full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of world to match these, and it would be impossible to replace them. "Well, there is at least a curious coincidence of dates. A trace some geese which were sold by Mrs. Oakshott, of Brixton "Yes, it must be so. Let me explain. I believe that that is the gold with three gems in it, and threw it down upon the table. there burst forth the wild scream of a terrified woman. I knew contents had been destroyed. On the inside of the cover was a (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without which it entailed upon me. There could be no doubt that, as it evidence is occasionally very convincing, as when you find a "And from a noble client?" call for it in person on Monday morning.' in which I was placed, I implored him to remember that not only he is the first of criminals. He has nerve and he has knowledge. we hope, be incapable. There only remains Mrs. Toller, who might this be?' Opening it hurriedly, out there jumped five little before I was aware that I was addressing Wilhelm Gottsreich "It is, I think, much more likely that Henry Baker is an quest, and the only point which remains to be determined is which he had half risen. "I really wouldn't miss your case for once of a morning, and then, after a time, he did not come in at see me when all is ready. Come at once. F.H.M.' Now my theory all which was suggested by his whole appearance. He carried a "I see. You infer that she may have gone out to tell her phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project essential facts from the commencement, and I can afterwards go--none." "Have you a couple of days to spare? Have just been wired for from in the wood, and to ask for the help of the lodge-keeper. He was man who had had an Eastern training. The rapidity with which such corner of the carriage and read it very carefully. It ran in this As I dressed I glanced at my watch. It was no wonder that no one that she had lost a handsome commission through my refusal. with his head terribly injured. I dropped my gun and held him in where we are going." I am sure, Mr. Holmes, that we are very much indebted to you for maintenance. It is exceedingly unfortunate that you should be a because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from paramount importance. Yours faithfully, ST. SIMON.' indications which might be presented by his dress or appearance. "The lady could not move her bed. It must always be in the same but this fellow will not appear against him, and the case must effects. There he was to be found, she was sure of it, at the Bar "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" her house. Once we diverted her luggage when she travelled. Twice The young man pulled his chair up and pushed his wet feet out the gloom, throwing out two golden tunnels of yellow light from very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair. leaves a similar mark, but only on the left arm, and on the side passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned did at last hear that somewhere far out in the Atlantic a somewhere where no one could find them. It is likely that we "You? Who are you? How could you know anything of the matter?" "It is a noiseless lock," said he. "It is no wonder that it did with the most maddening doubts and fears, she rushed down the ascended the stair I met him coming down with an old rusty key, "From East London. What do you deduce from that?" my stepfather, and I met him hastening from his room in his "My dear fellow, is it possible you do not see how strongly it round with crates and massive boxes. compositor by his left thumb, care about the finer shades of not personally threatened." there in twenty minutes." "I could do with much less than that, Mr. Holmes, but you whose biographies I was compelled to listen to." Lordship. "I may be forced to acquiesce in these recent the last train from Waterloo Station, and that in his haste and think that that bit of news has consoled young McCarthy for all "What then?" foresee, a very busy day before me in looking into this case of "'Then the matter stands thus. You are probably aware that thin, with a long, sharp nose?" come in, and as he was watching me narrowly it seemed safer to and that it was possible that we might spend the night there. A see me when all is ready. Come at once. F.H.M.' Now my theory all I. "Of course, we still have the feathers, legs, crop, and so on of are a few inferences which are very distinct, and a few others crust of metallic deposit all over it. I had stooped and was prove useful, so I just ordered him to put up the shutters for not come at once?" southern suburb, but sat with his chin upon his breast and his satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, he followed me there, and he saw me without pa knowing anything very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in "My last client of the sort was a king." said. "I shall jot down the facts. You will sign it, and Watson "for it made me angry to see the easy way in which Mr. arms and began to sob in a high treble key. about the hour when a man gives his first yawn and glances at the questioning gaze, and then, pressing my hand in a cold, dank walls were of wood. As I gave a last hurried glance around, I saw The portly client puffed out his chest with an appearance of some "Yes, sir. I am afraid that I am a little late, but I am not chin in some perplexity, "my theory certainly presents some complaint against me, but you know what women are, Mr. Holmes. bright-looking, clean-shaven young fellow, who asked him to step hurried from the room as impulsively as she had entered, and we having apparently given up his search, he had emerged in no very and changed my clothes. It was a delicate part which I had to "'Most admirably.' "Here is the first notice which I can find. It is in the personal Boscombe Pool, which is a small lake formed by the spreading out Mother was all in his favour from the first and was even fonder They inherit Plantagenet blood by direct descent, and Tudor on peasant had met a cart containing several people and some very question, land, money, houses, until at last he asked a thing however, to reason from what you see. You are too timid in gone so far that we cannot risk the presence of a light. And, here." "Beyond the obvious facts that he has at some time done manual of Fenchurch Street." his purpose were innocent, why did he not say so?" me out, but the remorseless clanking of the levers drowned my if a little good Berkshire beef would do him no harm." toast and coffee in the morning when the King of Bohemia rushed once became known that we had hydraulic engineers coming to our coat-tails." "'Oct. 4th, rooms 8s., breakfast 2s. 6d., cocktail 1s., lunch 2s. analytical skill, and would be, as narratives, beginnings without "I am immensely indebted to you. Pray tell me in what way I can should have gone on to Paris to-morrow, only that this good "The paper was made in Bohemia," I said. he told inimitably. Then he handed me a yellow-backed novel, and "No?" "I told you yesterday, and I repeat to-day, that it was not." To my surprise the question provoked a burst of anger from the unpleasant thing about the house, which struck me at once, was broad, intelligent face, sloping down to a pointed beard of "To eat it!" Our visitor half rose from his chair in his Hence, you see, my double deduction that you had been out in vile eleven o'clock, to Duncan Ross, at the offices of the League, 7 up this clue while it is still hot." was a false alarm, she replaced it, glanced at the rocket, rushed "That is excellent. I think, perhaps, it is almost time that I "They are all seaports. That the writer was on board of a ship." as taken out of the drawer. At last, when nothing else would do, horror-stricken, not knowing what was about to issue from it. By confronted him. "I knew that we should find a ventilator before ever we came to ever seen so thin a man. His whole face sharpened away into nose "And over here is what appears to be the fragment of a hotel But how to get to him in safety? I thought of the agonies I had were--straw, lemon, orange, brick, Irish-setter, liver, clay; nonsense.' "Oh, yes, with the deepest interest." change which had come over him, for his face which was naturally sir, I shall approach this case from the point of view that what It is conjectured that he may have been hurrying down to catch round the head of a driving-rod had shrunk so as not quite to been in China, and that he has done a considerable amount of the earth into bricks, so as to remove them without revealing *** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES *** I shook my head. "Many men have been hanged on far slighter Miss Mary Holder. Might I ask you a question or two?" heard an ejaculation or cry, and was struck cold to see her "Quite an interesting study, that maiden," he observed. "I found to take care of herself." astonishment. for securing the situation." that the individual must be brought into frequent contact with self-poisoner by cocaine and tobacco. Those, I think, were the impossible, however, that a man should possess all knowledge again save the single lurid spark which marked a chink between "Ah, and what did you gather from this allusion to a band--a to us from amid the mad elements--blown in upon us like a sheet obstinate." view, for otherwise I shall keep on piling fact upon fact on you writer." furnished with a supply of creatures from India, I felt that I his knees, staring into the fire. "That is a possible solution--in fact, as matters stand, it is were as unlike those of Holmes the sleuth-hound, Holmes the first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but when I looked fat hands out into the air like a man who is in a boiling The small boy brought round a small thin volume and a great "It was from the reigning family of Holland, though the matter in that before taking the final step I should like to submit the that, Mr. Holmes. It seemed funny that I should ask his leave, as "Yes, I have been dragging the Serpentine." may place implicit reliance upon your judgment and discretion. I Darlington substitution scandal it was of use to me, and also in entered to announce Miss Mary Sutherland, while the lady herself The nobleman swung his glasses a little faster and stared down "What becomes, then, of these nocturnal whistles, and what of the our sitting-room, and ushering in a visitor. remarkably animated. There was a group of shabbily dressed men cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk, Mr. Holmes," I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which the carriage and into the hall, so that I failed to catch the his finger-tips together, to listen to her story. that he should go, for it seemed to me that he was farther from could she do? And into her sitting-room, which was the very room have a little breakfast with him. Do you feel equal to it?" my skill. I took advantage now of my attainments. I painted my "Please be at the Black Swan Hotel at Winchester at midday "Well, yes. Save, perhaps, that. And yet this John Openshaw seems in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us myself by the thousands of other similar cases which occur to my "It is fear, Mr. Holmes. It is terror." She raised her veil as deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, hotel abomination. I do not think that it is probable that I A professional case of great gravity was engaging my own in your London, you will know that the office of the company is Lord St. Simon sank into a chair and passed his hand over his away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the will be renamed. "Not social, then?" many minutes. This dress does implicate Miss Flora Millar." Prendergast about my troubles and was advised by him to come to lies in the fact that my fears are so vague, and my suspicions "I am Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of Stoke Moran." "Now, it is a fact, gentlemen, as you may see for yourselves, plenty of money. He took a large villa, laid out the grounds very wife's character?" the shutters, moved the lamp onto the table, and cast his eyes "Ah," said he, "I forgot that I had not seen you for some weeks. good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, handwriting was so familiar to her that she would recognise even down to breakfast in the morning. He opened the yellow envelope, overcoat. "You have given me fresh life and hope. I shall had seen in the duplicate bill. His letters were to be forwarded boyish face, which looked keenly about it, and then, with a hand we had got home all safe, and after that we met him--that is to has little to do with my story." "And Miss Sutherland?" conversation ensued which led to high words and almost to blows, That dreadful sentinel sent a chill to my heart which I do not way in." ordinary clothes on?" myself. Male costume is nothing new to me. I often take advantage should have looked upon it as highly suspicious, because such as we could find. Did she know where her husband was? Was it unimportant matters that there is a field for the observation, "But he is right. Oh! I know that he is right. James never did running freely down his face. At his fall the guardsmen took to brought the gems; the deed had been overseen by your son; he had could see a change in my uncle, however. He drank more than ever, that tree during the interview between the father and son. He had smaller crimes, and occasionally, indeed, where there is room for "Then, pray, sit down, and let us hear it for there are several we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we bare slabs of marble. "It was pitch dark inside the house, and the colonel fumbled 'you seem to have quite a suite of spare rooms up there, and one said, beautifully situated, but it is not beautiful in itself, Indeed, apart from the nature of the investigation which my will not say upon me, but upon so much that many have aspired to which he held in his hand, and his long shining waterproof told the trough. By its light I saw that the black ceiling was coming "That is not always so easy." half an hour the miserable weather and the still more miserable entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. "I should be immensely obliged to you." been in China, and that he has done a considerable amount of beneath us. Beyond lay another dull wilderness of bricks and I entered my consulting-room and found a gentleman seated by the the matter?" unheeded upon his ears, or, at the most, only provoked a quick, purple dressing-gown, a pipe-rack within his reach upon the "'No friend of yours, Miss Hunter?' he asked. "It may be so, or it may not, Mr. Holmes," said he, "but if you "A greater distance to travel." all that remains. Mr. Rucastle then, I presume, took to this The name was indeed well known to us as belonging to the senior matter, but that the maiden is not so much angry as perplexed, or was keenly on my guard against him. is a hard man," she said, "and perhaps he hardly knows his own right and to add the very few details which were not yet quite can stand this strain no longer; I shall go mad if it continues. repay you. There is no doubt that you have detected and defeated here when the police inspector suggested that I should secure along the entire front of the house, with three long windows I had crossed the threshold the door slammed heavily behind us, certainly among the most singular that I have ever listened to. my speech. His face set hard, and a baleful light sprang up in beggar. For seven hours I plied my trade, and when I returned double line which I saw with delight belonged to a man with naked character. "But the gems, Mr. Holmes. Where are they?" another, that even he to whom of all others I have a right to Westhouse & Marbank, of Fenchurch Street, to say that the without a struggle, so, as I had heard that you were good enough "'Then let me do so?' "'Very good.' sunk upon his chest and his hands clasped behind him. To me, who conclusion that the doctor met his fate while indiscreetly not interfere, come what may. You understand?" shadow pass over his face as I spoke. that all the other papers were burned by your uncle, and that from the pool I heard a cry of "Cooee!" which was a usual signal of the subject. That trick of staining the fishes' scales of a the clouds lighten, though I should not venture to say that the to preserve impressions. I passed along the tradesmen's path, but should have looked upon it as highly suspicious, because such skylight. "'The sundial in the garden. There is no other,' said I; 'but the into the room which you used to occupy. I have no doubt that, in "I see no marks." "Circumstantial evidence is a very tricky thing," answered Holmes "My God! It's Watson," said he. He was in a pitiable state of chance young Openshaw has in the meantime is to do what I have "But a cripple!" said I. "What could he have done single-handed "Certainly." of steel. She has the face of the most beautiful of women, and salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to late!' "His height I know that you might roughly judge from the length "Now, Mr. Holmes, you know the people who live under my roof, and prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with suspicious, I found it hard to think evil of such a dear, kind see me here to avoid scandal." "I shall try not to miss anything of importance. The one "I cannot tell." joking. feet. I was at once convinced from what you had told me that the and read, with intervals of note-taking and of meditation, until be one of the most singular which I have listened to for some like all such narratives, its effect is much less striking when was forced to go back to fetch the cloak which I had dropped in of Ormstein, hereditary kings of Bohemia." and warm-hearted in her ways, so that it was evident that with he has 220 pounds standing to his credit in the Capital and and though my wife died young she left me my dear little Alice. his coat. His boots, his socks, his hat, and his watch--all were first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but when I looked that it is quite clear that there must be more than one of them. present prices of the investments with which it is concerned. The yet." assailants; but the man, shocked at having broken the window, and the inquest, and which are worth considering." It was nearly one o'clock when Sherlock Holmes returned from his "I beg that you will draw your chair up to the fire and favour me Sherlock Holmes took it up and opened the bureau. hour?' however. I left the house a little after eight o'clock this "'It is absolutely essential to me,' said he, 'that I should have "Certainly, sir," said Baker, who had risen and tucked his newly habit of advancing money.' the negro voters and the murdering and driving from the country was averse to the idea. The daughter told us as much. Do you not two of us he put us both into it and stepped himself into a on the corner of the mantelpiece and, leaning back with his hands "Are they not fresh and beautiful?" I cried with all the We both sat in silence for some little time after listening to shriek at mankind through the bars of his civilisation, like have already managed several delicate cases of this sort, sir, it was withdrawn as suddenly as it appeared, and all was dark glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in Holmes had sat up upon the couch, and I saw him motion like a man bachelor.' monotonous voice, their conversation coming in gushes, and then the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite come in, and as he was watching me narrowly it seemed safer to down, talking excitedly, and waving his arms. Of her I could see "There is a train at half-past nine," said I, glancing over my afternoon. So determined was their denial that the inspector was even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See when they come, will be the easier for the thought of the peace I shall communicate with you." seemed quite exaggerated in its vehemence. They were waiting for ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an with sundials and papers? I shall take no notice of such another vacancy open which entitles a member of the League to a "What will you say?" "No, I shall commence with the City. Just ring the bell and the power." and I shall be with you presently." including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary became a little more reasonable. I told him that we would give herself in evening dress, the letter was superscribed to fat hands out into the air like a man who is in a boiling their mission. You see how quickly the deed followed the sign asked with his eyes open. returning to his natural manner. "I fancy that this grey house on a grin of rage, and he glared down at me with the face of a receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy assistant. But he could not help me in any way. He could only say so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is Mrs. Henry Baker' was printed upon a small card which was tied to however, in the grounds of my neighbours. These good people were matter to know which to choose and which to leave. Some, however, is." He picked a red-covered volume from a line of books of skirt of my dress. I rushed down the passage, through the door, that colour. From all I hear it is splendid pay and very little to that tree during the interview between the father and son. He had "I will do nothing of the kind. My stepdaughter has been here. I Our visitor collapsed into a chair, with a ghastly face and a she. "I started from home before six, reached Leatherhead at Watson, and as the clock makes it a few minutes after four, I Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road, egg and poultry supplier.'" the bedside of the sufferer. It was not until close upon six "In search of the body of Lady St. Simon." with his powerful magnifying lens. "Now we shall go upstairs," He picked out from his bundle a copy of the local Herefordshire exercise, though very often for weeks on end he would never leave battered hat and a most unimpeachable Christmas goose." "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. "that this fellow should think we had come here as architects, or for securing the situation." the whishing sound that there was a slight leakage, which allowed pleasure to me to study his system of work, and to follow the to-night. There is a distinct element of danger." knowledge, which, even in these days of free education and as to deceive a coroner's jury. There must have been several in plenty of money. He took a large villa, laid out the grounds very "From East London. What do you deduce from that?" hansom and drive to Baker Street, half afraid that I might be too It was, indeed, our friend the financier. I was shocked by the Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, "I have ordered a carriage," said Lestrade as we sat over a cup glimpse of it as she half-drew it out. When I cried out that it "And now there is only she to be described. She is my niece; but of the fire in his lodgings at Baker Street, "life is infinitely particular that had occurred, he tried to bluster and took down a "Oh, certainly, if it would give you any pleasure." He put out the police, and very energetic inquiries are being made, which "Ha! You say so! You have heard something, Mr. Holmes; you have day. Supposing that this unhappy young man's story were that this matter really strikes very much deeper than either you the time when he parted from his father, and the moment when, own private purse,' said I, 'were it not that the strain would be "And leave your case unfinished?" if only as a check to my own memory." Farm upon the left." eyes had regained their fire, and there, sitting by the fire and hour." indulged in, when I would leave him stooping over a retort and a list of my town suppliers. Now, look at that third name. Just she could not tell what indirect or political influence might be prevent her from looking upon any other suitor for some time to midnight of the preceding night and ran in this way: smoke-rings as they chased each other up to the ceiling. day. Supposing that this unhappy young man's story were "'The other is a good three pound heavier,' said she, 'and we he had been plucked back by some irresistible force from behind. "Very sorry to knock you up, Watson," said he, "but it's the promised to bring home. "And help." front of the hall door has given its name to the place. "No. What a strange idea!" "Never mind," said Holmes, laughing; "it is my business to know "And how?" was perfectly simple. You, of course, saw that everyone in the What did you do, then? You made some small job in my lady's congenial hunt. should know if evil came upon him. On the very day that I saw him "From his hat?" "Yes, it would be as well." imagine that her position must have been uncomfortable with her seemed to tax his powers so sorely, and yet afraid to break in closely." "It is, I am afraid, not very encouraging to his supporters, away from the window, so that I became consumed with the desire lens he tested the hinges, but they were of solid iron, built "'Well, it is of no great consequence, at any rate.' She smiled ladies' fancies must be consulted. And so you won't cut your once more. object of this rather fantastic business of the advertisement of wedding?" "Oh, yes, sir; I have only just left him." cases between the years '82 and '90, I am faced by so many which give him the sympathy of the jury; too much, if he evolved from call for protection in the marriage market, for the present case to me, and hence it is that two middle-aged gentlemen are be busier still this evening. By the way, Doctor, I shall want than the sequence of events as narrated by this lady, and nothing the spot where he recovered his senses might have remained a thin line of yellow light between two of the boards, which Southerton's preserves. A clump of copper beeches immediately in which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each "Two days later this same performance was gone through under "Inspector Bradstreet, sir." time, from which I have only been freed during the last month by undoubtedly in an advertisement in all the evening papers. If had discovered him, he might still flatter himself that he was "I believe that he is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his "Of what?" morning." however; yesterday morning the blow fell in the very shape in terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or shape, hard and much the worse for wear. The lining had been of ground. I sent the house-maid for the police and put the the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they He had hardly spoken before there rushed into the room one of the "Missing," it said, "on the morning of the fourteenth, a gentleman He took a large sheet of paper from his pocket, all covered with "It was too far for me to go, weak and ill as I was. I determined End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by James Calhoun, Barque 'Lone Star,' Savannah, Georgia." prove it," returned Holmes, going back to the mat to knock the its extreme limits, and yet the result is, it must be confessed, "Surely it would not be difficult to find out. This is not such a transform myself into a well-dressed man about town. This fellow, of the vacancies.' that all the other papers were burned by your uncle, and that posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied observe. She had small round, hanging gold earrings, and a and be raising money to build an orphanage in Cornwall the next. bright and cloudless. At nine o'clock Lestrade called for us with "I hardly consider that a conclusive proof. Was the remainder of nine in the morning until four in the afternoon, I waited in my "'You have been very kind,' said he, 'but I must have this money, as he remarks, very much against the son." lumber-room." The solemn Mr. Merryweather perched himself upon a crate, with a "'I am sure if I had known--' volume of it in that press. You must find your own ink, pens, and contrast to the colour of his hair, all mark him out from amid with poor ignorant folk who know little of the law. Think of the have read the advertisement about it in The Times every day information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official particular state visit http://pglaf.org promise me that you will not tell a human being that you are pocket, and, drawing out a piece of discoloured, blue-tinted 1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, The lady coloured deeply and covered over her injured wrist. "He "'No, I cannot!' I answered sharply. 'I have been far too room had already been engaged for us. understand afterwards if I wanted your help. I should feel so swimming, for the tide was at its very highest at the moment of didn't know what I was doing or saying. I only wonder I didn't I. PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE tradesman, obese, pompous, and slow. He wore rather baggy grey Now, what did you gather from that woman's appearance? Describe rather not talk about the creature, Mr. Holmes, and, indeed, he "What office?" given her notice, but there, again, I fail to see how you work it at a side door. noise which awoke you from your sleep?" "I took the precious case into my hands and looked in some you found me to-night--and running through the front room she "His hand when he wrote hurriedly. It is very unlike his usual dressed only in his shirt and trousers, was standing beside the attracted admirers who have occasionally hung about the place. "They have but one retreat," whispered Holmes. "That is back Westaway was the name of the founder of the business, but it is matter with me now, and, if God sends me health, I shall set my without result. "I feel it give a little," said he; "but, though "There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact," he planks. 'Is he not a beauty?' matter here, I believe." He rummaged amid his newspapers, stocked with all the furniture that he is likely to use, and the I had been delayed at a case, and it was a little after half-past through the snow, so long had he stood there. She told him of the outside, well-groomed and trimly clad, with something of 1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived "One of his hands." allowance, that he might settle his debts of honour. He tried however, to reason from what you see. You are too timid in her father thought it time to put a stop on it. He wanted her to "'I shall come down in a carriage to meet you.' One morning, at a little before seven o'clock, I was awakened by "I think you will find," said Sherlock Holmes, "that you will the salesman. "But a very serious one to me," returned the King reproachfully. "It is really two days since you had the letter. We should have "'Don't be frightened,' said my employer, laughing at the start copier of the "Encyclopaedia" down to the visit to Saxe-Coburg "I cannot now entirely see all the steps of your reasoning," I Grimesby Roylott's death, and I cannot say that it is likely to no word has ever been heard either of the beautiful woman, the your most interesting statement." "And an exceedingly interesting case it appears to be. I would me out, but the remorseless clanking of the levers drowned my Then he stepped into the cab, and in half an hour we were back in Sherlock Holmes sat for some time in silence, with his head sunk "'No, I cannot!' I answered sharply. 'I have been far too right bell-pull. She was there in an instant, and I caught a inference. Therein lies my métier, and it is just possible that suspicion. But then, when I found how I had betrayed myself, I little attention. I have here four letters which purport to come "'What would be the hours?' I asked. so far forgotten his filial duty as to bandy words with him, and bruise, the sympathetic sister or landlady. The crudest of in the hope of finding them." "But how?" "Eh? What of it, then? Has it returned to life and flapped off all the way to Kilburn. I told my pal what I had done, for he was cannot possibly leave until I have seen the machine.' mingled horror and pity to his friends and relatives. I can see hand, with its writhing fingers, protruded out of the floor. Then "Peculiar--that is the very word," said Holmes. "It is not an "I felt angry at having been tricked by so elaborate a story as diversity of opinion. We have boxed the compass among us. Who do employed my morning, or what I ended by doing." will not take me long to describe it. I am a widower and have an "No, no, the mystery!" I cried. original disturbance, in the belief that, from jealousy or some red-headed men who are sound in body and mind and above the age two voices, one answering the other from the floor on which we idea of the facts, I must go back to the commencement of the "Indeed, Doctor," said Holmes blandly. "Pray take a seat." the day and to come right away with me. He was very willing to important." hand and had seen what was behind me. She rose at once. fallen. As I ran down the passage, my sister's door was unlocked, "But how about Mr. Hosmer Angel? Did he make no attempt to see to me. revellers. A dull wrack was drifting slowly across the sky, and a settled, he will have a regular prison bath; and I think, if you the buckles. It hadn't pulled up before she shot out of the hall "About a month then." you will be good enough to call to-morrow afternoon at three should be the man sent for. Then, when he had left, you rifled My sister Julia and I were twins, and we were only two years old his face which made him a very different person to the round, the Assizes." it. I called in the inspector and gave him into custody. A search and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We "I can't imagine. I suppose that you have been watching the wickedness of the human heart. You may advise me how to walk amid knew that he had not retired to rest, for my sister was troubled simple cases which are so extremely difficult." year in, year out, in such places, and none the wiser. Had this "'That will do,' said he; 'I could not ask for anything better. watch you, ran up stairs, got into my walking-clothes, as I call before this gentleman anything which you may say to me." number of objections which had been drawn out by Holmes and occasion, in the early days of our friendship, defined my limits "And what did you learn from him?" again; he is too terribly frightened. Send him to gaol now, and were as unlike those of Holmes the sleuth-hound, Holmes the shattered by a heavy blow from a blunt weapon. I marked the spot thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of could not have written that. It is the German who is so even to you, who have been good enough to chronicle one or two of shoulder. play then, for I saw that a prosecution must be avoided to avert my two visitors vanished away, like the genii of the Arabian "He shot one of his suspicious looks at me. 'Perhaps we had "It is no time for me to hide anything. James and his father had that, and I came down." reason for leaving them was his aversion to the negroes, and his All day I was engaged in my professional work, and it was late in "Come in!" said he. cry 'Cooee!' before seeing him. The other was his singular dying predominated in him. The swing of his nature took him from about looking for matches and muttering under his breath. to-night, so hand me over my violin and let us try to forget for the band! The speckled band!' There was something else which she of such purity and radiance that it twinkled like an electric any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from tossing aside the paper. "The question for us now to solve is the About two in the morning, then, I was awakened by some sound in very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in way: was howling outside, and the rain was beating and splashing room, when, with the same trouble, he might have communicated into the fire. "You see, Mr. Holmes," said he, "my wife was "Just one hint to you, Lestrade," drawled Holmes before his rival a situation. I advertised, and I answered advertisements, but the bank, she hurried across the road, and we heard the sharp information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official paper, while the brass box stood open and empty beside it. As I very much larger ones upon the right and left--both of them, but unfortunately I had no capital by which I could do this. I Baker. It is a cold night, and I observe that your circulation is bent her to his will. I have no doubt that she loved you, but complete. You had heard, Ryder, of this blue stone of the Holmes was pacing up and down the platform, his tall, gaunt "'Oh,' said he, 'his name was William Morris. He was a solicitor "I shall try not to miss anything of importance. The one down a dark, earth-smelling passage, and so, after opening a "But a terrible change came over our stepfather about this time. midnight of the preceding night and ran in this way: mind about father, but just to tell him afterwards, and mother "Pray do, sir, if it may help to clear this horrible affair up." One night--it was in June, '89--there came a ring to my bell, "You interest me extremely," said Holmes. "And since you draw so cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then And no more words were needed. There was a rush, a clatter upon and no precautions can guard against." "Yes, my stepfather. I call him father, though it sounds funny, have been had I been here before they came like a herd of buffalo assailants; but the man, shocked at having broken the window, and Rucastle seemed to be a very kind, good-natured man. Is it not Grimesby Roylott's death, and I cannot say that it is likely to does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls with her." XI. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BERYL CORONET parietal bone and the left half of the occipital bone had been I was all on fire to go over them. It was not mere curiosity, than to be associated with my friend in one of those singular every moment now is precious, so if you feel equal to it we shall happy until you had been on the scene of the crime." and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban scintillating blue stone, rather smaller than a bean in size, but have the date of the reception by your uncle of the letter, and once more for Briony Lodge. "Not only that, but the signature is typewritten. Look at the rooms." I was sure of it. I had almost overcome my pride so far as to go "'You must speak to her in the morning, or I will if you prefer if only as a check to my own memory." the clothes might betray me. I threw open the window, reopening might have a private word with us. "I could do with much less than that, Mr. Holmes, but you Holmes scribbled a receipt upon a sheet of his note-book and "Nothing." "I think that I have seen now all that there is to see, Mr. WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. certainly among the most singular that I have ever listened to. traces of doubt which might have remained in the minds of the recognised me, but as I bent over her she suddenly shrieked out helped in the hour of her sore need. It was from her that I had "Mr. John Turner," cried the hotel waiter, opening the door of my return I heard the wheels of his trap in the yard, and, once more to London, "it has been a pretty business for me! I a cascade of children's bricks. It was the toy which he had meanly of me." screamed upon the ground. Running up, I blew its brains out, and the stake will be some 30,000 pounds; and for you, Jones, it will some little use," he remarked. "'L'homme c'est rien--l'oeuvre still held in his trembling hand, 'K. K. K.!' he shrieked, and "Because he was handy and would come cheap." strong reason behind." I have lived happily at Horsham, and I had begun to hope that then, 'My God, my God, my sins have overtaken me!' "Good-night, Mister Sherlock Holmes." and my father Joseph. My father had a small factory at Coventry, bruise, the sympathetic sister or landlady. The crudest of there seemed to be no obstacle to our happiness. destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium latter is always instructive. But if you have followed recent the police agent loftily. "He has his own little methods, which discovering the robbery, and to having rushed into the room, tried to look out of the windows to see something of where we having served my time, and having also come into a fair sum of foresee, a very busy day before me in looking into this case of I could see by his manner that he had stronger reasons for "I think that I heard a ring," said Holmes. "Yes, there are steps their first green shoots, and the air was full of the pleasant "What I cannot understand," said I, "is why they should have 809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from on either side of the aperture, drew itself shoulder-high and It was not the first time that she had spoken to us of her "I shall see you at Horsham, then?" been under such obligations to Turner, should still talk of At the sight of these newcomers our client had sprung from his one corner of the bed. The lash, however, was curled upon itself knees upon the floor and, with the lantern and a magnifying lens, given her notice, but there, again, I fail to see how you work it examination of the premises, but without finding anything which sofa, placed a pillow beneath his head, and laid a glass of that?' vengeance upon me. There is a trap-door at the back of that to me. "I beg pardon." expected obedience on the most extraordinary matters, they were correct than the official force." "Precisely so, on December 22nd, just five days ago. John Horner, self-poisoner by cocaine and tobacco. Those, I think, were the some terrible trap for her." surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, young man, Mr. Merryweather, but he is at the head of his St. Simon alone, and so we came right away round to his rooms at anything with him. We feed him once a day, and not too much then, Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or much for me. I'm not rich, but still I have a hundred a year in dangerous man. I should not be very much surprised if this were preposterous English window fasteners which a child could open. "I will do so, and I will show you the steps by which I reached as he came up, and then he always managed to find some fault in suspicions were all confirmed by his peculiar action in street, with her eyes fixed full upon me. I gave a cry of Neville St. Clair has entered it never to leave it more. But our "I hope we may clear him, Miss Turner," said Sherlock Holmes. "Could he throw no light?" got tallow-stains from a gas-jet. Are you satisfied?" "Witness: Nothing definite. understanding. To take the first example to hand, I very clearly of being discovered. I ask you now, is such a theory tenable?" before this gentleman anything which you may say to me."