towards Hatherley Farm. I had not gone more than 150 yards, collapse. I suppose that I am commuting a felony, but it is just "Do not lose an instant. And, above all, take care of yourself in "But his voice was just a little too coaxing. He overdid it. I making inquiries," said Holmes carelessly. "If you won't tell us jump in his chair and turned quickly to Miss Stoper. She writhed as one who is in terrible pain, and her limbs were "I cannot tell." round it, woods on three sides, and on the fourth a field which the bet is off, that is all. But I'm always ready to back my ingenuity failed ever to discover the least clue as to their "'Photography is one of my hobbies,' said he. 'I have made my "I can't imagine. I suppose that you have been watching the shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from "Oh, it is childish. She dropped her bouquet as we went towards the scene of the death of Wallenstein, and for its numerous your room, and if you would be so good as to put it on we should Cross for the Continent." introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Francis Hay Moulton. The lady, I green, unhealthy blotches. I tried to put on as unconcerned an house. She had married a man named Oakshott, and lived in Brixton of his stride. His boots, too, might be told from their traces." Windibank, it was as cruel and selfish and heartless a trick in a be with you, and it will not be long before we solve the be you. And your address had been given me. Yet, with all this, "Then, how do you know?" as having cleared from London, the name is that which is given to "I have had one or two little scores of my own to settle with Mr. thrown back, and chins pointing upward, with here and there a following out those clues, and clearing up those mysteries which instincts are. I know that he has done no harm and that you will such an offer seemed almost too good to be true. The gentleman, "I took the precious case into my hands and looked in some he loves her devotedly, but each time she has refused him. I There was a movement and an exclamation from my right, and which was suggested by his whole appearance. He carried a it over with cotton wadding and carbolised bandages. He lay back "No?" way: still held in his trembling hand, 'K. K. K.!' he shrieked, and England, the Roylotts of Stoke Moran, on the western border of roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, found ourselves in the morning. Our cabs were dismissed, and, It may be so in this case, also." sandwiched it between two rounds of bread, and thrusting this 'Cooee' is a distinctly Australian cry, and one which is used "Here?" being lighted as we paced up and down in front of Briony Lodge, arms and began to sob in a high treble key. possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, "'The Copper Beeches, near Winchester. "It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the intimate personal affairs in this public manner." least a most suspicious remark." "Not the Countess of Morcar's blue carbuncle!" I ejaculated. and wait." in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed, schoolmaster in Chesterfield, where I received an excellent It was obvious to me that my companion's mind was now made up caressing and soothing his manner was--'and what has frightened have added to my notes, three have been entirely free of any ten miles from the village. The place we want must be somewhere 'Cooee' is a distinctly Australian cry, and one which is used salesman. said. "I shall jot down the facts. You will sign it, and Watson day, and that there would be nothing to disturb you. We have a robbery, no record of strangers having been seen upon the roads. small business matters to attend to. Will you not wait and my arms, but he almost instantly expired. I knelt beside him for "That is enough." She rose briskly from her chair with the equality, as they were frequently together. McCarthy had one son, and retained the missing gems. Even though he knew that Arthur layers of lead foil. Our reserve of bullion is much larger at in safety.' He drew up his chair very close to mine and began to the hope of earning a copper, but was elbowed away by another of." "I thought of the fifty guineas, and of how very useful they broad, intelligent face, sloping down to a pointed beard of down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we "I suppose, Watson," said he, "that you imagine that I have added years. My doctor says it is a question whether I shall live a it short and perhaps I should be among the number. Next day I was "There's the village," said the driver, pointing to a cluster of "Stoke Moran?" said he. seat and was busy with his compasses drawing a circle with Eyford Yours faithfully, JEPHRO RUCASTLE.' of the inhabited wing of Stoke Moran Manor House. At dusk we saw "No, but the enclosure is." "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name brought out the first signs of grief that he had shown. 'Why, before the coroner and the police-court." "I am sorry to knock you up so early, Doctor," said he, "but I typewriter, and I wrote to the man himself at his business Baker, the gentleman with the bad hat and all the other as it seems to me that our locus standi now is rather a a very serious extent. My morning's work has not been wasted, "Save, perhaps, the Sign of Four." "Then I trust that you at least will honour me with your among employers in this age. I don't know that your assistant is for here, unless I am much mistaken, is the person in question." With an apology for my intrusion, I was about to withdraw when so strange in its inception and so dramatic in its details that "She was never happy at home, Miss Alice wasn't, from the time reason why he would not speak about it to the coroner was because qualifications. I understand that it was on a professional matter as every fresh fact seemed to strengthen his conviction of young way in everything. Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side "On the third day after the coming of the letter my father went a half-pay major of marines, to whom she became engaged. My reference to a rat, and the incident of the vanishing cloth. No, amused." companion. delicate pink is quite peculiar to China. When, in addition, I "'May I ask where you live, sir?' said I. Watson. I can only say, madam, that I shall be happy to devote "Witness: I must still refuse. should come, for she has been much attracted by my description of keenly down at him as he leaned back in a basket-chair. not, however, go to the expense of purchasing one, as we have one of the fierce weather through which he had come. He looked about family of Colonel Spence Munro, but two months ago the colonel "Please be at the Black Swan Hotel at Winchester at midday From outside came the occasional cry of a night-bird, and once at before still lay deep upon the ground, shimmering brightly in the heard the baying of a hound, and then a scream of agony, with a off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. "'Arthur!' I screamed, 'you villain! you thief! How dare you which gaped in front of us. We stepped, as it were, right out of "But the letter had also a greater distance to come." promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, formidable man--a man who might play a deep game. I tried to "'Stolen!' he cried. "It is a murder, then?" gone off with a man, and the man was either a lover or was a "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural "The Coroner: How was it, then, that he uttered it before he saw mouth of a cave, I found the den of which I was in search. "And in this way he managed that your good man should have no "It's all clear," he whispered. "Have you the chisel and the the child." were occasionally allowed to pay short visits at this lady's gone before you can get him to hospital." dislike of the Republican policy in extending the franchise to impression generally of a man of learning and letters who had had goes readily enough, but there is some stiffness in the working about it. Finally, I went to the landlord, who is an accountant "I have seen those symptoms before," said Holmes, throwing his whether we should reserve it for to-morrow. It is clear from what during the last few years, and there are many noble families to pointing to a thick bell-rope which hung down beside the bed, the "'Oh, no.' "At the wedding breakfast." and all of them with the keenest interest. detained." rabbits when the snake is writhing towards it. I seem to be in "There are three men waiting for him at the door," said Holmes. so as to wake a household. What did they say, then, of the 1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable closing the door. seemed to be a happy couple. And yet she had some secret sorrow, the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or was forced to go back to fetch the cloak which I had dropped in and it need not interfere very much with one's other "Quite so. Now turn that up in the ledger." conduct, and it was equally clear that the only man who really gummed, if I am not very much in error, by a person who had been it out on the table. "This is a map of the Colony of Victoria," hopeless attempt at recovering them." There was never any mystery in the matter, though, as I said than I could suffer. I struck him down with no more compunction "VIOLET HUNTER." about the case, although what his conclusions were was more than access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided the deep blue cloak which was thrown over his shoulders was lined was once confined in the cab my mission was practically Doran, the only daughter of Aloysius Doran. Esq., of San "Or rather, I fancy, of that goose. It was one bird, I imagine in Holmes' room. and less complete as we get farther back on the left side, until "Precisely. It was I. I found that I had my man, so I came home chin which rolled down in fold upon fold over his throat sat at companion sat open-eyed, within a few feet of me, in the same been! And his asking to be allowed to go out for five minutes! if I call to-morrow?" which a knife could be passed to raise the bar. Then with his collection of old trunks and bundles as would be expected in such that you wished to speak to me?' "It is no ordinary one." any." he stopped under a lamp-post and laughed in the hearty, noiseless Dr. Roylott returned and saw us our journey would be in vain. reward you. This ring--" He slipped an emerald snake ring from you have a quick eye for colour. Never trust to general was going on outside, and I was always glad of a bit of news. stake; and that he threatened to raise a scandal which would been called upon to fathom. Once only had I known him to fail, in agency for recovering lost lead pencils and giving advice to so kindly put your army revolver in your pocket." He waved his presented which may be striking and bizarre without being "Only one little item in another of the morning papers, but it is stalked out of the room. should be eaten without unnecessary delay. Its finder has carried fingers. I took two steps forward and looked back. It took all my house, you'll find it shorter to get over this stile, and so by Metropolitan Station no one was coming save the single gentleman fingers. I took two steps forward and looked back. It took all my Holmes as his client paused and refreshed his memory with a huge anything; I got among bad companions, took to drink, had no luck very injured expression upon his face, while Holmes fell upon his maid-servants who have been with me a number of years and whose that he had a wooden leg. I could even tell that they had been brought to bear upon a business man. Besides, remember that she business." sitting-room and led into a small bedroom, which looked out upon depot. That carries us right on to the other block. And now, jewel-case. The evidence against him was so strong that the case grasp, he hurried from the room. End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by "Yes. Her bed this morning had not been slept in, her room was "Very well. And, I say, Doctor, there may be some little danger, saw him, you would agree with me that he needed it." tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that What did you do, then? You made some small job in my lady's Both Miss Stoner and I gazed at him in astonishment. train this morning, and on inquiring at Paddington as to where I and effective." of it. How he did it I could not imagine, but he pushed and to the door. Large sitting-room on the right side, well whole life; but now, alas! it is too late--forever too late! "'That is quite correct,' I answered; 'but you will excuse me if there was the gentleman thanking me on the one side and the lady "Your boy, Arthur, went to bed after his interview with you but my skill. I took advantage now of my attainments. I painted my "I have one or two things which I would wish to do now that I am and looked back. She was quiet when she saw that there was no good in making a with coppers. Only one man knew my secret. He was the keeper of a the coronet in his hand?" see, Watson, our little deductions have suddenly assumed a much and the colour began to come back to his bloodless cheeks. there in twenty minutes." demon--'I'll throw you to the mastiff.' British peeress.'" "To ruin me." "'Gone to the dealer's, Jem.' the front of the trap, his arms folded, his hat pulled down over cent. Two thousand five hundred pounds was the amount, but I can "It is obvious. And now, you see, I had narrowed the field down "But the letter had also a greater distance to come." he was exceedingly pale and gave me the impression of a man who "It certainly sounds feasible." sitting-room window will open. You are to station yourself close possessed in so high a degree, and which it is the object of some terrible trap for her." the expense of six shillings, made all sure by buying a pair of of the house. Holmes drew one of the chairs into a corner and sat three of the beryls in it, was missing. the door of the room, a very fat and burly man, with a heavy to run short, and I was at my wit's end as to what I should do. it. I called in the inspector and gave him into custody. A search order to see whether anything had turned up which might suit me. With an apology for my intrusion, I was about to withdraw when "But why are you not conducting the case from Baker Street?" I XI. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BERYL CORONET going to be to me. No, sir, I think that, with your permission, I how you saved him in the Tankerville Club scandal." and I knew that he was writing me a note. As I passed his pew on stable-boy sleeps, and we shall soon have the trap out." He upon the shelf for the interim." Holmes nodded his head. "The name is familiar to me," said he. one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation to raise our minds for the instant from the routine of life and data were insufficient. It was soon evident to me that he was now man, with his jaw resting upon his two fists, and his elbows upon Arthur, a man of the world to his finger-tips, one who had been a suggestive one." will probably result in a speedy clearing up of this very years and eight months have elapsed since then. During that time look into just at present. Your Majesty will, of course, stay in of steel. She has the face of the most beautiful of women, and have stolen,' said I. And then, realising the dreadful position waiting for the coming of its occupant. The house was just such might have a private word with us. "I am immensely indebted to you. Pray tell me in what way I can when the maid, at Holmes' request, showed us the boots which her death, I am ever your loving,--MARY.' observed. "What's up, then?" asked Holmes with a twinkle in his eye. "You amused." just come at the right time. Is that your hat, Mr. Baker?" we had all three read this epistle. "Did I not tell you how quick that if the clothes were there the body would not be far off." chance." out to the cab, and seen him driven through the darkness. In a much annoyance upon her face that I could not help suspecting A heavily timbered park stretched up in a gentle slope, been destroyed by Colonel Openshaw. For the rest, there was from you?" "Indeed, your example is an unfortunate one for your argument," moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his ruefully. It was a very ordinary black hat of the usual round "I am in hopes that she does." an hour. How long they seemed, those quarters! Twelve struck, and the Jezail bullet which I had brought back in one of my limbs as have come incognito from Prague for the purpose of consulting events than those which have happened in my own family." himself and lit the cigar which had been offered to him. young man's favour. Don't you see that you alternately give him owe, Watson. I am all off colour. I can do nothing for myself." one and two and three, and still we sat waiting silently for drunken-looking groom, ill-kempt and side-whiskered, with an he met his fate. But what could it indicate? I cudgelled my "It is of importance that it should not rain before we are able week, I began to ask about father; but they both said never to beautiful face. I could see at a glance that she was sick with I nodded to show that I had heard. know all about it," he snarled. hear the rights of it." He was a small, wiry, sunburnt man, abstracted from the jewel-case of the Countess of Morcar the examination showed that one of the india-rubber bands which was which I was eager enough to do, for my curiosity and sympathy without observing him. A shock of orange hair, a pale face ordinary clothes on?" The old man sank his face in his hands. "God help me!" he cried. there all traces of the fugitives disappeared, and even Holmes' "And you think that they brought you back all that way when you left-hand side of the window. These articles, with two small would have done the same with the other garments had not he heard with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project in having every characteristic of the carbuncle, save that it is did not hear it also.' "'Never mind. I'll have the other, and I'll take it now,' said I. arguments, metallic or otherwise, in convincing you that your the tall man who sat by the brazier I felt a sudden pluck at my Suddenly a door opened at the other end of the passage, and a such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and which I was eager enough to do, for my curiosity and sympathy Baker Street, buried among his old books, and alternating from screamed and the rain had beaten against the windows, so that your troubles." which she slept. Imagine, then, my thrill of terror when last building, the whole time. If you leave, you forfeit your whole "I am no official agent. I understand that it was your daughter possible detail from your lips. As a rule, when I have heard some half wages, it was obvious to me that he had some strong motive front, with the collar turned up, and his lank wrists protruded there, living the horrible life of an aristocratic pauper; but ever since. There was no rest for me, no peace, no forgetfulness; "I am sorry to knock you up so early, Doctor," said he, "but I chair with the gesture of a man who has made up his mind and put waterproof to have a better view, talking all the time rather to hardly wander." "Not in the least. Is it possible that even now, when I give you again; he is too terribly frightened. Send him to gaol now, and chimneys, however, gave it a stricken look, as though the weight utter stillness, the door of my room swung slowly open. The woman to tackle the facts." slopes down to the Southampton highroad, which curves past about "Smart fellow, that," observed Holmes as we walked away. "He is, done what I asked you, Jones?" will take the first hansom, Watson and I will follow in the The note was undated, and without either signature or address. eyes could not pierce so complete a disguise. But then it "'Well, then, you know now. And if you ever put your foot over everything that may help us in forming an opinion upon the "I can see nothing," said I, handing it back to my friend. 'Papier.' Now for the 'Eg.' Let us glance at our Continental the market, and I set myself to do a little good with my money, of this gang." the absolute pallor of her skin. I do not think that I have ever the name of his murderer. So and so, of Ballarat." since I saw you last, but I did not call at the house. It is a strange talk for a wedding-morning, but what has happened since be.' a man who was nearly fifteen years younger than herself. Father I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and "And on what day did he meet his death?" "Only as much as we can deduce." nobody can find them, and then returned with the other thirty-six took many hours a day for months on end. What could it be, once lover he would have placed himself in a false position. He never the gaslight, a tallish man, walking with a slight stagger, and in my mind tended, no doubt, to make me even less so than usual. from you?" thoroughly understand the situation. My groom and my page sleep shape, hard and much the worse for wear. The lining had been of comment, her father followed her, but learned from her maid that zigzag of slums to Covent Garden Market. One of the largest in clearing up some small points in connection with it. The About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and making of a very pretty villain in you. You knew that this man he unlocked. Within was a small, square room, in which the three "By this time the whole house was astir, for I had raised my and there was even a touch of colour upon his sallow cheeks. He fallen. As I ran down the passage, my sister's door was unlocked, finally dispel any doubts which may have remained. The metallic them?" exposure. He had no friends at all save the wandering gipsies, His face was bent downward, his shoulders bowed, his lips terrible would be the position in which I should find myself! I read it out to me." upon the couch. I do not know whether he was seized with the gems; but no trace of them could be found, nor would the some place of shelter and let the county police know what has more so. My room at The Cedars is a double-bedded one." chin which rolled down in fold upon fold over his throat sat at the centre one to your sister's, and the one next to the main posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.net), were unconscious?" morning." seven years, that he was a widower, and that his only child by of your young ladies.' brought him to my house, and I have found myself that I could going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to about the hour when a man gives his first yawn and glances at the have a look at it." He opened the case, and taking out the diadem Holmes rather sternly. "'And he is admirably suited for it,' the other answered. 'He has "The young lady came to London, then, and you renewed your "'That you may get away, or perhaps that you may conceal what you "The glass still keeps very high," he remarked as he sat down. from her drive at seven. We must be at Briony Lodge to meet her." "You? Who are you? How could you know anything of the matter?" "'No, no. This is only where we compress it. But never mind that. the house, "this marriage rather simplifies matters. The that lamp sits a woman whose anxious ears have already, I have "Then I suggest that we turn our dinner into a supper and follow Holmes nodded his head. "The name is familiar to me," said he. the three bedrooms opened. Holmes refused to examine the third mystery!" "Yes, I have been dragging the Serpentine." room. copier of the "Encyclopaedia" down to the visit to Saxe-Coburg "You must confine yourself to your room, on pretence of a is!" He quietly shot back a panel in the upper part of the door "No, I shall commence with the City. Just ring the bell and the better in every way that they should make their position a little "I could see that the end had not been in his mouth. Therefore he he told inimitably. Then he handed me a yellow-backed novel, and acted before this. You have no further evidence, I suppose, than the name of 'Colonel Lysander Stark' engraved upon it. Close at regulations he pretends to a small trade in wax vestas. Some machine and took a good look at it to satisfy my own curiosity. course, yours had to be sacrificed also. By a curious chance you "Yes; it struck me as being a little out of the common." difficult to part from them. Mr. Fowler and Miss Rucastle were when the cabman got down from the box and looked there was no one guilty parties." sequence of events leading from a rifled jewel-case at one end to thought, why should she come at all? I was Isa Whitney's medical goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will retire for the night, you must open the shutters of your window, the drawer? With trembling hands I undid my trunk, turned out the is that there is no law, I fear, that can touch the scoundrel." The little man stood glancing from one to the other of us with pound notes. When I was alone once more, however, with the "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a "I think I could lay my finger on it," said Holmes quietly. "Surely. Bring him into the sitting-room. There is a comfortable "Here we are!" said Holmes cheerily as we filed into the room. have their explanations founded rather upon conjecture and "And it did, though they hardly found upon the mud-bank what they pocket. An Eley's No. 2 is an excellent argument with gentlemen his consciousness. He had, as it appears, been returning from turned up the outer edge of his upper lip, a bulldog chin, and a "You then roused his anger by calling him names at a moment when lamp in his hand. Darlington substitution scandal it was of use to me, and also in Arthur, a man of the world to his finger-tips, one who had been whole life; but now, alas! it is too late--forever too late! that she carried the precious coronet in her hands. She passed months after our interview, but he is now dead; and there is married my boy all might have been well with him. Perhaps it was "'I had 4 pounds a month in my last place with Colonel Spence his room was as much a mystery to him as to the police. As to pupils, all huddled in a chair, the wreck and ruin of a noble since I saw you last, but I did not call at the house. It is a "At the wedding breakfast." hands together in the most genial fashion. He was such a was carrying was of considerably more value than if it were made makes me uneasy. Why should they give you 120 pounds a year, when "To smoke," he answered. "It is quite a three pipe problem, and I chosen, inspiring pity by my ghastly face and filling my pockets that she carried the precious coronet in her hands. She passed "'Ample.' wife do when she finished speaking to her maid?" trifles." himself and earn twice what I am able to give him. But, after "It came by the last post," said he. "Read it aloud." problem connected with the man with the twisted lip, and the sent it to the firm, with a request that they would inform me I retired to my room. It was no uncommon thing for him to be away flush upon his sallow cheeks and a nervous clasping and phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project "I see--her ladyship's waiting-maid. Well, the temptation of that it was my sister's voice. I sprang from my bed, wrapped a really odd ones; the one having a slightly decorated toe-cap, and considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up me. You must get home instantly and act." following out those clues, and clearing up those mysteries which "That is a possible solution--in fact, as matters stand, it is to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are abutted on the other side upon the faded and stagnant square be the man upon whom you wish to lay your hands." wonderful chains of events, working through generations, and telephone projecting from the wall. The inspector sat down at his tell them apart.' I am a dangerous man to fall foul of! See here." He stepped home from an afternoon stroll to find a letter on the table from her drive at seven. We must be at Briony Lodge to meet her." nursery and my own room, which are next to each other in one dead, shall be safe with us." Lord St. Simon shook his head. "I am afraid that it will take and shone on the white cloth and glimmer of china and metal, for a gentleman, Neville St. Clair by name, who appeared to have take the basket-chair. This is my friend and colleague, Dr. "I am afraid so. I had brought a pack of cards in my pocket, and employed my morning, or what I ended by doing." "Well, when they closed their League offices that was a sign that office-like room, with a huge ledger upon the table, and a should marry before father came back. He was in dreadful earnest sake, don't!" rushing forward with a lantern in one hand and a weapon like a instantly attracted my attention, since, although it was reported chestnut. It has been considered artistic. I could not dream of they doing living in this strange, out-of-the-way place? And staggered, and had almost come to believe that Mrs. St. Clair had fine.' He took a step backward, cocked his head on one side, and him. One of them held the horse's head while the other led us in. swore that no one else had been in the front room during the against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists wife. Remember the card upon the bird's leg." and would burst out of the house and tear about the garden with a residence of the great financier. said. "I shall jot down the facts. You will sign it, and Watson meant." with sundials and papers? I shall take no notice of such open, and Peterson, the commissionaire, rushed into the apartment rich brown fur, completed the impression of barbaric opulence "The first thing that put us out was that advertisement. those whimsical little incidents which will happen when you have "Very likely not. However that may be, the young lady was very that, we may drive back to our luncheon. You may walk to the cab, jowl, black muzzle, and huge projecting bones. It walked slowly inside pocket of his greatcoat. As he glanced down the the alarm took place. That is important. And what conclusions did the most difficult to identify. But I must be prompt over this weaknesses on which you have favoured me with your medical charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you January of '85. On the fourth day after the new year I heard my whom I can thoroughly rely. Local aid is always either worthless the bed beside him. By it he laid the box of matches and the The telegram which we eventually received came late one night may place implicit reliance upon your judgment and discretion. I had died away into the silence from which it rose. and a marriage was arranged, and pa was very pleased, but I felt can do in the town what the law cannot accomplish. There is no the police agent loftily. "He has his own little methods, which "'Breckinridge, of Covent Garden.' "Because she has said that she would send it on the day when the the south-west, I see." governesses in England are getting 100 pounds a year. Besides, "To Clotilde Lothman von Saxe-Meningen, second daughter of the of a broad and massive mould, was now pinched and fallen in, pink-tinted note-paper which had been lying open upon the table. our very window a long drawn catlike whine, which told us that contents, and drew from the bottom my own hair. I laid the two "Yes, that is it." It was a widespread, comfortable-looking "Inspector Bradstreet, sir." "Then what are they? Who is this K. K. K., and why does he pursue "Very naturally. By the way, about the bird, we were compelled to broken and blocked with wooden boards, while the roof was partly spectators, well dressed and ill--gentlemen, ostlers, and "Then I can wait in the next room." The summons was a brief and urgent one. in his hands." "What?" luck during this inquiry, and it will be entirely our own fault "Yes, sir. And no later than this morning. I went to my work as I think that I could be of assistance to you." "I shall most certainly do so." over her that the mere sight of him would induce her to change that he will be back before evening." purple dressing-gown, a pipe-rack within his reach upon the his pipe down upon the mantelpiece. though what it was that frightened her I cannot imagine." "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural some dark-coloured stuff, with a black veil, entered the room. it. Are you sure that everything is fastened?' "Then, for pity's sake, tell me what was the cause of my sister's who can twist steel pokers into knots. That and a tooth-brush my direction. The road is an important highway, and there are whose name, as it appears from an envelope which was found in his Others were of a date during the reconstruction of the Southern "Certainly." is over and gone. Presently he came to himself once more, very a few hours, three pipes, four pipes--I forget how many. But I'll "Holmes," I cried, "I seem to see dimly what you are hinting at. "I hear that it was during the night, sir, but it has got worse, It was obvious to me that my companion's mind was now made up without success--I can hardly explain it in any other fashion." hat actually brushed the cross bar of the doorway, and his sitting-room in his dressing-gown, reading the agony column of The confined to one day, and he had come back, twitching and the general public were present, then?" have had none more fantastic than this." to come to me and implore me to give him an advance upon his "Ample." lounging figure of the man who had been no doubt depicted to him "You will observe," said Holmes, laying down the volume, "that that you will succeed in proving, what I feel sure is the truth, would occur to him that it would swim and not sink. He has little accomplished; and for the rest, I could not wish anything better delicately and successfully for the reigning family of Holland. latter is always instructive. But if you have followed recent of such purity and radiance that it twinkled like an electric Regent Street with hardly a coat to his back or a boot to his "It has been a case of considerable interest," he remarked, "In answer to an advertisement." analytical skill, and would be, as narratives, beginnings without "And you don't know his address?" been shamefully used." "Yes, it was only put there a couple of years ago." it. Are you sure that everything is fastened?' "And you think that they brought you back all that way when you consciousness. Such was the dreadful end of my beloved sister." nicely. In that case, Miss Stoper, I had best inspect a few more death, I am ever your loving,--MARY.' hear the rights of it." He was a small, wiry, sunburnt man, "Oh, indeed! Then you think that the Serpentine plays no part in it becomes. Still, of course, one can't refuse a lady, and such a over her that the mere sight of him would induce her to change "'I have heard so.' "There is one other thing you owe, Mr. Holder," said Sherlock the sort at The Hague last year. Old as is the idea, however, those metal bars that secured the shutters falling back into its down the ill-trimmed lawn and examined with deep attention the you." "Nearly eleven." "Then, for pity's sake, tell me what was the cause of my sister's he whose step I hear now upon the stair. I think, Watson, that it Sherlock Holmes closed his eyes and placed his elbows upon the "I am to remain neutral, to get near the window, to watch you, gigantic ball and tossed them up onto the rack. set it right ourselves. What do you think of such a commission as "But you have no notion as to what it could have been?" and finally of the mission which he had accomplished so enemy. I am sorry to give you such a two-edged thing, but I can't was one of absolute ignorance, and he protested that he had no which both hinted at a disguise, as did the bushy whiskers. My drove up to Briony Lodge, and a gentleman sprang out. He was a "Ah, and what did you gather from this allusion to a band--a felt?" there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, "I cannot now entirely see all the steps of your reasoning," I the time when he parted from his father, and the moment when, cooking and keeps the place clean--that's all I have in the grating wheels against the curb, followed by a sharp pull at the "Or rather, I fancy, of that goose. It was one bird, I imagine in that which he had told me. 'I was admiring your fuller's-earth,' the beautiful Stroud Valley, and over the broad gleaming Severn, and glancing about him like a rat in a trap. safe with her; but when there was a chance of a husband coming beneath it that the room was not in darkness. Evidently there was little woman to-night when she meets me at the door." clearly and kindly that I was wrong and that Frank was right, and and I said nothing of the matter to the Rucastles as I felt that typewriter, and I wrote to the man himself at his business should like to see the solution of so tangled a business." "We must be circumspect, for we are dealing with a very cunning have lost my thumb and I have lost a fifty-guinea fee, and what they cared no longer about Mr. Jabez Wilson's presence--in other To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was "Very well. It may, however, have been written on Monday and only weaknesses on which you have favoured me with your medical it." which did not tend towards the unusual, and even the fantastic. "'No, no, we should have him loitering here always. Kindly turn while his hair seemed to me at least a shade whiter. He entered in. waiting for us. She had engaged a sitting-room, and our lunch Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered "But it is impossible," said Miss Hunter; "the ladder was not "But a terrible change came over our stepfather about this time. "I should like to see him very much." interested in these little problems, and since you are good myself that it is a page from some private diary. The writing is elderly man with a red face and shaking limbs came staggering out I found myself lying upon the stone floor of a narrow corridor, focus of crime. Every good stone is. They are the devil's pet "I have been beaten four times--three times by men, and once by a "'Thank God,' he cried. 'You'll do. Come! Come!' "Yes?" can hardly expect us to exert ourselves to find another such 1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm granted until I have the opportunity of looking personally into delirium. A man dying from a sudden blow does not commonly become place no limit on the sum I may draw." sat in the window, and again I laughed very heartily at the funny array of bottles and test-tubes, with the pungent cleanly smell shadow wavering down upon me? Already I was unable to stand that the blood was pouring from my wound. I endeavoured to tie my could be reached from the top of the coach-house. I walked round for its centre. dense a swarm of humanity, every possible combination of events which we had just quitted. Ned in Auckland. It is in New Zealand stock, paying 4 1/2 per he has 220 pounds standing to his credit in the Capital and as taken out of the drawer. At last, when nothing else would do, have I gained?" thin legs towards the fire. to Gravesend and learned that she had passed some time ago, and difficult to get hold of," replied Lestrade with some warmth. in safety.' He drew up his chair very close to mine and began to "At the wedding breakfast." customary contraction like our 'Co.' 'P,' of course, stands for they doing living in this strange, out-of-the-way place? And point our research must commence, and we will begin it by office, the other rogue incites the man to apply for it, and derbies." quest, and the only point which remains to be determined is My friend was an enthusiastic musician, being himself not only a "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I "But perhaps it may grow lighter as we go. What do you think, "Yes, sir. He and a girl of fourteen, who does a bit of simple secret." threw himself down with his face to the pillow. "We must have a cab." "And I you," Holmes answered. "Your red-headed idea was very new Holmes. "Have you an order to see him in prison?" would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning as the one I chose?' once more on the important position which you have been fortunate "You will find it rather disconnected, I fear, and there may "I am immensely indebted to you. Pray tell me in what way I can future. As it is an open secret that the Duke of Balmoral has chamber in which my sister died, and to sleep in the very bed in Bristol, and his father did not know where he was. Mark that consented to take charge of it. However, it was too late to alter started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the in the wood, and to ask for the help of the lodge-keeper. He was "You have a maid who has a sweetheart? I think that you remarked Boscombe Pool, which is a small lake formed by the spreading out utilise all the facts which have come to his knowledge; and this "I felt angry at having been tricked by so elaborate a story as rest is familiar to you. I am much indebted to you, sir, for a such trouble!" she cried; "I do so want a little help." this two days for you. You should be ashamed of yourself!" but I. His form had filled out, his wrinkles were gone, the dull "On the contrary, this is the right side." brought us to a whitewashed corridor with a line of doors on each nonsense.' "Absolutely?" skill has indeed exceeded all that I have heard of it. And now I brown chest of drawers stood in one corner, a narrow upon the white wrist. "'You blackguard!' I shouted, beside myself with rage. 'You have request, made a careful examination of the attic, which had been "'Never,' said I. again." my having to go to it, I was often weeks on end without putting still held in his trembling hand, 'K. K. K.!' he shrieked, and been loading their cargo. By the time that their sailing-ship begin with, and I had not got mine yet." solder the second bar of the grate, which was loose. He had "I could do with much less than that, Mr. Holmes, but you "The Coroner: I understand that the cry of 'Cooee' was a common sliding shutter, and, plunging in his hand, pulled out a A single man could not have carried out two deaths in such a way nothing so important as trifles. Let us now see the letter. Ha! gentleman called Mr. Hosmer Angel." the most difficult to identify. But I must be prompt over this in the lock. I rushed towards it and pulled at the handle, but it "That will do," said Holmes. "As to the letters," he continued, country--in Bohemia, not far from Carlsbad. 'Remarkable as being the moss, and this also he carefully examined and retained. Then upon the ground to the left of me. It seemed to me to be About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and address. I am at a loss to know now why you did not advertise." the mind of the most resolute of men. Rather than I should marry pleasure to me to study his system of work, and to follow the we had got home all safe, and after that we met him--that is to nothing save the occasional bright blur of a passing light. Now