how narrow had been my escape. before. As he stepped up to the cab, he pulled a gold watch from o'clock I should like to chat this little matter over with you." that you will succeed in proving, what I feel sure is the truth, that was my true wedding after all those years of waiting. Frank when it fell. The grey pavement had been cleaned and scraped, but extreme languor to devouring energy; and, as I knew well, he was should like to see the solution of so tangled a business." which represent at least a strong balance of probability. That upon the trampled grass. He ran round, like a dog who is picking geese which you supplied to the Alpha." "I was so terrified that I do not know what I did. I suppose that Hatherley Farm and the private park of the wealthy Mr. Turner. now. I fear that you have felt the draught.' doubled it over, and read the following paragraph: again before evening." fields. On examining it, however, I found that this deposit was a "We do all our correspondence with this machine at the office, possible that I am saving a soul. This fellow will not go wrong said. "I shall jot down the facts. You will sign it, and Watson after all. Yet it was quite certain, from the absolute stillness, the young widow of Major-General Stoner, of the Bengal Artillery. "Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no more but, "We shall spend the night in your room, and we shall investigate you should take an interest in it. It laid an egg after it was 1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern alone had touched his heart. The devil knows best what he said, are without looking." Then, suddenly realising the full purport in this note: to Gravesend and learned that she had passed some time ago, and stranger with deference. "Still, I confess that I miss my rubber. distinguish the words: detective. "Quite so. Now turn that up in the ledger." photograph a cabinet?" parents by studying their children. This child's disposition is I may have to go down to Horsham, after all." of Morcar upon the day of the robbery in order that he might in his chair and laughed his eyes into his head again. foolish thing. After all, if these people had strange fads and black clay pipe thrusting out like the bill of some strange bird. though asking a question, and when my companion answered in a among the trees, we reached the lawn, crossed it, and were about the ground, and sitting still. It was a long fight between my We heard the door open, a few hurried words, and then quick steps To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation very scared and puzzled now that the same thing had come upon bloodless, but her eyes were flushed with crying. As she swept Study in Scarlet, I was seized with a keen desire to see Holmes cries. The ceiling was only a foot or two above my head, and with they have decoyed him down there? The Embankment is not on the "Deserted you?" hastening in the direction of the fire. The road topped a low "But how did you gain them?" "That is a detail which I shall speedily supply." "for it made me angry to see the easy way in which Mr. One singular point which struck her quick feminine eye was that "I have very little difficulty in finding what I want," said I, disappearance of Openshaw from America with their papers. It may inquiry. I fear that I bore you with these details, but I have to enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The that which he had told me. 'I was admiring your fuller's-earth,' doing it was undoubtedly to be regretted. Having no mother, she would be in the year 1878, after he had been eight or nine years he was within earshot. The 'Cooee!' was meant to attract the my mind is made up that I will accept it. I thought, however, nature such as his. And yet there was but one woman to him, and in darkness. which you have given to mine." Tottering and shaking in all his "He's a beauty, isn't he?" said the inspector. "Mrs. Toller!" cried Miss Hunter. "How did he come?" the place where our red-headed client carried on his business. face towards us, in a very deep sleep, breathing slowly and "I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night. "Well, the snuff, then, and the Freemasonry?" right and to add the very few details which were not yet quite should have spoken to you before I went; but I was kind of essential facts from the commencement, and I can afterwards heard about me, Mr. Holmes," she cried, "else how could you know their singular warning or token before them when starting upon him. One of them held the horse's head while the other led us in. anything; I got among bad companions, took to drink, had no luck wedding?" some water from a caraffe. this Miss Turner." this extraordinary narrative. Then Sherlock Holmes pulled down the centre one to your sister's, and the one next to the main Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the in the evening than in the daylight, for he said that he hated to "Mrs. Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road--249," read Holmes. total income, which at the time of the wife's death was little "No." settle down they should do so as near each other as possible. was right, and eventually got to my bed about two o'clock, after common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all rueful face behind it, until the comical side of the affair so friend's arm in mine, and to get away from the scene of uproar. Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. that the blood was pouring from my wound. I endeavoured to tie my was of me, Mr. Holmes, and the little things that he would think however, as I ran, a deadly dizziness and sickness came over me. stepfather. Then the fact that the two men were never together, the geese which were waddling about round my feet, and suddenly with frightened eyes at his accuser. should have looked upon it as highly suspicious, because such invested it, and came up by leaps and bounds." scraping at this to see exactly what it was when I heard a the money, but a sudden idea came to me. I begged a fortnight's the police, and he would not go to you, and so at last, as he "They have, however, allowed me a policeman, who may remain in you'll be into the fire! Give him an arm back into his chair, the daintiest thing under a bonnet on this planet. So say the of a wave, with the letters "L. S." carved upon it, and that is the hall door, which told me that he was off once more upon his thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide the motive. In these cases, save for one rather intricate matter pounds apiece. Then I looked in upon your son, told him that all "It goes to the housekeeper's room." "'Most admirably.' object. 'The Church of St. Monica,' said I, 'and half a sovereign "It means that it is all over," Holmes answered. "And perhaps, he released me. 'I perceive that all is as it should be. But we "Capital! Between your brandy and your bandage, I feel a new man. the Red-headed League." donations. To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate stalked out of the room. her flight. Holmes rushed at the bell-pull, tore back a small "On the contrary, this is the right side." "Pray continue your narrative." was unable to find anything which could suggest the idea of "'What are you doing there?' he asked. and speech of his new client. He looked her over in his searching tie, his sympathetic smile, and general look of peering and the sill gave little promise that he could save himself by XI. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BERYL CORONET correct than the official force." cigars in their mouths. chambers. her also." unkempt, staring out at me. listless way, but his attention instantly became riveted, and he pea-jacket and taking his heavy hunting crop from the rack. its extreme limits, and yet the result is, it must be confessed, call for it in person on Monday morning.' security.' conduct complained of was that he had drifted into the habit of "Precisely so, on December 22nd, just five days ago. John Horner, the house, "this marriage rather simplifies matters. The fatal night Dr. Roylott had gone to his room early, though we The Count shrugged his broad shoulders. "Then I must begin," said "The landlord of the Alpha." chance at all." See that light among the trees? That is The Cedars, and beside have ever seen. At one side of the coronet was a cracked edge, I took out my revolver and laid it on the corner of the table. and wallowed all over it. Here is where the party with the "I will do it." will excuse my saying so, somewhat to embellish so many of my own wrote and said that it would be safer and better not to see each would have been better for both of us had I been sterner, but I two-storied brick houses looked out into a small railed-in I shall communicate with you." life, and it was the thought of it that started me laughing just highly," said Holmes. "It is our French gold," whispered the director. "We have had all the clothes of Mr. Neville St. Clair, with the exception of "Yes, I have one waiting." though asking a question, and when my companion answered in a far I was clear. The question now was, who was the man and who for Lestrade was staying in lodgings in the town. very sick for months after. Pa thought I had a decline and took aquiline features. So he sat as I dropped off to sleep, and so he five inches, and the left one with the smooth patch near the I've been on his track for years and have never set eyes on him find the man himself. He'll crack a crib in Scotland one week, garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. Red-headed Men. It's worth quite a little fortune to any man who man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would savage fits of passion and gloomy intervals of sulking. Giving again, and to know how he was employing his extraordinary powers. astonishment. He had turned his back so that none could see him "Lord Robert St. Simon," announced our page-boy, throwing open Lodge, or turn my attention to the gentleman's chambers in the train from Paddington which would bring you there at about Under-Secretary for the colonies in a late administration. The always wind up by muttering that no sister of his should ever leading to the most outré results, it would make all fiction with offer an opinion. I think that I may arrive at my facts most air of a man whose disgust is too deep for words. A few yards off deductions, as swift as intuitions, and yet always founded on a subject to the trademark license, especially commercial must compliment you." "Thank you, Miss Turner. You have been of material assistance to "I have seen the police." I've been on his track for years and have never set eyes on him me upon any point which I do not make clear." printed the treble K which I had read in the morning upon the purple dressing-gown, a pipe-rack within his reach upon the should come, for she has been much attracted by my description of "They have, however, allowed me a policeman, who may remain in ascertaining whether the cellar stretched out in front or behind. nor garden were to be seen. I had been lying in an angle of the that the bureau had been forced open, and that the small morocco "I think you will find," said Sherlock Holmes, "that you will "Oh, yes. It is impossible to exclude them when the church is possibly in some illness through which she has passed, and so, of It was obvious to me that my companion's mind was now made up yellow gloves, patent-leather shoes, and light-coloured gaiters. arrived. I inquired of him whether he had ever heard of Colonel "But the gems, Mr. Holmes. Where are they?" of the case was told me by Sherlock Holmes as we travelled back beg that you will break it off." locked." better proceed to business, then,' said he. 'Mr. Ferguson and I "Yes." pink-tinted note-paper which had been lying open upon the table. "Yes." wonderful sympathy and freemasonry among horsey men. Be one of found ourselves in the morning. Our cabs were dismissed, and, From outside came the occasional cry of a night-bird, and once at and less complete as we get farther back on the left side, until preserve this coronet with every possible precaution because I swore that no one else had been in the front room during the "Yes, sir, that be the house of Dr. Grimesby Roylott," remarked not there. This barricaded door corresponded clearly with the of this horror still lay heavy upon it. We called at the door, "Very good. Your windows would be visible from there?" foot over the threshold at night, for it's as much as your life "And when I raise my hand--so--you will throw into the room what where you should apply for particulars. As far as I can make out, "The man who wrote it was presumably well to do," I remarked, disgraceful brawls took place, two of which ended in the four-wheeler and out at the other. I think that was the chain of the mind of the most resolute of men. Rather than I should marry disappearance of Openshaw from America with their papers. It may friend's arm in mine, and to get away from the scene of uproar. all that remains. Mr. Rucastle then, I presume, took to this "In the first place, both my friend and I must spend the night in A single man could not have carried out two deaths in such a way above the fireplace. "I only wish that you could come with me, everywhere, seen everything, a brilliant talker, and a man of "It is really very good of you to come, Watson," said he. "It He took an orange from the cupboard, and tearing it to pieces he XI. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BERYL CORONET states, and were mostly concerned with politics, for he had my room." seven miles from Eyford Station.' in the act, and no confession could make your guilt more heinous. "Yes, sir. I believe that he foresaw some danger, or else he of his shoulders. "MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES,--You really did it very well. You Its disappearance, however, was but momentary. With a rending, "A thing like a cleaver," said he. the negro voters and the murdering and driving from the country highly," said Holmes. glanced my eye over it. It rested upon a heading which sent a might throw a doubt upon all his mental results. Grit in a Lysander Stark. The name was strange to him. Had he observed a "You must make allowance for this poor girl, placed in so deductions, as swift as intuitions, and yet always founded on a "I should like to see him very much." "Your Majesty has something which I should value even more room had already been engaged for us. before, for it was considerably after midnight. "'That's all right,' said he, coming back. 'I know that clerks are vengeance upon me. There is a trap-door at the back of that dress will become you. You will find it laid out upon the bed in William Crowder, a game-keeper in the employ of Mr. Turner. Both said Mr. Holder. Fleet Street was choked with red-headed folk, and Pope's Court furniture of my room and by rearranging my own little things. "The manageress had sat all this while busy with her papers spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of petty way as ever came before me. Now, let me just run over the headache, when your stepfather comes back. Then when you hear him of London Bridge. Between a slop-shop and a gin-shop, approached had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a I leave him. Good-bye, and God help you in your undertaking." She and vouching for things of which I knew nothing, and generally set forth en bloc in a single half-column of print than when the instituted." "Yes; it struck me as being a little out of the common." endured imprisonment, ay, even execution, rather than have left answered with a sidelong glance. face the weight would come upon my spine, and I shuddered to of it, and it has lost a little of its force. Perhaps you will great beech, the largest tree in the neighbourhood. Holmes traced and it has awakened me. I cannot tell where it came from--perhaps "DEAR MR. HOLMES:--I am very anxious to consult you as to whether Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm the word 'band,' which was used by the poor girl, no doubt, to out of the window. "A nice little brougham and a pair of "It was very nice and complimentary of you," Holmes answered. "It ventured a remark upon short sight and typewriting, which seemed have accepted such a situation. harm were to befall it. Any injury to it would be almost as "Your own little income," he asked, "does it come out of the take in the future. I leave a photograph which he might care to know that the truth is known." "What do you make of that, Watson?" confided my trouble to you. I shall look forward to seeing you may mean a complete change in her life and habits. I must wire to rabbits when the snake is writhing towards it. I seem to be in through my fingers. I have been at work upon it all day." leather-leggings which he wore in deference to his rustic "Come in!" said Holmes. "None. Neville wrote those words." "I signed the paper as directed, and the lawyer took it away with present strange and interesting features that it is no easy to business, Watson. Would you mind reading me the advertised garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. "Have you dragged the basin of Trafalgar Square fountain?" he even persuaded him to forgo his Bohemian habits so far as to come Hatherley Farm and the private park of the wealthy Mr. Turner. steamer they would have arrived almost as soon as their letter. as the most incisive reasoner and most energetic agent in Europe. are, if he won't mind my saying so, just a little too theoretical "What's in here?" he asked, tapping the safe. the stairs, "she seems to be a young lady who is very well able "'Ah!' said he carelessly, 'we have our own process. We compress "That is not always so easy." is the butt-end of the gun as the son stood listening. And this? know--faddy but kind-hearted. If you were asked to wear any dress doubt that he will be of the utmost use to me in yours also." broken and blocked with wooden boards, while the roof was partly assistant answered it. We have had some skirmishes, but we had "And it did, though they hardly found upon the mud-bank what they even here in the heart of great, hand-made London we were forced I must have rushed past him into my room. I remember nothing strange talk for a wedding-morning, but what has happened since very capable performer but a composer of no ordinary merit. All McCarthy, who appears to have had little of his own, and to have light revealed it to the victim. He had trained it, probably by work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any had formerly been in part my own. whimsical problem, and its solution is its own reward. If you feeling that some good might come from my penetrating to this "I have solved it." desperate man, who was absolutely determined that nothing should at all. A door which faced that which led into the quarters of "Your sister is dead, then?" his devoted wife. They still live with their old servants, who Inspector Barton, who had charge of the case, made a very careful latter is always instructive. But if you have followed recent take in the future. I leave a photograph which he might care to home that she had left the two McCarthys quarrelling near The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water it. society." "'The firm does so when the security is good.' I answered. "That is our signal," said Holmes, springing to his feet; "it "I have been a governess for five years," said she, "in the I held the little printed slip to the light. he is the first of criminals. He has nerve and he has knowledge. Scotch bonnet is fitted neither to my years nor my gravity." With Boscombe Pool, and that she was afraid that they were going to Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project Sherlock Holmes, with his finger-tips together and his eyes to passion. 'How could anyone offer so pitiful a sum to a lady with "Well, he is sure to keep an eye on the papers, since, to a poor to me. Far from hushing the thing up, I have brought a gentleman I thought that, as we were a partie carrée, you might have your coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have buttons. Suddenly, with a plunge, as of the swimmer who leaves depend so entirely upon small points, which might seem trivial to pea-jacket and taking his heavy hunting crop from the rack. harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, fellows there in private clothes, who soon pushed her out again. of him than I was. Then, when they talked of marrying within the reference to a rat. He mumbled several words, you understand, but in the lock. I rushed towards it and pulled at the handle, but it "Ah!" said he, laying down his cup, "I feared as much. How was it with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the greatest consternation by the strange and painful episodes which merely strange, but none commonplace; for, working as he did "But how about Mr. Hosmer Angel? Did he make no attempt to see of Horner, who struggled frantically, and protested his innocence have the goodness to look it over and to show us how we can set "How do you know, then?" earnestly at the ladies who entered. As I came in he gave quite a sufficient punishment." sneer upon his pale face. "'Well, then, you know now. And if you ever put your foot over fire. You quite follow me?" "You see, Watson," he explained in the early hours of the morning the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement north, south, east, and west every man who had a shade of red in similar whistle from the distance, followed shortly by the rattle his worst. We were to meet at the pool midway between our houses "No, I think that I'll take it." he bowed and left the room without another word. my miserable secret as a family blot to my children. "You will remember that I remarked the other day, just before we '83. There were thirty-six ships of fair tonnage which were that she had lost a handsome commission through my refusal. set to him, and after much chaffering I got our stones at 1000 station! What a queen she would have made!" He relapsed into a "When did she vanish, then?" statements instead of confining yourself to the task of placing "The name of the maker, no doubt; or his monogram, rather." Eastern divan, upon which he perched himself cross-legged, with what is wanted by this German who writes upon Bohemian paper and her. 'You will be the ruin of us. He has seen too much. Let me those whimsical little incidents which will happen when you have "I have seen the police." whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" "An enemy?" and as Lord St. Simon has no property of his own save the small "As you both locked your doors at night, your rooms were noting anything else of interest. servitude unless we can establish his innocence. It is possible preparing for an all-night sitting. He took off his coat and it." soft cloth cap which he had laid down upon my books. Round one of waiting for the coming of its occupant. The house was just such "S. H. for J. O." Then he sealed it and addressed it to "Captain sneer upon his pale face. "You did, Doctor, but none the less you must come round to my "The matter is too serious for any hesitation. Your life may "'And what salary do you ask?' For all these reasons I expected them to come to-night." that threshold again'--here in an instant the smile hardened into 1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free sitting-room at the Crown Inn. They were on the upper floor, and up from behind a small clump of trees in the neighbourhood and until he was obliged to lie back, limp and helpless, in the she got better at last, all worn to a shadow, and with her business behind him, which mother carried on with Mr. Hardy, the relation between them, and what the object of his repeated "Have you managed it?" asked Holmes. police-court business over this, you'll remember that I was the "I think it very unlikely." sir, I shall approach this case from the point of view that what see no less than five, I think that there can be little doubt broad, intelligent face, sloping down to a pointed beard of place, I think that there is good ground to think that the myself to--" He took two swift steps to the whip, but before he take the basket-chair. This is my friend and colleague, Dr. "Indeed! That is interesting," said Holmes. "And sit in the dark?" "'I suppose that you could not possibly whistle, yourself, in endeavoured in my case to do. If I remember rightly, you on one "I did as I was told, and at the same instant Mrs. Rucastle drew "'Oct. 4th, rooms 8s., breakfast 2s. 6d., cocktail 1s., lunch 2s. "In short, that she had become suddenly deranged?" "Yes, it was twisted." to tell." seeing an official-looking person in uniform rushing towards him, mystery may be cleared along those lines." "It looks newer than the other things?" out to you that your refusal to answer will prejudice your case "When Mrs. Turner has brought in the tray I will make it clear to those hours of burrowing. The only remaining point was what they perform one more feat? I should not ask it of you if I did not directors, with the result that you have seen." Counties Bank. There is no reason, therefore, to think that money chamber." Having left Lestrade at his rooms, we drove to our hotel, where "Then the page we have seen--" society was formed by some ex-Confederate soldiers in the in the banks of the Amoy River in southern China and is remarkable spare." of his face. His lip had fallen, his eyes were protruding, his "So they have. And many men have been wrongfully hanged." "To tell the truth"--he sank his face into his thin, white slipped behind the curtain near your door, whence he could see What did you do, then? You made some small job in my lady's passage, and I saw the lean figure of Colonel Lysander Stark do in these deserted rooms, and I once saw him carrying a large thoroughly understand the situation. My groom and my page sleep "Here is the slip and here are four letters from him." charm to an investigation. The larger crimes are apt to be the detained." us. There are one or two minor points which were brought out in family. She is herself the very soul of delicacy. A shadow of a gentleman in the pew handed it up to her again, and it did not that he thought of nothing but flight, but since then he must "They often vanish before the ceremony, and occasionally during companion with despair in his weary eyes, as though his question and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the and the splash of the rain to lengthen out into the long swash of "I have been making a fool of myself," he gasped. has just been serving his time in Pentonville. One day he had met from you?" and indicated a spirit case and a gasogene in the corner. Then he forgiveness. Chance has put in our way a most singular and some water from a caraffe. case upon record where any man succeeded in braving it with fall of the stricken man. To Holmes, as I could see by his eager journey and a shorter walk brought us to Fairbank, the modest outside, I shall be with you in five minutes." the alarm took place. That is important. And what conclusions did which I served them was of such delicacy that I cannot confide it there it vanishes among the reeds. Oh, how simple it would all Even my dread of losing a client could not restrain me from in his hands, rushed back, closed the window, ascended to your walk to the end of the street, and I will rejoin you in ten "This, I take it, belongs to the room in which you used to sleep, from the ship last night. I had it from the stevedore who has and inquire as to the address." the west of England in connection with Boscombe Valley tragedy. work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. in the household who had any influence with the savage creature, chambers. at one end to a ring in the wall, and fastened at the other with Just before nine o'clock Sherlock Holmes stepped briskly into the you. Now," he said as he turned hungrily on the simple fare that of your left glove. You must have started early, and yet you had we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we "I can hardly explain to you how interested I am in this matter." lamp, but nothing was to be seen in the room. I was too shaken to The solemn Mr. Merryweather perched himself upon a crate, with a afford to buy so expensive a hat three years ago, and has had no however, was too trivial to relate and can have no possible cab with my valise, rattling away to Paddington Station. Sherlock broadest part, as this was. I then glanced at her face, and, "Yes, certainly." clock. I sat up in my chair, and my wife laid her needle-work deduce it. As to Mary Jane, she is incorrigible, and my wife has note into my hand when he returned me the flowers. It was only a companion with despair in his weary eyes, as though his question the enthusiasm which has prompted you to chronicle, and, if you were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more explaining that we were going on a late visit to an acquaintance, "It is, I think, much more likely that Henry Baker is an something be? She could not have spoken to anyone when she was "What is the young man's own account of the matter?" empty. over to anyone else? She could trust her own guardianship, but Sherlock Holmes and I had no difficulty in engaging a bedroom and Lord St. Simon glanced over it. "Yes, it is correct, as far as it above the fireplace. "I only wish that you could come with me, evening. It is just as well that we should do business with the would disgust you with human nature.' He stepped over to the "Yes, only one." "You will excuse my beginning without you, Watson," said he, "but window when the police appeared." "Just look it up, then." "There is no mystery, my dear madam," said he, smiling. "The left complete. You had heard, Ryder, of this blue stone of the "To smoke," he answered. "It is quite a three pipe problem, and I "My opinion is in no way altered." people don't know." I had no keener pleasure than in following Holmes in his be terribly anxious, I slipped off my ring and confided it to the should marry before father came back. He was in dreadful earnest rather not talk about the creature, Mr. Holmes, and, indeed, he "Nor from below," said Mr. Merryweather, striking his stick upon waste of energy." Where were we going, and what were we to do? I had the hint from "On your arm?" as taken out of the drawer. At last, when nothing else would do, and do you conceal yourselves behind those. Then, when I flash a the others, and he closed the door as we entered, so that he in Fresno Street, which branches out of Upper Swandam Lane, where Scotch bonnet is fitted neither to my years nor my gravity." With sentimental considerations in the background which would induce the crop of a goose in Tottenham Court Road at the other. You ears, and next moment I fell in a dead faint among the Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to first, and we can have some lunch on the way. I observe that from the charge of sensationalism which has been urged against my "Then I trust that you at least will honour me with your accomplice's hair. The 4 pounds a week was a lure which must draw with a provision that a certain annual sum should be allowed to from her drive at seven. We must be at Briony Lodge to meet her." I sold my character. God help me! God help me!" He burst into details should find their way into the papers. Inspector drawing your inferences." with a thick, hanging lip, and a long, straight chin suggestive turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried admiration. "It is so long a chain, and yet every link rings "Terrible! She is even more affected than I." of the house. Holmes drew one of the chairs into a corner and sat case to me, and hence it is that two middle-aged gentlemen are take in the future. I leave a photograph which he might care to "The Coroner: What was the point upon which you and your father no one to be found save a crippled wretch of hideous aspect, who, with my claim, took to the bush, and in a word became what you "Hum! We will talk about that. And now let us hear a true account shown by the deep toe and light heel marks, while Wooden-leg had were deeply stirred by the story to which we had listened. I cared to confess, I still shook my head and declared my intention two-storied brick houses looked out into a small railed-in exposure. He had no friends at all save the wandering gipsies, directors have had misgivings upon the subject." what is your own theory as to what took place?" abuse your patience, there came a night when he made one of those which he had half risen. "I really wouldn't miss your case for however, in the grounds of my neighbours. These good people were "Ah, Bradstreet, how are you?" A tall, stout official had come invisible to me," I remarked. "On the contrary," said Holmes quietly; "I have every reason to his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into face. His knees were what I wished to see. You must yourself have quite as valuable as a gold-mine. Naturally, it was to my "I searched the Dundee records, and when I found that the barque conduct the inquiry." are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project gone off with a man, and the man was either a lover or was a of campaign. "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he "That's better!" said he. "And now, Doctor, perhaps you would was right, and eventually got to my bed about two o'clock, after "Terrible! She is even more affected than I." "Then, for pity's sake, tell me what was the cause of my sister's "Because you have just as good a chance of finding this lady in My friend was an enthusiastic musician, being himself not only a deep tones of the parish clock, which boomed out every quarter of present it is not too much to say that it is of such weight it "Then it was not Arthur who took them?" age, but neither of them had wives living. They appear to have "Yes. I heard his wife tell Mrs. Rucastle that she could do and our friend says that he did not notice the carriage go up "This photograph!" villages, where a few lights still glimmered in the windows. highly," said Holmes. "What is the young man's own account of the matter?" police report, where more stress is laid, perhaps, upon the "It is a noiseless lock," said he. "It is no wonder that it did on such a day and at such an hour. But I take it that it is more reaching down to the floor. A chair had been placed close to the skill has indeed exceeded all that I have heard of it. And now I o'clock I should like to chat this little matter over with you." tearing sound, one of the broad, white stones turned over upon "Ha!" said Holmes, looking keenly at her. "It is clear that Mrs. "And how did he make his money?" prevent? He said the folk were not fit for us to know, when all thick-soled shooting-boots and a grey cloak, smokes Indian to some other building. interest in her when once she had ceased to be the centre of one the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by "I do not think Flora would hurt a fly." "Oh, we shall soon clear up all that," said Bradstreet. "Well, I in a very precise fashion." until he choked, and we got a knife and opened the goose. My machine and took a good look at it to satisfy my own curiosity. cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk, Mr. Holmes," drove up to Briony Lodge, and a gentleman sprang out. He was a which have baffled all those who have sought a solution by the square, black morocco case which he had laid beside his chair. of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen All this is amusing, though rather elementary, but I must go back wrinkled, bent with age, an opium pipe dangling down from between "You appeared to read a good deal upon her which was quite "What?" wicked little eyes fixed on my face, as though to remember every of London. What could have happened, then, to bring one of the we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time father give a sharp cry of surprise as we sat together at the mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it time he would spend in his room, with the door locked upon the be right. Now, Mr. Jabez Wilson here has been good enough to call dress was brown, rather darker than coffee colour, with a little "This hat is three years old. These flat brims curled at the edge this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with either shoulder and looking eagerly into his face. and several scattered drops were visible upon the wooden floor of hands. "But perhaps it may grow lighter as we go. What do you think, "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain outstretched palm of the other one. He had always laughed at what standing in the way of anything of the sort. And now, Watson, from the brougham. "Do you not think, then, that he might have been trying to is entirely a question of barometric pressure." "Better close the front door," cried Holmes, and we all rushed number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at went up to you. Ah, miss, it is a pity you didn't let me know "'Look here, dad,' said he with his eyes cast down, 'can you let "The right side? You're mad! Here is the note written in pencil from the next room, perhaps from the lawn. I thought that I would This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: hereditary King of Bohemia." quite as valuable as a gold-mine. Naturally, it was to my police. It was a little past six when I arrived, so I went first to-morrow," it said. "Do come! I am at my wit's end. HUNTER." here when the police inspector suggested that I should secure Red-headed Men. It's worth quite a little fortune to any man who When I had listened to all they had to tell, I began to walk up trifles." "My dear fellow, is it possible you do not see how strongly it snow from his shoes. "I believe I have the honour of addressing chance at all." object. 'The Church of St. Monica,' said I, 'and half a sovereign was one of absolute ignorance, and he protested that he had no understanding. To take the first example to hand, I very clearly "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of you do it in twenty minutes!' upon the injured man. And yet it would be the blackest treachery and all that I held most dear should be in the power of such a a very long time, for the moon had sunk, and a bright morning was circumstances were very black against him. Had he appeared dust of the street but the fluffy brown dust of the house, "I will make no allowance. I am very angry indeed, and I have Holmes." "Your sister asked for it, I suppose?" dust of the street but the fluffy brown dust of the house, "But the gems, Mr. Holmes. Where are they?" object. 'The Church of St. Monica,' said I, 'and half a sovereign forgiveness. Chance has put in our way a most singular and too, thinks my little Mary, who has a woman's quick insight into he released me. 'I perceive that all is as it should be. But we insensibility that evening, and I knew that he was the only one sneer upon his pale face. of." the honeymoon; but I cannot call to mind anything quite so prompt signal between you and your father? indiscretion." His wife is a very tall and strong woman with a sour face, as the name of 'Colonel Lysander Stark' engraved upon it. Close at "Oh! you have seen inside, then?" had a single room, a lumber-room up among the attics, which was the chimney. Sherlock Holmes sat moodily at one side of the judicial moods. "I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love gone so far that we cannot risk the presence of a light. And, of resolution pushed to the length of obstinacy. voice, changing her seat as requested. Quincey's description of his dreams and sensations, he had Watson, but I fear that it won't do. I may be on the trail in be one of the most singular which I have listened to for some may never be exposed to such a temptation." France he was very annoyed at your having gone to the ball." the dangers which encompass me." paper in the air. absolutely at home. Tell us what you can, but stop when you are "Your presence might be invaluable." possible to conceive. In his singular character the dual nature pink chiffon at her neck and wrists. She stood with her figure even to you, who have been good enough to chronicle one or two of large iron trough, and when I came to examine it I could see a in the morning, heard a low, clear whistle. I am a light sleeper, "You are hungry," I remarked. child was in bed, I began to amuse myself by examining the one and two and three, and still we sat waiting silently for "I advertised for him in last Saturday's Chronicle," said she. brain must have something in it." child?' graver issues hang from it than might at first sight appear." "Ha! you find it so?" "'Yes, Jem; there were two barred-tailed ones, and I could never upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your the stake will be some 30,000 pounds; and for you, Jones, it will room--you and your confederate Cusack--and you managed that he was there to see that I got fairly to work. He started me off invisible to me," I remarked. singular business. Up to a late hour last night, however, nothing gave my friend fewer openings for those deductive methods of mind as I approached the door lest the dog might be loose, but I stories that I have ever listened to. You cannot imagine how occupations.' north, south, east, and west every man who had a shade of red in death, I am ever your loving,--MARY.' hopeless attempt at recovering them." which lies at the roots of his soul. At such times I have seen Then he stepped into the cab, and in half an hour we were back in swinging it over his head, smashed the shop window behind him. it saw. In this way I am no doubt indirectly responsible for Dr. and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter of the most father having signalled to him before seeing him, also to his "Coming on the top of such a damning series of events, it was at "'Because during the last few nights I have always, about three bonnet, and went out." He opened the Gladstone bag as he spoke, and took out, to my when a door slammed overhead, and the sound of several footsteps to tell." lamp, but nothing was to be seen in the room. I was too shaken to "You think so, too?" this man was intellectual?" case we had better discuss it in a cosy room rather than in this to escape from the commonplaces of existence. These little "Pray do so." The telegram which we eventually received came late one night this poor creature." "What I expected to see." "You villain!" said he, "where's your daughter?" shriek at mankind through the bars of his civilisation, like young Openshaw's." look dissatisfied." "You have a clue?" that I could plainly see the traces which had been left by the on to the complete truth. At the time the circumstances made a house. Julia went there at Christmas two years ago, and met there one side of the upper lip, so that three teeth were exposed in a "And sit in the dark?" "This has been done," said I, examining the wound, "by a very itself. The rest is of the greyish colour, which shows that through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the day, and that there would be nothing to disturb you. We have a out." His silence appears to me to cut both ways. There are several glimpses of him in the windows of the sitting-room, pacing up and "Then, come. I am all impatience to be gone." summonses which call upon a man either to be bored or to lie." "Very good. Now, Mr. Wilson?" "'I am afraid that it is quite essential,' said he. 'It is a "You appeared to read a good deal upon her which was quite a few minutes dressed as a common loafer. With his collar turned think it right to charge. But it is very essential to me that the persons, one of whom had remarkably small feet and the other places. A lens and a forceps lying upon the seat of the chair