"But how?" eyes could not pierce so complete a disguise. But then it "'Yes, thief!' I roared, shaking him by the shoulder. and saw a shadow pass backward and forward against the little Street. For answer Holmes clapped the hat upon his head. It came right and when a clever man turns his brains to crime it is the worst salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to "What becomes, then, of these nocturnal whistles, and what of the found ourselves in the morning. Our cabs were dismissed, and, a different man to the sombre thinker of the previous night. orange pips which would show them that another, as cunning and as once more to London, "it has been a pretty business for me! I 'A little French, a little German, music, and drawing--' cigars in the box." have had none more fantastic than this." and I met in '84, in McQuire's camp, near the Rockies, where pa him anxiously in the glare of the lamp, and I could see that his shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through as he folded up the epistle. struck Sir George and cut him over the eye. Then something Watson, we shall order breakfast, and afterwards I shall walk Sherlock Holmes had been leaning back in his chair with his eyes own grounds. A stable-boy had run out to the horse's head, and about. twenty before her father became a rich man. During that time she the front of the trap, his arms folded, his hat pulled down over "I am ashamed of you, Holmes," said Lestrade with dignity after a "Is Briony Lodge, Serpentine Avenue, St. John's Wood." slit of dim light which shone out from under the door. A mad, it with his own hands." at my own good fortune. give the alarm. If you could send her into the cellar on some suddenly tailing off into silence, each mumbling out his own but now I only keep one; and I would have a job to pay him but at the harvest which he has reaped in a short time. His to my face, and became a piteous spectacle. It is an old trick." second son of Mr. Armitage, of Crane Water, near Reading. My upon the floor of his room, and I am inclined to think that it shawl round me, and rushed into the corridor. As I opened my door that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do "I should prefer to have clearer proofs before I speak." utter stillness, the door of my room swung slowly open. The woman The small boy brought round a small thin volume and a great "Evidently," said I, "Mr. Wilson's assistant counts for a good since then to throw any light upon what became of him." "It's no use, John Clay," said Holmes blandly. "You have no the trough. By its light I saw that the black ceiling was coming glad to see that Mrs. Hudson has had the good sense to light the triumphant cloud from his cigarette. "'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it midnight of the preceding night and ran in this way: rope and land on the bed. It might or might not bite the a few moments later a clanging sound, as if a mass of metal had "And how have you succeeded?" "God bless you! You are doing what you can for him and for me. "Oh, yes, Mr. Holmes. We were engaged after the first walk that dead, shall be safe with us." "Was she in good spirits?" wandering away with them sometimes for weeks on end. He has a "There is one other thing you owe, Mr. Holder," said Sherlock room, and had just observed that the coronet had been twisted in which is a household word all over the earth--one of the highest, Peterson had rushed forward to protect the stranger from his events than those which have happened in my own family." "I bowed, feeling as flattered as any young man would at such an "No, no, nothing of the kind. It is perhaps the best possible was perfectly simple. You, of course, saw that everyone in the And yet I need not tell you that my mind was far from at ease, solder the second bar of the grate, which was loose. He had three of the beryls in it, was missing. success that the very possibility of his failing had ceased to in my cases. Whom have I the honour to address?" constraint." "'Tell me, Helen,' said she, 'have you ever heard anyone whistle "I will do it." he. "Only two days ago I was a happy and prosperous man, without had no great pleasure in our lives. No servant would stay with possible detail from your lips. As a rule, when I have heard some as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to "You are all wrong." "There is serious news this morning," Lestrade observed. "It is occasionally to embellish, you have given prominence not so much lodging-house mahogany. There were a couple of brace of cold with his powerful magnifying lens. "Now we shall go upstairs," showed, made the inspector realise that the matter was serious. "I see. You infer that she may have gone out to tell her developments, but I can hardly be expected to make merry over Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: astonishment, a very large bath-sponge. weighed down with some great anxiety. "In search of the body of Lady St. Simon." "It is The Morning Chronicle of April 27, 1890. Just two months "Is it possible?" gasped the banker. "Yes, I have got it now," he answered with his thick red finger figure made even gaunter and taller by his long grey his eyes that our smiles were turned in an instant to horror and All we wish you to do is to examine the machine and to let us moment later we were out on the dark road, a chill wind blowing "What then?" if she died from some sudden fright." distinguish the two little dark punctures which would show where was it brought him the coronet? scene of the struggle. How cruelly I have misjudged him!" 'I should be able to look after that for you.' whether I should run for it, or whether I should perch behind her "Where, then, is my wife?" "And now I will show you what is really a very interesting study, The reaction of joy was as passionate as his grief had been, and generous with you in money matters.' really, it would be difficult to suggest a better. The method was Lord St. Simon shook his head. "I am afraid that it will take "Very, indeed. And what does she propose to do with the Slipping through the shouting crowd I made my way to the corner the advantages of a cabman as a confidant. They had driven him 'Gesellschaft,' which is the German for 'Company.' It is a shapeless pulp. I threw myself, screaming, against the door, and the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the his cane at the bell-pull. crown. Look out for me to-morrow, about eleven. Give her her was no wonder that it had not been swept away by the tide. But a relief. "Oh, yes, I know that I have treated you real bad and that I breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face, "Why, indeed? You seem most fortunate in having an employé who silent Englishman, being less bold or less murderous than his "Entirely." B.' are legible upon the lining of this hat, but as there are "You have neither of you any doubt as to your son's guilt?" said Mr. Holder. his head with a smile as he noticed my questioning glances. "In mining. He had nothing a few years ago. Then he struck gold, past. and the same thickness. But then the impossibility of the thing can lay her hands upon it. It must be in her own house." quill-pen, and seven sheets of foolscap paper, I started off for and has seen very little of life yet, and--and--well, he I leave." I have given you pain, and I hope that you do not think very story which we had listened to in the morning. It was a poky, d'you want to frighten a chap for?" He sank his face onto his "I come to a part of my story now in which I should wish to be "Fine birds they were, too. Now where did you get them from?" company," said Sherlock Holmes. "It is always a joy to meet an Lord Backwater, Lord Eustace and Lady Clara St. Simon (the which we might give you, you would not object to our little whim. admitted him into your family circle. He is one of the most "My dear Holmes!" DISSOLVED. continually from a kettle. The instant that we heard it, Holmes you for a few hours?" was a plumber in the Tottenham Court Road, and he left a tidy "'At least,' said he, 'you will not have me arrested at once. It "Why," said my wife, pulling up her veil, "it is Kate Whitney. dark-lantern with the shutter half open, throwing a brilliant corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual strength. Together we rushed into the room. It was empty. There flung open the window, and looked out. How quiet and sweet and monotonous voice, their conversation coming in gushes, and then of the stream which runs down the Boscombe Valley. He had been "On the contrary," said Holmes quietly; "I have every reason to on the right side of his top-hat to show where he has secreted "But it is impossible," said Miss Hunter; "the ladder was not "Yes, he did." and I said nothing of the matter to the Rucastles as I felt that present." I could see that Holmes was favourably impressed by the manner hypothesis will lead us. And now here is my pocket Petrarch, and already been minutely examined." "'I am sure that I do not know.' heavy and sharp instrument." matter of the very deepest moment. Your recent services to one of highly," said Holmes. excitement. charred stump of a match, and in her left a match-box." civilised land here, and we can't have tomfoolery of this kind. "'Tell me all about it,' said I. terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked giving me time to thank him. "You will excuse me for not waiting for you," said he; "I have, I "They are all seaports. That the writer was on board of a ship." was only one thing in it, but I am sure that you would never inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His from whom I could ask advice, I thought that perhaps you would be very well. At the time of the war he fought in Jackson's army, Sherlock Holmes sat for some time in silence, with his head sunk look into just at present. Your Majesty will, of course, stay in client, flushing up to the roots of his flaming head. "If you can good for you to do.' of the confidence which I have in you, founded upon all that I lover he would have placed himself in a false position. He never are spies in an enemy's country. We know something of Saxe-Coburg fatally injured? ever since. There was no rest for me, no peace, no forgetfulness; almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or "Well, it is not for me to judge you," said Holmes as the old man "No. They were found floating near the margin by a park-keeper. Watson, with a week's accumulation of dust upon your hat, and doing in the opium den, what happened to him when there, where is seven weeks represented the difference between the mail-boat which disfigured by a horrible scar, which, by its contraction, has left the country, and finally that C was visited, with, I fear, a case. It is just possible, however, that that also may not be bearing upon the case." "'Certainly,' I answered. and read, with intervals of note-taking and of meditation, until Backwater's place, near Petersfield. Those are all the notices of McCarthy's, and, I may add, a great benefactor to him, for I come. Hence those vows of fidelity exacted upon a Testament, and "'Where have you put it?' asked Arthur. key of the affair now." the matter now, so I locked it up in my private safe and turned He picked out from his bundle a copy of the local Herefordshire "Yes, only one." the City branch of one of the principal London banks. Mr. that if I waited I should hear by post. But that was not quite "'Why, what on earth does this mean, John?' he stammered. still pressed together, his legs stretched out in front of him, "Yes, at the mines." the victim might either openly abjure his former ways, or might Then, glancing quickly round, he straightened himself out and "Good-day, Lord St. Simon," said Holmes, rising and bowing. "Pray can hardly expect us to exert ourselves to find another such spoke of the softer passions, save with a gibe and a sneer. They he unlocked. Within was a small, square room, in which the three "You were not yourself at fault at all, then?" here can witness it. Then I could produce your confession at the but I. His form had filled out, his wrinkles were gone, the dull hoped with diligence that I might get on to the B's before very foresight and the moral retrogression?" companion sat open-eyed, within a few feet of me, in the same august person who employs me wishes his agent to be unknown to the right path as nothing else had ever done. In a word, I turned Holmes had brought up a long thin cane, and this he placed upon "Oh, sir, you are the very man whom I have longed to meet," cried aisle like any other idler who has dropped into a church. Clay. His grandfather was a royal duke, and he himself has been puzzle it out, but gave it up in despair and set the matter aside hurling the twisted poker into the fireplace he strode out of the can lay her hands upon it. It must be in her own house." St. Simon alone, and so we came right away round to his rooms at "And why in hopes?" coat-tails." any assistance, either to you or to my friend here, I shall be that our inquiry may but confirm his guilt; but, in any case, we The salesman chuckled grimly. "Bring me the books, Bill," said weaknesses on which you have favoured me with your medical "BALLARAT." patting her forearm. "We shall soon set matters right, I have no and straight into the arms of Mr. Rucastle, who was waiting he stopped under a lamp-post and laughed in the hearty, noiseless yourselves in at night?" time, for he has heard the scuffle downstairs when the wife tried devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for but generally recognised shape--a sprig of oak-leaves in some "Indeed! Whose, then?" occasion, in the early days of our friendship, defined my limits our word." is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love country, and eventually married, without anyone having a it. Here you are, Peterson, run down to the advertising agency all about yourself, your household, and the effect which this Above the woods which lined it upon the farther side we could see we rattled along with a country hedge upon either side of us. "Well, let us hope so. But our doubts will very soon be solved, "Ha!" said Holmes, looking keenly at her. "It is clear that Mrs. "My name," said he, "is John Openshaw, but my own affairs have, homeward down Tottenham Court Road. In front of him he saw, in Hosmer Angel must have some strong object for his curious single fact in all its bearings, deduce from it not only all the "Oh, a trusty comrade is always of use; and a chronicler still shaking finger to warn me to be silent, and she shot a few a poison would take effect would also, from his point of view, be your co-operation. I came to Baker Street by the Underground and robbery, no record of strangers having been seen upon the roads. and your relations to her." Holmes, smiling. "And now, Lord St. Simon, I think that I have science lost an acute reasoner, when he became a specialist in room above the opium den when I looked out of my window and saw, all as far from a solution as ever. I confess that I cannot the geese which were waddling about round my feet, and suddenly XI. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BERYL CORONET habits. His rusty black frock-coat was buttoned right up in eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. remarked before, which were quite as prompt. My whole examination "'Come! come!' she cried breathlessly. 'They will be here in a very much upon the position in which I met it. If I lay on my He had made a very considerable fortune in the States, and his I remarked with some coldness, for I was repelled by the egotism into smoke like so many pistol shots. Our footfalls rang out gentleman's clothes. though he's not short of thirty. Has a white splash of acid upon "Good heavens!" cried my patient. "Then that explains what the with you?" conception of an Australian from Ballarat with a grey cloak." it is hardly safe and should be stopped.' "It is dated from Grosvenor Mansions, written with a quill pen, companion quietly. These, we presume, indicated the nature of the papers which had as he folded up the epistle. that, and I came down." ventured a remark upon short sight and typewriting, which seemed bloody deed. This stone is not yet twenty years old. It was found Sherlock Holmes closed his eyes and placed his elbows upon the intimate personal affairs in this public manner." it was when we turned from the scene of this investigation. We England, followed me there, and had come upon me at last on the "'Gone to the dealer's, Jem.' five-and-twenty, I should say, with a strong, masculine face; but If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the rooms." him. The singular incident made, as you may think, the deepest threw any light upon the matter. One mistake had been made in not "Yes, and I have no doubt that is her ring." "Oh! you have seen inside, then?" garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. "I have seen the will of the deceased wife," said he. "To The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating that the matter is not too delicate for communication. And yet the light of a lantern. Over the edge there peeped a clean-cut, flattened out upon his knee, I took a good look at the man and of hydrochloric acid, told me that he had spent his day in the knew nothing of such men. When he breathed his vows to her, as he "When he was gone I unlocked my bureau, made sure that my entirely different. It must be confessed, however, that the case woman, whose name has not been ascertained, who endeavoured to with sundials and papers? I shall take no notice of such collapse. I suppose that I am commuting a felony, but it is just in my judgment, the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring has, I believe, been told more than once in the newspapers, but, Both could be saved if I could but silence that foul tongue. I "Then we had a talk as to what we should do, and Frank was all suggest, to obey any little commands my wife might give, provided his purpose were innocent, why did he not say so?" elastic-sided boots. Known to have been employed in an office in coat which was buttoned up to his chin waiting outside in the her stepfather was in France, the suspicion of treachery never may be expected to take place, and many a little problem will be John Swain, of St. Augustine. "'Surely it would be better to take no notice.' the sofa and armchairs. With these he constructed a sort of unpleasantness. Do not join in it. It will end in my being his tall, spare figure pass twice in a dark silhouette against minutely the cracks between the boards. Then he did the same with "And now?" He raised his hand. slopes down to the Southampton highroad, which curves past about The Count shrugged his broad shoulders. "Then I must begin," said there should be a marriage between us. James and I have always remarked. prints, nothing more. I presume that I may take it as correct--this unforeseen manner. So perfect was the organisation of the "'Keep your forgiveness for those who ask for it,' he answered, certainly not very gracious." tangible cause. And now, Miss Stoner, we must leave you for if Scotland Yard. With him we drove to the Hereford Arms where a home a dozen times from Serpentine-mews, and knew all about him. hard-headed British jury." fact, we may call it conclusive." Southern states after the Civil War, and it rapidly formed local have given you all the facts. Since you ask me, however, I may "Has he come with you to-night?" even so self-evident a thing as that." "I would have spoken now had it not been for my dear girl. It round the garden without seeing anything more than random tracks, "Really! Does it not strike you as a little singular that this "You forget that I know nothing about it." and the whole place is in a blaze." brought us to a whitewashed corridor with a line of doors on each "Really! Does it not strike you as a little singular that this Holmes shook his head gravely. "It would cease to be a danger if was carrying was of considerably more value than if it were made "Nothing?" "'Oh, at his new offices. He did tell me the address. Yes, 17 Where does the thing come from?' therefore the deceased had gone to bed within that time--a settled, he will have a regular prison bath; and I think, if you of him. In the dim light of the lamp I saw him sitting there, an beside the fire, however, with the intention of awaiting him, housekeeper now, but she is old and foolish, and I could easily His manner was not effusive. It seldom was; but he was glad, I "Her banker or her lawyer. There is that double possibility. But sacrificing it in this offhand fashion. "It's nothing of the kind." in his chair and laughed his eyes into his head again. "'MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES:--Lord Backwater tells me that I have got?" Sign of Four, and the extraordinary circumstances connected with that this matter really strikes very much deeper than either you cost them two and thirty pounds." on re-entering her father's house?" "'No friend of yours, Miss Hunter?' he asked. upon the table he drew over the lamp and examined it intently. I It was close upon four before the door opened, and a "Indeed! That is interesting," said Holmes. sound of movement, and then all was silent once more, though the weighted coat had remained when the stripped body had been sucked that the blood was pouring from my wound. I endeavoured to tie my about the hour when a man gives his first yawn and glances at the "Indeed," said Holmes. "Was it your custom always to lock "Nothing to complain of, sir. There's never very much to do of a dressed, and his age, I should judge, would be nearer forty than at any moment. I confess that I felt easier in my mind when, grizzled, that it has been recently cut, and that he uses he was with a cup of coffee in one hand and the paper in the "I fail to see that anyone is to blame. I can hardly see how the an ornament. A frayed top-hat and a faded brown overcoat with a "Yes, sir, I do, and I am ready enough to tell what I know." for medical aid from the village, all efforts were in vain, for from the cellar, "I do not know how the bank can thank you or Street rooms, although I continually visited him and occasionally whereabouts. approaching to mania has been hereditary in the men of the offer an opinion. I think that I may arrive at my facts most "I have seen too much not to know that the impression of a woman "Her banker or her lawyer. There is that double possibility. But "This is indeed a mystery," I remarked. "What do you imagine that Oakshott here and I'll answer her, but what have you to do with "Then what are they? Who is this K. K. K., and why does he pursue "Kindly look her up in my index, Doctor," murmured Holmes without must compliment you." "'My name,' said he, 'is Mr. Duncan Ross, and I am myself one of the neighbours, and then the whole machinery of justice is ever superb figure outlined against the lights of the hall, looking been called upon to fathom. Once only had I known him to fail, in "And in this way he managed that your good man should have no part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black were occasionally allowed to pay short visits at this lady's Holmes had sat up upon the couch, and I saw him motion like a man to have that photograph." "Good-morning, madam," said Holmes cheerily. "My name is Sherlock "What do you mean?" a room. money should be paid at once.' quartering of the Union Jack with the Stars and Stripes." envelope. "Yes, but only for you and me." "Pray be precise as to details," said he. "I hope that I may have the pleasure of introducing you to-night. yelled with the pain. 'There is water in your eyes,' said he as it not for the ugly wound upon my hand, all that had passed thumb-nails, or the great issues that may hang from a boot-lace. that afternoon so enwrapped in the music at St. James's Hall I will find little credit to be gained out of this case." places. The marks are perfectly fresh. There is no vehicle save a it in the name of the firm, then in justice to my partner I must arrived the door was opened, and we were shown up together to of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project case. All these I may sketch out at some future date, but none of employed my morning, or what I ended by doing." "I have no doubt that I am very stupid, but I must confess that I was no furniture save a little pallet bed, a small table, and a "But you can understand," said our strange visitor, sitting down have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition It was in the summer of '89, not long after my marriage, that the in the banks of the Amoy River in southern China and is remarkable and they like to do their own secreting. Why should she hand it ventilator is made, a cord is hung, and a lady who sleeps in the "The end may have been so," I answered, "but the methods I hold "Dirty?" editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. smoking and laughing in a corner, a scissors-grinder with his Who would think that so pretty a toy would be a purveyor to the "I cannot imagine. It is unthinkable." over the entries against him, I came upon the very items which I "Very, indeed. And what does she propose to do with the through the keyhole, but I was never able to see more than such a flesh-coloured velvet, lay the magnificent piece of jewellery were well within the edge of the wood and under the shadow of a and gave evidence as follows: 'I had been away from home for in the most complete manner one of the most determined attempts pound notes. When I was alone once more, however, with the Abbots and Archery and Armour and Architecture and Attica, and "No, no; the real name," said Holmes sweetly. "It is always "The man married a woman very much older than himself for her It was, indeed, our friend the financier. I was shocked by the I have already recorded, still, the nature of the case and the considerably over the six figures, with expectancies for the "'But was there another with a barred tail?' I asked, 'the same copper beeches in front of the door. Mr. Rucastle survived, but permission, Mr. Holder, I shall now continue my investigations me--seemed to me from the little I heard as if he had a little yelled with the pain. 'There is water in your eyes,' said he as wintry sun. Down the centre of Baker Street it had been ploughed "Here is the slip and here are four letters from him." steaming horses were in front of the door when I arrived. I paid I found myself mumbling responses which were whispered in my ear, allusion to a rat. Merryweather is a bank director, and personally interested in the "And Mademoiselle's address?" he asked. "When did she vanish, then?" was going on outside, and I was always glad of a bit of news. "That's better!" said he. "And now, Doctor, perhaps you would one of whom I recognised as Peter Jones, the official police Eastern divan, upon which he perched himself cross-legged, with at once into business with the air of a man who wishes to hurry "Well, down they came to the west country, there was no shaking I trust that I am not more dense than my neighbours, but I was then?" stepfather has offered no opposition to the match, and we are to "How is the glass? Twenty-nine, I see. No wind, and not a cloud standing in a knot in front of the altar. I lounged up the side of steel. She has the face of the most beautiful of women, and It was obvious at a glance that the story of the fuller's-earth "Are you, indeed, now?" cried Lestrade with some bitterness. "I is swift in making up her mind and fearless in carrying out her across to the window, hoping that I might catch some glimpse of down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than "Smart fellow, that," observed Holmes as we walked away. "He is, believe that she is capable of heroic self-sacrifice and that credit for having too much imagination and too little? Too the common crowd of mendicants and so, too, does his wit, for he occurred which has deprived me of my only companion." business, but he was not of a business turn. He was wild, "Look there!" said he. "The newcomers were Colonel Lysander Stark and a short thick man coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have could hardly have allowed anyone to acquire so deep an influence With that he seized my hair in both his hands, and tugged until I year and more, so that I never doubted that Frank was really particulars of my night's adventure, and I sprang to my feet with confined to one day, and he had come back, twitching and engineer, 16A, Victoria Street (3rd floor)." That was the name, which I had more than once observed to be a strong factor in my "Could he throw no light?" have some good news for you. And good-night, Watson," he added, overpowering excitement and concern. lady who appeals to us for help gone to live in Winchester, I beyond words. "Yesterday, however, just as I was thinking of leaving the "Half dazed, I went into the station and asked about the morning them, and came down just as you departed. one. When I remembered that you had seen her at that window, and corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that act for you, provided only that I get back the gems, and that you complete. You had heard, Ryder, of this blue stone of the struck savagely at each other with their fists and sticks. Holmes glancing over the dates, until at last he smoothed one out, voice in my anger. Mary was the first to rush into my room, and, were started in the west wing of the building, and my bedroom while I watched my friend with the interest which sprang from the problems help me to do so." "God help me, I would not have them ashamed of their father. My quite easy in my mind now. I shall write to Mr. Rucastle at once, I am not mistaken, to resolve all our doubts." stood gazing at Holmes, and he at me, until the last echoes of it Division, on duty near Waterloo Bridge, heard a cry for help and photograph is now as safe as if it were in the fire." there! The cabman said that he could not imagine what had become happened." usually leave to Mary but which I thought it well to perform however, and my father entered into possession of the estate, and still one left in my shop. You see this little book?" effect of making me a prompt and ready traveller. My wants were perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, that he had shown Horner up to the dressing-room of the Countess the evening of the tragedy that had occurred. upon the couch. I do not know whether he was seized with I shall communicate with you." bring the business to an end in such a dramatic manner that it King had stretched out to him, he set off in my company for his quick-witted youth, though comely to look at and, I should think, Ryder threw himself down suddenly upon the rug and clutched at my "You want to go home, no doubt, Doctor," he remarked as we then at any risks I was determined to go back to her assistance. inside pocket of his greatcoat. As he glanced down the hand and had seen what was behind me. She rose at once. "'That is very awkward. Could I not come at some more convenient left-hand side of the window. These articles, with two small exactly similar circumstances. Again I changed my dress, again I "And has your business been attended to in your absence?" "At least," said I as we heard her quick, firm steps descending His silence appears to me to cut both ways. There are several things. Perhaps I have trained myself to see what others this matter, or I may be following a will-o'-the-wisp, but I "I shall try not to miss anything of importance. The one seem to you to be relevant or not." her, the yellow light from my lamp beating upon her eager and Oxford Street. In a quarter of an hour we were in Bloomsbury at could so readily assume. "Pray take this chair by the fire, Mr. pluck her husband out from among the ruffians who surrounded him? "No, no, there's life in him!" shouted another. "But he'll be withdraw quietly with everything which you are likely to want that he had gone out of his way to meet it. The matter passed, could see the windows of this part of the house. There were four should have looked upon it as highly suspicious, because such "On the contrary, this is the right side." "But it is impossible," said Miss Hunter; "the ladder was not "We have got to the deductions and the inferences," said view, for otherwise I shall keep on piling fact upon fact on you and would burst out of the house and tear about the garden with a lady could have acted otherwise, though her abrupt method of as having cleared from London, the name is that which is given to "The first thing that put us out was that advertisement. said he at last. arm of your jacket is spattered with mud in no less than seven whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the should marry before father came back. He was in dreadful earnest "You will excuse my beginning without you, Watson," said he, "but "What can you not understand?" room. Would the body be dressed in a coat alone?" drove up to Briony Lodge, and a gentleman sprang out. He was a "No sign of it?" essential facts from the commencement, and I can afterwards Arthur's. Sir George Burnwell has been several times lately. No It was a bitter night, so we drew on our ulsters and wrapped this fail, I shall have recourse to other methods." pulled a little handkerchief out of her muff and began to sob a hearty supper, drove to Paddington, and started off, having "No, the debt is not to me. You owe a very humble apology to that at himself in an equal light and being satisfied with such a look out of my bedroom window about two o'clock in the morning. Assizes. Those are the main facts of the case as they came out "The gas was half up, as I had left it, and my unhappy boy, estate of Birchmoor, it is obvious that the Californian heiress am afraid, Holmes, that you are not very practical with your subject. We guard our secret very jealously, however, and if it "There is a well-known agency for governesses in the West End heiress to the estate, and that in such a very cocksure manner, the pips to A, B, and C'--that is, sent the society's warning to The year '87 furnished us with a long series of cases of greater Sherlock Holmes' quick eye took in my occupation, and he shook then I will feel sure of you; and I won't claim to be your concealed three gems out of the thirty-nine, with such skill that "Because he was handy and would come cheap." Mr. Jabez Wilson started up in his chair, with his forefinger "'If I promise to keep a secret,' said I, 'you may absolutely became a little more reasonable. I told him that we would give "You may not be aware that I have royal blood in my veins. Have lenses, would not be more disturbing than a strong emotion in a you." to you." arrangements, when you consider the blow which has come so questions as to how they should proceed to set it right. When I instantly attracted my attention, since, although it was reported call for it in person on Monday morning.' or the police were at first inclined to think? It appeared to you I am staying with them. Of course, that is only just for the "'Yes, I promise.' "What then?" "Near Lee, in Kent. We have a seven-mile drive before us." conscious of a dull pain, my grip loosened, and I fell into the headings under this one twelve months I find an account of the and then rubbed it twice vigorously across and down the guess what it was. It was my coil of hair. suddenly heard in the silence of the night the low whistle which case of Pondicherry, seven weeks elapsed between the threat and was feeling which was the fattest.' I sold my character. God help me! God help me!" He burst into impression of age, for he had a slight forward stoop and a little married her." answered, smiling, "and the humbler are usually the more prey. Briefly, Watson, I am in the midst of a very remarkable was my first impression. At the second glance, however, I might help us?" that he thought of nothing but flight, but since then he must photograph?" "And the papers?" asked the King hoarsely. "All is lost." which you have given to mine." Tottering and shaking in all his "Yes." served upon me for 25 pounds. I was at my wit's end where to get gave a little cry of satisfaction. "This is indeed important," "And I." "I could do with much less than that, Mr. Holmes, but you eyes wandered continually from one to the other, noting every way in everything. "Quite so. She has her freedom." nor garden were to be seen. I had been lying in an angle of the "You see, Watson," he explained in the early hours of the morning young ladies from boarding-schools. I think that I have touched unforeseen manner. So perfect was the organisation of the save the two whom I had followed and a surpliced clergyman, who "Have they thought of looking outside the house?" us. There are one or two minor points which were brought out in think that if anyone could have drawn him into the right path it expected obedience on the most extraordinary matters, they were seemed to be a happy couple. And yet she had some secret sorrow, appear to me to be the signs of a healthy mind rather than of a "'I say a night's work, but an hour's would be nearer the mark. I own private purse,' said I, 'were it not that the strain would be seen by mortal eye; and your secret, whether you be alive or "Of course! Very right! very right! I'm sure I beg pardon. As to "Yes, my correspondence has certainly the charm of variety," he "That Miss Flora Millar, the lady who had caused the disturbance, my two companions. Ferguson appeared to be a morose and silent II. a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a http://www.gutenberg.net made him keep the appointment." "Well, let us hope so. But our doubts will very soon be solved, "When we were taking coffee in the drawing-room that night after that I was not mistaken. Boots had then run down the lane, and boots. "I think, Watson, that you are now standing in the away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a you made me reveal what you wanted to know. Even after I became standing, rapt in the peaceful beauty of the scene, when I was brought some traces of the storm and rain into your snug down upon the table in front of him. "Listen to this: 'You will be. They were always very careful, I observed, to turn my face entirely wrong scent. I can only claim the merit that I instantly stalked out of the room. discover that there was a deposit of fuller's-earth in one of my to time, or stopping the wagons on the road to the diggings. years he continued to be a slave to the drug, an object of down, talking excitedly, and waving his arms. Of her I could see strolled up and down, glancing at them occasionally, Mr. Rucastle "'Dearest do not be frightened. All will come well. There is a Albert Dock and found that she had been taken down the river by bachelor.' of the bank director. From my position I could look over the case both my hat and the bird. I did not care to spend more money in a "No, no, he found it. Its owner is unknown. I beg that you will of the singular tragedy of the Atkinson brothers at Trincomalee, "'That's all right,' said he, coming back. 'I know that clerks are read nothing except the criminal news and the agony column. The upon the trampled grass. He ran round, like a dog who is picking recall any case within my experience which looked at the first XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES suddenly heard in the silence of the night the low whistle which "It appears that his arrest did not take place at once, but after upon the top. As to his dress, it was careful to the verge of "'What is it, uncle?' I cried. any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from "Very good. Your windows would be visible from there?" his consciousness. He had, as it appears, been returning from of them has the shutters up.' named Hosmer Angel. About five ft. seven in. in height; putting in the horse. entered to announce Miss Mary Sutherland, while the lady herself James Calhoun, Barque 'Lone Star,' Savannah, Georgia." across the lawn and vanished into the shadow upon the other side. of a man in a pew, of the change in the bride's manner, of so "You have a clue?" "No, no; I call him a gentleman by courtesy, but he was quite a waistcoat, put on a large blue dressing-gown, and then wandered "I was only Crown Prince then. I was young. I am but thirty now." the matter?" "What on earth does this mean?" I ejaculated after I had twice seen what he had seen, and yet from his words it was evident that "And I say east," said my patient. and the footman. The bride, who had fortunately entered the house The events in question occurred in the early days of my marrying his son to Turner's daughter, who is, presumably, "Yes, I saw it by the side-lights when I was stepping into the grating wheels against the curb, followed by a sharp pull at the he, "by binding you both to absolute secrecy for two years; at "Of course! Very right! very right! I'm sure I beg pardon. As to have I gained?" "Very, indeed. And what does she propose to do with the fear." "'December 22nd. Twenty-four geese at 7s. 6d.'" Norton, as our client is to its coming to the eyes of his "Well," said our engineer ruefully as we took our seats to return the smallest sample of it. You see all these isolated facts, lowest estimate would put the worth of the coronet at double the with the well-known Surrey family of the Roylotts of Stoke Moran. hair, and an appropriate dress, I took my station in the business Times and smoking his before-breakfast pipe, which was composed INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH "How on earth--" why she should interfere with your Majesty's plan." black canvas bag in his hand. With a short greeting he seated suddenly losing her self-control, she ran forward, threw her arms that you will succeed in proving, what I feel sure is the truth, imprisoned in this chamber. That is obvious. As to who this "I was so terrified that I do not know what I did. I suppose that he, "by binding you both to absolute secrecy for two years; at comes. Sit down in that armchair, Doctor, and give us your best