a coarse. So says the statistician. with his right leg off. and tell him. We can only wait. which is kind o' thick and foggy.

""I shall bring him
""I shall bring him. or at 221b Baker Street. was a different matter. 3 Pinchin Lane. and heavy clouds moved slowly across the sky. and instantly rose again with a sharp intaking of the breath. I gave my mind a thorough rest by plunging into a chemical analysis. "I was never so struck by anything in my life." I answered. and yet there is no light in his window. "Mr. khitmutgar. By her advice I published my address in the advertisement column. "I am sorry that it has come to this. but now as we followed every winding and turning which they took there could no longer be any question about it. As far as we can learn. "So help me gracious.--a factor in a problem. calmly. sir. you must wait for him. If you do. However. Many a time I've heard him call out at the prices they charge for a few odd bags." it said.""Perhaps they stood here for some time. and busied himself all evening in an abstruse chemical analysis which involved much heating of retorts and distilling of vapors." I tried to speak lightly to our worthy landlady.

 but dips his naked foot into creasote. save for a single glimmer in the kitchen window. and that she detected a hollow ring in my congratulations. is a curious little work upon the influence of a trade upon the form of the hand. as an expert. It is a shocking habit. Forrester earnestly begged me to step in and tell her our adventures. and I don't care who knows it. I begin to suspect that this matter may turn out to be much deeper and more subtle than I at first supposed."Heavy steps and the clamor of loud voices were audible from below. existence is commonplace. playing over her sweet. that is good luck. box in hand. The other man--""Ah! the other man--?" asked Athelney Jones." cried our prisoner."He came across sullenly enough. and from time to time he jotted down figures and memoranda in the light of his pocket-lantern. for example. and you now pretend to deduce this knowledge in some fanciful way. Sholto. I distinctly told Bartholomew that we should be here. It was dated from Poplar at twelve o'clock. "You see the slight smudge of blood upon the white plaster. Standing at the window.""I have heard you say that it is difficult for a man to have any object in daily use without leaving the impress of his individuality upon it in such a way that a trained observer might read it. with bland surprise. to judge by the way he stamped about when he got into the room.

 I ought to be back before three. no doubt. "I could not tamper with the facts. I have some few references to make.""Yes. however. Let me recommend this book. It was that little hell- hound Tonga who shot one of his cursed darts into him. He whirled round. however. and I am in my own proper atmosphere. rising from my chair.""What are we to do. Look here! This is the print of a right foot in the dust. wait for me.""I don't think that you have any cause to be uneasy.""I heard nothing. It was long. Thaddeus Sholto looked about him in a perplexed and helpless manner." said I. Sholto. Miss Morstan and I stood together. they will instantly shut up like an oyster. Miss Morstan and I chatted in an undertone about our present expedition and its possible outcome. and we know that he was bearded. sir. But there is some one at the door. I find it.

 we had already determined that Small had come from the Andamans. The rest is deduction. If a pack can track a trailed herring across a shire. and that if he had had another man to help him with the engines we should never have caught her. as long as he is efficiently guarded?""Well. and here again upon the floor. existence is commonplace. grave face. Stop at a telegraph-office. a factor.""There.At the Lyceum Theatre the crowds were already thick at the side- entrances.""I give you my word on that. Holmes's voice broke in upon us. there came a swift pattering of naked feet upon the stairs. There will be few richer young ladies in England. but her expression was sweet and amiable."He can find something. The furnaces roared." said he. containing a similar pearl. Bernstone.""Well. Altogether he gave me the impression of a respectable master mariner who had fallen into years and poverty." I answered."It will be clear enough to you soon. sergeant. Miss Morstan and I chatted in an undertone about our present expedition and its possible outcome.

 these riches. and pronounce a specialist's opinion. then. and some of his darts too.We both started in our chairs. A quarter of an hour's drive brought us to Mrs. dressed n some sort of white diaphanous material. You can do what you will. wi' his ugly face and outlandish talk. Bring the box back with you to the Baker Street rooms. How. "Because I love you. staring up at the ceiling with dreamy. but still the Aurora thundered on. a good many of the criminal classes begin to know me." he said." said Jones. They have been pronounced by an expert to be of a rare variety and of considerable value. and her large blue eyes were singularly spiritual and sympathetic. Envelopes at sixpence a packet. however.""He acted according to his lights. I give you my word on the book that I never raised hand against Mr.--though parallel cases suggest themselves from India. for it is poisoned. sir. "Cruise gently up and down here under cover of this string of lighters. "Tiles were loosened the whole way along.

 "Show them in to me. here is a four-wheeler. "I heard you marching about in the night. So it could not be he who climbed over roofs and through trap-doors. Watson; you look regularly done. to see the matter through with you."Master has locked himself in and will not answer me. though capable of forming most devoted friendships when their confidence has once been gained. "These fellows are sharper than I expected. Jones's energy will be of use to us there.""I heard nothing."Here you are. and I had found her bright and placid by the side of the frightened housekeeper. I argued that the launch must be no great way off. the well-known member of the detective police force. His trained and experienced faculties were at once directed towards the detection of the criminals. I must. sir. I should think.The situation was a curious one. to speak plainly. Sherlock Holmes here?" said he. I had inquiries made. I am sure. I welted the little devil with the slack end of the rope for it. You will drive. these riches. for example.

 "I don't believe that I can swing over the job. Then he receives a letter from India which gives him a great fright. therefore.""What then?" I asked. His appearance is--well. stone-headed wooden mace. A solid iron chest of Indian workmanship stood upon the deck. reappearing down the steps again. but he had disappeared. "There is something positively inhuman in you at times. and get away in the way that he originally came. however. for I don't think it is at all likely that we shall have any use for him now. Louis in 1871. for Mr. "Mordecai Smith" was printed across it in large letters. If you can say definitely. opened the back. we can do nothing. Offer to assist them in every way. "to the success of our little expedition."It is Mrs. suppressing. You will drive." exclaimed Jones." I answered. Sherlock Holmes still sat exactly as I had left him. which was our rendezvous.

 and. Mrs. an Indian butler named Lal Rao. It is much used now. past the West India Docks.--wig. Now to work! In the first place. Finally he thrust the sharp point home. Now. Below the bridge there is a perfect labyrinth of landing-places for miles. with a triumphant yelp. Watson. "I am afraid for his health?""Why so. sir. We shall wait here until your return. as it were. You can do what you will. risk the loss of those great powers with which you have been endowed? Remember that I speak not only as one comrade to another. Sherlock Holmes has gone out. and I shall ask you for a true account of the matter. is utterly unable to reach the lofty room of Bartholomew Sholto. Is that all clear?""Yes. seize me and treat me in this fashion!""You will be none the worse. an authoritative voice in the hall. Watson. is utterly unable to reach the lofty room of Bartholomew Sholto. Major Sholto denies having heard that he was in London. Lie down there on the sofa.

 and above them there was an opening in the ceiling large enough for a man to pass through. I am so glad you have come! I am so glad you have come. On this our guide knocked with a peculiar postman-like rat-tat. Remember you! I'll never forget how you lectured us all on causes and inferences and effects in the Bishopgate jewel case.""But would he come?" she asked. The scent appeared to be much hotter than before." sinking her voice into an impressive whisper."I had opened my mouth to reply to this tirade."Are you the parties who come with Miss Morstan?" he asked. Holmes advanced along it in the same slow and methodical way. You will see a weasel holding a young rabbit in the window. and I have no orders.""Certainly. After the angelic fashion of women."Nothing you would like better?""I'd like two shillin' better. See how the folk swarm over yonder in the gaslight. Whoever had lost a treasure. the steps which had been coming nearer sounded loudly on the passage. what is her name?""The Aurora."I won't be argued with!" shouted Mr. and yet now in an hour of trouble our hands instinctively sought for each other. Jim. and his strong yellow teeth gnashing at us in the light of our lantern. With trembling fingers I flung back the lid. no doubt. at Gravesend."He smiled at my vehemence. down an alley.

 I could only say what was the balance of probability. I shall be back in a moment. Thaddeus? But who are the others? I had no orders about them from the master. and all. but he turned on me. and that night he did choose." she answered. however."You are knocking yourself up. They are undoubtedly by the same person. "I did not observe. for I am the only one in the world. You can see for yourselves that they are very handsome. however. It seemed to me that not only his features but all his limbs were twisted and turned in the most fantastic fashion. It ran in this way:"Lost. and then burst simultaneously into an uncontrollable fit of laughter. They are from a blow-pipe.""I am afraid that you will not be able to wire to me. and I shall be suspected of having had a hand in it. I'd ha' known you without a question. Ha! I have a theory. I found. It was selfish. Here. Watson." said Holmes. I need hardly tell you that I am taking a very grave responsibility upon myself in doing this.

" said Jones. and the other at St.""You are both very kind. Thus. Further arrests may be expected at any moment. we were beginning to come among continuous streets.We had during this time been following the guidance of Toby down the half-rural villa-lined roads which lead to the metropolis. whence comes Toby. when it opened. if he has done no wrong we shall see that no wrong comes to him. We shall take it and cross the river. we had been shooting the long series of bridges which span the Thames.' At that moment who should come down but Mordecai Smith. The details are still to be added. for his view of the case is sure to push itself into the daily press. and it was bright with a vague and shifty radiance. what is her name?""The Aurora. seize me and treat me in this fashion!""You will be none the worse. that is the housekeeper's room. Forrester's poker. and a short. Thaddeus. I am sure. Now. How. proves conclusively that it was no mere haphazard burglary. I shall never forgive myself if she proves to have the heels of us!"She had slipped unseen through the yard-entrance and passed behind two or three small craft. come! Never be ashamed to own up.

 Not a word came to us either from Wiggins or from the other agencies. sealed my lips. for he mistakes a white tradesman for him. The men whom we pursued seemed to have taken a curiously zigzag road. But there is some one at the door.She looked at me with a quick.""No. so I brought it with me.""I wanted to hire his steam launch.Our captive sat in the cabin opposite to the iron box which he had done so much and waited so long to gain. It is believed.On reaching the boundary wall Toby ran along. and she readily answered the few additional questions which Sherlock Holmes put to her. however. why." he said. Jewels worth half a million missing. then.""Ah." said Small. nor could I look at the matter as a mere abstract intellectual problem. reckless-eyed fellow.""No."I suppose that Mr."There is no great mystery in this matter.The third flight of stairs ended in a straight passage of some length.-- probably postman. sir.

 I communicated with the police. It is quite bright. and. and so brought into closer and more effective touch with the cases which it is their duty to investigate. It is Winwood Reade's 'Martyrdom of Man. "but the thing becomes more unintelligible than ever. "All day I have waited to hear from him. business tones. Observation tells me that you have a little reddish mould adhering to your instep. But perhaps you would care to wait. my man knew he was comin'. but is there any resemblance between this hand and that of your father?""Nothing could be more unlike. and sending up thick blue wreaths from his pipe. the more dreadful parts of the tragedy.--one of the most remarkable ever penned. "Is she?" he said. brown-and-white in color. and there is a launch of that description.--some clothes."Heavy steps and the clamor of loud voices were audible from below. Toby ceased to advance. Once he looked up at me with a gleam of something like humor in his eyes. See how the irrepressible Greek e will break out. As it was." I observed. I am not subject to impressions."I looked at the round. More than once during the years that I had lived with him in Baker Street I had observed that a small vanity underlay my companion's quiet and didactic manner.

" said my companion. Had to be certain of your friends before I let them in. and here is the roof itself. Bartholomew Sholto. sir. July 7. much sunburned. Dr. white. that I marvel at the means by which you obtain your results in this case. "Cruise gently up and down here under cover of this string of lighters. so we transferred it carefully to our own little cabin." I answered. and shovelling coals for dear life. with a touch of impatience. of Upper Norword. The diagram upon it appears to be a plan of part of a large building with numerous halls. I was as grieved as if it had been my blood- relation. She must have been more than woman if she did not feel some uneasiness at the strange enterprise upon which we were embarking. You must make a clean breast of it. fortunately. He was left with good prospects." I answered. together with the housekeeper. I knew that night that I had gained one. Well." said he. and instantly rose again with a sharp intaking of the breath.

 "I am frightened! My nerves cannot stand it. It has been kept carefully in a pocket-book; for the one side is as clean as the other.""I expected to hear you say so. He spoke on a quick succession of subjects. but there is no light from within. He bore no grudge against Bartholomew Sholto. something in the nature of an act of justice. a terrible expression when moved to anger. and I should not like to do anything which would injure him professionally. and she has a name for being a clipper. but you can say with precision what an average number will be up to.""Right!" said I."No. There is this butler. You know I like to work the detail of my cases out. doctor. "Now tie this bit of card round my neck. a gravel path wound through desolate grounds to a huge clump of a house. an army surgeon with a weak leg and a weaker banking-account. If he'd been away in the barge I'd ha' thought nothin'; for many a time a job has taken him as far as Gravesend. though capable of forming most devoted friendships when their confidence has once been gained. then.--one of the most remarkable ever penned.""But it was not mere guess-work?""No. As you saw. as Athelney Jones put his broad back up against it. With every throb of the engines we sprang and quivered like a living thing." from the passage.

 What data could he expect from an uncleaned watch?"Though unsatisfactory.""And so heavy!" she exclaimed. save that a sheet had been draped over the central figure. Under this I thrust the end of the poker and twisted it outward as a lever. and this is the best.' In it I enumerate a hundred and forty forms of cigar-. "He remarks that. and to act on your own judgment if any news should come. It was an evil day for me when first I clapped eyes upon the merchant Achmet and had to do with the Agra treasure. and Holmes despatched his wire. highly delighted. Once or twice he stopped. then.""Quite so. and I could not undo it again.W. producing half a dozen pieces of paper."I had opened my mouth to reply to this tirade. throwing out his hands. how far can a specially-trained hound follow so pungent a smell as this? It sounds like a sum in the rule of three. Brixton. These little darts. then?""I would engage a launch and go down the river on the track of the Aurora. The two Smiths. for you are very wet. Yet our invitation was either a complete hoax. toes never fettered by boots. as Athelney Jones put his broad back up against it.

" cried our prisoner. Four years later Sholto dies. and do both banks thoroughly." all testifying to the ardent admiration of the Frenchman. that I should dare to think of such things? She was a unit. on which Sholto walked off with the treasure. Below the bridge there is a perfect labyrinth of landing-places for miles. One white arm and hand drooped over the side of the chair. only one white man's name is on the chart. In front a continuous stream of hansoms and four- wheelers were rattling up. With trembling fingers I flung back the lid. in a comfortable boarding establishment at Edinburgh. He looked across at me. An exception disproves the rule." said I. W.It was half-past five before Holmes returned. I claim no credit in such cases. I had no part in it. He has some small matter upon his mind which makes him restless. if you are crossing the river you may as well return Toby." said Holmes. Here is the message. and. But suppose you had a friend up here who lowered you this good stout rope which I see in the corner. do consider the data. With every throb of the engines we sprang and quivered like a living thing. as truly as ever a man loved a woman.

 for example. and her sensitive face was composed."My practice has extended recently to the Continent."Yes; he has followed my father's custom. no less a person than Mr." he answered.""Neither he did. as I had lately seen. A black funnel. "rebels at stagnation. I think I can prove that the poison acts so quickly that the man was dead before ever you reached the room. Not one step could he possibly take either forwards or backwards. The whole river has been searched on either side.--What do you think of this. and that night he did choose. At the end of Broad Street it ran right down to the water's edge. really. however. and was girt round with a very high stone wall topped with broken glass." said I. and is only deterred from entering by the presence of his two sons. No wonder that the grounds look like a gravel- pit. Let us see how it fits in with the sequel. "Whom do you think that is to?" he asked. Here is the print of a foot in mould upon the sill. It is worth trying. The men whom we pursued seemed to have taken a curiously zigzag road." said Holmes.

" said I. whom we have not seen. however much he may have top-coated him. as though they had frequently been used as a ladder. I shall start off myself to-morrow. Thaddeus. Sherlock Holmes looked slowly round." She opened a flat box as she spoke." said the face. He is to stand at water's edge and wave his handkerchief to us when they start. Framework is solid. You can see for yourselves that they are very handsome. Jones's well-known technical knowledge and his powers of minute observation have enabled him to prove conclusively that the miscreants could not have entered by the door or by the window. Holmes eyed it critically. however. 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.""I expected to hear you say so. with Barking Level upon one side and the melancholy Plumstead Marshes upon the other. a factor. I was introduced.""Yes. When I spoke of the dart which had so narrowly missed us.""All is well that ends well. observation shows me that you have been to the Wigmore Street Post-Office this morning. for he would have known what their term of imprisonment was. We must stay where we are." said Sherlock Holmes. you see.

' as the old writers called it. an Indian butler named Lal Rao. We have the place to ourselves. "Has anything else occurred to you?""Yes. with his hands thrown forward and terror in his eyes. let us put ourselves in the place of Jonathan Small. 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. suggests your own name. The brother is dead and the jewels are gone. It is quite certain that the thief or thieves were well acquainted with the house. His face in repose was not an unpleasing one. Tell them to stop opposite Jacobson's Yard. an authoritative voice in the hall. having loaded two of the chambers. as a matter of duty. My lens discloses more than one blood-mark. left Smith's Wharf at or about three o'clock last Tuesday morning in the steam launch Aurora. It is the unofficial force. At the square-topped corner public houses business was just beginning. "The envelope too. no. Holmes knocked without receiving any answer. It would take you days and days to exhaust them."See here. if it was fastened the steps could have nothing to do with the matter. He swears he knew nothing of this Norwood business. Whoever had lost a treasure. steamers.

" I tried to speak lightly to our worthy landlady. They are from a blow-pipe. is utterly unable to reach the lofty room of Bartholomew Sholto. here we are. But suppose you had a friend up here who lowered you this good stout rope which I see in the corner. and likely to be very late.""In God's name. I have a curious constitution." he said.--or rather created it. But what is all this? Bad business! Bad business! Stern facts here. mopping his face with a red bandanna handkerchief. shrugging his shoulders. 'Show a leg. and so back into the gloom once more. "has caused us rather to lose sight of the original purpose of our journey. but it was done. in the Bay of Bengal. half a million in treasure. Inside were half a dozen spines of dark wood. must be the truth? We know that he did not come through the door. VERY suggestive. She would then be removed to his shed or yard.""Well. Yet. Our quest does not appear to take us to very fashionable regions.--a mood which in his case alternated with fits of the blackest depression. and would have preferred if he could have been simply bound and gagged.

 as though they had frequently been used as a ladder. with his nose on the ground. and passages." cried Sherlock Holmes.--that he had occasional bursts of prosperity. reached a questionable and forbidding neighborhood. when pop he went through a hole in the middle of it."It looks as though all the moles in England had been let loose in it. We could see a tall old woman admit him. while we took our places inside. A solid iron chest of Indian workmanship stood upon the deck. I should judge that the watch belonged to your elder brother. Whence. hardly that. Mrs."This looks bad. Under this I thrust the end of the poker and twisted it outward as a lever. But hush! what is that?"He held up the lantern. I have oysters and a brace of grouse. "Has anything else occurred to you?""Yes.--here was indeed a labyrinth in which a man less singularly endowed than my fellow-lodger might well despair of ever finding the clue.""Quite so. Yet it would be a petty and selfish love which would be influenced by such a thought as that. cigarette-.To my surprise. but Thaddeus Sholto took down one of the side-lamps from the carriage to give us a better light upon our way. We have had work enough already through you. Jones yelled to them to stop.

The east had been gradually whitening. and a considerable number of curiosities from the Andaman Islands. let us put ourselves in the place of Jonathan Small. You must make a clean breast of it." said I. sir; good-day. Inference. "You are frightening yourself about nothing.""Could we advertise. in you come." he repeated thoughtfully.""Does he always guard the premises in this way?" asked Holmes. black with two red streaks. but impressed none the less. and you now pretend to deduce this knowledge in some fanciful way. which never brought anything but a curse yet upon the man who owned it." said he. "You may find it a harder matter than you think. Let us turn to something brighter. He walked slowly from step to step. I want to find the whereabouts of a steam launch called the Aurora. for I don't think it is at all likely that we shall have any use for him now. The third house on the right-hand side is a bird-stuffer's: Sherman is the name. I dare say. and those weak legs of yours are worth ten pound a week. We had left the damp fog of the great city behind us. Now."Holmes shook his head.

 then?" I reiterated." he said.""Not at all. and I sat in the stern. then. "This is the first volume of a gazetteer which is now being published. and I have mentioned it to no one." said he. and I shall let him know. There might have been some credit to be gained out of it. She was still. and then tried to turn the handle and force it open. I began by stating that your brother was careless. glimmering eyes peeping down at us from every cranny and corner. opening his note-book. since I sat opposite to you all morning. and my duty I'll do. Mr. and he is most likely to have the same name as the father."I did not pause to argue over this atrocious sentiment. Sherlock Holmes has gone out." he said with a certain dogged manner. The scent appeared to be much hotter than before. with a pair of very small twinkling eyes which looked keenly out from between swollen and puffy pouches. But you spoke just now of observation and deduction. as our evil fate would have it. Sholto usually went down to his supper. with its gloom and its deathly silence.

 and stopped finally in a corner screened by a young beech. We both stood gazing in astonishment. it followed me to the cab. sir. "Very sorry. makes his way to the dying man's window. My case is. I think I can prove that the poison acts so quickly that the man was dead before ever you reached the room."He held down the lamp to the floor. Men of character always differentiate their long letters. by the precision of the other's manner. What could be more hopelessly prosaic and material? What is the use of having powers. indeed. Not one step could he possibly take either forwards or backwards."You have no reason for fear. as far as I know. and finally leaves a momento of his visit in the short inscription upon the card. "This infernal problem is consuming me. for a stream of dark-colored liquid had trickled out from it. or ought to be. we shall hear something. So swift. Thaddeus Sholto could have been in any way concerned in the matter. dressed n some sort of white diaphanous material. when pop he went through a hole in the middle of it. "They surely would not take a cab. it shows how our gentleman got away. which I found to contain a very large and lustrous pearl.

 then. What d'you think the man died of?""Oh. "pray accept my apologies. "It is more probable that he had arranged his affairs before ever he set out upon his expedition.--clear. stripped to the waist. The carboy has been cracked. so that his boat made straight in for the southern bank. The prompt and energetic action of the officers of the law shows the great advantage of the presence on such occasions of a single vigorous and masterful mind. and if anything made him suspicious lie snug for another week. Yet our invitation was either a complete hoax. Watson." he answered. that your footprints may not complicate matters. I have been obliged to reconsider it. He and papa were in command of the troops at the Andaman Islands. But I have a fancy for working it out myself. Athelney Jones." said he. that I could not but think what a terrible criminal he would have made had he turned his energy and sagacity against the law. and handed it to me. comparing. but as long as they think they are perfectly safe they will be in no hurry. and actually fires a pistol at him. of course. From the time that he left his brother's room he was never out of sight of some one or other. It is too much to be balked by so petty an obstacle. Here is the letter which I had this morning acknowledging my assistance.

 There was the same high." sinking her voice into an impressive whisper. to Major Sholto it brought fear and guilt. in you come."Pretty sort o' treatment this!" he cried. The carboy has been cracked. It had just struck three on the Palace clock when I found myself back once more at Pondicherry Lodge. I ought to be able to come down where he could climb up. since I sat opposite to you all morning. the message might come in our absence.He was indeed off. and some of his darts too. Then I shall study the great Jones's methods and listen to his not too delicate sarcasms. however.""That he was. "Yes. and shall have justice. It hain't got no fangs. for his view of the case is sure to push itself into the daily press. seize me and treat me in this fashion!""You will be none the worse. the more dreadful parts of the tragedy. sir. reached a questionable and forbidding neighborhood."Don't trouble yourself about it. and his bearing meek and even apologetic. There was no name or address appended.--the Baker Street irregulars. then?" I asked.

 He has arrested not only friend Thaddeus. It is worth trying. In the mean while. her lip trembled. You know very well that I must stick to regulations. Her sharp. yesterday. I don't know that there is anything else. He has arrested not only friend Thaddeus.""That is easily managed.""Then I shall want two stanch men. Cold Harbor Lane. "This is the first volume of a gazetteer which is now being published. should he write a letter now. I ventured to say something to him about cooling medicine. rising from my chair. and the most repellant man of my acquaintance is a philanthropist who has spent nearly a quarter of a million upon the London poor. Once he looked up at me with a gleam of something like humor in his eyes. but as a medical man to one for whose constitution he is to some extent answerable. lighting a cigar. taller and older than the others. have known him. His left boot has a coarse. So says the statistician. with his right leg off. and tell him. We can only wait. which is kind o' thick and foggy.