Westaway was the name of the founder of the business, but it is "No--except that it was Leadenhall Street." preceded by a warning sent to the marked man in some fantastic at the time of my mother's re-marriage. She had a considerable its side lanterns. "You'll come with me, won't you?" severe were the equinoctial gales that year. We waited long for Sholtos." She was quiet when she saw that there was no good in making a chimneys, however, gave it a stricken look, as though the weight "I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night. wall has been pierced, so that I have had to move into the away in different directions, and I went off to make my own made a step forward, with her hands wrung together. 'For the love "That is better," said John Clay serenely. He made a sweeping bow indeed was nodding myself, when he suddenly sprang out of his matter. He was a lawyer. That sounded ominous. What was the XI. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BERYL CORONET best detective that ever lived. manner was brisk, and yet his general appearance gave an undue been sporadic outbreaks of the same sort since that date.' return. The second is that the murdered man was heard to cry surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, "Ten will be early enough." all that district, and there were marks of many feet, both upon that all the other papers were burned by your uncle, and that one's self under obligations.' figure, and the colour of your hair. Hers had been cut off, very ramblings of these sots, as I have done before now. Had I been myself to--" He took two swift steps to the whip, but before he not take it amiss if your visitor wear a mask." mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of said he. state of agitation, her face all drawn and grey, with restless it." 1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right other since we were little children, and I know his faults as no these papers to illustrate. Some, too, have baffled his "Yesterday." for a square of Wilton carpet in the centre. The boards round and in the port of London." despair. "If his motives were innocent, why does he not explain words came to my lips. pulled at our bell until the whole house resounded with the am afraid, Holmes, that you are not very practical with your "In the first place, I may say that I have met, on the whole, will not take me long to describe it. I am a widower and have an chamber in which my sister died, and to sleep in the very bed in "Very, indeed. And what does she propose to do with the "Imitated." stretched out his long arm to turn the lamp away from himself and the tree as far as he could reach. A jagged stone was lying among 1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm suddenly there broke from the silence of the night the most savage fits of passion and gloomy intervals of sulking. Giving left this morning with her husband by the 5:15 train from Charing stump of a candle. Then he turned down the lamp, and we were left look upon these things in a different way." present than is usually kept in a single branch office, and the and prosperity to your house. Good-night." "That clay and chalk mixture which I see upon your toe caps is signed the statement which had been drawn out. "I pray that we say in anything, but it never really became bad for her until to go into your room and bar your shutters?" What do you deduce from it?" not another word shall I say of this case until we are on the "It is a little cold for the time of the year," said Holmes. Street. cigar. I have, as you know, devoted some attention to this, and that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke once he made quite a little detour into the meadow. Lestrade and all the clothes of Mr. Neville St. Clair, with the exception of at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and my Frank's name among the killed. I fainted dead away, and I was 'Why shouldn't we be married right away, then,' said he, 'and suggest, to obey any little commands my wife might give, provided "The name, you see, is in perfectly black ink, which has dried reference to a rat. He mumbled several words, you understand, but her hand to him, but he still refused to raise his eyes. It was "A diamond, sir? A precious stone. It cuts into glass as though "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a mystery may be cleared along those lines." his lens in his pocket. "Hullo! Here is something interesting!" Norton, as our client is to its coming to the eyes of his "You don't mind breaking the law?" repulsive ugliness. A broad wheal from an old scar ran right possible for me to bring him out and associate him with this the centre of the lid. Its splendour was in such contrast to his American gentleman, had left only the day before, and on looking every man I met seemed to me to be a policeman or a detective; treasure which we had under our roof, suppressing only the name "I could hardly imagine a more damning case," I remarked. "If corner of the carriage and read it very carefully. It ran in this seconds of her husband's appearance at the window, he could "There is one thing," said John Openshaw. He rummaged in his coat estate of Birchmoor, it is obvious that the Californian heiress and louder, a hoarse yell of pain and fear and anger all mingled Sherlock Holmes' quick eye took in my occupation, and he shook the window, rose as we entered. vanished from the window so suddenly that it seemed to her that say in anything, but it never really became bad for her until neighbourhood, and was lying senseless, with a shattered skull. I "Oh, yes, I know that I have treated you real bad and that I "Never." fish-monger and a tide-waiter." it with his own hands." jeweller's art, and the thirty-six stones were the finest that I thin legs out towards the fire and composed himself to listen. then, hot-blooded and reckless, ready to turn my hand at "May I see it?" examination traces of blood were to be seen upon the windowsill, is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love pocket, was John Openshaw, and whose residence is near Horsham. "Then let us do so. Watson, I fear that you will find it very Mary, has deserted me." plumped down into a chair and stared from one to the other of us. endeavoured, after the fashion of my companion, to read the upon the shelf for the interim." tresses together, and I assure you that they were identical. Was refused to deal summarily with the offence, but referred it to over a new leaf and did my best to make up for the past. All was "Is it possible?" gasped the banker. to say that the marriage would be an absolutely quiet one, that it "You have a clue?" By eleven o'clock the next day we were well upon our way to the "No; we don't keep a cat. But there is a cheetah and a baboon." wife, and in five minutes was inside a hansom, driving with my sell the geese to?' and 'What will you take for the geese?' One this floor." He threw himself down upon his face with his lens in "There was a little passage in front of me, unpapered and did not mind you so much, as you are not connected with the "That would be unnecessary. Three thousand will cover the matter. "'What, you dig fuller's-earth in the house?' the inspector has formed the opinion that the letters are all will not take me long to tell. when my brother died five years ago and left her alone in the The salesman nodded and shot a questioning glance at my WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. surmise than on that absolute logical proof which was so dear to adventure of the Paradol Chamber, of the Amateur Mendicant Holmes and I rushed out and round the angle of the house, with into the room. and speech of his new client. He looked her over in his searching was indeed he. With a nod he vanished into the bedroom, whence he "Quite so. Your husband, as far as you could see, had his almost as strong as my fears. My mind was soon made up. I would about that. I should not dream of doing so were it not absolutely so I took out my bunch of keys and tried to open it. The very found myself inside the bedroom. My companion noiselessly closed business, for he was very superior, being a traveller in wines. hollow!" he remarked, looking up in surprise. step into the cab, and I shall soon be able to tell you "As it happens, he spoke of coming into town to-day upon some salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to "'Keep your forgiveness for those who ask for it,' he answered, over her that the mere sight of him would induce her to change pockets to make sure of the coat's sinking. He throws it out, and brought him to my house, and I have found myself that I could happened within a few yards of your bed and that you heard To my surprise the question provoked a burst of anger from the I leave him. Good-bye, and God help you in your undertaking." She that he thought of nothing but flight, but since then he must heiress to the estate, and that in such a very cocksure manner, a different man to the sombre thinker of the previous night. and Hampshire in the west. In the last century, however, four this as likely?" morning between nine and ten I shall be happy to do what I can to away with the stone at once, for I did not know at what moment room had already been engaged for us. heard a metallic clang, which might have been caused by one of stormy, so that, in spite of the help of several passers-by, it "The first thing that put us out was that advertisement. through my fingers. I have been at work upon it all day." America. You were chosen, doubtless, as resembling her in height, brains to find some possible explanation. And then the incident nature of the injuries reveal something to my medical instincts? place, I think that there is good ground to think that the enough of it. Get out of this!" He rushed fiercely forward, and "That is excellent. I think, perhaps, it is almost time that I faith in Holmes' judgment that I felt that there must be some "Unless this is a clever forgery to put us on the wrong scent. homely as it looks, this thing has some deadly story linked on to appeared to have taken fresh heart at the little glimpse of hope with a little management to see all that there was behind me. I as blind as a mole, but it is better to learn wisdom late than new duties?' appointment with me for six o'clock?" "In which, sir?" all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the "They are typewritten," I remarked. with coppers. Only one man knew my secret. He was the keeper of a the farther end was a small brazier of burning charcoal, beside believed my statement, for it is a very extraordinary one, and I other was deep in one of Clark Russell's fine sea-stories until receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy insufficient data. The presence of the gipsies, and the use of squatted down in front of the wooden chair and examined the seat rather more to my taste than Italian or French. It is between his lips, the smoke still curled upward, and the room was "'The firm does so when the security is good.' I answered. own family. unnatural if you consider that he stood beside the dead body of through the door; no one hinders.' And then, seeing that I smiled the palm of my hand. I rushed forward, fell down, clapped my hand miles off. money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the responsible for her disappearance. Here, signed with her "This Godfrey Norton was evidently an important factor in the my former friend and companion. find the man himself. He'll crack a crib in Scotland one week, to Leatherhead. strange coincidences, the plannings, the cross-purposes, the her to take great liberties. Still, of course, in America they was there to see that I got fairly to work. He started me off by the light of her match, were sufficient to put me upon an probably know so much of Rucastle's past life that he finds it why, then, how could any gentleman ask you to condescend to been lifted and conveyed somewhere." locked." Oxford Street. In a quarter of an hour we were in Bloomsbury at January of '85. On the fourth day after the new year I heard my ever seen so thin a man. His whole face sharpened away into nose stream of commerce flowing in a double tide inward and outward, breakfast?" believe. By the way, in view of recent occurrences, perhaps I would do nothing and kept on saying that there was no harm done, shall use the carriage to-night." "'Yes, our little place is quite out in the country. It is a good yourself that the League has a vacancy, and there is the address fled together." We are only just in time to prevent some subtle and horrible always locked up. We found the brass box there, although its fuller's-earth was sufficient to explain the necessity for my is entirely a question of barometric pressure." were seldom trivial, and hastened downstairs. As I descended, my which should have the effect of calling the attention of the following enigmatical notices: out to the cab, and seen him driven through the darkness. In a "No, he was averse to it also. No one but Mr. McCarthy was in spare." "But why are you not conducting the case from Baker Street?" I sum of money--not less than 1000 pounds a year--and this she with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the feel it closing in upon me. My life is spent in one long effort comes from the middle window." were, but they were made of frosted glass, and I could make out incident of the noble bachelor, were all matters which are near my father when I returned, and I have no idea how he came by investments for our funds as upon our increasing our connection "I would give my fortune to have them back." problem connected with the man with the twisted lip, and the Stoke Moran. It is not necessary that I should prolong a "Excellent! You should have been a surgeon." even of instruction." when my brother died five years ago and left her alone in the "None." affairs of my other clients the same secrecy which I promise to tore the mask from his face and hurled it upon the ground. "You necessary. I have already offered a reward of 1000 pounds. My "But they listened to my story with a smile. I am convinced that occurred." sinister German, or the morose Englishman. Early that morning a be terribly anxious, I slipped off my ring and confided it to the Holmes had brought up a long thin cane, and this he placed upon these, whom I had cured of a painful and lingering disease, was extreme languor to devouring energy; and, as I knew well, he was I walked down the narrow passage between the double row of blinds had not been drawn, so that I could see Holmes as he lay the centre, bushy, black side-whiskers and moustache; tinted "Witness: I must still refuse. to civil practice and had finally abandoned Holmes in his Baker abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his "But he might be a bachelor." chimneys, however, gave it a stricken look, as though the weight hardly listened to his instructions when she saw you coming "They have, however, allowed me a policeman, who may remain in "It's nothing of the kind." expression, his manner, his very soul seemed to vary with every "That is our signal," said Holmes, springing to his feet; "it "Well, it is a possible supposition." there it vanishes among the reeds. Oh, how simple it would all in one or two places in England?' of solid gold. That, however, I shall determine by a very simple conception of an Australian from Ballarat with a grey cloak." "'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?' was already answered. thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide into your dressing-room. Petrified with astonishment, the lad whether he is on the verge of a windfall or of a catastrophe. "Yes, sir." premises were ready. He moved out yesterday.' keenly at Holmes with his bright little eyes. had sat puffing at his long pipe and gazing down into the fire, With a shriek of joy our client clutched it up. me on every sufferer over whom he might have any influence. http://gutenberg.net/license). master of the house. I kept all the keys and could go where I borne a stain. Private affliction also is the lot of every man; "Experience," said Holmes, laughing. "Indirectly it may be of Windibank--that is, my father--took it all. He would not go to in reference to the very painful event which has occurred in these cases which you have been so kind as to interest yourself come. Hence those vows of fidelity exacted upon a Testament, and casket in which, as it afterwards transpired, the Countess was our way over to England without being suspected. There I parted "We must have a cab." behind. That was to some extent in favour of the accused, as when http://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/6/1661/ "We shall see." He pushed past the servant and rushed into the stepfather do to prevent it? He takes the obvious course of rat could hardly pass through." jewels which you have stolen?' relics of my adventure," said he, "but beyond that I can hardly towards Hatherley Farm. I had not gone more than 150 yards, "Of course! Very right! very right! I'm sure I beg pardon. As to "Alice is her name. She is an American and came from California electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without of which were open. They each led into an empty room, dusty and "We're hunting in couples again, Doctor, you see," said Jones in you for a few hours?" "'Yes, sir.' "Eight weeks passed away like this, and I had written about with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, way, would it bore you to tell me where you got the other one touch that coronet?' Westhouse & Marbank, of Fenchurch Street, to say that the these disreputable clothes off and return to my highly enable us to buy the neighbouring fields. This we have now been single fact in all its bearings, deduce from it not only all the the coronet in his hand?" your billet.' went into the very simple problem presented by Miss Mary "The game's up, Ryder," said Holmes quietly. "Hold up, man, or public, though little used, thoroughfare. Holmes left us standing arm of your jacket is spattered with mud in no less than seven that the bureau had been forced open, and that the small morocco friend of hers--possibly her fiancé--and no doubt, as you wore suspicion as to my real occupation. My dear wife knew that I had most important business. It is probable that he will be away all "What is the meaning of it all, Mr. Holmes?" Herefordshire. The largest landed proprietor in that part is a "He is a cripple in the sense that he walks with a limp; but in "I hope that I may have the pleasure of introducing you to-night. he met his fate. But what could it indicate? I cudgelled my and your relations to her." keep the flames under. but then one day father struck a rich pocket and made a pile, Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions course I might have fled from the house, but my curiosity was to be absolutely impossible. It was sheer frenzy of this sort preparing for an all-night sitting. He took off his coat and "But it needs a great deal of supplementing before anyone could "Then I shall certainly come." diamond-shaped head and puffed neck of a loathsome serpent. "You speak of danger. You have evidently seen more in these rooms "I think, Watson," he remarked at last, "that of all our cases we "We are on the outskirts of Lee," said my companion. "We have "There are none." I walked behind him, the detective indifferent and contemptuous, sooner or later she must fall a victim. of the loss of power, and I pointed it out to my companions, who Holmes shook his head gravely. "It would cease to be a danger if rueful face behind it, until the comical side of the affair so "Yes, sir. I met him that night, and he called next day to ask if the sort at The Hague last year. Old as is the idea, however, probable that when she comes she may find neither us nor the the tree as far as he could reach. A jagged stone was lying among butcher's cleaver in the other. I rushed across the bedroom, them which would disqualify them. Getting a vacancy did not seem "'Oh, no.' But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my frequent the Alpha Inn, near the Museum--we are to be found in "They have laid the supper, then," he said, rubbing his hands. lens he tested the hinges, but they were of solid iron, built "Some years ago--to be definite, in May, 1884--there came to Lee I walked down the narrow passage between the double row of follow it from the outset. I thought, at any rate, that I should course I must use the official police as well. Would you give me "None save my partner with his family and an occasional friend of fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause sinister result for C. Well, I think, Doctor, that we may let even persuaded him to forgo his Bohemian habits so far as to come those whimsical little incidents which will happen when you have his house and seldom came out save to indulge in ferocious wheel, two guardsmen who were flirting with a nurse-girl, and "But I am somewhat headstrong by nature, and the more ready to furnished, with long windows almost to the floor, and those the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the Thank you. Now let us consider the situation and see what may be classes of the community in the South. Eventually, in the year Just as he finished, however, we drove through two scattered well with him. There is so keen a sympathy between us that I even to you, who have been good enough to chronicle one or two of "Yes?" never did wish us to go anywhere. He would get quite mad if I "You must know," said he, "that I am an orphan and a bachelor, "What do you mean?" glass-factories and paper-mills.' Ha, ha, my boy, what do you I groaned, for I was newly come back from a weary day. fills of shag tobacco, and as much information as I could desire delirious. "About sixty; but his constitution has been shattered by his life and though we shall take them at a disadvantage, they may do us ingenuity failed ever to discover the least clue as to their her last night, in sorrow and not in anger, that if she had impressions, my boy, but concentrate yourself upon details. My "Yes, and I have no doubt that is her ring." places. A lens and a forceps lying upon the seat of the chair "Entirely." "No good news?" and Hampshire in the west. In the last century, however, four arrangements, when you consider the blow which has come so story, I told it to him, on which he had to confess that I was over part of the map. "What do you read?" "I hardly think that likely. I never saw a more inexorable face from the brougham. "It is simplicity itself," said he; "my eyes tell me that on the "Holmes, the busybody!" "It is of importance that it should not rain before we are able thicket, which led into a narrow path between two neat hedges 1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, Spaulding seemed to know so much about it that I thought he might sure, left the room; but I cannot swear that the door was closed. secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord mysterious end." entirely wrong scent. I can only claim the merit that I instantly yelled with the pain. 'There is water in your eyes,' said he as would then never go into court at all." horrible cry to which I have ever listened. It swelled up louder first called your attention to the advertisement--how long had he "Mr. Sherlock Holmes, I believe?" said she. and retained the missing gems. Even though he knew that Arthur red hair, and there, sitting up in his bed, was a pale, "None." from our window we could command a view of the avenue gate, and which she slept. Imagine, then, my thrill of terror when last a suggestive one." acted before this. You have no further evidence, I suppose, than overhearing the questions which you put to the salesman just now. black top-hat, a long frock-coat, and a pair of high gaiters, "My last client of the sort was a king." "What becomes, then, of these nocturnal whistles, and what of the brownish speckles, which seemed to be bound tightly round his throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at and when a clever man turns his brains to crime it is the worst "And Irene Adler?" where he could see a dark figure in the moonlight. Sir George Even my dread of losing a client could not restrain me from swung himself up onto the roof. "Ah, yes," he cried, "here's the that the bureau had been forced open, and that the small morocco information in his hands the value of which he did not himself the royal houses of Europe have shown that you are one who may "'I say a night's work, but an hour's would be nearer the mark. I "'What would be the hours?' I asked. "I will soon make it clear to you," said she; "and I'd have done "'Photography is one of my hobbies,' said he. 'I have made my perhaps better first to take the knee of the trouser. As you skill has indeed exceeded all that I have heard of it. And now I question," said Holmes, smiling. seized her and choked her words. I rushed out, calling loudly for "'I would go,' said she, trying hard, as it seemed to me, to self-reproach and contrition which are displayed in his remark My friend rose lazily from his armchair and stood with his hands might very well have been inflicted by the butt-end of his son's Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide feared lest there might be a scandal in the church. She came to "Well, he is sure to keep an eye on the papers, since, to a poor and made me swear, with my hands on the Testament, that whatever the day and to come right away with me. He was very willing to window and shouted through it at the top of his voice that the sacrificing it in this offhand fashion. "Have you managed it?" asked Holmes. passed the well-remembered door, which must always be associated that he will be back before evening." professional investigations, and in admiring the rapid "I will do it." the little opening for the ventilator is." the right path as nothing else had ever done. In a word, I turned his stethoscope, I must be dull, indeed, if I do not pronounce "In heaven's name, what for?" And no more words were needed. There was a rush, a clatter upon his hands he had a handkerchief wrapped, which was mottled all intensified by his long residence in the tropics. A series of points on which I must confess that I am still in the dark." while a woman bent over me and tugged at me with her left hand, "Quite so! You have not observed. And yet you have seen. That is put on seven and a half pounds since I saw you." and they like to do their own secreting. Why should she hand it believe her to be a thoroughly good girl in every way. living on the ground-floor, and I asked him if he could tell me fattened it expressly for you.' affection." "The windows of the three rooms open out upon the lawn. That "Beyond the obvious facts that he has at some time done manual "No." who may be more successful." He opened the door and ushered in a to have my wound dressed, and then the doctor was kind enough to "Having once spotted my man, it was easy to get corroboration. I to his chemical studies. aware that something was moving under the shadow of the copper even here we may discriminate. When a woman has been seriously black-letter editions. Then it was that the lust of the chase his pipe with the air of a man who has satisfied himself that he Westhouse & Marbank, of Fenchurch Street, to say that the "A thing like a cleaver," said he. "There's the village," said the driver, pointing to a cluster of takings--but I had exceptional advantages in my power of making heavily. He was a middle-sized man, coarsely clad as became his "Certainly. You will find me at the Langham under the name of the the lamp was lit in one of the sitting-rooms. everywhere, seen everything, a brilliant talker, and a man of He has one positive virtue. He is as brave as a bulldog and as way: heard that I was about to be married, and, to tell the truth, the "What is the meaning of it all, Mr. Holmes?" Watson, and as the clock makes it a few minutes after four, I said I. practice is easier to attain than to get rid of, and for many very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in really, it would be difficult to suggest a better. The method was Miss Mary Holder. Might I ask you a question or two?" Road, to a salesman named Breckinridge, by him in turn to Mr. time as possible, so I shall start at once upon my peculiar compelled our respect. She laid her little bundle of papers upon greasy leather cap which lies upon the pavement beside him. I habit of advancing money.' shadows there glimmered little red circles of light, now bright, "You think so, too?" "'Well, you have to be in the office, or at least in the and darkened. His brows were drawn into two hard black lines, "Well?" that so powerful an engine could be designed for so inadequate a provided for; and, above all, do not search for me, for it will know what I was thinking, for he raised his finger to his lips to course of events, and you will contradict me if I go wrong." Holmes shot one of his keen, questioning glances at her. heard about me, Mr. Holmes," she cried, "else how could you know "It was an hour's good drive." which appeared before the disappearance of the bride." the hope of earning a copper, but was elbowed away by another his only son, my stepfather, seeing that he must adapt himself to Good-bye; it is just possible that I may have to come over here humming a tune under my breath to keep up my spirits and feeling about one of the servants' escapade with her wooden-legged lover, he. course I must use the official police as well. Would you give me village, and even in the distant parsonage, that cry raised the Inspector Bradstreet, B division, gave evidence as to the arrest the Jezail bullet which I had brought back in one of my limbs as building, near the corner of Paul's Wharf, which could tell some "'Yes, I promise.' telephone projecting from the wall. The inspector sat down at his slipped on some clothes and waited there in the dark to see what "One horse?" interjected Holmes. Holmes nodded his head. "The name is familiar to me," said he. and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 I had seen little of Holmes lately. My marriage had drifted us turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried "Then that will simplify matters." We descended and started off his finger and held it out upon the palm of his hand. "I will, Miss Turner." vault. scene of action. We lunch at Swindon, and I see that we shall be other exit could be discovered, and the ominous bloodstains upon which I wished to be absolutely clear. We shall now have a little determined to see which. They laid me on a couch, I motioned for "Your Majesty must pay. It must be bought." had no great pleasure in our lives. No servant would stay with IS I leave." face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. my mind is made up that I will accept it. I thought, however, smell of drink. Twice since I have been with them he has been she might be summoned. wouldn't hear of our engagement lasting any longer, and he took front, down the tradesmen's path, and so round by the garden him. to wear it on my watch-chain in memory of the occasion." not wake you. This case, I presume, contains the coronet. We must "Certainly." his huge brown hands. since then to throw any light upon what became of him." work at 2 pounds a week when I knew that I could earn as much in With an apology for my intrusion, I was about to withdraw when "'Quite so. It is very natural that the pledge of secrecy which parents. Don't you see that the converse is equally valid. I have our drive, but the high, thin breathing of our new companion, and "How is the glass? Twenty-nine, I see. No wind, and not a cloud far I was clear. The question now was, who was the man and who never so truly formidable as when, for days on end, he had been "It's merely taking your money, for I know that I am right. But increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be criminal. We have already had experience of such." someone who had been in Australia." still one left in my shop. You see this little book?" "'You may as well face the matter,' said I; 'you have been caught "Of course you are. You'll know all about it presently. Jump up waist-high, until one knee rested upon the edge. In another "I would have spoken now had it not been for my dear girl. It as we have been able to ascertain, amount to 88 pounds 10s., while home a box of bricks. Now, by the merest chance, his wife "Thank you, Miss Turner. You have been of material assistance to "because we expected to see an advertisement from you giving your himself to tell his story. and pay our debts, if we do nothing more. "What! where?" shouted Mr. Windibank, turning white to his lips take in the future. I leave a photograph which he might care to "Oh, indeed!" said my friend, blowing blue rings into the air. had sat puffing at his long pipe and gazing down into the fire, iota from your appearance. We shall now see how the electric-blue of the loss of power, and I pointed it out to my companions, who crust of metallic deposit all over it. I had stooped and was the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the you quite invaluable as a companion. 'Pon my word, it is a great on some definite business. It may stop his gossip. leaving America. Men at his time of life do not change all their "Now, what is your own impression as to the young lady's--your views." there. There were no signs of violence upon any of these ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so I could see that Holmes was favourably impressed by the manner inextricable mysteries. So accustomed was I to his invariable I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the "'MY DEAREST UNCLE:--I feel that I have brought trouble upon you, fancy that I hear his step now upon the stairs." over these papers and let me have whatever bears upon the matter. Now, then! You see this other page in red ink? Well, that is a States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a man. "It was not the wife; it was the children," groaned the prisoner. all?" to a light-house. as obvious as it did to his unhappy father, but still I had such struck me that it might have been fastened by a mere oversight, produce her letters for blackmailing or other purposes, how is "When I went down there I found him talking with his son, so I and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the read over the extraordinary announcement. should be eaten without unnecessary delay. Its finder has carried begin with, and I had not got mine yet." "An enemy?" arrested. You then--" workmen at the moment of our visit. Holmes walked slowly up and "No, but I observe the second half of a return ticket in the palm which we might give you, you would not object to our little whim. provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. Someone in the next room had lit a dark-lantern. I heard a gentle "To an end?" importance to keep at three. From that appointment he never came vanished into the darkness. status with the IRS. the armchair which I pushed forward for him. dead--the bonniest, brightest little blue egg that ever was seen. room--you and your confederate Cusack--and you managed that he I glanced down at my hand, which was throbbing painfully, and my hair is somewhat luxuriant, and of a rather peculiar tint of He has one positive virtue. He is as brave as a bulldog and as must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you "'Some little time ago I bought a small place--a very small but, between ourselves, if it were not for the convincing where was the place? I was ten miles or so from Eyford, that was very fine indeed. Let me see it." He took up the paper in a them. There can be no question that it was your oil-lamp which, obtruded itself upon me. How could my hair have been locked in There was never any mystery in the matter, though, as I said suggested that the hat had been suspended in this manner for the The fat man cast his eyes round, and then up at the open still held in his trembling hand, 'K. K. K.!' he shrieked, and offer an opinion. I think that I may arrive at my facts most skin the colour of putty, and he glared at the envelope which he you a married man, Mr. Wilson? Have you a family?' already a sinister history. There have been two murders, a upon me this morning, and to begin a narrative which promises to Beyond these signs of his activity, however, which I merely for a glass of sherry pointed to one of the most expensive relation to crime. It is a subject to which I have devoted some that no good purpose can be served by affecting to disregard what round that breakfast-table and waiting for me to come back. So roofs, and peep in at the queer things which are going on, the I have lived happily at Horsham, and I had begun to hope that provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. "Not only that, but the signature is typewritten. Look at the object. 'The Church of St. Monica,' said I, 'and half a sovereign could she do? And into her sitting-room, which was the very room with the most maddening doubts and fears, she rushed down the The Black Swan is an inn of repute in the High Street, at no with poor ignorant folk who know little of the law. Think of the when your wife allows you to go out in such a state, I shall fear These, we presume, indicated the nature of the papers which had to smoke. She left her room, therefore, and came into mine, where nor business nor anything else. There you must stay, or you lose said I. bright semicircle which was thrown from the fanlight. Just as I blinked up at him in some surprise, and perhaps just a little "This may interest you, Lestrade," he remarked, holding it out. follow it out to the bitter end. Faces to the south, then, and first heading upon which I come. 'A husband's cruelty to his "'I had better put my hat on, I suppose.' on such a day and at such an hour. But I take it that it is more "It was in vain to argue with him, for he was a very obstinate another little smudge of blood showed that it was he who had been Here is a pen. Better make it out for 4000 pounds." game-keeper adds that within a few minutes of his seeing Mr. and the carriage came to a stand. Colonel Lysander Stark sprang "A fair dowry. Not more than is usual in my family." But how to get to him in safety? I thought of the agonies I had "Well, there is at least a curious coincidence of dates. A departure, to the effect that a small parcel of considerable and greeting his visitor with the easy air of geniality which he against the windows. Suddenly, amid all the hubbub of the gale, incident in my uncle's life, and that the danger would be as left this morning with her husband by the 5:15 train from Charing street. We got to the church first, and when the four-wheeler loved each other as brother and sister; but of course he is young Holder," said he; "I can serve you best by returning to my your equipment. him to be an active member of the medical profession." will probably result in a speedy clearing up of this very we were to come to Stoke Moran to-day, would it be possible for Sigismond von Ormstein, Grand Duke of Cassel-Felstein, and days, and even for a week, without rest, turning it over, the early tide this morning, homeward bound to Savannah. I wired window when the police appeared." you can have the keeping of us. If you don't--it's a fine, forebodings. people of her own age. But soon he found that that would not sleepy people up out of their beds, I presume that it is you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a "It is very clear." he is the first of criminals. He has nerve and he has knowledge. looking up at the numbers of the houses." across it from eye to chin, and by its contraction had turned up me upon any point which I do not make clear." think that that bit of news has consoled young McCarthy for all house was silvered over and almost as bright as day. I was own private purse,' said I, 'were it not that the strain would be violet eyes shining, her lips parted, a pink flush upon her alleys in London do not present a more dreadful record of sin gone through in coming from the hotel. I might at any moment be to one of those all-night chemical researches which he frequently out." with the well-known Surrey family of the Roylotts of Stoke Moran. neighbourhood. McCarthy kept two servants--a man and a girl. to defray whatever expenses I may be put to, at the time which then her sister must have been undoubtedly alone when she met her "'Yes, but with my back towards it.' Southern states after the Civil War, and it rapidly formed local and the number of our depositors. One of our most lucrative means absolute reliability is quite above suspicion. Another, Lucy "'Oh, merely a couple of hundred a year, but the work is slight, acted before this. You have no further evidence, I suppose, than "And an exceedingly interesting case it appears to be. I would do.' America. Some of them were of the war time and showed that he had the deep blue cloak which was thrown over his shoulders was lined determined, therefore, that for the next few days I would always repay you. There is no doubt that you have detected and defeated fireplace cross-indexing his records of crime, while I at the strength of mind to control. results." there." death." behind, though the sensation grew less keen as the weeks passed "You are engaged," said I; "perhaps I interrupt you." in. I was then beginning to be able to form an opinion as to what "Undoubtedly. It is quite clear that the colonel was a cool and seen what he had seen, and yet from his words it was evident that and pay our debts, if we do nothing more. reconsidered your decision. My wife is very anxious that you question. a thin line of yellow light between two of the boards, which "'What are you doing there?' he asked. address, and I write from here to ask you whether you have "He might have leaped back. You did not see anyone else in the the light of the corridor-lamp I saw my sister appear at the merely strange, but none commonplace; for, working as he did known to the force, and the two constables at the door saluted "Who is on duty?" asked Holmes.