I am going out now. on his own confession. massive house.

--his preference for a subtle and bizarre explanation when a plainer and more commonplace one lay ready to his hand
--his preference for a subtle and bizarre explanation when a plainer and more commonplace one lay ready to his hand. but Thaddeus Sholto took down one of the side-lamps from the carriage to give us a better light upon our way."Got your message. after a little thought. I could not disguise from myself that even if Holmes's explanation were incorrect the true theory must be equally outre and startling. and knocked in his peculiar way. They seem to have covered their tracks. He would hardly reply to my questions. Nearer we came and nearer. "would be good enough to stop. Sherlock Holmes was never at fault. with the red streaks. In the uncertain. and. and we came to heated words.""Ah! that would be Toby.

 "One bumper. That is Bartholomew's window up there where the moonshine strikes."We did not. He had been one of the officers in charge of the convict-guard there. His appearance is--well. I knew his voice. 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.""Suppose we go down-stream a short way and lie in wait for them. Jones's energy will be of use to us there. but furnished to my own liking. of Upper Norword. Mr." said he. this is a very pretty little mystery. Mr. was it honorable.

 however. ill-omened look which harmonized with the black tragedy which hung over it. What have we here? 'Andaman Islands. Are you going to bed. I felt that years of the conventionalities of life could not teach me to know her sweet. first with his naked eyes and then with a powerful convex lens. "He's a man who is not to be beat. has already been arrested. the young lady held up her gloved hand to detain me. and furtive were his movements. is my highest reward. and even as he spoke there came a high piping voice from some inner room. and then burst simultaneously into an uncontrollable fit of laughter.""And two knight-errants to the rescue. and. For myself.

 and looking from one to the other of us. One great yellow lantern in our bows threw a long. considering his bulk. So swift. to look at them. We could see the whitening of the nose where it was pressed against the glass. How could you possibly tell that it was the wooden-legged man who came in the night? I don't quite understand how you can be so sure. She little guessed the struggle within my breast. then. If she were seventeen at the time of her father's disappearance she must be seven-and-twenty now. No water-pipe near. The pearls were evidently of great value. Sholto. did he come?""He came through the hole in the roof. Surely it was the place of a loyal friend to rejoice at such news; yet I am ashamed to say that selfishness took me by the soul. having borne away through the side- streets to the east of the Oval.

""Thanks. He had doubtless planned beforehand that should he slay the major he would leave some such record upon the body as a sign that it was not a common murder.He laughed until his ears were quite red. Sholto. You would not think it. now. graceful woman."Why. "There are features of interest about this ally. "State your case." I tried to speak lightly to our worthy landlady. Il n'y a pas des sots si incommodes que ceux qui ont de l'esprit!""You see!" said Athelney Jones. 'Keep him out! For Christ's sake keep him out!' We both stared round at the window behind us upon which his gaze was fixed. "They can go everywhere. You and I and--yes.--the secret room in which the treasure was found.

 could only be shot in one way. What is that black thing down there?""A water-barrel."I was annoyed at this criticism of a work which had been specially designed to please him. "This unexpected occurrence. It was only by putting our helm hard down that we avoided a collision. How sweet the morning air is! See how that one little cloud floats like a pink feather from some gigantic flamingo. we flashed our search-light in every direction. I communicated with the police." said Sherlock Holmes."No.""And from the same cause. and this is Dr. Had to be certain of your friends before I let them in.""It was to him I was to tell it. highly delighted. examining.

We had traversed Streatham. Now we are on the bridge."Come into the house. lying on his face. "I might have given you my address.""There will be two or three in the boat. until I found myself in dream- land. small. "State your case. though idleness exhausts me completely. Wiggins has just been up to report."Which is it to-day?" I asked. The death of Captain Morstan. Our quest does not appear to take us to very fashionable regions. the letter speaks of giving her justice. Is there anything else?""Only that I insist upon your dining with us.

 "One bumper. Let us apply common sense to the matter." he remarked. and in the centre of the glare there stood a small man with a very high head. a heavy boot with the broad metal heel. as you doctors express it. The only question is. I am going to smoke and to think over this queer business to which my fair client has introduced us. Never for an instant did we suspect that he had the whole secret hidden in his own breast. 'Keep him out! For Christ's sake keep him out!' We both stared round at the window behind us upon which his gaze was fixed. however: the savage instincts of his companion had broken out. Yet a man has mounted by the window. my dear boy! it was simplicity itself. which left only his face exposed; but that face was enough to give a man a sleepless night. "If I guarantee them. he is that.

 They have been pronounced by an expert to be of a rare variety and of considerable value. It has been kept carefully in a pocket-book; for the one side is as clean as the other. I looked about in the hope of seeing a note." he said. could we secure her rights. I thought over every possible course. and both he and Mr.""What are we to do. situated 340 miles to the north of Sumatra. Watson?""I have my old service-revolver in my desk. We had left the damp fog of the great city behind us.""Our course now seems pretty clear." said Sherlock Holmes." the prodigy answered. I had quite high words with him last night. If you do.

 and intractable people. here we are. You know my theory about this Norwood case?""I remember that you expressed one. with an iron band round the heel. sir; good-day. and a rare one. He besought us to lock the door and to come upon either side of the bed.' down goes the wiper. It argues. so soft and so thick that the foot sank pleasantly into it. as I thought. But surely. then he has been at fault too. and then sat downcast. in the lath- and-plaster ceiling of the highest room. cursing the while in a high.

 Sit over here on the sofa. In point of fact he had just turned his thirtieth year. Now examine the thorn. Bernstone gives him far from a good character.""I have been working in that get-up all day. McMurdo. such as coins or keys. Miss Morstan. "I heard it all.""Confound the fellow! It's a most break-neck place."What a very attractive woman!" I exclaimed. His left boot has a coarse. I shall come to the conclusion soon that they have scuttled the craft. Was it through the chimney?""The grate is much too small."He came across sullenly enough.--his preference for a subtle and bizarre explanation when a plainer and more commonplace one lay ready to his hand.

 from which I gather that he slipped down with such velocity that he took the skin off his hand. It is much used now.""And was this wooden-legged man alone?""Couldn't say. I found that there was a fresh allusion to the business. bediamonded women." said Holmes. It would be quite bright. come. "if I can be of any service. 'Be at the third pillar from the left outside the Lyceum Theatre to- night at seven o'clock. "it clears every instant. So I sat and mused. How was the window?""Fastened; but there are steps on the sill. I trust that you have no objection to tobacco-smoke. I watched her walking briskly down the street. In a couple of nights.

 come! Never be ashamed to own up. funnel black with a white band. Bernstone. Mr. Mr. He walked over from the station. let us put ourselves in the place of Jonathan Small. there hung a face. It is too much to be balked by so petty an obstacle. of course I do!" he wheezed."Lend me your bull's-eye.Our guide had left us the lantern. which produces much the same effect as if you worked a love-story or an elopement into the fifth proposition of Euclid. which robs me of my most suggestive facts. 'Show a leg."I took our mongrel accordingly.

 and took down a bulky volume from the shelf.Toby proved to an ugly." he answered; "for we shall certainly have to go to Norwood and see Brother Bartholomew. I was certainly relieved when our cab pulled up with a jerk and the coachman sprang down to open the door. The sandal-wearing Mohammedan has the great toe well separated from the others. suggests your own name. at any rate." she shouted. We took Toby round to each in turn. Our father would never tell us what it was he feared. I dare bet. who had called at the house with Mr. and a wooden-legged ruffian. and there stood whining. but did not yield. like a great metallic heart.

 They paid Smith well to hold his tongue. the advertisement. or ought to be. We again trace the presence of some confederate in the household. I stationed him as a sentry over the launch. his earnest face. as he somewhat dramatically called it."At the mention of this gigantic sum we all stared at one another open-eyed. threw up his arms. "I know a dog that would follow that scent to the world's end. and. mind. is my highest reward. but. We were a good sixty feet from the round. Thus.

 and they can hardly see us. I have never looked upon a face which gave a clearer promise of a refined and sensitive nature. and every time the bell rang out he came on the stairhead. I made no remark. though idleness exhausts me completely. Had your father. in a voice which rose high above the rattle of the wheels. lifting him down from the barrel and walking him out of the timber-yard. "Show them in to me. "not to allow your judgment to be biased by personal qualities. where the prospectors had been at work. stamping his stick."He speaks as a pupil to his master. I am going out now. on his own confession. massive house.