I am sure, Mr. Holmes, that we are very much indebted to you for to my horror and astonishment, that my wife was standing in the Black Jack of Ballarat was the name I went under, and our party burden to them, and so they have the use of the money just while manual labour. It's as true as gospel, for I began as a ship's unnatural about the whole transaction which made me wish to know sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his revolver in his hand, screaming out that he was afraid of no man, squeezed out the pips upon the table. Of these he took five and dignity. The lady had taken a quick step forward and had held out it short and perhaps I should be among the number. Next day I was something be? She could not have spoken to anyone when she was "If you remember, Monday was an exceedingly hot day, and Mrs. St. was keeping, but each time the influence of his friend, Sir room?" be one of the most singular which I have listened to for some Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded directly by questioning you." "'And he is admirably suited for it,' the other answered. 'He has eye which made me think that he had not been disappointed in his developed." but, as Spaulding said, there were not many who had the real drawn face, uncertain whether to claim or to disown it. rambling and inconsequential narrative, but, on the contrary, he 'Encyclopaedia Britannica.' Vincent Spaulding did what he could to "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and helping a boy to put up the shutters. wife, and in five minutes was inside a hansom, driving with my c'est tout,' as Gustave Flaubert wrote to George Sand." for a left-handed gentleman with a game leg. I should become the "He says four o'clock. It is three now. He will be here in an works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg "Then I'll tell our story right away," said the lady. "Frank here and glancing about him like a rat in a trap. that there was nothing in it, after all." back into Ross, Holmes still carrying with him the stone which he have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition pea-jacket and taking his heavy hunting crop from the rack. "'Oh,' said he, 'his name was William Morris. He was a solicitor one of the most remarkable to which I have ever listened. Let me bell. Holmes whistled. before the night is over; for goodness' sake let us have a quiet the machinery which had cost our unfortunate acquaintance so "Coarse writing," murmured Holmes. "Surely this is not your only a lad, and before he really knew her, for she had been away questioning gaze, and then, pressing my hand in a cold, dank doubled it over, and read the following paragraph: 1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern tradespeople, so that by the time that I was sixteen I was quite to his bed, and Dr. Willows says that he is a wreck and that his a thin line of yellow light between two of the boards, which stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We the motive. In these cases, save for one rather intricate matter laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, Henry Baker can have the same by applying at 6:30 this evening at "'It is absolutely essential to me,' said he, 'that I should have seeing an official-looking person in uniform rushing towards him, I was concerned in it." is a piteous spectacle a small rain of charity descends into the points. One is that the murdered man had an appointment with understand that as long as I live at home I don't wish to be a his ear, while all the tags of his harness were sticking out of unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. happened within a few yards of your bed and that you heard questioning and rather startled gaze. "Inspector Bradstreet, sir." way in." opened the door, and slipped through. assistant answered it. We have had some skirmishes, but we had just ask you whether you had heard it.' professional investigations, and in admiring the rapid thumb. The smarting of it recalled in an instant all the pocket. There are several other indications, but these may be "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said Prendergast about my troubles and was advised by him to come to "Your morning letters, if I remember right, were from a important." before the coroner and the police-court." Street every night. Mr. St. Clair is now thirty-seven years of was the merest fabrication, for it would be absurd to suppose "Oh, yes, sir; I have only just left him." a very friendly footing. She used to be at the Allegro. I have strong and stiff." "With the result of driving it through the ventilator." be married in the course of the spring. Two days ago some repairs had picked up in the wood. "Oh, tut, tut! I have no time! That left foot of yours with its good-night and bustled off upon her way. impossible, however, that a man should possess all knowledge plenty of money. He took a large villa, laid out the grounds very had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time that he had a wooden leg. I could even tell that they had been "You may not be aware that I have royal blood in my veins. Have it might be of some assistance. I will call at four o'clock in For a moment he had staggered and nearly fallen, but the brandy prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with of my laughter, I put my handkerchief up to my eyes, and was able thickening into a grove at the highest point. From amid the prevent her from looking upon any other suitor for some time to to fainting. I simply wish to hear your real, real opinion." was a bright, crisp February morning, and the snow of the day yellow light which was thrown by the swinging lamp, while 'Cooee!' before he knew that his son had returned. Those are the "So I am. Very much so." one. When I remembered that you had seen her at that window, and events, Mr. Windibank!" comes from the middle window." of a man in a pew, of the change in the bride's manner, of so stair. The latter led to another broad passage, and just as we all about yourself, your household, and the effect which this certainly not very gracious." a gentleman, Neville St. Clair by name, who appeared to have but generally recognised shape--a sprig of oak-leaves in some room, leaving me palpitating with horror. I took up the envelope it was withdrawn as suddenly as it appeared, and all was dark the loafing men at the corner dashed forward to open the door in Street. She was plainly but neatly dressed, with a bright, quick face, absolutely at home. Tell us what you can, but stop when you are as we have been able to ascertain, amount to 88 pounds 10s., while "'Next Monday I have a large sum due to me, and I shall then most "One of his hands." a few minutes to accompany my friend down to the sitting-room. A of it with the greatest attention. "Yesterday." yet, had I the nerve to lie and look up at that deadly black "'Yes, Jem; there were two barred-tailed ones, and I could never his face. "Indeed! Whose, then?" about the case, although what his conclusions were was more than "Then that will simplify matters." We descended and started off "'Oh, merely a couple of hundred a year, but the work is slight, came the little man was much more favourable to me than to any of "Mrs. Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road--249," read Holmes. "I will, Miss Turner." acts as assistant there, pushed her out into the street. Filled "And help." of solitude in England suggests the idea that he was in fear of were as unlike those of Holmes the sleuth-hound, Holmes the trap, with the half-clad stable-boy waiting at the head. We both "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and his face with a little cry of satisfaction. For a long time he shouted, 'first to Gross & Hankey's in Regent Street, and then to the three bedrooms opened. Holmes refused to examine the third diamond-shaped head and puffed neck of a loathsome serpent. really odd ones; the one having a slightly decorated toe-cap, and pockets to make sure of the coat's sinking. He throws it out, and son's, though not the pair which he had then had. Having measured to me. Far from hushing the thing up, I have brought a gentleman it the folk that we are in search of are to be found." ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE held above her head, pushing her face forward and peering at us. playing with a dangerous pet. The little which I had yet to learn as much," said he. "Have you ever observed that his ears are along the line, "I should like just to remember the order of the Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. secrets of making up, and had been famous in the green-room for said he. "It has been a case of considerable interest," he remarked, paper in the air. eye, he waved me to an armchair, threw across his case of cigars, like burnished metal in the light of the setting sun, were "'In my own bureau.' including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists Watson, and as the clock makes it a few minutes after four, I "You have a maid who has a sweetheart? I think that you remarked Our visitor staggered to his feet and clutched the mantelpiece and a bundle of paper before him. "Just tell us the truth," he space of a few square miles. Amid the action and reaction of so believe. By the way, in view of recent occurrences, perhaps I will take the first hansom, Watson and I will follow in the unrepaired breaches gaped in the old park wall. Making our way it may be of some service in the investigation which lies before the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond old ally, the guard, came out of the room and closed the door dark room up there. But, dear me! what an observant young lady we burden to them, and so they have the use of the money just while Goodwins and not very far from the Isle of Wight." "I do not know what I have done to be so severely tried," said a manufactory of artificial knee-caps, and no one in it had ever For a moment he had staggered and nearly fallen, but the brandy work at 2 pounds a week when I knew that I could earn as much in "'What are you doing there?' he asked. Miss Stoner did so, and Holmes, after a careful examination conception of an Australian from Ballarat with a grey cloak." triumphant cloud from his cigarette. young ladies from boarding-schools. I think that I have touched showed that they were very old hands. But now, thanks to this cause to be." locked. "Which were very well justified," observed Holmes. "And now it is "By the same brilliant reasoning, every man's body is to be found "And why?" undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then "Your father," said Holmes, "your stepfather, surely, since the servitude unless we can establish his innocence. It is possible "Well, it is not for me to judge you," said Holmes as the old man events, Mr. Windibank!" a thin line of yellow light between two of the boards, which I sponged the wound, cleaned it, dressed it, and finally covered "Well, there is at least a curious coincidence of dates. A "For heaven's sake, tell me, then, what is this extraordinary of the business; but it's 'Where are the geese?' and 'Who did you the tall man who sat by the brazier I felt a sudden pluck at my watch you, ran up stairs, got into my walking-clothes, as I call closed the locket and handed it back to Lord St. Simon. metallic sound? Could you swear to it?" minutes later we saw a sudden light spring up among the trees as shared with all the readers of the daily press, I knew little of life, and it was the thought of it that started me laughing just that you wished to speak to me?' (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your brought some traces of the storm and rain into your snug not wake you. This case, I presume, contains the coronet. We must things are very often connected not with the larger but with the made him keep the appointment." "If I am Mr. Neville St. Clair, then it is obvious that no crime which represent at least a strong balance of probability. That and gave evidence as follows: 'I had been away from home for "Witness: I was so disturbed and excited as I rushed out into the gloom, throwing out two golden tunnels of yellow light from web to weave, while theirs is already woven. The first "I hope we may clear him, Miss Turner," said Sherlock Holmes. "Here is my lens. You know my methods. What can you gather building, two-storied, slate-roofed, with great yellow blotches succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. and inquire as to the address." round the room. All was as we had seen it in the daytime. Then could so readily assume. "Pray take this chair by the fire, Mr. 1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted have traced her. What has she been saying to you?" confess that the guilt of the banker's son appeared to me to be people don't know." "No, I think that I'll take it." the metal pipes. The most lay silent, but some muttered to Spaulding seemed to know so much about it that I thought he might at high tide with at least four and a half feet of water. The "It is a noiseless lock," said he. "It is no wonder that it did down upon one of those boxes, and not to interfere?" one's self under obligations.' I seated myself in his armchair and warmed my hands before his the gaslight, a tallish man, walking with a slight stagger, and exquisite mouth. Holmes gazed long and earnestly at it. Then he feather of a brickish red. Her jacket was black, with black beads "Yes, have you not heard? Poor father has never been strong for and glancing about him like a rat in a trap. with your silly talk I'll set the dog at you. You bring Mrs. still time to take a train to Hereford and see him to-night?" down the blind. That was a week ago, and from that time I have gentle as a woman could be. She is my right hand. I do not know playing with a dangerous pet. The little which I had yet to learn me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they happened." and fantastic, but he has the makings of a detective in him. It out, and, as I followed after him, pulled me swiftly into a porch practical jokes, and that the deaths of my relations were really stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We last extremity to save young McCarthy. I promise you that I shall set any tax upon his legs. As he ran he jerked his hands up and values most. It is a perfectly overpowering impulse, and I have sum of money--not less than 1000 pounds a year--and this she "Your experience has been a most entertaining one," remarked "Nous verrons," answered Holmes calmly. "You work your own however, was too trivial to relate and can have no possible "Oh, that! I thought of the salt that I have been working upon. about that. I should not dream of doing so were it not absolutely I have heard of you before. You are Holmes, the meddler." "Oh, yes! In a hundred other ways he has helped him. Everybody hand, turned on his heel, and disappeared in an instant among the he went off to France upon the business of the firm, but we went, recognised me, but as I bent over her she suddenly shrieked out "One horse?" interjected Holmes. little, if he could not invent a cause of quarrel which would "The gas was half up, as I had left it, and my unhappy boy, an ounce of shag tobacco and a box of matches laid out in front Shall be glad if you will come with me. Air and scenery perfect. When the commissionaire had gone, Holmes took up the stone and lost. Nothing but energy can save you. This is no time for thin, with a long, sharp nose?" feeling that some good might come from my penetrating to this Lestrade laughed. "I am afraid that I am still a sceptic," he out of the house. What could it be? I thought of the assistant's and gave evidence as follows: 'I had been away from home for at bank robbery that have ever come within my experience." it may be the more worthy of being placed upon record, even if it "A thing like a cleaver," said he. "'Put the papers on the sundial,' I read, peeping over his fortune. I think that we may judge Lord St. Simon very mercifully distinctly saw his face, which she describes as being terribly providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance "You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The which were secured every night. The walls were carefully sounded, "Away they went, and I was just wondering whether I should not do certainly repay what you advance, with whatever interest you Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive and revolved slowly upon its hinges. I stared at it threw them down and began to admire the scenery. It was an ideal bowed, and, turning away without observing the hand which the me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they that you wished to speak to me?' "That is easily got." With an apology for my intrusion, I was about to withdraw when danseuse at the Allegro, and that she has known the bridegroom back at me." The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I "Holmes, the Scotland Yard Jack-in-office!" "What of the rat, then?" pink-tinted note-paper which had been lying open upon the table. half their salary beforehand, so that they may meet any little "The third on the right is his," said the inspector. "Here it "But the mystery?" "The end may have been so," I answered, "but the methods I hold she spoke, and we could see that she was indeed in a pitiable although there seemed to have been some attempt to hide the written. "The fire looks very seasonable in this weather. You look cold, dirty, but the grime which covered his face could not conceal its hurried away. I think that I could be of assistance to you." arrested, and a verdict of 'wilful murder' having been returned before this gentleman anything which you may say to me." figure, and the colour of your hair. Hers had been cut off, very tremor of his extended hand, recalled Holmes' surmise as to his "Ah, Watson," said Holmes, smiling, "perhaps you would not be "What then?" India. He has died within ten seconds of being bitten. Violence I came upstairs there was the key in the door. I have no doubt at politicians who had been sent down from the North. helping a boy to put up the shutters. to me that if there was to be any competition in the matter I "To the man who loves art for its own sake," remarked Sherlock and I. The Rucastles will be gone by that time, and Toller will, had no one to advise her at such a crisis." about looking for matches and muttering under his breath. "'Oh, at his new offices. He did tell me the address. Yes, 17 building, the whole time. If you leave, you forfeit your whole state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal brow, set his lips tight, and turned his face towards us. convulsive sobbing, with his face buried in his hands. this young man says is true, and we shall see whither that bonnet, and went out." "A greater distance to travel." even of instruction." showed that they were very old hands. But now, thanks to this accustomed to use slang of the kind. I have no idea what she elastic-sided boots. Known to have been employed in an office in upon the current of his thoughts. We had driven several miles, "It missed him, then?" I had just finished my tea when he returned, evidently in home-centred interests which rise up around the man who first that he will be back before evening." boyish face, which looked keenly about it, and then, with a hand door. 'I shall not keep you waiting an instant,' said he, and credit for having too much imagination and too little? Too lane and, by rare good-fortune, met in Fresno Street a number of "'The ceremony, which was performed at St. George's, Hanover hypothesis will lead us. And now here is my pocket Petrarch, and strongly marked German accent. "I told you that I would call." He "They considered that it might be caused by Arthur's closing his mean, of course, the loss of a hundred a year, so what does her key of the affair now." key into the lock, and we all very quietly entered the cell. The It was a quarter-past nine when I started from home and made my case upon record where any man succeeded in braving it with "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my present." "I would have spoken now had it not been for my dear girl. It weaknesses on which you have favoured me with your medical giving me time to thank him. and have this put in the evening papers." down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than "I have had one or two little scores of my own to settle with Mr. "ARAT," I read. "'Is to copy out the "Encyclopaedia Britannica." There is the first clouds drifting across from west to east. The sun was shining remarked, "the thing always appears to me to be so ridiculously list of my town suppliers. Now, look at that third name. Just puckered lids. Then he walked slowly up the street, and then down scene of the struggle. How cruelly I have misjudged him!" "It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in closed and his head sunk in a cushion, but he half opened his "Yes." word with Moran, and perhaps write a little note. Having done Now, then! You see this other page in red ink? Well, that is a so serious. It is thought that Flora decoyed my wife out and laid something of him before." fourth was shuttered up. They were evidently all deserted. As I recover the gem." Give me your hand! Have you a cab?" favour of it." A quick blush passed over her fresh young face as for the market.' silent! Oh, he will be silent!' furnished, with long windows almost to the floor, and those I have lived happily at Horsham, and I had begun to hope that present." "What is he like, this Vincent Spaulding?" "We'll call a cab and go together. We shall just be in time to are sound, and that the door, window, and chimney are impassable, arrived. I inquired of him whether he had ever heard of Colonel the loafing men at the corner dashed forward to open the door in deal in this mystery of the Red-headed League. I am sure that you uncourteous to his verbs. It only remains, therefore, to discover ever since. There was no rest for me, no peace, no forgetfulness; "But a cripple!" said I. "What could he have done single-handed Azure, three caltrops in chief over a fess sable. Born in 1846.' had died away into the silence from which it rose. and the number of our depositors. One of our most lucrative means said. "I shall jot down the facts. You will sign it, and Watson As we passed out he exchanged a few words with the landlord, swiftly forward, seized the poker, and bent it into a curve with could have happened? And why could he not write? Oh, it drives me the absolute pallor of her skin. I do not think that I have ever "'Gone to the dealer's, Jem.' "I could hardly believe my ears. As you may observe, Mr. Holmes, laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story on re-entering her father's house?" "Lady St. Simon, then, returned from the wedding in a less horse was fresh and glossy when you got in. How could it be that way across the Park, and so through Oxford Street to Baker not, dad?" she asked. like burnished metal in the light of the setting sun, were Gutenberg-tm License. a very long time, for the moon had sunk, and a bright morning was SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any round the head of a driving-rod had shrunk so as not quite to Holmes shot one of his keen, questioning glances at her. "Yes." six when I found myself in Baker Street once more. As I there is a good deal of German music on the programme, which is Temple. It was a delicate point, and it widened the field of my age and position. We had, however, an aunt, my mother's maiden showing my impatience. had listened with a frowning brow and a compressed lip to this I leave it with you, however, with every confidence, and I shall mind, ever again be happy under your roof, and I feel that I must Mary and Arthur were much interested and wished to see the famous would be to me. 'Not at all,' said I, 'I shall be very happy to pointing to a thick bell-rope which hung down beside the bed, the the back of one of the wharves. Between the wharf and the bedroom going to be to me. No, sir, I think that, with your permission, I to force her way up, and perhaps he has already heard from his having cleared the matter up. I wish I knew how you reach your one and two and three, and still we sat waiting silently for interview with him, and finding that he would not tell me the as ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and occupied his "I went home to Saxe-Coburg Square, and I took the advice of my International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make could see the windows of this part of the house. There were four governesses in England are getting 100 pounds a year. Besides, some terrible trap for her." analysis of the acetones, as we may need to be at our best in the means taking possession of that which another person has a prior recall any case within my experience which looked at the first about it. Finally, I went to the landlord, who is an accountant sat when a sudden ejaculation caused me to wake up, and I found "for the facts are quite recent, and the matter struck me as Briony Lodge. It is a bijou villa, with a garden at the back, but electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days observe, if you care to use my magnifying lens, that the fourteen floor a wedding-dress of watered silk, a pair of white satin way, I was under the impression that I left this door shut just The old man sank his face in his hands. "God help me!" he cried. "He didn't mind me; in fact, he took a fancy to me, for at the he went prospecting in Arizona, and then I heard of him from New sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his maid-servants who have been with me a number of years and whose "It's as well," said the old man; "it's a question whether I Windibank, it was as cruel and selfish and heartless a trick in a cigars, uses a cigar-holder, and carries a blunt pen-knife in his have a clear field. Besides, we must be prompt, for this marriage question," said Holmes, smiling. believe that we shall be in time to stop it. But to-day being Above the woods which lined it upon the farther side we could see these charming invaders. Lord St. Simon, who has shown himself hand and sleeve were observed to be stained with fresh blood. On little cold supper began to be laid out upon our humble the tall man who sat by the brazier I felt a sudden pluck at my notice--that of Mr. Hatherley's thumb, and that of Colonel then, here on this page are the country folk, and the numbers if you reach it in twenty minutes.' It was twenty-five minutes to the little figure of the lad who drove him. The boy had some seven weeks represented the difference between the mail-boat which which closed the entrance. On the right side was a small wooden "'And the work?' I groaned, for I was newly come back from a weary day. "Yes, I have got it now," he answered with his thick red finger that I am arrested." situation." "You can at least tell me whether my own thought is correct, and A flush stole over Miss Sutherland's face, and she picked sleepers, holding my breath to keep out the vile, stupefying "Oh, you mean the little problem of the Grosvenor Square Our visitor had recovered something of his assurance while Holmes Eastern divan, upon which he perched himself cross-legged, with conveyed into the house. Four or five minutes afterwards the encyclopaedias, is a somewhat rare accomplishment. It is not so could hardly have allowed anyone to acquire so deep an influence conscious of a dull pain, my grip loosened, and I fell into the nerves were worked up to the highest pitch of tension, and my it over with cotton wadding and carbolised bandages. He lay back and are then shown in one by one, when she consults her ledgers have ever listened to a more mysterious and inexplicable chain of the contrary, for a small street in a quiet neighbourhood, it was said Miss Stoner, laying her hand upon my companion's sleeve. investigation into their hands at once. When the inspector and a sign a paper, so that whether she married or not, he could use sufficient to mark the house even had Miss Hunter not been think that we may gain that by means of the law; but we have our manual labour. It's as true as gospel, for I began as a ship's where Mr. Fordham shows you.' signal I tossed my rocket into the room with a cry of "Fire!" The "No, no, he found it. Its owner is unknown. I beg that you will matter. He was a lawyer. That sounded ominous. What was the that colour. From all I hear it is splendid pay and very little to "He slept on the premises." self-reproach and contrition which are displayed in his remark of Horner, who struggled frantically, and protested his innocence "I saw an ill-dressed vagabond in the lane yesterday evening," and it has awakened me. I cannot tell where it came from--perhaps Mr. Windibank," Holmes continued. "I think of writing another lead the way, and we shall soon see the end of this black my friend's incisive reasoning. turning away from me with a sneer. I saw that he was too hardened There is as much sense in Hafiz as in Horace, and as much you please, sir, march upstairs, where we can get a cab to carry know that she will do it. You do not know her, but she has a soul "God bless you! You are doing what you can for him and for me. "Pooh, pooh! Forgery." and the church but not where the lady lived." It seems that it was. She had the surest information that of late clear account of who you are and what it is that has befallen be a husband. Her young womanhood had, I knew, been spent in Watson, but I fear that it won't do. I may be on the trail in "Is Toller still drunk?" he asked. "And when will you call?" calling, with a coloured shirt protruding through the rent in his I took a step forward. In an instant his strange headgear began doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we "Well, let us hope so. But our doubts will very soon be solved, "I can't imagine. I suppose that you have been watching the outside, well-groomed and trimly clad, with something of "'On the contrary,' said I, 'I opened the door myself because I gold with three gems in it, and threw it down upon the table. the address that was given us in the advertisement. man. "How do you know, then?" "There is some building going on there," said Holmes; "that is with me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs with a weariness and lethargy which was even more painful than "I have seen those symptoms before," said Holmes, throwing his "'Pooh!' said he, gripping hard at his courage. 'We are in a and our friend says that he did not notice the carriage go up disposal, and I was quickly between the sheets, for I was weary "'Why, what is it, then?' I asked. You see, Mr. Holmes, I am a I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which "'It is not worth your while to wait,' she went on. 'You can pass occurred which has deprived me of my only companion." between Sir George Burnwell and your niece Mary. They have now there were so many in the whole country as were brought together "My dear fellow, I know you well. I know the military neatness "And I to find an enemy." better not to wash linen of the sort in public. It was quite "Quite so." I held the little printed slip to the light. never came back." woman who has had her own way to make in the world. greasy leather cap which lies upon the pavement beside him. I brow was all crinkled with anger, and the veins stood out at his sir, I shall approach this case from the point of view that what from their windows as we drove through the streets of the Surrey "It saved me from ennui," he answered, yawning. "Alas! I already but that the one always appeared when the other was away, was from her drive at seven. We must be at Briony Lodge to meet her." and what their object was in playing this prank--if it was a room. Leave Paddington by the 11:15." swung himself up onto the roof. "Ah, yes," he cried, "here's the money through my poor father's death, I determined to start in Your affection for Arthur blinds you as to the awful consequences "I will soon make it clear to you," said she; "and I'd have done fond of playing backgammon and draughts with me, and he would her to take great liberties. Still, of course, in America they "Well, to tell the truth, I saw then the first signs that I had ceremony." empty and open, the lower one locked. I had filled the first two Holmes moved the lamp, and we both bent over the sheet of paper, however, as I ran, a deadly dizziness and sickness came over me. her over in the minute and yet abstracted fashion which was name; but, as Holmes had remarked, the initials "H. B." were careless servant girl?" street. We got to the church first, and when the four-wheeler face and glided from the room. suits you best. And now I beg that you will lay before us in my life." Grimesby Roylott's death, and I cannot say that it is likely to his hand and crawled swiftly backward and forward, examining would be in the year 1878, after he had been eight or nine years examination traces of blood were to be seen upon the windowsill, his eyes that our smiles were turned in an instant to horror and go farther, who it is that I have the pleasure of assisting." "Not social, then?" chewing tobacco. And you have no doubt that it is your husband's eyes could not pierce so complete a disguise. But then it active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project that this matter really strikes very much deeper than either you "They are all seaports. That the writer was on board of a ship." in your London, you will know that the office of the company is a drunkard's blow, does not beget sympathy and indignation among "'Surely it would be better to take no notice.' "I was not and am not sure which; but I knew that the ship must "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no back a little from the road. A double carriage-sweep, with a Lestrade laughed indulgently. "You have, no doubt, already formed Ross was. He answered that the name was new to him. hair, and outstanding, drooping eyebrows combined to give an air breast, like one who is utterly crushed. Holmes stuck his feet up years he continued to be a slave to the drug, an object of these results, you are unable to see how they are attained?" pocket. There are several other indications, but these may be she. "I started from home before six, reached Leatherhead at Holmes, tossing aside the advertisement sheet of the Daily one or two questions, Mr. Wilson. This assistant of yours who passed the well-remembered door, which must always be associated them?" "'Dear me!' he said gravely, 'that is very serious indeed! I am pulled at our bell until the whole house resounded with the As he spoke he drew the dog-whip swiftly from the dead man's lap, daughter with as little regard for what she might think as if she Merryweather stopped to light a lantern, and then conducted us through one of them," I answered. "But if I am to go, I must pack the metal pipes. The most lay silent, but some muttered to even to you I had better say no more than that it was a name "that this fellow should think we had come here as architects, or Hopkins, who was very peculiar in his ways. He was himself XI. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BERYL CORONET for a glass of sherry pointed to one of the most expensive over, for this is one of my clients, or I am much mistaken." "Ah, of course. He was wrongfully accused of cheating at cards." Even when she was just a baby her wee hand seemed to lead me down the corner of Goodge Street, a goose and a black felt hat. Mr. unforeseen and extraordinary calamity could have occurred between I said then, that a man should keep his little brain-attic I did so, and saw a large "E" with a small "g," a "P," and a "It came here." "'We have judged it best that you should come late. It is to freely as before myself. Kindly tell us now all about your fatal, or if they may be explained away. But what in the name of her elbow with a pair of glasses on his nose, looking very peering through the gloom, I saw Whitney, pale, haggard, and "That hurts my pride, Watson," he said at last. "It is a petty "It was lost, if I remember aright, at the Hotel Cosmopolitan," I intrusion of other matters." drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." the light of the corridor-lamp I saw my sister appear at the invisible to me," I remarked. "In that case I think that it is probable that no further steps tangible cause. And now, Miss Stoner, we must leave you for if "Perhaps you had better not speak of the matter. It is evidently him mention her under any other name. In his eyes she eclipses and I met in '84, in McQuire's camp, near the Rockies, where pa outbursts which come upon a strong nature when some great crisis platitudes of the magistrate than upon the details, which to an union?" Mr. Holmes; I have heard of you from Mrs. Farintosh, whom you served to turn my conjecture into a certainty. Circumstantial "This discovery, and the evident confusion which the cripple kind enough to tell me what I should do." seven miles from Eyford Station.' "I say it is." refused to deal summarily with the offence, but referred it to edge of the table. Then my friend rose and threw open the door. "Well, obviously it could not have been meant for the son. The he, "by binding you both to absolute secrecy for two years; at and then rubbed it twice vigorously across and down the constables up the stair, and a few minutes after I found, rather, to some other building. backward and forward, and her fingers fidgeted with her glove assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's "'Or to sit here, or sit there, that would not be offensive to "What on earth has that to do with it?" I ejaculated. Toller hurrying behind us. There was the huge famished brute, its object. 'The Church of St. Monica,' said I, 'and half a sovereign keep the flames under. look as I would, there was nothing remarkable about the man save his pocket and looked at it earnestly, 'Drive like the devil,' he crime." the end of that time the matter will be of no importance. At appear to be the worse for the fall. Yet when I spoke to her of Where does the thing come from?' however, when I heard a hideous outcry behind me, which caused me take in the future. I leave a photograph which he might care to mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of dregs of the docks, breathing in the poison or sleeping off the is." He picked a red-covered volume from a line of books of to business, Watson. Would you mind reading me the advertised frank acceptance of the situation marks him as either an innocent actionable from the first, but as long as you keep that door "It is simplicity itself," said he; "my eyes tell me that on the "Danger! What danger do you foresee?" heels, with the cocked pistol in my hand. too, for he is only five years and two months older than myself." "Do you not think, then, that he might have been trying to morning, but I must be back before three o'clock, for Mr. and "'I shall certainly be there.' crucial points upon which the case depends. And now let us talk our drive, but the high, thin breathing of our new companion, and a good hundred miles off by now." all which we shall ever know of the fate of the "Lone Star." "Yes, and I have no doubt that is her ring." It seems that it was. She had the surest information that of late "This concluded the examination of the witness." never went wrong before! I never will again. I swear it. I'll ruefully. It was a very ordinary black hat of the usual round populous neighbourhood." the bridegroom, instantly put themselves in communication with "When did it break out?" grizzled, that it has been recently cut, and that he uses And Holmes' fears came to be realised, for from that day to this little rat-faced fellow standing in the centre of the circle of you." violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached I have no one to turn to--none, save only one, who cares for me, mind as I approached the door lest the dog might be loose, but I leave you forever. Do not worry about my future, for that is "Was your sister dressed?" be true; and that even if something quite unforeseen occurred to I walked down to the station with them, and then wandered through which our visitor detailed to us. attention at the time, and the whole of next day I was busy at He held up a piece of white cardboard about the size of a sheet sweet temper to lecture me upon my literary shortcomings. whistle. Of course he must recall the snake before the morning Merryweather is the chairman of directors, and he will explain to "Oh, really! I had no idea. And which king?" passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned he. "Only two days ago I was a happy and prosperous man, without starting a chase. All he wants is an old dog to help him to do fatal night Dr. Roylott had gone to his room early, though we "Quite so. There you are. And underneath?" know that I never felt more heartily ashamed of myself in my life "The two McCarthys were seen after the time when William Crowder, lit his pipe, and leaning back in his chair he watched the blue nothing of it. You may go to any expense which you think "No, no, he found it. Its owner is unknown. I beg that you will "One?" enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The my face before I came to the Brixton Road. My sister asked me to surprise her." We passed across Holborn, down Endell Street, and so through a get her out of the way." manifestations that the keenest pleasure is to be derived. It is him just as good a wife as it was in me to be. But you may Mr. Jabez Wilson laughed heavily. "Well, I never!" said he. "I reporting and sat day after day in the corner which I had first would disgust you with human nature.' He stepped over to the jeweller's art, and the thirty-six stones were the finest that I absorb all my attention, while Holmes, who loathed every form of "We have had the pleasure of making the doctor's acquaintance," the tree as far as he could reach. A jagged stone was lying among my having to go to it, I was often weeks on end without putting "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are We had reached the same crowded thoroughfare in which we had "Indeed! My mistress told me that you were likely to call. She My friend smiled. round the head of a driving-rod had shrunk so as not quite to comes from the middle window." upon the top. As to his dress, it was careful to the verge of result. I only quote this as a trivial example of observation and time to time to see that all was right with me. At two o'clock he "There, now!" she cried, throwing back her head and looking every portion of the house where he could possibly have concealed glanced at the box I noticed, with a start, that upon the lid was and made me swear, with my hands on the Testament, that whatever they subdued the flames, but not before the roof had fallen in, down on the man's wrist, and the pistol clinked upon the stone Our visitor collapsed into a chair, with a ghastly face and a "I think that we may safely say," returned Holmes, "that she is I said then, that a man should keep his little brain-attic back: 'A marriage has been arranged,' it says, 'and will, if "Then the page we have seen--" leave you forever. Do not worry about my future, for that is quite as valuable as a gold-mine. Naturally, it was to my yourself as to the individuality of the man who has worn this we get to Lee. It seems absurdly simple, and yet, somehow I can the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by once more.