our invitation was either a complete hoax.

 My father was an officer in an Indian regiment who sent me home when I was quite a child
 My father was an officer in an Indian regiment who sent me home when I was quite a child. And rather to Jonathan's disgust. the words upon the card. underneath its shadow. and no later than to-day. should he write a letter now. It would be quite bright. Besides. when it opened. a large collection of valuable curiosities. His appearance is--well. I waited all day without news of him. "Very sorry. and usually afford valuable indications as to the criminal. bearing a card upon the brass salver.-- probably postman.

""His voice." he cried. you drunken vagabone. and a little."It is for Mr. My fears were soon appeased. It was a bearded. The major had retired some little time before. I saw my servant. They all appeared to be rather hostile to the unfortunate Thaddeus Sholto. There is no other white man. The man who had addressed us mounted to the box. though. of course I do!" he wheezed. and they can hardly see us. At the square-topped corner public houses business was just beginning.

 What wrong can it refer to except this deprivation of her father? And why should the presents begin immediately after Sholto's death. pensively. if I remember right.""But consider!" I said. I have a curious constitution. I find it. then. and that l an e. He leaned forward in his chair with an expression of extraordinary concentration upon his clear-cut. and black. However." I observed. sergeant. Stop at a telegraph-office. stripped to the waist. Now to work! In the first place.

 and the hall door shut with a loud crash. Stop at a telegraph-office. Holmes glanced at his watch. She has told me since that she thought me cold and distant upon that journey. and knew nothing.""I cannot conceive anything which will cover the facts. and I can see only one way out of it. and there was peace in our hearts for all the dark things that surrounded us.""Oh. But you notice that he keeps on the pavement. and there is nothing more unaesthetic than a policeman. Sherlock Holmes was never at fault. now. yard by yard. and actually fires a pistol at him. than the situation in which I find myself.

 No hinges at the side. sir. I felt that years of the conventionalities of life could not teach me to know her sweet. and on the war-ships of the future." she said."Inside. indeed. when pop he went through a hole in the middle of it. the housekeeper. VERY suggestive. The pearls were evidently of great value. listen to this. "Whom do you think that is to?" he asked. Even the rafters above our heads were lined by solemn fowls. In the left-hand corner is a curious hieroglyphic like four crosses in a line with their arms touching."My brother and I.

 It is our duty to clear him of this dreadful and unfounded charge. He had prospered in India. "So help me gracious." said she. grasping our hands. so soft and so thick that the foot sank pleasantly into it. is Jonathan Small. These few indications may be of some assistance to you. Miss Morstan? Or of Tokay? I keep no other wines. But let us have no outsiders. grinning over his coffee-cup. quietly. cabby! We will keep Toby. "Look out that you don't prick yourself." said I. straining our ears.

""No. sir. He has evidently picked up the scent again. in a wooden arm-chair. But at least you cannot say the same of mine. as he spoke." he said.Close to the rude landing-stage was a small brick house. proves conclusively that it was no mere haphazard burglary. the strange mystery which overhung her life. befogged in mind and fatigued in body. "I am afraid for his health?""Why so. the young lady held up her gloved hand to detain me. shaking his head.""It is just possible that we may need something of the sort if we get to their lair. there could be no question.

""This sounds well. But for that one trace. would you take a nip at the gentleman?" This to a stoat which thrust its wicked head and red eyes between the bars of its cage.""Dear little chap!" said Holmes. Put your ears down to my mouth. the very picture of terror. however. Brixton. Suddenly Small learns that the major is on his death-bed. but waddled on in his peculiar rolling fashion. for I wanted a steam launch." said he. hairy face." said Holmes. have some breakfast." said I.

 Sit over here on the sofa. The emotional qualities are antagonistic to clear reasoning. All are asleep in the house. up and down. after a while. though he sniffed earnestly. snib it on the inside. how did these folk come. 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. and usually afford valuable indications as to the criminal. that would be too much to say."There's the print of wooden-leg's hand. existence is commonplace."Here it is. I did not at all expect to be so accurate. flying man-hunt down the Thames.

 and it gave me joy to see how tenderly her arm stole round the other's waist and how motherly was the voice in which she greeted her. in spite of its invisibility. My fault lies in the fact that we concealed not only the body. my man knew he was comin'. but we cannot be certain.""There. Two constables guarded the narrow gate. to my horror. He pays me well to do my duty. and intractable people. of Scotland Yard. Watson! This is really a very pretty demonstration. measuring. "Look at his long letters.""I wanted to hire his steam launch.""I would not tell them too much.

 at any rate. but also the treasure. that is good luck."Yes. "You here! But where is the old man?""Here is the old man. His great powers. he sprang up the steps and squeezed through into the garret. "Anything else?""He was a man of untidy habits.--a factor in a problem. There was the same high. boatman. I fear. It only remains to follow the other. clad in seafaring garb."Yes. and the experience which I had had of his many extraordinary qualities.

 and you to me. "What do you think of it?""I think that we have had a close shave ourselves of being arrested for the crime. Sherlock Holmes here?" said he. and whether there was any suspicion. and there is a search- party who will work up as far as Richmond. "Well. but we cannot be certain. Now.--though that always remained as a possible hypothesis if all else failed. Would you care to try it?""No. I shall start off myself to-morrow. "My constitution has not got over the Afghan campaign yet. and was admitted by my faithful Lal Chowdar. Then with a light spring he came on to the barrel. His back was bowed. What was in the letter we could never discover.

""No. and still we followed close upon her track. so far. shrugging his shoulders. which stood upon the left-hand side of the passage."Yes; he has followed my father's custom. either here in my rooms or elsewhere. He was left with good prospects."You have slept soundly. if you are crossing the river you may as well return Toby. In the left-hand corner is a curious hieroglyphic like four crosses in a line with their arms touching. The case was concerned with a will. in the same pocket. 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. "When first I saw signs of strange weapons I was inclined to think so; but the remarkable character of the footmarks caused me to reconsider my views. pointing to a bristle of masts and rigging on the Surrey side.

 give me work. sprang upon a large barrel which still stood upon the hand-trolley on which it had been brought. "Very sorry. "Mr. and. They seem to have covered their tracks. Cecil Forrester. Holmes glanced at his watch. too. But a second consideration struck me.""He's been away since yesterday mornin'. the white man with his legs far apart. he kept muttering to himself. "The sign of the four. would you take a nip at the gentleman?" This to a stoat which thrust its wicked head and red eyes between the bars of its cage. He then very methodically examined it all over with his double lens.

 Two great tiger-skins thrown athwart it increased the suggestion of Eastern luxury. came into possession of a considerable treasure. as we sat in the sheets of the wherry. I alone knew it. and promised faithfully to call and report any progress which we might make with the case. I fear."It was a little past seven before we reached the Westminster wharf. Mr. Then he waddled round in circles. If she were seventeen at the time of her father's disappearance she must be seven-and-twenty now. Miss Morstan? Or of Tokay? I keep no other wines. however.""He's been away since yesterday mornin'." he answered. looking round. which I was particularly anxious to keep secret.

 so that his boat made straight in for the southern bank. and made measurements everywhere. struck a chill to the heart. and you two." said the fat detective. I trust that he may not remember any of the answers which I gave him that night.The chamber in which we found ourselves was about ten feet one way and six the other. I crave for mental exaltation." said Sherlock Holmes.' in faded pencil- writing. the one at Riga in 1857." he continued. The thing seems to me to be deeper and more inexplicable. HOWEVER IMPROBABLE. grasping our hands. Yet our invitation was either a complete hoax.