Morstan?" he asked. In a couple of nights. snib it on the inside. and had clearly been dead many hours.

 and whether there was any suspicion
 and whether there was any suspicion. and now found ourselves in Kennington Lane. If ever man had an easy task. then he has been at fault too. the letter.""Mrs. Under this I thrust the end of the poker and twisted it outward as a lever." He was. It confirms my diagnosis. Envelopes at sixpence a packet. could he conceal the launch and yet have her at hand when wanted? I wondered what I should do myself if I were in his shoes. more moved than I had ever before seen him. well in view. I give you my word on the book that I never raised hand against Mr. "State your case. and here again upon the floor."The date?" asked Holmes." I said to Mrs. calmly. No.--which was an inconceivable hypothesis. "Count the cost! Your brain may.""Dear little chap!" said Holmes. However. if I can get a fresh horse. than the situation in which I find myself.

""Certainly. The launch was not at any landing-stage or wharf. but deduction lets me know that when there you dispatched a telegram. So shaken was he that I had to pass my hand under his arm as we went up the stairs. of Pondicherry Lodge. Don't go. and a wooden-legged ruffian. "But I see the glint of a light in that little window beside the door.W. a clatter of high voices. But you notice that he keeps on the pavement. It was twilight before we reached the Tower. and that night he did choose. "They have taken to a boat here. if I can get a fresh horse. that is good luck. I should be very glad of a little assistance. or part of it. Now come up into the garret with me for a moment. No one saw the brother from the time Thaddeus left him. half rising. On the contrary. were both released yesterday evening." said Wiggins.--Mr. it is in the steam launch that he has gone.

 must be the truth? We know that he did not come through the door. while the fierce glow from below beat upon his eager.At the Lyceum Theatre the crowds were already thick at the side- entrances. well gloved. it is no great wonder that our trail should have been crossed. That is much more likely. Now she was flying down the stream. and heavy clouds moved slowly across the sky. angry cries there was movement in the huddled bundle upon the deck. the officers--or one of them--gets the treasure and brings it to England. "It does me good to see you. for you are very wet. "Toby has lost his character for infallibility. Inspector!""Yes. I am sure I shall. The Aurora herself we hauled off and made fast to our stern. Postmark. the missing owner? He was rather the worse for liquor. reached a questionable and forbidding neighborhood.""Away. Let us see how it fits in with the sequel. I don't wish to be theatrical.Sherlock Holmes took his bottle from the corner of the mantel- piece and his hypodermic syringe from its neat morocco case. "I was consulted last week by Francois Le Villard. as I remember it. Bernstone.

 What could be brighter than that? I got leave to bring it with me." he remarked. Holmes. Holmes."Your leg will stand it?""Oh. you're one that has wasted your gifts.Close to the rude landing-stage was a small brick house." said Sholto." she explained."God bless your sweet calm face!" she cried."I wish you particularly to notice these footmarks. with stray "magnifiques. but trotted onwards with his nose to the ground and an occasional eager whine which spoke of a hot scent. Cecil Forrester's. Jewelry usually descends to the eldest son." said Holmes. is my highest reward. Mary. my dear boy! it was simplicity itself. highly delighted.""Quite so. it's not quite so bad as that. I suppose?""You must not be later. It was a sudden impulse upon my part.""You are not quite in possession of the facts yet. "One bumper.

 Forrester's poker. Jewelry usually descends to the eldest son. Holmes. Jones looked gravely at her and shook his head. until such dangerous thoughts came into my head that I hurried away to my desk and plunged furiously into the latest treatise upon pathology. we flashed our search-light in every direction. I have other resources; but I shall try them first. doctor. I suppose." said Holmes. on which Sholto walked off with the treasure. Holmes knocked without receiving any answer. the words upon the card. and knew nothing. what is her name?""The Aurora. when youth has lost its self- consciousness and become a little sobered by experience. is my highest reward. It is a point which is continually turning up in criminal trials. however. however. You didn't get away from us so easily.--a blind. It is the unofficial force. that is more than I can tell. Then he waddled round in circles. In front a continuous stream of hansoms and four- wheelers were rattling up.

 We also know that he could not have been concealed in the room. Yet there were two thoughts which sealed the words of affection upon my lips. Are you going to bed. with the idea probably of escaping observation. "I owe it to you.""Then I shall run over to Camberwell and call upon Mrs. Watson?""It would be a great pleasure to me. McMurdo. too. WITHIN A WEEK OF HIS DEATH Captain Morstan's daughter receives a valuable present. None of us alluded during dinner to the cause which had brought us together. braining the survivors with their stone-headed clubs.""Neither he did. she turned so white that I feared that she was about to faint. and we heard him stumbling down the stairs in the dark. And here is a circular muddy mark. and I have no orders. I expect to hear before evening that they have spotted her. They have always been a terror to shipwrecked crews. 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 the rise and fall of his bow. Dr. With lolling tongue and blinking eyes.--no room for theories. had a blighted. "but no sign of a handkerchief.

 and recoiled in horror. Sholto.""That is easily managed. "In future they can report to you. A warm wind blew from the westward. but very eager to hear the news. The answer should give us the--But halloo! here are the accredited representatives of the law. How was the window?""Fastened; but there are steps on the sill. "Look at his long letters." said I. however. But you must have formed your own opinion. but now as we followed every winding and turning which they took there could no longer be any question about it. and he is most likely to have the same name as the father." said Sherlock Holmes.--here was indeed a labyrinth in which a man less singularly endowed than my fellow-lodger might well despair of ever finding the clue.""Rather an irregular proceeding. so that in walking one had to step from beam to beam. Was ever such a dreary. His bright humor marked the reaction from his black depression of the preceding days.""Well. as I hastened to pour her out some water. How was the window?""Fastened; but there are steps on the sill. I could see no foothold. I assure you that the most winning woman I ever knew was hanged for poisoning three little children for their insurance-money. however.

 and the crevices left were worn down and rounded upon the lower side. no. We have had an immense display of energy since you left. with the twinkle of a smile in his eyes. leaving the obliging inspector in the cab.""Then take it off. We have had work enough already through you. I have never known him so brilliant. Up to the small hours of the morning I could hear the clinking of his test-tubes which told me that he was still engaged in his malodorous experiment. here we are. and forward. "He's a man who is not to be beat. Sholto."Yes; he has followed my father's custom. His appearance is--well. There was no key. His height is readily calculated from the length of his stride. I have had to release two of my prisoners. "It is certainly ten to one that they go down-stream. and could feel no intense antipathy to his murderers. underneath." said Holmes." he added. while he looked with his keen.""Confound the fellow! It's a most break-neck place. hardly that.

 So intractable and fierce are they that all the efforts of the British official have failed to win them over in any degree. Are you all ready? Then we had better go down.To my surprise. and with a bluff. The only person in London whom he could have visited is Major Sholto. These few indications may be of some assistance to you." said he. "I thought that Mrs.--a sweet age. Wiggins has just been up to report. Holmes." he said. yard by yard. for if you do I hope that I may be of use to you. Our boilers were strained to their utmost. Look here. however. I assure you. He possesses two out of the three qualities necessary for the ideal detective. in the first place I shall want a fast police-boat-- a steam launch--to be at the Westminster Stairs at seven o'clock. Watson. Yet a man has mounted by the window. This. He was left with good prospects."Nothing you would like better?""I'd like two shillin' better. A weary-looking police-sergeant reclined in the corner.

"I had opened my mouth to reply to this tirade.""And was this wooden-legged man alone?""Couldn't say. As a minor point it may be noted. Thaddeus Sholto could have been in any way concerned in the matter. laughing."Go on. so I gives it the run o' the room. asking for information from wharfingers?""Worse and worse! Our men would know that the chase was hot at their heels. That d might be an a. It straightened itself into a little black man--the smallest I have ever seen--with a great. and we know that he was bearded. he broke out into a sharp. it was better surely to face it like a man than to attempt to brighten it by mere will-o'-the-wisps of the imagination." he said." said he. How does all that fit into your theory?""Confirms it in every respect. and so through a trap-door into a room which communicated with that in which the body was found. "This is a trap-door which leads out on to the roof.""Smith says she is one of the fastest launches on the river. I have seen something of the sort on the side of a hill near Ballarat. "I thought that Mrs. melodious air. and in his hurry he had dropped this. "Here's a pretty business! But who are all these? Why. It must have whizzed between us at the instant that we fired. "Toby has lost his character for infallibility.

It appeared to have been fitted up as a chemical laboratory. how did these folk come. She lives with Mrs. Now. shifting radiance across the crowded thoroughfare. disloyal. and usually afford valuable indications as to the criminal. "I can see him plainly.It was a long day." she said. rubbing his hands. "He remarks that.""I may be very obtuse. He whirled round.""In this case it certainly is so. We shall look out for you."Because you are within my reach again. in you come." He whipped out his lens and a tape measure. rubbing their sleeves across their beards after their morning wet. "Facts are better than mere theories. Holmes coud talk exceedingly well when he chose. Now. or gatekeeper.' Mark that. Then I recalled to mind that he had mentioned to us that his brother and he were twins.

 I came back to our problem of the Sholtos. It rained a little last night. What was it that Mr. Beside it was a torn sheet of note-paper with some words scrawled upon it. For myself."The treasure is gone!" he said. I can let you in. with a wooden placard slung out through the second window. who I never saw in my life. See how the irrepressible Greek e will break out. She was much impressed by your kindness and skill. Holmes alone could rise superior to petty influences. and there I remained until I was seventeen years of age. but the dull. and sway with pleasure at the very sight of him. so I gives it the run o' the room. however. I lost my bearings. and a porter.--"not a word. and the unhallowed dwarf with his hideous face. then. "I hope before very long to be able to introduce you to the pair of them. no; I ain't goin' to lose a whole day to please no one. who lazily shifted their weight from one leg to the other as our voices disturbed their slumbers. If Holmes's researches were successful.

 He had doubtless planned beforehand that should he slay the major he would leave some such record upon the body as a sign that it was not a common murder. would give rise to gossip. however. I have been obliged to reconsider it. leaving. seizing a rafter with either hand. Dear me! Door locked. He has all the Celtic power of quick intuition. He is irregular in his methods.Toby proved to an ugly. At the sound of his strident. with something of the air of a clinical professor expounding to his class. the 34th Bombay Infantry. What could be more hopelessly prosaic and material? What is the use of having powers. for it may prove to be of use to us.--that your brother was often at low water.Yet upon that afternoon. It is more handy than a label. "I glanced over it. he'll let us hear of it. then?" I asked. Whimsical and bizarre conceits of this kind are common enough in the annals of crime. Secondary inference. His bright humor marked the reaction from his black depression of the preceding days. and was girt round with a very high stone wall topped with broken glass. This morning I received this letter.

 indeed. They may have had some doubt at first as to whether we were really pursuing them."Where to?" asked Jones. I lost my bearings. "I feared that our talk would wake you. however. The soft light of a shaded lamp fell upon her as she leaned back in the basket chair. but. than the situation in which I find myself."Your statement is most interesting. "it would prevent me from taking a second dose of cocaine." remarked Holmes." I remarked. like one who has a relish for conversation. but he presently reappeared. then. and to spare. and by a broad and powerful bolt." said he. The staves of the barrel and the wheels of the trolley were smeared with a dark liquid."Holmes. and I shall let him know. Is this handwriting the same as that upon the pearl-box addresses?""I have them here. "Look out that you don't prick yourself. but Mrs. But you have yourself had some experience of my methods of work in the Jefferson Hope case.

""Not at all. yes. Sholto's death. and a rare one."I cannot understand it. makes his way to the dying man's window. behind us. pattered off upon the trail at a pace which strained his leash and kept us at the top of our speed. but addressing them to himself rather than to me." said he. I then put myself in the place of Small. and up and down." said he. It rained a little last night. having large. with the gratifying result that the brother. A black funnel. which was our rendezvous. "that I who have a fair claim to nigh upon half a million of money should spend the first half of my life building a breakwater in the Andamans.She was seated by the open window. Sherlock Holmes and Dr." said I. though Wiggins was despondent about it last night. or he could not have redeemed the pledge. "You will excuse me. These little darts.

"It is nothing. and see the twirl of the final s. behind us. "Do you observe anything noteworthy about them?""They belong. Like all human kind."I picked up my hat and my heaviest stick. and finally he broke out into a loud crow of delight.""And was this wooden-legged man alone?""Couldn't say. yes. He was a good-sized. nowhere else in the neighborhood."He led me out to the head of the stair. I am not subject to impressions. you are very likely to get what you want." He tossed over." he answered. Do you know. but for this too palpable clue. That was the train of events as far as I can decipher them. looking up to us from time to time.He stretched his hand up. there may be something deeper underlying it.' At that moment who should come down but Mordecai Smith. Even as we looked he plucked out from under his covering a short. now that we have gone so far. and beside it is the mark of the timber-toe. if it had been the old major I would have swung for him with a light heart. "would be good enough to stop.

 and had clearly been dead many hours."Before they come. His bright humor marked the reaction from his black depression of the preceding days. reached a questionable and forbidding neighborhood."Holmes unfolded the paper carefully and smoothed it out upon his knee. I shall probably call Athelney Jones in at the last moment. It must have whizzed between us at the instant that we fired. maybe I could serve as well. And rather to Jonathan's disgust. Sholto had been marched off to the station. and I had no relative in England. It is well to be prepared. "I think I shall have a pull at that flask. clinging figures. and I caught something of Holmes's gaiety.""Quite so. too. that I want Toby at once. his masterly manner. but he threw away his chances. But there are not many launches to beat us. because it might be read by the fugitives without their seeing in it more than the natural anxiety of a wife for her missing husband. I have knowledge now which would enable me to trace them in many different ways. until our friend returns. and I had heard the reasons for his deductions." said Sherlock Holmes. looking down into the engine-room. however.

 She was still. I had at that time just entered the family of Mrs."I am Miss Morstan. but I fail to see what this suggests.--though parallel cases suggest themselves from India. taking her hand. without any clue as to the sender. What do you make of all this?""A savage!" I exclaimed. It would not have been a surprise to him. We have had work enough already through you. it is my duty to inform you that anything which you may say will be used against you. But what good is a steam launch without coals?""He might have bought some at a wharf down the river. "that I who have a fair claim to nigh upon half a million of money should spend the first half of my life building a breakwater in the Andamans. doctor.We both started in our chairs. genial inspector as my companion. I shall probably call Athelney Jones in at the last moment. and I expect that he and his gang will be with us before we have finished our breakfast. I have a wiper in the bag." said Holmes. but pale. the launch. But it does seem a queer thing. is a curious little work upon the influence of a trade upon the form of the hand. and then if there was much doin' there he might ha' stayed over. "You see the slight smudge of blood upon the white plaster. do consider the data. Finally.

 shaking his head. Mrs. have known him. however. but sat nursing my wounded leg.Holmes was standing on the door-step. indeed. From the time that he left his brother's room he was never out of sight of some one or other. that the police have a clue as to the real culprits. It seemed to me that not only his features but all his limbs were twisted and turned in the most fantastic fashion." said Holmes. He held his open note-book upon his knee. As long as he has liquor and good pay. while the individual man is an insoluble puzzle. he cast about in a wide circle and finally dashed off in a fresh direction."He shuffled towards the door."The Sahib awaits you. "It is more probable that he had arranged his affairs before ever he set out upon his expedition. 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." said I. and at the great rubbish-heaps which cumbered the grounds." she shouted. and was evidently the inner shell of the true roof of the house. and was girt round with a very high stone wall topped with broken glass. Watson; you look regularly done. The boy held the tiller.I narrated briefly what had occurred since I had seen her last. indeed.

 and."Ah! it's all right. If they fail. and I should not like to do anything which would injure him professionally. By his hand upon the table there lay a peculiar instrument. melodious air. How does all that fit into your theory?""Confirms it in every respect. But there is some one at the door." I tried to speak lightly to our worthy landlady. As he leaned upon a thick oaken cudgel his shoulders heaved in the effort to draw the air into his lungs. it followed me to the cab. I hope that you will hear soon from Mr. examining. black with two red streaks. though some anthropologists prefer the Bushmen of Africa. Holmes swung it slowly round. What is the chief difference?""Your toes are all cramped together. I ought to be back before three.He stretched his hand up. with his wooden leg. There is the less fear of you or me finding one in our skin before long."All right! Good luck! But. in the air.""You are both very kind. Could there be. What a lucky thing it is that we have had no very heavy rain since yesterday! The scent will lie upon the road in spite of their eight-and-twenty hours' start. Watson. if you had joined the fancy.

 Suddenly Small learns that the major is on his death-bed. makes his way to the dying man's window."Who is there?" cried a gruff voice from within. Sherlock Holmes still sat exactly as I had left him. however. we were beginning to come among continuous streets. and I sat in the stern. quietly. they did not go very far.""Employ the police. you young imp; for if your father comes home and finds you like that."I was annoyed at this criticism of a work which had been specially designed to please him.""But it was not mere guess-work?""No.""A dog. that is all. Thank you. for I saw her eyebrows rise a little. up and down.""We shall have to catch the Aurora. and then burst into a passion of weeping. but our companion maintained his impenetrable reserve until the end of our journey. The date of the watch is nearly fifty years back. He spoke on a quick succession of subjects. this is hardly a case for me to theorize over. He was a sunburned."Miss Mary Morstan. though some anthropologists prefer the Bushmen of Africa. I am close on the track of the Sholto gang.

 and they would be off out of the country. and she glanced at me curiously." she said. But perhaps you would care to wait. with the gratifying result that the brother. Watson. with some remarks upon the uses of plaster of Paris as a preserver of impresses."She glanced at iron box. Watson. and the police will be called in. that's all. just past the White Eagle tavern. Half of it is yours and half is Thaddeus Sholto's.""I may be very obtuse. however."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. with a little touch of scarlet at the neck and waist. Jones turned our search-light upon her. and as I stretched myself out he began to play some low. I shall have news of some sort or other before I get back. We had left the damp fog of the great city behind us.""Ah. Camberwell. belonged rightfully to Miss Morstan. but he presently reappeared. This is Indian work. I shall drive. Let us turn to something brighter.

 and busied himself all evening in an abstruse chemical analysis which involved much heating of retorts and distilling of vapors. but an honored friend. and the lantern began to come steadily down the side of the wall.' in faded pencil- writing."Surely. We shot past the long lines of loaded barges as though they were stationary. Smith has put us on a wrong scent. Many a time I've heard him call out at the prices they charge for a few odd bags. There might have been some credit to be gained out of it. I shall come to the conclusion soon that they have scuttled the craft. Sherlock Holmes bent down to it." said he. but I never saw him with such a face on him as that.""There will be two or three in the boat. What was I. lightly. I am not subject to impressions. Hudson?' And now he has slammed off to his room." I answered. so that she had fairly got her speed up before we saw her. She did not withdraw it. though some anthropologists prefer the Bushmen of Africa. leaving the obliging inspector in the cab."Holmes. Beside him lay a dark mass which looked like a Newfoundland dog. and found our launch awaiting us. 'They are naturally hideous. and I cannot be sure when he will be back.

 and you must not walk off. yard by yard. and from there to the earth. up and down." I answered. reserved his launch for the final escape. how did he depart? Ah." he said. and must be sunburned after serving his time in such an oven as the Andamans. raising my eyebrows. "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."I am Miss Morstan. It is only half-past three. But surely. and my duty I'll do. and distorted features. as you doctors express it."Holmes. and. that is more than I can tell. Robert Street."We ought to be able to catch anything on the river. I have been guilty of several monographs.""Then I shall want two stanch men. 'specially when my man is away days at a time. I fancy that.--A word with you. There was the same high.

"I nodded.""It is simplicity itself. "Here he is. like a great metallic heart." said he." she said. As far as the death of Bartholomew Sholto went. 'Thank God. He was an aged man.""A dog. for I can hardly tell yet where I may find myself. Here's a day in advance. to Major Sholto it brought fear and guilt. Jonathan Small must have felt that the peculiar appearance of his companion."We had." he answered. and now culminates in a letter which describes her as a wronged woman. after a little thought. as though they had frequently been used as a ladder. I think that it is a hundred to one against Smith knowing where they live. must be the truth? We know that he did not come through the door. 1882--an advertisement appeared in the Times asking for the address of Miss Mary Morstan and stating that it would be to her advantage to come forward. pointing to the wooden hatchway. I have set other agencies at work." he read. "It does me good to see you. for example.He had lit his pipe again.

""Does he always guard the premises in this way?" asked Holmes. Then I shall study the great Jones's methods and listen to his not too delicate sarcasms."By heaven. I suddenly felt that I could hold out no longer. The floor was formed by the rafters. on consulting the back files of the Times. I had not the professional enthusiasm which carried my companion on."Wordsworth Road. Sherlock Holmes has gone out."They are hellish things. He is now translating my small works into French. a good many of the criminal classes begin to know me. how far can a specially-trained hound follow so pungent a smell as this? It sounds like a sum in the rule of three. and that she detected a hollow ring in my congratulations."It looks as though all the moles in England had been let loose in it.' My old man woke up Jim. Black with a white band. of course.""I am sorry. but the other man must. Particular man in his stationery."I had heard nothing of him by breakfast-time.""There. We shall keep you."Are you the parties who come with Miss Morstan?" he asked. In a couple of nights. snib it on the inside. and had clearly been dead many hours.