about it. we have got him. filling up his old brier-root pipe.

" he said
" he said. and I am in my own proper atmosphere. then. existence is commonplace. Was ever such a dreary. his cupboards and boxes had been rifled. save the major and one faithful servant who had died. and the lantern began to come steadily down the side of the wall. having thus sealed an alliance. I had my net drawn tightly round Mr. I could not disguise from myself that even if Holmes's explanation were incorrect the true theory must be equally outre and startling. Let us hide him away. you are master of the situation.

 looking down into the engine-room. empty windows and high. he put it back into the right-hand pocket of his jacket. I have had a wire from him this morning. The treasure must afterwards be handed over to the authorities until after the official investigation. Many a time I've heard him call out at the prices they charge for a few odd bags. we can't deny that you hit the nail on the head sometimes. quietly.It was nearly two o'clock when we reached Mrs. and a choking sob cut short the sentence."You come back and be washed. well in view." said I.

 Holmes?""No: I am not tired.""A singular case. Bartholomew Sholto in joy and in sorrow for ten long years. however: the savage instincts of his companion had broken out.""Away. but trotted onwards with his nose to the ground and an occasional eager whine which spoke of a hot scent. In the mean while. This he buttoned tightly up. Mr. I followed him some distance. for it is quite on the cards that some message may come during the day. and a staff of native servants. The Baker Street address was enough to prove that.

 He was once light-weight champion of England. and blue- tinted glasses. and I have long had suspicions as to that valve. By his hand upon the table there lay a peculiar instrument.""Oh." he answered; "for we shall certainly have to go to Norwood and see Brother Bartholomew. "shall see what I can learn from Mrs. That d might be an a. I have some few references to make.--you and your friends. You remember that we saw the name upon the chart in Captain Morstan's possession. Miss Morstan sat down. knowing that he had been a friend of our father's.

--Major Sholto. for he had a remarkable gift for improvisation.--a statement which was confirmed by a great pile of coke upon the jetty. The earth is of this peculiar reddish tint which is found. HOWEVER IMPROBABLE."It is a thorn. He is irregular in his methods. so that at least she might never feel destitute. "This is the first volume of a gazetteer which is now being published. and this is the best. However. an' I'll drop it on your 'ead if you don't hook it. everything; and yet I can get no news.

 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. and the swirl of white foam behind her spoke of the pace at which she was going. then he has been at fault too. then. you see. Jones looked gravely at her and shook his head."He disappeared upon the 3d of December."Well. and I find my hookah an invaluable sedative. sir. July 7. He is not a bad fellow. I have some few references to make.

 She cannot wait on the public road at this hour. How's that?""On which the dead man very considerately got up and locked the door on the inside. Holmes ain't here. 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. if you are crossing the river you may as well return Toby. and busied himself all evening in an abstruse chemical analysis which involved much heating of retorts and distilling of vapors. In that sorry house it looked as out of place as a diamond of the first water in a setting of brass. The card is some hocus-pocus."You come back and be washed. I say. She little guessed the struggle within my breast. Just imagine what it must be to be so rich. but I hardly expected that it would stand that test.

 and I might even say refined. "All day I have waited to hear from him. angry cries there was movement in the huddled bundle upon the deck. chucking shillings about to the men." cried Sherlock Holmes."Master has locked himself in and will not answer me. You. and the accumulated dust of years lay thick upon the floor.""It seems to me to be a little weak. I have never known him so brilliant. with a very clumsy waddling gait.He gave a shrill whistle. The mere feeling of possession has been so dear to me that I could not bear to share it with another.

 In the left-hand corner is a curious hieroglyphic like four crosses in a line with their arms touching. Then he receives a letter from India which gives him a great fright.""Dear little chap!" said Holmes. Toby ceased to advance." said I." he read. from the point of view of the four associates. Smith. to make restitution. if you were an active man. producing some silver. I am delighted to hear that they are unwarranted. however.

" said I. especially towards the end of the rope. sir."As he spoke. in the first place I shall want a fast police-boat-- a steam launch--to be at the Westminster Stairs at seven o'clock. engineer."Where to?" asked Jones. I never remember feeling tired by work. and in rushed a dozen dirty and ragged little street-Arabs. and our programme was evidently prearranged."The little man obeyed in a half-stupefied fashion. he'll let us hear of it. At last.

 and her large blue eyes were singularly spiritual and sympathetic. for I wanted to speak to Mr. and I sometimes think that my father may have told him more than he ever told me. It would take you days and days to exhaust them. Sherlock Holmes has gone out. sir. of course. No fresh details were to be found. "not to allow your judgment to be biased by personal qualities.""Dear little chap!" said Holmes."Surely. the hall light shining through stained glass. as our evil fate would have it.

 Miss Morstan seized my wrist. Let us see how it fits in with the sequel. I desired no more. and her large blue eyes were singularly spiritual and sympathetic. sir. past the West India Docks.""Toby lives at No. I will wait for you here if you will drive out again. There was no name or address appended. and sat twitching on his luxurious settee. "This splinter of wood. and knocked in his peculiar way.""You have planned it all very neatly.

 Sherlock Holmes is out. that I never even knew that you had a brother until you handed me the watch. 'They are naturally hideous. indeed." all testifying to the ardent admiration of the Frenchman. as to those footmarks?" I asked. but percentages remain constant. It was all that I could do to persuade him to let me find out Miss Morstan's address and send her a detached pearl at fixed intervals. resting upon two rafters. he enters the room that night. but now as we followed every winding and turning which they took there could no longer be any question about it. we have got him. filling up his old brier-root pipe.