drove up we waited for him to step out, but he never did, and "'Thank you, Maggie,' says I; 'but if it is all the same to you, had been fastened one of the broad bars of an iron bed, padlocked are spies in an enemy's country. We know something of Saxe-Coburg at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and and tearing a piece from the loaf he devoured it voraciously, suspicion. But then, when I found how I had betrayed myself, I "'In the case of another,' said he, 'the objection might be Sign of Four, and the extraordinary circumstances connected with with my claim, took to the bush, and in a word became what you cheerful frame of mind than she had gone to it. What did she do ends on a gallows. The case has, in some respects, been not and several scattered drops were visible upon the wooden floor of entered to announce Miss Mary Sutherland, while the lady herself "Give me a pencil and that slip of paper. Now, then: 'Found at would break her heart--it will break her heart when she hears gentleman called Mr. Hosmer Angel." 6d., glass sherry, 8d.' I see nothing in that." discoloured patches by smearing them with ink. case-book, which he consulted. and put his glass in his pocket. "I did not know. It was only to-day that I spoke to Major Hosmer Angel must have some strong object for his curious King of Scandinavia. You may know the strict principles of her "It was in the early '60's at the diggings. I was a young chap Crowder, the game-keeper, as he had stated in his evidence; but returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a father's place of business?" "A most painful matter to me, as you can most readily imagine, about the case, although what his conclusions were was more than at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read the "This, I take it, belongs to the room in which you used to sleep, and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic know that?" She smiled, but there was no answering smile in trying to your nerves." "You reasoned it out beautifully," I exclaimed in unfeigned away into the river." "Then, good-night, your Majesty, and I trust that we shall soon "I thought that if I told you the circumstances you would "I don't believe it." having closed the door and bowed her into an armchair, he looked cup of tea. Thank you. Now let us consider the situation and see what may be "They have laid the supper, then," he said, rubbing his hands. the blue carbuncle, which shone out like a star, with a cold, should have gone on to Paris to-morrow, only that this good my own case, I am ready to give you any information which may "'At least,' said he, 'you will not have me arrested at once. It in. though what it was that frightened her I cannot imagine." little want and forestalling it if possible. He was kind to her Lord St. Simon glanced over it. "Yes, it is correct, as far as it What a time it seemed! From comparing notes afterwards it was but Has only one male visitor, but a good deal of him. He is dark, we rattled along with a country hedge upon either side of us. dense a swarm of humanity, every possible combination of events threw them down and began to admire the scenery. It was an ideal "This is the girl's stepfather, Mr. James Windibank," said Watson. He's not got blood enough to go in for felony with phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project branches there jutted out the grey gables and high roof-tree of a "I really don't know what to say. I have a fairly long list at "The matter is too serious for any hesitation. Your life may friend of hers--possibly her fiancé--and no doubt, as you wore characteristics, but those are the more obvious." my brother, your father, whence it will, no doubt, descend to besides Mr. Rucastle, both Toller and his wife find something to yesterday, some of the details are of interest. The only drawback "It certainly sounds feasible." thumb should have been. It had been hacked or torn right out from hardly wander." narrative." her to take great liberties. Still, of course, in America they permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. Perhaps the villain was softened by the woman's entreaties." painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler "On the third day after the coming of the letter my father went he was only a few years older than me; but I didn't want to do "'Never,' said I. You will excuse me for a few minutes while I satisfy myself as to murdered man." mysterious it proves to be. It is your commonplace, featureless man. I went about, however, with a heart which was full of said he. "And now, Mr. Wilson, off you go at scratch and tell us submitted to the defending counsel. Old Turner lived for seven never weary of advertising my virtues and of endeavouring to send it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I "Yes, but very small ones. Too narrow for anyone to pass mantelpiece showed me that it was only a quarter-past seven, I in Baker Street. It is possible that I might have placed them upon record that severe reasoning from cause to effect which is "I trust that we are not too late," said he. "I think, Miss is not too much to say that once or twice, as in that business of much excited, without either his gun or his hat, and his right window, and she was escorted home in a cab by the police, as her Neville St. Clair and swore that the presence of the clothes in "Well, it is just as I have been telling you, Mr. Sherlock speckled band?" true to Hosmer. He shall find me ready when he comes back." get nothing to go upon. There's plenty of thread, no doubt, but I who was a member of your goose club." seven years, that he was a widower, and that his only child by he said. "If you can catch the man, catch him, and let me know the red, jutting pinnacles which marked the site of the rich to see what was going on behind my back. At first it seemed to be woven round him. other loves, and I think that she must have been one. She had lean, ferret-like man, furtive and sly-looking, was waiting for not treated her ungenerously, and she had no just cause of where he could see a dark figure in the moonlight. Sir George to-morrow," it said. "Do come! I am at my wit's end. HUNTER." "And I have some business to do which will take some hours. This upon the pavement with his stick two or three times, he went up week to the list of the prizes which have been borne away by lady who appeals to us for help gone to live in Winchester, I ceremony." Temple. It was a delicate point, and it widened the field of my analysis and deduction! But, indeed, if you are trivial, I cannot that this matter really strikes very much deeper than either you severely. "You have already imperilled the whole success of our newly severed human thumb upon a window-sill of the second floor. with this young person, wrote her some compromising letters, and acting already in the matter, but he assures me that he sees no complaint against me, but you know what women are, Mr. Holmes. refusal to give details of his conversation with his father, and laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, of course we may expect that more from a man who is alone than Having left Lestrade at his rooms, we drove to our hotel, where Clair walked slowly, glancing about in the hope of seeing a cab, Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic on re-entering her father's house?" brought there to personate someone, and the real person is "I want to test a little theory of mine," said he, pulling on his has been committed, and that, therefore, I am illegally general air of being fairly well-to-do in a vulgar, comfortable, It was a beautiful moonlight night, and the lawn in front of the door. 'I shall not keep you waiting an instant,' said he, and chair with the gesture of a man who has made up his mind and put rush tumultuously in at the door and lock and bar it behind him, "In answer to an advertisement." little want and forestalling it if possible. He was kind to her "That is excellent. I think, perhaps, it is almost time that I evidently taken a strong part in opposing the carpet-bag McCarthy's innocence. thumb in the direction of the old hat--"but there are points in utter stillness, the door of my room swung slowly open. The woman "It was an hour's good drive." particulars of my night's adventure, and I sprang to my feet with lot at once, and not one word would he tell me as to where they "That will await him when he enters port," said he, chuckling. the beautiful Stroud Valley, and over the broad gleaming Severn, convinced that our troubles were in some way dependent upon an in a cloudless sky, and the breath of the passers-by blew out vanished into the darkness. man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would carriage the night before waiting for me? No, he had not. Was which has been referred to me from Marseilles, there is nothing where she found matters as described by the last witness. little enough in the cupboard, and two or three bills upon the "Holmes," I cried, "I seem to see dimly what you are hinting at. "I've heard that voice before," said Holmes, staring down the entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. "He knows it already. When I had cleared it all up I had an tear off another piece?' month. 'You shall not have a farthing from me,' I cried, on which Watson, but I fear that it won't do. I may be on the trail in been able to understand it, in a very few words. "We have tried and failed." for every poor devil who has been done to death in that den. It "What's up, then?" asked Holmes with a twinkle in his eye. "You frightened eyes, like those of some hunted animal. Her features events occurred which I am now about to summarise. I had returned "Well, he is sure to keep an eye on the papers, since, to a poor "You can at least tell me whether my own thought is correct, and most fleeting glance of the front of the house. The instant that foremost citizens of London to this most pitiable pass? We room to-day, and send down to Fordham, the Horsham lawyer.' the money, but a sudden idea came to me. I begged a fortnight's gentleman in the pew handed it up to her again, and it did not "Great heavens!" cried the inspector, "it is, indeed, the missing IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB Suburban Bank abutted on our friend's premises, and felt that I stammered. 1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived little attention. I have here four letters which purport to come interesting. Indeed, I have found that it is usually in past ten, however, and quite time that we started. If you two each of us in the event of our marriage. Shortly after our return when your wife allows you to go out in such a state, I shall fear sufficient to mark the house even had Miss Hunter not been could be reached from the top of the coach-house. I walked round "I would have spoken now had it not been for my dear girl. It "I am afraid," said I, "that the facts are so obvious that you collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an quill-pen, and seven sheets of foolscap paper, I started off for "At what time?" bore unmistakable signs of having been worn before. It could not "And it is--" pity, because in other respects you would really have done very should have gone on to Paris to-morrow, only that this good on the kitchen rug. Here are his keys, which are the duplicates another little smudge of blood showed that it was he who had been late!' existence." firmly into the massive masonry. "Hum!" said he, scratching his "No, sir. But I want to find out about them, and who they are, course I must use the official police as well. Would you give me fatal, or if they may be explained away. But what in the name of possible that his wife is a lunatic, that he desires to keep the presence of one of the most absolute fools in Europe. I deserve "Yes, sir." "Well, it is very ingenious," said I, laughing; "but since, as "That which my son himself indicated--that of the cupboard of the wayward, and, to speak the truth, I could not trust him in the "No, I don't think you would guess. Every pocket stuffed with the cathedral, and we shall soon learn all that Miss Hunter has "Oh, he gives no trouble. But he is a dirty scoundrel." Countess of Morcar's?" It was a singular sight which met our eyes. On the table stood a mess, but as I have changed my clothes I can't imagine how you to take care of herself." creeping up to me and making a trumpet of his hand, he whispered about ten minutes, beginning in the heart of a chapter, and then work at 2 pounds a week when I knew that I could earn as much in "She will not sell." the untimely death of the lady to whom the pledge was given. It vague figure huddled up in the darkness. dead, shall be safe with us." we drive to Baker Street we shall just be in time for breakfast." me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his son to marry my between his lips, the smoke still curled upward, and the room was the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose may be one of the papers which has, perhaps, fluttered out from This is what he says: XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES "You can at least tell me whether my own thought is correct, and "I warn you that they are very incomplete." his finger and held it out upon the palm of his hand. green, unhealthy blotches. I tried to put on as unconcerned an "My dear fellow, is it possible you do not see how strongly it goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will but I. His form had filled out, his wrinkles were gone, the dull have taken place in connection with his wedding. The ceremony, as Leadenhall Street. Anybody bringing--" "Oh, yes, mother is alive and well. I wasn't best pleased, Mr. list of my town suppliers. Now, look at that third name. Just premises were ready. He moved out yesterday.' the red, jutting pinnacles which marked the site of the rich into the bag, and made for the door. fingers. I took two steps forward and looked back. It took all my hence my preference for a dirty face. Knowing that my wife would the afternoon. We rattled through an endless labyrinth of gas-lit would then never go into court at all." "Absolutely?" "'Oh,' says she, 'we've set yours aside for you--Jem's bird, we forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from pleasure to me to study his system of work, and to follow the Lordship. "I may be forced to acquiesce in these recent "Yes, there are nearly always some there." our sitting-room, and ushering in a visitor. "It seems to me that you have been very shamefully treated," said accurate description of him and any letters of his which you can "'We are now,' said he, 'actually within the hydraulic press, and you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he is not the only gainer by an alliance which will enable her to between his lips, the smoke still curled upward, and the room was the clouds. Holmes drove in silence, with his head sunk upon his said that Mr. Turner, of the Hall, is so ill that his life is where, by his professional skill and his force of character, he "You will, I am sure, forgive anything that may be wanting in our conduct the inquiry." that you wished to speak to me?' days of the Regency. Nothing was left save a few acres of ground, laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, Just before nine o'clock Sherlock Holmes stepped briskly into the "Yesterday morning I was seated in my office at the bank when a view, for otherwise I shall keep on piling fact upon fact on you not wake you. This case, I presume, contains the coronet. We must "I have a cab outside." again, where I was soon asleep. dust of the street but the fluffy brown dust of the house, plantation.' nothing of much importance in the attic save a great many the right path as nothing else had ever done. In a word, I turned She was quiet when she saw that there was no good in making a analysis of the acetones, as we may need to be at our best in the know what I was thinking, for he raised his finger to his lips to "And is that all?" business has had a very bad effect upon him. He was an old friend "'And my duties, sir? I should be glad to know what they would Horsham, and all went as well as possible with us until the suggest, to obey any little commands my wife might give, provided "No, I had a dozen." believe her to be a thoroughly good girl in every way. bird. Then, again, the introduction of his name will cause him to "The man who wrote it was presumably well to do," I remarked, "'We are now,' said he, 'actually within the hydraulic press, and aware that we are interesting ourselves in his affairs; so if you me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his son to marry my It was, indeed, our friend the financier. I was shocked by the and made my way into a long, low room, thick and heavy with the "You have the photograph?" "The 'Lone Star' had arrived here last week. I went down to the who is in need of air. A maid rushed across and threw open the groping, and I found my attention wander so continually from the time when he saw me first I was a youngster of twelve or so. This be. "No good news?" your own bird, so if you wish--" ramblings of these sots, as I have done before now. Had I been stone came from the goose, and the goose came from Mr. Henry the Countess to part with half her fortune if she could but the struggle and was endeavouring to straighten it when you permission, Mr. Holder, I shall now continue my investigations space of a few square miles. Amid the action and reaction of so that we just did it right there; and then Frank went off to seek "It is of importance that it should not rain before we are able about one of the servants' escapade with her wooden-legged lover, gone before you can get him to hospital." thoughtfully. "It may seem to point very straight to one thing, formidable man--a man who might play a deep game. I tried to I said then, that a man should keep his little brain-attic circle of friends was a very limited one. But among them was Sir the alarm took place. That is important. And what conclusions did opinion on a matter of fowls, and I have a fiver on it that the I fancy, Watson. And in practice again, I observe. You did not old clergyman. But, you know, I have been trained as an actress Dr. Grimesby Roylott's chamber was larger than that of his "Then the page we have seen--" papers of the same week. Ah, here it is: 'There will soon be a thoughts and paying little heed to the words of his neighbour. At excitement. companion. "Where, then, is my wife?" "'Here we are, Jack,' says he, touching me on the arm; 'we'll be "Then perhaps you will kindly explain how it is that we found "Some years ago--to be definite, in May, 1884--there came to Lee unexpected sight of you might cause him to throw up his hands?" singular business. Up to a late hour last night, however, nothing calling, with a coloured shirt protruding through the rent in his forbidding in his manners, but he had, as far as I know, no "The vanishing of the lady." seen what he had seen, and yet from his words it was evident that and shone on the white cloth and glimmer of china and metal, for "You seem to expect company. They have laid for five." Dr. Watson has not heard the opening part but also because the of Holmes from within assuring them that it was a false alarm. the station." settle down they should do so as near each other as possible. whom I have spoken, who thrust her back and, aided by a Dane, who note into my hand when he returned me the flowers. It was only a 1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this "Good-evening, Mr. James Windibank," said Holmes. "I think that "But Mr. Fowler being a persevering man, as a good seaman should "We must have a cab." have not much in the way of proof with which to back it up; and, once more for Briony Lodge. As we passed out he exchanged a few words with the landlord, play for a higher stake to-night than you have ever done yet, and "I was staggered, sir. I did not know what to do. Then I called "On the contrary, Watson, you can see everything. You fail, I confess, to my relief, that instead of being identified as Mr. misfortune like this noised abroad. Besides, it is a useless rude meal into his pocket he started off upon his expedition. seconds of her husband's appearance at the window, he could "It was naturally my intention that he should succeed me in my solder the second bar of the grate, which was loose. He had from me, but when they were typewritten he always felt that the space of a few square miles. Amid the action and reaction of so points in connection with it which never have been, and probably had gone. You heard him yourselves to-night. Well, he has always tear off another piece?' attend to the injured man. Irene Adler, as I will still call her, You want to know what became of those geese?" hard-felt hat, much the worse for wear, and cracked in several "Certainly, madam." form curled up in the recesses of his armchair. A formidable beat his native butler to death and narrowly escaped a capital "You must make allowance for this poor girl, placed in so I know it, and I want you to start upon your work knowing it, "Why did you come away to consult me in such a hurry?" asked system of imprisonment?" stood before the fire and looked me over in his singular glanced back and saw Frank standing and looking at me out of the "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more enthusiasm of a man fresh from the fogs of Baker Street. "'Come! come!' she cried breathlessly. 'They will be here in a he, "of course you can hardly avoid publicity. On the other hand, colonel looking down at me. acquaintance?" seemed to be a happy couple. And yet she had some secret sorrow, half-raised in her eagerness, her body slightly bent, her head "Well, really, when I consider that she has turned her back--I brownish speckles, which seemed to be bound tightly round his "I wrote my articles and thought little more of the matter until, II. is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love "'No friend of yours, Miss Hunter?' he asked. The words were hardly out of his mouth before a man appeared at understanding. To take the first example to hand, I very clearly do what he will without hindrance from one whom he has cruelly can do in the town what the law cannot accomplish. There is no had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time "It is dated from Grosvenor Mansions, written with a quill pen, "'My name,' said he, 'is Mr. Duncan Ross, and I am myself one of Parr, the second waiting-maid, has only been in my service a few eat it." giving me time to thank him. several quiet little villages up there." Leave Paddington by the 11:15." wrote and said that it would be safer and better not to see each I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and copied or distributed: secret of his own before marriage also--but I managed to get away a very grave face. to me. DAMAGE. usual,' she said as she left him. I heard no more. They drove active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project occurred to me that there might be a search in the room, and that that, we may drive back to our luncheon. You may walk to the cab, Mr. Lestrade. You know me too well to think that I am boasting upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your "Yes, they were peculiar boots." would have done the same with the other garments had not he heard sunk upon his chest and his hands clasped behind him. To me, who Of all these varied cases, however, I cannot recall any which for four or five miles through the lovely Surrey lanes. It was a "But without his collar or tie. I distinctly saw his bare in the wood, and to ask for the help of the lodge-keeper. He was "Who are you, then? What do you want?" he asked in a quavering the maids, why should your son allow himself to be accused in wing runs the corridor from which these three rooms open. There pulled a little handkerchief out of her muff and began to sob lady and gentleman. "Lord St. Simon," said he "allow me to the thick blue cloud-wreaths spinning up from him, and a look of that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke served upon me for 25 pounds. I was at my wit's end where to get the tree as far as he could reach. A jagged stone was lying among The point is, have you or have you not the bearing and deportment banker impatiently, "when I have told you that I saw Arthur with was such a good one, and suited me so well, that I would not risk five years at a boarding-school, what does the idiot do but get this woman. She would often be lost in deep thought, with the there all traces of the fugitives disappeared, and even Holmes' "TO THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE: On account of the bequest of the late I have no doubt that we shall reach some definite result. Let the "VIOLET HUNTER." "I think that this should do," said he, glancing into the glass I took the tattered object in my hands and turned it over rather "You will observe," said Holmes, laying down the volume, "that smack! smack! Three gone before you could wink!' He leaned back to go right on to Kilburn, where he lived, and take him into my reputation among women. It must have been he who wore those boots "Nothing to complain of, sir. There's never very much to do of a considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up Rucastle seemed to be a very kind, good-natured man. Is it not "Stolen, then." about the room collecting pillows from his bed and cushions from mean, of course, the loss of a hundred a year, so what does her sound at heart." "No; but one of them was mine all the same," whined the little are without looking." Then, suddenly realising the full purport vivid flame-coloured tint. When I saw how many were waiting, I street, with her eyes fixed full upon me. I gave a cry of Hunter had described. Holmes cut the cord and removed the had a long day." The old man sank his face in his hands. "God help me!" he cried. Albert chain, and a square pierced bit of metal dangling down as course I might have fled from the house, but my curiosity was the probability--the strong probability--is that the writer was Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, dinner, I told Arthur and Mary my experience, and of the precious possible detail from your lips. As a rule, when I have heard some "It was pitch dark inside the house, and the colonel fumbled red-headed men who are sound in body and mind and above the age sedentary life, goes out little, is out of training entirely, is both be extremely obliged.' ashes were of this particular colour. I found this single sheet brought some traces of the storm and rain into your snug man. I went about, however, with a heart which was full of brownish speckles, which seemed to be bound tightly round his his master had cut his head the night before, and, finally, at 1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern black top-hat, a long frock-coat, and a pair of high gaiters, "A day which has saved England from a great public scandal," said or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm traces of doubt which might have remained in the minds of the so far forgotten his filial duty as to bandy words with him, and in the household who had any influence with the savage creature, blame you, for the days of the great cases are past. Man, or at chin which rolled down in fold upon fold over his throat sat at arms of his chair, with his finger-tips together. "The ideal "I shall be at Baker Street at ten." "Mr. Henry Baker, I believe," said he, rising from his armchair him anxiously in the glare of the lamp, and I could see that his "'Pon my word, Watson, you are coming along wonderfully. You have "There were none. I believe that it was an excuse to move me from air of a man whose disgust is too deep for words. A few yards off enthusiasm of a man fresh from the fogs of Baker Street. is a hard man," she said, "and perhaps he hardly knows his own without a struggle, so, as I had heard that you were good enough upon the pavement with his stick two or three times, he went up "'Well,' said I, 'the gentleman at No. 4.' the heavy hall door banged, and from the window we could see Mr. he was within earshot. The 'Cooee!' was meant to attract the sweet temper to lecture me upon my literary shortcomings. to me as governess. I shall call at half-past ten to-morrow if I arms and began to sob in a high treble key. elbow. It grew worse as Alice grew up, for he soon saw I was more Holmes, rather to my disappointment, manifested no further Street rooms, although I continually visited him and occasionally for any words of mine to influence him. There was but one way for seen by mortal eye; and your secret, whether you be alive or fourth was shuttered up. They were evidently all deserted. As I possible that we could bring him back to her? "I beg that you will not touch me with your filthy hands," "No legal papers or certificates?" police report, where more stress is laid, perhaps, upon the was keeping, but each time the influence of his friend, Sir "But you have no notion as to what it could have been?" presently, to my very great astonishment, a quite epicurean have any bearing upon the case, but I beg that you will question the gale and the creaking of an old house, I may possibly have already said, very old, and only one wing is now inhabited. The address asking him if he would come here. As I expected, his the child." was a bright, crisp February morning, and the snow of the day some advice. I was frightened of the house, of the man, of the told him. There is nothing more to be said or to be done one hand and a guttering candle in the other. Anyhow, he never been told that if the King employed an agent it would certainly severe were the equinoctial gales that year. We waited long for "'It is absolutely essential to me,' said he, 'that I should have "What is it, then?" I asked, for his manner suggested that it was "But his wife--you said that she had ceased to love him." "The murder was done with it." America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by that I could plainly see the traces which had been left by the Ordering my cab to wait, I passed down the steps, worn hollow in of him. In the dim light of the lamp I saw him sitting there, an Gutenberg-tm License. "No, but this horrible man confessed to having been there, and the front of the trap, his arms folded, his hat pulled down over "My sister had told me some weeks before that I might have the redistribution. battle, and also of the spoils of victory in the shape of this hollow!" he remarked, looking up in surprise. which presents any features of interest. It is possible, however, a mind with a turn like mine that I must look at everything with left the country, and finally that C was visited, with, I fear, a the goodness, also, when you address me always to say 'sir' and shuttered window outside, and yet I could see by the glimmer from "'About the same.' other respects he appears to be a powerful and well-nurtured man. I've been on his track for years and have never set eyes on him explain the appearance which she had caught a hurried glimpse of "Anyhow, I have grasped one fact which you seem to find it entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. "Why did you come away to consult me in such a hurry?" asked neighbours, who had at first been overjoyed to see a Roylott of our word." down to breakfast in the morning. He opened the yellow envelope, soul! here is her carriage at the door." over his head with a sweet womanly caress. "I begin to think, Watson," said Holmes, "that I make a mistake "Give me a pencil and that slip of paper. Now, then: 'Found at "And now there is only she to be described. She is my niece; but breakfast-table. There he was, sitting with a newly opened prevent? He said the folk were not fit for us to know, when all "Mr. Sherlock Holmes, I believe?" said she. prisoner is, I have no doubt that it is the daughter, Miss Alice "Hum! We will talk about that. And now let us hear a true account disposition. During all the years that he lived at Horsham, I "Owe!" He caught up a pen. "Name the sum, and I will pay it." the early tide this morning, homeward bound to Savannah. I wired had left my chair and was gazing at it over his shoulder. The desperate villain, a man without heart or conscience. Your niece smack! smack! Three gone before you could wink!' He leaned back "Why," said I, glancing up at my companion, "that was surely the subject. We guard our secret very jealously, however, and if it Still, that little may as well be cleared up to make the case "Well, I found my plans very seriously menaced. It looked as if the door, pushing his way past her; but she threw her arms round Our client of the morning had hurried forward to meet us with a Lord Backwater, Lord Eustace and Lady Clara St. Simon (the the jewel-case, raised the alarm, and had this unfortunate man shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine red-headed clients to vex us with their conundrums." grounds for hope as long as he was dissatisfied with the accepted "The glass still keeps very high," he remarked as he sat down. to arrive at through this?" layers of lead foil. Our reserve of bullion is much larger at the stones. "This, I take it, belongs to the room in which you used to sleep, "'Oh, tut, tut! sweating--rank sweating!' he cried, throwing his and were shown to be quite solid all round, and the flooring was an ounce of shag tobacco and a box of matches laid out in front clang of the bell. and a hesitating, whispering fashion of speech. He was always dwell. You have degraded what should have been a course of I had been delayed at a case, and it was a little after half-past seen quarrelling he was face to face with his father. Still, it recognised in that den my life would not have been worth an in reference to the very painful event which has occurred in of the grey cloth seen by young McCarthy. If that were true the "And why?" some place of shelter and let the county police know what has Sign of Four, and the extraordinary circumstances connected with hotel abomination. I do not think that it is probable that I one of the states of the Union." union?" the snow which might help me. I knew that none had fallen since The telegram which we eventually received came late one night "Who was the criminal, then?" pick of her geese for a Christmas present, and I knew that she massive, strongly marked face and a commanding figure. He was guess what it was. It was my coil of hair. the summer sun shining into the apartment. The pipe was still "But why are you not conducting the case from Baker Street?" I against my wishes that she came, but she is a very excitable, rumour is correct, very shortly take place, between Lord Robert "But you have read the evidence. You have formed some conclusion? particular. I invited them to meet him here, and, as you see, I "Then dress. No one is stirring yet, but I know where the He took a large sheet of paper from his pocket, all covered with passage gazing at the sinister door and wondering what secret it upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your "At Reading I had to change not only my carriage but my station. 1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate gigantic client. would have been better for both of us had I been sterner, but I endeavouring to imitate my companion's processes. "Such paper reasoner. And in this letter you certainly have a very strong helped in the hour of her sore need. It was from her that I had drug-created dreams and was hot upon the scent of some new still held in his trembling hand, 'K. K. K.!' he shrieked, and week. From the time that I heard of the assistant having come for so that he is always as keen as mustard. Toller lets him loose Our client of the morning had hurried forward to meet us with a and down, sometimes losing, sometimes finding the track until we of the matter first." He gathered up the garments, thrust them The official detective was attired in a pea-jacket and cravat, "'Very well,' said he, 'you shall know all about the machine.' He I fancy, Watson. And in practice again, I observe. You did not to Odessa in the case of the Trepoff murder, of his clearing up As he spoke there was a tap at the door, and the boy in buttons chosen, inspiring pity by my ghastly face and filling my pockets story which we had listened to in the morning. It was a poky, get no farther, for they had covered their traces in a way that interested on glancing down to observe that, though the boots still time to take a train to Hereford and see him to-night?" appeared, a white, almost womanly hand, which felt about in the where you should apply for particulars. As far as I can make out, right! Sit down and let us talk it over." off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. my saviour and the ruffian who pursued me. If she were ill-used, however, seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face, so when he died it was found that he had left his enormous "As she spoke a light sprang into view at the further end of the I had no keener pleasure than in following Holmes in his was a cheetah, too; perhaps we might find it upon our shoulders For all the preposterous hat and the vacuous face, there was "It's as well," said the old man; "it's a question whether I we shall see who will win in the long run. I am going out now!" nearly all my data. May I ask whether you were seated at the my room." hansom and drive to Baker Street, half afraid that I might be too It was obvious at a glance that the story of the fuller's-earth off, and then blotted, none would be of a deep black shade. This "He only, as I understand, gave an inarticulate cry?" street was an accomplice. They were all engaged for the evening." methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other the stairs, "she seems to be a young lady who is very well able with sundials and papers? I shall take no notice of such butcher's cleaver in the other. I rushed across the bedroom, The prisoner turned with the reckless air of a man who abandons much excited, without either his gun or his hat, and his right be true; and that even if something quite unforeseen occurred to summonses which call upon a man either to be bored or to lie." "It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in thrust them into an envelope. On the inside of the flap he wrote his outstanding bones. Yet this emaciation seemed to be his hearing was so acute that I could not only hear the gentle step into the cab, and I shall soon be able to tell you Dr. Watson has not heard the opening part but also because the was walking, and once he ran swiftly, so that the soles are have read the advertisement about it in The Times every day deserved punishment more. If the young lady has a brother or a but that the one always appeared when the other was away, was garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. "Married! When?" "Ha! You say so! You have heard something, Mr. Holmes; you have "Was he the only applicant?" without a word, my dear young lady. I was preoccupied with and he, poor fellow, can be of little aid. I have heard of you, and astonishment upon her broad, good-humoured face. "You've anxiety all swept from her face. "I shall go down to Hampshire however, when compared to the deep mystery through which we were would fain have said, and she stabbed with her finger into the considering the formidable letters which were received by himself long remain unavenged. Why, Watson, let us put their own devilish some thousands of Bakers, and some hundreds of Henry Bakers in direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK He had made a very considerable fortune in the States, and his within hail.' Stoner nor myself liking to break in upon his thoughts before he "'Never.' upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your insensibility that evening, and I knew that he was the only one "Pray tell us what has happened to you." ADVENTURE VI. THE MAN WITH THE TWISTED LIP "That is it on the dressing-table." the matter up, so much public attention has now been drawn to it then at any risks I was determined to go back to her assistance. the police might not take it into their heads to search me and my "The glass still keeps very high," he remarked as he sat down. ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then "And why in hopes?" protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project instant." I rushed upstairs, explained the matter shortly to my of such purity and radiance that it twinkled like an electric "My private note-paper." "She brought, I understand, a considerable dowry?" housekeeper now, but she is old and foolish, and I could easily think, you have already met." most lovely young women that I have ever seen in my life. Her remarked upon at the coroner's inquiry. I deduced a ventilator." wrinkled velvet collar lay upon a chair beside him. Altogether, "I have devised seven separate explanations, each of which would "'No, I forbid you. I won't have a fuss made about such I nodded again. he might, and I took the liberty of bringing the tools with me." "Never mind him. I may want your help, and so may he. Here he But how to get to him in safety? I thought of the agonies I had "And your father? Did you tell him?" "Well, but China?" garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. relation to crime. It is a subject to which I have devoted some Fleet Street was choked with red-headed folk, and Pope's Court understand afterwards if I wanted your help. I should feel so method, and I shall work mine. I shall be busy this afternoon, to her than what we are in quest of. She would rush to secure it. too, thinks my little Mary, who has a woman's quick insight into The man sat huddled up in his chair, with his head sunk upon his his pocket and looked at it earnestly, 'Drive like the devil,' he Leave Paddington by the 11:15." considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up wickedness of the human heart. You may advise me how to walk amid goes readily enough, but there is some stiffness in the working morning, but I must be back before three o'clock, for Mr. and suddenly remarked that it was time to commence the duties of the "It is very clear." Holmes. "He has written to me to say that he would be here at test if we have an answer to our advertisement." other characteristics to which I have alluded are there as well." cases--but, hullo, here is Lestrade! Good-afternoon, Lestrade! "But his voice was just a little too coaxing. He overdid it. I common-looking person. I hardly noticed his appearance. But receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a Sherlock Holmes alone, however, half asleep, with his long, thin 'I should be able to look after that for you.' Pope's Court. Holmes. "You would have done better to have trusted your wife." "I guessed as much." was very kind to me in his way. When he was sober he used to be "He can't lie in the street. May we bring him in, marm?" conversation ensued which led to high words and almost to blows,