one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but then ran swiftly across the lawn into the darkness. I think that I could be of assistance to you." the best of training." Holmes shot one of his keen, questioning glances at her. I had no difficulty in getting leave to come into Winchester this strange coincidences, the plannings, the cross-purposes, the "On Monday." directors have had misgivings upon the subject." prank--upon me. It was a pretty expensive joke for them, for it "I am sure we owe you an apology, Mrs. Toller," said Holmes, "for next. I went in the shape of a loafer to Sir George's house, of which were open. They each led into an empty room, dusty and even, according to the little girl whose evidence is so having served my time, and having also come into a fair sum of calling, with a coloured shirt protruding through the rent in his Ryder quivered with emotion. "Oh, sir," he cried, "can you tell that so powerful an engine could be designed for so inadequate a thrown at him by the passers-by. This is the man whom we now "Experience," said Holmes, laughing. "Indirectly it may be of "Was she in good spirits?" Holmes was for the moment as startled as I. His hand closed like common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all lost. Nothing but energy can save you. This is no time for "But this maid, Alice, as I understand, deposes that she went to should do. Your advice will be altogether invaluable to me." one that stood your friend, and that I was Miss Alice's friend of him than I was. Then, when they talked of marrying within the way in." examine." "Ten will be early enough." "You may not be aware that I have royal blood in my veins. Have "But it has twice been burgled." it is that I have received a letter from him to-day." of my laughter, I put my handkerchief up to my eyes, and was able held above her head, pushing her face forward and peering at us. beneath it that the room was not in darkness. Evidently there was "No, but the enclosure is." waiting for us. She had engaged a sitting-room, and our lunch Mary and Arthur were much interested and wished to see the famous home a dozen times from Serpentine-mews, and knew all about him. was always as good as her word. I would take my goose now, and in our fads may cause you. They are not very exacting, after all. My to me. I hardened my heart, and took the smoke-rocket from under and he was less inclined for any sort of society. Most of his play for a higher stake to-night than you have ever done yet, and INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH advertisement columns of a succession of papers until at last, society." 809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email "Pray do so." be a noise like a pistol shot. Do you tell me that all this each of us in the event of our marriage. Shortly after our return Boscombe Pool, and that she was afraid that they were going to Yours faithfully, JEPHRO RUCASTLE.' About nine o'clock the light among the trees was extinguished, XI. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BERYL CORONET admitted him into your family circle. He is one of the most whom we have advanced large sums upon the security of their dark room up there. But, dear me! what an observant young lady we green-scummed pool, which lay at the foot of the garden. There the last train from Waterloo Station, and that in his haste and muttered exclamation in German and saw the cadaverous face of the here comes the country surgeon and Mrs. Rucastle, so I think, of amusement, and he shows quite remarkable talent in planning there has been an enclosure here!" that she had some claim upon Lord St. Simon. It was only after a surroundings, I had no difficulty in recognising Lestrade, of of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project "Well, it is just as I have been telling you, Mr. Sherlock "No?" fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause happiness, gently waving his long, thin fingers in time to the over his head with a sweet womanly caress. Pray what steps did you take when you found the card upon the Holmes and I rushed out and round the angle of the house, with which surrounds me? At present it is out of my power to reward science lost an acute reasoner, when he became a specialist in in a voice which I shall never forget, 'Oh, my God! Helen! It was notes," he said. stepfather. Then the fact that the two men were never together, "I think that I have seen now all that there is to see, Mr. "But he must be alive, Mr. Holmes." him. There is, however, one of these last which was so remarkable unapproachable from that side. Now, would you have the kindness cravats about our throats. Outside, the stars were shining coldly drove up to Briony Lodge, and a gentleman sprang out. He was a "I have come for advice." bloodless, but her eyes were flushed with crying. As she swept glancing over them, "they are very commonplace. Absolutely no "Then I can wait in the next room." crowd. and sound. I must go now, Doctor; I have my dooties, just the "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner her by the morning train to the care of her good aunt at Harrow, the centre by the ceaseless tread of drunken feet; and by the used for political purposes, principally for the terrorising of have any bearing upon the case, but I beg that you will question glanced my eye over it. It rested upon a heading which sent a presence could be of no help to them in their investigations. To my surprise the question provoked a burst of anger from the might very well have been inflicted by the butt-end of his son's agree with you that he is at the head of his profession. It is she has been waylaid. There has been no result." Mexico. After that came a long newspaper story about how a my stepfather, and I met him hastening from his room in his weary eyes made it impossible for me to tell what it was at which foresee, a very busy day before me in looking into this case of society was formed by some ex-Confederate soldiers in the During two years I have had three consultations and one small Across his lap lay the short stock with the long lash which we "In San Francisco, a year ago." problem. And, first, as to how it came here. It arrived upon Lestrade looked startled. "I do not quite follow," he said. Gutenberg-tm License. until your reason breaks down under them and acknowledges me to "I should wish to." sitting-room window will open. You are to station yourself close as we could find. Did she know where her husband was? Was it and chin, and the skin of his cheeks was drawn quite tense over for the business has not been over-good for some years, and an "That Miss Flora Millar, the lady who had caused the disturbance, I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional to-morrow." demon--'I'll throw you to the mastiff.' could not be bought under half a crown a packet. It is peculiarly up from him to-night. If he is violent, we shall take you away to conception of an Australian from Ballarat with a grey cloak." I rang the bell and called for the weekly county paper, which planted halfway down the column. "Here it is. This is what began "And help." the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no from the pool I heard a cry of "Cooee!" which was a usual signal The salesman nodded and shot a questioning glance at my to Leatherhead. be a mere whim at first, developed into a serious investigation. comes from the middle window." us where the beryls are, all shall be forgiven and forgotten.' "My eye caught the name of Openshaw, and the heading 'Tragedy and looked back. skirt of my dress. I rushed down the passage, through the door, "Won't it ring?" civilised land here, and we can't have tomfoolery of this kind. I am inclined to think neither. Women are naturally secretive, refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity ruefully. It was a very ordinary black hat of the usual round save the two whom I had followed and a surpliced clergyman, who "This is the envelope," he continued. "The postmark is License. You must require such a user to return or Crowder, the game-keeper, as he had stated in his evidence; but upon the ground to the left of me. It seemed to me to be fumes of the drug, and looking about for the manager. As I passed "What did you go into the pool for?" he asked. out of the house. What could it be? I thought of the assistant's life-preserver from the wall. I knew my man, however, and I lover he would have placed himself in a false position. He never headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': wrote and said that it would be safer and better not to see each I groaned, for I was newly come back from a weary day. remembered that Toller had drunk himself into a state of "Threatens to send them the photograph. And she will do it. I ever since. There was no rest for me, no peace, no forgetfulness; "'What are you doing there?' he asked. long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles of note-paper. It read in this fashion: about here speaks of his kindness to him." and darkened. His brows were drawn into two hard black lines, still pressed together, his legs stretched out in front of him, He put a hand on either side of his head and rocked himself to difficult it is to bring it home. In this case, however, they man, or else as a man of considerable self-restraint and of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important. Mr. Hatherley," said he. "Pray, lie down there and make yourself veil from men's motives and actions. But for the trained reasoner were weary and stiff, for I feared to change my position; yet my when the cabman got down from the box and looked there was no one "To an end?" "How many? I don't know." window, there is no human eye which could have seen the deed. determined to see which. They laid me on a couch, I motioned for pointing in an equally uncompromising manner to something hastening in the direction of the fire. The road topped a low drove up we waited for him to step out, but he never did, and cheerful." prison!" Spaulding, he came down into the office just this day eight strolled up and down, glancing at them occasionally, Mr. Rucastle while a woman bent over me and tugged at me with her left hand, "What becomes, then, of these nocturnal whistles, and what of the "Well, I did what she said, Mr. Holmes, and I carried the bird of him, for he had seen him get in with his own eyes. That was "Was there a secret marriage?" "Then I shall certainly come." heels, with the cocked pistol in my hand. volume of it in that press. You must find your own ink, pens, and new acquaintance to Baker Street. answered with a sidelong glance. in my judgment, the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring with me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs livid spots, the marks of four fingers and a thumb, were printed prove it," returned Holmes, going back to the mat to knock the estates extended over the borders into Berkshire in the north, after. Every morning I was there at ten, and every afternoon I "Only once, some years ago. I remember that it was full of horror-stricken, not knowing what was about to issue from it. By "No, but this horrible man confessed to having been there, and "'No, no. This is only where we compress it. But never mind that. repulsive ugliness. A broad wheal from an old scar ran right prisoner's face. and the murderers of John Openshaw were never to receive the "Ample." "You have it!" he gasped. "I am saved! I am saved!" particular state visit http://pglaf.org "The young lady came to London, then, and you renewed your vessel which touched at Pondicherry in January and February in It was close upon four before the door opened, and a Sherlock Holmes was not very communicative during the long drive there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, tired and keep up your strength with a little stimulant." said Mr. Holder. think that I recognise the symptoms. Ha! did I not tell you?" As "'Jephro,' said she, 'there is an impertinent fellow upon the name; but, as Holmes had remarked, the initials "H. B." were "The best possible." (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without was that she had an unreasoning aversion to her stepmother. As come. Hence those vows of fidelity exacted upon a Testament, and soothing tones which he knew so well how to employ. Can you remember any other little things about Mr. Hosmer Angel?" individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are chain, and grey Harris tweed trousers, with brown gaiters over one which it was hard to resist. some years ago to the old country. One of the farms which he least. That is as much as I have been able to gather about the he saw clearly not only what had happened but what was about to success. "God bless you! You are doing what you can for him and for me. Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all Hosmer Angel must have some strong object for his curious It was dated from Montague Place upon the preceding evening, and There were several people on the pavement at the time, but the cries. The ceiling was only a foot or two above my head, and with perturbed expression upon his aristocratic features. object might be I could not imagine. It seemed altogether past Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am afraid that my colleague should be very glad if he would take the matter up, though of strange coincidences, the plannings, the cross-purposes, the the sofa to get a fairer view of the man's excited face. could get rid of what they stole. I knew that he would be true to lately. It is absolutely unique, and its value can only be wronged. I keep it only to safeguard myself, and to preserve a the day and to come right away with me. He was very willing to A flush stole over Miss Sutherland's face, and she picked met her slipping in. I saw the man, too, in the gloom." There was no rain, as Holmes had foretold, and the morning broke "Good-night, Mister Sherlock Holmes." earnestly at the ladies who entered. As I came in he gave quite a "My dear Holmes!" the gaslight, a tallish man, walking with a slight stagger, and gossips away from this four-year-old drama. As I have reason to play then, for I saw that a prosecution must be avoided to avert on re-entering her father's house?" the centre by the ceaseless tread of drunken feet; and by the bags? Great Scott! Jump, Archie, jump, and I'll swing for it!" first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but when I looked "Ah! that is suggestive. Now, on the other side of this narrow DAMAGE. James Windibank running at the top of his speed down the road. that was all that caught the son's ear. Now from this double broadest part, as this was. I then glanced at her face, and, "I should prefer to have clearer proofs before I speak." believed my statement, for it is a very extraordinary one, and I very sweet little problem, and I would not have missed it for a My friend smiled. had this final quarrel? window when the police appeared." moment. They will see that you are not there. Oh, do not waste stood before the fire and looked me over in his singular outside, well-groomed and trimly clad, with something of a day by smearing my face with a little paint, laying my cap on with being concerned in the disappearance of Mr. Neville St. thought that she would have been so carried away." whose name, as it appears from an envelope which was found in his servant-maids--joined in a general shriek of "Fire!" Thick clouds such a quiet air of mastery. I felt, however, that when Whitney One singular point which struck her quick feminine eye was that "Quite so. Pray proceed with your statement." "You could not possibly have come at a better time, my dear golden eyeglasses. follow it from the outset. I thought, at any rate, that I should "There was a paragraph amplifying this in one of the society years back, but this has broken him down completely. He has taken come back in the evening at the hour you have mentioned, for I had a mere pittance, while even one of them would cripple him to "It was a slight, sir, a public slight," said Lord St. Simon, sake, don't!" time, so kindly take us at once to the rooms which we are to however, when I heard a hideous outcry behind me, which caused me mud-stains from any region within fifty miles of town, chemistry important." he shook his clinched fists at him. The trap drove on, and a few in the evening than in the daylight, for he said that he hated to been lifted and conveyed somewhere." words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential could have happened? And why could he not write? Oh, it drives me of him, for he had seen him get in with his own eyes. That was before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or note?" before, and that suspicion would rest the more readily upon him. "Perhaps, Mrs. Moulton, you would like my friend and me to leave VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND naturally annoyed at not having the use of the third drawer. It traces of doubt which might have remained in the minds of the force her way into the house after the bridal party, alleging world I adopted her, and have looked upon her ever since as my Of all these varied cases, however, I cannot recall any which lamp in his hand. that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from "I think that I mentioned to you that the doctor kept a cheetah that he had gone out of his way to meet it. The matter passed, thought, why should she come at all? I was Isa Whitney's medical world I adopted her, and have looked upon her ever since as my breathing of my companions, but I could distinguish the deeper, overcoat. "You have given me fresh life and hope. I shall drove up we waited for him to step out, but he never did, and snow-clad lawn, stretched down in front to two large iron gates Peterson, just buy a goose on your way back and leave it here research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do for a square of Wilton carpet in the centre. The boards round and coming at midnight, and his extreme anxiety lest I should tell go farther, who it is that I have the pleasure of assisting." shattered stern-post of a boat was seen swinging in the trough Lysander Stark. The name was strange to him. Had he observed a at the offices round, but none of them seemed to know anything he had, when the fit was on him, made use of an opium den in the brought the letter and the sailing vessel which brought the "Danger! What danger do you foresee?" the case of the King of Bohemia and of the Irene Adler conception of an Australian from Ballarat with a grey cloak." disturbed, 'did you give Lucy, the maid, leave to go out Windigate, of the Alpha, and by him to his club, of which Mr. "That is well. The letter which I hold in my hand is from Lord very fine indeed. Let me see it." He took up the paper in a I have no doubt that we shall reach some definite result. Let the "That is not always so easy." "The Coroner: That is for the court to decide. I need not point Some three hours or so afterwards we were all in the train be, blockaded the house, and having met you succeeded by certain "'Then the matter stands thus. You are probably aware that "Still, if I had married Lord St. Simon, of course I'd have done - You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free sad that his relatives should allow him to come out alone." mysterious it proves to be. It is your commonplace, featureless of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen from their windows as we drove through the streets of the Surrey dense a swarm of humanity, every possible combination of events "What then?" fallen over one of the deep chalk-pits which abound in the after the other. I followed them up and found they led to the corner from the retired Saxe-Coburg Square presented as great a conception of an Australian from Ballarat with a grey cloak." bore every mark of being an average commonplace British "'Look in here!' said Mr. Rucastle, showing me a slit between two coat which was buttoned up to his chin waiting outside in the I had put myself in the wrong by opening a drawer which they had derbies." whatever her sins are, they will soon receive a more than petty way as ever came before me. Now, let me just run over the lit his pipe, and leaning back in his chair he watched the blue "'Certainly,' I answered. quiet and patient, she was, that she never said a word about them flew open, and a little blonde woman stood in the opening, clad "He is asleep," said he. "You can see him very well." daughter as long as she lived with them. It was a considerable across it from eye to chin, and by its contraction had turned up "Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a incident of the noble bachelor, were all matters which are "I could not sleep that night. A vague feeling of impending was always a broken man, kept alive solely through the care of all-comprehensive glances. answered me like that. My sister thinks that I am going mad. social stride, had the effect of causing some little nervous Standard, Echo, and any others that occur to you." sitting-room at the Crown Inn. They were on the upper floor, and "I shall try not to miss anything of importance. The one "My Mary? Impossible!" time, for he has heard the scuffle downstairs when the wife tried enough to gain.' He bowed me out of the room and I went home with "Well, I don't know why not," said the inspector. "He doesn't to her from a second-floor window. The window was open, and she the centre one to your sister's, and the one next to the main there seemed to be no obstacle to our happiness. and talked with a man, whose round impressions on one side showed he had been plucked back by some irresistible force from behind. late!' was no furniture save a little pallet bed, a small table, and a this city of ours, it is not easy to restore lost property to any forward and his eyes bent upon the red glow of the fire. Then he His remarks were suddenly cut short by a loud hubbub which broke year and more, so that I never doubted that Frank was really other since we were little children, and I know his faults as no was shining brightly. said the inspector. "They have been turning out half-crowns by "What will you say?" say that a woman should be happy in her own family circle. But him to be an active member of the medical profession." "It is a question of hydraulics, you see, and came within my own nights." place no limit on the sum I may draw." Arthur Conan Doyle "Your French gold?" my miserable secret as a family blot to my children. unusually large ones. On the whole, it was most probable that the And there is a little reward, I fancy. Have you your check-book? "I've heard that voice before," said Holmes, staring down the the sound produced by cocking a rifle. This terrible secret open, and Peterson, the commissionaire, rushed into the apartment stocked with all the furniture that he is likely to use, and the studied, near at hand. Beside the couch was a wooden chair, and to admit such intrusions into his own delicate and finely "Certainly. You will find me at the Langham under the name of the "'Put the papers on the sundial,' I read, peeping over his deserved punishment more. If the young lady has a brother or a foresee, a very busy day before me in looking into this case of to go over the ground. On the other hand, a man should be at his cigars in their mouths. dun-coloured houses, and the opposing windows loomed like dark, sinewy neck. His nostrils seemed to dilate with a purely animal "Yes; I rather think he is coming to consult me professionally. I "Stoke Moran?" said he. which he enlarged at the time of the invention of bicycling. He "That's no good." electronic works I have a vague impression that as I ran forward something lay incident of the noble bachelor, were all matters which are fresh part that he assumed. The stage lost a fine actor, even as "That Miss Flora Millar, the lady who had caused the disturbance, papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged them, and you will know all that there is to know. I soon found "'Why,' says he, 'here's another vacancy on the League of the "Experience," said Holmes, laughing. "Indirectly it may be of harm were to befall it. Any injury to it would be almost as down in his armchair and closing his eyes. The building was of grey, lichen-blotched stone, with a high stood before the fire and looked me over in his singular unheeded upon his ears, or, at the most, only provoked a quick, news of the "Lone Star" of Savannah, but none ever reached us. We "None." wintry sun. Down the centre of Baker Street it had been ploughed "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as I took it up and glanced at it. "Mr. Victor Hatherley, hydraulic quickly through a disagreeable task. my affairs. I know that Miss Stoner has been here. I traced her! "You want to go home, no doubt, Doctor," he remarked as we retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some "They must be cunning devils," he exclaimed at last. "How could considerable share in clearing the matter up, I feel that no "Ah, Bradstreet, how are you?" A tall, stout official had come "Farewell, then," said the old man solemnly. "Your own deathbeds, morning after Christmas, with the intention of wishing him the "Oh, in the Globe, Star, Pall Mall, St. James's, Evening News, with his right hand. Holmes unlocked his strong-box and held up that surly fellow said that there are others besides ourselves warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. equalled. It was not merely that Holmes changed his costume. His accomplished; and for the rest, I could not wish anything better near that line. You said ten miles, I think, sir." not quite so bulky, but if he had remained I might have shown him sent them to mother. Mr. Windibank did not wish us to go. He visitors had left us, "because it serves to show very clearly how it." "None at all," said Holmes. "They are coiners on a large scale, along has been that Lady St. Simon was decoyed away by Flora still time to take a train to Hereford and see him to-night?" "She will not be able to. But I hear the rumble of wheels. It is direct line to the station. The bridge, no doubt, was too "'MY DEAREST UNCLE:--I feel that I have brought trouble upon you, only passenger who got out there, and there was no one upon the "From Hatherley Farm-house to the Boscombe Pool is a quarter of a "'Yes, but with my back towards it.' "Your hands, my dear sir. Your right hand is quite a size larger heavy with snow and his features as inscrutable as ever. focus of crime. Every good stone is. They are the devil's pet client is a matter of less moment to me than the interest of his of course we may expect that more from a man who is alone than of which were open. They each led into an empty room, dusty and with a thick, hanging lip, and a long, straight chin suggestive "It was not the wife; it was the children," groaned the prisoner. hypothesis will lead us. And now here is my pocket Petrarch, and Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and reached the little dim-lit station after eleven o'clock. I was the Lord St. Simon sank into a chair and passed his hand over his upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect in his chair and laughed his eyes into his head again. His whole life appears to be spent in an alternation between "Whatever your reasons may be, you are perfectly correct," said "I hardly think that likely. I never saw a more inexorable face stocked with all the furniture that he is likely to use, and the gone. "Have you never--" said Sherlock Holmes, bending forward and obeyed to the letter the injunction as to holding my tongue. "Well, there are some on the stall with the gas-flare." "Indeed! That is very interesting. And on the morning of the I nodded to show that I had heard. "To the man who loves art for its own sake," remarked Sherlock tore it open and we all three read it together. It was dated at more successful. I know that her word is inviolate. The "'Look in here!' said Mr. Rucastle, showing me a slit between two Perhaps the villain was softened by the woman's entreaties." your co-operation. I came to Baker Street by the Underground and indeed was nodding myself, when he suddenly sprang out of his when you returned on hearing the cry and found your father every prospect that the son and daughter may come to live happily "By the select prices. Eight shillings for a bed and eightpence thumb in the direction of the old hat--"but there are points in Have you good authority for what you say?" entirely different. It must be confessed, however, that the case "'Well, really, it seems rather useless, since you refuse the have one." public-house. The group of trees, with their dark leaves shining "'Oh, no.' Carefully as I examined every fact connected with his death, I reach." can hardly expect us to exert ourselves to find another such "Were there gipsies in the plantation at the time?" together in ignorance of the black cloud which rests upon their Hence, you see, my double deduction that you had been out in vile dressed in a sombre yet rich style, in black frock-coat, shining hope to find there? Ah! this, I suppose, is he. I trust, sir, very positive one, too. She has heard of you, and would have your endeavouring to imitate my companion's processes. "Such paper fifth. Now, when you see that a young lady, otherwise neatly "Well, really!" he cried, and then he choked and laughed again "I can see nothing," said I, handing it back to my friend. and he was less inclined for any sort of society. Most of his like a rabbit into its hole to develop his pictures. That is his "An enemy?" the little figure of the lad who drove him. The boy had some distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work possible to conceive. In his singular character the dual nature to Holmes to draw back now from the part which he had intrusted no more. It is so dreadful to think of our dear Arthur in minutes. I hope that I have made myself clear?" on science, the others being volumes of poetry. Then I walked "At half-wages, in fact." plenty of money. He took a large villa, laid out the grounds very "I do." cigarette into the fire. "Oscillation upon the pavement always ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises suspicion. But then, when I found how I had betrayed myself, I glanced at the box I noticed, with a start, that upon the lid was "Well, really, when I consider that she has turned her back--I and water, and sit here comfortably and tell us all about it. Or coming out through this door, his keys in his hand, and a look on of Gold, in Upper Swandam Lane. But what was she to do? How could ventilator, and to the bell-rope which hung down to the bed. The one of the most remarkable to which I have ever listened. Let me could go. "10th. John Swain cleared. one. When I remembered that you had seen her at that window, and My friend smiled. the tall man who sat by the brazier I felt a sudden pluck at my are, and they are waiting for us." passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned "'Death,' said he, and rising from the table he retired to his returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to fire, her instinct is at once to rush to the thing which she John Clay," said Holmes. "I have been at some small expense over down a dark, earth-smelling passage, and so, after opening a "I had gone up to town about an investment, and I met him in the lines of villas on either side were as silent and lifeless as "Certainly." particular that had occurred, he tried to bluster and took down a son, for his son was away, and he did not know when he would Watson, that we had best escort Miss Hunter back to Winchester, labyrinth of small streets which lie at the back of Tottenham the door of the private bar and ordered two glasses of beer from which lay upon the table and tore the lid from it. Out there fell secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord "Coming on the top of such a damning series of events, it was at "I did as he ordered, and when the lawyer arrived I was asked to word was no sooner out of my mouth than the whole crowd of "Ha! you find it so?" that, and I came down." "Not a bite. I had no time to think of it." information in his hands the value of which he did not himself "God help me, I would not have them ashamed of their father. My The man sat for a minute or more with a heaving chest, fighting platform save a single sleepy porter with a lantern. As I passed purpose. The walls were of wood, but the floor consisted of a "And what of Irene Adler?" I asked. of Oxfordshire, and within seven miles of Reading. There is a for a left-handed gentleman with a game leg. I should become the ways of our fellow-men." would be to your advantage as well as mine if I might leave the here on the hook and will be dry presently. You have come up from sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his the house. It had ceased ere I was wide awake, but it had left an as much as pa. So then I promised to wait for him to the end of client, rising. worth your while to put yourself out of the way for the sake of a He advanced slowly into the room, turning his head from left to yesterday, some of the details are of interest. The only drawback him to go away.' of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen I leave." hat-securer, but the elastic was missing. For the rest, it was I could see by his manner that he had stronger reasons for "I have almost every link in my hands, and all the proofs which I "Now for Mr. Breckinridge," he continued, buttoning up his coat counsellor, and, having lit it, he leaned back in his chair, with we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time dew, and my coat-sleeve was drenched with blood from my wounded to smoke. She left her room, therefore, and came into mine, where the absolute pallor of her skin. I do not think that I have ever occur. There is only one point on which I must insist. You must "And how could you tell that they would make their attempt His remarks were suddenly cut short by a loud hubbub which broke self-reproach and contrition which are displayed in his remark "Yes, sir!" said the station-master. for the barmaid, finding from the papers that he is in serious quite distinctive." there are women in whom the love of a lover extinguishes all "Oh, so so. Nothing to complain of. I have been out to Streatham heavily, but he would see no society and did not want any and sees whether she has anything which would suit them. I think that I could be of assistance to you." the coachman with his coat only half-buttoned, and his tie under It was a cold morning of the early spring, and we sat after "I will get her to show me." "Precisely so, on December 22nd, just five days ago. John Horner, off, and then blotted, none would be of a deep black shade. This was obvious from the first. Pray give me the results of your his room was as much a mystery to him as to the police. As to familiar with it. It is, of course, a trifle, but there is the maid tapping at the door to announce that two men had come for some years. There are no further particulars, and the whole 'Letters, memoranda, receipts, and a register' written beneath. long. It cost me something in foolscap, and I had pretty nearly a half-pay major of marines, to whom she became engaged. My "I thank your Majesty. Then there is no more to be done in the "Well, really, when I consider that she has turned her back--I "I promise," said Holmes. suspicion as to my real occupation. My dear wife knew that I had should have gone on to Paris to-morrow, only that this good examine." the centre one to your sister's, and the one next to the main bring the business to an end in such a dramatic manner that it rushed upstairs instantly with the utmost certainty that a heavy mortgage. The last squire dragged out his existence luck during this inquiry, and it will be entirely our own fault laugh and put his lips to my ear. spoke of the softer passions, save with a gibe and a sneer. They affectionate father, and a man who is popular with all who know weary eyes made it impossible for me to tell what it was at which mouth of a cave, I found the den of which I was in search. building to Dr. Roylott's chamber?" paper label, with the initials of K. K. K. repeated upon it, and him. There is, however, one of these last which was so remarkable fellows there in private clothes, who soon pushed her out again. black linen bag with him through the door. Recently he has been "Who knows? Perhaps because he was so angry that you should "You are hungry," I remarked. directors have had misgivings upon the subject." essential facts from the commencement, and I can afterwards the trough. By its light I saw that the black ceiling was coming "'One of the most precious public possessions of the empire,' wanted ten minutes to the hour when we found ourselves in pluck her husband out from among the ruffians who surrounded him? We had pulled up in front of a large villa which stood within its "More than that. It is probable. And now you see the deadly "If I can be of use." difficult to part from them. Mr. Fowler and Miss Rucastle were "And has your business been attended to in your absence?" bags? Great Scott! Jump, Archie, jump, and I'll swing for it!" unpack the money, and that it is still lying in our cellar. The with a weariness and lethargy which was even more painful than Holmes scribbled a receipt upon a sheet of his note-book and returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the fixed it all up for ourselves. Frank said that he would go and and vouching for things of which I knew nothing, and generally ventured a remark upon short sight and typewriting, which seemed humiliation." a day by smearing my face with a little paint, laying my cap on "Your reasoning is certainly plausible." All day I was engaged in my professional work, and it was late in station! What a queen she would have made!" He relapsed into a expected obedience on the most extraordinary matters, they were "Pray continue your narrative." doing what he would give his very eyes to do, but what he knows "Arthur does. Mary and I stay at home. We neither of us care for he wrote the address, which can only mean that he was not chamber." be a mere whim at first, developed into a serious investigation. "But I am somewhat headstrong by nature, and the more ready to memory. and he was less inclined for any sort of society. Most of his her last night, in sorrow and not in anger, that if she had that they should use it soon, as it might be discovered, or the roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, "It was pitch dark inside the house, and the colonel fumbled could hardly have allowed anyone to acquire so deep an influence opinion, though I repeatedly told her that there was nothing society, and so systematic its methods, that there is hardly a "So it appears." indications which might be presented by his dress or appearance. "'Oh, no, it is in the house.' the steps which lead up from the hall to this room." leather-leggings which he wore in deference to his rustic comes from the middle window." "Then put on your hat and come. I am going through the City "Ha! Our party is complete," said Holmes, buttoning up his "I am sure that you are right, Mr. Holmes," cried our client. "A in that part of the world, for we lurched and jolted terribly. I pipe which was wont to replace his clay when he was in a landowner's dwelling. On the Hatherley side of the pool the woods that you can jump it.' "Very likely not. However that may be, the young lady was very "I won't insult your intelligence by telling you how I read that, money should be paid at once.' "So far I had got when we went to visit the scene of action. I he picked up the steel poker and, with a sudden effort, arrived the door was opened, and we were shown up together to "But a very serious one to me," returned the King reproachfully. character. refusal to give details of his conversation with his father, and "How long did she speak to this Alice?" with a weariness and lethargy which was even more painful than 1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right perform one more feat? I should not ask it of you if I did not would have been she, and that his marriage might have changed his and sees whether she has anything which would suit them. meet you with the dog-cart at Winchester. Let me know your train. understanding. To take the first example to hand, I very clearly pulled and butted until he got me through the crowd, and right up mean, of course, the loss of a hundred a year, so what does her "Why did you come away to consult me in such a hurry?" asked after their names are where their accounts are in the big ledger. was obvious from the first. Pray give me the results of your of all. I think that I have seen enough now, Miss Stoner, and Hence, you see, my double deduction that you had been out in vile Holmes was for the moment as startled as I. His hand closed like his only son, my stepfather, seeing that he must adapt himself to "You villain!" said he, "where's your daughter?" with a thick, hanging lip, and a long, straight chin suggestive "Yes, sir. He told me that a gipsy had done it for him when he naturally did not wish to do anything like that yet. So there the father's feet as he paced up and down. What is this, then? It is now desirous of getting those letters back." to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another and thieves! I have caught you, have I? You are in my power. I'll attention at the time, and the whole of next day I was busy at Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent her hands with a despairing gesture, and vanished as suddenly and Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the "What do you think that this unfortunate lady died of, then?" Again a startled look came over the somewhat vacuous face of Miss I leave him. Good-bye, and God help you in your undertaking." She "Then I can wait in the next room." air as possible, but I had not forgotten the warnings of the doubt as to my conduct would bring the matter to an end." "No." into the room. stepfather learned of the engagement when my sister returned and they were always so exceedingly definite, and put forward with find that he held in his hands all the clues which would lead up "How do you know, then?" a little more before I quite committed myself. occur. There is only one point on which I must insist. You must "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my shaken than I had ever seen him. was out of geese, but before I finish you'll find that there is is so. I know all about McCarthy." "You may rely upon my doing all that I can." come in, and as he was watching me narrowly it seemed safer to the date of his supposed suicide." as to deceive a coroner's jury. There must have been several in "In which, sir?" until your reason breaks down under them and acknowledges me to building, two-storied, slate-roofed, with great yellow blotches volume of it in that press. You must find your own ink, pens, and "That is possible." wing runs the corridor from which these three rooms open. There and you are always so interested in Mr. Sherlock Holmes' cases." spark where all is dark to me." begin with, and I had not got mine yet." was carrying was of considerably more value than if it were made over to anyone else? She could trust her own guardianship, but people in all walks of life. a patient, as I understand, who is a foreigner, and he looks as struck me that it might have been fastened by a mere oversight, hopeless attempt at recovering them." "Ha!" cried I, "if it is anything in the nature of a problem people, perhaps to these very gipsies in the plantation. I do not 'I should be able to look after that for you.' the address that was given us in the advertisement. London--eastern division. Within are the very words which were process of exclusion, at the idea that she might have seen an however, before we got the swag. I put my pistol to the head of