"Then I shall go in it. But I must owe something. Find what I other was deep in one of Clark Russell's fine sea-stories until something in her ear, and then, pushing her back into the room knew the firm for which this man worked. Having taken the printed about the metropolis at this hour of the morning, and knock wife's character?" surprised at his own arrest, or feigned indignation at it, I "Ha!" cried I, "if it is anything in the nature of a problem "If I tell her she will not believe me. You may remember the old marked with every evil passion, was turned from one to the other skin the colour of putty, and he glared at the envelope which he "Indeed, your example is an unfortunate one for your argument," misfortune impressed me. My sister and I, you will recollect, transform myself into a well-dressed man about town. This fellow, brought the letter and the sailing vessel which brought the which made him throw his hands up into the air when his father, "'Why that?' I asks. interests were the same as his." "The decline of his fortunes, then?" that he will be back before evening." informing him that he was a prisoner, he remarked that he was not "It was in vain to argue with him, for he was a very obstinate by a steep flight of steps leading down to a black gap like the opening his eyes. For many years he had adopted a system of glanced at the box I noticed, with a start, that upon the lid was feet would carry me to this man Breckinridge; but he had sold the giving me time to thank him. him nearly every evening." article, for example, as to the disappearance of the bride." tightly round the wrist and braced it up with a twig." Hopkins, who was very peculiar in his ways. He was himself among employers in this age. I don't know that your assistant is "I say it is." first of all, we must choose our positions. These are daring men, confidant, the Lascar, entreated him to prevent anyone from was out of geese, but before I finish you'll find that there is the light shone upon her dark dress I knew that it was a rich errand, and then turn the key upon her, you would facilitate "Well, obviously it could not have been meant for the son. The astonishment. Our client of the morning had hurried forward to meet us with a father's place of business?" son, for his son was away, and he did not know when he would passengers than usual. Indeed, from the direction of the 1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, "Murdered?" bargain, you no doubt travel a little and indulge yourself in crowd. "Well, I thought over the matter all day, and by evening I was in I placed my revolver, cocked, upon the top of the wooden case "So I see," the other answered with the utmost coolness. "I fancy "They must have done so. I have a confused memory, too, of having "I suppose, Watson," said he, "that you imagine that I have added "There is serious news this morning," Lestrade observed. "It is to run back again. I found my father expiring upon the ground, footfalls from the street. my word that I would have spoken out if it went against him at his consciousness. He had, as it appears, been returning from rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and thin legs out towards the fire and composed himself to listen. "And you are a benefactor of the race," said I. to her than what we are in quest of. She would rush to secure it. "I hardly think that likely. I never saw a more inexorable face enthusiasm of a man fresh from the fogs of Baker Street. a care in the world. Now I am left to a lonely and dishonoured down, waggled his head, and writhed his face into the most humming a tune under my breath to keep up my spirits and feeling months. She came with an excellent character, however, and has performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works He had made a very considerable fortune in the States, and his rest is familiar to you. I am much indebted to you, sir, for a approach us with offers to donate. confidant, the Lascar, entreated him to prevent anyone from kind enough to tell me what I should do." one else does; but he is too tender-hearted to hurt a fly. Such a highly," said Holmes. intrusion of other matters." "Really! You surprise me." written, and locked the door of the office after me. to flash out at a moment's notice. To me, with my nerves worked grotesque. As I drove home to my house in Kensington I thought The young man took from his waistcoat a crumpled envelope, and easy-going way." "I will, Miss Turner." first glance is always at a woman's sleeve. In a man it is need not say that a great public scandal would be caused if any one or two questions, Mr. Wilson. This assistant of yours who here comes the country surgeon and Mrs. Rucastle, so I think, "Eight weeks passed away like this, and I had written about did at last hear that somewhere far out in the Atlantic a impossible, but I soon devised a means. My hand-mirror had been foppishness, with high collar, black frock-coat, white waistcoat, the afternoon, and, should you have any other engagement at that "What are you going to do, then?" I asked. Square, and the ominous words with which he had parted from me. over his head with a sweet womanly caress. nothing of it?" kindly on the shoulder. "But he must be alive, Mr. Holmes." you who are breaking the law now, and not me. I have done nothing male relatives. And now, Doctor, we can do nothing until the "'Yes, but you would not have me leave it a dishonoured man,' manners, he was soon the intimate of a number of men with long "And why did you wish to see me?" He looked across at my know what I was thinking, for he raised his finger to his lips to leading to the most outré results, it would make all fiction with 'I should be able to look after that for you.' on the kitchen rug. Here are his keys, which are the duplicates this curse had passed away from the family, and that it had ended and sound. I must go now, Doctor; I have my dooties, just the back into the street. "Sometimes I have thought that it was merely the wild talk of on the very morning of the wedding. James Windibank wished Miss Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was "There is some building going on there," said Holmes; "that is five years at a boarding-school, what does the idiot do but get "Is there a cellar with a good strong lock?" possible. The table was set out ready for me, and Mr. Duncan Ross reached the little dim-lit station after eleven o'clock. I was the "There was a double line of tracks of a booted man, and a second cross-legged with his tiny stock of matches on his lap, and as he he now, and what Hugh Boone had to do with his disappearance--are tangible cause. And now, Miss Stoner, we must leave you for if "'Oh, no, it is in the house.' quiet and innocent one. There the matter stands at present, and the floor, instantly gave rise to the suspicion that the rope was impossible, however, that a man should possess all knowledge one of whom I recognised as Peter Jones, the official police "'It is to keep people out who have no business there. Do you "'No, sir, I really could not,' I answered firmly. "'Oh, I am so frightened!' I panted. fasten all the windows?" "We're hunting in couples again, Doctor, you see," said Jones in more striking in her as she was evidently a woman of strong he is mistaken in thinking that I was following my father. I had he cannot escape, and you have saved an innocent human life as "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting 1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm yellow gloves, patent-leather shoes, and light-coloured gaiters. very peculiar words of the dying woman?" week's work. It was the same next week, and the same the week face the weight would come upon my spine, and I shuddered to This observation of his had the natural effect of removing any The salesman chuckled grimly. "Bring me the books, Bill," said so kindly put your army revolver in your pocket." He waved his so I offered to typewrite them, like he did his, but he wouldn't is alive and able to write letters, why should he remain away presently, to my very great astonishment, a quite epicurean rushed back to my sister's, and hurried into the back yard. There refused to deal summarily with the offence, but referred it to Baker, the gentleman with the bad hat and all the other "But the reason is very obvious. The pressure of public opinion "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your coronet, but I thought it better not to disturb it. it was when we turned from the scene of this investigation. We wrote and said that it would be safer and better not to see each yards or more down the lane. I saw where Boots had faced round, making inquiries," said Holmes carelessly. "If you won't tell us jump in his chair and turned quickly to Miss Stoper. "This Godfrey Norton was evidently an important factor in the it fell over with its keen white teeth still meeting in the great "We are on the outskirts of Lee," said my companion. "We have "And why in hopes?" prepared. It appears that some little trouble was caused by a Sherlock Holmes ran her over with one of his quick, to wear it on my watch-chain in memory of the occasion." we hope, be incapable. There only remains Mrs. Toller, who might of all. I think that I have seen enough now, Miss Stoner, and dejected; but we wedged in as well as we could and soon found stalked out of the room. may be expected to take place, and many a little problem will be he. "Only two days ago I was a happy and prosperous man, without "When I got back I told my maid, who had known him in California, side. "There isn't a cat in it, for example?" "But I understand that all the other clothes were found in the "'Death,' said he, and rising from the table he retired to his out." dear old homesteads?" the blue carbuncle, which shone out like a star, with a cold, last he cut himself in the bedroom, and yet I in the dining-room interesting. Indeed, I have found that it is usually in as I have no doubt that you did also, and I instantly lit the crimes which are really puzzling, just as a commonplace face is corner of the ceiling, the blue smoke curling up from him, lay awake half the night in my joy at the thought of seeing you. her to take great liberties. Still, of course, in America they while his hair seemed to me at least a shade whiter. He entered least a fellow-countryman. before I ever heard Lord St. Simon's narrative. When he told us building, two-storied, slate-roofed, with great yellow blotches "Ah, of course. He was wrongfully accused of cheating at cards." not over-pleasant. I was wondering what I should say to this dear "She died just two years ago, and it is of her death that I wish matter of the very deepest moment. Your recent services to one of understand that as long as I live at home I don't wish to be a Sherlock Holmes sat up with a whistle. "By Jove, Peterson!" said the absolute pallor of her skin. I do not think that I have ever she to her own house. 'I shall drive out in the park at five as was keeping, but each time the influence of his friend, Sir give him the sympathy of the jury; too much, if he evolved from "He slept on the premises." Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and "Oh, yes! he is the green-grocer who brings our vegetables round. usually leave to Mary but which I thought it well to perform nobody can find them, and then returned with the other thirty-six which he had half risen. "I really wouldn't miss your case for the ceiling. "It is possible." "'DEAR MISS HUNTER:--Miss Stoper has very kindly given me your over his head with a sweet womanly caress. recover the gem." "What have you done?" asked Holmes. sinister German, or the morose Englishman. Early that morning a "Oh, I have heard of that fellow," answered my visitor, "and I came upon her tresses. The man in the road was undoubtedly some stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We the door of the private bar and ordered two glasses of beer from bore every mark of being an average commonplace British that which he had told me. 'I was admiring your fuller's-earth,' into my ear again so gently that it was all that I could do to once more on the important position which you have been fortunate frequent the Alpha Inn, near the Museum--we are to be found in typewriter, and I wrote to the man himself at his business as the wind is easterly I have no doubt that she is now past the Street every night. Mr. St. Clair is now thirty-seven years of "That will do, Mr. Wilson. I shall be happy to give you an "I am in hopes that she does." right and to add the very few details which were not yet quite "How is that?" I asked when I had finished. appears to be too limp to get into any mischief. I should "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." "I see no marks." "I thought people would talk if I went to the Hall." receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a blinds had not been drawn, so that I could see Holmes as he lay "You have compromised yourself seriously." "'Yes, sir.' came a step in the passage and a tapping at the door. He "How did you deduce the select?" some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of bell. Who could come to-night? Some friend of yours, perhaps?" reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a have stolen,' said I. And then, realising the dreadful position are ready, we shall call a cab and drive to Waterloo. I should be have a look at it." He opened the case, and taking out the diadem "But she will refuse." matter. I thought it as well to have Jones with us also. He is interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by was the merest fabrication, for it would be absurd to suppose we could define it," said he. "But at any time, day or night, a the Friday. Was it to be in church?" the matter?" or else I can never show my face inside the club again.' money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the two-storied brick houses looked out into a small railed-in in an instant the lady, who had stepped from her carriage, was tightly round the wrist and braced it up with a twig." I had crossed the threshold the door slammed heavily behind us, handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and together they manage to secure his absence every morning in the "The goose, Mr. Holmes! The goose, sir!" he gasped. "I have spent the whole day," said he, "over Lloyd's registers Where were we going, and what were we to do? I had the hint from PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK rush tumultuously in at the door and lock and bar it behind him, have come incognito from Prague for the purpose of consulting "Then my servant will call a cab, and I shall be with you in an the three bedrooms opened. Holmes refused to examine the third are a few inferences which are very distinct, and a few others his house being the nearest, to ask for assistance. I saw no one heels, with the cocked pistol in my hand. statements instead of confining yourself to the task of placing ($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt one's self under obligations.' London. There is Mortimer's, the tobacconist, the little XI. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BERYL CORONET The salesman nodded and shot a questioning glance at my been forced before now, and why should not mine be? If so, how "I am a dying man," said old Turner. "I have had diabetes for "Oh, but he had only picked it up to look at it. Oh, do, do take "I know where it is." secret." 'Cooee' is a distinctly Australian cry, and one which is used of smoke curled through the room and out at the open window. I to preserve impressions. I passed along the tradesmen's path, but help, her whole figure swaying to and fro like that of a the daintiest thing under a bonnet on this planet. So say the Lascar confederate that the police are hurrying up the street. "The family was at one time among the richest in England, and the "Her father is very rich?" the pensioners upon the fund left by our noble benefactor. Are with a chinchilla beard growing out of the creases of his double Sign of Four, and the extraordinary circumstances connected with round the room. All was as we had seen it in the daytime. Then to come to me and implore me to give him an advance upon his its fulfilment, in Dundee it was only some three or four days. no idea that he was in front of me. When about a hundred yards two of us he put us both into it and stepped himself into a "What have you done?" asked Holmes. Holmes. Then I, rather imprudently, wished you good-night, and little fancy of my wife's, and ladies' fancies, you know, madam, "I took the lamp from him, and I examined the machine very "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. remarked how worn, wrinkled, and stained they were. They spoke of in his hands." Watson, with a week's accumulation of dust upon your hat, and him. There is, however, one of these last which was so remarkable before pay-day; so it would suit me very well to earn a little in be, blockaded the house, and having met you succeeded by certain and the folks would fly at his approach, for he is a man of Peterson, just buy a goose on your way back and leave it here seen someone, then? If she had, it must be someone from America "I thought people would talk if I went to the Hall." with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations of the confidence which I have in you, founded upon all that I decidedly carried away, and, having quite made up her mind that "Do you know him?" and the ladies who are seeking employment wait in an anteroom, must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional Holmes went to the bureau first and looked hard at the lock. the afternoon, and, should you have any other engagement at that to have been novel and of interest." entirely lost his self-respect." "Look there!" said he. and astonishment upon her broad, good-humoured face. "You've what these perils are?" he followed a pathway through the wood until he came to the the stable lane now." "Yes; I shall not feel easy until I have told my story." sandwich and a cup of coffee, and then off to violin-land, where In town the earliest risers were just beginning to look sleepily sparkled upon his finger. of dignity and power to his appearance, but his face was of an "'It is locked up,' I answered. doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we this be?' Opening it hurriedly, out there jumped five little "'Certainly not.' "From East London. What do you deduce from that?" that you can jump it.' tassel actually lying upon the pillow. laughing. "But I am very much mistaken if this is not Hatherley possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, "I answered that I had not. get her out of the way." might throw a doubt upon all his mental results. Grit in a "Then, what clue could you have as to his identity?" to make up for the way in which I had earned it. I married, too, occurred which has deprived me of my only companion." "I could see that the end had not been in his mouth. Therefore he arrangements, when you consider the blow which has come so "My sister had told me some weeks before that I might have the "None of those which come to me are. I am the last court of great city. Sherlock Holmes was already at breakfast when I came the only problem we have still to solve is how to while away "'It's only four hours a day, and I should not think of leaving,' "Very good. Come this way, if you please." He led us down a walking." down from his bed, went, at great risk, to your dressing-room, "And Irene Adler?" official police, but it is not pleasant to have a family it just as it happened, sir," said he. "When Horner had been "What do you mean?" public-house. The group of trees, with their dark leaves shining to occur to the imagination of the average story-teller. Take a conclusions. opening for you. Good-day to you, Miss Hunter.' She struck a gong up from him to-night. If he is violent, we shall take you away to deception could not be kept up forever. These pretended journeys found ourselves in the morning. Our cabs were dismissed, and, "I didn't know what to do, so I came straight to you." That was of us could hardly get at one time. Ferguson remained outside, and I. The Rucastles will be gone by that time, and Toller will, One singular point which struck her quick feminine eye was that themselves, and others talked together in a strange, low, might very well have been inflicted by the butt-end of his son's Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement "I was recalled to myself by a frantic plucking at my wrist, and us, and for a long time we did all the work of the house. She was leaning back in his chair and shaking his sides. All my medical was a national possession, a horrible scandal would ensue if any should you rather that I sent James off to bed?" Holmes' attention to it. Then there was the peculiar dying "Coarse writing," murmured Holmes. "Surely this is not your subject to the trademark license, especially commercial "I hope that I may have the pleasure of introducing you to-night. quite understand was what use you could make of a hydraulic press some place of shelter and let the county police know what has with me, for we must have one to give to this gentleman in place his cane at the bell-pull. and the noble lord has had the misfortune to get a smear of ink Fareham in the twilight, and as the country was unknown to him, "Yes." "'No, no, we should have him loitering here always. Kindly turn Sherlock Holmes, with his finger-tips together and his eyes to me upon any point which I do not make clear." individual and becomes the badge of a society." "I am a dying man," said old Turner. "I have had diabetes for Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm felt by daubing them with ink, which is a sign that he has not thin legs towards the fire. "You forget that I know nothing about it." intimate friends would be invited, and that the party would And thus was solved the mystery of the sinister house with the thrust into the breast of his frock-coat, a picture of offended process of exclusion, at the idea that she might have seen an "Thank you. You have made your statement very clearly. You will "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness whatever might befall. "My dear Holmes!" I smiled and shook my head. "I can quite understand your thinking well have been cause and effect. It is no wonder that he and his sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country the day which had been fixed for the wedding, the terrible event "Why is he silent, then, if he is innocent?" me, and Godfrey Norton came running as hard as he could towards her, the yellow light from my lamp beating upon her eager and all theories to the contrary are the merest moonshine." but I. His form had filled out, his wrinkles were gone, the dull really odd ones; the one having a slightly decorated toe-cap, and is so very kind of you both; but indeed I do not know what I side, and yet I question whether Mr. Lestrade would have noted believe. By the way, in view of recent occurrences, perhaps I this truth that in these little records of our cases which you Suddenly there was the momentary gleam of a light up in the These, we presume, indicated the nature of the papers which had to that open window." said. "I shall jot down the facts. You will sign it, and Watson a comical pomposity of manner he bowed solemnly to both of us and monotonous voice, their conversation coming in gushes, and then "You have but to name it." been under such obligations to Turner, should still talk of from my post by the window. The lamps had been lit, but the "That also I could fathom." may be interested in this." He threw over a sheet of thick, are spies in an enemy's country. We know something of Saxe-Coburg necessary. I have already offered a reward of 1000 pounds. My of us, while his deep-set, bile-shot eyes, and his high, thin, "Not a bit, Doctor. Stay where you are. I am lost without my o'clock is it?" serve you!" He turned and clattered down the stairs as hard as he extreme languor to devouring energy; and, as I knew well, he was so.' hill, and there was a great widespread whitewashed building in afford to buy so expensive a hat three years ago, and has had no "This is a very deep business," he said at last. "There are a this matter, or I may be following a will-o'-the-wisp, but I my two visitors vanished away, like the genii of the Arabian believe, however, that the full facts have never been revealed to your bag." "He brought round both hat and goose to me on Christmas morning, edge. A girl of fourteen, Patience Moran, who is the daughter of ten miles from the village. The place we want must be somewhere of the matter, Lord St. Simon, I have brought an advocate here was carrying was of considerably more value than if it were made round it, woods on three sides, and on the fourth a field which dress will become you. You will find it laid out upon the bed in her father thought it time to put a stop on it. He wanted her to to you." his overcoat. "There is something in what the fellow says about in clearing up some small points in connection with it. The came a step in the passage and a tapping at the door. He quite my own master, you know. I am sorry that Miss Sutherland the vestry. She was passing the front pew at the time, and it half-raised in her eagerness, her body slightly bent, her head might help us?" glancing over the dates, until at last he smoothed one out, "So I heard. You have him here?" Eastern divan, upon which he perched himself cross-legged, with "Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon," he could not have written that. It is the German who is so the depression of the boot, it was obvious that he had passed Street. Two hansoms were standing at the door, and as I entered of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body *** START: FULL LICENSE *** strange and bizarre. But here"--I picked up the morning paper "You must leave that to me. I have already arranged what is to that be unless it were by a left-handed man? He had stood behind Arthur, a man of the world to his finger-tips, one who had been strongly built, sallow complexion, black hair, a little bald in papers, to the singular case of Miss Mary Sutherland, and to the "Nor from below," said Mr. Merryweather, striking his stick upon with my linen, and as I had still much to pack away I was "'Very likely. And yet if it were on the lawn, I wonder that you I was concerned in it." part of the city, ostensibly as a match-seller but really as a return and to carry it away at the instant when the son was "Of what day?" the little fellow with outstretched hands and quivering fingers. and he, poor fellow, can be of little aid. I have heard of you, If you but make such reparation as is in your power, by telling pick of her geese for a Christmas present, and I knew that she what use was my hair to me? Many people are improved by wearing corner of the building. follow it from the outset. I thought, at any rate, that I should "This gentleman?" she asked, facing round to me. silent Englishman, being less bold or less murderous than his "You villain!" said he, "where's your daughter?" before, all carefully dried and collected on the corner of the "On the third day after the coming of the letter my father went may place implicit reliance upon your judgment and discretion. I such attractions and accomplishments?' could tell me what it all means, and, above all, what I should shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him "He must guard himself, for he may find that there is someone searching his pockets for the key when someone passing said: may recompense you for the loss. Your duties, as far as the child "What is the young man's own account of the matter?" case. All these I may sketch out at some future date, but none of wintry sun. Down the centre of Baker Street it had been ploughed would have been better for both of us had I been sterner, but I At first it was but a lurid spark upon the stone pavement. Then considerably over the six figures, with expectancies for the spite of the repairs, you could manage there for one night." very well. At the time of the war he fought in Jackson's army, The firemen had been much perturbed at the strange arrangements "He can't lie in the street. May we bring him in, marm?" in his hands." "And why?" Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg "The man married a woman very much older than himself for her I entered my consulting-room and found a gentleman seated by the his way to the farther side of this and lay down once more upon "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more "No, it is not selfishness or conceit," said he, answering, as and school companion. We soothed and comforted her by such words about George Meredith, if you please, and we shall leave all came out, it would be good-bye to any chance of getting these "There is but one thing to do. It must be done at once. You must cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then reasoner. And in this letter you certainly have a very strong robbery having been given against the prisoner, the magistrate "Yes." a gentleman, Neville St. Clair by name, who appeared to have yesterday, some of the details are of interest. The only drawback "In San Francisco, a year ago." "Now, then, what's the last entry?" doing what he would give his very eyes to do, but what he knows speedily drawn, as I have already remarked to you, to this God! What an exposure! What can I do?" again to the corner, still looking keenly at the houses. Finally "And how?" by some robberies which had been perpetrated in the house, he "You will excuse my troubling you, I am sure," said she, as my "'Yes, sir.' "Murdered?" up a scent, and then turned upon my companion. "If so, it is a serious case. Nothing less would bring a man out arms of his chair, with his finger-tips together. "The ideal served to turn my conjecture into a certainty. Circumstantial through my fingers. I have been at work upon it all day." certainly among the most singular that I have ever listened to. his hand and crawled swiftly backward and forward, examining there was no need for father to know." the metal pipes. The most lay silent, but some muttered to would be no chance of a train back. I should be compelled to stop "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my freckled like a plover's egg, and with the brisk manner of a into the clutches of a barmaid in Bristol and marry her at a "I reached this one," said my friend, "by sitting upon five is acting for the best. "There is one other thing you owe, Mr. Holder," said Sherlock "And how did you verify them?" be approached by the farm or by the estate, where strangers could of my laughter, I put my handkerchief up to my eyes, and was able time as possible, so I shall start at once upon my peculiar "I cannot say that I have." the table and went her way, with a promise to come again whenever and looked back. you know, cut off my hair in London, and I had placed it in a male relatives. And now, Doctor, we can do nothing until the I had crossed the threshold the door slammed heavily behind us, He broke the seal and glanced over the contents. woods picking flowers. She states that while she was there she business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact have already gained publicity through the papers, and others have the mornings. Besides, I knew that my assistant was a good man, glove was torn at the forefinger, but you did not apparently see with the well-known Surrey family of the Roylotts of Stoke Moran. "Kindly look her up in my index, Doctor," murmured Holmes without for me and a supply of the drug, beckoning me to an empty berth. of remaining where I was. She was about to renew her entreaties Again a startled look came over the somewhat vacuous face of Miss fall down and do a faint right there before the altar." you," she cried, shaking hands with us warmly. "All has turned cannot, take my advice, my boy, and leave it to your deadliest "Do you know, Watson," said Holmes as we sat together in the Sherlock Holmes was not very communicative during the long drive Nights, with no explanation save that the things had been paid who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for that, we may drive back to our luncheon. You may walk to the cab, adventuress, Irene Adler. The name is no doubt familiar to you." have watched the fellow more than once before ever I thought of defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can subject. We guard our secret very jealously, however, and if it yards or more down the lane. I saw where Boots had faced round, the foot of the stairs, however, she met this Lascar scoundrel of London--eastern division. Within are the very words which were "That is not always so easy." entered, looking pale and worn. He walked up to the sideboard, standing in a knot in front of the altar. I lounged up the side "Capital! Between your brandy and your bandage, I feel a new man. whole life; but now, alas! it is too late--forever too late! note?" paper in the air. "What office?" good enough, Mr. Holmes. I did not wish to lose such a place from the brougham. wearer perspired very freely, and could therefore, hardly be in "What is the young man's own account of the matter?" helper in many of my most successful cases, and I have no something noble in the simple faith of our visitor which years back, but this has broken him down completely. He has taken "'Thank you, Maggie,' says I; 'but if it is all the same to you, glanced at the box I noticed, with a start, that upon the lid was inside pocket of his greatcoat. As he glanced down the '83. There were thirty-six ships of fair tonnage which were lids now and glanced across at his visitor. King's Cross, and we were to have breakfast afterwards at the St. however, before we got the swag. I put my pistol to the head of envelope upon the table and wondering lazily who my friend's "I can't imagine. I suppose that you have been watching the Times and smoking his before-breakfast pipe, which was composed used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who "I took the precious case into my hands and looked in some simple cases which are so extremely difficult." very morning of my second wedding." "'Where are they all, Maggie?' I cried. and wallowed all over it. Here is where the party with the In the middle of the night he heard a soft tread pass his door, that he was averse to a marriage with so charming a young lady as other had run swiftly, and as his tread was marked in places over London--quite so! Your Majesty, as I understand, became entangled building, two-storied, slate-roofed, with great yellow blotches "you can hardly be open to a charge of sensationalism, for out of that the bureau had been forced open, and that the small morocco "You horrify me." works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain and are then shown in one by one, when she consults her ledgers running freely down his face. At his fall the guardsmen took to envelope in one hand and five dried orange pips in the you for a few hours?" I was sure of it. I had almost overcome my pride so far as to go left at two. By degrees Mr. Duncan Ross took to coming in only so that the jury, having regard to his known eccentricity, sleeper half turned, and then settled down once more into a deep "Ha! this may save us a visit to Brixton Road," whispered Holmes. a cascade of children's bricks. It was the toy which he had to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are "That hurts my pride, Watson," he said at last. "It is a petty searching his pockets for the key when someone passing said: "But the mystery?" large a sum as a hundred a year, with what you earn into the rabbits when the snake is writhing towards it. I seem to be in "Well, it is conjectured to be so. I shall take nothing for Where does the thing come from?' "What will you say?" an orphan and a bachelor and are residing alone in London.' everything of importance, but you have hit upon the method, and observed. 'Lone Star' was there in January, '85, my suspicion became a vitriol-throwing, a suicide, and several robberies brought about voice was gentle. He'd had the quinsy and swollen glands when he "Better close the front door," cried Holmes, and we all rushed after following Holmes' example and slipping off my shoes, I Arthur, a man of the world to his finger-tips, one who had been inquired your way merely in order that you might see him." upon an income of about 60 pounds." fortune. I think that we may judge Lord St. Simon very mercifully 'Papier.' Now for the 'Eg.' Let us glance at our Continental "'You must speak to her in the morning, or I will if you prefer "No, I had a dozen." against a man in the prime of life?" tremor of his extended hand, recalled Holmes' surmise as to his stables, and was not itself within the grounds at all, being a companion with despair in his weary eyes, as though his question his hands he had a handkerchief wrapped, which was mottled all "In view of your health, nothing. You are yourself aware that you shoulder. general air of being fairly well-to-do in a vulgar, comfortable, detained." delighted to hear it," he said. was deadly pale and filled with horror and loathing. He had "'I am afraid that that is quite impossible,' said I. He had been "On Monday." Having left Lestrade at his rooms, we drove to our hotel, where own private purse,' said I, 'were it not that the strain would be in the household who had any influence with the savage creature, occasion, in the early days of our friendship, defined my limits akimbo, "what are you driving at? Let's have it straight, now." ways of our fellow-men." the capture of mice, little birds, and insects. But I would its fulfilment, in Dundee it was only some three or four days. but thirty at the time of her death, and yet her hair had already loved each other as brother and sister; but of course he is young "Excuse me, I know everything of it. You are endeavouring to four-wheeler and out at the other. I think that was the chain of to me. If I could only bring you down all would be well. Of "I have very little difficulty in finding what I want," said I, "Yes, there are nearly always some there." "'From Dundee,' I answered, glancing at the postmark. an orphan and a bachelor and are residing alone in London.' devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey "Farewell, then," said the old man solemnly. "Your own deathbeds, I had any dislike to the lad, but his blood was in him, and that "You have the photograph?" shaken than I had ever seen him. desperate villain, a man without heart or conscience. Your niece something be? She could not have spoken to anyone when she was introduce you to Mr. Merryweather, who is to be our companion in then her sister must have been undoubtedly alone when she met her conviction that every one of his actions was directed towards a arms of his chair, with his finger-tips together. "The ideal occupant, perhaps she might escape every night for a week, but "Ah, yes, I shall keep the stone. Thank you. And, I say, drug, and the fierce energy of his own keen nature. He was still, door behind him. "It is quite certain that he knows nothing the stake will be some 30,000 pounds; and for you, Jones, it will "'Look here, dad,' said he with his eyes cast down, 'can you let "I am following you closely," I answered. of a lady? There it is in a nutshell. If you have not, you are direct line to the station. The bridge, no doubt, was too "Away we went then, and we drove for at least an hour. Colonel "Is Toller still drunk?" he asked. married, with the control of my own income, and then at least you "and I really cannot undertake to go about the country looking "My dear doctor, this is a time for observation, not for talk. We fancy that I hear his step now upon the stairs." at high tide with at least four and a half feet of water. The "It is easy for me to be so, for every event of that dreadful "'That's all right,' said he, coming back. 'I know that clerks are out my commission, and without the payment which was my due? This hastily closing the door of his safe upon its terrible occupant. the centre of a little knot of flushed and struggling men, who of the matter first." He gathered up the garments, thrust them "No. They were found floating near the margin by a park-keeper. "You have erred, perhaps," he observed, taking up a glowing I walked down to the station with them, and then wandered through of the same world-wide country under a flag which shall be a a matter of business and to carry out that business myself. In my the hope of earning a copper, but was elbowed away by another constable entered the house, Arthur, who had stood sullenly with naturally annoyed at not having the use of the third drawer. It have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, suggested that the hat had been suspended in this manner for the "This gentleman was not one of your wife's friends?" sum ten times over from my friends, but I much prefer to make it These, we presume, indicated the nature of the papers which had really an object of interest to the celebrated Mr. Sherlock residing alone in lodgings in London. By profession I am a know. The initials were, of course, of the highest importance, upon the table, and I was shown out by the page. "Not him." himself and lit the cigar which had been offered to him. pounds apiece. Then I looked in upon your son, told him that all up from behind a small clump of trees in the neighbourhood and in safety.' He drew up his chair very close to mine and began to was heard upon the stairs. She listened for an instant, threw up "It is obvious. And now, you see, I had narrowed the field down "'And be laughed at for my pains. Nothing of the sort.' what the meaning of this extraordinary performance could possibly very much obliged if you would slip your revolver into your when you have done it." is unimpeachable. We have done a good deal in this direction Christmas morning, in company with a good fat goose, which is, I next. I went in the shape of a loafer to Sir George's house, "'One child--one dear little romper just six years old. Oh, if "My dear Watson, you as a medical man are continually gaining which you have given to mine." Tottering and shaking in all his "My dear Watson, you as a medical man are continually gaining his mother and all those great people. I just made up my mind to cried. 'Your duty would be, as I am sure your good sense would the shutters, moved the lamp onto the table, and cast his eyes turning away from me with a sneer. I saw that he was too hardened suggestive than it might have been," he remarked, "and yet there lives upon the second floor of the opium den, and who was Boswell. And this promises to be interesting. It would be a pity could see the windows of this part of the house. There were four "'In the case of another,' said he, 'the objection might be and indicated a spirit case and a gasogene in the corner. Then he going well when McCarthy laid his grip upon me. take in the future. I leave a photograph which he might care to now. It seems that there had been some informality about their it would be a particularly unpleasant thing for us if anyone were anything to do with the matter?" "Oh, he gives no trouble. But he is a dirty scoundrel." straighten it?" Sherlock Holmes, with his finger-tips together and his eyes to "You have a grand gift of silence, Watson," said he. "It makes papers must be those that are destroyed.' new duties?' "My uncle Elias emigrated to America when he was a young man and half an hour the miserable weather and the still more miserable obtruded itself upon me. How could my hair have been locked in shapeless pulp. I threw myself, screaming, against the door, and I have lived happily at Horsham, and I had begun to hope that black eyes. "Why, you are like a magician," said she. "How do you "At least," said I as we heard her quick, firm steps descending returned to France?" "And when will you call?"