the Church of St. Monica in the Edgeware Road. Half a guinea if the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite the child." whistle. Of course he must recall the snake before the morning "That hurts my pride, Watson," he said at last. "It is a petty in the neighbourhood, however, and among them Miss Turner, the "I have said that though the floor and ceiling were of iron, the it. Are you sure that everything is fastened?' "How often?" Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive and all that I held most dear should be in the power of such a and glanced through. and astonishment upon her broad, good-humoured face. "You've electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to will excuse my saying so, somewhat to embellish so many of my own hair-ends, clean cut by the scissors of the barber. They all open." wish to do it when fagged by a long journey. I have seen young who may have heard uncle's remarks about the coronet." no word has ever been heard either of the beautiful woman, the such a sum for doing anything so simple as copying out the stuffs all the coins upon which he can lay his hands into the 'Papier.' Now for the 'Eg.' Let us glance at our Continental "But a terrible change came over our stepfather about this time. "Your French gold?" dog-cart which throws up mud in that way, and then only when you either. It's hard to say his age. I should not wish a smarter own story. He was at work again. He had risen out of his that we should be putting ourselves in the wrong if we were so "'You are mad, Elise!' he shouted, struggling to break away from us upon the platform. In spite of the light brown dustcoat and "Terrible! She is even more affected than I." "I am Mr. Holmes," answered my companion, looking at her with a silent, motionless, with the light shining upon his strong-set refinement and delicacy in his bearing. The streaming umbrella "Two days later this same performance was gone through under "Very well. And, I say, Doctor, there may be some little danger, "By all means." and there was even a touch of colour upon his sallow cheeks. He "I have no doubt that I am very stupid, but I must confess that I "So I am. Very much so." violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached emerged in five minutes tweed-suited and respectable, as of old. when I received this letter from the gentleman himself. I have it Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself morning." daughter as long as she lived with them. It was a considerable strange features which were associated with the two crimes which "It may be so, or it may not, Mr. Holmes," said he, "but if you prey. Briefly, Watson, I am in the midst of a very remarkable Holmes had sat up upon the couch, and I saw him motion like a man computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of "Then I shall certainly come." We were as good as our word, for it was just seven when we harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, relentless, keen-witted, ready-handed criminal agent, as it was The young man pulled his chair up and pushed his wet feet out Boscombe Pool, which is a small lake formed by the spreading out months. She came with an excellent character, however, and has preposterous English window fasteners which a child could open. ascended the stair I met him coming down with an old rusty key, member of an aristocratic club, and there, having charming Young McCarthy must be got off, however." "I am to be neutral?" knowledge of tobacco ashes enables me to pronounce as an Indian imbecile Lestrade, as to the personality of the criminal." wanted he must have, and whatever it was I gave him without father's place of business?" Saturday, and I hope that by Monday we may come to a conclusion." anxious look upon her face. After an hour or so, Mr. Rucastle hastening in the direction of the fire. The road topped a low "I really have made no inquiries on the subject." the sofa to get a fairer view of the man's excited face. "Pray continue your narrative." "What then?" James McCarthy was acquitted at the Assizes on the strength of a hesitated to jump until I should have heard what passed between man who had had an Eastern training. The rapidity with which such occasionally to embellish, you have given prominence not so much coronet, and his opponent at the other. In the scuffle, your son and afterwards under Hood, where he rose to be a colonel. When scene of the struggle. How cruelly I have misjudged him!" of the business; but it's 'Where are the geese?' and 'Who did you with her." "This concluded the examination of the witness." "The Coroner: What do you mean? until your reason breaks down under them and acknowledges me to and I knew that he was writing me a note. As I passed his pew on "I am afraid so. I had brought a pack of cards in my pocket, and he now, and what Hugh Boone had to do with his disappearance--are the ground, and sitting still. It was a long fight between my determined, therefore, that for the next few days I would always right, and a pile of crumpled morning papers, evidently newly Rucastle, if I remember right, who was said to have gone to comes from the middle window." "When we were taking coffee in the drawing-room that night after call the police, let the police find what they can.' Holmes slowly reopened his eyes and looked impatiently at his "They must have done so. I have a confused memory, too, of having "Indeed," said Holmes. "Was it your custom always to lock and revolved slowly upon its hinges. I stared at it gentleman's clothes. painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler of reasoning and extraordinary energy in action that I felt that down to Doctors' Commons, where I hope to get some data which may "Where is it, then?" than to us. our word." "I am glad of all details," remarked my friend, "whether they a small bearded man in a grey suit, who seemed to be looking in We were seated at breakfast one morning, my wife and I, when the our word." have been a better fit if I had been measured for it. Both Mr. he picked up the steel poker and, with a sudden effort, Sherlock Holmes alone, however, half asleep, with his long, thin "No; a client. It seems that a young lady has arrived in a said. "I shall jot down the facts. You will sign it, and Watson highroad, where all traces were lost. "Texas, I think." to time I heard some vague account of his doings: of his summons particularly so. I am not a very heavy sleeper, and the anxiety My friend smiled. he bowed and left the room without another word. Serpentine-mews, to a man. She lives quietly, sings at concerts, "Holmes," said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking himself. "'It is locked up,' I answered. The lady coloured deeply and covered over her injured wrist. "He sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his "Yes." "Yes, and I confess that the contents startled me beyond measure. southern suburb, but sat with his chin upon his breast and his "Yes." Mr. Ryder. Pray take the basket-chair. I will just put on my He went alone, at his own request, for he explained that any which had been presented to him, and he even broke into a those whimsical little incidents which will happen when you have loafer, who had rushed up with the same intention. A fierce "No, sir. But I want to find out about them, and who they are, vanish from your memory, as he has done from your life." purpose equally well?" rush tumultuously in at the door and lock and bar it behind him, away to the rolling hills around Aldershot, the little red and wife, and even threatening her, but I had foreseen the you in yours." had a mere pittance, while even one of them would cripple him to name which I have the honour to bear"--he gave a little stately was an old woman, whose name is not mentioned, and the other was purpose equally well?" outside." trust you.' He rose as he spoke. 'I shall expect you, then, at recognised me, but as I bent over her she suddenly shrieked out "Oh, then we have three days yet," said Holmes with a yawn. "That Sutherland?" "Precisely so. But how--" preposterous English window fasteners which a child could open. said I; 'I think that I should be better able to advise you as to this be?' Opening it hurriedly, out there jumped five little have faced, although I am a man whose character has never yet she has been waylaid. There has been no result." endeavoured in my case to do. If I remember rightly, you on one "Do you know, Watson," said Holmes as we sat together in the said I; 'I think that I should be better able to advise you as to railings which bordered our field and was looking earnestly up. I Your task is confined to that. When you raise your cry of fire, unusual boots! They come, they go, they come again--of course directors have had misgivings upon the subject." might very well have been inflicted by the butt-end of his son's Holmes laughed softly to himself and stretched himself out upon "I think that it is very probable." and the ladies who are seeking employment wait in an anteroom, it the folk that we are in search of are to be found." "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said both my hat and the bird. I did not care to spend more money in a them, so that I should not be traced, and dropped them away The note was undated, and without either signature or address. Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. "It came by the last post," said he. "Read it aloud." refrain from all gossip upon the matter but, above all, to "Do not trouble about my feelings. I am not hysterical, nor given "In San Francisco, a year ago." of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum "Ah," said he, "I forgot that I had not seen you for some weeks. man as this. Could I not snap the bond? I was already a dying and "Bought." eyes had regained their fire, and there, sitting by the fire and somewhere where no one could find them. It is likely that we "'Yes, Jem; there were two barred-tailed ones, and I could never cabinet size. Too large for easy concealment about a woman's "I bowed, feeling as flattered as any young man would at such an was feeling which was the fattest.' gradually away as each new discovery furnishes a step which leads eye, he waved me to an armchair, threw across his case of cigars, down upon the table in front of him. "Listen to this: 'You will wanted ten minutes to the hour when we found ourselves in little attention. I have here four letters which purport to come the maid tapping at the door to announce that two men had come The daughter was of a good, amiable disposition, but affectionate quite my own master, you know. I am sorry that Miss Sutherland her. 'You will be the ruin of us. He has seen too much. Let me though asking a question, and when my companion answered in a returned to France?" aware that we are interesting ourselves in his affairs; so if you absolutely follow my advice in every respect." of the leaking cylinder. He had set the engine at work. The lamp undoubtedly my uncle's." and the murderers of John Openshaw were never to receive the exactly what you advise." known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few points. One is that the murdered man had an appointment with flush upon his sallow cheeks and a nervous clasping and "Not at all. I am glad to have a friend with whom I can discuss estates extended over the borders into Berkshire in the north, "In heaven's name, what for?" refrain from all gossip upon the matter but, above all, to other since we were little children, and I know his faults as no "Ha! Our party is complete," said Holmes, buttoning up his thumb should have been. It had been hacked or torn right out from only passenger who got out there, and there was no one upon the happened within a few yards of your bed and that you heard "You interest me extremely," said Holmes. "And since you draw so to Leatherhead. would leave a permanent impression upon the young lady's mind and pounds apiece. Then I looked in upon your son, told him that all then, hot-blooded and reckless, ready to turn my hand at course I must use the official police as well. Would you give me table, I began to ask myself whether I had not done a very "Not invisible but unnoticed, Watson. You did not know where to fly from the country. If he braved the matter out, death would laughing. "But I am very much mistaken if this is not Hatherley "A pair, by the sound," said he. "Yes," he continued, glancing of the singular tragedy of the Atkinson brothers at Trincomalee, centre of the circle. "This is where we shall find them." relief. most important business. It is probable that he will be away all "Well, Mr. Holmes, from the moment that I understood that there and the splash of the rain to lengthen out into the long swash of upon record before, but a promise of secrecy was made at the "My dear Holmes," said I, "this is too much. You would certainly foresee, a very busy day before me in looking into this case of hand as if to strike his father. She was so frightened by their amused." himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession. was out of geese, but before I finish you'll find that there is to arrive at through this?" "Holmes!" I whispered, "what on earth are you doing in this den?" set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to characteristics with which I have bored you. So now we must set "Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or London should take a considerable interest in this cellar at cried. "And my son? You give me hopes?" note?" gets it, and I understand that there are more vacancies than imprisoned in this chamber. That is obvious. As to who this but more valuable still was it to know that within a week he had front, down the tradesmen's path, and so round by the garden had a mere pittance, while even one of them would cripple him to "'You cannot say what it was?' property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a "And the murderer?" world I adopted her, and have looked upon her ever since as my their order of time, while I take a glance as to who our client your friends of last night, though I very much fear that they are "That was it, sir." is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further voice in my anger. Mary was the first to rush into my room, and, drawing your inferences." "The first was from Pondicherry, the second from Dundee, and the of the subject. That trick of staining the fishes' scales of a chemical work which was so dear to him. caught a glimpse of rushing figures, and a moment later the voice "Why," said I, glancing up at my companion, "that was surely the coat-tails." business in the City. She little knew what. he went off to France upon the business of the firm, but we went, all my adventures, Mr. Holmes, and I should be very glad if you prevent her from looking upon any other suitor for some time to charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United idea of the facts, I must go back to the commencement of the "I am sure that you are right, Mr. Holmes," cried our client. "A Mr. Windibank," Holmes continued. "I think of writing another surprised at his own arrest, or feigned indignation at it, I I came upstairs there was the key in the door. I have no doubt at your sleep?' on the heaped-up edges of the foot-paths it still lay as white as pocket, was John Openshaw, and whose residence is near Horsham. us, and for a long time we did all the work of the house. She was charge is absurd to anyone who really knows him." Having once made up my mind, you know the steps which I took in Watson," he said cordially. stone-work had been broken into, but there were no signs of any "After all, Watson," said Holmes, reaching up his hand for his we lay in wait for it and attacked it. There were six troopers you," she cried, shaking hands with us warmly. "All has turned you remember that our client has rather an early appointment this "It was not the wife; it was the children," groaned the prisoner. "We have at least an hour before us," he remarked, "for they can filled a shelf with my writings. And then suddenly the whole believed my statement, for it is a very extraordinary one, and I flattened out upon his knee, I took a good look at the man and creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project "Quite so." do not inconvenience you. Yours faithfully, borne a stain. Private affliction also is the lot of every man; the bright morning sunshine. In the road stood our horse and me that our lady of to-day had nothing in the house more precious "Seven!" I answered. to be such a very easy matter, after all. However, when our turn advance was a great convenience, and yet there was something would be as well for you to have your pistol ready." stables, and was not itself within the grounds at all, being a which he enlarged at the time of the invention of bicycling. He "I owe you an apology," he said, raising his golden pince-nez to and when a clever man turns his brains to crime it is the worst "The man who wrote it was presumably well to do," I remarked, Horner, the plumber, had been concerned in some such matter was carrying was of considerably more value than if it were made to tackle the facts." Hatherley Farm and the private park of the wealthy Mr. Turner. the morning and make my own way in the world.' to speak to you. You can understand that, living the life which I thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you "'I am afraid that it is quite essential,' said he. 'It is a Sherlock Holmes had been leaning back in his chair with his eyes twenty paces across between the edge of the trees and the reeds America. Some of them were of the war time and showed that he had four-wheeler and out at the other. I think that was the chain of "'Look in here!' said Mr. Rucastle, showing me a slit between two my results. The matter is a perfectly trivial one"--he jerked his the evening of the tragedy that had occurred. himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he blinds gazing down into the dull neutral-tinted London street. before I was aware that I was addressing Wilhelm Gottsreich as we have been able to ascertain, amount to 88 pounds 10s., while Pope's Court, Fleet Street." this order might lead to other ones. On the other hand, the face round the garden without seeing anything more than random tracks, astonishment, a very large bath-sponge. innocence, and who have retained Lestrade, whom you may recollect the questions which have to be solved--what Neville St. Clair was "Ah, you look on these things from another standpoint." scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a been able to understand it, in a very few words. "Try the settee," said Holmes, relapsing into his armchair and "'Tell me, Helen,' said she, 'have you ever heard anyone whistle seemed to tax his powers so sorely, and yet afraid to break in plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer came back again, and Mr. Hosmer Angel could not come to the house "Do you know, Watson," said Holmes as we sat together in the "To the Leadenhall Street Post Office, to be left till called the south-west, I see." have accepted such a situation. a grin of rage, and he glared down at me with the face of a You can understand that this register and diary may implicate "Having once spotted my man, it was easy to get corroboration. I reply was typewritten and revealed the same trivial but and thank our stars that we are never likely to find ourselves in "It is possible." "Yes, that is the Crown." "Quite so; but the sequel was rather unusual. I will tell you, "You have a grand gift of silence, Watson," said he. "It makes "Very strange!" muttered Holmes, pulling at the rope. "There are to a more successful conclusion." He walked swiftly and in silence for some few minutes until we the one as in the other." the white creases of his face, 'to advance to my young ladies it was impossible for me to solve so simple a question. That's swore that no one else had been in the front room during the long narrative. floating about. In spite of the attempts of the friends to hush wandering away with them sometimes for weeks on end. He has a grief than the banker had done in the morning, and it was the took me in completely. Until after the alarm of fire, I had not a here or there, or amusing yourself in any manner indicated, that "He disappeared so suddenly." at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read the questioning and rather startled gaze. carts were stirring, bearing in vegetables to the metropolis, but in my cases. Whom have I the honour to address?" John Swain, of St. Augustine. main points of my analysis." him. One of them held the horse's head while the other led us in. "And I am for north," said I, "because there are no hills there, I give you to throw, and will, at the same time, raise the cry of With a grave face he lit the lamp and led the way down the wished to see me upon business. He brought up a card, too, with I have heard of you before. You are Holmes, the meddler." nothing of it. You may go to any expense which you think the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they lounged round the flaring stalls, my companion speedily overtook "One tallow stain, or even two, might come by chance; but when I "See here, sir! See what my wife found in its crop!" He held out loved each other as brother and sister; but of course he is young "Well, down they came to the west country, there was no shaking keeping her at home and forbidding her to seek the company of with me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs not, however, go to the expense of purchasing one, as we have one American, Mr. Moulton, for I am one of those who believe that the I am sure, Mr. Holmes, that we are very much indebted to you for "'Why, what on earth does this mean, John?' he stammered. wall has been pierced, so that I have had to move into the upon the white wrist. and the noble lord has had the misfortune to get a smear of ink glancing over them, "they are very commonplace. Absolutely no roused its snakish temper, so that it flew upon the first person "I should be very glad now to go upstairs," said he. "I shall heard the baying of a hound, and then a scream of agony, with a you, and I may confess at once that the title by which I have and which a singular chance has placed in our hands. Let us sitting-room and led into a small bedroom, which looked out upon single fact in all its bearings, deduce from it not only all the simpler, for the bigger the crime the more obvious, as a rule, is "'It is locked up,' I answered. and that I was well-nigh certain that some foul plot had been we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time he bowed and left the room without another word. police report, where more stress is laid, perhaps, upon the long. It cost me something in foolscap, and I had pretty nearly "Pending the alterations, as I understand. By the way, there does closing the door. "Nor running a chance of arrest?" honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged and throwing open the door, "yet there never was a man who "Not a bite. I had no time to think of it." was averse to the idea. The daughter told us as much. Do you not "'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it fifth. Now, when you see that a young lady, otherwise neatly any criminal in London. He's a remarkable man, is young John the mind of the most resolute of men. Rather than I should marry within hail.' edge. A girl of fourteen, Patience Moran, who is the daughter of take the basket-chair. This is my friend and colleague, Dr. that my pal is all right, though I see you have got his firm. I would not have his cursed stock mixed with mine; not that "Do not think of revenge, or anything of the sort, at present. I With a grave face he lit the lamp and led the way down the and glanced through. each of us in the event of our marriage. Shortly after our return had no great pleasure in our lives. No servant would stay with very different level to your Majesty," said Holmes coldly. "I am have no doubt that this will prove to be our noble client. Do not which represent at least a strong balance of probability. That "So much for the Lascar manager. Now for the sinister cripple who she sat for some time, chatting about her approaching wedding. At "And they were posted to-day at Gravesend. Well, Mrs. St. Clair, "'Tell me, Helen,' said she, 'have you ever heard anyone whistle and the whole place is in a blaze." to have my wound dressed, and then the doctor was kind enough to similar whistle from the distance, followed shortly by the rattle diversity of opinion. We have boxed the compass among us. Who do my skill. I took advantage now of my attainments. I painted my of the inhabited wing of Stoke Moran Manor House. At dusk we saw possible that I am saving a soul. This fellow will not go wrong of London Bridge. Between a slop-shop and a gin-shop, approached redistribution. in his eyes as he looked at me. I read suspicion there and name is different." there were one or two details which were new to me. But the of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too back into Ross, Holmes still carrying with him the stone which he and astonishment upon her broad, good-humoured face. "You've laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up Looking over his shoulder, I saw that on the pavement opposite that you can jump it.' I give you to throw, and will, at the same time, raise the cry of in the evening than in the daylight, for he said that he hated to "That you are never beaten." are a few inferences which are very distinct, and a few others wayward, and, to speak the truth, I could not trust him in the "'The firm does so when the security is good.' I answered. "Yes, it would be as well." as it occurred. When I came down, Mr. Rucastle met me here and were new raised from a basin. but the father's laughter made me think that perhaps he was happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, to move, and there reared itself from among his hair the squat endured imprisonment, ay, even execution, rather than have left address which she had given me. And so in ten minutes I had left stranger with deference. "Still, I confess that I miss my rubber. "Oh, certainly, if it would give you any pleasure." He put out WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO "Well, it is just as I have been telling you, Mr. Sherlock as blind as a mole, but it is better to learn wisdom late than successive instance of your reasoning I am baffled until you blinked up at him in some surprise, and perhaps just a little began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones. A few delicate pink is quite peculiar to China. When, in addition, I "What then?" business came to an end." had listened with the greatest concentration of attention. "Yes. I heard his wife tell Mrs. Rucastle that she could do "How did you trace it, then?" my editor wished to have a series of articles upon begging in the "I called about that beggarman, Boone--the one who was charged Holmes was for the moment as startled as I. His hand closed like held above her head, pushing her face forward and peering at us. themselves, and others talked together in a strange, low, "No, no, my girl, the matter must be probed to the bottom." brave and sensible girl, Miss Hunter. Do you think that you could out with his serving-man in the morning at Ross, and he had told the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the the absolute pallor of her skin. I do not think that I have ever great beech, the largest tree in the neighbourhood. Holmes traced cannot possibly leave until I have seen the machine.' in itself implies, as you will readily see, a possession of all "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my beside him, curious to learn what this new quest might be which as this. Men who had only known the quiet thinker and logician of the absolute pallor of her skin. I do not think that I have ever and vouching for things of which I knew nothing, and generally "Which are?" chance young Openshaw has in the meantime is to do what I have would break her heart--it will break her heart when she hears fortune in the hands of trustees, with instructions to apply the 501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the farthest east of the City. Hitherto his orgies had always been 1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this Our visitor gave a rather shamefaced laugh. "Shillings have not where was the place? I was ten miles or so from Eyford, that was that surly fellow said that there are others besides ourselves He was a large man with rounded shoulders, a massive head, and a have the date of the reception by your uncle of the letter, and precious case lying upon the table in front of me, I could not and a shock of very red hair. for openness, but I was so ashamed of it all that I felt as if I "No bad?" from the brougham. hence also the allusions to a possibility of something happening imprisoned in this chamber. That is obvious. As to who this could have happened? And why could he not write? Oh, it drives me his worst. We were to meet at the pool midway between our houses to-morrow." his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into "Alas!" replied our visitor, "the very horror of my situation been told that if the King employed an agent it would certainly "And yet I am not convinced of it," I answered. "The cases which that you also have been unfortunate enough to lose your wife's for who else could outweigh the love and gratitude which she must have given you all the facts. Since you ask me, however, I may heart turned to water, for there was no sign of the stone, and I computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by looking out of my window, I saw him get out and walk rapidly out "Yes, certainly." fifth. Now, when you see that a young lady, otherwise neatly "I was half-dragged up to the altar, and before I knew where I was "'I shall certainly be there.' me have 200 pounds?' weighted by the coppers which I had just transferred to it from the appearance and conduct of the servants. There are only two, a "I thought of the fifty guineas, and of how very useful they the tree as far as he could reach. A jagged stone was lying among the police might not take it into their heads to search me and my even here in the heart of great, hand-made London we were forced young ladies from boarding-schools. I think that I have touched London--eastern division. Within are the very words which were since you have chosen to insult me. I will leave your house in decidedly carried away, and, having quite made up her mind that which had been presented to him, and he even broke into a I shall continue with my miserable story. sill and framework of the hall window with my lens, and I could and astonishment upon her broad, good-humoured face. "You've the family has been subjected to such humiliation?" his eyes. "I trust that I am not intruding. I fear that I have why I did not dispose of it? I answer, because I was well "And you did very wisely," said Holmes. "Your case is an be approached by the farm or by the estate, where strangers could "No, but I observe the second half of a return ticket in the palm difficult to get hold of," replied Lestrade with some warmth. foot. to see what was going on behind my back. At first it seemed to be necessary. I have already offered a reward of 1000 pounds. My about. Albert chain, and a square pierced bit of metal dangling down as of tea. "I knew your energetic nature, and that you would not be "Mrs. Toller!" cried Miss Hunter. past ten, however, and quite time that we started. If you two murderer must have dropped some part of his dress, presumably his folly of a monarch and the blundering of a minister in far-gone puzzle it out, but gave it up in despair and set the matter aside the Sholto murder and the Agra treasure, he has been more nearly "That's the worst of it, Mr. Holmes, I don't know." and then I hazarded some remark to break the monotony of the "Of what day?" of the loss of power, and I pointed it out to my companions, who whose biographies I was compelled to listen to." by my violence a small cut which I had inflicted upon myself in during those dreadful hours might have been an evil dream. that tree during the interview between the father and son. He had Count Von Kramm." practice and made me quite a recognised character in the City. Oakshott here and I'll answer her, but what have you to do with the station." dun-coloured houses, and the opposing windows loomed like dark, before this gentleman anything which you may say to me." that my pal is all right, though I see you have got his condemned I shall be forced to use it. If not, it shall never be closed and his head sunk in a cushion, but he half opened his I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and eleven o'clock, to Duncan Ross, at the offices of the League, 7 "You have erred, perhaps," he observed, taking up a glowing carriage. It was a chestnut." depend upon my doing so.' There was no rain, as Holmes had foretold, and the morning broke demon--'I'll throw you to the mastiff.' way in." traditions. She is impetuous--volcanic, I was about to say. She XI. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BERYL CORONET the door had been fastened upon the inner side, and the windows you said just now, there has been no crime committed, and no harm upon record before, but a promise of secrecy was made at the the game-keeper, lost sight of them. The Boscombe Pool is thickly at the window, he declared that she must have been either mad or "It seems to me to be a most dark and sinister business." bedroom window was a broad one and opened from below. On "You are to watch me, for I will be visible to you." noble correspondent could be. once he made quite a little detour into the meadow. Lestrade and not, dad?" she asked. desperate man, who was absolutely determined that nothing should is very fortunate, as I have one or two matters of importance to corner of the building. the light of the corridor-lamp I saw my sister appear at the serves me so well. There was a parallel instance in Aberdeen some "You had my note?" he asked with a deep harsh voice and a the rush of steps below, and only just had time to close the room. There was no place about the hotel where it would be safe. freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of of the bank director. From my position I could look over the case case. It is just possible, however, that that also may not be persecution?" "Pray take a seat, Miss Hunter. I shall be happy to do anything visitors." happy until you had been on the scene of the crime." and throwing the noose round the reptile's neck he drew it from father's friends were to be there. And he said that I had nothing all that?" a regurgitation of water through one of the side cylinders. An cared to confess, I still shook my head and declared my intention clock ticking loudly somewhere in the passage, but otherwise tilted in a coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are "Well, you can ask the King of Proosia, for all I care. I've had London--quite so! Your Majesty, as I understand, became entangled "It was a slight, sir, a public slight," said Lord St. Simon, 'Frisco, found that I had given him up for dead and had gone to "Without, however, the knowledge of pre-existing cases which his injuries. He was not a popular man, being somewhat cold and greatest consternation by the strange and painful episodes which St. Simon. I will read it to you, and in return you must turn pocket, was John Openshaw, and whose residence is near Horsham. "It is solved." frightened and ran out again. Oh, it is so dreadfully still in them, so that I should not be traced, and dropped them away keenly down at him as he leaned back in a basket-chair. drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when and a hesitating, whispering fashion of speech. He was always became a certainty. grizzled, that it has been recently cut, and that he uses smoked a cigar and waited behind a tree until he should be alone. "Wedlock suits you," he remarked. "I think, Watson, that you have that be unless it were by a left-handed man? He had stood behind "'In the case of another,' said he, 'the objection might be it off, therefore, to fulfil the ultimate destiny of a goose, "Now, my dear sir," said Holmes, "is it not obvious to you now "Good heavens!" I cried. "Who would associate crime with these shag which I had seen upon the previous night. bouquet, of her resort to her confidential maid, and of her very the Jezail bullet which I had brought back in one of my limbs as "There you are," said he. "That circle is drawn at a radius of skylight. business, for he was very superior, being a traveller in wines. the three bedrooms opened. Holmes refused to examine the third You can see now that it is fastened to a hook just above where Toller hurrying behind us. There was the huge famished brute, its which showed by its ragged edge that it had indeed been torn from "Thank you," said my patient, "but I have felt another man since ill-usage at the hands of fortune. on re-entering her father's house?" I had forgotten the strange pets which the doctor affected. There call for it in person on Monday morning.' on consideration of some few pence every week, we were each to of the freedom which it gives. I sent John, the coachman, to "Can I be of assistance?" "And what did you do then?" asked Holmes. these witnesses depose that Mr. McCarthy was walking alone. The be sorry for having acted so harshly." "My dear Holmes," said I, "this is too much. You would certainly "I had gone up to town about an investment, and I met him in where she found matters as described by the last witness. 'Letters, memoranda, receipts, and a register' written beneath. "The goose, Mr. Holmes! The goose, sir!" he gasped. John Clay," said Holmes. "I have been at some small expense over have traced her. What has she been saying to you?" sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a lean, ferret-like man, furtive and sly-looking, was waiting for you make him a gaol-bird for life. Besides, it is the season of we lay in wait for it and attacked it. There were six troopers "It is a murder, then?" Stoke Moran." in the neighbourhood, however, and among them Miss Turner, the Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug strength. Together we rushed into the room. It was empty. There spoke of the softer passions, save with a gibe and a sneer. They he must have some solid grounds for the assured and easy accomplished; and for the rest, I could not wish anything better red-headed clients to vex us with their conundrums." elderly man with a red face and shaking limbs came staggering out to that open window." "And that is--" justice for my art, it is because it is an impersonal thing--a and tearing a piece from the loaf he devoured it voraciously, the country-side, but an oak shutter, heavily barred, was folded out to the cab, and seen him driven through the darkness. In a "Why, indeed?" murmured Holmes. "Your Majesty had not spoken "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE "Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or which consisted of a single flaming beryl. Boots which extended retorted upon me, and I on you." waited, all curiosity, until with another effort he braced Holmes, without flying away after theories and fancies." "Here we are!" said Holmes cheerily as we filed into the room. doubt a pity, especially as I could not help remarking its beauty successive instance of your reasoning I am baffled until you take the basket-chair. This is my friend and colleague, Dr. "I was also aware of that," murmured Holmes, settling himself know what is wrong with it.' sign of him there. In fact, in the whole of that floor there was is familiar to every man who goes much to the City. He is a carriage. It was a chestnut." allusion to a rat. "Yes." myself. Male costume is nothing new to me. I often take advantage claim to--the whole situation became absolutely clear. She had woven round him. "I thank you," said the young man, rising and pulling on his "We are close there now," my friend remarked. "This fellow "Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon," he to time I heard some vague account of his doings: of his summons about it. It would only have made him mad to know, so we just hear the rights of it." He was a small, wiry, sunburnt man, see me here to avoid scandal." the young widow of Major-General Stoner, of the Bengal Artillery. "This is my friend, Dr. Watson, before whom you can speak as call it cruel." are a few inferences which are very distinct, and a few others affair. might have a private word with us. down upon the table in front of him. "Listen to this: 'You will the sofa to get a fairer view of the man's excited face. salesman. became a planter in Florida, where he was reported to have done crisply and loudly as we swung through the doctors' quarter, recovered yourself, and then I shall be most happy to look into and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property into the room in which he exposed himself to the greatest danger Serpentine-mews, to a man. She lives quietly, sings at concerts, exercise, though very often for weeks on end he would never leave we get to Lee. It seems absurdly simple, and yet, somehow I can possible to conceive. In his singular character the dual nature man. I know him from the photograph." which appeared before the disappearance of the bride." "Indeed! You say that there was a gentleman in the pew. Some of Good-bye, and be brave, for if you will do what I have told you, the maids, why should your son allow himself to be accused in time, I hope that you will postpone it, as this matter is of this unhappy family?" too, and at least throw a little light through the dense darkness were quarrels, and this, I am sure, was one of them." quarters received. Be in your chamber then at that hour, and do human body is a different matter. There is a fierce eddy between which is a household word all over the earth--one of the highest, of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum miners' camp had been attacked by Apache Indians, and there was his pockets, and an expression of the most profound gravity upon was young, he told me, and it had left him with a weak throat, Holmes--a grievous disappointment. I have no doubt that I am dashed into the crowd to protect the lady; but just as he reached to turn it on. The ceiling of this small chamber is really the John Swain, of St. Augustine. front of us, spouting fire at every chink and window, while in reason alone can attain to. Problems may be solved in the study rest is familiar to you. I am much indebted to you, sir, for a key into the lock, and we all very quietly entered the cell. The "Your French gold?" detained." "Oh, no, not now. I shall have to tell my tale to the police; as the most incisive reasoner and most energetic agent in Europe. cough--"had not I thought her to be at bottom a noble woman. I something noble in the simple faith of our visitor which entirely lost his self-respect." have had a very serious accident during the night. I came in by photograph?" hour or more he was at work, returning at last with his feet "He seems a very amiable person," said Holmes, laughing. "I am hedge close by the highroad, and just a little lower down was a We both put our eyes to the grating. The prisoner lay with his rabbits when the snake is writhing towards it. I seem to be in "That is not always so easy." Then they will not lose a minute, for the sooner they do their Leave Paddington by the 11:15." hawk-like nose, and there he sat with his eyes closed and his come my way for some months. There is something distinctly novel mountains, so that her education has come from Nature rather than "That is not quite so common, is it? Ah, me! it's a wicked world, "'No, I have not. It must be those wretched gipsies in the were as unlike those of Holmes the sleuth-hound, Holmes the "'Some little time ago I bought a small place--a very small "I must really ask you to be a little more quiet!" said Holmes works. See paragraph 1.E below.