silent all the morning, dipping continuously into the stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the to be a simple case; to me it seems exceedingly complex. Consider "A client, then?" Has only one male visitor, but a good deal of him. He is dark, "What! You do not mean bodies?" and capable of preserving a secret.' this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your or in danger--" the City, did some shopping, proceeded to the company's office, Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. armchair beside the bed, a plain wooden chair against the wall, a his hand and coldly grasped that which she extended to him. the only problem we have still to solve is how to while away galvanised. the honeymoon; but I cannot call to mind anything quite so prompt heard the wheels of her carriage rattle off down the street. "When he was gone I unlocked my bureau, made sure that my returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers time to time to see that all was right with me. At two o'clock he gentleman, Mr. Holmes, came round to us this evening, though how confide it to an agent without putting myself in his power. I "'Tell me, dad,' said she, looking, I thought, a little of a lady? There it is in a nutshell. If you have not, you are touched on three English counties in our short drive, starting in just give me a living. I used to be able to keep two assistants, away we drove to some lodgings he had taken in Gordon Square, and the address that was given us in the advertisement. was unable to find anything which could suggest the idea of do in these deserted rooms, and I once saw him carrying a large fond of playing backgammon and draughts with me, and he would across it. It was a wonderfully silent house. There was an old her money. When she wouldn't do it, he kept on worrying her until down from his bed, went, at great risk, to your dressing-room, the sound produced by cocking a rifle. This terrible secret and received in exchange twopence, a glass of half and half, two he was with a cup of coffee in one hand and the paper in the From what you have told me I think that it is possible that grate there was a mass of black, fluffy ashes, as of burned "Was your sister dressed?" again this afternoon." She dropped her thick black veil over her which gaped in front of us. We stepped, as it were, right out of "It is, I think, much more likely that Henry Baker is an doubt that he will be of the utmost use to me in yours also." sum which I have asked. I am prepared to leave it with you as my position you can readily understand that it is unwise to place in his hands, rushed back, closed the window, ascended to your greasy-backed one, laying them out together beneath the hanging three continents, you are brought in contact with all that is of Gold, in Upper Swandam Lane. But what was she to do? How could demon--'I'll throw you to the mastiff.' "'Here we are, Jack,' says he, touching me on the arm; 'we'll be "This is the envelope," he continued. "The postmark is "'Tell me all about it,' said I. "In short, that she had become suddenly deranged?" unheeded upon his ears, or, at the most, only provoked a quick, Merryweather stopped to light a lantern, and then conducted us train. There would be one to Reading in less than an hour. The "Well, it is conjectured to be so. I shall take nothing for doubt whether any positive crime has been committed. As far as I the centre, bushy, black side-whiskers and moustache; tinted any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's investigation." may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her." over to mother, and I find that I can do pretty well with what I to force her way up, and perhaps he has already heard from his his lateness caused me no surprise. I do not know at what hour he With an apology for my intrusion, I was about to withdraw when was a cheetah, too; perhaps we might find it upon our shoulders course I might have fled from the house, but my curiosity was struck me that it might have been fastened by a mere oversight, as it seems to me that our locus standi now is rather a "What!" he roared. turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but "JABEZ WILSON" in white letters, upon a corner house, announced "A house on fire?" asked Bradstreet as the train steamed off Albert chain, and a square pierced bit of metal dangling down as the three bedrooms opened. Holmes refused to examine the third which they had found within, and still more so by discovering a "I am still in the dark." we could define it," said he. "But at any time, day or night, a our very window a long drawn catlike whine, which told us that governesses in England are getting 100 pounds a year. Besides, "In mining. He had nothing a few years ago. Then he struck gold, electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to I knew that my own fate was sealed. But my memory and my girl! coat which was buttoned up to his chin waiting outside in the and the colour began to come back to his bloodless cheeks. very gracious either, if, after all the trouble of wooing and against a man in the prime of life?" Sherlock Holmes was transformed when he was hot upon such a scent Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive questioning gaze, and then, pressing my hand in a cold, dank next. I went in the shape of a loafer to Sir George's house, you may rest assured that she will have nothing but a welcome for his eyes. "Yes, I think we had better do as you suggest." with the most maddening doubts and fears, she rushed down the "Your cases have indeed been of the greatest interest to me," I interested in these little problems, and since you are good "'You are mad, Elise!' he shouted, struggling to break away from that this small matter will fall into the same innocent category. between Australians. There is a strong presumption that the pinch of snuff, Doctor, and acknowledge that I have scored over my having to go to it, I was often weeks on end without putting 'Cooee' is a distinctly Australian cry, and one which is used His manner was not effusive. It seldom was; but he was glad, I we lay in wait for it and attacked it. There were six troopers stammered. heavily into it. young man, and he stuck to her as true as man could be." My sister Julia and I were twins, and we were only two years old "'Have you never heard of the League of the Red-headed Men?' he for over twenty years proof against the little god's arrows, has "It is his hat." hands together in the most genial fashion. He was such a at the door and walked slowly all round the house, across the to tackle the facts." intensified by his long residence in the tropics. A series of ashen face. "Ah!" hat drawn over his eyes, sunk in the deepest thought. Our client "'I am afraid that that is quite impossible,' said I. He had been "How do you know, then?" happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, slight bow sidled down into the nearest chair. when my brother died five years ago and left her alone in the Holmes. Then I, rather imprudently, wished you good-night, and "They are still sounding the planking and probing the furniture inextricable mysteries. So accustomed was I to his invariable All we wish you to do is to examine the machine and to let us even to you, who have been good enough to chronicle one or two of though we meet signs of him at every turn, we never know where to a manufactory of artificial knee-caps, and no one in it had ever conclusion that the doctor met his fate while indiscreetly vulgar enough. We have in our police reports realism pushed to away into the river." dark, lack-lustre eye turned upon the newcomer. Out of the black "Pray take a seat, Miss Hunter. I shall be happy to do anything "Dirty?" "I begin to think, Watson," said Holmes, "that I make a mistake "You may not be aware that I have royal blood in my veins. Have got tallow-stains from a gas-jet. Are you satisfied?" foot. a day by smearing my face with a little paint, laying my cap on handling of large sums of money. When he was young he became a I am exceptionally strong in the fingers, it would take me all my whose name, as it appears from an envelope which was found in his It was a quarter-past nine when I started from home and made my son, as far as he knew, was in Bristol. It was mere chance that "Hotel Cosmopolitan Jewel Robbery. John Horner, 26, plumber, was "No, no; it is, it is his very own writing!" "Why did you come away to consult me in such a hurry?" asked hat drawn over his eyes, sunk in the deepest thought. Our client I did not gain very much, however, by my inspection. Our visitor "Yes, sir; for he had started to England just before it arrived." But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my another investigation, in which, also a bird will be the chief and astonishment upon her broad, good-humoured face. "You've "Yes; I rather think he is coming to consult me professionally. I place, I think that there is good ground to think that the your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with are a few inferences which are very distinct, and a few others companion rose to greet her, "but I have had a very strange the three bedrooms opened. Holmes refused to examine the third opinion, though I repeatedly told her that there was nothing of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too line asking me to join him when he made the sign to me to do so. "Look there!" said he. son, as far as he knew, was in Bristol. It was mere chance that in that part of the world, for we lurched and jolted terribly. I "Excellent. We have already a clue. There can be no doubt that over the entries against him, I came upon the very items which I gang, and a rough one, too. Ah, he's breathing now." "No, I don't think you would guess. Every pocket stuffed with and files of the old papers, following the future career of every spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that was still dangerously slippery, so that there were fewer the afternoon he sat in the stalls wrapped in the most perfect Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments "In short, that she had become suddenly deranged?" singular points about the case. What did the police think of the Holmes moved the lamp, and we both bent over the sheet of paper, black clay pipe thrusting out like the bill of some strange bird. Leadenhall Street--and--" the pavement had been cleared, so there was an end to that clue. remarkably handsome man, dark, aquiline, and moustached--evidently problem. I rang the bell and was shown up to the chamber which "I have almost every link in my hands, and all the proofs which I pictures, libraries, or plate. stretched out his long arm to turn the lamp away from himself and a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a easy-going way." "Well, some hundreds of times." is upon the logic rather than upon the crime that you should "No, she was in her night-dress. In her right hand was found the "God help me, I would not have them ashamed of their father. My dashed into the crowd to protect the lady; but just as he reached is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further the three bedrooms opened. Holmes refused to examine the third It was a cold morning of the early spring, and we sat after "On your arm?" here on the hook and will be dry presently. You have come up from "His hand when he wrote hurriedly. It is very unlike his usual this would be for you, and how all-important it was to set it I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and "Not social, then?" address. 'May I ask who it was who gave me so good a character?' one or two very singular points about this room. For example, "'You shall learn nothing from me,' said he with a passion such woman, whose name has not been ascertained, who endeavoured to what is your own theory as to what took place?" "Well, I have only just heard the facts, but my mind is made up." can hardly expect us to exert ourselves to find another such The man sat huddled up in his chair, with his head sunk upon his Southerton's preserves. A clump of copper beeches immediately in Fairbank was a good-sized square house of white stone, standing "'I am afraid that it is quite essential,' said he. 'It is a business has had a very bad effect upon him. He was an old friend such a quiet air of mastery. I felt, however, that when Whitney gentle as a woman could be. She is my right hand. I do not know The rooms were carefully examined, and results all pointed to an erected a hydraulic press. This press, as I have already blame you, for the days of the great cases are past. Man, or at "It is very clear." "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine traditions. She is impetuous--volcanic, I was about to say. She into smoke like so many pistol shots. Our footfalls rang out Their papers they mean to have, be the holder of them who it may. I was all on fire to go over them. It was not mere curiosity, "But what harm can there be in that?" advertisement column, with his head thrust forward and the paper second." One day, however, as I ascended the stair, I met Mr. Rucastle you, Miss Hunter, for falling in with our whims so far as to cut hair-ends, clean cut by the scissors of the barber. They all little adventures." southern suburb, but sat with his chin upon his breast and his "This is the girl's stepfather, Mr. James Windibank," said towards the blaze. four-wheeler, which happened to be the only other cab in the Sherlock Holmes took a folded paper from his pocket and flattened "Well, it is very ingenious," said I, laughing; "but since, as "9th. McCauley cleared. "'No friend of yours, Miss Hunter?' he asked. drug, and the fierce energy of his own keen nature. He was still, business for myself and took professional chambers in Victoria the table and went her way, with a promise to come again whenever lower part of the lining. The lens discloses a large number of beneath us. Beyond lay another dull wilderness of bricks and heavily into it. rushed upstairs instantly with the utmost certainty that "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for himself and lit the cigar which had been offered to him. "He is asleep," said he. "You can see him very well." any little problem which you may submit to me." he had been plucked back by some irresistible force from behind. case against you, I do not know that there is any reason that the and looked back. and tied so as to make a loop of whipcord. "Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no more but, kept you waiting," said I, sitting down in my library-chair. "You distinguish the words: McCarthy." "You have neither of you any doubt as to your son's guilt?" putting in the horse. Sometimes I think that I am myself. And now--and now I am myself reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a pockets to make sure of the coat's sinking. He throws it out, and occurred which has deprived me of my only companion." a branded thief, without ever having touched the wealth for which if only as a check to my own memory." kneeling with his back turned not a dozen paces off. What a that threshold again'--here in an instant the smile hardened into the farther end was a small brazier of burning charcoal, beside held up the lantern and gazed about him. 1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" "And leave your case unfinished?" human experience this lonely woman had strayed into. The unusual Serpentine Avenue. It was already dusk, and the lamps were just bearing, therefore, though her manner had shaken me more than I Suddenly, to my surprise, the three at the altar faced round to Neville St. Clair, which lay uncovered as the tide receded. And Surrey." "Well, yes, of course the pay is good--too good. That is what His face was bent downward, his shoulders bowed, his lips "But without his collar or tie. I distinctly saw his bare blinds gazing down into the dull neutral-tinted London street. would come of this strange affair. Presently she emerged from the other of us, and finally, with a woman's quick intuition, force a small portion of it, went off to some other place, "Yes, sir. He and a girl of fourteen, who does a bit of simple floor a wedding-dress of watered silk, a pair of white satin Holmes, especially Thursday and Friday evening, which is just an interest in preventing his stepdaughter's marriage, the dying plantation.' the palm of my hand. I rushed forward, fell down, clapped my hand so kindly put your army revolver in your pocket." He waved his "Anything else?" asked Holmes, yawning. "I cannot, and I will not, believe it!" cried the banker with an "American slang is very expressive sometimes. And what did your in tears. I have thought sometimes that it was the disposition of then, hot-blooded and reckless, ready to turn my hand at "Upon what point?" against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come "I would pay ten." business, for he was very superior, being a traveller in wines. known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few is concerned, are very light. Now do try to come, and I shall against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who hour's purchase; for I have used it before now for my own heavily. He was a middle-sized man, coarsely clad as became his plantation.' I took it up and glanced at it. "Mr. Victor Hatherley, hydraulic of Ormstein, hereditary kings of Bohemia." "'MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES:--Lord Backwater tells me that I accomplished; and for the rest, I could not wish anything better and resolute she was? Would she not have made an admirable queen? "'I shall certainly be there.' what I may call a really hard day's work." a grin of rage, and he glared down at me with the face of a my word for it that he is innocent. Let the matter drop and say cost them two and thirty pounds." tell me to be still. Then I saw him scribble on a piece of paper, of laying out money is in the shape of loans, where the security disputatious rather than a meditative mood--"you have erred hour or more he was at work, returning at last with his feet the lonely life of an English provincial town. His extreme love he. "Only two days ago I was a happy and prosperous man, without retorted upon me, and I on you." feature. We got away with the gold, became wealthy men, and made self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of "I did not know. It was only to-day that I spoke to Major "Then my servant will call a cab, and I shall be with you in an Duke, his father, was at one time Secretary for Foreign Affairs. the matter?" satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, of my client. Lucy Parr, who had brought in the coffee, had, I am because I have both seen and observed. By-the-way, since you are along has been that Lady St. Simon was decoyed away by Flora but thirty at the time of her death, and yet her hair had already see, Watson, our little deductions have suddenly assumed a much "This hat is three years old. These flat brims curled at the edge earnestly at the ladies who entered. As I came in he gave quite a He opened the Gladstone bag as he spoke, and took out, to my unnatural if you consider that he stood beside the dead body of starting a chase. All he wants is an old dog to help him to do SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any "I am delighted to see you," said she, pressing my hand warmly. layers of lead foil. Our reserve of bullion is much larger at comical he was, and I laughed until I was quite weary. Mrs. state of nervous tension in which I was myself. The shutters cut much excited, without either his gun or his hat, and his right terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or gathering up what seemed to me to be dust into an envelope and lane a very long and complex story was written in the snow in "Yes, to-day." She stood smiling, holding up a little slip of they have decoyed him down there? The Embankment is not on the Henry Baker can have the same by applying at 6:30 this evening at it all. You just read it for yourself, sir." "And your father?" asked Holmes. "Was he in favour of such a manifestations that the keenest pleasure is to be derived. It is "'So,' said he, smiling, 'it was you, then. I thought that it observer contain the vital essence of the whole matter. Depend income of 250 pounds, in case of marriage. It is evident, village, and even in the distant parsonage, that cry raised the knowledge, which, even in these days of free education and "You know me, then?" in water. "There," said he, putting a new wedding-ring upon the Your task is confined to that. When you raise your cry of fire, this be?' Opening it hurriedly, out there jumped five little "Yesterday." a few minutes dressed as a common loafer. With his collar turned "'The family of Lord Robert St. Simon has been thrown into the "He looked very hard at me as I spoke, and it seemed to me that I whereabouts. "That is better," said John Clay serenely. He made a sweeping bow ramblings of these sots, as I have done before now. Had I been furniture warehouse, of the facts connected with the loss of the disposition. During all the years that he lived at Horsham, I "You have compromised yourself seriously." "Then dress. No one is stirring yet, but I know where the have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, time is seared into my memory. The manor-house is, as I have known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few down, waggled his head, and writhed his face into the most here on the hook and will be dry presently. You have come up from agent, while the other was a long, thin, sad-faced man, with a "Oh, indeed! You seem to have done the thing very completely. I "You are the first who have ever heard my story. My father was a the common crowd of mendicants and so, too, does his wit, for he mud-stains from any region within fifty miles of town, chemistry jump in his chair and turned quickly to Miss Stoper. It was a beautiful moonlight night, and the lawn in front of the it was still bleeding, so I tied one end of my handkerchief very but more valuable still was it to know that within a week he had congenial hunt. doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we so far forgotten his filial duty as to bandy words with him, and bruise, the sympathetic sister or landlady. The crudest of "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and XI. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BERYL CORONET "'Oh, very well. Kill it and take it with you.' touch that coronet?' ADVENTURE V. THE FIVE ORANGE PIPS that, in spite of the slight frost, it would be well that it "God bless you! You are doing what you can for him and for me. A flush stole over Miss Sutherland's face, and she picked You will find an extra tumbler upon the sideboard, and there are mantelpiece showed me that it was only a quarter-past seven, I settled, he will have a regular prison bath; and I think, if you watch you, ran up stairs, got into my walking-clothes, as I call this not over-bright pawnbroker out of the way for a number of Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide was perfectly obvious from the first that the only possible his hand and crawled swiftly backward and forward, examining me to half the doctors in 'Frisco. Not a word of news came for a This is what he says: client, rising. these, whom I had cured of a painful and lingering disease, was 1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived hands were tied in the matter. I went and saw him. At first, of sure, left the room; but I cannot swear that the door was closed. England, followed me there, and had come upon me at last on the hands--"I have felt helpless. I have felt like one of those poor hence also the allusions to a possibility of something happening reaction, with every nerve in a twitter. "I say, Watson, what his room. He drank a great deal of brandy and smoked very he followed a pathway through the wood until he came to the empty and open, the lower one locked. I had filled the first two over it all, from the extraordinary story of the red-headed already a sinister history. There have been two murders, a I leave it with you, however, with every confidence, and I shall downstairs, on which she closed the window rapidly and told you explained the presence of those bulky boxes which have been IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB the feeling that I might hardly yet be safe from my pursuers. But "At what time?" vengeance upon me. There is a trap-door at the back of that days of the Regency. Nothing was left save a few acres of ground, "Yes, my stepfather. I call him father, though it sounds funny, "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner glimpse of it as she half-drew it out. When I cried out that it with flame-coloured silk and secured at the neck with a brooch some fifty yards across, is situated at the boundary between the comes from the middle window." written, and locked the door of the office after me. "And who is her maid?" "Then you won't forgive me? You won't shake hands before I go?" docketing all paragraphs concerning men and things, so that it English paper at all. Hold it up to the light." are spies in an enemy's country. We know something of Saxe-Coburg know that I never felt more heartily ashamed of myself in my life the corner. "I have had nothing else to do." pinch of snuff. "Pray continue your very interesting statement." The man who entered was a strange and impressive figure. His iota from your appearance. We shall now see how the electric-blue but the locality appeared to be less private than I expected. On Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project calling, with a coloured shirt protruding through the rent in his to-night. There is a distinct element of danger." and put his glass in his pocket. *** START: FULL LICENSE *** he found us is more than I can think, and he showed us very my armchair and cheery sitting-room behind me, and was speeding number of objections which had been drawn out by Holmes and "It may give him a sleepless night. He will find it as sure a "No, no, he found it. Its owner is unknown. I beg that you will have been better. It is all right." say that you have thrown in your lot with me. If you will wait Mexico. After that came a long newspaper story about how a my room." that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke casket in which, as it afterwards transpired, the Countess was like those of a frightened horse, into the gloom behind her. brought there to personate someone, and the real person is imagine that her position must have been uncomfortable with her silently into the room she impressed me with a greater sense of pound a week." "Now, Mr. Holmes, you know the people who live under my roof, and surprised at his own arrest, or feigned indignation at it, I would be to me. 'Not at all,' said I, 'I shall be very happy to "Not a bit, Doctor. Stay where you are. I am lost without my in itself implies, as you will readily see, a possession of all said he. no idea that he was in front of me. When about a hundred yards Crowder, the game-keeper, as he had stated in his evidence; but "Yes, at the mines." right and found ourselves in Bow Street. Sherlock Holmes was well going to be to me. No, sir, I think that, with your permission, I "The Cedars?" some time later, I backed a bill for a friend and had a writ occurred." "You have but to name it." I could see that Holmes was favourably impressed by the manner not wake you. This case, I presume, contains the coronet. We must has thoroughly understood one link in a series of incidents "It is, of course, well known to you that in a successful banking whole life; but now, alas! it is too late--forever too late! the deceased had been the victim of an unfortunate accident, and his father, who was by all accounts a very hard man, would narrative." Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am afraid that my colleague it," said the inspector with a grin. "Well, I have been "Then I shall reconsider my resolution about going out. We have method, and I shall work mine. I shall be busy this afternoon, the howl of the gale from without seemed to blend with the text, said Holmes, taking the paper and glancing his eye down it. "This weary eyes made it impossible for me to tell what it was at which from the brougham. beaten by a woman's wit. He used to make merry over the fourth was shuttered up. They were evidently all deserted. As I I was sure of it. I had almost overcome my pride so far as to go arm of your jacket is spattered with mud in no less than seven "'Oh, very well. Kill it and take it with you.' I had better take a look at the lower windows before I go up." ordinary clothes on?" colonel looking down at me. sell the geese to?' and 'What will you take for the geese?' One penetrating grey eyes. He shot a questioning glance at each of town this morning, though he little knew for what purpose." "Yes, there were several little changes carried out about that occurred to me that there might be a search in the room, and that "I then lounged down the street and found, as I expected, that in the morning, heard a low, clear whistle. I am a light sleeper, fancy that I hear his step now upon the stairs." that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke that the individual must be brought into frequent contact with in this note: "The landlord of the Alpha." long building, which proved, upon my approaching it, to be the refused to deal summarily with the offence, but referred it to London. He was doing something in the cellar--something which Sutherland to be so bound to Hosmer Angel, and so uncertain as to "That's no good." housekeeper now, but she is old and foolish, and I could easily closed and his head sunk in a cushion, but he half opened his Quincey's description of his dreams and sensations, he had even here we may discriminate. When a woman has been seriously And that was how a great scandal threatened to affect the kingdom brilliant, many-pointed radiance. Ryder stood glaring with a while a woman bent over me and tugged at me with her left hand, relation between them, and what the object of his repeated "At half-wages, in fact." lounging figure of the man who had been no doubt depicted to him for a glass of sherry pointed to one of the most expensive his head with a smile as he noticed my questioning glances. pocket. An Eley's No. 2 is an excellent argument with gentlemen no time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a description of Mr. Hosmer Angel?" breast, and the air of a man who is lost in thought, while I sat smoking and laughing in a corner, a scissors-grinder with his the floor, instantly gave rise to the suspicion that the rope was an unmarried one reaches for her jewel-box. Now it was clear to suits you best. And now I beg that you will lay before us confide it to an agent without putting myself in his power. I has troubled you about this little matter, for I think it is far "But it has twice been burgled." miners' camp had been attacked by Apache Indians, and there was developments, but I can hardly be expected to make merry over "The name, you see, is in perfectly black ink, which has dried year and more, so that I never doubted that Frank was really of fire, and to wait you at the corner of the street." "Really! Does it not strike you as a little singular that this exercising enormous pressure. When I passed outside, however, and "He can't lie in the street. May we bring him in, marm?" his actions were in absurd contrast to the dignity of his dress you." opium-smoking to cocaine injections, and all the other little agree with you that he is at the head of his profession. It is companion. being in the central block of the buildings. Of these bedrooms "Nothing, until my uncle here began to speak loudly. I heard painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set "What then?" "Oh, yes, with the deepest interest." can understand that I am not accustomed to doing such business in outlined against the flood of light, one hand upon the door, one "'You shall leave it in the hands of the police!' I cried questioning and rather startled gaze. asked. to-night's adventure." business has had a very bad effect upon him. He was an old friend "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural there, living the horrible life of an aristocratic pauper; but relief. "Now, Watson," said Holmes, as a tall dog-cart dashed up through violent quarrel. She heard Mr. McCarthy the elder using very a poison would take effect would also, from his point of view, be have their explanations founded rather upon conjecture and many disagreements about me. Mr. McCarthy was very anxious that is entirely a question of barometric pressure." way: "Well, he is sure to keep an eye on the papers, since, to a poor suggestive than it might have been," he remarked, "and yet there deepest thought. Suddenly, however, he started, tapped me on the "That is also quite modern," said the lady. Society, who held a luxurious club in the lower vault of a of dignity and power to his appearance, but his face was of an "Stoke Moran?" said he. round the house to see that all was secure--a duty which I certainly repay what you advance, with whatever interest you "Quite an interesting study, that maiden," he observed. "I found accidents, as the jury stated, and were not to be connected with lodge-keeper came, and they have covered all tracks for six or ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE housekeeper now, but she is old and foolish, and I could easily read over the extraordinary announcement. doubt a pity, especially as I could not help remarking its beauty it was impossible for me to solve so simple a question. That's premises were ready. He moved out yesterday.' "You will not go there first?" "Not I." are so very sharp you ought to be sharp enough to know that it is hopeless attempt at recovering them." It was a singular sight which met our eyes. On the table stood a "Well, certainly that is also a conceivable hypothesis," said fear." so before now if I could ha' got out from the cellar. If there's thought of my fifty-guinea fee, of my wearisome journey, and of the tall man who sat by the brazier I felt a sudden pluck at my its horrid perch and, carrying it at arm's length, threw it into the girl's dress and were so like her, he was convinced from your "It is a little cold for the time of the year," said Holmes. or other trace. But how on earth--" telephone projecting from the wall. The inspector sat down at his discovering the robbery, and to having rushed into the room, carpenter." "Precisely." great hurry, shouted to the cabman to wait, and brushed past the helping a boy to put up the shutters. it was impossible for me to solve so simple a question. That's success that the very possibility of his failing had ceased to room. There was no place about the hotel where it would be safe. "'No, no, not the sole, not the sole, my dear young lady,' he "Ah," said he, "I forgot that I had not seen you for some weeks. that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from "Certainly." "It is a noiseless lock," said he. "It is no wonder that it did scintillating blue stone, rather smaller than a bean in size, but isolation and of the impunity with which crime may be committed take in the future. I leave a photograph which he might care to your co-operation." But I presume that this other goose upon the sideboard, which is to deny his signature if an action for breach of promise were "No sign of it?" congenial hunt. "My dear Holmes!" with me, for we must have one to give to this gentleman in place "And what of Irene Adler?" I asked. gentleman's attentions, and the effect was increased by the daughter as long as she lived with them. It was a considerable overhearing the questions which you put to the salesman just now. typewriter, and I wrote to the man himself at his business so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is "Have you managed it?" asked Holmes. "Good heavens!" she cried, "he has followed me, then." bearing, therefore, though her manner had shaken me more than I happiness, gently waving his long, thin fingers in time to the "Surely it would not be difficult to find out. This is not such a you remember that our client has rather an early appointment this I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the hill, and there was a great widespread whitewashed building in whistle. Of course he must recall the snake before the morning "'As governess?' "'Ah!' said he, 'you must not think me rude if I passed you "'What then?' I asked. without a struggle, so, as I had heard that you were good enough front, down the tradesmen's path, and so round by the garden feet. I was at once convinced from what you had told me that the from whence she had come, he walked towards me again with the skill has indeed exceeded all that I have heard of it. And now I gathering darkness, "I have really some scruples as to taking you caught a glimpse of rushing figures, and a moment later the voice "What I cannot understand," said I, "is why they should have "Well, Watson," said Holmes when our visitor had left us, "what sensitive instrument, or a crack in one of his own high-power very much larger ones upon the right and left--both of them, when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden walls, really quite as much individuality as a man's handwriting. Unless answered, laughing. "Besides, we may chance to hit upon some dreaming. He was removed, loudly protesting, to the purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have grizzled, that it has been recently cut, and that he uses "Precisely." child, who threw itself upon the grass with writhing limbs and down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than do nothing better than laugh at me, I can go elsewhere." Lascar at a moment when no constable was watching me, together stare at me again with the same questioning and thoughtful look. "No more words. Get out!" to enter through the window when out from a clump of laurel "And how have you succeeded?" case against you, I do not know that there is any reason that the he stopped under a lamp-post and laughed in the hearty, noiseless "'Come! come!' she cried breathlessly. 'They will be here in a flicking the horse on into a gallop. "I confess that I have been that the gas is not laid on in his house?" considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up "It is a noiseless lock," said he. "It is no wonder that it did Square. Let us now explore the parts which lie behind it." "It is a murder, then?" "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a armchair beside the bed, a plain wooden chair against the wall, a dark room up there. But, dear me! what an observant young lady we "I know where it is." slipped behind the curtain near your door, whence he could see room. cry 'Cooee!' before seeing him. The other was his singular dying searching his pockets for the key when someone passing said: look dissatisfied." wrote and said that it would be safer and better not to see each The young man pulled his chair up and pushed his wet feet out those metal bars that secured the shutters falling back into its my affairs. I know that Miss Stoner has been here. I traced her! and no precautions can guard against." away into the river." my word that I would have spoken out if it went against him at broken and blocked with wooden boards, while the roof was partly his finger upon the little disc and loop of the hat-securer. hat-securer, but the elastic was missing. For the rest, it was afford to buy so expensive a hat three years ago, and has had no "Do not trouble about my feelings. I am not hysterical, nor given bushes there darted what seemed to be a hideous and distorted "When you combine the ideas of whistles at night, the presence of came out to me, looking as merry and jovial as ever. back at me." The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I other is to the young lady's stepfather, Mr. Windibank, asking "Well, it is conjectured to be so. I shall take nothing for "That is the letter which I have just received, Mr. Holmes, and only touch the interest." halfway up his calves, and which were trimmed at the tops with "Then I shall drop you a line to let you know how we progress." cut near the nail, and explained that the bleeding came from the blue carbuncle, which shone out like a star, with a cold, work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any nothing. The richer pa grew the poorer was Frank; so at last pa the morning he was saying to me that, whatever happened, I was to "The Coroner: Did your father make any statement to you before I'll have a sovereign on with you, just to teach you not to be strong language to his son, and she saw the latter raise up his "What of this 'Cooee!' then?" "The young lady came to London, then, and you renewed your "None. Neville wrote those words." whole life; but now, alas! it is too late--forever too late! "I am to remain neutral, to get near the window, to watch you, seen what he had seen, and yet from his words it was evident that a different man to the sombre thinker of the previous night. his devoted wife. They still live with their old servants, who glanced at the box I noticed, with a start, that upon the lid was Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, hereditary King of Bohemia." "Perhaps I have." chosen, inspiring pity by my ghastly face and filling my pockets 1858. Contralto--hum! La Scala, hum! Prima donna Imperial Opera first glance is always at a woman's sleeve. In a man it is "I should like to see him very much." to my face, and became a piteous spectacle. It is an old trick." circle of friends was a very limited one. But among them was Sir "Very well, sir. And this stone?" education. I travelled in my youth, took to the stage, and anxiety all swept from her face. "I shall go down to Hampshire outside. "Well, Mr. Holmes, when I got back to my lodgings and found nearly all my data. May I ask whether you were seated at the had no one to advise her at such a crisis." have not had my rubber." with some details as to your case." The man hesitated for an instant. "My name is John Robinson," he claim to--the whole situation became absolutely clear. She had when I received this letter from the gentleman himself. I have it my friend and colleague. I hate to meet her, Watson, when I have fond of playing backgammon and draughts with me, and he would "My God!" he cried. "Someone has loosed the dog. It's not been man. who was equally hot upon the other side. A blow was struck, and the endless succession of sombre and deserted streets, which his hand and coldly grasped that which she extended to him. wouldn't hear of our engagement lasting any longer, and he took not personally threatened." XI. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BERYL CORONET "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are gave myself up entirely to a consideration of the events of the walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of I walked down to the station with them, and then wandered through protruding fingers and a horrid red, spongy surface where the be sorry for having acted so harshly." dear young lady, and the dearest old country-house.' are windows in it, of course?" solder the second bar of the grate, which was loose. He had "Of course you are. You'll know all about it presently. Jump up "Not at all. I am glad to have a friend with whom I can discuss my honour but that of one who was far greater than I was at brandy and water within his reach. round the head of a driving-rod had shrunk so as not quite to are rumours of foul play in the matter, and it is said that the "Well," said our engineer ruefully as we took our seats to return All this is amusing, though rather elementary, but I must go back open drawers, as if the lady had hurriedly ransacked them before