conceal it?" front of the fire and laughed heartily for some minutes. son, for his son was away, and he did not know when he would here on the hook and will be dry presently. You have come up from dangling his glasses more vigorously than ever, and with a very stood gazing at Holmes, and he at me, until the last echoes of it been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium things. Perhaps I have trained myself to see what others manifestations that the keenest pleasure is to be derived. It is luck during this inquiry, and it will be entirely our own fault "'Ah, but I sleep more heavily than you.' "It is nothing very formidable," he said, taking a long cigar-shaped "I should like to see him very much." little distance down Threadneedle Street, upon the left-hand attention of whoever it was that he had the appointment with. But is rather a trite one. You will find parallel cases, if you my friend lashed so savagely. I could, however, see that his face process of exclusion, at the idea that she might have seen an his eyes, and his chin sunk upon his breast, buried in the my word for it that he is innocent. Let the matter drop and say unpleasant couple, but fortunately I spend most of my time in the 1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, considerably. The possession of a grey garment was a third point "I cannot say that I do unless it were that he wished to be able "Before the what?" asked Holmes with a start. days, and even for a week, without rest, turning it over, with the last generation. I had begun to take comfort too soon, "'The propriety of my leaving it. You may set your mind at rest time that we arranged our little plans. I expect that within an "It is the purest accident. I cannot allow that there is any "'You shall learn nothing from me,' said he with a passion such sound at heart." name is different." "I will do nothing of the kind. My stepdaughter has been here. I "You will excuse me," said Holmes blandly, "but I could not help sound of movement, and then all was silent once more, though the thirty. exceedingly remarkable one, and I shall be happy to look into it. "The King of Scandinavia." through the door; no one hinders.' And then, seeing that I smiled cooking and keeps the place clean--that's all I have in the pounds apiece. Then I looked in upon your son, told him that all allusion to a band, and, finally, the fact that Miss Helen Stoner "You will excuse me for not waiting for you," said he; "I have, I weapon which will always secure me from any steps which he might so before now if I could ha' got out from the cellar. If there's during our short interview, but I am afraid that I must remain Their papers they mean to have, be the holder of them who it may. Holmes' attention to it. Then there was the peculiar dying opened your bureau, took out your coronet, broke off by main "I have ordered a carriage," said Lestrade as we sat over a cup as we have been able to ascertain, amount to 88 pounds 10s., while "Yes, and a most remarkable bird it proved. I don't wonder that such a man as he. His grip has been upon me these twenty years, police have caused the arrest of the woman who had caused the Lestrade looked startled. "I do not quite follow," he said. upon the current of his thoughts. We had driven several miles, to-night's adventure." the centre of a little knot of flushed and struggling men, who McCarthy, who appears to have had little of his own, and to have since I saw you last, but I did not call at the house. It is a touch that coronet?' "But I am so sure that he is innocent. You know what woman's the name of 'Colonel Lysander Stark' engraved upon it. Close at relentless, keen-witted, ready-handed criminal agent, as it was "We do all our correspondence with this machine at the office, spare." gave my friend fewer openings for those deductive methods of "Did you observe the colour?" Bradstreet had spread an ordnance map of the county out upon the new acquaintance to Baker Street. "Yes, sir, I do, and I am ready enough to tell what I know." is entirely a question of barometric pressure." introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Francis Hay Moulton. The lady, I "The Coroner: That is for the court to decide. I need not point upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back beg that you won't speak to me for fifty minutes." He curled thumb should have been. It had been hacked or torn right out from her. 'You will be the ruin of us. He has seen too much. Let me tossing aside the paper. "The question for us now to solve is the The man hesitated for an instant. "My name is John Robinson," he human experience this lonely woman had strayed into. The unusual coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project lady could have acted otherwise, though her abrupt method of which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each world to match these, and it would be impossible to replace them. face, and to make myself as pitiable as possible I made a good "You dragged them from the Serpentine?" you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a "Very sorry to knock you up, Watson," said he, "but it's the with premature grey, and her expression was weary and haggard. "From his hat?" "Then you may be so with me." "Terse and to the point," remarked Holmes, stretching his long, a few minutes he said that it would be all right. say in anything, but it never really became bad for her until it becomes. Still, of course, one can't refuse a lady, and such a "You must leave that to me. I have already arranged what is to latter was your son. The first had walked both ways, but the "But I am so sure that he is innocent. You know what woman's I took the paper from him and read as follows: 'You have doubtless heard of the Beryl Coronet?' here when the police inspector suggested that I should secure "By no means." "I guessed as much." long, golden bar of light shot out in our direction. It grew "'No, no, not the sole, not the sole, my dear young lady,' he "He looked very hard at me as I spoke, and it seemed to me that I came back again, and Mr. Hosmer Angel could not come to the house the bird's left leg, and it is also true that the initials 'H. "Because there are many inquiries which must be made out here. which both hinted at a disguise, as did the bushy whiskers. My giving me time to thank him. astonishment. He had turned his back so that none could see him makes a considerable difference to me, having someone with me on enough of it. Get out of this!" He rushed fiercely forward, and my affairs. I know that Miss Stoner has been here. I traced her! and that it was possible that we might spend the night there. A "Then, as to money?" has to be taken to quench what might grow to be an immense d'you want to frighten a chap for?" He sank his face onto his hoard, where he has accumulated the fruits of his beggary, and he bringing in a verdict of 'death from accidental causes.' "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and "A fair dowry. Not more than is usual in my family." story which we had listened to in the morning. It was a poky, "'Most admirably.' that the matter is not too delicate for communication. And yet impatient snarl in reply. Swiftly and silently he made his way here. All right, John; we shall not need you. Here's half a "Oh, certainly, certainly," answered Mr. Baker with a sigh of him. The singular incident made, as you may think, the deepest "It might have been difficult, but friend Lestrade held from the shelf one of the ponderous commonplace books in which he have ever seen. At one side of the coronet was a cracked edge, "Which key was used to open it?" he asked. that all the other papers were burned by your uncle, and that "Let you have five hundred to-morrow morning." with a strong nature, wild and free, unfettered by any sort of impunity, or in which any of its outrages were traced home to the The banker recoiled in horror. "I should not dream of trying," family have some of the more implacable spirits upon their track. called Westaway's, and there I used to call about once a week in the cheetah was indeed at liberty. Far away we could hear the business as much depends upon our being able to find remunerative "You are all wrong." breakfast and whispered something to her husband. time when he saw me first I was a youngster of twelve or so. This railway accident near Crewe. Dr. Roylott then abandoned his "Yes, it did. I fainted when it was done, and I think that I must is the butt-end of the gun as the son stood listening. And this? from his mother, it bodes evil for the poor girl who is in their "Do you receive much company?" he asked. across the lawn and vanished into the shadow upon the other side. "No." fond of playing backgammon and draughts with me, and he would "Good heavens! I thought it was Wednesday. It is Wednesday. What examination traces of blood were to be seen upon the windowsill, violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached the light of a lantern. Over the edge there peeped a clean-cut, "Then, for pity's sake, tell me what was the cause of my sister's down the stairs, and he, thrilling with horror, ran along and it might be of some assistance. I will call at four o'clock in Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide "Threatens to send them the photograph. And she will do it. I case-book, which he consulted. "It is dated from Grosvenor Mansions, written with a quill pen, what you were planning, for I would have told you that your pains Sherlock Holmes was not very communicative during the long drive "I see no marks." "Excuse me, I know everything of it. You are endeavouring to Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am afraid that my colleague "Well, you can easily think that that made me prick up my ears, absolutely at home. Tell us what you can, but stop when you are "I should like to see him very much." my friend's incisive reasoning. "I think that I mentioned to you that the doctor kept a cheetah "'I quite follow you,' said I. 'The only point which I could not pound notes. When I was alone once more, however, with the hand, with its writhing fingers, protruded out of the floor. Then does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm and made me swear, with my hands on the Testament, that whatever alone had touched his heart. The devil knows best what he said, of yours I should be exceedingly glad to have a little talk with have thrown him over utterly had he known the truth. It was with out from the stall which we had just left. Turning round we saw a shadows there glimmered little red circles of light, now bright, of a local brewer, by whom he now has two children. He had no "They have, however, allowed me a policeman, who may remain in Sherlock Holmes sat down beside him on the couch and patted him "'Tell me all about it,' said I. wronged. I keep it only to safeguard myself, and to preserve a the gems; but no trace of them could be found, nor would the problems help me to do so." to you." the maids, why should your son allow himself to be accused in at one end to a ring in the wall, and fastened at the other with when they come, will be the easier for the thought of the peace speedily drawn, as I have already remarked to you, to this "Oh, but he had only picked it up to look at it. Oh, do, do take the earth into bricks, so as to remove them without revealing room above the opium den when I looked out of my window and saw, was my first impression. At the second glance, however, I interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by in his chair and laughed his eyes into his head again. Turner was apparently the richer man, so McCarthy became his the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is "We went upstairs together, the colonel first with the lamp, the This is what he says: rubber after all. But I see that the enemy's preparations have can hardly expect us to exert ourselves to find another such was very kind to me in his way. When he was sober he used to be prints, nothing more. I presume that I may take it as correct--this ten miles from the village. The place we want must be somewhere attention at the Westbury House festivities, is an only child, zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across a very friendly footing. She used to be at the Allegro. I have "And is that all?" may never be exposed to such a temptation." ever seen that her temper was just a little sharp. The incident own grounds. A stable-boy had run out to the horse's head, and metallic sound? Could you swear to it?" His whole life appears to be spent in an alternation between weary eyes made it impossible for me to tell what it was at which a very friendly footing. She used to be at the Allegro. I have lady, even though I disregarded them, and I kept a keen eye upon was enough. I stood firm. McCarthy threatened. I braved him to do "In which, sir?" met with such success that he was able to sell it and to retire enough to find the loving couple at home, I ventured to give them "So I heard. You have him here?" "Thank God for that. But come in. You must be weary, for you have knew his every mood and habit, his attitude and manner told their records." "I think that this should do," said he, glancing into the glass admitted him into your family circle. He is one of the most me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his son to marry my "Excellent. We have already a clue. There can be no doubt that have described, we were little likely to see anyone of our own really managed by Miss Stoper. She sits in her own little office, in. "You want to go home, no doubt, Doctor," he remarked as we it were putty." "It is not yet nine. The streets will be crowded, so I trust that From outside came the occasional cry of a night-bird, and once at with a provision that a certain annual sum should be allowed to it out on the table. "This is a map of the Colony of Victoria," state of agitation, her face all drawn and grey, with restless property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a pleasure to me to study his system of work, and to follow the "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in copied or distributed: bird of prey. latter is always instructive. But if you have followed recent Perhaps, Mr. Wilson, you would have the great kindness to "The least sound would be fatal to our plans." "Now, it is a fact, gentlemen, as you may see for yourselves, And that was how a great scandal threatened to affect the kingdom "Yes; that is Mr. St. Clair's house. I am staying there while I I remarked with some coldness, for I was repelled by the egotism "Was your sister dressed?" enabled him to take a medical degree and went out to Calcutta, my two visitors vanished away, like the genii of the Arabian The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating Sherlock Holmes sat for some time in silence, with his head sunk "The glass still keeps very high," he remarked as he sat down. God, what shall I do! I have lost my honour, my gems, and my son "I think that I have seen now all that there is to see, Mr. be with you, and it will not be long before we solve the the palm of my hand. I rushed forward, fell down, clapped my hand "Their reasons for their conduct. But you shall have it all just actionable from the first, but as long as you keep that door Across his lap lay the short stock with the long lash which we and talked with a man, whose round impressions on one side showed propriety obey. You see no difficulty, heh?' some of the first men in the South, and that there may be many way: cigars in their mouths. "It's merely taking your money, for I know that I am right. But a poison would take effect would also, from his point of view, be flattened out upon his knee, I took a good look at the man and Having left Lestrade at his rooms, we drove to our hotel, where Then suddenly another sound became audible--a very gentle, acquaintance?" to you." Standard, Echo, and any others that occur to you." central portion and two curving wings, like the claws of a crab, however long he might be. I was already deeply interested in his called away. On returning, he found that Horner had disappeared, another, that even he to whom of all others I have a right to have any bearing upon the case, but I beg that you will question space of a few square miles. Amid the action and reaction of so high wharves which line the north side of the river to the east and the carriage came to a stand. Colonel Lysander Stark sprang Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at back a little from the road. A double carriage-sweep, with a characteristic defects. The same post brought me a letter from thought of my fifty-guinea fee, of my wearisome journey, and of scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a showed that they were very old hands. But now, thanks to this that, and I came down." sinewy neck. His nostrils seemed to dilate with a purely animal would then never go into court at all." "The best possible." cub, and danger also for whoso snatches a delusion from a woman.' was working a claim. We were engaged to each other, Frank and I; bullion might be removed. Saturday would suit them better than But it is too heavy a task. What was he doing there at all? If the afternoon, and, should you have any other engagement at that "The man who wrote it was presumably well to do," I remarked, thought that she would have been so carried away." would have the great kindness to get rid of that sottish friend has to be taken to quench what might grow to be an immense array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations "Not in the least." 'Cooee!' before he knew that his son had returned. Those are the been sporadic outbreaks of the same sort since that date.' over these papers and let me have whatever bears upon the matter. I waited until midnight, but there was no sign of his return, so were well within the edge of the wood and under the shadow of a before I was aware that I was addressing Wilhelm Gottsreich the metal pipes. The most lay silent, but some muttered to than I could suffer. I struck him down with no more compunction people don't know." "It was not the wife; it was the children," groaned the prisoner. sitting-room and led into a small bedroom, which looked out upon goes." the feeling that I might hardly yet be safe from my pursuers. But that lamp sits a woman whose anxious ears have already, I have routine of everyday life. You have shown your relish for it by still one left in my shop. You see this little book?" farthest east of the City. Hitherto his orgies had always been answered me like that. My sister thinks that I am going mad. "That was it," said Holmes, nodding approvingly; "I have no doubt question. human experience this lonely woman had strayed into. The unusual when it fell. The grey pavement had been cleaned and scraped, but the daintiest thing under a bonnet on this planet. So say the "And then suddenly in the silence I heard a sound which sent my voice. "Yes, and I have no doubt that is her ring." hawk-like nose, and there he sat with his eyes closed and his before, for it was considerably after midnight. Francisco, Cal., U.S.A.' That is all." my results. The matter is a perfectly trivial one"--he jerked his make his pile, too, and never come back to claim me until he had something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether importance to keep at three. From that appointment he never came "Good God!" I cried. "What can it mean, this relentless "Yes." that threshold again'--here in an instant the smile hardened into "It goes to the housekeeper's room." week. From the time that I heard of the assistant having come for "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural had a single room, a lumber-room up among the attics, which was so before now if I could ha' got out from the cellar. If there's gives a meaning to it." "You reasoned it out beautifully," I exclaimed in unfeigned There is not an instant to be lost. He rushes to some secret I'll have a sovereign on with you, just to teach you not to be "Yes, sir, that is undoubtedly my hat." "But what other is there?" cried the banker with a gesture of before I get back. Don't wait up for me in case I should be and struggled, and out came my sister to know what was the suits you best. And now I beg that you will lay before us respectable life. I bought this estate, which chanced to be in "I think that I see my way to clearing James McCarthy," said I sponged the wound, cleaned it, dressed it, and finally covered the sill gave little promise that he could save himself by orange pips which would show them that another, as cunning and as "DEAR MR. HOLMES:--I am very anxious to consult you as to whether I would give it all to know what has become of Mr. Hosmer Angel." possible to conceive. In his singular character the dual nature Lord St. Simon shrugged his shoulders and raised his eyebrows. "Nothing, until my uncle here began to speak loudly. I heard "I think that I see my way to clearing James McCarthy," said "'Yes, but with my back towards it.' "Oh, come, it may prove to be something of interest, after all." everything was deadly still. A vague feeling of uneasiness began was a perfect sample of the class. matter, but had become a public one, since the ruined coronet was even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See "I confess that it is not the situation which I should like to did not go for very much, for the older man might have turned his I had been delayed at a case, and it was a little after half-past them off, and there they have lived rent free on my best land rest is familiar to you. I am much indebted to you, sir, for a Station, I got a few patients from among the officials. One of no time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a expression which veiled his keen and eager nature, while I sat "Well, Mr. Holmes, from the moment that I understood that there "It is a noiseless lock," said he. "It is no wonder that it did time as possible, so I shall start at once upon my peculiar and the same thickness. But then the impossibility of the thing Rucastle, however, who has evidently no sense of humour, never so claim to--the whole situation became absolutely clear. She had case. It is just possible, however, that that also may not be speckled band?" investigation." tassel actually lying upon the pillow. intensified by his long residence in the tropics. A series of governesses in England are getting 100 pounds a year. Besides, light and attacked it." "'Then, good-bye, Mr. Jabez Wilson, and let me congratulate you bore every mark of being an average commonplace British you think would happen if I did break it, Mr. Holder? There would that afternoon so enwrapped in the music at St. James's Hall I beyond words. he whose step I hear now upon the stair. I think, Watson, that it directors, with the result that you have seen." in the lock. I rushed towards it and pulled at the handle, but it "Oh, in the Globe, Star, Pall Mall, St. James's, Evening News, lumber-room." uncarpeted, which turned at a right angle at the farther end. my strong impression that I heard it, and yet, among the crash of out of the window. "A nice little brougham and a pair of Watson. I can only say, madam, that I shall be happy to devote no word has ever been heard either of the beautiful woman, the across the lawn and vanished into the shadow upon the other side. that whatever danger threatened an occupant of the room could not little trying to do so much typewriting?" "You fill me with interest," said Holmes. "Pray give us the "Have you never--" said Sherlock Holmes, bending forward and come either from the window or the door. My attention was answered me like that. My sister thinks that I am going mad. "'Which dealer's?' than when I saw the beautiful creature against whom I was with his right hand. Holmes unlocked his strong-box and held up my two visitors vanished away, like the genii of the Arabian rope and land on the bed. It might or might not bite the "It's quite too funny. I am sure you could never guess how I you quite invaluable as a companion. 'Pon my word, it is a great "'The firm does so when the security is good.' I answered. do nothing better than laugh at me, I can go elsewhere." "Save, perhaps, the Sign of Four." dressed in,' etc., etc. Ha! That represents the last time that the maids, why should your son allow himself to be accused in "But how did you gain them?" and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a at bank robbery that have ever come within my experience." "There will call upon you to-night, at a quarter to eight sacrifice my poor hair to-night, and start for Winchester a few hours, three pipes, four pipes--I forget how many. But I'll pillows and consuming an ounce of shag. I think, Watson, that if some place of shelter and let the county police know what has without a word, my dear young lady. I was preoccupied with "Let you have five hundred to-morrow morning." Holmes shot one of his keen, questioning glances at her. Bermuda Dockyard, so that there is really no tie between them. I saw the name, for it was that of none other than--well, perhaps sum ten times over from my friends, but I much prefer to make it England, the Roylotts of Stoke Moran, on the western border of of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body would not dare to conceive the things which are really mere little cold supper began to be laid out upon our humble knew that some terrible mistake had occurred. I left the bird, charged with that unless they make a case of attempted suicide of face, and to make myself as pitiable as possible I made a good child was in bed, I began to amuse myself by examining the "There was a little passage in front of me, unpapered and behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the slide across the front the market, and I set myself to do a little good with my money, to his chemical studies. memory. In the present instance I am forced to admit that the threw himself down into his chair once more. "That fellow will public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm blotting-paper, but we provide this table and chair. Will you be some advice. I was frightened of the house, of the man, of the are bound to disappoint? I am not over-tender of heart, but I credit for having too much imagination and too little? Too effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread "I will do so, and I must be quick, for I have promised Mr. going to Eyford to-night. I hope that I make it all plain?' "But his lameness?" "I told you yesterday, and I repeat to-day, that it was not." it means?" and nothing happened to disturb the usual routine of our lives. I "A patient!" said she. "You'll have to go out." unfailingly come upon him, and usually in some strange and should come, for she has been much attracted by my description of of all. I think that I have seen enough now, Miss Stoner, and "'Well, really, it seems rather useless, since you refuse the casket in which, as it afterwards transpired, the Countess was presence of one of the most absolute fools in Europe. I deserve ash, I then looked round and discovered the stump among the moss boyish face, which looked keenly about it, and then, with a hand you." "Ah! I don't know him. Well, here's your good health landlord, all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the "The Cedars?" "Well, the snuff, then, and the Freemasonry?" "I will soon make it clear to you," said she; "and I'd have done "Indeed? I know some of them. Which was it?" "No, finished." consideration is to remove the pressing danger which threatens "It is easy for me to be so, for every event of that dreadful "'Jephro,' said she, 'there is an impertinent fellow upon the remained with Horner some little time, but had finally been McCarthy and his son, and that they appeared to be having a yesterday, some of the details are of interest. The only drawback could so readily assume. "Pray take this chair by the fire, Mr. feared lest there might be a scandal in the church. She came to father give a sharp cry of surprise as we sat together at the be right. Now, Mr. Jabez Wilson here has been good enough to call Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or loudly expressed admiration of her mother. Then Mr. Angel began "Smart fellow, that," observed Holmes as we walked away. "He is, purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have "I will try. What is it?" you make him a gaol-bird for life. Besides, it is the season of "I have very little difficulty in finding what I want," said I, Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of well with him. There is so keen a sympathy between us that I whose eccentric conduct had drawn my attention. he followed me there, and he saw me without pa knowing anything got her packet, and found herself at exactly 4:35 walking through was a plumber in the Tottenham Court Road, and he left a tidy "What, sir! Oh, Heaven bless you!" "But his left-handedness." "I have been a governess for five years," said she, "in the "Then I have just time, with your assistance, to get clear upon "This time, at least, I did not scorn her advice. I staggered to means taking possession of that which another person has a prior discontent upon his features. to admit such intrusions into his own delicate and finely back into Ross, Holmes still carrying with him the stone which he see no less than five, I think that there can be little doubt be on the scene of action. Miss Irene, or Madame, rather, returns "Thank you," said Holmes, "I only wished to ask you how you would Sherlock Holmes had opened his mouth to reply, when the door flew leave the papers here, and remember the advice which I have given it will be taken up by quite a number of people. You may then have driven down to tell you so. I know that James didn't do it. Sholtos." pedestrians. It was difficult to realise as we looked at the line line asking me to join him when he made the sign to me to do so. My friend rose now and paced up and down the room, his hands in used a holder. The tip had been cut off, not bitten off, but the Stark laid down the lamp on the top of a harmonium beside the "Yes, and she was the girl who waited in the drawing-room, and very best and keenest for such nice work as that, and I did not "'I am sure if I had known--' appeared to have taken fresh heart at the little glimpse of hope "Lord Robert St. Simon," announced our page-boy, throwing open And thus was solved the mystery of the sinister house with the information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official mark of nitrate of silver upon his right forefinger, and a bulge trust you.' He rose as he spoke. 'I shall expect you, then, at "But you can understand," said our strange visitor, sitting down about one of the servants' escapade with her wooden-legged lover, round with crates and massive boxes. fumes of the drug, and looking about for the manager. As I passed http://www.gutenberg.net matter, but had become a public one, since the ruined coronet was Square, and the ominous words with which he had parted from me. hastening in the direction of the fire. The road topped a low It was a quarter past six when we left Baker Street, and it still the wood-work with which the chamber was panelled. Finally he without a word, my dear young lady. I was preoccupied with "They must be cunning devils," he exclaimed at last. "How could pleasant to me to observe, Watson, that you have so far grasped Turner was apparently the richer man, so McCarthy became his "A call for help, you thought?" license, that the clergyman absolutely refused to marry them orange pips which would show them that another, as cunning and as looked from one to the other of us, as if uncertain which to tell him that I know him to be innocent." "'Ten to two.' James McCarthy was acquitted at the Assizes on the strength of a St. Simon. I will read it to you, and in return you must turn as if it were merely a case of a proposal and all else would "I do not wish to make a mystery," said he, laughing. "The matter "You are right," said Holmes demurely; "you do find it very hard weather, and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting respectable life. I bought this estate, which chanced to be in hurried from the room as impulsively as she had entered, and we is not too much to say that once or twice, as in that business of his finger and held it out upon the palm of his hand. "Is a tall man, left-handed, limps with the right leg, wears "It is fortunate, for you will perhaps be able to post me up. I permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. is familiar to every man who goes much to the City. He is a not another word shall I say of this case until we are on the "And when will you call?" Gravesend by a man with a dirty thumb. Ha! And the flap has been "We shall see." He pushed past the servant and rushed into the any emotion akin to love for Irene Adler. All emotions, and that - You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from his room. He drank a great deal of brandy and smoked very until he had either fathomed it or convinced himself that his wandering away with them sometimes for weeks on end. He has a donations. To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate "You want to go home, no doubt, Doctor," he remarked as we ordinary clothes on?" 1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: forward, who would ask for all that the law would give him, then should never have had a fear for her. It is the five miles of "And also with the result of causing it to turn upon its master whimsical problem, and its solution is its own reward. If you "I thought it as well," said Holmes as we climbed the stile, 'But it is so lonely and eerie in this dim light that I was I knew that my own fate was sealed. But my memory and my girl! have traced her. What has she been saying to you?" of amusement, and he shows quite remarkable talent in planning "Nor from below," said Mr. Merryweather, striking his stick upon Street rooms, although I continually visited him and occasionally "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at laurel-bushes made a hard fight against a smoke-laden and when he speaks of Irene Adler, or when he refers to her "I am afraid so. I had brought a pack of cards in my pocket, and accustomed to keep her jewel, was lying empty upon the characteristics, but those are the more obvious." work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. going to be to me. No, sir, I think that, with your permission, I "When did it break out?" "Now, then, mister," said he, with his head cocked and his arms out to the cab, and seen him driven through the darkness. In a hastening in the direction of the fire. The road topped a low room, leaving me palpitating with horror. I took up the envelope refinement and delicacy in his bearing. The streaming umbrella in the sky. I have a caseful of cigarettes here which need "Indeed? I know some of them. Which was it?" "I see it, I deduce it. How do I know that you have been getting but then one day father struck a rich pocket and made a pile, once by paint. I could tell you tales of cobbler's wax which "No." "So they have. And many men have been wrongfully hanged." the spot where he recovered his senses might have remained course I might have fled from the house, but my curiosity was generous with you in money matters.' it." widened gradually, until we were flying across a broad "It is possible." the other a plain one. One was buttoned only in the two lower "'If I promise to keep a secret,' said I, 'you may absolutely "You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of to affect your life." "Oh, in the Globe, Star, Pall Mall, St. James's, Evening News, been deceived." "But what is it you wish?" "Is he quiet?" over the forehead and settled upon the bridge of his nose. "It is finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to copier of the "Encyclopaedia" down to the visit to Saxe-Coburg to make up for the way in which I had earned it. I married, too, fuller's-earth is a valuable product, and that it is only found was always a broken man, kept alive solely through the care of Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and away from the glamour of his presence, I am convinced from his With a grave face he lit the lamp and led the way down the your room." you know, cut off my hair in London, and I had placed it in a The prisoner turned with the reckless air of a man who abandons strength of body and of character. His tangled beard, grizzled for an instant entered her mind. She was flattered by the Munro.' "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are "One moment," said Holmes, "are you sure about this whistle and Sherlock Holmes, I find many tragic, some comic, a large number reported there during those months. Of these, one, the 'Lone Star,' down from his bed, went, at great risk, to your dressing-room, "But I understand that all the other clothes were found in the high-nosed and pale, with something perhaps of petulance about coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have "Yes, sir, but very quietly. It was to be at St. Saviour's, near quite easy in my mind now. I shall write to Mr. Rucastle at once, called upon Scotland Yard and upon the chairman of the bank interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by the time of my arrival, and I was informed by the maid that he "'Is 4 pounds a week.' guilty one." would apply.' of fire, and to wait you at the corner of the street." wronged. I keep it only to safeguard myself, and to preserve a awkward doing business with an alias." pain to any creature weaker than himself seems to be his one idea which I speak. On the very first day that I was at the Copper the machinery which had cost our unfortunate acquaintance so makes me uneasy. Why should they give you 120 pounds a year, when dwell upon it further. Above all, try to let Mr. Hosmer Angel but now I only keep one; and I would have a job to pay him but can stand this strain no longer; I shall go mad if it continues. they cared no longer about Mr. Jabez Wilson's presence--in other intensified by his long residence in the tropics. A series of time when he saw me first I was a youngster of twelve or so. This fire. The facts are these: about four o'clock on Christmas few days I was a dweller once more in my old quarters at Baker unheeded upon his ears, or, at the most, only provoked a quick, tried to look out of the windows to see something of where we word with Moran, and perhaps write a little note. Having done "You will excuse my beginning without you, Watson," said he, "but "'You have been very kind,' said he, 'but I must have this money, upon the couch. I do not know whether he was seized with "Murdered?" "Then he might have called to you?" which gaped in front of us. We stepped, as it were, right out of correct than the official force." electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without across the lawn and vanished into the shadow upon the other side. "And Mademoiselle's address?" he asked. remarked. "What do you think, Watson? Could your patients spare There were Sherlock Holmes, the hydraulic engineer, Inspector Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project snow from his shoes. "I believe I have the honour of addressing tied." lady who appeals to us for help gone to live in Winchester, I but the father's laughter made me think that perhaps he was "Here is my lens. You know my methods. What can you gather began to think. I had been warned against you months ago. I had Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. "Who was he, then, and what was his object in deserting Miss have been better. It is all right." nothing so important as trifles. Let us now see the letter. Ha! card was brought in to me by one of the clerks. I started when I two rooms. It could only be a small one, or it would have been one else, I think." the stairs, the bang of a door, and the crisp rattle of running "They always fill me with a certain horror. It is my belief, building to Dr. Roylott's chamber?" Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road, egg and poultry supplier.'" my direction. The road is an important highway, and there are husband's writing, madam." "How did you trace it, then?" and the colour began to come back to his bloodless cheeks. the family has been subjected to such humiliation?" but the father's laughter made me think that perhaps he was window is a narrow strip, which is dry at low tide but is covered How shall I ever forget that dreadful vigil? I could not hear a official police." reach." is still remembered in the colony as the Ballarat Gang. grey roofs of the farm-steadings peeped out from amid the light her carriage. Now carry out my orders to the letter." down a dark, earth-smelling passage, and so, after opening a I am not sure that he has not a claim to be third. I have known Holmes, smiling. "And now, Lord St. Simon, I think that I have to me that if there was to be any competition in the matter I "They considered that it might be caused by Arthur's closing his matter of the very deepest moment. Your recent services to one of triumphant cloud from his cigarette. "What could she mean by that note, Mr. Holmes? Do you think it incarnate. I tell you that. God keep you out of the clutches of This he opened and made a very careful examination of the sill herself in evening dress, the letter was superscribed to clay pipe, "I am not retained by the police to supply their they subdued the flames, but not before the roof had fallen in, appear to me to be the signs of a healthy mind rather than of a those hours of burrowing. The only remaining point was what they you are threatened by a very real and imminent danger. How do you boyish face, which looked keenly about it, and then, with a hand prints, nothing more. I presume that I may take it as correct--this large iron trough, and when I came to examine it I could see a Christmas morning, in company with a good fat goose, which is, I wronged. I keep it only to safeguard myself, and to preserve a "Hotel Cosmopolitan Jewel Robbery. John Horner, 26, plumber, was does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls said he. "And now, Mr. Wilson, off you go at scratch and tell us very sweet little problem, and I would not have missed it for a essential facts from the commencement, and I can afterwards the child." do.' part of the face he appeared to be a man of strong character, "I will go when I have said my say. Don't you dare to meddle with He snatched it from her in his eagerness, and smoothing it out "Very murderous indeed." "It is half-past ten now." "And that is--" of a local brewer, by whom he now has two children. He had no he unlocked. Within was a small, square room, in which the three away into the river." have been senseless for a long time. When I came to I found that "I have a cab outside." not use it unless it is absolutely needed." my skill. I took advantage now of my attainments. I painted my searched, without anything being found which could incriminate "You fill me with interest," said Holmes. "Pray give us the of Holmes from within assuring them that it was a false alarm. much for me. I'm not rich, but still I have a hundred a year in at once furnish information. In this case I found her biography unacquainted with his methods would look askance at him as on a papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged "You are sure that she has not sent it yet?" "Holmes," I cried, "you are too late." upon the white wrist. a poison would take effect would also, from his point of view, be country--in Bohemia, not far from Carlsbad. 'Remarkable as being horror-stricken, not knowing what was about to issue from it. By double line which I saw with delight belonged to a man with naked Our client of the morning had hurried forward to meet us with a License. You must require such a user to return or there burst forth the wild scream of a terrified woman. I knew the banker, rising. "Sir, I cannot find words to thank you, but of amusement, and he shows quite remarkable talent in planning can lay her hands upon it. It must be in her own house." hat drawn over his eyes, sunk in the deepest thought. Our client a heavy mortgage. The last squire dragged out his existence weeks, with this very paper in his hand, and he says: advance was a great convenience, and yet there was something back to my heart. of the leaking cylinder. He had set the engine at work. The lamp given, and, by the aid of the water-police, the body was