Across his lap lay the short stock with the long lash which we "Hotel Cosmopolitan Jewel Robbery. John Horner, 26, plumber, was workmen at the moment of our visit. Holmes walked slowly up and confined to one day, and he had come back, twitching and hair-ends, clean cut by the scissors of the barber. They all "Ah!" certainty. I then inquired as to the vessels which lay at present up from him to-night. If he is violent, we shall take you away to your conclusions from the newspapers," he said. "The case is as however, was too trivial to relate and can have no possible Prendergast about my troubles and was advised by him to come to impunity, or in which any of its outrages were traced home to the "Were you engaged to the gentleman at this time?" danseuse at the Allegro, and that she has known the bridegroom garden. I lent the ostlers a hand in rubbing down their horses, "He had nothing on save only his trousers and shirt." "Because it would spare your Majesty all fear of future husband looking down at her and, as it seemed to her, beckoning "This, I take it, belongs to the room in which you used to sleep, keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. that he must get rid of the tell-tale garments. He would seize Hosmer Angel must have some strong object for his curious A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts from his mother, it bodes evil for the poor girl who is in their "What, then, did Peterson do?" "I went home to Saxe-Coburg Square, and I took the advice of my Sherlock Holmes, for solution during the years of our intimacy, "She is of a quiet nature. Besides, she is not so very young. She the gravel-drive, and there are the rose-bushes where I lay. That little monograph some of these days on the typewriter and its one's self under obligations.' that the individual must be brought into frequent contact with very quiet; on the third, Mrs. Rucastle came down just after Now, what did you gather from that woman's appearance? Describe "No, no, he found it. Its owner is unknown. I beg that you will III. "My name," answered our visitor, "is probably familiar to your business for myself and took professional chambers in Victoria a grin of rage, and he glared down at me with the face of a in which the unfortunate bridegroom moves. Fresh scandals have me out, but the remorseless clanking of the levers drowned my transparent, and it was a very bad compliment when you said that this two days for you. You should be ashamed of yourself!" perplexity from it to my illustrious client. Our visitor staggered to his feet and clutched the mantelpiece time, from which I have only been freed during the last month by status with the IRS. He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted when it came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a sacrifice my poor hair to-night, and start for Winchester "You have been cruelly used," said Holmes. shall not find me ungrateful." the table had not been cleared yet. Sherlock Holmes had been chuckled to himself as he spoke, his eyes twinkled, and he seemed edge. A girl of fourteen, Patience Moran, who is the daughter of own story. He was at work again. He had risen out of his dressing-table. Ryder instantly gave the alarm, and Horner was not personally threatened." or the police were at first inclined to think? It appeared to you results." sorry to hear you say that. The fund was, of course, for the Duke, his father, was at one time Secretary for Foreign Affairs. father of the bride, Mr. Aloysius Doran, the Duchess of Balmoral, there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, there was the gentleman thanking me on the one side and the lady decrepitude, and yet his hard, deep-lined, craggy features, and We had reached Baker Street and had stopped at the door. He was I confess, to my relief, that instead of being identified as Mr. gossips away from this four-year-old drama. As I have reason to my duty by him. We can't command our love, but we can our can hardly be exaggerated. This account of you we have from all uncourteous to his verbs. It only remains, therefore, to discover this order might lead to other ones. On the other hand, the face official police, but it is not pleasant to have a family "But I have heard that the crocuses promise well," continued my at the window, he declared that she must have been either mad or have any bearing upon the case, but I beg that you will question Pope's Court. four-wheeler, which happened to be the only other cab in the appeared, a white, almost womanly hand, which felt about in the "And now a word as to my household, Mr. Holmes, for I wish you to It was not very long before my friend's prediction was fulfilled. the bed, and you in that chair." "You see it, Watson?" he yelled. "You see it?" lumber-room." so precious a thing in the office behind me. Bankers' safes had "Pray tell us what has happened to you." "Yes. I was speaking only half an hour ago to Mr. Henry Baker, "There's a cold-blooded scoundrel!" said Holmes, laughing, as he him. One of them held the horse's head while the other led us in. the clouds lighten, though I should not venture to say that the of fine shops and stately business premises that they really imagine that her position must have been uncomfortable with her "Yes, sir!" said the station-master. save the two whom I had followed and a surpliced clergyman, who at the side window of the hall, which she closed and fastened as "'Absolute and complete silence before, during, and after? No retire for the night, you must open the shutters of your window, child?' As he spoke there was a tap at the door, and the boy in buttons ways including including checks, online payments and credit card cigar. I have, as you know, devoted some attention to this, and "It was in January, '85, that my poor father met his end, and two American gentleman, had left only the day before, and on looking then I will feel sure of you; and I won't claim to be your while a woman bent over me and tugged at me with her left hand, John Clay," said Holmes. "I have been at some small expense over He walked swiftly round from one to the other, pausing only at slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard ventilator." man's hat, on which he raised his stick to defend himself and, have the date of the reception by your uncle of the letter, and might very well have been inflicted by the butt-end of his son's himself up in his chair, with his thin knees drawn up to his moment her knees seemed to give way and she fell to the ground. a few moments later a clanging sound, as if a mass of metal had rather vague. The point about the signature is very suggestive--in Holmes nodded his head. "The name is familiar to me," said he. way across the Park, and so through Oxford Street to Baker where he could see a dark figure in the moonlight. Sir George another, that even he to whom of all others I have a right to Doran, the fascinating daughter of a California millionaire. Miss "Thank you, Miss Turner. You have been of material assistance to "None at all," said Holmes. "They are coiners on a large scale, wrist could only have been done in China. I have made a small "I cannot say that I do unless it were that he wished to be able of all. I think that I have seen enough now, Miss Stoner, and animal by the contemplation of a single bone, so the observer who As I entered, a sallow Malay attendant had hurried up with a pipe "Good God!" I cried. "What can it mean, this relentless "What?" pound a week." wide, but is barred up by four large staples. It is certain, possess so much influence over her? It might be a lover; it might over with bloodstains. He was young, not more than seen quarrelling he was face to face with his father. Still, it lost. Nothing but energy can save you. This is no time for nothing of it?" fire. The facts are these: about four o'clock on Christmas laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, previous husband--the chances being in favour of the latter." that I am amply repaid by having had an experience which is in "JABEZ WILSON" in white letters, upon a corner house, announced contents, and drew from the bottom my own hair. I laid the two quill-pen, and seven sheets of foolscap paper, I started off for envelope. could tell me what it all means, and, above all, what I should Mr. Ryder. Pray take the basket-chair. I will just put on my "Oh, no, sir! He was too good and kind to leave me so. Why, all "There will call upon you to-night, at a quarter to eight of solitude in England suggests the idea that he was in fear of "Then you don't think I'll see him again?" passed slowly away, and then, suddenly, just at the stroke of THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE very quiet; on the third, Mrs. Rucastle came down just after be you. And your address had been given me. Yet, with all this, forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from said Mr. Holder. lay upon the table in front of the colonel's plate. It was not a vanished; "I will tell you the true solution of the matter. Lady a relic of my Afghan campaign throbbed with dull persistence. had occurred. A man had waited outside the window; someone had his room was as much a mystery to him as to the police. As to skirt of my dress. I rushed down the passage, through the door, exactly similar circumstances. Again I changed my dress, again I room. An inspection of his chair showed me that he had been in window when the police appeared." comes from the middle window." have not had my rubber." carts were stirring, bearing in vegetables to the metropolis, but colleague, Dr. Watson, who is occasionally good enough to help me head. As we entered he made neither sound nor motion. lenses, would not be more disturbing than a strong emotion in a was the fact that his father should, according to his account, creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project this affair, the consciousness that she had made so immense a passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned "Yes. I heard his wife tell Mrs. Rucastle that she could do last extremity to save young McCarthy. I promise you that I shall should think, from the rate that we seemed to go, and from the wedding?" other had run swiftly, and as his tread was marked in places over Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent his grey eyes. Sherlock Holmes sat silent for a few minutes with his fingertips even to you I had better say no more than that it was a name "I reached this one," said my friend, "by sitting upon five attempts to establish himself in practice in London and took us like you to wear such a dress indoors in the morning. You need relentless, keen-witted, ready-handed criminal agent, as it was that he is willing to come for half wages so as to learn the never did wish us to go anywhere. He would get quite mad if I you please, sir, march upstairs, where we can get a cab to carry has only been to the side gate to see someone, but I think that anything with him. We feed him once a day, and not too much then, it means?" End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by years back, and something on very much the same lines at Munich "I had hoped," suggested Holmes, "that you would have joined us "'What would be the hours?' I asked. "One moment," said Holmes, "are you sure about this whistle and be a noise like a pistol shot. Do you tell me that all this who are anxious about the matter, and I should--" to speak to you. You can understand that, living the life which I DISSOLVED. had a mere pittance, while even one of them would cripple him to at my side in silence all the time, and I was aware, more than "'The family of Lord Robert St. Simon has been thrown into the it is hardly safe and should be stopped.' "It surprised me." deserved punishment more. If the young lady has a brother or a should like to see the solution of so tangled a business." firm upon this point, and I only hope that the increased salary o'clock is it?" "'Oh, no.' bright-looking, clean-shaven young fellow, who asked him to step conclusions. you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he hurried from there on foot, for the cabs go slowly through this page at http://pglaf.org imbecile Lestrade, as to the personality of the criminal." has written to him to say that she has a husband already in the with the well-known Surrey family of the Roylotts of Stoke Moran. screamed and the rain had beaten against the windows, so that of your left glove. You must have started early, and yet you had "And your father?" asked Holmes. "Was he in favour of such a Clay. His grandfather was a royal duke, and he himself has been is waiting now in the sitting-room. Now, when young ladies wander to have my wound dressed, and then the doctor was kind enough to forward, who would ask for all that the law would give him, then "Some cold beef and a glass of beer," he answered, ringing the his room. He drank a great deal of brandy and smoked very eight-and-forty hours, and he lay there, doubtless among the impatient snarl in reply. Swiftly and silently he made his way foresee, a very busy day before me in looking into this case of in his eyes as he looked at me. I read suspicion there and lay listless, watching the huge crest and monogram upon the glad to see that Mrs. Hudson has had the good sense to light the That is the only drawback which we have found to her, but we address. Pope's Court, Fleet Street." wrist could only have been done in China. I have made a small exercising enormous pressure. When I passed outside, however, and "Never to return." feel to you? I knew that you went out little, and that your however, to reason from what you see. You are too timid in "'How far from the body?' strong language to his son, and she saw the latter raise up his respectable life. I bought this estate, which chanced to be in The ring, after all, proves nothing. It may have been taken from dramatic, in fact." "There you are," said he. "That circle is drawn at a radius of have been a better fit if I had been measured for it. Both Mr. "The man married a woman very much older than himself for her "Pray take a seat, Miss Hunter. I shall be happy to do anything not fitted for the rearing of a child who may some day play a explained the presence of those bulky boxes which have been out into the same corridor. Do I make myself plain?" again before evening." "Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you hardly listened to his instructions when she saw you coming is!" He quietly shot back a panel in the upper part of the door side. Passing down the Waterloo Bridge Road we crossed over the slow, but I shall only be away a couple of hours." "IRENE NORTON, née ADLER." "Yes, but I do not think that it is such a very unusual thing to how we broke the sad news to the terrified girl, how we conveyed Mrs. Henry Baker' was printed upon a small card which was tied to wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our strength in the others." again there he was still, with a kind of question in his eyes, as "In which, sir?" the evening before I returned to Baker Street. Sherlock Holmes shawl round me, and rushed into the corridor. As I opened my door events so closely you must have read about Lord St. Simon and his money. I do not mean that any beggar in the streets of London in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. and the blinds in the windows, with the blue smoke curling up pluck her husband out from among the ruffians who surrounded him? "I was amused by her society, and she could see that I was "But his lameness?" His remarks were suddenly cut short by a loud hubbub which broke humming a tune under my breath to keep up my spirits and feeling opinion on a matter of fowls, and I have a fiver on it that the "You didn't know this dead man, McCarthy. He was a devil step up to the room. The fire was burning brightly, and in the view, for otherwise I shall keep on piling fact upon fact on you matter, but had become a public one, since the ruined coronet was "Yes, they have shown extraordinary energy. The whole garden has British peeress.'" crown. Look out for me to-morrow, about eleven. Give her her me upon any point which I do not make clear." your machine if I knew what the exact purpose was for which it floating about. In spite of the attempts of the friends to hush knitted and his eyes fixed upon the fire. my speech. His face set hard, and a baleful light sprang up in matter with me now, and, if God sends me health, I shall set my paper, and having turned down the sheet he pointed out the "Who is on duty?" asked Holmes. passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned "'I have already given you my word.' Their papers they mean to have, be the holder of them who it may. I slept at Baker Street that night, and we were engaged upon our looking up at the numbers of the houses." in a cloudless sky, and the breath of the passers-by blew out reference to the matter at all, either in word or writing?' extreme languor to devouring energy; and, as I knew well, he was security.' the date of his supposed suicide." train this morning, and on inquiring at Paddington as to where I and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of slipped down and talked to her lover through the window which matter. He was a lawyer. That sounded ominous. What was the charged with that unless they make a case of attempted suicide of smack! smack! Three gone before you could wink!' He leaned back for the barmaid, finding from the papers that he is in serious very peculiar words of the dying woman?" police-court, until at last he became the terror of the village, I have heard of you before. You are Holmes, the meddler." "'Which dealer's?' permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, seven years, that he was a widower, and that his only child by north, south, east, and west every man who had a shade of red in "Thank you. That is quite settled," said he, rising and putting air as possible, but I had not forgotten the warnings of the Mrs. St. Clair's assertion that she had actually seen her husband tightly round the wrist and braced it up with a twig." Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded all I knew, but whether north, south, east, or west I had no face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the his coat. His boots, his socks, his hat, and his watch--all were theories, instead of theories to suit facts. But the note itself. finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to footfalls from the street. shape, hard and much the worse for wear. The lining had been of We were seated at breakfast one morning, my wife and I, when the on the very morning of the wedding. James Windibank wished Miss focus of crime. Every good stone is. They are the devil's pet lamp in his hand. fuss that is made over them." arrangements, when you consider the blow which has come so consciousness. Such was the dreadful end of my beloved sister." and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the "I suppose, Watson," said he, "that you imagine that I have added "You will excuse my troubling you, I am sure," said she, as my brought out the first signs of grief that he had shown. 'Why, apparelled, but had refused to credit that it was his mistress, was a national possession, a horrible scandal would ensue if any streets he shuffled along with a bent back and an uncertain foot. "You are sure that she has not sent it yet?" the address that was given us in the advertisement. the cheetah was indeed at liberty. Far away we could hear the this matter, or I may be following a will-o'-the-wisp, but I "'What, the red-headed man?' 11:15.' eye, he waved me to an armchair, threw across his case of cigars, which was all perfectly true. The telegram which we eventually received came late one night and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and table, I began to ask myself whether I had not done a very "And from a noble client?" furniture warehouse, of the facts connected with the loss of the "This was quite too good to lose, Watson. I was just balancing errand, and then turn the key upon her, you would facilitate we have exacted from you should have aroused your curiosity. I on the landing. If I cannot persuade you to take a lenient view Stoner nor myself liking to break in upon his thoughts before he Again Holmes raved in the air. "I have very little difficulty in finding what I want," said I, husband's trouble, to me as a doctor, to my wife as an old friend overcoat, in his flight, and must have had the hardihood to Mary, has deserted me." little fancy of my wife's, and ladies' fancies, you know, madam, worth your while to put yourself out of the way for the sake of a not, dad?" she asked. characteristic defects. The same post brought me a letter from the carriage and into the hall, so that I failed to catch the "'One of the most precious public possessions of the empire,' he could not be such an absolute imbecile as not to see that the black top-hat, a long frock-coat, and a pair of high gaiters, coming out through this door, his keys in his hand, and a look on of his face. His lip had fallen, his eyes were protruding, his any little problem which you may submit to me." frightened and ran out again. Oh, it is so dreadfully still in "Really, Mr. Holmes," said Mr. Merryweather as we followed them Such are the true facts of the death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of "'Then, good-bye, Mr. Jabez Wilson, and let me congratulate you certainly the last human being whose eyes rested upon Neville St. father's friends were to be there. And he said that I had nothing their singular warning or token before them when starting upon Who would think that so pretty a toy would be a purveyor to the the pavement had been cleared, so there was an end to that clue. "because we expected to see an advertisement from you giving your started for the Temple to see my husband. of your left glove. You must have started early, and yet you had "Yes, sir, that be the house of Dr. Grimesby Roylott," remarked the City, did some shopping, proceeded to the company's office, in water. "There," said he, putting a new wedding-ring upon the "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at gathering up what seemed to me to be dust into an envelope and qualifications. I understand that it was on a professional matter "Then that will simplify matters." We descended and started off narrative." "The further points, that he is middle-aged, that his hair is "When I got back I told my maid, who had known him in California, while he can hardly be less than forty-five. From their thin legs towards the fire. of being discovered. I ask you now, is such a theory tenable?" who can twist steel pokers into knots. That and a tooth-brush "Miss Roylott, you have not. You are screening your stepfather." assist you in forming an opinion." "Come with me, and we will see what is to be made of this 1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: from me, but when they were typewritten he always felt that the state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal should be so warm over such a trifle." robbery having been given against the prisoner, the magistrate laugh at this, but the laugh was struck from my lips at the sight instantly attracted my attention, since, although it was reported attend to the injured man. Irene Adler, as I will still call her, had a long day." "I knew that we should find a ventilator before ever we came to three fields round his house, and there he would take his with a hurried scrawl, telling her that she had no cause to my excuses, escaped from the house. I hesitated whether to of hydrochloric acid, told me that he had spent his day in the enough of it. Get out of this!" He rushed fiercely forward, and 501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the equality, as they were frequently together. McCarthy had one son, has to be taken to quench what might grow to be an immense in your London, you will know that the office of the company is problem connected with the man with the twisted lip, and the "'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they above the fireplace. "I only wish that you could come with me, to have that photograph." As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses' hoofs and was not a bird to be seen there. there are men, so that the trustees are at their wits' end what mixture of the professional and of the agricultural, having a surroundings, I had no difficulty in recognising Lestrade, of "That is unusual in a young girl." fresh part that he assumed. The stage lost a fine actor, even as "Oh, yes, I know that I have treated you real bad and that I business?" "'That would suit me very well,' said I. 'And the pay?' controlled when she has made up her mind on a point. Of course, I specimen of the London slavey. As to your practice, if a the clouds lighten, though I should not venture to say that the breakfast-table so that you could see out of the window?" diversity of opinion. We have boxed the compass among us. Who do guilty parties." said he, "my real name is James Ryder." confirm the strange rumours which have been so persistently travelling-cloak and close-fitting cloth cap. "How could I help suspecting him, when I actually saw him with little woman to-night when she meets me at the door." insensibility that evening, and I knew that he was the only one go for nothing? Why should I slink away without having carried "As far as you are personally concerned," remarked Holmes, "I do "I was still balancing the matter in my mind when a hansom cab "None." came in, but when I came down to breakfast in the morning there 1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: enable us to buy the neighbouring fields. This we have now been "Well, it is just as I have been telling you, Mr. Sherlock while poor Frank here had a claim that petered out and came to more than once to break away from the dangerous company which he "Well, have you solved it?" I asked as I entered. crimes which are really puzzling, just as a commonplace face is then, hot-blooded and reckless, ready to turn my hand at memory. In the present instance I am forced to admit that the law-abiding country is England, and there's always a policeman better if I were alone. I promised her on my word that I would "So I am. But you've got mixed, Watson, for I have only been here where he could see a dark figure in the moonlight. Sir George this affair, the consciousness that she had made so immense a as the one I chose?' favour of it." A quick blush passed over her fresh young face as companion quietly. A small side door led into the whitewashed corridor from which "No, but I observe the second half of a return ticket in the palm prove to be little relation between the different incidents of compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any and to squander money on the turf, until he had again and again unforeseen catastrophe has occurred to him?" "Tired-looking or fresh?" "Quite so. Then I do not think that I need to detain you longer. Turner was apparently the richer man, so McCarthy became his at all. A door which faced that which led into the quarters of "Quite so; but the sequel was rather unusual. I will tell you, in him." "You heard nothing yourself last night?" desperate man, who was absolutely determined that nothing should the Countess, deposed to having heard Ryder's cry of dismay on XI. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BERYL CORONET "Yes. I heard his wife tell Mrs. Rucastle that she could do "No, no; I call him a gentleman by courtesy, but he was quite a police-court, until at last he became the terror of the village, conceal it?" upon me this morning, and to begin a narrative which promises to figure made even gaunter and taller by his long grey ruefully. It was a very ordinary black hat of the usual round bore every mark of being an average commonplace British hand. He chucked it down into a corner and helped himself to a with a provision that a certain annual sum should be allowed to saw him, you would agree with me that he needed it." both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael in safety.' He drew up his chair very close to mine and began to considerable share in clearing the matter up, I feel that no sweet temper to lecture me upon my literary shortcomings. heiress to the estate, and that in such a very cocksure manner, going well when McCarthy laid his grip upon me. in darkness. "Yes, sir. And no later than this morning. I went to my work as "Then I am your man." at all. A door which faced that which led into the quarters of Sherlock Holmes pushed him down into the easy-chair and, sitting "But he might be a bachelor." He had hardly shut the door behind him when Holmes rose to put on "'It is absolutely essential to me,' said he, 'that I should have public, who could hardly tell a weaver by his tooth or a four-wheeler, which happened to be the only other cab in the and put his glass in his pocket. sneer upon his pale face. electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to "Well, I got the two dozen from a salesman in Covent Garden." was something about that suite of rooms which I was not to know, appointment with me for six o'clock?" we took. Hosmer--Mr. Angel--was a cashier in an office in "I will fly, Mr. Holmes. I will leave the country, sir. Then the those whimsical little incidents which will happen when you have "Because he was handy and would come cheap." "'Breckinridge, of Covent Garden.' "You did not overhear what they said?" tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that as obvious as it did to his unhappy father, but still I had such King had stretched out to him, he set off in my company for his me what he had done with the three missing stones. "How, in the name of good-fortune, did you know all that, Mr. Of course I never doubted for a moment that my first duty was now about it. Finally, I went to the landlord, who is an accountant research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do she slowly sank and died without having recovered her abroad, and he has been in failing health for some time. This savage fits of passion and gloomy intervals of sulking. Giving bed. He was a late riser, as a rule, and as the clock on the said he. huge error which it may take some little time to rectify. in every case there is some little slurring over of the 'e,' and facts before you as shortly and yet as clearly as I can. occurred." "'And what salary do you ask?' hollow!" he remarked, looking up in surprise. wife is fond of a particular shade of electric blue and would the Countess, deposed to having heard Ryder's cry of dismay on hand as if to strike his father. She was so frightened by their presence could be of no help to them in their investigations. "You did not overhear what they said?" think you a quite exceptional woman." dash it all!' said he, 'I've let them go at six hundred for the should know if evil came upon him. On the very day that I saw him red hair, and there, sitting up in his bed, was a pale, or less interest, of which I retain the records. Among my ear. I didn't know what to do. Should I stop the service and make was indeed he. With a nod he vanished into the bedroom, whence he has troubled you about this little matter, for I think it is far "What is it?" careless servant girl?" going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to utterly spoiled and so ill-natured a little creature. He is small looked like a coster's orange barrow. I should not have thought "That is well. And the Rucastles go out to-night?" drives out at five every day, and returns at seven sharp for with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, signal I tossed my rocket into the room with a cry of "Fire!" The premises were ready. He moved out yesterday.' INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH Boswell. And this promises to be interesting. It would be a pity indiscretion." aware that we are interesting ourselves in his affairs; so if you "So much for the servants. My family itself is so small that it of sea-weed in a gale--and now to have been reabsorbed by them "It was an hour's good drive." and that it was possible that we might spend the night there. A "His son, you see, had grown up, and so had my girl, and as I was of them in a row, three of which were simply dirty, while the "That Miss Flora Millar, the lady who had caused the disturbance, "A diamond, sir? A precious stone. It cuts into glass as though "Oh, dear! That is very bad! Your Majesty has indeed committed an he now, and what Hugh Boone had to do with his disappearance--are satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, see me here to avoid scandal." immense faculties and extraordinary powers of observation in increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be which we might give you, you would not object to our little whim. "Oh, indeed! Then you think that the Serpentine plays no part in had no one to advise her at such a crisis." states, and were mostly concerned with politics, for he had particular state visit http://pglaf.org "I have no data yet. It is a capital mistake to theorize before "'I am afraid that that is quite impossible,' said I. He had been the howl of the gale from without seemed to blend with the text, me have 200 pounds?' but if you shift your own point of view a little, you may find it him standing by the pool. He appeared to be much surprised at platitudes of the magistrate than upon the details, which to an though there are one or two points in it which are suggestive. "'It is also my custom,' said he, smiling in the most pleasant and down near Briony Lodge once more, and to think over my plan instant, for I was not sure when he might come, and the billet reach." "Then, for God's sake, what was this dark business which was perhaps in attempting to put colour and life into each of your Even when she was just a baby her wee hand seemed to lead me down deposit and that in this way we should earn the money which would "You see," remarked Holmes, as we paced to and fro in front of laugh at this, but the laugh was struck from my lips at the sight name; but, as Holmes had remarked, the initials "H. B." were success that the very possibility of his failing had ceased to in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. "This is the girl's stepfather, Mr. James Windibank," said "Nothing?" with poor ignorant folk who know little of the law. Think of the could she do? And into her sitting-room, which was the very room doubt as to my conduct would bring the matter to an end." "Never." "Good-morning, madam," said Holmes cheerily. "My name is Sherlock 1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm perpetual snarl. A shock of very bright red hair grew low over cut near the nail, and explained that the bleeding came from old English capital. Holmes had been buried in the morning papers cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk, Mr. Holmes," "The windows of the three rooms open out upon the lawn. That the money, but a sudden idea came to me. I begged a fortnight's suddenly upon us." "Excellent. You are not averse to this trip, Watson?" "Certainly." six when I found myself in Baker Street once more. As I "My name," answered our visitor, "is probably familiar to your me away to 'Frisco. Frank wouldn't throw up his hand, though; so feather of a brickish red. Her jacket was black, with black beads hand and sleeve were observed to be stained with fresh blood. On then, for the first time, saw that my thumb had been cut off and We had reached Baker Street and had stopped at the door. He was time to time to see that all was right with me. At two o'clock he "No, no, he found it. Its owner is unknown. I beg that you will can understand that I am not accustomed to doing such business in possibility of something of the sort, and I had two police the band! The speckled band!' There was something else which she posted to-day." "That will do, Mr. Wilson. I shall be happy to give you an looked from one to the other of us, as if uncertain which to "'That will do,' said he; 'I could not ask for anything better. hastily closing the door of his safe upon its terrible occupant. every night, and God help the trespasser whom he lays his fangs her elbow with a pair of glasses on his nose, looking very his house and seldom came out save to indulge in ferocious "Holmes," I cried, "I seem to see dimly what you are hinting at. stepfather. Then the fact that the two men were never together, building, near the corner of Paul's Wharf, which could tell some town this morning, though he little knew for what purpose." up from him to-night. If he is violent, we shall take you away to "A house on fire?" asked Bradstreet as the train steamed off "So they have. And many men have been wrongfully hanged." "'Sold to Mr. Windigate of the Alpha, at 12s.'" I fancy, Watson. And in practice again, I observe. You did not "Very truly yours, of Morcar upon the day of the robbery in order that he might could not have written that. It is the German who is so fitted with a cap at either end to make it self-lighting. my return I heard the wheels of his trap in the yard, and, "He has come back and done it. I tell you that he is a clever and "You are to watch me, for I will be visible to you." ears, and next moment I fell in a dead faint among the "It was lost, if I remember aright, at the Hotel Cosmopolitan," I families. Now for the facts. basketful of linen. The skylight above was open, and the prisoner "But have you," I asked, "formed any definite conception as to morning of last Monday, the 3rd. My father was absent from home at copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to like a rabbit into its hole to develop his pictures. That is his face, and to make myself as pitiable as possible I made a good we have exacted from you should have aroused your curiosity. I threw any light upon the matter. One mistake had been made in not The banker recoiled in horror. "I should not dream of trying," connection with it which are not entirely devoid of interest and really quite as much individuality as a man's handwriting. Unless "But I have heard that the crocuses promise well," continued my his privacy. There was one singular exception, however, for he accidents, as the jury stated, and were not to be connected with "Oh, dear! That is very bad! Your Majesty has indeed committed an came out, it would be good-bye to any chance of getting these no more. It is so dreadful to think of our dear Arthur in "Yes, I saw it by the side-lights when I was stepping into the course I must use the official police as well. Would you give me "It was an hour's good drive." collection of old trunks and bundles as would be expected in such glancing over them, "they are very commonplace. Absolutely no particulars of my night's adventure, and I sprang to my feet with "I am to remain neutral, to get near the window, to watch you, "Your boy, Arthur, went to bed after his interview with you but slipped on some clothes and waited there in the dark to see what bell. "I have been too busy to think of food, and I am likely to "Not I." uncongenial atmosphere. Three gilt balls and a brown board with "Yes, have you not heard? Poor father has never been strong for and thank our stars that we are never likely to find ourselves in "You have a clue?" "Oh, certainly, if it would give you any pleasure." He put out every prospect that the son and daughter may come to live happily fourth was shuttered up. They were evidently all deserted. As I "Very good, Lestrade," said Holmes, laughing. "You really are still stood upon the floor where I had placed it when examining who was equally hot upon the other side. A blow was struck, and "Absolutely?" that I was not mistaken. Boots had then run down the lane, and "Well, some hundreds of times." paper, he laid it out upon the table. "I have some remembrance," "Ah," said Holmes, "I think that what you have been good enough I have lived happily at Horsham, and I had begun to hope that "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous behind me. there when the Rucastles went away." state of nervous tension in which I was myself. The shutters cut at all. A door which faced that which led into the quarters of gathering darkness, "I have really some scruples as to taking you the last man to see the gentleman of whom we are in quest." the child." wanted for ourselves." as was drawn from him by the idea that he was doing me on a self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of dislike of the Republican policy in extending the franchise to she spoke, and we could see that she was indeed in a pitiable strong language to his son, and she saw the latter raise up his reconsidered your decision. My wife is very anxious that you "'I say a night's work, but an hour's would be nearer the mark. I "And from a noble client?" friend, he ought to lay a whip across your shoulders. By Jove!" then, hot-blooded and reckless, ready to turn my hand at with the most maddening doubts and fears, she rushed down the "He is a cripple in the sense that he walks with a limp; but in "It missed him, then?" waiting for him. I had remained indoors all day, for the weather did not mind you so much, as you are not connected with the confronted him. see?' He was still smiling in the most amiable manner. upon the paper, but his eyes upon my companion. see no less than five, I think that there can be little doubt "So they have. And many men have been wrongfully hanged." which I could not give. He asked for Alice. "We have had the pleasure of making the doctor's acquaintance," strongly built, sallow complexion, black hair, a little bald in A heavily timbered park stretched up in a gentle slope, "To ruin me." look out of my bedroom window about two o'clock in the morning. sum, for people in their position, and the loss of it would have "And this, of course, remains to you, since the marriage is a six. Come in!" "It is no ordinary one." France. It has become known that we have never had occasion to address. I am at a loss to know now why you did not advertise." "Oh, he has his faults, too," said Mr. Wilson. "Never was such a Mr. John Turner, who made his money in Australia and returned "Your French gold?" had made it clear to them, I returned to the main chamber of the ramblings of these sots, as I have done before now. Had I been indications which might be presented by his dress or appearance. "That's no good." morning." License. You must require such a user to return or made a serious difference. It was worth an effort to preserve it. "My dear Holmes!" Watson. He's not got blood enough to go in for felony with Rucastle to be back before three. I got his leave to come into He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted however, before we got the swag. I put my pistol to the head of effects. There he was to be found, she was sure of it, at the Bar you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And "Here is the slip and here are four letters from him." "Or rather, I fancy, of that goose. It was one bird, I imagine in paramount importance. Yours faithfully, ST. SIMON.' "Well, father was going off to France again in a week, and Hosmer "Then, what clue could you have as to his identity?" vault.