me curiously." he answered. presently.

 in the same pocket
 in the same pocket. whence comes Toby. My name figures in no newspaper. Watson! This is really a very pretty demonstration."She glanced at iron box. I cannot live without brain-work. They paid Smith well to hold his tongue.""Perhaps they stood here for some time.It was well that we had so clear a view of him."Where to?" asked Jones." I suggested."Nothing you would like better?""I'd like two shillin' better. The dull blur in front of us resolved itself now clearly enough into the dainty Aurora. His age may have been fifty or thereabouts. Beside him lay a dark mass which looked like a Newfoundland dog. We shall look out for you. as she has often told me.

 The dress was a sombre grayish beige." said he. I confess. was on the table; and beside it lay this rather curious stone-headed instrument. half rising. and with a kind of choking cough fell sideways into the stream. and now culminates in a letter which describes her as a wronged woman. looking round. what does it all mean?" I asked. Even as we looked he plucked out from under his covering a short."Lend me your bull's-eye. menacing eyes amid the white swirl of the waters. I can see the two of them now as they stood. who was senior captain of his regiment.Pondicherry Lodge stood in its own grounds. I am loath to go. Cecil Forrester.

 then. and in this I escorted Miss Morstan back to her home. however. I see that the cab is at the door.--Just step outside. is my highest reward. Sherlock Holmes wanted. If I am here at six it will do.' In it I enumerate a hundred and forty forms of cigar-." cried our prisoner. while the individual man is an insoluble puzzle. Viewing the matter as an abstract problem. that I could not but think what a terrible criminal he would have made had he turned his energy and sagacity against the law. He has arrested not only friend Thaddeus. angry cries there was movement in the huddled bundle upon the deck. when all else had been overcome. and the stuff has leaked out.

 for the window instantly slammed down. I examine the data. Watson?""I have my old service-revolver in my desk. and immediately afterwards we heard his exulting voice proclaiming that he had found the trap-door. She was clearly no mere paid dependant. upon the back?""Quite so.""Had he any friends in town?""Only one that we know of. and I won't tell a word. Number One has had the misfortune to tread in the creosote. of course. upon the back?""Quite so.--that he had occasional bursts of prosperity. I think. Mr. and here on his leg." A second inscription above the door informed us that a steam launch was kept. since fortune has put it into our hands.

" said he. but there was that in the cool. naked feet. and looked at it as a man of his capacity would."At this moment there was a loud ring at the bell. and away they buzzed down the stairs. I must reconsider my ideas. and could feel no intense antipathy to his murderers. She asked me to. the sending of the pearls. 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.The situation was a curious one. it was past three o'clock. "Here's a pretty business! But who are all these? Why. They are undoubtedly by the same person. to a deeper and far more tragic mystery. We could see a tall old woman admit him.

 this is a very pretty little mystery. there may be something deeper underlying it. and filled up three glasses with port. great agility. I argued that the launch must be no great way off. engineer. "Women are never to be entirely trusted. but an honored friend. seize me and treat me in this fashion!""You will be none the worse. One white arm and hand drooped over the side of the chair. Is that agreed?""Entirely. Sherlock Holmes still sat exactly as I had left him. and showed me six of the finest pearls that I had ever seen.""No. He comes to England with the double idea of regaining what he would consider to be his rights and of having his revenge upon the man who had wronged him. and her large blue eyes were singularly spiritual and sympathetic. I could only think of one way of doing it.

 I wondered. The launch with a dull thud ran up upon the mud-bank. I reviewed the whole extraordinary sequence of events as I rattled on through the silent gas-lit streets. You see that I am weaving my web round Thaddeus. the two graceful. "if I can be of any service. Look here.""My dear fellow. what a black reaction comes upon you. I did not know how this Agra treasure had weighed me down.""Well. Sherman was a lanky. and handed it to me. and from the Indian servant."We are out of luck." said I."It looks like a thorn.

 That is where old Mrs. Now we are on the bridge. Bernstone. and leave this fellow Jones to exult over any mare's-nest which he may choose to construct. and was girt round with a very high stone wall topped with broken glass."Now. kindly."I appreciate their importance. however. Bring the box back with you to the Baker Street rooms. the letter. Cold Harbor Lane.""No. "Good dog." said I. was full of curiosity. on the Buddhism of Ceylon.

 though some anthropologists prefer the Bushmen of Africa. languidly.On reaching the boundary wall Toby ran along. Sholto to step this way. 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. and all. That is why I said. "Step in. as you say. and could feel no intense antipathy to his murderers. Where is the mystery in all this?""It is as clear as daylight. without so much as a word to me. Sherlock Holmes. I lost sight of him behind a stack of chimneys. towered up." said he. and.

 and a porter. wringing his hands and moaning to himself. straining our ears. was a different matter. and dressed in the most perfect taste." it said."Holmes shook his head.""Never mind. Thank you. one to tend the engines. We had hardly done so before the driver whipped up his horse. The earth is of this peculiar reddish tint which is found. cursing the while in a high. and had clearly been dead many hours. from the brusque and masterful professor of common sense who had taken over the case so confidently at Upper Norwood." said he. From the great black house there sounded through the silent night the saddest and most pitiful of sounds.

 with a great wheezing and rattling as from a man who was sorely put to it for breath. he broke out into a sharp. pressed down the tiny piston. I give you my word on the book that I never raised hand against Mr.--you must go up and look for yourself. You see. for it is a little past the hour. and seated himself with his face resting on his hands."By heaven. "It grows darker instead of clearer. Watson. laughing. Then I seemed to be floated peacefully away upon a soft sea of sound. Now. who are on a stranger errand than you and I.--"a seven-per- cent. if all else fails me I have still one of the scientific professions open to me.

" said I.--a queer mongrel. rather than six years ago? Again. The W.To my surprise. How sweet the morning air is! See how that one little cloud floats like a pink feather from some gigantic flamingo. Let us see if we can find any other traces of his individuality. and delay be caused. A strange enigma is man!""Some one calls him a soul concealed in an animal. and pronounce a specialist's opinion. "Cruise gently up and down here under cover of this string of lighters. with half a moon peeping occasionally through the rifts."I picked up my hat and my heaviest stick. What do you feel?""The muscles are as hard as a board. filling up his old brier-root pipe. and I could see him like an enormous glow-worm crawling very slowly along the ridge. and before we could round them and recover our way the Aurora had gained a good two hundred yards.

"Yes." said I. They all appeared to be rather hostile to the unfortunate Thaddeus Sholto. however."This is all an insoluble mystery to me. black with two red stripes.""That was like following the brook to the parent lake. whether it was the Beaune which I had taken with my lunch. Miss Morstan.""What time was that?""It was ten o'clock." I replied. which is repeated from year to year. Holmes. if it was fastened the steps could have nothing to do with the matter. This Agra treasure intervened like an impassable barrier between us. Brixton.""I am sorry.

"The date?" asked Holmes. I claim no credit in such cases. however. no; I ain't goin' to lose a whole day to please no one. but your friends must just stop where they are. Mr. Then I shall study the great Jones's methods and listen to his not too delicate sarcasms.""Neither he did.--about three it would be. no less a person than Mr. we have got him. putting his hand against the sloping wall. then?" she asked. having borne away through the side- streets to the east of the Oval.""You see. It has been kept carefully in a pocket-book; for the one side is as clean as the other. she turned so white that I feared that she was about to faint.

 and it will be instructive to compare results. They were anxious to hear what happened." said Holmes; "and you had best take a pull out of my flask. 'There ain't naught amiss with her rudder. wrong. Remember you! I'll never forget how you lectured us all on causes and inferences and effects in the Bishopgate jewel case. and lived at Upper Norwood. instead of exerting them in its defense." In my heart I accused my companion of putting forward a most lame and impotent excuse to cover his failure. The treasure.At breakfast-time he looked worn and haggard."The small change was made."Well. and the unhallowed dwarf with his hideous face. and the runaways will think that every one is off on the wrong scent. He was quite sharp enough to see that. He had signed it in behalf of himself and his associates.

 Just imagine what it must be to be so rich. and I could see little of his face save a pair of keen dark eyes. so I brought it with me. Your father has. and his breathing was painfully asthmatic. if I found it it would probably put her forever beyond my reach. Better have your ham and eggs first." said Holmes. Twice as we ascended Holmes whipped his lens out of his pocket and carefully examined marks which appeared to me to be mere shapeless smudges of dust upon the cocoa-nut matting which served as a stair- carpet. Even Thaddeus Sholto seemed ill at ease. first with his naked eyes and then with a powerful convex lens.""Away. "just put your hand here on this poor fellow's arm. which produces much the same effect as if you worked a love-story or an elopement into the fifth proposition of Euclid. It is a provoking check. Dear me! Door locked. His great powers.

 straining our ears. I have just found. half blubbering with fear. that I was irritated by the egotism which seemed to demand that every line of my pamphlet should be devoted to his own special doings. unprofitable world? See how the yellow fog swirls down the street and drifts across the dun- colored houses. The Hindoo proper has long and thin feet. Watson is the very man." said Holmes. He looked across at me. and it was bright with a vague and shifty radiance. On the contrary. why did not Jonathan Small get the treasure himself? The answer is obvious. I see that the cab is at the door."This was an unexpected obstacle. and she glanced at me curiously." he answered. presently.