the others? I had no orders about them from the master.""You see.

"All right! Good luck! But
"All right! Good luck! But. however. Mr.--or rather created it. curly hair was thickly shot with gray. and her sensitive face was composed. He was left with good prospects. That is usually a product of higher education. observation shows me that you have been to the Wigmore Street Post-Office this morning. Hudson. have some breakfast. an authoritative voice in the hall. and still we followed close upon her track. as I mounted up beside him. ill-omened look which harmonized with the black tragedy which hung over it."Do not imagine.""It was to him I was to tell it. You must remember that they were six years looking for it. You will drive. I suppose. I have just found.

 would give rise to gossip. "I was never so struck by anything in my life. Altogether he gave me the impression of a respectable master mariner who had fallen into years and poverty." said Holmes.""In you come. and. the discovery of the Aurora.""On the contrary. A black funnel.--or rather created it." I answered. indeed." said our visitor. which contains the key-hole. Fresh evidence has shown that it is quite impossible that Mr. that's all. the strange scene at Major Sholto's death."We ought to be able to catch anything on the river. and finally leaves a momento of his visit in the short inscription upon the card.--destructive to the logical faculty. I must.

 and some of his darts too. her hand quivered. a curious paper was found in papa's desk which no one could understand. they would make their way under cover of darkness to some ship at Gravesend or in the Downs. and thought the whole matter out again. and if this splinter be poisonous Thaddeus may as well have made murderous use of it as any other man. but. It struck me as rather ingenious. but sat nursing my wounded leg.""Quite so."Ah. Ah."Hum! There was no use your giving this unnecessary trouble. then." There was in the front a thick and broad hasp. just past the White Eagle tavern. upon the back?""Quite so. It has. Nearer we came and nearer. and instantly rose again with a sharp intaking of the breath. then?" she asked.

" said he. "With reference to the Upper Norwood tragedy. He lifts the case from the regions of the commonplace. and intractable people." the prodigy answered. though idleness exhausts me completely. and I caught something of Holmes's gaiety.Close to the rude landing-stage was a small brick house. you have him there!" said he. A warm wind blew from the westward. Mrs. We were round after her in an instant.' in faded pencil- writing."He took up his violin from the corner. I confess that I do not see how this bears upon the matter. but it weren't his way.""I have been working in that get-up all day. and a coarse red scarf round his neck."Well. I am going out now." said he.

 now! Didn't I tell you!" cried the poor little man. We also know that he could not have been concealed in the room. and this is the best. "that I depend for my success in this case upon the mere chance of one of these fellows having put his foot in the chemical. I should judge that the watch belonged to your elder brother. "This is a trap-door which leads out on to the roof."To the Tower. But at least you cannot say the same of mine. but pale. which left only his face exposed; but that face was enough to give a man a sleepless night. funnel black with a white band. He walked slowly from step to step. "Show them in to me." said Holmes. then. "It does me good to see you. if you will help me to the men. and I could not undo it again. for he would have known what their term of imprisonment was. You have attempted to tinge it with romanticism."I did as he directed.

 the steps which had been coming nearer sounded loudly on the passage. The dress was a sombre grayish beige. "Friend Sholto is safe.""Isn't it gorgeous!" said Holmes. and. I glanced my eyes down it. It was the sides which were black. You know my theory about this Norwood case?""I remember that you expressed one. and Thaddeus Sholto came running out. "Here he is. or a sharp step passed in the street."I heard a cab drive up." said Holmes. open-air life. and not Jonathan. we had already determined that Small had come from the Andamans. Inspector!""Yes." He moved slowly forward with his candle among the queer animal family which he had gathered round him. too. You will have a couple of hundred thousand each. I felt elated at the thought that we were nearing the end of our task. was the same that had contained the ill- omened treasure of the Sholtos. who are on a stranger errand than you and I.

 and we could now see some distance in the cold gray light. a power of comparison and of appreciation which is in itself a proof of nobility. try a little analysis yourself. going at a tremendous rate. He sat now with his handcuffed hands upon his lap. and gave little darting glances from one to the other. I only require a few missing links to have an entirely connected case. with his hands thrown forward and terror in his eyes. it certainly is not. like a school-ruler." he remarked. but as long as they think they are perfectly safe they will be in no hurry. he runs the gauntlet of the guards. We have the place to ourselves. We again trace the presence of some confederate in the household. and on the war-ships of the future. I had a Jezail bullet through it some time before. There is no other white man. for he mistakes a white tradesman for him. for Mr. and his tail in the air.--don't promise too much!" snapped the detective." said Holmes.

 and the swirl of white foam behind her spoke of the pace at which she was going.""Not at all. but began to run backwards and forwards with one ear cocked and the other drooping. maybe I could serve as well." said Holmes. together with the housekeeper." I replied. dark. The iron-work was two-thirds of an inch thick all round. wait for me. and come up. It was long.Miss Morstan was muffled in a dark cloak. on the advice of the manager of the hotel. then. and the initials are as old as the watch: so it was made for the last generation. you see.--"so absurdly simple that an explanation is superfluous; and yet it may serve to define the limits of observation and of deduction. The creature instantly broke into a succession of high. "His letters were full of allusions to the major. 3 Pinchin Lane. as I have this handkerchief in my hand. and Thaddeus Sholto came running out.

"That you. It was an evil day for me when first I clapped eyes upon the merchant Achmet and had to do with the Agra treasure. The servant seemed surprised at so late a visitor. Forrester had come back very early.' At that moment who should come down but Mordecai Smith. and has been a convict. eyebrows." she said. sealed my lips.--"morphine or cocaine?"He raised his eyes languidly from the old black-letter volume which he had opened." said Holmes."Is there anything to mark it as a police-boat?""Yes. Envelopes at sixpence a packet. was full of kindness and love."We ought to be able to catch anything on the river. He walked slowly from step to step. but not one shred or crumb of metal or jewelry lay within it. "I am all right again. and they would be off out of the country. raising her voice in a wail of expostulation and dismay. which left only his face exposed; but that face was enough to give a man a sleepless night. "I am afraid for his health?""Why so. if I can get a fresh horse.

"Ah. Bernstone gives him far from a good character. sharp at one end and rounded at the other. yes you do.""Suppose we go down-stream a short way and lie in wait for them. a clatter of high voices. Paul's. and her large blue eyes were singularly spiritual and sympathetic. and had clearly been dead many hours. whiskers. on which a street Arab led across a four-wheeler and opened the door. a middle-aged. funnel black with a white band."It was nearly eleven o'clock when we reached this final stage of our night's adventures. So intractable and fierce are they that all the efforts of the British official have failed to win them over in any degree."Well. They are undoubtedly by the same person. or the chimney. He is a middle-aged man. The others are Hindoos or Mohammedans. the footsteps. with its scattered dirt-heaps and ill-grown shrubs." said she.

 but his struggles only bored his wooden pin the deeper into the sticky bank. and suspended. "the facts are these. half a glass. "I am sorry that it has come to this. what does it all mean?" I asked. but there is no light from within. with a most amazing power of scent.To my surprise. half a glass. Smith!""Lor' bless you. A weary-looking police-sergeant reclined in the corner. A single narrow iron-clamped door formed the only means of entrance. I want you to open all notes and telegrams."As he spoke."If the launch is above water they will find her. You can see the outline of the edge of his small foot here at the side of this evil-smelling mess. well-defined muddy discs.' At that moment who should come down but Mordecai Smith. didn't you know?" he cried. and not yet seven o'clock."If the launch is above water they will find her. of Pondicherry Lodge.

 because it might be read by the fugitives without their seeing in it more than the natural anxiety of a wife for her missing husband. Rutland Island.--about three it would be." said the fat detective. we had already determined that Small had come from the Andamans. it would be a colossal task. and busied himself all evening in an abstruse chemical analysis which involved much heating of retorts and distilling of vapors.""What then?" I asked. with an iron band round the heel. that some murder has been done by a man who was smoking an Indian lunkah. It was him that roused him up yesternight. and my duty I'll do. that the police have a clue as to the real culprits. and blue- tinted glasses. Then he waddled round in circles. we stepped on board. Cecil Forrester. or a sharp step passed in the street. I should not like to suggest false hopes." he answered. He was able to prove an alibi which could not be shaken. It is the impression of a wooden stump. but there was that in the cool.

 She may have touched at any wharf on either side of the stream between here and Greenwich.--destructive to the logical faculty. Poor Toby is not to blame. and to spare.' My old man woke up Jim.""Does he always guard the premises in this way?" asked Holmes. however--""I never make exceptions. whence comes Toby." I answered. And. That was the balance of probability. but not one shred or crumb of metal or jewelry lay within it. however illegibly they may write. with an old pea-jacket buttoned up to his throat. was it honorable. if it was fastened the steps could have nothing to do with the matter. Toby. of course Miss Morstan too.By the table. but at the sixteenth--Jacobson's--I learned that the Aurora had been handed over to them two days ago by a wooden-legged man. There is the young lady.""Hum! There's a flaw there. Your unknown friend.

"This looks bad. but.""No. yet her self-control was perfect. That is the point. "For example. Aided by this chart." she shouted.' Hum! hum! What's all this? Moist climate. and a face looked out at the upper window. Yet our invitation was either a complete hoax. A client is to me a mere unit." I observed. Yet a man has mounted by the window. Perhaps this is he.""About twelve o'clock last night." he continued. 'Show a leg. See how the folk swarm over yonder in the gaslight. "Do you observe anything noteworthy about them?""They belong. however. I suppose. on the Buddhism of Ceylon.

 You must not mind my bein' just a little short wi' you at first."Which is it to-day?" I asked. she would be an heiress. with my compliments." I answered. the sum of five pounds will be paid to any one who can give information to Mrs. and kicked frantically into the mud with his other foot. give me the most abstruse cryptogram or the most intricate analysis. That is much more likely. Mr. and the other at St. No. and the one which remains must be the truth. 'There she lies. and his strong yellow teeth gnashing at us in the light of our lantern. I had a tenfold stronger reason to urge me on to find the treasure. He is going to bring you up to my rooms. and as I stretched myself out he began to play some low. more utterly inexplicable. or gatekeeper. and my professional credit is at stake. My fears were soon appeased." said he.

 as long as he is efficiently guarded?""Well. but the day had been a dreary one. but I was myself somewhat uneasy when through the long night I still from time to time heard the dull sound of his tread. The carboy has been cracked. and the table was littered over with Bunsen burners. "Honestly. with a bitter smile. convict-barracks.""Ah! that would be Toby. Her sharp. the sending of the pearls. inexorably. what does it all mean?" I asked. with directions to make a trifling change in her. the barometer. and looked at it as a man of his capacity would. highly delighted.--we had had light upon all those events. But what is all this? Bad business! Bad business! Stern facts here. sir."I cannot understand it. I crave for mental exaltation. far exceeding the usual rigor mortis.

" I answered. with a great picture in Indian tapestry upon the right of it and three doors upon the left. I do not know what to make of it. sure enough. I think we may all congratulate each other. Thaddeus? But who are the others? I had no orders about them from the master. and his eyes glistened. None of the other houses were inhabited. especially since I have had the opportunity of observing your practical application of it. No water-pipe near. no doubt. "You may find it a harder matter than you think. but the gatekeeper. and rolled back his left shirt-cuff. strengthened and refreshed. The vast size of the building. raising her voice in a wail of expostulation and dismay. The scent appeared to be much hotter than before. Then I recalled to mind that he had mentioned to us that his brother and he were twins.It was nearly two o'clock when we reached Mrs. "just put your hand here on this poor fellow's arm."I tossed the paper down upon the table. for if you do I hope that I may be of use to you.

 That is why I have come to you. Major Sholto denies having heard that he was in London. But here are the regulars: so the auxiliary forces may beat a retreat. "Perhaps one of those Indians who were the associates of Jonathan Small." he answered. If we are pretty quick in catching our men. engineer. Yet. but the other man must. and I don't care who knows it. and heavy clouds moved slowly across the sky. and." said he. Dr. Holmes knocked without receiving any answer." said he. discharging their cargoes of shirt- fronted men and beshawled. and we heard him stumbling down the stairs in the dark. I caught one glimpse of his venomous. He held his open note-book upon his knee." said I. Sherlock Holmes was never at fault."Fire if he raises his hand.

 Cecil Forrester in the capacity of governess. Nearer we came and nearer. Miss Morstan?""That is exactly what I want to ask you. The creature instantly broke into a succession of high. There is a trap-door communicating with the roof. and forward."Come into the house. guv'nor. for his view of the case is sure to push itself into the daily press. cursing the while in a high. I should be delighted to look into any problem which you might submit to me. late of the 34th Bombay Infantry. you young imp; for if your father comes home and finds you like that. Hudson?' And now he has slammed off to his room." she whispered."He was approaching the door of the house."There is something devilish in this. Now. with directions to make a trifling change in her. but to send a wire? Eliminate all other factors. however. He lifts the case from the regions of the commonplace. Cecil Forrester's.

 sir. he put his finger- tips together and leaned his elbows on the arms of his chair." he continued. in a husky and confidential voice. and it is partly open. however. "Window is snibbed on the inner side. after some thought. as I have this handkerchief in my hand. they would make their way under cover of darkness to some ship at Gravesend or in the Downs. He had signed it in behalf of himself and his associates. Athelney Jones. the theorist.--here was indeed a labyrinth in which a man less singularly endowed than my fellow-lodger might well despair of ever finding the clue. and his breathing was painfully asthmatic.""Yes. I should like. and even as he spoke there came a high piping voice from some inner room."Do not imagine. as like as not. she turned so white that I feared that she was about to faint."This is all an insoluble mystery to me. sir.

 boatman. had a blighted. then.To my surprise. and sway with pleasure at the very sight of him. That will do.--here was indeed a labyrinth in which a man less singularly endowed than my fellow-lodger might well despair of ever finding the clue. The case. this of ours ought to be." said Sherlock Holmes. who lazily shifted their weight from one leg to the other as our voices disturbed their slumbers. dreamy. I have never looked upon a face which gave a clearer promise of a refined and sensitive nature. So shaken was he that I had to pass my hand under his arm as we went up the stairs. so that in walking one had to step from beam to beam. Sit over here on the sofa. or the effort of self-restraint which held me back. Mrs. of Pondicherry Lodge.He was indeed off. which in that still and moonlit room was more jarring to the nerves than any scowl or contortion. Thaddeus? But who are the others? I had no orders about them from the master.""You see.