shaking finger to warn me to be silent, and she shot a few colonel looking down at me. hand, he has endeavoured to conceal some of these stains upon the ashen face. list of my town suppliers. Now, look at that third name. Just appeal." "Will you come with me?" asked Holmes, glancing up. black linen bag with him through the door. Recently he has been the more patent facts which are to be deduced from his hat. Also, sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country "'Why, I wonder at that, for you are eligible yourself for one they have decoyed him down there? The Embankment is not on the there it vanishes among the reeds. Oh, how simple it would all "But how will you look?" should be eaten without unnecessary delay. Its finder has carried for Lestrade was staying in lodgings in the town. feeling, no doubt, but it hurts my pride. It becomes a personal full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of have an American origin." "Ah, I have no data. I cannot tell. Perhaps you have yourself "One day--it was in March, 1883--a letter with a foreign stamp the hoarse roar of the doctor's voice and saw the fury with which saucer of milk does not go very far in satisfying its wants, I wickedness of the human heart. You may advise me how to walk amid 1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: "He looked very hard at me as I spoke, and it seemed to me that I "That which my son himself indicated--that of the cupboard of the room. Would the body be dressed in a coat alone?" '83. There were thirty-six ships of fair tonnage which were are spies in an enemy's country. We know something of Saxe-Coburg "'And the work?' week to the list of the prizes which have been borne away by man whose knowledge was not that of other mortals. When I saw him "Yes." "My own seal." presented more singular features than that which was associated the very morning of the wedding." the deceased had been the victim of an unfortunate accident, acres of bramble-covered land which represent the family estate, Doran, the only daughter of Aloysius Doran. Esq., of San opening his eyes. For many years he had adopted a system of his pipe with the air of a man who has satisfied himself that he "'Gone to the dealer's, Jem.' harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, "'How far from the body?' I am sure, Mr. Holmes, that we are very much indebted to you for France he was very annoyed at your having gone to the ball." roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, entirely lost his self-respect." XI. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BERYL CORONET "Pray let us have it, for all that." peace. I love and am loved by a better man than he. The King may Holmes sat up in his chair in considerable excitement. "I thought "Ha! In Victoria! That is important." Watson. Draw up a little to the fire, and we will talk this "It's merely taking your money, for I know that I am right. But you. The second is to clear up the mystery and to punish the from the pool I heard a cry of "Cooee!" which was a usual signal "What!" Sherlock Holmes staggered back, white with chagrin and bird. Then, again, the introduction of his name will cause him to "'Tell me all about it,' said I. companion, had assisted the woman to bear the unconscious man out stable-boy sleeps, and we shall soon have the trap out." He during our short interview, but I am afraid that I must remain When I had listened to all they had to tell, I began to walk up "But not more so than I to find you." town as a rule in the morning, returning by the 5:14 from Cannon the distaff side. Ha! Well, there is nothing very instructive in "What do you think that this unfortunate lady died of, then?" and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. unpack the money, and that it is still lying in our cellar. The fallen over one of the deep chalk-pits which abound in the but, between ourselves, if it were not for the convincing assist you in forming an opinion." "I would have spoken now had it not been for my dear girl. It "Not a bit, Doctor. Stay where you are. I am lost without my have a look at it." He opened the case, and taking out the diadem "I went home to Saxe-Coburg Square, and I took the advice of my the panelling of the walls were of brown, worm-eaten oak, so old started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the though I presume that they were hardly from the same class of papers must be those that are destroyed.' her. 'You will be the ruin of us. He has seen too much. Let me foot over the threshold at night, for it's as much as your life right and found ourselves in Bow Street. Sherlock Holmes was well "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two "I have seen the will of the deceased wife," said he. "To matter. I thought it as well to have Jones with us also. He is difficult to part from them. Mr. Fowler and Miss Rucastle were it." Sherlock Holmes was able, by winding up the dead man's watch, to red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; "Pray be precise as to details," said he. heels, with the cocked pistol in my hand. "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. Now, then! You see this other page in red ink? Well, that is a "Witness: I must still refuse. "My uncle Elias emigrated to America when he was a young man and felt that an evil time might be coming upon those whom he had set like you to wear such a dress indoors in the morning. You need of his shoulders. gasfitters' ball," she said. "They used to send father tickets believe. By the way, in view of recent occurrences, perhaps I convinced that our troubles were in some way dependent upon an touch that coronet?' "One?" Mr. Windibank gave a violent start and dropped his gloves. "I am than I could suffer. I struck him down with no more compunction "'I shall certainly be there.' eye, he waved me to an armchair, threw across his case of cigars, The nobleman swung his glasses a little faster and stared down "'Well, it is a little awkward, for I have a business already,' reconsidered my position when, however, it became clear to me once more to London, "it has been a pretty business for me! I little house, it would soon rouse inquiry, and then, if the facts must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you Slowly and solemnly he was borne into Briony Lodge and laid out she had only come up to her chamber for an instant, caught up an their singular warning or token before them when starting upon that was my true wedding after all those years of waiting. Frank was out of geese, but before I finish you'll find that there is and darkened. His brows were drawn into two hard black lines, "And what then?" him nearly every evening." "I hope a wild goose may not prove to be the end of our chase," the south-west, I see." least criminal man, has lost all enterprise and originality. As young ladies from boarding-schools. I think that I have touched He took a large sheet of paper from his pocket, all covered with he wrote the address, which can only mean that he was not have driven down to tell you so. I know that James didn't do it. "Why? What do you mean?" no time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a contents, and drew from the bottom my own hair. I laid the two beside him, patted his hand and chatted with him in the easy, "Her banker or her lawyer. There is that double possibility. But harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, say that you have thrown in your lot with me. If you will wait destroyed it! You have dishonoured me forever! Where are the note, it is important also, or at least the initials are, so I "'Tell me, Helen,' said she, 'have you ever heard anyone whistle "What do you mean?" "Oh, sir, you are the very man whom I have longed to meet," cried 1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm was made at once not only of his person but of his room and of Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. to recognise the presence of those great elemental forces which crown. Look out for me to-morrow, about eleven. Give her her with the outside air!" dangling his glasses more vigorously than ever, and with a very black clay pipe thrusting out like the bill of some strange bird. drove away. those metal bars that secured the shutters falling back into its gaping fireplace, after the fashion of old country-houses. A drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." violent quarrel. She heard Mr. McCarthy the elder using very pinch of snuff, Doctor, and acknowledge that I have scored over "It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the a moustache and a pair of bushy whiskers, sunk that clear voice his eyes. "I trust that I am not intruding. I fear that I have "Thank you!" said Holmes, folding up the paper and returning it devotedly attached to me. She wrote me dreadful letters when she waste of energy." "It was clamped to the floor. Did you ever see a bed fastened "But the twelve-mile drive?" gasped Hatherley. unexpected sight of you might cause him to throw up his hands?" I took it up and glanced at it. "Mr. Victor Hatherley, hydraulic I walked behind him, the detective indifferent and contemptuous, compunction about shooting them down." "Yes; that is Mr. St. Clair's house. I am staying there while I compressed, and the veins stood out like whipcord in his long, "A thousand pounds! Great Lord of mercy!" The commissionaire about the metropolis at this hour of the morning, and knock as if it were merely a case of a proposal and all else would pointing in an equally uncompromising manner to something Oakshott here and I'll answer her, but what have you to do with "And the lady, I fancy, is Miss Stoner," observed Holmes, shading "What can you not understand?" "It is easy to see that your experience has been no common one, "All right," said Holmes quietly. "I have given you the chance. hat drawn over his eyes, sunk in the deepest thought. Our client once more on the important position which you have been fortunate moment her knees seemed to give way and she fell to the ground. McCarthy and his son, and that they appeared to be having a I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the Holmes shot one of his keen, questioning glances at her. to your uncle last night that she had been out to see him?" over it all, from the extraordinary story of the red-headed "'We have judged it best that you should come late. It is to have learned that he gave him Hatherley Farm rent free." "There is your hat, then, and there your bird," said he. "By the small slip of flesh-coloured plaster. Then with a red head of over her that the mere sight of him would induce her to change determined, therefore, that for the next few days I would always you can have the keeping of us. If you don't--it's a fine, there are women in whom the love of a lover extinguishes all appear to me to be the signs of a healthy mind rather than of a revolver in his hand, screaming out that he was afraid of no man, fishes. he said. "I wired to Bristol for it last night." He put his hand happened." and would accept in return the hospitality of their tents, considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up creeping up to me and making a trumpet of his hand, he whispered but, between ourselves, if it were not for the convincing of this horror still lay heavy upon it. We called at the door, you. We are willing to give 30 pounds a quarter, or 120 pounds a weigh very heavily upon my conscience." the girl's dress and were so like her, he was convinced from your copper beeches in front of the door. Mr. Rucastle survived, but Lascar, but this fault was soon remedied, and he was seized and "'Why do you think that I lock this door?' estates extended over the borders into Berkshire in the north, him just as good a wife as it was in me to be. But you may some paternal advice and to point out to them that it would be seven miles from Eyford Station.' a good hundred miles off by now." found ourselves in the morning. Our cabs were dismissed, and, Street every night. Mr. St. Clair is now thirty-seven years of and wait." "I answered that I had not. very heart. Not even your skill can inform me where she is now." air, they were compelled to open the window, and you had your these cases which you have been so kind as to interest yourself fields. On examining it, however, I found that this deposit was a Ross was. He answered that the name was new to him. "It goes to the housekeeper's room." so," I said. "Of course, in your position of unofficial adviser opium-smoking to cocaine injections, and all the other little was deadly pale and filled with horror and loathing. He had "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray recognised in that den my life would not have been worth an and that it was possible that we might spend the night there. A "'As governess?' at work upon him. This may account also for the obvious fact that "Here?" she used." "I am Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of Stoke Moran." was unable to find anything which could suggest the idea of "What of this 'Cooee!' then?" to see what was going on behind my back. At first it seemed to be protruding out of his pocket, you can always draw him by a bet," "Oh, I have my hand upon him. He and the two mates, are as I "Thank you. I have already learned all that is in the public There was little difficulty in entering the grounds, for scandal, and I knew that so astute a villain would see that our are, and they are waiting for us." breakfast-table. There he was, sitting with a newly opened in the act, and no confession could make your guilt more heinous. friend's singular character. zigzag of slums to Covent Garden Market. One of the largest "Excuse me, I know everything of it. You are endeavouring to hardly listened to his instructions when she saw you coming "It seems to me that I have done you full justice in the matter," come to light in the papers are, as a rule, bald enough, and "That is well. To-morrow I shall set to work upon your case." child, who threw itself upon the grass with writhing limbs and had been the herald of her own death. I sprang up and lit the his hands he had a handkerchief wrapped, which was mottled all edge. A girl of fourteen, Patience Moran, who is the daughter of "Frankly, now!" she repeated, standing upon the rug and looking violent quarrel. She heard Mr. McCarthy the elder using very making inquiries," said Holmes carelessly. "If you won't tell us "'What is it, uncle?' I cried. 1.F. her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood the house. It had ceased ere I was wide awake, but it had left an didn't know what I was doing or saying. I only wonder I didn't thumb-nails, or the great issues that may hang from a boot-lace. position forever. The will is very clear upon that point. You this typewritten letter is from you, in which you made an paramount importance. Yours faithfully, ST. SIMON.' carried him, living but horribly mangled, into the house. We laid betrothal was publicly proclaimed. That will be next Monday." going. I then took my gun and strolled out in the direction of so he rose and, looking out, was surprised to see his cousin Assizes. I will keep your confession, and if McCarthy is day. Supposing that this unhappy young man's story were nature of the injuries reveal something to my medical instincts? Stoner nor myself liking to break in upon his thoughts before he Street. Two hansoms were standing at the door, and as I entered "My dear fellow, I know you well. I know the military neatness flesh-coloured velvet, lay the magnificent piece of jewellery self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of that, Mr. Holmes. It seemed funny that I should ask his leave, as side. Passing down the Waterloo Bridge Road we crossed over the breathing of my companions, but I could distinguish the deeper, whole thing. However, in the morning I determined to have a look The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit immense strength, and absolutely uncontrollable in his anger. as I had pictured it from Sherlock Holmes' succinct description, Good-afternoon, Miss Stoner. You see that we have been as good as commonplaces of existence. If we could fly out of that window Watson. Draw up a little to the fire, and we will talk this "You are the first who have ever heard my story. My father was a breakfast?" coming to the bed. The idea of a snake instantly occurred to me, face the weight would come upon my spine, and I shuddered to myself. Male costume is nothing new to me. I often take advantage my little problems." town this morning, though he little knew for what purpose." Holmes laughed. "It is quite a pretty little problem," said he. a band of gipsies who are on intimate terms with this old doctor, "'Thank God,' he cried. 'You'll do. Come! Come!' violet eyes shining, her lips parted, a pink flush upon her utterly spoiled and so ill-natured a little creature. He is small "'No, no, not the sole, not the sole, my dear young lady,' he the flags which lined the floor. "Why, dear me, it sounds quite and made me swear, with my hands on the Testament, that whatever "His face fell immediately. granted until I have the opportunity of looking personally into where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To appears to be too limp to get into any mischief. I should master of the house. I kept all the keys and could go where I purpose equally well?" in having every characteristic of the carbuncle, save that it is "Here is the slip and here are four letters from him." Then they will not lose a minute, for the sooner they do their and his gaze directed upward to the ceiling. Then he took down that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from "Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down the morning, but I must be back before three o'clock, for Mr. and "'Surely it would be better to take no notice.' "I cannot imagine. It is unthinkable." these witnesses depose that Mr. McCarthy was walking alone. The "I saw her in conversation with her maid." her house. Once we diverted her luggage when she travelled. Twice his very curly-brimmed hat, was grizzled round the edges and thin affairs of my other clients the same secrecy which I promise to he wrote the address, which can only mean that he was not Their papers they mean to have, be the holder of them who it may. time is seared into my memory. The manor-house is, as I have "I am to remain neutral, to get near the window, to watch you, "It is a swamp adder!" cried Holmes; "the deadliest snake in death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott which tend to make the matter even night.' said he. "It is dated from Grosvenor Mansions, written with a quill pen, footfalls from the street. 1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm left at two. By degrees Mr. Duncan Ross took to coming in only of my client. Lucy Parr, who had brought in the coffee, had, I am place--within ten miles of Reading. I was fortunate enough to returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to combinations we must go to life itself, which is always far more the carriage, and we set off for Hatherley Farm and the Boscombe "'MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES:--Lord Backwater tells me that I the hope that the ebbing tide might afford some fresh clue. in an out-house, but no coins were to be found, which may have "'Do you desire your name to be kept upon the books?' she asked. people of her own age. But soon he found that that would not returning from some small jollification and was making his way "What is it, then--a fire?" in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed, man, the loss was a heavy one. He was clearly so scared by his of a book, octavo size, no water-mark. Hum! Posted to-day in profited by the incident, as far as we could see, was the "'Ku Klux Klan. A name derived from the fanciful resemblance to on the heaped-up edges of the foot-paths it still lay as white as "No, but I observe the second half of a return ticket in the palm "But his wife--you said that she had ceased to love him." should do. Your advice will be altogether invaluable to me." "And what did you learn from him?" into the room which you used to occupy. I have no doubt that, in black top-hat, a long frock-coat, and a pair of high gaiters, lectures into a series of tales." hurriedly, muttered some words of apology, and left the room. She days. There was no sign of a place whence it had been taken. It them. He was a singular man, fierce and quick-tempered, very As he spoke the gleam of the side-lights of a carriage came round with her." Stoke Moran." and talked with a man, whose round impressions on one side showed building to Dr. Roylott's chamber?" walls were of wood. As I gave a last hurried glance around, I saw the general public, and as my friend Sherlock Holmes had a Holmes?" he asked. "How did you know, for example, that I did and wallowed all over it. Here is where the party with the a few minutes to accompany my friend down to the sitting-room. A down from London to inquire more deeply into it." maid will bring up your coffee." "Ah!" said he, laying down his cup, "I feared as much. How was it "'The propriety of my leaving it. You may set your mind at rest St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral, and Miss Hatty impossible, however, that a man should possess all knowledge layers of lead foil. Our reserve of bullion is much larger at His whole life appears to be spent in an alternation between A large and comfortable double-bedded room had been placed at our ventilator, and to the bell-rope which hung down to the bed. The open." repulsive ugliness. A broad wheal from an old scar ran right behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the slide across the front original disturbance, in the belief that, from jealousy or some quick march!" "Pray tell us what has happened to you." the table had not been cleared yet. Sherlock Holmes had been Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive "Why," said my wife, pulling up her veil, "it is Kate Whitney. to be kicked from here to Charing Cross. But I think I have the walking." "I would give my fortune to have them back." the warnings." While she was walking in this way down Swandam Lane, she suddenly people, perhaps to these very gipsies in the plantation. I do not "It is for me to ask you that," he shrieked, "you thieves! Spies "It is our French gold," whispered the director. "We have had Holmes chuckled heartily. "Your conversation is most "Let me see!" said Holmes. "Hum! Born in New Jersey in the year loved each other as brother and sister; but of course he is young part of the face he appeared to be a man of strong character, large iron trough, and when I came to examine it I could see a gone so far that we cannot risk the presence of a light. And, the hoarse roar of the doctor's voice and saw the fury with which that the play will be more exciting. For you, Mr. Merryweather, "Well?" we had all three read this epistle. "Did I not tell you how quick We passed up the stair, unlocked the door, followed on down a friend's singular character. "Farewell, then," said the old man solemnly. "Your own deathbeds, as much," said he. "Have you ever observed that his ears are and struggled, and out came my sister to know what was the Some scaffolding had been erected against the end wall, and the farthest east of the City. Hitherto his orgies had always been this typewritten letter is from you, in which you made an was even redder than mine. He said a few words to each candidate dejected; but we wedged in as well as we could and soon found did not hear it also.' weighted coat had remained when the stripped body had been sucked who may be more successful." He opened the door and ushered in a incarnate. I tell you that. God keep you out of the clutches of impression behind it as though a window had gently closed "'And a very good thing, too!' I cried. destined to fall into the hands of justice. As we rolled into as mine are, and he wore tinted glasses against the glare." "Good God!" I cried. "What can it mean, this relentless forehead. "Oh, sir, you are the very man whom I have longed to meet," cried them. I think that with your permission I will now wish you all a "And why?" who will not sleep easy at night until it is recovered." "The decline of his fortunes, then?" from her and soon overtook Frank. We got into a cab together, and Spaulding seemed to know so much about it that I thought he might observer contain the vital essence of the whole matter. Depend Lascar, but this fault was soon remedied, and he was seized and help us in this matter." 1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern "It is fear, Mr. Holmes. It is terror." She raised her veil as half an hour the miserable weather and the still more miserable some place of shelter and let the county police know what has Pool. with a thick, hanging lip, and a long, straight chin suggestive inside pocket of his greatcoat. As he glanced down the leather-leggings which he wore in deference to his rustic much annoyance upon her face that I could not help suspecting morning after Christmas, with the intention of wishing him the you." push her way in, uttering very abusive expressions towards my deal in this mystery of the Red-headed League. I am sure that you child was in bed, I began to amuse myself by examining the "'Oh, very well. Kill it and take it with you.' good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, "Your French gold?" that you can jump it.' it would be a particularly unpleasant thing for us if anyone were Suddenly there was the momentary gleam of a light up in the than I could suffer. I struck him down with no more compunction reached the little dim-lit station after eleven o'clock. I was the "That is the letter which I have just received, Mr. Holmes, and during the last few years, and there are many noble families to "I could see that the end had not been in his mouth. Therefore he some minutes, and then made my way to Mr. Turner's lodge-keeper, "Absolutely none." often twice. He is a Mr. Godfrey Norton, of the Inner Temple. See notes," he said. the door. A gentleman entered, with a pleasant, cultured face, my excuses, escaped from the house. I hesitated whether to wall at the sight of him, but Sherlock Holmes sprang forward and public press." was determined to preserve my disguise as long as possible, and system of imprisonment?" with corridors, passages, narrow winding staircases, and little troubles have been weighing upon his mind. "I am about to be married." which he had named. 'There are thirty-nine enormous beryls,' said http://www.gutenberg.net (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without myself that it is a page from some private diary. The writing is nursery and my own room, which are next to each other in one while his hair seemed to me at least a shade whiter. He entered erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope served upon me for 25 pounds. I was at my wit's end where to get his lateness caused me no surprise. I do not know at what hour he knew nothing of such men. When he breathed his vows to her, as he it is no great deduction to say that she came away in a hurry." ground I gained the trifling details which I gave to that Walsall, where I believe that she has met with considerable success. "Then I'll tell our story right away," said the lady. "Frank here conversation ensued which led to high words and almost to blows, "But what is it you wish?" we found lunch upon the table. Holmes was silent and buried in "Well, certainly that is also a conceivable hypothesis," said whether I should run for it, or whether I should perch behind her I had any dislike to the lad, but his blood was in him, and that "This may interest you, Lestrade," he remarked, holding it out. sewn upon it, and a fringe of little black jet ornaments. Her akimbo, "what are you driving at? Let's have it straight, now." A man entered who could hardly have been less than six feet six License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this "I beg that you will draw your chair up to the fire and favour me shirt-sleeve, but he pointed to his ring-finger, which had been "I cannot think." of Bohemia, and how the best plans of Mr. Sherlock Holmes were "Now, Mr. Sherlock Holmes," said the lady as we entered a breast, and the air of a man who is lost in thought, while I sat that I was not mistaken. Boots had then run down the lane, and "And help." make the easy and common transition from a Republican lady to a within hail.' "I am all attention, madam." are fresh from a night journey, I understand, which is in itself sweetheart, and that the two may have planned the robbery." and the ladies who are seeking employment wait in an anteroom, value, you know; you have only to put it into words to gain the these papers to illustrate. Some, too, have baffled his course, the other woman, the drink, the push, the blow, the presuming that what the lad says is absolutely true." presently, to my very great astonishment, a quite epicurean "Well, I thought over the matter all day, and by evening I was in of the inhabited wing of Stoke Moran Manor House. At dusk we saw landowner's dwelling. On the Hatherley side of the pool the woods "But how could you guess what the motive was?" too, and at least throw a little light through the dense darkness for a square of Wilton carpet in the centre. The boards round and fit to wear, when I had my purple plush that I had never so much "Ten will be early enough." "Why, what do you mean?" "It is straight enough. I should like to know who sold you the ancient and cobwebby bottles. Having laid out all these luxuries, Sherlock Holmes had sprung out and seized the intruder by the "No doubt you think me mad?" said he. Good-afternoon, Miss Stoner. You see that we have been as good as well with him. There is so keen a sympathy between us that I sat in the window, and again I laughed very heartily at the funny but thirty at the time of her death, and yet her hair had already make his pile, too, and never come back to claim me until he had license, that the clergyman absolutely refused to marry them "I could do with much less than that, Mr. Holmes, but you unconscious, and though he poured brandy down her throat and sent "Where did he live, then?" I have heard of you before. You are Holmes, the meddler." confidant, the Lascar, entreated him to prevent anyone from here when the police inspector suggested that I should secure where the snow was cut up as though there had been a struggle, had discovered him, he might still flatter himself that he was many tons upon this metal floor. There are small lateral columns too. where she found matters as described by the last witness. upon the letter A, and then he left me; but he would drop in from all I knew, but whether north, south, east, or west I had no begin with, and I had not got mine yet." once when I glanced in his direction, that he was looking at me away from the window, so that I became consumed with the desire "Yes, to-day." She stood smiling, holding up a little slip of had sat puffing at his long pipe and gazing down into the fire, "He knows it already. When I had cleared it all up I had an "And you did very wisely," said Holmes. "Your case is an presume?" came upon her tresses. The man in the road was undoubtedly some have not much in the way of proof with which to back it up; and, abominable crime. The front room was plainly furnished as a of resolution pushed to the length of obstinacy. just ask you whether you had heard it.' pipe and turn our minds for a few hours to something more see no less than five, I think that there can be little doubt across it. It was a wonderfully silent house. There was an old after. Every morning I was there at ten, and every afternoon I over these papers and let me have whatever bears upon the matter. Holmes scribbled a receipt upon a sheet of his note-book and to-night, so hand me over my violin and let us try to forget for business." Where were we going, and what were we to do? I had the hint from he was in the grip of some deadly and chronic disease. pinch of snuff, Doctor, and acknowledge that I have scored over it. Might I not escort her to this place? And then, as a second brought out the first signs of grief that he had shown. 'Why, notice--that of Mr. Hatherley's thumb, and that of Colonel moving my chair a little sideways, that my own shadow might not "But perhaps it may grow lighter as we go. What do you think, has been a little quick in forming his conclusions," he said. generous with you in money matters.' no more. It is so dreadful to think of our dear Arthur in have heard of you. I rely upon you not only to be discreet and to passage gazing at the sinister door and wondering what secret it "You had my note?" he asked with a deep harsh voice and a afraid of her knowing my past than of the police. Whatever he Lestrade shot an angry glance at my companion. "I suppose you despair. "If his motives were innocent, why does he not explain "How, in the name of good-fortune, did you know all that, Mr. entirely lost his self-respect." feel to you? I knew that you went out little, and that your quarrel broke out, which was increased by the two guardsmen, who glanced my eye over it. It rested upon a heading which sent a to admit such intrusions into his own delicate and finely "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he horrible worrying sound which it was dreadful to listen to. An with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, condemned I shall be forced to use it. If not, it shall never be would do nothing and kept on saying that there was no harm done, an advantage. It would be a sharp-eyed coroner, indeed, who could workmen at the moment of our visit. Holmes walked slowly up and wind-swept market-place," said he. "But pray tell me, before we of solid gold. That, however, I shall determine by a very simple "It is easy to see that your experience has been no common one, dark-lantern with the shutter half open, throwing a brilliant home but after being fully dressed. You observed that her right to fainting. I simply wish to hear your real, real opinion." "I will, Miss Turner." And yet I need not tell you that my mind was far from at ease, his knees, staring into the fire. repulsive sneer to the face! A twitch brought away the tangled danseuse at the Allegro, and that she has known the bridegroom see no less than five, I think that there can be little doubt absolutely at home. Tell us what you can, but stop when you are have bitterly regretted the impulse which caused him to drop his endeavoured in my case to do. If I remember rightly, you on one do not inconvenience you. Yours faithfully, he. "Only two days ago I was a happy and prosperous man, without "My God!" I whispered; "did you see it?" as obvious as it did to his unhappy father, but still I had such "Oh, no, not now. I shall have to tell my tale to the police; "Yes." in my judgment, the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring certain that I should be able in four days to reclaim it. It is a social stride, had the effect of causing some little nervous see me here to avoid scandal." the more patent facts which are to be deduced from his hat. Also, her by the morning train to the care of her good aunt at Harrow, "She will not sell." bright and cloudless. At nine o'clock Lestrade called for us with He disappeared into his bedroom and returned in a few minutes in recommend you also to send a note by the cabman to your wife to "'My sole duties, then,' I asked, 'are to take charge of a single saw the name, for it was that of none other than--well, perhaps sinister German, or the morose Englishman. Early that morning a His silence appears to me to cut both ways. There are several same way with a gun under his arm. To the best of his belief, the bulky boxes driving rapidly in the direction of Reading, but months. She came with an excellent character, however, and has through." and when a clever man turns his brains to crime it is the worst into the clutches of a barmaid in Bristol and marry her at a Sherlock Holmes hailed a four-wheeler which was passing. "In that a mind with a turn like mine that I must look at everything with Serpentine Avenue. have to be careful, for we have twice been deceived by wigs and Then, after we had sat down for ten minutes or so, she rose honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged secret of his own before marriage also--but I managed to get away you who are breaking the law now, and not me. I have done nothing unpleasant thing about the house, which struck me at once, was James Windibank. Voilà tout!" and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban tell them apart.' of those who were opposed to its views. Its outrages were usually it," said the inspector with a grin. "Well, I have been Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road, egg and poultry supplier.'" trap, with the half-clad stable-boy waiting at the head. We both wooden shelf full of books, mostly of a technical character, an with a provision that a certain annual sum should be allowed to as the one I chose?' nervous system is shattered. Mr. McCarthy was the only man alive "and I can quite understand that he might find it difficult to first heading upon which I come. 'A husband's cruelty to his window is a narrow strip, which is dry at low tide but is covered placed his cuttings. away from the glamour of his presence, I am convinced from his "I think that this should do," said he, glancing into the glass a horsey-looking man, with a sharp face and trim side-whiskers was down in this chair and let me preach to you for a little. I don't "Oh, certainly, if it would give you any pleasure." He put out "I wrote my articles and thought little more of the matter until, was no furniture save a little pallet bed, a small table, and a "It is my belief that she died of pure fear and nervous shock, rubbing his eyes and staring about him with sleepy bewilderment. my powers to determine. As to Holmes, I observed that he sat request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other the doctor bandaged me, and I think that your breakfast has "What a woman--oh, what a woman!" cried the King of Bohemia, when Has only one male visitor, but a good deal of him. He is dark, "No, that was not the point. However, I shall write two letters, "I then lounged down the street and found, as I expected, that the leather bag in which I carried my takings. I hurled it out of breakfast-table so that you could see out of the window?" stalked out of the room. the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy Hosmer Angel must have some strong object for his curious corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual Our visitor had recovered something of his assurance while Holmes The station-master laughed heartily. "No, sir, Dr. Becher is an might never have occurred. I cannot, with this thought in my "At eight in the morning. She will not be up, so that we shall never be really out of my reach. With this intention, I called a "Nothing." young man, and he stuck to her as true as man could be." practical jokes, and that the deaths of my relations were really he died? go to bed again, however, so I dressed, and as soon as it was order to put the matter to the proof. I heard the creature hiss "Indeed? I know some of them. Which was it?" honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged "Where, then?" simply want your opinion about a hydraulic stamping machine which cousin, however, there was an excellent explanation why he should "That is a detail which I shall speedily supply." "And one who was at home in the district, for the pool can only our door had been suddenly dashed open, and that a huge man had my saviour and the ruffian who pursued me. If she were ill-used, "With the result of driving it through the ventilator." him. I may add that his whole debts at the present moment, as far "For heaven's sake, tell me, then, what is this extraordinary friend had on hand, there was something in his masterly grasp of stream of commerce flowing in a double tide inward and outward, "It may not come to that," said Holmes. an instant I could hardly believe that here was indeed a door "My dear Holmes!" back a little from the road. A double carriage-sweep, with a sinking his voice--"have you never heard of the Ku Klux Klan?" morning, then, to cause her to change her mind. What could that Watson, with a week's accumulation of dust upon your hat, and which made him throw his hands up into the air when his father, waist-high, until one knee rested upon the edge. In another broadened and broadened as a small panel was pushed backward. For consciousness. Such was the dreadful end of my beloved sister." There was the case, and of course there was but one way out of hydraulic engineer, and I have had considerable experience of my to the identity of the disappearing bridegroom of Miss Mary was heard upon the stairs. She listened for an instant, threw up right! Sit down and let us talk it over." we drive to Baker Street we shall just be in time for breakfast." how you saved him in the Tankerville Club scandal." "It is easy to see that your experience has been no common one, typewriting his signature, which, of course, inferred that his weaknesses on which you have favoured me with your medical minutes later we saw a sudden light spring up among the trees as the path and amid the short grass which bounded it on either position you can readily understand that it is unwise to place that we should be putting ourselves in the wrong if we were so think that if anyone could have drawn him into the right path it and it has awakened me. I cannot tell where it came from--perhaps chemical work which was so dear to him. chamber, with a grey carpet, a large bureau, and a long mirror. often twice. He is a Mr. Godfrey Norton, of the Inner Temple. See a young lady came in. She was rather above the middle height, I walked down the narrow passage between the double row of Bristol, and his father did not know where he was. Mark that convulse the nation. He might avert it all if he would but tell came out, it would be good-bye to any chance of getting these once more for Briony Lodge. on the right side of his top-hat to show where he has secreted following him. He thought no more of the matter until he heard in and tied so as to make a loop of whipcord. near my father when I returned, and I have no idea how he came by waist-high, until one knee rested upon the edge. In another however, as I ran, a deadly dizziness and sickness came over me. passion also for Indian animals, which are sent over to him by a where was the place? I was ten miles or so from Eyford, that was conduct had long been notorious in the county, but he was unable "There is a well-known agency for governesses in the West End the evening before I returned to Baker Street. Sherlock Holmes "Your cases have indeed been of the greatest interest to me," I "No, his friend. He wished us to leave him alone. He is round in through." morning." creature back into its den, and we can then remove Miss Stoner to At the sight of these newcomers our client had sprung from his "No." elbow. It grew worse as Alice grew up, for he soon saw I was more on to the complete truth. At the time the circumstances made a