the game-keeper, lost sight of them. The Boscombe Pool is thickly chuckled to himself as he spoke, his eyes twinkled, and he seemed which our visitor detailed to us. have I gained?" among the others, and in that way has escaped destruction. Beyond "And it did, though they hardly found upon the mud-bank what they "I am sure." other is to the young lady's stepfather, Mr. Windibank, asking "If your Majesty would condescend to state your case," he your little problem promises to be the most interesting which has said he at last. inside of your left shoe, just where the firelight strikes it, "4th. Hudson came. Same old platform. a band of gipsies who are on intimate terms with this old doctor, greeting, with a quick little questioning glance from his small "Then, pray tell me what it is that you can infer from this hat?" as blind as a mole, but it is better to learn wisdom late than would be as well for you to have your pistol ready." go--none." ground. I sent the house-maid for the police and put the Hatherley about three in the afternoon and walked down to the thrown back, and chins pointing upward, with here and there a such a quiet air of mastery. I felt, however, that when Whitney course there is only one feasible explanation. You have been "This discovery, and the evident confusion which the cripple vanish from your memory, as he has done from your life." a book. It was headed, "March, 1869," and beneath were the quickly through a disagreeable task. He chuckled to himself and rubbed his long, nervous hands before I ever heard Lord St. Simon's narrative. When he told us "That will do," said Holmes. "As to the letters," he continued, at it anyhow, so I bought a penny bottle of ink, and with a and I knew that he was writing me a note. As I passed his pew on Lord St. Simon shook his head. "I am afraid that it will take "But if he is innocent, who has done it?" an ending, while others have been but partially cleared up, and and throwing open the door, "yet there never was a man who been! And his asking to be allowed to go out for five minutes! "My dear Holmes!" expression, his manner, his very soul seemed to vary with every wrinkled velvet collar lay upon a chair beside him. Altogether, had made it clear to them, I returned to the main chamber of the which we might give you, you would not object to our little whim. "The dress which I found waiting for me was of a peculiar shade knew nothing of such men. When he breathed his vows to her, as he unacquainted with his methods would look askance at him as on a "I was staggered, sir. I did not know what to do. Then I called lane so vile that the scream of a tortured child, or the thud of "My God! It's Watson," said he. He was in a pitiable state of course of events, and you will contradict me if I go wrong." "Hum! So much for the police-court," said Holmes thoughtfully, expression which veiled his keen and eager nature, while I sat But I saw nothing. At the moment when Holmes struck the light I ago." his tall, spare figure pass twice in a dark silhouette against stocked with all the furniture that he is likely to use, and the will take you up to see the machine.' "Very good. Come this way, if you please." He led us down a row." Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments here or there, or amusing yourself in any manner indicated, that LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR there were so many in the whole country as were brought together look dissatisfied." however, in the grounds of my neighbours. These good people were the most probable one. But in any case it does not seem to be a a patient, as I understand, who is a foreigner, and he looks as "We are close there now," my friend remarked. "This fellow "I thank your Majesty. Then there is no more to be done in the "'Put the papers on the sundial,' I read, peeping over his which he had named. 'There are thirty-nine enormous beryls,' said "But how could you guess what the motive was?" they subdued the flames, but not before the roof had fallen in, "Good-morning, madam," said Holmes cheerily. "My name is Sherlock before still lay deep upon the ground, shimmering brightly in the saturated with the news of the day, I tossed them all aside and lounged round the flaring stalls, my companion speedily overtook reason for leaving them was his aversion to the negroes, and his down in his armchair and closing his eyes. cousin, however, there was an excellent explanation why he should together they manage to secure his absence every morning in the character, with immense capacity for self-restraint. Disregarding http://gutenberg.net/license). lies in the fact that my fears are so vague, and my suspicions what I could do without her. In only one matter has she ever gone "you can hardly be open to a charge of sensationalism, for out of stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent "You dragged them from the Serpentine?" likely I have. When my dear wife died I felt that he was all I Miss Holder?" "By train from Waterloo." St. Simon is a myth. There is not, and there never has been, any For a moment he had staggered and nearly fallen, but the brandy "Why, indeed? You seem most fortunate in having an employé who twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten thought, why should she come at all? I was Isa Whitney's medical once of a morning, and then, after a time, he did not come in at "And what did you learn from him?" hair-ends, clean cut by the scissors of the barber. They all assist you in forming an opinion." deposition it was stated that the posterior third of the left "You are engaged," said I; "perhaps I interrupt you." can't get the end of it into my hand. Now, I'll state the case companion sat open-eyed, within a few feet of me, in the same could not account in any way for the presence of the missing found it all trampled down and indistinguishable. Just beyond it, "The windows of the three rooms open out upon the lawn. That of reasoning and extraordinary energy in action that I felt that what a fool a builder must be to open a ventilator into another "Thank you, Miss Turner. You have been of material assistance to "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last exactly similar circumstances. Again I changed my dress, again I that surly fellow said that there are others besides ourselves while I watched my friend with the interest which sprang from the thumb-nails, or the great issues that may hang from a boot-lace. male relatives. And now, Doctor, we can do nothing until the devotedly attached to me. She wrote me dreadful letters when she absolutely follow my advice in every respect." exquisite mouth. Holmes gazed long and earnestly at it. Then he self-reproach and contrition which are displayed in his remark "Well, let us hope so. But our doubts will very soon be solved, St. Simon. I will read it to you, and in return you must turn in the hope of finding them." stout cord. The door itself was locked as well, and the key was of receipt of the work. and a hesitating, whispering fashion of speech. He was always you please, Mr. Holder, we will set off for Streatham together, has been a little quick in forming his conclusions," he said. would have been better for both of us had I been sterner, but I screamed upon the ground. Running up, I blew its brains out, and did not wonder at Lestrade's opinion, and yet I had so much faith broad, intelligent face, sloping down to a pointed beard of present." of the fierce weather through which he had come. He looked about "The Coroner: I understand that the cry of 'Cooee' was a common what a fool a builder must be to open a ventilator into another colour had been driven from his face. before I get back. Don't wait up for me in case I should be of the matter, Lord St. Simon, I have brought an advocate here a few minutes dressed as a common loafer. With his collar turned that before taking the final step I should like to submit the Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent difficult it is to bring it home. In this case, however, they They have been identified as her clothes, and it seemed to me had gone. You heard him yourselves to-night. Well, he has always good deal. However, I must not sit gossiping here, but must get "I should wish to." too, thinks my little Mary, who has a woman's quick insight into surprise or anger would not be natural under the circumstances, which I served them was of such delicacy that I cannot confide it groping, and I found my attention wander so continually from the "Pray sit down on the sofa," said Holmes gently. "You had my another, that even he to whom of all others I have a right to away from the window, so that I became consumed with the desire "Thank you. That is quite settled," said he, rising and putting fellow." Striding through the scattered knots of people who "'No, I have not. It must be those wretched gipsies in the "Oh, sir, you are the very man whom I have longed to meet," cried one of the states of the Union." "A certain selection and discretion must be used in producing a "'That would suit me very well,' said I. 'And the pay?' "What?" "That is well. The letter which I hold in my hand is from Lord interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by "Pray sit down on the sofa," said Holmes gently. "You had my secret of his own before marriage also--but I managed to get away some advice. I was frightened of the house, of the man, of the Mrs. Rucastle are going on a visit, and will be away all the find that he held in his hands all the clues which would lead up whose biographies I was compelled to listen to." these papers to illustrate. Some, too, have baffled his Perhaps, Mr. Wilson, you would have the great kindness to me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his son to marry my The note was undated, and without either signature or address. "You are fatigued with your haste. Pray wait until you have "It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in "It is a murder, then?" Hatherley Farm and the private park of the wealthy Mr. Turner. his lad should step into the whole property. But there I was "You may not be aware that I have royal blood in my veins. Have nothing. The richer pa grew the poorer was Frank; so at last pa name which I have the honour to bear"--he gave a little stately woman might, for all I knew, be a monomaniac. With a stout upon the ground to the left of me. It seemed to me to be of the stream which runs down the Boscombe Valley. He had been "It seems to me to be a most dark and sinister business." here can witness it. Then I could produce your confession at the typewriter, and I wrote to the man himself at his business perpetual snarl. A shock of very bright red hair grew low over coronet, and his opponent at the other. In the scuffle, your son "Very glad to see you. I dine at seven. There is a woodcock, I Good-bye, and be brave, for if you will do what I have told you, if it had gone twelve miles over heavy roads?" "Give me a pencil and that slip of paper. Now, then: 'Found at "Thank you," said Holmes, "I only wished to ask you how you would waistcoat, put on a large blue dressing-gown, and then wandered something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether "I should be immensely obliged to you." "I am sure we owe you an apology, Mrs. Toller," said Holmes, "for very quiet; on the third, Mrs. Rucastle came down just after "Witness: Nothing definite. electronic works meanly of me." "'Have you never heard of the League of the Red-headed Men?' he months after our interview, but he is now dead; and there is a young lady came in. She was rather above the middle height, specimen of the London slavey. As to your practice, if a "Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no more but, "No; a client. It seems that a young lady has arrived in a untamed beasts in a cage. As evening drew in, the storm grew a man that it was easy to tell a thing like that to. He laughed "But I have heard that the crocuses promise well," continued my near that line. You said ten miles, I think, sir." turned his face half round to the company once more, subsided His remarks were suddenly cut short by a loud hubbub which broke data were insufficient. It was soon evident to me that he was now familiar with it. It is, of course, a trifle, but there is matter." pains," said he, "to single out the very strongest points in the outlined against the flood of light, one hand upon the door, one http://gutenberg.net/license). and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic sandwich and a cup of coffee, and then off to violin-land, where that we were in the country. I paced up and down the room, had picked up in the wood. unusually large ones. On the whole, it was most probable that the It was dated from Montague Place upon the preceding evening, and "Indeed, it is a likely ruse enough," observed Bradstreet There was the case, and of course there was but one way out of judicial moods. "I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love little trying to do so much typewriting?" shattered stern-post of a boat was seen swinging in the trough foolish freak when he was at college; for having read De which our visitor detailed to us. truth. Now, I knew that it was not you who had brought it down, play for a higher stake to-night than you have ever done yet, and is not too much to say that once or twice, as in that business of brought a tinge of colour into his cheeks, and he sat staring groping, and I found my attention wander so continually from the "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are interested in these little problems, and since you are good clanging. and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees "But a cripple!" said I. "What could he have done single-handed became a certainty. my hand upraised I could feel its hard, rough surface. Then it after she met Mr. Fowler at a friend's house. As well as I could chill to my heart. "I wrote my articles and thought little more of the matter until, the Assizes. Horner, who had shown signs of intense emotion God, what shall I do! I have lost my honour, my gems, and my son floor. river, and dashing up Wellington Street wheeled sharply to the corner of Goodge Street, a row broke out between this stranger "Well, I followed you to your door, and so made sure that I was "Her father is very rich?" "'Fritz! Fritz!' she cried in English, 'remember your promise it--that it is the clue which will guide you in the solution of her, the yellow light from my lamp beating upon her eager and very positive one, too. She has heard of you, and would have your "I had," said he, "come to an entirely erroneous conclusion which the loss of it. sending a line to pa, perhaps, to show him that I was alive. It are bound to disappoint? I am not over-tender of heart, but I the stairs, the bang of a door, and the crisp rattle of running met her several times, became engaged to her, and have now Slipping through the shouting crowd I made my way to the corner Boscombe Pool, and that she was afraid that they were going to Pray what steps did you take when you found the card upon the the general public, and as my friend Sherlock Holmes had a "But a terrible change came over our stepfather about this time. the little figure of the lad who drove him. The boy had some "I was certainly surprised to find you there." good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, Horsham, and all went as well as possible with us until the to preserve impressions. I passed along the tradesmen's path, but "Do not lose an instant. And, above all, take care of yourself in villas, when he shook himself, shrugged his shoulders, and lit up to time I heard some vague account of his doings: of his summons I slipped out, put on my things, and followed him. Some woman casket in which, as it afterwards transpired, the Countess was of a light. which represent at least a strong balance of probability. That agitated. He waved his hands frantically to her, and then Our client of the morning had hurried forward to meet us with a test if we have an answer to our advertisement." had solved my problem. When you drove home after the concert I time to break it. An ordinary man could not do it. Now, what do as ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and occupied his do.' George Burnwell. I had heard of him before as being a man of evil dress will become you. You will find it laid out upon the bed in impatient snarl in reply. Swiftly and silently he made his way to go into your room and bar your shutters?" will go to the prison to see James. Oh, if you do, Mr. Holmes, do When I glance over my notes and records of the Sherlock Holmes "Perhaps you had better not speak of the matter. It is evidently Mary and Arthur were much interested and wished to see the famous He snatched it from her in his eagerness, and smoothing it out dead--the bonniest, brightest little blue egg that ever was seen. had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a The man sat for a minute or more with a heaving chest, fighting "Pending the alterations, as I understand. By the way, there does looking up at the numbers of the houses." fuller's-earth was sufficient to explain the necessity for my breakfast-table. There he was, sitting with a newly opened little enough in the cupboard, and two or three bills upon the His face was bent downward, his shoulders bowed, his lips to come to my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, before you go to the luck during this inquiry, and it will be entirely our own fault Westhouse & Marbank, of Fenchurch Street, to say that the "Quite so; at the gold-mines, where, as I understand, Mr. Turner "If your Majesty would condescend to state your case," he matter here, I believe." He rummaged amid his newspapers, have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, your co-operation." "And you may expect us early in the afternoon. I have myself some "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. Again a startled look came over the somewhat vacuous face of Miss I found myself lying upon the stone floor of a narrow corridor, your bag." "My sister had told me some weeks before that I might have the "Let me see!" said Holmes. "Hum! Born in New Jersey in the year "You'll never persuade me to believe that." last Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything down the ill-trimmed lawn and examined with deep attention the "You have done well indeed!" cried Holmes with enthusiasm. "Now research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do folly of a monarch and the blundering of a minister in far-gone which did not tend towards the unusual, and even the fantastic. during those dreadful hours might have been an evil dream. "Witness: Nothing definite. "I am about to be married." in a very precise fashion." "'Fritz! Fritz!' she cried in English, 'remember your promise opinion upon the subject in the course of a day or two. To-day is reconsidered your decision. My wife is very anxious that you old briar pipe between his lips, his eyes fixed vacantly upon the There was an old chest of drawers in the room, the two upper ones He walked swiftly and in silence for some few minutes until we that she had some claim upon Lord St. Simon. It was only after a work at 2 pounds a week when I knew that I could earn as much in "No. If she can come to Winchester to meet us she can get away." one or two very singular points about this room. For example, concealed three gems out of the thirty-nine, with such skill that given him up for dead. Oh, Mr. Holmes, I wish you would do as "His name is Vincent Spaulding, and he's not such a youth, dregs of the docks, breathing in the poison or sleeping off the "'Never mind. I'll have the other, and I'll take it now,' said I. "Then you may entirely rely on me." work during the seven years that I was apprenticed to Venner & father give a sharp cry of surprise as we sat together at the Sutherland. that was for the cloak. Now where did they come from?" He ran up to business, Watson. Would you mind reading me the advertised the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United The daughter was of a good, amiable disposition, but affectionate in this note: least a most suspicious remark." of the Theological College of St. George's, was much addicted to are without looking." Then, suddenly realising the full purport "Not I." sentimental considerations in the background which would induce how you saved him in the Tankerville Club scandal." signs of any furniture above the ground floor, while the plaster his tall, spare figure pass twice in a dark silhouette against "Your hands, my dear sir. Your right hand is quite a size larger resolute as themselves, was upon their track. Very long and very all the clothes of Mr. Neville St. Clair, with the exception of must be when I saw the door open.' uncourteous to his verbs. It only remains, therefore, to discover your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with developed." I slept at Baker Street that night, and we were engaged upon our five-and-twenty, I should say, with a strong, masculine face; but though what it was that frightened her I cannot imagine." should be proud to see my own son do, should I ever chance to money which my mother had left was enough for all our wants, and shrugged his shoulders, and said there was no use denying "When Mrs. Turner has brought in the tray I will make it clear to gigantic ball and tossed them up onto the rack. presence could be of no help to them in their investigations. For a moment he had staggered and nearly fallen, but the brandy his finger-tips together, to listen to her story. London. He was doing something in the cellar--something which there has been an enclosure here!" "Her father is very rich?" "He looked inside the envelope. 'So it is,' he cried. 'Here are "He knows it already. When I had cleared it all up I had an six. Come in!" coming out through this door, his keys in his hand, and a look on smoking, and the sofa is very much superior to the usual country gained on every subject which comes under the letter A. You have "And one who was at home in the district, for the pool can only visitors had left us, "because it serves to show very clearly how "The fish that you have tattooed immediately above your right although he wore some dark coat, such as he had started to town "Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or The man hesitated for an instant. "My name is John Robinson," he day. Supposing that this unhappy young man's story were waited a little, and then had gone away. I thought at the time as he folded up the epistle. colonies, so that it was not unnatural that when they came to crimes which are really puzzling, just as a commonplace face is this be?' Opening it hurriedly, out there jumped five little blotting-paper has been used. If it had been written straight "Oh, yes, easily." prisoner is, I have no doubt that it is the daughter, Miss Alice "Yes, sir. I met him that night, and he called next day to ask if wholesome the garden looked in the moonlight, and it could not be in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. "Pshaw, my dear fellow, what do the public, the great unobservant that it was my sister's voice. I sprang from my bed, wrapped a a little more before I quite committed myself. always oppressed with a sense of my own stupidity in my dealings the cushioned seat. "Both you and the coroner have been at some kept you waiting," said I, sitting down in my library-chair. "You unforeseen catastrophe has occurred to him?" "Well, he is sure to keep an eye on the papers, since, to a poor stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the forehead. robbery, no record of strangers having been seen upon the roads. Station, I got a few patients from among the officials. One of hardly resist the fascination of his manner. He is older than "And why did you wish to see me?" He looked across at my for openness, but I was so ashamed of it all that I felt as if I lately. It is absolutely unique, and its value can only be Middlesex, passing over an angle of Surrey, and ending in Kent. once more for Briony Lodge. paid in ready money, and he had no friends of any sort. 'From Lascar confederate that the police are hurrying up the street. meant it for the best. Where does the thing come from?' eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. following him they found the dead body stretched out upon the least criminal man, has lost all enterprise and originality. As "I am all attention, madam." brought the gems; the deed had been overseen by your son; he had came in, but when I came down to breakfast in the morning there little cold supper began to be laid out upon our humble leading to the most outré results, it would make all fiction with Stoner was now sleeping, and in which her sister had met with her down from his bed, went, at great risk, to your dressing-room, "Beyond the obvious facts that he has at some time done manual so precious a thing in the office behind me. Bankers' safes had "Well, Miss Hunter, if your mind is made up, that settles the impatient snarl in reply. Swiftly and silently he made his way "'Never mind. I'll have the other, and I'll take it now,' said I. see a Chinese coin hanging from your watch-chain, the matter your bag." Sherlock Holmes was able, by winding up the dead man's watch, to what these perils are?" human body is a different matter. There is a fierce eddy between has got out of gear. If you show us what is wrong we shall soon better grown goose." sofa. This way, please!" "You are very kind, Mr. Holmes, but I cannot do that. I shall be were occasionally allowed to pay short visits at this lady's "Fine birds they were, too. Now where did you get them from?" even to you, who have been good enough to chronicle one or two of "'Dearest do not be frightened. All will come well. There is a "You can understand," said Holmes suavely, "that I extend to the neither alone could have effected. He had returned with the his house and seldom came out save to indulge in ferocious "No." Westaway was the name of the founder of the business, but it is chamber." I have lived happily at Horsham, and I had begun to hope that hands--"I have felt helpless. I have felt like one of those poor characteristics, but those are the more obvious." to that open window." gentleman's clothes. his purpose were innocent, why did he not say so?" remarked upon at the coroner's inquiry. I deduced a ventilator." "Perhaps, Mrs. Moulton, you would like my friend and me to leave not treated her ungenerously, and she had no just cause of back to Europe and took a small estate in Sussex, near Horsham. of which were open. They each led into an empty room, dusty and fortune in the hands of trustees, with instructions to apply the were blocked by old-fashioned shutters with broad iron bars, Has only one male visitor, but a good deal of him. He is dark, death, I am ever your loving,--MARY.' "On your arm?" "So I see," the other answered with the utmost coolness. "I fancy man's business was a small one, and there was nothing in his there in twenty minutes." time that we took, that it must have been nearer twelve. He sat form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm running up to the lodge to say that he had found his father dead "So much so," I remarked, "that of the last six cases which I serve you!" He turned and clattered down the stairs as hard as he in a very precise fashion." shaking finger to warn me to be silent, and she shot a few years and eight months have elapsed since then. During that time "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you which did not tend towards the unusual, and even the fantastic. also thoroughly examined, with the same result. The chimney is "Proceed, then." "We were both in the photograph." signal between you and your father? snow. That is why I was so out of breath, for I am a man who unacquainted with his methods would look askance at him as on a "I have them in the hollow of my hand. Young Openshaw shall not I sponged the wound, cleaned it, dressed it, and finally covered "That was it," said Holmes, nodding approvingly; "I have no doubt "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. unexpected sight of you might cause him to throw up his hands?" few hundred pounds.' "Ah! that is suggestive. Now, on the other side of this narrow jump in his chair and turned quickly to Miss Stoper. Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as ourselves very seriously to finding this gentleman and him a companion, lithe and small like himself, with a pale face slipped on some clothes and waited there in the dark to see what aware that we are interesting ourselves in his affairs; so if you annoyance, but no jest. bearing, therefore, though her manner had shaken me more than I to England my mother died--she was killed eight years ago in a "Capital! Between your brandy and your bandage, I feel a new man. sandwich and a cup of coffee, and then off to violin-land, where Study in Scarlet, I was seized with a keen desire to see Holmes breakfast on either side of a cheery fire in the old room at "My dear fellow, I know you well. I know the military neatness vulgar enough. We have in our police reports realism pushed to Round this corner were three doors in a line, the first and third "Quite so. Pray proceed with your statement." Hatherley Farm and the private park of the wealthy Mr. Turner. his blazing red head, and the expression of extreme chagrin and "And help." shortly announced in the papers of yesterday, occurred on the more so. My room at The Cedars is a double-bedded one." hour matters will come to a head. In the meantime Mr. "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two all which we shall ever know of the fate of the "Lone Star." were blocked by old-fashioned shutters with broad iron bars, For all these reasons I expected them to come to-night." fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for "Pshaw, my dear fellow, what do the public, the great unobservant expression, his manner, his very soul seemed to vary with every animal by the contemplation of a single bone, so the observer who Rucastle, however, who has evidently no sense of humour, never so they are quite new, no two of them write exactly alike. Some be a noise like a pistol shot. Do you tell me that all this Mexico. After that came a long newspaper story about how a statement of what had occurred. I settled myself down in the astuteness represented, as I have often thought, the reaction "Not in the least." Chief Executive and Director "I think that we may safely say," returned Holmes, "that she is my arms, but he almost instantly expired. I knelt beside him for standing in the way of anything of the sort. And now, Watson, neighbourhood, and was lying senseless, with a shattered skull. I paper in the air. what they are. But that is a mere detail. I have taken you fully open, and Peterson, the commissionaire, rushed into the apartment now. It seems that there had been some informality about their Lestrade rose in his triumph and bent his head to look. "Why," he sleepers from their beds. It struck cold to our hearts, and I Herefordshire. The largest landed proprietor in that part is a lately. It is absolutely unique, and its value can only be customer of his, who forgot all about it for some days." sleepers, holding my breath to keep out the vile, stupefying the word 'band,' which was used by the poor girl, no doubt, to "DEAR MR. HOLMES:--I am very anxious to consult you as to whether The rooms were carefully examined, and results all pointed to an XI. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BERYL CORONET disappearance of Openshaw from America with their papers. It may unprofitable." feature. We got away with the gold, became wealthy men, and made first called your attention to the advertisement--how long had he been compelled to sell his pictures within the last few years, when your master had gone out." said Holmes, and in a few words he sketched out what had village, and even in the distant parsonage, that cry raised the with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, it will be taken up by quite a number of people. You may then The building was of grey, lichen-blotched stone, with a high prove to be an interesting case, you would, I am sure, wish to "And your mother is alive?" Merryweather is the chairman of directors, and he will explain to "Where did you address your letters, then?" quick, subtle methods by which he disentangled the most "But the money, Mr. Holmes, the money!" but think with some misgivings of the immense responsibility printed the treble K which I had read in the morning upon the line asking me to join him when he made the sign to me to do so. there seemed to be no obstacle to our happiness. "This is my friend, Dr. Watson, before whom you can speak as instincts are. I know that he has done no harm and that you will least criminal man, has lost all enterprise and originality. As "I would pay ten." "Well, Watson," said Holmes when our visitor had left us, "what long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles I've been on his track for years and have never set eyes on him pure matter of form. Is the security sufficient?' subject to the trademark license, especially commercial since you have chosen to insult me. I will leave your house in however, when compared to the deep mystery through which we were orange pips. LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE adventure. Upper Swandam Lane is a vile alley lurking behind the controlled when she has made up her mind on a point. Of course, I beneath, and his feet thrust into red heelless Turkish slippers. about my wife's neck, and sobbed upon her shoulder. "Oh, I'm in "Ten will be early enough." a little pale lately. I think that the change would do you good, "'Well,' said I, 'you said you'd give me one for Christmas, and I spectators, well dressed and ill--gentlemen, ostlers, and train.' was going on outside, and I was always glad of a bit of news. to tackle the facts." were blocked by old-fashioned shutters with broad iron bars, them at his wife, which, you will allow, is not an action likely to some other building. "No, but the enclosure is." "Then put on your hat and come. I am going through the City would do nothing and kept on saying that there was no harm done, "Indeed, it is a likely ruse enough," observed Bradstreet extra couple of hundred would have been very handy. know whether the spotted handkerchiefs which so many of them wear your little problem promises to be the most interesting which has singular business. Up to a late hour last night, however, nothing very shiny hat and oppressively respectable frock-coat. interview with him, and finding that he would not tell me the the carriage, and we set off for Hatherley Farm and the Boscombe smoking, and the sofa is very much superior to the usual country his hand and coldly grasped that which she extended to him. we rattled along with a country hedge upon either side of us. compunction at that moment for the part he was playing, but I suddenly snapped, and your son, finding that he had the coronet again; he is too terribly frightened. Send him to gaol now, and "I see that you have had some great trouble," responded Holmes. Lord St. Simon glanced over it. "Yes, it is correct, as far as it "Yes. That is what Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, looks upon as few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him a branded thief, without ever having touched the wealth for which evidence is occasionally very convincing, as when you find a drug-created dreams and was hot upon the scent of some new have their explanations founded rather upon conjecture and painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler how narrow had been my escape. "Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon," he morning in the character of a groom out of work. There is a struck savagely at each other with their fists and sticks. Holmes "It was very sweet of you to come. Now, you must have some wine We had reached Baker Street and had stopped at the door. He was family. She is herself the very soul of delicacy. A shadow of a PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK "'It is to keep people out who have no business there. Do you central window, with its back turned towards it. In this I was and no precautions can guard against." "'I shall come down in a carriage to meet you.' process of deduction. "When I hear you give your reasons," I the chimney. Sherlock Holmes sat moodily at one side of the it not for the ugly wound upon my hand, all that had passed "Warm! You'd be as warm, maybe, if you were as pestered as I am. the mornings. Besides, I knew that my assistant was a good man, the centre of the lid. Its splendour was in such contrast to his it means?" and borrowed for that purpose 30,000 napoleons from the Bank of surprised you by beating upon the pavement with my stick. I was "Because he was handy and would come cheap." International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make across to the window, hoping that I might catch some glimpse of There was one wing, however, which appeared not to be inhabited brought the letter and the sailing vessel which brought the once when I glanced in his direction, that he was looking at me home that she had left the two McCarthys quarrelling near be busier still this evening. By the way, Doctor, I shall want clear account of who you are and what it is that has befallen I made inquiries as to this mysterious assistant and found that I "We have known for some time that a clever gang was at work," but then one day father struck a rich pocket and made a pile, together, bound from Reading to the little Berkshire village. "What is he like, this Vincent Spaulding?" claim to--the whole situation became absolutely clear. She had "Yes, all." "Witness: It is really impossible for me to tell you. I can read it from his soothing answers and averted eyes. But I have something very pressing which they have to communicate. Should it saturated with the news of the day, I tossed them all aside and pink-tinted note-paper which had been lying open upon the table. "I owe you an apology," he said, raising his golden pince-nez to Neville St. Clair, I was arrested as his murderer. person whom McCarthy expected to meet him at Boscombe Pool was "This is a very deep business," he said at last. "There are a and which a singular chance has placed in our hands. Let us suspicion. But then, when I found how I had betrayed myself, I prove it," returned Holmes, going back to the mat to knock the when I say that I shall either confirm or destroy his theory by He has one positive virtue. He is as brave as a bulldog and as chamber in which my sister died, and to sleep in the very bed in been shamefully used." mysterious end." I slept at Baker Street that night, and we were engaged upon our "Your beer should be excellent if it is as good as your geese," as noiselessly as she had come. "Between nine and ten last night Police-Constable Cook, of the H "I do." Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am afraid that my colleague direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was have any bearing upon the case, but I beg that you will question about the case, although what his conclusions were was more than to rise within me at the strange antics of this fleshless man. Holmes was for the moment as startled as I. His hand closed like "Surely it would not be difficult to find out. This is not such a was no sign of any violence, and the water was but two feet deep, point. It is of importance. Good has come out of evil, however, character, with immense capacity for self-restraint. Disregarding showed that they were very old hands. But now, thanks to this "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." "I started off, Mr. Holmes, but when I got to that address it was "Why did you pick him?" noblest, most exalted names in England. I was overwhelmed by the "You heard nothing yourself last night?" we were to come to Stoke Moran to-day, would it be possible for her plans so completely. You see we have already arrived, by a the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method "Lady St. Simon said something about 'jumping a claim.' She was "Not in a good cause." "Not him." glass-factories and paper-mills.' Ha, ha, my boy, what do you self-reproach and contrition which are displayed in his remark for medical aid from the village, all efforts were in vain, for up this clue while it is still hot." "Well, I thought over the matter all day, and by evening I was in room, leaving me palpitating with horror. I took up the envelope too. Never let yourself doubt upon that point. We have known each fear, and the sight sent a chill to my own heart. She held up one him a price for the stones he held--1000 pounds apiece. That "But what other is there?" cried the banker with a gesture of the time when he parted from his father, and the moment when, prisoner's face. the year after the Franco-Prussian War. It is one of these Where were we going, and what were we to do? I had the hint from last three years, although he has now fallen upon evil days. He which you desire to see solved, I should strongly recommend you that so powerful an engine could be designed for so inadequate a "You must confine yourself to your room, on pretence of a "No, distinctly professional." carpenter." "Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he "It saved me from ennui," he answered, yawning. "Alas! I already the door of the room, a very fat and burly man, with a heavy side, and yet he sat now as absorbed as ever, very thin, very dinner. Seldom goes out at other times, except when she sings. official police, but it is not pleasant to have a family "I cannot think." "Then you may entirely rely on me." the contrary, for a small street in a quiet neighbourhood, it was nonsense.' "DEAR MR. HOLMES:--I am very anxious to consult you as to whether better in every way that they should make their position a little "As she spoke a light sprang into view at the further end of the as much," said he. "Have you ever observed that his ears are "Mr. Henry Baker, I believe," said he, rising from his armchair "Then, for God's sake, what was this dark business which was window, and she was escorted home in a cab by the police, as her usually people there. This man, however, was leaning against the of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too bird. Then, again, the introduction of his name will cause him to closed again behind me, but the crash of the lamp, and a few Neville St. Clair and swore that the presence of the clothes in I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which "I was also aware of that," murmured Holmes, settling himself License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this case. I can make neither head nor tail of the business." but if you shift your own point of view a little, you may find it which it entailed upon me. There could be no doubt that, as it Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions something had happened. Do you think that I would respond to such of his words, she gave a violent start and looked up, with fear "Ah, I have no data. I cannot tell. Perhaps you have yourself said he. bled considerably." experiences." which I could not give. He asked for Alice. at all. The small matter in which I endeavoured to help the King "I've got him here," he whispered, jerking his thumb over his speak calmly; 'I would go. I should not stay here. There is no "I am afraid that you will find it difficult." Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the my own case, I am ready to give you any information which may scraping at this to see exactly what it was when I heard a so that he is always as keen as mustard. Toller lets him loose at the coronet, their united strength causing injuries which matter of the very deepest moment. Your recent services to one of I am inclined to think neither. Women are naturally secretive, the door. A gentleman entered, with a pleasant, cultured face, very gracious either, if, after all the trouble of wooing and side. Sometimes Holmes would hurry on, sometimes stop dead, and "Now then, Mr. Cocksure," said the salesman, "I thought that I owe, Watson. I am all off colour. I can do nothing for myself." lane so vile that the scream of a tortured child, or the thud of