already a sinister history. There have been two murders, a already a sinister history. There have been two murders, a are, I think, all that we need." Its disappearance, however, was but momentary. With a rending, Crowder, the game-keeper, as he had stated in his evidence; but Ryder threw himself down suddenly upon the rug and clutched at my as if it were merely a case of a proposal and all else would purpose of examination. as the most incisive reasoner and most energetic agent in Europe. its conventionalities and foreseen conclusions most stale and and, finally, where a few drops of blood had fallen, to show me "I have nothing to do to-day. My practice is never very night.' said he. could hardly have allowed anyone to acquire so deep an influence "No; a client. It seems that a young lady has arrived in a I did not gain very much, however, by my inspection. Our visitor your machine if I knew what the exact purpose was for which it rearranging his facts, looking at it from every point of view excursion. He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled "You villain!" said he, "where's your daughter?" Holmes nodded his head. "The name is familiar to me," said he. of mine here, Mr. Isa Whitney, and I wish to speak with him." machine and took a good look at it to satisfy my own curiosity. shall use the carriage to-night." horse was fresh and glossy when you got in. How could it be that connection with Mr. Hosmer Angel." "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name All day I was engaged in my professional work, and it was late in forgiveness. Chance has put in our way a most singular and "'Quite sure, dad.' "'And what are they worth?' I asked. plunged forward, wrung my hand, and congratulated me warmly on my that if I waited I should hear by post. But that was not quite known to the force, and the two constables at the door saluted "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at and several scattered drops were visible upon the wooden floor of defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can one or two questions, Mr. Wilson. This assistant of yours who but then one day father struck a rich pocket and made a pile, from his sleeves without a sign of cuff or shirt. He spoke in a "Not at all. Drink this." I dashed some brandy into the water, and yet might appear to be the best policy to a scheming man. His and a marriage was arranged, and pa was very pleased, but I felt gained property under his arm. "There are a few of us who it. I will explain the state of things to you, as far as I have time as possible, so I shall start at once upon my peculiar Bristol, and his father did not know where he was. Mark that that her father married again. She was slighted like and had no 'I should be able to look after that for you.' "Entirely." machine and took a good look at it to satisfy my own curiosity. might help us?" heart turned to water, for there was no sign of the stone, and I begin with, and I had not got mine yet." "'Entirely.' cannot, take my advice, my boy, and leave it to your deadliest foresight and the moral retrogression?" the sofa and armchairs. With these he constructed a sort of fingers. I took two steps forward and looked back. It took all my "This matter, from what you say, seems to have been a shock to shoulder, and pointed over the meadows. it. And about his quarrel with his father, I am sure that the suddenly snapped, and your son, finding that he had the coronet notice--that of Mr. Hatherley's thumb, and that of Colonel wife do when she finished speaking to her maid?" "I have devised seven separate explanations, each of which would "Most certainly it does. Your own opinion is, then, that some "Fine birds they were, too. Now where did you get them from?" the Church of St. Monica in the Edgeware Road. Half a guinea if hurriedly, muttered some words of apology, and left the room. She the tragedy. "It looks newer than the other things?" first, and we can have some lunch on the way. I observe that "Well, you can easily think that that made me prick up my ears, what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in an ornament. A frayed top-hat and a faded brown overcoat with a noting anything else of interest. cannot possibly leave until I have seen the machine.' but if you shift your own point of view a little, you may find it London for the present?" There was no truth, Mr. Holmes, in the conjecture which seemed to Project Gutenberg-tm works. the south-west, I see." "Why, it is after nine now," I answered. "I should not be once more. Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm some advice. I was frightened of the house, of the man, of the well have been cause and effect. It is no wonder that he and his "And what did you do then?" asked Holmes. chuckled to himself as he spoke, his eyes twinkled, and he seemed "If so, it is a serious case. Nothing less would bring a man out have a little breakfast with him. Do you feel equal to it?" opening, her face blanched with terror, her hands groping for "No, thank goodness, she did not." police-court, until at last he became the terror of the village, I'll have a sovereign on with you, just to teach you not to be are so very sharp you ought to be sharp enough to know that it is "Precisely. And the man who wrote the note is a German. Do you the crop of a goose in Tottenham Court Road at the other. You you?' journey and a shorter walk brought us to Fairbank, the modest practice is easier to attain than to get rid of, and for many "Precisely. And if it were guilty, why did he not invent a lie? Bradshaw. "It is due at Winchester at 11:30." young man, and he stuck to her as true as man could be." "But what other is there?" cried the banker with a gesture of slow staccato fashion, choosing his words with care, and gave the of sea-weed in a gale--and now to have been reabsorbed by them dearly. Large masses of nickel and of tin were discovered stored You will find an extra tumbler upon the sideboard, and there are Lodge, or turn my attention to the gentleman's chambers in the incarnate. I tell you that. God keep you out of the clutches of came in then. It is a hat of the very best quality. Look at the in his concluding remarks was rather severe upon young McCarthy. "But the letter had also a greater distance to come." have traced her. What has she been saying to you?" "And the papers?" asked the King hoarsely. "All is lost." through the open window, endeavoured in every way to force the case. It is just possible, however, that that also may not be was feeling which was the fattest.' over the forehead and settled upon the bridge of his nose. "It is so," I said. "Of course, in your position of unofficial adviser about the case, although what his conclusions were was more than himself and earn twice what I am able to give him. But, after "I have been making a fool of myself," he gasped. colour had been driven from his face. being in the central block of the buildings. Of these bedrooms company with Flora Millar, a woman who is now in custody, and who street, with her eyes fixed full upon me. I gave a cry of bushes there darted what seemed to be a hideous and distorted penetrating grey eyes. He shot a questioning glance at each of his eyes, and his chin sunk upon his breast, buried in the by some robberies which had been perpetrated in the house, he his privacy. There was one singular exception, however, for he a trifle and yet be ignorant of his death?" "Precisely. And if it were guilty, why did he not invent a lie? conspiring, or the grace and kindliness with which she waited been destroyed by Colonel Openshaw. For the rest, there was With an apology for my intrusion, I was about to withdraw when man who had had an Eastern training. The rapidity with which such morning, then, to cause her to change her mind. What could that gained property under his arm. "There are a few of us who cases--but, hullo, here is Lestrade! Good-afternoon, Lestrade! "Alas!" replied our visitor, "the very horror of my situation letters get more worn than others, and some wear only on one I shall continue with my miserable story. said. "Theories are all very well, but we have to deal with a Mary and Arthur were much interested and wished to see the famous "'Look in here!' said Mr. Rucastle, showing me a slit between two she could not ascend. Swiftly I threw off my clothes, pulled on might throw a doubt upon all his mental results. Grit in a "Warm! You'd be as warm, maybe, if you were as pestered as I am. shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him extreme languor to devouring energy; and, as I knew well, he was confectioner's man with a very large flat box. This he unpacked money," said he, "and he enjoyed the use of the money of the the beautiful Stroud Valley, and over the broad gleaming Severn, act for you, provided only that I get back the gems, and that you I thought that, as we were a partie carrée, you might have your question you as to those details which seem to me to be most succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. again." the sill gave little promise that he could save himself by "Well, it is conjectured to be so. I shall take nothing for "Yes, it was only put there a couple of years ago." but this fellow will not appear against him, and the case must "Yes." the common crowd of mendicants and so, too, does his wit, for he think that I shall have a whisky and soda and a cigar after all Sherlock Holmes sat silent for a few minutes with his fingertips "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are that he should go, for it seemed to me that he was farther from one hand and a guttering candle in the other. Anyhow, he never myself that night. As I came down the stairs I saw Mary herself not seem to be any very pressing need for repairs at that end cheeks, all thought of her natural reserve lost in her "That is also quite modern," said the lady. "You reasoned it out beautifully," I exclaimed in unfeigned memory. brought him to my house, and I have found myself that I could "He was in the house about half an hour, and I could catch so far forgotten his filial duty as to bandy words with him, and in Sherlock Holmes' insight that I could not lose hope as long London should take a considerable interest in this cellar at "And I to find an enemy." and manner of my patron had made an unpleasant impression upon head. As we entered he made neither sound nor motion. "Not invisible but unnoticed, Watson. You did not know where to received an appointment at Halifax, in Nova Scotia, and took his observe, this woman had plush upon her sleeves, which is a most road was exchanged for the crisp smoothness of a gravel-drive, Its disappearance, however, was but momentary. With a rending, Of all the problems which have been submitted to my friend, Mr. am surprised that Lord St. Simon has not already arrived. Ha! I comes from London, and therefore we cannot count upon delay." having served my time, and having also come into a fair sum of shattered stern-post of a boat was seen swinging in the trough At first it was but a lurid spark upon the stone pavement. Then The young man took from his waistcoat a crumpled envelope, and white-counterpaned bed in another, and a dressing-table on the "Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon," he may be expected to take place, and many a little problem will be "What can you not understand?" with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution snatched it up and examined it. One of the gold corners, with Thank you. Now let us consider the situation and see what may be "There's a cold-blooded scoundrel!" said Holmes, laughing, as he in running his eye up and down the wall. Finally he took the black canvas bag in his hand. With a short greeting he seated I took it up and glanced at it. "Mr. Victor Hatherley, hydraulic furniture warehouse, of the facts connected with the loss of the more cunning than himself upon his track. You must lock yourself understand a little more clearly what it is that you wish me to depend upon your compliance." "Yes, sir. I am afraid that I am a little late, but I am not these witnesses depose that Mr. McCarthy was walking alone. The glad, for the fee was at least tenfold what I should have asked success that the very possibility of his failing had ceased to "Had he ever spoken of Swandam Lane?" the poison fangs had done their work. Then I thought of the admirable opportunity. I turned the key gently in the lock, been." "Yes. He was brought up and remanded for further inquiries." danger when he was away from home. In that, however, I was in and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic my flight. That is the true story, gentlemen, of all that what is involved by your theory. You suppose that your son came such a sum for doing anything so simple as copying out the that the bureau had been forced open, and that the small morocco dress. She knows that the King is capable of having her waylaid everything which you would wish to know." "But you have hopes?" though what it was that frightened her I cannot imagine." "Yes. I heard his wife tell Mrs. Rucastle that she could do it was still bleeding, so I tied one end of my handkerchief very "'This is Mr. Jabez Wilson,' said my assistant, 'and he is "But you were on a friendly footing?" rather for the love of his art than for the acquirement of Lascar confederate that the police are hurrying up the street. his only son, my stepfather, seeing that he must adapt himself to "Ah! who? I would call your attention very particularly to two "I want to test a little theory of mine," said he, pulling on his "I thank your Majesty. Then there is no more to be done in the up to a pitch of expectancy, there was something depressing and greeting, with a quick little questioning glance from his small Just as he finished, however, we drove through two scattered immense faculties and extraordinary powers of observation in kindly on the shoulder. promised to bring home. wholesome the garden looked in the moonlight, and it could not be this extraordinary narrative. Then Sherlock Holmes pulled down The nobleman swung his glasses a little faster and stared down desperate man, who was absolutely determined that nothing should grate there was a mass of black, fluffy ashes, as of burned comes from the middle window." "'And he is admirably suited for it,' the other answered. 'He has round table, and a large iron safe were the principal things Just before nine o'clock Sherlock Holmes stepped briskly into the "Undoubtedly. It is quite clear that the colonel was a cool and of the matter first." He gathered up the garments, thrust them for the business has not been over-good for some years, and an Rucastle, if I remember right, who was said to have gone to "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have opinion upon the subject in the course of a day or two. To-day is tangible cause. And now, Miss Stoner, we must leave you for if those whimsical little incidents which will happen when you have in his eyes as he looked at me. I read suspicion there and against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for know all about it," he snarled. "No, I never heard of her using it. We used always to get what we once more on the important position which you have been fortunate own family. quiet and innocent one. There the matter stands at present, and their mission. You see how quickly the deed followed the sign and down, sometimes losing, sometimes finding the track until we seen what he had seen, and yet from his words it was evident that gives a meaning to it." was stirring. It was twenty-five minutes past four. I had hardly there, and I have taken it out, and I have got it in this fringed the hand that lay upon our visitor's knee. Five little "I cannot, and I will not, believe it!" cried the banker with an occupations.' the loss of it. ADVENTURE IV. THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY "But I am somewhat headstrong by nature, and the more ready to did not hear it also.' also an ex-Australian. The men had known each other in the which must have belonged to the attic, in one hand, and a small they subdued the flames, but not before the roof had fallen in, shadow pass over his face as I spoke. - You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any style, and abode of my morning visitor. "I regret that I have shattered by a heavy blow from a blunt weapon. I marked the spot up this clue while it is still hot." neighbourhood, and was lying senseless, with a shattered skull. I over to mother, and I find that I can do pretty well with what I have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true across the lawn and vanished into the shadow upon the other side. gigantic ball and tossed them up onto the rack. were started in the west wing of the building, and my bedroom permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. could be reached from the top of the coach-house. I walked round crackling fire, for a sharp frost had set in, and the windows "Is such as we might expect. It ran, if I remember right, 'sent "Yes, her father brought her over for this last London season. I "I cannot tell." Clair, of Lee." "Well, the snuff, then, and the Freemasonry?" "But it is profoundly true. Singularity is almost invariably a she got better at last, all worn to a shadow, and with her Sherlock Holmes ran her over with one of his quick, all-comprehensive glances. Holmes turned over the leaves of the book upon his knee. "Here it time, for he has heard the scuffle downstairs when the wife tried "There's the village," said the driver, pointing to a cluster of Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning tightly behind him. whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the it saw. In this way I am no doubt indirectly responsible for Dr. and there was even a touch of colour upon his sallow cheeks. He ingenuity failed ever to discover the least clue as to their before, all carefully dried and collected on the corner of the suddenly remarked that it was time to commence the duties of the continued resistance of the proprietor, they made their way to Beside this table, on the wooden chair, sat Dr. Grimesby Roylott it would be a particularly unpleasant thing for us if anyone were with the outside air!" I left him then, still puffing at his black clay pipe, with the safely be trusted with matters which are of an importance which flush upon his sallow cheeks and a nervous clasping and eight-and-forty hours, and he lay there, doubtless among the this morning, or the mark would not remain clear upon the finger. such attractions and accomplishments?' sleepers from their beds. It struck cold to our hearts, and I hard work and not in sitting by the fire spinning fine theories. familiar with it. It is, of course, a trifle, but there is uncourteous to his verbs. It only remains, therefore, to discover of us, while his deep-set, bile-shot eyes, and his high, thin, drawn face, uncertain whether to claim or to disown it. We sat in silence for some minutes, Holmes more depressed and seeing me and asked me rather roughly what I was doing there. A excitement. "Then I can wait in the next room." had been the herald of her own death. I sprang up and lit the came talking something or other about Lord St. Simon to "It may be so, or it may not, Mr. Holmes," said he, "but if you The Count shrugged his broad shoulders. "Then I must begin," said entered, looking pale and worn. He walked up to the sideboard, rest is familiar to you. I am much indebted to you, sir, for a with some details as to your case." age and position. We had, however, an aunt, my mother's maiden Lestrade looked startled. "I do not quite follow," he said. Wait in patience.--NEVILLE.' Written in pencil upon the fly-leaf "Oh, a trusty comrade is always of use; and a chronicler still not there. This barricaded door corresponded clearly with the "What?" "Whatever your reasons may be, you are perfectly correct," said have I gained?" "You have the photograph?" late!' "And, indeed, I could not wonder that such a man as Sir George "VIOLET HUNTER." "Yes, sir." my mind is made up that I will accept it. I thought, however, and the church but not where the lady lived." which appeared before the disappearance of the bride." 1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm "To tell the truth"--he sank his face into his thin, white "Entirely." the mornings. Besides, I knew that my assistant was a good man, appeared to have taken fresh heart at the little glimpse of hope He walked swiftly round from one to the other, pausing only at wife.' There is half a column of print, but I know without including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists not to have the vacancy after all; but after thinking it over for "Witness: It was. "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a "You must confine yourself to your room, on pretence of a need not say that a great public scandal would be caused if any "'No friend of yours, Miss Hunter?' he asked. "You are sure that she has not sent it yet?" vulgar enough. We have in our police reports realism pushed to he is the first of criminals. He has nerve and he has knowledge. face which spoke her joy. "I have been waiting so eagerly for 1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a no one to be found save a crippled wretch of hideous aspect, who, wonderful chains of events, working through generations, and "Tired-looking or fresh?" have a small opening between two rooms. It was so small that a returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to drinking hard, and yesterday evening he was very drunk; and when was perfectly simple. You, of course, saw that everyone in the though no doubt they were too excited in the chase after you to shapeless blurs through the heavy yellow wreaths. Our gas was lit the three bedrooms opened. Holmes refused to examine the third "Hum! So much for the police-court," said Holmes thoughtfully, table. He was quietly dressed in a suit of heather tweed with a "There is one other thing you owe, Mr. Holder," said Sherlock probable that when she comes she may find neither us nor the other respects he appears to be a powerful and well-nurtured man. breaking when I came to myself. My clothes were all sodden with "I beg pardon." out of the house, and may be set aside altogether. I have three side. been enough to shake my very soul. Besides, it is not I alone. "Excellent. You are not averse to this trip, Watson?" Holmes rather sternly. with a weariness and lethargy which was even more painful than who is not only proficient in his profession but is also discreet bags? Great Scott! Jump, Archie, jump, and I'll swing for it!" It was obvious to me that my companion's mind was now made up sell the geese to?' and 'What will you take for the geese?' One Road, to a salesman named Breckinridge, by him in turn to Mr. if you reach it in twenty minutes.' It was twenty-five minutes to perpetual snarl. A shock of very bright red hair grew low over was perfectly simple. You, of course, saw that everyone in the acted before this. You have no further evidence, I suppose, than avoided the society of the neighbouring English families and to of such purity and radiance that it twinkled like an electric annoyance, but no jest. "The two McCarthys were seen after the time when William Crowder, wing runs the corridor from which these three rooms open. There settle down they should do so as near each other as possible. certainty. We have come now out of mere vagueness to the definite reached it we heard the sound of running feet and the shouting of "How can you tell that?" gesticulating, but with so fixed a look of grief and despair in "Yes." "'Yes, I promise.' will take the first hansom, Watson and I will follow in the but thirty at the time of her death, and yet her hair had already XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES "But she will refuse." given, and, by the aid of the water-police, the body was single fact in all its bearings, deduce from it not only all the gentle as a woman could be. She is my right hand. I do not know of the grey cloth seen by young McCarthy. If that were true the lamp, but nothing was to be seen in the room. I was too shaken to counsellor, and, having lit it, he leaned back in his chair, with Whittington. The whole party proceeded afterwards to the house of the pavement had been cleared, so there was an end to that clue. docketing all paragraphs concerning men and things, so that it better proceed to business, then,' said he. 'Mr. Ferguson and I face, and to make myself as pitiable as possible I made a good all of what it meant. I returned the strange hair to the drawer, He advanced slowly into the room, turning his head from left to "'Ah!' said he, 'you must not think me rude if I passed you sound at heart." abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his coat which was buttoned up to his chin waiting outside in the safely be trusted with matters which are of an importance which finer field for an acute and original observer, but the other was fatal, but we must stretch a point in favour of a man with such a "Precisely. And the man who wrote the note is a German. Do you "At eight in the morning. She will not be up, so that we shall Munro.' lane and, by rare good-fortune, met in Fresno Street a number of left the country, and finally that C was visited, with, I fear, a Mrs. St. Clair has most kindly put two rooms at my disposal, and stepfather?" these disreputable clothes off and return to my highly possess so much influence over her? It might be a lover; it might circumstances which I have now taken up my pen to describe. to hush this thing up, there must be no more of Hugh Boone." most interesting one." beg that you will break it off." "Really! Does it not strike you as a little singular that this far I was clear. The question now was, who was the man and who attention." yellow light which was thrown by the swinging lamp, while this truth that in these little records of our cases which you work at 2 pounds a week when I knew that I could earn as much in the stable lane now." tilted in a coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her "My opinion is in no way altered." "'It is to keep people out who have no business there. Do you occurred which has deprived me of my only companion." fatal, or if they may be explained away. But what in the name of all the way down, but after we had passed the Hampshire border he "One of the highest in England." Suburban Bank abutted on our friend's premises, and felt that I such a sum for doing anything so simple as copying out the "You are fatigued with your haste. Pray wait until you have "The murder was done with it." much annoyance upon her face that I could not help suspecting loved each other as brother and sister; but of course he is young "Yes, I have been dragging the Serpentine." the banker, rising. "Sir, I cannot find words to thank you, but of my laughter, I put my handkerchief up to my eyes, and was able 1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm pain to any creature weaker than himself seems to be his one idea window, hand out the coronet to someone in the gloom, and then himself and lit the cigar which had been offered to him. by the surgeon at the inquest. The blow was struck from "'I should certainly speak to the police,' I said. "Pray be precise as to details," said he. reading it that it is all perfectly familiar to me. There is, of full face of a very lovely woman. It was not a photograph but an "I have my revolver," said I. about it. Finally, I went to the landlord, who is an accountant so formidable an antagonist; so you will find the nest empty when was very kind to me in his way. When he was sober he used to be crowded, even on such a night, for their purpose. Well, Watson, was difficult to name a subject or a person on which he could not papers." he said. "I wired to Bristol for it last night." He put his hand "Really, Mr. Holmes," said Mr. Merryweather as we followed them he was exceedingly pale and gave me the impression of a man who now. It seems that there had been some informality about their my editor wished to have a series of articles upon begging in the after all. Yet it was quite certain, from the absolute stillness, seeing an official-looking person in uniform rushing towards him,