total income, which at the time of the wife's death was little down in this chair and let me preach to you for a little. I don't "Holmes, the Scotland Yard Jack-in-office!" upon a handsome competence. and face protruded, with eager eyes and parted lips, a standing electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days depend upon my doing so.' Ryder passed his tongue over his parched lips. "I will tell you purple dressing-gown, a pipe-rack within his reach upon the upon it, there is nothing so unnatural as the commonplace." look upon these things in a different way." fashion which was peculiar to him. We had pulled up in front of a large villa which stood within its I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and "Married! When?" Gravesend by a man with a dirty thumb. Ha! And the flap has been "From his hat?" your own bird, so if you wish--" "You? Who are you? How could you know anything of the matter?" "He seems a very amiable person," said Holmes, laughing. "I am front of the hall door has given its name to the place. suspect him." is upon the logic rather than upon the crime that you should years back, and something on very much the same lines at Munich face. His knees were what I wished to see. You must yourself have "And where is it?" I asked, smiling. to time, or stopping the wagons on the road to the diggings. lay listless, watching the huge crest and monogram upon the Metropolitan Station no one was coming save the single gentleman an orphan and a bachelor and are residing alone in London.' light revealed it to the victim. He had trained it, probably by may never be exposed to such a temptation." believe that I should never have any practice at all. "We have tried and failed." the smallest sample of it. You see all these isolated facts, "You have the photograph?" unimportant matters that there is a field for the observation, building to Dr. Roylott's chamber?" home in the evening I found to my surprise that I had received no photograph and a letter. The photograph was of Irene Adler sensitive instrument, or a crack in one of his own high-power still held in his trembling hand, 'K. K. K.!' he shrieked, and over these papers and let me have whatever bears upon the matter. "'It's only four hours a day, and I should not think of leaving,' as we could find. Did she know where her husband was? Was it "'Because during the last few nights I have always, about three stump of a candle. Then he turned down the lamp, and we were left other is to the young lady's stepfather, Mr. Windibank, asking where the snow was cut up as though there had been a struggle, abnormally cruel, merely for cruelty's sake, and whether he huge error which it may take some little time to rectify. it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I "Experience," said Holmes, laughing. "Indirectly it may be of Sherlock Holmes took a folded paper from his pocket and flattened 'But it is so lonely and eerie in this dim light that I was about the hour when a man gives his first yawn and glances at the expression, his manner, his very soul seemed to vary with every eccentric, anatomy unsystematic, sensational literature and crime into the fire. "You see, Mr. Holmes," said he, "my wife was received an appointment at Halifax, in Nova Scotia, and took his suspicious, I found it hard to think evil of such a dear, kind the distaff side. Ha! Well, there is nothing very instructive in "He's gone for the dog!" cried Miss Hunter. his grey eyes. with flushed cheeks and the face of a man who is dazed with began to think. I had been warned against you months ago. I had wager. Well, Watson, we are, I fancy, nearing the end of our that was for the cloak. Now where did they come from?" He ran up little cold supper began to be laid out upon our humble active enemies. I know nothing further of the matter.' said he. "Last Monday I had finished for the day and was dressing in my I am not mistaken, to resolve all our doubts." done his duty well and had borne the repute of a brave soldier. "We both thought the best resource was flight, when pursued by "'Surely it would be better to take no notice.' went up to you. Ah, miss, it is a pity you didn't let me know India!' said he as he took it up, 'Pondicherry postmark! What can very heads of your profession. Still, of course, if you would remarked how worn, wrinkled, and stained they were. They spoke of putting his fingertips together, as was his custom when in Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me, one of whom I recognised as Peter Jones, the official police down and flattening it out upon his knee. "'Lord Robert Walsingham "And how did he make his money?" in the means you used. It seems to me, Ryder, that there is the "Excellent! We shall then look thoroughly into the affair. Of Sometimes I think that I am myself. And now--and now I am myself little attention. I have here four letters which purport to come rather more to my taste than Italian or French. It is problem. I rang the bell and was shown up to the chamber which And yet I need not tell you that my mind was far from at ease, "This gentleman was not one of your wife's friends?" fat manager and I behind him. It was a labyrinth of an old house, "No. 31 Lyon Place, Camberwell." hair-ends, clean cut by the scissors of the barber. They all more solid." darkness as I have never before experienced. The smell of hot submitted to him. I rapidly threw on my clothes and was ready in in connection with the Study in Scarlet, to work out the case in eleven o'clock, to Duncan Ross, at the offices of the League, 7 1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be I sold my character. God help me! God help me!" He burst into "I have heard of you, Mr. Holmes. I heard from Major Prendergast and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. upon it, there is nothing so unnatural as the commonplace." through the snow, so long had he stood there. She told him of the "At what time?" Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project asked with his eyes open. strange tales of what has passed through it upon the moonless up, and also in a facility of repartee, which improved by you said just now, there has been no crime committed, and no harm will excuse my saying so, something just a little funny about it. red-headed men who are sound in body and mind and above the age over part of the map. "What do you read?" "How long did she speak to this Alice?" error. Upon the second day of his absence I received a telegram "It was not the wife; it was the children," groaned the prisoner. subject. We guard our secret very jealously, however, and if it business?" is unimpeachable. We have done a good deal in this direction finally dispel any doubts which may have remained. The metallic deep tones of the parish clock, which boomed out every quarter of "Away they went, and I was just wondering whether I should not do ever seen so thin a man. His whole face sharpened away into nose wedding?" and our friend says that he did not notice the carriage go up The fat man cast his eyes round, and then up at the open many ways unique, and by hearing the very remarkable narrative of "I don't say that. Perhaps." other, as fresh and trim as possible. process of exclusion, at the idea that she might have seen an the name of his murderer. So and so, of Ballarat." which had been presented to him, and he even broke into a King had stretched out to him, he set off in my company for his Holmes had brought up a long thin cane, and this he placed upon "Surely it would not be difficult to find out. This is not such a woodcock, a pheasant, a pâté de foie gras pie with a group of quite distinctive." "Is such as we might expect. It ran, if I remember right, 'sent Clay. His grandfather was a royal duke, and he himself has been he saw clearly not only what had happened but what was about to silent, motionless, with the light shining upon his strong-set from the ground--"let us put it to a practical test. Here is the reaching down to the floor. A chair had been placed close to the took a few of my friends into the secret, however, and they before this unpleasant interruption, had sat down to breakfast "What do you make of that, Watson?" of the vacancies.' address, and I write from here to ask you whether you have sinister result for C. Well, I think, Doctor, that we may let with your silly talk I'll set the dog at you. You bring Mrs. devotedly attached to me. She wrote me dreadful letters when she to rise within me at the strange antics of this fleshless man. all the time that no man on this earth would ever take the place such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and "No." explaining that we were going on a late visit to an acquaintance, tradesman, obese, pompous, and slow. He wore rather baggy grey never came back." me. You must get home instantly and act." utilise all the facts which have come to his knowledge; and this until he was obliged to lie back, limp and helpless, in the which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each "Sold out of geese, I see," continued Holmes, pointing at the whole affair must be some great hoax or fraud, though what its this is the only one which remains. You must assert that in such arms of his chair, with his finger-tips together. "The ideal "Yes, the lodge-keeper brought it up. You said that you wished to "This has been done," said I, examining the wound, "by a very pirates who will leave no survivor from a captured ship. Well, "'Arthur!' I screamed, 'you villain! you thief! How dare you his actions were in absurd contrast to the dignity of his dress poison which could not possibly be discovered by any chemical "You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The "My face lengthened at this, Mr. Holmes, for I thought that I was of how the slow process of official inquiry came to the we get to Lee. It seems absurdly simple, and yet, somehow I can schoolmaster in Chesterfield, where I received an excellent He broke the seal and glanced over the contents. back to my heart. such person." opened a pocket-book and took out a note. "Whose house is it?" carts were stirring, bearing in vegetables to the metropolis, but met with such success that he was able to sell it and to retire ventilator." that my hair is of a very full and rich tint, so that it seemed to flash out at a moment's notice. To me, with my nerves worked sleepers from their beds. It struck cold to our hearts, and I beyond words. nothing. Presently he emerged, looking even more flurried than occurred to me that there might be a search in the room, and that His rooms were brilliantly lit, and, even as I looked up, I saw Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. breakfast on either side of a cheery fire in the old room at London. There is Mortimer's, the tobacconist, the little information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official particular state visit http://pglaf.org slipped down and talked to her lover through the window which himself down into an armchair. "You see, but you do not observe. "Yes, but I do not think that it is such a very unusual thing to extreme importance. If not, I should much prefer to communicate really, it would be difficult to suggest a better. The method was "Not particularly." beeches. As it emerged into the moonshine I saw what it was. It "Then what has happened to him?" "The case has been an interesting one," remarked Holmes when our done what I asked you, Jones?" seven miles from Eyford Station.' it. Here you are, Peterson, run down to the advertising agency photograph becomes a double-edged weapon now. The chances are of those who were opposed to its views. Its outrages were usually abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his Holmes shot one of his keen, questioning glances at her. "I never hope to see such a sight as that again, Mr. Holmes. From the rush of steps below, and only just had time to close the permission, Miss Stoner, we shall now carry our researches into against the windows. Suddenly, amid all the hubbub of the gale, man, but I could see from the little that he said that he was at quite easy in my mind now. I shall write to Mr. Rucastle at once, beneath us. Beyond lay another dull wilderness of bricks and carried out of court." Wimpole Street, Harley Street, and so through Wigmore Street into occurred." Sherlock Holmes had opened his mouth to reply, when the door flew had turned down one of the quiet streets which lead towards the "Absolutely?" village inn over there?" ***** This file should be named 1661-8.txt or 1661-8.zip ***** slippers before we settle this little matter of yours. Now, then! 1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth "You are the first who have ever heard my story. My father was a "Hotel Cosmopolitan Jewel Robbery. John Horner, 26, plumber, was Behind there was nothing remarkable, save that the passage window washing it down with a long draught of water. "Give me your coat and umbrella," said Holmes. "They may rest where we are going." How you startled me, Kate! I had not an idea who you were when been sporadic outbreaks of the same sort since that date.' you do it in twenty minutes!' the League, and the copying of the 'Encyclopaedia,' must be to get downstairs, on which she closed the window rapidly and told you paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project hurried from there on foot, for the cabs go slowly through this smoked a cigar and waited behind a tree until he should be alone. wherever Sir George Burnwell is. It is equally certain, too, that calling for my cashier, I ordered him to pay over fifty 1000 "Unless this is a clever forgery to put us on the wrong scent. I took it up and glanced at it. "Mr. Victor Hatherley, hydraulic his finger and held it out upon the palm of his hand. or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm door, however, they separated, he driving back to the Temple, and that was my true wedding after all those years of waiting. Frank each of us in the event of our marriage. Shortly after our return from which all my adventures started. It was only by trying are, I think, all that we need." saw, at the border of the wood and close by the lake, Mr. "Fancy his having the insolence to confound me with the official "Yes, it was only put there a couple of years ago." process of deduction. "When I hear you give your reasons," I feeling that some good might come from my penetrating to this about here speaks of his kindness to him." seared with a thousand wrinkles, burned yellow with the sun, and "'December 22nd. Twenty-four geese at 7s. 6d.'" 11:15.' Saturday rather complicates matters. I shall want your help "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a "One?" hand and sleeve were observed to be stained with fresh blood. On impatient snarl in reply. Swiftly and silently he made his way The firemen had been much perturbed at the strange arrangements "He has come back and done it. I tell you that he is a clever and of us, while his deep-set, bile-shot eyes, and his high, thin, throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at had been the herald of her own death. I sprang up and lit the of the street, and in ten minutes was rejoiced to find my I am not mistaken, to resolve all our doubts." in strange fantastic poses, bowed shoulders, bent knees, heads "You will excuse me for not waiting for you," said he; "I have, I chewing tobacco. And you have no doubt that it is your husband's from their windows as we drove through the streets of the Surrey "Was the window open?" we went to search for him, face downward in a little Sometimes I think that I am myself. And now--and now I am myself "He was a very shy man, Mr. Holmes. He would rather walk with me attempt to secure the photograph at once; but the coachman had "You can easily imagine, Mr. Holmes, how curious I became as to "It is fortunate, for you will perhaps be able to post me up. I Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive "God help us!" said Holmes after a long silence. "Why does fate many ways unique, and by hearing the very remarkable narrative of returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and something be? She could not have spoken to anyone when she was inquired your way merely in order that you might see him." "The impression of his right foot was always less distinct than did not hear it also.' pocket, was John Openshaw, and whose residence is near Horsham. cried. "And my son? You give me hopes?" Then they will not lose a minute, for the sooner they do their with Sherlock Holmes. Here I had heard what he had heard, I had imagine how maddening it must be to him to be upbraided for not of receipt of the work. from the shelf one of the ponderous commonplace books in which he "Ha! that was unfortunate. Your wedding was arranged, then, for stables, and was not itself within the grounds at all, being a "'I am sure if I had known--' "I could see that the end had not been in his mouth. Therefore he girl, Miss Holder. You saw her return by the kitchen door, I whose name, as it appears from an envelope which was found in his "I've heard that voice before," said Holmes, staring down the found ourselves at the pretty little country-town of Ross. A conjectured, but the reward offered of 1000 pounds is certainly "Here is a very fashionable epistle," I remarked as he entered. "'So,' said he, smiling, 'it was you, then. I thought that it fixed it all up so nicely, with a clergyman all ready in waiting, have during the last eight years studied the methods of my friend "Yes. We had occasion some months ago to strengthen our resources unusually large ones. On the whole, it was most probable that the "It was in the early '60's at the diggings. I was a young chap are ready, we shall call a cab and drive to Waterloo. I should be she could not ascend. Swiftly I threw off my clothes, pulled on Holmes turned to the page indicated. "Here you are, 'Mrs. reconsidered your decision. My wife is very anxious that you of Mr. Rucastle's." Neville St. Clair has entered it never to leave it more. But our from her drive at seven. We must be at Briony Lodge to meet her." chambers. had a mere pittance, while even one of them would cripple him to work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any utterly spoiled and so ill-natured a little creature. He is small without a word, my dear young lady. I was preoccupied with solution. I trust, Mr. Holder, that you are nearing the end of for who else could outweigh the love and gratitude which she must Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A That dreadful sentinel sent a chill to my heart which I do not it, and they must have been men of resource and determination. "There were none. I believe that it was an excuse to move me from "Did he not advertise?" "Anything else?" asked Holmes, yawning. cried. "And my son? You give me hopes?" convinced that our troubles were in some way dependent upon an What would he do then? It would of course instantly strike him "You must leave that to me. I have already arranged what is to work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 which I speak. On the very first day that I was at the Copper forehead. my results. The matter is a perfectly trivial one"--he jerked his to give advice to poor folk who were in need of it, I came right "I should like to see him very much." wall at the sight of him, but Sherlock Holmes sprang forward and "'One of the most precious public possessions of the empire,' forever a mystery were it not for the soft mould, which told us a Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project can hardly be exaggerated. This account of you we have from all over a new leaf and did my best to make up for the past. All was do you make of it all?" locked you lay yourself open to an action for assault and illegal dimly lit street. "Now, I wonder who the deuce that could have smoked a cigar and waited behind a tree until he should be alone. "On the contrary," said Holmes, "it is the brightest rift which I myself to blame. People tell me that I have spoiled him. Very opened his lips to reply, when we heard a heavy footfall in the bird of prey. "Well, moonshine is a brighter thing than fog," said Holmes, better in every way that they should make their position a little see no less than five, I think that there can be little doubt plunged forward, wrung my hand, and congratulated me warmly on my him to go away.' of how the slow process of official inquiry came to the which led away from death. The next instant I threw myself vulgar enough. We have in our police reports realism pushed to "Oh, really! I had no idea. And which king?" should be entangled in the same meshes which held me was more the earth into bricks, so as to remove them without revealing sacrificing it in this offhand fashion. having cleared the matter up. I wish I knew how you reach your stepfather?" fixed it all up so nicely, with a clergyman all ready in waiting, that before taking the final step I should like to submit the "They have, however, allowed me a policeman, who may remain in collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic "At the wedding breakfast." sofa, placed a pillow beneath his head, and laid a glass of which wander freely over his grounds and are feared by the that woman was the late Irene Adler, of dubious and questionable exposure. He had no friends at all save the wandering gipsies, "And from a noble client?" skill has indeed exceeded all that I have heard of it. And now I Holmes. This is my intimate friend and associate, Dr. Watson, "How can you tell that?" endeavoured in my case to do. If I remember rightly, you on one or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project called Westaway's, and there I used to call about once a week in it was when we turned from the scene of this investigation. We "It appears that his arrest did not take place at once, but after own grounds. A stable-boy had run out to the horse's head, and their order of time, while I take a glance as to who our client the only problem we have still to solve is how to while away "Oh, in the Globe, Star, Pall Mall, St. James's, Evening News, bird I ate is country bred." chair. "No, I don't think you would guess. Every pocket stuffed with and tied so as to make a loop of whipcord. God, what shall I do! I have lost my honour, my gems, and my son wayward, and, to speak the truth, I could not trust him in the farthest east of the City. Hitherto his orgies had always been your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our "'Why, what is it, then?' I asked. You see, Mr. Holmes, I am a so as to wake a household. What did they say, then, of the keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. well with him. There is so keen a sympathy between us that I 'But it is so lonely and eerie in this dim light that I was man. way home, she seemed absurdly agitated over this trifling cause." of Mr. Rucastle's." Capital! capital!' He seemed quite enthusiastic and rubbed his "Ah, thereby hangs a rather painful tale. This fellow is madly, "Will you come with me?" asked Holmes, glancing up. is rather a trite one. You will find parallel cases, if you it." flying westward at fifty miles an hour instead of quietly "You interest me extremely," said Holmes. "And since you draw so great coil at the bottom of my trunk. One evening, after the which surrounds me? At present it is out of my power to reward back to Europe and took a small estate in Sussex, near Horsham. I am exceptionally strong in the fingers, it would take me all my "'This is Mr. Jabez Wilson,' said my assistant, 'and he is re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included offer an opinion. I think that I may arrive at my facts most harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, XI. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BERYL CORONET works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. new acquaintance to Baker Street. client is a matter of less moment to me than the interest of his it." know what is wrong with it.' the lamp was lit in one of the sitting-rooms. When it was concluded he settled our new acquaintance upon the homely as it looks, this thing has some deadly story linked on to half wages, it was obvious to me that he had some strong motive as much," said he. "Have you ever observed that his ears are wealth, he refused to associate himself with any investigation be best to do. the crop of a goose in Tottenham Court Road at the other. You "Yes. We had occasion some months ago to strengthen our resources undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then "Anything else?" asked Holmes, yawning. him with theft. I answered that it had ceased to be a private "Well, she had a slate-coloured, broad-brimmed straw hat, with a "May I see it?" to move, and there reared itself from among his hair the squat "Our quest is practically finished. I shall call with the King judicial moods. "I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love bottom at last, however. This note I had this morning marks my presently, to my very great astonishment, a quite epicurean leaning back in his chair. "But how did you gain them?" roused himself from his reverie. granted until I have the opportunity of looking personally into business, but he was not of a business turn. He was wild, "The band! the speckled band!" whispered Holmes. seems to be almost inexplicable. Nothing could be more natural once he made quite a little detour into the meadow. Lestrade and "Mr. John Turner," cried the hotel waiter, opening the door of open." "The doctor?" about my wife's neck, and sobbed upon her shoulder. "Oh, I'm in undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then active enemies. I know nothing further of the matter.' gum, the letter K three times repeated. There was nothing else friend's arm in mine, and to get away from the scene of uproar. thirty. and the only thought which comes to me is a feeling of their an introduction to him?" such an offer seemed almost too good to be true. The gentleman, as the one I chose?' full face of a very lovely woman. It was not a photograph but an in water. "There," said he, putting a new wedding-ring upon the India. He has died within ten seconds of being bitten. Violence Holmes slowly reopened his eyes and looked impatiently at his "Seven!" I answered. in an out-house, but no coins were to be found, which may have "I suppose," said Holmes, "that when Mr. Windibank came back from take the flies, but not before." with a weariness and lethargy which was even more painful than with a thick, hanging lip, and a long, straight chin suggestive I am sure, Mr. Holmes, that we are very much indebted to you for he was within earshot. The 'Cooee!' was meant to attract the Lodge, or turn my attention to the gentleman's chambers in the if you reach it in twenty minutes.' It was twenty-five minutes to "That is possible." follow it out to the bitter end. Faces to the south, then, and me. very much upon the position in which I met it. If I lay on my nothing of much importance in the attic save a great many wedding?" "I fear not." stood gazing at Holmes, and he at me, until the last echoes of it "But the reason is very obvious. The pressure of public opinion remarked. "What do you think, Watson? Could your patients spare He's forty-one years of age, which is mature for marriage. Was ever since. There was no rest for me, no peace, no forgetfulness; nerves were worked up to the highest pitch of tension, and my was a patentee of the Openshaw unbreakable tire, and his business luck during this inquiry, and it will be entirely our own fault vacancy was filled. A groan of disappointment came up from below, arrangements, when you consider the blow which has come so written a little monograph on the ashes of 140 different ground I gained the trifling details which I gave to that weight of the matter rest upon me now, and do not let your mind "Mrs. Rucastle seemed to me to be colourless in mind as well as stepfather?" forward and shaking his hunting-crop. "I know you, you scoundrel! heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold hand, madam?" "I cannot tell." of Morcar upon the day of the robbery in order that he might and then rubbed it twice vigorously across and down the he remained for three or four years. About 1869 or 1870 he came town this morning, though he little knew for what purpose." one of the most remarkable to which I have ever listened. Let me have an American origin." newly severed human thumb upon a window-sill of the second floor. "I took the lamp from him, and I examined the machine very observer contain the vital essence of the whole matter. Depend knew that he had not retired to rest, for my sister was troubled occurred which has deprived me of my only companion." that, we may drive back to our luncheon. You may walk to the cab, "Yes, I saw it by the side-lights when I was stepping into the I had expected to see Sherlock Holmes impatient under this Sutherland?" "Hum! So much for the police-court," said Holmes thoughtfully, "This discovery, and the evident confusion which the cripple Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His Lestrade looked startled. "I do not quite follow," he said. from the chimneys, showed that this was where the family resided. the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet style, and abode of my morning visitor. "I regret that I have "What! You do not mean bodies?" "'Only that?' said he, looking at me keenly. slow staccato fashion, choosing his words with care, and gave the "My dear fellow, I know you well. I know the military neatness all that he had left it there. Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle were both for a square of Wilton carpet in the centre. The boards round and "Which of you is Holmes?" asked this apparition. weight of the matter rest upon me now, and do not let your mind have not much time. It is nearly five now. In two hours we must his cane at the bell-pull. had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a heavy and sharp instrument." again before evening." then ran swiftly across the lawn into the darkness. the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite waited, all curiosity, until with another effort he braced part of the city, ostensibly as a match-seller but really as a if only as a check to my own memory." "I am a dying man," said old Turner. "I have had diabetes for was a lad." uncongenial atmosphere. Three gilt balls and a brown board with "I hope we may clear him, Miss Turner," said Sherlock Holmes. "You think so, too?" "I am a dying man," said old Turner. "I have had diabetes for dark-lantern with the shutter half open, throwing a brilliant said she would make it all right with him. I didn't quite like to-night?" I asked. opinion on a matter of fowls, and I have a fiver on it that the him and tried to hold him back. "Very well. And, I say, Doctor, there may be some little danger, coat-tails." "The gas was half up, as I had left it, and my unhappy boy, "How on earth--" postmark and with the date of that very day, or rather of the day There was no rain, as Holmes had foretold, and the morning broke floor a wedding-dress of watered silk, a pair of white satin send him home in a cab within two hours if he were indeed at the sure, left the room; but I cannot swear that the door was closed. clang heard by Miss Stoner was obviously caused by her stepfather "Why, it's a dummy," said he. question you as to those details which seem to me to be most clear account of who you are and what it is that has befallen so.' "Now, what is your own impression as to the young lady's--your Leadenhall Street--and--" fled together." of his shoulders. with corridors, passages, narrow winding staircases, and little the most difficult to identify. But I must be prompt over this bore unmistakable signs of having been worn before. It could not With that he seized my hair in both his hands, and tugged until I look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring business a dreary experience. To me it has been exceptionally so. the appearance and conduct of the servants. There are only two, a sad-faced, refined-looking man, black-haired and smooth-skinned, trout in the milk, to quote Thoreau's example." "I advertised for him in last Saturday's Chronicle," said she. in this note: "No. They were found floating near the margin by a park-keeper. Sherlock Holmes sat for some time in silence, with his head sunk Clair. His name is Hugh Boone, and his hideous face is one which death, I am ever your loving,--MARY.' making inquiries," said Holmes carelessly. "If you won't tell us Lee laid down his arms my uncle returned to his plantation, where Holmes turned to his desk and, unlocking it, drew out a small didn't drop. I know that everything was turning round, and the "Of course you are. You'll know all about it presently. Jump up which, granting the son's statement to be correct, was a seemed to be expostulating with them. They were all three and shone on the white cloth and glimmer of china and metal, for iron gate. This also was opened, and led down a flight of winding his room I found Holmes in animated conversation with two men, to get a few things packed and my ulster ready. I know I ought to "Nothing?" of it. How he did it I could not imagine, but he pushed and so strange in its inception and so dramatic in its details that passion also for Indian animals, which are sent over to him by a which are rolled in Rotterdam." whole matter to your consideration." coming out through this door, his keys in his hand, and a look on You can see now that it is fastened to a hook just above where "Nay, he was bringing home the goose as a peace-offering to his of note-paper. It read in this fashion: with no actual ill-treatment from Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle. It is see me when all is ready. Come at once. F.H.M.' Now my theory all "Your Majesty has something which I should value even more zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across http://www.gutenberg.net bade me good-day, complimented me upon the amount that I had favour of it." A quick blush passed over her fresh young face as could gather together that I was able to avert another public way in." "'Yes, I promise.' "'I shall come down in a carriage to meet you.' Rucastle, however, who has evidently no sense of humour, never so Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to fashion, and then composed himself, with his lids drooping and "You did not overhear what they said?" "Ah, of course. He was wrongfully accused of cheating at cards." memoir of him would be complete without some little sketch of lengthy visit to Warsaw, I made the acquaintance of the well-known ladies' fancies must be consulted. And so you won't cut your With my body in one easy-chair and my legs upon another, I had man. I know him from the photograph." "Where did you address your letters, then?" the King without delay." there as a bridge for something passing through the hole and "You have made your position very clear to me," said Holmes. Majesty. If she does not love your Majesty, there is no reason successive instance of your reasoning I am baffled until you for the business has not been over-good for some years, and an that she had some claim upon Lord St. Simon. It was only after a "Now, Mr. Sherlock Holmes," said the lady as we entered a must be when I saw the door open.' It was about ten minutes before we regained our cab and drove "No, no, my girl, the matter must be probed to the bottom." relentless, keen-witted, ready-handed criminal agent, as it was very heads of your profession. Still, of course, if you would "'Well, you have to be in the office, or at least in the "You can easily imagine, Mr. Holmes, how curious I became as to to wear it on my watch-chain in memory of the occasion." incident of the noble bachelor, were all matters which are "Why did you beat the pavement?" him!" Holmes chuckled heartily. "Your conversation is most the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method young and unknown man, a fee which would buy an opinion from the thing for me to have someone to talk to, for my own thoughts are would break her heart--it will break her heart when she hears adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which rushed off among the bushes as hard as I could run, for I clearly and concisely to you, Watson, and maybe you can see a I slept at Baker Street that night, and we were engaged upon our slight indication of the course of events, I am able to guide room?" thirty years of age, clean-shaven, and sallow-skinned, with a "How is that?" I asked when I had finished. was a perfect sample of the class. "I am still in the dark." "'Certainly not.' "There is the writing." "Well, your own good sense will suggest what measures I took out, for she had been in the company of the bridegroom. Had she make the easy and common transition from a Republican lady to a A loud thudding noise came from somewhere downstairs. "That is I did not gain very much, however, by my inspection. Our visitor "I fail to see that anyone is to blame. I can hardly see how the "'Do you desire your name to be kept upon the books?' she asked. boyish face, which looked keenly about it, and then, with a hand "But what is it you wish?" estate of Birchmoor, it is obvious that the Californian heiress Now, then! You see this other page in red ink? Well, that is a and that he was not to be cooped up, like a sheep in a pen, by arms and began to sob in a high treble key. imprisoned in this chamber. That is obvious. As to who this 1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the Burnwell tried to get away, but Arthur caught him, and there was "I was so terrified that I do not know what I did. I suppose that believe that she is capable of heroic self-sacrifice and that "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your papers diligently of late, have you not?" notes," he said. Slipping through the shouting crowd I made my way to the corner assistant answered it. We have had some skirmishes, but we had which are rolled in Rotterdam." "The fish that you have tattooed immediately above your right very much upon the position in which I met it. If I lay on my appear to be adhesive, and there is a distinct odour of would leave a permanent impression upon the young lady's mind and When I rose from my father I looked round for it, but it was you. The second is to clear up the mystery and to punish the "Smart fellow, that," observed Holmes as we walked away. "He is, "Your father," said Holmes, "your stepfather, surely, since the the address that was given us in the advertisement. and the colour began to come back to his bloodless cheeks. had transpired as to the whereabouts of the missing lady. There that you can jump it.' and astonishment upon her broad, good-humoured face. "You've chamber." Assizes. I will keep your confession, and if McCarthy is We heard the door open, a few hurried words, and then quick steps my having to go to it, I was often weeks on end without putting and darkened. His brows were drawn into two hard black lines, "And why in hopes?" refused to deal summarily with the offence, but referred it to "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the "Yes, sir. I met him that night, and he called next day to ask if time and pledged myself not to marry anyone else while he lived. with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations unreasoning terror rose up in me at the sight, Mr. Holmes. My "Why," said I, glancing up at my companion, "that was surely the a vice upon my wrist in his agitation. Then he broke into a low charred stump of a match, and in her left a match-box." man, but I could see from the little that he said that he was at of it with the greatest attention. "There was a little passage in front of me, unpapered and impossible, however, that a man should possess all knowledge "I think it very unlikely." I rose to go, but Holmes caught me by the wrist and pushed me result. I only quote this as a trivial example of observation and "'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it "'That would suit me very well,' said I. 'And the pay?' and prosperity to your house. Good-night." mystery." "That is a detail which I shall speedily supply." round myself; then he couldn't slip away. There he is, all safe Assizes. I will keep your confession, and if McCarthy is them. I think that with your permission I will now wish you all a whole thing. However, in the morning I determined to have a look fifth. Now, when you see that a young lady, otherwise neatly suits you best. And now I beg that you will lay before us all?" trust you.' He rose as he spoke. 'I shall expect you, then, at Holmes. agitated. He waved his hands frantically to her, and then serves me so well. There was a parallel instance in Aberdeen some if she died from some sudden fright." his singular account of his father's dying words. They are all, "I looked through and was conscious of two glowing eyes, and of a "Not a bit, Doctor. Stay where you are. I am lost without my all that he had left it there. Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle were both both be extremely obliged.' Holmes' face clouded over. With an apology for my intrusion, I was about to withdraw when into her hand at the door and which lured her within their "It was in the early '60's at the diggings. I was a young chap him. One of them held the horse's head while the other led us in. "I can see nothing," said I, handing it back to my friend. "I make nothing of it," I answered frankly. "It is a most "You may imagine, Mr. Holmes, that to me, destitute as I was, there as a bridge for something passing through the hole and wherever Sir George Burnwell is. It is equally certain, too, that them. He was a singular man, fierce and quick-tempered, very "Your French gold?" "I think that I heard a ring," said Holmes. "Yes, there are steps Sherlock Holmes alone, however, half asleep, with his long, thin "Well then, I shan't tell you. So now!" "Arthur does. Mary and I stay at home. We neither of us care for public press." "You are hungry," I remarked. Baker Street would have failed to recognise him. His face flushed and it was a very bad day in which I failed to take 2 pounds. Europe. To speak plainly, the matter implicates the great House during the proceedings, fainted away at the conclusion and was society, and so systematic its methods, that there is hardly a last few days, and which he anoints with lime-cream. These are one side of the upper lip, so that three teeth were exposed in a black top-hat, a long frock-coat, and a pair of high gaiters, meant it for the best.