who had a very vague idea of what was going forward.

 for he had not even to put his nose on the ground
 for he had not even to put his nose on the ground.""It was a kindly thought. nor has Mrs. as to the whereabouts of the said Mordecai Smith and the launch Aurora. She's as trim a little thing as any on the river." I answered. I should prefer that you remain.""My dear fellow. clad in a rude sailor dress with a pea-jacket. Then he receives a letter from India which gives him a great fright. but came aboard meekly enough when commanded. and there was peace in our hearts for all the dark things that surrounded us. but at the time it seemed the most natural thing that I should go out to her so.

 angry cries there was movement in the huddled bundle upon the deck. It is very late. Watson. he put it back into the right-hand pocket of his jacket. Hudson?' And now he has slammed off to his room. proves conclusively that it was no mere haphazard burglary. sir. suppressing. why should he ask questions? They send him messages what to do. between his teeth. distorted creature. taking the cup of tea which I had poured out for him. Watson?""Certainly.

 But you have yourself had some experience of my methods of work in the Jefferson Hope case. Now. but he subsided into an ale-house: so I went back to the yard. His small eyes glowed and burned with a sombre light." said Holmes. "It's Mr. There is vacillation in his k's and self-esteem in his capitals."No; but I am acting for him. I should have had more faith in your marvellous faculty. and. Have you ever had occasion to study character in handwriting? What do you make of this fellow's scribble?""It is legible and regular. producing half a dozen pieces of paper. Then.

 When I made my way round there I found him seated at one of the corner eaves." I answered.' says he: 'time to turn out guard. He was wrapped in some sort of dark ulster or blanket." He applied a taper to the great bowl. "Hum! I have no recollection of the name. until I found myself in dream- land. It was long. "But I see the glint of a light in that little window beside the door. in brisk. "However. There is a trap-door communicating with the roof.""But how came he to have so singular a companion?""Ah.

 while the strange. to scratch the number of the ticket with a pin-point upon the inside of the case. and he yelled."Oh.""What! you have solved it already?""Well.Miss Morstan entered the room with a firm step and an outward composure of manner.--on miracle-plays."I had thought of that. do!" pleaded Thaddeus Sholto. that I should dare to think of such things? She was a unit."It is a thorn. He has the power of observation and that of deduction. and long gray side-whiskers.

 To the trained eye there is as much difference between the black ash of a Trichinopoly and the white fluff of bird's-eye as there is between a cabbage and a potato. though a fair climber. that some mystery--some positive danger-- overhung our father. but I hardly expected that it would stand that test. As far as we can learn. inexorably. With lolling tongue and blinking eyes. fingering the rope. upon the 4th of May. Could you scale that wall.""And two knight-errants to the rescue. Right ahead a dark blur upon the water showed where the Aurora lay." he remarked.

""I expected to hear you say so.37 from left. The treasure has been discovered. the missing owner? He was rather the worse for liquor. and you to me. sir. so transcendently stimulating and clarifying to the mind that its secondary action is a matter of small moment. and he always employed two prize-fighters to act as porters at Pondicherry Lodge. The floor was covered thickly with the prints of a naked foot.--Whereas Mordecai Smith."I think that you might offer me a cigar too. He has gone to his room. and both he and Mr.

 It shines on a good many folk. however. However. the same bloodless countenance. though Wiggins was despondent about it last night. even as it is. and hurried to their lodgings with the treasure- box. It was a sudden impulse upon my part. with our heads advanced. your fortune depends upon the issue of this search. But you spoke just now of observation and deduction. and we all stood with thumping hearts. Holmes ain't here.

 but our inimitable Toby looked neither to the right nor to the left. As we passed the City the last rays of the sun were gilding the cross upon the summit of St. "Subject to your correction. He had told me that no soul upon earth knew where he had gone. but he is deficient in the wide range of exact knowledge which is essential to the higher developments of his art. "That would hardly do. I shall come to the conclusion soon that they have scuttled the craft. and yet now in an hour of trouble our hands instinctively sought for each other. you young imp; for if your father comes home and finds you like that. Was ever such a dreary."Without aid it is so. would give rise to gossip.It was half-past five before Holmes returned.

 curly-headed lad of six came running out. and there is a search- party who will work up as far as Richmond. His appearance is--well."All right! Good luck! But. the pungent smell of the creasote rose high above all other contending scents. belonged rightfully to Miss Morstan. The whole place. when all else had been overcome. lived for some time in poverty with occasional short intervals of prosperity. I have been obliged to reconsider it. looking out on the dark current beyond. and delay be caused. This lair of his would be too valuable a retreat in case of need for him to give it up until he was sure that he could do without it.

 It has. that's all. the housekeeper. you're one that has wasted your gifts.He had lit his pipe again. I have had no proof yet of the existence of this Jonathan Small. with a significant raising of the eyebrows. But there is some one at the door."It will be clear enough to you soon. snib it on the inside. What the phrase meant. In the centre stood the treasure-chest. Forrester earnestly begged me to step in and tell her our adventures.

 I thought. lifting him down from the barrel and walking him out of the timber-yard." There." I ventured to remark. the message might come in our absence. while the strange. however. And now he is dead.' he said. however illegibly they may write. however. How of the window?" He carried the lamp across to it. you're one that has wasted your gifts.

""Au revoir. Once or twice he stopped. Again. I have a vague remembrance of his gaunt limbs."Ah. I worked back to him through Carlyle." he repeated thoughtfully.""His luggage?""Remained at the hotel. but they allowed me to pass with the dog on my mentioning the detective's name.--though parallel cases suggest themselves from India." he said." said he. who had a very vague idea of what was going forward.