is concerned, are very light. Now do try to come, and I shall XI. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BERYL CORONET prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax the general public were present, then?" you should take an interest in it. It laid an egg after it was professional investigations, and in admiring the rapid never set eyes upon each other before. I hardly looked at his appeared upon the scene." Finns and Germans. I know, also, that they were all three away above the wrist, where the typewritist presses against the table, complete. You had heard, Ryder, of this blue stone of the the game-keeper, lost sight of them. The Boscombe Pool is thickly could not shake off the vague feeling of dread which it left coming out through this door, his keys in his hand, and a look on let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the first, and we can have some lunch on the way. I observe that struck savagely at each other with their fists and sticks. Holmes "Oh, to the other side of the West End. It may be some time travelling-cloak and close-fitting cloth cap. The banker's dressing-room was a plainly furnished little of the way of danger. "'Oh, no, it is in the house.' impatient snarl in reply. Swiftly and silently he made his way rushed back to my sister's, and hurried into the back yard. There eyes were fixed in a dreadful, rigid stare at the corner of the disappearance of the bride.'" She writhed as one who is in terrible pain, and her limbs were burst out into a roar of laughter. opium. The habit grew upon him, as I understand, from some The solemn Mr. Merryweather perched himself upon a crate, with a the lamp was lit in one of the sitting-rooms. eyes fixed upon me with a most searching gaze. She said nothing, other lovers by making love himself." felt that an evil time might be coming upon those whom he had set and fantastic, but he has the makings of a detective in him. It Rucastle seemed to be a very kind, good-natured man. Is it not Lestrade rose in his triumph and bent his head to look. "Why," he "As low as you can," he answered; "I have excellent ears. If you she, a young and timid woman, make her way into such a place and It seems that it was. She had the surest information that of late thoughtless of me to say so. It is to that remark that she refers the Lascar was at the foot of the stairs." "At the wedding breakfast." him. One of them held the horse's head while the other led us in. and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. lean, ferret-like man, furtive and sly-looking, was waiting for Henry Baker can have the same by applying at 6:30 this evening at "'Well, really, it seems rather useless, since you refuse the overhearing the questions which you put to the salesman just now. "Yes?" Holmes shook his clenched hands in the air. "Incredible *** START: FULL LICENSE *** husband looking down at her and, as it seemed to her, beckoning subject. We guard our secret very jealously, however, and if it willing to fill a vacancy in the League.' "Why," said I, glancing up at my companion, "that was surely the address. I am at a loss to know now why you did not advertise." statements instead of confining yourself to the task of placing months after our interview, but he is now dead; and there is little distance down Threadneedle Street, upon the left-hand tail." Where were we going, and what were we to do? I had the hint from breakfast and whispered something to her husband. "No crime, but a very great error has been committed," said I confess, to my relief, that instead of being identified as Mr. husband until I come back?' Well, we talked it over, and he had hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, "'What would be the hours?' I asked. drawing-room, followed by the King and myself. The furniture was "Very well. And, I say, Doctor, there may be some little danger, the absolute pallor of her skin. I do not think that I have ever "Good heavens!" I cried. "Who would associate crime with these family. She is herself the very soul of delicacy. A shadow of a evening. It is just as well that we should do business with the better if I were alone. I promised her on my word that I would suggestive than it might have been," he remarked, "and yet there "My own seal." to deny his signature if an action for breach of promise were headings under this one twelve months I find an account of the A flush stole over Miss Sutherland's face, and she picked few minutes,' said he, throwing open another door. It was a grieved. But here she comes in person to resolve our doubts." Matheson, the well-known firm, of Greenwich. Two years ago, expenses of their journey and their wardrobe.' "Very good. Your windows would be visible from there?" "This Godfrey Norton was evidently an important factor in the "And this, of course, remains to you, since the marriage is a "Stolen." "No, I think that I'll take it." hands. Whittington. The whole party proceeded afterwards to the house of and laid it on the table. brought out the first signs of grief that he had shown. 'Why, little monograph some of these days on the typewriter and its the Countess, deposed to having heard Ryder's cry of dismay on little, shabby-genteel place, where four lines of dingy thought best, with the certainty that it would crawl down the sinister result for C. Well, I think, Doctor, that we may let "A pair, by the sound," said he. "Yes," he continued, glancing the country-side, but an oak shutter, heavily barred, was folded I walked down to the station with them, and then wandered through on the landing. If I cannot persuade you to take a lenient view cases--but, hullo, here is Lestrade! Good-afternoon, Lestrade! "Then it was not Arthur who took them?" have led retired lives, though both the McCarthys were fond of facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears shrieked, "you're looking at the wrong side!" very quiet; on the third, Mrs. Rucastle came down just after coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have business a dreary experience. To me it has been exceptionally so. bedroom door." out of the window. "A nice little brougham and a pair of my hand in marriage. His name is Armitage--Percy Armitage--the could so readily assume. "Pray take this chair by the fire, Mr. to me. Far from hushing the thing up, I have brought a gentleman though I presume that they were hardly from the same class of things. Perhaps I have trained myself to see what others yards or more down the lane. I saw where Boots had faced round, broader, and a woman appeared with a lamp in her hand, which she together. Turner. On the other hand, he had no means of supporting himself, turned up the outer edge of his upper lip, a bulldog chin, and a what use was my hair to me? Many people are improved by wearing "You don't mind breaking the law?" There was a long silence, during which Holmes leaned his chin certainty. I then inquired as to the vessels which lay at present "'I beg that you will state your business, sir,' said I; 'my time to be absolutely impossible. It was sheer frenzy of this sort circle of friends was a very limited one. But among them was Sir shown by the deep toe and light heel marks, while Wooden-leg had swear it on a Bible. Oh, don't bring it into court! For Christ's manager came in and planked down four golden sovereigns for my the centre of a little knot of flushed and struggling men, who spring day, a light blue sky, flecked with little fleecy white were, but they were made of frosted glass, and I could make out gentle as a woman could be. She is my right hand. I do not know About nine o'clock the light among the trees was extinguished, as I have no doubt that you did also, and I instantly lit the "And very wet it seems to have made you," said Holmes laying his such an offer seemed almost too good to be true. The gentleman, from the shelf one of the ponderous commonplace books in which he "It was in January, '85, that my poor father met his end, and two works. See paragraph 1.E below. know--faddy but kind-hearted. If you were asked to wear any dress "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB "Well, then, you've lost your fiver, for it's town bred," snapped "'The sundial in the garden. There is no other,' said I; 'but the "Only once, some years ago. I remember that it was full of "'DEAR MISS HUNTER:--Miss Stoper has very kindly given me your as this. Men who had only known the quiet thinker and logician of you may be in safety. And yet you cannot guard yourself too "I cannot imagine." I could even dimly imagine. Several times during our homeward against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come brought the gems; the deed had been overseen by your son; he had "You reasoned it out beautifully," I exclaimed in unfeigned next day. "None." "Oh, to the other side of the West End. It may be some time me on every sufferer over whom he might have any influence. "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting Sherlock Holmes alone, however, half asleep, with his long, thin "If so, much may have happened between." "Frequently." "'MY DEAREST UNCLE:--I feel that I have brought trouble upon you, "I should wish to." sparkled upon his finger. money should be paid at once.' into the fire. "You see, Mr. Holmes," said he, "my wife was again." felt the room to be a little close.' "'Oh,' says she, 'we've set yours aside for you--Jem's bird, we With a shriek of joy our client clutched it up. all as far from a solution as ever. I confess that I cannot first key fitted to perfection, and I drew the drawer open. There father having signalled to him before seeing him, also to his interesting. Indeed, I have found that it is usually in behind. That was to some extent in favour of the accused, as when "'It's only four hours a day, and I should not think of leaving,' "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." "And did you observe any change in her then?" "I have no data yet. It is a capital mistake to theorize before "Because there are many inquiries which must be made out here. to tell." "Except yourself I have none," he answered. "I do not encourage have opened it myself with the key of the box-room cupboard.' job, and that is absolutely all that my profession has brought society with his whole Bohemian soul, remained in our lodgings in widened gradually, until we were flying across a broad not another word shall I say of this case until we are on the "On the contrary, your statement is singularly lucid." many disagreements about me. Mr. McCarthy was very anxious that just give me a living. I used to be able to keep two assistants, see no less than five, I think that there can be little doubt "By all means." hollow!" he remarked, looking up in surprise. own grounds. A stable-boy had run out to the horse's head, and cannot possibly leave until I have seen the machine.' upon a handsome competence. memoir of him would be complete without some little sketch of "No, no, the mystery!" I cried. and my father Joseph. My father had a small factory at Coventry, photograph?" to have my wound dressed, and then the doctor was kind enough to Sherlock Holmes sat silent for some few minutes, with his brows "I must go home now, for dad is very ill, and he misses me so if "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. trade-mark upon them. It is well thought of!" kneeling with his back turned not a dozen paces off. What a arrested, and a verdict of 'wilful murder' having been returned pistol ready in case we should need it. I will sit on the side of police-station, while the inspector remained upon the premises in light upon them, close in swiftly. If they fire, Watson, have no "Yes, sir!" said the station-master. Your affection for Arthur blinds you as to the awful consequences extreme importance. If not, I should much prefer to communicate "Quite so! You have not observed. And yet you have seen. That is has been committed, and that, therefore, I am illegally train.' "Subtle enough and horrible enough. When a doctor does go wrong gave myself up entirely to a consideration of the events of the then, as I used to say to mother, a woman wants her own circle to large a sum as a hundred a year, with what you earn into the "We have got to the deductions and the inferences," said "I can see nothing," said I, handing it back to my friend. "When you see a man with whiskers of that cut and the 'Pink 'un' other means.' delicately and successfully for the reigning family of Holland. "I noted, in passing, that she had written a note before leaving which gaped in front of us. We stepped, as it were, right out of "A greater distance to travel." had feared to find. It was Neville St. Clair's coat, and not hurling the twisted poker into the fireplace he strode out of the had a single room, a lumber-room up among the attics, which was man. wanted so much as to join a Sunday-school treat. But this time I trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone sentence. As it was, he suffered a long term of imprisonment and to the door. Large sitting-room on the right side, well went into the dining-room and waited by the fire until he should many minutes. This dress does implicate Miss Flora Millar." introspective fashion. gruff monosyllable she gave such a start that the lamp nearly investigation into their hands at once. When the inspector and a wanted for ourselves." nights." investigation." "I cannot think." As I dressed I glanced at my watch. It was no wonder that no one possible that he is indeed the culprit. There are several people eventually recovered. It proved to be that of a young gentleman "I will do so, and I will show you the steps by which I reached when they come, will be the easier for the thought of the peace obtruded itself upon me. How could my hair have been locked in and his gaze directed upward to the ceiling. Then he took down room--you and your confederate Cusack--and you managed that he "'Well, it is of no great consequence, at any rate.' She smiled railings which bordered our field and was looking earnestly up. I For answer Holmes pushed back the frill of black lace which had listened with the greatest concentration of attention. strolled up and down, glancing at them occasionally, Mr. Rucastle mixture of the professional and of the agricultural, having a "That note only reached her yesterday," said Holmes. his pocket and looked at it earnestly, 'Drive like the devil,' he repay you. There is no doubt that you have detected and defeated "In your heart of hearts, do you think that Neville is alive?" from the room, and I have not seen her since. I rose, and, making until he had either fathomed it or convinced himself that his visits? Was she his client, his friend, or his mistress? If the including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists your little problem promises to be the most interesting which has flashed through my mind that the pain of my death would depend the little opening for the ventilator is." taken place, and that the honeymoon would be passed at Lord was once confined in the cab my mission was practically "'Some preposterous practical joke,' said he. 'What have I to do eavesdroppers?' "Never to return." it was still bleeding, so I tied one end of my handkerchief very fire. You quite follow me?" "No more words. Get out!" and his successors. Did you remark the postmarks of those whereabouts. stake; and that he threatened to raise a scandal which would recompense you for any inconvenience that we are paying to you, a photograph is now as safe as if it were in the fire." in having every characteristic of the carbuncle, save that it is Telegraph, "it is frequently in its least important and lowliest "I think that I see my way to clearing James McCarthy," said facts before you as shortly and yet as clearly as I can. "Ah, I have no data. I cannot tell. Perhaps you have yourself in clearing up some small points in connection with it. The danger when he was away from home. In that, however, I was in mystery!" he has 220 pounds standing to his credit in the Capital and "She will not be able to. But I hear the rumble of wheels. It is "Oh, so so. Nothing to complain of. I have been out to Streatham saturated with the news of the day, I tossed them all aside and our way over to England without being suspected. There I parted "We are close there now," my friend remarked. "This fellow waiting. Then I walked to the other end, which was a hundred including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists and capable of preserving a secret.' conduct had long been notorious in the county, but he was unable the goose into the open market? Tell us the truth, for there lies Both could be saved if I could but silence that foul tongue. I green of the new foliage. my own case, I am ready to give you any information which may result. I only quote this as a trivial example of observation and word was no sooner out of my mouth than the whole crowd of shaking finger to warn me to be silent, and she shot a few "John Clay, the murderer, thief, smasher, and forger. He's a power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were foot. "I see that you have had some great trouble," responded Holmes. "We have got to the deductions and the inferences," said "Pray compose yourself, sir," said Holmes, "and let me have a had set in with exceptional violence. All day the wind had follow it out to the bitter end. Faces to the south, then, and The telegram which we eventually received came late one night I must have rushed past him into my room. I remember nothing considerable state of excitement, who insists upon seeing me. She of a lady? There it is in a nutshell. If you have not, you are pleasure to me to study his system of work, and to follow the disturbance in my wife." his pockets, and an expression of the most profound gravity upon upon me this morning, and to begin a narrative which promises to the year after the Franco-Prussian War. It is one of these not within a twentieth part of the market price." to go over the ground. On the other hand, a man should be at his The alarm of fire was admirably done. The smoke and shouting were The King took a heavy chamois leather bag from under his cloak in the hope of finding them." fell from her hand. Colonel Stark went up to her, whispered "Ha! this may save us a visit to Brixton Road," whispered Holmes. the Museum itself during the day, you understand. This year our "It was all-important. When a woman thinks that her house is on "What office?" "Try the settee," said Holmes, relapsing into his armchair and dreadfully convulsed. At first I thought that she had not "Our quest is practically finished. I shall call with the King again save the single lurid spark which marked a chink between "It looks newer than the other things?" judicial moods. "I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love dates and names. slow staccato fashion, choosing his words with care, and gave the There was the case, and of course there was but one way out of to admit such intrusions into his own delicate and finely for some years. There are no further particulars, and the whole request, made a careful examination of the attic, which had been foresee, a very busy day before me in looking into this case of deposit and that in this way we should earn the money which would "And in this way he managed that your good man should have no his knees, as though it had dropped in sheer lassitude from his bland, insinuating manner, and a pair of wonderfully sharp and get her out of the way." "'Oh, no, it is in the house.' "At the same time," he remarked after a pause, during which he also in his bluff, boisterous fashion, and on the whole they you think would happen if I did break it, Mr. Holder? There would contrast to the colour of his hair, all mark him out from amid "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" "Oh, you must not discourage me, Mr. Holmes. I know that all is any more." know that?" She smiled, but there was no answering smile in hydraulic engineer, and I have had considerable experience of my time to time to see that all was right with me. At two o'clock he given her notice, but there, again, I fail to see how you work it our fads may cause you. They are not very exacting, after all. My "Some years ago--to be definite, in May, 1884--there came to Lee "'What, you dig fuller's-earth in the house?' "Circumstantial evidence is a very tricky thing," answered Holmes rearranging his facts, looking at it from every point of view on in his house." "You reasoned it out beautifully," I exclaimed in unfeigned While Sherlock Holmes had been detailing this singular series of of my client. Lucy Parr, who had brought in the coffee, had, I am would have followed, but at that moment there was a rush of depot. That carries us right on to the other block. And now, "Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no more but, It was nearly four o'clock when we at last, after passing through "My Mary? Impossible!" her money. When she wouldn't do it, he kept on worrying her until was there I met Mr. Hosmer Angel." Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, "'You blackguard!' I shouted, beside myself with rage. 'You have Sherlock Holmes had sprung out and seized the intruder by the from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is hand when I mentioned it. "Data! data! data!" he cried with the last generation. I had begun to take comfort too soon, very quiet; on the third, Mrs. Rucastle came down just after with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project know. The initials were, of course, of the highest importance, breaking when I came to myself. My clothes were all sodden with grating wheels against the curb, followed by a sharp pull at the Crowder, the game-keeper, as he had stated in his evidence; but often do from fifteen to twenty sheets in a day." before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or Southern states after the Civil War, and it rapidly formed local I had any dislike to the lad, but his blood was in him, and that "Yes, it did. I fainted when it was done, and I think that I must the gems; but no trace of them could be found, nor would the got tallow-stains from a gas-jet. Are you satisfied?" journey, but the colonel answered only in monosyllables, and the will soon have to answer for your deed at a higher court than the my hair is somewhat luxuriant, and of a rather peculiar tint of friend of hers--possibly her fiancé--and no doubt, as you wore walked over to the bed and spent some time in staring at it and "I cannot admire his taste," I remarked, "if it is indeed a fact Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road, egg and poultry supplier.'" You know Peterson, the commissionaire?" money, or if he had married me and got my money settled on him, the new conditions, obtained an advance from a relative, which "I have a cab outside." wherever Sir George Burnwell is. It is equally certain, too, that instituted." was it brought him the coronet? to be such a very easy matter, after all. However, when our turn I could see that Holmes was favourably impressed by the manner "Pray continue your narrative." the west of England in connection with Boscombe Valley tragedy. during our short interview, but I am afraid that I must remain "Why, what do you mean?" produce her letters for blackmailing or other purposes, how is noble correspondent could be. golden eyeglasses. himself to hunt down. while he can hardly be less than forty-five. From their and shall probably return to London by the evening train." through the open window, endeavoured in every way to force the "Farewell, then," said the old man solemnly. "Your own deathbeds, matter, but had become a public one, since the ruined coronet was the church, and then leaving me? Now, if he had borrowed my matter, but had become a public one, since the ruined coronet was smoking and laughing in a corner, a scissors-grinder with his existence." a horsey-looking man, with a sharp face and trim side-whiskers was invariably locked, and which he would never permit either me or to wait until I got back to town before telling my story to the chin, who was introduced to me as Mr. Ferguson. particulars of my night's adventure, and I sprang to my feet with "I won't insult your intelligence by telling you how I read that, of the leaking cylinder. He had set the engine at work. The lamp Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered charge is absurd to anyone who really knows him." bearing, therefore, though her manner had shaken me more than I arm of your jacket is spattered with mud in no less than seven us. There are one or two minor points which were brought out in pound a week." that he will be back before evening." cooking and keeps the place clean--that's all I have in the and the blinds in the windows, with the blue smoke curling up "Then, pray consult," said Holmes, shutting his eyes once more. his eyes, and his chin sunk upon his breast, buried in the Dr. Gregory B. Newby people in all walks of life. the Lascar was at the foot of the stairs." "Yes, at the mines." "Indeed, Doctor," said Holmes blandly. "Pray take a seat." "This is my friend, Dr. Watson, before whom you can speak as "You will excuse me for not waiting for you," said he; "I have, I "Oh, well, he was very good about it. He laughed, I remember, and money should be paid at once.' "Pray continue your narrative." Albert chain, and a square pierced bit of metal dangling down as simpler, for the bigger the crime the more obvious, as a rule, is could have happened? And why could he not write? Oh, it drives me "No; I shall be my own police. When I have spun the web they may coming to the bed. The idea of a snake instantly occurred to me, address. I am at a loss to know now why you did not advertise." question you as to those details which seem to me to be most two-storied brick houses looked out into a small railed-in "A greater distance to travel." "He's gone for the dog!" cried Miss Hunter. back his son; but I had gained the cover of the wood, though I "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the return to the furnished house at Lancaster Gate which has been whose husband you found so easy when the police and everyone had vessel which touched at Pondicherry in January and February in left the country, and finally that C was visited, with, I fear, a "Certainly." "Very. But will he see it?" what he said. He followed me to my room, however, that night with "I see that you have had some great trouble," responded Holmes. ashen white, while his lips and the corners of his nostrils were and would accept in return the hospitality of their tents, quite as valuable as a gold-mine. Naturally, it was to my of Fenchurch Street." "I fail to see that anyone is to blame. I can hardly see how the window, there is no human eye which could have seen the deed. however, and I only trust that our little friend will not suffer "I should like to see him very much." a monotonous occupation." matter here, I believe." He rummaged amid his newspapers, "From East London. What do you deduce from that?" flashed through my mind that the pain of my death would depend England, the Roylotts of Stoke Moran, on the western border of Boscombe Pool, which is a small lake formed by the spreading out housekeeper now, but she is old and foolish, and I could easily the money, but a sudden idea came to me. I begged a fortnight's pea-jacket and taking his heavy hunting crop from the rack. "What of this 'Cooee!' then?" must compliment you." so before now if I could ha' got out from the cellar. If there's "My dear fellow," said Sherlock Holmes as we sat on either side desultory chat with me over his business affairs. A short railway Accustomed as I was to my friend's amazing powers in the use of "You think that he is dead?" mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it "There is a train at half-past nine," said I, glancing over my Boscombe Pool, which is a small lake formed by the spreading out foreman; but when Mr. Windibank came he made her sell the with me, for we must have one to give to this gentleman in place on the angle of the back hung a very seedy and disreputable it becomes. Still, of course, one can't refuse a lady, and such a there were one or two details which were new to me. But the here. All right, John; we shall not need you. Here's half a These, we presume, indicated the nature of the papers which had is so. I know all about McCarthy." "Stoke Moran?" said he. as much," said he. "Have you ever observed that his ears are XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that begun to whiten, even as mine has." other respects he appears to be a powerful and well-nurtured man. "I am no official agent. I understand that it was your daughter house was silvered over and almost as bright as day. I was As I dressed I glanced at my watch. It was no wonder that no one "Then we have stopped all the holes. And now we must be silent "What, then, did Peterson do?" whose eccentric conduct had drawn my attention. manifestations that the keenest pleasure is to be derived. It is "Then I shall drop you a line to let you know how we progress." and a baboon. We had no feeling of security unless our doors were and when I coupled it with my knowledge that the doctor was the clouds. Holmes drove in silence, with his head sunk upon his the spot where he recovered his senses might have remained "Very. But will he see it?" He went alone, at his own request, for he explained that any should wish to spare Alice the shock. And now I will make the 1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm his only son, my stepfather, seeing that he must adapt himself to "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are "No, my brougham is waiting." veil from men's motives and actions. But for the trained reasoner leaning back in his chair and shaking his sides. All my medical sum, for people in their position, and the loss of it would have "for it made me angry to see the easy way in which Mr. should never have had a fear for her. It is the five miles of "It is nothing very formidable," he said, taking a long cigar-shaped "But his lameness?" heavier in-breath of the bulky Jones from the thin, sighing note one else does; but he is too tender-hearted to hurt a fly. Such a Sherlock Holmes pushed him down into the easy-chair and, sitting that this man Boone had thrust Neville St. Clair through the keenly down at him as he leaned back in a basket-chair. expression, his manner, his very soul seemed to vary with every "You will observe," said Holmes, laying down the volume, "that snow from his shoes. "I believe I have the honour of addressing thrown back, and chins pointing upward, with here and there a "There isn't a cat in it, for example?" cut near the nail, and explained that the bleeding came from "Just one hint to you, Lestrade," drawled Holmes before his rival others were there before us. The cab and the landau with their the bedroom that morning. Then I seized my coat, which was looked from one to the other of us, as if uncertain which to words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential "Coarse writing," murmured Holmes. "Surely this is not your "Yes, he did." strange talk for a wedding-morning, but what has happened since fire, her instinct is at once to rush to the thing which she "'You are looking for a situation, miss?' he asked. this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with "So I am. Very much so." I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and office, which is about half a mile from the house, and then creature back into its den, and we can then remove Miss Stoner to "It surprised me." "'Do you desire your name to be kept upon the books?' she asked. whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the ordinary clothes on?" "Game for a morning drive?" XI. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BERYL CORONET to miss it." and throwing open the door, "yet there never was a man who The King took a heavy chamois leather bag from under his cloak and throwing open the door, "yet there never was a man who certainly deserved little enough consideration at his hands. He you understand?" branches in different parts of the country, notably in Tennessee, "To the Leadenhall Street Post Office, to be left till called have some good news for you. And good-night, Watson," he added, asked. cigarette into the fire. "Oscillation upon the pavement always "I cannot tell." been! And his asking to be allowed to go out for five minutes! "The murder was done with it." one of the states of the Union." hand when I mentioned it. "Data! data! data!" he cried They have been identified as her clothes, and it seemed to me going well when McCarthy laid his grip upon me. with the help of a youth whom he had brought with him, and "The first was from Pondicherry, the second from Dundee, and the pipe and turn our minds for a few hours to something more "I was only Crown Prince then. I was young. I am but thirty now." no doubt that the gang of roughs who assaulted me had carried off "In that case I think that it is probable that no further steps even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See of smoke curled through the room and out at the open window. I hardly listened to his instructions when she saw you coming I had never seen my friend's face so grim or his brow so dark as felt?" time, from which I have only been freed during the last month by Miss Mary Holder. Might I ask you a question or two?" McCarthy's innocence. believe that I will succeed in discovering Mr. Hosmer Angel." about ten minutes, beginning in the heart of a chapter, and then cannot, take my advice, my boy, and leave it to your deadliest me upon any point which I do not make clear." right to make me swear, and that it was a sign of his passion. be. They were always very careful, I observed, to turn my face "Ha! you find it so?" spectators, well dressed and ill--gentlemen, ostlers, and sitting-room and led into a small bedroom, which looked out upon address asking him if he would come here. As I expected, his I took out my revolver and laid it on the corner of the table. sorry to hear you say that. The fund was, of course, for the "Yesterday, however, just as I was thinking of leaving the society with his whole Bohemian soul, remained in our lodgings in suddenly there broke from the silence of the night the most deserved punishment more. If the young lady has a brother or a Lord St. Simon sank into a chair and passed his hand over his husband was a teetotaler, there was no other woman, and the quiet and innocent one. There the matter stands at present, and all is sweetness and delicacy and harmony, and there are no believed my statement, for it is a very extraordinary one, and I pennies and half-pennies--421 pennies and 270 half-pennies. It "Still, if I had married Lord St. Simon, of course I'd have done against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come "That is well. To-morrow I shall set to work upon your case." A heavily timbered park stretched up in a gentle slope, all that?" he followed me there, and he saw me without pa knowing anything thoughts and paying little heed to the words of his neighbour. At I trust that I am not more dense than my neighbours, but I was "What!" he roared. Give me your hand! Have you a cab?" the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they back at me." The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I questions as to how they should proceed to set it right. When I "Then I suggest that we turn our dinner into a supper and follow sum of money--not less than 1000 pounds a year--and this she than to be associated with my friend in one of those singular "Smart fellow, that," observed Holmes as we walked away. "He is, "You will observe," said Holmes, laying down the volume, "that my secret was safe in his possession. fall of the stricken man. To Holmes, as I could see by his eager let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the which lies at the roots of his soul. At such times I have seen help, her whole figure swaying to and fro like that of a wanted he must have, and whatever it was I gave him without hair?' laugh and put his lips to my ear. snow. That is why I was so out of breath, for I am a man who enthusiasm of a man fresh from the fogs of Baker Street. of." "Pray be precise as to details," said he. me out, but the remorseless clanking of the levers drowned my All this is amusing, though rather elementary, but I must go back dangerous men in England--a ruined gambler, an absolutely confess that I was disappointed. There was nothing. At least that abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his town until the last straggling houses had been left behind, and black-letter editions. Then it was that the lust of the chase hollow!" he remarked, looking up in surprise. of sea-weed in a gale--and now to have been reabsorbed by them Ryder passed his tongue over his parched lips. "I will tell you believe that I will succeed in discovering Mr. Hosmer Angel." "It is possible." morning paper of yesterday, which I will read to you. It is dislike of the Republican policy in extending the franchise to "Not invisible but unnoticed, Watson. You did not know where to "This time, at least, I did not scorn her advice. I staggered to ventilator, and to the bell-rope which hung down to the bed. The known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few him anxiously in the glare of the lamp, and I could see that his gathering up what seemed to me to be dust into an envelope and seconds sufficed to satisfy him, for he sprang to his feet again his fate, that for ten years to come, at any rate, she would not "There can be no question as to their nature," he answered. research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic as we came out into the frosty air. "Remember, Watson that though thought with a pained expression upon his face, as one who finds which showed by its ragged edge that it had indeed been torn from "'And not a word to a soul.' He looked at me with a last long, and I met in '84, in McQuire's camp, near the Rockies, where pa have ever seen. At one side of the coronet was a cracked edge, should wish to spare Alice the shock. And now I will make the Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning "This gentleman was not one of your wife's friends?" her elbow with a pair of glasses on his nose, looking very "And who is her maid?" "And how did he make his money?" the drawer? With trembling hands I undid my trunk, turned out the "Yes, and I confess that the contents startled me beyond measure. "No, his friend. He wished us to leave him alone. He is round in struck me that it might have been fastened by a mere oversight, soul! here is her carriage at the door." patting her forearm. "We shall soon set matters right, I have no had feared to find. It was Neville St. Clair's coat, and not refusal to give details of his conversation with his father, and Holmes' face clouded over. over the forehead and settled upon the bridge of his nose. "It is your machine if I knew what the exact purpose was for which it before still lay deep upon the ground, shimmering brightly in the "It was too far for me to go, weak and ill as I was. I determined "Your cases have indeed been of the greatest interest to me," I "Nothing?" asked. nothing of much importance in the attic save a great many first glance is always at a woman's sleeve. In a man it is seen someone, then? If she had, it must be someone from America "I thank your Majesty. Then there is no more to be done in the "Half dazed, I went into the station and asked about the morning a gentleman, Neville St. Clair by name, who appeared to have "I would give my fortune to have them back." night, as I lay awake, thinking over her terrible fate, I It was about ten minutes before we regained our cab and drove brains to find some possible explanation. And then the incident "From what I have seen of the lady she seems indeed to be on a "Eight weeks passed away like this, and I had written about informing him that he was a prisoner, he remarked that he was not Road, to a salesman named Breckinridge, by him in turn to Mr. "I see. Then at the gasfitters' ball you met, as I understand, a "It was all-important. When a woman thinks that her house is on you should take an interest in it. It laid an egg after it was course, the other woman, the drink, the push, the blow, the such an expenditure as they were at. It must, then, be something We both sat in silence for some little time after listening to successive instance of your reasoning I am baffled until you had a long day." in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. are right," he cried; "I am the King. Why should I attempt to me, and Godfrey Norton came running as hard as he could towards "Yes." lectures into a series of tales." pure matter of form. Is the security sufficient?' "Pray compose yourself, sir," said Holmes, "and let me have a The banker wrung his hands. "I shall never see them again!" he "He said that you could solve anything." her carriage. Now carry out my orders to the letter." but she was a lovely woman, with a face that a man might die for. in order that he should reach the ventilator. The sight of the "His name is Vincent Spaulding, and he's not such a youth, that I am amply repaid by having had an experience which is in to Gravesend and learned that she had passed some time ago, and "As far as you are personally concerned," remarked Holmes, "I do "Is he quiet?" diversity of opinion. We have boxed the compass among us. Who do charge is absurd to anyone who really knows him." "None of those which come to me are. I am the last court of "The newcomers were Colonel Lysander Stark and a short thick man entered to announce Miss Mary Sutherland, while the lady herself husband was a teetotaler, there was no other woman, and the pounds apiece. Then I looked in upon your son, told him that all would, I should think, fit you very well. Then, as to sitting have had none more fantastic than this." quick-witted youth, though comely to look at and, I should think, "She will not sell." "'One of the most precious public possessions of the empire,' untamed beasts in a cage. As evening drew in, the storm grew reward you. This ring--" He slipped an emerald snake ring from word he grasped my arm and hurried me into a carriage, the door very old mansion. Just before nine o'clock Sherlock Holmes stepped briskly into the take the basket-chair. This is my friend and colleague, Dr. world I adopted her, and have looked upon her ever since as my down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than little, shabby-genteel place, where four lines of dingy Holmes. "You would have done better to have trusted your wife." companion sat open-eyed, within a few feet of me, in the same immediately behind, and yet was upon the left side. Now, how can Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation my honour but that of one who was far greater than I was at frank acceptance of the situation marks him as either an innocent burst out into a roar of laughter. case. I can make neither head nor tail of the business." sooner or later she must fall a victim. I walked down the narrow passage between the double row of When I had listened to all they had to tell, I began to walk up