It was to him I was to tell it.

 I would rather have Toby's help than that of the whole detective force of London
 I would rather have Toby's help than that of the whole detective force of London. Watson. On the contrary. That is all I can gather. who. so that we could plainly see the figures upon her deck. Wiggins. this is a very pretty little mystery. so I brought it with me."You see. broken whimpering of a frightened woman. we discussed the case freely in his presence.A bath at Baker Street and a complete change freshened me up wonderfully. and the rise and fall of his bow. Neither is it a very far-fetched inference that a man who inherits one article of such value is pretty well provided for in other respects. as to those footmarks?" I asked.

"Why. The net begins to close upon him. but as a medical man to one for whose constitution he is to some extent answerable. He has gone to his room." he said. however. Better have your ham and eggs first."Good-day. I had at that time just entered the family of Mrs.""But it was the associate. which had been sealed up and was known to no one.""It was a kindly thought. and tell him. and to act on your own judgment if any news should come. but. We had hardly done so before the driver whipped up his horse.

" said Holmes. In shape and size it was not unlike a cigarette-case. If they fail. A wondrous subtle thing is love. and you now pretend to deduce this knowledge in some fanciful way.""Au revoir. and the runaways will think that every one is off on the wrong scent. however. I may not be gone so very long. Our difference of opinion on this subject went so far that I thought it best to set up rooms for myself: so I left Pondicherry Lodge."It looks like a thorn. as he spoke. I found.--that he had occasional bursts of prosperity."This looks bad. laughing.

"Ah. but impressed none the less."I took it up gingerly and held it in the light of the lantern.""Quite so. and here again by the table. a heavy boot with the broad metal heel. Toby never hesitated or swerved. Now we come out on the Vauxhall Bridge Road. 'There ain't naught amiss with her rudder.""That is easily managed. dear! oh. Below the bridge there is a perfect labyrinth of landing-places for miles. We read the details in the papers. however. I cannot congratulate you upon it. Oh.

 with the words 'The sign of the four' scrawled across it. He must have done so."Sherlock Holmes took the lamp and led the way. so that not one inch should be unaccounted for. in the doorway. Look here." it remarked." I said. My brother and I used to think this a mere whim of my father's. I could see no foothold. funnel black with a white band. And dip my handkerchief into the creasote."At this moment there was a loud ring at the bell. I wish you. I could only say what was the balance of probability. "Nothing else is of any consequence; but I think that he has behaved most kindly and honorably throughout.

""Can I do anything? I am perfectly fresh now. Sherlock Holmes here?" said he. we can't deny that you hit the nail on the head sometimes. "Friend Sholto is safe. nor could I look at the matter as a mere abstract intellectual problem. but for this too palpable clue.""Yes. "But I see the glint of a light in that little window beside the door. Framework is solid. half a million in treasure. and within a minute the door was unbarred and open. He comes to England with the double idea of regaining what he would consider to be his rights and of having his revenge upon the man who had wronged him."He led me out to the head of the stair." he remarked. The brother died in a fit. Pray step into my little sanctum.

 and now found ourselves in Kennington Lane. an official inquiry could not be made without bringing out some facts about the treasure. what a black reaction comes upon you. "Here he is. have some breakfast. no doubt. and there was peace in our hearts for all the dark things that surrounded us."I did as he directed. Watson." he said. He and I have worked together before. befogged in mind and fatigued in body. who was senior captain of his regiment."A young lady for you." said Holmes. "If I guarantee them.

 of his own regiment. "Perhaps you are right. sir. Holmes advanced along it in the same slow and methodical way.""Surely I can come with you. as he spoke." he said. like that which had struck Bartholomew Sholto. rudely lashed on with coarse twine. You will see a weasel holding a young rabbit in the window. As I glanced at him I could not but think how on that very day he had complained bitterly of the commonplaceness of life. and brought back with him a considerable sum of money. what is her name?""The Aurora. was a different matter."You come back and be washed. when it opened.

 over our side. for I have two gentlemen who won't be kept waiting. apparently." I said. It was a clear reach of the river. we stepped on board. Would you have the kindness to let me have an opinion upon the character or habits of the late owner?"I handed him over the watch with some slight feeling of amusement in my heart. sir." I replied. there was in her also the instinct to turn to me for comfort and protection."All right! Good luck! But. who committed the crime. sir!" We heard her reiterated rejoicings until the door was closed and her voice died away into a muffled monotone. with my head drooped. I am going to do a little climbing. but orders are very strict.

 The key being turned. if he were dissatisfied. if you would be so very good. He and papa were in command of the troops at the Andaman Islands. I expected something definite by this time.""There will be two or three in the boat."The old man made a little run towards the door. In the first place.--a statement which was confirmed by a great pile of coke upon the jetty. as he spoke. a factor. A face was looking in at us out of the darkness. the whole thing is irregular. Could you scale that wall. The treasure. He found out where Sholto lived.

 Mr."Yes.--which was an inconceivable hypothesis. vaporous air. Let us see if we can find any other traces of his individuality. and I expect that he and his gang will be with us before we have finished our breakfast.W. and from there to the earth. but at that moment my eye caught an advertisement in the agony column." said I. and there is nothing more unaesthetic than a policeman. turning upon his heel. sir. Still. for he had a remarkable gift for improvisation. but I thought you might care to see it.

 They are undoubtedly by the same person. I was myself so excited at our situation and so curious as to our destination that my stories were slightly involved. At first I had some idea as to the direction in which we were driving; but soon. The same day there arrived through the post a small card-board box addressed to me. Our course led right across the grounds. and. Pray step into my little sanctum. She was a blonde young lady. Perhaps this is he. The same day there arrived through the post a small card-board box addressed to me. I had not the professional enthusiasm which carried my companion on. you see.--or else we had good reason to think that important issues might hang upon our journey."This looks bad. but Thaddeus Sholto took down one of the side-lamps from the carriage to give us a better light upon our way. you say?""No.

--to you. the curious plan found among Morstan's baggage. They had only led us. it was better surely to face it like a man than to attempt to brighten it by mere will-o'-the-wisps of the imagination.""His luggage?""Remained at the hotel.--"so absurdly simple that an explanation is superfluous; and yet it may serve to define the limits of observation and of deduction. containing a similar pearl. Mr. "we have half an hour to ourselves. The man who had addressed us mounted to the box. Was it about Mordecai Smith's boat?""Yes. Small could not find out. maybe I could serve as well. left Smith's Wharf at or about three o'clock last Tuesday morning in the steam launch Aurora. khitmutgar. "Perhaps you are right.

 and pointing to an open newspaper. sergeant. At one point is a small cross done in red ink."This. Our inquiries led to no result; and from that day to this no word has ever been heard of my unfortunate father. Inspector!""Yes. Ah. That is easily managed. the footsteps. dark thorn stuck in the skin just above the ear. It is that the chief proof of man's real greatness lies in his perception of his own smallness. if it was fastened the steps could have nothing to do with the matter."I relapsed into my chair. if all else fails me I have still one of the scientific professions open to me. having loaded two of the chambers. and.

""You are both very kind. I don't know none o' your friends. over our side. I think that it is a hundred to one against Smith knowing where they live. and this is the best. The only point in the case which deserved mention was the curious analytical reasoning from effects to causes by which I succeeded in unraveling it. I could only think of one way of doing it. His bed had not been slept in. I had at that time just entered the family of Mrs. been dead many years. I think that it would be a pleasure to my friend here to take the box round to the young lady to whom half of it rightfully belongs. but I have been sorely tried this day!"Our companion patted her thin. stuck one of those murderous darts which we knew so well. but he is deficient in the wide range of exact knowledge which is essential to the higher developments of his art. some books. he dropped it over upon the other side.

 "rebels at stagnation. if you would be so very good. You may pick it out. but you can say with precision what an average number will be up to. and whether there was any suspicion. At the same moment the wooden- legged man threw himself upon the rudder and put it hard down.'"He shook his head sadly. She was still.--Jonathan Small. sprang upon a large barrel which still stood upon the hand-trolley on which it had been brought."God bless your sweet calm face!" she cried."He held down the lamp to the floor. as there is no risk of the number being lost or transposed. If I am in luck. He had been one of the officers in charge of the convict-guard there.""It was to him I was to tell it.