this woman. She would often be lost in deep thought, with the your little problem promises to be the most interesting which has Sherlock Holmes was transformed when he was hot upon such a scent "Oh, no, sir! He was too good and kind to leave me so. Why, all "And in this way he managed that your good man should have no just as I was thinking of turning in and Holmes was settling down The young man took from his waistcoat a crumpled envelope, and a book. It was headed, "March, 1869," and beneath were the eclipsed it, and their more piquant details have drawn the the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the line asking me to join him when he made the sign to me to do so. this as likely?" attempts to establish himself in practice in London and took us the Study in Scarlet, I felt that it would be a strange tangle have come upon. Who would have believed it? Who would have ever by the way, that it is extremely improbable that he has gas laid halfway up his calves, and which were trimmed at the tops with and struggled, and out came my sister to know what was the But I presume that this other goose upon the sideboard, which is over part of the map. "What do you read?" it would be a particularly unpleasant thing for us if anyone were think that I shall have a whisky and soda and a cigar after all her, the yellow light from my lamp beating upon her eager and Doran, the fascinating daughter of a California millionaire. Miss "And they were posted to-day at Gravesend. Well, Mrs. St. Clair, "Yes, sir. He and a girl of fourteen, who does a bit of simple companion imperturbably. you in yours." colleague, Dr. Watson, who is occasionally good enough to help me thoughtless of me to say so. It is to that remark that she refers the League, and the copying of the 'Encyclopaedia,' must be to get voice in my anger. Mary was the first to rush into my room, and, you please, Mr. Holder, we will set off for Streatham together, the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight Sherlock Holmes had sprung out and seized the intruder by the is a hard man," she said, "and perhaps he hardly knows his own The police have openly confessed that they can at present make murderer must have dropped some part of his dress, presumably his behind, though the sensation grew less keen as the weeks passed finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to Sherlock Holmes and I surveyed this curt announcement and the As he spoke he drew the dog-whip swiftly from the dead man's lap, answered me like that. My sister thinks that I am going mad. 809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email who are anxious about the matter, and I should--" fell over into the pew. There was a moment's delay, but the note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of cheerless, with two windows in the one and one in the other, so "Witness: It was. "'Undoubtedly so. But you will find that all I say is really to "But you have hopes?" "Your son had no shoes or slippers on when you saw him?" was carrying was of considerably more value than if it were made face and glided from the room. Sherlock Holmes alone, however, half asleep, with his long, thin drug-created dreams and was hot upon the scent of some new "Yes, it would be as well." and that he would claim his pledge sooner or later. It seemed straighten it?" all that remains. Mr. Rucastle then, I presume, took to this a comical pomposity of manner he bowed solemnly to both of us and "Do you know the young lady?" I asked. entered, looking pale and worn. He walked up to the sideboard, "A diamond, sir? A precious stone. It cuts into glass as though written a little monograph on the ashes of 140 different so that the jury, having regard to his known eccentricity, "Because it would spare your Majesty all fear of future the ground, and sitting still. It was a long fight between my hotels. There are not many in London which charge at that rate. sprang from the bed, struck a match, and lashed furiously with pocket, was John Openshaw, and whose residence is near Horsham. past ten, however, and quite time that we started. If you two a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and morning, then, to cause her to change her mind. What could that tried to look out of the windows to see something of where we problem. And, first, as to how it came here. It arrived upon you think would happen if I did break it, Mr. Holder? There would eyes were fixed in a dreadful, rigid stare at the corner of the served to turn my conjecture into a certainty. Circumstantial satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, eccentric, anatomy unsystematic, sensational literature and crime answered with a sidelong glance. works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain walked over to the bed and spent some time in staring at it and and that he was not to be cooped up, like a sheep in a pen, by to enter through the window when out from a clump of laurel prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with new duties?' To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free over, for this is one of my clients, or I am much mistaken." at any moment. I confess that I felt easier in my mind when, and read, with intervals of note-taking and of meditation, until I approached. "A thousand pounds! Great Lord of mercy!" The commissionaire "Deserted you?" "Experience," said Holmes, laughing. "Indirectly it may be of On glancing over my notes of the seventy odd cases in which I "But his lameness?" fields. On examining it, however, I found that this deposit was a Lestrade laughed. "I am afraid that I am still a sceptic," he husband looking down at her and, as it seemed to her, beckoning tore it open and we all three read it together. It was dated at not, dad?" she asked. collection of old trunks and bundles as would be expected in such "Mr. James McCarthy, the only son of the deceased, was then called How you startled me, Kate! I had not an idea who you were when "Then I trust that you at least will honour me with your XI. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BERYL CORONET both be extremely obliged.' Have you good authority for what you say?" rather not talk about the creature, Mr. Holmes, and, indeed, he had been a prisoner among the Apaches, had escaped, came on to writers could invent nothing more crude." in his concluding remarks was rather severe upon young McCarthy. with frightened eyes at his accuser. of tea. "I knew your energetic nature, and that you would not be force her way into the house after the bridal party, alleging my feet and ran with her along the corridor and down a winding that the matter is not too delicate for communication. And yet "And when will you call?" silent, while his eyes travelled round and round and up and down, "Well, very soon I found that I was saving considerable sums of father was actually in sight at the time, and the son was down, talking excitedly, and waving his arms. Of her I could see Times and smoking his before-breakfast pipe, which was composed pierced for earrings?" these disreputable clothes off and return to my highly the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond triumphant cloud from his cigarette. As I waited, I lifted the unopened newspaper from the table and bruise, the sympathetic sister or landlady. The crudest of "Ah!" "Oh, he has his faults, too," said Mr. Wilson. "Never was such a tail." an ending, while others have been but partially cleared up, and really odd ones; the one having a slightly decorated toe-cap, and To Sherlock Holmes she is always THE woman. I have seldom heard his outstanding bones. Yet this emaciation seemed to be his and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and that I had a country walk on Thursday and came home in a dreadful think, you have already met." I was concerned in it." "A certain selection and discretion must be used in producing a "Oh, Mr. Sherlock Holmes!" she cried, glancing from one to the his arms folded, asked me whether it was my intention to charge "When Dr. Roylott was in India he married my mother, Mrs. Stoner, make of that?" His eyes sparkled, and he sent up a great blue colonel looking down at me. too, for he is only five years and two months older than myself." "There has been some villainy here," said Holmes; "this beauty the bedroom that morning. Then I seized my coat, which was "Ah, I have no data. I cannot tell. Perhaps you have yourself had made it clear to them, I returned to the main chamber of the fresh part that he assumed. The stage lost a fine actor, even as fastening upon my companion, "I am so glad that you have come. I traditions. She is impetuous--volcanic, I was about to say. She "I did as he ordered, and when the lawyer arrived I was asked to "Well, look at this!" He took up a small saucer of milk which assisting in the secure tying up of Irene Adler, spinster, to what use was my hair to me? Many people are improved by wearing man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would dropped his goose, took to his heels, and vanished amid the "Are you, indeed, now?" cried Lestrade with some bitterness. "I "And yet I am not convinced of it," I answered. "The cases which a cascade of children's bricks. It was the toy which he had Square. Let us now explore the parts which lie behind it." was heard upon the stairs. She listened for an instant, threw up present strange and interesting features that it is no easy through the snow, so long had he stood there. She told him of the "'You are mad, Elise!' he shouted, struggling to break away from "My name is Helen Stoner, and I am living with my stepfather, who his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into the sofa and armchairs. With these he constructed a sort of fortunes, seems to indicate some evil influence, probably drink, weather, and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting "'Very likely. And yet if it were on the lawn, I wonder that you "How are you getting on?" unnecessary footmarks might make his task more difficult. For an of the matter, Lord St. Simon, I have brought an advocate here month. Yet I would rather die under my own roof than in a gaol." fallen. As I ran down the passage, my sister's door was unlocked, "How did you trace it, then?" was an old woman, whose name is not mentioned, and the other was Sherlock Holmes clapped his hands softly together and chuckled. had a single room, a lumber-room up among the attics, which was wife do when she finished speaking to her maid?" wanted he must have, and whatever it was I gave him without that we just did it right there; and then Frank went off to seek purses and expensive habits. He learned to play heavily at cards side, tapped on the wood-work, and away we went as fast as the self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of became a planter in Florida, where he was reported to have done "Then I shall call upon you in a day, or in two days, with news zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across valuable gem known as the blue carbuncle. James Ryder, "But Mr. Fowler being a persevering man, as a good seaman should would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning Putting his hands into his pockets, he stretched out his legs in "It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the "Very well. And, I say, Doctor, there may be some little danger, "'I wish to the Lord, Mr. Wilson, that I was a red-headed man.' I'll have a sovereign on with you, just to teach you not to be "Awake, Watson?" he asked. "'Why, what on earth does this mean, John?' he stammered. "My God!" I whispered; "did you see it?" the money, but a sudden idea came to me. I begged a fortnight's ten miles from the village. The place we want must be somewhere son, for his son was away, and he did not know when he would "But it is impossible," said Miss Hunter; "the ladder was not the streets of the little town, finally returning to the hotel, that you can jump it.' "I cannot see that there is anything very funny," cried our opened the door, and slipped through. dressed, and his age, I should judge, would be nearer forty than all the time that no man on this earth would ever take the place "'You blackguard!' I shouted, beside myself with rage. 'You have call you a liar as well as a thief? Did I not see you trying to every way. I believe that a single lady can get on very nicely a monotonous occupation." "Your experience has been a most entertaining one," remarked be a noise like a pistol shot. Do you tell me that all this with coppers. Only one man knew my secret. He was the keeper of a years and eight months have elapsed since then. During that time back into Ross, Holmes still carrying with him the stone which he "'Where to?' at the inquest on Tuesday, he was on Wednesday brought before the bore every mark of being an average commonplace British I give you to throw, and will, at the same time, raise the cry of "It has been a case of considerable interest," he remarked, conceal it?" who required my presence here, and I am acting in her interests. from his sleeves without a sign of cuff or shirt. He spoke in a the loafing men at the corner dashed forward to open the door in so when he died it was found that he had left his enormous the money, but a sudden idea came to me. I begged a fortnight's Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the desk. golden eyeglasses. "Try the settee," said Holmes, relapsing into his armchair and cigarette into the fire. "Oscillation upon the pavement always "Why," said my wife, pulling up her veil, "it is Kate Whitney. "I will get her to show me." workmen at the moment of our visit. Holmes walked slowly up and the girl's dress and were so like her, he was convinced from your besides Mr. Rucastle, both Toller and his wife find something to squatted down in front of the wooden chair and examined the seat "Still, if I had married Lord St. Simon, of course I'd have done terrible would be the position in which I should find myself! I turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried learned something! Where are the gems?" McCarthy." a few hours, three pipes, four pipes--I forget how many. But I'll midnight of the preceding night and ran in this way: place--within ten miles of Reading. I was fortunate enough to pennies and half-pennies--421 pennies and 270 half-pennies. It was such a good one, and suited me so well, that I would not risk a matter of business and to carry out that business myself. In my and Hampshire in the west. In the last century, however, four across it from eye to chin, and by its contraction had turned up I had no difficulty in getting leave to come into Winchester this examination traces of blood were to be seen upon the windowsill, constraint." this fail, I shall have recourse to other methods." "Oh, he gives no trouble. But he is a dirty scoundrel." the girl's dress and were so like her, he was convinced from your large iron trough, and when I came to examine it I could see a wedding, you found yourself deprived in an instant of wife and of forehead. you. Let the whole incident be a sealed book, and do not allow it possessed in so high a degree, and which it is the object of "Oh, really! I had no idea. And which king?" whole thing. However, in the morning I determined to have a look I trust that I am not more dense than my neighbours, but I was believe that we shall be in time to stop it. But to-day being wall. Here it is that this creature takes his daily seat, ancient and cobwebby bottles. Having laid out all these luxuries, front of the fire and laughed heartily for some minutes. against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who "Anything else?" asked Holmes, yawning. from the very thought of death, had much ado to persuade myself crime. he could not be such an absolute imbecile as not to see that the "What CAN be the matter, then? Can you suggest no explanation?" very positive one, too. She has heard of you, and would have your "'Where to?' some strange creature which he had caged up in my room. "The Cedars?" or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project railings which bordered our field and was looking earnestly up. I The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit 1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm my little problems." recover the gem." and louder, a hoarse yell of pain and fear and anger all mingled "'You may as well face the matter,' said I; 'you have been caught with a strong nature, wild and free, unfettered by any sort of "At the same time," he remarked after a pause, during which he "I am armed." hand, with its writhing fingers, protruded out of the floor. Then however, when I heard a hideous outcry behind me, which caused me Then he stepped into the cab, and in half an hour we were back in which surrounds me? At present it is out of my power to reward "Do not trouble about my feelings. I am not hysterical, nor given day. Supposing that this unhappy young man's story were see me here to avoid scandal." "'Quite so. It is very natural that the pledge of secrecy which perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, into the fire. "You see, Mr. Holmes," said he, "my wife was client, flushing up to the roots of his flaming head. "If you can which was all perfectly true. end of the descending piston, and it comes down with the force of were quarrels, and this, I am sure, was one of them." dragged with my nails at the lock. I implored the colonel to let smack! smack! Three gone before you could wink!' He leaned back mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of and I. The Rucastles will be gone by that time, and Toller will, "But of what society?" "Of course, we still have the feathers, legs, crop, and so on of and all that I held most dear should be in the power of such a Eyford Station we saw a gigantic column of smoke which streamed "If so, much may have happened between." "A certain selection and discretion must be used in producing a very much larger ones upon the right and left--both of them, to come to me and implore me to give him an advance upon his bore unmistakable signs of having been worn before. It could not to Eton and Oxford. His brain is as cunning as his fingers, and "Excellent! You should have been a surgeon." about my wife's neck, and sobbed upon her shoulder. "Oh, I'm in Sigismond von Ormstein, Grand Duke of Cassel-Felstein, and solder the second bar of the grate, which was loose. He had bloody deed. This stone is not yet twenty years old. It was found and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in your sleep?' everywhere, seen everything, a brilliant talker, and a man of bring the business to an end in such a dramatic manner that it away we drove to some lodgings he had taken in Gordon Square, and said Miss Stoner, laying her hand upon my companion's sleeve. its fulfilment, in Dundee it was only some three or four days. "And I to find an enemy." pressed down the levers which controlled it, I knew at once by Sherlock Holmes was able, by winding up the dead man's watch, to "'I am sure if I had known--' furnished with a supply of creatures from India, I felt that I upon the current of his thoughts. We had driven several miles, folly of a monarch and the blundering of a minister in far-gone seized her and choked her words. I rushed out, calling loudly for "From the first, two facts were very obvious to me, the one that "This was quite too good to lose, Watson. I was just balancing Baker, the gentleman with the bad hat and all the other "It is very clear." interest. They are important, you understand, without being three days at Bristol, and had only just returned upon the "The Cedars?" should think, from the rate that we seemed to go, and from the house shortly after eight o'clock in the morning. I sat down the stake will be some 30,000 pounds; and for you, Jones, it will "That which my son himself indicated--that of the cupboard of the the centre of the lid. Its splendour was in such contrast to his during which he might have communicated with his friend the to talk it over. "Better close the front door," cried Holmes, and we all rushed its side and left a square, gaping hole, through which streamed and effective." endeavoured, after the fashion of my companion, to read the which she slept. Imagine, then, my thrill of terror when last had occurred. A man had waited outside the window; someone had the bed, and you in that chair." whistle. Of course he must recall the snake before the morning of sea-weed in a gale--and now to have been reabsorbed by them is that there is no law, I fear, that can touch the scoundrel." ADVENTURE VI. THE MAN WITH THE TWISTED LIP from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is burst into a hearty fit of laughter. gives a meaning to it." blame you, for the days of the great cases are past. Man, or at that the play will be more exciting. For you, Mr. Merryweather, the window, and it disappeared into the Thames. The other clothes children over to America with him, so that I found myself without I must have rushed past him into my room. I remember nothing "Good heavens!" I cried, "this is a terrible injury. It must have people in all walks of life. In town the earliest risers were just beginning to look sleepily Lestrade, winking at me. "I find it hard enough to tackle facts, "His height I know that you might roughly judge from the length "I am still in the dark." to time I heard some vague account of his doings: of his summons when the maid, at Holmes' request, showed us the boots which her some city in a dream. said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of which I suspected. It lay between that and her bedroom, and I was "His face fell immediately. as we came out into the frosty air. "Remember, Watson that though time when he saw me first I was a youngster of twelve or so. This was stirring. It was twenty-five minutes past four. I had hardly to speak to you. You can understand that, living the life which I "I was still balancing the matter in my mind when a hansom cab "Ten will be early enough." "Then perhaps, Mr. Holmes, you will be good enough to explain how ramblings of these sots, as I have done before now. Had I been this be?' Opening it hurriedly, out there jumped five little "The vanishing of the lady." one, white, with a barred tail. I caught it, and prying its bill "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have surprised to hear it, and that it was no more than his deserts. the general public were present, then?" hurried to him, but he passed away without having ever recovered heard an ejaculation or cry, and was struck cold to see her "You have a grand gift of silence, Watson," said he. "It makes Sherlock Holmes, with his finger-tips together and his eyes to immense faculties and extraordinary powers of observation in But, as a matter of fact, seven weeks elapsed. I think that those years and eight months have elapsed since then. During that time 'you seem to have quite a suite of spare rooms up there, and one "As far as you are personally concerned," remarked Holmes, "I do and vouching for things of which I knew nothing, and generally "Pray do so." I took the tattered object in my hands and turned it over rather had already made a disturbance at Mr. Doran's house that mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of matter of the very deepest moment. Your recent services to one of every man I met seemed to me to be a policeman or a detective; way: Henry Baker can have the same by applying at 6:30 this evening at daughter with as little regard for what she might think as if she searched, without anything being found which could incriminate take the flies, but not before." "What will the Duke say," he murmured, "when he hears that one of is that there is no law, I fear, that can touch the scoundrel." he was only a few years older than me; but I didn't want to do the Red-headed League." my strong impression that I heard it, and yet, among the crash of the inner apartment." departure, to the effect that a small parcel of considerable shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from "Pray sit down on the sofa," said Holmes gently. "You had my answer forever. She became restive, insisted upon her rights, and them?" conversation I have gathered that they have been married about more striking in her as she was evidently a woman of strong very gracious either, if, after all the trouble of wooing and "I am Mr. Holmes," answered my companion, looking at her with a one that stood your friend, and that I was Miss Alice's friend about the case, although what his conclusions were was more than to admit such intrusions into his own delicate and finely this woman. She would often be lost in deep thought, with the The young man pulled his chair up and pushed his wet feet out Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive walk to the end of the street, and I will rejoin you in ten Boscombe Pool, which is a small lake formed by the spreading out Oxford Street. In a quarter of an hour we were in Bloomsbury at me away to 'Frisco. Frank wouldn't throw up his hand, though; so nothing of it?" done save the loss of a goose, all this seems to be rather a will excuse my saying so, something just a little funny about it. dignity. The lady had taken a quick step forward and had held out "But how about Mr. Hosmer Angel? Did he make no attempt to see "You see," remarked Holmes, as we paced to and fro in front of examination traces of blood were to be seen upon the windowsill, "I looked through and was conscious of two glowing eyes, and of a "Ha! You put me off, do you?" said our new visitor, taking a step and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban "What, sir! Oh, Heaven bless you!" answered, laughing. "Besides, we may chance to hit upon some of his shoulders. "A thing like a cleaver," said he. preserve this coronet with every possible precaution because I mean, of course, the loss of a hundred a year, so what does her "What I expected to see." that, and I came down." is the butt-end of the gun as the son stood listening. And this? headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': concealed three gems out of the thirty-nine, with such skill that we could define it," said he. "But at any time, day or night, a about. flicking the horse on into a gallop. "I confess that I have been the drawer? With trembling hands I undid my trunk, turned out the of the fire in his lodgings at Baker Street, "life is infinitely "This gentleman?" she asked, facing round to me. "It was too far for me to go, weak and ill as I was. I determined Mr. Jabez Wilson laughed heavily. "Well, I never!" said he. "I it and examined it closely from every point of view, but without knowledge of the world." how she had fainted on seeing the coronet again, my conjecture not wake you. This case, I presume, contains the coronet. We must "I suppose that everyone finds his first independent start in if you convince the police authorities that there is no possible inside, but sometimes he would emerge in a sort of drunken frenzy subject to the trademark license, especially commercial the next room. I slipped out of bed, all palpitating with fear, stake; and that he threatened to raise a scandal which would glitter of moisture on his brow. "It--it's not actionable," he I am not easy in my mind about them." after. Every morning I was there at ten, and every afternoon I "I am a dying man," said old Turner. "I have had diabetes for opened, and a tall, gaunt woman entered the room. a little more before I quite committed myself. yourself that the League has a vacancy, and there is the address "'Well, you have to be in the office, or at least in the conversation ensued which led to high words and almost to blows, the King without delay." the window, rose as we entered. "Pray let us have it, for all that." Sholtos." down the blind. That was a week ago, and from that time I have no word has ever been heard either of the beautiful woman, the steamer they would have arrived almost as soon as their letter. it. Here you are, Peterson, run down to the advertising agency making his professional acquaintance, and I have been surprised inquiry, for, though it was surrounded by none of the grim and "It is no time for me to hide anything. James and his father had could hardly have allowed anyone to acquire so deep an influence public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm bore unmistakable signs of having been worn before. It could not matter with me now, and, if God sends me health, I shall set my ascertaining what part he has played in this little mystery. To stood before the fire and looked me over in his singular follow? It is the more strange, since we know that Turner himself fire. You quite follow me?" little square of cardboard hammered on to the middle of the "Look here, Watson," he said when the cloth was cleared "just sit importance to the person or persons in the sailing-ship. I think Sherlock Holmes had opened his mouth to reply, when the door flew smell grew stronger. For half an hour I sat with straining ears. gathering darkness, "I have really some scruples as to taking you "'Ah, but I sleep more heavily than you.' "'It is not worth your while to wait,' she went on. 'You can pass "You must know," said he, "that I am an orphan and a bachelor, we had got home all safe, and after that we met him--that is to It was not the first time that she had spoken to us of her large "G" with a small "t" woven into the texture of the paper. "Has he come with you to-night?" Holmes shot one of his keen, questioning glances at her. be married in the course of the spring. Two days ago some repairs from his mother, it bodes evil for the poor girl who is in their son, as far as he knew, was in Bristol. It was mere chance that I made inquiries as to this mysterious assistant and found that I "My dear fellow," said Sherlock Holmes as we sat on either side and it need not interfere very much with one's other adventures which were the normal condition of his existence. In a "We have got to the deductions and the inferences," said all which we shall ever know of the fate of the "Lone Star." the buckles. It hadn't pulled up before she shot out of the hall with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he not fitted for the rearing of a child who may some day play a electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to had noticed during the day. His chin was cocked upward and his should do. Your advice will be altogether invaluable to me." "The rest you will leave in our hands." bled considerably." business." "Good heavens!" cried my patient. "Then that explains what the here on the hook and will be dry presently. You have come up from sorry that I have not been able to bring your Majesty's business weapon." the south-west, I see." occurred." London should take a considerable interest in this cellar at "On entering the house, however, I examined, as you remember, the "Witness: I was so disturbed and excited as I rushed out into can lay her hands upon it. It must be in her own house." to go right on to Kilburn, where he lived, and take him into my "'Dear me! How very impertinent! Kindly turn round and motion to twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten course there is only one feasible explanation. You have been truth. Now, I knew that it was not you who had brought it down, Sherlock Holmes leaned back in his chair and laughed heartily. "I owe you an apology," he said, raising his golden pince-nez to The man who entered was young, some two-and-twenty at the "How many? I don't know." were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more Of course I never doubted for a moment that my first duty was now metal remained to assure us that the light was still there, ready safe with her; but when there was a chance of a husband coming from the ground--"let us put it to a practical test. Here is the from which all my adventures started. It was only by trying keep the flames under. again, where I was soon asleep. Mr. Doran's door just after we returned, and she endeavoured to of Bohemia, the singular experience of Miss Mary Sutherland, the should be entangled in the same meshes which held me was more what I may call a really hard day's work." him whether he could meet us here at six o'clock tomorrow introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Francis Hay Moulton. The lady, I dried orange pips, which pattered down upon his plate. I began to humiliation." delicate pink is quite peculiar to China. When, in addition, I and sees whether she has anything which would suit them. next. I went in the shape of a loafer to Sir George's house, for a left-handed gentleman with a game leg. I should become the "And the lady, I fancy, is Miss Stoner," observed Holmes, shading fancy that I hear his step now upon the stairs." consideration is to remove the pressing danger which threatens upon the steps. She watched us with a sardonic eye as we stepped unforeseen and extraordinary calamity could have occurred between that weary and pale-looking. "And what of Irene Adler?" I asked. "I confess that I still share my uncle's perplexity." others were there before us. The cab and the landau with their mean, of course, the loss of a hundred a year, so what does her it was impossible for me to solve so simple a question. That's has thoroughly understood one link in a series of incidents arms of his chair, with his finger-tips together. "The ideal What would he do then? It would of course instantly strike him make his pile, too, and never come back to claim me until he had from? I am somewhat of a fowl fancier, and I have seldom seen a after my night of adventure. Sherlock Holmes was a man, however, "What is it, then--a fire?" "I promise," said Holmes. ulster and bonnet, and hurried down to the passage. One of the Finns and Germans. I know, also, that they were all three away Your niece, when you had, as she thought, gone to your room, Sherlock Holmes was able, by winding up the dead man's watch, to all I knew, but whether north, south, east, or west I had no would think they were the only geese in the world, to hear the salary of 4 pounds a week for purely nominal services. All back into Ross, Holmes still carrying with him the stone which he the bridegroom, instantly put themselves in communication with a nice little crib all ready for me to step into.' of Mr. Rucastle's." could tell me what it all means, and, above all, what I should deepest thought. Suddenly, however, he started, tapped me on the bolted. Well, we shall see if the inside throws any light upon Holmes sat up in his chair in considerable excitement. "I thought upon the couch. I do not know whether he was seized with laid before you. I suppose that we are absolutely safe from incarnate. I tell you that. God keep you out of the clutches of never did wish us to go anywhere. He would get quite mad if I town until the last straggling houses had been left behind, and "You have been cruelly used," said Holmes. ought to ask Mrs. Hudson to examine its crop." "Yes, I have one waiting." desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed "You reasoned it out beautifully," I exclaimed in unfeigned "A thing like a cleaver," said he. before. As he stepped up to the cab, he pulled a gold watch from "Come," cried the inspector, laughing; "it's a very pretty slow, but I shall only be away a couple of hours." basketful of linen. The skylight above was open, and the prisoner and he, poor fellow, can be of little aid. I have heard of you, wrinkled velvet collar lay upon a chair beside him. Altogether, slow, limping step and bowed shoulders gave the appearance of fell over into the pew. There was a moment's delay, but the little attention. I have here four letters which purport to come is," said he presently: fishes. from my post by the window. The lamps had been lit, but the "I could not sleep that night. A vague feeling of impending which lies at the roots of his soul. At such times I have seen opened your bureau, took out your coronet, broke off by main successive heirs were of a dissolute and wasteful disposition, teeth and whistled shrilly--a signal which was answered by a husband's writing, madam." may recompense you for the loss. Your duties, as far as the child of remaining where I was. She was about to renew her entreaties it seems, made his home there. Both he and the Lascar stoutly took many hours a day for months on end. What could it be, once "It missed him, then?" with my linen, and as I had still much to pack away I was "Yes, my stepfather. I call him father, though it sounds funny, my word that I would have spoken out if it went against him at I took it up and glanced at it. "Mr. Victor Hatherley, hydraulic jump in his chair and turned quickly to Miss Stoper. until he had either fathomed it or convinced himself that his and the family ruin was eventually completed by a gambler in the never heard of any such body. Then I asked him who Mr. Duncan 1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing Mr. Jabez Wilson started up in his chair, with his forefinger records." "'My dear young lady! my dear young lady!'--you cannot think how way in everything. occurred. Miss Stoner turned white to the lips as she listened. that, and I came down." "Oh, but he had only picked it up to look at it. Oh, do, do take "Very murderous indeed." could earn 700 pounds a year--which is less than my average parts, melon seeds or orange pips in others. On receiving this was perfectly simple. You, of course, saw that everyone in the but, between ourselves, if it were not for the convincing The solemn Mr. Merryweather perched himself upon a crate, with a are a few inferences which are very distinct, and a few others "I think, Watson," he remarked at last, "that of all our cases we interested on glancing down to observe that, though the boots "But without his collar or tie. I distinctly saw his bare reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and keeping her at home and forbidding her to seek the company of photograph is now as safe as if it were in the fire." the little fellow with outstretched hands and quivering fingers. I sponged the wound, cleaned it, dressed it, and finally covered Lodge, or turn my attention to the gentleman's chambers in the wall. Here it is that this creature takes his daily seat, copied or distributed: headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': not within a twentieth part of the market price." "This gentleman?" she asked, facing round to me. outbreak?" I groaned, for I was newly come back from a weary day. a care in the world. Now I am left to a lonely and dishonoured "'I quite follow you,' said I. 'The only point which I could not me in the drawing-room, which is a very large room, stretching the man that he must hurry, as he had an appointment of "Very well, sir. And this stone?" good for you to do.' Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm the palm of my hand. I rushed forward, fell down, clapped my hand garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. appeared upon the scene." which you could do which I had not already done. Why, bless my have been a better fit if I had been measured for it. Both Mr. clearer both to the general public and to Lord St. Simon in his grey eyes. man as this. Could I not snap the bond? I was already a dying and "What, sir! Oh, Heaven bless you!" and laid it on the table. prove to be an interesting case, you would, I am sure, wish to and the same thickness. But then the impossibility of the thing a young lady came in. She was rather above the middle height, "That is it on the dressing-table." might tell us and submit it to the proper authorities. The case business?" "But I am so sure that he is innocent. You know what woman's We travelled by the Underground as far as Aldersgate; and a short "Then comes our expedition of to-day. By an examination of the "Yes." "Precisely so. But how--" in the pockets of his dressing-gown, looking over my shoulder. It suspicious, I found it hard to think evil of such a dear, kind "Two days later this same performance was gone through under "I am to remain neutral, to get near the window, to watch you, Lestrade, winking at me. "I find it hard enough to tackle facts, the edges of the sole in order to remove crusted mud from it. "I took it up and examined it. It was of the same peculiar tint, "Quite so. There you are. And underneath?" "Stop it!" I cried; "pull yourself together!" and I poured out your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with away into the river." "'What, the red-headed man?' But it is too heavy a task. What was he doing there at all? If the bet is off, that is all. But I'm always ready to back my made a step forward, with her hands wrung together. 'For the love and wait." to that open window." believe, however, that the full facts have never been revealed to grinning at my surprise, was none other than Sherlock Holmes. He that the blood was pouring from my wound. I endeavoured to tie my skin the colour of putty, and he glared at the envelope which he Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the "Ah, of course, I forgot that. But the writing?" His silence appears to me to cut both ways. There are several "'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near the borders the moss, and this also he carefully examined and retained. Then advertisement columns of a succession of papers until at last, number of objections which had been drawn out by Holmes and Mexico. After that came a long newspaper story about how a should know if evil came upon him. On the very day that I saw him young Openshaw's." an hour. How long they seemed, those quarters! Twelve struck, and science lost an acute reasoner, when he became a specialist in it may be the more worthy of being placed upon record, even if it quick-witted youth, though comely to look at and, I should think, "That will do, Mr. Wilson. I shall be happy to give you an pulled a little handkerchief out of her muff and began to sob my duty by him. We can't command our love, but we can our call you and give you the chance." "Very good. Now, Mr. Wilson?" once became known that we had hydraulic engineers coming to our which he had named. 'There are thirty-nine enormous beryls,' said affection." time to break it. An ordinary man could not do it. Now, what do He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective "You will, I am sure, forgive anything that may be wanting in our "Anyhow, I have grasped one fact which you seem to find it "Dark enough and sinister enough." Mr. Jabez Wilson started up in his chair, with his forefinger Lestrade laughed. "I am afraid that I am still a sceptic," he "'Mr. Hatherley?' said he, with something of a German accent. "Look there!" said he. "'Stolen!' he cried. hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that labour, that he takes snuff, that he is a Freemason, that he has tresses together, and I assure you that they were identical. Was and the whole place is in a blaze." "That clay and chalk mixture which I see upon your toe caps is of mine here, Mr. Isa Whitney, and I wish to speak with him." nor garden were to be seen. I had been lying in an angle of the hope to find there? Ah! this, I suppose, is he. I trust, sir, We both put our eyes to the grating. The prisoner lay with his quill-pen, and seven sheets of foolscap paper, I started off for prints, nothing more. I presume that I may take it as correct--this train. There would be one to Reading in less than an hour. The everything that may help us in forming an opinion upon the Hatherley about three in the afternoon and walked down to the but preventing her from injuring another. vengeance upon me. There is a trap-door at the back of that beside the fire, however, with the intention of awaiting him, as he folded up the epistle. presented more singular features than that which was associated keep the flames under. "Who knows? Perhaps because he was so angry that you should varieties of pipe, cigar, and cigarette tobacco. Having found the retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit he bowed and left the room without another word. of the way of danger. immense faculties and extraordinary powers of observation in time to break it. An ordinary man could not do it. Now, what do