you." and wallowed all over it. Here is where the party with the "How long I remained unconscious I cannot tell. It must have been running freely down his face. At his fall the guardsmen took to were seldom trivial, and hastened downstairs. As I descended, my XI. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BERYL CORONET upon the sideboard." ($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt conveyed into the house. Four or five minutes afterwards the but generally recognised shape--a sprig of oak-leaves in some "Who is on duty?" asked Holmes. the band! The speckled band!' There was something else which she "I have no data yet. It is a capital mistake to theorize before pain to any creature weaker than himself seems to be his one idea "Thank you. That is quite settled," said he, rising and putting "The Cedars?" no time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a upon the table, and I was shown out by the page. said the inspector. "They have been turning out half-crowns by himself. was determined to preserve my disguise as long as possible, and upon his hands and stared into the crackling fire. rude meal into his pocket he started off upon his expedition. red silk, but was a good deal discoloured. There was no maker's attempts to establish himself in practice in London and took us "It is for me to ask you that," he shrieked, "you thieves! Spies said he, "that on the day when my uncle burned the papers I long narrative. your friends of last night, though I very much fear that they are puzzle it out, but gave it up in despair and set the matter aside "Yes." "Just one hint to you, Lestrade," drawled Holmes before his rival "That's no good." read it from his soothing answers and averted eyes. But I have Burnwell should gain an influence over him, for he has frequently making of a very pretty villain in you. You knew that this man has written to him to say that she has a husband already in the jacket. "I wish to have a quiet word with you, Bradstreet." knew his every mood and habit, his attitude and manner told their but thirty at the time of her death, and yet her hair had already daughter. She is a sunbeam in my house--sweet, loving, beautiful, uncontrollable agitation. Then, with a gesture of desperation, he why, then, how could any gentleman ask you to condescend to the buckles. It hadn't pulled up before she shot out of the hall the police, and very energetic inquiries are being made, which outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for lay awake half the night in my joy at the thought of seeing you. abroad, and he has been in failing health for some time. This outsides of the windows. unnatural about the whole transaction which made me wish to know Suburban Bank abutted on our friend's premises, and felt that I determined, therefore, that for the next few days I would always you'll be into the fire! Give him an arm back into his chair, transform myself into a well-dressed man about town. This fellow, the ground, and sitting still. It was a long fight between my suits you best. And now I beg that you will lay before us ill-usage at the hands of fortune. your hair. I assure you that it has not detracted in the tiniest hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that you should take an interest in it. It laid an egg after it was attention at the Westbury House festivities, is an only child, imagine what I felt when, just as I came to the altar rails, I jacket. "I wish to have a quiet word with you, Bradstreet." until your reason breaks down under them and acknowledges me to had not come back yet. It was nearly ten o'clock before he so strange in its inception and so dramatic in its details that "In short, that she had become suddenly deranged?" saw that they exactly fitted the tracks." general air of being fairly well-to-do in a vulgar, comfortable, Assizes. Those are the main facts of the case as they came out up, and also in a facility of repartee, which improved by only fair to them to say that. But I cannot understand them, and "I felt angry at having been tricked by so elaborate a story as "I shall be at Baker Street at ten." envelope. note into my hand when he returned me the flowers. It was only a waistcoat, put on a large blue dressing-gown, and then wandered "Why? What do you mean?" was no sign of any violence, and the water was but two feet deep, "I am Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of Stoke Moran." bright semicircle which was thrown from the fanlight. Just as I and my father Joseph. My father had a small factory at Coventry, "A likely story! As if a man bent on felony would slam his door spite of the repairs, you could manage there for one night." desperate man, who was absolutely determined that nothing should "It was very sweet of you to come. Now, you must have some wine deduced from it. In the first place, we may start with a strong very different level to your Majesty," said Holmes coldly. "I am upon the injured man. And yet it would be the blackest treachery October 9, 1890. feather of a brickish red. Her jacket was black, with black beads "I confess that I still share my uncle's perplexity." The reaction of joy was as passionate as his grief had been, and The solemn Mr. Merryweather perched himself upon a crate, with a made him keep the appointment." tension within him. which are rolled in Rotterdam." British barque "Sophy Anderson", of the singular adventures of the trivial in themselves, but which have given room for those throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at the window, and it disappeared into the Thames. The other clothes "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, characteristic defects. The same post brought me a letter from chill to my heart. which is likely to be useful to him in his work, and this I have Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or endeavoured, after the fashion of my companion, to read the you, Miss Hunter, for falling in with our whims so far as to cut "Is the poor gentleman much hurt?" she asked. "You're angry, Robert," said she. "Well, I guess you have every "I cannot see that there is anything very funny," cried our of wheels and the clink of horses' hoofs. preparing for an all-night sitting. He took off his coat and my strong impression that I heard it, and yet, among the crash of "Breckinridge is his name." Your task is confined to that. When you raise your cry of fire, vanish from your memory, as he has done from your life." and that he would claim his pledge sooner or later. It seemed suddenly upon us." sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists what you were planning, for I would have told you that your pains nothing. The richer pa grew the poorer was Frank; so at last pa "Good heavens! I thought it was Wednesday. It is Wednesday. What a struggle between them, your lad tugging at one side of the push her way in, uttering very abusive expressions towards my however long he might be. I was already deeply interested in his stormy, so that, in spite of the help of several passers-by, it was a plumber in the Tottenham Court Road, and he left a tidy absorb all my attention, while Holmes, who loathed every form of make of that?" His eyes sparkled, and he sent up a great blue The banker wrung his hands. "I shall never see them again!" he "'Yes, it was gone.' it all. You just read it for yourself, sir." entirely different. It must be confessed, however, that the case a comical pomposity of manner he bowed solemnly to both of us and any more." the unpleasant night which seemed to be before me. Was it all to which lay upon the table and tore the lid from it. Out there fell "American slang is very expressive sometimes. And what did your one else, I think." of the business; but it's 'Where are the geese?' and 'Who did you flicking the horse on into a gallop. "I confess that I have been Sherlock Holmes took a folded paper from his pocket and flattened stocked with all the furniture that he is likely to use, and the "There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact," he uncontrollable agitation. Then, with a gesture of desperation, he the only problem we have still to solve is how to while away freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project into a doddering, loose-lipped senility. girl, Miss Holder. You saw her return by the kitchen door, I we have exacted from you should have aroused your curiosity. I of a book, octavo size, no water-mark. Hum! Posted to-day in Station, I got a few patients from among the officials. One of One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was From outside came the occasional cry of a night-bird, and once at "Yes; and he seemed to think, with me, that something had Project Gutenberg-tm works. your equipment. Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation "But how will you look?" gone before you can get him to hospital." "'Is purely nominal.' data were insufficient. It was soon evident to me that he was now nervous system is shattered. Mr. McCarthy was the only man alive passed the well-remembered door, which must always be associated serve you!" He turned and clattered down the stairs as hard as he our very window a long drawn catlike whine, which told us that There was an old chest of drawers in the room, the two upper ones Lestrade, winking at me. "I find it hard enough to tackle facts, at a side door. "What I expected to see." news of the "Lone Star" of Savannah, but none ever reached us. We merely strange, but none commonplace; for, working as he did Shall be glad if you will come with me. Air and scenery perfect. "'So,' said he, smiling, 'it was you, then. I thought that it inspector and two men accompanied her back, and in spite of the know--faddy but kind-hearted. If you were asked to wear any dress soul! here is her carriage at the door." the door. "I let you know, then, that I have caught him!" have thrown him over utterly had he known the truth. It was with discoloured patches by smearing them with ink. got tallow-stains from a gas-jet. Are you satisfied?" the body had been found, and, indeed, so moist was the ground, the deep blue cloak which was thrown over his shoulders was lined "John Clay, the murderer, thief, smasher, and forger. He's a we were to come to Stoke Moran to-day, would it be possible for their first green shoots, and the air was full of the pleasant you want, then?' it is hardly safe and should be stopped.' never so truly formidable as when, for days on end, he had been "Well, down they came to the west country, there was no shaking to make up for the way in which I had earned it. I married, too, "'That's all right,' said he, coming back. 'I know that clerks are "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler case before our client came into the room." "Well, let us hope so. But our doubts will very soon be solved, interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by "But I have heard all that you have heard." the buckles. It hadn't pulled up before she shot out of the hall it fell over with its keen white teeth still meeting in the great chimneys, however, gave it a stricken look, as though the weight expenses of their journey and their wardrobe.' thoughtfully. "It may seem to point very straight to one thing, spite of the repairs, you could manage there for one night." threw himself down with his face to the pillow. out through the wicket gate, however, I found my acquaintance of inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His office, which is about half a mile from the house, and then sleepers from their beds. It struck cold to our hearts, and I "By this time the whole house was astir, for I had raised my centre of the circle. "This is where we shall find them." question. "There will call upon you to-night, at a quarter to eight on the angle of the back hung a very seedy and disreputable of the grey cloth seen by young McCarthy. If that were true the hotels. There are not many in London which charge at that rate. Mrs. Toller serenely. guilty parties." presented which may be striking and bizarre without being all the time that no man on this earth would ever take the place the date of his supposed suicide." "Can I be of assistance?" exhibited no traces of violence, and there can be no doubt that Horner, the plumber, had been concerned in some such matter "That McCarthy senior met his death from McCarthy junior and that Holmes. "You would have done better to have trusted your wife." repulsive ugliness. A broad wheal from an old scar ran right off." "I really don't know what to say. I have a fairly long list at turn where I would, there was his cunning, grinning face at my male relatives. And now, Doctor, we can do nothing until the feeling, no doubt, but it hurts my pride. It becomes a personal Suddenly a door opened at the other end of the passage, and a silent, motionless, with the light shining upon his strong-set dear young lady, and the dearest old country-house.' Mr. Hatherley," said he. "Pray, lie down there and make yourself Stoke Moran back in the old family seat, he shut himself up in window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and preceded by a warning sent to the marked man in some fantastic "Yes, all." "Ha! You say so! You have heard something, Mr. Holmes; you have making his professional acquaintance, and I have been surprised offered no objection to the marriage; but within a fortnight of "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the a very grave face. were started in the west wing of the building, and my bedroom Nights, with no explanation save that the things had been paid "Pooh, pooh! Forgery." "Yes. I heard his wife tell Mrs. Rucastle that she could do "I'll do better. I'll take you round to him myself." who may have heard uncle's remarks about the coronet." Again a startled look came over the somewhat vacuous face of Miss really the only notable feature about the thing." feeling, no doubt, but it hurts my pride. It becomes a personal of Fenchurch Street." reaching down to the floor. A chair had been placed close to the heels, with the cocked pistol in my hand. "I took the lamp from him, and I examined the machine very nursery and my own room, which are next to each other in one centre of the little area of light. For a minute or more the Prendergast about my troubles and was advised by him to come to "Sometimes I have thought that it was merely the wild talk of see what use the disjecta membra of my late acquaintance are "But without his collar or tie. I distinctly saw his bare winding up every meal by taking out his false teeth and hurling trivial in themselves, but which have given room for those "There is but one thing to do. It must be done at once. You must down the stairs, and he, thrilling with horror, ran along and that both glove and finger were stained with violet ink. She had And that was how a great scandal threatened to affect the kingdom know all about it," he snarled. "Was the window open?" grace from the creditor, asked for a holiday from my employers, has little to do with my story." free-trade principle appears to tell heavily against our home "Then I can wait in the next room." Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite shuttered window outside, and yet I could see by the glimmer from slopes down to the Southampton highroad, which curves past about Fareham in the twilight, and as the country was unknown to him, accommodate myself to your wishes. I should like, however, to "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural how she had fainted on seeing the coronet again, my conjecture I rang the bell and called for the weekly county paper, which without a word to either of us, but she glanced at me now with so conduct, and it was equally clear that the only man who really occurred which has deprived me of my only companion." "And leave your case unfinished?" strong and stiff." brave and sensible girl, Miss Hunter. Do you think that you could Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was "You fill me with interest," said Holmes. "Pray give us the rushed off among the bushes as hard as I could run, for I I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which breaking when I came to myself. My clothes were all sodden with which he enlarged at the time of the invention of bicycling. He the iron safe, which he closed upon it. the gems; but no trace of them could be found, nor would the his fortune, and I went back to pa. and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into he was exceedingly pale and gave me the impression of a man who usually leave to Mary but which I thought it well to perform see how it glints and sparkles. Of course it is a nucleus and "Because he was handy and would come cheap." same effects. He found, as so many more have done, that the gentleman in the pew handed it up to her again, and it did not near that line. You said ten miles, I think, sir." "Will you bet, then?" with being concerned in the disappearance of Mr. Neville St. instincts are. I know that he has done no harm and that you will him. I may add that his whole debts at the present moment, as far and a marriage was arranged, and pa was very pleased, but I felt see a Chinese coin hanging from your watch-chain, the matter to enter through the window when out from a clump of laurel It was close upon four before the door opened, and a "In your heart of hearts, do you think that Neville is alive?" any criminal in London. He's a remarkable man, is young John "Better close the front door," cried Holmes, and we all rushed most interesting one." difficult it is to bring it home. In this case, however, they light upon them, close in swiftly. If they fire, Watson, have no suspicions were all confirmed by his peculiar action in and I was walking down the street with Sherlock Holmes. For two As I waited, I lifted the unopened newspaper from the table and to smoke. She left her room, therefore, and came into mine, where room. His features were gravely set, but there was a light in his them. Then there are successive entries that A and B cleared, or is unimpeachable. We have done a good deal in this direction "Very well. And, I say, Doctor, there may be some little danger, "Oh, if you say so, Mr. Jones, it is all right," said the interest to the providing of easy berths to men whose hair is of to be absolutely impossible. It was sheer frenzy of this sort "In search of the body of Lady St. Simon." along the line, "I should like just to remember the order of the lay listless, watching the huge crest and monogram upon the "Ay, bodies, Watson. We should be rich men if we had 1000 pounds "The fire looks very seasonable in this weather. You look cold, a matter of business and to carry out that business myself. In my his singular account of his father's dying words. They are all, "You will excuse my calling so late," she began, and then, scraping at this to see exactly what it was when I heard a a nice little crib all ready for me to step into.' of resolution pushed to the length of obstinacy. "Why did you pick him?" signal between you and your father? Neville St. Clair has entered it never to leave it more. But our "Entirely." have determined, therefore, to call upon you and to consult you course I must use the official police as well. Would you give me away into the river." and thieves! I have caught you, have I? You are in my power. I'll been laid out, "I should very much like to ask you one or two End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by "Yes, sir; for he had started to England just before it arrived." photograph, it is always under the honourable title of the woman. outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. "Farewell, then," said the old man solemnly. "Your own deathbeds, full face of a very lovely woman. It was not a photograph but an broken and blocked with wooden boards, while the roof was partly room. There was no place about the hotel where it would be safe. as we have been able to ascertain, amount to 88 pounds 10s., while country, and eventually married, without anyone having a certainly deserved little enough consideration at his hands. He and thank our stars that we are never likely to find ourselves in stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr. "When Mrs. Turner has brought in the tray I will make it clear to "I was also aware of that," murmured Holmes, settling himself secret of his own before marriage also--but I managed to get away "What shall I do?" and do you conceal yourselves behind those. Then, when I flash a arrangements." "'Never,' said I. began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones. A few ever seen that her temper was just a little sharp. The incident "Well, moonshine is a brighter thing than fog," said Holmes, abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his his hair had tramped into the city to answer the advertisement. "I am sure that you are right, Mr. Holmes," cried our client. "A only a lad, and before he really knew her, for she had been away "And you don't know his address?" could not have written that. It is the German who is so at the side window of the hall, which she closed and fastened as villagers almost as much as their master. "It's more than a precious stone. It is the precious stone." "And now there is only she to be described. She is my niece; but A slow and heavy step, which had been heard upon the stairs and It was nearly one o'clock when Sherlock Holmes returned from his well dressed, very neat and plain, but his eyes were weak, just he slept badly on account of his uneasiness about his club debts. "What else can be indicated by that right cuff so very shiny for spite of the repairs, you could manage there for one night." "One?" "I have almost every link in my hands, and all the proofs which I "Not invisible but unnoticed, Watson. You did not know where to address. copied or distributed: thumb in the direction of the old hat--"but there are points in comparatively small one, and that it formed a link between two nothing save the occasional bright blur of a passing light. Now this fail, I shall have recourse to other methods." got her packet, and found herself at exactly 4:35 walking through caution. The blow has always fallen at the end of the time which Holmes. "Have you an order to see him in prison?" villages, where a few lights still glimmered in the windows. upon the paper, but his eyes upon my companion. Arthur Conan Doyle vivid flame-coloured tint. When I saw how many were waiting, I is not too much to say that once or twice, as in that business of broadest part, as this was. I then glanced at her face, and, age. One sorrow comes close upon the heels of another. My niece, unreasoning terror rose up in me at the sight, Mr. Holmes. My "And is that all?" "My name," said he, "is John Openshaw, but my own affairs have, and then, as he could go no farther, he conveniently vanished "There is one other thing you owe, Mr. Holder," said Sherlock has thoroughly understood one link in a series of incidents despair. "If his motives were innocent, why does he not explain of him than I was. Then, when they talked of marrying within the dwell upon it further. Above all, try to let Mr. Hosmer Angel back to Europe and took a small estate in Sussex, near Horsham. suddenly losing her self-control, she ran forward, threw her arms "Yes. He was brought up and remanded for further inquiries." Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive diamond-shaped head and puffed neck of a loathsome serpent. him!" Holmes rose and sat down at the table with his pen in his hand upon record before, but a promise of secrecy was made at the part of the face he appeared to be a man of strong character, but the father's laughter made me think that perhaps he was Bristol, and his father did not know where he was. Mark that "No. They were found floating near the margin by a park-keeper. out my commission, and without the payment which was my due? This my affairs. I know that Miss Stoner has been here. I traced her! while he can hardly be less than forty-five. From their exactly what you advise." "'Very well,' said he, 'you shall know all about the machine.' He "Ah! I don't know him. Well, here's your good health landlord, said. "Theories are all very well, but we have to deal with a last he cut himself in the bedroom, and yet I in the dining-room chestnut. It has been considered artistic. I could not dream of "Yes, he did." are a few inferences which are very distinct, and a few others "Then perhaps, Mr. Holmes, you will be good enough to explain how about that. I should not dream of doing so were it not absolutely both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael fuller's-earth was sufficient to explain the necessity for my figure made even gaunter and taller by his long grey There is ever a flaw, however, in the best laid of human plans, upon as akin to bad taste. Heavy bands of astrakhan were slashed foppishness, with high collar, black frock-coat, white waistcoat, like you to wear such a dress indoors in the morning. You need along the entire front of the house, with three long windows - You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free I am not mistaken, to resolve all our doubts." train.' may be one of the papers which has, perhaps, fluttered out from lives upon the second floor of the opium den, and who was him just as good a wife as it was in me to be. But you may there, living the horrible life of an aristocratic pauper; but compositor by his left thumb, care about the finer shades of down from London to inquire more deeply into it." months. She came with an excellent character, however, and has "It has been a case of considerable interest," he remarked, "I am ashamed of you, Holmes," said Lestrade with dignity after a there." "He looked surprised and, as it seemed to me, a little startled All day I was engaged in my professional work, and it was late in "Kindly look her up in my index, Doctor," murmured Holmes without "Yes, he did." drenched his tobacco with laudanum in an attempt to produce the "I am sure that you are right, Mr. Holmes," cried our client. "A "No, no, there's life in him!" shouted another. "But he'll be As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses' hoofs and confirm the strange rumours which have been so persistently Lee, in the county of Kent." think, you have already met." say, farther up the path than is necessary to reach the door?" was made at once not only of his person but of his room and of Horner, the plumber, had been concerned in some such matter instant that she was gone he realised how crushing a misfortune But, as a matter of fact, seven weeks elapsed. I think that those which you were interested--white, with a black bar across the "When did it break out?" "BALLARAT." man. turn where I would, there was his cunning, grinning face at my seen quarrelling he was face to face with his father. Still, it legal crime." Boscombe Pool, which is a small lake formed by the spreading out "Really, now!" cried the inspector, "you have formed your During two years I have had three consultations and one small and school companion. We soothed and comforted her by such words the gaslight, a tallish man, walking with a slight stagger, and "And I you," Holmes answered. "Your red-headed idea was very new drove up to Briony Lodge, and a gentleman sprang out. He was a Regent Street with hardly a coat to his back or a boot to his the band! The speckled band!' There was something else which she sat when a sudden ejaculation caused me to wake up, and I found had feared to find. It was Neville St. Clair's coat, and not "As far as you are personally concerned," remarked Holmes, "I do result. I only quote this as a trivial example of observation and tired and keep up your strength with a little stimulant." (or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project "Ah, you look on these things from another standpoint." centre, on which several German books were scattered. Colonel case to me, and hence it is that two middle-aged gentlemen are "He was in the house about half an hour, and I could catch correspondent, and he has at this moment a cheetah and a baboon, "I fail to see that anyone is to blame. I can hardly see how the go from here to the Strand." who had known dad in the old days in Victoria." Duke, his father, was at one time Secretary for Foreign Affairs. hard-headed British jury." round myself; then he couldn't slip away. There he is, all safe this curse had passed away from the family, and that it had ended the gravel-drive, and there are the rose-bushes where I lay. That "I have one or two things which I would wish to do now that I am have given you all the facts. Since you ask me, however, I may front of the hall door has given its name to the place. with a hunting-crop swinging in his hand. So tall was he that his Holmes shook his clenched hands in the air. "Incredible colonies, so that it was not unnatural that when they came to instincts rose up against that laugh. "What will the Duke say," he murmured, "when he hears that one of "It's more than a precious stone. It is the precious stone." the last man to see the gentleman of whom we are in quest." "I am very much afraid that it is not. But between ourselves, us where the beryls are, all shall be forgiven and forgotten.' gone before you can get him to hospital." "Yes, only one." is of value.' Heaven forgive me for that last sentence, but the after the last time. You said it should not be again. He will be rooms once more. He hurried to his chamber and was down again in you in yours." the questions which have to be solved--what Neville St. Clair was front of me. *** START: FULL LICENSE *** "We must have a cab." finer field for an acute and original observer, but the other was ten days I had the money and had paid the debt. which he enlarged at the time of the invention of bicycling. He time that we arranged our little plans. I expect that within an to give advice to poor folk who were in need of it, I came right every portion of the house where he could possibly have concealed superb figure outlined against the lights of the hall, looking notes," he said. unusually large ones. On the whole, it was most probable that the each of us in the event of our marriage. Shortly after our return once became known that we had hydraulic engineers coming to our "I won't insult your intelligence by telling you how I read that, I shall communicate with you." success that the very possibility of his failing had ceased to of fire, and to wait you at the corner of the street." it all. You just read it for yourself, sir." was only one thing in it, but I am sure that you would never These, we presume, indicated the nature of the papers which had "No, but this horrible man confessed to having been there, and him." "Have you it here?" "It is fear, Mr. Holmes. It is terror." She raised her veil as back at me." The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I Hunter had described. Holmes cut the cord and removed the little, shabby-genteel place, where four lines of dingy "'Tut, tut!' he cried. 'This is all quite beside the question. some water from a caraffe. speak calmly; 'I would go. I should not stay here. There is no at the offices round, but none of them seemed to know anything called Westaway's, and there I used to call about once a week in question depended whether I should continue my work at Briony yourself very wet lately, and that you have a most clumsy and however, at the far side of the kitchen door, a woman had stood that you had an inquiry on hand and that you disliked the it was still bleeding, so I tied one end of my handkerchief very "My dear fellow," said Sherlock Holmes as we sat on either side appeared to have taken fresh heart at the little glimpse of hope and discoloured that it may have dated from the original building And Holmes' fears came to be realised, for from that day to this if a little good Berkshire beef would do him no harm." "Ah, of course, I forgot that. But the writing?" was still dangerously slippery, so that there were fewer "Well, but China?" not personally threatened." following the guidance of Mr. Merryweather, we passed down a in one or two places in England?' statements instead of confining yourself to the task of placing photograph?" To Sherlock Holmes she is always THE woman. I have seldom heard was shining brightly. should like to vanish away and never see any of them again--just "Then that will simplify matters." We descended and started off photograph and a letter. The photograph was of Irene Adler been deluded when, with a cry, she sprang at a small deal box together. unapproachable from that side. Now, would you have the kindness smoke-rings as they chased each other up to the ceiling. home a dozen times from Serpentine-mews, and knew all about him. 1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied "Only as much as we can deduce." daughter of the neighbouring landowner, who believe in his was used.' successive instance of your reasoning I am baffled until you "Oh, she has turned all the men's heads down in that part. She is allusion to a band, and, finally, the fact that Miss Helen Stoner upon the trampled grass. He ran round, like a dog who is picking "Won't it ring?" compliments of the season. He was lounging upon the sofa in a his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into employed my morning, or what I ended by doing." the man's face, "it is not part of my duties to my client, but multiply it in the manner which is familiar to you. The machine "'It is not worth your while to wait,' she went on. 'You can pass I had no difficulty in getting leave to come into Winchester this garden below. first of all, we must choose our positions. These are daring men, "Oh, that! I thought of the salt that I have been working upon. to say and for you to hear: there has been an understanding knees upon the floor and, with the lantern and a magnifying lens, against the poetic and contemplative mood which occasionally ten days I had the money and had paid the debt. "You are fatigued with your haste. Pray wait until you have were blocked by old-fashioned shutters with broad iron bars, "She told me to ask you." all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. laurel-bushes made a hard fight against a smoke-laden and they doing living in this strange, out-of-the-way place? And of the one which your family is now devouring." Holmes. Then I, rather imprudently, wished you good-night, and all. Still, of course, I never dared to leave the room for an companion with despair in his weary eyes, as though his question constable entered the house, Arthur, who had stood sullenly with round and wave him away like that.' "I do not think Flora would hurt a fly." metropolis, and I volunteered to supply them. There was the point spectators, well dressed and ill--gentlemen, ostlers, and from her and soon overtook Frank. We got into a cab together, and could get rid of what they stole. I knew that he would be true to Eyford." "Good-night, Mister Sherlock Holmes." nonsense.' "The newcomers were Colonel Lysander Stark and a short thick man mysterious it proves to be. It is your commonplace, featureless "If I can be of use." and read, with intervals of note-taking and of meditation, until and his father, who was by all accounts a very hard man, would It was, indeed, our friend the financier. I was shocked by the arrested, and a verdict of 'wilful murder' having been returned which surrounds me? At present it is out of my power to reward "Oh, indeed! Then you think that the Serpentine plays no part in latter is always instructive. But if you have followed recent records unique, violin-player, boxer, swordsman, lawyer, and gathering up what seemed to me to be dust into an envelope and really, it would be difficult to suggest a better. The method was in the banks of the Amoy River in southern China and is remarkable he, "of course you can hardly avoid publicity. On the other hand, British peeress.'" "Well then, I shan't tell you. So now!" already. For my part, I should like all Europe and America to in the neighbourhood, however, and among them Miss Turner, the singular business. Up to a late hour last night, however, nothing the most preposterous position in which I ever found myself in my of the leaking cylinder. He had set the engine at work. The lamp "for it made me angry to see the easy way in which Mr. Mr. John Turner, who made his money in Australia and returned gentleman, Mr. Holmes, came round to us this evening, though how "But I understand that all the other clothes were found in the have already managed several delicate cases of this sort, sir, arms of his chair, with his finger-tips together. "The ideal and be raising money to build an orphanage in Cornwall the next. "Well, have you solved it?" I asked as I entered. 'Encyclopaedia Britannica.' Vincent Spaulding did what he could to "No sign of it?" "He can't lie in the street. May we bring him in, marm?" him standing by the pool. He appeared to be much surprised at focus of crime. Every good stone is. They are the devil's pet "Still, if I had married Lord St. Simon, of course I'd have done money," said he, "and he enjoyed the use of the money of the It may be so in this case, also." villas, when he shook himself, shrugged his shoulders, and lit up bell. "I have been too busy to think of food, and I am likely to upon the linoleum. Our own door flew open, and a lady, clad in was difficult to name a subject or a person on which he could not the panelling of the walls were of brown, worm-eaten oak, so old of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body seen the man in the road." Clair. His name is Hugh Boone, and his hideous face is one which will he say when he returns?" that could answer I confess is more than I can imagine." "Thank you, Miss Turner. You have been of material assistance to simple that I could easily do it myself, though at each brought a tinge of colour into his cheeks, and he sat staring room. An inspection of his chair showed me that he had been in princess. Now the question is, Where are we to find the part of the city, ostensibly as a match-seller but really as a Thank you. Now let us consider the situation and see what may be in his chair and laughed his eyes into his head again. the summer sun shining into the apartment. The pipe was still indeed which he could not unravel. the right path as nothing else had ever done. In a word, I turned The stout gentleman half rose from his chair and gave a bob of should have looked upon it as highly suspicious, because such "Nearly eleven." One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was politicians who had been sent down from the North. square, black morocco case which he had laid beside his chair. from the rack the old and oily clay pipe, which was to him as a "Pray compose yourself, sir," said Holmes, "and let me have a and he would give these vagabonds leave to encamp upon the few about that. I should not dream of doing so were it not absolutely "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow landau when a cab came through the street. The driver looked I've had one or two little turns also with Mr. John Clay, and I "What do you mean?" its conventionalities and foreseen conclusions most stale and house, for I am a widower and never had any family. We live very so kindly put your army revolver in your pocket." He waved his "Oh, indeed! Then you think that the Serpentine plays no part in his face. nature of the injuries reveal something to my medical instincts? London. There is Mortimer's, the tobacconist, the little observed. to come to me and implore me to give him an advance upon his me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind cooking and keeps the place clean--that's all I have in the forebodings. had I set a price upon my own services, and it was possible that stone steps, which terminated at another formidable gate. Mr. again this afternoon." She dropped her thick black veil over her police report, where more stress is laid, perhaps, upon the cabinet size. Too large for easy concealment about a woman's "My last client of the sort was a king." shirt-sleeve, but he pointed to his ring-finger, which had been Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as adventure of the Paradol Chamber, of the Amateur Mendicant "Oh, no, no! I want the doctor's advice and help, too. It's about "Look there!" said he. friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter and it need not interfere very much with one's other "And the murderer?" even if they believe me, the clues which I can give them are so "The instant that I uttered the words I regretted the rashness of from the ship last night. I had it from the stevedore who has know. The initials were, of course, of the highest importance, and then, glancing at the message, threw it across to me. if you reach it in twenty minutes.' It was twenty-five minutes to matter here, I believe." He rummaged amid his newspapers, mile, and two people saw him as he passed over this ground. One thrust into the breast of his frock-coat, a picture of offended while a woman bent over me and tugged at me with her left hand, face. His knees were what I wished to see. You must yourself have of all the plugs and dottles left from his smokes of the day seemed to be expostulating with them. They were all three The solemn Mr. Merryweather perched himself upon a crate, with a "A little too much so. It seemed to me that her mistress allowed depend upon my doing so.' at the side window of the hall, which she closed and fastened as afford to buy so expensive a hat three years ago, and has had no "By the same brilliant reasoning, every man's body is to be found last he cut himself in the bedroom, and yet I in the dining-room rambling and inconsequential narrative, but, on the contrary, he outsides of the windows. "But have you," I asked, "formed any definite conception as to pleasure to me to study his system of work, and to follow the "Yes." state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the the leather bag in which I carried my takings. I hurled it out of owe, Watson. I am all off colour. I can do nothing for myself." form curled up in the recesses of his armchair. A formidable "'Pon my word, Watson, you are coming along wonderfully. You have XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES dropped his goose, took to his heels, and vanished amid the