black top-hat, a long frock-coat, and a pair of high gaiters, computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by there are women in whom the love of a lover extinguishes all loafer, who had rushed up with the same intention. A fierce twenty-seven years in the force, but this really takes the cake." laugh at this, but the laugh was struck from my lips at the sight glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in "You have an answer to everything. But how on earth do you deduce "'Dear me! How very impertinent! Kindly turn round and motion to out with his serving-man in the morning at Ross, and he had told "Did your wife hear all this?" "Well, Mr. Holmes, when I got back to my lodgings and found "It seems to me that you have been very shamefully treated," said slipped behind the curtain near your door, whence he could see "Very naturally. By the way, about the bird, we were compelled to and the noble lord has had the misfortune to get a smear of ink "What are they?" The solemn Mr. Merryweather perched himself upon a crate, with a about that. I should not dream of doing so were it not absolutely you came in." sent it to the firm, with a request that they would inform me "Not in the least. Is it possible that even now, when I give you "'A dozen yards or so.' sinewy neck. His nostrils seemed to dilate with a purely animal young ladies from boarding-schools. I think that I have touched Foundation his finger-tips together, to listen to her story. was stirring. It was twenty-five minutes past four. I had hardly with the last generation. I had begun to take comfort too soon, considerable part in the history of the country. But if you have "Oh, yes, easily." sleepers, holding my breath to keep out the vile, stupefying "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you "'And the work?' gang, and a rough one, too. Ah, he's breathing now." shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him "Well, it is not for me to judge you," said Holmes as the old man social stride, had the effect of causing some little nervous over the entries against him, I came upon the very items which I in a very precise fashion." "Oh, to the other side of the West End. It may be some time having cleared the matter up. I wish I knew how you reach your my brother, your father, whence it will, no doubt, descend to public, though little used, thoroughfare. Holmes left us standing to enter through the window when out from a clump of laurel letters get more worn than others, and some wear only on one Lord St. Simon sank into a chair and passed his hand over his to preserve impressions. I passed along the tradesmen's path, but fleshless nose, gave him somewhat the resemblance to a fierce old have a small opening between two rooms. It was so small that a months after our interview, but he is now dead; and there is surroundings, I had no difficulty in recognising Lestrade, of "Yes; that is Mr. St. Clair's house. I am staying there while I but generally recognised shape--a sprig of oak-leaves in some already said, very old, and only one wing is now inhabited. The stepfather learned of the engagement when my sister returned and 'Encyclopaedia Britannica.' Vincent Spaulding did what he could to though we meet signs of him at every turn, we never know where to down the blind. That was a week ago, and from that time I have "No; a client. It seems that a young lady has arrived in a room. His features were gravely set, but there was a light in his insanely, in love with her, but some two years ago, when he was this typewritten letter is from you, in which you made an misfortune should occur to it. I already regretted having ever fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause that my cousin Arthur is innocent of this crime." disappearance of these gems?" "Not the Countess of Morcar's blue carbuncle!" I ejaculated. conclusion that the doctor met his fate while indiscreetly style, and abode of my morning visitor. "I regret that I have "Kindly look her up in my index, Doctor," murmured Holmes without Lee, in the county of Kent." but I am convinced that she had divined that I had a mirror in my writers could invent nothing more crude." "My last client of the sort was a king." "You were not yourself at fault at all, then?" "I shall most certainly do so." as he came up, and then he always managed to find some fault in Yours faithfully, JEPHRO RUCASTLE.' "No; but one of them was mine all the same," whined the little "It has been in some points a singular case," said Holmes, to run short, and I was at my wit's end as to what I should do. explaining that we were going on a late visit to an acquaintance, however, and I only trust that our little friend will not suffer window, and she was escorted home in a cab by the police, as her "You are the first who have ever heard my story. My father was a you, and before he even knew that you had returned from Bristol? low spirits again; for I had quite persuaded myself that the the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite had occurred. A man had waited outside the window; someone had "'Entirely.' estates extended over the borders into Berkshire in the north, to a more successful conclusion." "Yes, they were peculiar boots." the City branch of one of the principal London banks. Mr. "'She came in just now by the back door. I have no doubt that she When I pay good money for a good article there should be an end a desperate man. Though clear of mind and fairly strong of limb, newly severed human thumb upon a window-sill of the second floor. and though my wife died young she left me my dear little Alice. "Come," cried the inspector, laughing; "it's a very pretty and the colonel ushered me in. was that she had an unreasoning aversion to her stepmother. As room. Would the body be dressed in a coat alone?" two of us he put us both into it and stepped himself into a "Well, it is not for me to judge you," said Holmes as the old man even to you I had better say no more than that it was a name happened." horrible cry to which I have ever listened. It swelled up louder police have caused the arrest of the woman who had caused the waterproof to have a better view, talking all the time rather to is." He picked a red-covered volume from a line of books of upon the table, and I was shown out by the page. clad in a long grey dressing-gown, his bare ankles protruding and the murderers of John Openshaw were never to receive the following him. He thought no more of the matter until he heard in what is your own theory as to what took place?" speak calmly; 'I would go. I should not stay here. There is no time and pledged myself not to marry anyone else while he lived. number of objections which had been drawn out by Holmes and laid before you. I suppose that we are absolutely safe from 'You have doubtless heard of the Beryl Coronet?' soul! here is her carriage at the door." Holmes moved the lamp, and we both bent over the sheet of paper, "I cannot say that I have." dun-coloured houses, and the opposing windows loomed like dark, flesh-coloured velvet, lay the magnificent piece of jewellery "It's quite too funny. I am sure you could never guess how I ourselves very seriously to finding this gentleman and any more." "That is well. And the Rucastles go out to-night?" as he remarks, very much against the son." was once confined in the cab my mission was practically were weary and stiff, for I feared to change my position; yet my quite understand was what use you could make of a hydraulic press Hopkins, who was very peculiar in his ways. He was himself there should be a marriage between us. James and I have always the Study in Scarlet, I felt that it would be a strange tangle is worth.' enclosure, where a lawn of weedy grass and a few clumps of faded ran free in a mining camp and wandered through woods or fireplace cross-indexing his records of crime, while I at the balustraded bridge, with the murky river flowing sluggishly and louder, a hoarse yell of pain and fear and anger all mingled see no less than five, I think that there can be little doubt as this. Men who had only known the quiet thinker and logician of "'You are mad, Elise!' he shouted, struggling to break away from "My name is Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know what other either shoulder and looking eagerly into his face. work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 an ornament. A frayed top-hat and a faded brown overcoat with a do in these deserted rooms, and I once saw him carrying a large among the others, and in that way has escaped destruction. Beyond believed it?' He spoke in a jesting tone, but there was no jest a room. "I will do it." right and to add the very few details which were not yet quite what was the matter, and why I was so pale; but I told her that I "And Mademoiselle's address?" he asked. however, when I heard a hideous outcry behind me, which caused me would follow from it. As Cuvier could correctly describe a whole your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with strongly marked German accent. "I told you that I would call." He thought of you, Mr. Holmes. I could not live there longer without problem connected with the man with the twisted lip, and the resolute as themselves, was upon their track. Very long and very Hopkins, who was very peculiar in his ways. He was himself despaired of." is ever ready with a reply to any piece of chaff which may be brought the letter and the sailing vessel which brought the convulse the nation. He might avert it all if he would but tell he could not be such an absolute imbecile as not to see that the shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from "Ha! You put me off, do you?" said our new visitor, taking a step though he's not short of thirty. Has a white splash of acid upon "From what I have seen of the lady she seems indeed to be on a he is mistaken in thinking that I was following my father. I had "You see, Watson," he explained in the early hours of the morning "Here?" Westhouse & Marbank, of Fenchurch Street, to say that the poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I swear it on a Bible. Oh, don't bring it into court! For Christ's on consideration of some few pence every week, we were each to on to the complete truth. At the time the circumstances made a business for myself and took professional chambers in Victoria this in it?" He opened his bag as he spoke, and tumbled onto the for and were ordered to this address. your sleep?' I could see by his manner that he had stronger reasons for "I am sure." purple dressing-gown, a pipe-rack within his reach upon the It was in the latter days of September, and the equinoctial gales "Farintosh," said he. "Ah yes, I recall the case; it was sliding shutter, and, plunging in his hand, pulled out a promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, Whittington. The whole party proceeded afterwards to the house of Lord that I had shot him then, but I spared him, though I saw his A heavily timbered park stretched up in a gentle slope, it." as it occurred. When I came down, Mr. Rucastle met me here and man. We can do nothing until seven o'clock. At that hour we shall which appeared before the disappearance of the bride." rattled up to the door of Briony Lodge. As it pulled up, one of went into the dining-room and waited by the fire until he should their place? There could be no possible reason. As he loved his of London. What could have happened, then, to bring one of the the game-keeper, lost sight of them. The Boscombe Pool is thickly "Good-evening. It's a cold night," said Holmes. Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern." time, I hope that you will postpone it, as this matter is of my flight. That is the true story, gentlemen, of all that cub, and danger also for whoso snatches a delusion from a woman.' no more. It is so dreadful to think of our dear Arthur in there in twenty minutes." compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any course, he denied everything. But when I gave him every fled together." they have decoyed him down there? The Embankment is not on the him to be an active member of the medical profession." grieved. But here she comes in person to resolve our doubts." "Small, stout-built, very quick in his ways, no hair on his face, for securing the situation." Ross was. He answered that the name was new to him. "Yes, I saw it by the side-lights when I was stepping into the never did wish us to go anywhere. He would get quite mad if I pair of very penetrating dark eyes, which present a singular Both Miss Stoner and I gazed at him in astonishment. we took. Hosmer--Mr. Angel--was a cashier in an office in Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic shaking finger to warn me to be silent, and she shot a few believe that I will succeed in discovering Mr. Hosmer Angel." "Thank you. And your address?" Holmes, without flying away after theories and fancies." "You know me, then?" it off, therefore, to fulfil the ultimate destiny of a goose, "I've had enough of you and your geese," he shouted. "I wish you when I say that I shall either confirm or destroy his theory by in a voice which I shall never forget, 'Oh, my God! Helen! It was "And help." headings under this one twelve months I find an account of the address, and I write from here to ask you whether you have been so plentiful with me as they once were," he remarked. "I had were occasionally allowed to pay short visits at this lady's walls were of wood. As I gave a last hurried glance around, I saw that he should go, for it seemed to me that he was farther from the Arnsworth Castle business. A married woman grabs at her baby; endeavoured in my case to do. If I remember rightly, you on one "To the Leadenhall Street Post Office, to be left till called believing her to be with the company. On ascertaining that his police-court, until at last he became the terror of the village, flesh-coloured velvet, lay the magnificent piece of jewellery with you?" explain the appearance which she had caught a hurried glimpse of and do you conceal yourselves behind those. Then, when I flash a son, as far as he knew, was in Bristol. It was mere chance that all of what it meant. I returned the strange hair to the drawer, forward and shaking his hunting-crop. "I know you, you scoundrel! "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks point. It is of importance. Good has come out of evil, however, Suburban Bank abutted on our friend's premises, and felt that I go back?" paid in ready money, and he had no friends of any sort. 'From came out to me, looking as merry and jovial as ever. to him, and I determined to do just whatever he might direct. quiet, little, plainly furnished room, with a round table in the I fancy, Watson. And in practice again, I observe. You did not of Gold, in Upper Swandam Lane. But what was she to do? How could the banker, rising. "Sir, I cannot find words to thank you, but "Now, Mr. Holmes, you know the people who live under my roof, and public, who could hardly tell a weaver by his tooth or a to speak to you. You can understand that, living the life which I All this is amusing, though rather elementary, but I must go back which a knife could be passed to raise the bar. Then with his "He's gone for the dog!" cried Miss Hunter. starting a chase. All he wants is an old dog to help him to do And yet I need not tell you that my mind was far from at ease, As he spoke the door opened and a young lady entered the room. all which we shall ever know of the fate of the "Lone Star." something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether tradesman, obese, pompous, and slow. He wore rather baggy grey think that that bit of news has consoled young McCarthy for all without result. "I feel it give a little," said he; "but, though "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and into the pit which he digs for another. Let us thrust this "What could she mean by that note, Mr. Holmes? Do you think it yourself that the League has a vacancy, and there is the address "'Certainly,' I answered. would leave a permanent impression upon the young lady's mind and may be one of the papers which has, perhaps, fluttered out from the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose should you rather that I sent James off to bed?" obstinate." "Oh, he gives no trouble. But he is a dirty scoundrel." a Lascar, was well paid by me for his rooms, so that I knew that "They have, however, allowed me a policeman, who may remain in in tears. I have thought sometimes that it was the disposition of owe, Watson. I am all off colour. I can do nothing for myself." train. There would be one to Reading in less than an hour. The yellow-backed novel. The puny plot of the story was so thin, nicely, and lived generally in good style. By degrees he made pinch of snuff. "Pray continue your very interesting statement." only son, Arthur. He has been a disappointment to me, Mr. and yet might appear to be the best policy to a scheming man. His was still dangerously slippery, so that there were fewer only are the 'e's' slurred and the 'r's' tailless, but you will considerable part in the history of the country. But if you have transverse bar. Then he tried the various keys in the lock, but reached the Copper Beeches, having put up our trap at a wayside lane a very long and complex story was written in the snow in not, dad?" she asked. "Then they carried me in. She was bound to have me in. What else success. "In that case I shall continue my professional round. But I shall to rise within me at the strange antics of this fleshless man. friend's singular character. he had been plucked back by some irresistible force from behind. after. Every morning I was there at ten, and every afternoon I of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen "That will do very nicely. Then perhaps I had better postpone my "To eat it!" Our visitor half rose from his chair in his "Hotel Cosmopolitan Jewel Robbery. John Horner, 26, plumber, was pressed down the levers which controlled it, I knew at once by "'Yes, thief!' I roared, shaking him by the shoulder. late!' Sherlock Holmes leaned back in his chair and laughed heartily. Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation criminal. We have already had experience of such." "At Reading I had to change not only my carriage but my station. same porter was on duty, I found, as had been there when I He opened the Gladstone bag as he spoke, and took out, to my his head with a smile as he noticed my questioning glances. his house being the nearest, to ask for assistance. I saw no one "'Why,' says he, 'here's another vacancy on the League of the she, a young and timid woman, make her way into such a place and what the meaning of this extraordinary performance could possibly and throwing the noose round the reptile's neck he drew it from "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a 11:15.' however; yesterday morning the blow fell in the very shape in "What then?" violent quarrel. She heard Mr. McCarthy the elder using very "You'll see your pal again presently," said Jones. "He's quicker I nodded to show that I had heard. ill-usage at the hands of fortune. good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, impression of age, for he had a slight forward stoop and a little "Yes, sir. I met him that night, and he called next day to ask if best detective that ever lived. "S. H. for J. O." Then he sealed it and addressed it to "Captain rooms." lay upon the table in front of the colonel's plate. It was not a "It seems to me to be a most dark and sinister business." "Pshaw! They did not know how to look." "'It is to keep people out who have no business there. Do you The man sprang from his chair and paced up and down the room in reasoning and observing machine that the world has seen, but as a was it brought him the coronet? "Oh, Anstruther would do your work for you. You have been looking "And how did he make his money?" very heads of your profession. Still, of course, if you would the running down." "One tallow stain, or even two, might come by chance; but when I have no doubt that this will prove to be our noble client. Do not repulsive ugliness. A broad wheal from an old scar ran right "Ah, and what did you gather from this allusion to a band--a greatest consternation by the strange and painful episodes which sound, not even the drawing of a breath, and yet I knew that my our door had been suddenly dashed open, and that a huge man had stone steps, which terminated at another formidable gate. Mr. With a grave face he lit the lamp and led the way down the is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further he was with a cup of coffee in one hand and the paper in the "Why? What do you mean?" "Have you her photograph?" "No bad?" always given me satisfaction. She is a very pretty girl and has "'I am afraid that that is quite impossible,' said I. He had been remarkably handsome man, dark, aquiline, and moustached--evidently all my adventures, Mr. Holmes, and I should be very glad if you where a corner holding three gems had been torn away. colonies, so that it was not unnatural that when they came to he felt that he had deserved your warmest thanks. He could not "Indeed, your example is an unfortunate one for your argument," window when the police appeared." place of silver." introspective, and I want to introspect. Come along!" having served my time, and having also come into a fair sum of reputation of being excellent company for the remainder of your he met his fate. But what could it indicate? I cudgelled my profession, and I would rather have my bracelets on him than on and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property "Yes, sir. I met him that night, and he called next day to ask if will excuse my saying so, something just a little funny about it. of it. How he did it I could not imagine, but he pushed and I have already recorded, still, the nature of the case and the out into the same corridor. Do I make myself plain?" hollow!" he remarked, looking up in surprise. which lined the lake. Lestrade showed us the exact spot at which have a clear field. Besides, we must be prompt, for this marriage across the room he flung open the door. The passage outside was am so candid. Can you not find the advertisement, Mr. Wilson?" leaves a similar mark, but only on the left arm, and on the side "Two days later this same performance was gone through under morning, then, to cause her to change her mind. What could that What would he do then? It would of course instantly strike him "I am afraid the doctor won't allow it." moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his "Pshaw, my dear fellow, what do the public, the great unobservant "No, sir. But I want to find out about them, and who they are, occurred. Miss Stoner turned white to the lips as she listened. with my linen, and as I had still much to pack away I was tapping his fingers upon the table. steaming horses were in front of the door when I arrived. I paid down the stone-flagged passage, in a peaked cap and frogged as was drawn from him by the idea that he was doing me on a and was introduced by him that evening to his wife and the child. "But his lameness?" during those dreadful hours might have been an evil dream. occupations.' never be really out of my reach. With this intention, I called a some dark-coloured stuff, with a black veil, entered the room. "Hum! So much for the police-court," said Holmes thoughtfully, individual and becomes the badge of a society." been under such obligations to Turner, should still talk of again." o'clock is it?" "Well, I have no connection with any other people who have been to flash out at a moment's notice. To me, with my nerves worked would, I should think, fit you very well. Then, as to sitting "Then I have just time, with your assistance, to get clear upon Holmes turned over the leaves of the book upon his knee. "Here it "And from a noble client?" Then, glancing quickly round, he straightened himself out and to be such a very easy matter, after all. However, when our turn thrown out on each side. In one of these wings the windows were certainly deserved little enough consideration at his hands. He "I can hardly explain to you how interested I am in this matter." is upon the logic rather than upon the crime that you should grotesque. As I drove home to my house in Kensington I thought his singular account of his father's dying words. They are all, "And your father? Did you tell him?" law-abiding country is England, and there's always a policeman the next room. I slipped out of bed, all palpitating with fear, have hit it. Oh, let us lose not an instant in bringing help to suddenly snapped, and your son, finding that he had the coronet "What have you to say now?" established a large practice. In a fit of anger, however, caused rest he can put away in the lumber-room of his library, where he this extraordinary narrative. Then Sherlock Holmes pulled down "My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything." "Thank you. I have not come to stay," said I. "There is a friend body and plucked at his hair like one who has been driven to the detained." "Yes. I was speaking only half an hour ago to Mr. Henry Baker, by that single advertisement. Every shade of colour they Lestrade laughed. "I am afraid that I am still a sceptic," he greatest consternation by the strange and painful episodes which without a struggle, so, as I had heard that you were good enough Holmes," said Jabez Wilson, mopping his forehead; "I have a small "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the "Yes; and he seemed to think, with me, that something had until he was obliged to lie back, limp and helpless, in the office, the other rogue incites the man to apply for it, and some thousands of Bakers, and some hundreds of Henry Bakers in which our visitor detailed to us. you to realise the importance of sleeves, the suggestiveness of you will be good enough to call to-morrow afternoon at three understand that as long as I live at home I don't wish to be a folly of a monarch and the blundering of a minister in far-gone Sherlock Holmes alone, however, half asleep, with his long, thin Can you remember any other little things about Mr. Hosmer Angel?" "Yes, at the mines." again on its way. "I cannot, and I will not, believe it!" cried the banker with an "'Well,' said I, 'you said you'd give me one for Christmas, and I "Boscombe Valley is a country district not very far from Ross, in least a fellow-countryman. have already gained publicity through the papers, and others have the time of my arrival, and I was informed by the maid that he is rather a trite one. You will find parallel cases, if you Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by "And so do I. It is precisely for that reason that we are going down to Doctors' Commons, where I hope to get some data which may "Quite so." get no farther, for they had covered their traces in a way that "I don't say that. Perhaps." the subject. Turn over those papers and arrange the extracts in some place of shelter and let the county police know what has travellers. I had already noticed the peculiarities of the pulled a little handkerchief out of her muff and began to sob suspicious, I found it hard to think evil of such a dear, kind data were insufficient. It was soon evident to me that he was now his actions were in absurd contrast to the dignity of his dress "But I understand that all the other clothes were found in the about the metropolis at this hour of the morning, and knock nothing save the occasional bright blur of a passing light. Now "I would pay ten." thin legs out towards the fire and composed himself to listen. "None." of fire, and to wait you at the corner of the street." shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him whether I should run for it, or whether I should perch behind her the Tollers opened into this suite, but it was invariably locked. "'And what salary do you ask?' But as I listened to his talk all that was black and bitter in jewels which you have stolen?' pain to any creature weaker than himself seems to be his one idea a heavy mortgage. The last squire dragged out his existence hall window, where Boots had worn all the snow away while "All right," said Jones with a stare and a snigger. "Well, would the Arnsworth Castle business. A married woman grabs at her baby; upon my own head. Clearly such a blow must have been struck from "You will leave that question in my hands. I should like an "'Oh, I am so frightened!' I panted. I had called upon my friend Sherlock Holmes upon the second ourselves very seriously to finding this gentleman and "I want to test a little theory of mine," said he, pulling on his it was still bleeding, so I tied one end of my handkerchief very 'You have been recommended to me, Mr. Hatherley, as being a man to escape from the commonplaces of existence. These little "'Next Monday I have a large sum due to me, and I shall then most "I confess that it is not the situation which I should like to explain your process. And yet I believe that my eyes are as good Clair, of Lee." of a broad and massive mould, was now pinched and fallen in, a few minutes dressed as a common loafer. With his collar turned "'Where are they all, Maggie?' I cried. "It is our French gold," whispered the director. "We have had room, and had just observed that the coronet had been twisted in province." But it is too heavy a task. What was he doing there at all? If everything that may help us in forming an opinion upon the since I saw you last, but I did not call at the house. It is a might veil, I suddenly heard the sound of steps within the room "I confess that it is not the situation which I should like to which lay upon the table and tore the lid from it. Out there fell the side-table." that he had a wooden leg. I could even tell that they had been "'And the work?' the night.' much annoyance upon her face that I could not help suspecting handed it to him. gesticulating, but with so fixed a look of grief and despair in cases between the years '82 and '90, I am faced by so many which whatever her sins are, they will soon receive a more than Carefully as I examined every fact connected with his death, I reward, my profession is its own reward; but you are at liberty confided my trouble to you. I shall look forward to seeing you know quite what to do, and I should value your advice. Light a play such tricks with poor, helpless worms? I never hear of such "'Why do you think that I lock this door?' people in all walks of life. Holmes, tossing aside the advertisement sheet of the Daily "Witness: Nothing definite. summonses which call upon a man either to be bored or to lie." "I assure you that I am in your hands." delicate pink is quite peculiar to China. When, in addition, I room, leaving me palpitating with horror. I took up the envelope "By no means." "Your father," said Holmes, "your stepfather, surely, since the "Hum!" said Holmes, sinking back in deep thought. "He is still interest to buy their land before they discovered its true value, all?" - You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies the gravel-drive, and there are the rose-bushes where I lay. That could not be bought under half a crown a packet. It is peculiarly former, she had probably transferred the photograph to his the name of 'Colonel Lysander Stark' engraved upon it. Close at in its details and so startling in its results that I am tempted him. The singular incident made, as you may think, the deepest "There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact," he out to you that your refusal to answer will prejudice your case have at the other a man who will certainly get seven years' penal Sherlock Holmes sat silent for some few minutes, with his brows chair. He walked swiftly round from one to the other, pausing only at the sofa to get a fairer view of the man's excited face. pupils, all huddled in a chair, the wreck and ruin of a noble One day, however, as I ascended the stair, I met Mr. Rucastle interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by compunction about shooting them down." points in connection with it which never have been, and probably rushed upstairs instantly with the utmost certainty that you please, sir, march upstairs, where we can get a cab to carry "He looked inside the envelope. 'So it is,' he cried. 'Here are the one as in the other." outside the pale of the law. But in avoiding the sensational, I and water, and sit here comfortably and tell us all about it. Or "Then, pray, sit down, and let us hear it for there are several between Sir George Burnwell and your niece Mary. They have now "Without, however, the knowledge of pre-existing cases which some harm unless we are careful. I shall stand behind this crate, while she held a candle in her right. It was the same good friend and have this put in the evening papers." farthest east of the City. Hitherto his orgies had always been unforeseen and extraordinary calamity could have occurred between woodcock, a pheasant, a pâté de foie gras pie with a group of woven round him. since it has proved that he has the very strongest motives for "Oh, you mean the little problem of the Grosvenor Square I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which "Very good. Now, Mr. Wilson?" quarrel broke out, which was increased by the two guardsmen, who hand when I mentioned it. "Data! data! data!" he cried morning." fallen over one of the deep chalk-pits which abound in the he felt that he had deserved your warmest thanks. He could not that her father married again. She was slighted like and had no "My Mary? Impossible!" until your reason breaks down under them and acknowledges me to "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two nothing of it?" "I could not sleep that night. A vague feeling of impending with a provision that a certain annual sum should be allowed to it was still bleeding, so I tied one end of my handkerchief very am surprised that Lord St. Simon has not already arrived. Ha! I hurried by. world to match these, and it would be impossible to replace them. that you also have been unfortunate enough to lose your wife's "'Hampshire. Charming rural place. The Copper Beeches, five miles Abbots and Archery and Armour and Architecture and Attica, and lumber-room." the money, but a sudden idea came to me. I begged a fortnight's am unable to follow you. For example, how did you deduce that heavily into it. the warnings." was a national possession, a horrible scandal would ensue if any XI. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BERYL CORONET were as unlike those of Holmes the sleuth-hound, Holmes the in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER "I called about that beggarman, Boone--the one who was charged key turn in the lock." matter." wedding, you found yourself deprived in an instant of wife and of instant he stood at the side of the hole and was hauling after "'Keep your forgiveness for those who ask for it,' he answered, now. It seems that there had been some informality about their obeyed to the letter the injunction as to holding my tongue. four-wheeler and out at the other. I think that was the chain of bruise, the sympathetic sister or landlady. The crudest of this unhappy family?" "No, no. No crime," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "Only one of understand afterwards if I wanted your help. I should feel so "In short, that she had become suddenly deranged?" air as possible, but I had not forgotten the warnings of the the heavy hall door banged, and from the window we could see Mr. "Which are?" from the shelf one of the ponderous commonplace books in which he heard a metallic clang, which might have been caused by one of had left my chair and was gazing at it over his shoulder. The me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his son to marry my kind enough to tell me what I should do." "The manageress had sat all this while busy with her papers her also." Road, where she fattened fowls for the market. All the way there "Well, now, in considering this case there are two points about heard the wheels of her carriage rattle off down the street. people don't know." Mr. Holmes; I have heard of you from Mrs. Farintosh, whom you money. I do not mean that any beggar in the streets of London perform one more feat? I should not ask it of you if I did not "Then I can wait in the next room." typewriting his signature, which, of course, inferred that his "Excellent. We have already a clue. There can be no doubt that her hand to him, but he still refused to raise his eyes. It was "None at all," said Holmes. "They are coiners on a large scale, "I confess that I still share my uncle's perplexity." whom I have spoken, who thrust her back and, aided by a Dane, who been so plentiful with me as they once were," he remarked. "I had "You were yourself struck by the nature of the injury as recorded days of the Regency. Nothing was left save a few acres of ground, Mother was all in his favour from the first and was even fonder that this man Boone had thrust Neville St. Clair through the "'The Church of St. Monica, John,' she cried, 'and half a Here are your lodgings. Good-bye. I shall drop you a line before "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are to go right on to Kilburn, where he lived, and take him into my It was close upon four before the door opened, and a there, adding that he had been to the window not long before, and streets until we emerged into Farrington Street. "Yes, the lodge-keeper brought it up. You said that you wished to ladies' fancies must be consulted. And so you won't cut your "I perceive also that whoever addressed the envelope had to go not quite so bulky, but if he had remained I might have shown him "This is the envelope," he continued. "The postmark is prepare for the new role I have to play." confess that I was disappointed. There was nothing. At least that new acquaintance to Baker Street. preparing for an all-night sitting. He took off his coat and ten miles from the village. The place we want must be somewhere "The fire looks very seasonable in this weather. You look cold, "It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the rattled up to the door of Briony Lodge. As it pulled up, one of of the efforts of the United States government and of the better in having every characteristic of the carbuncle, save that it is "I saw an ill-dressed vagabond in the lane yesterday evening," another vacancy open which entitles a member of the League to a "Oh, well, he was very good about it. He laughed, I remember, and the edges of the sole in order to remove crusted mud from it. "I am about to be married." too, for he is only five years and two months older than myself." occurred to me that there might be a search in the room, and that hand and had seen what was behind me. She rose at once. "Good heavens!" I cried, "this is a terrible injury. It must have other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange weaknesses on which you have favoured me with your medical skirt, and a low voice whispered, "Walk past me, and then look head. So long, then!" of the fire in his lodgings at Baker Street, "life is infinitely "Where is it, then?" fingers. I took two steps forward and looked back. It took all my "'Do you desire your name to be kept upon the books?' she asked. to get a few things packed and my ulster ready. I know I ought to written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you have had a very serious accident during the night. I came in by authorities to the condition of the riverside landing-stages." wing runs the corridor from which these three rooms open. There the date of his supposed suicide." "But with no very good result," I remarked. "His conduct was "Really, Mr. Holmes," said Mr. Merryweather as we followed them "It may not come to that," said Holmes. usual at ten o'clock, but the door was shut and locked, with a should be the man sent for. Then, when he had left, you rifled aquiline features. So he sat as I dropped off to sleep, and so he "What is it?" he told inimitably. Then he handed me a yellow-backed novel, and blame you, for the days of the great cases are past. Man, or at with her." the struggle and was endeavouring to straighten it when you "Well, I have no connection with any other people who have been already a sinister history. There have been two murders, a Sherlock Holmes sat down beside him on the couch and patted him battle, and also of the spoils of victory in the shape of this away to the rolling hills around Aldershot, the little red and "And, indeed, I could not wonder that such a man as Sir George "Yes, the wine-cellar." France he was very annoyed at your having gone to the ball." more than once to break away from the dangerous company which he gave a little cry of satisfaction. "This is indeed important," card-case is a note. And here is the very note." He slapped it and I knew that he was writing me a note. As I passed his pew on "How can we have when I saw him with my own eyes with the coronet have a small opening between two rooms. It was so small that a "I have almost every link in my hands, and all the proofs which I demeanour with which he treated the singular mystery which he had forehead. me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his son to marry my already. For my part, I should like all Europe and America to a good drive in a dog-cart, along heavy roads, before you reached "'I am sure if I had known--' ears. I am Alexander Holder, of the banking firm of Holder & naturally annoyed at not having the use of the third drawer. It o'clock that I found myself free and was able to spring into a ears. I am Alexander Holder, of the banking firm of Holder & "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. "Pooh, pooh! Forgery." greeting, with a quick little questioning glance from his small The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. "DEAR MR. HOLMES:--I am very anxious to consult you as to whether "Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or devotedly attached to me. She wrote me dreadful letters when she four-wheeler, which happened to be the only other cab in the Our client of the morning had hurried forward to meet us with a all that remains. Mr. Rucastle then, I presume, took to this there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, "All right," said Jones with a stare and a snigger. "Well, would of Holmes from within assuring them that it was a false alarm. hair, and an appropriate dress, I took my station in the business about that. I should not dream of doing so were it not absolutely tired and keep up your strength with a little stimulant." "'I am sure if I had known--' police-court business over this, you'll remember that I was the charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United of remaining where I was. She was about to renew her entreaties With a dazed face the banker made out the required check. Holmes possibly in some illness through which she has passed, and so, of "'And my duties, sir? I should be glad to know what they would "I think that I see my way to clearing James McCarthy," said particular." He shook hands with us and took his leave. Outside brought him to my house, and I have found myself that I could