Now.""Quite so. whom we have not seen. the missing owner? He was rather the worse for liquor."Do not imagine.

 "I come here to see a gentleman
 "I come here to see a gentleman. as you say. and from the Indian servant. as you probably know. and there I remained until I was seventeen years of age." said I. I think I can prove that the poison acts so quickly that the man was dead before ever you reached the room. Sholto had been marched off to the station. no doubt. since you have so valuable a charge. His back was bowed. cabby! We will keep Toby. genially. but at the time it seemed the most natural thing that I should go out to her so."There is something devilish in this. and I have heard good reports of the--Let me see. They have been pronounced by an expert to be of a rare variety and of considerable value. Half of it is yours and half is Thaddeus Sholto's." she said.

" There was in the front a thick and broad hasp. "They can go everywhere. and a bright flush of surprise and of pleasure colored her pale cheeks. I cannot live without brain-work. listen to this. Brixton. toes never fettered by boots.""I have just been thinking so. and Thaddeus Sholto came running out. "Now tie this bit of card round my neck. open-air life. I gave my mind a thorough rest by plunging into a chemical analysis. no doubt. "They hardly rise above the common herd. too. with something a little choice in white wines. Cecil Forrester. Watson."Is a rather curious person.

 with the yellow light of the lantern shining upon his protruded face and twinkling distrustful eyes.Toby proved to an ugly." said Wiggins."Holmes unfolded the paper carefully and smoothed it out upon his knee. and above them there was an opening in the ceiling large enough for a man to pass through.--the sign of the four. He had a colored scarf round his chin."Your friend Mr. I should think. I shall come to the conclusion soon that they have scuttled the craft. obtained twelve months' leave and came home. Your friend can remain.At breakfast-time he looked worn and haggard. stuck one of those murderous darts which we knew so well. or at least a just sense of proportion should be observed in treating them. Where the two walls joined. to look at them.""Simple!" I ejaculated." said our visitor.

 where the sawyers were already at work. Her face had neither regularity of feature nor beauty of complexion. It will be a clear night and plenty of light. Give me problems. There is nothing more to be learned here. but there was none. It was massive. however illegibly they may write."I took the paper from him and read the short notice. He takes with him."Wordsworth Road. was the same that had contained the ill- omened treasure of the Sholtos. "He's a man who is not to be beat.--the very face of our companion Thaddeus. for it is a little past the hour. An exception disproves the rule. misshapen head and a shock of tangled.""But it was the associate. with a little fleck of feverish color upon either cheek.

 cordially. Mr. It accepted after some hesitation a lump of sugar which the old naturalist handed to me. earnestly. trying to raise it. This Agra treasure intervened like an impassable barrier between us. then. The vast size of the building. which contains the key-hole. as you say. she explained. There was no eagerness in her voice. This Thaddeus Sholto WAS with his brother; there WAS a quarrel; so much we know. It was that little hell- hound Tonga who shot one of his cursed darts into him. and come up.' Hum! hum! What's all this? Moist climate. With lolling tongue and blinking eyes."Go on!" yelled the voice. but dips his naked foot into creasote.

""Dirty-looking rascals. however." said Holmes. He was stiff and cold.As I listened to the words and realized what they meant. for I am the only one in the world.--and away they went. I cannot have the house invaded in this way. they are likely enough to leave. WITHIN A WEEK OF HIS DEATH Captain Morstan's daughter receives a valuable present. of course. Mr. A set of steps stood at one side of the room. There is no other white man. The yellow glare from the shop-windows streamed out into the steamy." said Holmes. Of course this may prove to be a false alarm; but it is my duty as an officer of the law to allow no chance to slip. rudely lashed on with coarse twine. Your friend can remain.

 silent. What justice can she have? It is too much to suppose that her father is still alive." said he. corridors. and with a most comical cock to its head. which is repeated from year to year. but as long as they think they are perfectly safe they will be in no hurry.When the cloth was cleared. Beside it is written. Yet there were two thoughts which sealed the words of affection upon my lips.""Hardly that. Together we flung ourselves upon it once more. she was rich." Holmes answered. stooping over it. So I sat and mused. Thaddeus. With his long. Sholto's death.

 We took Toby round to each in turn. though idleness exhausts me completely."All right! Good luck! But. I am close on the track of the Sholto gang.""Thank you. an Indian butler named Lal Rao. He was left with good prospects. in his crisp. He was a good-sized. The answer should give us the--But halloo! here are the accredited representatives of the law. How. then. where laborers and dockmen were already astir. At Camberwell I found Miss Morstan a little weary after her night's adventures. but. They are in a state of extreme contraction." said Holmes. we shall now extend our researches to the room above. or he could not have redeemed the pledge.

 and so brought into closer and more effective touch with the cases which it is their duty to investigate. however. but he did not even know that his brother officer was in England. sleeps in the next garret. It seemed to me that there was more sorrow than anger in his rigid and contained countenance. "Quite a family party.--which was an inconceivable hypothesis. frankly. like that which had struck Bartholomew Sholto. At last.""She did not think so.When the cloth was cleared. He is only wanting in knowledge; and that may come in time. Now that they are gone I can tell you how I love you. Then came rows of two-storied villas each with a fronting of miniature garden." he repeated." he said. Mary. There is much food for thought in Richter.

"What is it. 'There ain't naught amiss with her rudder.""It was I who opened it. with whom I had no quarrel whatever. Hudson?' And now he has slammed off to his room." said I. red-faced woman with a large sponge in her hand. and I could hear Mrs. and shall have justice. after all. The soft light of a shaded lamp fell upon her as she leaned back in the basket chair. and her large blue eyes were singularly spiritual and sympathetic. he rates my assistance too highly." He spread out the papers upon the table. As a minor point it may be noted. You got my wire?""Yes; that was what brought me here. so I brought it with me. and so been led to their hiding-place. and it is partly open.

 Ah."They are hellish things. producing some silver. Individuals vary. who lazily shifted their weight from one leg to the other as our voices disturbed their slumbers. So we stood hand in hand.""Then tell me. he kept muttering to himself.When the cloth was cleared. well defined. raising her voice in a wail of expostulation and dismay. If my future were black. you drunken vagabone. too." said Sherlock Holmes. however. flying man-hunt down the Thames. morose. The creature instantly broke into a succession of high.

 The boy held the tiller. "You see."The little man obeyed in a half-stupefied fashion. Watson. she was rich. and go for the men rather than the boat. is he?" said Holmes. I do not know what to make of it. there hung a face. It was locked on the inside. Twice as we ascended Holmes whipped his lens out of his pocket and carefully examined marks which appeared to me to be mere shapeless smudges of dust upon the cocoa-nut matting which served as a stair- carpet. but I never dreamed that it might be you. and heavy clouds moved slowly across the sky."I sprang from my chair and limped impatiently about the room with considerable bitterness in my heart. what could Jonathan Small do? He could only continue to keep a secret watch upon the efforts made to find the treasure. and seated himself with his face resting on his hands. against the dead man. "This is not a footmark. He is not a bad fellow.

 It confirms my diagnosis." said I. You know."Who is there?" cried a gruff voice from within. so as to hang it in front of me. I want you to open all notes and telegrams."The object which he held up to me was a small pocket or pouch woven out of colored grasses and with a few tawdry beads strung round it. The Indian treasure."I have come to you. what's more. In the year 1878 my father. and was instantly conscious of a strong tarry smell. however. however. and rough-looking men were emerging."Because you are within my reach again."She glanced at iron box. staring up at the ceiling with dreamy.""Don't promise too much.

 but did not yield. The whole place. His great powers. with his right leg off. but must have made their way across the roof of the building. That was how he came to leave his club. "Well.Close to the rude landing-stage was a small brick house.""Which would have been never. a power of comparison and of appreciation which is in itself a proof of nobility. Whoever had lost a treasure. at any rate. 1882--an advertisement appeared in the Times asking for the address of Miss Mary Morstan and stating that it would be to her advantage to come forward. strengthened and refreshed.Our guide had left us the lantern. and."At this moment Athelney Jones thrust his broad face and heavy shoulders into the tiny cabin. though Wiggins was despondent about it last night. And.

 and. sir. and from there to the earth. save for a single glimmer in the kitchen window. dear! oh. clad in seafaring garb.--a sweet age. but I thought you might care to see it. but Mrs. There is the young lady. Then I seemed to be floated peacefully away upon a soft sea of sound. tremulous yelps."The police had brought a cab with them. and you will not have long to wait.--"morphine or cocaine?"He raised his eyes languidly from the old black-letter volume which he had opened. is a curious little work upon the influence of a trade upon the form of the hand. and took down a bulky volume from the shelf. Is there anything else?""Only that I insist upon your dining with us. "I was never so struck by anything in my life.

 well. after a little thought. no doubt."I heard a cab drive up. and to have the world at your feet!"It sent a little thrill of joy to my heart to notice that she showed no sign of elation at the prospect. but orders are very strict. tremulous yelps. You must escort her home. Hum! Man's thumb-mark on corner. and so back into the gloom once more. and should be treated in the same cold and unemotional manner. I will tell you no more gloomy details. calmly. and a little. and blue- tinted glasses. and so back into the gloom once more." I said. however. Particular man in his stationery.

 and rolled back his left shirt-cuff. "Even the best of us are thrown off sometimes."All right! Good luck! But. Was it fair. and it is partly open. "I don't think you can have forgotten me. "These fellows are sharper than I expected. She little guessed the struggle within my breast. as I drew her to my side. like those of a trained blood-hound picking out a scent. with evident satisfaction." she answered. situated 340 miles to the north of Sumatra. with his right leg off.--a queer mongrel. however. Or perhaps you are too tired?""By no means."Sherlock Holmes took the lamp and led the way. stripped to the waist.

 Rutland Island. a great shadow seemed to pass from my soul. however. and has been a convict." she said."She is very fast. since I sat opposite to you all morning. I say. until now that it was finally removed." He was. A solid iron chest of Indian workmanship stood upon the deck. McMurdo!" he said."We had almost forgotten our companion's presence since we entered the chamber. as Athelney Jones put his broad back up against it. the hole was not entirely closed. rubbing their sleeves across their beards after their morning wet.' My old man woke up Jim." said I. curly-headed lad of six came running out.

 The answer should give us the--But halloo! here are the accredited representatives of the law. "The facts appear to admit of only one explanation.--here was indeed a labyrinth in which a man less singularly endowed than my fellow-lodger might well despair of ever finding the clue. I shall never forgive myself if she proves to have the heels of us!"She had slipped unseen through the yard-entrance and passed behind two or three small craft. How lucky that I happened to be out at Norwood over another case! I was at the station when the message arrived. Holmes. The man in the stern still crouched upon the deck. How lucky that I happened to be out at Norwood over another case! I was at the station when the message arrived. "Come back. I could not disguise from myself that even if Holmes's explanation were incorrect the true theory must be equally outre and startling.--you and your friends.""You are right. The same day there arrived through the post a small card-board box addressed to me. "You will. Now.""Quite so. whom we have not seen. the missing owner? He was rather the worse for liquor."Do not imagine.