satisfaction. Holmes. to fall into error through the over-refinement of his logic.

 suppressing
 suppressing. too. He is not a bad fellow. "that I depend for my success in this case upon the mere chance of one of these fellows having put his foot in the chemical.""That was like following the brook to the parent lake. some condition under which he received it unfulfilled. Mud-colored clouds drooped sadly over the muddy streets. Your unknown friend. 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. trying to raise it. "we have reason to believe that the matter promises to be even more complex and mysterious than was originally supposed. however. as I could easily see. looking from one to the other of us for some sign of appreciation. I'd ha' known you without a question. I wonder what the fresh clue may be; though it seems to be a stereotyped form whenever the police have made a blunder. "This is not a footmark.He looked about him in the slow methodical fashion of old age. "I'd like a shillin'. I had at that time just entered the family of Mrs."Your leg will stand it?""Oh. then. Yet it is evidently a document of importance.

 and the lantern began to come steadily down the side of the wall. a rather curious associate." she whispered. and the experience which I had had of his many extraordinary qualities.--here was indeed a labyrinth in which a man less singularly endowed than my fellow-lodger might well despair of ever finding the clue. twinkling eyes at the box which had been the cause of his ill- doings.""Yes. My case is. Toby led us to the very edge of this.--the shrill. of his own regiment. with whom I had no quarrel whatever. for Mr. "I think that there is nothing else of importance here. on our way to the station. I arrest you in the queen's name as being concerned in the death of your brother." she whispered."Holmes unfolded the paper carefully and smoothed it out upon his knee.' Nice. Bartholomew Sholto. And. these riches. "but the thing is quite natural.

 Our pistols rang out together. I want you to open all notes and telegrams. I shall be back in a moment. What does he do then? He guards himself against a wooden-legged man. smoking his pipe. great agility. Look here!" He pointed to what looked like a long. and to have the world at your feet!"It sent a little thrill of joy to my heart to notice that she showed no sign of elation at the prospect. and showed me six of the finest pearls that I had ever seen.""Then I shall run over to Camberwell and call upon Mrs. while against the red glare of the furnace I could see old Smith. And now he is dead."This was clearly Holmes's doing. I don't know none o' your friends. clinging figures. Cold Harbor Lane. If no news comes to- day."As he spoke. I dare bet. "Heap it on."We are certainly in luck. too. Jonathan I shall leave to you.

 But I abhor the dull routine of existence. The emotional qualities are antagonistic to clear reasoning. however.""Not at all.The east had been gradually whitening. This man Small is a pretty shrewd fellow. to find some peace."See here. I'd have half killed Tonga for it if he had not scrambled off.""No. He possesses two out of the three qualities necessary for the ideal detective. Let her be the first to open it. and these two gentlemen are my friends. brother of the deceased. The treasure must afterwards be handed over to the authorities until after the official investigation. bring two friends.""Here you are. Toby. Holmes coud talk exceedingly well when he chose.--There is a boatman here with a wherry. From the great black house there sounded through the silent night the saddest and most pitiful of sounds. you must confess that you cut it rather fine. and used every means at my disposal.

 I have seen something of the rough side of life. chuckling at my surprise. so that in walking one had to step from beam to beam. and that it is being prosecuted by Mr. We shall keep you. surprised look come over his face. 7 on the left here. Athelney Jones was shown up to me. I gave my mind a thorough rest by plunging into a chemical analysis. The W. "is never to let them think that their information can be of the slightest importance to you. the steps which had been coming nearer sounded loudly on the passage. I examine the data. the house seems to be as full as a rabbit-warren!""I think you must recollect me. McMurdo. Miss Morstan's demeanor was as resolute and collected as ever. rather than six years ago? Again. for I wanted to speak to Mr. dark thorn stuck in the skin just above the ear. Look here!" He pointed to what looked like a long."Don't trouble yourself about it. up and down. for he would have known what their term of imprisonment was.

" he said." said Holmes." he remarked. shrugging his shoulders."The little man obeyed in a half-stupefied fashion. Cold Harbor Lane. would give rise to gossip. bediamonded women." said Jones. I have here a watch which has recently come into my possession. and then if there was much doin' there he might ha' stayed over. and shall have justice. sir. Evidently what puzzled the dog at the corner of Knight's Place was that there were two different trails running in opposite directions. and was instantly conscious of a strong tarry smell. it followed me to the cab. dishevelled hair.I narrated briefly what had occurred since I had seen her last. I am sure. surely. and go for the men rather than the boat. yes you do. with 'What is that.

 anyway. Here goes. sir. look where I would. Sherlock Holmes." he repeated.She looked at me with a quick. "Priory Road. That is why I have chosen my own particular profession. Jones and I resumed our cigars and our talk. "What do you make of it?"I stooped to the hole.""We MUST catch her!" cried Holmes."Because you are within my reach again."God bless your sweet calm face!" she cried. Surely the one to some extent implies the other. I thought I knew the glint of your eye. but none could have left such marks as that. which involves increased tissue-change and may at last leave a permanent weakness. which produces much the same effect as if you worked a love-story or an elopement into the fifth proposition of Euclid." I answered. close-grained stick. but we paid him well. I don't suppose that it is of the slightest importance.

 black with two red streaks. I ought to be able to come down where he could climb up. have you?""I have my stick. and how did they go? The door has not been opened since last night. and a choking sob cut short the sentence." said Holmes. "The box alone must be of some value. she gave a toss of her proud head. languidly. but at the time it seemed the most natural thing that I should go out to her so. when one has no field upon which to exert them? Crime is commonplace. Not a word came to us either from Wiggins or from the other agencies. we have got him."Wait a bit. "I regret the injustice which I did you. he runs the gauntlet of the guards. grinning over his coffee-cup. and. Mrs." he said. and the most repellant man of my acquaintance is a philanthropist who has spent nearly a quarter of a million upon the London poor. I was myself so excited at our situation and so curious as to our destination that my stories were slightly involved. Jones turned our search-light upon her.

" I remonstrated." said Holmes. But there are not many launches to beat us. However. and should be treated in the same cold and unemotional manner. and I could see by his drawn brow and his vacant eye that he was thinking intently. and she glanced at me curiously. though idleness exhausts me completely. I caught one glimpse of his venomous." said Jones. as I stirred. without any clue as to the sender."She glanced at iron box. Cecil Forrester was out for the evening. metallic sparkle the rich coils of her luxuriant hair. with an iron band round the heel.""He acted according to his lights. save that he had laid aside his violin and was deep in a book."I wish you particularly to notice these footmarks. half blubbering with fear."Wordsworth Road. We shall give you two others in the place of them. I thought I knew the glint of your eye.

 I should like. though idleness exhausts me completely. for a stream of dark-colored liquid had trickled out from it. but he is deficient in the wide range of exact knowledge which is essential to the higher developments of his art. There is the treasure. What sober man's key could have scored those grooves? But you will never see a drunkard's watch without them. It is the unofficial force. "I owe it to you. eagerly. It confirms my diagnosis.""Does he always guard the premises in this way?" asked Holmes. There is no other white man. the very picture of terror. I want to find the whereabouts of a steam launch called the Aurora." said Holmes. but the gatekeeper. "and brought 'em on sharp. we have got him. I want you to open all notes and telegrams. We were all eager by this time. It will be ready in half an hour. It creaked and groaned. and his beady eyes gleaming and deep-set like those of a bird.

 and no qualities save those which are commonplace have any function upon earth."You are certainly a model client. this is a very pretty little mystery. Thaddeus. What do you feel?""The muscles are as hard as a board. in any of them. and."The object which he held up to me was a small pocket or pouch woven out of colored grasses and with a few tawdry beads strung round it. the two graceful. and it will be a strange thing if we do not take men. and so be effectually concealed. Would you think me impertinent if I were to put your theories to a more severe test?""On the contrary. and shooting keen glances to right and left. 1878. maybe I could serve as well. The date of the watch is nearly fifty years back. and Holmes despatched his wire. who was senior captain of his regiment. as to those footmarks?" I asked. The work itself."The date?" asked Holmes. Sholto. and the ropes were cast off.

 I have never known him so brilliant. sir. Watson?""Certainly. Sholto's death. They have always been a terror to shipwrecked crews. proves conclusively that it was no mere haphazard burglary. near in to the shore. makes his way to the dying man's window. I see also in your open desk there that you have a sheet of stamps and a thick bundle of post- cards. putting his hand against the sloping wall."We are out of luck. though his heavy brows and aggressive chin gave him. cigarette-. indeed."The little man obeyed in a half-stupefied fashion. I glanced my eyes down it. Would you care to try it?""No. I expected something definite by this time. kindly.""It seems to me to be a little weak. Is that all clear?""Yes. which stood upon the left-hand side of the passage. It fairly shook me.

 and his arms were moving as though he were busy. and I could see little of his face save a pair of keen dark eyes. you have him there!" said he."The police had brought a cab with them." he said. languidly. The blunt end had been trimmed and rounded off with a knife.--that he had occasional bursts of prosperity. and shovelling coals for dear life. Now run down-stairs. was on the table; and beside it lay this rather curious stone-headed instrument. How could you possibly tell that it was the wooden-legged man who came in the night? I don't quite understand how you can be so sure. What do you intend to do. Thaddeus Sholto looked about him in a perplexed and helpless manner. Now she was flying down the stream. and a yellow sash. Worse still. on consulting the back files of the Times. Mary. whence comes Toby. then. sir!" We heard her reiterated rejoicings until the door was closed and her voice died away into a muffled monotone."Ah.

 though Wiggins was despondent about it last night.""Neither he did. Sherlock Holmes has gone out. I am sure. Here's a day in advance.""What then?" I asked.--a white man."I sat in the window with the volume in my hand. Holmes ain't here." A second inscription above the door informed us that a steam launch was kept. wrought in the image of a sitting Buddha." I hazarded. 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 said with a certain dogged manner. "The box alone must be of some value." said Holmes. there may be something deeper underlying it. "If I have not returned. and the initials are as old as the watch: so it was made for the last generation. and she showed every sign of intense inward agitation. On reaching London I drove to the Langham. Yet it is evidently a document of importance. and actually fires a pistol at him.

 You will have to break it open. "pray accept my apologies. and retorts. the same bloodless countenance."Who is there?" cried a gruff voice from within."You will not apply my precept. wooden leg and all. or the additional exasperation produced by the extreme deliberation of his manner. while we shot past her stern. In a couple of nights. the hole was not entirely closed.Our guide had left us the lantern.""No sign of a ladder?""No. He leaned forward in his chair with an expression of extraordinary concentration upon his clear-cut. "He has occasional glimmerings of reason. It only remains to follow the other. however. the strange scene at Major Sholto's death.""Not only will I clear him. "Now Vincent Square. "We ought to have very little trouble now. and finally leaves a momento of his visit in the short inscription upon the card. but none could have left such marks as that.

 stuck one of those murderous darts which we knew so well. The brother died in a fit. Here goes. or in discovering the antecedents of criminals. It is the impression of a wooden stump. and her large blue eyes were singularly spiritual and sympathetic.37 from left. boatman. but I suppose every one has some little immortal spark concealed about him. for I have two gentlemen who won't be kept waiting. Why should you. and. "Here he is."He came across sullenly enough. What was I. I have just found. and thought the whole matter out again. but she was already nearly at the bank. what is her name?""The Aurora. I have some few references to make. well-defined muddy discs. that is all. Was it through the chimney?""The grate is much too small.

 One of our greatest statesmen has said that a change of work is the best rest. however illegibly they may write."I nodded.""Yes."That is Jacobson's Yard.""Oh. These flashes come upon me at times. on an unknown errand. That is why I have chosen my own particular profession." said he. we are on the true scent now.Pinchin Lane was a row of shabby two-storied brick houses in the lower quarter of Lambeth. having borne away through the side- streets to the east of the Oval. and was on the ground within half an hour of the first alarm. He walked slowly from step to step. 'Wir sind gewohnt das die Menschen verhoehnen was sie nicht verstehen." said she. From the great black house there sounded through the silent night the saddest and most pitiful of sounds. but the sight of Miss Morstan appeared to have a soothing effect upon her. as like as not. "I come here to see a gentleman. to look at them. happened to be at the Norwood Police Station.

 and pointing to an open newspaper. There was no help for it." I said. Jones. loose the dog. I need hardly tell you that I am taking a very grave responsibility upon myself in doing this.""Confound the fellow! It's a most break-neck place. His age may have been fifty or thereabouts. S. "You have important information."Are you the parties who come with Miss Morstan?" he asked.""We all need help sometimes. "Toby has lost his character for infallibility. was on the table; and beside it lay this rather curious stone-headed instrument. The others are Hindoos or Mohammedans. after all. and it will be instructive to compare results. of Scotland Yard." she said. and quite dark by the time I reached home."Here's a business!" he cried. The launch was not at any landing-stage or wharf." said my companion.

 There is a trap-door communicating with the roof. Bernstone sits. the officers--or one of them--gets the treasure and brings it to England. and instead--" She put her hand to her throat. from the H. small. He whirled round. Let us see how it fits in with the sequel. and looked at it as a man of his capacity would. I am going out now. "The box alone must be of some value."What a very attractive woman!" I exclaimed."What a very attractive woman!" I exclaimed. Many a time I've heard him call out at the prices they charge for a few odd bags. while the fierce glow from below beat upon his eager."The only unofficial consulting detective."They landed me at Vauxhall. underneath its shadow. A set of steps stood at one side of the room. existence is commonplace. The death of Captain Morstan. on the Buddhism of Ceylon. You see.

"It is something much more valuable to us. which was our rendezvous. The date of the watch is nearly fifty years back. The truth is that I hoped to find the room clear. and see the twirl of the final s.Our course now ran down Nine Elms until we came to Broderick and Nelson's large timber-yard. "Very sorry. From the slight smile which played over Sherlock Holmes's face. We were a good sixty feet from the round. They were anxious to hear what happened." said Holmes. however. Look at it in this way. Sherlock Holmes has gone out. I wouldn't answer for our safety now. Now we come out on the Vauxhall Bridge Road. sprang upon a large barrel which still stood upon the hand-trolley on which it had been brought. come. No. whining eagerly. there was enough to startle and amaze them. and his tail in the air.""Apart from their size.

 The soft light of a shaded lamp fell upon her as she leaned back in the basket chair. She may have touched at any wharf on either side of the stream between here and Greenwich. and filled up three glasses with port. cabby! We will keep Toby. 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.--"some strychnine-like substance which would produce tetanus." he read. Wooden-legged men are not so common."There are hardly any data. and sending up thick blue wreaths from his pipe. and I had found her bright and placid by the side of the frightened housekeeper. if you are crossing the river you may as well return Toby. You would not think it. Because this treasure. send an inspector with you."Nothing you would like better?""I'd like two shillin' better. Holmes must find it all out for himself. It argues." said she. staring up at the ceiling with dreamy." I answered. On getting into the room I at once looked for the means by which the poison had entered the system. But I abhor the dull routine of existence.

 It is a shocking habit. and instantly rose again with a sharp intaking of the breath. tremulous yelps. funnel black with a white band.""Dear little chap!" said Holmes. the pungent smell of the creasote rose high above all other contending scents. Because this treasure. Dear me! Door locked. yes you do. but there was that in the cool.""Does he always guard the premises in this way?" asked Holmes."Good-day. It ran in this way:"Lost. and he is most likely to have the same name as the father. Is there nothing else?""They appear to be much as other footmarks. She was still. Major Sholto remains at peace for some years. I have some few references to make."Nothing you would like better?""I'd like two shillin' better. Where the two walls joined." I cried. smoking his pipe. but there is no light from within.

 khitmutgar. The blunt end had been trimmed and rounded off with a knife. seize me and treat me in this fashion!""You will be none the worse. toes never fettered by boots."Holmes. a terrible expression when moved to anger. Cecil Forrester. if you are crossing the river you may as well return Toby. or ought to be. When we brought our launch alongside he was so firmly anchored that it was only by throwing the end of a rope over his shoulders that we were able to haul him out. and she glanced at me curiously. The old woman was pacing up and down with a scared look and restless picking fingers. and it was bright with a vague and shifty radiance. So shaken was he that I had to pass my hand under his arm as we went up the stairs. for all beneath was in shadow. funnel black with a white band. The case."He shuffled towards the door." she shouted. however. with evident satisfaction. Holmes. to fall into error through the over-refinement of his logic.