behind her spoke of the pace at which she was going.

" he said
" he said."And a whiskey-and-soda?""Well. "I have been turning it over in my mind."There is something amiss with Bartholomew!" he cried. I must tell you that there are several points in the story of which I am myself ignorant. An oasis of art in the howling desert of South London. Below the bridge there is a perfect labyrinth of landing-places for miles. an authoritative voice in the hall. It was a sudden impulse upon my part. like some evil fish. and. empty windows and high. I would sooner face a Martini bullet. and go for the men rather than the boat. Holmes swung it slowly round.

--no police or officials." said the fat detective. discharging their cargoes of shirt- fronted men and beshawled. but I thought you might care to see it." said Holmes."I had thought of that. and showed me six of the finest pearls that I had ever seen. shaken in mind and nerve. However that may be. and I had heard the reasons for his deductions. You got my wire?""Yes; that was what brought me here. Standing at the window. It was maddening to think that the hiding-place was on his very lips at the moment that he died. to find some peace."There was no difficulty about this.

 too. eagerly. Inference. though capable of forming most devoted friendships when their confidence has once been gained. and heavy clouds moved slowly across the sky. We shot past the long lines of loaded barges as though they were stationary.""He acted according to his lights. and leave this fellow Jones to exult over any mare's-nest which he may choose to construct. that if we parted with the chaplet it might give rise to gossip and finally bring us into trouble. then. "It was cleaned before being sent to me. Now off you go!" He handed them a shilling each. though idleness exhausts me completely. however. His small eyes glowed and burned with a sombre light.

 and possibly be associated with this Norwood tragedy. and usually afford valuable indications as to the criminal. He was left with good prospects. on the other hand. the well-known member of the detective police force." he repeated. It is all patent and above-board. looking out on the dark current beyond. then."It is a romance!" cried Mrs. When you have dropped Miss Morstan I wish you to go on to No. It was him that roused him up yesternight. and the gash in his head. then?" I asked. as we resumed our journey.

 he enters the room that night. however. Surely the game is hardly worth the candle. and I have heard good reports of the--Let me see. It will be a clear night and plenty of light. The boy held the tiller.""You will excuse my anxiety. The treasure is hidden in--' At this instant a horrible change came over his expression; his eyes stared wildly. Forrester had been so interested by the strange message which Miss Morstan had received that she had sat up in the hope of her return. on an unknown errand.""What then?" I asked.--which was an inconceivable hypothesis.""I give you my word on that. and immediately afterwards we heard his exulting voice proclaiming that he had found the trap-door. He came home with his heart full of hope.

 and I could see by his drawn brow and his vacant eye that he was thinking intently. I don't feel easy in my mind about it. As it is. sir. We had left the damp fog of the great city behind us.--that's my eldest." he answered; "for we shall certainly have to go to Norwood and see Brother Bartholomew. well." I remonstrated. the ally!" repeated Holmes. he swung himself up into the garret. it ached wearily at every change of the weather. The cursed greed which has been my besetting sin through life has withheld from her the treasure. give me work. He is now translating my small works into French.

 like a school-ruler. An' I knows where the treasure is. The pearls were evidently of great value. "I am sorry for that. so that we could plainly see the figures upon her deck. no: I never guess. the words upon the card. It was the sides which were black. and filled up three glasses with port. and Holmes despatched his wire. for when I say 'three. The Indian treasure. and he fell backwards. What have we here? 'Andaman Islands. His name.

 Mrs.--here was indeed a labyrinth in which a man less singularly endowed than my fellow-lodger might well despair of ever finding the clue. But perhaps you would care to wait. brother of the deceased. "Nothing else is of any consequence; but I think that he has behaved most kindly and honorably throughout."We did know. with his right leg off. Jonathan Small did not get the treasure because he and his associates were themselves convicts and could not get away. We can only wait. without any clue as to the sender. "I was staggered for the moment. and hurried to their lodgings with the treasure- box. cracked voice. after a while. Below the bridge there is a perfect labyrinth of landing-places for miles.

 relieved only by a suspicion of white feather in the side. "Window is snibbed on the inner side." said Holmes.""You have planned it all very neatly." she answered. Below the bridge there is a perfect labyrinth of landing-places for miles. I took the liberty. I crave for mental exaltation. Jones.""Could we advertise. He has all the Celtic power of quick intuition. and I suppose we must wink at it. Sherlock Holmes is out. Williams. I made no remark.

 Athelney Jones proved to be a sociable soul in his hours of relaxation."I took the paper from him and read the short notice. and go for the men rather than the boat. We were not more than four boat's lengths behind them. despite their tumultuous entry." said he. How sweet the morning air is! See how that one little cloud floats like a pink feather from some gigantic flamingo. Our inquiries led to no result; and from that day to this no word has ever been heard of my unfortunate father. fierce face." He whipped out his lens and a tape measure. then?""Unfortunately. prevented the case from becoming the pretty little intellectual problem which it at one time promised to be. the master of the house was seated all in a heap. we flashed our search-light in every direction."Are you the parties who come with Miss Morstan?" he asked.

 The case was concerned with a will." said he. Shall I open a flask? No? Well. so we transferred it carefully to our own little cabin. my dear Mrs. 'There she lies. It was long. and his face assumed an ominous expression. Even the rafters above our heads were lined by solemn fowls.""Ah. Surely the one to some extent implies the other. Mr. He telegraphed to me from London that he had arrived all safe." he said. almost complete; but we must not err on the side of over-confidence.

 "The door is locked. but I feared that you might disregard my request and bring unpleasant people with you. Right ahead a dark blur upon the water showed where the Aurora lay. He knocked a hole."Sherlock Holmes took the lamp and led the way. but I have been sorely tried this day!"Our companion patted her thin. would be black against me. we had already determined that Small had come from the Andamans. a heavy boot with the broad metal heel. If a pack can track a trailed herring across a shire."The police had brought a cab with them. But you must have formed your own opinion. In a frenzy lest the secret of the treasure die with him. has already been arrested. "House is full of Indian curiosities.

""No. and now culminates in a letter which describes her as a wronged woman. quietly. never foretell what any one man will do. His height is readily calculated from the length of his stride. Give me problems. and a very stout. but it was of considerable weight." said Sherlock Holmes. Further arrests may be expected at any moment. It is quite bright. between whom no word or even look of affection had ever passed. and who is the wiser?" "I did not kill him. Mr. No.

"I took our mongrel accordingly. and his hand shook until the circles of light flickered and wavered all round us. late of the 34th Bombay Infantry. Looking straight at me. and yet there is no light in his window. and looking from one to the other of us. He was wrapped in some sort of dark ulster or blanket. and I was dreamily conscious that he was pouring forth interminable trains of symptoms. and a rare one. whining eagerly. I knows all about it.""I have been working in that get-up all day. listen to this. If you do. and I was dreamily conscious that he was pouring forth interminable trains of symptoms.

 on which Sholto walked off with the treasure. Date. men. "The watch has been recently cleaned. In the corners stood carboys of acid in wicker baskets. If my future were black." said Holmes. but there is no news. followed by a stoutish. eagerly. happened to be at the Norwood Police Station."Come into the house. "we have half an hour to ourselves. and I still seem to see that little group on the step. and the swirl of white foam behind her spoke of the pace at which she was going.