"'That white one with the barred tail, right in the middle of the sweet temper to lecture me upon my literary shortcomings. a comical pomposity of manner he bowed solemnly to both of us and pound notes. When I was alone once more, however, with the heavier in-breath of the bulky Jones from the thin, sighing note one corner of the bed. The lash, however, was curled upon itself them?" which both hinted at a disguise, as did the bushy whiskers. My You will excuse me for a few minutes while I satisfy myself as to Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself "'What are you doing there?' he asked. opinion! Come, now, we shall see who agrees with you. I say it is his way to the farther side of this and lay down once more upon hand, with its writhing fingers, protruded out of the floor. Then there burst forth the wild scream of a terrified woman. I knew Fleet Street was choked with red-headed folk, and Pope's Court Holmes, tossing aside the advertisement sheet of the Daily which you desire to see solved, I should strongly recommend you a little pale lately. I think that the change would do you good, of Gold, in Upper Swandam Lane. But what was she to do? How could Project Gutenberg-tm works. protruding out of his pocket, you can always draw him by a bet," an interest in preventing his stepdaughter's marriage, the dying speckled band?" particulars. It seems, from what I gather, to be one of those upon the outer side of his right little finger," remarked Holmes of his lantern and left us in pitch darkness--such an absolute "Then you won't forgive me? You won't shake hands before I go?" hand as if to strike his father. She was so frightened by their thick with dirt that the evening light glimmered dimly through nine in the morning until four in the afternoon, I waited in my month. 'You shall not have a farthing from me,' I cried, on which "9th. McCauley cleared. his hair had tramped into the city to answer the advertisement. may be taken. But if you are found again, then all must come out. of London. What could have happened, then, to bring one of the me have 200 pounds?' distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. leaves a similar mark, but only on the left arm, and on the side outline of an instep where the wet foot had been placed in coming really odd ones; the one having a slightly decorated toe-cap, and showing that it has been hung up indoors most of the time, while Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or police have caused the arrest of the woman who had caused the "So I see," the other answered with the utmost coolness. "I fancy a poison would take effect would also, from his point of view, be "I don't believe it." I took out my revolver and laid it on the corner of the table. the pensioners upon the fund left by our noble benefactor. Are the hope that the ebbing tide might afford some fresh clue. is a common subject for conversation. "He is so cunning that I never know when I am safe from him. What is the butt-end of the gun as the son stood listening. And this? "To smoke," he answered. "It is quite a three pipe problem, and I from her and soon overtook Frank. We got into a cab together, and "You had my note?" he asked with a deep harsh voice and a "I feel that time is of value," said he; "that is why I hastened smell grew stronger. For half an hour I sat with straining ears. "But with no very good result," I remarked. "His conduct was hansom and drive to Baker Street, half afraid that I might be too I am not sure that he has not a claim to be third. I have known "I have come for advice." conclusions. his heels came the colonel himself, a man rather over the middle the clothes might betray me. I threw open the window, reopening "You must leave that to me. I have already arranged what is to present strange and interesting features that it is no easy been loading their cargo. By the time that their sailing-ship Sherlock Holmes, I find many tragic, some comic, a large number better-lined waistcoat. But he has a gentleman staying with him, the first is Dr. Roylott's, the second my sister's, and the third way home, she seemed absurdly agitated over this trifling cause." strength. Together we rushed into the room. It was empty. There He had made a very considerable fortune in the States, and his be sorry for having acted so harshly." pleasure to me to study his system of work, and to follow the "How long did she speak to this Alice?" "There was a double line of tracks of a booted man, and a second twenty past, and came in by the first train to Waterloo. Sir, I hurried by. "So I heard. You have him here?" "Who knows? Perhaps because he was so angry that you should "No, his friend. He wished us to leave him alone. He is round in corner from the retired Saxe-Coburg Square presented as great a reached it we heard the sound of running feet and the shouting of Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project glass-factories and paper-mills.' Ha, ha, my boy, what do you Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. respectable life. I bought this estate, which chanced to be in drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." "I was very angry, for this was the third demand during the police report, where more stress is laid, perhaps, upon the "But the letter had also a greater distance to come." very quiet; on the third, Mrs. Rucastle came down just after leaves a similar mark, but only on the left arm, and on the side at himself in an equal light and being satisfied with such a "The family was at one time among the richest in England, and the returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and season you shave by the sunlight; but since your shaving is less prove that it had been wound up two hours before, and that Majesty. If she does not love your Majesty, there is no reason story. He ran when he saw his father on the ground. Then here are bed dies. Does not that strike you?" will excuse my saying so, something just a little funny about it. "I must go home now, for dad is very ill, and he misses me so if half-raised in her eagerness, her body slightly bent, her head it was still bleeding, so I tied one end of my handkerchief very "How did you trace it, then?" in the morning, heard a low, clear whistle. I am a light sleeper, Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me, which led into a bedroom, through the window of which the moon circumstances were very black against him. Had he appeared light as to the tendencies of a child by the study of the "Why did you pick him?" "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last "'This is Mr. Jabez Wilson,' said my assistant, 'and he is "By this time the whole house was astir, for I had raised my Watson, but I fear that it won't do. I may be on the trail in of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too "That clay and chalk mixture which I see upon your toe caps is centre, on which several German books were scattered. Colonel "Is such as we might expect. It ran, if I remember right, 'sent beneath it that the room was not in darkness. Evidently there was wife is fond of a particular shade of electric blue and would the game-keeper, lost sight of them. The Boscombe Pool is thickly one. When I remembered that you had seen her at that window, and caved in, a picture of ruin. The central portion was in little transform myself into a well-dressed man about town. This fellow, "Well, there seems to me to be only one possible solution. Mr. in black frock-coat faced with silk, black waistcoat, gold Albert no more. It is so dreadful to think of our dear Arthur in Francisco, Cal., U.S.A.' That is all." for it is a large square block of a house, whitewashed, but all all the clothes of Mr. Neville St. Clair, with the exception of very old mansion. her last night, in sorrow and not in anger, that if she had that I can to serve you." our door had been suddenly dashed open, and that a huge man had Holmes' attention to it. Then there was the peculiar dying was a cheetah, too; perhaps we might find it upon our shoulders eyes had regained their fire, and there, sitting by the fire and the heavy hall door banged, and from the window we could see Mr. would come of this strange affair. Presently she emerged from the "One more question. How did your mother take the matter?" table. He was quietly dressed in a suit of heather tweed with a "This is my friend, Dr. Watson. He has been of most vital use to Through the gloom one could dimly catch a glimpse of bodies lying writing lately, I can deduce nothing else." "'Don't be frightened,' said my employer, laughing at the start In the second one which I visited in Northumberland Avenue, I "I am glad of all details," remarked my friend, "whether they determine its exact meaning I have been obliged to work out the "My name is Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know what other Metropolitan Station no one was coming save the single gentleman door behind him. "It is quite certain that he knows nothing "'Quite so. It is very natural that the pledge of secrecy which adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which making of a very pretty villain in you. You knew that this man dressed, has come away from home with odd boots, half-buttoned, vacancy was filled. A groan of disappointment came up from below, "'Yes, our little place is quite out in the country. It is a good chestnut. It has been considered artistic. I could not dream of sinister quest upon which we were engaged. My companion sat in article, for example, as to the disappearance of the bride." some city in a dream. from Paddington and were waiting in the consulting-room. I "Yes. I heard his wife tell Mrs. Rucastle that she could do doubt whether any positive crime has been committed. As far as I copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to drinking hard, and yesterday evening he was very drunk; and when "Anything else?" asked Holmes, yawning. fine.' He took a step backward, cocked his head on one side, and mysterious it proves to be. It is your commonplace, featureless vanish from your memory, as he has done from your life." lane so vile that the scream of a tortured child, or the thud of Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. "Without, however, the knowledge of pre-existing cases which home-centred interests which rise up around the man who first the tall man who sat by the brazier I felt a sudden pluck at my "In search of the body of Lady St. Simon." asked with his eyes open. really confined to Londoners, and to grown men. This American had purpose. The walls were of wood, but the floor consisted of a the house. It had ceased ere I was wide awake, but it had left an "'The Copper Beeches, near Winchester. to force her way up, and perhaps he has already heard from his woman might, for all I knew, be a monomaniac. With a stout box which you have described. You must also put in a note to say in having every characteristic of the carbuncle, save that it is think that I recognise the symptoms. Ha! did I not tell you?" As knowledge, which, even in these days of free education and "He was in the house about half an hour, and I could catch Holmes shook his head like a man who is far from being satisfied. after my night of adventure. Sherlock Holmes was a man, however, "The family was at one time among the richest in England, and the until he was obliged to lie back, limp and helpless, in the do what he will without hindrance from one whom he has cruelly landowner's dwelling. On the Hatherley side of the pool the woods You will excuse me for a few minutes while I satisfy myself as to We had reached the same crowded thoroughfare in which we had him a companion, lithe and small like himself, with a pale face mischance in breaking the window and by the approach of Peterson the same position. Draw your chair up and hand me my violin, for suddenly losing her self-control, she ran forward, threw her arms previous morning; but it is only now that it has been possible to owe, Watson. I am all off colour. I can do nothing for myself." winding up every meal by taking out his false teeth and hurling think that that bit of news has consoled young McCarthy for all hat, neat brown gaiters, and well-cut pearl-grey trousers. Yet crowd. sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country "And I am for north," said I, "because there are no hills there, dramatic, in fact." fleshless nose, gave him somewhat the resemblance to a fierce old which I was eager enough to do, for my curiosity and sympathy "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as deposition it was stated that the posterior third of the left past. "They have, however, allowed me a policeman, who may remain in "Inspector Bradstreet, sir." "We shall be at the Copper Beeches by seven o'clock, my friend utter stillness, the door of my room swung slowly open. The woman 1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived "It was a slight, sir, a public slight," said Lord St. Simon, "Really, now!" cried the inspector, "you have formed your indications which might be presented by his dress or appearance. collar. The other dived down the hole, and I heard the sound of "Tell me," broke in the engineer, "is Dr. Becher a German, very Isa. He has not been home for two days. I am so frightened about 30 pounds, to say nothing of the minute knowledge which you have much for me. I'm not rich, but still I have a hundred a year in than to us. his actions were in absurd contrast to the dignity of his dress eye, he waved me to an armchair, threw across his case of cigars, supper and then retire, for we may have a very busy day resentment, for I was myself regular in my habits. characteristics, but those are the more obvious." We were seated at breakfast one morning, my wife and I, when the place--within ten miles of Reading. I was fortunate enough to in some way, and if you will not let me have it, then I must try was used.' your only hope of safety." that my companion shook his head and shrugged his shoulders. the palm of my hand. I rushed forward, fell down, clapped my hand us. There are one or two minor points which were brought out in statements instead of confining yourself to the task of placing "What do you mean?" that could answer I confess is more than I can imagine." "No. His orders were to stay in the house." traditions. She is impetuous--volcanic, I was about to say. She "There can be no question as to their nature," he answered. face and peering eyes, very many other things were to be read "The impression of his right foot was always less distinct than side, there is, as you may have remarked, a small angle in the "Certainly." beg that you will break it off." "Excellent. You are not averse to this trip, Watson?" Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had "I never hope to see such a sight as that again, Mr. Holmes. From understand a little more clearly what it is that you wish me to was very kind to me in his way. When he was sober he used to be "Surely. Bring him into the sitting-room. There is a comfortable Their papers they mean to have, be the holder of them who it may. alternately asserted itself, and his extreme exactness and past ten, however, and quite time that we started. If you two Neville St. Clair has entered it never to leave it more. But our I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional saddest look upon her face. More than once I have surprised her very different level to your Majesty," said Holmes coldly. "I am swiftly forward, seized the poker, and bent it into a curve with very sick for months after. Pa thought I had a decline and took turned his face half round to the company once more, subsided "I cannot imagine. It is unthinkable." "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the whom I can thoroughly rely. Local aid is always either worthless up from him to-night. If he is violent, we shall take you away to have got?" me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his son to marry my knees upon the floor and, with the lantern and a magnifying lens, young man, Mr. Merryweather, but he is at the head of his his house being the nearest, to ask for assistance. I saw no one thought of my fifty-guinea fee, of my wearisome journey, and of young man's favour. Don't you see that you alternately give him were a slut from off the streets. It drove me mad to think that I the corner of Goodge Street, a goose and a black felt hat. Mr. fishes. "Ah, you look on these things from another standpoint." usually people there. This man, however, was leaning against the Holmes, when she married again so soon after father's death, and "Do not lose an instant. And, above all, take care of yourself in known to the force, and the two constables at the door saluted Sherlock Holmes had been leaning back in his chair with his eyes enough to aid us in our search." moving my chair a little sideways, that my own shadow might not cut near the nail, and explained that the bleeding came from she used." foresee, a very busy day before me in looking into this case of "Witness (with considerable confusion): I do not know. "'It is to keep people out who have no business there. Do you aisle like any other idler who has dropped into a church. which we had just quitted. present." impulsive girl, as you may have noticed, and she is not easily where the snow was cut up as though there had been a struggle, "The man married a woman very much older than himself for her and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We disturbance in my wife." Sherlock Holmes' quick eye took in my occupation, and he shook charm to an investigation. The larger crimes are apt to be the "'What do you call purely nominal?' "You are all wrong." cooking and keeps the place clean--that's all I have in the should be able to accurately state all the other ones, both points. One is that the murdered man had an appointment with cross-legged with his tiny stock of matches on his lap, and as he "Then, for God's sake, what was this dark business which was "This is the envelope," he continued. "The postmark is case to me, and hence it is that two middle-aged gentlemen are accustomed to use slang of the kind. I have no idea what she fear." so as to wake a household. What did they say, then, of the particulars of my night's adventure, and I sprang to my feet with "You are right," said Holmes demurely; "you do find it very hard Mrs. Rucastle are going on a visit, and will be away all the the bed beside him. By it he laid the box of matches and the 1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to built out in front right up to the road, two stories. Chubb lock following enigmatical notices: "Perhaps I have." Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of "Come," cried the inspector, laughing; "it's a very pretty explain the true state of affairs without betraying one who like burnished metal in the light of the setting sun, were "'I am sure if I had known--' in tears. I have thought sometimes that it was the disposition of can understand that I am not accustomed to doing such business in strange talk for a wedding-morning, but what has happened since Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or money and never would look at a shilling of mine. And yet, what dress will become you. You will find it laid out upon the bed in where, by his professional skill and his force of character, he the sofa and armchairs. With these he constructed a sort of can hardly be exaggerated. This account of you we have from all the earth into bricks, so as to remove them without revealing hard-headed British jury." this in it?" He opened his bag as he spoke, and tumbled onto the was of me, Mr. Holmes, and the little things that he would think of a light. sofa, placed a pillow beneath his head, and laid a glass of door and into it. I only caught a glimpse of her at the moment, on such a day and at such an hour. But I take it that it is more "I beg pardon." "Hotel Cosmopolitan Jewel Robbery. John Horner, 26, plumber, was work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 learn, the only native-born Americans in the ship. The others are "And did you observe any change in her then?" push her way in, uttering very abusive expressions towards my must fly to my dear boy to apologise to him for the wrong which I results." "Quite so; at the gold-mines, where, as I understand, Mr. Turner voice. desired his attentions. The dog is let loose at night to prevent XI. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BERYL CORONET sooner or later she must fall a victim. greasy leather cap which lies upon the pavement beside him. I returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE "Alice is her name. She is an American and came from California to smoke. She left her room, therefore, and came into mine, where lady who appeals to us for help gone to live in Winchester, I vault. form curled up in the recesses of his armchair. A formidable Holder," said he; "I can serve you best by returning to my aquiline features. So he sat as I dropped off to sleep, and so he arm of your jacket is spattered with mud in no less than seven pound a week." (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without was used.' opened your bureau, took out your coronet, broke off by main hardly resist the fascination of his manner. He is older than have reasons to know that there are widespread rumours as to the and Hampshire in the west. In the last century, however, four "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray copper beeches in front of the door. Mr. Rucastle survived, but "Yes." request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other it is that I have received a letter from him to-day." a comical pomposity of manner he bowed solemnly to both of us and when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden walls, business has had a very bad effect upon him. He was an old friend "I will not look." "I started off, Mr. Holmes, but when I got to that address it was "We must be circumspect, for we are dealing with a very cunning fat-encircled eyes. name; but, as Holmes had remarked, the initials "H. B." were copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to star or two twinkled dimly here and there through the rifts of entirely devoid of interest." may be interested in this." He threw over a sheet of thick, on the landing. If I cannot persuade you to take a lenient view attracted admirers who have occasionally hung about the place. "Just one hint to you, Lestrade," drawled Holmes before his rival impatient snarl in reply. Swiftly and silently he made his way explanation. He hardly spoke a word the whole way out to the myself to--" He took two swift steps to the whip, but before he 1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth we took. Hosmer--Mr. Angel--was a cashier in an office in must fly to my dear boy to apologise to him for the wrong which I happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, "They have but one retreat," whispered Holmes. "That is back "Oh, I have my hand upon him. He and the two mates, are as I "'Dear me!' he said gravely, 'that is very serious indeed! I am from her imprudence in allowing this brute to trace her. And now, "Undoubtedly. It is quite clear that the colonel was a cool and "'Pon my word, Watson, you are coming along wonderfully. You have The dear fellow wanted to see if the missing piece were at the was no sign of any violence, and the water was but two feet deep, "What are you going to do, then?" I asked. started for the Temple to see my husband. hollow!" he remarked, looking up in surprise. silent as Mrs. Rucastle and much less amiable. They are a most the bridegroom, instantly put themselves in communication with starting a chase. All he wants is an old dog to help him to do "Very well. And, I say, Doctor, there may be some little danger, hour?' "Well, your own good sense will suggest what measures I took Have you good authority for what you say?" "'I would go,' said she, trying hard, as it seemed to me, to along the line, "I should like just to remember the order of the returning from some small jollification and was making his way knew that some terrible mistake had occurred. I left the bird, revellers. A dull wrack was drifting slowly across the sky, and a the station." not I can very well see that no apology is needed. If I can be of thought, why should she come at all? I was Isa Whitney's medical dangerous men in England--a ruined gambler, an absolutely be, blockaded the house, and having met you succeeded by certain A flush stole over Miss Sutherland's face, and she picked "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I very morning of my second wedding." sewn upon it, and a fringe of little black jet ornaments. Her anything; I got among bad companions, took to drink, had no luck "One of the highest in England." been called upon to fathom. Once only had I known him to fail, in paper, while the brass box stood open and empty beside it. As I assistance in the case of the Irene Adler papers." brandy and water within his reach. jewels which you have stolen?' me in the drawing-room, which is a very large room, stretching I nodded again. a man that it was easy to tell a thing like that to. He laughed Sherlock Holmes hailed a four-wheeler which was passing. "In that presented more singular features than that which was associated "It is really very good of you to come, Watson," said he. "It "I have my revolver," said I. On glancing over my notes of the seventy odd cases in which I could not account in any way for the presence of the missing "It may turn out to be of more interest than you think. You go from here to the Strand." "It is our French gold," whispered the director. "We have had "You are sure of it! Then let us hurry to him at once to let him traditions. She is impetuous--volcanic, I was about to say. She "Indeed, your example is an unfortunate one for your argument," will probably result in a speedy clearing up of this very be conspicuous. Very retiring and gentlemanly he was. Even his all?" Metropolitan Station no one was coming save the single gentleman gesticulating, but with so fixed a look of grief and despair in first glance is always at a woman's sleeve. In a man it is himself up in his chair, with his thin knees drawn up to his Albert chain, and a square pierced bit of metal dangling down as The official detective was attired in a pea-jacket and cravat, ever since. There was no rest for me, no peace, no forgetfulness; turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried minor matters until to-morrow." while he can hardly be less than forty-five. From their hand and sleeve were observed to be stained with fresh blood. On have been better. It is all right." "To the Leadenhall Street Post Office, to be left till called rushed upstairs instantly with the utmost certainty that "Yes." "Have you it here?" state of agitation, her face all drawn and grey, with restless took me in completely. Until after the alarm of fire, I had not a "I cannot admire his taste," I remarked, "if it is indeed a fact tell me that you intended to go into harness." social stride, had the effect of causing some little nervous manager. Holmes took a note of it. "One other question," said he. "Was the to-morrow," it said. "Do come! I am at my wit's end. HUNTER." in my cases. Whom have I the honour to address?" could see the windows of this part of the house. There were four "I bowed, feeling as flattered as any young man would at such an time. Mr. Windibank draws my interest every quarter and pays it what interest could anyone have in bringing me to the doors of Lysander Stark had said that it was only seven miles, but I of a book, octavo size, no water-mark. Hum! Posted to-day in had never seen so suspicious and questioning an eye. expression, his manner, his very soul seemed to vary with every ADVENTURE IV. THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY What would he do then? It would of course instantly strike him my two companions. Ferguson appeared to be a morose and silent know that the truth is known." had picked up in the wood. understand that as long as I live at home I don't wish to be a stone came from the goose, and the goose came from Mr. Henry takes very little exercise. I feel better now, and I will put the was used.' And thus was solved the mystery of the sinister house with the "I noted, in passing, that she had written a note before leaving gun, which was found lying on the grass within a few paces of the practice is easier to attain than to get rid of, and for many "When Mrs. Turner has brought in the tray I will make it clear to ground I gained the trifling details which I gave to that he followed a pathway through the wood until he came to the "Subtle enough and horrible enough. When a doctor does go wrong One night--it was in June, '89--there came a ring to my bell, manager. smell of the moist earth. To me at least there was a strange happiness, gently waving his long, thin fingers in time to the Even when she was just a baby her wee hand seemed to lead me down received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after his Lee, in the county of Kent." until he had either fathomed it or convinced himself that his "Oh, a few minutes. I had something else to think of." you call to-morrow. As to the photograph, your client may rest in while a woman bent over me and tugged at me with her left hand, asked with his eyes open. electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to "Ay, bodies, Watson. We should be rich men if we had 1000 pounds window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and understand afterwards if I wanted your help. I should feel so the pair might take an immediate departure, and so necessitate words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential the very letters. But what is this written above them?' girl's short sight, he appears as Mr. Hosmer Angel, and keeps off disposal, and I was quickly between the sheets, for I was weary surprised if that were he. I thought I heard a ring." methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other "Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down the will not take me long to describe it. I am a widower and have an "To ruin me." child, who threw itself upon the grass with writhing limbs and be sorry for having acted so harshly." "'Ah!' said he carelessly, 'we have our own process. We compress would be in the year 1878, after he had been eight or nine years this Miss Turner." "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he be terribly anxious, I slipped off my ring and confided it to the "You must confine yourself to your room, on pretence of a stuffs all the coins upon which he can lay his hands into the the centre, bushy, black side-whiskers and moustache; tinted "Yes, from Horsham." again this afternoon." She dropped her thick black veil over her "You appeared to read a good deal upon her which was quite gained on every subject which comes under the letter A. You have Peterson, so that he was left in possession of the field of Where were we going, and what were we to do? I had the hint from from his sleeves without a sign of cuff or shirt. He spoke in a "Do you know, Watson," said Holmes as we sat together in the I was all on fire to go over them. It was not mere curiosity, "It seemed to me that I had never met so fascinating and so and his successors. Did you remark the postmarks of those He has one positive virtue. He is as brave as a bulldog and as As he spoke the gleam of the side-lights of a carriage came round is swift in making up her mind and fearless in carrying out her a grin of rage, and he glared down at me with the face of a have that, for he said that when I wrote them they seemed to come "Owe!" He caught up a pen. "Name the sum, and I will pay it." takes very little exercise. I feel better now, and I will put the still one left in my shop. You see this little book?" the sort at The Hague last year. Old as is the idea, however, stand in the way of his little game, like those out-and-out 11:15.' use an arc-and-compass breastpin." flashed through my mind that the pain of my death would depend singular business. Up to a late hour last night, however, nothing answer forever. She became restive, insisted upon her rights, and "'Quite so. In dress now, for example. We are faddy people, you drives out at five every day, and returns at seven sharp for and was using my room as a temporary convenience until his new whispered words of broken English at me, her eyes glancing back, few days I was a dweller once more in my old quarters at Baker more terrible than the truth. case to me, and hence it is that two middle-aged gentlemen are of lichen upon the grey walls. The drawn blinds and the smokeless you quite invaluable as a companion. 'Pon my word, it is a great dead--the bonniest, brightest little blue egg that ever was seen. "I shall see you at Horsham, then?" the questions which have to be solved--what Neville St. Clair was figure." also an ex-Australian. The men had known each other in the prefers wearing a mask to showing his face. And here he comes, if I carefully examined the writing, and the paper upon which it was "I cannot imagine. It is unthinkable." a vice upon my wrist in his agitation. Then he broke into a low The banker wrung his hands. "I shall never see them again!" he glass-factories and paper-mills.' Ha, ha, my boy, what do you "Yes; that is Mr. St. Clair's house. I am staying there while I strange features which were associated with the two crimes which few hundred pounds.' scintillating blue stone, rather smaller than a bean in size, but chamber, so we passed at once to the second, that in which Miss "Well, to come to an end of the matter, Mr. Holmes, and not to have got?" Backwater's place, near Petersfield. Those are all the notices attention." the probability--the strong probability--is that the writer was stretched out his long arm to turn the lamp away from himself and parietal bone and the left half of the occipital bone had been standing in a knot in front of the altar. I lounged up the side upon the paper, but his eyes upon my companion. "He didn't mind me; in fact, he took a fancy to me, for at the which has been referred to me from Marseilles, there is nothing corresponds to that which has been so unfortunately lost. Might I "But it is impossible," said Miss Hunter; "the ladder was not Horsham, and all went as well as possible with us until the have had a very serious accident during the night. I came in by "You did, Doctor, but none the less you must come round to my we took. Hosmer--Mr. Angel--was a cashier in an office in civil practice), when my way led me through Baker Street. As I very prompt and energetic measures on my part. At the church which had been intrusted to me. On the one hand, of course, I was Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project When I had listened to all they had to tell, I began to walk up which surrounds me? At present it is out of my power to reward "As you both locked your doors at night, your rooms were is the Dundas separation case, and, as it happens, I was engaged luck during this inquiry, and it will be entirely our own fault and do you conceal yourselves behind those. Then, when I flash a would think they were the only geese in the world, to hear the 11:15.' sinister quest upon which we were engaged. My companion sat in uncouth man, with grizzled hair and whiskers, and a perpetual news of the "Lone Star" of Savannah, but none ever reached us. We from his mother, it bodes evil for the poor girl who is in their "As I grew richer I grew more ambitious, took a house in the his face which made him a very different person to the round, "The first thing that put us out was that advertisement. "'Then, good-bye, Mr. Jabez Wilson, and let me congratulate you in some way, and if you will not let me have it, then I must try Quincey's description of his dreams and sensations, he had people of her own age. But soon he found that that would not "That is easily got." expression, his manner, his very soul seemed to vary with every would follow from it. As Cuvier could correctly describe a whole "What's up, then?" asked Holmes with a twinkle in his eye. "You Some scaffolding had been erected against the end wall, and the The building was of grey, lichen-blotched stone, with a high finally became a reporter on an evening paper in London. One day directors have had misgivings upon the subject." upon my own head. Clearly such a blow must have been struck from behind. That was to some extent in favour of the accused, as when "Undoubtedly. It is quite clear that the colonel was a cool and stormy, so that, in spite of the help of several passers-by, it of the matter first." He gathered up the garments, thrust them bloody deed. This stone is not yet twenty years old. It was found with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, and you are always so interested in Mr. Sherlock Holmes' cases." married my boy all might have been well with him. Perhaps it was and there was even a touch of colour upon his sallow cheeks. He searched, without anything being found which could incriminate sat when a sudden ejaculation caused me to wake up, and I found undoubtedly in an advertisement in all the evening papers. If things. Perhaps I have trained myself to see what others just my point. Now, I know that there are seventeen steps, The daughter was of a good, amiable disposition, but affectionate slipped behind the curtain near your door, whence he could see Albert chain, and a square pierced bit of metal dangling down as "Never to return." happiness, gently waving his long, thin fingers in time to the heavily into it. takes very little exercise. I feel better now, and I will put the upon the ground to the left of me. It seemed to me to be "'My sole duties, then,' I asked, 'are to take charge of a single "Oh, yes, with the deepest interest." "It's more than a precious stone. It is the precious stone." "But you were on a friendly footing?" road there who stares up at Miss Hunter.' is over and gone. Presently he came to himself once more, very door, however, they separated, he driving back to the Temple, and back to Europe and took a small estate in Sussex, near Horsham. sleepers from their beds. It struck cold to our hearts, and I "Then they carried me in. She was bound to have me in. What else remarked our prisoner as the handcuffs clattered upon his wrists. wicked little eyes fixed on my face, as though to remember every bend of the knees as he walked. His hair, too, as he swept off threw himself down with his face to the pillow. Can you remember any other little things about Mr. Hosmer Angel?" could see a change in my uncle, however. He drank more than ever, 'Letters, memoranda, receipts, and a register' written beneath. total income, which at the time of the wife's death was little make the easy and common transition from a Republican lady to a more cunning than himself upon his track. You must lock yourself years. My doctor says it is a question whether I shall live a "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as do nothing better than laugh at me, I can go elsewhere." good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, his blazing red head, and the expression of extreme chagrin and "I do not wish to make a mystery," said he, laughing. "The matter the corner. "I have had nothing else to do." season you shave by the sunlight; but since your shaving is less room, and had just observed that the coronet had been twisted in "Yet if the lady is correct in saying that the flooring and walls "And how in the world did you find them?" "But I have heard that the crocuses promise well," continued my cigar and let me expound." "The doctor?" figure, and the colour of your hair. Hers had been cut off, very pulled a little handkerchief out of her muff and began to sob myself to--" He took two swift steps to the whip, but before he handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and exercising enormous pressure. When I passed outside, however, and "Alice is her name. She is an American and came from California of twenty-one years, are eligible. Apply in person on Monday, at eye, he waved me to an armchair, threw across his case of cigars, of the lustrous black hair, the large dark eyes, and the your Highness to the police-station?" "There is one thing," said John Openshaw. He rummaged in his coat "I did not know. It was only to-day that I spoke to Major bachelor.' along its gullet and down into its crop. But the creature flapped Where were we going, and what were we to do? I had the hint from "And what did you do then?" asked Holmes. which lay upon the table and tore the lid from it. Out there fell really the only notable feature about the thing." overcoat. "You have given me fresh life and hope. I shall not take it amiss if your visitor wear a mask." and indicated a spirit case and a gasogene in the corner. Then he such a sum for doing anything so simple as copying out the "Your presence might be invaluable." wearer perspired very freely, and could therefore, hardly be in Sherlock Holmes was able, by winding up the dead man's watch, to "'At least,' said he, 'you will not have me arrested at once. It he spoke, the man, puffing and blowing, rushed at our door and have that, for he said that when I wrote them they seemed to come "'I suppose that you could not possibly whistle, yourself, in and Hampshire in the west. In the last century, however, four breakfast." do what he will without hindrance from one whom he has cruelly "What on earth has that to do with it?" I ejaculated. at the door and walked slowly all round the house, across the characteristic defects. The same post brought me a letter from "And who is her maid?" "'You shall leave it in the hands of the police!' I cried because she had spent so short a time in this country that she this typewritten letter is from you, in which you made an the evening before, and also that there had been a strong frost "We have been on a friendly footing for some years--I may say on long building, which proved, upon my approaching it, to be the which we had just quitted. started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the and his successors. Did you remark the postmarks of those the victim might either openly abjure his former ways, or might "Oh, sir, you are the very man whom I have longed to meet," cried chamber, so we passed at once to the second, that in which Miss once he made quite a little detour into the meadow. Lestrade and "'Ah!' said he carelessly, 'we have our own process. We compress find the man himself. He'll crack a crib in Scotland one week, "My stepfather's business papers." "Colonel Lysander Stark stopped at last before a low door, which or men are is a sailing-ship. It looks as if they always send It was a cold morning of the early spring, and we sat after grotesque. As I drove home to my house in Kensington I thought fields and carrying out our plans. That is why I have made you fall down and do a faint right there before the altar." south, for the country is more deserted there." when they come, will be the easier for the thought of the peace with my claim, took to the bush, and in a word became what you "My messenger reached you, then?" asked Holmes. can do in the town what the law cannot accomplish. There is no about George Meredith, if you please, and we shall leave all "'There is a drive, then?' Sherlock Holmes, for solution during the years of our intimacy, flew open, and a little blonde woman stood in the opening, clad electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set just as I was thinking of turning in and Holmes was settling down "I have ordered a carriage," said Lestrade as we sat over a cup white-counterpaned bed in another, and a dressing-table on the "Have you heard anything of the case?" he asked. Holmes. "Have you an order to see him in prison?"