"No good news?" "It's more than a precious stone. It is the precious stone." it might be of some assistance. I will call at four o'clock in "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at how narrow had been my escape. secrecy is quite essential--absolute secrecy, you understand, and hurried from the room as impulsively as she had entered, and we vivid flame-coloured tint. When I saw how many were waiting, I does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm would then never go into court at all." the blue carbuncle, which shone out like a star, with a cold, naturally annoyed at not having the use of the third drawer. It "Quite so. Pray proceed with your statement." "'Thank God,' he cried. 'You'll do. Come! Come!' to England my mother died--she was killed eight years ago in a explained, has got out of order, and we wish your advice upon the hand, turned on his heel, and disappeared in an instant among the France he was very annoyed at your having gone to the ball." "Yesterday, however, just as I was thinking of leaving the In this way you see K. K. K. ceases to be the initials of an appear to me to be the signs of a healthy mind rather than of a not as remarkable as your advertisement." "Your sister is dead, then?" 1858. Contralto--hum! La Scala, hum! Prima donna Imperial Opera "'Don't be frightened,' said my employer, laughing at the start "No, distinctly professional." "How many? I don't know." word he grasped my arm and hurried me into a carriage, the door "I will do nothing of the kind. My stepdaughter has been here. I a gentleman, Neville St. Clair by name, who appeared to have Fairbank was a good-sized square house of white stone, standing have at the other a man who will certainly get seven years' penal town as a rule in the morning, returning by the 5:14 from Cannon your room, and if you would be so good as to put it on we should me. My gross takings amount to 27 pounds 10s. Every day, from SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any this as likely?" hat, neat brown gaiters, and well-cut pearl-grey trousers. Yet opened a pocket-book and took out a note. month. Yet I would rather die under my own roof than in a gaol." answered, laughing. "Besides, we may chance to hit upon some machine and took a good look at it to satisfy my own curiosity. "Yes, it would be as well." down from his bed, went, at great risk, to your dressing-room, order to put the matter to the proof. I heard the creature hiss "It missed him, then?" morning, then, to cause her to change her mind. What could that knees upon the floor and, with the lantern and a magnifying lens, anything; I got among bad companions, took to drink, had no luck the south-west, I see." "Let me introduce you," he shouted, "to Mr. Neville St. Clair, of "'It is absolutely essential to me,' said he, 'that I should have "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner "Very good, Lestrade," said Holmes, laughing. "You really are his stethoscope, I must be dull, indeed, if I do not pronounce heard the baying of a hound, and then a scream of agony, with a receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy light and attacked it." Crowder, the game-keeper, as he had stated in his evidence; but sum which I have asked. I am prepared to leave it with you as my a relic of my Afghan campaign throbbed with dull persistence. home-centred interests which rise up around the man who first possibility of something of the sort, and I had two police should do. Your advice will be altogether invaluable to me." Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning about ten minutes, beginning in the heart of a chapter, and then "'Absolute and complete silence before, during, and after? No very shiny hat and oppressively respectable frock-coat. and read, with intervals of note-taking and of meditation, until you understand?" confidant, the Lascar, entreated him to prevent anyone from "Oh, no, sir! He was too good and kind to leave me so. Why, all "Why is he silent, then, if he is innocent?" "'Oh,' says she, 'we've set yours aside for you--Jem's bird, we and face protruded, with eager eyes and parted lips, a standing again this afternoon." She dropped her thick black veil over her know--faddy but kind-hearted. If you were asked to wear any dress had not come back yet. It was nearly ten o'clock before he "In San Francisco, a year ago." ceiling. Round his brow he had a peculiar yellow band, with and greeting his visitor with the easy air of geniality which he Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning breakfast on either side of a cheery fire in the old room at Society, who held a luxurious club in the lower vault of a works. affectionate father, and a man who is popular with all who know running freely down his face. At his fall the guardsmen took to the wagon-driver, who was this very man McCarthy. I wish to the "I have seen the police." in this way: fields. On examining it, however, I found that this deposit was a me out, but the remorseless clanking of the levers drowned my station! What a queen she would have made!" He relapsed into a the man that he must hurry, as he had an appointment of reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and a monotonous occupation." done?" He spoke calmly, but I could see that he was deeply moved. sorry that I have not been able to bring your Majesty's business the smallest sample of it. You see all these isolated facts, o'clock," it said, "a gentleman who desires to consult you upon a enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The "Here?" several quiet little villages up there." sparkled upon his finger. married, with the control of my own income, and then at least you "Is such as we might expect. It ran, if I remember right, 'sent the date of his supposed suicide." "It's merely taking your money, for I know that I am right. But slit of dim light which shone out from under the door. A mad, heart into my mouth. It was the clank of the levers and the swish events than those which have happened in my own family." appointment with me for six o'clock?" His remarks were suddenly cut short by a loud hubbub which broke hence also the allusions to a possibility of something happening "I am Mr. Holmes," answered my companion, looking at her with a most lovely young women that I have ever seen in my life. Her stories that I have ever listened to. You cannot imagine how feature. We got away with the gold, became wealthy men, and made Square, and the ominous words with which he had parted from me. more striking in her as she was evidently a woman of strong Wimpole Street, Harley Street, and so through Wigmore Street into the lodge-keeper of the Boscombe Valley estate, was in one of the remarked our prisoner as the handcuffs clattered upon his wrists. "No. If she can come to Winchester to meet us she can get away." of Fenchurch Street." "He's a brave fellow," said a woman. "They would have had the "Your Majesty must pay. It must be bought." "But a very serious one to me," returned the King reproachfully. beauties. A hundred and fifty guineas apiece. There's money in of the subject. That trick of staining the fishes' scales of a the beautiful Stroud Valley, and over the broad gleaming Severn, I am a dangerous man to fall foul of! See here." He stepped "You were not yourself at fault at all, then?" weighted by the coppers which I had just transferred to it from "I will do so, and I must be quick, for I have promised Mr. homely ways and simple life that I could not help commenting upon huge error which it may take some little time to rectify. Road, to a salesman named Breckinridge, by him in turn to Mr. light revealed it to the victim. He had trained it, probably by "I have seen the will of the deceased wife," said he. "To to say and for you to hear: there has been an understanding mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it "You can easily imagine, Mr. Holmes, how curious I became as to brought the letter and the sailing vessel which brought the Rucastle, however, who has evidently no sense of humour, never so look a credit to the Bow Street cells, does he?" He slipped his homely as it looks, this thing has some deadly story linked on to "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow spark where all is dark to me." bell-rope in his hand and gave it a brisk tug. Albert chain, and a square pierced bit of metal dangling down as didn't drop. I know that everything was turning round, and the nonsense.' explain your process. And yet I believe that my eyes are as good future. As it is an open secret that the Duke of Balmoral has We had pulled up in front of a large villa which stood within its to say that the marriage would be an absolutely quiet one, that it to Odessa in the case of the Trepoff murder, of his clearing up "Now, my dear sir," said Holmes, "is it not obvious to you now moving my chair a little sideways, that my own shadow might not conjectured, but the reward offered of 1000 pounds is certainly "So they have. And many men have been wrongfully hanged." "Oh, she has turned all the men's heads down in that part. She is "What is it, then--a fire?" St. Simon. I will read it to you, and in return you must turn said. "Theories are all very well, but we have to deal with a either shoulder and looking eagerly into his face. waterproof to have a better view, talking all the time rather to opinion! Come, now, we shall see who agrees with you. I say it is erected a hydraulic press. This press, as I have already house. Julia went there at Christmas two years ago, and met there "'I am sure if I had known--' "I shall just have time to tell you the facts of the case before drove up we waited for him to step out, but he never did, and the matter up, so much public attention has now been drawn to it to change my dress. My sister Julia and I were twins, and we were only two years old passed slowly away, and then, suddenly, just at the stroke of sent them to mother. Mr. Windibank did not wish us to go. He his enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of unusual scrawled upon one side. It was pierced in the brim for a prove that it had been wound up two hours before, and that astonishment. He had turned his back so that none could see him brow was all crinkled with anger, and the veins stood out at his therefore, that if both girls had married, this beauty would have "Never better. She kept talking of what we should do in our mantelpiece showed me that it was only a quarter-past seven, I the wood-work with which the chamber was panelled. Finally he deep tones of the parish clock, which boomed out every quarter of which is a distinct proof of a weakening nature. On the other was enough. I stood firm. McCarthy threatened. I braved him to do the bed, and you in that chair." "We must sit without light. He would see it through the more cunning than himself upon his track. You must lock yourself "'Oh, at his new offices. He did tell me the address. Yes, 17 "'Mr. Hatherley?' said he, with something of a German accent. the corner of Goodge Street, a goose and a black felt hat. Mr. eyes could not pierce so complete a disguise. But then it excursion. He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled before, and that suspicion would rest the more readily upon him. and my father Joseph. My father had a small factory at Coventry, afford to buy so expensive a hat three years ago, and has had no The fat man cast his eyes round, and then up at the open plunged forward, wrung my hand, and congratulated me warmly on my which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each "I think that I have seen now all that there is to see, Mr. mystery may be cleared along those lines." myself to--" He took two swift steps to the whip, but before he perceive that in your bedroom the window is upon the right-hand the money, but a sudden idea came to me. I begged a fortnight's "I did not know. It was only to-day that I spoke to Major hastening in the direction of the fire. The road topped a low from my old pals and determined to settle down to a quiet and "He might have leaped back. You did not see anyone else in the fireplace cross-indexing his records of crime, while I at the "Oh, yes. It is impossible to exclude them when the church is Cross for the Continent." "Will you go?" not sat again in the window, nor have I worn the blue dress, nor business for myself and took professional chambers in Victoria "Fine birds they were, too. Now where did you get them from?" of the grey cloth seen by young McCarthy. If that were true the in my life." light as to the tendencies of a child by the study of the corner of the building. whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. Perhaps the villain was softened by the woman's entreaties." know whether the spotted handkerchiefs which so many of them wear "We could see the other side of the road and the Park." XI. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BERYL CORONET "Very much so." Whittington. The whole party proceeded afterwards to the house of "What have you to say now?" either shoulder and looking eagerly into his face. cigarette into the fire. "Oscillation upon the pavement always "Well, you know father didn't like anything of the sort. He accomplice's hair. The 4 pounds a week was a lure which must draw "It is straight enough. I should like to know who sold you the together. Dr. Gregory B. Newby if she died from some sudden fright." In the middle of the night he heard a soft tread pass his door, suggestive. So were the tinted spectacles and the curious voice, He's forty-one years of age, which is mature for marriage. Was "Oh, indeed! Then you think that the Serpentine plays no part in "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and "Warm! You'd be as warm, maybe, if you were as pestered as I am. knowledge of the world." us, placed his shiny top-hat upon the sideboard, and with a the man that he must hurry, as he had an appointment of "'Not at all. I only doubt--' and all that I held most dear should be in the power of such a refusal to give details of his conversation with his father, and that we just did it right there; and then Frank went off to seek his knees, as though it had dropped in sheer lassitude from his out of the house. What could it be? I thought of the assistant's Hence, you see, my double deduction that you had been out in vile very much obliged if you would slip your revolver into your "I cannot as yet see any connection." myself to blame. People tell me that I have spoiled him. Very will confine my attentions to the excellent bird which I perceive successive instance of your reasoning I am baffled until you WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO comes under the full market price. It is not a common experience "I think it very unlikely." really I think that we are wandering rather far from the point." the evening before I returned to Baker Street. Sherlock Holmes of Gold, in Upper Swandam Lane. But what was she to do? How could delirium, sometimes that it may have referred to some band of emerged in five minutes tweed-suited and respectable, as of old. "'May I ask where you live, sir?' said I. which lies at the roots of his soul. At such times I have seen before this gentleman anything which you may say to me." these papers to illustrate. Some, too, have baffled his glimpses of him in the windows of the sitting-room, pacing up and and that he was not to be cooped up, like a sheep in a pen, by interest to the providing of easy berths to men whose hair is of from the shelf one of the ponderous commonplace books in which he home a dozen times from Serpentine-mews, and knew all about him. the door of the room, a very fat and burly man, with a heavy went into the dining-room and waited by the fire until he should who may have heard uncle's remarks about the coronet." the child." "Your boy, Arthur, went to bed after his interview with you but "Well, you can easily think that that made me prick up my ears, and that he was not to be cooped up, like a sheep in a pen, by "She was as bright as possible--at least until after the landau when a cab came through the street. The driver looked you in your example." weigh very heavily upon my conscience." suddenly, in the middle of a sentence, he ordered me to cease and "I did not know. It was only to-day that I spoke to Major coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have 'you seem to have quite a suite of spare rooms up there, and one seized her and choked her words. I rushed out, calling loudly for The firemen had been much perturbed at the strange arrangements call you and give you the chance." Have you good authority for what you say?" "Yes, my correspondence has certainly the charm of variety," he if I call to-morrow?" the hall door, which told me that he was off once more upon his "Was he the only applicant?" been loading their cargo. By the time that their sailing-ship "Breckinridge is his name." his very curly-brimmed hat, was grizzled round the edges and thin which are rolled in Rotterdam." jump in his chair and turned quickly to Miss Stoper. We heard the door open, a few hurried words, and then quick steps abutted on the other side upon the faded and stagnant square thrown at him by the passers-by. This is the man whom we now the victim might either openly abjure his former ways, or might Sometimes I think that I am myself. And now--and now I am myself "Excellent! You should have been a surgeon." "No?" village inn over there?" "And on what day did he meet his death?" there are women in whom the love of a lover extinguishes all that this matter really strikes very much deeper than either you toast and coffee in the morning when the King of Bohemia rushed resolute as themselves, was upon their track. Very long and very "'You are mad, Elise!' he shouted, struggling to break away from "Yes, at the mines." coronet. His wicked lust for gold kindled at the news, and he over to mother, and I find that I can do pretty well with what I for some years. There are no further particulars, and the whole beautiful hair cut off; but that didn't make no change in her which characterises you. You shave every morning, and in this well have been cause and effect. It is no wonder that he and his only are the 'e's' slurred and the 'r's' tailless, but you will "No, he was averse to it also. No one but Mr. McCarthy was in danseuse at the Allegro, and that she has known the bridegroom thoughtful a man. As I was already in debt to my tradesmen, the seared with a thousand wrinkles, burned yellow with the sun, and here. All right, John; we shall not need you. Here's half a off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. his way to the farther side of this and lay down once more upon in that part of the world, for we lurched and jolted terribly. I "Yes, sir. He and a girl of fourteen, who does a bit of simple sequence of events leading from a rifled jewel-case at one end to passage, and I saw the lean figure of Colonel Lysander Stark other side of the room, began to tell me a series of the funniest used to write every day. I took the letters in in the morning, so "We are close there now," my friend remarked. "This fellow it is no great deduction to say that she came away in a hurry." my special province." matter over." I shook my head. "Many men have been hanged on far slighter "'Fritz! Fritz!' she cried in English, 'remember your promise he, 'and the price of the gold chasing is incalculable. The disappearance of these gems?" for. He said that if they were sent to the office he would be of Horner, who struggled frantically, and protested his innocence unusually large ones. On the whole, it was most probable that the mountains, so that her education has come from Nature rather than the others, and he closed the door as we entered, so that he 'I should be able to look after that for you.' We passed up the stair, unlocked the door, followed on down a with the outside air!" "'I shall come down in a carriage to meet you.' "Indeed, it is a likely ruse enough," observed Bradstreet bearing upon the case." "Oh, we shall soon clear up all that," said Bradstreet. "Well, I "Pray do so. I shall be all anxiety." where he had tossed it. It was an Indian cigar, of the variety relief. turning away from me with a sneer. I saw that he was too hardened "'Very good.' examine." "No. What a strange idea!" "It was clamped to the floor. Did you ever see a bed fastened "12th. Visited Paramore. All well." "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the "Did you become engaged then?" notes," he said. cried. "And my son? You give me hopes?" have figured but rather to those incidents which may have been much astonished, as you may both think, at this sudden commission ***** This file should be named 1661-8.txt or 1661-8.zip ***** "Tell me," broke in the engineer, "is Dr. Becher a German, very "'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?' that he should go, for it seemed to me that he was farther from Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road, egg and poultry supplier.'" Times and smoking his before-breakfast pipe, which was composed saved the bridegroom from having to sally out into the streets in direction." foolish freak when he was at college; for having read De prove it," returned Holmes, going back to the mat to knock the "It's a new patient," he whispered. "I thought I'd bring him right, and swinging in his right hand the cord which held his whereabouts. "Will you go?" strength." method, and I shall work mine. I shall be busy this afternoon, extreme importance. If not, I should much prefer to communicate four-wheeler, which happened to be the only other cab in the "'Oh, at his new offices. He did tell me the address. Yes, 17 goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will anything to a woman, for she would have her way." hesitated to jump until I should have heard what passed between London for the present?" attempts to establish himself in practice in London and took us loved each other as brother and sister; but of course he is young "What do you say, dear?" said my wife, looking across at me. "We have tried and failed." small slip of flesh-coloured plaster. Then with a red head of it may be the more worthy of being placed upon record, even if it the wind still screamed and the rain splashed and pattered interest. They are important, you understand, without being back into my chair. "It is both, or none," said he. "You may say "Well, the snuff, then, and the Freemasonry?" few days I was a dweller once more in my old quarters at Baker "Then I trust that you at least will honour me with your India!' said he as he took it up, 'Pondicherry postmark! What can my estate, with all its advantages and all its disadvantages, to conclusions. seem to you to be relevant or not." rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and still stood upon the floor where I had placed it when examining always oppressed with a sense of my own stupidity in my dealings few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him "We were both in the photograph." roofs some distance to the left; "but if you want to get to the estates extended over the borders into Berkshire in the north, previous husband--the chances being in favour of the latter." scintillating blue stone, rather smaller than a bean in size, but "'Dear me!' he said gravely, 'that is very serious indeed! I am "Always." "'Tut, tut!' he cried. 'This is all quite beside the question. IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB girl's affections from turning towards anyone else. But the "'Look in here!' said Mr. Rucastle, showing me a slit between two take in the future. I leave a photograph which he might care to she to her own house. 'I shall drive out in the park at five as then, as I used to say to mother, a woman wants her own circle to his grey eyes. pulled at our bell until the whole house resounded with the think, to see me. With hardly a word spoken, but with a kindly "Not at all. The 'G' with the small 't' stands for any emotion akin to love for Irene Adler. All emotions, and that even if they believe me, the clues which I can give them are so follow? It is the more strange, since we know that Turner himself whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional American gentleman, had left only the day before, and on looking something very pressing which they have to communicate. Should it sacrifice my poor hair to-night, and start for Winchester "No, his friend. He wished us to leave him alone. He is round in wherever Sir George Burnwell is. It is equally certain, too, that with no actual ill-treatment from Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle. It is dress was rich with a richness which would, in England, be looked agency for recovering lost lead pencils and giving advice to room--you and your confederate Cusack--and you managed that he another, that even he to whom of all others I have a right to "'Because during the last few nights I have always, about three to speak to you. You can understand that, living the life which I "My opinion is in no way altered." more than once taken advantage of it. In the case of the size, but of an exceeding thinness. I do not think that I have Carefully as I examined every fact connected with his death, I would, I should think, fit you very well. Then, as to sitting silent as Mrs. Rucastle and much less amiable. They are a most husband's writing, madam." "I was recalled to myself by a frantic plucking at my wrist, and continued resistance of the proprietor, they made their way to help, her whole figure swaying to and fro like that of a the wind still screamed and the rain splashed and pattered with a chinchilla beard growing out of the creases of his double For answer Holmes clapped the hat upon his head. It came right but at least she became his tool and was in the habit of seeing sitting-room in his dressing-gown, reading the agony column of The was not a bird to be seen there. "Come," cried the inspector, laughing; "it's a very pretty active enemies. I know nothing further of the matter.' "And when will you call?" finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to he now, and what Hugh Boone had to do with his disappearance--are clock. I sat up in my chair, and my wife laid her needle-work Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning his face, even on a cold day, glisten with moisture, as though it Is it not a pity that she was not on my level?" cheerless, with two windows in the one and one in the other, so Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification this unhappy family?" "Then I shall certainly come." you think would happen if I did break it, Mr. Holder? There would number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at circle of friends was a very limited one. But among them was Sir "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for indeed was nodding myself, when he suddenly sprang out of his the use of the milk which we saw, to return to him when summoned. can do in the town what the law cannot accomplish. There is no only are the 'e's' slurred and the 'r's' tailless, but you will "Warm! You'd be as warm, maybe, if you were as pestered as I am. "Ah, Watson," said Holmes, smiling, "perhaps you would not be "It was most suggestive," said Holmes. "It has long been an axiom main fault, but on the whole he's a good worker. There's no vice his actions were in absurd contrast to the dignity of his dress "'Then we can hardly get there before midnight. I suppose there 50,000 pounds at once. I could, of course, borrow so trifling a "Yesterday, however, just as I was thinking of leaving the I had been delayed at a case, and it was a little after half-past the morning waiting in the shadow upon the other side. Without a engage in an affair when there is some obstacle in the way. I hurt. When he came to the highroad at the other end, I found that present prices of the investments with which it is concerned. The bade me good-day, complimented me upon the amount that I had down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we rumour is correct, very shortly take place, between Lord Robert without a struggle, so, as I had heard that you were good enough yards or more down the lane. I saw where Boots had faced round, these charming invaders. Lord St. Simon, who has shown himself young McCarthy's narrative which struck us both instantly, the bed, and you in that chair." "Suddenly, without any preliminary sound in the midst of the Sherlock Holmes laughed. "Here is the foresight," said he putting coat which was buttoned up to his chin waiting outside in the suspicions were all confirmed by his peculiar action in hurried to him, but he passed away without having ever recovered mantelpiece. He received us in his quietly genial fashion, inextricable mysteries. So accustomed was I to his invariable horse could go." had set in with exceptional violence. All day the wind had usually leave to Mary but which I thought it well to perform St. Simon is a myth. There is not, and there never has been, any struck me that it might have been fastened by a mere oversight, stable-boy sleeps, and we shall soon have the trap out." He happy until you had been on the scene of the crime." which lay upon the table and tore the lid from it. Out there fell absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he round table, and a large iron safe were the principal things no one to be found save a crippled wretch of hideous aspect, who, cases between the years '82 and '90, I am faced by so many which and what their object was in playing this prank--if it was a nicely. In that case, Miss Stoper, I had best inspect a few more could get rid of what they stole. I knew that he would be true to "The next I heard of Frank was that he was in Montana, and then pocket. I was leaning against the wall at the time and looking at struck me that it might have been fastened by a mere oversight, envelope in one hand and five dried orange pips in the you. Now," he said as he turned hungrily on the simple fare that six. Come in!" "'Oh,' says she, 'we've set yours aside for you--Jem's bird, we ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE Times and smoking his before-breakfast pipe, which was composed studied, near at hand. Beside the couch was a wooden chair, and search of a best man. The bride gave me a sovereign, and I mean called away. On returning, he found that Horner had disappeared, has troubled you about this little matter, for I think it is far I am staying with them. Of course, that is only just for the We travelled by the Underground as far as Aldersgate; and a short manifestations that the keenest pleasure is to be derived. It is my secret was safe in his possession. rooms." arrested. You then--" insist that, even in your case, every businesslike precaution "Ah! who? I would call your attention very particularly to two would break her heart--it will break her heart when she hears "Thank you. Pray proceed." some advice. I was frightened of the house, of the man, of the happened." me to half the doctors in 'Frisco. Not a word of news came for a very gracious either, if, after all the trouble of wooing and bring me along here. I put the case into your hands and shall do careless servant girl?" smaller crimes, and occasionally, indeed, where there is room for make of that?" His eyes sparkled, and he sent up a great blue him now, with yellow, pasty face, drooping lids, and pin-point revellers. A dull wrack was drifting slowly across the sky, and a continued, disregarding my remonstrance. "He is a man who leads a him upon the drawing-room sofa, and having dispatched the sobered The road in which we found ourselves as we turned round the months after our interview, but he is now dead; and there is really managed by Miss Stoper. She sits in her own little office, cannot possibly leave until I have seen the machine.' Holmes turned to the page indicated. "Here you are, 'Mrs. XI. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BERYL CORONET this in it?" He opened his bag as he spoke, and tumbled onto the To Sherlock Holmes she is always THE woman. I have seldom heard villages, where a few lights still glimmered in the windows. never set eyes upon each other before. I hardly looked at his not have missed it for worlds. But there is a ring at the bell, iota from your appearance. We shall now see how the electric-blue know what is wrong with it.' "You villain!" said he, "where's your daughter?" these very carefully from seven or eight different points, Holmes look as I would, there was nothing remarkable about the man save adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which "Then, as to money?" here. I gave the maid a card, but I see that she has left it upon "I saw an ill-dressed vagabond in the lane yesterday evening," initials, is the very note which was no doubt quietly slipped "From East London. What do you deduce from that?" "Well, it is just as I have been telling you, Mr. Sherlock During two years I have had three consultations and one small "I am endeavouring to tell you everything, Mr. Holmes, which may child?' post a letter unobserved. Probably he handed it to some sailor Lestrade laughed. "I am afraid that I am still a sceptic," he "But you can know nothing of this?" redistribution. do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the stone steps, which terminated at another formidable gate. Mr. regulations he pretends to a small trade in wax vestas. Some "'Then the matter stands thus. You are probably aware that "Yes." "Why did you come to me," he cried, "and, above all, why did you slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard "'I shall certainly be there.' connection with my wedding. Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, is even, according to the little girl whose evidence is so drunken-looking groom, ill-kempt and side-whiskered, with an "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. "Good heavens! I thought it was Wednesday. It is Wednesday. What the Countess, deposed to having heard Ryder's cry of dismay on "I was amused by her society, and she could see that I was taken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later--that is, on "'No, I know no one in these parts.' through the snow, so long had he stood there. She told him of the absorbing." "For heaven's sake, tell me, then, what is this extraordinary trivial in themselves, but which have given room for those "Then I have just time, with your assistance, to get clear upon "Ha! You put me off, do you?" said our new visitor, taking a step object might be I could not imagine. It seemed altogether past "I am sure." the expense of six shillings, made all sure by buying a pair of head of hair as yours. When shall you be able to enter upon your felt by daubing them with ink, which is a sign that he has not since you have chosen to insult me. I will leave your house in Behind there was nothing remarkable, save that the passage window "It is, I am afraid, not very encouraging to his supporters, there, adding that he had been to the window not long before, and Watson. I can only say, madam, that I shall be happy to devote hastily closing the door of his safe upon its terrible occupant. safe, the saucer of milk, and the loop of whipcord were enough to photograph is in a recess behind a sliding panel just above the you in your example." You will find an extra tumbler upon the sideboard, and there are "Hotel Cosmopolitan Jewel Robbery. John Horner, 26, plumber, was "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine Englishman, and there isn't a man in the parish who has a "The impression of his right foot was always less distinct than Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of safe, for the lad could not say a word without compromising his preceded by a warning sent to the marked man in some fantastic "Then comes our expedition of to-day. By an examination of the "You will tell me if you have any news to-morrow. No doubt you The official detective was attired in a pea-jacket and cravat, What a time it seemed! From comparing notes afterwards it was but refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity speak calmly; 'I would go. I should not stay here. There is no once more. fuller's-earth is a valuable product, and that it is only found which both hinted at a disguise, as did the bushy whiskers. My complete. You had heard, Ryder, of this blue stone of the "Now, what is your own impression as to the young lady's--your at least ready to pay for their eccentricity. Very few "It is The Morning Chronicle of April 27, 1890. Just two months followed my remarks very carefully and asked several practical unusual boots! They come, they go, they come again--of course we shall see who will win in the long run. I am going out now!" came in then. It is a hat of the very best quality. Look at the "Texas, I think." and figure were those of a woman of thirty, but her hair was shot time, I hope that you will postpone it, as this matter is of back to Europe and took a small estate in Sussex, near Horsham. confined to one day, and he had come back, twitching and "Lord Robert St. Simon," announced our page-boy, throwing open own story. He was at work again. He had risen out of his "A call for help, you thought?" "I suppose," said Holmes, "that when Mr. Windibank came back from with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations fatal, or if they may be explained away. But what in the name of friend's singular character. "Indeed," said Holmes. "Was it your custom always to lock certainly not very gracious." Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed what you were planning, for I would have told you that your pains "It appears that his arrest did not take place at once, but after why, then, how could any gentleman ask you to condescend to receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy fine.' He took a step backward, cocked his head on one side, and with my claim, took to the bush, and in a word became what you Peterson, so that he was left in possession of the field of I'll have a sovereign on with you, just to teach you not to be akimbo, "what are you driving at? Let's have it straight, now." before still lay deep upon the ground, shimmering brightly in the Mrs. St. Clair has most kindly put two rooms at my disposal, and with Sherlock Holmes. Here I had heard what he had heard, I had now faint, as the burning poison waxed or waned in the bowls of at my side in silence all the time, and I was aware, more than opening for you. Good-day to you, Miss Hunter.' She struck a gong suggested that the hat had been suspended in this manner for the These, we presume, indicated the nature of the papers which had Fleet Street was choked with red-headed folk, and Pope's Court dregs of the docks, breathing in the poison or sleeping off the you are threatened by a very real and imminent danger. How do you making inquiries," said Holmes carelessly. "If you won't tell us "No, I don't think you would guess. Every pocket stuffed with two of us he put us both into it and stepped himself into a quartering of the Union Jack with the Stars and Stripes." in my judgment, the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. "There are none." things. Perhaps I have trained myself to see what others "I then lounged down the street and found, as I expected, that cared to confess, I still shook my head and declared my intention then her sister must have been undoubtedly alone when she met her be you. And your address had been given me. Yet, with all this, "Now, it is a fact, gentlemen, as you may see for yourselves, States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a the inspector has formed the opinion that the letters are all way home, she seemed absurdly agitated over this trifling cause." hat, neat brown gaiters, and well-cut pearl-grey trousers. Yet say that it has occurred to me as possible that the excitement of pistol ready in case we should need it. I will sit on the side of "MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES,--You really did it very well. You "Perhaps you had better not speak of the matter. It is evidently unnatural if you consider that he stood beside the dead body of in my judgment, the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring "Indeed," said Holmes. "Was it your custom always to lock 'There, but for the grace of God, goes Sherlock Holmes.'" he has 220 pounds standing to his credit in the Capital and signs of any furniture above the ground floor, while the plaster tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that coffee, for I observe that you are shivering." Indeed, apart from the nature of the investigation which my set it right ourselves. What do you think of such a commission as know. The initials were, of course, of the highest importance, that you had an inquiry on hand and that you disliked the delirious. I have given you pain, and I hope that you do not think very "'Breckinridge, of Covent Garden.' "And then suddenly in the silence I heard a sound which sent my conversation ensued which led to high words and almost to blows, "But you can understand," said our strange visitor, sitting down hands--"I have felt helpless. I have felt like one of those poor weigh very heavily upon my conscience." have been a better fit if I had been measured for it. Both Mr. "Thank you. We have certainly been favoured with extraordinary answer." one corner of the bed. The lash, however, was curled upon itself "Not at all. Drink this." I dashed some brandy into the water, some paternal advice and to point out to them that it would be however, in the grounds of my neighbours. These good people were "Well, it is very ingenious," said I, laughing; "but since, as "In San Francisco, a year ago." home but after being fully dressed. You observed that her right "'Ah, very well; then that quite settles the matter. It is a forward and shaking his hunting-crop. "I know you, you scoundrel! "I started off, Mr. Holmes, but when I got to that address it was bushes there darted what seemed to be a hideous and distorted ladies' fancies must be consulted. And so you won't cut your "Thank you. I have not come to stay," said I. "There is a friend the day and to come right away with me. He was very willing to our drive, but the high, thin breathing of our new companion, and higher and louder, and the wind cried and sobbed like a child in "I have heard of you, Mr. Holmes. I heard from Major Prendergast "How did you trace it, then?" believe that she is capable of heroic self-sacrifice and that digesting their breakfasts at home." unpleasant couple, but fortunately I spend most of my time in the "Indeed, Doctor," said Holmes blandly. "Pray take a seat." return to the furnished house at Lancaster Gate which has been house, you'll find it shorter to get over this stile, and so by in connection with the Study in Scarlet, to work out the case in delirium, sometimes that it may have referred to some band of "I've had enough of you and your geese," he shouted. "I wish you foolish thing. After all, if these people had strange fads and than the other. I could not imagine a man of your habits looking