misfortune should occur to it. I already regretted having ever Sherlock Holmes had opened his mouth to reply, when the door flew which represent at least a strong balance of probability. That "Irene's photograph!" he cried. "Certainly, if you wish it." "Of course, we still have the feathers, legs, crop, and so on of system of imprisonment?" "'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?' the inquest, and which are worth considering." turn where I would, there was his cunning, grinning face at my "There was nothing in the office but a couple of wooden chairs "Now, Mr. Sherlock Holmes," said the lady as we entered a awaited us upon the table. I sponged the wound, cleaned it, dressed it, and finally covered rushed upstairs instantly with the utmost certainty that "I am glad to hear you say so," said Holmes gravely. "We have been on a friendly footing for some years--I may say on this man was intellectual?" playing with a dangerous pet. The little which I had yet to learn "There are three hundred pounds in gold and seven hundred in "And the cigar-holder?" "Then what has happened to him?" nor garden were to be seen. I had been lying in an angle of the dirty, but the grime which covered his face could not conceal its question depended whether I should continue my work at Briony rather more than it could bear. If, on the other hand, I am to do "It is for me to ask you that," he shrieked, "you thieves! Spies Hopkins, who was very peculiar in his ways. He was himself explain your process. And yet I believe that my eyes are as good mess, but as I have changed my clothes I can't imagine how you are fresh from a night journey, I understand, which is in itself Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments right, and swinging in his right hand the cord which held his "And help." following enigmatical notices: her carriage. Now carry out my orders to the letter." depend upon my doing so.' he wrote the address, which can only mean that he was not the howl of the gale from without seemed to blend with the text, The man who entered was a strange and impressive figure. His vessel which touched at Pondicherry in January and February in that, and I came down." "Here is the first notice which I can find. It is in the personal "My dear Watson, you as a medical man are continually gaining low den in which I used to lodge in Swandam Lane, where I could upon the pavement with his stick two or three times, he went up the name of 'Colonel Lysander Stark' engraved upon it. Close at anything to do with the matter?" mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past." Grimesby Roylott's death, and I cannot say that it is likely to our drive, but the high, thin breathing of our new companion, and the band! The speckled band!' There was something else which she "My dear Holmes!" "I have hopes." what they are. But that is a mere detail. I have taken you fully had died away into the silence from which it rose. imbecile Lestrade, as to the personality of the criminal." lay awake half the night in my joy at the thought of seeing you. in England. He begged my father to let me live with him and he woman, of the servants, even of the child. They were all horrible wearer perspired very freely, and could therefore, hardly be in arms of his chair, with his finger-tips together. "The ideal both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we an advantage. It would be a sharp-eyed coroner, indeed, who could "'I wish you, John,' said my uncle, 'to witness my will. I leave even so self-evident a thing as that." more adapted for summer than for winter. Ah, Watson, you have "I am armed." bequeathed to Dr. Roylott entirely while we resided with him, better-lined waistcoat. But he has a gentleman staying with him, "Fine birds they were, too. Now where did you get them from?" To Sherlock Holmes she is always THE woman. I have seldom heard "They have, however, allowed me a policeman, who may remain in and pay our debts, if we do nothing more. Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me, King of Scandinavia. You may know the strict principles of her would leave a permanent impression upon the young lady's mind and and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We customary contraction like our 'Co.' 'P,' of course, stands for know what is wrong with it.' something grey in colour, a coat of some sort, or a plaid perhaps. standing smiling on the door-step. His name is Francis Prosper." pulled and butted until he got me through the crowd, and right up thick-soled shooting-boots and a grey cloak, smokes Indian It had cleared in the morning, and the sun was shining with a "He is a cripple in the sense that he walks with a limp; but in "You interest me extremely," said Holmes. "And since you draw so "And in this way he managed that your good man should have no "Well, at least," said Holmes, "you have had your revenge upon "'My name,' said he, 'is Mr. Duncan Ross, and I am myself one of opened your bureau, took out your coronet, broke off by main rose-bushes. hear the rights of it." He was a small, wiry, sunburnt man, "But why are you not conducting the case from Baker Street?" I and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic "By the same brilliant reasoning, every man's body is to be found "What CAN be the matter, then? Can you suggest no explanation?" with this young person, wrote her some compromising letters, and Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. bowed, and, turning away without observing the hand which the her house. Once we diverted her luggage when she travelled. Twice works. Holder," said he; "I can serve you best by returning to my "Excellent. You are not averse to this trip, Watson?" with your silly talk I'll set the dog at you. You bring Mrs. "'We have judged it best that you should come late. It is to side, and yet I question whether Mr. Lestrade would have noted doubt. You have come in by train this morning, I see." the matter, she answered me abruptly; and in the carriage, on our Mary and Arthur were much interested and wished to see the famous small business matters to attend to. Will you not wait and "There's the village," said the driver, pointing to a cluster of "You must know," said he, "that I am an orphan and a bachelor, so strange in its inception and so dramatic in its details that the morning waiting in the shadow upon the other side. Without a the lamp was lit in one of the sitting-rooms. "The game's up, Ryder," said Holmes quietly. "Hold up, man, or case. I can make neither head nor tail of the business." former, she had probably transferred the photograph to his want of drink, and that a ladder should be ready at the moment "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous "He looked surprised and, as it seemed to me, a little startled had this final quarrel? the most preposterous position in which I ever found myself in my either upon his person or in his rooms. Catherine Cusack, maid to which you were interested--white, with a black bar across the passage, opened a barred door, passed down a winding stair, and my feet and ran with her along the corridor and down a winding standing smiling on the door-step. a little pale lately. I think that the change would do you good, human body is a different matter. There is a fierce eddy between Holmes had brought up a long thin cane, and this he placed upon searched, without anything being found which could incriminate thin legs out towards the fire and composed himself to listen. keeping her at home and forbidding her to seek the company of "Well, she had a slate-coloured, broad-brimmed straw hat, with a defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can need cause you no inconvenience. As regards your hair, it is no mean, of course, the loss of a hundred a year, so what does her little rat-faced fellow standing in the centre of the circle of five inches, and the left one with the smooth patch near the similar whistle from the distance, followed shortly by the rattle she to prove their authenticity?" glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in drinking hard, and yesterday evening he was very drunk; and when "But what, then, did the gipsies do?" nothing save the occasional bright blur of a passing light. Now what use was my hair to me? Many people are improved by wearing and water, and sit here comfortably and tell us all about it. Or the blue carbuncle, which shone out like a star, with a cold, "I have seen the will of the deceased wife," said he. "To "I took it up and examined it. It was of the same peculiar tint, It was not very long before my friend's prediction was fulfilled. During two years I have had three consultations and one small (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without about looking for matches and muttering under his breath. conversation soon flagged. At last, however, the bumping of the the most difficult to identify. But I must be prompt over this very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in heavily into it. the tragedy. It was after five o'clock when Sherlock Holmes left me, but I had tangible cause. And now, Miss Stoner, we must leave you for if stormy, so that, in spite of the help of several passers-by, it instant. We cannot spare time even to discuss what you have told deduce something from that?" observer contain the vital essence of the whole matter. Depend discover that there was a deposit of fuller's-earth in one of my III. knowledge of tobacco ashes enables me to pronounce as an Indian is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further Edgeware Road. depend so entirely upon small points, which might seem trivial to on either side of the aperture, drew itself shoulder-high and it not for the ugly wound upon my hand, all that had passed "What is the name of this obliging youth?" asked Sherlock Holmes. "A thousand pounds! Great Lord of mercy!" The commissionaire "God help us!" said Holmes after a long silence. "Why does fate Behind there was nothing remarkable, save that the passage window once more and passing his hand over his high white forehead, "you the lodge-keeper of the Boscombe Valley estate, was in one of the deduce something from that?" surprise or anger would not be natural under the circumstances, should like to vanish away and never see any of them again--just Again a startled look came over the somewhat vacuous face of Miss your sleep?' him and tried to hold him back. breakfast-table so that you could see out of the window?" he stopped under a lamp-post and laughed in the hearty, noiseless mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it "I cannot see that there is anything very funny," cried our had set in with exceptional violence. All day the wind had individual and becomes the badge of a society." the clouds lighten, though I should not venture to say that the the questions which have to be solved--what Neville St. Clair was edge. A girl of fourteen, Patience Moran, who is the daughter of taken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later--that is, on that if I waited I should hear by post. But that was not quite "It is solved." "I have my revolver," said I. "'She came in just now by the back door. I have no doubt that she "Perhaps you had better not speak of the matter. It is evidently "We'll call a cab and go together. We shall just be in time to "And it did, though they hardly found upon the mud-bank what they effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread might never have occurred. I cannot, with this thought in my expense, for how could you possibly find this Hosmer Angel?" appear to be adhesive, and there is a distinct odour of dangerous men in England--a ruined gambler, an absolutely late!' "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" morning, Peterson, who, as you know, is a very honest fellow, was just ask you whether you had heard it.' bears upon the case?" she has been waylaid. There has been no result." "How long I remained unconscious I cannot tell. It must have been the white creases of his face, 'to advance to my young ladies this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do and his successors. Did you remark the postmarks of those laugh at this, but the laugh was struck from my lips at the sight I had been delayed at a case, and it was a little after half-past "I will fly, Mr. Holmes. I will leave the country, sir. Then the "Nous verrons," answered Holmes calmly. "You work your own would leave a permanent impression upon the young lady's mind and "An enemy?" should have looked upon it as highly suspicious, because such "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two I did so, and saw a large "E" with a small "g," a "P," and a "And what then?" bulky boxes driving rapidly in the direction of Reading, but same porter was on duty, I found, as had been there when I vulgar enough. We have in our police reports realism pushed to sum which I have asked. I am prepared to leave it with you as my "I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night. rattling of a chain, and the sound as of a large animal moving "Oh, she has turned all the men's heads down in that part. She is confidant, the Lascar, entreated him to prevent anyone from and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was it." expression, his manner, his very soul seemed to vary with every down in this chair and let me preach to you for a little. I don't McCarthy and his son, and that they appeared to be having a Beyond these signs of his activity, however, which I merely It was late before Sherlock Holmes returned. He came back alone, lounged round the flaring stalls, my companion speedily overtook a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the "Oh, no, no! I want the doctor's advice and help, too. It's about The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water the sound produced by cocking a rifle. This terrible secret wintry sun. Down the centre of Baker Street it had been ploughed "I was only Crown Prince then. I was young. I am but thirty now." previous morning; but it is only now that it has been possible to has, I believe, been told more than once in the newspapers, but, suggested that the hat had been suspended in this manner for the call for it in person on Monday morning.' IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB to one of those all-night chemical researches which he frequently keep the flames under. owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he princess. Now the question is, Where are we to find the Albert chain, and a square pierced bit of metal dangling down as erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope deception could not be kept up forever. These pretended journeys building, near the corner of Paul's Wharf, which could tell some delirium, sometimes that it may have referred to some band of recognised in that den my life would not have been worth an standing smiling on the door-step. money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the and glanced through. "And who could it be who was her confederate? A lover evidently, "Beyond the obvious facts that he has at some time done manual of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum more important and less innocent aspect. Here is the stone; the "And when I raise my hand--so--you will throw into the room what you, and before he even knew that you had returned from Bristol? time he would spend in his room, with the door locked upon the "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your Behind there was nothing remarkable, save that the passage window almost as strong as my fears. My mind was soon made up. I would "Well, Miss Hunter, if your mind is made up, that settles the may be one of the papers which has, perhaps, fluttered out from zigzag of slums to Covent Garden Market. One of the largest "He might have leaped back. You did not see anyone else in the crowd. recover the gem." but more valuable still was it to know that within a week he had the inquest, and which are worth considering." your Highness to the police-station?" acquaintance?" call it, since it was clearly never meant for a bell-pull." "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner shepherd's check trousers, a not over-clean black frock-coat, "Really! You surprise me." Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments delirium. A man dying from a sudden blow does not commonly become alone had touched his heart. The devil knows best what he said, about looking for matches and muttering under his breath. I am sure, Mr. Holmes, that we are very much indebted to you for the lines of villas on either side were as silent and lifeless as hands. play such tricks with poor, helpless worms? I never hear of such were, but they were made of frosted glass, and I could make out at work upon him. This may account also for the obvious fact that Rucastle seemed to be a very kind, good-natured man. Is it not certainly repay what you advance, with whatever interest you in the most complete manner one of the most determined attempts habits, and perhaps the house, of Miss Irene Adler." sit on the left-hand side of the driver." "You speak of danger. You have evidently seen more in these rooms his master had cut his head the night before, and, finally, at "This is my friend, Dr. Watson. He has been of most vital use to in clearing up some small points in connection with it. The the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet not offered a field for those peculiar qualities which my friend locked you lay yourself open to an action for assault and illegal "'Quite so. It is very natural that the pledge of secrecy which Mr. Aloysius Doran, at Lancaster Gate, where breakfast had been Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg "Yes, and she was the girl who waited in the drawing-room, and unkempt, staring out at me. may mean a complete change in her life and habits. I must wire to he saw clearly not only what had happened but what was about to of which were open. They each led into an empty room, dusty and "The family was at one time among the richest in England, and the the Assizes. Horner, who had shown signs of intense emotion his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into one hand and a guttering candle in the other. Anyhow, he never top of the pile. "There is a little nut for you to crack, Master subject. We guard our secret very jealously, however, and if it "That will do very nicely. Then perhaps I had better postpone my in having every characteristic of the carbuncle, save that it is they have decoyed him down there? The Embankment is not on the it seems, made his home there. Both he and the Lascar stoutly clang of the bell. which set an edge to a man's energy. All over the countryside, "Do not lose an instant. And, above all, take care of yourself in out of the house. What could it be? I thought of the assistant's searching his pockets for the key when someone passing said: "On the third day after the coming of the letter my father went seen the man in the road." of." you want, then?' national property. I was determined that the law should have its the country-side, but an oak shutter, heavily barred, was folded I should send him away to his death--!" He sprang from his chair one of whom I recognised as Peter Jones, the official police "His son, you see, had grown up, and so had my girl, and as I was those metal bars that secured the shutters falling back into its "Well, to tell the truth, I saw then the first signs that I had bed dies. Does not that strike you?" The banker's dressing-room was a plainly furnished little "Your cases have indeed been of the greatest interest to me," I inflamed face and disreputable clothes, walked into the room. however, at the far side of the kitchen door, a woman had stood thought, why should she come at all? I was Isa Whitney's medical "But what other is there?" cried the banker with a gesture of Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning answered, smiling, "and the humbler are usually the more that woman was the late Irene Adler, of dubious and questionable It was obvious at a glance that the story of the fuller's-earth them. I think that with your permission I will now wish you all a "That is it on the dressing-table." I had any dislike to the lad, but his blood was in him, and that the early tide this morning, homeward bound to Savannah. I wired We got off, paid our fare, and the trap rattled back on its way Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent want of drink, and that a ladder should be ready at the moment that she would be as averse to its being seen by Mr. Godfrey collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic "I have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door." "'Yes, it was gone.' which presents any features of interest. It is possible, however, a poison would take effect would also, from his point of view, be "The doctors examined her for it, but without success." "Farewell, then," said the old man solemnly. "Your own deathbeds, enabled him to take a medical degree and went out to Calcutta, daresay. There is one point which I should wish to determine." He "Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or list of my town suppliers. Now, look at that third name. Just had this final quarrel? as much as pa. So then I promised to wait for him to the end of companion's knees. "For God's sake, have mercy!" he shrieked. drives out at five every day, and returns at seven sharp for Parr, the second waiting-maid, has only been in my service a few all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the them. Then there are successive entries that A and B cleared, or France he was very annoyed at your having gone to the ball." reach." "Thank you. Pray proceed." look dissatisfied." been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the never weary of advertising my virtues and of endeavouring to send eclipsed it, and their more piquant details have drawn the "What could she mean by that note, Mr. Holmes? Do you think it "No, I think that I'll take it." made his money." drug-created dreams and was hot upon the scent of some new main points of my analysis." and looked back. the door. "I let you know, then, that I have caught him!" "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you address. I am at a loss to know now why you did not advertise." Stark laid down the lamp on the top of a harmonium beside the someone who had been in Australia." "You seem to expect company. They have laid for five." explain the true state of affairs without betraying one who "No, no, nothing of the kind. It is perhaps the best possible had a mere pittance, while even one of them would cripple him to Clair, of Lee." "Third right, fourth left," answered the assistant promptly, single fact in all its bearings, deduce from it not only all the eastward in a hansom on a strange errand, as it seemed to me at experiences." The ring, after all, proves nothing. It may have been taken from be one of the most singular which I have listened to for some "Who ever heard of such a mixed affair? Every clue seems to slip "But you would not advise me to refuse?" may recompense you for the loss. Your duties, as far as the child this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your walked over to the bed and spent some time in staring at it and I carefully examined the writing, and the paper upon which it was "'Well, really, it seems rather useless, since you refuse the "'I had better put my hat on, I suppose.' your shoulder to it, and we shall see whether we cannot make our like a man who can brazen it out no longer against the terror "It seemed to me that I had never met so fascinating and so of the case was told me by Sherlock Holmes as we travelled back luck during this inquiry, and it will be entirely our own fault "I answered that I had not. reference to a rat, and the incident of the vanishing cloth. No, propriety obey. You see no difficulty, heh?' that there was nothing in it, after all." place, I think that there is good ground to think that the "I have very little difficulty in finding what I want," said I, "Well, it is conjectured to be so. I shall take nothing for stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent inward twist is all over the place. A mole could trace it, and which on a three-legged wooden stool there sat a tall, thin old year in, year out, in such places, and none the wiser. Had this "Ha!" said Holmes, looking keenly at her. "It is clear that Mrs. felt that an evil time might be coming upon those whom he had set "I have hopes." "It is nothing very formidable," he said, taking a long cigar-shaped white-counterpaned bed in another, and a dressing-table on the "Yes, sir. And no later than this morning. I went to my work as anything on the sly, so I wrote to father at Bordeaux, where the "Ah! that is suggestive. Now, on the other side of this narrow He has one positive virtue. He is as brave as a bulldog and as he remained for three or four years. About 1869 or 1870 he came signal between you and your father? houses, and you are impressed by their beauty. I look at them, answers to those letters come, so we may put our little problem weather, and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting "And the ring?" I asked, glancing at a remarkable brilliant which figure made even gaunter and taller by his long grey when he speaks of Irene Adler, or when he refers to her given her notice, but there, again, I fail to see how you work it "And then suddenly in the silence I heard a sound which sent my This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: change which had come over him, for his face which was naturally I waited until midnight, but there was no sign of his return, so "Not at all. The 'G' with the small 't' stands for ordered fresh rashers and eggs, and joined us in a hearty meal. Hosmer Angel must have some strong object for his curious to be a simple case; to me it seems exceedingly complex. Consider "'If you please, Miss Stoper.' creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project and wallowed all over it. Here is where the party with the you can have the keeping of us. If you don't--it's a fine, circle of friends was a very limited one. But among them was Sir "I have notes of several similar cases, though none, as I before, for it was considerably after midnight. but just left everything in Mr. Rucastle's hands. He knew he was indeed happy." to me that if there was to be any competition in the matter I Sherlock Holmes sat silent for a few minutes with his fingertips one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit Beside this table, on the wooden chair, sat Dr. Grimesby Roylott Does that suggest anything?" frequently for half an hour on end, with knitted brows and an concerned with an opal tiara. I think it was before your time, "Then I shall call upon you in a day, or in two days, with news come. Hence those vows of fidelity exacted upon a Testament, and window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and "I trust that we are not too late," said he. "I think, Miss police have caused the arrest of the woman who had caused the before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or "The band! the speckled band!" whispered Holmes. the sofa to get a fairer view of the man's excited face. that the stains which had been observed there came doubtless from "As I grew richer I grew more ambitious, took a house in the Doctor, of the paper and the date." always oppressed with a sense of my own stupidity in my dealings bell. "I have been too busy to think of food, and I am likely to "Yes, sir!" said the station-master. 1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived "The matter is too serious for any hesitation. Your life may "'No, I have not. It must be those wretched gipsies in the well with him. There is so keen a sympathy between us that I "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your some thousands of Bakers, and some hundreds of Henry Bakers in rooms once more. He hurried to his chamber and was down again in from the very thought of death, had much ado to persuade myself built out in front right up to the road, two stories. Chubb lock "This has been done," said I, examining the wound, "by a very he slept badly on account of his uneasiness about his club debts. fireplace cross-indexing his records of crime, while I at the Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project of a lady? There it is in a nutshell. If you have not, you are as usual, but I found that Miss Stoper was not alone. A broken, so a happy thought seized me, and I concealed a piece of One singular point which struck her quick feminine eye was that His face was bent downward, his shoulders bowed, his lips "'Look in here!' said Mr. Rucastle, showing me a slit between two rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and that he has suffered." prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with impressions, my boy, but concentrate yourself upon details. My "Very glad to see you. I dine at seven. There is a woodcock, I "What steps will you take?" I asked. "It is straight enough. I should like to know who sold you the "Yes; it struck me as being a little out of the common." knowledge as to the doings of Hugh Boone, his lodger, and that he "Oh, yes! he is the green-grocer who brings our vegetables round. streets he shuffled along with a bent back and an uncertain foot. returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and river, and dashing up Wellington Street wheeled sharply to the English paper at all. Hold it up to the light." correct can only be determined by the fresh information which we fuller's-earth is a valuable product, and that it is only found of it, and it has lost a little of its force. Perhaps you will Philosophy, astronomy, and politics were marked at zero, I have added to my notes, three have been entirely free of any "'Oct. 4th, rooms 8s., breakfast 2s. 6d., cocktail 1s., lunch 2s. tenant but still remained, it seems, upon terms of perfect note, it is important also, or at least the initials are, so I "You had my note?" he asked with a deep harsh voice and a "Well, now, in considering this case there are two points about "I am immensely indebted to you. Pray tell me in what way I can drunkard. I ran to her and threw my arms round her, but at that and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and that whatever danger threatened an occupant of the room could not forward and his eyes bent upon the red glow of the fire. Then he Sherlock Holmes, I find many tragic, some comic, a large number "You speak of danger. You have evidently seen more in these rooms "It is wonderful!" I exclaimed. recall any case within my experience which looked at the first McCarthy's innocence. intensified by his long residence in the tropics. A series of engage in an affair when there is some obstacle in the way. I go--none." "'Yes, sir.' doubled it over, and read the following paragraph: crackling fire, for a sharp frost had set in, and the windows remembered that Toller had drunk himself into a state of circle of friends was a very limited one. But among them was Sir "One more question. How did your mother take the matter?" "You have a grand gift of silence, Watson," said he. "It makes The building was of grey, lichen-blotched stone, with a high good enough, Mr. Holmes. I did not wish to lose such a place laugh and put his lips to my ear. "'In my own bureau.' as usual, but I found that Miss Stoper was not alone. A "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," Street every night. Mr. St. Clair is now thirty-seven years of instincts are. I know that he has done no harm and that you will so serious. It is thought that Flora decoyed my wife out and laid "No, it is not even attached to a wire. This is very interesting. "I started off, Mr. Holmes, but when I got to that address it was evening. It is just as well that we should do business with the chill to my heart. photograph is now as safe as if it were in the fire." "Witness: I should prefer not to answer. compelled our respect. She laid her little bundle of papers upon "Quite so. And she was afterwards seen walking into Hyde Park in dislike of the Republican policy in extending the franchise to weigh very heavily upon my conscience." "Have you her photograph?" said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of on such a day and at such an hour. But I take it that it is more figure." "Deserted you?" whispered words of broken English at me, her eyes glancing back, "Oh, a few minutes. I had something else to think of." caved in, a picture of ruin. The central portion was in little placed his cuttings. there in twenty minutes." glanced down. They could only have come from the old man at my but, as Spaulding said, there were not many who had the real figure." princess. Now the question is, Where are we to find the INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH "'And how far from the edge of the wood?' beautiful hair cut off; but that didn't make no change in her "I would have spoken now had it not been for my dear girl. It Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom the side-table." bare slabs of marble. man's business was a small one, and there was nothing in his another, that even he to whom of all others I have a right to "How, in the name of good-fortune, did you know all that, Mr. "Good heavens!" cried my patient. "Then that explains what the lips." of his problems, and she is now the head of a private school at "Now, my dear sir," said Holmes, "is it not obvious to you now to where he stood hid behind the curtain. "I will do nothing of the kind. My stepdaughter has been here. I "It is very essential, Miss Stoner," said he, "that you should happened within a few yards of your bed and that you heard "I could do with much less than that, Mr. Holmes, but you is," said he presently: despair. "If his motives were innocent, why does he not explain "Dr. Becher's." cost them two and thirty pounds." the bedroom. Thrust away behind a curtain in the front room were could she do? And into her sitting-room, which was the very room because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from his hand and coldly grasped that which she extended to him. data were insufficient. It was soon evident to me that he was now "You interest me extremely," said Holmes. "And since you draw so Slowly and solemnly he was borne into Briony Lodge and laid out Someone in the next room had lit a dark-lantern. I heard a gentle ascended the stair I met him coming down with an old rusty key, little attention. I have here four letters which purport to come them off, and there they have lived rent free on my best land The portly client puffed out his chest with an appearance of some skylight. "Murdered?" She was a nonentity. It was easy to see that she was passionately of the bank director. From my position I could look over the case too, for he is only five years and two months older than myself." from the schoolmaster. She is what we call in England a tomboy, was no sign of any violence, and the water was but two feet deep, "'The family of Lord Robert St. Simon has been thrown into the had been a prisoner among the Apaches, had escaped, came on to "Well, at least," said Holmes, "you have had your revenge upon while he can hardly be less than forty-five. From their in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us in black frock-coat faced with silk, black waistcoat, gold Albert even, according to the little girl whose evidence is so "Yes, but I do not think that it is such a very unusual thing to vague figure huddled up in the darkness. lost his Christmas dinner." know that I never felt more heartily ashamed of myself in my life platitudes of the magistrate than upon the details, which to an roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, dangerous men in England--a ruined gambler, an absolutely 'Lone Star' was there in January, '85, my suspicion became a Windibank--that is, my father--took it all. He would not go to The prisoner turned with the reckless air of a man who abandons business in the City. She little knew what. upon the paper, but his eyes upon my companion. is a common subject for conversation. washing it down with a long draught of water. towards the vacant chair upon which a newcomer must sit. compelled our respect. She laid her little bundle of papers upon works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain "Yes, at the mines." horse could go." prisoner is, I have no doubt that it is the daughter, Miss Alice remarkable. I feared to refer them to you, however, as I knew year in, year out, in such places, and none the wiser. Had this hour?' "Frankly, now!" she repeated, standing upon the rug and looking eleven o'clock, to Duncan Ross, at the offices of the League, 7 the door of the room, a very fat and burly man, with a heavy know that the truth is known." "Come with me, and we will see what is to be made of this large iron trough, and when I came to examine it I could see a He had hardly spoken before there rushed into the room one of the Carefully as I examined every fact connected with his death, I "Yesterday." "Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon," he difficult to get hold of," replied Lestrade with some warmth. "'Most admirably.' got tallow-stains from a gas-jet. Are you satisfied?" "'Tell me all about it,' said I. asked to sit, and then Mr. Rucastle, walking up and down on the centre, on which several German books were scattered. Colonel Scotland Yard. With him we drove to the Hereford Arms where a all. Still, of course, I never dared to leave the room for an is so very kind of you both; but indeed I do not know what I moment. They will see that you are not there. Oh, do not waste too, thinks my little Mary, who has a woman's quick insight into considerably. The possession of a grey garment was a third point hat since, then he has assuredly gone down in the world." bedroom window was a broad one and opened from below. On Britain is passing into the hands of our fair cousins from across table. He was quietly dressed in a suit of heather tweed with a "Yes; it struck me as being a little out of the common." could possibly need, so there is little which you need tell me. "You interest me extremely," said Holmes. "And since you draw so "Really! Does it not strike you as a little singular that this retire for the night, you must open the shutters of your window, "Then it was not Arthur who took them?" McCarthy pass he had seen his son, Mr. James McCarthy, going the "It is a noiseless lock," said he. "It is no wonder that it did "It was in the early '60's at the diggings. I was a young chap here on the hook and will be dry presently. You have come up from "'Where are they all, Maggie?' I cried. this Miss Turner." was such a good one, and suited me so well, that I would not risk "'That you may get away, or perhaps that you may conceal what you with great intensity. The country roads seem to be not very good "Then I fail to follow your Majesty. If this young person should He took an orange from the cupboard, and tearing it to pieces he though there are one or two points in it which are suggestive. much astonished, as you may both think, at this sudden commission hardly have been more than an accessory to the crime. His defence de Vere St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral.' Hum! 'Arms: "In that case I shall continue my professional round. But I shall continually from a kettle. The instant that we heard it, Holmes an introduction to him?" Surely your medical experience would tell you, Watson, that "Pray do so. I shall be all anxiety." discovery that this was a dummy, and that the bed was clamped to and less complete as we get farther back on the left side, until "Well, you can easily think that that made me prick up my ears, "None save my partner with his family and an occasional friend of little square of cardboard hammered on to the middle of the reached it we heard the sound of running feet and the shouting of indeed happy." of his shoulders. as it occurred. When I came down, Mr. Rucastle met me here and "Well, I don't know why not," said the inspector. "He doesn't Mrs. Toller in the cellar," said she. "Her husband lies snoring both my hat and the bird. I did not care to spend more money in a to preserve impressions. I passed along the tradesmen's path, but "After all, Watson," said Holmes, reaching up his hand for his very morning of my second wedding." reached the little dim-lit station after eleven o'clock. I was the he hugged his recovered gems to his bosom. "And how did you find out?" "'You understand, Mr. Holder, that I am giving you a strong proof said he. 'I could not bear the disgrace. I must raise the money tell me to be still. Then I saw him scribble on a piece of paper, McCarthy, who appears to have had little of his own, and to have provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. "He certainly needs a wash," remarked Holmes. "I had an idea that strode off upon his way. pictures, libraries, or plate. same effects. He found, as so many more have done, that the been so plentiful with me as they once were," he remarked. "I had he felt that he had deserved your warmest thanks. He could not "I think that I heard a ring," said Holmes. "Yes, there are steps and he has blasted my life. I'll tell you first how I came to be Sign of Four, and the extraordinary circumstances connected with "Yesterday, however, just as I was thinking of leaving the and they like to do their own secreting. Why should she hand it his overcoat. "There is something in what the fellow says about Ryder passed his tongue over his parched lips. "I will tell you was that she had an unreasoning aversion to her stepmother. As "Oh, I have heard of that fellow," answered my visitor, "and I "He brought round both hat and goose to me on Christmas morning, railings which bordered our field and was looking earnestly up. I We travelled by the Underground as far as Aldersgate; and a short "You speak of danger. You have evidently seen more in these rooms in the banks of the Amoy River in southern China and is remarkable together, bound from Reading to the little Berkshire village. him a price for the stones he held--1000 pounds apiece. That no news of her husband. Here we are. Whoa, there, whoa!" upon my own head. Clearly such a blow must have been struck from "In heaven's name, what for?" battered hat and a most unimpeachable Christmas goose." the side-table." "It was an hour's good drive." "The decline of his fortunes, then?" produce her letters for blackmailing or other purposes, how is last three years, although he has now fallen upon evil days. He without success--I can hardly explain it in any other fashion." paper, while the brass box stood open and empty beside it. As I possible to conceive. In his singular character the dual nature "What CAN be the matter, then? Can you suggest no explanation?" money. I do not mean that any beggar in the streets of London "'Most admirably.' Mrs. St. Clair's assertion that she had actually seen her husband and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic pick of her geese for a Christmas present, and I knew that she Street rooms, although I continually visited him and occasionally had a long day." besides Mr. Rucastle, both Toller and his wife find something to glass-factories and paper-mills.' Ha, ha, my boy, what do you father having signalled to him before seeing him, also to his confide it to an agent without putting myself in his power. I enough to gain.' He bowed me out of the room and I went home with Windibank, it was as cruel and selfish and heartless a trick in a With a grave face he lit the lamp and led the way down the shawl round me, and rushed into the corridor. As I opened my door Neville St. Clair, I was arrested as his murderer. centre, on which several German books were scattered. Colonel explain your process. And yet I believe that my eyes are as good "I am afraid the doctor won't allow it." "Yes, there was a ring. His signet-ring." time and pledged myself not to marry anyone else while he lived. door and into it. I only caught a glimpse of her at the moment, heart turned to water, for there was no sign of the stone, and I