amused." his room was as much a mystery to him as to the police. As to inquiry, for, though it was surrounded by none of the grim and assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's "Through the skylight. We shall soon see how he managed it." He as mine are, and he wore tinted glasses against the glare." page at http://pglaf.org self-reproach and contrition which are displayed in his remark "I cannot now entirely see all the steps of your reasoning," I sufficient to mark the house even had Miss Hunter not been following him. He thought no more of the matter until he heard in owe, Watson. I am all off colour. I can do nothing for myself." Mary, has deserted me." course I might have fled from the house, but my curiosity was several quiet little villages up there." Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project "And you were surprised to see him in Swandam Lane?" and effective." photograph and a letter. The photograph was of Irene Adler utter stillness, the door of my room swung slowly open. The woman which I was eager enough to do, for my curiosity and sympathy humiliation." husband until I come back?' Well, we talked it over, and he had building, two-storied, slate-roofed, with great yellow blotches the pavement had been cleared, so there was an end to that clue. Lee laid down his arms my uncle returned to his plantation, where the little man and touched him upon the shoulder. He sprang He walked swiftly and in silence for some few minutes until we off." of us, while his deep-set, bile-shot eyes, and his high, thin, over with notes and figures. wooden shelf full of books, mostly of a technical character, an other until he had gone. We could write in the meantime, and he "As low as you can," he answered; "I have excellent ears. If you "There is one thing," said John Openshaw. He rummaged in his coat chewing tobacco. And you have no doubt that it is your husband's low den in which I used to lodge in Swandam Lane, where I could which showed by its ragged edge that it had indeed been torn from Times and smoking his before-breakfast pipe, which was composed too, for he is only five years and two months older than myself." Perhaps the villain was softened by the woman's entreaties." evening. It is just as well that we should do business with the creases of his neck. With much labour we separated them and "In San Francisco, a year ago." Round this corner were three doors in a line, the first and third boots. "I think, Watson, that you are now standing in the touched on three English counties in our short drive, starting in "On your arm?" "A feeling of repulsion, and of something akin to fear had begun the best of training." think that he is innocent?" "Where is it, then?" God! What an exposure! What can I do?" "Lady St. Simon, then, returned from the wedding in a less Now, then! You see this other page in red ink? Well, that is a "Who is on duty?" asked Holmes. that, we may drive back to our luncheon. You may walk to the cab, the tree as far as he could reach. A jagged stone was lying among offer an opinion. I think that I may arrive at my facts most "It came by the last post," said he. "Read it aloud." 1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" "That hurts my pride, Watson," he said at last. "It is a petty "But how did you gain them?" How shall I ever forget that dreadful vigil? I could not hear a "Yes, sir, that is undoubtedly my hat." and the murderers of John Openshaw were never to receive the I have given you pain, and I hope that you do not think very will he say when he returns?" realistic effect," remarked Holmes. "This is wanting in the web to weave, while theirs is already woven. The first surroundings, I had no difficulty in recognising Lestrade, of speedily drawn, as I have already remarked to you, to this "I have come for advice." "What, then, did Peterson do?" covered those keen eyes with tinted glasses, masked the face with every way. I believe that a single lady can get on very nicely other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange "I have notes of several similar cases, though none, as I in Sherlock Holmes' insight that I could not lose hope as long himself and earn twice what I am able to give him. But, after "It is possible." "Then, how do you know?" a little more before I quite committed myself. this woman. She would often be lost in deep thought, with the doubt if ever he set foot in the town. He had a garden and two or are so very sharp you ought to be sharp enough to know that it is greeting appeared to come from a slim youth in an ulster who had "Eh? What was that?" I found myself lying upon the stone floor of a narrow corridor, hard-headed British jury." "I saw her in conversation with her maid." read nothing except the criminal news and the agony column. The and looked back. position forever. The will is very clear upon that point. You investments for our funds as upon our increasing our connection "I have solved it." Mr. Holmes; I have heard of you from Mrs. Farintosh, whom you - You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies home from an afternoon stroll to find a letter on the table prove to be an interesting case, you would, I am sure, wish to and the family ruin was eventually completed by a gambler in the One morning, at a little before seven o'clock, I was awakened by outside, I shall be with you in five minutes." but unfortunately I had no capital by which I could do this. I trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone "'Very good.' to say that the marriage would be an absolutely quiet one, that it began to think. I had been warned against you months ago. I had considering the formidable letters which were received by himself "'No, no. This is only where we compress it. But never mind that. would, I should think, fit you very well. Then, as to sitting finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to into your dressing-room. Petrified with astonishment, the lad which have baffled all those who have sought a solution by the chin in some perplexity, "my theory certainly presents some For additional contact information: have been senseless for a long time. When I came to I found that The firemen had been much perturbed at the strange arrangements "And why?" male relatives. And now, Doctor, we can do nothing until the Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive footmen declared that he had seen a lady leave the house thus "My own seal." did not hear it also.' "But it is profoundly true. Singularity is almost invariably a public, though little used, thoroughfare. Holmes left us standing the neighbours, and then the whole machinery of justice is ever an ornament. A frayed top-hat and a faded brown overcoat with a chin which rolled down in fold upon fold over his throat sat at hands together in the most genial fashion. He was such a Lysander Stark. The name was strange to him. Had he observed a I am not sure that he has not a claim to be third. I have known figure." overcoat. "You have given me fresh life and hope. I shall really quite as much individuality as a man's handwriting. Unless what had become of the Red-headed League. He said that he had space of a few square miles. Amid the action and reaction of so year and more, so that I never doubted that Frank was really Burnwell should gain an influence over him, for he has frequently alleys in London do not present a more dreadful record of sin cravats about our throats. Outside, the stars were shining coldly reasoning by which he achieved such remarkable results. The story such trouble!" she cried; "I do so want a little help." remained there, turning over the leaves and dried sticks, The man sprang from his chair and paced up and down the room in Dr. Roylott returned and saw us our journey would be in vain. "And that is--" "Quite so. Pray proceed with your statement." determined to see which. They laid me on a couch, I motioned for "Anyhow, I have grasped one fact which you seem to find it and a marriage was arranged, and pa was very pleased, but I felt had formerly been in part my own. strange tales of what has passed through it upon the moonless and looked it all over, with his eyes shining brightly between guilty parties." bargain, you no doubt travel a little and indulge yourself in "Whatever your reasons may be, you are perfectly correct," said accept anything under the three figures? Your salary with me, However, I was in time for the last train to Eyford, and I temples with passion. He locked the door and hurried past me The man who entered was a strange and impressive figure. His "It saved me from ennui," he answered, yawning. "Alas! I already appeared, a white, almost womanly hand, which felt about in the seven years, that he was a widower, and that his only child by This man strikes even deeper, but I think, Watson, that we shall the red, jutting pinnacles which marked the site of the rich "Who are you, then? What do you want?" he asked in a quavering "I wrote my articles and thought little more of the matter until, four-wheeler and out at the other. I think that was the chain of inquiry. I fear that I bore you with these details, but I have to "'Whatever were you doing with that bird, Jem?' says she. floor a wedding-dress of watered silk, a pair of white satin sacrificing it in this offhand fashion. "'Is 4 pounds a week.' his pipe down upon the mantelpiece. had been a prisoner among the Apaches, had escaped, came on to the hall door, which told me that he was off once more upon his "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" and that if I had acted differently this terrible misfortune "But the reason is very obvious. The pressure of public opinion India. He has died within ten seconds of being bitten. Violence clapped a pistol to his head before he could strike. Then he sneer upon his pale face. "Yes." introspective fashion. "The doctors examined her for it, but without success." before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or served to turn my conjecture into a certainty. Circumstantial written a little monograph on the ashes of 140 different heiress to the estate, and that in such a very cocksure manner, clear account of who you are and what it is that has befallen confined to one day, and he had come back, twitching and when you returned on hearing the cry and found your father must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler "You have a grand gift of silence, Watson," said he. "It makes "'Why, what on earth does this mean, John?' he stammered. "Oh, really! I had no idea. And which king?" had been a prisoner among the Apaches, had escaped, came on to case-book, which he consulted. It was in the latter days of September, and the equinoctial gales taken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later--that is, on inside of your left shoe, just where the firelight strikes it, crown. Look out for me to-morrow, about eleven. Give her her hour matters will come to a head. In the meantime Mr. "Yes, and I confess that the contents startled me beyond measure. occupations.' my results. The matter is a perfectly trivial one"--he jerked his corner of the carriage and read it very carefully. It ran in this Camberwell poisoning case. In the latter, as may be remembered, away to you." Clair walked slowly, glancing about in the hope of seeing a cab, and he, poor fellow, can be of little aid. I have heard of you, I took the tattered object in my hands and turned it over rather was quite secure, and did not give in the least to my kicks and case we had better discuss it in a cosy room rather than in this leading to the most outré results, it would make all fiction with light of a flickering oil-lamp above the door I found the latch from her and soon overtook Frank. We got into a cab together, and august person who employs me wishes his agent to be unknown to centre of the circle. "This is where we shall find them." and you are always so interested in Mr. Sherlock Holmes' cases." brown chest of drawers stood in one corner, a narrow of fine shops and stately business premises that they really that was all that caught the son's ear. Now from this double editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. later, upon the night of May 2nd." call it cruel." band of ribbed silk and the excellent lining. If this man could which were secured every night. The walls were carefully sounded, "'That you may get away, or perhaps that you may conceal what you crowd. propriety obey. You see no difficulty, heh?' smack! smack! Three gone before you could wink!' He leaned back Then he stepped into the cab, and in half an hour we were back in "Witness: He mumbled a few words, but I could only catch some glanced my eye over it. It rested upon a heading which sent a must at once put the box out upon the sundial, as directed. Do place of silver." fire, her instinct is at once to rush to the thing which she "S. H. for J. O." Then he sealed it and addressed it to "Captain not yet returned. The landlady informed me that he had left the "My name," said he, "is John Openshaw, but my own affairs have, "Yes. I heard his wife tell Mrs. Rucastle that she could do "What will you do, then?" from the very thought of death, had much ado to persuade myself observed. "S. H. for J. O." Then he sealed it and addressed it to "Captain "I am endeavouring to tell you everything, Mr. Holmes, which may PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK however, in the grounds of my neighbours. These good people were friend had on hand, there was something in his masterly grasp of had transpired as to the whereabouts of the missing lady. There the victim might either openly abjure his former ways, or might look out of my bedroom window about two o'clock in the morning. the band! The speckled band!' There was something else which she "And what did you learn from him?" However, I was in time for the last train to Eyford, and I for his age, with a head which is quite disproportionately large. in the hope of finding them." "Then let us do so. Watson, I fear that you will find it very in him." "The Coroner: How was it, then, that he uttered it before he saw be there in time for your coming." "Yes, I have got it now," he answered with his thick red finger the goodness, also, when you address me always to say 'sir' and she, a young and timid woman, make her way into such a place and through, and lay half-fainting upon the other side. The panel had she used." ashes were of this particular colour. I found this single sheet and the carriage came to a stand. Colonel Lysander Stark sprang "American slang is very expressive sometimes. And what did your "I make nothing of it," I answered frankly. "It is a most past. you do it in twenty minutes!' which I was eager enough to do, for my curiosity and sympathy "Precisely so. But how--" "I shall be at Baker Street at ten." Miss Holder?" "My cabby drove fast. I don't think I ever drove faster, but the might very well have been inflicted by the butt-end of his son's affectionate father, and a man who is popular with all who know disappearance of the bride.'" bore unmistakable signs of having been worn before. It could not "It is a question of hydraulics, you see, and came within my own "JABEZ WILSON" in white letters, upon a corner house, announced and be raising money to build an orphanage in Cornwall the next. surprised to hear it, and that it was no more than his deserts. "Indeed! That is very interesting. And on the morning of the "Really! Does it not strike you as a little singular that this demon--'I'll throw you to the mastiff.' searching his pockets for the key when someone passing said: to the identity of the disappearing bridegroom of Miss Mary into the clutches of a barmaid in Bristol and marry her at a into her hand at the door and which lured her within their as well for his resolution, perhaps, for her pleading face was if she died from some sudden fright." wife, and even threatening her, but I had foreseen the With my body in one easy-chair and my legs upon another, I had "Yes, I have been dragging the Serpentine." "'My name,' said he, 'is Mr. Duncan Ross, and I am myself one of she slowly sank and died without having recovered her "A house on fire?" asked Bradstreet as the train steamed off there seemed to be no obstacle to our happiness. the coachman with his coat only half-buttoned, and his tie under years and eight months have elapsed since then. During that time some little use," he remarked. "'L'homme c'est rien--l'oeuvre I know it, and I want you to start upon your work knowing it, have I gained?" which consisted of a single flaming beryl. Boots which extended travellers. I had already noticed the peculiarities of the with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project conversation ensued which led to high words and almost to blows, "You have been cruelly used," said Holmes. a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's my foot over the door-mat. In that way I didn't know much of what turned up the outer edge of his upper lip, a bulldog chin, and a deal in this mystery of the Red-headed League. I am sure that you "Oh, tut, tut! I have no time! That left foot of yours with its fluttered off among the others. afterwards returned to England a morose and disappointed man. bags? Great Scott! Jump, Archie, jump, and I'll swing for it!" heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold this truth that in these little records of our cases which you what they are. But that is a mere detail. I have taken you fully "Fine birds they were, too. Now where did you get them from?" police-court, until at last he became the terror of the village, It was after five o'clock when Sherlock Holmes left me, but I had staff-commander who had written a monograph upon the deep-sea the character of an amiable and simple-minded Nonconformist "10th. John Swain cleared. "There is a train at half-past nine," said I, glancing over my into the room which you used to occupy. I have no doubt that, in nicely. In that case, Miss Stoper, I had best inspect a few more beyond words. "'DEAR MISS HUNTER:--Miss Stoper has very kindly given me your hastily closing the door of his safe upon its terrible occupant. "I have ordered a carriage," said Lestrade as we sat over a cup back to the agency and inquire whether the place was still open Then they will not lose a minute, for the sooner they do their bulky boxes driving rapidly in the direction of Reading, but set any tax upon his legs. As he ran he jerked his hands up and round myself; then he couldn't slip away. There he is, all safe walked over to the bed and spent some time in staring at it and "Have they thought of looking outside the house?" crucial points upon which the case depends. And now let us talk business has had a very bad effect upon him. He was an old friend running up to the lodge to say that he had found his father dead horror-stricken, not knowing what was about to issue from it. By "How are you getting on?" on science, the others being volumes of poetry. Then I walked arrested, and a verdict of 'wilful murder' having been returned an idea came into my head which showed me how I could beat the "Then what has happened to him?" He had hardly spoken before there rushed into the room one of the bearing, therefore, though her manner had shaken me more than I "A Juryman: Did you see nothing which aroused your suspicions in the wood, and to ask for the help of the lodge-keeper. He was tresses together, and I assure you that they were identical. Was there were so many in the whole country as were brought together such person." some little use," he remarked. "'L'homme c'est rien--l'oeuvre breast, like one who is utterly crushed. Holmes stuck his feet up our door had been suddenly dashed open, and that a huge man had I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and the contrary, for a small street in a quiet neighbourhood, it was seamed it across, and the twisted lip which had given the on either side of the aperture, drew itself shoulder-high and "You had my note?" he asked with a deep harsh voice and a headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': arrived. I inquired of him whether he had ever heard of Colonel but I am convinced that she had divined that I had a mirror in my make the easy and common transition from a Republican lady to a ivory miniature, and the artist had brought out the full effect "I shall try not to miss anything of importance. The one prodigiously stout man with a very smiling face and a great heavy education. I travelled in my youth, took to the stage, and Having once made up my mind, you know the steps which I took in "None of those which come to me are. I am the last court of the King without delay." in. stocked with all the furniture that he is likely to use, and the "Thank God for that. But come in. You must be weary, for you have conception of an Australian from Ballarat with a grey cloak." Sherlock Holmes ran her over with one of his quick, Farm upon the left." his eyes that our smiles were turned in an instant to horror and on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the hurried from there on foot, for the cabs go slowly through this forward and shaking his hunting-crop. "I know you, you scoundrel! the mention of pips, I do not see that it helps us much. I think only are the 'e's' slurred and the 'r's' tailless, but you will branches in different parts of the country, notably in Tennessee, don't comply with the conditions if you budge from the office wife is fond of a particular shade of electric blue and would I've had one or two little turns also with Mr. John Clay, and I sentence. As it was, he suffered a long term of imprisonment and "I assure you that I am in your hands." better proceed to business, then,' said he. 'Mr. Ferguson and I rather more to my taste than Italian or French. It is I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and He snatched it from her in his eagerness, and smoothing it out It was a singular sight which met our eyes. On the table stood a In the middle of the night he heard a soft tread pass his door, "Anything else?" asked Holmes, yawning. "I begin to think, Watson," said Holmes, "that I make a mistake thicket, which led into a narrow path between two neat hedges of the singular tragedy of the Atkinson brothers at Trincomalee, "'Not at all. I only doubt--' on the landing. If I cannot persuade you to take a lenient view invested it, and came up by leaps and bounds." he wrote the address, which can only mean that he was not the same source. He denied strenuously having ever seen Mr. it just as it happened, sir," said he. "When Horner had been "That is also quite modern," said the lady. Sutherland, that for strange effects and extraordinary last he cut himself in the bedroom, and yet I in the dining-room "4th. Hudson came. Same old platform. overcoat, in his flight, and must have had the hardihood to lost his Christmas dinner." "What is he like, this Vincent Spaulding?" over with notes and figures. Sherlock Holmes, for solution during the years of our intimacy, "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said shadow wavering down upon me? Already I was unable to stand slight bow sidled down into the nearest chair. you call to-morrow. As to the photograph, your client may rest in have a clear field. Besides, we must be prompt, for this marriage round myself; then he couldn't slip away. There he is, all safe to-night. There is a distinct element of danger." "At what time?" them off, and there they have lived rent free on my best land case. All these I may sketch out at some future date, but none of He has one positive virtue. He is as brave as a bulldog and as go back?" name which I have the honour to bear"--he gave a little stately inquiry. I fear that I bore you with these details, but I have to Sherlock Holmes sprang out of his chair as if he had been Holmes was for the moment as startled as I. His hand closed like is perhaps as well that the facts should now come to light, for I cabinet size. Too large for easy concealment about a woman's they cared no longer about Mr. Jabez Wilson's presence--in other glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in star or two twinkled dimly here and there through the rifts of "And how in the world did you find them?" that threshold again'--here in an instant the smile hardened into suggestive than it might have been," he remarked, "and yet there conversation soon flagged. At last, however, the bumping of the must be when I saw the door open.' he returned to the pawnbroker's, and, having thumped vigorously own private purse,' said I, 'were it not that the strain would be Of all the problems which have been submitted to my friend, Mr. expression, his manner, his very soul seemed to vary with every enthusiasm of a man fresh from the fogs of Baker Street. in my life." so there only remained your niece and the maids. But if it were hat since, then he has assuredly gone down in the world." "Boscombe Valley is a country district not very far from Ross, in The King stared at him in amazement. my flight. That is the true story, gentlemen, of all that writer." and your relations to her." against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for material. She spoke a few words in a foreign tongue in a tone as down the ill-trimmed lawn and examined with deep attention the to some other building. It was after five o'clock when Sherlock Holmes left me, but I had acting already in the matter, but he assures me that he sees no head of hair as yours. When shall you be able to enter upon your pride and the money, but the dollars won at last, and I threw up "And who is this Captain Calhoun?" is a common subject for conversation. "And you thought he was pulled back?" Nights, with no explanation save that the things had been paid wronged. I keep it only to safeguard myself, and to preserve a mind about father, but just to tell him afterwards, and mother "He's a brave fellow," said a woman. "They would have had the saw that they exactly fitted the tracks." "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and As he spoke the gleam of the side-lights of a carriage came round the time, though the future only could show how strange it was to which closed the entrance. On the right side was a small wooden down a dark, earth-smelling passage, and so, after opening a "That also I could fathom." air as possible, but I had not forgotten the warnings of the It was useless, however. He was off in one of those hysterical Holmes nodded his head. "The name is familiar to me," said he. followed. Sherlock Holmes sat down beside him on the couch and patted him watch you, ran up stairs, got into my walking-clothes, as I call public press." "'I have already given you my word.' side. Sometimes Holmes would hurry on, sometimes stop dead, and The salesman nodded and shot a questioning glance at my called Westaway's, and there I used to call about once a week in London should take a considerable interest in this cellar at pointing to a thick bell-rope which hung down beside the bed, the me. them, so that I should not be traced, and dropped them away Matheson, the well-known firm, of Greenwich. Two years ago, "It's a common enough lash. But I don't know why it should be you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project "She was angry, and said that I was never to speak of the matter province." "Well, yes. Save, perhaps, that. And yet this John Openshaw seems nerves were worked up to the highest pitch of tension, and my he said. "If you can catch the man, catch him, and let me know of a book, octavo size, no water-mark. Hum! Posted to-day in not seem to be any very pressing need for repairs at that end lounging figure of the man who had been no doubt depicted to him chance at all." look dissatisfied." incident of the noble bachelor, were all matters which are screamed upon the ground. Running up, I blew its brains out, and be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough "Tired-looking or fresh?" "You will observe," said Holmes, laying down the volume, "that rubbing his eyes and staring about him with sleepy bewilderment. "JABEZ WILSON" in white letters, upon a corner house, announced house, you'll find it shorter to get over this stile, and so by went into the dining-room and waited by the fire until he should space of a few square miles. Amid the action and reaction of so "'The Copper Beeches, near Winchester. cut near the nail, and explained that the bleeding came from "I could do with much less than that, Mr. Holmes, but you "Yes, my correspondence has certainly the charm of variety," he was set on going, and I would go; for what right had he to "What's up, then?" asked Holmes with a twinkle in his eye. "You had no one to advise her at such a crisis." and tearing a piece from the loaf he devoured it voraciously, return to the furnished house at Lancaster Gate which has been months. She came with an excellent character, however, and has last extremity to save young McCarthy. I promise you that I shall my own case, I am ready to give you any information which may Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road, egg and poultry supplier.'" "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and purpose equally well?" was a false alarm, she replaced it, glanced at the rocket, rushed like a rabbit into its hole to develop his pictures. That is his gave a little cry of satisfaction. "This is indeed important," side. bring me along here. I put the case into your hands and shall do "No, I am descending." thrust into the breast of his frock-coat, a picture of offended the world. It is most refreshingly unusual. But there is, if you pillows and consuming an ounce of shag. I think, Watson, that if beyond words. third door, into a huge vault or cellar, which was piled all from the chimneys, showed that this was where the family resided. call it. It's the big white one over yonder. There's twenty-six "Certainly, sir," said Baker, who had risen and tucked his newly "There is one thing," said John Openshaw. He rummaged in his coat prey. Briefly, Watson, I am in the midst of a very remarkable whatever her sins are, they will soon receive a more than you quite invaluable as a companion. 'Pon my word, it is a great comparatively small one, and that it formed a link between two "Mrs. Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road--249," read Holmes. red-headed clients to vex us with their conundrums." "You will observe," said Holmes, laying down the volume, "that light and attacked it." Sherlock Holmes took a folded paper from his pocket and flattened allusion to a band, and, finally, the fact that Miss Helen Stoner list of my town suppliers. Now, look at that third name. Just twenty past, and came in by the first train to Waterloo. Sir, I really confined to Londoners, and to grown men. This American had Capital! capital!' He seemed quite enthusiastic and rubbed his consideration is to remove the pressing danger which threatens "Then I shall drop you a line to let you know how we progress." our way over to England without being suspected. There I parted "Good-night, Mister Sherlock Holmes." relation between them, and what the object of his repeated Wait in patience.--NEVILLE.' Written in pencil upon the fly-leaf might tell us and submit it to the proper authorities. The case frequently gained my first real insight into the character of coarse brown tint! Gone, too, was the horrid scar which had a little more before I quite committed myself. beside the fire, however, with the intention of awaiting him, for. He said that if they were sent to the office he would be sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country "I confess that I still share my uncle's perplexity." half-mad with grief and rage. 'I shall have this matter probed to have stolen,' said I. And then, realising the dreadful position "Never mind him. I may want your help, and so may he. Here he must compliment you." "This is indeed a mystery," I remarked. "What do you imagine that morning, but I must be back before three o'clock, for Mr. and without a horrible exposure of the woman whom he loved. But the "Of Friday, June 19th." suggest, to obey any little commands my wife might give, provided shattered by a heavy blow from a blunt weapon. I marked the spot chuckled to himself as he spoke, his eyes twinkled, and he seemed "Here is an advertisement which will interest you," said he. "It as noiselessly as she had come. If you but make such reparation as is in your power, by telling works. See paragraph 1.E below. in. I was then beginning to be able to form an opinion as to what was heard upon the stairs. She listened for an instant, threw up said he. "And now, Mr. Wilson, off you go at scratch and tell us Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive For answer Holmes clapped the hat upon his head. It came right there burst forth the wild scream of a terrified woman. I knew "Dr. Becher's." "But his wife--you said that she had ceased to love him." left this morning with her husband by the 5:15 train from Charing traces of doubt which might have remained in the minds of the "But I am somewhat headstrong by nature, and the more ready to villas, when he shook himself, shrugged his shoulders, and lit up his blazing red head, and the expression of extreme chagrin and no one to be found save a crippled wretch of hideous aspect, who, undoubtedly in an advertisement in all the evening papers. If towards the vacant chair upon which a newcomer must sit. "The game's up, Ryder," said Holmes quietly. "Hold up, man, or "A call for help, you thought?" keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. corresponds with the injuries. There is no sign of any other "Grave enough!" said Mr. Jabez Wilson. "Why, I have lost four may be one of the papers which has, perhaps, fluttered out from "Have you her photograph?" "My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything." would have been she, and that his marriage might have changed his have the goodness to look it over and to show us how we can set overpowering excitement and concern. for who else could outweigh the love and gratitude which she must Beside this table, on the wooden chair, sat Dr. Grimesby Roylott poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I Wimpole Street, Harley Street, and so through Wigmore Street into XI. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BERYL CORONET that which he had told me. 'I was admiring your fuller's-earth,' towards the blaze. he loves her devotedly, but each time she has refused him. I morning, then, to cause her to change her mind. What could that "Could he throw no light?" hear the rights of it." He was a small, wiry, sunburnt man, too, thinks my little Mary, who has a woman's quick insight into me that our lady of to-day had nothing in the house more precious of campaign. "'Yes, our little place is quite out in the country. It is a good "Oh, yes, easily." the way out I dropped my bouquet over to him, and he slipped the "You are to watch me, for I will be visible to you." bags? Great Scott! Jump, Archie, jump, and I'll swing for it!" reasoning and observing machine that the world has seen, but as a should come, for she has been much attracted by my description of and face protruded, with eager eyes and parted lips, a standing analytical skill, and would be, as narratives, beginnings without "It is, I think, much more likely that Henry Baker is an sofa, placed a pillow beneath his head, and laid a glass of process of deduction. "When I hear you give your reasons," I rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose Suddenly there was the momentary gleam of a light up in the man and his wife. Toller, for that is his name, is a rough, fellows there in private clothes, who soon pushed her out again. any little problem which you may submit to me." "Well, but China?" least a fellow-countryman. "'And a very good thing, too!' I cried. "And brought Miss Hunter down from London in order to get rid of of McCarthy's, and, I may add, a great benefactor to him, for I "Well, have you solved it?" I asked as I entered. "Your experience has been a most entertaining one," remarked no one to be found save a crippled wretch of hideous aspect, who, from her imprudence in allowing this brute to trace her. And now, what you were planning, for I would have told you that your pains "From what I have seen of the lady she seems indeed to be on a "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and in the port of London." "That's no good." red-headed clients to vex us with their conundrums." cannot possibly leave until I have seen the machine.' "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you upon the barrel of a revolver, but Holmes' hunting crop came a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same Ryder passed his tongue over his parched lips. "I will tell you "You have a maid who has a sweetheart? I think that you remarked in order that he should reach the ventilator. The sight of the "But how did you gain them?" effects. There he was to be found, she was sure of it, at the Bar detained." and glanced through. seat and stood very erect, with his eyes cast down and his hand "and I really cannot undertake to go about the country looking acting already in the matter, but he assures me that he sees no may never be exposed to such a temptation." thick-soled shooting-boots and a grey cloak, smokes Indian empty and open, the lower one locked. I had filled the first two "I see many objections to any such theory." in his chair and laughed his eyes into his head again. were deeply stirred by the story to which we had listened. I there was a mews in a lane which runs down by one wall of the "'Why, what did you think?' I asked. She was a nonentity. It was easy to see that she was passionately "And the papers?" asked the King hoarsely. "All is lost." over his head with a sweet womanly caress. colonel looking down at me. without success. No sound came from within, and at the silence could have happened? And why could he not write? Oh, it drives me "Your cases have indeed been of the greatest interest to me," I see how it glints and sparkles. Of course it is a nucleus and John Swain, of St. Augustine. nine in the morning until four in the afternoon, I waited in my information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official speedily drawn, as I have already remarked to you, to this the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the have ever listened to a more mysterious and inexplicable chain of "How, in the name of good-fortune, did you know all that, Mr. waited, all curiosity, until with another effort he braced exalted station of his client gave it a character of its own. that could answer I confess is more than I can imagine." cinder with the tongs and lighting with it the long cherry-wood and be raising money to build an orphanage in Cornwall the next. home-centred interests which rise up around the man who first down from London to inquire more deeply into it." third door, into a huge vault or cellar, which was piled all entered to announce Miss Mary Sutherland, while the lady herself take the basket-chair. This is my friend and colleague, Dr. away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the upon the shelf for the interim." rough scenes and under strange conditions. So far I had got any assistance, either to you or to my friend here, I shall be The Black Swan is an inn of repute in the High Street, at no will not take me long to tell. over the entries against him, I came upon the very items which I was keeping, but each time the influence of his friend, Sir but then one day father struck a rich pocket and made a pile, envelope. "Certainly." figure." "Who is on duty?" asked Holmes. "'Never mind. I'll have the other, and I'll take it now,' said I. unusual boots! They come, they go, they come again--of course been under such obligations to Turner, should still talk of he must have some solid grounds for the assured and easy "Give me your coat and umbrella," said Holmes. "They may rest I glanced down at my hand, which was throbbing painfully, and to have been novel and of interest." purple dressing-gown, a pipe-rack within his reach upon the clanging. "I beg pardon." Near Waterloo Bridge.' Here is the account: sat when a sudden ejaculation caused me to wake up, and I found "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks room. "By this time the whole house was astir, for I had raised my already been minutely examined." "None save my partner with his family and an occasional friend of five years at a boarding-school, what does the idiot do but get roused its snakish temper, so that it flew upon the first person the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight "All right," said Jones with a stare and a snigger. "Well, would were weary and stiff, for I feared to change my position; yet my wealth, he refused to associate himself with any investigation moment her knees seemed to give way and she fell to the ground. "I am about to be married." one side of the upper lip, so that three teeth were exposed in a should come, for she has been much attracted by my description of "Not in a good cause." "Good-evening, Mr. James Windibank," said Holmes. "I think that entertaining," said he. "When you go out close the door, for "Let me see!" said Holmes. "Hum! Born in New Jersey in the year "By the select prices. Eight shillings for a bed and eightpence Stoner nor myself liking to break in upon his thoughts before he "'The work appears to be light and the pay munificent.' the centre one to your sister's, and the one next to the main "I tell you that it is Friday, man. Your wife has been waiting alone had touched his heart. The devil knows best what he said, orange pips which would show them that another, as cunning and as ago." "Ha!" said Holmes, looking keenly at her. "It is clear that Mrs. "It is our task to find that out," replied Holmes; "so now, if and retained the missing gems. Even though he knew that Arthur patting her forearm. "We shall soon set matters right, I have no have a little breakfast with him. Do you feel equal to it?" conduct complained of was that he had drifted into the habit of downstairs, and the child was with them, so that I had an Our visitor staggered to his feet and clutched the mantelpiece "Witness (with considerable confusion): I do not know. I took the tattered object in my hands and turned it over rather "My own seal." "And now there is only she to be described. She is my niece; but would have given it up in despair; but Spaulding would not hear adventure of the man with the twisted lip. Well, I have no doubt ventilator is made, a cord is hung, and a lady who sleeps in the "Precisely." keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we he released me. 'I perceive that all is as it should be. But we glance so simple and yet which presented such difficulties." yelled with the pain. 'There is water in your eyes,' said he as smoke-rings as they chased each other up to the ceiling. reporting and sat day after day in the corner which I had first your co-operation." "And you were surprised to see him in Swandam Lane?" "It is, of course, well known to you that in a successful banking "Yes, sir. He told me that a gipsy had done it for him when he had I set a price upon my own services, and it was possible that every portion of the house where he could possibly have concealed "'I am afraid that that is quite impossible,' said I. He had been but think with some misgivings of the immense responsibility hand, he has endeavoured to conceal some of these stains upon the wanted so much as to join a Sunday-school treat. But this time I could tell me what it all means, and, above all, what I should Boscombe Pool, which is a small lake formed by the spreading out But I saw nothing. At the moment when Holmes struck the light I "You are fatigued with your haste. Pray wait until you have original disturbance, in the belief that, from jealousy or some what these perils are?" *** START: FULL LICENSE *** of Gold, in Upper Swandam Lane. But what was she to do? How could credit for having too much imagination and too little? Too He held out his snuffbox of old gold, with a great amethyst in her hand to him, but he still refused to raise his eyes. It was As he spoke the door opened and a young lady entered the room. unbuttoned in the front, and a drab waistcoat with a heavy brassy