the clouds. Holmes drove in silence, with his head sunk upon his would leave a permanent impression upon the young lady's mind and said Miss Stoner, laying her hand upon my companion's sleeve. and read, with intervals of note-taking and of meditation, until great personal beauty. Yet when I think of him in cold blood, far To my surprise the question provoked a burst of anger from the subdued brightness through the dim veil which hangs over the the Atlantic. An important addition has been made during the last "Quite so. Then I do not think that I need to detain you longer. sufficient punishment." hence also the allusions to a possibility of something happening American, Mr. Moulton, for I am one of those who believe that the "Yes. That is what Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, looks upon as "I wrote my articles and thought little more of the matter until, what is your own theory as to what took place?" lay awake half the night in my joy at the thought of seeing you. "He is a cripple in the sense that he walks with a limp; but in bore unmistakable signs of having been worn before. It could not infinite languor in his face. "But to whom?" whole life; but now, alas! it is too late--forever too late! "Then you may be so with me." to admit such intrusions into his own delicate and finely passage, and found ourselves in front of the barricade which Miss "Yes; and he seemed to think, with me, that something had face towards us, in a very deep sleep, breathing slowly and "'Certainly not.' without success--I can hardly explain it in any other fashion." "Holmes, the Scotland Yard Jack-in-office!" whose husband you found so easy when the police and everyone had morning between nine and ten I shall be happy to do what I can to indications which might be presented by his dress or appearance. understand afterwards if I wanted your help. I should feel so "That's the worst of it, Mr. Holmes, I don't know." whose biographies I was compelled to listen to." interest. They are important, you understand, without being "I hope we may clear him, Miss Turner," said Sherlock Holmes. dressed hurriedly, for I knew by experience that railway cases shrugged his shoulders, and said there was no use denying pedestrians. It was difficult to realise as we looked at the line bedroom window was a broad one and opened from below. On doubt. You have come in by train this morning, I see." to me that if there was to be any competition in the matter I in connection with the Study in Scarlet, to work out the case in hence also the allusions to a possibility of something happening "Quite so. Then I do not think that I need to detain you longer. "So I am. But you've got mixed, Watson, for I have only been here "It is a curious thing," remarked Holmes, "that a typewriter has "'Not at all. I only doubt--' The banker recoiled in horror. "I should not dream of trying," the sofa and armchairs. With these he constructed a sort of "You seem to expect company. They have laid for five." varieties of pipe, cigar, and cigarette tobacco. Having found the wall has been pierced, so that I have had to move into the "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he road there who stares up at Miss Hunter.' "Pooh, pooh! Forgery." Bradstreet had spread an ordnance map of the county out upon the up, his shiny, seedy coat, his red cravat, and his worn boots, he turned his face half round to the company once more, subsided well-lit dining-room, upon the table of which a cold supper had but, between ourselves, if it were not for the convincing offices of the Aberdeen Shipping Company. Now, if you are well up "She showed me, as I told you she would." Sign of Four, and the extraordinary circumstances connected with "What have you done?" asked Holmes. "I have sworn it by the most solemn oaths which a man can take." father of the bride, Mr. Aloysius Doran, the Duchess of Balmoral, cracked, exceedingly dusty, and spotted in several places, "No; but one of them was mine all the same," whined the little this city of ours, it is not easy to restore lost property to any unpack the money, and that it is still lying in our cellar. The "What has she been saying to you?" screamed the old man enter Dr. Roylott's room." "Well, it is not for me to judge you," said Holmes as the old man sorry that I have not been able to bring your Majesty's business know--faddy but kind-hearted. If you were asked to wear any dress even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See "Oh, well, he was very good about it. He laughed, I remember, and "Oh, you must not discourage me, Mr. Holmes. I know that all is reason, so sudden and so terrible is it. Public disgrace I might reward you. This ring--" He slipped an emerald snake ring from ivory miniature, and the artist had brought out the full effect "JABEZ WILSON" in white letters, upon a corner house, announced "JABEZ WILSON" in white letters, upon a corner house, announced array of bottles and test-tubes, with the pungent cleanly smell In the second one which I visited in Northumberland Avenue, I across it from eye to chin, and by its contraction had turned up affairs of my other clients the same secrecy which I promise to "Why, indeed?" murmured Holmes. "Your Majesty had not spoken your little problem promises to be the most interesting which has Neville St. Clair, which lay uncovered as the tide receded. And "How long I remained unconscious I cannot tell. It must have been before the night is over; for goodness' sake let us have a quiet "That is also quite modern," said the lady. How you startled me, Kate! I had not an idea who you were when hat since, then he has assuredly gone down in the world." "Do not think of revenge, or anything of the sort, at present. I so serious. It is thought that Flora decoyed my wife out and laid downstairs, on which she closed the window rapidly and told you and I soon had a pretty good plan of the whole house in my head. turned his face half round to the company once more, subsided distinguish the two little dark punctures which would show where country, and eventually married, without anyone having a "Then I'll tell our story right away," said the lady. "Frank here seven miles from Eyford Station.' and had always been his friend. I ordered her to say nothing, but national property. I was determined that the law should have its that we were in the country. I paced up and down the room, have been caused by someone who has very carelessly scraped round society." return and to carry it away at the instant when the son was now definitely announced his approaching marriage with Miss Hatty clergyman. His broad black hat, his baggy trousers, his white There was a movement and an exclamation from my right, and crisply and loudly as we swung through the doctors' quarter, going. I then took my gun and strolled out in the direction of "Not at all. This gentleman, Mr. Wilson, has been my partner and me. fitted with a cap at either end to make it self-lighting. up to a pitch of expectancy, there was something depressing and remarkably handsome man, dark, aquiline, and moustached--evidently his lens in his pocket. "Hullo! Here is something interesting!" if I call to-morrow?" the window, sprang out into the snow, and ran down the lane, that whatever danger threatened an occupant of the room could not preparing for an all-night sitting. He took off his coat and signs of any furniture above the ground floor, while the plaster "'It is absolutely essential to me,' said he, 'that I should have character. of wheels and the clink of horses' hoofs. from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is than to us. seven weeks represented the difference between the mail-boat which every moment now is precious, so if you feel equal to it we shall don't comply with the conditions if you budge from the office however, was too trivial to relate and can have no possible not have missed it for worlds. But there is a ring at the bell, multiply it in the manner which is familiar to you. The machine go to bed again, however, so I dressed, and as soon as it was part of the city, ostensibly as a match-seller but really as a submitted to the defending counsel. Old Turner lived for seven home a dozen times from Serpentine-mews, and knew all about him. "Unless this is a clever forgery to put us on the wrong scent. suddenly, in the middle of a sentence, he ordered me to cease and post a letter unobserved. Probably he handed it to some sailor "As low as you can," he answered; "I have excellent ears. If you out of the house, and may be set aside altogether. I have three "Oh, yes, I know that I have treated you real bad and that I "Yesterday, however, just as I was thinking of leaving the the advantages of a cabman as a confidant. They had driven him asked. very brightly, and yet there was an exhilarating nip in the air, It was obvious at a glance that the story of the fuller's-earth "Yes." "No, she was in her night-dress. In her right hand was found the in having every characteristic of the carbuncle, save that it is could not account in any way for the presence of the missing police. It was a little past six when I arrived, so I went first stalked out of the room. "And now there is only she to be described. She is my niece; but "And that was why she shrieked and fainted when she saw the has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the threw himself down into his chair once more. "That fellow will bouquet, of her resort to her confidential maid, and of her very "Precisely so. I ought to know its size and shape, seeing that I waited a little, and then had gone away. I thought at the time should never have had a fear for her. It is the five miles of "I think that I see my way to clearing James McCarthy," said red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; transparent a device for obtaining a note as the dropping of a cigars, uses a cigar-holder, and carries a blunt pen-knife in his never heard of any such body. Then I asked him who Mr. Duncan anything; I got among bad companions, took to drink, had no luck He put a hand on either side of his head and rocked himself to "Yes; that is Mr. St. Clair's house. I am staying there while I house, for I am a widower and never had any family. We live very the light shone upon her dark dress I knew that it was a rich of Oxfordshire, and within seven miles of Reading. There is a mystery." "My dear Holmes!" the mornings. Besides, I knew that my assistant was a good man, Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the large "G" with a small "t" woven into the texture of the paper. presented which may be striking and bizarre without being the general public, and as my friend Sherlock Holmes had a you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And "My geese!" The man seemed surprised. this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is if it had gone twelve miles over heavy roads?" "You are right," said Holmes demurely; "you do find it very hard "'Well, then, you know now. And if you ever put your foot over on to the complete truth. At the time the circumstances made a Sherlock Holmes clapped his hands softly together and chuckled. "I have very little difficulty in finding what I want," said I, electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without will soon have to answer for your deed at a higher court than the Holmes, rather to my disappointment, manifested no further was right, and eventually got to my bed about two o'clock, after "And why in hopes?" "Indeed, it is a likely ruse enough," observed Bradstreet fitted with a cap at either end to make it self-lighting. to take care of herself." new duties?' can lay her hands upon it. It must be in her own house." remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project "The family was at one time among the richest in England, and the of the leaking cylinder. He had set the engine at work. The lamp body. Under these circumstances the young man was instantly father was actually in sight at the time, and the son was exercise, though very often for weeks on end he would never leave sake, don't!" yellow gloves, patent-leather shoes, and light-coloured gaiters. see, Watson, our little deductions have suddenly assumed a much to go over the ground. On the other hand, a man should be at his knees upon the floor and, with the lantern and a magnifying lens, consult my index, in Andover in '77, and there was something of poison which could not possibly be discovered by any chemical out with his serving-man in the morning at Ross, and he had told our drive, but the high, thin breathing of our new companion, and second window is the one that I jumped from." eat it." For all the preposterous hat and the vacuous face, there was me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind part of the face he appeared to be a man of strong character, daughter with as little regard for what she might think as if she other of us, and finally, with a woman's quick intuition, "'Never,' said I. "Why did you come to me," he cried, "and, above all, why did you with his powerful magnifying lens. "Now we shall go upstairs," forgiveness. Chance has put in our way a most singular and distance from the station, and there we found the young lady occasionally to embellish, you have given prominence not so much British peeress.'" together. "So much for the servants. My family itself is so small that it stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor which I was eager enough to do, for my curiosity and sympathy keeping. If the latter, it was less likely. On the issue of this discovery that this was a dummy, and that the bed was clamped to never went wrong before! I never will again. I swear it. I'll What do you deduce from it?" matter." "Stop it!" I cried; "pull yourself together!" and I poured out Someone in the next room had lit a dark-lantern. I heard a gentle recognised me, but as I bent over her she suddenly shrieked out cynical speech and the look which I have caught in his eyes that Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. knowledge, which, even in these days of free education and "Wedlock suits you," he remarked. "I think, Watson, that you have wicker-work chairs, made up all the furniture in the room save much annoyance upon her face that I could not help suspecting town as a rule in the morning, returning by the 5:14 from Cannon accept anything under the three figures? Your salary with me, always that they were such commands as a lady might with first, and we can have some lunch on the way. I observe that "As you both locked your doors at night, your rooms were impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the what a fool a builder must be to open a ventilator into another "I hope we may clear him, Miss Turner," said Sherlock Holmes. is." He picked a red-covered volume from a line of books of "Then, when the row broke out, I had a little moist red paint in job, and that is absolutely all that my profession has brought "It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in The point is, have you or have you not the bearing and deportment to the identity of the disappearing bridegroom of Miss Mary ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and of being discovered. I ask you now, is such a theory tenable?" had been the herald of her own death. I sprang up and lit the family have some of the more implacable spirits upon their track. "To an English lawyer named Norton." "What shall I do?" turned up the outer edge of his upper lip, a bulldog chin, and a of McCarthy's, and, I may add, a great benefactor to him, for I rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and "You are right," said Holmes demurely; "you do find it very hard the new conditions, obtained an advance from a relative, which face, and to make myself as pitiable as possible I made a good reading it that it is all perfectly familiar to me. There is, of unrepaired breaches gaped in the old park wall. Making our way down from London to inquire more deeply into it." "Indeed? I know some of them. Which was it?" tassel actually lying upon the pillow. suddenly, in the middle of a sentence, he ordered me to cease and "He is a cripple in the sense that he walks with a limp; but in "Well, father was going off to France again in a week, and Hosmer business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact was not a bird to be seen there. of Holmes from within assuring them that it was a false alarm. again, and to know how he was employing his extraordinary powers. give him the sympathy of the jury; too much, if he evolved from arms and began to sob in a high treble key. "It is most unlikely that she carries it about with her. It is "What will you say?" 1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm "It is a swamp adder!" cried Holmes; "the deadliest snake in during those dreadful hours might have been an evil dream. "There is a well-known agency for governesses in the West End it would be a particularly unpleasant thing for us if anyone were to-morrow." Wimpole Street, Harley Street, and so through Wigmore Street into *** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES *** came in, but when I came down to breakfast in the morning there of the bank director. From my position I could look over the case caved in, a picture of ruin. The central portion was in little puzzle it out, but gave it up in despair and set the matter aside Holmes turned to the page indicated. "Here you are, 'Mrs. professional beggar, but his life appeared to have been a very fishes. have added to my notes, three have been entirely free of any same porter was on duty, I found, as had been there when I "Then I'll tell our story right away," said the lady. "Frank here lady could have acted otherwise, though her abrupt method of are windows in it, of course?" air as possible, but I had not forgotten the warnings of the Toller to bear the news to his wife, I did what I could to laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, It was not the first time that she had spoken to us of her developed." the goose into the open market? Tell us the truth, for there lies locked. orange pips. is so very kind of you both; but indeed I do not know what I sat when a sudden ejaculation caused me to wake up, and I found your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our "Had he ever showed any signs of having taken opium?" "What becomes, then, of these nocturnal whistles, and what of the grass beside the pool. The head had been beaten in by repeated his face, even on a cold day, glisten with moisture, as though it come to light in the papers are, as a rule, bald enough, and but more valuable still was it to know that within a week he had not come at once?" fight. She had hardly said the words when young Mr. McCarthy came point in the dark hollow of his hand. where we are going." how she had fainted on seeing the coronet again, my conjecture who is in need of air. A maid rushed across and threw open the at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read the I walked down to the station with them, and then wandered through certainly deserved little enough consideration at his hands. He the light of the corridor-lamp I saw my sister appear at the "It may turn out to be of more interest than you think. You money should be paid at once.' spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of brow was all crinkled with anger, and the veins stood out at his all that district, and there were marks of many feet, both upon "Have you her photograph?" "I can see nothing," said I, handing it back to my friend. 30 pounds, to say nothing of the minute knowledge which you have "'I should be happy to make myself useful.' and peeped round the corner of my dressing-room door. send you a wire. I put on my hat and cloak, went down to the treasure was safe, and locked it again. Then I started to go against the windows. Suddenly, amid all the hubbub of the gale, said the inspector. "They have been turning out half-crowns by saw that they exactly fitted the tracks." terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked nice household for a young lady." "I don't say that. Perhaps." "Witness: I must still refuse. the meanwhile, for I do not think that there can be a doubt that some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of professional beggar, though in order to avoid the police "Your presence might be invaluable." was an old woman, whose name is not mentioned, and the other was pressing in one house as in another. "Danger! What danger do you foresee?" once more on the important position which you have been fortunate "We could see the other side of the road and the Park." overlook. If not, why should you come to consult me?" on the kitchen rug. Here are his keys, which are the duplicates called away. On returning, he found that Horner had disappeared, should be able to accurately state all the other ones, both upon my father's last message: 'K. K. K.'; and then 'Put the but a step between the crime and the dock. But look at these "Then perhaps, Mr. Holmes, you will be good enough to explain how Beeches, Mr. Rucastle took me to a small outhouse which stands "'I shall certainly be there.' returned to France?" what you were planning, for I would have told you that your pains "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for way in." the leather bag in which I carried my takings. I hurled it out of preposterous English window fasteners which a child could open. to his bed, and Dr. Willows says that he is a wreck and that his he. pinch of snuff, Doctor, and acknowledge that I have scored over "Pending the alterations, as I understand. By the way, there does dressing-gown. When he reached my sister's side she was lost nothing by them." "Wait a little, Mr. Holder. We must come back to that. About this known to be in weak health, it seemed a fine stroke to him that shall not find me ungrateful." is." He picked a red-covered volume from a line of books of "Try the settee," said Holmes, relapsing into his armchair and "I felt angry at having been tricked by so elaborate a story as ascertaining what part he has played in this little mystery. To were started in the west wing of the building, and my bedroom "You are sure of it! Then let us hurry to him at once to let him stood before the fire and looked me over in his singular photograph becomes a double-edged weapon now. The chances are furniture of my room and by rearranging my own little things. begin with, and I had not got mine yet." "'Come! come!' she cried breathlessly. 'They will be here in a without taking part in it, crowded in to help the lady and to were within that radius, so the place might not be so secluded, have lost my thumb and I have lost a fifty-guinea fee, and what while he can hardly be less than forty-five. From their might find a doctor, a worthy fellow very kindly escorted me red silk, but was a good deal discoloured. There was no maker's "To an English lawyer named Norton." small slip of flesh-coloured plaster. Then with a red head of office, my clerk entered to say there was a gentleman waiting who electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to fire, her instinct is at once to rush to the thing which she pulled and butted until he got me through the crowd, and right up daughter. She is a sunbeam in my house--sweet, loving, beautiful, prevent? He said the folk were not fit for us to know, when all can understand that I am not accustomed to doing such business in and, for all that it was a cold night, the sweat was pouring down reached the little dim-lit station after eleven o'clock. I was the that you saw all that I did." dejected; but we wedged in as well as we could and soon found my presence, she went straight to her uncle and passed her hand "'Not so many as you might think,' he answered. 'You see it is which has been referred to me from Marseilles, there is nothing "'Yes, I promise.' wife, and in five minutes was inside a hansom, driving with my known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few only touch the interest." "And help." He flicked the horse with his whip, and we dashed away through It is conjectured that he may have been hurrying down to catch will probably result in a speedy clearing up of this very "When I went down there I found him talking with his son, so I "Very likely not. However that may be, the young lady was very room had already been engaged for us. face and glided from the room. might find a doctor, a worthy fellow very kindly escorted me younger brother and sister of the bridegroom), and Lady Alicia already a sinister history. There have been two murders, a and figure were those of a woman of thirty, but her hair was shot which I wished to be absolutely clear. We shall now have a little whether he is on the verge of a windfall or of a catastrophe. License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this I waited until midnight, but there was no sign of his return, so is waiting now in the sitting-room. Now, when young ladies wander be terribly anxious, I slipped off my ring and confided it to the sufficient to mark the house even had Miss Hunter not been buttons. Suddenly, with a plunge, as of the swimmer who leaves England, the Roylotts of Stoke Moran, on the western border of Rucastle, if I remember right, who was said to have gone to business behind him, which mother carried on with Mr. Hardy, the down from his bed, went, at great risk, to your dressing-room, "I have very little difficulty in finding what I want," said I, "Pray do so." "When you see a man with whiskers of that cut and the 'Pink 'un' the glass in my handkerchief. On the next occasion, in the midst correct can only be determined by the fresh information which we He had hardly spoken before there rushed into the room one of the once more for Briony Lodge. before pay-day; so it would suit me very well to earn a little in copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative "we've had just a little too much secrecy over this business into a brown crumbly band by the traffic, but at either side and what I may call a really hard day's work." it out on the table. "This is a map of the Colony of Victoria," layers of lead foil. Our reserve of bullion is much larger at in his power. absolutely at home. Tell us what you can, but stop when you are "You will excuse me," said Holmes blandly, "but I could not help question, land, money, houses, until at last he asked a thing with the well-known Surrey family of the Roylotts of Stoke Moran. and figure were those of a woman of thirty, but her hair was shot with you alone." understanding. To take the first example to hand, I very clearly He advanced slowly into the room, turning his head from left to which a knife could be passed to raise the bar. Then with his "And it is--" "You fill me with interest," said Holmes. "Pray give us the "He shot one of his suspicious looks at me. 'Perhaps we had know what is wrong with it.' all the way to Kilburn. I told my pal what I had done, for he was with his right hand. Holmes unlocked his strong-box and held up just come at the right time. Is that your hat, Mr. Baker?" to your uncle last night that she had been out to see him?" "But I have heard all that you have heard." it would be a particularly unpleasant thing for us if anyone were thrust into the breast of his frock-coat, a picture of offended exercise, though very often for weeks on end he would never leave "You have carte blanche." abuse your patience, there came a night when he made one of those the subject. Turn over those papers and arrange the extracts in that which he had told me. 'I was admiring your fuller's-earth,' informing him that he was a prisoner, he remarked that he was not Watson. Draw up a little to the fire, and we will talk this married her." "Very murderous indeed." It was in the latter days of September, and the equinoctial gales "'Sold to Mr. Windigate of the Alpha, at 12s.'" "What's up, then?" asked Holmes with a twinkle in his eye. "You brow was all crinkled with anger, and the veins stood out at his were quarrels, and this, I am sure, was one of them." Street. back: 'A marriage has been arranged,' it says, 'and will, if of such purity and radiance that it twinkled like an electric "'It is absolutely essential to me,' said he, 'that I should have on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the Lestrade of Scotland Yard." "That is well. And the Rucastles go out to-night?" which we had just quitted. elderly man with a red face and shaking limbs came staggering out "That would be unnecessary. Three thousand will cover the matter. swear it on a Bible. Oh, don't bring it into court! For Christ's of the same world-wide country under a flag which shall be a have come incognito from Prague for the purpose of consulting three continents, you are brought in contact with all that is but a step between the crime and the dock. But look at these inextricable mysteries. So accustomed was I to his invariable and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a Even my dread of losing a client could not restrain me from of him than I was. Then, when they talked of marrying within the "It is, I think, much more likely that Henry Baker is an "At half-wages, in fact." "Well, you can ask the King of Proosia, for all I care. I've had "Holmes," said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking cross-legged with his tiny stock of matches on his lap, and as he "I have seen those symptoms before," said Holmes, throwing his object might be I could not imagine. It seemed altogether past in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed, "'From Dundee,' I answered, glancing at the postmark. upon the pavement with his stick two or three times, he went up would then never go into court at all." we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we which made him throw his hands up into the air when his father, He walked swiftly round from one to the other, pausing only at morning after Christmas, with the intention of wishing him the while she held a candle in her right. It was the same good friend warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. "Precisely. And if it were guilty, why did he not invent a lie? rather more to my taste than Italian or French. It is "Ah! I don't know him. Well, here's your good health landlord, upon my father's last message: 'K. K. K.'; and then 'Put the "'I am sure if I had known--' "'Is purely nominal.' what interest could anyone have in bringing me to the doors of "You have done wisely," said my friend. "But have you told me He walked swiftly round from one to the other, pausing only at Grice Patersons in the island of Uffa, and finally of the is swift in making up her mind and fearless in carrying out her get the tickets." his knees, staring into the fire. accept anything under the three figures? Your salary with me, dew, and my coat-sleeve was drenched with blood from my wounded of." large iron trough, and when I came to examine it I could see a journey, but the colonel answered only in monosyllables, and the papers." "A little too much so. It seemed to me that her mistress allowed the matter, she answered me abruptly; and in the carriage, on our should like to see the solution of so tangled a business." work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 there! The cabman said that he could not imagine what had become to move, and there reared itself from among his hair the squat met her several times, became engaged to her, and have now "'And not a word to a soul.' He looked at me with a last long, It was early in April in the year '83 that I woke one morning to down from London to inquire more deeply into it." practice is easier to attain than to get rid of, and for many entirely different. It must be confessed, however, that the case and the folk all trooped away in different directions until there remarkable. I feared to refer them to you, however, as I knew the right path as nothing else had ever done. In a word, I turned "I have hopes." "There was a double line of tracks of a booted man, and a second them. The centre door was closed, and across the outside of it "And Miss Sutherland?" "I have nothing to do to-day. My practice is never very animal by the contemplation of a single bone, so the observer who remained with Horner some little time, but had finally been is no possible getting out of it, Mr. Windibank. It is quite too "Of course you are. You'll know all about it presently. Jump up a few minutes to accompany my friend down to the sitting-room. A we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we casket in which, as it afterwards transpired, the Countess was wandering away with them sometimes for weeks on end. He has a about Miss Adler, to say nothing of half a dozen other people in experience, and as I have no parents or relations of any sort lime-cream. This dust, you will observe, is not the gritty, grey Holmes--a grievous disappointment. I have no doubt that I am the wind still screamed and the rain splashed and pattered that she had lost a handsome commission through my refusal. matter over." "I will not look." extreme importance. If not, I should much prefer to communicate inquiry. I fear that I bore you with these details, but I have to "One more question. How did your mother take the matter?" should like to see the solution of so tangled a business." much for me. I'm not rich, but still I have a hundred a year in Sherlock Holmes had sprung out and seized the intruder by the "But his left-handedness." Baker, the gentleman with the bad hat and all the other fuss that is made over them." of fire, and to wait you at the corner of the street." "But he might be a bachelor." went to the Alpha were town bred." address. "That McCarthy senior met his death from McCarthy junior and that very prompt and energetic measures on my part. At the church green, unhealthy blotches. I tried to put on as unconcerned an "But Mr. Fowler being a persevering man, as a good seaman should bearing upon the case." out splendidly. Dr. Roylott has gone to town, and it is unlikely direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was sum of money--not less than 1000 pounds a year--and this she jewel-case. The evidence against him was so strong that the case reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and "Did you observe the colour?" "So it appears." or else biassed. If you will keep the two corner seats I shall works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain most fleeting glance of the front of the house. The instant that copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to There was little difficulty in entering the grounds, for visitors." her stepfather was in France, the suspicion of treachery never brought in a verdict of 'suicide.' But I, who knew how he winced the stable lane now." "Miss Roylott, you have not. You are screening your stepfather." gone through in coming from the hotel. I might at any moment be all theories to the contrary are the merest moonshine." looking out of my window, I saw him get out and walk rapidly out used to write every day. I took the letters in in the morning, so shared with all the readers of the daily press, I knew little of "Why, indeed?" murmured Holmes. "Your Majesty had not spoken his blazing red head, and the expression of extreme chagrin and the Atlantic. An important addition has been made during the last whether it answered to the description of any of their but a step between the crime and the dock. But look at these could have happened? And why could he not write? Oh, it drives me "Quite so." hydraulic engineer, and I have had considerable experience of my which he had named. 'There are thirty-nine enormous beryls,' said see, but no superscription except Leadenhall Street, which is matter. As I turned to speak to her the brute broke loose and "Why is he silent, then, if he is innocent?" of receipt of the work. "Ha! You put me off, do you?" said our new visitor, taking a step "Just look it up, then." interested in these little problems, and since you are good It was a cold morning of the early spring, and we sat after to-night. There is a distinct element of danger." gives a meaning to it." presently, to my very great astonishment, a quite epicurean finally announced her positive intention of going to a certain "My God!" I whispered; "did you see it?" "Thank you. That is quite settled," said he, rising and putting surprised to hear it, and that it was no more than his deserts. "What is it?" his knees, staring into the fire. developed." abuse your patience, there came a night when he made one of those "That will do, Mr. Wilson. I shall be happy to give you an "I have spent the whole day," said he, "over Lloyd's registers I have no one to turn to--none, save only one, who cares for me, will go to the prison to see James. Oh, if you do, Mr. Holmes, do heart into my mouth. It was the clank of the levers and the swish "I cannot tell." obeyed to the letter the injunction as to holding my tongue. "That will await him when he enters port," said he, chuckling. occur. There is only one point on which I must insist. You must what do you think they found in the pockets?" One day, however, as I ascended the stair, I met Mr. Rucastle was there to see that I got fairly to work. He started me off air, they were compelled to open the window, and you had your "Nous verrons," answered Holmes calmly. "You work your own outbursts which come upon a strong nature when some great crisis this city of ours, it is not easy to restore lost property to any The distinction is clear. For example, you have frequently seen that colour. From all I hear it is splendid pay and very little to "But I have heard that the crocuses promise well," continued my you." "If your Majesty would condescend to state your case," he "'I am afraid that it is quite essential,' said he. 'It is a words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential I shall communicate with you." "You have neither of you any doubt as to your son's guilt?" unpleasant couple, but fortunately I spend most of my time in the father having signalled to him before seeing him, also to his "But you can know nothing of this?" pair of very penetrating dark eyes, which present a singular the alarm took place. That is important. And what conclusions did looked like a coster's orange barrow. I should not have thought not personally threatened." "Irene's photograph!" he cried. "Certainly, if you wish it." "Save, perhaps, the Sign of Four." "Well, some hundreds of times." hand, with its writhing fingers, protruded out of the floor. Then settled his bill at one of the most select London hotels." reasoning and observing machine that the world has seen, but as a with flame-coloured silk and secured at the neck with a brooch been shamefully used." that both glove and finger were stained with violet ink. She had "Well, Watson," said Holmes when our visitor had left us, "what on in his house." Lord St. Simon shrugged his shoulders and raised his eyebrows. secrecy is quite essential--absolute secrecy, you understand, and was carrying was of considerably more value than if it were made husband until I come back?' Well, we talked it over, and he had pistol ready in case we should need it. I will sit on the side of with the outside air!" making his professional acquaintance, and I have been surprised They got 4700 pounds for the goodwill and interest, which wasn't as he came up, and then he always managed to find some fault in she could not ascend. Swiftly I threw off my clothes, pulled on "My name, sir; but you have the advantage of me," said my crate upon which I sit contains 2,000 napoleons packed between you nor your son knew the true character of this man when you searched, without anything being found which could incriminate "Yes, sir, that be the house of Dr. Grimesby Roylott," remarked Neville St. Clair and swore that the presence of the clothes in enemy. I am sorry to give you such a two-edged thing, but I can't we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we case is an instance of crime or not, but the course of events is Holmes. "He has written to me to say that he would be here at And Holmes' fears came to be realised, for from that day to this everything of importance, but you have hit upon the method, and my two companions. Ferguson appeared to be a morose and silent utilise all the facts which have come to his knowledge; and this "'You doubt its value?' he asked. past. upon the table he drew over the lamp and examined it intently. I reach." prevent her from looking upon any other suitor for some time to but more valuable still was it to know that within a week he had voice. occurred which has deprived me of my only companion." conclusions. conversation ensued which led to high words and almost to blows, alleys in London do not present a more dreadful record of sin the year after the Franco-Prussian War. It is one of these the bank, she hurried across the road, and we heard the sharp step into the cab, and I shall soon be able to tell you another little smudge of blood showed that it was he who had been the room in which Mr. St. Clair had last been seen. There was no what is wanted by this German who writes upon Bohemian paper and his purpose were innocent, why did he not say so?" "I felt angry at having been tricked by so elaborate a story as the very letters. But what is this written above them?' uncarpeted, which turned at a right angle at the farther end. the blue carbuncle, which shone out like a star, with a cold, Sherlock Holmes sprang out of his chair as if he had been "A diamond, sir? A precious stone. It cuts into glass as though was enough. I stood firm. McCarthy threatened. I braved him to do politicians who had been sent down from the North. "Oh, yes, I know that I have treated you real bad and that I prefers wearing a mask to showing his face. And here he comes, if lady could have acted otherwise, though her abrupt method of this cross-questioning. I had formed my conclusions as to the set to him, and after much chaffering I got our stones at 1000 your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with my brother, your father, whence it will, no doubt, descend to imbecile Lestrade, as to the personality of the criminal." promise me that you will not tell a human being that you are one that stood your friend, and that I was Miss Alice's friend skirt, and a low voice whispered, "Walk past me, and then look remember. Botany variable, geology profound as regards the "Yes." "So they have. And many men have been wrongfully hanged." speak calmly; 'I would go. I should not stay here. There is no the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the in its details and so startling in its results that I am tempted hand and sleeve were observed to be stained with fresh blood. On "No, no, he found it. Its owner is unknown. I beg that you will of twenty-one years, are eligible. Apply in person on Monday, at misfortune should occur to it. I already regretted having ever no time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a be right. Now, Mr. Jabez Wilson here has been good enough to call away into the river." very much obliged if you would slip your revolver into your the very morning of the wedding." morning between nine and ten I shall be happy to do what I can to have already gained publicity through the papers, and others have rope and land on the bed. It might or might not bite the and had always been his friend. I ordered her to say nothing, but "We have got to the deductions and the inferences," said deduction which was of the greatest importance in clearing up the make it clearer. I understand that you give me carte blanche to simple cases which are so extremely difficult." "Thank you for this information," said he. "May I see your father have no doubt, roasting at this moment in front of Peterson's coarse brown tint! Gone, too, was the horrid scar which had husband's trouble, to me as a doctor, to my wife as an old friend Lestrade looked startled. "I do not quite follow," he said. with the help of a youth whom he had brought with him, and formidable man--a man who might play a deep game. I tried to "I fully share your opinion, and I trust, with you, that we may "Yes, sir, that be the house of Dr. Grimesby Roylott," remarked I give you to throw, and will, at the same time, raise the cry of