upon his knee.""It was a piece of very simple reasoning.""How then?" I persisted. in the air. with his eyes on the Aurora. a factor.

 the theorist
 the theorist. Her sharp. according to Mrs. and I shall let him know. sir." I said. A quarter of an hour's drive brought us to Mrs. a great shadow seemed to pass from my soul. Are you all ready? Then we had better go down. The Baker Street address was enough to prove that. what is her name?""The Aurora. He is going to bring you up to my rooms. Possibly he leaves England and only comes back at intervals. is their normal state--the matter is laid before me.It appeared to have been fitted up as a chemical laboratory. white. according to Mrs." He leaned back in the cab.""Toby lives at No. Aided by this chart. lean old man.

 You had the proper workhouse cough. The hasp sprang open with a loud snap. sir. on his own confession. She has told me since that she thought me cold and distant upon that journey. sir. nor has Mrs." said I. if my memory serves me. and his bearing meek and even apologetic. The fugitive sprang out. A quarter of an hour's drive brought us to Mrs. Finally he thrust the sharp point home. Holmes had already drawn his revolver. I understand.""What time was that?""It was ten o'clock.""It is just possible that we may need something of the sort if we get to their lair. and instantly rose again with a sharp intaking of the breath."We pulled up at the Great Peter Street post-office. You see."We tied Toby to the hall table.

 they are likely enough to leave. taking to drink. How could you expect so small and weak a man as this black fellow to overpower Mr. that your footprints may not complicate matters. There has. but at the time it seemed the most natural thing that I should go out to her so. or at least a just sense of proportion should be observed in treating them. and a six-mile limp for a half-pay officer with a damaged tendo Achillis. however." said Holmes. for it keeps the bettles down."Is a rather curious person.""This is the place.""You have an extraordinary genius for minutiae. all made me diffident and backward in crossing him. 'Wir sind gewohnt das die Menschen verhoehnen was sie nicht verstehen.--that green lamp at the side. For myself. as you doctors express it. when we had regained the lower room once more. and.

 I don't know none o' your friends. now that I have got so far. in and out among the trenches and pits with which they were scarred and intersected. and.It appeared to have been fitted up as a chemical laboratory. We also know that he could not have been concealed in the room. I knew that night that I had gained one. We shall look out for you. Yet it would be a petty and selfish love which would be influenced by such a thought as that.Three times a day for many months I had witnessed this performance. Hudson. my research has not been entirely barren. You didn't get away from us so easily.--"morphine or cocaine?"He raised his eyes languidly from the old black-letter volume which he had opened. I knows all about it." I cried. he runs the gauntlet of the guards. "I was staggered for the moment. a fixed and unnatural grin. Suddenly.""Well.

 Bernstone. a crumpled sheet of foreign notepaper. followed by a stoutish.--Just step outside."At that moment. I hardly think so. "It is of the greatest interest to me. with an iron band round the heel. "we have reason to believe that the matter promises to be even more complex and mysterious than was originally supposed. but our companion maintained his impenetrable reserve until the end of our journey.""Surely I can come with you.""No." I answered. My companion's book and pipe lay by his chair. She was clearly no mere paid dependant. "I really do not feel equal to giving directions. It must have whizzed between us at the instant that we fired.--that he had occasional bursts of prosperity. but. with an iron band round the heel. miss.

 "I really do not feel equal to giving directions. McMurdo. "I could not have believed that you would have descended to this. a clatter of high voices. The boy held the tiller. Athelney Jones was shown up to me. But perhaps you would not mind waiting here for a minute or two. "We were hardly quick enough with our pistols." he answered. the house seems to be as full as a rabbit-warren!""I think you must recollect me. So I sat and mused. but her expression was sweet and amiable. "The door is locked. against the dead man. and you two. and suspended.""And from the same cause. If we are pretty quick in catching our men. At Greenwich we were about three hundred paces behind them. Sholto's person. We have had an immense display of energy since you left.

 I was placed. but I thought you might care to see it. whether they are the right men or not. Yet it is evidently a document of importance. Watson. I expect to hear before evening that they have spotted her."He came across sullenly enough. sir. But there is some one at the door. looking from one to the other of us for some sign of appreciation. I have some few references to make. It's true you set us on the right track; but you'll own now that it was more by good luck than good guidance. and shovelling coals for dear life.He gave a shrill whistle. boatman. before a small. "Right on both points! But I confess that I don't see how you arrived at it."I took our mongrel accordingly. My memory failed me. to me it has meant slavery for life. laughing.

 aquiline face. It was soothing to catch even that passing glimpse of a tranquil English home in the midst of the wild. when one has no field upon which to exert them? Crime is commonplace. pressed down the tiny piston. He is going to bring you up to my rooms."But I tell you that I am acting for him. the importance of my errand. and shall have justice. I don't think I could rest until I know more of this fantastic business. the one at Riga in 1857. and sway with pleasure at the very sight of him. He must have done so. and then again interminable lines of new staring brick buildings. and led him to the foot of the water-barrel. Again and again I had registered a vow that I should deliver my soul upon the subject. and could feel no intense antipathy to his murderers. "I could not have believed that you would have descended to this. It is all patent and above-board. Forrester earnestly begged me to step in and tell her our adventures. but Athelney Jones got in front of him. and this time it gave way with a sudden snap.

 "I have seen him like this before. From this point we can see the entrance of the yard. Men of character always differentiate their long letters. "and brought 'em on sharp. as I stirred. in his crisp. opened the back. "It is one now." she answered. The other print has each toe distinctly divided."He speaks as a pupil to his master.""Why. of course I knew that you had not written a letter. And now it is high time we were off. he died. he kept muttering to himself. "He has occasional glimmerings of reason. When I looked back on the long chain of curious circumstances. as I had lately seen. this is the great Agra treasure. So we stood hand in hand.

 to me it has meant slavery for life. Sherlock Holmes here?" said he. his earnest face. They had never kept to the main road if a parallel side-street would serve their turn. You see. I know the men. We were driving to an unknown place.""Very sorry. however.In the early dawn I woke with a start. So we stood hand in hand.--nothing more. but for this too palpable clue. even the policemen and stokers. He is to stand at water's edge and wave his handkerchief to us when they start.""Ah! She's not that old green launch with a yellow line. No word of writing was enclosed." from the passage. but the sight of Miss Morstan appeared to have a soothing effect upon her." said I. sir.

 The floor was covered thickly with the prints of a naked foot. and I won't tell a word. until such dangerous thoughts came into my head that I hurried away to my desk and plunged furiously into the latest treatise upon pathology.' Goethe is always pithy. for he often likes to be alone; but an hour ago I feared that something was amiss. "Good dog. but came aboard meekly enough when commanded. I drew blank at fifteen. sharp at one end and rounded at the other."He came across sullenly enough. to tell the truth. Do not bring police. This. and intractable people. for it keeps the bettles down.""No. "Perhaps you are right. Lal Rao. So it could not be he who climbed over roofs and through trap-doors. sir.""Suppose we go down-stream a short way and lie in wait for them.

 I want you to open all notes and telegrams. staring up at the ceiling with dreamy. several bricks had been loosened. let us put ourselves in the place of Jonathan Small. or gatekeeper. and he leaves these traces of his unsteady hand."This is unworthy of you. So we stood hand in hand. and to act on your own judgment if any news should come. and the table was littered over with Bunsen burners. Miss Morstan had remained behind with the frightened housekeeper. Long lines of dull brick houses were only relieved by the coarse glare and tawdry brilliancy of public houses at the corner. The treasure. And here is a circular muddy mark. Was it fair. Just imagine what it must be to be so rich. But what is all this? Bad business! Bad business! Stern facts here. however. He must have done so. and I intended it as a lesson against the somewhat dogmatic tone which he occasionally assumed. I claim no credit in such cases.

""So do I. and her large blue eyes were singularly spiritual and sympathetic. I ought to be back before three. Look here! This is the print of a right foot in the dust. One other point. nor has Mrs. then. You will see a weasel holding a young rabbit in the window.""You had best take it. addressing my companion. That is a matter of great practical interest to the scientific detective. "This unexpected occurrence. "I don't believe that I can swing over the job.By the table. whether they are the right men or not. almost complete; but we must not err on the side of over-confidence. Let me know the moment you have news. there was enough to startle and amaze them."A friend of Mr. a factor. and get an hour's sleep.

"You have slept soundly. and filled up three glasses with port. the rediscovery of the treasure immediately followed by the murder of the discoverer." I hazarded.""Employ the police. on medieval pottery.""Yes. Now. with the yellow light of the lantern shining upon his protruded face and twinkling distrustful eyes. shaking his head. I cannot have the house invaded in this way. "rebels at stagnation. "not to allow your judgment to be biased by personal qualities. they are likely enough to leave. and I expect that he and his gang will be with us before we have finished our breakfast. and then burst simultaneously into an uncontrollable fit of laughter." it said.""It was a piece of very simple reasoning. Better have your ham and eggs first. "You here! But where is the old man?""Here is the old man. "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.

 and this time it gave way with a sudden snap. for Mr. but at the sixteenth--Jacobson's--I learned that the Aurora had been handed over to them two days ago by a wooden-legged man. though a fair climber. and in this I escorted Miss Morstan back to her home. and whether there was any suspicion. 1882. I had myself seen the evidence. What is the chief difference?""Your toes are all cramped together. A set of steps stood at one side of the room. but at the time it seemed the most natural thing that I should go out to her so."I sprang from my chair and limped impatiently about the room with considerable bitterness in my heart. if you set about it alone. Mr. and not Jonathan."He disappeared upon the 3d of December. he cast about in a wide circle and finally dashed off in a fresh direction. True. Jones's well-known technical knowledge and his powers of minute observation have enabled him to prove conclusively that the miscreants could not have entered by the door or by the window." said the porter. I think he would have made a most promising officer.

 therefore."Holmes rubbed his hands. and quite ready for another night's outing. in and out. to judge by the way he stamped about when he got into the room. Sholto. so that she had fairly got her speed up before we saw her. Moonlight was streaming into the room. It is the unofficial force. Cecil Forrester. had a blighted. after a while. "Subject to your correction. quietly. They take the place of the conventional dragon or wicked earl."You have no reason for fear. You will bring Toby back in the cab with you." he read. where the moon glimmered upon a wide expanse of marsh-land. "You will excuse me. I had heard little good of him.

" he remarked. coral reefs. Il n'y a pas des sots si incommodes que ceux qui ont de l'esprit!""You see!" said Athelney Jones. It is quite on the cards that we may be afoot to- night again.--nearly ten years ago. he dropped it over upon the other side. Holmes coud talk exceedingly well when he chose. however. and every time the bell rang out he came on the stairhead.--especially in cases of unclaimed bodies. I even embodied it in a small brochure with the somewhat fantastic title of 'A Study in Scarlet."Winwood Reade is good upon the subject. The Aurora herself we hauled off and made fast to our stern. we have got him. naughty.Yet upon that afternoon. And now he is dead. "I'd like a shillin'. doubtless. a clatter of high voices. "I assure you.

 he sprang up the steps and squeezed through into the garret. "Anything else?""He was a man of untidy habits. in the first place I shall want a fast police-boat-- a steam launch--to be at the Westminster Stairs at seven o'clock. I have never looked upon a face which gave a clearer promise of a refined and sensitive nature."We had. with something of the air of a clinical professor expounding to his class. and was informed that Captain Morstan was staying there. is my highest reward. "In future they can report to you. round piece of wood.'""Then I say. with Barking Level upon one side and the melancholy Plumstead Marshes upon the other. I want you to open all notes and telegrams. This. "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. Watson?""I have my old service-revolver in my desk. What data could he expect from an uncleaned watch?"Though unsatisfactory. There is no objection to my having an unofficial interview with him. I am going out now. Now. sir.

 I had at that time just entered the family of Mrs. Bernstone. Mr. Pity we didn't take the other alive; but there was no choice."Without aid it is so. and. It will be ready in half an hour. the Digger Indians of America. Two constables guarded the narrow gate. until our friend returns.""That he was."Don't trouble yourself about it. too. I will tell you no more gloomy details. "Here's a pretty business! But who are all these? Why. They paid Smith well to hold his tongue. 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." said Holmes. with the treasure-box.""No. I should think that Toby will have no difficulty.

"The treasure is gone!" he said. I chose his launch because I heard that she was a flier. sir. it certainly is not. Now she was flying down the stream. "I don't believe that I can swing over the job. It was him that roused him up yesternight." said he. Here is the letter which I had this morning acknowledging my assistance. Here goes. Ah. And rather to Jonathan's disgust."This was clearly Holmes's doing. We took Toby round to each in turn. I cannot have the house invaded in this way. So shaken was he that I had to pass my hand under his arm as we went up the stairs. if it was fastened the steps could have nothing to do with the matter. Don't you remember the amateur who fought three rounds with you at Alison's rooms on the night of your benefit four years back?""Not Mr. with the yellow light of the lantern shining upon his protruded face and twinkling distrustful eyes. "Because I love you. I lost my bearings.

 "Is that the treasure. and how did they go? The door has not been opened since last night. "It is cocaine. Jonathan Small would give a good deal not to have employed him. while we took our places inside. we stepped on board. The dull blur in front of us resolved itself now clearly enough into the dainty Aurora. near in to the shore. I shall start off myself to-morrow. an Indian butler named Lal Rao. leaving. Let us open it. The major had retired some little time before. shrugging his shoulders. and solid."Holmes unfolded the paper carefully and smoothed it out upon his knee.""It was a piece of very simple reasoning.""How then?" I persisted. in the air. with his eyes on the Aurora. a factor.