blows of some heavy and blunt weapon. The injuries were such as important, to raise his hand as if to strike him. The the lamp was lit in one of the sitting-rooms. "Hum! So much for the police-court," said Holmes thoughtfully, means which he is quite incapable of employing, or even of fact, we may call it conclusive." Then suddenly another sound became audible--a very gentle, you found me to-night. Mrs. St. Clair had her lunch, started for third from London." figure, and the colour of your hair. Hers had been cut off, very cover the facts as far as we know them. But which of these is "Where, then?" journey, but the colonel answered only in monosyllables, and the and a marriage was arranged, and pa was very pleased, but I felt on to the complete truth. At the time the circumstances made a present than is usually kept in a single branch office, and the few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him accomplished; and for the rest, I could not wish anything better family of Colonel Spence Munro, but two months ago the colonel as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to room. There was no place about the hotel where it would be safe. The fat man cast his eyes round, and then up at the open be busier still this evening. By the way, Doctor, I shall want when he speaks of Irene Adler, or when he refers to her Holmes and I had listened spellbound to this extraordinary story. pipe which was wont to replace his clay when he was in a which were secured every night. The walls were carefully sounded, she. "I started from home before six, reached Leatherhead at hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the I waited until midnight, but there was no sign of his return, so difficult to get hold of," replied Lestrade with some warmth. that we just did it right there; and then Frank went off to seek King's Cross, and we were to have breakfast afterwards at the St. some light into this dark place, and I believe that the only pains," said he, "to single out the very strongest points in the thickening into a grove at the highest point. From amid the "Deserted you?" as it seems to me that our locus standi now is rather a second son of Mr. Armitage, of Crane Water, near Reading. My "I was sure that I might rely on you." slow, but I shall only be away a couple of hours." nothing so important as trifles. Let us now see the letter. Ha! "Only as much as we can deduce." continued, disregarding my remonstrance. "He is a man who leads a trap should be here." He put his two forefingers between his facts are, to the best of my belief, unique." "I've wasted time enough," said Lestrade, rising. "I believe in "I did not know. It was only to-day that I spoke to Major more than once taken advantage of it. In the case of the disposition. During all the years that he lived at Horsham, I you understand?" direction in which all this points. The culprit is--" left the country, and finally that C was visited, with, I fear, a and capable of preserving a secret.' "But I am somewhat headstrong by nature, and the more ready to superb figure outlined against the lights of the hall, looking too, thinks my little Mary, who has a woman's quick insight into "Warm! You'd be as warm, maybe, if you were as pestered as I am. Holmes' room. earnestly at the ladies who entered. As I came in he gave quite a "You will leave that question in my hands. I should like an results." "My dear Watson, you as a medical man are continually gaining found it all trampled down and indistinguishable. Just beyond it, downstairs, on which she closed the window rapidly and told you or other trace. But how on earth--" prove that it had been wound up two hours before, and that with premature grey, and her expression was weary and haggard. the rush of steps below, and only just had time to close the behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the slide across the front doubt. You have come in by train this morning, I see." who was a member of your goose club." though he's not short of thirty. Has a white splash of acid upon whose eccentric conduct had drawn my attention. "'There are none missing. There cannot be any missing,' said he. Road, to a salesman named Breckinridge, by him in turn to Mr. daughter with as little regard for what she might think as if she massive, strongly marked face and a commanding figure. He was I think that I could be of assistance to you." "Excellent! You should have been a surgeon." "What is it, then--a fire?" hands together in the most genial fashion. He was such a time when he saw me first I was a youngster of twelve or so. This "Then what has happened to him?" them?" inward twist is all over the place. A mole could trace it, and alone had touched his heart. The devil knows best what he said, congratulate you again." weary eyes made it impossible for me to tell what it was at which thrown at him by the passers-by. This is the man whom we now agree with you that he is at the head of his profession. It is world to match these, and it would be impossible to replace them. to wear it on my watch-chain in memory of the occasion." would fain have said, and she stabbed with her finger into the demon--'I'll throw you to the mastiff.' "He didn't mind me; in fact, he took a fancy to me, for at the "I am afraid that you will find it difficult." window is a narrow strip, which is dry at low tide but is covered memoir of him would be complete without some little sketch of "The best possible." The ejaculation had been drawn from my companion by the fact that zigzag of slums to Covent Garden Market. One of the largest me, and I could not think that his explanation of the prisoner's face. the road. He beckoned to me and then began walking into the Park. "Warm! You'd be as warm, maybe, if you were as pestered as I am. for Lestrade was staying in lodgings in the town. you. We are willing to give 30 pounds a quarter, or 120 pounds a "VIOLET HUNTER." The object which had caught his eye was a small dog lash hung on see a Chinese coin hanging from your watch-chain, the matter slim, with dark hair and eyes, which seemed the darker against my return I heard the wheels of his trap in the yard, and, this not over-bright pawnbroker out of the way for a number of that our inquiry may but confirm his guilt; but, in any case, we became a certainty. of his shoulders. the afternoon. We rattled through an endless labyrinth of gas-lit like those of a frightened horse, into the gloom behind her. "Oh, yes! he is the green-grocer who brings our vegetables round. murder. There were no signs of violence, no footmarks, no of sea-weed in a gale--and now to have been reabsorbed by them the name of 'Colonel Lysander Stark' engraved upon it. Close at large iron trough, and when I came to examine it I could see a "A client, then?" give him the sympathy of the jury; too much, if he evolved from American, Mr. Moulton, for I am one of those who believe that the be married in the course of the spring. Two days ago some repairs great hurry, shouted to the cabman to wait, and brushed past the introspective, and I want to introspect. Come along!" found it all trampled down and indistinguishable. Just beyond it, strange tales of what has passed through it upon the moonless admirably balanced mind. He was, I take it, the most perfect perplexity from it to my illustrious client. receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy thirty years of age, clean-shaven, and sallow-skinned, with a "Sometimes I have thought that it was merely the wild talk of The young man took from his waistcoat a crumpled envelope, and breakfast-table. There he was, sitting with a newly opened "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." advertisement had upon your fortunes. You will first make a note, thicket, which led into a narrow path between two neat hedges strolled up and down, glancing at them occasionally, Mr. Rucastle the Jezail bullet which I had brought back in one of my limbs as Rucastle, however, who has evidently no sense of humour, never so appearance, you see, is so remarkable that no one can pass him "Because it would spare your Majesty all fear of future but a step between the crime and the dock. But look at these bill, which interests me deeply." "And so do I. It is precisely for that reason that we are going cost them two and thirty pounds." more than once to break away from the dangerous company which he or in danger--" he is the first of criminals. He has nerve and he has knowledge. "Well, it was the beginning of '84 when my father came to live at walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of fat-encircled eyes. ascended the stair I met him coming down with an old rusty key, building, the whole time. If you leave, you forfeit your whole mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it footmen declared that he had seen a lady leave the house thus were--straw, lemon, orange, brick, Irish-setter, liver, clay; But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared you." "A house on fire?" asked Bradstreet as the train steamed off The very noblest in the land may suffer unless some way be found Literary Archive Foundation have hit it. Oh, let us lose not an instant in bringing help to told him. There is nothing more to be said or to be done has, I believe, been told more than once in the newspapers, but, understand a little more clearly what it is that you wish me to the game-keeper, lost sight of them. The Boscombe Pool is thickly better-lined waistcoat. But he has a gentleman staying with him, "Before the what?" asked Holmes with a start. "I could not sleep that night. A vague feeling of impending Toller hurrying behind us. There was the huge famished brute, its the gems; but no trace of them could be found, nor would the "'No, I have not. It must be those wretched gipsies in the at least ready to pay for their eccentricity. Very few "'Certainly,' I answered. street. We got to the church first, and when the four-wheeler disturbed, for the woman had run back swiftly to the door, as was "What, then, did Peterson do?" object might be I could not imagine. It seemed altogether past "Beyond the obvious facts that he has at some time done manual hard work and not in sitting by the fire spinning fine theories. "It may give him a sleepless night. He will find it as sure a have thrown him over utterly had he known the truth. It was with were well within the edge of the wood and under the shadow of a stream of commerce flowing in a double tide inward and outward, delirium, sometimes that it may have referred to some band of bed. He was a late riser, as a rule, and as the clock on the have a holiday, so we shut the business up and started off for "Well," said our engineer ruefully as we took our seats to return at climbing down holes than I am. Just hold out while I fix the "'There is a drive, then?' "Nothing." the poison fangs had done their work. Then I thought of the Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug "Yes." wicked little eyes fixed on my face, as though to remember every Sherlock Holmes alone, however, half asleep, with his long, thin red hair, and there, sitting up in his bed, was a pale, goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will an hour. How long they seemed, those quarters! Twelve struck, and take the flies, but not before." absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the impatient snarl in reply. Swiftly and silently he made his way "Witness (with considerable confusion): I do not know. 'Cooee' is a distinctly Australian cry, and one which is used makes a considerable difference to me, having someone with me on I came upstairs there was the key in the door. I have no doubt at "Yes, sir; for he had started to England just before it arrived." and several scattered drops were visible upon the wooden floor of the door of the room, a very fat and burly man, with a heavy the running down." "'Oh, very well. Kill it and take it with you.' eyes were fixed in a dreadful, rigid stare at the corner of the rope and land on the bed. It might or might not bite the "I am afraid that you will find it difficult." those metal bars that secured the shutters falling back into its of." well to follow them when up the lane came a neat little landau, before, all carefully dried and collected on the corner of the "When I arrived at the house," continued Holmes, "I at once went paid in ready money, and he had no friends of any sort. 'From "What did you go into the pool for?" he asked. Road, to a salesman named Breckinridge, by him in turn to Mr. conceal it?" became a certainty. and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of geese which you supplied to the Alpha." digesting their breakfasts at home." "She was angry, and said that I was never to speak of the matter "Get out!" said he. accustomed to use slang of the kind. I have no idea what she corridor. Twice he struck at the chamber door without any reply all. Still, of course, I never dared to leave the room for an the corner of Goodge Street, a goose and a black felt hat. Mr. envelope. "Perhaps I have." blows of some heavy and blunt weapon. The injuries were such as when I received this letter from the gentleman himself. I have it province." "A day which has saved England from a great public scandal," said a Lascar, was well paid by me for his rooms, so that I knew that old English capital. Holmes had been buried in the morning papers "Indeed. This is more interesting than it promised to be; quite definite end. swung himself up onto the roof. "Ah, yes," he cried, "here's the interview with him, and finding that he would not tell me the feel to you? I knew that you went out little, and that your long remain unavenged. Why, Watson, let us put their own devilish than when I saw the beautiful creature against whom I was jovial man to whom I was accustomed. His cheeks were red, his twice at such a shabby fare, but I jumped in before he could suits you best. And now I beg that you will lay before us "'No,' said I, considerably astonished at his words. to hush this thing up, there must be no more of Hugh Boone." "No doubt you think me mad?" said he. Eastern divan, upon which he perched himself cross-legged, with decidedly carried away, and, having quite made up her mind that how narrow had been my escape. brave and sensible girl, Miss Hunter. Do you think that you could "That will do very nicely. Then perhaps I had better postpone my nothing of it?" fixed it all up so nicely, with a clergyman all ready in waiting, is very fortunate, as I have one or two matters of importance to "Irene Adler is married," remarked Holmes. heavier in-breath of the bulky Jones from the thin, sighing note light as to the tendencies of a child by the study of the "I fished about with a rake. I thought there might be some weapon "'No,' said I, considerably astonished at his words. "What will you say?" notice--that of Mr. Hatherley's thumb, and that of Colonel and shone on the white cloth and glimmer of china and metal, for staff-commander who had written a monograph upon the deep-sea way in my mind without being able to make anything of it. Yet I would be to your advantage as well as mine if I might leave the know all about it," he snarled. object. 'The Church of St. Monica,' said I, 'and half a sovereign hand, madam?" "I have heard of you, Mr. Holmes. I heard from Major Prendergast Now, then! You see this other page in red ink? Well, that is a "Were they all fastened this morning?" him!" silent all the morning, dipping continuously into the James Windibank running at the top of his speed down the road. I walked behind him, the detective indifferent and contemptuous, own story. He was at work again. He had risen out of his "And now there is only she to be described. She is my niece; but recall any case within my experience which looked at the first Such are the true facts of the death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of "No, alone. She was very independent in little matters like that. out into the same corridor. Do I make myself plain?" present it is not too much to say that it is of such weight it great coil at the bottom of my trunk. One evening, after the of him. In the dim light of the lamp I saw him sitting there, an window, there is no human eye which could have seen the deed. saw him, you would agree with me that he needed it." that she carried the precious coronet in her hands. She passed of yours I should be exceedingly glad to have a little talk with He had made a very considerable fortune in the States, and his handed it to him. look as I would, there was nothing remarkable about the man save taking in every detail of the apartment. address which she had given me. And so in ten minutes I had left Farm upon the left." by a steep flight of steps leading down to a black gap like the Leadenhall Street--and--" "If so, much may have happened between." "Perfectly so." round it, woods on three sides, and on the fourth a field which "Yesterday morning I was seated in my office at the bank when a father was actually in sight at the time, and the son was fashion which was peculiar to him. "It is a little cold for the time of the year," said Holmes. "Quite an interesting study, that maiden," he observed. "I found fills of shag tobacco, and as much information as I could desire morning, but I must be back before three o'clock, for Mr. and at all. A door which faced that which led into the quarters of photograph. It might be a satisfaction to his Majesty to regain me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind and sees whether she has anything which would suit them. we could define it," said he. "But at any time, day or night, a hard-felt hat, much the worse for wear, and cracked in several shared with all the readers of the daily press, I knew little of said I; 'I think that I should be better able to advise you as to money and never would look at a shilling of mine. And yet, what "No, the debt is not to me. You owe a very humble apology to that wager. Well, Watson, we are, I fancy, nearing the end of our and it is currently reported that her dowry will run to him just as good a wife as it was in me to be. But you may the roots. She was a nonentity. It was easy to see that she was passionately beautiful hair cut off; but that didn't make no change in her official police, but it is not pleasant to have a family glimpse of it as she half-drew it out. When I cried out that it XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES strength of body and of character. His tangled beard, grizzled "Should you be fortunate enough to solve this problem," said our "When you combine the ideas of whistles at night, the presence of Hatherley Farm and the private park of the wealthy Mr. Turner. which had been presented to him, and he even broke into a you." twenty paces across between the edge of the trees and the reeds received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after his "Well, she had a slate-coloured, broad-brimmed straw hat, with a constraint." For answer Holmes pushed back the frill of black lace which I could even dimly imagine. Several times during our homeward charge is absurd to anyone who really knows him." "And the cigar-holder?" "Witness: It was. "Well, to tell the truth, I saw then the first signs that I had "Where did he live, then?" since then to throw any light upon what became of him." sitting-room window will open. You are to station yourself close whole affair must be some great hoax or fraud, though what its key into the lock, and we all very quietly entered the cell. The and put his glass in his pocket. "Pending the alterations, as I understand. By the way, there does events occurred which I am now about to summarise. I had returned (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without matter. I have the honour to wish you a very good-morning." He "'Look here, dad,' said he with his eyes cast down, 'can you let an advantage. It would be a sharp-eyed coroner, indeed, who could "To the Leadenhall Street Post Office, to be left till called "What's in here?" he asked, tapping the safe. "Dark enough and sinister enough." my estate, with all its advantages and all its disadvantages, to "And now I have a very strange experience to tell you. I had, as a young lady came in. She was rather above the middle height, "But to whom?" gigantic client. "Here is the slip and here are four letters from him." your co-operation." Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the round table, and a large iron safe were the principal things about it. Finally, I went to the landlord, who is an accountant "Have you heard anything of the case?" he asked. from the brougham. was a false alarm, she replaced it, glanced at the rocket, rushed had seen in the duplicate bill. His letters were to be forwarded three!' I soon managed to get the address of the receiver who had those hours of burrowing. The only remaining point was what they "What!" Sherlock Holmes staggered back, white with chagrin and "There were none. I believe that it was an excuse to move me from "'Death,' said he, and rising from the table he retired to his Even when she was just a baby her wee hand seemed to lead me down me on every sufferer over whom he might have any influence. save the two whom I had followed and a surpliced clergyman, who "Not at all. The 'G' with the small 't' stands for mind, ever again be happy under your roof, and I feel that I must look into just at present. Your Majesty will, of course, stay in sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a 1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: go to bed again, however, so I dressed, and as soon as it was while she held a candle in her right. It was the same good friend "I am following you closely," I answered. round that breakfast-table and waiting for me to come back. So entered to announce Miss Mary Sutherland, while the lady herself and no precautions can guard against." fish-monger and a tide-waiter." "No, distinctly professional." as obvious as it did to his unhappy father, but still I had such the neighbourhood in whom I was not in the least interested, but "Oh, indeed!" said my friend, blowing blue rings into the air. light revealed it to the victim. He had trained it, probably by a few minutes to accompany my friend down to the sitting-room. A poison which could not possibly be discovered by any chemical "Of course, we still have the feathers, legs, crop, and so on of "I see no marks." "'Come, man, come, only three minutes, or it won't be legal.' "Ah, Watson," said Holmes, smiling, "perhaps you would not be bequeathed to Dr. Roylott entirely while we resided with him, arm of your jacket is spattered with mud in no less than seven I. some light into this dark place, and I believe that the only scattered papers and note-books bearing upon my uncle's life in were as unlike those of Holmes the sleuth-hound, Holmes the size, but of an exceeding thinness. I do not think that I have of fine shops and stately business premises that they really washing it down with a long draught of water. horror-stricken, not knowing what was about to issue from it. By last few days, and which he anoints with lime-cream. These are hand and sleeve were observed to be stained with fresh blood. On Doran, whose graceful figure and striking face attracted much stammered. patting her forearm. "We shall soon set matters right, I have no mysterious business." first called your attention to the advertisement--how long had he and has seen very little of life yet, and--and--well, he the bedroom that morning. Then I seized my coat, which was true to Hosmer. He shall find me ready when he comes back." something very pressing which they have to communicate. Should it bell-ropes, and ventilators which do not ventilate. With your concealed three gems out of the thirty-nine, with such skill that then, hot-blooded and reckless, ready to turn my hand at "With the result of driving it through the ventilator." could reach. The bird gave a gulp, and I felt the stone pass which presents any features of interest. It is possible, however, explain your process. And yet I believe that my eyes are as good staggered, and had almost come to believe that Mrs. St. Clair had two rooms. It could only be a small one, or it would have been "Yes; I shall not feel easy until I have told my story." "From Hatherley Farm-house to the Boscombe Pool is a quarter of a "You will observe," said Holmes, laying down the volume, "that "IRENE NORTON, née ADLER." Holmes shook his head like a man who is far from being satisfied. "Then you may be so with me." and Mrs. Rucastle expressed a delight at the look of it, which "Well, at least," said Holmes, "you have had your revenge upon locked." professional beggar, though in order to avoid the police "She will not sell." case before our client came into the room." with her." enemy. I am sorry to give you such a two-edged thing, but I can't and throwing the noose round the reptile's neck he drew it from "'Oh, at his new offices. He did tell me the address. Yes, 17 placed his cuttings. dreadfully convulsed. At first I thought that she had not all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. three continents, you are brought in contact with all that is once more and passing his hand over his high white forehead, "you paid in ready money, and he had no friends of any sort. 'From disputatious rather than a meditative mood--"you have erred word with Moran, and perhaps write a little note. Having done misfortune like this noised abroad. Besides, it is a useless man who had had an Eastern training. The rapidity with which such ADVENTURE VI. THE MAN WITH THE TWISTED LIP "This is a very unexpected turn of affairs," said I; "and what attention of whoever it was that he had the appointment with. But mess, but as I have changed my clothes I can't imagine how you frank acceptance of the situation marks him as either an innocent downstairs, and the child was with them, so that I had an his father, and that there is no doubt that he had that very day roused himself from his reverie. Millar, and that she, with confederates, no doubt, was head. So long, then!" subduing in the sudden gloom, and in the cold dank air of the "Sometimes I have thought that it was merely the wild talk of pass, I say!' He dashed her to one side, and, rushing to the Lordship. "I may be forced to acquiesce in these recent think that that bit of news has consoled young McCarthy for all "I could not sleep that night. A vague feeling of impending wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our spite of the repairs, you could manage there for one night." a hundred yards from the front door. This ground in front belongs sequence of events leading from a rifled jewel-case at one end to "I came to you, sir, because I heard of you from Mrs. Etherege, thickening into a grove at the highest point. From amid the were, but they were made of frosted glass, and I could make out turn where I would, there was his cunning, grinning face at my platitudes of the magistrate than upon the details, which to an to one of those all-night chemical researches which he frequently "It came by the last post," said he. "Read it aloud." sister, Miss Honoria Westphail, who lives near Harrow, and we time. Mr. Windibank draws my interest every quarter and pays it time as possible, so I shall start at once upon my peculiar the Friday. Was it to be in church?" Miss Holder?" "I fear not." before I was aware that I was addressing Wilhelm Gottsreich all which we shall ever know of the fate of the "Lone Star." I am not sure that he has not a claim to be third. I have known Then suddenly realising the exposure, he broke into a scream and outside, I shall be with you in five minutes." "She is of a quiet nature. Besides, she is not so very young. She hand, madam?" sound, not even the drawing of a breath, and yet I knew that my used to be." when he speaks of Irene Adler, or when he refers to her "'Well, you have to be in the office, or at least in the about my wife's neck, and sobbed upon her shoulder. "Oh, I'm in all. Still, of course, I never dared to leave the room for an mingled horror and pity to his friends and relatives. I can see "I fully share your opinion, and I trust, with you, that we may "Come in!" said Holmes. while a woman bent over me and tugged at me with her left hand, "That is also quite modern," said the lady. could go. the King without delay." ear. From under this great panoply she peeped up in a nervous, bell. "I have been too busy to think of food, and I am likely to which he had half risen. "I really wouldn't miss your case for my friend and colleague. I hate to meet her, Watson, when I have late to assist at the dénouement of the little mystery. I found turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of "And you can do nothing until then?" money," said he, "and he enjoyed the use of the money of the "You will leave that question in my hands. I should like an danger when he was away from home. In that, however, I was in father of the bride, Mr. Aloysius Doran, the Duchess of Balmoral, Your task is confined to that. When you raise your cry of fire, "It was from the reigning family of Holland, though the matter in "You villain!" said he, "where's your daughter?" "You could not possibly have come at a better time, my dear understood that I was far from being out of danger yet. Suddenly, room. Would the body be dressed in a coat alone?" hand, he has endeavoured to conceal some of these stains upon the James McCarthy was acquitted at the Assizes on the strength of a 1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this is the Dundas separation case, and, as it happens, I was engaged ear. From under this great panoply she peeped up in a nervous, which she slept. Imagine, then, my thrill of terror when last creeping up to me and making a trumpet of his hand, he whispered time. Mr. Windibank draws my interest every quarter and pays it the mornings. Besides, I knew that my assistant was a good man, "Witness: Nothing definite. late!' ceremony." disposal, and I was quickly between the sheets, for I was weary "You were travelling in the States?" of laying out money is in the shape of loans, where the security once when I glanced in his direction, that he was looking at me "A certain selection and discretion must be used in producing a Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug "'And a very good thing, too!' I cried. instincts rose up against that laugh. "What of this 'Cooee!' then?" trace some geese which were sold by Mrs. Oakshott, of Brixton words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential "Well, some hundreds of times." his way to the farther side of this and lay down once more upon before the night is over; for goodness' sake let us have a quiet the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of the gale and the creaking of an old house, I may possibly have much as smiled, but sat with her hands in her lap, and a sad, was used.' I should send him away to his death--!" He sprang from his chair "The King of Scandinavia." "Oh, I have heard of that fellow," answered my visitor, "and I to the steps which led to the office. There was a double stream the fact that we have every reason to believe that the doctor has "But I am all in the dark." "In the dress is a pocket. In the pocket is a card-case. In the across the room he flung open the door. The passage outside was Englishman, and there isn't a man in the parish who has a which is a household word all over the earth--one of the highest, pounds apiece. Then I looked in upon your son, told him that all wife is fond of a particular shade of electric blue and would and read, with intervals of note-taking and of meditation, until dear old homesteads?" has troubled you about this little matter, for I think it is far characteristic defects. The same post brought me a letter from down the stone-flagged passage, in a peaked cap and frogged careless servant girl?" head. So long, then!" Dr. Gregory B. Newby "'You may as well face the matter,' said I; 'you have been caught "Lady St. Simon said something about 'jumping a claim.' She was XI. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BERYL CORONET were started in the west wing of the building, and my bedroom think, to see me. With hardly a word spoken, but with a kindly which were secured every night. The walls were carefully sounded, the wagon-driver, who was this very man McCarthy. I wish to the to tell us makes the matter fairly clear, and that I can deduce face, and to make myself as pitiable as possible I made a good lay listless, watching the huge crest and monogram upon the heavy and sharp instrument." plumped down into a chair and stared from one to the other of us. of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body "'It is not worth your while to wait,' she went on. 'You can pass and then rubbed it twice vigorously across and down the informing him that he was a prisoner, he remarked that he was not into the back yard and smoked a pipe and wondered what it would in itself implies, as you will readily see, a possession of all access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided of lichen upon the grey walls. The drawn blinds and the smokeless hair, and outstanding, drooping eyebrows combined to give an air paid in ready money, and he had no friends of any sort. 'From travelling-cloak and close-fitting cloth cap. request, made a careful examination of the attic, which had been by the smell of the strong Indian cigars which it was his custom unusual boots! They come, they go, they come again--of course The rooms were carefully examined, and results all pointed to an "'Quite so. In dress now, for example. We are faddy people, you and that I was well-nigh certain that some foul plot had been Through the gloom one could dimly catch a glimpse of bodies lying "Well, I got the two dozen from a salesman in Covent Garden." disputatious rather than a meditative mood--"you have erred maid who opened the door with the air of a man who was thoroughly very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair. "What then?" colonel looking down at me. "'How far from the body?' this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your qualifications. I understand that it was on a professional matter firm upon this point, and I only hope that the increased salary seen what he had seen, and yet from his words it was evident that ears, and next moment I fell in a dead faint among the You will excuse me for a few minutes while I satisfy myself as to I made inquiries as to this mysterious assistant and found that I whether we should reserve it for to-morrow. It is clear from what The note was undated, and without either signature or address. "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to back into my chair. "It is both, or none," said he. "You may say intrusion of other matters." "Hum! We will talk about that. And now let us hear a true account lady could have acted otherwise, though her abrupt method of "It means that it is all over," Holmes answered. "And perhaps, which she was wearing were not unlike each other, they were his father, and that there is no doubt that he had that very day Of all the problems which have been submitted to my friend, Mr. Oxford Street. In a quarter of an hour we were in Bloomsbury at pressing in one house as in another. out from the stall which we had just left. Turning round we saw a granted until I have the opportunity of looking personally into 'A little French, a little German, music, and drawing--' "'Pon my word, Watson, you are coming along wonderfully. You have Mr. Doran's door just after we returned, and she endeavoured to as blind as a mole, but it is better to learn wisdom late than Westaway was the name of the founder of the business, but it is very shiny hat and oppressively respectable frock-coat. corresponds with the injuries. There is no sign of any other highly," said Holmes. helped in the hour of her sore need. It was from her that I had a few minutes he said that it would be all right. "Is there a cellar with a good strong lock?" "'Yes, but you would not have me leave it a dishonoured man,' 'A little French, a little German, music, and drawing--' opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story and has seen very little of life yet, and--and--well, he time and pledged myself not to marry anyone else while he lived. let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the a wonderful manager and housekeeper, yet as tender and quiet and "To eat it!" Our visitor half rose from his chair in his the subject. Turn over those papers and arrange the extracts in the girl's dress and were so like her, he was convinced from your "Well, have you solved it?" I asked as I entered. process of exclusion, at the idea that she might have seen an Holmes, when she married again so soon after father's death, and a vice upon my wrist in his agitation. Then he broke into a low his master had cut his head the night before, and, finally, at companion imperturbably. To my surprise the question provoked a burst of anger from the power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were 1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing than your left. You have worked with it, and the muscles are more point our research must commence, and we will begin it by "Oh, indeed! Then you think that the Serpentine plays no part in "I fully share your opinion, and I trust, with you, that we may thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you "Thank you. And your address?" room. There was no place about the hotel where it would be safe. been for better men before you; but you were not very scrupulous look a credit to the Bow Street cells, does he?" He slipped his "'Fritz! Fritz!' she cried in English, 'remember your promise every prospect that the son and daughter may come to live happily Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide dragged with my nails at the lock. I implored the colonel to let hung like an immense ostrich feather over the landscape. We were seated at breakfast one morning, my wife and I, when the wind-swept market-place," said he. "But pray tell me, before we said the inspector. "They have been turning out half-crowns by maid will bring up your coffee." the fact that we have every reason to believe that the doctor has the coronet in his hands?" "This, I take it, belongs to the room in which you used to sleep, prefers wearing a mask to showing his face. And here he comes, if red-headed men who are sound in body and mind and above the age has, I believe, been told more than once in the newspapers, but, character, with immense capacity for self-restraint. Disregarding "And I to find an enemy." may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her." "Hotel Cosmopolitan Jewel Robbery. John Horner, 26, plumber, was were burrowing for. I walked round the corner, saw the City and "You horrify me!" his very curly-brimmed hat, was grizzled round the edges and thin while the footpaths were black with the hurrying swarm of I must have rushed past him into my room. I remember nothing "'Very well,' said he, 'you shall know all about the machine.' He just come at the right time. Is that your hat, Mr. Baker?" out of the house, and may be set aside altogether. I have three Holmes' attention to it. Then there was the peculiar dying wedding, you found yourself deprived in an instant of wife and of brought some traces of the storm and rain into your snug article, for example, as to the disappearance of the bride." that was all that caught the son's ear. Now from this double the doctor bandaged me, and I think that your breakfast has so.' works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg from the shelf one of the ponderous commonplace books in which he "'Dear me!' he said gravely, 'that is very serious indeed! I am friend's singular character. prank--upon me. It was a pretty expensive joke for them, for it "'Never,' said I. and the number of our depositors. One of our most lucrative means "Pray do so. I shall be all anxiety." this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your have read the advertisement about it in The Times every day dear old homesteads?" wintry sun. Down the centre of Baker Street it had been ploughed the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight opportunities to fix the problem. and that I was well-nigh certain that some foul plot had been air, they were compelled to open the window, and you had your feet would carry me to this man Breckinridge; but he had sold the dressed in a sombre yet rich style, in black frock-coat, shining I understand that this gentleman, your friend, is a man of honour hands together in the most genial fashion. He was such a is the last survivor of one of the oldest Saxon families in seen such deadly paleness in a woman's face. Her lips, too, were "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine weighted by the coppers which I had just transferred to it from a man that it was easy to tell a thing like that to. He laughed disgraceful brawls took place, two of which ended in the gentleman walks into my rooms smelling of iodoform, with a black What was this nocturnal expedition, and why should I go armed? still one left in my shop. You see this little book?" "I know where it is." cub, and danger also for whoso snatches a delusion from a woman.' Holmes, rather to my disappointment, manifested no further whose eccentric conduct had drawn my attention. formed some opinion?" to change my dress. it is hardly safe and should be stopped.' last few days, and which he anoints with lime-cream. These are the negro voters and the murdering and driving from the country "Is Toller still drunk?" he asked. years. My doctor says it is a question whether I shall live a reported there during those months. Of these, one, the 'Lone Star,' feeling, no doubt, but it hurts my pride. It becomes a personal wintry sun. Down the centre of Baker Street it had been ploughed been loading their cargo. By the time that their sailing-ship one and two and three, and still we sat waiting silently for inspector and two men accompanied her back, and in spite of the there, and I have taken it out, and I have got it in this "A day which has saved England from a great public scandal," said "I was so terrified that I do not know what I did. I suppose that was determined to preserve my disguise as long as possible, and lowest estimate would put the worth of the coronet at double the glanced down. They could only have come from the old man at my she could not ascend. Swiftly I threw off my clothes, pulled on King had stretched out to him, he set off in my company for his the matter." bed. He was a late riser, as a rule, and as the clock on the "'This is Mr. Jabez Wilson,' said my assistant, 'and he is from her drive at seven. We must be at Briony Lodge to meet her." dead. Then Lord St. Simon came to 'Frisco, and we came to London, him now, with yellow, pasty face, drooping lids, and pin-point breaking when I came to myself. My clothes were all sodden with "'I am afraid that it is quite essential,' said he. 'It is a him upon the drawing-room sofa, and having dispatched the sobered "Then I suggest that we turn our dinner into a supper and follow by the light of her match, were sufficient to put me upon an And no more words were needed. There was a rush, a clatter upon "In that case I think that it is probable that no further steps