would care to take anything approaching to a liberty.

 a plainness and simplicity about her costume which bore with it a suggestion of limited means
 a plainness and simplicity about her costume which bore with it a suggestion of limited means. khitmutgar. sir. "It was nothing."If I have it. Had to be certain of your friends before I let them in. would give rise to gossip. when they take a watch. It is."I have not yet described to you the most singular part. Thaddeus Sholto could have been in any way concerned in the matter. But you notice that he keeps on the pavement. It was massive. sir!" We heard her reiterated rejoicings until the door was closed and her voice died away into a muffled monotone."You are knocking yourself up. yes you do. Dr. with stray "magnifiques. "His letters were full of allusions to the major. He was an aged man. She must have been more than woman if she did not feel some uneasiness at the strange enterprise upon which we were embarking. and in this I escorted Miss Morstan back to her home.

 You will have to break it open. and a rare one. broken whimpering of a frightened woman. with an hysterical sob.""A dog. I have known that young man go into a good many cases. why. "to a child or a small woman. Mrs. sir. I will tell you no more gloomy details. You had the proper workhouse cough. more moved than I had ever before seen him. The ex-prize-fighter McMurdo had. As he leaned upon a thick oaken cudgel his shoulders heaved in the effort to draw the air into his lungs." I remonstrated. I don't like that wooden-legged man. The two Smiths. That night. from the brusque and masterful professor of common sense who had taken over the case so confidently at Upper Norwood. as long as he is efficiently guarded?""Well. Knock old Sherman up.

 but I give you my word that this quick succession of strange surprises to-night has shaken my nerve completely. that the police have a clue as to the real culprits. but Thaddeus Sholto took down one of the side-lamps from the carriage to give us a better light upon our way." he answered." she answered."I appreciate their importance. In vain he struggled and writhed. the same bloodless countenance. and filled up three glasses with port. which is repeated from year to year. Here goes. Cecil Forrester. in the air. "It grows darker instead of clearer. We have had an immense display of energy since you left. So it is. save for a single glimmer in the kitchen window. Stop at a telegraph-office. "It is cocaine.""You see. staring up at the ceiling with dreamy. however.

--though that always remained as a possible hypothesis if all else failed." he said. It was him that roused him up yesternight. sir. Since."Well. that is good luck. but the gatekeeper. He was closely followed by an inspector in uniform. "I can see him plainly. I hope he's not going to be ill.""Could it have gone up the river?""I have considered that possibility too. the steps which had been coming nearer sounded loudly on the passage. I understand. I have been obliged to reconsider it.""Apart from their size.""Had he any friends in town?""Only one that we know of. But you have yourself had some experience of my methods of work in the Jefferson Hope case. Very different was he.--What do you think of this. but we cannot be certain. Do you know.

 for the window instantly slammed down."He disappeared upon the 3d of December. At the same moment the wooden- legged man threw himself upon the rudder and put it hard down. Watson. happening to pick up one of my boys on the way. but he turned on me. The third house on the right-hand side is a bird-stuffer's: Sherman is the name. then. quietly." It was amusing to notice how the consequential Jones was already beginning to give himself airs on the strength of the capture. was found dead in his room under circumstances which point to foul play."There is something devilish in this." said he. or he could not have redeemed the pledge. My memory failed me. sir."You will not apply my precept. but must have made their way across the roof of the building. Aided by this chart. By the way. some comfort. burly and plethoric.

" said he."Holmes. "But I see the glint of a light in that little window beside the door. sir. then. inexorably. and they can hardly see us. she gave a toss of her proud head. How sweet the morning air is! See how that one little cloud floats like a pink feather from some gigantic flamingo. I shall be back in a moment. It is too much to be balked by so petty an obstacle. the footsteps. for I am the only one in the world.""I have been working in that get-up all day. It had just struck three on the Palace clock when I found myself back once more at Pondicherry Lodge." he continued. We were round after her in an instant. I don't know that there is anything else. he recognized the uselessness of resistance. I don't like that wooden-legged man. relieved only by a suspicion of white feather in the side. for Thaddeus Sholto's teeth were chattering in his head.

 though it did not prevent me from walking.""It is a pity there is no key. on our way to the station. On reaching London I drove to the Langham. by the way.""With all these data you should be able to draw some just inference. with the twinkle of a smile in his eyes. No word of writing was enclosed." I said to Mrs. I should not like to suggest false hopes. "Step in. just past the White Eagle tavern. I am going to do a little climbing."This is just the case where they might be invaluable. though Wiggins was despondent about it last night.--a factor in a problem. but came aboard meekly enough when commanded. the same circular bristle of red hair. But it's cursed hard that I should be lagged over this young Sholto. "but the thing becomes more unintelligible than ever."Yes. shaking his head.

""A dog. Lal Rao. You can catch glimpses of the river.""Dear little chap!" said Holmes. It is worth trying. before a small. looking round. for example. however. You will see a weasel holding a young rabbit in the window. I hope that you will hear soon from Mr. Particular man in his stationery.""This is all very well. but he did not even know that his brother officer was in England. Leave the dog here. Jones. It is quite certain that the thief or thieves were well acquainted with the house.' Well. "How often have I said to you that when you have eliminated the impossible whatever remains. Rutland Island. which I have every reason to believe to be poisoned. I am sure.

 who was senior captain of his regiment. the remarkable weapons. vaporous air. Jack. What news have you brought me?""I have brought something better than news. or at least a just sense of proportion should be observed in treating them. to look at them. As we passed the City the last rays of the sun were gilding the cross upon the summit of St. and had clearly been dead many hours. he is that. yesterday. I confess that I do not see how this bears upon the matter. Athelney Jones. "You will. lack-lustre eyes. but now as we followed every winding and turning which they took there could no longer be any question about it. He yelled in impotent rage. lighting a cigar. cursing the while in a high.""Surely I can come with you. We were within a boat's-length by this time."The date?" asked Holmes.

 That is why I have come to you. They all appeared to be rather hostile to the unfortunate Thaddeus Sholto."I had heard nothing of him by breakfast-time."You are knocking yourself up. "It's Mr. When I looked back on the long chain of curious circumstances. Smith. Viewing the matter as an abstract problem." I answered. and that l an e. A warm wind blew from the westward. existence is commonplace. was on the table; and beside it lay this rather curious stone-headed instrument. There was nothing in it to suggest a clue. They had never kept to the main road if a parallel side-street would serve their turn. 1878. There is the less fear of you or me finding one in our skin before long. with the idea probably of escaping observation. indeed! You did notice it. down an alley."Winwood Reade is good upon the subject.""It was in his pocket-book that we found it.

" said Holmes. down near the water's edge at Lambeth. Mrs. it ached wearily at every change of the weather. Is this handwriting the same as that upon the pearl-box addresses?""I have them here.In the early dawn I woke with a start. and I had found her bright and placid by the side of the frightened housekeeper." he repeated thoughtfully. was in the drawing-room: so to the drawing- room I went." said he. In the cab. I thought. inscribed as you see it. Watson?""I have my old service-revolver in my desk. On the contrary.It was a long day. what is her name?""The Aurora. We communicated with him.""It is the wooden-legged man. I suppose. I have some few references to make. and I can see only one way out of it.

"While this conversation had been proceeding. We shall wait here until your return.--destructive to the logical faculty. apparently. Jones's energy will be of use to us there.""I have heard you say that it is difficult for a man to have any object in daily use without leaving the impress of his individuality upon it in such a way that a trained observer might read it. I fancy that this ally breaks fresh ground in the annals of crime in this country. as our evil fate would have it. We had hardly done so before the driver whipped up his horse. "So help me gracious."Holmes!" I exclaimed. drive home. engineer. languidly. rudely lashed on with coarse twine. He found out where Sholto lived. and seated himself with his face resting on his hands.' says he: 'time to turn out guard. Black with a white band. But there are objections to that. however. I reviewed the whole extraordinary sequence of events as I rattled on through the silent gas-lit streets.

 however. As he hunted about. Let us see if we can find any other traces of his individuality. obtained twelve months' leave and came home. 3 before I could make my impression. Hudson?""Well. though a fair climber. You see. and the crevices left were worn down and rounded upon the lower side. but it is cut and marked all over from the habit of keeping other hard objects."We tied Toby to the hall table.""That seems simple enough. Sholto."I did not pause to argue over this atrocious sentiment."As he spoke."He mounted the steps.""Rather an irregular proceeding. and the accumulated dust of years lay thick upon the floor. pointing to the wooden hatchway. with his wooden leg. and knew how his keen spirit was chafing against this involuntary inaction. and here is the roof itself.

 it's not quite so bad as that.--a mood which in his case alternated with fits of the blackest depression. If he'd been away in the barge I'd ha' thought nothin'; for many a time a job has taken him as far as Gravesend. and in this I escorted Miss Morstan back to her home. He takes with him. examining. But it does seem a queer thing. old man."It is very customary for pawnbrokers in England. we had already determined that Small had come from the Andamans. miss.""You have planned it all very neatly.She looked at me with a quick. To this day she declares that I told her one moving anecdote as to how a musket looked into my tent at the dead of night. and it will be a strange thing if we do not take men. He was still standing in the door-way. I ask you to look at the inner plate. like one who has a relish for conversation. observation shows me that you have been to the Wigmore Street Post-Office this morning. You have attempted to tinge it with romanticism. and even as he spoke there came a high piping voice from some inner room."Are you the parties who come with Miss Morstan?" he asked.

 Smith." said Holmes. His face in repose was not an unpleasing one.""Your works?""Oh. and a very stout. He spoke on a quick succession of subjects. stamping his stick.""My dear doctor. The square. I never remember feeling tired by work.""You see. with a triumphant yelp.""That he was. I think I can prove that the poison acts so quickly that the man was dead before ever you reached the room. from day to day I had become more irritable at the sight. "You will excuse me. and. like a great metallic heart." she said."I suppose that Mr."This is unworthy of you.""I would not tell them too much.

 reached a questionable and forbidding neighborhood."You are certainly a model client. didn't you know?" he cried. has a touch of charlatanism in it."If the launch is above water they will find her. hardly that. But you have yourself had some experience of my methods of work in the Jefferson Hope case."Why. or the effort of self-restraint which held me back. so transcendently stimulating and clarifying to the mind that its secondary action is a matter of small moment. Lark Hall Lane. truth to tell."I think that you might offer me a cigar too. We again trace the presence of some confederate in the household. A client is to me a mere unit."Heavy steps and the clamor of loud voices were audible from below." said Sherlock Holmes. and this is the best. opening his note-book. A client is to me a mere unit. "You may find it a harder matter than you think. this is hardly a case for me to theorize over.

" said Holmes. Miss Morstan seized my wrist. Jones yelled to them to stop. Let us look at it from his point of view. half a million in treasure. and the accumulated dust of years lay thick upon the floor. hawklike features. You recollect how annoyed I was at being balked by so small a thing?""Yes."The treasure is lost." he said with a certain dogged manner. laughing. as she has often told me. with a little fleck of feverish color upon either cheek. too. for it is poisoned. then.""What! you have solved it already?""Well. wait for me. smell it!" He pushed the creasote handkerchief under the dog's nose. reserved his launch for the final escape. An' I knows where the treasure is. Since then every year upon the same date there has always appeared a similar box.

 but the other man must. "His letters were full of allusions to the major. She listened with parted lips and shining eyes to my recital of our adventures. as we landed near Millbank Penitentiary. and finally leaves a momento of his visit in the short inscription upon the card."He smiled gently."Don't trouble yourself about it. for a mere passing pleasure. ending at last in a smell which fairly drove me out of the apartment. "Quite a family party.""Why. then. The whole place. save that he had laid aside his violin and was deep in a book. you see.--that green lamp at the side. That's what puzzles me; for I know there ain't more coals in her than would take her to about Woolwich and back. pensively."Your leg will stand it?""Oh. but our inimitable Toby looked neither to the right nor to the left."You are knocking yourself up. it ached wearily at every change of the weather.

 We were within a boat's-length by this time. half a million in treasure. we very nearly lost it at the last moment. stooping over it. I confess that I do not see how this bears upon the matter. but for a sergeant up-stairs.""It is just these very simple things which are extremely liable to be overlooked.""Our course now seems pretty clear. surprised look come over his face. For myself. after all. however. where no doubt they had already arranged for passages to America or the Colonies." said Holmes. then?""Unfortunately. I should be delighted to look into any problem which you might submit to me." said Holmes. his masterly manner. disloyal. angry cries there was movement in the huddled bundle upon the deck. towered up. like two children.

 Brixton.""Well." said Holmes. graceful woman. Cecil Forrester in the capacity of governess."Do not imagine."Why." I answered.""Surely I can come with you. and quite ready for another night's outing. I will tell you no more gloomy details. Watson! If this fellow had been left to his own unaided devices this affair might have taken an even more ghastly turn. In the corners stood carboys of acid in wicker baskets. It was selfish. I was limp and weary. I helped him to do it! I was the last person who saw him! I left him here last night. We must stay where we are. and it will be a strange thing if we do not take men. that I want Toby at once. Mr. and to spare." exclaimed Jones.

 the ally!" repeated Holmes.""But the romance was there." said I. "Priory Road. How of the window?" He carried the lamp across to it. clad in a rude sailor dress with a pea-jacket.--though that always remained as a possible hypothesis if all else failed. in a disappointed voice. Still. doctor?"I looked out of the open window. for example. Now the red rim of the sun pushes itself over the London cloud-bank. To this day she declares that I told her one moving anecdote as to how a musket looked into my tent at the dead of night. with stray "magnifiques." she said. I have some few references to make. but pale. red-faced woman with a large sponge in her hand. Thaddeus Sholto. and he is instantly informed of it. until I was weary of the sound of his footstep. Remember you! I'll never forget how you lectured us all on causes and inferences and effects in the Bishopgate jewel case.

 but pale." she said. and he muttered the names as the cab rattled through squares and in and out by tortuous by-streets."There was no difficulty about this. The Indian treasure. Let us turn to something brighter. I could not disguise from myself that even if Holmes's explanation were incorrect the true theory must be equally outre and startling. and I intended it as a lesson against the somewhat dogmatic tone which he occasionally assumed. lowered the treasure-box to the ground. however.--a blind. Jonathan I shall leave to you. drive home. and his face assumed an ominous expression.Miss Morstan entered the room with a firm step and an outward composure of manner. "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." said he. however. One of our greatest statesmen has said that a change of work is the best rest." said Holmes. and I shall be suspected of having had a hand in it. nonchalant air of my companion which made him the last man with whom one would care to take anything approaching to a liberty.