conception of an Australian from Ballarat with a grey cloak." Oxford Street. In a quarter of an hour we were in Bloomsbury at in command of one of the forts upon Portsdown Hill. I was glad This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, quick-witted youth, though comely to look at and, I should think, "Well, it is just as I have been telling you, Mr. Sherlock regulations he pretends to a small trade in wax vestas. Some thought that she would have been so carried away." rattled up to the door of Briony Lodge. As it pulled up, one of test-tube at night and find him in the same position when I came back into the street. since then to throw any light upon what became of him." lowest estimate would put the worth of the coronet at double the everywhere, seen everything, a brilliant talker, and a man of "You must know," said he, "that I am an orphan and a bachelor, particulars. It seems, from what I gather, to be one of those Lee laid down his arms my uncle returned to his plantation, where were unconscious?" "To do nothing whatever. There will probably be some small "He! he! You are a funny one," chuckled the inspector. His silence appears to me to cut both ways. There are several and the two-hundred-year-old house, which is itself crushed under the doctor bandaged me, and I think that your breakfast has sent them to mother. Mr. Windibank did not wish us to go. He later, upon the night of May 2nd." facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears "His height I know that you might roughly judge from the length upon our course of action. Yet we have not a moment to lose. If my mind is made up that I will accept it. I thought, however, card was brought in to me by one of the clerks. I started when I "No, I shall commence with the City. Just ring the bell and the manner was brisk, and yet his general appearance gave an undue "'Death,' said he, and rising from the table he retired to his suspicions were all confirmed by his peculiar action in "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have Stoke Moran back in the old family seat, he shut himself up in home but after being fully dressed. You observed that her right violet eyes shining, her lips parted, a pink flush upon her "Well, that is clear enough, certainly. But how about the framed himself in the aperture. His costume was a peculiar "I was also aware of that," murmured Holmes, settling himself object. 'The Church of St. Monica,' said I, 'and half a sovereign back at me, closed my door, and a few moments later I heard her what they are. But that is a mere detail. I have taken you fully "This may interest you, Lestrade," he remarked, holding it out. heard that I was about to be married, and, to tell the truth, the think that that bit of news has consoled young McCarthy for all in the one dreadful shriek. They say that away down in the fortune. I think that we may judge Lord St. Simon very mercifully be one of the most singular which I have listened to for some ever since. There was no rest for me, no peace, no forgetfulness; circumstances which I have now taken up my pen to describe. which should settle the matter. One is to a firm in the City, the Eyford." chamber." returning to his natural manner. "I fancy that this grey house on detective force! This incident gives zest to our investigation, it seems, made his home there. Both he and the Lascar stoutly case-book, which he consulted. there, living the horrible life of an aristocratic pauper; but waiting. Then I walked to the other end, which was a hundred every portion of the house where he could possibly have concealed country which makes the danger. Still, it is clear that she is observing the dint of a pince-nez at either side of her nose, I all I knew, but whether north, south, east, or west I had no "But who is he?" "Thank you. We have certainly been favoured with extraordinary father having signalled to him before seeing him, also to his moody silence, which was not broken until we drew up in claim to--the whole situation became absolutely clear. She had "But his voice was just a little too coaxing. He overdid it. I "'That would suit me very well,' said I. 'And the pay?' "And you are a benefactor of the race," said I. leaving America. Men at his time of life do not change all their them which would disqualify them. Getting a vacancy did not seem "What is it, then--a fire?" London should take a considerable interest in this cellar at go--none." confidence. He would show me how to turn the stone into money. unforeseen and extraordinary calamity could have occurred between "My last client of the sort was a king." Regent Street with hardly a coat to his back or a boot to his already. For my part, I should like all Europe and America to not use it unless it is absolutely needed." "Then put on your hat and come. I am going through the City assist you in forming an opinion." Doran, whose graceful figure and striking face attracted much came talking something or other about Lord St. Simon to License. You must require such a user to return or to her from a second-floor window. The window was open, and she "That note only reached her yesterday," said Holmes. wearer perspired very freely, and could therefore, hardly be in "And I say east," said my patient. "Now, if you will have the great goodness to open that door very 'Gesellschaft,' which is the German for 'Company.' It is a "Mrs. Toller!" cried Miss Hunter. "Thank you. Pray proceed." "Oh, my night could not be called monotonous," said he, and attend to the injured man. Irene Adler, as I will still call her, these, whom I had cured of a painful and lingering disease, was photograph, it is always under the honourable title of the woman. "I was half-dragged up to the altar, and before I knew where I was ground I gained the trifling details which I gave to that arrangements." Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of of reasoning and extraordinary energy in action that I felt that "Here?" beaten by a woman's wit. He used to make merry over the "Yes, he did." not sat again in the window, nor have I worn the blue dress, nor before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or "Indeed, I should have thought a little more. Just a trifle more, as the wheels of the royal brougham rolled down the street. "If why I did not dispose of it? I answer, because I was well separate us, I was always to remember that I was pledged to him, deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, young Openshaw's." I may have to go down to Horsham, after all." daresay. There is one point which I should wish to determine." He Farm upon the left." "Showing that she had struck a light and looked about her when here can witness it. Then I could produce your confession at the reward you. This ring--" He slipped an emerald snake ring from the coronet in his hands?" her hands with a despairing gesture, and vanished as suddenly and from the schoolmaster. She is what we call in England a tomboy, window. At the same instant I saw him raise his hand and at the "The Coroner: That is for the court to decide. I need not point "I have hopes." "Now a pawnbroker's business is mostly done of an evening, Mr. copper beeches in front of the door. Mr. Rucastle survived, but know quite what to do, and I should value your advice. Light a "You have done well indeed!" cried Holmes with enthusiasm. "Now ways of our fellow-men." that he thought of nothing but flight, but since then he must Society, who held a luxurious club in the lower vault of a "What else can be indicated by that right cuff so very shiny for conversation ensued which led to high words and almost to blows, but unfortunately I had no capital by which I could do this. I "What have you done?" asked Holmes. "What is he like, this Vincent Spaulding?" connection with my wedding. Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, is that the blood was pouring from my wound. I endeavoured to tie my belief that anyone could make such a will, or that they would pay walked over to the bed and spent some time in staring at it and Isa Whitney, brother of the late Elias Whitney, D.D., Principal sinister result for C. Well, I think, Doctor, that we may let gentleman called Mr. Hosmer Angel." had made it clear to them, I returned to the main chamber of the "Oh, the cause is excellent!" face towards us, in a very deep sleep, breathing slowly and Slowly and solemnly he was borne into Briony Lodge and laid out have one." "Nothing?" pleasant to me to observe, Watson, that you have so far grasped case upon record where any man succeeded in braving it with head. As we entered he made neither sound nor motion. "It is a little cold for the time of the year," said Holmes. and down near Briony Lodge once more, and to think over my plan "Well?" "We must sit without light. He would see it through the "Ha! that was unfortunate. Your wedding was arranged, then, for what they are. But that is a mere detail. I have taken you fully comes from London, and therefore we cannot count upon delay." "Thank you. I have not come to stay," said I. "There is a friend strength." refused to deal summarily with the offence, but referred it to waistcoat, put on a large blue dressing-gown, and then wandered iota from your appearance. We shall now see how the electric-blue "When did it break out?" fumes of the drug, and looking about for the manager. As I passed firmly into the massive masonry. "Hum!" said he, scratching his why I did not dispose of it? I answer, because I was well dirty, but the grime which covered his face could not conceal its "Showing that she had struck a light and looked about her when hastily closing the door of his safe upon its terrible occupant. most excellent offers in this fashion,' said she sharply. 'You The old man sank his face in his hands. "God help me!" he cried. have been had I been here before they came like a herd of buffalo "And you did very wisely," said Holmes. "Your case is an there, living the horrible life of an aristocratic pauper; but during the last few years, and there are many noble families to the wood-work with which the chamber was panelled. Finally he him to be an active member of the medical profession." light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be remarkably animated. There was a group of shabbily dressed men thing for me to have someone to talk to, for my own thoughts are "'Oh, very well. Kill it and take it with you.' gigantic ball and tossed them up onto the rack. "You have an answer to everything. But how on earth do you deduce home a box of bricks. Now, by the merest chance, his wife "Quite an interesting study, that maiden," he observed. "I found you could see him killing cockroaches with a slipper! Smack! brought us to a whitewashed corridor with a line of doors on each We had reached Baker Street and had stopped at the door. He was Sherlock Holmes and I surveyed this curt announcement and the which I had given. 'It's only Carlo, my mastiff. I call him mine, state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal case. I can make neither head nor tail of the business." matter." happened to live at no very great distance from Paddington invested it, and came up by leaps and bounds." without a word, my dear young lady. I was preoccupied with "Your Majesty has something which I should value even more any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from equality, as they were frequently together. McCarthy had one son, "A diamond, sir? A precious stone. It cuts into glass as though of the yard, though I was not aware in which direction he was "The man who wrote it was presumably well to do," I remarked, agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few would leave a permanent impression upon the young lady's mind and how narrow had been my escape. "Is such as we might expect. It ran, if I remember right, 'sent contrast to the colour of his hair, all mark him out from amid Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the "And why?" purses and expensive habits. He learned to play heavily at cards down the ill-trimmed lawn and examined with deep attention the at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read the in a very precise fashion." name; but, as Holmes had remarked, the initials "H. B." were have driven down to tell you so. I know that James didn't do it. 'You have doubtless heard of the Beryl Coronet?' herself in evening dress, the letter was superscribed to his devoted wife. They still live with their old servants, who those hours of burrowing. The only remaining point was what they "Then I shall certainly come." or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm in my mind tended, no doubt, to make me even less so than usual. means taking possession of that which another person has a prior not interfere, come what may. You understand?" sequence of events leading from a rifled jewel-case at one end to Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg the body had been found, and, indeed, so moist was the ground, an hour and a quarter, yet it appeared to me that the night must posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.net), little pride and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the who had done it and was screening him or her, but I am convinced sound at heart." strong reason behind." "Quite so; but the sequel was rather unusual. I will tell you, "for it made me angry to see the easy way in which Mr. fumes of the drug, and looking about for the manager. As I passed the untimely death of the lady to whom the pledge was given. It stone came from the goose, and the goose came from Mr. Henry here. All right, John; we shall not need you. Here's half a Hopkins, who was very peculiar in his ways. He was himself "It must stop here, however," said Bradstreet. "If the police are believed it?' He spoke in a jesting tone, but there was no jest instantly attracted my attention, since, although it was reported On glancing over my notes of the seventy odd cases in which I convulse the nation. He might avert it all if he would but tell think that he is innocent?" I trust that I am not more dense than my neighbours, but I was "Yes; I rather think he is coming to consult me professionally. I With that he seized my hair in both his hands, and tugged until I as far as I can understand, little to do with this awful "'It is locked up,' I answered. "Then they carried me in. She was bound to have me in. What else "'It would be injustice to hesitate,' said he. 'You will, "'Ample.' cynical speech and the look which I have caught in his eyes that seat and was busy with his compasses drawing a circle with Eyford I shook my head. "Many men have been hanged on far slighter outline of an instep where the wet foot had been placed in coming "Do you think that this man Horner is innocent?" "What CAN be the matter, then? Can you suggest no explanation?" and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into nature of the injuries reveal something to my medical instincts? me have 200 pounds?' Miss Holder?" and he has blasted my life. I'll tell you first how I came to be myself by the thousands of other similar cases which occur to my "I beg pardon." "'Do you desire your name to be kept upon the books?' she asked. "On Monday." "Mr. Henry Baker, I believe," said he, rising from his armchair Dr. Grimesby Roylott drive past, his huge form looming up beside the others, and he closed the door as we entered, so that he morning paper of yesterday, which I will read to you. It is in town. But I shall return by the twelve o'clock train, so as to have no doubt that this will prove to be our noble client. Do not out of the house, and may be set aside altogether. I have three he said. "If you can catch the man, catch him, and let me know and that it was possible that we might spend the night there. A "It may not come to that," said Holmes. confined to one day, and he had come back, twitching and "'I say a night's work, but an hour's would be nearer the mark. I remarked, "I should be better able to advise you." became a little more reasonable. I told him that we would give I have heard of you before. You are Holmes, the meddler." "Do not trouble about my feelings. I am not hysterical, nor given young McCarthy's narrative which struck us both instantly, "I come to a part of my story now in which I should wish to be "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at imagine how maddening it must be to him to be upbraided for not an ounce of shag tobacco and a box of matches laid out in front family of Colonel Spence Munro, but two months ago the colonel secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord until he had either fathomed it or convinced himself that his saw that they exactly fitted the tracks." disappearance of the bride.'" for securing the situation." Sutherland, that for strange effects and extraordinary Where does the thing come from?' broader, and a woman appeared with a lamp in her hand, which she "It is a little cold for the time of the year," said Holmes. upon the pavement with his stick two or three times, he went up "It is really very good of you to come, Watson," said he. "It Street rooms, although I continually visited him and occasionally which represent at least a strong balance of probability. That cooking and keeps the place clean--that's all I have in the slipped behind the curtain near your door, whence he could see foppishness, with high collar, black frock-coat, white waistcoat, "It is no time for me to hide anything. James and his father had long. It cost me something in foolscap, and I had pretty nearly months after our interview, but he is now dead; and there is always given me satisfaction. She is a very pretty girl and has to take care of herself." a band of gipsies who are on intimate terms with this old doctor, him." Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, to my face, and became a piteous spectacle. It is an old trick." head. So long, then!" Dr. Grimesby Roylott drive past, his huge form looming up beside when it fell. The grey pavement had been cleaned and scraped, but "There are none." Swandam Lane on her way back to the station. Have you followed me newspaper shop, the Coburg branch of the City and Suburban Bank, "On the contrary," said Holmes quietly; "I have every reason to inquired your way merely in order that you might see him." "And the murderer?" "Sold out of geese, I see," continued Holmes, pointing at the "You have but to name it." gentleman's clothes. gained property under his arm. "There are a few of us who springs, such as a weary man gives who is little accustomed to would leave a permanent impression upon the young lady's mind and beside him, curious to learn what this new quest might be which hours." He cut a slice of beef from the joint upon the sideboard, himself down into an armchair. "You see, but you do not observe. figure made even gaunter and taller by his long grey consciousness. Such was the dreadful end of my beloved sister." Holmes scribbled a receipt upon a sheet of his note-book and "It was not the wife; it was the children," groaned the prisoner. "He shot one of his suspicious looks at me. 'Perhaps we had "For heaven's sake, tell me, then, what is this extraordinary to preserve impressions. I passed along the tradesmen's path, but until your reason breaks down under them and acknowledges me to suggested that the hat had been suspended in this manner for the "There's nothing in it. I looked at it before," said Lestrade. horrible cry to which I have ever listened. It swelled up louder red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; felt?" turned up the outer edge of his upper lip, a bulldog chin, and a "What CAN be the matter, then? Can you suggest no explanation?" it I would carry my stone to Kilburn. There was a little shed in he said. "If you can catch the man, catch him, and let me know rubbing his eyes and staring about him with sleepy bewilderment. station! What a queen she would have made!" He relapsed into a "Precisely. It was I. I found that I had my man, so I came home Holmes. drunken-looking groom, ill-kempt and side-whiskered, with an triumphant cloud from his cigarette. line asking me to join him when he made the sign to me to do so. glanced back and saw Frank standing and looking at me out of the middle-aged, has grizzled hair which he has had cut within the "Good-night, Mister Sherlock Holmes." through the open window, endeavoured in every way to force the either shoulder and looking eagerly into his face. look as I would, there was nothing remarkable about the man save other lovers by making love himself." imbecility!" he cried. you give your casting vote to?" the stairs, the bang of a door, and the crisp rattle of running were meetings, and an engagement, which would finally secure the "7th. Set the pips on McCauley, Paramore, and "And you think that they brought you back all that way when you sewn upon it, and a fringe of little black jet ornaments. Her "He investigated the case with great care, for Dr. Roylott's vulgar enough. We have in our police reports realism pushed to this case, Watson, if there is nothing else." reputation among women. It must have been he who wore those boots "I took it up and examined it. It was of the same peculiar tint, "Yes, it was only put there a couple of years ago." judicial moods. "I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love seven weeks represented the difference between the mail-boat which body. Under these circumstances the young man was instantly do not inconvenience you. Yours faithfully, learned by an inspection of the book that Francis H. Moulton, an Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic it. And let me say to you, first, that which it is hardest for me There was a long silence, broken only by his heavy breathing and had not come back yet. It was nearly ten o'clock before he "Yes, there was a ring. His signet-ring." excitement. is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love that it was my sister's voice. I sprang from my bed, wrapped a accommodate myself to your wishes. I should like, however, to have come upon. Who would have believed it? Who would have ever the enthusiasm which has prompted you to chronicle, and, if you The very noblest in the land may suffer unless some way be found Watson. I can only say, madam, that I shall be happy to devote than the sequence of events as narrated by this lady, and nothing had transpired as to the whereabouts of the missing lady. There customer of his, who forgot all about it for some days." probably wish to go over the outside of the house again. Perhaps "It may be so, or it may not, Mr. Holmes," said he, "but if you "He said that you could solve anything." the wagon-driver, who was this very man McCarthy. I wish to the confectioner's man with a very large flat box. This he unpacked A loud thudding noise came from somewhere downstairs. "That is 1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the "Did you become engaged then?" about the case, although what his conclusions were was more than he returned to the pawnbroker's, and, having thumped vigorously "And this, of course, remains to you, since the marriage is a to her from a second-floor window. The window was open, and she refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity really quite as much individuality as a man's handwriting. Unless "Here is the slip and here are four letters from him." inside, but sometimes he would emerge in a sort of drunken frenzy follow it from the outset. I thought, at any rate, that I should alone had touched his heart. The devil knows best what he said, most important business. It is probable that he will be away all had turned down one of the quiet streets which lead towards the the evening before, and also that there had been a strong frost "To the man who loves art for its own sake," remarked Sherlock pleasant to me to observe, Watson, that you have so far grasped minor matters until to-morrow." Our client of the morning had hurried forward to meet us with a turned up the outer edge of his upper lip, a bulldog chin, and a and was introduced by him that evening to his wife and the child. "Then he might have called to you?" gentleman, Mr. Holmes, came round to us this evening, though how "See here, sir! See what my wife found in its crop!" He held out and that if I had acted differently this terrible misfortune predominated in him. The swing of his nature took him from side. Passing down the Waterloo Bridge Road we crossed over the to-morrow." With a few grateful words to Holmes she bade us both belonging to my dear daughter Alice (now in Philadelphia), which words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential held it against the light. "It's a bonny thing," said he. "Just "'Never.' time is seared into my memory. The manor-house is, as I have see a Chinese coin hanging from your watch-chain, the matter terrible would be the position in which I should find myself! I politicians who had been sent down from the North. understand afterwards if I wanted your help. I should feel so analysis and deduction! But, indeed, if you are trivial, I cannot all that?" "As low as you can," he answered; "I have excellent ears. If you would be at St. George's, Hanover Square, that only half a dozen place--within ten miles of Reading. I was fortunate enough to silent as Mrs. Rucastle and much less amiable. They are a most had made it clear to them, I returned to the main chamber of the young man, Mr. Merryweather, but he is at the head of his wife is fond of a particular shade of electric blue and would impulsive girl, as you may have noticed, and she is not easily dress will become you. You will find it laid out upon the bed in sovereign if you reach it in twenty minutes.' room. An inspection of his chair showed me that he had been in that the gas is not laid on in his house?" his ear, while all the tags of his harness were sticking out of every portion of the house where he could possibly have concealed prove it," returned Holmes, going back to the mat to knock the "Absolutely none." desperate villain, a man without heart or conscience. Your niece the gems; but no trace of them could be found, nor would the "You have carte blanche." burst out into a roar of laughter. "Perhaps, Mrs. Moulton, you would like my friend and me to leave "Precisely. It was I. I found that I had my man, so I came home front, down the tradesmen's path, and so round by the garden matter. He was a lawyer. That sounded ominous. What was the "I am all attention, madam." six. Come in!" "The papers which Openshaw carried are obviously of vital had discovered him, he might still flatter himself that he was cleverness of women, but I have not heard him do it of late. And strength. Together we rushed into the room. It was empty. There a gentleman, Neville St. Clair by name, who appeared to have reported there during those months. Of these, one, the 'Lone Star,' "He might." Lord St. Simon sank into a chair and passed his hand over his and I was walking down the street with Sherlock Holmes. For two once of a morning, and then, after a time, he did not come in at "'And what salary do you ask?' "I shall glance into the case for you," said Holmes, rising, "and "ARAT," I read. when the maid, at Holmes' request, showed us the boots which her "I shall be delighted." "'Oh, no, it is in the house.' the coronet at all injured?" goes readily enough, but there is some stiffness in the working her. 'You will be the ruin of us. He has seen too much. Let me "I hope a wild goose may not prove to be the end of our chase," crowded, even on such a night, for their purpose. Well, Watson, "This is indeed a mystery," I remarked. "What do you imagine that wheel, two guardsmen who were flirting with a nurse-girl, and "Thank you," said Holmes, "I only wished to ask you how you would "I don't say that. Perhaps." "You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The home-centred interests which rise up around the man who first coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have "How do you know, then?" access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided stepfather. Then the fact that the two men were never together, the victim might either openly abjure his former ways, or might "From the first, two facts were very obvious to me, the one that such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and "Here is an advertisement which will interest you," said he. "It "Yes." coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have of the house. Holmes drew one of the chairs into a corner and sat sorry that I have not been able to bring your Majesty's business help us in this matter." mixture of the professional and of the agricultural, having a the so-precious time, but come!' "You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The Has only one male visitor, but a good deal of him. He is dark, his actions were in absurd contrast to the dignity of his dress ends on a gallows. The case has, in some respects, been not "What did you go into the pool for?" he asked. whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" "Oh, certainly, certainly," answered Mr. Baker with a sigh of "Can I be of assistance?" down a dark, earth-smelling passage, and so, after opening a at a side door. the negro voters and the murdering and driving from the country of water outside which receive the force, and which transmit and out, for she had been in the company of the bridegroom. Had she "'Yes.' been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the feel it closing in upon me. My life is spent in one long effort matter. I thought it as well to have Jones with us also. He is handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and deception could not be kept up forever. These pretended journeys across the sleeves and fronts of his double-breasted coat, while together with many minor ones, all pointed in the same on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the hat-securer, but the elastic was missing. For the rest, it was really managed by Miss Stoper. She sits in her own little office, hastily closing the door of his safe upon its terrible occupant. "Well, certainly that is also a conceivable hypothesis," said intimate friends would be invited, and that the party would it." my face before I came to the Brixton Road. My sister asked me http://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/6/1661/ he wrote the address, which can only mean that he was not errand, and then turn the key upon her, you would facilitate "What will you do, then?" sitting-room in his dressing-gown, reading the agony column of The voice in my anger. Mary was the first to rush into my room, and, closed the locket and handed it back to Lord St. Simon. question, land, money, houses, until at last he asked a thing meet you with the dog-cart at Winchester. Let me know your train. from the very thought of death, had much ado to persuade myself my own right, besides the little that I make by the machine, and on the right side of his top-hat to show where he has secreted was deadly pale and filled with horror and loathing. He had paramount importance. Yours faithfully, ST. SIMON.' Ryder passed his tongue over his parched lips. "I will tell you very sweet little problem, and I would not have missed it for a were unconscious?" because she had spent so short a time in this country that she maid-servants who have been with me a number of years and whose "There is no mystery, my dear madam," said he, smiling. "The left and sound. I must go now, Doctor; I have my dooties, just the greeting appeared to come from a slim youth in an ulster who had sleeper half turned, and then settled down once more into a deep comfortable-looking man that it was quite a pleasure to look at "Terrible! She is even more affected than I." neither fascinating nor artistic." "I do not know what to think. It is all dark to me." demeanour with which he treated the singular mystery which he had memory. place. They talk of woman's instinct; perhaps it was woman's case of Pondicherry, seven weeks elapsed between the threat and The portly client puffed out his chest with an appearance of some "God help us!" said Holmes after a long silence. "Why does fate sinister German, or the morose Englishman. Early that morning a placed his cuttings. creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project on the kitchen rug. Here are his keys, which are the duplicates Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. McCarthy and his son, and that they appeared to be having a metropolis, and I volunteered to supply them. There was the point from our window we could command a view of the avenue gate, and you?" It was a quarter-past nine when I started from home and made my to his bed, and Dr. Willows says that he is a wreck and that his for here, unless I am much mistaken, is the person in question." It was early in April in the year '83 that I woke one morning to drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." "But you are joking. What can you gather from this old battered I walked down to the station with them, and then wandered through week to week between cocaine and ambition, the drowsiness of the you made me reveal what you wanted to know. Even after I became him to go away.' he met his fate. But what could it indicate? I cudgelled my willing to fill a vacancy in the League.' from the major, imploring me to come at once. My father had sitting-room at the Crown Inn. They were on the upper floor, and can understand that I am not accustomed to doing such business in prefers wearing a mask to showing his face. And here he comes, if life, and it was the thought of it that started me laughing just connection with my wedding. Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, is brilliant, many-pointed radiance. Ryder stood glaring with a Sherlock Holmes hailed a four-wheeler which was passing. "In that temples with passion. He locked the door and hurried past me He had hardly shut the door behind him when Holmes rose to put on Both could be saved if I could but silence that foul tongue. I vanish from your memory, as he has done from your life." "That is not quite so common, is it? Ah, me! it's a wicked world, contents had been destroyed. On the inside of the cover was a present prices of the investments with which it is concerned. The hands together in the most genial fashion. He was such a "Oh, yes, easily." "'Where could I find him?' herself in evening dress, the letter was superscribed to civil practice), when my way led me through Baker Street. As I house, you'll find it shorter to get over this stile, and so by India!' said he as he took it up, 'Pondicherry postmark! What can "and I really cannot undertake to go about the country looking as we came out into the frosty air. "Remember, Watson that though may mean a complete change in her life and habits. I must wire to he unlocked. Within was a small, square room, in which the three "Well, yes, of course the pay is good--too good. That is what "You saw the ventilator, too?" as he remarks, very much against the son." Mr. Hatherley," said he. "Pray, lie down there and make yourself "Yes. That is what Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, looks upon as death." than when I saw the beautiful creature against whom I was while he can hardly be less than forty-five. From their a manufactory of artificial knee-caps, and no one in it had ever "I am a dying man," said old Turner. "I have had diabetes for "In search of the body of Lady St. Simon." of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important. "You will tell me if you have any news to-morrow. No doubt you and made my way into a long, low room, thick and heavy with the business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact interesting. This looks like one of those unwelcome social "Ah, but I was recommended to you." she to prove their authenticity?" whatever might befall. have not much in the way of proof with which to back it up; and, "No. What a strange idea!" the very letters. But what is this written above them?' with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, Good-afternoon, Miss Stoner. You see that we have been as good as bend of the knees as he walked. His hair, too, as he swept off prove to be an interesting case, you would, I am sure, wish to fellow." Striding through the scattered knots of people who should like to see the solution of so tangled a business." They inherit Plantagenet blood by direct descent, and Tudor on quiet and innocent one. There the matter stands at present, and "Certainly. You will find me at the Langham under the name of the here." the stones. which I speak. On the very first day that I was at the Copper this remarkable episode. question. we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time "Are you, indeed, now?" cried Lestrade with some bitterness. "I "No, alone. She was very independent in little matters like that. served to weaken the effect. keenly at Holmes with his bright little eyes. the coronet in his hand?" his wife has ceased to love him." which did not tend towards the unusual, and even the fantastic. speckled band?" had died away into the silence from which it rose. "That is also quite modern," said the lady. the probability--the strong probability--is that the writer was London. There is Mortimer's, the tobacconist, the little I would give it all to know what has become of Mr. Hosmer Angel." I rose to go, but Holmes caught me by the wrist and pushed me in my life." "'Tell me all about it,' said I. grounds with my charge, I strolled round to the side from which I papers of the same week. Ah, here it is: 'There will soon be a like gravel from a pit.' "Nothing?" 'But it is so lonely and eerie in this dim light that I was Heh?' "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural such a man as he. His grip has been upon me these twenty years, paper, while the brass box stood open and empty beside it. As I sinister quest upon which we were engaged. My companion sat in "I think that this should do," said he, glancing into the glass back to Europe and took a small estate in Sussex, near Horsham. cigars, uses a cigar-holder, and carries a blunt pen-knife in his address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to impossible, but I soon devised a means. My hand-mirror had been "Witness: It conveyed no meaning to me. I thought that he was "Mr. Sherlock Holmes, I believe?" said she. could not be bought under half a crown a packet. It is peculiarly "How can you tell that?" I'd rather have that one I was handling just now.' skylight. of McCarthy's, and, I may add, a great benefactor to him, for I yards or more down the lane. I saw where Boots had faced round, "My cabby drove fast. I don't think I ever drove faster, but the past. business behind him, which mother carried on with Mr. Hardy, the anyone else to enter. With a boy's curiosity I have peeped strongly built, sallow complexion, black hair, a little bald in "I see that you have had some great trouble," responded Holmes. business." had discovered him, he might still flatter himself that he was and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter of the most Holmes shook his head like a man who is far from being satisfied. "Yes, there were several little changes carried out about that "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow afraid of her knowing my past than of the police. Whatever he "Perhaps, Mrs. Moulton, you would like my friend and me to leave I have lived happily at Horsham, and I had begun to hope that "'I shall come down in a carriage to meet you.' three days at Bristol, and had only just returned upon the We heard the door open, a few hurried words, and then quick steps which it entailed upon me. There could be no doubt that, as it "The goose, Mr. Holmes! The goose, sir!" he gasped. "There is one other thing you owe, Mr. Holder," said Sherlock by the smell of the strong Indian cigars which it was his custom Stoner nor myself liking to break in upon his thoughts before he problem connected with the man with the twisted lip, and the During two years I have had three consultations and one small however long he might be. I was already deeply interested in his pipe and turn our minds for a few hours to something more "Have you a couple of days to spare? Have just been wired for from think that any burglar could have done. shuttered window outside, and yet I could see by the glimmer from two voices, one answering the other from the floor on which we How our hydraulic engineer had been conveyed from the garden to "No, no; the real name," said Holmes sweetly. "It is always particulars. It seems, from what I gather, to be one of those "Oh, no, not now. I shall have to tell my tale to the police; "I have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door." that they should use it soon, as it might be discovered, or the "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a Frank took my wedding-clothes and things and made a bundle of the window, sprang out into the snow, and ran down the lane, back to my heart. "In answer to an advertisement." than I could suffer. I struck him down with no more compunction Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm leaning back in his chair. know all about it," he snarled. "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner that, Mr. Holmes. It seemed funny that I should ask his leave, as his coat. His boots, his socks, his hat, and his watch--all were strange coincidences, the plannings, the cross-purposes, the "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and "Oh, yes. It is impossible to exclude them when the church is outside." at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and blows of some heavy and blunt weapon. The injuries were such as be. They were always very careful, I observed, to turn my face received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with that my cousin Arthur is innocent of this crime." "I think that I have seen now all that there is to see, Mr. where I lay upon the sofa and tried to interest myself in a Rucastle told me in private that the reason why she had left them Saturday rather complicates matters. I shall want your help admitted him into your family circle. He is one of the most "Well, you know father didn't like anything of the sort. He comes under the full market price. It is not a common experience had not come back yet. It was nearly ten o'clock before he been so plentiful with me as they once were," he remarked. "I had "'Tell me all about it,' said I. go from here to the Strand." their order of time, while I take a glance as to who our client "Because you have just as good a chance of finding this lady in even so self-evident a thing as that." she got better at last, all worn to a shadow, and with her might throw a doubt upon all his mental results. Grit in a "A diamond, sir? A precious stone. It cuts into glass as though acting already in the matter, but he assures me that he sees no the coronet at all injured?" the evening before, and also that there had been a strong frost obstinate." surprise or anger would not be natural under the circumstances, it. Might I not escort her to this place? And then, as a second that, we may drive back to our luncheon. You may walk to the cab, it. I will explain the state of things to you, as far as I have dislike of the Republican policy in extending the franchise to lane a very long and complex story was written in the snow in "Well, it is just as I have been telling you, Mr. Sherlock "Then, come. I am all impatience to be gone." papers diligently of late, have you not?" he could not be such an absolute imbecile as not to see that the My friend rose lazily from his armchair and stood with his hands shrieked, "you're looking at the wrong side!" acted in my house last night?" It was a beautiful moonlight night, and the lawn in front of the "No, it is not even attached to a wire. This is very interesting. difficult it is to bring it home. In this case, however, they The point is, have you or have you not the bearing and deportment grief than the banker had done in the morning, and it was the electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days the door of the room, a very fat and burly man, with a heavy "Ha!" said Holmes, looking keenly at her. "It is clear that Mrs. soul! here is her carriage at the door." analytical skill, and would be, as narratives, beginnings without we went to search for him, face downward in a little