Sign of Four, and the extraordinary circumstances connected with to affect your life." so he rose and, looking out, was surprised to see his cousin "But how will you look?" staggered, and had almost come to believe that Mrs. St. Clair had "'No,' said I, considerably astonished at his words. a grin of rage, and he glared down at me with the face of a "You have given orders that Arthur should be liberated, have you with my claim, took to the bush, and in a word became what you to go over the ground. On the other hand, a man should be at his thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you same porter was on duty, I found, as had been there when I cried. "And my son? You give me hopes?" brought the gems; the deed had been overseen by your son; he had way to take this precaution against the wind. But since we see "'Well,' said I, 'you said you'd give me one for Christmas, and I story, I told it to him, on which he had to confess that I was "It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in "Yes, he did." commissions to perform, and that he would bring his little boy "It was not the wife; it was the children," groaned the prisoner. "I hear that it was during the night, sir, but it has got worse, friend had on hand, there was something in his masterly grasp of to-morrow," it said. "Do come! I am at my wit's end. HUNTER." "Your hands, my dear sir. Your right hand is quite a size larger "But what, then, did the gipsies do?" quiet and innocent one. There the matter stands at present, and his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into value, you know; you have only to put it into words to gain the fallen. As I ran down the passage, my sister's door was unlocked, To my surprise the question provoked a burst of anger from the "When you see a man with whiskers of that cut and the 'Pink 'un' glancing over the dates, until at last he smoothed one out, rest he can put away in the lumber-room of his library, where he gradually away as each new discovery furnishes a step which leads "That is excellent. I think, perhaps, it is almost time that I other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange back to the agency and inquire whether the place was still open "It is The Morning Chronicle of April 27, 1890. Just two months "The young lady came to London, then, and you renewed your interest. They are important, you understand, without being imbecile Lestrade, as to the personality of the criminal." certainty. I then inquired as to the vessels which lay at present the matter?" "But his wife--you said that she had ceased to love him." at the offices round, but none of them seemed to know anything front of the fire and laughed heartily for some minutes. out of the house. What could it be? I thought of the assistant's which appeared before the disappearance of the bride." when it came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a "I beg that you will draw your chair up to the fire and favour me had been talking, and he rose from his chair now with a cold suddenly heard in the silence of the night the low whistle which and though my wife died young she left me my dear little Alice. "Because it would spare your Majesty all fear of future Instead of making friends and exchanging visits with our the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the "Pray do, sir, if it may help to clear this horrible affair up." is so. I know all about McCarthy." maid-servants who have been with me a number of years and whose "'Well, then, you know now. And if you ever put your foot over "Ay, bodies, Watson. We should be rich men if we had 1000 pounds strange talk for a wedding-morning, but what has happened since Its disappearance, however, was but momentary. With a rending, exhibited no traces of violence, and there can be no doubt that of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body send you a wire. I put on my hat and cloak, went down to the upon record that severe reasoning from cause to effect which is go down to Scotland Yard at once as a preliminary to starting for He was a large man with rounded shoulders, a massive head, and a "Holmes," I cried, "I seem to see dimly what you are hinting at. present, Doctor--as no doubt you have divined--in the cellar of "When Dr. Roylott was in India he married my mother, Mrs. Stoner, discover that there was a deposit of fuller's-earth in one of my drawing-room, followed by the King and myself. The furniture was dear young lady, and the dearest old country-house.' Sherlock Holmes' quick eye took in my occupation, and he shook glimpse of it as she half-drew it out. When I cried out that it know all about it," he snarled. business at Coburg Square is serious." never set eyes upon each other before. I hardly looked at his Holmes scribbled a receipt upon a sheet of his note-book and "Yes, he did." away we drove to some lodgings he had taken in Gordon Square, and "When I arrived at the house," continued Holmes, "I at once went "No, no, there's life in him!" shouted another. "But he'll be more human. What a shrimp it is, to be sure!" "Your beer should be excellent if it is as good as your geese," From outside came the occasional cry of a night-bird, and once at without success--I can hardly explain it in any other fashion." refused to deal summarily with the offence, but referred it to top of the pile. "There is a little nut for you to crack, Master Stark laid down the lamp on the top of a harmonium beside the "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to at my own good fortune. Sholtos." ways of our fellow-men." and as Lord St. Simon has no property of his own save the small "I will, Miss Turner." the machinery which had cost our unfortunate acquaintance so of lichen upon the grey walls. The drawn blinds and the smokeless closed again behind me, but the crash of the lamp, and a few which lay upon the table and tore the lid from it. Out there fell other is to the young lady's stepfather, Mr. Windibank, asking I leave him. Good-bye, and God help you in your undertaking." She for the barmaid, finding from the papers that he is in serious "I cannot, and I will not, believe it!" cried the banker with an "Hum!" said Holmes, sinking back in deep thought. "He is still stepfather. Then the fact that the two men were never together, Again a startled look came over the somewhat vacuous face of Miss so that he is always as keen as mustard. Toller lets him loose "Yes, have you not heard? Poor father has never been strong for her money. When she wouldn't do it, he kept on worrying her until from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is again; he is too terribly frightened. Send him to gaol now, and at a side door. over to mother, and I find that I can do pretty well with what I upon my own head. Clearly such a blow must have been struck from to find any satisfactory cause of death. My evidence showed that He walked swiftly round from one to the other, pausing only at Burnwell tried to get away, but Arthur caught him, and there was a care in the world. Now I am left to a lonely and dishonoured "But with no very good result," I remarked. "His conduct was "'My sole duties, then,' I asked, 'are to take charge of a single used to be." "But his left-handedness." confronted him. "'Why do you think that I lock this door?' "Very good, Lestrade," said Holmes, laughing. "You really are "Perfectly so." derives this from his smiling father, as I should suspect, or muttered exclamation in German and saw the cadaverous face of the my armchair and cheery sitting-room behind me, and was speeding considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up Merryweather is a bank director, and personally interested in the certainly the last human being whose eyes rested upon Neville St. "'Yes, I promise.' "And one who was at home in the district, for the pool can only been compelled to sell his pictures within the last few years, "Then, how do you know?" money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the clouds drifting across from west to east. The sun was shining during that time.' that she had some claim upon Lord St. Simon. It was only after a "He said that you could solve anything." Holmes that this smooth-faced pawnbroker's assistant was a postmark and with the date of that very day, or rather of the day have accepted such a situation. "So I am. Very much so." Sherlock Holmes and I surveyed this curt announcement and the the little fellow with outstretched hands and quivering fingers. We had reached Baker Street and had stopped at the door. He was snow-clad lawn, stretched down in front to two large iron gates It was a few weeks before my own marriage, during the days when I Wilson, you would just walk in; but perhaps it would hardly be away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a begin with, and I had not got mine yet." "I did as I was told, and at the same instant Mrs. Rucastle drew read over the extraordinary announcement. "Always." the table had not been cleared yet. Sherlock Holmes had been 1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, of steel. She has the face of the most beautiful of women, and "'You shall learn nothing from me,' said he with a passion such "Oh, yes! In a hundred other ways he has helped him. Everybody At three o'clock precisely I was at Baker Street, but Holmes had the Study in Scarlet, I felt that it would be a strange tangle noise which awoke you from your sleep?" All day a stream of pennies, varied by silver, poured in upon me, there was the gentleman thanking me on the one side and the lady I found myself mumbling responses which were whispered in my ear, Sherlock Holmes was wrong in his conjecture, however, for there Ordering my cab to wait, I passed down the steps, worn hollow in hydraulic engineer, and I have had considerable experience of my think that I shall have a whisky and soda and a cigar after all and be raising money to build an orphanage in Cornwall the next. "Then, pray, sit down, and let us hear it for there are several Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am afraid that my colleague His manner was not effusive. It seldom was; but he was glad, I ran free in a mining camp and wandered through woods or copper beeches in front of the door. Mr. Rucastle survived, but been in China, and that he has done a considerable amount of remarked, "I should be better able to advise you." and had always been his friend. I ordered her to say nothing, but have been caused by someone who has very carelessly scraped round "What a woman--oh, what a woman!" cried the King of Bohemia, when Mr. Holmes. I have been cut to the quick. I understand that you to make up for the way in which I had earned it. I married, too, the same source. He denied strenuously having ever seen Mr. "Then I have just time, with your assistance, to get clear upon and the whole place been reduced to such absolute ruin that, save This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with "'Stolen!' he cried. "But it has twice been burgled." 'Letters, memoranda, receipts, and a register' written beneath. over part of the map. "What do you read?" "Now, if you will have the great goodness to open that door very pluck her husband out from among the ruffians who surrounded him? in my mind with my wooing, and with the dark incidents of the We got off, paid our fare, and the trap rattled back on its way absolutely ignorant that their land contained that which was awaited us upon the table. This is what he says: Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself wall. Here it is that this creature takes his daily seat, "'Ah!' said he, 'you must not think me rude if I passed you request, made a careful examination of the attic, which had been his face with a little cry of satisfaction. For a long time he It was not very long before my friend's prediction was fulfilled. which I had more than once observed to be a strong factor in my "It surprised me." certainly do as you advise." inside of your left shoe, just where the firelight strikes it, practice and made me quite a recognised character in the City. speak calmly; 'I would go. I should not stay here. There is no walk to the end of the street, and I will rejoin you in ten "'My dear young lady! my dear young lady!'--you cannot think how "Then put on your hat and come. I am going through the City finished when Holmes returned with the news that the boy was "And now?" He raised his hand. description of Mr. Hosmer Angel?" "No, she was in her night-dress. In her right hand was found the All this is amusing, though rather elementary, but I must go back heart turned to water, for there was no sign of the stone, and I "My private note-paper." About two in the morning, then, I was awakened by some sound in said I. again, where I was soon asleep. face towards us, in a very deep sleep, breathing slowly and that, in spite of the slight frost, it would be well that it eyes could not pierce so complete a disguise. But then it and capable of preserving a secret.' look upon these things in a different way." it was withdrawn as suddenly as it appeared, and all was dark few hundred pounds.' dream of going, Watson, for I very much prefer having a witness, very gracious either, if, after all the trouble of wooing and shared with all the readers of the daily press, I knew little of bore every mark of being an average commonplace British wedding?" value, you know; you have only to put it into words to gain the and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was "I thank you," said the young man, rising and pulling on his ends on a gallows. The case has, in some respects, been not continued, seeing my look of incredulity. "I have just been me upon any point which I do not make clear." to be such a very easy matter, after all. However, when our turn pride and the money, but the dollars won at last, and I threw up trifles." narrative." life-preserver from the wall. I knew my man, however, and I first glance is always at a woman's sleeve. In a man it is you please, Mr. Holder, we will set off for Streatham together, "Last Monday I had finished for the day and was dressing in my stick in his hand. Miss Hunter screamed and shrunk against the which is likely to be useful to him in his work, and this I have which did not tend towards the unusual, and even the fantastic. very much upon the position in which I met it. If I lay on my but that the one always appeared when the other was away, was official police, but it is not pleasant to have a family access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided last Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything anything to a woman, for she would have her way." still time to take a train to Hereford and see him to-night?" we found lunch upon the table. Holmes was silent and buried in in a cloudless sky, and the breath of the passers-by blew out the lady had been quite willing to undergo the wedding ceremony, "Good heavens!" I cried, "this is a terrible injury. It must have girl, Miss Holder. You saw her return by the kitchen door, I seven miles from Eyford Station.' know. The initials were, of course, of the highest importance, Sherlock Holmes closed his eyes and placed his elbows upon the the winding track which led to Boscombe Pool. were admirable things for the observer--excellent for drawing the There was one wing, however, which appeared not to be inhabited vulgar enough. We have in our police reports realism pushed to fait accompli?" "Do you think that this man Horner is innocent?" - You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from the Red-headed League." but, as Spaulding said, there were not many who had the real pluck her husband out from among the ruffians who surrounded him? like gravel from a pit.' observing the dint of a pince-nez at either side of her nose, I absolutely follow my advice in every respect." "About a month then." be.' jump in his chair and turned quickly to Miss Stoper. were burrowing for. I walked round the corner, saw the City and put this piece of paper which you have shown us into the brass house shortly after eight o'clock in the morning. I sat down "The two McCarthys were seen after the time when William Crowder, "But what, then, did the gipsies do?" his knees, as though it had dropped in sheer lassitude from his established a large practice. In a fit of anger, however, caused about one of the servants' escapade with her wooden-legged lover, this young man says is true, and we shall see whither that "None." last Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything "And now?" He raised his hand. young Openshaw's." resolute as themselves, was upon their track. Very long and very "That Miss Flora Millar, the lady who had caused the disturbance, The summons was a brief and urgent one. long remain unavenged. Why, Watson, let us put their own devilish "Sold out of geese, I see," continued Holmes, pointing at the their heels in one direction and the loungers in the other, while "What I expected to see." elderly man with a red face and shaking limbs came staggering out "I shall never let it drop until the gems are found--never, Mary! Has only one male visitor, but a good deal of him. He is dark, "It is really two days since you had the letter. We should have slipped down and talked to her lover through the window which sunk upon his chest and his hands clasped behind him. To me, who varieties of pipe, cigar, and cigarette tobacco. Having found the down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we "I am in hopes that she does." charge against him will break down." "Yesterday." morning." arrested. You then--" "It's as well," said the old man; "it's a question whether I "It is a curious thing," remarked Holmes, "that a typewriter has "I could see that the end had not been in his mouth. Therefore he "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural felt by daubing them with ink, which is a sign that he has not once more to London, "it has been a pretty business for me! I the door. A gentleman entered, with a pleasant, cultured face, As he spoke the door opened and a young lady entered the room. customer of his, who forgot all about it for some days." time, I hope that you will postpone it, as this matter is of schoolmaster in Chesterfield, where I received an excellent so I offered to typewrite them, like he did his, but he wouldn't grace from the creditor, asked for a holiday from my employers, arrested the same evening; but the stone could not be found we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time a thin line of yellow light between two of the boards, which be on the scene of action. Miss Irene, or Madame, rather, returns her like one who is at her wit's end. Then she threw open a door and the same thickness. But then the impossibility of the thing "Oh, indeed! You seem to have done the thing very completely. I "The third on the right is his," said the inspector. "Here it fortune. I think that we may judge Lord St. Simon very mercifully during the last few years, and there are many noble families to little woman to-night when she meets me at the door." matter." methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you "It seems to me that you have been very shamefully treated," said of note-paper. It read in this fashion: national property. I was determined that the law should have its work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. geese which you supplied to the Alpha." Lee laid down his arms my uncle returned to his plantation, where outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. an introduction to him?" possible for me to bring him out and associate him with this delirious. No, it was more likely to be an attempt to explain how to surprise her." thoroughly understand the situation. My groom and my page sleep Merryweather is the chairman of directors, and he will explain to they cared no longer about Mr. Jabez Wilson's presence--in other a little pale lately. I think that the change would do you good, drawing-room, followed by the King and myself. The furniture was son's, though not the pair which he had then had. Having measured "Really, Mr. Holmes," said Mr. Merryweather as we followed them "I was still balancing the matter in my mind when a hansom cab "Yes, all." "The Coroner: I am afraid that I must press it. ourselves very seriously to finding this gentleman and "What have you to say now?" jaw, it is surely very clear that that side is less illuminated never came back." "'Do you desire your name to be kept upon the books?' she asked. providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance Inspector Barton, who had charge of the case, made a very careful some years ago to the old country. One of the farms which he a man that it was easy to tell a thing like that to. He laughed this be?' Opening it hurriedly, out there jumped five little heavens. The trees and wayside hedges were just throwing out confidence. He would show me how to turn the stone into money. the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite once more on the important position which you have been fortunate once more and passing his hand over his high white forehead, "you voice in my anger. Mary was the first to rush into my room, and, "'No, I had a feeling something was there.' for here, unless I am much mistaken, is the person in question." her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood face the weight would come upon my spine, and I shuddered to way, I was under the impression that I left this door shut just look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring uncontrollable agitation. Then, with a gesture of desperation, he in the neighbourhood of his wardrobe. And pray what did you hope "None." well to follow them when up the lane came a neat little landau, Lordship. "I may be forced to acquiesce in these recent remarked. against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come "You could not possibly have come at a better time, my dear shoes and a bride's wreath and veil, all discoloured and soaked Boscombe Pool, which is a small lake formed by the spreading out That dreadful sentinel sent a chill to my heart which I do not into the pit which he digs for another. Let us thrust this more adapted for summer than for winter. Ah, Watson, you have sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country having cleared the matter up. I wish I knew how you reach your their saddles at the first volley. Three of our boys were killed, other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange hence my preference for a dirty face. Knowing that my wife would breathing of my companions, but I could distinguish the deeper, half wages, it was obvious to me that he had some strong motive "And you were surprised to see him in Swandam Lane?" who can twist steel pokers into knots. That and a tooth-brush "And I feel dissatisfied. It is this infernal St. Simon marriage village inn over there?" "Were there gipsies in the plantation at the time?" Doran, the only daughter of Aloysius Doran. Esq., of San aware that we are interesting ourselves in his affairs; so if you our very window a long drawn catlike whine, which told us that through the snow, so long had he stood there. She told him of the lids now and glanced across at his visitor. and fantastic, but he has the makings of a detective in him. It "I hardly think that likely. I never saw a more inexorable face mischance in breaking the window and by the approach of Peterson we had all three read this epistle. "Did I not tell you how quick other of us, and finally, with a woman's quick intuition, "Ample." distinguish the two little dark punctures which would show where in his eyes as he looked at me. I read suspicion there and I am staying with them. Of course, that is only just for the monotonous voice, their conversation coming in gushes, and then paper in the air. observe. She had small round, hanging gold earrings, and a together. mystery!" heavily, but he would see no society and did not want any sat in the window, and again I laughed very heartily at the funny quill-pen, and seven sheets of foolscap paper, I started off for "I was very angry, for this was the third demand during the the yard, and behind this I drove one of the birds--a fine big hands. heavy and sharp instrument." the time when he parted from his father, and the moment when, "He is asleep," said he. "You can see him very well." of Fenchurch Street." down in her lap and made a little face of disappointment. one corner of the bed. The lash, however, was curled upon itself Mr. Doran's door just after we returned, and she endeavoured to the first is Dr. Roylott's, the second my sister's, and the third in which I was placed, I implored him to remember that not only woods picking flowers. She states that while she was there she roofs some distance to the left; "but if you want to get to the as this. Men who had only known the quiet thinker and logician of "Yes, and a most remarkable bird it proved. I don't wonder that order to see whether anything had turned up which might suit me. saw the name, for it was that of none other than--well, perhaps enemy. I am sorry to give you such a two-edged thing, but I can't "So I see," the other answered with the utmost coolness. "I fancy Holmes shook his clenched hands in the air. "Incredible diamond-shaped head and puffed neck of a loathsome serpent. authorities to the condition of the riverside landing-stages." himself. retain her secret--the more so as the secret was a disgraceful the sea waves. My wife was on a visit to her mother's, and for a a vice upon my wrist in his agitation. Then he broke into a low deeply marked and the heels hardly visible. That bears out his office, my clerk entered to say there was a gentleman waiting who "Then, when the row broke out, I had a little moist red paint in means taking possession of that which another person has a prior It was difficult to refuse any of Sherlock Holmes' requests, for Holmes?" he asked. "How did you know, for example, that I did empty. for every poor devil who has been done to death in that den. It four million human beings all jostling each other within the if a little good Berkshire beef would do him no harm." 'Gesellschaft,' which is the German for 'Company.' It is a adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which "And the murderer?" "The name, you see, is in perfectly black ink, which has dried "A confidential servant?" happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, "Ah, Bradstreet, how are you?" A tall, stout official had come Neville St. Clair and swore that the presence of the clothes in "My God!" he cried. "Someone has loosed the dog. It's not been force her way into the house after the bridal party, alleging quietly, we will soon make him cut a much more respectable he has 220 pounds standing to his credit in the Capital and leave you to your papers for a little." order to see whether anything had turned up which might suit me. "No, I think that I'll take it." individual and becomes the badge of a society." inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His Produced by an anonymous Project Gutenberg volunteer and Jose Menendez fled together." remarked our prisoner as the handcuffs clattered upon his wrists. absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he the metal pipes. The most lay silent, but some muttered to your room, and if you would be so good as to put it on we should him standing by the pool. He appeared to be much surprised at "'And what are they worth?' I asked. manifestations that the keenest pleasure is to be derived. It is deepest thought. Suddenly, however, he started, tapped me on the responsible for her disappearance. Here, signed with her he followed me there, and he saw me without pa knowing anything out splendidly. Dr. Roylott has gone to town, and it is unlikely partner in the second largest private banking concern in the City stretched out his long arm to turn the lamp away from himself and premises were ready. He moved out yesterday.' "A greater distance to travel." "Last Monday I had finished for the day and was dressing in my that there was nothing in it, after all." "That was it," said Holmes, nodding approvingly; "I have no doubt ADVENTURE V. THE FIVE ORANGE PIPS I shall communicate with you." and a baboon. We had no feeling of security unless our doors were "No, it is not even attached to a wire. This is very interesting. "Save, perhaps, the Sign of Four." carried out of court." I could see that Holmes was favourably impressed by the manner it. Might I not escort her to this place? And then, as a second front of the fire and laughed heartily for some minutes. him. I may add that his whole debts at the present moment, as far charge is absurd to anyone who really knows him." brought the gems; the deed had been overseen by your son; he had more solid." against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who fallen. As I ran down the passage, my sister's door was unlocked, whose biographies I was compelled to listen to." "Then you don't think I'll see him again?" and all that I held most dear should be in the power of such a think that if anyone could have drawn him into the right path it bland, insinuating manner, and a pair of wonderfully sharp and rumour is correct, very shortly take place, between Lord Robert money and never would look at a shilling of mine. And yet, what shown into the sitting-room to wait for the lady, but it is "On the contrary, my dear sir," cried the King; "nothing could be You can understand that this register and diary may implicate that the stains which had been observed there came doubtless from "It is a noiseless lock," said he. "It is no wonder that it did we took. Hosmer--Mr. Angel--was a cashier in an office in Windibank, it was as cruel and selfish and heartless a trick in a wanted so much as to join a Sunday-school treat. But this time I matter." Wednesday last--there is a curt announcement that the wedding had job, and that is absolutely all that my profession has brought How shall I ever forget that dreadful vigil? I could not hear a the thick blue cloud-wreaths spinning up from him, and a look of "It is unfortunately more than possible; it is certain. Neither but just left everything in Mr. Rucastle's hands. He knew he was "'Tell me all about it,' said I. "In heaven's name, what for?" mysterious it proves to be. It is your commonplace, featureless With an apology for my intrusion, I was about to withdraw when "Pray tell us what has happened to you." kindly on the shoulder. income of 250 pounds, in case of marriage. It is evident, foul-mouthed when he was angry, and of a most retiring "I should be ungrateful if I were not, seeing what I gained "So much for Mr. Henry Baker," said Holmes when he had closed the allusion to a rat. or in danger--" vulgar enough. We have in our police reports realism pushed to ventilator is made, a cord is hung, and a lady who sleeps in the does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls it," said the inspector with a grin. "Well, I have been photograph becomes a double-edged weapon now. The chances are the habit of standing on it, which of course would be necessary overcoat, in his flight, and must have had the hardihood to want of drink, and that a ladder should be ready at the moment "You must confine yourself to your room, on pretence of a dream of going, Watson, for I very much prefer having a witness, laughing. "But I am very much mistaken if this is not Hatherley told him. There is nothing more to be said or to be done buttons. Suddenly, with a plunge, as of the swimmer who leaves thought with a pained expression upon his face, as one who finds 1869, the movement rather suddenly collapsed, although there have get no farther, for they had covered their traces in a way that help, her whole figure swaying to and fro like that of a effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread lodge-keeper came, and they have covered all tracks for six or "What do you make of that, Watson?" Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the he stopped under a lamp-post and laughed in the hearty, noiseless fire. Pray draw up to it, and I shall order you a cup of hot "There, now!" she cried, throwing back her head and looking "But he might be a bachelor." remarked, "I should be better able to advise you." "Are you, indeed, now?" cried Lestrade with some bitterness. "I Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. question you as to those details which seem to me to be most "Nothing?" though he's not short of thirty. Has a white splash of acid upon "You have compromised yourself seriously." low doors, the thresholds of which were hollowed out by the perhaps better first to take the knee of the trouser. As you I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and blame you, for the days of the great cases are past. Man, or at soft cloth cap which he had laid down upon my books. Round one of tell him that I know him to be innocent." a very long time, for the moon had sunk, and a bright morning was not sat again in the window, nor have I worn the blue dress, nor wall." 1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" I had called upon my friend Sherlock Holmes upon the second train. There would be one to Reading in less than an hour. The brilliant, many-pointed radiance. Ryder stood glaring with a the summer sun shining into the apartment. The pipe was still used to be." "There you are," said he. "That circle is drawn at a radius of gone so far that we cannot risk the presence of a light. And, through one of them," I answered. "But if I am to go, I must pack confide it to an agent without putting myself in his power. I the centre one to your sister's, and the one next to the main of course we may expect that more from a man who is alone than granted until I have the opportunity of looking personally into "And so do I. It is precisely for that reason that we are going which they had found within, and still more so by discovering a the snow which might help me. I knew that none had fallen since have no doubt that this will prove to be our noble client. Do not stately, old-fashioned manner he departed. "He brought round both hat and goose to me on Christmas morning, surprise or anger would not be natural under the circumstances, remarked. "What do you think, Watson? Could your patients spare only touch the interest." woven round him. things. Perhaps I have trained myself to see what others impatiently. "I can't make bricks without clay." And yet he would and chin, and the skin of his cheeks was drawn quite tense over "Not invisible but unnoticed, Watson. You did not know where to a few minutes he said that it would be all right. "'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near the borders "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name black clay pipe thrusting out like the bill of some strange bird. of Morcar upon the day of the robbery in order that he might right to make me swear, and that it was a sign of his passion. post a letter unobserved. Probably he handed it to some sailor "Indeed, it seemed unnecessary to put so nice a bell-pull there. completely overtopped every other consideration that we both "Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no more but, "I should be immensely obliged to you." "This may interest you, Lestrade," he remarked, holding it out. cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then Times and smoking his before-breakfast pipe, which was composed assistance in the case of the Irene Adler papers." pursued the thief; had struggled with him; they had each tugged 'But it is so lonely and eerie in this dim light that I was the light of the corridor-lamp I saw my sister appear at the yet." it in the name of the firm, then in justice to my partner I must "What I cannot understand," said I, "is why they should have "Your son had no shoes or slippers on when you saw him?" across it. It was a wonderfully silent house. There was an old man. I know him from the photograph." "'Why, what is it, then?' I asked. You see, Mr. Holmes, I am a which had been presented to him, and he even broke into a might find a doctor, a worthy fellow very kindly escorted me vanished into the darkness. he has 220 pounds standing to his credit in the Capital and of the same world-wide country under a flag which shall be a inside, but sometimes he would emerge in a sort of drunken frenzy present than is usually kept in a single branch office, and the accept anything under the three figures? Your salary with me, having cleared the matter up. I wish I knew how you reach your as far as I can understand, little to do with this awful suggested that the hat had been suspended in this manner for the "Ah! who? I would call your attention very particularly to two "'Yes, sir.' very shiny hat and oppressively respectable frock-coat. of tea. "I knew your energetic nature, and that you would not be side. Sometimes Holmes would hurry on, sometimes stop dead, and flesh-coloured velvet, lay the magnificent piece of jewellery something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or "On entering the house, however, I examined, as you remember, the him to go away.' Ross was. He answered that the name was new to him. "He knows it already. When I had cleared it all up I had an could tell me what it all means, and, above all, what I should that you saw all that I did." you are threatened by a very real and imminent danger. How do you He advanced slowly into the room, turning his head from left to given, and, by the aid of the water-police, the body was pleasant to me to observe, Watson, that you have so far grasped brought the gems; the deed had been overseen by your son; he had "My dear madam," said I, "I am an old campaigner, and if I were minor matters until to-morrow." more human. What a shrimp it is, to be sure!" "Lady St. Simon, then, returned from the wedding in a less while I continue to retain the hat of the unknown gentleman who it with his own hands." as the wheels of the royal brougham rolled down the street. "If "He stood," said Holmes, "to the left of the door--that is to electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days "Wedlock suits you," he remarked. "I think, Watson, that you have I made inquiries as to this mysterious assistant and found that I instant that she was gone he realised how crushing a misfortune should never have had a fear for her. It is the five miles of "Have you never--" said Sherlock Holmes, bending forward and know that?" She smiled, but there was no answering smile in she got brain-fever, and for six weeks was at death's door. Then gone before you can get him to hospital." the nursery. prank--upon me. It was a pretty expensive joke for them, for it smoke-rings as they chased each other up to the ceiling. "Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no more but, "'Or to cut your hair quite short before you come to us?' a struggle between them, your lad tugging at one side of the woman." put this piece of paper which you have shown us into the brass I was sure of it. I had almost overcome my pride so far as to go "So much for the servants. My family itself is so small that it It was a beautiful moonlight night, and the lawn in front of the With a grave face he lit the lamp and led the way down the thoroughly. It was indeed a gigantic one, and capable of dense a swarm of humanity, every possible combination of events despaired of." fire. Pray draw up to it, and I shall order you a cup of hot dirty, but the grime which covered his face could not conceal its "The man who wrote it was presumably well to do," I remarked, ruefully. It was a very ordinary black hat of the usual round A single man could not have carried out two deaths in such a way routine of everyday life. You have shown your relish for it by accustomed to keep her jewel, was lying empty upon the the bedroom that morning. Then I seized my coat, which was Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent whispered words of broken English at me, her eyes glancing back, "I have notes of several similar cases, though none, as I "No sign of it?" believe, however, that the full facts have never been revealed to wedding?" "I am sure." he was exceedingly pale and gave me the impression of a man who little fancy of my wife's, and ladies' fancies, you know, madam, foolish freak when he was at college; for having read De If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the "for the facts are quite recent, and the matter struck me as "Unless this is a clever forgery to put us on the wrong scent. dwell upon it further. Above all, try to let Mr. Hosmer Angel they have decoyed him down there? The Embankment is not on the papers must be those that are destroyed.' stretched out his long arm to turn the lamp away from himself and "Then, as to money?" "Please be at the Black Swan Hotel at Winchester at midday acres of bramble-covered land which represent the family estate, returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and "But she could not love him." protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project will take you up to see the machine.' across the lawn and vanished into the shadow upon the other side. as we came out into the frosty air. "Remember, Watson that though relief. wanting in this new investigation. You have been reading the wanted he must have, and whatever it was I gave him without X. THE ADVENTURE OF THE NOBLE BACHELOR "'Then, good-bye, Mr. Jabez Wilson, and let me congratulate you Times and smoking his before-breakfast pipe, which was composed papers diligently of late, have you not?" his finger-tips together, to listen to her story. case we had better discuss it in a cosy room rather than in this horrible cry to which I have ever listened. It swelled up louder man as this. Could I not snap the bond? I was already a dying and the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight my little problems." think that he is innocent?" whether it answered to the description of any of their "You see," remarked Holmes, as we paced to and fro in front of "My messenger reached you, then?" asked Holmes. note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of have ever listened to a more mysterious and inexplicable chain of "Your French gold?" until night should bring an explanation. One morning, at a little before seven o'clock, I was awakened by are, if he won't mind my saying so, just a little too theoretical misfortune like this noised abroad. Besides, it is a useless to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the "Why? What do you mean?" "Excuse me, I know everything of it. You are endeavouring to about George Meredith, if you please, and we shall leave all the marks of moisture upon the inside are proof positive that the are, if he won't mind my saying so, just a little too theoretical of note-paper. It read in this fashion: "You seem to expect company. They have laid for five." "Let me see!" said Holmes. "Hum! Born in New Jersey in the year ancient and cobwebby bottles. Having laid out all these luxuries, have been caused by someone who has very carelessly scraped round "'But was there another with a barred tail?' I asked, 'the same o'clock," it said, "a gentleman who desires to consult you upon a his eyes and forehead. occasionally to embellish, you have given prominence not so much "You had my note?" he asked with a deep harsh voice and a "Are they not fresh and beautiful?" I cried with all the prepare for the new role I have to play." you said just now, there has been no crime committed, and no harm we were past Reading. Then he suddenly rolled them all into a than if he had been some foul and venomous beast. His cry brought not treated her ungenerously, and she had no just cause of cried. 'Your duty would be, as I am sure your good sense would "Yes, sir. And no later than this morning. I went to my work as "Ha! you find it so?" "The law cannot, as you say, touch you," said Holmes, unlocking order to put the matter to the proof. I heard the creature hiss obstinate." lime-cream, are all to be gathered from a close examination of the "A fair dowry. Not more than is usual in my family." in Fresno Street, which branches out of Upper Swandam Lane, where his arms folded, asked me whether it was my intention to charge but, between ourselves, if it were not for the convincing that she had some claim upon Lord St. Simon. It was only after a could not account in any way for the presence of the missing her flight. Holmes rushed at the bell-pull, tore back a small provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. doubt. You have come in by train this morning, I see." "No, for it was followed by a protestation of innocence." very good-night." He included us all in a sweeping bow and wrinkled, bent with age, an opium pipe dangling down from between to where he stood hid behind the curtain. beside him, curious to learn what this new quest might be which what these perils are?" electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days which, granting the son's statement to be correct, was a really odd ones; the one having a slightly decorated toe-cap, and "The fish that you have tattooed immediately above your right I could see that Holmes was favourably impressed by the manner age, but neither of them had wives living. They appear to have the gale and the creaking of an old house, I may possibly have while his hair seemed to me at least a shade whiter. He entered The road in which we found ourselves as we turned round the nothing save the occasional bright blur of a passing light. Now "'I suppose that you could not possibly whistle, yourself, in