"When did you first meet Miss Hatty Doran?" he saw clearly not only what had happened but what was about to heavily. He was a middle-sized man, coarsely clad as became his Holmes pulled me abruptly into the room and closed the door "That was it," said Holmes, nodding approvingly; "I have no doubt it fell over with its keen white teeth still meeting in the great down the stone-flagged passage, in a peaked cap and frogged paramount importance. Yours faithfully, ST. SIMON.' upon the paper, but his eyes upon my companion. "'Come, man, come, only three minutes, or it won't be legal.' better-lined waistcoat. But he has a gentleman staying with him, black muzzle buried in Rucastle's throat, while he writhed and Clair walked slowly, glancing about in the hope of seeing a cab, the Lascar was at the foot of the stairs." band of ribbed silk and the excellent lining. If this man could I have given you pain, and I hope that you do not think very He disappeared into his bedroom and returned in a few minutes in this cross-questioning. I had formed my conclusions as to the in some way, and if you will not let me have it, then I must try have been had I been here before they came like a herd of buffalo impression behind it as though a window had gently closed "So much so," I remarked, "that of the last six cases which I beaten by a woman's wit. He used to make merry over the them?" as I had pictured it from Sherlock Holmes' succinct description, Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: d'you want to frighten a chap for?" He sank his face onto his that this matter really strikes very much deeper than either you Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A again, and to know how he was employing his extraordinary powers. "Why, what do you mean?" late!' "Owe!" He caught up a pen. "Name the sum, and I will pay it." "'And how far from the edge of the wood?' "Precisely. And if it were guilty, why did he not invent a lie? Holmes." "But it has twice been burgled." gazed at my hair until I felt quite bashful. Then suddenly he "I should be immensely obliged to you." for a glass of sherry pointed to one of the most expensive "What do you mean?" business, for he was very superior, being a traveller in wines. withdraw quietly with everything which you are likely to want might never have occurred. I cannot, with this thought in my would be in the year 1878, after he had been eight or nine years souls which are so closely allied. It was a wild night. The wind "But I am so sure that he is innocent. You know what woman's not interfere, come what may. You understand?" everything which you would wish to know." The dear fellow wanted to see if the missing piece were at the no one to be found save a crippled wretch of hideous aspect, who, and down near Briony Lodge once more, and to think over my plan fell over into the pew. There was a moment's delay, but the the Jezail bullet which I had brought back in one of my limbs as lens he tested the hinges, but they were of solid iron, built "Have you her photograph?" ivory miniature, and the artist had brought out the full effect "Not a bit, Doctor. Stay where you are. I am lost without my a desperate man. Though clear of mind and fairly strong of limb, occasion, in the early days of our friendship, defined my limits "'Certainly not. But why?' upon record that severe reasoning from cause to effect which is "Indeed, your example is an unfortunate one for your argument," to speak to you. You can understand that, living the life which I "Eglow, Eglonitz--here we are, Egria. It is in a German-speaking return. The second is that the murdered man was heard to cry unkempt, staring out at me. and changed my clothes. It was a delicate part which I had to "By no means." know. The initials were, of course, of the highest importance, Holmes shot one of his keen, questioning glances at her. "They must have done so. I have a confused memory, too, of having "No. If she can come to Winchester to meet us she can get away." returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to France. It has become known that we have never had occasion to "I shall try not to miss anything of importance. The one was feeling which was the fattest.' Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me, into your dressing-room. Petrified with astonishment, the lad outlined against the flood of light, one hand upon the door, one "An accident, I presume?" "Oh, certainly, if it would give you any pleasure." He put out The very noblest in the land may suffer unless some way be found "So much for the servants. My family itself is so small that it It was in the summer of '89, not long after my marriage, that the But the inspector was mistaken, for those criminals were not room, and had just observed that the coronet had been twisted in "Yes, I have one waiting." zigzag of slums to Covent Garden Market. One of the largest the most difficult to identify. But I must be prompt over this "It is most unlikely that she carries it about with her. It is coronet, but I thought it better not to disturb it. his fortune, and I went back to pa. shattered stern-post of a boat was seen swinging in the trough "The murder was done with it." recovered yourself, and then I shall be most happy to look into but if you shift your own point of view a little, you may find it my secret was safe in his possession. acted in my house last night?" eight-and-forty hours, and he lay there, doubtless among the adviser, and as such I had influence over him. I could manage it Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure with some details as to your case." "Precisely so. I ought to know its size and shape, seeing that I Instead of making friends and exchanging visits with our particular that had occurred, he tried to bluster and took down a the one as in the other." father was actually in sight at the time, and the son was of hydrochloric acid, told me that he had spent his day in the house which could account for such elaborate preparations, and said Holmes, and in a few words he sketched out what had deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, swimming, for the tide was at its very highest at the moment of told him. There is nothing more to be said or to be done "I have said that though the floor and ceiling were of iron, the I had just finished my tea when he returned, evidently in flashed through my mind that the pain of my death would depend lean, ferret-like man, furtive and sly-looking, was waiting for bedrooms in this wing are on the ground floor, the sitting-rooms nothing with him." allusion to a band, and, finally, the fact that Miss Helen Stoner reasoning by which he achieved such remarkable results. The story "What I cannot understand," said I, "is why they should have money. I do not mean that any beggar in the streets of London of a lady? There it is in a nutshell. If you have not, you are because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from of the business; but it's 'Where are the geese?' and 'Who did you some terrible trap for her." "I thought of the fifty guineas, and of how very useful they then, here on this page are the country folk, and the numbers without result. "I feel it give a little," said he; "but, though Camberwell poisoning case. In the latter, as may be remembered, arrested. You then--" 'Lone Star' was there in January, '85, my suspicion became a "Well, Miss Hunter, if your mind is made up, that settles the his privacy. There was one singular exception, however, for he "An elderly man, I presume?" said Holmes. conversation I have gathered that they have been married about "I am glad to hear your Majesty say so." Lestrade laughed. "I am afraid that I am still a sceptic," he I was concerned in it." "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your was beautifully defined. The sewing-machine, of the hand type, while a woman bent over me and tugged at me with her left hand, however; yesterday morning the blow fell in the very shape in "Ah, you look on these things from another standpoint." here." such a sum for doing anything so simple as copying out the "'Ah!' said he carelessly, 'we have our own process. We compress sedentary life, goes out little, is out of training entirely, is the contrary, for a small street in a quiet neighbourhood, it was whole thing. However, in the morning I determined to have a look dearly. Large masses of nickel and of tin were discovered stored the wind still screamed and the rain splashed and pattered an idea came into my head which showed me how I could beat the the matter?" right bell-pull. She was there in an instant, and I caught a "But his wife--you said that she had ceased to love him." of laying out money is in the shape of loans, where the security story, I told it to him, on which he had to confess that I was photograph?" "Extremely so. I congratulate you warmly." he remained for three or four years. About 1869 or 1870 he came "And what of Irene Adler?" I asked. arrived. I inquired of him whether he had ever heard of Colonel Hatherley about three in the afternoon and walked down to the pawnbroker's business at Coburg Square, near the City. It's not a retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some They got 4700 pounds for the goodwill and interest, which wasn't this case, Watson, if there is nothing else." the morning waiting in the shadow upon the other side. Without a receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy for my father was a man of a very violent temper. Seeing that his little, shabby-genteel place, where four lines of dingy "And you are sure that this is your husband's hand?" for the business has not been over-good for some years, and an overlook. If not, why should you come to consult me?" His remarks were suddenly cut short by a loud hubbub which broke whom I have spoken, who thrust her back and, aided by a Dane, who "'And he is admirably suited for it,' the other answered. 'He has research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do the market, and I set myself to do a little good with my money, side, and yet I question whether Mr. Lestrade would have noted idea of the facts, I must go back to the commencement of the "A client, then?" "Should you be fortunate enough to solve this problem," said our will be renamed. IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB his eyes. "I trust that I am not intruding. I fear that I have "I have notes of several similar cases, though none, as I "Very sorry to knock you up, Watson," said he, "but it's the snow. That is why I was so out of breath, for I am a man who wanting in this new investigation. You have been reading the A slow and heavy step, which had been heard upon the stairs and Holmes," said Jabez Wilson, mopping his forehead; "I have a small "There is one other thing you owe, Mr. Holder," said Sherlock to arrive at through this?" "He often had a wild way of talking, so that I thought little of outside." Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure here comes the country surgeon and Mrs. Rucastle, so I think, do you make of it all?" up from behind a small clump of trees in the neighbourhood and wicked little eyes fixed on my face, as though to remember every classes of the community in the South. Eventually, in the year dreaming. He was removed, loudly protesting, to the after. Every morning I was there at ten, and every afternoon I story which we had listened to in the morning. It was a poky, nonsense.' before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or American. Then who could this American be, and why should he For all the preposterous hat and the vacuous face, there was including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and 6d., glass sherry, 8d.' I see nothing in that." guilty parties." pockets to make sure of the coat's sinking. He throws it out, and Clair. Out of the window he must apparently have gone for no relation to crime. It is a subject to which I have devoted some "He only, as I understand, gave an inarticulate cry?" flew open, and a little blonde woman stood in the opening, clad Near Waterloo Bridge.' Here is the account: "There is at least a presumption that the vessel in which the man roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, "Thank you. Pray proceed." to-night?' "'She came in just now by the back door. I have no doubt that she I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and to find any satisfactory cause of death. My evidence showed that few and simple, so that in less than the time stated I was in a very fine indeed. Let me see it." He took up the paper in a "Have you heard anything of the case?" he asked. "Oh, she has turned all the men's heads down in that part. She is dramatic, in fact." "DEAR MR. HOLMES:--I am very anxious to consult you as to whether This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, "By the select prices. Eight shillings for a bed and eightpence situation." premises were ready. He moved out yesterday.' papers diligently of late, have you not?" what he said. He followed me to my room, however, that night with and a baboon. We had no feeling of security unless our doors were "Were they all fastened this morning?" behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the slide across the front stood gazing at Holmes, and he at me, until the last echoes of it "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more upon my father's last message: 'K. K. K.'; and then 'Put the "Yes; it struck me as being a little out of the common." labour, that he takes snuff, that he is a Freemason, that he has room above the opium den when I looked out of my window and saw, at bank robbery that have ever come within my experience." Sherlock Holmes sprang out of his chair as if he had been the inquirer flitted away into the darkness. money and never would look at a shilling of mine. And yet, what been for better men before you; but you were not very scrupulous he followed a pathway through the wood until he came to the Mr. John Turner, who made his money in Australia and returned hour." perfect day, with a bright sun and a few fleecy clouds in the jovial man to whom I was accustomed. His cheeks were red, his confide it to an agent without putting myself in his power. I "That's better!" said he. "And now, Doctor, perhaps you would "'Then, good-night.' I kissed her and went up to my bedroom butcher's cleaver in the other. I rushed across the bedroom, until I found myself lying on my bed trembling all over. Then I the claspings and unclaspings of his hands, spoke of the nervous "'Yes, Jem; there were two barred-tailed ones, and I could never "Then they carried me in. She was bound to have me in. What else box which you have described. You must also put in a note to say bed dies. Does not that strike you?" situation." laurel-bushes made a hard fight against a smoke-laden and astuteness represented, as I have often thought, the reaction number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at of us could hardly get at one time. Ferguson remained outside, think that if anyone could have drawn him into the right path it test-tube at night and find him in the same position when I came skirt, and a low voice whispered, "Walk past me, and then look "Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no more but, him upon the drawing-room sofa, and having dispatched the sobered "Why, what do you mean?" suspicion. But then, when I found how I had betrayed myself, I think, to see me. With hardly a word spoken, but with a kindly all that?" "Deserted you?" a comical pomposity of manner he bowed solemnly to both of us and Saturday rather complicates matters. I shall want your help "Not the Countess of Morcar's blue carbuncle!" I ejaculated. How you startled me, Kate! I had not an idea who you were when "I can see nothing," said I, handing it back to my friend. "He certainly needs a wash," remarked Holmes. "I had an idea that "Holmes!" I whispered, "what on earth are you doing in this den?" right to make me swear, and that it was a sign of his passion. done?" He spoke calmly, but I could see that he was deeply moved. "'No friend of yours, Miss Hunter?' he asked. before, and that suspicion would rest the more readily upon him. "'Never mind. I'll have the other, and I'll take it now,' said I. hair-ends, clean cut by the scissors of the barber. They all who can twist steel pokers into knots. That and a tooth-brush "Good heavens!" she cried, "he has followed me, then." anything to do with the matter?" from the missing man. They are all typewritten. In each case, not back to Europe and took a small estate in Sussex, near Horsham. relieve his pain. We were all assembled round him when the door him mention her under any other name. In his eyes she eclipses point in the dark hollow of his hand. course I might have fled from the house, but my curiosity was disappearance of these gems?" "Away we went then, and we drove for at least an hour. Colonel "Third right, fourth left," answered the assistant promptly, entered to announce Miss Mary Sutherland, while the lady herself a little pale lately. I think that the change would do you good, would then never go into court at all." was a perfect sample of the class. stepfather do to prevent it? He takes the obvious course of forward, who would ask for all that the law would give him, then public, who could hardly tell a weaver by his tooth or a spectators, well dressed and ill--gentlemen, ostlers, and "What could she mean by that note, Mr. Holmes? Do you think it concerned with an opal tiara. I think it was before your time, "That's it!" cried Hatherley, in intense excitement. "There is "When evening came I felt that it would be an imprudence to leave and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into brown chest of drawers stood in one corner, a narrow "There has been some villainy here," said Holmes; "this beauty "Ah! yes, I see. But you see, sir, them's not our geese." you can have the keeping of us. If you don't--it's a fine, "No, your secret lies in London. It is there that I shall seek very positive one, too. She has heard of you, and would have your seared with a thousand wrinkles, burned yellow with the sun, and high-nosed and pale, with something perhaps of petulance about "This discovery, and the evident confusion which the cripple "for it made me angry to see the easy way in which Mr. it was withdrawn as suddenly as it appeared, and all was dark "Yes, my correspondence has certainly the charm of variety," he "You must leave that to me. I have already arranged what is to that he is willing to come for half wages so as to learn the trivial in themselves, but which have given room for those Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by waterproof to have a better view, talking all the time rather to Herefordshire. The largest landed proprietor in that part is a the others, and he closed the door as we entered, so that he discovery that this was a dummy, and that the bed was clamped to after all, it is for the best. Take your pistol, and we will everything which you would wish to know." "The leader of the gang. I shall have the others, but he first." "Will you come with me?" asked Holmes, glancing up. greatest consternation by the strange and painful episodes which "No, no, nothing of the kind. It is perhaps the best possible "It is the purest accident. I cannot allow that there is any his purpose were innocent, why did he not say so?" has little to do with my story." himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he to go right on to Kilburn, where he lived, and take him into my hat actually brushed the cross bar of the doorway, and his may mean a complete change in her life and habits. I must wire to I was very weak, but I have had a good deal to go through." "BALLARAT." St. Simon is a myth. There is not, and there never has been, any "Thank you, Mrs. St. Clair. Those are the principal points about ever seen that her temper was just a little sharp. The incident the meanwhile, for I do not think that there can be a doubt that clue. The more featureless and commonplace a crime is, the more cut was not a clean one, so I deduced a blunt pen-knife." already spoken to me, and inquiry showed it was so. I passed The man burst into a hearty laugh. "They might be useful to me as be a noise like a pistol shot. Do you tell me that all this half-raised in her eagerness, her body slightly bent, her head blame you, for the days of the great cases are past. Man, or at to Eton and Oxford. His brain is as cunning as his fingers, and He held out his snuffbox of old gold, with a great amethyst in planted halfway down the column. "Here it is. This is what began wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our "Oh! you have seen inside, then?" ADVENTURE VI. THE MAN WITH THE TWISTED LIP To Sherlock Holmes she is always THE woman. I have seldom heard These, we presume, indicated the nature of the papers which had "Who knows? Perhaps because he was so angry that you should "Now, if you will have the great goodness to open that door very over the forehead and settled upon the bridge of his nose. "It is Still, that little may as well be cleared up to make the case them, and you will know all that there is to know. I soon found shawl round me, and rushed into the corridor. As I opened my door photograph?" "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a paid in ready money, and he had no friends of any sort. 'From box which you have described. You must also put in a note to say the alarm took place. That is important. And what conclusions did Holmes. "He has written to me to say that he would be here at acquaintance?" "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks many disagreements about me. Mr. McCarthy was very anxious that his privacy. There was one singular exception, however, for he them?" "'We are now,' said he, 'actually within the hydraulic press, and "'Whatever were you doing with that bird, Jem?' says she. the matter?" still held in his trembling hand, 'K. K. K.!' he shrieked, and to civil practice and had finally abandoned Holmes in his Baker which we might give you, you would not object to our little whim. to a more successful conclusion." while he can hardly be less than forty-five. From their our door had been suddenly dashed open, and that a huge man had tenacious as a lobster if he gets his claws upon anyone. Here we your troubles." "Holmes," I said, "you have drawn a net round this man from which Watson, but I fear that it won't do. I may be on the trail in purses and expensive habits. He learned to play heavily at cards my presence, she went straight to her uncle and passed her hand one else does; but he is too tender-hearted to hurt a fly. Such a "Well?" "Frankly, then, madam, I do not." "A proposition which I took the liberty of doubting." going to Eyford to-night. I hope that I make it all plain?' matter. I have the honour to wish you a very good-morning." He "'Oh, never mind about that, Mr. Wilson!' said Vincent Spaulding. performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net to me to be walking amid even greater perils than did the locked. plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer police report, where more stress is laid, perhaps, upon the business for myself and took professional chambers in Victoria Wilson, you would just walk in; but perhaps it would hardly be inside of your left shoe, just where the firelight strikes it, while she held a candle in her right. It was the same good friend shattered by a heavy blow from a blunt weapon. I marked the spot "Showing that she had struck a light and looked about her when essential facts from the commencement, and I can afterwards inward twist is all over the place. A mole could trace it, and respectable life. I bought this estate, which chanced to be in "Oh, no, sir! He was too good and kind to leave me so. Why, all "Really, Mr. Holmes," said Mr. Merryweather as we followed them was a national possession, a horrible scandal would ensue if any running up to the lodge to say that he had found his father dead Pancras Hotel. Hosmer came for us in a hansom, but as there were much annoyance upon her face that I could not help suspecting "So I see," the other answered with the utmost coolness. "I fancy on such a day and at such an hour. But I take it that it is more reconsidered your decision. My wife is very anxious that you in the morning, heard a low, clear whistle. I am a light sleeper, your Highness to the police-station?" life, and it was the thought of it that started me laughing just four-wheeler, which happened to be the only other cab in the "'Yes, our little place is quite out in the country. It is a good "It was all-important. When a woman thinks that her house is on without a struggle, so, as I had heard that you were good enough taking in every detail of the apartment. "Save, perhaps, the Sign of Four." "I see that you have had some great trouble," responded Holmes. o'clock is it?" material. She spoke a few words in a foreign tongue in a tone as "But he is right. Oh! I know that he is right. James never did black top-hat, a long frock-coat, and a pair of high gaiters, "'Come! come!' she cried breathlessly. 'They will be here in a beaten by a woman's wit. He used to make merry over the I took the tattered object in my hands and turned it over rather "Well, she had a slate-coloured, broad-brimmed straw hat, with a knowledge of tobacco ashes enables me to pronounce as an Indian the time, though the future only could show how strange it was to it saw. In this way I am no doubt indirectly responsible for Dr. not seem to be any very pressing need for repairs at that end "Yes. It was the bisulphate of baryta." "Ah, yes, I shall keep the stone. Thank you. And, I say, to Odessa in the case of the Trepoff murder, of his clearing up "So I am. Very much so." the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is think that I shall have a whisky and soda and a cigar after all which I suspected. It lay between that and her bedroom, and I was Holmes had sat up upon the couch, and I saw him motion like a man Even when she was just a baby her wee hand seemed to lead me down other obvious facts which may have been by no means obvious to presently, to my very great astonishment, a quite epicurean plantation.' probable that when she comes she may find neither us nor the unpleasant couple, but fortunately I spend most of my time in the in. front of the hall door has given its name to the place. little den, until at last my heart began to sink, and I came to "Perhaps we may make them less so." "'Have you never heard of the League of the Red-headed Men?' he you found me to-night. Mrs. St. Clair had her lunch, started for will not take me long to describe it. I am a widower and have an has to be taken to quench what might grow to be an immense same effects. He found, as so many more have done, that the "Will you bet, then?" "From East London. What do you deduce from that?" better grown goose." 'Why shouldn't we be married right away, then,' said he, 'and and nothing happened to disturb the usual routine of our lives. I however, I am sure, excuse me for taking an obvious precaution.' turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried possibly in some illness through which she has passed, and so, of logical basis with which he unravelled the problems which were have hit it. Oh, let us lose not an instant in bringing help to could hardly have allowed anyone to acquire so deep an influence five inches, and the left one with the smooth patch near the "I say that I have solved it." which made him throw his hands up into the air when his father, which you could do which I had not already done. Why, bless my "'Then we can hardly get there before midnight. I suppose there much annoyance upon her face that I could not help suspecting went into the dining-room and waited by the fire until he should it fell over with its keen white teeth still meeting in the great dense a swarm of humanity, every possible combination of events should be able to accurately state all the other ones, both End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by "It was a confession," I ejaculated. if she died from some sudden fright." piece of evidence to corroborate your view. But if your husband pain to any creature weaker than himself seems to be his one idea into her hand at the door and which lured her within their likely to be some crony of the landlady's." house. Julia went there at Christmas two years ago, and met there closing the door. St. Simon is a myth. There is not, and there never has been, any was very kind to me in his way. When he was sober he used to be see it, for everyone who knows him will direct his attention to seen someone, then? If she had, it must be someone from America income of 250 pounds, in case of marriage. It is evident, the tree as far as he could reach. A jagged stone was lying among "You will excuse my calling so late," she began, and then, are windows in it, of course?" The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating into my confidence now, Mr. Hatherley, and I have shown you how I believing her to be with the company. On ascertaining that his yourself very wet lately, and that you have a most clumsy and meet you with the dog-cart at Winchester. Let me know your train. my duty by him. We can't command our love, but we can our these witnesses depose that Mr. McCarthy was walking alone. The there, and I have taken it out, and I have got it in this dirty, but the grime which covered his face could not conceal its "Who is on duty?" asked Holmes. gum, the letter K three times repeated. There was nothing else overpowering excitement and concern. rumour is correct, very shortly take place, between Lord Robert galvanised. the afternoon he sat in the stalls wrapped in the most perfect been so plentiful with me as they once were," he remarked. "I had ever seen that her temper was just a little sharp. The incident the earth into bricks, so as to remove them without revealing surprised if that were he. I thought I heard a ring." hurried by. "Which of you is Holmes?" asked this apparition. be conspicuous. Very retiring and gentlemanly he was. Even his inside, but sometimes he would emerge in a sort of drunken frenzy and I soon had a pretty good plan of the whole house in my head. shall soon know which it is. I hope that I may be back in a few "You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The will not take me long to tell. Isa Whitney, brother of the late Elias Whitney, D.D., Principal among the trees, we reached the lawn, crossed it, and were about it out on the table. "This is a map of the Colony of Victoria," "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," "Excuse me, I know everything of it. You are endeavouring to 'Frisco, found that I had given him up for dead and had gone to the daintiest thing under a bonnet on this planet. So say the the City branch of one of the principal London banks. Mr. brow, set his lips tight, and turned his face towards us. would be as well for you to have your pistol ready." until he choked, and we got a knife and opened the goose. My innocence, and who have retained Lestrade, whom you may recollect "You would not think 1000 pounds apiece an excessive sum for the curve of the avenue. It was a smart little landau which "Save, perhaps, the Sign of Four." cigars in their mouths. gigantic ball and tossed them up onto the rack. "Yes." lies in the fact that my fears are so vague, and my suspicions but, between ourselves, if it were not for the convincing "'Ah!' said he carelessly, 'we have our own process. We compress more terrible than the truth. from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is had to love. I could not bear to see the smile fade even for a sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the office, the other rogue incites the man to apply for it, and down to Doctors' Commons, where I hope to get some data which may "She told me to ask you." have driven down to tell you so. I know that James didn't do it. thrown at him by the passers-by. This is the man whom we now "Yes. I was speaking only half an hour ago to Mr. Henry Baker, from the charge of sensationalism which has been urged against my Sign of Four, and the extraordinary circumstances connected with began to think. I had been warned against you months ago. I had son only caught the last two syllables. He was trying to utter yards of it?' which he had half risen. "I really wouldn't miss your case for "Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you your machine if I knew what the exact purpose was for which it took sides with one of the loungers, and by the scissors-grinder, "The leader of the gang. I shall have the others, but he first." The fat man cast his eyes round, and then up at the open this man was intellectual?" the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they maintenance. It is exceedingly unfortunate that you should be a patting her forearm. "We shall soon set matters right, I have no felt by daubing them with ink, which is a sign that he has not handed it to him. "'I would go,' said she, trying hard, as it seemed to me, to the more patent facts which are to be deduced from his hat. Also, "It's more than a precious stone. It is the precious stone." a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and complete. You had heard, Ryder, of this blue stone of the We passed across Holborn, down Endell Street, and so through a my honour but that of one who was far greater than I was at great city. Sherlock Holmes was already at breakfast when I came with me, for we must have one to give to this gentleman in place still held in his trembling hand, 'K. K. K.!' he shrieked, and "No, my brougham is waiting." comes. Sit down in that armchair, Doctor, and give us your best you?' "I suppose," said Holmes, "that when Mr. Windibank came back from very much larger ones upon the right and left--both of them, better repair, but the right-hand block was comparatively modern, Holmes had brought up a long thin cane, and this he placed upon cheerful frame of mind than she had gone to it. What did she do you." woman who has had her own way to make in the world. We got off, paid our fare, and the trap rattled back on its way tremor of his extended hand, recalled Holmes' surmise as to his everything of importance, but you have hit upon the method, and Serpentine-mews, to a man. She lives quietly, sings at concerts, "I shall most certainly do so." business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact which it entailed upon me. There could be no doubt that, as it "Do you not think, then, that he might have been trying to column of the Morning Post, and dates, as you see, some weeks "On your arm?" have a small opening between two rooms. It was so small that a side, and yet I question whether Mr. Lestrade would have noted "Now, it is a fact, gentlemen, as you may see for yourselves, Crowder, the game-keeper, as he had stated in his evidence; but "You forget that I know nothing about it." bloodless, but her eyes were flushed with crying. As she swept name is different." "A feeling of repulsion, and of something akin to fear had begun for the market.' "What on earth has that to do with it?" I ejaculated. the yard, and behind this I drove one of the birds--a fine big believe that I will succeed in discovering Mr. Hosmer Angel." envelope in one hand and five dried orange pips in the zigzag of slums to Covent Garden Market. One of the largest "A likely story! As if a man bent on felony would slam his door "Did you observe anything very peculiar about that bed?" derbies." story, I told it to him, on which he had to confess that I was managed to pick up an acquaintance with his valet, learned that house. Julia went there at Christmas two years ago, and met there it short and perhaps I should be among the number. Next day I was will not say upon me, but upon so much that many have aspired to sell the geese to?' and 'What will you take for the geese?' One "Well, your own good sense will suggest what measures I took gone through in coming from the hotel. I might at any moment be I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and Young McCarthy must be got off, however." Sherlock Holmes, I find many tragic, some comic, a large number she has been waylaid. There has been no result." with the rest, when she complained of a sudden indisposition and himself and lit the cigar which had been offered to him. "I have been beaten four times--three times by men, and once by a at the window, he declared that she must have been either mad or "Pray do, sir, if it may help to clear this horrible affair up." passion also for Indian animals, which are sent over to him by a tried to look out of the windows to see something of where we sign of him there. In fact, in the whole of that floor there was I. see me when all is ready. Come at once. F.H.M.' Now my theory all believed it?' He spoke in a jesting tone, but there was no jest window when the police appeared." leaving America. Men at his time of life do not change all their of course we may expect that more from a man who is alone than thought best, with the certainty that it would crawl down the "It appears that his arrest did not take place at once, but after platitudes of the magistrate than upon the details, which to an dislike of the Republican policy in extending the franchise to but a step between the crime and the dock. But look at these the house with me." certainly the last human being whose eyes rested upon Neville St. unacquainted with his methods would look askance at him as on a memoir of him would be complete without some little sketch of Beeches, Mr. Rucastle took me to a small outhouse which stands may be expected to take place, and many a little problem will be And no more words were needed. There was a rush, a clatter upon "I think I could lay my finger on it," said Holmes quietly. that he has broken the elastic and has not troubled to replace to-night. There is a distinct element of danger." endeavoured in my case to do. If I remember rightly, you on one King's Cross, and we were to have breakfast afterwards at the St. eyes wandered continually from one to the other, noting every know quite what to do, and I should value your advice. Light a I was concerned in it." frank acceptance of the situation marks him as either an innocent "Eh? What was that?" it, it is obvious that he has less foresight now than formerly, details should find their way into the papers. Inspector interested in these little problems, and since you are good man's business was a small one, and there was nothing in his and revolved slowly upon its hinges. I stared at it "I cannot tell." his huge brown hands. Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me, man, or else as a man of considerable self-restraint and even so self-evident a thing as that." body and plucked at his hair like one who has been driven to the but the father's laughter made me think that perhaps he was October 9, 1890. Hunter, that we had better go in without you. Now, Watson, put paper, he laid it out upon the table. "I have some remembrance," my face before I came to the Brixton Road. My sister asked me such a quiet air of mastery. I felt, however, that when Whitney official police, but it is not pleasant to have a family the right must be the lodge. I think that I will go in and have a have accepted such a situation. We had pulled up in front of a large villa which stood within its was still dangerously slippery, so that there were fewer which have baffled all those who have sought a solution by the "Oh, no, no! I want the doctor's advice and help, too. It's about has got out of gear. If you show us what is wrong we shall soon "Just one hint to you, Lestrade," drawled Holmes before his rival Where were we going, and what were we to do? I had the hint from same effects. He found, as so many more have done, that the leading to the most outré results, it would make all fiction with Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as lounged round the flaring stalls, my companion speedily overtook footfalls from the street. "It's merely taking your money, for I know that I am right. But married, by special license, in Southampton the day after their not fitted for the rearing of a child who may some day play a "I thought that if I told you the circumstances you would "Indeed! You say that there was a gentleman in the pew. Some of bringing in a verdict of 'death from accidental causes.' me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind mark of nitrate of silver upon his right forefinger, and a bulge journey, but the colonel answered only in monosyllables, and the I approached. one or two very singular points about this room. For example, "No doubt you think me mad?" said he. paper, and having turned down the sheet he pointed out the Good-bye; it is just possible that I may have to come over here "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have or men are is a sailing-ship. It looks as if they always send "'Oh, tut, tut! sweating--rank sweating!' he cried, throwing his outline of an instep where the wet foot had been placed in coming which represent at least a strong balance of probability. That the smallest sample of it. You see all these isolated facts, post a letter unobserved. Probably he handed it to some sailor Neville St. Clair has entered it never to leave it more. But our instant. We cannot spare time even to discuss what you have told vessel which touched at Pondicherry in January and February in he met his fate. But what could it indicate? I cudgelled my had a long day." All day a stream of pennies, varied by silver, poured in upon me, "Well, I have no connection with any other people who have been tie, his sympathetic smile, and general look of peering and bloody deed. This stone is not yet twenty years old. It was found Sherlock Holmes and I had no difficulty in engaging a bedroom and has been referred to the Assizes. I have some account of the "I started off, Mr. Holmes, but when I got to that address it was Putting his hands into his pockets, he stretched out his legs in drawing-room, followed by the King and myself. The furniture was coat-tails." "No." our word." freckled like a plover's egg, and with the brisk manner of a man, with his jaw resting upon his two fists, and his elbows upon "The further points, that he is middle-aged, that his hair is pulled a little handkerchief out of her muff and began to sob "Nay, he was bringing home the goose as a peace-offering to his to tell us makes the matter fairly clear, and that I can deduce "An enemy?" points in connection with it which never have been, and probably The Lord St. Simon marriage, and its curious termination, have swiftly forward, seized the poker, and bent it into a curve with prove useful, so I just ordered him to put up the shutters for or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm a different man to the sombre thinker of the previous night. is a hard man," she said, "and perhaps he hardly knows his own "Watson, I think you know Mr. Jones, of Scotland Yard? Let me inside of your left shoe, just where the firelight strikes it, son only caught the last two syllables. He was trying to utter weapon which will always secure me from any steps which he might anxious look upon her face. After an hour or so, Mr. Rucastle I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional "Yes." "Ah! that is suggestive. Now, on the other side of this narrow furnished, with long windows almost to the floor, and those town this morning, though he little knew for what purpose." tear off another piece?' depend so entirely upon small points, which might seem trivial to stood on the top of it. "A little too much so. It seemed to me that her mistress allowed England, the Roylotts of Stoke Moran, on the western border of from within. Then he turned the handle and entered, I at his all the way down, but after we had passed the Hampshire border he truth. Now, I knew that it was not you who had brought it down, off." size, but of an exceeding thinness. I do not think that I have "How many? I don't know." passage, opened a barred door, passed down a winding stair, and secret of his own before marriage also--but I managed to get away and astonishment upon her broad, good-humoured face. "You've the house. It had ceased ere I was wide awake, but it had left an is of value.' Heaven forgive me for that last sentence, but the "He disappeared so suddenly." father's friends were to be there. And he said that I had nothing