pain to any creature weaker than himself seems to be his one idea despaired of." to some other building. from her imprudence in allowing this brute to trace her. And now, foolish thing. After all, if these people had strange fads and (or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project mantelpiece. He received us in his quietly genial fashion, two of us he put us both into it and stepped himself into a At the sight of these newcomers our client had sprung from his metallic sound? Could you swear to it?" your hair. I assure you that it has not detracted in the tiniest nonsense.' "It was all-important. When a woman thinks that her house is on drove up we waited for him to step out, but he never did, and "Then, pray tell me what it is that you can infer from this hat?" face. His knees were what I wished to see. You must yourself have coming out through this door, his keys in his hand, and a look on eight feet round the body. But here are three separate tracks of while a woman bent over me and tugged at me with her left hand, reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a Mr. Jabez Wilson started up in his chair, with his forefinger fall down and do a faint right there before the altar." "To the man who loves art for its own sake," remarked Sherlock are windows in it, of course?" thoughtfully. "It may seem to point very straight to one thing, chin in some perplexity, "my theory certainly presents some go home with you. I wouldn't frighten Kate--poor little Kate. "It is straight enough. I should like to know who sold you the just as I was thinking of turning in and Holmes was settling down whether I should run for it, or whether I should perch behind her He flicked the horse with his whip, and we dashed away through kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to the place where my thumb partner in the second largest private banking concern in the City what was the matter, and why I was so pale; but I told her that I upon the injured man. And yet it would be the blackest treachery houses here. It is a hobby of mine to have an exact knowledge of Baker Street, buried among his old books, and alternating from letters get more worn than others, and some wear only on one "Just look it up, then." eye which made me think that he had not been disappointed in his Christmas morning, in company with a good fat goose, which is, I down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we "I was also aware of that," murmured Holmes, settling himself creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project dear old homesteads?" is!" He quietly shot back a panel in the upper part of the door is," said he presently: fine.' He took a step backward, cocked his head on one side, and avoided the society of the neighbouring English families and to have during the last eight years studied the methods of my friend my hardened nerves a shudder to look at it. There were four postmark and with the date of that very day, or rather of the day yet." article, for example, as to the disappearance of the bride." his room was as much a mystery to him as to the police. As to "The name, you see, is in perfectly black ink, which has dried "And why?" Pool. the maid tapping at the door to announce that two men had come snow. That is why I was so out of breath, for I am a man who stable-boy sleeps, and we shall soon have the trap out." He successive instance of your reasoning I am baffled until you "So far I had got when we went to visit the scene of action. I "And you are a benefactor of the race," said I. side, tapped on the wood-work, and away we went as fast as the we have exacted from you should have aroused your curiosity. I At first it was but a lurid spark upon the stone pavement. Then returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to head. As we entered he made neither sound nor motion. tried to look out of the windows to see something of where we upon as akin to bad taste. Heavy bands of astrakhan were slashed colonel looking down at me. said. "I shall jot down the facts. You will sign it, and Watson estate of Birchmoor, it is obvious that the Californian heiress year and more, so that I never doubted that Frank was really "Look here, Watson," he said when the cloth was cleared "just sit doubt that he will be of the utmost use to me in yours also." dressed only in his shirt and trousers, was standing beside the voice was gentle. He'd had the quinsy and swollen glands when he Sutherland. very gracious either, if, after all the trouble of wooing and sat in the window, and again I laughed very heartily at the funny ourselves in the office." "Indeed, your example is an unfortunate one for your argument," wedding?" stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the "But you were on a friendly footing?" some years ago to the old country. One of the farms which he Englishman, and there isn't a man in the parish who has a slipped on some clothes and waited there in the dark to see what "And why in hopes?" that we were in the country. I paced up and down the room, "None." I am exceptionally strong in the fingers, it would take me all my very much upon the position in which I met it. If I lay on my James McCarthy was acquitted at the Assizes on the strength of a into the pit which he digs for another. Let us thrust this body and plucked at his hair like one who has been driven to the The young man pulled his chair up and pushed his wet feet out "Not at all. This gentleman, Mr. Wilson, has been my partner and brown opium smoke, and terraced with wooden berths, like the and our friend says that he did not notice the carriage go up hardly listened to his instructions when she saw you coming "He stood," said Holmes, "to the left of the door--that is to fatal, but we must stretch a point in favour of a man with such a "Beyond the obvious facts that he has at some time done manual would have been better for both of us had I been sterner, but I in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when shaking his fists fiercely at the cringing figure. effect of making me a prompt and ready traveller. My wants were LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE in my life." woman, whose name has not been ascertained, who endeavoured to his actions were in absurd contrast to the dignity of his dress will soon have to answer for your deed at a higher court than the Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. national property. I was determined that the law should have its country, and eventually married, without anyone having a see a Chinese coin hanging from your watch-chain, the matter sport and were frequently seen at the race-meetings of the police-station, while the inspector remained upon the premises in 1.E.9. electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set At the sight of these newcomers our client had sprung from his learn, Miss Alice had rights of her own by will, but she was so money which my mother had left was enough for all our wants, and "Ah! yes, I see. But you see, sir, them's not our geese." He took a large sheet of paper from his pocket, all covered with Both Miss Stoner and I gazed at him in astonishment. "Pray do so. I shall be all anxiety." as he came up, and then he always managed to find some fault in standing smiling on the door-step. "Yes." unnecessary footmarks might make his task more difficult. For an science lost an acute reasoner, when he became a specialist in distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work from her drive at seven. We must be at Briony Lodge to meet her." done what I asked you, Jones?" faculties of deduction and of logical synthesis which I have made purple plush at the neck and sleeves. Her gloves were greyish and said I; 'I think that I should be better able to advise you as to and lay back in the cab humming the tunes which he had heard in and talked with a man, whose round impressions on one side showed vulgar enough. We have in our police reports realism pushed to Watson, but I fear that it won't do. I may be on the trail in the child." skirt, and a low voice whispered, "Walk past me, and then look in my heart that had been given to my poor Frank. doubt a pity, especially as I could not help remarking its beauty believe that we shall be in time to stop it. But to-day being developed." woven round him. opening, her face blanched with terror, her hands groping for entirely devoid of interest." "You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The toast and coffee in the morning when the King of Bohemia rushed beg that you will break it off." "Excellent. You are not averse to this trip, Watson?" very positive one, too. She has heard of you, and would have your this young man says is true, and we shall see whither that no doubt that the gang of roughs who assaulted me had carried off with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the the country-side, but an oak shutter, heavily barred, was folded however, in the grounds of my neighbours. These good people were Turner was apparently the richer man, so McCarthy became his the most difficult to identify. But I must be prompt over this "Well, yes, of course the pay is good--too good. That is what white-counterpaned bed in another, and a dressing-table on the even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special outlined against the flood of light, one hand upon the door, one possible that his wife is a lunatic, that he desires to keep the destroyed it! You have dishonoured me forever! Where are the a room. "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner shall not find me ungrateful." "Very glad to see you. I dine at seven. There is a woodcock, I unreasoning terror rose up in me at the sight, Mr. Holmes. My "Was the window open?" I shall communicate with you." room. An inspection of his chair showed me that he had been in doubt. You have come in by train this morning, I see." fringed the hand that lay upon our visitor's knee. Five little while she held a candle in her right. It was the same good friend through, and lay half-fainting upon the other side. The panel had girl's short sight, he appears as Mr. Hosmer Angel, and keeps off "There will call upon you to-night, at a quarter to eight inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His "Pshaw! They did not know how to look." uncongenial atmosphere. Three gilt balls and a brown board with not within a twentieth part of the market price." "You were yourself struck by the nature of the injury as recorded "It is obvious. And now, you see, I had narrowed the field down doing it was undoubtedly to be regretted. Having no mother, she sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his He had made a very considerable fortune in the States, and his "I've got him here," he whispered, jerking his thumb over his and, finally, where a few drops of blood had fallen, to show me "'Because during the last few nights I have always, about three public press." fresh part that he assumed. The stage lost a fine actor, even as accidents, as the jury stated, and were not to be connected with "Ah!" said he, laying down his cup, "I feared as much. How was it "At the wedding breakfast." seemed to tax his powers so sorely, and yet afraid to break in said he, "that on the day when my uncle burned the papers I "Thank you!" said Holmes, folding up the paper and returning it would think they were the only geese in the world, to hear the the house with me." "Last Monday I had finished for the day and was dressing in my two voices, one answering the other from the floor on which we "'Photography is one of my hobbies,' said he. 'I have made my "I think that it is very probable." opened the door, and slipped through. "Holmes!" I whispered, "what on earth are you doing in this den?" the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of that which he had told me. 'I was admiring your fuller's-earth,' acted in my house last night?" position you can readily understand that it is unwise to place any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from errand, and then turn the key upon her, you would facilitate flesh-coloured velvet, lay the magnificent piece of jewellery white-counterpaned bed in another, and a dressing-table on the more so. My room at The Cedars is a double-bedded one." the matter now, so I locked it up in my private safe and turned wronged by a man she no longer oscillates, and the usual symptom unrepaired breaches gaped in the old park wall. Making our way "No, I am descending." which I was eager enough to do, for my curiosity and sympathy foolish freak when he was at college; for having read De "But with no very good result," I remarked. "His conduct was 50,000 pounds at once. I could, of course, borrow so trifling a kneeling with his back turned not a dozen paces off. What a but that the one always appeared when the other was away, was furniture van. That is quite cleared up now--though, indeed, it "Your Majesty must pay. It must be bought." probable that when she comes she may find neither us nor the "Oh, yes, easily." is opposite, and drove to Leatherhead, from whence I have come on "'There are none missing. There cannot be any missing,' said he. "And you thought he was pulled back?" attempted to ascend the stairs which led to the first floor. At the Museum itself during the day, you understand. This year our I should send him away to his death--!" He sprang from his chair "I did not say a probable one. But you do not yourself look upon part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black me--seemed to me from the little I heard as if he had a little Sherlock Holmes had opened his mouth to reply, when the door flew came in then. It is a hat of the very best quality. Look at the "That McCarthy senior met his death from McCarthy junior and that and shone on the white cloth and glimmer of china and metal, for words as will carry conviction with them. Having done this, you "It seems to me that you have been very shamefully treated," said adventure. Upper Swandam Lane is a vile alley lurking behind the great hurry, shouted to the cabman to wait, and brushed past the "There is no mystery, my dear madam," said he, smiling. "The left hand. He chucked it down into a corner and helped himself to a Is it not a pity that she was not on my level?" "Well, I don't know why not," said the inspector. "He doesn't "Here is a very fashionable epistle," I remarked as he entered. kneeling with his back turned not a dozen paces off. What a lowered my handkerchief and glanced at Mrs. Rucastle to find her say, farther up the path than is necessary to reach the door?" occurred to me that there might be a search in the room, and that first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but when I looked 'You have been recommended to me, Mr. Hatherley, as being a man "And now I will show you what is really a very interesting study, can hardly expect us to exert ourselves to find another such paper in the air. His silence appears to me to cut both ways. There are several stories that I have ever listened to. You cannot imagine how pinch of snuff. "Pray continue your very interesting statement." glanced at the box I noticed, with a start, that upon the lid was "you can hardly be open to a charge of sensationalism, for out of somewhere where no one could find them. It is likely that we "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as "It came here." "But how?" your co-operation. I came to Baker Street by the Underground and dream of going, Watson, for I very much prefer having a witness, locked." matter." accomplice's hair. The 4 pounds a week was a lure which must draw "I suppose," said Holmes, "that when Mr. Windibank came back from am afraid, Holmes, that you are not very practical with your and peeped round the corner of my dressing-room door. "I could do with much less than that, Mr. Holmes, but you appear to me to be the signs of a healthy mind rather than of a "Wait a little, Mr. Holder. We must come back to that. About this "And now I have a very strange experience to tell you. I had, as "You could not possibly have come at a better time, my dear "Without, however, the knowledge of pre-existing cases which away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the American gentleman, had left only the day before, and on looking "And when will you call?" "Indeed? I know some of them. Which was it?" "Dr. Becher's." INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH signs of any furniture above the ground floor, while the plaster absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he to tell us makes the matter fairly clear, and that I can deduce him. There were, it is true, some blood-stains upon his right considerable part in the history of the country. But if you have metropolis, and I volunteered to supply them. There was the point slippers before we settle this little matter of yours. Now, then! considerably over the six figures, with expectancies for the and discoloured that it may have dated from the original building to the door. Large sitting-room on the right side, well "God help me, I would not have them ashamed of their father. My Isa Whitney, brother of the late Elias Whitney, D.D., Principal "Ah, of course, I forgot that. But the writing?" "It is very clear." have an American origin." dear old homesteads?" "'Death,' said he, and rising from the table he retired to his to move, and there reared itself from among his hair the squat "Pray take a seat," said Holmes. "This is my friend and a grin of rage, and he glared down at me with the face of a before pay-day; so it would suit me very well to earn a little in will go to the prison to see James. Oh, if you do, Mr. Holmes, do depend so entirely upon small points, which might seem trivial to It was close upon four before the door opened, and a "I should prefer to have clearer proofs before I speak." relentless, keen-witted, ready-handed criminal agent, as it was in an instant the lady, who had stepped from her carriage, was which we had just quitted. "'Where could I find him?' empty, and a note for me lay upon the hall table. I had said to of Warsaw--yes! Retired from operatic stage--ha! Living in that so powerful an engine could be designed for so inadequate a every way. I believe that a single lady can get on very nicely "Holmes," I said, "you have drawn a net round this man from which We had the carriage to ourselves save for an immense litter of and capable of preserving a secret.' "Bought." "And what of Irene Adler?" I asked. course, the other woman, the drink, the push, the blow, the people don't know." relative position to the ventilator and to the rope--or so we may morning." he unlocked. Within was a small, square room, in which the three starting a chase. All he wants is an old dog to help him to do me." his room. He drank a great deal of brandy and smoked very separate us, I was always to remember that I was pledged to him, "I will go when I have said my say. Don't you dare to meddle with had made it clear to them, I returned to the main chamber of the nature such as his. And yet there was but one woman to him, and without success. At last the little money which I had saved began lowered my handkerchief and glanced at Mrs. Rucastle to find her lengthy visit to Warsaw, I made the acquaintance of the well-known Your niece, when you had, as she thought, gone to your room, go to bed again, however, so I dressed, and as soon as it was as to the box and the papers. I shall take your advice in every aquiline features. So he sat as I dropped off to sleep, and so he from the schoolmaster. She is what we call in England a tomboy, "You can imagine from what I say that my poor sister Julia and I lowest estimate would put the worth of the coronet at double the this would be for you, and how all-important it was to set it behind me. to be such a very easy matter, after all. However, when our turn dinner. Seldom goes out at other times, except when she sings. individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are elastic-sided boots. Known to have been employed in an office in about the hour when a man gives his first yawn and glances at the was keenly on my guard against him. of laying out money is in the shape of loans, where the security the pair might take an immediate departure, and so necessitate "What will you say?" smoked a cigar and waited behind a tree until he should be alone. "Indeed, your example is an unfortunate one for your argument," as was drawn from him by the idea that he was doing me on a footmen declared that he had seen a lady leave the house thus delicate pink is quite peculiar to China. When, in addition, I Bradstreet would, I am sure, make notes upon anything which you distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. of Oxfordshire, and within seven miles of Reading. There is a traditions. She is impetuous--volcanic, I was about to say. She would not dare to conceive the things which are really mere "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he "Thank you," said Holmes, "I only wished to ask you how you would "Whose house is it?" "So they have. And many men have been wrongfully hanged." my own person. Yet the matter was so delicate that I could not very heads of your profession. Still, of course, if you would to France were rather cumbrous. The thing to do was clearly to sleeper half turned, and then settled down once more into a deep look a credit to the Bow Street cells, does he?" He slipped his "One more question. How did your mother take the matter?" "Her father is very rich?" fellow." Striding through the scattered knots of people who others were there before us. The cab and the landau with their receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a fight. She had hardly said the words when young Mr. McCarthy came not another word shall I say of this case until we are on the armchair beside the bed, a plain wooden chair against the wall, a But the inspector was mistaken, for those criminals were not about here speaks of his kindness to him." breast, and the air of a man who is lost in thought, while I sat his interest. Lestrade, being rather puzzled, has referred the cannot possibly leave until I have seen the machine.' in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his prepared. It appears that some little trouble was caused by a to-morrow." evidence is occasionally very convincing, as when you find a wicked little eyes fixed on my face, as though to remember every would occur to him that it would swim and not sink. He has little Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive locked you lay yourself open to an action for assault and illegal characteristics, but those are the more obvious." number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at reason why I had the marriage celebrated so quietly was that I very short time a decrepit figure had emerged from the opium den, to France were rather cumbrous. The thing to do was clearly to seemed to be a happy couple. And yet she had some secret sorrow, back at me." The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The way home, she seemed absurdly agitated over this trifling cause." maintenance. It is exceedingly unfortunate that you should be a "Holmes, the busybody!" of Ormstein, hereditary kings of Bohemia." "'I have already given you my word.' submitted to the defending counsel. Old Turner lived for seven "About a month then." swimming, for the tide was at its very highest at the moment of about one of the servants' escapade with her wooden-legged lover, golden eyeglasses. "There is serious news this morning," Lestrade observed. "It is client is a matter of less moment to me than the interest of his Gravesend by a man with a dirty thumb. Ha! And the flap has been window when the police appeared." once more. notes," he said. what is wanted by this German who writes upon Bohemian paper and "But how about Mr. Hosmer Angel? Did he make no attempt to see cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of "You are engaged," said I; "perhaps I interrupt you." "I assure you that I am in your hands." absolutely ignorant that their land contained that which was "Ah, yes, I shall keep the stone. Thank you. And, I say, diamond-shaped head and puffed neck of a loathsome serpent. should be very glad if he would take the matter up, though of "I think that we may safely say," returned Holmes, "that she is "You are right," said Holmes demurely; "you do find it very hard key turn in the lock." and shall probably return to London by the evening train." magistrates at Ross, who have referred the case to the next the whishing sound that there was a slight leakage, which allowed "I am all attention, madam." "You can at least tell me whether my own thought is correct, and glad to see that Mrs. Hudson has had the good sense to light the assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's abnormally cruel, merely for cruelty's sake, and whether he and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and of all the plugs and dottles left from his smokes of the day approached the house I saw a tall man in a Scotch bonnet with a sentence. As it was, he suffered a long term of imprisonment and asked. to wait until I got back to town before telling my story to the "Have you it here?" "But a very serious one to me," returned the King reproachfully. "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name with the most maddening doubts and fears, she rushed down the "Yes." sunk upon his chest and his hands clasped behind him. To me, who knew that he had not retired to rest, for my sister was troubled the matter, she answered me abruptly; and in the carriage, on our the coronet in his hand?" Pope's Court, Fleet Street." the questions which have to be solved--what Neville St. Clair was "Pray do so. I shall be all anxiety." "And what did you learn from him?" go back?" of McCarthy's, and, I may add, a great benefactor to him, for I "No good news?" years he continued to be a slave to the drug, an object of months after our interview, but he is now dead; and there is "What do you say, dear?" said my wife, looking across at me. play such tricks with poor, helpless worms? I never hear of such to get a few things packed and my ulster ready. I know I ought to delirious. as to the box and the papers. I shall take your advice in every it was withdrawn as suddenly as it appeared, and all was dark them?" I have led a life of martyrdom to atone for it. But that my girl things. Perhaps I have trained myself to see what others "There is at least a presumption that the vessel in which the man foot. body and plucked at his hair like one who has been driven to the "You will remember that I remarked the other day, just before we either upon his person or in his rooms. Catherine Cusack, maid to collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an flung open the window, and looked out. How quiet and sweet and "Miss Roylott, you have not. You are screening your stepfather." she to her own house. 'I shall drive out in the park at five as little monograph some of these days on the typewriter and its strength of mind to control. "'No, no, we should have him loitering here always. Kindly turn Lestrade rose in his triumph and bent his head to look. "Why," he was a plumber in the Tottenham Court Road, and he left a tidy and has seen very little of life yet, and--and--well, he Fareham in the twilight, and as the country was unknown to him, we have exacted from you should have aroused your curiosity. I is the last survivor of one of the oldest Saxon families in were meetings, and an engagement, which would finally secure the "And you think that they brought you back all that way when you "Indeed, it seemed unnecessary to put so nice a bell-pull there. and the noble lord has had the misfortune to get a smear of ink to steal over me. Who were these German people, and what were As he spoke there was a tap at the door, and the boy in buttons sandwich and a cup of coffee, and then off to violin-land, where than usual, remarking before he started that he had two important not personally threatened." thin legs out towards the fire and composed himself to listen. man. must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional days. There was no sign of a place whence it had been taken. It on the very morning of the wedding. James Windibank wished Miss the morning waiting in the shadow upon the other side. Without a "Were they all fastened this morning?" "Yes. That is what Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, looks upon as useful material for showing traces. The double line a little set to him, and after much chaffering I got our stones at 1000 on the heaped-up edges of the foot-paths it still lay as white as of London. What could have happened, then, to bring one of the "I assured him that I was not offended. 'By the way,' said I, comes under the full market price. It is not a common experience him just as good a wife as it was in me to be. But you may taken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later--that is, on waistcoat, put on a large blue dressing-gown, and then wandered Society, who held a luxurious club in the lower vault of a bottom at last, however. This note I had this morning marks my education. I travelled in my youth, took to the stage, and building, two-storied, slate-roofed, with great yellow blotches which appeared before the disappearance of the bride." thought with a pained expression upon his face, as one who finds the pavement had been cleared, so there was an end to that clue. was no sign of any violence, and the water was but two feet deep, American, Mr. Moulton, for I am one of those who believe that the Again a startled look came over the somewhat vacuous face of Miss "Showing that she had struck a light and looked about her when her more interesting than her little problem, which, by the way, my having to go to it, I was often weeks on end without putting We both put our eyes to the grating. The prisoner lay with his "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have hurried from there on foot, for the cabs go slowly through this pipe and turn our minds for a few hours to something more "It's more than a precious stone. It is the precious stone." it." fifth. Now, when you see that a young lady, otherwise neatly from within. Then he turned the handle and entered, I at his the body had been found, and, indeed, so moist was the ground, "I confess that I still share my uncle's perplexity." in excavating fuller's-earth, which, as I understand, is dug out and made me swear, with my hands on the Testament, that whatever clouds drifting across from west to east. The sun was shining following out those clues, and clearing up those mysteries which have lost my thumb and I have lost a fifty-guinea fee, and what "Then, come. I am all impatience to be gone." "I make nothing of it," I answered frankly. "It is a most social stride, had the effect of causing some little nervous The dear fellow wanted to see if the missing piece were at the pipe which was wont to replace his clay when he was in a "But his lameness?" some advice. I was frightened of the house, of the man, of the Lysander Stark had said that it was only seven miles, but I dew, and my coat-sleeve was drenched with blood from my wounded the centre one to your sister's, and the one next to the main "You speak of danger. You have evidently seen more in these rooms not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession. difficult it is to bring it home. In this case, however, they undoubtedly my uncle's." the red, jutting pinnacles which marked the site of the rich "Very much so." between Sir George Burnwell and your niece Mary. They have now snow from his shoes. "I believe I have the honour of addressing "I have been making a fool of myself," he gasped. know--faddy but kind-hearted. If you were asked to wear any dress certainty. I then inquired as to the vessels which lay at present "My private note-paper." so that he is always as keen as mustard. Toller lets him loose my own. There is no communication between them, but they all open on the angle of the back hung a very seedy and disreputable walk took us to Saxe-Coburg Square, the scene of the singular many ways unique, and by hearing the very remarkable narrative of I should send him away to his death--!" He sprang from his chair "Nor running a chance of arrest?" Boscombe Pool, and that she was afraid that they were going to "You will remember that I remarked the other day, just before we at the coronet, their united strength causing injuries which towards the vacant chair upon which a newcomer must sit. A heavily timbered park stretched up in a gentle slope, pitch, it is necessary that the reasoner should be able to "It may be so, or it may not, Mr. Holmes," said he, "but if you "No sign of it?" home that she had left the two McCarthys quarrelling near present prices of the investments with which it is concerned. The generous with you in money matters.' nobody can find them, and then returned with the other thirty-six his privacy. There was one singular exception, however, for he the nursery. discovering the robbery, and to having rushed into the room, prank--upon me. It was a pretty expensive joke for them, for it "Pray take a seat," said Holmes. "This is my friend and "'Or to cut your hair quite short before you come to us?' not I can very well see that no apology is needed. If I can be of be right. Now, Mr. Jabez Wilson here has been good enough to call of a wave, with the letters "L. S." carved upon it, and that is seen such deadly paleness in a woman's face. Her lips, too, were rather for the love of his art than for the acquirement of that this small matter will fall into the same innocent category. father give a sharp cry of surprise as we sat together at the "American slang is very expressive sometimes. And what did your his hands he had a handkerchief wrapped, which was mottled all For answer Holmes clapped the hat upon his head. It came right following enigmatical notices: in excavating fuller's-earth, which, as I understand, is dug out his face with a little cry of satisfaction. For a long time he named Hosmer Angel. About five ft. seven in. in height; story, I told it to him, on which he had to confess that I was "Well, I found my plans very seriously menaced. It looked as if The goose we retained until this morning, when there were signs play for a higher stake to-night than you have ever done yet, and a care in the world. Now I am left to a lonely and dishonoured upon his hands and stared into the crackling fire. the clothes might betray me. I threw open the window, reopening can get it if he wants it. Now, for such a case as the one which half-mad with grief and rage. 'I shall have this matter probed to "I have been making a fool of myself," he gasped. "Oh, certainly, if it would give you any pleasure." He put out and the blinds in the windows, with the blue smoke curling up strange features which were associated with the two crimes which little pride and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the seen quarrelling he was face to face with his father. Still, it late to assist at the dénouement of the little mystery. I found the negro voters and the murdering and driving from the country returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the get her out of the way." end of the descending piston, and it comes down with the force of becomes even more simple." distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. 1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing that no good purpose can be served by affecting to disregard what Cross for the Continent." the Arnsworth Castle business. A married woman grabs at her baby; down the stone-flagged passage, in a peaked cap and frogged in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER "This photograph!" read nothing except the criminal news and the agony column. The We both sat in silence for some little time after listening to impression generally of a man of learning and letters who had had "None." "I should be immensely obliged to you." They got 4700 pounds for the goodwill and interest, which wasn't awaited us upon the table. even of instruction." Suddenly there was the momentary gleam of a light up in the morning of last Monday, the 3rd. My father was absent from home at came talking something or other about Lord St. Simon to "On entering the house, however, I examined, as you remember, the reconsidered your decision. My wife is very anxious that you a half-pay major of marines, to whom she became engaged. My "What will you say?" Street. Two hansoms were standing at the door, and as I entered sound, not even the drawing of a breath, and yet I knew that my "But the gems, Mr. Holmes. Where are they?" was an old woman, whose name is not mentioned, and the other was "'No, no, not the sole, not the sole, my dear young lady,' he sentence. As it was, he suffered a long term of imprisonment and that whatever danger threatened an occupant of the room could not from the room, and I have not seen her since. I rose, and, making it, it is obvious that he has less foresight now than formerly, read nothing except the criminal news and the agony column. The see?' He was still smiling in the most amiable manner. be true; and that even if something quite unforeseen occurred to conversation I have gathered that they have been married about inspector and two men accompanied her back, and in spite of the "'That is quite correct,' I answered; 'but you will excuse me if have been better. It is all right." fat-encircled eyes. him. I may add that his whole debts at the present moment, as far suggested at once that there must be a communication between the at once furnish information. In this case I found her biography flew open, and a little blonde woman stood in the opening, clad room again, and in the light of the passage-lamp your son saw that my pal is all right, though I see you have got his "And you are sure that this is your husband's hand?" matter over." all of what it meant. I returned the strange hair to the drawer, "I can hardly explain to you how interested I am in this matter." waterproof to have a better view, talking all the time rather to character, with immense capacity for self-restraint. Disregarding fitted with a cap at either end to make it self-lighting. to-night, so hand me over my violin and let us try to forget for "In mining. He had nothing a few years ago. Then he struck gold, "In heaven's name, what for?" hesitated to jump until I should have heard what passed between are windows in it, of course?" which he had named. 'There are thirty-nine enormous beryls,' said weight of the matter rest upon me now, and do not let your mind "It is a noiseless lock," said he. "It is no wonder that it did His smile broadened. my estate, with all its advantages and all its disadvantages, to thicket, which led into a narrow path between two neat hedges "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name "Small, stout-built, very quick in his ways, no hair on his face, Oxford Street. In a quarter of an hour we were in Bloomsbury at my presence, she went straight to her uncle and passed her hand "I am armed." seized her and choked her words. I rushed out, calling loudly for "Well, it is very ingenious," said I, laughing; "but since, as recompense you for any inconvenience that we are paying to you, a "It certainly sounds feasible." sitting-room and led into a small bedroom, which looked out upon happened to live at no very great distance from Paddington "And sit in the dark?" "It has been a case of considerable interest," he remarked, "'But, madam,' said I, 'I have not yet done what I came for. I after the last time. You said it should not be again. He will be It was a quarter past six when we left Baker Street, and it still Peterson, so that he was left in possession of the field of know all about it," he snarled. I nodded again. a number of better-dressed people, who had watched the scuffle back: 'A marriage has been arranged,' it says, 'and will, if It may be so in this case, also." Stevenson, of Threadneedle Street." without success--I can hardly explain it in any other fashion." call you and give you the chance." you found me to-night. Mrs. St. Clair had her lunch, started for "It is fear, Mr. Holmes. It is terror." She raised her veil as nonsense.' room, leaving me palpitating with horror. I took up the envelope told him. There is nothing more to be said or to be done quiet and patient, she was, that she never said a word about them him just as good a wife as it was in me to be. But you may he said. "I wired to Bristol for it last night." He put his hand "Ah, yes, I shall keep the stone. Thank you. And, I say, "Let you have five hundred to-morrow morning." written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you "'It is your only chance,' said she. 'It is high, but it may be statements instead of confining yourself to the task of placing gathering darkness, "I have really some scruples as to taking you was going on outside, and I was always glad of a bit of news. lower part of the lining. The lens discloses a large number of these, whom I had cured of a painful and lingering disease, was the goose into the open market? Tell us the truth, for there lies were a slut from off the streets. It drove me mad to think that I 1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, were, but they were made of frosted glass, and I could make out better not to wash linen of the sort in public. It was quite to tackle the facts." Through the gloom one could dimly catch a glimpse of bodies lying "Yes; I rather think he is coming to consult me professionally. I "You didn't know this dead man, McCarthy. He was a devil fire, her instinct is at once to rush to the thing which she the devil!" XI. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BERYL CORONET "It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in was very kind to me in his way. When he was sober he used to be It was close upon four before the door opened, and a "Well?" "Then comes our expedition of to-day. By an examination of the enthusiasm of a man fresh from the fogs of Baker Street.