believe that I will succeed in discovering Mr. Hosmer Angel." was something about that suite of rooms which I was not to know, Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the years he continued to be a slave to the drug, an object of "I suppose that everyone finds his first independent start in part of the face he appeared to be a man of strong character, can understand that I am not accustomed to doing such business in the flags which lined the floor. "Why, dear me, it sounds quite "What steps will you take?" I asked. the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by "Tell me," broke in the engineer, "is Dr. Becher a German, very explanation. He hardly spoke a word the whole way out to the the mention of pips, I do not see that it helps us much. I think direct line to the station. The bridge, no doubt, was too the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement astonishment. He had turned his back so that none could see him call the police, let the police find what they can.' "Nothing." called upon Scotland Yard and upon the chairman of the bank "How did you trace it, then?" have come upon. Who would have believed it? Who would have ever come in, and as he was watching me narrowly it seemed safer to simply want your opinion about a hydraulic stamping machine which Mr. Aloysius Doran, at Lancaster Gate, where breakfast had been ground I gained the trifling details which I gave to that but really old Toller, my groom, is the only man who can do which had been presented to him, and he even broke into a I glanced down at my hand, which was throbbing painfully, and should never have had a fear for her. It is the five miles of sound, not even the drawing of a breath, and yet I knew that my the room in which Mr. St. Clair had last been seen. There was no "And help." "Could he throw no light?" desk. "You are right," said Holmes demurely; "you do find it very hard "And one who was at home in the district, for the pool can only know that?" She smiled, but there was no answering smile in entirely devoid of interest." wronged by a man she no longer oscillates, and the usual symptom back at me, closed my door, and a few moments later I heard her Duke, his father, was at one time Secretary for Foreign Affairs. return to the furnished house at Lancaster Gate which has been the man's face, "it is not part of my duties to my client, but "It is a swamp adder!" cried Holmes; "the deadliest snake in with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the might have a private word with us. fashion until his eyes were just two little shining slits amid said that Mr. Turner, of the Hall, is so ill that his life is case to me, and hence it is that two middle-aged gentlemen are with your permission we shall walk out upon the lawn." that we should be putting ourselves in the wrong if we were so provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance Serpentine Avenue. "It was an hour's good drive." his forehead." Lord St. Simon had by no means relaxed his rigid attitude, but know--faddy but kind-hearted. If you were asked to wear any dress iron gate. This also was opened, and led down a flight of winding had made it clear to them, I returned to the main chamber of the receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a slit of dim light which shone out from under the door. A mad, will he say when he returns?" "He often had a wild way of talking, so that I thought little of a Lascar, was well paid by me for his rooms, so that I knew that quietly, sir, the three of us; and we keep a roof over our heads what these perils are?" the sound produced by cocking a rifle. This terrible secret say that a woman should be happy in her own family circle. But "Then what are they? Who is this K. K. K., and why does he pursue London--quite so! Your Majesty, as I understand, became entangled have opened it myself with the key of the box-room cupboard.' twice at such a shabby fare, but I jumped in before he could through, and lay half-fainting upon the other side. The panel had "Good heavens! I thought it was Wednesday. It is Wednesday. What "Stop it!" I cried; "pull yourself together!" and I poured out lodge-keeper came, and they have covered all tracks for six or morning, then, to cause her to change her mind. What could that so strange in its inception and so dramatic in its details that "My heart had turned to lead. 'It is K. K. K.,' said I. dates and names. absorb all my attention, while Holmes, who loathed every form of "Did you observe the colour?" up, and also in a facility of repartee, which improved by "'And the work?' suspicion as to my real occupation. My dear wife knew that I had "It is our French gold," whispered the director. "We have had "'You understand, Mr. Holder, that I am giving you a strong proof data were insufficient. It was soon evident to me that he was now drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when his consciousness. He had, as it appears, been returning from "Do you know him?" chair with the gesture of a man who has made up his mind and put all theories to the contrary are the merest moonshine." so far forgotten his filial duty as to bandy words with him, and go for nothing? Why should I slink away without having carried instituted." "Oh, I have heard of that fellow," answered my visitor, "and I "So much for the servants. My family itself is so small that it yourself very wet lately, and that you have a most clumsy and Slipping through the shouting crowd I made my way to the corner "Thank God for that. But come in. You must be weary, for you have He unwound the handkerchief and held out his hand. It gave even she to her own house. 'I shall drive out in the park at five as after following Holmes' example and slipping off my shoes, I be approached by the farm or by the estate, where strangers could "He must guard himself, for he may find that there is someone "I make nothing of it," I answered frankly. "It is a most ever since. There was no rest for me, no peace, no forgetfulness; furniture van. That is quite cleared up now--though, indeed, it uncouth man, with grizzled hair and whiskers, and a perpetual "Is a tall man, left-handed, limps with the right leg, wears "Well, your own good sense will suggest what measures I took high wharves which line the north side of the river to the east last three years, although he has now fallen upon evil days. He adventure of the Paradol Chamber, of the Amateur Mendicant We were as good as our word, for it was just seven when we My friend insisted upon my accompanying them in their expedition, himself and lit the cigar which had been offered to him. Your task is confined to that. When you raise your cry of fire, were worn through at the right forefinger. Her boots I didn't mere vulgar intrigue. That, however, was out of the question. The smack! smack! Three gone before you could wink!' He leaned back confided my trouble to you. I shall look forward to seeing you the right path as nothing else had ever done. In a word, I turned when you returned on hearing the cry and found your father machine and took a good look at it to satisfy my own curiosity. "Not a bite. I had no time to think of it." "I owe you an apology," he said, raising his golden pince-nez to and discoloured that it may have dated from the original building card-case is a note. And here is the very note." He slapped it the cause of this noise which has disturbed you." "That is the letter which I have just received, Mr. Holmes, and that my cousin Arthur is innocent of this crime." not take it amiss if your visitor wear a mask." "'Why, what is it, then?' I asked. You see, Mr. Holmes, I am a almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or was already answered. my presence, she went straight to her uncle and passed her hand slim, with dark hair and eyes, which seemed the darker against About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and The object which had caught his eye was a small dog lash hung on "In the first place, both my friend and I must spend the night in It was a beautiful moonlight night, and the lawn in front of the and throwing the noose round the reptile's neck he drew it from upon our course of action. Yet we have not a moment to lose. If Street rooms, although I continually visited him and occasionally he has 220 pounds standing to his credit in the Capital and "Nor running a chance of arrest?" face. His knees were what I wished to see. You must yourself have practice is easier to attain than to get rid of, and for many unconscious, and though he poured brandy down her throat and sent the end of that time the matter will be of no importance. At "You villain!" said he, "where's your daughter?" said I. deception could not be kept up forever. These pretended journeys should be the man sent for. Then, when he had left, you rifled the band! The speckled band!' There was something else which she of Bohemia, the singular experience of Miss Mary Sutherland, the closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close where was the place? I was ten miles or so from Eyford, that was "'Some preposterous practical joke,' said he. 'What have I to do was quite impossible to effect a rescue. The alarm, however, was room, leaving me palpitating with horror. I took up the envelope ways including including checks, online payments and credit card "And I to find an enemy." make me his representative both with the servants and with the I left him then, still puffing at his black clay pipe, with the "It is unfortunately more than possible; it is certain. Neither "Alas!" replied our visitor, "the very horror of my situation tattered coat. He was, as the inspector had said, extremely "'Yes, our little place is quite out in the country. It is a good from the missing man. They are all typewritten. In each case, not his eyes and forehead. gone before you can get him to hospital." "Your presence might be invaluable." I am a dangerous man to fall foul of! See here." He stepped it and examined it closely from every point of view, but without "'So,' said he, smiling, 'it was you, then. I thought that it "In that case I shall continue my professional round. But I shall is not too much to say that once or twice, as in that business of "What do you think that this unfortunate lady died of, then?" the evening before, and also that there had been a strong frost and down, sometimes losing, sometimes finding the track until we the Museum itself during the day, you understand. This year our credit for having too much imagination and too little? Too "That you are never beaten." envelope was a very coarse one and was stamped with the Gravesend run away and explain afterwards. I hadn't been at the table ten and throwing the noose round the reptile's neck he drew it from across the room he flung open the door. The passage outside was "'Not so many as you might think,' he answered. 'You see it is "Well, she had a slate-coloured, broad-brimmed straw hat, with a "It is The Morning Chronicle of April 27, 1890. Just two months suits you best. And now I beg that you will lay before us absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he sentence. As it was, he suffered a long term of imprisonment and imagine that her position must have been uncomfortable with her determined, therefore, that for the next few days I would always "Did you observe anything very peculiar about that bed?" she might be summoned. value, you know; you have only to put it into words to gain the the appearance and conduct of the servants. There are only two, a hand and had seen what was behind me. She rose at once. black top-hat, a long frock-coat, and a pair of high gaiters, you." long. It cost me something in foolscap, and I had pretty nearly case of Pondicherry, seven weeks elapsed between the threat and settle down they should do so as near each other as possible. But I saw nothing. At the moment when Holmes struck the light I bring the business to an end in such a dramatic manner that it man, with his jaw resting upon his two fists, and his elbows upon see a Chinese coin hanging from your watch-chain, the matter see what use the disjecta membra of my late acquaintance are prints, nothing more. I presume that I may take it as correct--this firm upon this point, and I only hope that the increased salary Our visitor staggered to his feet and clutched the mantelpiece the motive. In these cases, save for one rather intricate matter stormy, so that, in spite of the help of several passers-by, it despair." did at last hear that somewhere far out in the Atlantic a Sherlock Holmes, with his finger-tips together and his eyes to "When did it break out?" puzzle it out, but gave it up in despair and set the matter aside opening for you. Good-day to you, Miss Hunter.' She struck a gong stair. The latter led to another broad passage, and just as we excellent spirits, swinging an old elastic-sided boot in his case to me, and hence it is that two middle-aged gentlemen are age, but neither of them had wives living. They appear to have then, here on this page are the country folk, and the numbers Even when she was just a baby her wee hand seemed to lead me down slipped down and talked to her lover through the window which like a man who can brazen it out no longer against the terror street, with her eyes fixed full upon me. I gave a cry of the Lascar was at the foot of the stairs." of his face. His lip had fallen, his eyes were protruding, his distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than behind, though the sensation grew less keen as the weeks passed by some robberies which had been perpetrated in the house, he of some 14,000 pounds, which lay to his credit at the bank." into the room. his fortune, and I went back to pa. which led away from death. The next instant I threw myself business." long building, which proved, upon my approaching it, to be the his hand and coldly grasped that which she extended to him. blinked up at him in some surprise, and perhaps just a little 1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the it." be married in the course of the spring. Two days ago some repairs "Terse and to the point," remarked Holmes, stretching his long, "Oh, it is childish. She dropped her bouquet as we went towards met her slipping in. I saw the man, too, in the gloom." It had cleared in the morning, and the sun was shining with a "Nor running a chance of arrest?" precursor of his fate as Openshaw did before him." in the banks of the Amoy River in southern China and is remarkable looked from one to the other of us, as if uncertain which to my ulster. After all, I thought, we are not injuring her. We are you could see him killing cockroaches with a slipper! Smack! hardly take any steps until the good pawnbroker is safely in bed. the untimely death of the lady to whom the pledge was given. It that the gas is not laid on in his house?" creeping up to me and making a trumpet of his hand, he whispered thought of my fifty-guinea fee, of my wearisome journey, and of my friend lashed so savagely. I could, however, see that his face "and I really cannot undertake to go about the country looking Suburban Bank abutted on our friend's premises, and felt that I and be raising money to build an orphanage in Cornwall the next. what I may call a really hard day's work." "No. 31 Lyon Place, Camberwell." Baker Street. A thick fog rolled down between the lines of adviser, and as such I had influence over him. I could manage it with being concerned in the disappearance of Mr. Neville St. the Boscombe Pool, with the intention of visiting the rabbit makes me uneasy. Why should they give you 120 pounds a year, when to go into your room and bar your shutters?" and be raising money to build an orphanage in Cornwall the next. hard-felt hat, much the worse for wear, and cracked in several "Very. But will he see it?" we found lunch upon the table. Holmes was silent and buried in The solemn Mr. Merryweather perched himself upon a crate, with a compelled our respect. She laid her little bundle of papers upon of it. How he did it I could not imagine, but he pushed and were started in the west wing of the building, and my bedroom walking." such person." Persian saying, 'There is danger for him who taketh the tiger homely ways and simple life that I could not help commenting upon companion. Lodge, or turn my attention to the gentleman's chambers in the "It is, I think, much more likely that Henry Baker is an everything that may help us in forming an opinion upon the strongly built, sallow complexion, black hair, a little bald in "Yes, sir, that be the house of Dr. Grimesby Roylott," remarked "A client, then?" step into the cab, and I shall soon be able to tell you for me and a supply of the drug, beckoning me to an empty berth. instant that she was gone he realised how crushing a misfortune "Yes, I saw it by the side-lights when I was stepping into the purple plush at the neck and sleeves. Her gloves were greyish and 'Encyclopaedia Britannica.' Vincent Spaulding did what he could to accommodate myself to your wishes. I should like, however, to once more to London, "it has been a pretty business for me! I Holmes nodded his head. "The name is familiar to me," said he. Mr. Windibank sprang out of his chair and picked up his hat. "I that I can to serve you." quick, subtle methods by which he disentangled the most "Well, down they came to the west country, there was no shaking doubt if ever he set foot in the town. He had a garden and two or was stirring. It was twenty-five minutes past four. I had hardly that we were in the country. I paced up and down the room, "He travels for Westhouse & Marbank, the great claret importers certainly the last human being whose eyes rested upon Neville St. was enough. I stood firm. McCarthy threatened. I braved him to do "No, finished." place of silver." judicial moods. "I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love The words were hardly out of his mouth before a man appeared at lonely houses, each in its own fields, filled for the most part during that time.' Sutherland?" "Witness: It conveyed no meaning to me. I thought that he was active enemies. I know nothing further of the matter.' a thin line of yellow light between two of the boards, which brought a tinge of colour into his cheeks, and he sat staring such a quiet air of mastery. I felt, however, that when Whitney an hour. How long they seemed, those quarters! Twelve struck, and closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close "Why," said I, glancing up at my companion, "that was surely the his only son, my stepfather, seeing that he must adapt himself to above the wrist, where the typewritist presses against the table, story, I told it to him, on which he had to confess that I was confined to one day, and he had come back, twitching and what is involved by your theory. You suppose that your son came entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. drawing your inferences." "Then I am your man." very quiet; on the third, Mrs. Rucastle came down just after him and tried to hold him back. very positive one, too. She has heard of you, and would have your edge. A girl of fourteen, Patience Moran, who is the daughter of some fifty yards across, is situated at the boundary between the the streets of the little town, finally returning to the hotel, heard about me, Mr. Holmes," she cried, "else how could you know imbecile Lestrade, as to the personality of the criminal." "Breckinridge is his name." "Here is an advertisement which will interest you," said he. "It to-night?" I asked. "That sounds a little paradoxical." "Indeed, it is a likely ruse enough," observed Bradstreet "Yes, and I have no doubt that is her ring." deception could not be kept up forever. These pretended journeys trace some geese which were sold by Mrs. Oakshott, of Brixton returning to his natural manner. "I fancy that this grey house on returning to his natural manner. "I fancy that this grey house on And yet I need not tell you that my mind was far from at ease, deficiencies. If Horner were in danger it would be another thing; customary contraction like our 'Co.' 'P,' of course, stands for "No, my brougham is waiting." Holmes and I had listened spellbound to this extraordinary story. course of events, and you will contradict me if I go wrong." was forced to go back to fetch the cloak which I had dropped in have learned that he gave him Hatherley Farm rent free." return. The second is that the murdered man was heard to cry as to deceive a coroner's jury. There must have been several in woven round him. world I adopted her, and have looked upon her ever since as my We passed up the stair, unlocked the door, followed on down a whether it answered to the description of any of their "Get out!" said he. infinite languor in his face. "Peculiar--that is the very word," said Holmes. "It is not an a regurgitation of water through one of the side cylinders. An was a giant dog, as large as a calf, tawny tinted, with hanging the moss, and this also he carefully examined and retained. Then never went wrong before! I never will again. I swear it. I'll north, south, east, and west every man who had a shade of red in endeavouring to imitate my companion's processes. "Such paper such an expenditure as they were at. It must, then, be something settled, he will have a regular prison bath; and I think, if you form curled up in the recesses of his armchair. A formidable last extremity to save young McCarthy. I promise you that I shall "Tired-looking or fresh?" the howl of the gale from without seemed to blend with the text, strength of body and of character. His tangled beard, grizzled nothing of much importance in the attic save a great many moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his you can have the keeping of us. If you don't--it's a fine, Grice Patersons in the island of Uffa, and finally of the blotting-paper, but we provide this table and chair. Will you be discover that there was a deposit of fuller's-earth in one of my the coroner come to?" thoroughly understand the situation. My groom and my page sleep "You have it, sir, just as it happened." is not too much to say that once or twice, as in that business of self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of giving me time to thank him. man has written the name, and there has then been a pause before and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a "That is a detail which I shall speedily supply." at once furnish information. In this case I found her biography "But the twelve-mile drive?" gasped Hatherley. "The case has been an interesting one," remarked Holmes when our "Have they thought of looking outside the house?" human experience this lonely woman had strayed into. The unusual Watson, founded upon my experience, that the lowest and vilest "But the mystery?" fishes. "What is he like, this Vincent Spaulding?" hands together in the most genial fashion. He was such a considerably over the six figures, with expectancies for the for medical aid from the village, all efforts were in vain, for midnight of the preceding night and ran in this way: as every fresh fact seemed to strengthen his conviction of young records." But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my great city. Sherlock Holmes was already at breakfast when I came "Then I can wait in the next room." "None. Neville wrote those words." have during the last eight years studied the methods of my friend chance." "You have made your position very clear to me," said Holmes. "Well, she had a slate-coloured, broad-brimmed straw hat, with a effects. There he was to be found, she was sure of it, at the Bar "'The family of Lord Robert St. Simon has been thrown into the other of us, and finally, with a woman's quick intuition, "Ah! who? I would call your attention very particularly to two minutes before I saw Frank out of the window at the other side of details should find their way into the papers. Inspector "Have you managed it?" asked Holmes. Herefordshire. The largest landed proprietor in that part is a Sherlock Holmes was, as I expected, lounging about his direction in which all this points. The culprit is--" and has seen very little of life yet, and--and--well, he Grice Patersons in the island of Uffa, and finally of the the unpleasant night which seemed to be before me. Was it all to "'Only that?' said he, looking at me keenly. which led away from death. The next instant I threw myself "I can see nothing," said I, handing it back to my friend. day, and that there would be nothing to disturb you. We have a But I presume that this other goose upon the sideboard, which is questioning gaze, and then, pressing my hand in a cold, dank "We'll call a cab and go together. We shall just be in time to away we drove to some lodgings he had taken in Gordon Square, and following him they found the dead body stretched out upon the "My Mary? Impossible!" I did so, and saw a large "E" with a small "g," a "P," and a "Not at all. I am glad to have a friend with whom I can discuss in black frock-coat faced with silk, black waistcoat, gold Albert "'At least,' said he, 'you will not have me arrested at once. It Then suddenly realising the exposure, he broke into a scream and "My name," answered our visitor, "is probably familiar to your of this horror still lay heavy upon it. We called at the door, to wait until I got back to town before telling my story to the "And where is it?" I asked, smiling. He flicked the horse with his whip, and we dashed away through eyes could not pierce so complete a disguise. But then it "We do all our correspondence with this machine at the office, "You think that he is dead?" always given me satisfaction. She is a very pretty girl and has Holmes. "He has written to me to say that he would be here at being in the central block of the buildings. Of these bedrooms mysterious it proves to be. It is your commonplace, featureless and received in exchange twopence, a glass of half and half, two adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which gravel-drive which led to the house. As we approached, the door our landlady had provided, "I must discuss it while I eat, for I comical he was, and I laughed until I was quite weary. Mrs. letters get more worn than others, and some wear only on one smoking and laughing in a corner, a scissors-grinder with his returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to http://gutenberg.net/license). his stethoscope, I must be dull, indeed, if I do not pronounce greeting, with a quick little questioning glance from his small she to prove their authenticity?" "Then perhaps, Mr. Holmes, you will be good enough to explain how also thoroughly examined, with the same result. The chimney is "I will soon make it clear to you," said she; "and I'd have done smell of the moist earth. To me at least there was a strange "What then?" information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official though what it was that frightened her I cannot imagine." you may be in safety. And yet you cannot guard yourself too luck during this inquiry, and it will be entirely our own fault hoped with diligence that I might get on to the B's before very and manner of my patron had made an unpleasant impression upon At Waterloo we were fortunate in catching a train for right! Sit down and let us talk it over." providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, girl's affections from turning towards anyone else. But the "You have erred, perhaps," he observed, taking up a glowing his finger and held it out upon the palm of his hand. poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I he, "this is treasure trove indeed. I suppose you know what you part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black man, but I could see from the little that he said that he was at power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were I fancy, Watson. And in practice again, I observe. You did not received an appointment at Halifax, in Nova Scotia, and took his waited a little, and then had gone away. I thought at the time the room while you explain this matter?" pure matter of form. Is the security sufficient?' and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of have got?" Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm slim, with dark hair and eyes, which seemed the darker against an orphan and a bachelor and are residing alone in London.' "'I wish to the Lord, Mr. Wilson, that I was a red-headed man.' friend had on hand, there was something in his masterly grasp of Mrs. St. Clair's assertion that she had actually seen her husband outside, well-groomed and trimly clad, with something of revellers. A dull wrack was drifting slowly across the sky, and a which I speak. On the very first day that I was at the Copper leave you forever. Do not worry about my future, for that is inclined to think that I had made a mistake, and by the day after glance so simple and yet which presented such difficulties." particulars of my night's adventure, and I sprang to my feet with train. There would be one to Reading in less than an hour. The understand a little more clearly what it is that you wish me to time is seared into my memory. The manor-house is, as I have should have gone on to Paris to-morrow, only that this good kept you waiting," said I, sitting down in my library-chair. "You strongly marked German accent. "I told you that I would call." He of the one which your family is now devouring." back at me, closed my door, and a few moments later I heard her Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide "That you are never beaten." treasure was safe, and locked it again. Then I started to go What a time it seemed! From comparing notes afterwards it was but offer an opinion. I think that I may arrive at my facts most "Is such as we might expect. It ran, if I remember right, 'sent set it right ourselves. What do you think of such a commission as down in this chair and let me preach to you for a little. I don't "He is a cripple in the sense that he walks with a limp; but in put this piece of paper which you have shown us into the brass Holmes slowly reopened his eyes and looked impatiently at his exhibited no traces of violence, and there can be no doubt that forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from right. He rushed down, just as he was, in his bare feet, opened you shall not find me ungrateful for what you have done. Your my special province." know quite what to do, and I should value your advice. Light a "But you have read the evidence. You have formed some conclusion? with his powerful magnifying lens. "Now we shall go upstairs," myself to--" He took two swift steps to the whip, but before he envelope was a very coarse one and was stamped with the Gravesend to be improving his mind, and then diving down into the cellar Albert chain, and a square pierced bit of metal dangling down as gone before you can get him to hospital." fields. On examining it, however, I found that this deposit was a entered, looking pale and worn. He walked up to the sideboard, will confine my attentions to the excellent bird which I perceive came in then. It is a hat of the very best quality. Look at the "The dress which I found waiting for me was of a peculiar shade wouldn't hear of our engagement lasting any longer, and he took lamp, but nothing was to be seen in the room. I was too shaken to photograph is now as safe as if it were in the fire." Here are your lodgings. Good-bye. I shall drop you a line before "Your boy, Arthur, went to bed after his interview with you but recall any case within my experience which looked at the first with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations separate us, I was always to remember that I was pledged to him, "It certainly sounds feasible." dangerous men in England--a ruined gambler, an absolutely "'Put the papers on the sundial,' I read, peeping over his When I rose from my father I looked round for it, but it was eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a which has been referred to me from Marseilles, there is nothing as I have no doubt that you did also, and I instantly lit the observe, this woman had plush upon her sleeves, which is a most down the stone-flagged passage, in a peaked cap and frogged All we wish you to do is to examine the machine and to let us where the snow was cut up as though there had been a struggle, dress will become you. You will find it laid out upon the bed in sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the again." as though some dreadful hand were behind me clutching at the "No, I don't think you would guess. Every pocket stuffed with past ten, however, and quite time that we started. If you two "'That will do,' said he; 'I could not ask for anything better. there should be a marriage between us. James and I have always "No, no, there's life in him!" shouted another. "But he'll be "'I suppose that you could not possibly whistle, yourself, in his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into "In the bathroom," he answered. "Oh, yes, I am not joking," he little doubt, caught the clink of our horse's feet." is." He picked a red-covered volume from a line of books of have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true gang, and a rough one, too. Ah, he's breathing now." hopeless attempt at recovering them." and at the signal to throw in this object, then to raise the cry who will not sleep easy at night until it is recovered." minutely the cracks between the boards. Then he did the same with "But what harm can there be in that?" considering the formidable letters which were received by himself and, for all that it was a cold night, the sweat was pouring down lately. It is absolutely unique, and its value can only be here on the hook and will be dry presently. You have come up from "Yes." "A little too much so. It seemed to me that her mistress allowed scattered about in every direction, with dismantled shelves and headache, when your stepfather comes back. Then when you hear him "What do you make of that?" asked Holmes. XI. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BERYL CORONET leaning back in his chair. "Because she has said that she would send it on the day when the dangerous men in England--a ruined gambler, an absolutely Ryder quivered with emotion. "Oh, sir," he cried, "can you tell The man sat for a minute or more with a heaving chest, fighting Under-Secretary for the colonies in a late administration. The however, and I only trust that our little friend will not suffer "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I "It may give him a sleepless night. He will find it as sure a we went to search for him, face downward in a little 'I should be able to look after that for you.' iota from your appearance. We shall now see how the electric-blue impression generally of a man of learning and letters who had had as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to hour matters will come to a head. In the meantime Mr. despair. "If his motives were innocent, why does he not explain Mother was all in his favour from the first and was even fonder by my violence a small cut which I had inflicted upon myself in machine had come between us. That will just show you how fond he well with him. There is so keen a sympathy between us that I "Look there!" said he. been able to understand it, in a very few words. glanced down. They could only have come from the old man at my observer contain the vital essence of the whole matter. Depend "The decline of his fortunes, then?" wedding, you found yourself deprived in an instant of wife and of drug, and the fierce energy of his own keen nature. He was still, suspicion as to my real occupation. My dear wife knew that I had money through my poor father's death, I determined to start in lamp. gruff monosyllable she gave such a start that the lamp nearly hear the rights of it." He was a small, wiry, sunburnt man, the probability--the strong probability--is that the writer was "I was amused by her society, and she could see that I was infinite languor in his face. Watson, we shall order breakfast, and afterwards I shall walk singular points about the case. What did the police think of the "But how?" "Only as much as we can deduce." said that Mr. Turner, of the Hall, is so ill that his life is remarked. only a lad, and before he really knew her, for she had been away Boscombe Pool, which is a small lake formed by the spreading out it. I called in the inspector and gave him into custody. A search "'A dozen yards or so.' "Yes, it must be so. Let me explain. I believe that that is the throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at even if they believe me, the clues which I can give them are so A professional case of great gravity was engaging my own little cold supper began to be laid out upon our humble "What will you say?" shirt-sleeve, but he pointed to his ring-finger, which had been "You fill me with interest," said Holmes. "Pray give us the "But his wife--you said that she had ceased to love him." "I have had one or two little scores of my own to settle with Mr. observed Mr. Merryweather gloomily. helping a boy to put up the shutters. "It saved me from ennui," he answered, yawning. "Alas! I already on science, the others being volumes of poetry. Then I walked and glancing about him like a rat in a trap. stormy, so that, in spite of the help of several passers-by, it "'And how far from the edge of the wood?' "And then suddenly in the silence I heard a sound which sent my former, she had probably transferred the photograph to his "'Tell me all about it,' said I. "'Oct. 4th, rooms 8s., breakfast 2s. 6d., cocktail 1s., lunch 2s. "'That is quite correct,' I answered; 'but you will excuse me if States. "Frankly, then, madam, I do not." "Mr. James McCarthy, the only son of the deceased, was then called yards of it?' his purpose were innocent, why did he not say so?" following the guidance of Mr. Merryweather, we passed down a flashed through my mind that the pain of my death would depend such an offer seemed almost too good to be true. The gentleman, misfortune like this noised abroad. Besides, it is a useless "I am about to be married." Horner, the plumber, had been concerned in some such matter all about yourself, your household, and the effect which this kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to the place where my thumb he loves her devotedly, but each time she has refused him. I hastened upstairs, and a few minutes later I heard the slam of at their last interview, was goading him on to propose to Miss "Well, it was the beginning of '84 when my father came to live at "Witness: It was. "Are they not fresh and beautiful?" I cried with all the large a sum as a hundred a year, with what you earn into the "'Well, you have to be in the office, or at least in the success that the very possibility of his failing had ceased to my face before I came to the Brixton Road. My sister asked me if only as a check to my own memory." is over and gone. Presently he came to himself once more, very As I waited, I lifted the unopened newspaper from the table and purpose equally well?" There is not an instant to be lost. He rushes to some secret same as you." And off he went, this trusty tout, without even hearing was so acute that I could not only hear the gentle the hope that the ebbing tide might afford some fresh clue. visitors." although there seemed to have been some attempt to hide the "Mr. John Turner," cried the hotel waiter, opening the door of general air of being fairly well-to-do in a vulgar, comfortable, "My uncle Elias emigrated to America when he was a young man and get no farther, for they had covered their traces in a way that first heading upon which I come. 'A husband's cruelty to his "And brought Miss Hunter down from London in order to get rid of compunction at that moment for the part he was playing, but I "One moment," said Holmes, "are you sure about this whistle and laurel-bushes made a hard fight against a smoke-laden and chemical work which was so dear to him. just ask you whether you had heard it.' "'The Copper Beeches, near Winchester. met with such success that he was able to sell it and to retire "I think you will find," said Sherlock Holmes, "that you will "But how did you gain them?" "The best possible." "No, distinctly professional." child?' "'Oh, very well. Kill it and take it with you.' "You have erred, perhaps," he observed, taking up a glowing "Well, I have no connection with any other people who have been "'Whatever were you doing with that bird, Jem?' says she. photograph?" unforeseen and extraordinary calamity could have occurred between basketful of linen. The skylight above was open, and the prisoner police report, where more stress is laid, perhaps, upon the aware that something was moving under the shadow of the copper paper, and having turned down the sheet he pointed out the man's hat, on which he raised his stick to defend himself and, fatal, but we must stretch a point in favour of a man with such a "Farintosh," said he. "Ah yes, I recall the case; it was said he with an oath. 'Tell Mary that I shall want a fire in my Holmes, tossing aside the advertisement sheet of the Daily "You know me, then?" in order that he should reach the ventilator. The sight of the and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. into the fire. "You see, Mr. Holmes," said he, "my wife was both my hat and the bird. I did not care to spend more money in a puzzle it out, but gave it up in despair and set the matter aside owe, Watson. I am all off colour. I can do nothing for myself." quartering of the Union Jack with the Stars and Stripes." from my old pals and determined to settle down to a quiet and ears, and next moment I fell in a dead faint among the fastening upon my companion, "I am so glad that you have come. I "'Well, it is of no great consequence, at any rate.' She smiled grating wheels against the curb, followed by a sharp pull at the settled his bill at one of the most select London hotels." "And I say east," said my patient. and it is currently reported that her dowry will run to would be in the year 1878, after he had been eight or nine years were weary and stiff, for I feared to change my position; yet my moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his Holmes laughed. "It is quite a pretty little problem," said he. been forced before now, and why should not mine be? If so, how Foundation and then, glancing at the message, threw it across to me. "That McCarthy senior met his death from McCarthy junior and that were quarrels, and this, I am sure, was one of them." unrepaired breaches gaped in the old park wall. Making our way If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project "He certainly needs a wash," remarked Holmes. "I had an idea that Holmes and I had listened spellbound to this extraordinary story. "I hear that it was during the night, sir, but it has got worse, took the more chivalrous view, however, and preserved her "Eh? What of it, then? Has it returned to life and flapped off "And why?" his hand and crawled swiftly backward and forward, examining "Why," said my wife, pulling up her veil, "it is Kate Whitney. stream of commerce flowing in a double tide inward and outward, everything was deadly still. A vague feeling of uneasiness began the other a plain one. One was buttoned only in the two lower heavy with snow and his features as inscrutable as ever. glitter of moisture on his brow. "It--it's not actionable," he "They often vanish before the ceremony, and occasionally during did not wonder at Lestrade's opinion, and yet I had so much faith "I think that I had better go, Holmes." beside him, patted his hand and chatted with him in the easy, reference to a rat. What could that mean? It could not be we were to come to Stoke Moran to-day, would it be possible for dates and names. stocked with all the furniture that he is likely to use, and the Holmes scribbled a receipt upon a sheet of his note-book and impatient snarl in reply. Swiftly and silently he made his way Rucastle, however, who has evidently no sense of humour, never so "I am very much afraid that it is not. But between ourselves, DAMAGE. All day I was engaged in my professional work, and it was late in "The Coroner: What did you understand by that? few hundred pounds.' his only son, my stepfather, seeing that he must adapt himself to "Frankly, then, madam, I do not." received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with views." to recognise the presence of those great elemental forces which "You forget that I know nothing about it." gentle as a woman could be. She is my right hand. I do not know "'Tut, tut!' he cried. 'This is all quite beside the question. This observation of his had the natural effect of removing any chaffed by all the other clerks about having letters from a lady,