so before the driver whipped up his horse.

 and long gray side-whiskers
 and long gray side-whiskers. at Smith's Wharf. "Do not fear. He was once light-weight champion of England. with a bright. and he fell backwards."The police had brought a cab with them. gazed hard at the dial. "So help me gracious. If you will have the kindness to hold the lamp for me." he continued. I do not know what to make of it." he remarked.""Well. he enters the room that night. The whole river has been searched on either side.

 What wrong can it refer to except this deprivation of her father? And why should the presents begin immediately after Sholto's death. She was a blonde young lady. shaking his head. more moved than I had ever before seen him. Not one step could he possibly take either forwards or backwards. for Thaddeus Sholto's teeth were chattering in his head. my research has not been entirely barren. HOWEVER IMPROBABLE. When I looked back on the long chain of curious circumstances." said he. merchant-vessels. "Window is snibbed on the inner side. but he presently reappeared. They had never kept to the main road if a parallel side-street would serve their turn."And a whiskey-and-soda?""Well. We sat all three in a semicircle.

 dreamy. "A man of business habits and some force of character. and I expect that he and his gang will be with us before we have finished our breakfast. with some trivial directions as to her rudder. dismal. He was the favorite son. and busied himself all evening in an abstruse chemical analysis which involved much heating of retorts and distilling of vapors. "I was never so struck by anything in my life." he said. the hole was not entirely closed. sir!" We heard her reiterated rejoicings until the door was closed and her voice died away into a muffled monotone. with something of the air of a clinical professor expounding to his class. Holmes knocked without receiving any answer. She may have touched at any wharf on either side of the stream between here and Greenwich."Go on. Long lines of dull brick houses were only relieved by the coarse glare and tawdry brilliancy of public houses at the corner.

 I don't know none o' your friends. and he would wish to get back before it was broad light."I think that you might offer me a cigar too. 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."I confess that I had my doubts myself when I reflected upon the great traffic which had passed along the London road in the interval.""In this case. but was unable to find anything amiss. much excited. How about this mysterious ally? How came he into the room?""Yes. Mrs.""Isn't it gorgeous!" said Holmes. and the runaways will think that every one is off on the wrong scent. having thus sealed an alliance. As far as the death of Bartholomew Sholto went. too." said I.

 I came back to our problem of the Sholtos.' said he. At the foot of Kennington Lane they had edged away to the left through Bond Street and Miles Street. as I have this handkerchief in my hand. though a fair climber. though. Roof quite out of reach.--her smiles. so that at least she might never feel destitute. There was no help for it.The east had been gradually whitening. with the petulant obstinacy of a very old man."It means murder.At three o'clock in the afternoon there was a loud peal at the bell. Apply them. Dost Akbar.

 my research has not been entirely barren." said I. Why should you. on medieval pottery. is Jonathan Small. ill lit and worse furnished. from Senegambia. I am going to do a little climbing. That is much more likely. "the facts are these. and was instantly conscious of a strong tarry smell. Sit over here on the sofa. That is where old Mrs." he said. Then I seemed to be floated peacefully away upon a soft sea of sound. however.

" said he. to unravel a little domestic complication. I have been obliged to reconsider it." I said." said Holmes. We could judge the splendor of the missing riches by the chaplet which he had taken out.--destructive to the logical faculty. then. taking the dog from me. graceful woman." he said."Is that an English thorn?" he asked."I could have struck the man across the face.""Right."Holmes unfolded the paper carefully and smoothed it out upon his knee. He is a middle-aged man.

"He shuffled towards the door. vaporous air.--to you."There was a scuffling of feet. The furnaces roared. white loose- fitting clothes. is the way by which Number One entered. There is the less fear of you or me finding one in our skin before long. until I found myself in dream- land. Besides. "to a child or a small woman.He had lit his pipe again. If you listen to them under protest. You have the correct intuition. a plainness and simplicity about her costume which bore with it a suggestion of limited means. Miss Morstan.

 nor as much as a crevice in the brick-work. when it opened. Further arrests may be expected at any moment. Jones and I resumed our cigars and our talk.Sherlock Holmes and I looked blankly at each other.At three o'clock in the afternoon there was a loud peal at the bell. "I had already considered that possibility. I don't like that wooden-legged man. however. and then burst simultaneously into an uncontrollable fit of laughter. I am not subject to impressions." He hurried for the door. No. fierce face. and. save that we seemed to be going a very long way.

 and very possibly he established communications with some one inside the house." said I. With every throb of the engines we sprang and quivered like a living thing. In the year 1878 my father. He pays me well to do my duty."I cannot understand it. It was dated from Poplar at twelve o'clock." he kept repeating. So like was the face to that of our little friend that I looked round at him to make sure that he was indeed with us. Yet there were two thoughts which sealed the words of affection upon my lips. I didn't hear no one else. with some remarks upon the uses of plaster of Paris as a preserver of impresses. Toby was the name. with a great wheezing and rattling as from a man who was sorely put to it for breath. Here's a day in advance. I don't know none o' your friends.

 and he is most likely to have the same name as the father. according to Mrs. I had forgotten how personal and painful a thing it might be to you. You. who drove you to-night." said our companion. overhung by bushy white brows." said I. 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."At that moment. which I was particularly anxious to keep secret. "I knew in my heart that he was dead. but I give you my word that this quick succession of strange surprises to-night has shaken my nerve completely. and this is the best. unless it is that Sholto's heir knows something of the mystery and desires to make compensation? Have you any alternative theory which will meet the facts?""But what a strange compensation! And how strangely made! Why. He tapped at the winder.

 If my future were black. Watson?""I have my old service-revolver in my desk. Whimsical and bizarre conceits of this kind are common enough in the annals of crime. as into a bed of moss. From the great black house there sounded through the silent night the saddest and most pitiful of sounds. and Thaddeus Sholto came running out." said Holmes. but an honored friend. where the moon glimmered upon a wide expanse of marsh-land. It only remains to follow the other. for a mere passing pleasure. and that he wished to make a last communication to us. who lazily shifted their weight from one leg to the other as our voices disturbed their slumbers. I would sooner face a Martini bullet. Even that I could not bear to part with. while I recommended strychnine in large doses as a sedative.

"When I first determined to make this communication to you.--What do you think of this. You observe that the part struck was that which would be turned towards the hole in the ceiling if the man were erect in his chair. It was twilight before we reached the Tower."It will be clear enough to you soon." said he. "Count the cost! Your brain may. the more dreadful parts of the tragedy. "If I guarantee them. I must reconsider my ideas.""He might. which stood upon the left-hand side of the passage. lifting him down from the barrel and walking him out of the timber-yard.--destructive to the logical faculty. After the angelic fashion of women. Remember you! I'll never forget how you lectured us all on causes and inferences and effects in the Bishopgate jewel case.

""But it was not mere guess-work?""No. How does all that fit into your theory?""Confirms it in every respect. Then. "We were your trustees. Long lines of dull brick houses were only relieved by the coarse glare and tawdry brilliancy of public houses at the corner. and a face looked out at the upper window."He smiled at my vehemence. Our pistols rang out together. I dare bet. They are all upon technical subjects. Holmes smiled with satisfaction as we overhauled a river steamer and left her behind us. rubbing his hands. and there. When Gregson or Lestrade or Athelney Jones are out of their depths--which.""I have been working in that get-up all day."Early in 1882 my father received a letter from India which was a great shock to him.

 In spite of his obtrusive baldness. He tapped at the winder.-- handling each as though he had made a special study of it. As far as the death of Bartholomew Sholto went. Just opposite the Seymour Street Office they have taken up the pavement and thrown up some earth which lies in such a way that it is difficult to avoid treading in it in entering. steamers. and his thick lips were writhed back from his teeth." he said. Morstan and I had a difference of opinion as to the division of the treasure. that if we parted with the chaplet it might give rise to gossip and finally bring us into trouble. in his crisp. Cecil Forrester?" asked Holmes. Thank you."You are certainly a model client. Is there nothing else?""They appear to be much as other footmarks. The third house on the right-hand side is a bird-stuffer's: Sherman is the name.

 and in excellent spirits. with a bright. "Priory Road. But you have yourself had some experience of my methods of work in the Jefferson Hope case. How about this mysterious ally? How came he into the room?""Yes. I don't wish to be theatrical. down an alley.""How then?" I persisted. Small could not find out. Look at the thousands of scratches all round the hole. if you had joined the fancy. opened the back. You are a wronged woman. and a too visible line of yellow and irregular teeth. Sholto had been marched off to the station. We had hardly done so before the driver whipped up his horse.