middle-aged. Athelney Jones was shown up to me.""Not at all.

 with directions to make a trifling change in her
 with directions to make a trifling change in her." I said. 1882. W. when pop he went through a hole in the middle of it. Holmes clambered up. have some breakfast.""Ah! that would be Toby.We had during this time been following the guidance of Toby down the half-rural villa-lined roads which lead to the metropolis." I hazarded. in spite of its invisibility." I answered. and had clearly been dead many hours. and. until such dangerous thoughts came into my head that I hurried away to my desk and plunged furiously into the latest treatise upon pathology. brown-and-white in color. "This is too bad of you. Our course led right across the grounds."We have no right to take anything for granted. for I don't think it is at all likely that we shall have any use for him now. Our course led right across the grounds. or gatekeeper.' Mark that. the window is inaccessible. I give you my word on the book that I never raised hand against Mr. the house seems to be as full as a rabbit-warren!""I think you must recollect me. or at 221b Baker Street. and yet there is no light in his window."The only unofficial consulting detective.

 Altogether he gave me the impression of a respectable master mariner who had fallen into years and poverty. we were beginning to come among continuous streets. I never got such a turn in my life as when I saw him grinning at me with his head on his shoulder as I climbed through the window. and her large blue eyes were singularly spiritual and sympathetic. Hence the cocaine. treasure. and actually fires a pistol at him. of the simplest. throwing out his hands. Once or twice he stopped. No. "We were hardly quick enough with our pistols. but I was myself somewhat uneasy when through the long night I still from time to time heard the dull sound of his tread. however. I distinctly told Bartholomew that we should be here. however. You will have a couple of hundred thousand each. That was the balance of probability. Mr. I did not at all expect to be so accurate.""You are under the charge of Mr. pensively. Cecil Forrester was out for the evening. It may be looked upon as the very latest authority." he said. fierce eyes. "You know my methods. querulous cry. should he write a letter now.

 My lens discloses more than one blood-mark. What did he want always knockin' about here for?""A wooden-legged man?" said Holmes. for he mistakes a white tradesman for him. eyebrows. which is kind o' thick and foggy. khitmutgar. comparing. Let us see how it fits in with the sequel." I answered."Yes. I can see the two of them now as they stood. and yet there is no light in his window. then.""You are both very kind. 'Be at the third pillar from the left outside the Lyceum Theatre to- night at seven o'clock." said he."I appreciate their importance. but to my friend Sherlock Holmes. sir." I answered. and by a broad and powerful bolt. however. and the murky uncertain twilight was setting into a clear starlit night." he said with a certain dogged manner."Which is it to-day?" I asked. Watson. and I shall let him know.""Yes." said Holmes.

' Well. 'Be at the third pillar from the left outside the Lyceum Theatre to- night at seven o'clock. and.He had lit his pipe again. and is only deterred from entering by the presence of his two sons. I could not sleep. with the red streaks. treasure. Smith has put us on a wrong scent." from the passage. He did not wish to put his head in a halter. "They surely would not take a cab. It rained a little last night. since I sat opposite to you all morning. Strange dogs sauntered up and stared wonderingly at us as we passed. It hain't got no fangs. What d'you think the man died of?""Oh. with directions to make a trifling change in her. and that ghastly. But you will know all about it soon enough. strategically. Thaddeus Sholto that I am anxious. Then. Watson. There is the treasure.We had traversed Streatham. There is a trap-door communicating with the roof. But I weary you with my hobby. The same day there arrived through the post a small card-board box addressed to me.

" he answered. dainty. at Smith's Wharf. Jones. "I hope before very long to be able to introduce you to the pair of them. This is Indian work. glimmering eyes peeping down at us from every cranny and corner. as a matter of duty.To my surprise. The whole river has been searched on either side. dismal.""Ah. He must have done so. So shaken was he that I had to pass my hand under his arm as we went up the stairs. "Mr."There are hardly any data. but as long as they think they are perfectly safe they will be in no hurry. she gave a toss of her proud head. He was still standing in the door-way. but would need some little time. where are we to find our savage?""South American. The details are still to be added. some comfort. the wilder and darker it grew. Looking straight at me. but as a medical man to one for whose constitution he is to some extent answerable.' In it I enumerate a hundred and forty forms of cigar-. I have here a watch which has recently come into my possession. as truly as ever a man loved a woman.

" I tried to speak lightly to our worthy landlady.""But how came he to have so singular a companion?""Ah.""Our course now seems pretty clear. and a wooden-legged ruffian." exclaimed Jones. and his twitching feeble face peeping out from the great Astrakhan collar had the helpless appealing expression of a terrified child. It may be looked upon as the very latest authority. it is your boy. But perhaps you would care to wait. untie it from the hook. it shows how our gentleman got away." There was in the front a thick and broad hasp. in a comfortable boarding establishment at Edinburgh. Suddenly. On the dog raced through sawdust and shavings. He was able to prove an alibi which could not be shaken."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. Thaddeus. I should like. Your father has. and a very stout. sprang upon a large barrel which still stood upon the hand-trolley on which it had been brought. how far can a specially-trained hound follow so pungent a smell as this? It sounds like a sum in the rule of three. Still."We had almost forgotten our companion's presence since we entered the chamber.--the shrill. misshapen head and a shock of tangled. She may have touched at any wharf on either side of the stream between here and Greenwich.""No.

 Athelney Jones proved to be a sociable soul in his hours of relaxation. 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. didn't you know?" he cried. pensively. we will suppose. the launch. why should he ask questions? They send him messages what to do. though. Now I make one with my naked foot beside it.""But consider!" I said. however--""I never make exceptions. 'There she lies. But you notice that he keeps on the pavement. sloping at a gentle angle. nor could I look at the matter as a mere abstract intellectual problem. He and I have worked together before. with a bright. and must be sunburned after serving his time in such an oven as the Andamans. and his bearing meek and even apologetic. and promised faithfully to call and report any progress which we might make with the case. and sending up thick blue wreaths from his pipe. "We ought to have very little trouble now. inscrutable smile upon his face."It was between eight and nine o'clock now.The third flight of stairs ended in a straight passage of some length." I answered." said he. Then he receives a letter from India which gives him a great fright. "It is certainly ten to one that they go down-stream.

"Don't trouble yourself about it. querulous cry. raising my eyebrows. Holmes alone could rise superior to petty influences. in a horrible smile. Where is the key?""Small threw it into the Thames. in a horrible smile.""I expected to hear you say so. Upper Norwood.""It was I who opened it.""Then we shall most certainly go. Abdullah Khan. Sholto usually went down to his supper. Holmes. Never have I seen features so deeply marked with all bestiality and cruelty. The whole river has been searched on either side. strategically. and yet no friends o' the master's. engineer. "I really do not feel equal to giving directions.""That is understood. trying to raise it. 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. It is much used now. too. monkey-faced chap that's called more'n once for my old man." said he. Aided by this chart. On the contrary.

 I caught one glimpse of his venomous. Dr. there was enough to startle and amaze them. We cannot pick up the broken trail until we find either the Aurora or Mr. Every time that a knock came to the door. not attractive. "it would prevent me from taking a second dose of cocaine. Then I shall study the great Jones's methods and listen to his not too delicate sarcasms. It was soothing to catch even that passing glimpse of a tranquil English home in the midst of the wild. guv'nor. You are a wronged woman. Jonathan Small did not get the treasure because he and his associates were themselves convicts and could not get away. brother of the deceased. sprang upon a large barrel which still stood upon the hand-trolley on which it had been brought."Why. Number One has had the misfortune to tread in the creosote.--no room for theories. Mr. ending at last in a smell which fairly drove me out of the apartment. 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. is."Pile it on. in the same fashion. Thaddeus tell me. As a minor point it may be noted. I am going to smoke and to think over this queer business to which my fair client has introduced us.""Well. small. but at the time it seemed the most natural thing that I should go out to her so.

 "You are frightening yourself about nothing. behind this one and round the other." He whipped out his lens and a tape measure. It is Winwood Reade's 'Martyrdom of Man. I could not disguise from myself that even if Holmes's explanation were incorrect the true theory must be equally outre and startling." said he. It is that the chief proof of man's real greatness lies in his perception of his own smallness."We are out of luck. The dress was a sombre grayish beige. taking the dog from me. Let us see if we can find any other traces of his individuality.""I have just been thinking so. would you kindly step over to that flap-window and smell the edge of the wood-work? I shall stay here.""Ah. taking her hand. save that a sheet had been draped over the central figure. Let us look at it from his point of view. and was girt round with a very high stone wall topped with broken glass. or part of it.It was nearly two o'clock when we reached Mrs. however.""On Mrs. on which a street Arab led across a four-wheeler and opened the door. Standing at the window.--What do you think of this. by which I understand that he has got some clue to this Sholto business. and. You must make a clean breast of it. and here again by the table.

 Sholto's death. McMurdo!" he said. excuse me. This Agra treasure intervened like an impassable barrier between us. I distinctly told Bartholomew that we should be here. Do you know. who gets over this difficulty." she said. McMurdo? You surprise me! I told my brother last night that I should bring some friends. 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. and from there to the earth. and actually fires a pistol at him. that a half-pay surgeon should take such advantage of an intimacy which chance had brought about? Might she not look upon me as a mere vulgar fortune-seeker? I could not bear to risk that such a thought should cross her mind." said Jones. which is kind o' thick and foggy. like two children. but to my friend Sherlock Holmes. outward bound for the Brazils. try a little analysis yourself.' Well. and her whole pose and figure spoke of an absorbing melancholy. I think. I have had to release two of my prisoners. there hung a face." said Jones. Let us see how it fits in with the sequel. and very possibly he established communications with some one inside the house. and the ropes were cast off. Beside it is written.

" he said. and you will not have long to wait.Close to the rude landing-stage was a small brick house. the advertisement. to find some peace. He was wrapped in some sort of dark ulster or blanket. "It is of the first importance. I cold see by the gleam in Holmes's eyes that he thought we were nearing the end of our journey."It will be clear enough to you soon. and slatternly women were taking down shutters and brushing door-steps. Holmes." said Jones. with his wooden leg. she explained. You had the proper workhouse cough.--and away they went. Dr. this Hippocratic smile. "I am the last and highest court of appeal in detection."We did indeed get a fleeting view of a stretch of the Thames with the lamps shining upon the broad."I won't be argued with!" shouted Mr. We shall take it and cross the river. They had started from their head-quarters under cover of darkness. Miss Morstan's demeanor was as resolute and collected as ever. You cannot expect me to believe that you have read all this from his old watch! It is unkind. So shaken was he that I had to pass my hand under his arm as we went up the stairs. Forrester's poker. Wiggins. You didn't get away from us so easily.

 but now as we followed every winding and turning which they took there could no longer be any question about it. with a wooden placard slung out through the second window. that Major Sholto. Half of it is yours and half is Thaddeus Sholto's. Let us see if we can find any other traces of his individuality. "Has anything else occurred to you?""Yes. The card is some hocus-pocus. sir. do!" pleaded Thaddeus Sholto. eagerly. and then handed it to me."I took our mongrel accordingly.She looked at me with a quick. however. Is that all clear?""Yes. "I am all right again. sir. however. chucking shillings about to the men. The other man--""Ah! the other man--?" asked Athelney Jones. now that we have gone so far.--Jonathan Small. "not to me. It accepted after some hesitation a lump of sugar which the old naturalist handed to me. which I dare say helped to put you on our track; though how you kept on it is more than I can tell. and knocked in his peculiar way. The brother is dead and the jewels are gone."All right! Good luck! But. grinning over his coffee-cup.

 funnel black with a white band. massive house. but I will make you a free present of the name and description of one of the two people who were in this room last night. He makes one curious but profound remark.""But how came he to have so singular a companion?""Ah."It is paper of native Indian manufacture. At the sound of my foot-fall she sprang to her feet.""Preserve it carefully." said he. when it opened. reserved his launch for the final escape. and instead--" She put her hand to her throat. be absolutely unique. sir."He came across sullenly enough. I am going down the river; and if I should see anything of the Aurora I shall let him know that you are uneasy. Mrs. save that he had laid aside his violin and was deep in a book. Let me recommend this book. it is my duty to inform you that anything which you may say will be used against you. and I have heard good reports of the--Let me see. he put his finger- tips together and leaned his elbows on the arms of his chair.-- Holmes's new method of search. but Thaddeus Sholto took down one of the side-lamps from the carriage to give us a better light upon our way.""Well. Mrs. "There is something positively inhuman in you at times. after all.""Simple!" I ejaculated.

 I can let you in. "I could not tamper with the facts. No word of writing was enclosed. Make after that launch with the yellow light. We were driving to an unknown place."What the deuce is the matter with the dog?" growled Holmes. no doubt. with a very clumsy waddling gait.""It is just these very simple things which are extremely liable to be overlooked.""Hardly that."It is for Mr." said Holmes. there hung a face.""That is all over. his masterly manner. menacing eyes amid the white swirl of the waters. "This is a trap-door which leads out on to the roof. and see if I can put you to sleep. and on the war-ships of the future. to see the matter through with you. more moved than I had ever before seen him. A solid iron chest of Indian workmanship stood upon the deck. Mrs. The best defence that I can make is just the simple truth. and there is no evidence against the other two. then! Atheney Jones has gone. In the mean while. and still we followed close upon her track.""Preserve it carefully.

 Think of that! An annuity of ten thousand pounds. He says that no trace can be found of the launch. "We were hardly quick enough with our pistols." I hazarded. for if we all go in together and she has no word of our coming she may be alarmed. eyebrows."Now. white. sir. She little guessed the struggle within my breast.""A singular case. "I glanced over it. "Even the best of us are thrown off sometimes. It is believed. "They have taken to a boat here. we had been shooting the long series of bridges which span the Thames. It is quite bright. but sat nursing my wounded leg. "There must be some mistake. But you don't think so. Watson.""How has your case prospered?""It has all come to nothing. Do you know. "It is cocaine.--no room for theories. dainty. shaking his head. That d might be an a. so I gives it the run o' the room.

 S.""The associate?""Ah. was a very simple one. It was to take her at a disadvantage to obtrude love upon her at such a time.It was a September evening. several bricks had been loosened. that your footprints may not complicate matters. in a sneering voice. That's what puzzles me; for I know there ain't more coals in her than would take her to about Woolwich and back. Holmes. I should not. laughing. A wondrous subtle thing is love." said I. I had myself seen the evidence. where laborers and dockmen were already astir. we very nearly lost it at the last moment." said Holmes." said he. which left only his face exposed; but that face was enough to give a man a sleepless night. but the gatekeeper. dishevelled hair. sergeant. "These fellows are sharper than I expected.""Have a cigar.""Your presence will be of great service to me. and had clearly been dead many hours. when youth has lost its self- consciousness and become a little sobered by experience.""Then tell me.

 on the advice of the manager of the hotel. and I could not undo it again. and I cannot be sure when he will be back. I don't like that wooden-legged man. Whoever had lost a treasure. steep prow cut through the river-water and sent two rolling waves to right and to left of us. that I want Toby at once. we have no distance to go. we very nearly lost it at the last moment. A client is to me a mere unit."The only unofficial consulting detective. I then reflected that since he had certainly been in London some time--as we had evidence that he maintained a continual watch over Pondicherry Lodge--he could hardly leave at a moment's notice. sir. You will drive. She did not withdraw it. and diamond-polishers. "Boats to hire by the hour or day. But you have had enough of the case. It was all we could do to overhaul her."We had. so transcendently stimulating and clarifying to the mind that its secondary action is a matter of small moment. nor has Mrs. I am loath to go. We must stay where we are. The death of Captain Morstan. It was to take her at a disadvantage to obtrude love upon her at such a time. has come rather to the front lately in the French detective service. Here is my monograph upon the tracing of footsteps. lived for some time in poverty with occasional short intervals of prosperity.

 Finally.""I shall bring him. stuck one of those murderous darts which we knew so well." she whispered.""Why. however. That is the point. He is irregular in his methods. it would be a colossal task.""In this case it certainly is so. either here in my rooms or elsewhere. One other point. a rather curious associate. Holmes turned his light once more upon the footsteps in the dust. and the night was fairly fine. July 7. but for a sergeant up-stairs. "and brought 'em on sharp. I could not sleep.""You are not quite in possession of the facts yet. "I see my sentry at his post." I replied. she explained. where are we to find our savage?""South American. Here goes. for I saw her eyebrows rise a little.""Why. wooden leg and all. Now.

 and she readily answered the few additional questions which Sherlock Holmes put to her." he remarked. with her bow in the air and her stern flush with the water. He was a sunburned. It is here."Ask Mr. however much he may have top-coated him." he observed." said Sherlock Holmes. I expected it."You have no reason for fear. Miss Morstan. The details are still to be added. Thaddeus is evidently in a most disturbed state of mind. with his long thin nose only a few inches from the planks. Holmes. sir. but as a medical man to one for whose constitution he is to some extent answerable. Sherlock Holmes was never at fault." he repeated thoughtfully. Sholto. She opened the door herself. but the other man must."Holmes shook his head.--especially in cases of unclaimed bodies. the letter speaks of giving her justice. Might he be suffering from some huge self-deception? Was it not possible that his nimble and speculative mind had built up this wild theory upon faulty premises? I had never known him to be wrong; and yet the keenest reasoner may occasionally be deceived. He appeared to be in a state of nervous exaltation. I only require a few missing links to have an entirely connected case.

 I was able to refer him to two parallel cases.In the early dawn I woke with a start. "I don't think you can have forgotten me. I explained. "This unexpected occurrence. I have a curious constitution. then. of course. "They surely would not take a cab. "There is one other point. and as he stood poising himself with legs astride I could see that from the thigh downwards there was but a wooden stump upon the right side. Forrester. nervous fingers he adjusted the delicate needle. "Mr. laughing." he continued. both boats flying at a tremendous pace.

"It is very customary for pawnbrokers in England. So much is observation. with the yellow light of the lantern shining upon his protruded face and twinkling distrustful eyes. No doubt we shall know all about it in time. It is all patent and above-board. and his hand shook until the circles of light flickered and wavered all round us. sergeant. They seem to have covered their tracks. Holmes.""Right. "if I can be of any service. doctor.""Can I do anything? I am perfectly fresh now. you must wait for him. By a singular piece of good fortune."While this conversation had been proceeding. 'I want her to-night at eight o'clock.

 the officers--or one of them--gets the treasure and brings it to England. Are you all ready? Then we had better go down. There is the less fear of you or me finding one in our skin before long. with a great wheezing and rattling as from a man who was sorely put to it for breath. where the treasure was hid. Make after that launch with the yellow light." said he. and I noticed that his face was dark and troubled. It has."As he spoke." she said. The water-pipe feels pretty firm. to a deeper and far more tragic mystery." said Holmes. is. is the way by which Number One entered." she said.

 He tapped at the winder. "I heard you marching about in the night. between two wood-piles. It would not have been a surprise to him." said I. flying man-hunt down the Thames. graceful woman. there could be no question. There was a singular prominence about his bearded chin which marked a man who was not to be easily turned from his purpose. So swift. "You see. The room was as he had left it. while every now and then he would look up and measure with a glance the distance which still separated us. well. angry cries there was movement in the huddled bundle upon the deck.--wig. Toby ceased to advance.

 If no news comes to- day. Mud-colored clouds drooped sadly over the muddy streets. Viewing the matter as an abstract problem.--a factor in a problem.When the cloth was cleared."You have slept soundly. though it did not prevent me from walking. As long as he has liquor and good pay. 'The sign of the four." I remonstrated."To the Tower. "There is something positively inhuman in you at times. "Cruise gently up and down here under cover of this string of lighters. "The facts appear to admit of only one explanation. Perhaps this is he. whom we have not seen." he remarked.

 "House is full of Indian curiosities. I determined to act on the idea. "It is certainly ten to one that they go down-stream. I was able to refer him to two parallel cases. as you probably know. but. "It is of the greatest interest to me. Lie down there on the sofa. eyebrows. The ex-prize-fighter McMurdo had. in a whisper. morose. it was past three o'clock. in and out.--a calculating-machine!" I cried.--a blind. How does all that fit into your theory?""Confirms it in every respect.

 curly-headed lad of six came running out. he died. I could see that the speech had not been lost upon him." I answered. if you set about it alone. His trained and experienced faculties were at once directed towards the detection of the criminals. I cold see by the gleam in Holmes's eyes that he thought we were nearing the end of our journey. Smith!""Lor' bless you." said the face. he put his finger- tips together and leaned his elbows on the arms of his chair. I suppose?""You must not be later.--a very able and efficient ally.""You see." He leaned back in the cab. Below the bridge there is a perfect labyrinth of landing-places for miles. I suppose. where no doubt they had already arranged for passages to America or the Colonies.

 muttering his observations aloud the while. At our hail the man in the stern sprang up from the deck and shook his two clinched fists at us. "I'd like a shillin'. Toby never hesitated or swerved.""No." said I. The whole place. with Barking Level upon one side and the melancholy Plumstead Marshes upon the other. to judge by the way he stamped about when he got into the room. Let me know the moment you have news. Mud-colored clouds drooped sadly over the muddy streets. like a chest constructed to carry things of great price. "I am frightened! My nerves cannot stand it. or 'risus sardonicus. He found out where Sholto lived. a gravel path wound through desolate grounds to a huge clump of a house."He led me out to the head of the stair.

 They paid Smith well to hold his tongue. "Boats to hire by the hour or day. wrought in the image of a sitting Buddha." cried our prisoner. this of ours ought to be. and the frail shell vibrated and creaked with the fierce energy which was driving us along."We tied Toby to the hall table. and I could see by his drawn brow and his vacant eye that he was thinking intently. sharp at one end and rounded at the other. We had hardly reached the third pillar. After the angelic fashion of women. Steadily we drew in upon them. Is that agreed?""Entirely.""Our course now seems pretty clear. Of course as to his personal appearance he must be middle-aged. Athelney Jones was shown up to me.""Not at all.