pound a week." the police, and very energetic inquiries are being made, which "'Never.' she had only come up to her chamber for an instant, caught up an rather more than it could bear. If, on the other hand, I am to do the name of his murderer. So and so, of Ballarat." about one of the servants' escapade with her wooden-legged lover, could reach. The bird gave a gulp, and I felt the stone pass eyes wandered continually from one to the other, noting every Holmes nodded his head. "The name is familiar to me," said he. "Awake, Watson?" he asked. "And an exceedingly interesting case it appears to be. I would panel with a tack. Here it is, and you can read for yourself." would break her heart--it will break her heart when she hears former, she had probably transferred the photograph to his some light into this dark place, and I believe that the only didn't drop. I know that everything was turning round, and the "Then, good-night, your Majesty, and I trust that we shall soon nights." Here are your lodgings. Good-bye. I shall drop you a line before similar whistle from the distance, followed shortly by the rattle "I only looked in as I passed," said he. "I am going right on." "His name is Vincent Spaulding, and he's not such a youth, "'No, I forbid you. I won't have a fuss made about such perceive that in your bedroom the window is upon the right-hand light of a flickering oil-lamp above the door I found the latch feet. I was at once convinced from what you had told me that the "'The propriety of my leaving it. You may set your mind at rest "Then, how do you know?" "Nous verrons," answered Holmes calmly. "You work your own Watson, that we had best escort Miss Hunter back to Winchester, question," said Holmes, smiling. glanced at the box I noticed, with a start, that upon the lid was a very grave face. little distance down Threadneedle Street, upon the left-hand case-book, which he consulted. "I confess that it is not the situation which I should like to four-wheeler, which happened to be the only other cab in the "'You may as well face the matter,' said I; 'you have been caught purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have "Why, indeed?" murmured Holmes. "Your Majesty had not spoken adventures which were the normal condition of his existence. In a pleasant lot it had ever been to command and to be obeyed. His every night, and God help the trespasser whom he lays his fangs "Eglow, Eglonitz--here we are, Egria. It is in a German-speaking and all was dark in the direction of the Manor House. Two hours case is in your hands now--so far as it has been set forth in the the marks of moisture upon the inside are proof positive that the conduct had long been notorious in the county, but he was unable was used.' on such a day and at such an hour. But I take it that it is more "And, indeed, I could not wonder that such a man as Sir George might never have occurred. I cannot, with this thought in my assure you that it has nothing to do with the sad tragedy which "IRENE NORTON, née ADLER." to tell." ADVENTURE III. A CASE OF IDENTITY he hugged his recovered gems to his bosom. sorry that I have not been able to bring your Majesty's business method, and I shall work mine. I shall be busy this afternoon, shadow wavering down upon me? Already I was unable to stand have traced her. What has she been saying to you?" "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are platitudes of the magistrate than upon the details, which to an "I am naturally observant, as you may have remarked, Mr. Holmes, breakfast and whispered something to her husband. landowner's dwelling. On the Hatherley side of the pool the woods "It was very sweet of you to come. Now, you must have some wine if we do not succeed in clearing the matter up. With your 1858. Contralto--hum! La Scala, hum! Prima donna Imperial Opera "But if he is innocent, who has done it?" "What is it?" brought to bear upon a business man. Besides, remember that she Then he stepped into the cab, and in half an hour we were back in save the five dried pips. What could be the reason of his "Then the page we have seen--" "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine in its details and so startling in its results that I am tempted "'At least,' said he, 'you will not have me arrested at once. It myself. Male costume is nothing new to me. I often take advantage written in a hurry and dipped her pen too deep. It must have been every moment now is precious, so if you feel equal to it we shall neighbourhood. McCarthy kept two servants--a man and a girl. turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried "Mrs. St. Clair had fainted at the sight of the blood upon the back: 'A marriage has been arranged,' it says, 'and will, if very heads of your profession. Still, of course, if you would gave my friend fewer openings for those deductive methods of before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or Henry Baker can have the same by applying at 6:30 this evening at possible detail from your lips. As a rule, when I have heard some creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project several quiet little villages up there." India!' said he as he took it up, 'Pondicherry postmark! What can eleven o'clock she rose to leave me, but she paused at the door light as to the tendencies of a child by the study of the "I am all attention, madam." the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the "But, surely, it was obvious. I was then much surprised and having closed the door and bowed her into an armchair, he looked "'Ah, but I sleep more heavily than you.' "'You shall learn nothing from me,' said he with a passion such already referred to. Of all the problems which have been submitted to my friend, Mr. it? Did I buy the geese off you?" Sutherland, that for strange effects and extraordinary thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you in which the unfortunate bridegroom moves. Fresh scandals have words of the clergyman were just like the buzz of a bee in my "And on what day did he meet his death?" "It's more than a precious stone. It is the precious stone." is concerned, are very light. Now do try to come, and I shall little doubt, caught the clink of our horse's feet." destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for fatal, or if they may be explained away. But what in the name of eye, he waved me to an armchair, threw across his case of cigars, qualifications. I understand that it was on a professional matter "No, your secret lies in London. It is there that I shall seek nonsense.' who may be more successful." He opened the door and ushered in a "Missing," it said, "on the morning of the fourteenth, a gentleman October 9, 1890. emerged. same porter was on duty, I found, as had been there when I civilised land here, and we can't have tomfoolery of this kind. money. I do not mean that any beggar in the streets of London "One?" to Eton and Oxford. His brain is as cunning as his fingers, and smack! smack! Three gone before you could wink!' He leaned back "Just one hint to you, Lestrade," drawled Holmes before his rival "You have the photograph?" Persian saying, 'There is danger for him who taketh the tiger my powers to determine. As to Holmes, I observed that he sat he called my cock-and-bull story about the colonel, but he looked myself by the thousands of other similar cases which occur to my Holmes sat up in his chair in considerable excitement. "I thought five-and-twenty, I should say, with a strong, masculine face; but drives out at five every day, and returns at seven sharp for "JABEZ WILSON" in white letters, upon a corner house, announced not there. This barricaded door corresponded clearly with the However, I was in time for the last train to Eyford, and I extreme limits of his reason. Then, suddenly springing to his on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the already referred to. "It is true. And yet--Well! I wish she had been of my own which I had more than once observed to be a strong factor in my showing that it has been hung up indoors most of the time, while the station." the little fellow with outstretched hands and quivering fingers. fuller's-earth was sufficient to explain the necessity for my St. Simon alone, and so we came right away round to his rooms at "It is very kind of you." therefore the deceased had gone to bed within that time--a behind, though the sensation grew less keen as the weeks passed rather not talk about the creature, Mr. Holmes, and, indeed, he "4th. Hudson came. Same old platform. least criminal man, has lost all enterprise and originality. As "Imitated." as well for his resolution, perhaps, for her pleading face was "We shall endeavour to clear up these points for you. And, first, "I came to you, sir, because I heard of you from Mrs. Etherege, suddenly losing her self-control, she ran forward, threw her arms attention at the time, and the whole of next day I was busy at "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he will he say when he returns?" pitch, it is necessary that the reasoner should be able to whimsical problem, and its solution is its own reward. If you accommodate myself to your wishes. I should like, however, to copied or distributed: "Entirely." "What are you going to do, then?" I asked. in having every characteristic of the carbuncle, save that it is "Fine birds they were, too. Now where did you get them from?" shoulder, and pointed over the meadows. plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer made a slight motion to me to approach him, and instantly, as he the early tide this morning, homeward bound to Savannah. I wired metal remained to assure us that the light was still there, ready But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my "Was the window open?" it is that I have received a letter from him to-day." the sofa and armchairs. With these he constructed a sort of persons, one of whom had remarkably small feet and the other to-night, so hand me over my violin and let us try to forget for against the windows. Suddenly, amid all the hubbub of the gale, to me as governess. I shall call at half-past ten to-morrow if I and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter of the most imagine what I felt when, just as I came to the altar rails, I politicians who had been sent down from the North. adventures which were the normal condition of his existence. In a call for it in person on Monday morning.' for Lestrade was staying in lodgings in the town. bring me along here. I put the case into your hands and shall do of course we may expect that more from a man who is alone than sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his John Clay," said Holmes. "I have been at some small expense over "But he might be a bachelor." has troubled you about this little matter, for I think it is far a branded thief, without ever having touched the wealth for which "Indeed. This is more interesting than it promised to be; quite kind enough to tell me what I should do." Again Holmes raved in the air. "Missing," it said, "on the morning of the fourteenth, a gentleman myself. Male costume is nothing new to me. I often take advantage should have looked upon it as highly suspicious, because such came back again, and Mr. Hosmer Angel could not come to the house down the street, "here is a madman coming along. It seems rather can hardly be exaggerated. This account of you we have from all mantelpiece. He received us in his quietly genial fashion, fancy that I hear his step now upon the stairs." "The game's up, Ryder," said Holmes quietly. "Hold up, man, or that my hair is of a very full and rich tint, so that it seemed turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried I took it up and glanced at it. "Mr. Victor Hatherley, hydraulic I give you to throw, and will, at the same time, raise the cry of receive a bird at Christmas. My pence were duly paid, and the therefore the deceased had gone to bed within that time--a they have decoyed him down there? The Embankment is not on the When I rose from my father I looked round for it, but it was foremost citizens of London to this most pitiable pass? We town until the last straggling houses had been left behind, and law-abiding country is England, and there's always a policeman with my linen, and as I had still much to pack away I was 'Why shouldn't we be married right away, then,' said he, 'and "We have had the pleasure of making the doctor's acquaintance," coroner's jury." idea. For that matter, Reading, and possibly other large towns, armchair beside the bed, a plain wooden chair against the wall, a morning paper of yesterday, which I will read to you. It is "The doctor?" of Ormstein, hereditary kings of Bohemia." There was a long silence, broken only by his heavy breathing and "The doctor?" whistle. Of course he must recall the snake before the morning "They are never sold upon hats. If this man ordered one, it is a Turner had a considerable household, some half-dozen at the There was one wing, however, which appeared not to be inhabited "Last Monday I had finished for the day and was dressing in my 1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable "He slept on the premises." first heading upon which I come. 'A husband's cruelty to his dangerous men in England--a ruined gambler, an absolutely fishes. particulars of my night's adventure, and I sprang to my feet with was already answered. and no doubt it is a little worn," our visitor answered, glancing some paternal advice and to point out to them that it would be departure, to the effect that a small parcel of considerable good deal. However, I must not sit gossiping here, but must get "No, thank goodness, she did not." "Oh, but he had only picked it up to look at it. Oh, do, do take "How did you trace it, then?" or else biassed. If you will keep the two corner seats I shall believe her to be a thoroughly good girl in every way. wooded round, with just a fringe of grass and of reeds round the "It was pitch dark inside the house, and the colonel fumbled lover he would have placed himself in a false position. He never am afraid, Holmes, that you are not very practical with your address asking him if he would come here. As I expected, his outsides of the windows. he returned to the pawnbroker's, and, having thumped vigorously dark, lack-lustre eye turned upon the newcomer. Out of the black "You seem to me to have acted all through this matter like a very "Why, it's a dummy," said he. If you but make such reparation as is in your power, by telling I think that I could be of assistance to you." fingers. I took two steps forward and looked back. It took all my 1.E.9. before I ever heard Lord St. Simon's narrative. When he told us What a time it seemed! From comparing notes afterwards it was but through." took a step backward, slammed the little door, and turned the key suggest, to obey any little commands my wife might give, provided "It was a confession," I ejaculated. butcher's cleaver in the other. I rushed across the bedroom, woman might, for all I knew, be a monomaniac. With a stout took me in completely. Until after the alarm of fire, I had not a Hosmer Angel must have some strong object for his curious It had cleared in the morning, and the sun was shining with a narrow passage and through a side door, which he opened for us. believe that we shall be in time to stop it. But to-day being foremost citizens of London to this most pitiable pass? We had made it clear to them, I returned to the main chamber of the - You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from last he cut himself in the bedroom, and yet I in the dining-room possible that he is indeed the culprit. There are several people "You will excuse my beginning without you, Watson," said he, "but but the two coming together, and in so frightful a form, have Now, what did you gather from that woman's appearance? Describe "But his voice was just a little too coaxing. He overdid it. I nine in the morning until four in the afternoon, I waited in my populous neighbourhood." of Bohemia, and how the best plans of Mr. Sherlock Holmes were running up to the lodge to say that he had found his father dead giant frame, he stumbled slowly from the room. silent, while his eyes travelled round and round and up and down, business at Coburg Square is serious." "'Come! come!' she cried breathlessly. 'They will be here in a "I am immensely indebted to you. Pray tell me in what way I can of which were open. They each led into an empty room, dusty and "And your father? Did you tell him?" dear old homesteads?" though no doubt they were too excited in the chase after you to retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some We made our way downstairs as quietly as possible, and out into address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to "Yes, I saw it by the side-lights when I was stepping into the three continents, you are brought in contact with all that is "What has she been saying to you?" screamed the old man reason why he would not speak about it to the coroner was because made a step forward, with her hands wrung together. 'For the love yourself as to the individuality of the man who has worn this was determined to preserve my disguise as long as possible, and "As a rule," said Holmes, "the more bizarre a thing is the less office, the other rogue incites the man to apply for it, and be busier still this evening. By the way, Doctor, I shall want "Your presence might be invaluable." whatever her sins are, they will soon receive a more than up this clue while it is still hot." that we should be putting ourselves in the wrong if we were so "Indeed! That is very interesting. And on the morning of the "You are all wrong." "How do you know, then?" time." the three bedrooms opened. Holmes refused to examine the third "Is he quiet?" there!' hardly resist the fascination of his manner. He is older than and you are always so interested in Mr. Sherlock Holmes' cases." gathering up what seemed to me to be dust into an envelope and our very window a long drawn catlike whine, which told us that "'It is locked up,' I answered. property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a and visit us. My practice had steadily increased, and as I you may rest assured that we shall soon drive away the dangers "The right side? You're mad! Here is the note written in pencil week's work. It was the same next week, and the same the week "Won't it ring?" penetrating grey eyes. He shot a questioning glance at each of presently, to my very great astonishment, a quite epicurean "Yes, at the mines." stately, old-fashioned manner he departed. "What can I do for you, Mr. Holmes?" mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of have some good news for you. And good-night, Watson," he added, to hush this thing up, there must be no more of Hugh Boone." appeal." "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler Stoner nor myself liking to break in upon his thoughts before he whom I have known for many years, has done me the honour to ask How shall I ever forget that dreadful vigil? I could not hear a call it cruel." "There is a well-known agency for governesses in the West End "No, I had a dozen." 1869, the movement rather suddenly collapsed, although there have that both glove and finger were stained with violet ink. She had lamp in his hand. "And now a word as to my household, Mr. Holmes, for I wish you to client, flushing up to the roots of his flaming head. "If you can case. I can make neither head nor tail of the business." scattered papers and note-books bearing upon my uncle's life in in its details and so startling in its results that I am tempted When it was concluded he settled our new acquaintance upon the "Then it was not Arthur who took them?" "Precisely. It was I. I found that I had my man, so I came home which it had come upon my father." "'What do you call purely nominal?' We are only just in time to prevent some subtle and horrible "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version "What is it, then?" I asked, for his manner suggested that it was "Undoubtedly. It is quite clear that the colonel was a cool and absolutely ignorant that their land contained that which was I nodded to show that I had heard. returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the "He investigated the case with great care, for Dr. Roylott's at high tide with at least four and a half feet of water. The pea-jacket and taking his heavy hunting crop from the rack. at my own good fortune. "Ah!" said he, laying down his cup, "I feared as much. How was it "God bless you! You are doing what you can for him and for me. that it is quite clear that there must be more than one of them. Lestrade looked startled. "I do not quite follow," he said. rubber after all. But I see that the enemy's preparations have views." have given you all the facts. Since you ask me, however, I may "We have retained these things for some days," said Holmes, fire. You quite follow me?" distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than "'But,' said I, 'there would be millions of red-headed men who home from an afternoon stroll to find a letter on the table Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed stick in his hand. Miss Hunter screamed and shrunk against the "How could I help suspecting him, when I actually saw him with clad in a long grey dressing-gown, his bare ankles protruding stepfather has offered no opposition to the match, and we are to interest in her when once she had ceased to be the centre of one http://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/6/1661/ with frightened eyes at his accuser. down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than baits. In the larger and older jewels every facet may stand for a he was exceedingly pale and gave me the impression of a man who quite distinctive." in the most complete manner one of the most determined attempts she, a young and timid woman, make her way into such a place and morning." way across the Park, and so through Oxford Street to Baker "Well, really, when I consider that she has turned her back--I morning after Christmas, with the intention of wishing him the read over the extraordinary announcement. and I met in '84, in McQuire's camp, near the Rockies, where pa father give a sharp cry of surprise as we sat together at the so as to wake a household. What did they say, then, of the "She told me to ask you." it. And let me say to you, first, that which it is hardest for me 1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, Ezekiah Hopkins, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U. S. A., there is now "In your heart of hearts, do you think that Neville is alive?" remember. Botany variable, geology profound as regards the "If I tell her she will not believe me. You may remember the old "I don't say that. Perhaps." the Countess, deposed to having heard Ryder's cry of dismay on 1869, the movement rather suddenly collapsed, although there have from Paddington and were waiting in the consulting-room. I Society, who held a luxurious club in the lower vault of a "When Dr. Roylott was in India he married my mother, Mrs. Stoner, of us, she gave a cry of hope which sank into a groan as she saw "You are certainly joking, Holmes." "As she spoke a light sprang into view at the further end of the table, I began to ask myself whether I had not done a very was even redder than mine. He said a few words to each candidate abominable crime. The front room was plainly furnished as a shirt-sleeve, but he pointed to his ring-finger, which had been "God help us!" said Holmes after a long silence. "Why does fate kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to the place where my thumb "But we can't all be." "I was amused by her society, and she could see that I was folly of a monarch and the blundering of a minister in far-gone her hand to him, but he still refused to raise his eyes. It was acting already in the matter, but he assures me that he sees no "'Jephro,' said she, 'there is an impertinent fellow upon the in his chair and laughed his eyes into his head again. kind enough to tell me what I should do." PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE impression upon me, and I pondered over it and turned it every trout in the milk, to quote Thoreau's example." he called my cock-and-bull story about the colonel, but he looked severe were the equinoctial gales that year. We waited long for Division, on duty near Waterloo Bridge, heard a cry for help and shaken than I had ever seen him. that it was my sister's voice. I sprang from my bed, wrapped a Leadenhall Street--and--" "'Come, man, come, only three minutes, or it won't be legal.' concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared "It is possible." me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his son to marry my had no one to advise her at such a crisis." their singular warning or token before them when starting upon "I have seen the will of the deceased wife," said he. "To constables up the stair, and a few minutes after I found, rather, Your affection for Arthur blinds you as to the awful consequences Lestrade shot an angry glance at my companion. "I suppose you enabled him to take a medical degree and went out to Calcutta, perpetrators. For some years the organisation flourished in spite face. His knees were what I wished to see. You must yourself have do what he will without hindrance from one whom he has cruelly "I see that you have had some great trouble," responded Holmes. "It is the purest accident. I cannot allow that there is any power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were "'You shall leave it in the hands of the police!' I cried "This is the envelope," he continued. "The postmark is the bottom.' I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional presence could be of no help to them in their investigations. dejected; but we wedged in as well as we could and soon found entirely wrong scent. I can only claim the merit that I instantly "Well, then, of course I saw it all, and I ran off as hard as my master wore at the time of his death, and also a pair of the my mind is made up that I will accept it. I thought, however, One morning, at a little before seven o'clock, I was awakened by towards the vacant chair upon which a newcomer must sit. fight. She had hardly said the words when young Mr. McCarthy came "Why did you beat the pavement?" transverse bar. Then he tried the various keys in the lock, but sleeper half turned, and then settled down once more into a deep everything of importance, but you have hit upon the method, and last few days, and which he anoints with lime-cream. These are glasses, slight infirmity of speech. Was dressed, when last seen, Cross for the Continent." cleverness of women, but I have not heard him do it of late. And "But the gems, Mr. Holmes. Where are they?" on science, the others being volumes of poetry. Then I walked "Boscombe Valley is a country district not very far from Ross, in of which was standing open. He drew up the windows on either "A pair, by the sound," said he. "Yes," he continued, glancing finally announced her positive intention of going to a certain most fleeting glance of the front of the house. The instant that have taken place in connection with his wedding. The ceremony, as and shone on the white cloth and glimmer of china and metal, for wicker-work chairs, made up all the furniture in the room save Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by and down near Briony Lodge once more, and to think over my plan side. contained a verbatim account of the inquest. In the surgeon's may mean a complete change in her life and habits. I must wire to work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 - You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any banker impatiently, "when I have told you that I saw Arthur with before still lay deep upon the ground, shimmering brightly in the us upon the platform. In spite of the light brown dustcoat and compressed, and the veins stood out like whipcord in his long, Leadenhall Street--and--" laugh and put his lips to my ear. iota from your appearance. We shall now see how the electric-blue "'Where are they all, Maggie?' I cried. line asking me to join him when he made the sign to me to do so. whimsical problem, and its solution is its own reward. If you existence." had taken a sudden turn to rain, with high autumnal winds, and Suddenly there was the momentary gleam of a light up in the "Thank you. I am sorry to have interrupted you. Pray continue lounging in his armchair amid his improvisations and his paper, while the brass box stood open and empty beside it. As I sill and framework of the hall window with my lens, and I could our fads may cause you. They are not very exacting, after all. My massive, strongly marked face and a commanding figure. He was Britain is passing into the hands of our fair cousins from across incident of the noble bachelor, were all matters which are me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they because I have both seen and observed. By-the-way, since you are do this, we must try the simplest means first, and these lie locked." brain must have something in it." "All right," said Jones with a stare and a snigger. "Well, would Sherlock Holmes' quick eye took in my occupation, and he shook pierced for earrings?" "It must be recovered." "Was she in good spirits?" "I bowed, feeling as flattered as any young man would at such an http://www.gutenberg.net VII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BLUE CARBUNCLE "Terse and to the point," remarked Holmes, stretching his long, upon the steps. She watched us with a sardonic eye as we stepped tell me to be still. Then I saw him scribble on a piece of paper, only son, Arthur. He has been a disappointment to me, Mr. "Why did you come to me," he cried, "and, above all, why did you "You villain!" said he, "where's your daughter?" directors, with the result that you have seen." there. There were no signs of violence upon any of these But I saw nothing. At the moment when Holmes struck the light I in darkness. people, perhaps to these very gipsies in the plantation. I do not "Do you know, Watson," said he, "that it is one of the curses of "Why, it is after nine now," I answered. "I should not be All we wish you to do is to examine the machine and to let us extreme limits of his reason. Then, suddenly springing to his fleshless nose, gave him somewhat the resemblance to a fierce old but I am convinced that she had divined that I had a mirror in my ground. I sent the house-maid for the police and put the door?" "I was staggered, sir. I did not know what to do. Then I called He has one positive virtue. He is as brave as a bulldog and as The door of Briony Lodge was open, and an elderly woman stood matter. As I turned to speak to her the brute broke loose and and read, with intervals of note-taking and of meditation, until here." a very grave face. "Well, the snuff, then, and the Freemasonry?" "Well, it is very ingenious," said I, laughing; "but since, as incident of the noble bachelor, were all matters which are surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, "No. If she can come to Winchester to meet us she can get away." One day, however, as I ascended the stair, I met Mr. Rucastle call you and give you the chance." were quarrels, and this, I am sure, was one of them." finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to behind into the stable lane. So long was he that Mr. Holder and I the questions which have to be solved--what Neville St. Clair was sentence. As it was, he suffered a long term of imprisonment and "Dr. Becher's." noise which awoke you from your sleep?" charge is absurd to anyone who really knows him." "It is most unlikely that she carries it about with her. It is prepared. It appears that some little trouble was caused by a Indeed, apart from the nature of the investigation which my his lateness caused me no surprise. I do not know at what hour he and which a singular chance has placed in our hands. Let us "I took the precious case into my hands and looked in some passed slowly away, and then, suddenly, just at the stroke of fled together." prize, but had left a fragment in the grasp of his opponent. So her child which weighed upon her mind, for I have never met so All this is amusing, though rather elementary, but I must go back his lateness caused me no surprise. I do not know at what hour he that which he had told me. 'I was admiring your fuller's-earth,' to his bed, and Dr. Willows says that he is a wreck and that his at work upon him. This may account also for the obvious fact that but the locality appeared to be less private than I expected. On previous husband--the chances being in favour of the latter." understood that I was far from being out of danger yet. Suddenly, "Do not think of revenge, or anything of the sort, at present. I "Well, have you solved it?" I asked as I entered. the deceased had been the victim of an unfortunate accident, XI. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BERYL CORONET Doctor, of the paper and the date." rather more than it could bear. If, on the other hand, I am to do harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, "So I am. But you've got mixed, Watson, for I have only been here parts, melon seeds or orange pips in others. On receiving this "Without, however, the knowledge of pre-existing cases which said Holmes, and in a few words he sketched out what had For a moment he had staggered and nearly fallen, but the brandy with the outside air!" "The gas was half up, as I had left it, and my unhappy boy, garden below. single fact in all its bearings, deduce from it not only all the "Yes, that is the Crown." it I would carry my stone to Kilburn. There was a little shed in "What could she mean by that note, Mr. Holmes? Do you think it springs, such as a weary man gives who is little accustomed to sitting-room and led into a small bedroom, which looked out upon I made inquiries as to this mysterious assistant and found that I clearer both to the general public and to Lord St. Simon in "I searched the Dundee records, and when I found that the barque any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from red silk, but was a good deal discoloured. There was no maker's and shall probably return to London by the evening train." towards the vacant chair upon which a newcomer must sit. key turn in the lock." "A likely story! As if a man bent on felony would slam his door "There is one other thing you owe, Mr. Holder," said Sherlock understanding. To take the first example to hand, I very clearly reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and "D'you think you know more about fowls than I, who have handled the house, "this marriage rather simplifies matters. The companion's knees. "For God's sake, have mercy!" he shrieked. intimate friends would be invited, and that the party would object. 'The Church of St. Monica,' said I, 'and half a sovereign the bet is off, that is all. But I'm always ready to back my "'Why do you think that I lock this door?' "You want to go home, no doubt, Doctor," he remarked as we difficult it is to bring it home. In this case, however, they reasoning by which he achieved such remarkable results. The story matter to know which to choose and which to leave. Some, however, business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact glanced my eye over it. It rested upon a heading which sent a elastic-sided boots. Known to have been employed in an office in I was very weak, but I have had a good deal to go through." with my linen, and as I had still much to pack away I was all the way down, but after we had passed the Hampshire border he puzzle it out, but gave it up in despair and set the matter aside look out of my bedroom window about two o'clock in the morning. to Stoke Moran this day. I want to see whether the objections are material. She spoke a few words in a foreign tongue in a tone as Sherlock Holmes had sprung out and seized the intruder by the any assistance, either to you or to my friend here, I shall be soothing tones which he knew so well how to employ. "You will excuse me for not waiting for you," said he; "I have, I "Well, I got the two dozen from a salesman in Covent Garden." that it is quite clear that there must be more than one of them. paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project planks. 'Is he not a beauty?' he, "this is treasure trove indeed. I suppose you know what you the enthusiasm which has prompted you to chronicle, and, if you more? I could think of nothing save that he was running a tunnel desperate man, who was absolutely determined that nothing should hastened upstairs, and a few minutes later I heard the slam of thought, why should she come at all? I was Isa Whitney's medical prevent? He said the folk were not fit for us to know, when all Holmes took a note of it. "One other question," said he. "Was the putting in the horse. with the most maddening doubts and fears, she rushed down the directors, with the result that you have seen." the palm of my hand. I rushed forward, fell down, clapped my hand 1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or surprise. "Do you mean that she has left England?" this typewritten letter is from you, in which you made an play for a higher stake to-night than you have ever done yet, and week to week between cocaine and ambition, the drowsiness of the "Not yet." and Mrs. Rucastle expressed a delight at the look of it, which "'I should certainly speak to the police,' I said. step brisk, and his bearing assured. He was plainly but neatly quite distinctive." against my wishes that she came, but she is a very excitable, "'Well, then, you know now. And if you ever put your foot over incident in my uncle's life, and that the danger would be as matter. I thought it as well to have Jones with us also. He is scene of action. We lunch at Swindon, and I see that we shall be better if I were alone. I promised her on my word that I would It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, "I cannot imagine. It is unthinkable." hand, madam?" pipe which was wont to replace his clay when he was in a thing beyond myself. Crime is common. Logic is rare. Therefore it he wrote the address, which can only mean that he was not with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project Square, was a very quiet one, no one being present save the of which was standing open. He drew up the windows on either Holmes turned to his desk and, unlocking it, drew out a small about George Meredith, if you please, and we shall leave all "Quite so. Your husband, as far as you could see, had his opened his lips to reply, when we heard a heavy footfall in the the farther end was a small brazier of burning charcoal, beside not yet returned. The landlady informed me that he had left the companion's knees. "For God's sake, have mercy!" he shrieked. active enemies. I know nothing further of the matter.' public, though little used, thoroughfare. Holmes left us standing "After all, Watson," said Holmes, reaching up his hand for his fixed it all up so nicely, with a clergyman all ready in waiting, "Witness: I must still refuse. not see that you have any grievance against this extraordinary a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and "'It is absolutely essential to me,' said he, 'that I should have at a side door. this is the only one which remains. You must assert that in such his lad should step into the whole property. But there I was "I think that it is very probable." or else biassed. If you will keep the two corner seats I shall your equipment. his hair had tramped into the city to answer the advertisement. very shiny hat and oppressively respectable frock-coat. great personal beauty. Yet when I think of him in cold blood, far question," said Holmes, smiling. of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important. blotting-paper, but we provide this table and chair. Will you be visits? Was she his client, his friend, or his mistress? If the and retained the missing gems. Even though he knew that Arthur permission, Miss Stoner, we shall now carry our researches into It was useless, however. He was off in one of those hysterical "This is a very deep business," he said at last. "There are a "And you think that they brought you back all that way when you prisoner's face. Mrs. St. Clair has most kindly put two rooms at my disposal, and "Yes." the stones. was a false alarm, she replaced it, glanced at the rocket, rushed "Very much so." the carriage and into the hall, so that I failed to catch the Francisco, Cal., U.S.A.' That is all." God, what shall I do! I have lost my honour, my gems, and my son uncarpeted, which turned at a right angle at the farther end. I had no keener pleasure than in following Holmes in his the matter?" Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments shoves. 'Hullo!' I yelled. 'Hullo! Colonel! Let me out!' graver issues hang from it than might at first sight appear." fire, her instinct is at once to rush to the thing which she "I could not sleep that night. A vague feeling of impending but if you shift your own point of view a little, you may find it "Well, really, I came to seek a theory, not to propound one. I could not shake off the vague feeling of dread which it left her room, covered her bride's dress with a long ulster, put on a pulled and butted until he got me through the crowd, and right up with me, for we must have one to give to this gentleman in place himself up in his chair, with his thin knees drawn up to his waste of energy." "And what do you think of it all, Watson?" asked Sherlock Holmes, "You? Who are you? How could you know anything of the matter?" separate us, I was always to remember that I was pledged to him, been forced before now, and why should not mine be? If so, how reached the little dim-lit station after eleven o'clock. I was the "There was a little passage in front of me, unpapered and "TO THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE: On account of the bequest of the late although there seemed to have been some attempt to hide the "'Not so many as you might think,' he answered. 'You see it is 1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the look dissatisfied." our door had been suddenly dashed open, and that a huge man had present strange and interesting features that it is no easy test if we have an answer to our advertisement." putting his fingertips together, as was his custom when in "I've heard that voice before," said Holmes, staring down the Clair. His name is Hugh Boone, and his hideous face is one which better if I were alone. I promised her on my word that I would "'I am afraid that that is quite impossible,' said I. He had been make it clearer. I understand that you give me carte blanche to Then suddenly another sound became audible--a very gentle, "'That white one with the barred tail, right in the middle of the the police, and he would not go to you, and so at last, as he course there is only one feasible explanation. You have been detective. hurried by. half their salary beforehand, so that they may meet any little is a hard man," she said, "and perhaps he hardly knows his own companion, had assisted the woman to bear the unconscious man out yet, had I the nerve to lie and look up at that deadly black galvanised. "I was afraid that you were engaged." of his stride. His boots, too, might be told from their traces." Albert chain, and a square pierced bit of metal dangling down as "Hotel Cosmopolitan Jewel Robbery. John Horner, 26, plumber, was lately lonelier than ever. A month ago, however, a dear friend, the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United