The Sign of the Four

k in t

l sat exactly as I had left him, save that he had laid aside his violin and was deep in a bo

he said. "I feared that

answered. "Have you h

ing definite by this time. Wiggins has just been up to report. He says that no trace

ctly fresh now, and quite read

es, the message might come in our absence, and delay be ca

ell and call upon Mrs. Cecil Forr

asked Holmes, with the twin

stan too. They were anxio

id Holmes. "Women are never to be en

atrocious sentiment. "I shall be

e river you may as well return Toby, for I don't think it

ht's adventures, but very eager to hear the news. Mrs. Forrester, too, was full of curiosity. I told them all that we had done, suppressing, however, the more dreadful parts of the t

million in treasure, a black cannibal, and a wooden-legged ruffi

e rescue," added Miss Morstan

I don't think that you are nearly excited enough. Just imagine w

ign of elation at the prospect. On the contrary, she gave a toss of her p

of any consequence; but I think that he has behaved most kindly and honorably

ched home. My companion's book and pipe lay by his chair, but he had disa

has gone out," I said to Mrs. Hudson

ou know, sir," sinking her voice into an imp

, Mrs.

muttering, and every time the bell rang out he came on the stairhead, with 'What is that, Mrs. Hudson?' And now he has slammed off to his room, but I can hear him walking away the same as eve

n his mind which makes him restless." I tried to speak lightly to our worthy landlady, but I was myself somewhat uneasy when through the long

nd haggard, with a little fleck of

old man," I remarked. "I heard

e men, the launch, everything; and yet I can get no news. I have set other agencies at work, and used every means at my disposal. The whole river has been searched on either

ith has put us o

d. I had inquiries made, and ther

ave gone up

p as far as Richmond. If no news comes to-day, I shall start off myself to-morrow, a

ve that an inquest was to be held upon the following day. I walked over to Camberwell in the evening to report our ill success to the ladies, and on my return I found Holmes dejected and somewhat morose. He would hardly reply to my questions, and busied himself all evening in an abstruse chemica

find him standing by my bedside, clad in a rude sailor dre

been turning it over in my mind, and I can see only

come with you,

n the cards that some message may come during the day, though Wiggins was despondent about it last night. I want y

cert

l yet where I may find myself. If I am in luck, however, I may not be gone

ven more complex and mysterious than was originally supposed. Fresh evidence has shown that it is quite impossible that Mr. Thaddeus Sholto could have been in any way concerned in the matter. He and the housekeeper, Mrs. Bernstone, were both released yeste

s safe, at any rate. I wonder what the fresh clue may be; though it s

at that moment my eye caught an advertisem

aunch Aurora, black with two red stripes, funnel black with a white band, the sum of five pounds will be paid to any one who can give info

It struck me as rather ingenious, because it might be read by the fugitives withou

fering from some huge self-deception? Was it not possible that his nimble and speculative mind had built up this wild theory upon faulty premises? I had never known him to be wrong; and yet the keenest reasoner may occasionally be deceived. He was likely, I thought, to fall into error through the over-refinement of his logic,-his preference for a subtle and bizarre explanation when a plainer and more commo

person than Mr. Athelney Jones was shown up to me. Very different was he, however, from the brusque and masterful professor of common

said he. "Mr. Sherlock Ho

back. But perhaps you would care to wait. T

o," said he, mopping his face w

hiskey-a

f year; and I have had a good deal to worry and tr

that you exp

to prove an alibi which could not be shaken. From the time that he left his brother's room he was never out of sight of some one or other. So it could not be

help someti

but I never saw the case yet that he could not throw a light upon. He is irregular in his methods, and a little quick perhaps in jumping at theories, but, on the whole, I think he would have ma

'clock. "Go to Baker Street at once," it said. "If I have not returned, wait for me. I am close o

as evidently picked up

s are thrown off sometimes. Of course this may prove to be a false alarm; but it is my duty as an of

nds which we had heard. He was an aged man, clad in seafaring garb, with an old pea-jacket buttoned up to his throat. His back was bowed, his knees were shaky, and his breathing was painfully asthmatic. As he leaned upon a thick oaken cudgel his shoulders heaved in the effort to draw the a

t, my man?

in the slow methodic

ock Holmes he

him. You can tell me any

imself I was to

acting for him. Was it abo

where the men he is after are. An' I knows w

, and I shall

," he repeated, with the petula

must wait

olmes ain't here, then Mr. Holmes must find it all out for himself. I

door, but Athelney Jon

information, and you must not walk off. We shall keep

ut, as Athelney Jones put his broad back up again

ick. "I come here to see a gentleman, and you two, who I n

ompense you for the loss of your time. Sit over her

ace resting on his hands. Jones and I resumed our cigars and

might offer me a c

ere was Holmes sitting close to u

d. "You here! But wh

ere he is,-wig, whiskers, eyebrows, and all. I thought my disguise w

You had the proper workhouse cough, and those weak legs of yours are worth ten pound a week.

the criminal classes begin to know me,-especially since our friend here took to publishing some of

as what brou

our case p

to release two of my prisoners, and ther

must put yourself under my orders. You are welcome to all the official

you will help

t a fast police-boat-a steam launch-to be a

s one about there; but I can step acros

two stanch men, in

o or three in the

a pleasure to my friend here to take the box round to the young lady to whom

a great ple

ole thing is irregular, and I suppose we must wink at it. The treasure must afte

the lips of Jonathan Small himself. You know I like to work the detail of my cases out. There is no objection to my

of the existence of this Jonathan Small. However, if you can c

understoo

Is there any

r. I have oysters and a brace of grouse, with something a little choice in wh