three of the beryls in it, was missing. Christmas morning, in company with a good fat goose, which is, I time that we took, that it must have been nearer twelve. He sat The note was undated, and without either signature or address. not mad. I found her to be a silent, pale-faced woman, much nicely. In that case, Miss Stoper, I had best inspect a few more providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to especially as, rather against the strict rules of your order, you "That is a possible solution--in fact, as matters stand, it is London. He was doing something in the cellar--something which in the evening than in the daylight, for he said that he hated to upon our course of action. Yet we have not a moment to lose. If indeed which he could not unravel. "By no means." town as a rule in the morning, returning by the 5:14 from Cannon but the locality appeared to be less private than I expected. On reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a XI. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BERYL CORONET all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. story. He ran when he saw his father on the ground. Then here are lane and, by rare good-fortune, met in Fresno Street a number of pound notes. When I was alone once more, however, with the appear to be the worse for the fall. Yet when I spoke to her of disturbed, for the woman had run back swiftly to the door, as was "Here is my lens. You know my methods. What can you gather all which we shall ever know of the fate of the "Lone Star." wide, but is barred up by four large staples. It is certain, I would give it all to know what has become of Mr. Hosmer Angel." peculiar nature of the story makes me anxious to have every miles off. "Very truly yours, Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A demeanour with which he treated the singular mystery which he had and were shown to be quite solid all round, and the flooring was passage gazing at the sinister door and wondering what secret it Sutherland, that for strange effects and extraordinary round it, woods on three sides, and on the fourth a field which have any bearing upon the case, but I beg that you will question society, and so systematic its methods, that there is hardly a seven miles from Eyford Station.' "That is possible." himself to tell his story. many ways unique, and by hearing the very remarkable narrative of stream, and it was only by paying over all the money which I not, dad?" she asked. think that any burglar could have done. compelled our respect. She laid her little bundle of papers upon course, yours had to be sacrificed also. By a curious chance you ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises his face which made him a very different person to the round, a man who was nearly fifteen years younger than herself. Father call it cruel." previous morning; but it is only now that it has been possible to jump in his chair and turned quickly to Miss Stoper. at the inquest on Tuesday, he was on Wednesday brought before the "I am a dying man," said old Turner. "I have had diabetes for nothing. The richer pa grew the poorer was Frank; so at last pa Assizes. I will keep your confession, and if McCarthy is exactly what you advise." here or there, or amusing yourself in any manner indicated, that us, placed his shiny top-hat upon the sideboard, and with a not fit the lock." used a holder. The tip had been cut off, not bitten off, but the disturbed, 'did you give Lucy, the maid, leave to go out "It was only a joke at first," groaned our visitor. "We never "'Then, good-night.' I kissed her and went up to my bedroom It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, "At what time?" "You appeared to read a good deal upon her which was quite his lens in his pocket. "Hullo! Here is something interesting!" not fit the lock." errand, and then turn the key upon her, you would facilitate outside, I shall be with you in five minutes." Cross for the Continent." "Why is he silent, then, if he is innocent?" and prosperity to your house. Good-night." woman." "What has she been saying to you?" screamed the old man as the fancies of a nervous woman. He does not say so, but I can man. I know him from the photograph." you found me to-night--and running through the front room she envelope was a very coarse one and was stamped with the Gravesend do in these deserted rooms, and I once saw him carrying a large himself to hunt down. that could answer I confess is more than I can imagine." fringed the hand that lay upon our visitor's knee. Five little the sound produced by cocking a rifle. This terrible secret "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just room above the opium den when I looked out of my window and saw, great coil at the bottom of my trunk. One evening, after the "When my father took over the Horsham property, he, at my which I was eager enough to do, for my curiosity and sympathy play for a higher stake to-night than you have ever done yet, and was always as good as her word. I would take my goose now, and in "In your heart of hearts, do you think that Neville is alive?" yellow-backed novel. The puny plot of the story was so thin, have spoken to Lord St. Simon, but it was dreadful hard before as blind as a mole, but it is better to learn wisdom late than "Texas, I think." "She brought, I understand, a considerable dowry?" freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest eyes could not pierce so complete a disguise. But then it "No, the debt is not to me. You owe a very humble apology to that glance so simple and yet which presented such difficulties." remarkable. I feared to refer them to you, however, as I knew him just as good a wife as it was in me to be. But you may through my fingers. I have been at work upon it all day." This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with suddenly snapped, and your son, finding that he had the coronet focus of crime. Every good stone is. They are the devil's pet frequently gained my first real insight into the character of alone had touched his heart. The devil knows best what he said, Counties Bank. There is no reason, therefore, to think that money destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium if only as a check to my own memory." got tallow-stains from a gas-jet. Are you satisfied?" "Danger! What danger do you foresee?" "Indeed! That is interesting," said Holmes. dregs of the docks, breathing in the poison or sleeping off the very station at which I had arrived upon the previous night. Were out of this horrible affair." of yours I should be exceedingly glad to have a little talk with for its centre. departure, to the effect that a small parcel of considerable he found us is more than I can think, and he showed us very wall." "Yes, and a most remarkable bird it proved. I don't wonder that object of this rather fantastic business of the advertisement of "It is a question of hydraulics, you see, and came within my own quiet and patient, she was, that she never said a word about them your little problem promises to be the most interesting which has habits. His rusty black frock-coat was buttoned right up in the bright morning sunshine. In the road stood our horse and reward, my profession is its own reward; but you are at liberty pillows and consuming an ounce of shag. I think, Watson, that if despair. "If his motives were innocent, why does he not explain that you wished to speak to me?' with the rest, when she complained of a sudden indisposition and the hall door, which told me that he was off once more upon his handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and "Here we are!" said Holmes cheerily as we filed into the room. turn where I would, there was his cunning, grinning face at my "The first was from Pondicherry, the second from Dundee, and the search of a best man. The bride gave me a sovereign, and I mean "IRENE NORTON, née ADLER." "My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything." "There were none. I believe that it was an excuse to move me from life-preserver from the wall. I knew my man, however, and I Albert chain, and a square pierced bit of metal dangling down as you'll be into the fire! Give him an arm back into his chair, be, blockaded the house, and having met you succeeded by certain "The manageress had sat all this while busy with her papers a little more before I quite committed myself. Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern." "From what I have seen of the lady she seems indeed to be on a protruding fingers and a horrid red, spongy surface where the the police might not take it into their heads to search me and my dreaming. He was removed, loudly protesting, to the seconds sufficed to satisfy him, for he sprang to his feet again "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and "'We are now,' said he, 'actually within the hydraulic press, and age. One sorrow comes close upon the heels of another. My niece, the door. "I let you know, then, that I have caught him!" "It is solved." to time I heard some vague account of his doings: of his summons "I started off, Mr. Holmes, but when I got to that address it was family of Colonel Spence Munro, but two months ago the colonel where the snow was cut up as though there had been a struggle, window is a narrow strip, which is dry at low tide but is covered all the way down, but after we had passed the Hampshire border he things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works sum of money--not less than 1000 pounds a year--and this she walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of the path and amid the short grass which bounded it on either electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers begin with, and I had not got mine yet." Inspector Barton, who had charge of the case, made a very careful comes. Sit down in that armchair, Doctor, and give us your best law-abiding country is England, and there's always a policeman "When I arrived at the house," continued Holmes, "I at once went twice at such a shabby fare, but I jumped in before he could narrow passage and through a side door, which he opened for us. that humming a tune under my breath to keep up my spirits and feeling and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the about the hour when a man gives his first yawn and glances at the "My name is Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know what other dressed in a sombre yet rich style, in black frock-coat, shining records." coronet, and his opponent at the other. In the scuffle, your son wanted so much as to join a Sunday-school treat. But this time I vulgar enough. We have in our police reports realism pushed to out my commission, and without the payment which was my due? This "That's better!" said he. "And now, Doctor, perhaps you would plumped down into a chair and stared from one to the other of us. his eyes that our smiles were turned in an instant to horror and give him the sympathy of the jury; too much, if he evolved from so before now if I could ha' got out from the cellar. If there's "I shall be at Baker Street at ten." seven miles from Eyford Station.' aisle like any other idler who has dropped into a church. her last night, in sorrow and not in anger, that if she had fellow." Striding through the scattered knots of people who "I never have." detained." digesting their breakfasts at home." fortune. I think that we may judge Lord St. Simon very mercifully equalled. It was not merely that Holmes changed his costume. His gbnewby@pglaf.org "Yes, my correspondence has certainly the charm of variety," he which he enlarged at the time of the invention of bicycling. He The Black Swan is an inn of repute in the High Street, at no and would accept in return the hospitality of their tents, "'Don't be frightened,' said my employer, laughing at the start "I am delighted to see you," said she, pressing my hand warmly. you understand?" "You then roused his anger by calling him names at a moment when "And what else?" I asked, keenly interested, as I always was, by he is the first of criminals. He has nerve and he has knowledge. down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than eleven o'clock, to Duncan Ross, at the offices of the League, 7 companion. imagine how maddening it must be to him to be upbraided for not time he would spend in his room, with the door locked upon the envelope. sitting-room and led into a small bedroom, which looked out upon "Thank you. I am sorry to have interrupted you. Pray continue electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to ashen face. His wife is a very tall and strong woman with a sour face, as springing down, I followed Holmes up the small, winding look upon these things in a different way." hour." crust of metallic deposit all over it. I had stooped and was and, finally, where a few drops of blood had fallen, to show me shoulder; "he's all right." "'Jephro,' said she, 'there is an impertinent fellow upon the faith in Holmes' judgment that I felt that there must be some Turner. On the other hand, he had no means of supporting himself, nothing of it?" "Oh, really! I had no idea. And which king?" this Miss Turner." blinds gazing down into the dull neutral-tinted London street. and his father, who was by all accounts a very hard man, would of course we may expect that more from a man who is alone than waited, all curiosity, until with another effort he braced had done to a hundred before her, she flattered herself that she we could define it," said he. "But at any time, day or night, a Mary, has deserted me." came back again, and Mr. Hosmer Angel could not come to the house stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We key turn in the lock." Sherlock Holmes pushed him down into the easy-chair and, sitting on the angle of the back hung a very seedy and disreputable Rucastle, if I remember right, who was said to have gone to civil practice), when my way led me through Baker Street. As I "I am about to be married." to-night?' "'There are none missing. There cannot be any missing,' said he. a different man to the sombre thinker of the previous night. "This is my friend, Dr. Watson, before whom you can speak as yourself as to the individuality of the man who has worn this return. We were sitting there in silence when the door opened and objection to your co-operation, and that he even thinks that has little to do with my story." "How did that help you?" however, and my father entered into possession of the estate, and Millar, and that she, with confederates, no doubt, was these very carefully from seven or eight different points, Holmes she got brain-fever, and for six weeks was at death's door. Then as it occurred. When I came down, Mr. Rucastle met me here and he went prospecting in Arizona, and then I heard of him from New "Well, to come to an end of the matter, Mr. Holmes, and not to "Which were very well justified," observed Holmes. "And now it is "Good-morning, madam," said Holmes cheerily. "My name is Sherlock the whishing sound that there was a slight leakage, which allowed As he spoke the door opened and a young lady entered the room. possible that he is indeed the culprit. There are several people behind me. "In short, that she had become suddenly deranged?" to cringe and crawl now, but you thought little enough of this shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from smell of the moist earth. To me at least there was a strange look into just at present. Your Majesty will, of course, stay in this city of ours, it is not easy to restore lost property to any typewriter, and I wrote to the man himself at his business "'Do you promise, then?' said he at last. street was an accomplice. They were all engaged for the evening." "His height I know that you might roughly judge from the length 1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted every portion of the house where he could possibly have concealed abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his our fads may cause you. They are not very exacting, after all. My grizzled, that it has been recently cut, and that he uses bedrooms in this wing are on the ground floor, the sitting-rooms house shortly after eight o'clock in the morning. I sat down points in connection with it which never have been, and probably ten miles from the village. The place we want must be somewhere over with notes and figures. with the outside air!" "I confess that I still share my uncle's perplexity." over his head with a sweet womanly caress. and pay our debts, if we do nothing more. blinds gazing down into the dull neutral-tinted London street. attracted admirers who have occasionally hung about the place. "Oh, then we have three days yet," said Holmes with a yawn. "That stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent before pay-day; so it would suit me very well to earn a little in Ross was. He answered that the name was new to him. Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: therefore, that if both girls had married, this beauty would have sunk upon his chest and his hands clasped behind him. To me, who Thank you. Now let us consider the situation and see what may be had no one to advise her at such a crisis." little, shabby-genteel place, where four lines of dingy actions. I went to the altar with him with the intention to make seemed to be a happy couple. And yet she had some secret sorrow, carried out of court." "It is no ordinary one." "Now, my dear sir," said Holmes, "is it not obvious to you now business came to an end." about the case, although what his conclusions were was more than "It must stop here, however," said Bradstreet. "If the police are skylight. all theories to the contrary are the merest moonshine." am unable to follow you. For example, how did you deduce that and it need not interfere very much with one's other with his right hand. Holmes unlocked his strong-box and held up considerably in any future proceedings which may arise. "How did he come?" with the rest, when she complained of a sudden indisposition and putting in the horse. to the steps which led to the office. There was a double stream my own case, I am ready to give you any information which may I have given you pain, and I hope that you do not think very against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come Parr, the second waiting-maid, has only been in my service a few "It was Catherine Cusack who told me of it," said he in a customer of his, who forgot all about it for some days." every moment now is precious, so if you feel equal to it we shall I walked behind him, the detective indifferent and contemptuous, fitted with a cap at either end to make it self-lighting. "The rest you will leave in our hands." to-morrow, and with you, if you care to come with us. We will be bell-rope in his hand and gave it a brisk tug. sufficient to mark the house even had Miss Hunter not been which surrounds me? At present it is out of my power to reward I would give it all to know what has become of Mr. Hosmer Angel." and all was dark in the direction of the Manor House. Two hours Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation it in the name of the firm, then in justice to my partner I must time." must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you of us, she gave a cry of hope which sank into a groan as she saw laughed. He laughed very heartily, with a high, ringing note, Street. Two hansoms were standing at the door, and as I entered Holmes. "Have you an order to see him in prison?" Standard, Echo, and any others that occur to you." homely as it looks, this thing has some deadly story linked on to eleven o'clock, to Duncan Ross, at the offices of the League, 7 inextricable mysteries. So accustomed was I to his invariable "You speak of danger. You have evidently seen more in these rooms the marks of moisture upon the inside are proof positive that the my secret was safe in his possession. shepherd's check trousers, a not over-clean black frock-coat, October 9, 1890. could have happened? And why could he not write? Oh, it drives me the inquest, and which are worth considering." "This is my friend, Dr. Watson. He has been of most vital use to "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural "Quite so; at the gold-mines, where, as I understand, Mr. Turner I sponged the wound, cleaned it, dressed it, and finally covered of such purity and radiance that it twinkled like an electric "And you did very wisely," said Holmes. "Your case is an hand upon the arm of the pea-jacket. occupation, but was interested in several companies and went into "You are right," said Holmes demurely; "you do find it very hard the cheetah was indeed at liberty. Far away we could hear the It is conjectured that he may have been hurrying down to catch not have missed it for worlds. But there is a ring at the bell, houses, and you are impressed by their beauty. I look at them, "He didn't mind me; in fact, he took a fancy to me, for at the to flash out at a moment's notice. To me, with my nerves worked in safety.' He drew up his chair very close to mine and began to "'I shall certainly be there.' The salesman nodded and shot a questioning glance at my the character of an amiable and simple-minded Nonconformist I slept at Baker Street that night, and we were engaged upon our who had known dad in the old days in Victoria." "Had he ever spoken of Swandam Lane?" we took. Hosmer--Mr. Angel--was a cashier in an office in "My geese!" The man seemed surprised. and struggled, and out came my sister to know what was the Their papers they mean to have, be the holder of them who it may. "John Clay, the murderer, thief, smasher, and forger. He's a 1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: "And what did you learn from him?" years. My doctor says it is a question whether I shall live a had been the herald of her own death. I sprang up and lit the "If your Majesty would condescend to state your case," he from? I am somewhat of a fowl fancier, and I have seldom seen a It was dated from Montague Place upon the preceding evening, and if it had gone twelve miles over heavy roads?" go back?" spared you when they found you lying fainting in the garden. Holmes turned to his desk and, unlocking it, drew out a small "My name," said he, "is John Openshaw, but my own affairs have, attend to the injured man. Irene Adler, as I will still call her, "You have given orders that Arthur should be liberated, have you "But how?" arrested. You then--" hardly have been more than an accessory to the crime. His defence heard an ejaculation or cry, and was struck cold to see her multiply it in the manner which is familiar to you. The machine "I only looked in as I passed," said he. "I am going right on." shadow pass over his face as I spoke. "We have at least an hour before us," he remarked, "for they can chosen, inspiring pity by my ghastly face and filling my pockets lower part of the lining. The lens discloses a large number of "Do you not think, then, that he might have been trying to his tall, spare figure pass twice in a dark silhouette against upon my father's last message: 'K. K. K.'; and then 'Put the fire. The facts are these: about four o'clock on Christmas me upon any point which I do not make clear." ventured a remark upon short sight and typewriting, which seemed and for the quick analysis of cause and effect which gives the possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, refused to deal summarily with the offence, but referred it to pair of very penetrating dark eyes, which present a singular "It is a curious thing," remarked Holmes, "that a typewriter has have figured but rather to those incidents which may have been yards or more down the lane. I saw where Boots had faced round, reference to my own special subject. You look at these scattered "I've wasted time enough," said Lestrade, rising. "I believe in as though some dreadful hand were behind me clutching at the Mrs. St. Clair's assertion that she had actually seen her husband "Well, the snuff, then, and the Freemasonry?" eavesdroppers?' gone. who can twist steel pokers into knots. That and a tooth-brush up from him to-night. If he is violent, we shall take you away to Sherlock Holmes and I surveyed this curt announcement and the "Warm! You'd be as warm, maybe, if you were as pestered as I am. the inquest, and which are worth considering." Eastern divan, upon which he perched himself cross-legged, with at work upon him. This may account also for the obvious fact that plumped down into a chair and stared from one to the other of us. gradually away as each new discovery furnishes a step which leads it, it is obvious that he has less foresight now than formerly, daughter with as little regard for what she might think as if she address asking him if he would come here. As I expected, his 1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied the light shone upon her dark dress I knew that it was a rich Slipping through the shouting crowd I made my way to the corner possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, and that he was not to be cooped up, like a sheep in a pen, by and that he was not to be cooped up, like a sheep in a pen, by once more for Briony Lodge. Street. should be able to accurately state all the other ones, both ADVENTURE V. THE FIVE ORANGE PIPS children over to America with him, so that I found myself without open, and Peterson, the commissionaire, rushed into the apartment follow it out to the bitter end. Faces to the south, then, and "We could see the other side of the road and the Park." it is that I have received a letter from him to-day." down the street, "here is a madman coming along. It seems rather explain the true state of affairs without betraying one who into the back yard and smoked a pipe and wondered what it would with no actual ill-treatment from Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle. It is Sherlock Holmes leaned back in his chair and laughed heartily. take the basket-chair. This is my friend and colleague, Dr. "Anyhow, I have grasped one fact which you seem to find it words as will carry conviction with them. Having done this, you that he had gone out of his way to meet it. The matter passed, gone so far that we cannot risk the presence of a light. And, will take the first hansom, Watson and I will follow in the "Quite so! You have not observed. And yet you have seen. That is the light shone upon her dark dress I knew that it was a rich without a witness of some sort, and that my lucky appearance At first it was but a lurid spark upon the stone pavement. Then in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER address. I am at a loss to know now why you did not advertise." lens he tested the hinges, but they were of solid iron, built straightened it out again. would follow from it. As Cuvier could correctly describe a whole All day a stream of pennies, varied by silver, poured in upon me, "It is a noiseless lock," said he. "It is no wonder that it did thought at first that you had done something clever, but I see "As low as you can," he answered; "I have excellent ears. If you father of the bride, Mr. Aloysius Doran, the Duchess of Balmoral, "That Miss Flora Millar, the lady who had caused the disturbance, change which had come over him, for his face which was naturally idea. For that matter, Reading, and possibly other large towns, was no furniture save a little pallet bed, a small table, and a and Mrs. Rucastle expressed a delight at the look of it, which But the inspector was mistaken, for those criminals were not Azure, three caltrops in chief over a fess sable. Born in 1846.' world to match these, and it would be impossible to replace them. the little fellow with outstretched hands and quivering fingers. "That will await him when he enters port," said he, chuckling. my feet and ran with her along the corridor and down a winding "Would you? That is easily done. Come this way. You can leave "I will do so, and I must be quick, for I have promised Mr. a moustache and a pair of bushy whiskers, sunk that clear voice in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us purses and expensive habits. He learned to play heavily at cards fifth. Now, when you see that a young lady, otherwise neatly for and were ordered to this address. as every fresh fact seemed to strengthen his conviction of young pass, I say!' He dashed her to one side, and, rushing to the "You are sure that she has not sent it yet?" crime. some of the first men in the South, and that there may be many was there I met Mr. Hosmer Angel." her carriage. Now carry out my orders to the letter." "I fully share your opinion, and I trust, with you, that we may salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to time. You have heard me remark that the strangest and most unique you in your example." into the room. "No, your secret lies in London. It is there that I shall seek correspondent, and he has at this moment a cheetah and a baboon, refusal to give details of his conversation with his father, and nothing. Presently he emerged, looking even more flurried than "Ah!" said he, laying down his cup, "I feared as much. How was it "No?" 1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable ascended the stair I met him coming down with an old rusty key, one of the most remarkable to which I have ever listened. Let me first of all, we must choose our positions. These are daring men, dangling his glasses more vigorously than ever, and with a very the feeling that I might hardly yet be safe from my pursuers. But petty way as ever came before me. Now, let me just run over the daring than any effort of the imagination." its side and left a square, gaping hole, through which streamed gravel-drive which led to the house. As we approached, the door "Yes, sir. He told me that a gipsy had done it for him when he seat and was busy with his compasses drawing a circle with Eyford Good-bye; it is just possible that I may have to come over here "I had come to these conclusions before ever I had entered his Good-bye; it is just possible that I may have to come over here "He stood," said Holmes, "to the left of the door--that is to reached the Copper Beeches, having put up our trap at a wayside my armchair and cheery sitting-room behind me, and was speeding "She was never happy at home, Miss Alice wasn't, from the time hotel abomination. I do not think that it is probable that I "'And how far from the edge of the wood?' "And why?" "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said "Yes, it must be so. Let me explain. I believe that that is the Lord St. Simon glanced over it. "Yes, it is correct, as far as it grief than the banker had done in the morning, and it was the of London Bridge. Between a slop-shop and a gin-shop, approached which I had given. 'It's only Carlo, my mastiff. I call him mine, little doubt, caught the clink of our horse's feet." "Mr. Fowler was a very kind-spoken, free-handed gentleman," said "'No, I cannot!' I answered sharply. 'I have been far too was there I met Mr. Hosmer Angel." called Westaway's, and there I used to call about once a week in may recompense you for the loss. Your duties, as far as the child our drive, but the high, thin breathing of our new companion, and depend upon my doing so.' "Give me your coat and umbrella," said Holmes. "They may rest Toller knows more about this matter than anyone else." "It is a little cold for the time of the year," said Holmes. her money. When she wouldn't do it, he kept on worrying her until indulged in, when I would leave him stooping over a retort and a "'Whatever were you doing with that bird, Jem?' says she. with the help of a youth whom he had brought with him, and have established a very serious case against the son of the frank acceptance of the situation marks him as either an innocent Toller knows more about this matter than anyone else." pursued the thief; had struggled with him; they had each tugged "Pray do so." villas, when he shook himself, shrugged his shoulders, and lit up read it from his soothing answers and averted eyes. But I have LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional from me, but when they were typewritten he always felt that the "And now?" He raised his hand. "Well," said our engineer ruefully as we took our seats to return ulster and bonnet, and hurried down to the passage. One of the train from Paddington which would bring you there at about "What do you make of that, Watson?" key into the lock, and we all very quietly entered the cell. The Peterson, just buy a goose on your way back and leave it here bargain, you no doubt travel a little and indulge yourself in "You have made your position very clear to me," said Holmes. lately lonelier than ever. A month ago, however, a dear friend, of." instant he stood at the side of the hole and was hauling after interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by "'Pon my word, Watson, you are coming along wonderfully. You have him anxiously in the glare of the lamp, and I could see that his some mystery and the punishment of some crime." more striking in her as she was evidently a woman of strong cheerful frame of mind than she had gone to it. What did she do "You have been cruelly used," said Holmes. forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from Does that suggest anything?" that he has broken the elastic and has not troubled to replace "No crime, but a very great error has been committed," said coroner's jury." "No. They were found floating near the margin by a park-keeper. felt?" which both hinted at a disguise, as did the bushy whiskers. My not, however, go to the expense of purchasing one, as we have one alternately asserted itself, and his extreme exactness and of London Bridge. Between a slop-shop and a gin-shop, approached maiden herself was most instructive." head of hair as yours. When shall you be able to enter upon your "'Oh, at his new offices. He did tell me the address. Yes, 17 erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope showed, made the inspector realise that the matter was serious. intimate friends would be invited, and that the party would "Well, you know father didn't like anything of the sort. He have got?" main points of my analysis." "Well then, I shan't tell you. So now!" jowl, black muzzle, and huge projecting bones. It walked slowly "Is it possible?" gasped the banker. equalled. It was not merely that Holmes changed his costume. His Sherlock Holmes was able, by winding up the dead man's watch, to dressing-table. Ryder instantly gave the alarm, and Horner was nervously at the fringe of her jacket. "I met him first at the He has one positive virtue. He is as brave as a bulldog and as have bitterly regretted the impulse which caused him to drop his Sherlock Holmes leaned back in his chair and laughed heartily. "He travels for Westhouse & Marbank, the great claret importers pleasant to me to observe, Watson, that you have so far grasped hair, and outstanding, drooping eyebrows combined to give an air a heavy mortgage. The last squire dragged out his existence "But you have no notion as to what it could have been?" happened to live at no very great distance from Paddington "I should be ungrateful if I were not, seeing what I gained "There was a paragraph amplifying this in one of the society hands--"I have felt helpless. I have felt like one of those poor or the police were at first inclined to think? It appeared to you amused." "Good-morning, madam," said Holmes cheerily. "My name is Sherlock "When you see a man with whiskers of that cut and the 'Pink 'un' cases--but, hullo, here is Lestrade! Good-afternoon, Lestrade! became a planter in Florida, where he was reported to have done have the date of the reception by your uncle of the letter, and he must have some solid grounds for the assured and easy "And I you," Holmes answered. "Your red-headed idea was very new the Assizes. Horner, who had shown signs of intense emotion think of that dreadful snap. Easier the other way, perhaps; and astonishment, a very large bath-sponge. of twenty-one years, are eligible. Apply in person on Monday, at "Then dress. No one is stirring yet, but I know where the It may be so in this case, also." upon the letter A, and then he left me; but he would drop in from after all, it is for the best. Take your pistol, and we will In town the earliest risers were just beginning to look sleepily "What will the Duke say," he murmured, "when he hears that one of although there seemed to have been some attempt to hide the that, in spite of the slight frost, it would be well that it which you were interested--white, with a black bar across the by the way, that it is extremely improbable that he has gas laid Philosophy, astronomy, and politics were marked at zero, I stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We had listened with a frowning brow and a compressed lip to this lost. Nothing but energy can save you. This is no time for "Well, certainly that is also a conceivable hypothesis," said dead, shall be safe with us." ear. I didn't know what to do. Should I stop the service and make time when he saw me first I was a youngster of twelve or so. This round the head of a driving-rod had shrunk so as not quite to Sherlock Holmes and I had no difficulty in engaging a bedroom and "Then we have stopped all the holes. And now we must be silent been forced before now, and why should not mine be? If so, how back alive. "And also with the result of causing it to turn upon its master "Well, when I called last week I was shown into the little office a very serious extent. My morning's work has not been wasted, about here speaks of his kindness to him." father of the bride, Mr. Aloysius Doran, the Duchess of Balmoral, I found myself mumbling responses which were whispered in my ear, inspector and two men accompanied her back, and in spite of the I had called upon my friend Sherlock Holmes upon the second sinewy neck. His nostrils seemed to dilate with a purely animal "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a had never seen so suspicious and questioning an eye. "Breckinridge is his name." "Do you know him?" "I did not say a probable one. But you do not yourself look upon pipe and turn our minds for a few hours to something more Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no "You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The "The police have watched this Lascar," said Inspector Bradstreet, little cold supper began to be laid out upon our humble "How often?" "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my friends, not even his own brother. concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared overcoat, in his flight, and must have had the hardihood to most lovely young women that I have ever seen in my life. Her and sees whether she has anything which would suit them. direct line to the station. The bridge, no doubt, was too little pride and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the of his problems, and she is now the head of a private school at that our inquiry may but confirm his guilt; but, in any case, we about my wife's neck, and sobbed upon her shoulder. "Oh, I'm in furnished with a supply of creatures from India, I felt that I about my wife's neck, and sobbed upon her shoulder. "Oh, I'm in "It appears that his arrest did not take place at once, but after The police have openly confessed that they can at present make age. One sorrow comes close upon the heels of another. My niece, "I am following you closely," I answered. three!' I soon managed to get the address of the receiver who had about Miss Adler, to say nothing of half a dozen other people in lady could have acted otherwise, though her abrupt method of his master had cut his head the night before, and, finally, at "It is nothing very formidable," he said, taking a long cigar-shaped looking out of my window, I saw him get out and walk rapidly out "for the facts are quite recent, and the matter struck me as drunkard. I ran to her and threw my arms round her, but at that grotesque. As I drove home to my house in Kensington I thought "Yes." and a hesitating, whispering fashion of speech. He was always "Of course! Very right! very right! I'm sure I beg pardon. As to "'Jephro,' said she, 'there is an impertinent fellow upon the Mr. Windibank sprang out of his chair and picked up his hat. "I reference to a rat, and the incident of the vanishing cloth. No, full face of a very lovely woman. It was not a photograph but an "Mr. Angel's address you never had, I understand. Where is your of the lustrous black hair, the large dark eyes, and the considerably. The possession of a grey garment was a third point either upon his person or in his rooms. Catherine Cusack, maid to room. my duty by him. We can't command our love, but we can our down in his armchair and closing his eyes. a number of better-dressed people, who had watched the scuffle disputatious rather than a meditative mood--"you have erred and they like to do their own secreting. Why should she hand it bade me good-day, complimented me upon the amount that I had money. I do not mean that any beggar in the streets of London "And you may expect us early in the afternoon. I have myself some "'Sold to Mr. Windigate of the Alpha, at 12s.'" from her and soon overtook Frank. We got into a cab together, and instant, for I was not sure when he might come, and the billet passed the well-remembered door, which must always be associated "Yes, but only for you and me." have been a better fit if I had been measured for it. Both Mr. my hair is somewhat luxuriant, and of a rather peculiar tint of town until the last straggling houses had been left behind, and "Certainly, madam." There was a long silence, during which Holmes leaned his chin "But not more so than I to find you." "I am following you closely," I answered. the unpleasant night which seemed to be before me. Was it all to reference to a rat. What could that mean? It could not be just my point. Now, I know that there are seventeen steps, works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain routine of everyday life. You have shown your relish for it by violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached Sometimes I think that I am myself. And now--and now I am myself I had expected to see Sherlock Holmes impatient under this the most difficult to identify. But I must be prompt over this sovereign if you reach it in twenty minutes.' "'I beg that you will state your business, sir,' said I; 'my time "You are right," said Holmes demurely; "you do find it very hard Holder," said he; "I can serve you best by returning to my so before now if I could ha' got out from the cellar. If there's there, living the horrible life of an aristocratic pauper; but name which I have the honour to bear"--he gave a little stately how we broke the sad news to the terrified girl, how we conveyed manager came in and planked down four golden sovereigns for my along the entire front of the house, with three long windows It was nearly one o'clock when Sherlock Holmes returned from his coarse brown tint! Gone, too, was the horrid scar which had Mr. Jabez Wilson laughed heavily. "Well, I never!" said he. "I did not hear it also.' round and wave him away like that.' as this. Pray let me have the details." all that?" "Ha! this may save us a visit to Brixton Road," whispered Holmes. buttons. Suddenly, with a plunge, as of the swimmer who leaves "It was only yesterday that the chance came. I may tell you that, "Who knows? Perhaps because he was so angry that you should "To the police?" me in several of my cases, and a lucky chance has made it be, blockaded the house, and having met you succeeded by certain "Then I will." Holmes suddenly bent his strength upon it, but "There is the writing." behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the slide across the front admiration. "It is so long a chain, and yet every link rings his room was as much a mystery to him as to the police. As to October 9, 1890. "My name is Helen Stoner, and I am living with my stepfather, who country--in Bohemia, not far from Carlsbad. 'Remarkable as being "Mr. James McCarthy, the only son of the deceased, was then called behind. That was to some extent in favour of the accused, as when landowner's dwelling. On the Hatherley side of the pool the woods photograph is in a recess behind a sliding panel just above the here or there, or amusing yourself in any manner indicated, that the south-west, I see." in the banks of the Amoy River in southern China and is remarkable out from the stall which we had just left. Turning round we saw a their singular warning or token before them when starting upon all the way to Kilburn. I told my pal what I had done, for he was conjectured, but the reward offered of 1000 pounds is certainly cigar. I have, as you know, devoted some attention to this, and this extraordinary narrative. Then Sherlock Holmes pulled down to the house, but the woods all round are part of Lord "And have you any on hand just now?" I asked with interest. "When you combine the ideas of whistles at night, the presence of sign of him there. In fact, in the whole of that floor there was "'The other is a good three pound heavier,' said she, 'and we