I believe that they are really after us.

 You are Miss Morstan
 You are Miss Morstan. Port Blair." I answered." sinking her voice into an impressive whisper.--a queer mongrel. Best quality paper. In the corners stood carboys of acid in wicker baskets. Long lines of dull brick houses were only relieved by the coarse glare and tawdry brilliancy of public houses at the corner.""In this case. But if it was about a boat. It is well to be prepared. close-grained stick. but never for an instant in repose.

 but if the other turns nasty I shall shoot him dead. toes never fettered by boots. and there. cordially. even as my hand had in the garden. and he leaves these traces of his unsteady hand. you see. as to those footmarks?" I asked. Our father would never tell us what it was he feared. When I looked back on the long chain of curious circumstances." said I. which has been very clearly made out. really.

 no. then. Pray allow me to keep the papers. and so back into the gloom once more. was found dead in his room under circumstances which point to foul play. Smith. The cursed greed which has been my besetting sin through life has withheld from her the treasure. Au revoir.--or else we had good reason to think that important issues might hang upon our journey. now. yesterday. turning to my companion. inscribed as you see it.

 It will be ready in half an hour. why did not Jonathan Small get the treasure himself? The answer is obvious. And now he is dead. Watson?""It would be a great pleasure to me.When the cloth was cleared. and delay be caused." he read. See here.' I shall be back in an hour. Stop at a telegraph-office. We shall give you two others in the place of them. and I could see little of his face save a pair of keen dark eyes. and away they buzzed down the stairs. Detection is." I suggested. together with a half-sovereign.

 The aortic I may rely upon. but did not yield. with a most amazing power of scent.""You really are an automaton. These could only be at the top of the building."It was easy to follow him. Thaddeus tell me. and still we followed close upon her track. but deduction lets me know that when there you dispatched a telegram. however. Our quest does not appear to take us to very fashionable regions. but he now became rapidly worse. highly delighted. very broad in the beam?""No." said Holmes. "I really do not feel equal to giving directions.

""That is easily managed. He pays me well to do my duty. nor had it returned. but he threw away his chances. but our companion maintained his impenetrable reserve until the end of our journey. we have no distance to go. which was headed "Mysterious Business at Upper Norwood. "We shall be up with her in a very few minutes. his face turned a dusky hue. and knocked in his peculiar way." said Holmes. In front a continuous stream of hansoms and four- wheelers were rattling up. We were round after her in an instant. but at the time it seemed the most natural thing that I should go out to her so. this is a very pretty little mystery. but for a sergeant up-stairs.

 Thaddeus. and that my heart turned as heavy as lead within me. Oh. We shot past the long lines of loaded barges as though they were stationary. perfectly formed. in the aggregate he becomes a mathematical certainty. Au revoir.""In this case it certainly is so.""Ah! She's not that old green launch with a yellow line.""If you'll let one out it's just what I have come for. The other print has each toe distinctly divided." He tossed over. until the gray turban and white feather were but a speck in the sombre crowd. Hudson. I shall come to the conclusion soon that they have scuttled the craft. flickering funnel of light in front of us.

 Our course led right across the grounds." said Sherlock Holmes. but impressed none the less. we discussed the case freely in his presence. I shall start off myself to-morrow.""Your presence will be of great service to me. for I wanted to speak to Mr. One great yellow lantern in our bows threw a long. but Thaddeus Sholto took down one of the side-lamps from the carriage to give us a better light upon our way. which I was particularly anxious to keep secret. really. 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. and I could hear Mrs. an exact science. "Now stand clear. brisk man in the dress of a coachman accosted us.

 and sending up thick blue wreaths from his pipe.' he said. The key being turned. On the dog raced through sawdust and shavings. and heavy clouds moved slowly across the sky. with her bow in the air and her stern flush with the water. In the cab. steamers. you are master of the situation. but our inimitable Toby looked neither to the right nor to the left."Ah! it's all right. or at 221b Baker Street." I answered. The floor was covered thickly with the prints of a naked foot." she explained. as I remember.

 Why should you. The aortic I may rely upon. The card is some hocus-pocus.""Away." he answered; "for we shall certainly have to go to Norwood and see Brother Bartholomew. You must escort her home. I have marvelled at it since. Oh. as we sat in the sheets of the wherry. I thought I knew the glint of your eye. I ought to be back before three.--"morphine or cocaine?"He raised his eyes languidly from the old black-letter volume which he had opened. They have always been a terror to shipwrecked crews. with the sweet face of Mary Morstan looking down upon me. I have never looked upon a face which gave a clearer promise of a refined and sensitive nature. a middle-aged.

 I can see the two of them now as they stood. as I stirred. We shall wait here until your return.""Well. on an unknown errand. bearing a card upon the brass salver.""No."You will not apply my precept. Finally. been preconcerted management here. On leading Toby to the place where he had committed his fault. His message. Sherlock Holmes looked slowly round. lived for some time in poverty with occasional short intervals of prosperity. but orders are very strict. and from the Indian servant.

""No. There is a trap-door communicating with the roof."I sat in the window with the volume in my hand. He came home with his heart full of hope. and possessed some features of interest. He had been one of the officers in charge of the convict-guard there. "pray accept my apologies."No. and instantly rose again with a sharp intaking of the breath. his masterly manner. You are welcome to all the official credit. eager.Our guide had left us the lantern. There was Holmes sitting close to us with an air of quiet amusement.""We all need help sometimes. Nature had given him a pendulous lip.

 cabby! We will keep Toby. A face was looking in at us out of the darkness. and sank back into the velvet-lined arm-chair with a long sigh of satisfaction. Watson. if I found it it would probably put her forever beyond my reach. but scarce half the size of those of an ordinary man. There has.""Never mind. "It was extremely good of you. now! Didn't I tell you!" cried the poor little man. She's as trim a little thing as any on the river. but percentages remain constant. if he should happen to have another of his attacks of energy. At the foot of the steps a long coil of rope was thrown carelessly together. Might he be suffering 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. "I believe that they are really after us.