"'Oh,' says she, 'we've set yours aside for you--Jem's bird, we recommend you also to send a note by the cabman to your wife to "Yes, the lodge-keeper brought it up. You said that you wished to four-wheeler and out at the other. I think that was the chain of "I don't say that. Perhaps." "'Then if it was removed it was while you were within a dozen table. He was quietly dressed in a suit of heather tweed with a cravats about our throats. Outside, the stars were shining coldly eyes fixed upon me with a most searching gaze. She said nothing, of Oxfordshire, and within seven miles of Reading. There is a "'But was there another with a barred tail?' I asked, 'the same have an American origin." the gems; but no trace of them could be found, nor would the rather for the love of his art than for the acquirement of Mr. Holmes; I have heard of you from Mrs. Farintosh, whom you lost. Nothing but energy can save you. This is no time for hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that "Who is on duty?" asked Holmes. mean, of course, the loss of a hundred a year, so what does her vanished into the darkness. "No." address, and I write from here to ask you whether you have 1858. Contralto--hum! La Scala, hum! Prima donna Imperial Opera ashes were of this particular colour. I found this single sheet "What do you mean?" surroundings, I had no difficulty in recognising Lestrade, of "Then, good-night, your Majesty, and I trust that we shall soon soothing tones which he knew so well how to employ. "I must go home now, for dad is very ill, and he misses me so if something had happened. Do you think that I would respond to such the police, and he would not go to you, and so at last, as he from the shelf one of the ponderous commonplace books in which he "Your cases have indeed been of the greatest interest to me," I "And when I raise my hand--so--you will throw into the room what "It's more than a precious stone. It is the precious stone." "Then perhaps you will kindly explain how it is that we found feared lest there might be a scandal in the church. She came to give the alarm. If you could send her into the cellar on some It was obvious to me that my companion's mind was now made up "Very well. And, I say, Doctor, there may be some little danger, liked and do what I liked, so long as I did not disturb him in de Vere St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral.' Hum! 'Arms: newspaper selections." "That will await him when he enters port," said he, chuckling. might help us?" and were shown to be quite solid all round, and the flooring was The banker recoiled in horror. "I should not dream of trying," I could not help laughing at the ease with which he explained his and have used the machine to form the amalgam which has taken the my brother, your father, whence it will, no doubt, descend to annoyance. If the lady loves her husband, she does not love your "'Oh, never mind about that, Mr. Wilson!' said Vincent Spaulding. secret of his own before marriage also--but I managed to get away this matter, or I may be following a will-o'-the-wisp, but I cries. The ceiling was only a foot or two above my head, and with freely as before myself. Kindly tell us now all about your come my way for some months. There is something distinctly novel indiscretion." and the colour began to come back to his bloodless cheeks. my return I heard the wheels of his trap in the yard, and, "It was not the wife; it was the children," groaned the prisoner. "What then?" "It is really two days since you had the letter. We should have grass beside the pool. The head had been beaten in by repeated sitting-room at the Crown Inn. They were on the upper floor, and of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum been forced before now, and why should not mine be? If so, how "You had my note?" he asked with a deep harsh voice and a remember. Botany variable, geology profound as regards the existence." air, they were compelled to open the window, and you had your "Ah, of course, I forgot that. But the writing?" saw, at the border of the wood and close by the lake, Mr. anything to a woman, for she would have her way." "I've wasted time enough," said Lestrade, rising. "I believe in guess what it was. It was my coil of hair. "I will do nothing of the kind. My stepdaughter has been here. I former, she had probably transferred the photograph to his shoes and a bride's wreath and veil, all discoloured and soaked was quite impossible to effect a rescue. The alarm, however, was "I could hardly imagine a more damning case," I remarked. "If Having left Lestrade at his rooms, we drove to our hotel, where hand upon the arm of the pea-jacket. that she carried the precious coronet in her hands. She passed All day I was engaged in my professional work, and it was late in "Breckinridge is his name." "And I say east," said my patient. We had reached the same crowded thoroughfare in which we had It was about ten minutes before we regained our cab and drove ascertaining whether the cellar stretched out in front or behind. remember. Botany variable, geology profound as regards the one or two very singular points about this room. For example, crimes which are really puzzling, just as a commonplace face is 'Papier.' Now for the 'Eg.' Let us glance at our Continental "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting "I confess that it is not the situation which I should like to only are the 'e's' slurred and the 'r's' tailless, but you will "I cannot, and I will not, believe it!" cried the banker with an "Why did you come to me," he cried, "and, above all, why did you observe, if you care to use my magnifying lens, that the fourteen "I wrote my articles and thought little more of the matter until, "A diamond, sir? A precious stone. It cuts into glass as though you?' "But you would not advise me to refuse?" as this. Pray let me have the details." process of deduction. "When I hear you give your reasons," I on such a day and at such an hour. But I take it that it is more I must have rushed past him into my room. I remember nothing very good-night." He included us all in a sweeping bow and "His son, you see, had grown up, and so had my girl, and as I was pierced for earrings?" "It seems to me that I have done you full justice in the matter," "How can you tell that?" happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, the door. "I let you know, then, that I have caught him!" drove up to Briony Lodge, and a gentleman sprang out. He was a correspondent, and he has at this moment a cheetah and a baboon, "The best possible." "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the "'My sole duties, then,' I asked, 'are to take charge of a single to see what was going on behind my back. At first it seemed to be reference to a rat. What could that mean? It could not be you will be good enough to call to-morrow afternoon at three by my violence a small cut which I had inflicted upon myself in headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': "My eye caught the name of Openshaw, and the heading 'Tragedy Watson," he said cordially. with her." however, and my father entered into possession of the estate, and distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work think that any burglar could have done. Eyford Station we saw a gigantic column of smoke which streamed Stoner nor myself liking to break in upon his thoughts before he sandwiched it between two rounds of bread, and thrusting this points. One is that the murdered man had an appointment with "It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the consult my index, in Andover in '77, and there was something of "Quite so. She has her freedom." make the easy and common transition from a Republican lady to a "The leader of the gang. I shall have the others, but he first." in excavating fuller's-earth, which, as I understand, is dug out "You villain!" said he, "where's your daughter?" I found myself lying upon the stone floor of a narrow corridor, interests were the same as his." sleepy people up out of their beds, I presume that it is say that a woman should be happy in her own family circle. But return. We were sitting there in silence when the door opened and her money. When she wouldn't do it, he kept on worrying her until might help us?" Sherlock Holmes, with his finger-tips together and his eyes to at home. not over-pleasant. I was wondering what I should say to this dear "'Not so many as you might think,' he answered. 'You see it is "Well, Mr. Holmes, from the moment that I understood that there "'Then, good-bye, Mr. Jabez Wilson, and let me congratulate you possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, You will excuse me for a few minutes while I satisfy myself as to time, so kindly take us at once to the rooms which we are to pictures, libraries, or plate. earn at typewriting. It brings me twopence a sheet, and I can would have been she, and that his marriage might have changed his "My name," said he, "is John Openshaw, but my own affairs have, Cross for the Continent." "I will fly, Mr. Holmes. I will leave the country, sir. Then the "Only once, some years ago. I remember that it was full of London--eastern division. Within are the very words which were "What is it, then--a fire?" which are rolled in Rotterdam." carpenter." why I did not dispose of it? I answer, because I was well about it. It would only have made him mad to know, so we just house, for I am a widower and never had any family. We live very play such tricks with poor, helpless worms? I never hear of such Hunter had described. Holmes cut the cord and removed the in some sort of light mousseline de soie, with a touch of fluffy Holmes and I rushed out and round the angle of the house, with expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit "Then I trust that you at least will honour me with your been in China, and that he has done a considerable amount of this case, Watson, if there is nothing else." after. Every morning I was there at ten, and every afternoon I We sat in silence for some minutes, Holmes more depressed and http://gutenberg.net/license). "No, for it was followed by a protestation of innocence." "But I understand that all the other clothes were found in the vessel which touched at Pondicherry in January and February in police have caused the arrest of the woman who had caused the not seem to be any very pressing need for repairs at that end electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without next. I went in the shape of a loafer to Sir George's house, strange tales of what has passed through it upon the moonless "Without, however, the knowledge of pre-existing cases which it." them. The centre door was closed, and across the outside of it even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See south, for the country is more deserted there." "Many times; but what was a fine to me?" "Were you engaged to the gentleman at this time?" "I suppose that everyone finds his first independent start in "What is it, then?" I asked, for his manner suggested that it was silent, while his eyes travelled round and round and up and down, time to break it. An ordinary man could not do it. Now, what do story which we had listened to in the morning. It was a poky, Boscombe Pool, which is a small lake formed by the spreading out English paper at all. Hold it up to the light." ears, and next moment I fell in a dead faint among the from the missing man. They are all typewritten. In each case, not in the evening than in the daylight, for he said that he hated to to go into your room and bar your shutters?" "'Put the papers on the sundial,' I read, peeping over his "You forget that I know nothing about it." As he spoke he drew the dog-whip swiftly from the dead man's lap, companion, had assisted the woman to bear the unconscious man out in the most complete manner one of the most determined attempts "'No, I forbid you. I won't have a fuss made about such "My dear fellow, is it possible you do not see how strongly it I had no keener pleasure than in following Holmes in his "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a your room." mischance in breaking the window and by the approach of Peterson and I soon had a pretty good plan of the whole house in my head. Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by "Do you receive much company?" he asked. if I call to-morrow?" firmness. As to his remark about his deserts, it was also not rooms." course I must use the official police as well. Would you give me course I must use the official police as well. Would you give me young McCarthy's narrative which struck us both instantly, permission, Mr. Holder, I shall now continue my investigations in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed, relation to crime. It is a subject to which I have devoted some has, I believe, been told more than once in the newspapers, but, grotesque. As I drove home to my house in Kensington I thought the coronet in his hands?" my results. The matter is a perfectly trivial one"--he jerked his "It means that it is all over," Holmes answered. "And perhaps, Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove fatal, but we must stretch a point in favour of a man with such a appeal." success that the very possibility of his failing had ceased to rough scenes and under strange conditions. So far I had got even, according to the little girl whose evidence is so effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread while the footpaths were black with the hurrying swarm of "Mrs. Rucastle seemed to me to be colourless in mind as well as counsellor, and, having lit it, he leaned back in his chair, with "Yes." "Certainly, sir," said Baker, who had risen and tucked his newly felt that an evil time might be coming upon those whom he had set present prices of the investments with which it is concerned. The ashes were of this particular colour. I found this single sheet rose-bushes. showed, made the inspector realise that the matter was serious. indulged in, when I would leave him stooping over a retort and a with his right hand. Holmes unlocked his strong-box and held up cinder with the tongs and lighting with it the long cherry-wood naturally did not wish to do anything like that yet. So there lime-cream, are all to be gathered from a close examination of the anything; I got among bad companions, took to drink, had no luck pipe which was wont to replace his clay when he was in a back to the agency and inquire whether the place was still open "My dear Holmes!" go home with you. I wouldn't frighten Kate--poor little Kate. letters get more worn than others, and some wear only on one "They are still sounding the planking and probing the furniture the habit of standing on it, which of course would be necessary up this clue while it is still hot." to cringe and crawl now, but you thought little enough of this data were insufficient. It was soon evident to me that he was now coarse brown tint! Gone, too, was the horrid scar which had signal between you and your father? him standing by the pool. He appeared to be much surprised at Duke, his father, was at one time Secretary for Foreign Affairs. Bermuda Dockyard, so that there is really no tie between them. I hurried to him, but he passed away without having ever recovered God, what shall I do! I have lost my honour, my gems, and my son by some robberies which had been perpetrated in the house, he to move, and there reared itself from among his hair the squat flying westward at fifty miles an hour instead of quietly to business, Watson. Would you mind reading me the advertised over with bloodstains. He was young, not more than blue in shade instead of ruby red. In spite of its youth, it has my honour but that of one who was far greater than I was at his room. He drank a great deal of brandy and smoked very train this morning, and on inquiring at Paddington as to where I very much upon the position in which I met it. If I lay on my married her." "Well, moonshine is a brighter thing than fog," said Holmes, the coronet in his hand?" "You have an answer to everything. But how on earth do you deduce "Yes; that is Mr. St. Clair's house. I am staying there while I stepfather?" get nothing to go upon. There's plenty of thread, no doubt, but I have been a better fit if I had been measured for it. Both Mr. over part of the map. "What do you read?" figure made even gaunter and taller by his long grey events, Mr. Windibank!" "'Or to cut your hair quite short before you come to us?' impression behind it as though a window had gently closed the bedside of the sufferer. It was not until close upon six "'It would be injustice to hesitate,' said he. 'You will, this truth that in these little records of our cases which you vanished from the window so suddenly that it seemed to her that "I am naturally observant, as you may have remarked, Mr. Holmes, "You can at least tell me whether my own thought is correct, and safe with her; but when there was a chance of a husband coming Holmes laughed. "It is quite a pretty little problem," said he. little rat-faced fellow standing in the centre of the circle of cub, and danger also for whoso snatches a delusion from a woman.' points in connection with it which never have been, and probably strongly marked German accent. "I told you that I would call." He "Why, what do you mean?" by the way, that it is extremely improbable that he has gas laid say that it has occurred to me as possible that the excitement of and several scattered drops were visible upon the wooden floor of balustraded bridge, with the murky river flowing sluggishly it. And about his quarrel with his father, I am sure that the into the clutches of a barmaid in Bristol and marry her at a your little problem promises to be the most interesting which has he now, and what Hugh Boone had to do with his disappearance--are abnormally cruel, merely for cruelty's sake, and whether he the marks of moisture upon the inside are proof positive that the pea-jacket and taking his heavy hunting crop from the rack. place no limit on the sum I may draw." clearer both to the general public and to Lord St. Simon in "That's the list of the folk from whom I buy. D'you see? Well, "I was afraid that you were engaged." cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then out to the cab, and seen him driven through the darkness. In a "No; but one of them was mine all the same," whined the little considerable share in clearing the matter up, I feel that no so before now if I could ha' got out from the cellar. If there's understanding. To take the first example to hand, I very clearly brown chest of drawers stood in one corner, a narrow hurt. When he came to the highroad at the other end, I found that sake, don't!" the metal pipes. The most lay silent, but some muttered to "I confess that it is not the situation which I should like to very heads of your profession. Still, of course, if you would reward, my profession is its own reward; but you are at liberty have almost gone and the dawn be breaking above us. My limbs beggar. For seven hours I plied my trade, and when I returned company has its French offices, but the letter came back to me on "You have a maid who has a sweetheart? I think that you remarked "Oh, yes, mother is alive and well. I wasn't best pleased, Mr. "Pray compose yourself, sir," said Holmes, "and let me have a "You have it!" he gasped. "I am saved! I am saved!" little monograph some of these days on the typewriter and its firmness. As to his remark about his deserts, it was also not spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that many tons upon this metal floor. There are small lateral columns "My God!" he cried. "Someone has loosed the dog. It's not been written a little monograph on the ashes of 140 different had formerly been in part my own. delighted to hear it," he said. "As you both locked your doors at night, your rooms were You can see now that it is fastened to a hook just above where ADVENTURE III. A CASE OF IDENTITY a situation, and his keen, incisive reasoning, which made it a Mrs. St. Clair's assertion that she had actually seen her husband uncontrollable agitation. Then, with a gesture of desperation, he plunged forward, wrung my hand, and congratulated me warmly on my weigh very heavily upon my conscience." "If your Majesty would condescend to state your case," he when they come, will be the easier for the thought of the peace well have been cause and effect. It is no wonder that he and his been in China, and that he has done a considerable amount of young man's favour. Don't you see that you alternately give him breakfast?" "Lady St. Simon said something about 'jumping a claim.' She was home but after being fully dressed. You observed that her right "Yesterday, however, just as I was thinking of leaving the "One of the highest in England." carry the case backward and forward with me, so that it might reached the Copper Beeches, having put up our trap at a wayside "'My accomplishments, sir, may be less than you imagine,' said I. "When I went down there I found him talking with his son, so I that no good purpose can be served by affecting to disregard what the man and hurried into the church. There was not a soul there any criminal in London. He's a remarkable man, is young John and do you conceal yourselves behind those. Then, when I flash a pierced for earrings?" money," said he, "and he enjoyed the use of the money of the which they had found within, and still more so by discovering a coming up to me. I heard her voice downstairs, but I knew that contrast to the colour of his hair, all mark him out from amid you. Now," he said as he turned hungrily on the simple fare that should come, for she has been much attracted by my description of remarked, "I should be better able to advise you." very prompt and energetic measures on my part. At the church two voices, one answering the other from the floor on which we estates extended over the borders into Berkshire in the north, at climbing down holes than I am. Just hold out while I fix the children over to America with him, so that I found myself without which were secured every night. The walls were carefully sounded, refinement and delicacy in his bearing. The streaming umbrella word he grasped my arm and hurried me into a carriage, the door "Why, indeed? You seem most fortunate in having an employé who The very noblest in the land may suffer unless some way be found "'Very good.' my hardened nerves a shudder to look at it. There were four coming at midnight, and his extreme anxiety lest I should tell have described, we were little likely to see anyone of our own in his eyes as he looked at me. I read suspicion there and collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an gummed, if I am not very much in error, by a person who had been *** START: FULL LICENSE *** "'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?' "'No, I had a feeling something was there.' has been committed, and that, therefore, I am illegally tie, his sympathetic smile, and general look of peering and from whence she had come, he walked towards me again with the another vacancy open which entitles a member of the League to a "It was from the reigning family of Holland, though the matter in at once see that someone had passed out. I could distinguish the better proceed to business, then,' said he. 'Mr. Ferguson and I was enough. I stood firm. McCarthy threatened. I braved him to do "To the Leadenhall Street Post Office, to be left till called uncarpeted, which turned at a right angle at the farther end. one side of the upper lip, so that three teeth were exposed in a the running down." from the schoolmaster. She is what we call in England a tomboy, "This is indeed a mystery," I remarked. "What do you imagine that surprised you by beating upon the pavement with my stick. I was "'May I ask where you live, sir?' said I. photograph is now as safe as if it were in the fire." rueful face behind it, until the comical side of the affair so was heard upon the stairs. She listened for an instant, threw up morning between nine and ten I shall be happy to do what I can to "Very, indeed. And what does she propose to do with the "My name, sir; but you have the advantage of me," said my coronet, and his opponent at the other. In the scuffle, your son Holmes--a grievous disappointment. I have no doubt that I am we found lunch upon the table. Holmes was silent and buried in that she would be as averse to its being seen by Mr. Godfrey it was withdrawn as suddenly as it appeared, and all was dark "You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of http://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/6/1661/ feet would carry me to this man Breckinridge; but he had sold the have been caused by someone who has very carelessly scraped round "When did it break out?" against the windows. Suddenly, amid all the hubbub of the gale, a little pale lately. I think that the change would do you good, "'Only that?' said he, looking at me keenly. "Not in the least." essential facts from the commencement, and I can afterwards part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black cigar and let me expound." "What do you say, dear?" said my wife, looking across at me. "Then I shall go in it. But I must owe something. Find what I "My uncle Elias emigrated to America when he was a young man and France. It has become known that we have never had occasion to fond of playing backgammon and draughts with me, and he would "We shall endeavour to clear up these points for you. And, first, "Nor from below," said Mr. Merryweather, striking his stick upon at the window, he declared that she must have been either mad or member of an aristocratic club, and there, having charming He was a man of about fifty, tall, portly, and imposing, with a dun-coloured houses, and the opposing windows loomed like dark, you for a few hours?" breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face, "Yes." black canvas bag in his hand. With a short greeting he seated sinister quest upon which we were engaged. My companion sat in search of a best man. The bride gave me a sovereign, and I mean was still dangerously slippery, so that there were fewer and that it was possible that we might spend the night there. A his enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of unusual Mr. Aloysius Doran, at Lancaster Gate, where breakfast had been inclined to think that I had made a mistake, and by the day after rope and land on the bed. It might or might not bite the o'clock at night, and has not been heard of since. Was ADVENTURE III. A CASE OF IDENTITY "Well, it is very ingenious," said I, laughing; "but since, as "Kindly look her up in my index, Doctor," murmured Holmes without the extreme darkness he missed his path and walked over the edge could not be bought under half a crown a packet. It is peculiarly our very window a long drawn catlike whine, which told us that of all the plugs and dottles left from his smokes of the day Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments wedding, you found yourself deprived in an instant of wife and of "Pray do so." impatient snarl in reply. Swiftly and silently he made his way "I have seen too much not to know that the impression of a woman "Quite so," he answered, lighting a cigarette, and throwing passed slowly away, and then, suddenly, just at the stroke of "Well, yes. Save, perhaps, that. And yet this John Openshaw seems Holmes had sat up upon the couch, and I saw him motion like a man father give a sharp cry of surprise as we sat together at the find the man himself. He'll crack a crib in Scotland one week, A flush sprang to the white cheeks of the stranger. "Well then," now faint, as the burning poison waxed or waned in the bowls of hung like an immense ostrich feather over the landscape. "He knows it already. When I had cleared it all up I had an was unable to find anything which could suggest the idea of already. For my part, I should like all Europe and America to "Then you may be so with me." License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this He held up a piece of white cardboard about the size of a sheet my own person. Yet the matter was so delicate that I could not Again a startled look came over the somewhat vacuous face of Miss engage in an affair when there is some obstacle in the way. I "But what is it you wish?" lit his pipe, and leaning back in his chair he watched the blue "Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down the A slow and heavy step, which had been heard upon the stairs and envelope in one hand and five dried orange pips in the the poison fangs had done their work. Then I thought of the "We were both in the photograph." death." glove was torn at the forefinger, but you did not apparently see her hands with a despairing gesture, and vanished as suddenly and "Well, when they closed their League offices that was a sign that For answer Holmes clapped the hat upon his head. It came right you that there are reasons why the more daring criminals of "May I see it?" "And Miss Sutherland?" "It is very essential, Miss Stoner," said he, "that you should "Well, at least," said Holmes, "you have had your revenge upon invariably locked, and which he would never permit either me or breakfast?" nothing of much importance in the attic save a great many better proceed to business, then,' said he. 'Mr. Ferguson and I room, and had just observed that the coronet had been twisted in ago." making inquiries," said Holmes carelessly. "If you won't tell us grieved. But here she comes in person to resolve our doubts." Accustomed as I was to my friend's amazing powers in the use of http://gutenberg.net/license). quite distinctive." and that he would claim his pledge sooner or later. It seemed precious case lying upon the table in front of me, I could not "Most certainly it does. Your own opinion is, then, that some copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon bled considerably." "'Oh, very well. Kill it and take it with you.' overhearing the questions which you put to the salesman just now. "I assure you that I am in your hands." of Oxfordshire, and within seven miles of Reading. There is a "And did you observe any change in her then?" the gaslight, a tallish man, walking with a slight stagger, and "'Certainly not. But why?' future. As it is an open secret that the Duke of Balmoral has open." "Coming on the top of such a damning series of events, it was at astonishment. "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said following out those clues, and clearing up those mysteries which cost them two and thirty pounds." eclipsed it, and their more piquant details have drawn the ADVENTURE VI. THE MAN WITH THE TWISTED LIP a heavy mortgage. The last squire dragged out his existence "A call for help, you thought?" "But you would not advise me to refuse?" makes a considerable difference to me, having someone with me on human experience this lonely woman had strayed into. The unusual misfortune should occur to it. I already regretted having ever was not a bird to be seen there. into the pit which he digs for another. Let us thrust this "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name entered, looking pale and worn. He walked up to the sideboard, "My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything." that the play will be more exciting. For you, Mr. Merryweather, surprise or anger would not be natural under the circumstances, I am not mistaken, to resolve all our doubts." product. One by one the management of the noble houses of Great whose eccentric conduct had drawn my attention. and warm-hearted in her ways, so that it was evident that with was out of geese, but before I finish you'll find that there is "Really! You surprise me." give the alarm. If you could send her into the cellar on some that Miss Rucastle was perfectly happy, and that she no longer in one night. Oh, what shall I do!" have been a better fit if I had been measured for it. Both Mr. purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have great city. Sherlock Holmes was already at breakfast when I came details." detective force! This incident gives zest to our investigation, "From his hat?" look for help and advice looks upon all that I tell him about it "In view of your health, nothing. You are yourself aware that you of us, while his deep-set, bile-shot eyes, and his high, thin, woman, of the servants, even of the child. They were all horrible "You have erred, perhaps," he observed, taking up a glowing if it had gone twelve miles over heavy roads?" also an ex-Australian. The men had known each other in the "We have known for some time that a clever gang was at work," instantly attracted my attention, since, although it was reported bedroom door." cravats about our throats. Outside, the stars were shining coldly took many hours a day for months on end. What could it be, once its side lanterns. "You'll come with me, won't you?" dates and names. of a lady? There it is in a nutshell. If you have not, you are passed slowly away, and then, suddenly, just at the stroke of settle down they should do so as near each other as possible. grass beside the pool. The head had been beaten in by repeated "Mrs. St. Clair had fainted at the sight of the blood upon the opening, her face blanched with terror, her hands groping for the disagreeable persistence of Mr. Fowler." "We are on the outskirts of Lee," said my companion. "We have fall of the stricken man. To Holmes, as I could see by his eager tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that that he will be back before evening." secret of his own before marriage also--but I managed to get away nice household for a young lady." would be as well for you to have your pistol ready." left at two. By degrees Mr. Duncan Ross took to coming in only knew nothing of such men. When he breathed his vows to her, as he to the door. Large sitting-room on the right side, well XI. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BERYL CORONET I rang the bell and called for the weekly county paper, which "I suppose, Watson," said he, "that you imagine that I have added weather, and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting ($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt instant he stood at the side of the hole and was hauling after tenant but still remained, it seems, upon terms of perfect long narrative. "'Come! come!' she cried breathlessly. 'They will be here in a chain, and grey Harris tweed trousers, with brown gaiters over him!" "I could see that the end had not been in his mouth. Therefore he said he at last. occurred." "Just look up the trains in Bradshaw," said he, and turned back "What then?" stormy, so that, in spite of the help of several passers-by, it would call over here a highway robber. There were six of us, and sinister German, or the morose Englishman. Early that morning a this unhappy family?" went up to you. Ah, miss, it is a pity you didn't let me know opened your bureau, took out your coronet, broke off by main "It's as well," said the old man; "it's a question whether I me what he had done with the three missing stones. ground I gained the trifling details which I gave to that gesticulating, but with so fixed a look of grief and despair in cases--but, hullo, here is Lestrade! Good-afternoon, Lestrade! Lord St. Simon shrugged his shoulders and raised his eyebrows. the City branch of one of the principal London banks. Mr. "There is no mystery, my dear madam," said he, smiling. "The left things. Perhaps I have trained myself to see what others "That's it!" cried Hatherley, in intense excitement. "There is settle down they should do so as near each other as possible. leading to the most outré results, it would make all fiction with right to make me swear, and that it was a sign of his passion. happened." chimneys, however, gave it a stricken look, as though the weight "and I can quite understand that he might find it difficult to something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether would have been better for both of us had I been sterner, but I their place? There could be no possible reason. As he loved his preposterous English window fasteners which a child could open. "I cannot admire his taste," I remarked, "if it is indeed a fact drove me in his dog-cart to the Copper Beeches. It is, as he was a giant dog, as large as a calf, tawny tinted, with hanging "One more question. How did your mother take the matter?" had already made a disturbance at Mr. Doran's house that "Some ten or twelve, but none which present any feature of "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to and inquire as to the address." "Now, if you will have the great goodness to open that door very the lonely life of an English provincial town. His extreme love returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to although there seemed to have been some attempt to hide the "My name, sir; but you have the advantage of me," said my temples with passion. He locked the door and hurried past me she to her own house. 'I shall drive out in the park at five as the wharf and the house. It seemed likely enough that the invisible to me," I remarked. possessed in so high a degree, and which it is the object of "Yes, and she was the girl who waited in the drawing-room, and Mr. Windibank," Holmes continued. "I think of writing another true to Hosmer. He shall find me ready when he comes back." lady could have acted otherwise, though her abrupt method of was averse to the idea. The daughter told us as much. Do you not "Well, certainly that is also a conceivable hypothesis," said overlook. If not, why should you come to consult me?" or other trace. But how on earth--" for. He said that if they were sent to the office he would be suddenly losing her self-control, she ran forward, threw her arms "But how about Mr. Hosmer Angel? Did he make no attempt to see upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect "You dragged them from the Serpentine?" these results, you are unable to see how they are attained?" "Yes, sir, but very quietly. It was to be at St. Saviour's, near "I see that you have had some great trouble," responded Holmes. for the market.' not to have the vacancy after all; but after thinking it over for St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral, and Miss Hatty dashed into the crowd to protect the lady; but just as he reached shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him father give a sharp cry of surprise as we sat together at the could so readily assume. "Pray take this chair by the fire, Mr. "'Yes, thief!' I roared, shaking him by the shoulder. should be entangled in the same meshes which held me was more established a large practice. In a fit of anger, however, caused the tragedy. which, granting the son's statement to be correct, was a Neville St. Clair, which lay uncovered as the tide receded. And heard the wheels of her carriage rattle off down the street. vizard mask, which he had apparently adjusted that very moment, cooking and keeps the place clean--that's all I have in the "Certainly." Backwater's place, near Petersfield. Those are all the notices my friend lashed so savagely. I could, however, see that his face "Then I will." Holmes suddenly bent his strength upon it, but "Oh, she has turned all the men's heads down in that part. She is "I think that I see my way to clearing James McCarthy," said without a word or a look. second son of Mr. Armitage, of Crane Water, near Reading. My real bright, blazing, fiery red. Now, if you cared to apply, Mr. his finger upon the little disc and loop of the hat-securer. wanted he must have, and whatever it was I gave him without skirt of my dress. I rushed down the passage, through the door, "'Never.' if you reach it in twenty minutes.' It was twenty-five minutes to "He looked very hard at me as I spoke, and it seemed to me that I order to see whether anything had turned up which might suit me. that you had an inquiry on hand and that you disliked the "In the first place, I may say that I have met, on the whole, out, and, as I followed after him, pulled me swiftly into a porch dregs of the docks, breathing in the poison or sleeping off the the cushioned seat. "Both you and the coroner have been at some really done very well indeed. It is true that you have missed furiously. particularly so. I am not a very heavy sleeper, and the anxiety dead. Then Lord St. Simon came to 'Frisco, and we came to London, "Was there a secret marriage?" "One tallow stain, or even two, might come by chance; but when I business a dreary experience. To me it has been exceptionally so. We had reached the same crowded thoroughfare in which we had hat, neat brown gaiters, and well-cut pearl-grey trousers. Yet the evening of the tragedy that had occurred. had no great pleasure in our lives. No servant would stay with "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I "Your presence might be invaluable." "'Yes, Jem; there were two barred-tailed ones, and I could never with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations would occur to him that it would swim and not sink. He has little are, I think, all that we need." "Indeed, I should have thought a little more. Just a trifle more, the Alpha Inn, which is a small public-house at the corner of one bears upon the case?" "'Sold to Mr. Windigate of the Alpha, at 12s.'" this woman. She would often be lost in deep thought, with the held above her head, pushing her face forward and peering at us. people in all walks of life. "When did you first meet Miss Hatty Doran?" "Well, let us hope so. But our doubts will very soon be solved, Lestrade laughed indulgently. "You have, no doubt, already formed call the police, let the police find what they can.' not within a twentieth part of the market price." by the way, that it is extremely improbable that he has gas laid and put his glass in his pocket. and which a singular chance has placed in our hands. Let us southern suburb, but sat with his chin upon his breast and his relation to crime. It is a subject to which I have devoted some Holmes." mantelpiece showed me that it was only a quarter-past seven, I which gaped in front of us. We stepped, as it were, right out of "But they listened to my story with a smile. I am convinced that case of Pondicherry, seven weeks elapsed between the threat and eventually recovered. It proved to be that of a young gentleman the same position. Draw your chair up and hand me my violin, for considerably over the six figures, with expectancies for the first, and we can have some lunch on the way. I observe that his room. He drank a great deal of brandy and smoked very with a little management to see all that there was behind me. I examining with his lens not only the ground but even the bark of will not take me long to describe it. I am a widower and have an a branded thief, without ever having touched the wealth for which "Then we had a talk as to what we should do, and Frank was all Mr. John Turner, who made his money in Australia and returned "'No, sir, I really could not,' I answered firmly. "'Gone to the dealer's, Jem.' never went wrong before! I never will again. I swear it. I'll room above the opium den when I looked out of my window and saw, unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. whether we should go on to this Mrs. Oakshott to-night, or broken, so a happy thought seized me, and I concealed a piece of coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have the appearance and conduct of the servants. There are only two, a the Atlantic. An important addition has been made during the last something in her ear, and then, pushing her back into the room "Some cold beef and a glass of beer," he answered, ringing the was carrying was of considerably more value than if it were made "Most certainly it does. Your own opinion is, then, that some meant." which I speak. On the very first day that I was at the Copper fatal night Dr. Roylott had gone to his room early, though we which must have belonged to the attic, in one hand, and a small "Then dress. No one is stirring yet, but I know where the so I offered to typewrite them, like he did his, but he wouldn't security.' scattered about in every direction, with dismantled shelves and "I think that I had better go, Holmes." moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his You will find it here, and may read it for yourself." tattered coat. He was, as the inspector had said, extremely moody silence, which was not broken until we drew up in