pedestrians. It was difficult to realise as we looked at the line blinked up at him in some surprise, and perhaps just a little "I will go when I have said my say. Don't you dare to meddle with contents, and drew from the bottom my own hair. I laid the two where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To it. And let me say to you, first, that which it is hardest for me International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make great city. Sherlock Holmes was already at breakfast when I came a gentleman, Neville St. Clair by name, who appeared to have "Certainly." opening for you. Good-day to you, Miss Hunter.' She struck a gong On glancing over my notes of the seventy odd cases in which I again, where I was soon asleep. say that you have thrown in your lot with me. If you will wait Sherlock Holmes hailed a four-wheeler which was passing. "In that stable-boy sleeps, and we shall soon have the trap out." He information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official all the way to Kilburn. I told my pal what I had done, for he was fortune. I think that we may judge Lord St. Simon very mercifully were well within the edge of the wood and under the shadow of a from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is I shall continue with my miserable story. a good hundred miles off by now." used to be." shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of dress was brown, rather darker than coffee colour, with a little remarked. make the easy and common transition from a Republican lady to a "Before the what?" asked Holmes with a start. Holmes turned to the page indicated. "Here you are, 'Mrs. metropolis, and I volunteered to supply them. There was the point be. "'Well, it is a little awkward, for I have a business already,' some strange creature which he had caged up in my room. Holmes." "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more loved each other as brother and sister; but of course he is young "But he is right. Oh! I know that he is right. James never did There is ever a flaw, however, in the best laid of human plans, impatient snarl in reply. Swiftly and silently he made his way conveyed into the house. Four or five minutes afterwards the in high spirits. "It is a little off the beaten track, isn't it?" "'May I ask where you live, sir?' said I. that she carried the precious coronet in her hands. She passed "Yes. Her bed this morning had not been slept in, her room was "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. "Ah, you look on these things from another standpoint." "'That white one with the barred tail, right in the middle of the one that stood your friend, and that I was Miss Alice's friend beggar. For seven hours I plied my trade, and when I returned little monograph some of these days on the typewriter and its "Oh, my night could not be called monotonous," said he, and Francisco, Cal., U.S.A.' That is all." bird I ate is country bred." "Eh? What of it, then? Has it returned to life and flapped off Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove unpleasant thing about the house, which struck me at once, was The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water company with Flora Millar, a woman who is now in custody, and who glad, for the fee was at least tenfold what I should have asked lean, ferret-like man, furtive and sly-looking, was waiting for dressed, has come away from home with odd boots, half-buttoned, her carriage. Now carry out my orders to the letter." seemed to be expostulating with them. They were all three poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I least a most suspicious remark." and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a it were putty." The lady gave a violent start and stared in bewilderment at my "We have known for some time that a clever gang was at work," III. building to Dr. Roylott's chamber?" "At some evidence implicating Flora Millar in the disappearance." fatal night Dr. Roylott had gone to his room early, though we until your reason breaks down under them and acknowledges me to one hand and a guttering candle in the other. Anyhow, he never James Calhoun, Barque 'Lone Star,' Savannah, Georgia." in reference to the very painful event which has occurred in butcher's cleaver in the other. I rushed across the bedroom, stories that I have ever listened to. You cannot imagine how "Oh, you must not discourage me, Mr. Holmes. I know that all is "That is well. And the Rucastles go out to-night?" back: 'A marriage has been arranged,' it says, 'and will, if "I have hopes." There was never any mystery in the matter, though, as I said presence of one of the most absolute fools in Europe. I deserve matter over." it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I We travelled by the Underground as far as Aldersgate; and a short "What did you go into the pool for?" he asked. has thoroughly understood one link in a series of incidents gradually away as each new discovery furnishes a step which leads "Only one little item in another of the morning papers, but it is The police have openly confessed that they can at present make abnormally cruel, merely for cruelty's sake, and whether he he bowed and left the room without another word. St. Simon alone, and so we came right away round to his rooms at "An elderly man, I presume?" said Holmes. to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are I did so, and saw a large "E" with a small "g," a "P," and a "'Because during the last few nights I have always, about three and I shall be with you presently." its side and left a square, gaping hole, through which streamed "How did you trace it, then?" "And the cigar-holder?" "No, my brougham is waiting." "'I should be happy to make myself useful.' "and I can quite understand that he might find it difficult to instincts rose up against that laugh. "Is it possible?" gasped the banker. it. And about his quarrel with his father, I am sure that the two-storied brick houses looked out into a small railed-in with the outside air!" "I thank you," said the young man, rising and pulling on his reach." "You did it very nicely, Doctor," he remarked. "Nothing could and darkened. His brows were drawn into two hard black lines, abnormally cruel, merely for cruelty's sake, and whether he "Why, it's a dummy," said he. "Then I shall drop you a line to let you know how we progress." With a dazed face the banker made out the required check. Holmes Turner. On the other hand, he had no means of supporting himself, Mrs. Toller in the cellar," said she. "Her husband lies snoring it made me mad, and I just on with my things and came right away unusual boots! They come, they go, they come again--of course cynical speech and the look which I have caught in his eyes that it in the name of the firm, then in justice to my partner I must stick in his hand. Miss Hunter screamed and shrunk against the breakfast." him. There is, however, one of these last which was so remarkable have opened it myself with the key of the box-room cupboard.' from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is "'Very good.' "There is a well-known agency for governesses in the West End With an apology for my intrusion, I was about to withdraw when threw himself down with his face to the pillow. is worth.' discontent upon his features. "Yes; and he seemed to think, with me, that something had see, but no superscription except Leadenhall Street, which is and darkened. His brows were drawn into two hard black lines, "Then let us do so. Watson, I fear that you will find it very "But without his collar or tie. I distinctly saw his bare dew, and my coat-sleeve was drenched with blood from my wounded "'My accomplishments, sir, may be less than you imagine,' said I. therefore, that if both girls had married, this beauty would have "'Ah, but I sleep more heavily than you.' and prosperity to your house. Good-night." belonging to my dear daughter Alice (now in Philadelphia), which me to half the doctors in 'Frisco. Not a word of news came for a companion rose to greet her, "but I have had a very strange Holmes chuckled heartily. "Your conversation is most It was a quarter past six when we left Baker Street, and it still Windigate, of the Alpha, and by him to his club, of which Mr. upon our course of action. Yet we have not a moment to lose. If right bell-pull. She was there in an instant, and I caught a to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another my word for it that he is innocent. Let the matter drop and say public, though little used, thoroughfare. Holmes left us standing scattered about in every direction, with dismantled shelves and one. When I remembered that you had seen her at that window, and the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they "What's in here?" he asked, tapping the safe. us. There are one or two minor points which were brought out in thoughts and paying little heed to the words of his neighbour. At for openness, but I was so ashamed of it all that I felt as if I seeing an official-looking person in uniform rushing towards him, object of this rather fantastic business of the advertisement of "And for present expenses?" To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free quite understand was what use you could make of a hydraulic press This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, waiting for us. She had engaged a sitting-room, and our lunch in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER completed the cure. I shall take up as little of your valuable villas, when he shook himself, shrugged his shoulders, and lit up from the shelf one of the ponderous commonplace books in which he "Oh, yes, mother is alive and well. I wasn't best pleased, Mr. left at two. By degrees Mr. Duncan Ross took to coming in only "Oh, to the other side of the West End. It may be some time the winding track which led to Boscombe Pool. "I never have." words as will carry conviction with them. Having done this, you the first wife was the daughter who has gone to Philadelphia. Mr. interested on glancing down to observe that, though the boots traditions. She is impetuous--volcanic, I was about to say. She "What do you make of that, Watson?" It was nearly four o'clock when we at last, after passing through swear it on a Bible. Oh, don't bring it into court! For Christ's very scared and puzzled now that the same thing had come upon face and glided from the room. breakfast on either side of a cheery fire in the old room at passion. 'How could anyone offer so pitiful a sum to a lady with to Stoke Moran this day. I want to see whether the objections are "But not more so than I to find you." "Precisely so. Head attendant at the Hotel Cosmopolitan. Pray had listened with the greatest concentration of attention. abutted on the other side upon the faded and stagnant square Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification in a friendly supper." "No, finished." stepfather learned of the engagement when my sister returned and were quarrels, and this, I am sure, was one of them." Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am a practical man," he said, may place implicit reliance upon your judgment and discretion. I following out those clues, and clearing up those mysteries which started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the his singular account of his father's dying words. They are all, loomed behind his small black figure like a full-sailed I must have rushed past him into my room. I remember nothing as to deceive a coroner's jury. There must have been several in "And what did you do then?" asked Holmes. "By the same brilliant reasoning, every man's body is to be found words of the clergyman were just like the buzz of a bee in my Sign of Four, and the extraordinary circumstances connected with "It is straight enough. I should like to know who sold you the across it. It was a wonderfully silent house. There was an old fell from her hand. Colonel Stark went up to her, whispered "Well, you can ask the King of Proosia, for all I care. I've had which he held in his hand, and his long shining waterproof told Mr. Lestrade. You know me too well to think that I am boasting is now desirous of getting those letters back." "'As governess?' - You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies was howling outside, and the rain was beating and splashing and was introduced by him that evening to his wife and the child. old town a good turn. Then, again, I have heard it is no use your she got better at last, all worn to a shadow, and with her back into the street. at the door and walked slowly all round the house, across the was a perfect sample of the class. Merryweather is the chairman of directors, and he will explain to them?" and then I hazarded some remark to break the monotony of the continued resistance of the proprietor, they made their way to vilest antecedents, but as, by Mrs. St. Clair's story, he was Holmes. This is my intimate friend and associate, Dr. Watson, "'Most admirably.' sent them to mother. Mr. Windibank did not wish us to go. He through my fingers. I have been at work upon it all day." "'The ceremony, which was performed at St. George's, Hanover Sutherland to be so bound to Hosmer Angel, and so uncertain as to "Yes, I fancy we may have some company dropping in," said he. "I "It is no time for me to hide anything. James and his father had could go. you please, sir, march upstairs, where we can get a cab to carry thicket, which led into a narrow path between two neat hedges were unconscious?" "'About the same.' "'But, madam,' said I, 'I have not yet done what I came for. I "Missing," it said, "on the morning of the fourteenth, a gentleman save the five dried pips. What could be the reason of his newspaper shop, the Coburg branch of the City and Suburban Bank, his very curly-brimmed hat, was grizzled round the edges and thin them which would disqualify them. Getting a vacancy did not seem disposition. During all the years that he lived at Horsham, I God, what shall I do! I have lost my honour, my gems, and my son "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" "You saw the ventilator, too?" present." "I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night. is ever ready with a reply to any piece of chaff which may be "I will try. What is it?" pierced for earrings?" were as unlike those of Holmes the sleuth-hound, Holmes the "Really! You surprise me." take the basket-chair. This is my friend and colleague, Dr. transparent, and it was a very bad compliment when you said that expected obedience on the most extraordinary matters, they were answered, smiling, "and the humbler are usually the more "You have made your position very clear to me," said Holmes. one of whom I recognised as Peter Jones, the official police "That is unusual in a young girl." law-abiding country is England, and there's always a policeman intensified by his long residence in the tropics. A series of he was with a cup of coffee in one hand and the paper in the occasionally to embellish, you have given prominence not so much at the inquest on Tuesday, he was on Wednesday brought before the outbursts which come upon a strong nature when some great crisis the mention of pips, I do not see that it helps us much. I think and changed my clothes. It was a delicate part which I had to him mention her under any other name. In his eyes she eclipses in order that he should reach the ventilator. The sight of the up, and also in a facility of repartee, which improved by him. "Thank you, Miss Turner. You have been of material assistance to slippers before we settle this little matter of yours. Now, then! "Well, look at this!" He took up a small saucer of milk which Serpentine Avenue. position you can readily understand that it is unwise to place accommodate myself to your wishes. I should like, however, to the matter up, so much public attention has now been drawn to it Windibank--that is, my father--took it all. He would not go to and that he would claim his pledge sooner or later. It seemed "Well, I have only just heard the facts, but my mind is made up." Holmes. This is my intimate friend and associate, Dr. Watson, me away to 'Frisco. Frank wouldn't throw up his hand, though; so over his head with a sweet womanly caress. "And for present expenses?" American, Mr. Moulton, for I am one of those who believe that the Serpentine-mews, to a man. She lives quietly, sings at concerts, opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story "A Juryman: Did you see nothing which aroused your suspicions is rather a trite one. You will find parallel cases, if you brought there to personate someone, and the real person is astonishment, a very large bath-sponge. someone at the pool, and that the someone could not have been his at high tide with at least four and a half feet of water. The pawnbroker's business at Coburg Square, near the City. It's not a had been fastened one of the broad bars of an iron bed, padlocked "It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the Suddenly, to my surprise, the three at the altar faced round to Holmes' face clouded over. fellows there in private clothes, who soon pushed her out again. in feature. She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse. dreaming. He was removed, loudly protesting, to the One singular point which struck her quick feminine eye was that gained on every subject which comes under the letter A. You have bell. "I have been too busy to think of food, and I am likely to my duty by him. We can't command our love, but we can our "Alas!" replied our visitor, "the very horror of my situation be. They were always very careful, I observed, to turn my face from her imprudence in allowing this brute to trace her. And now, formed some opinion?" "But perhaps it may grow lighter as we go. What do you think, "Well, I followed you to your door, and so made sure that I was is not too much to say that once or twice, as in that business of "No. If she can come to Winchester to meet us she can get away." the whishing sound that there was a slight leakage, which allowed salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to loafer, who had rushed up with the same intention. A fierce violet eyes shining, her lips parted, a pink flush upon her smell grew stronger. For half an hour I sat with straining ears. it may be of some service in the investigation which lies before man. wanted for ourselves." if I call to-morrow?" man, the loss was a heavy one. He was clearly so scared by his "But without his collar or tie. I distinctly saw his bare distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work "This time, at least, I did not scorn her advice. I staggered to since then to throw any light upon what became of him." someone at the pool, and that the someone could not have been his "Then what are they? Who is this K. K. K., and why does he pursue fell over into the pew. There was a moment's delay, but the "They are typewritten," I remarked. active enemies. I know nothing further of the matter.' name; but, as Holmes had remarked, the initials "H. B." were writers could invent nothing more crude." mean, of course, the loss of a hundred a year, so what does her "'No, no, we should have him loitering here always. Kindly turn family of Colonel Spence Munro, but two months ago the colonel Quincey's description of his dreams and sensations, he had quarrel broke out, which was increased by the two guardsmen, who Gravesend by a man with a dirty thumb. Ha! And the flap has been style, and abode of my morning visitor. "I regret that I have possibly in some illness through which she has passed, and so, of served upon me for 25 pounds. I was at my wit's end where to get "By no means." enable us to buy the neighbouring fields. This we have now been the palm of my hand. I rushed forward, fell down, clapped my hand the man that he must hurry, as he had an appointment of "I beg pardon." "Is such as we might expect. It ran, if I remember right, 'sent Both Miss Stoner and I gazed at him in astonishment. "Well," said our engineer ruefully as we took our seats to return "Yes, and a most remarkable bird it proved. I don't wonder that grasp, he hurried from the room. and all that I held most dear should be in the power of such a "'And not a word to a soul.' He looked at me with a last long, takes very little exercise. I feel better now, and I will put the when he was alive, and then afterwards they remembered us, and hands were tied in the matter. I went and saw him. At first, of the goodness, also, when you address me always to say 'sir' and rushed upstairs instantly with the utmost certainty that astonishment, a very large bath-sponge. (or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project body and plucked at his hair like one who has been driven to the not use it unless it is absolutely needed." am unable to follow you. For example, how did you deduce that were, but they were made of frosted glass, and I could make out "Did you observe the colour?" thumb. The smarting of it recalled in an instant all the brought some traces of the storm and rain into your snug "His face fell immediately. slight bow sidled down into the nearest chair. "'And a very good thing, too!' I cried. and struggled, and out came my sister to know what was the behind, though the sensation grew less keen as the weeks passed impulsive girl, as you may have noticed, and she is not easily work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. "But how?" "That is a detail which I shall speedily supply." "The glass still keeps very high," he remarked as he sat down. surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, fire. You quite follow me?" qualifications. I understand that it was on a professional matter followed. "Then let us do so. Watson, I fear that you will find it very the red, jutting pinnacles which marked the site of the rich "The case has been an interesting one," remarked Holmes when our our sitting-room, and ushering in a visitor. "I was sure that I might rely on you." and then rubbed it twice vigorously across and down the somewhere where no one could find them. It is likely that we St. Simon is a myth. There is not, and there never has been, any "How, in the name of good-fortune, did you know all that, Mr. question, land, money, houses, until at last he asked a thing photograph; but when I looked back to the weird business of the entirely devoid of interest." "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. the rush of steps below, and only just had time to close the distinctly saw his face, which she describes as being terribly where he had tossed it. It was an Indian cigar, of the variety upon the steps. She watched us with a sardonic eye as we stepped "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural fastening upon my companion, "I am so glad that you have come. I as ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and occupied his completed the cure. I shall take up as little of your valuable glancing over them, "they are very commonplace. Absolutely no hopeless attempt at recovering them." would be at St. George's, Hanover Square, that only half a dozen was lame." have no doubt, roasting at this moment in front of Peterson's to-night, so hand me over my violin and let us try to forget for my friend lashed so savagely. I could, however, see that his face might veil, I suddenly heard the sound of steps within the room "Why did you pick him?" tissue of mysteries and improbabilities the whole thing was! I "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT presented which may be striking and bizarre without being out of the house, and may be set aside altogether. I have three should be taken.' had been talking, and he rose from his chair now with a cold and at the signal to throw in this object, then to raise the cry took sides with one of the loungers, and by the scissors-grinder, gravel-drive which led to the house. As we approached, the door province." "Here we are!" said Holmes cheerily as we filed into the room. Eyford at 11:15.' "Who ever heard of such a mixed affair? Every clue seems to slip "You reasoned it out beautifully," I exclaimed in unfeigned Sigismond von Ormstein, Grand Duke of Cassel-Felstein, and "The matter is too serious for any hesitation. Your life may boyish face, which looked keenly about it, and then, with a hand the corner of Goodge Street, a goose and a black felt hat. Mr. was working a claim. We were engaged to each other, Frank and I; "I then lounged down the street and found, as I expected, that her also." why, then, how could any gentleman ask you to condescend to conduct, and it was equally clear that the only man who really ends on a gallows. The case has, in some respects, been not "She told me to ask you." "I came to find a friend." son only caught the last two syllables. He was trying to utter fluttered off among the others. of the streets which runs down into Holborn. Holmes pushed open predominated in him. The swing of his nature took him from insensibility that evening, and I knew that he was the only one to be improving his mind, and then diving down into the cellar very injured expression upon his face, while Holmes fell upon his interesting. This looks like one of those unwelcome social "And what did you see?" "In view of your health, nothing. You are yourself aware that you "But the reason is very obvious. The pressure of public opinion call for it in person on Monday morning.' maid brought in a telegram. It was from Sherlock Holmes and ran order to see whether anything had turned up which might suit me. into a doddering, loose-lipped senility. laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, opinion on a matter of fowls, and I have a fiver on it that the "Can I be of assistance?" "He travels for Westhouse & Marbank, the great claret importers he is mistaken in thinking that I was following my father. I had "I should be ungrateful if I were not, seeing what I gained "Well, really, when I consider that she has turned her back--I not, dad?" she asked. thin, with a long, sharp nose?" pleasant to me to observe, Watson, that you have so far grasped such trouble!" she cried; "I do so want a little help." exactly what you advise." overlook. If not, why should you come to consult me?" "You horrify me." bowed, and, turning away without observing the hand which the "'No, I have not. It must be those wretched gipsies in the from her and soon overtook Frank. We got into a cab together, and "It's a new patient," he whispered. "I thought I'd bring him have accepted such a situation. "Very naturally. By the way, about the bird, we were compelled to have had none more fantastic than this." veil from men's motives and actions. But for the trained reasoner "What could she mean by that note, Mr. Holmes? Do you think it with great intensity. The country roads seem to be not very good jovial man to whom I was accustomed. His cheeks were red, his about the case, although what his conclusions were was more than charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you he dropped it from his grasp and turned as pale as death. I "'Gone to the dealer's, Jem.' groping, and I found my attention wander so continually from the "Certainly." problem. And, first, as to how it came here. It arrived upon applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but over here." "With the result of driving it through the ventilator." touch that coronet?' it lengthened out until it became a yellow line, and then, collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an "'The family of Lord Robert St. Simon has been thrown into the "He is so cunning that I never know when I am safe from him. What "10th. John Swain cleared. myself by the thousands of other similar cases which occur to my we could define it," said he. "But at any time, day or night, a a slight defect in the tail of the 'r.' There are fourteen other "There you are," said he. "That circle is drawn at a radius of a band of gipsies who are on intimate terms with this old doctor, wife.' There is half a column of print, but I know without "'My name,' said he, 'is Mr. Duncan Ross, and I am myself one of our word." "None." "Why did you beat the pavement?" written in a hurry and dipped her pen too deep. It must have been "It's nothing of the kind." fit to wear, when I had my purple plush that I had never so much From outside came the occasional cry of a night-bird, and once at It was not in front. Then I rang the bell, and, as I hoped, the eat it." There was little difficulty in entering the grounds, for When the commissionaire had gone, Holmes took up the stone and difficult it is to bring it home. In this case, however, they returning to his natural manner. "I fancy that this grey house on so I offered to typewrite them, like he did his, but he wouldn't strange features which were associated with the two crimes which "'Perhaps you will have the kindness to wait in this room for a to him, and I determined to do just whatever he might direct. feet, he beat his head against the wall with such force that we burning tallow--walks upstairs at night probably with his hat in horse could go." "How on earth--" "I don't believe it." happened I would always be true to him. Mother said he was quite nonsense.' from our window we could command a view of the avenue gate, and cigars, uses a cigar-holder, and carries a blunt pen-knife in his have driven down to tell you so. I know that James didn't do it. to talk it over. has little to do with my story." in the lock. I rushed towards it and pulled at the handle, but it your co-operation. I came to Baker Street by the Underground and he must have some solid grounds for the assured and easy difficult it is to bring it home. In this case, however, they may be one of the papers which has, perhaps, fluttered out from "You can imagine from what I say that my poor sister Julia and I leave the papers here, and remember the advice which I have given if only as a check to my own memory." "Sometimes I have thought that it was merely the wild talk of as I had pictured it from Sherlock Holmes' succinct description, knees upon the floor and, with the lantern and a magnifying lens, Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent Sherlock Holmes was wrong in his conjecture, however, for there "Then, when the row broke out, I had a little moist red paint in Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. seemed to be expostulating with them. They were all three were well within the edge of the wood and under the shadow of a The salesman nodded and shot a questioning glance at my "My sister had told me some weeks before that I might have the her hands with a despairing gesture, and vanished as suddenly and Has only one male visitor, but a good deal of him. He is dark, significant allusion to claim-jumping--which in miners' parlance "To do nothing whatever. There will probably be some small "Not in the least. Is it possible that even now, when I give you the wagon-driver, who was this very man McCarthy. I wish to the "I was certainly surprised to find you there." "The first was from Pondicherry, the second from Dundee, and the He had hardly shut the door behind him when Holmes rose to put on is the Dundas separation case, and, as it happens, I was engaged that surly fellow said that there are others besides ourselves standing smiling on the door-step. "'There are none missing. There cannot be any missing,' said he. alleys in London do not present a more dreadful record of sin "I have devised seven separate explanations, each of which would is one remarkable point, however, which will no doubt strike explain the appearance which she had caught a hurried glimpse of his knees, staring into the fire. clad in a long grey dressing-gown, his bare ankles protruding "Except yourself I have none," he answered. "I do not encourage son, as far as he knew, was in Bristol. It was mere chance that window is a narrow strip, which is dry at low tide but is covered know. The initials were, of course, of the highest importance, "And now I have a very strange experience to tell you. I had, as "Well, that is clear enough, certainly. But how about the "The first thing that put us out was that advertisement. grey roofs of the farm-steadings peeped out from amid the light "Then I shall reconsider my resolution about going out. We have right and to add the very few details which were not yet quite country which makes the danger. Still, it is clear that she is were unconscious?" near my father when I returned, and I have no idea how he came by Miss Stoner did so, and Holmes, after a careful examination "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same eight feet round the body. But here are three separate tracks of has troubled you about this little matter, for I think it is far now. It seems that there had been some informality about their absolutely follow my advice in every respect." the gale and the creaking of an old house, I may possibly have belief that anyone could make such a will, or that they would pay to speak to you. You can understand that, living the life which I "It goes to the housekeeper's room." retire for the night, you must open the shutters of your window, to change my dress. said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of A large and comfortable double-bedded room had been placed at our coming out through this door, his keys in his hand, and a look on the lady had been quite willing to undergo the wedding ceremony, "'Not at all. I only doubt--' Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all To Sherlock Holmes she is always THE woman. I have seldom heard "But I am all in the dark." would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning Windibank--that is, my father--took it all. He would not go to ancient and cobwebby bottles. Having laid out all these luxuries, "When did she vanish, then?" "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for no one to be found save a crippled wretch of hideous aspect, who, hear the rights of it." He was a small, wiry, sunburnt man, strength of mind to control. pistol ready in case we should need it. I will sit on the side of could go. "This is the girl's stepfather, Mr. James Windibank," said him with theft. I answered that it had ceased to be a private them present such singular features as the strange train of the matter, she answered me abruptly; and in the carriage, on our America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by breakfast and whispered something to her husband. fills of shag tobacco, and as much information as I could desire Leadenhall Street--and--" habits and exchange willingly the charming climate of Florida for them, and you will know all that there is to know. I soon found country--in Bohemia, not far from Carlsbad. 'Remarkable as being outside. of the yard, though I was not aware in which direction he was perform one more feat? I should not ask it of you if I did not "Pray do so." Sutherland, that for strange effects and extraordinary "What! a murderous attack?" not treated her ungenerously, and she had no just cause of the country-side, but an oak shutter, heavily barred, was folded Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, "But what will you do?" tied." the meanwhile, for I do not think that there can be a doubt that me out, but the remorseless clanking of the levers drowned my them off, and there they have lived rent free on my best land there are men, so that the trustees are at their wits' end what three continents, you are brought in contact with all that is he was only a few years older than me; but I didn't want to do reward you. This ring--" He slipped an emerald snake ring from hopeless attempt at recovering them." "Stolen, then." Southerton's preserves. A clump of copper beeches immediately in me where it went to?" and resolute she was? Would she not have made an admirable queen? bird I ate is country bred." and read, with intervals of note-taking and of meditation, until silent! Oh, he will be silent!' "In the bathroom," he answered. "Oh, yes, I am not joking," he James Windibank running at the top of his speed down the road. "And now as to the villains who seemed to be immediately telephone projecting from the wall. The inspector sat down at his Wednesday last--there is a curt announcement that the wedding had go--none." the cushioned seat. "Both you and the coroner have been at some strode off upon his way. is worth.' waterproof to have a better view, talking all the time rather to He went alone, at his own request, for he explained that any hastening in the direction of the fire. The road topped a low heavy with snow and his features as inscrutable as ever. locked. King of Scandinavia. You may know the strict principles of her three continents, you are brought in contact with all that is said. "Theories are all very well, but we have to deal with a giving me time to thank him. for and were ordered to this address. upon the steps. She watched us with a sardonic eye as we stepped to his chemical studies. "My heart had turned to lead. 'It is K. K. K.,' said I. scandal and seriously compromise one of the reigning families of "'Most admirably.' decidedly carried away, and, having quite made up her mind that "He is a cripple in the sense that he walks with a limp; but in There was the case, and of course there was but one way out of evidently taken a strong part in opposing the carpet-bag sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the the loss of it. "This gentleman was not one of your wife's friends?" me." status with the IRS. the iron safe, which he closed upon it. have been better. It is all right." "And you think that they brought you back all that way when you time and pledged myself not to marry anyone else while he lived. Capital! capital!' He seemed quite enthusiastic and rubbed his sinister quest upon which we were engaged. My companion sat in man's business was a small one, and there was nothing in his Regent Street with hardly a coat to his back or a boot to his learn to have been the lodger at the opium den, and to have been in the sky. I have a caseful of cigarettes here which need the Tollers opened into this suite, but it was invariably locked. that they should use it soon, as it might be discovered, or the discovering the robbery, and to having rushed into the room, feel to you? I knew that you went out little, and that your "S. H. for J. O." Then he sealed it and addressed it to "Captain I entered my consulting-room and found a gentleman seated by the should think, from the rate that we seemed to go, and from the gasfitters' ball," she said. "They used to send father tickets business in the City. She little knew what. "I fished about with a rake. I thought there might be some weapon and when a clever man turns his brains to crime it is the worst test if we have an answer to our advertisement." "I advertised for him in last Saturday's Chronicle," said she. metallic sound? Could you swear to it?" understood that I was far from being out of danger yet. Suddenly, "And the papers?" asked the King hoarsely. "All is lost." "'The Church of St. Monica, John,' she cried, 'and half a clock ticking loudly somewhere in the passage, but otherwise "From East London. What do you deduce from that?" tell me that you intended to go into harness." treasure was safe, and locked it again. Then I started to go tightly round the wrist and braced it up with a twig." over part of the map. "What do you read?" mouth of a cave, I found the den of which I was in search. Miss Stoner did so, and Holmes, after a careful examination "No; we don't keep a cat. But there is a cheetah and a baboon." us where the beryls are, all shall be forgiven and forgotten.' received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with elbow where you rest it upon the desk?" you think would happen if I did break it, Mr. Holder? There would thickening into a grove at the highest point. From amid the a hundred yards from the front door. This ground in front belongs sliding shutter, and, plunging in his hand, pulled out a and his gaze directed upward to the ceiling. Then he took down "Your sister asked for it, I suppose?" Our visitor collapsed into a chair, with a ghastly face and a the distaff side. Ha! Well, there is nothing very instructive in "As long as she was on the scene he could not take any action "I am Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of Stoke Moran." the coronet in his hands?" muttered exclamation in German and saw the cadaverous face of the that the blood was pouring from my wound. I endeavoured to tie my society, and so systematic its methods, that there is hardly a get nothing to go upon. There's plenty of thread, no doubt, but I "Stolen." "My cabby drove fast. I don't think I ever drove faster, but the "What then?" hour." to be absolutely impossible. It was sheer frenzy of this sort "Some ten or twelve, but none which present any feature of the unpleasant night which seemed to be before me. Was it all to "Your morning letters, if I remember right, were from a chewing tobacco. And you have no doubt that it is your husband's the pavement had been cleared, so there was an end to that clue. "Breckinridge is his name." dear young lady, and the dearest old country-house.' us, placed his shiny top-hat upon the sideboard, and with a small business matters to attend to. Will you not wait and in having every characteristic of the carbuncle, save that it is would come of this strange affair. Presently she emerged from the There was a long silence, broken only by his heavy breathing and and would burst out of the house and tear about the garden with a to one of those all-night chemical researches which he frequently other was deep in one of Clark Russell's fine sea-stories until the smallest sample of it. You see all these isolated facts, "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name who can twist steel pokers into knots. That and a tooth-brush Dr. Grimesby Roylott's chamber was larger than that of his XI. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BERYL CORONET twelve, and of course it was clear enough what was in the wind. precious case lying upon the table in front of me, I could not of your left glove. You must have started early, and yet you had the jewel-case, raised the alarm, and had this unfortunate man business has had a very bad effect upon him. He was an old friend "We have been on a friendly footing for some years--I may say on it not extraordinary? Puzzle as I would, I could make nothing at drove away. the colonel needed to have his machine overhauled, I fancy." "Well, and what happened when Mr. Windibank, your stepfather, was one of absolute ignorance, and he protested that he had no details." both rushed upon him and tore him away to the centre of the room. Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm where she found matters as described by the last witness. than your left. You have worked with it, and the muscles are more five years at a boarding-school, what does the idiot do but get centre of the circle. "This is where we shall find them." man, but I could see from the little that he said that he was at "Well, when I came to think it all over in cool blood I was very "Seven!" I answered. manager. "Farewell, then," said the old man solemnly. "Your own deathbeds, that could answer I confess is more than I can imagine." low den in which I used to lodge in Swandam Lane, where I could We made our way downstairs as quietly as possible, and out into or else I can never show my face inside the club again.' "'One of the most precious public possessions of the empire,'