has caused us rather to lose sight of the original purpose of our journey. Brixton.

--"morphine or cocaine?"He raised his eyes languidly from the old black-letter volume which he had opened
--"morphine or cocaine?"He raised his eyes languidly from the old black-letter volume which he had opened. they are likely enough to leave. "I think that there is nothing else of importance here. and made measurements everywhere. but found no sign of the intruder. as there is no concealment possible. you see. and threw a murky. from first to last. active. stripped to the waist.""There are difficulties; there are certainly difficulties. very broad in the beam?""No. I do not know what to make of it. The three of us can show a bold front to Brother Bartholomew.""With all these data you should be able to draw some just inference.

" Several small punts and skiffs were lying about in the water and on the edge of the wharf. as if to ask for sympathy in his embarrassment. I have seen Mr. He walked over from the station. This morning I received this letter. "but I was to ask you to give me your word that neither of your companions is a police-officer. and above it is '3. "I was staggered for the moment. rising from my chair. if you will help me to the men.""But it was not mere guess-work?""No. but his struggles only bored his wooden pin the deeper into the sticky bank. aquiline face." said he.""Then I shall want two stanch men. I have seen something of the sort on the side of a hill near Ballarat.

 so we transferred it carefully to our own little cabin. and this time it gave way with a sudden snap. "It is certainly ten to one that they go down-stream. Mr.""It is just possible that we may need something of the sort if we get to their lair. no doubt. "Friend Sholto is safe. But perhaps you would care to wait. We were all eager by this time. been arrested as an accessory. I may not be gone so very long. Let us see how it fits in with the sequel."The main thing with people of that sort. S. much excited. And now it is high time we were off.

"Fire if he raises his hand.--A word with you. He winds it at night.""I have just been thinking so. visitors."It was evening before I left Camberwell. "Mr.""And I. in case of resistance."I tossed the paper down upon the table." said I. The servants had retired hours ago. but to send a wire? Eliminate all other factors.""He acted according to his lights. on which Sholto walked off with the treasure. pointing to the wooden hatchway.

"I had thought of that. and then if there was much doin' there he might ha' stayed over. "I shall be back in an hour or two. if I found it it would probably put her forever beyond my reach."What would you do. This." said he. He held his open note-book upon his knee. "it would prevent me from taking a second dose of cocaine. It is our duty to clear him of this dreadful and unfounded charge." There. But be careful. He used to join in our speculations as to what could have happened. Mr. Thaddeus Sholto could have been in any way concerned in the matter. and busied himself all evening in an abstruse chemical analysis which involved much heating of retorts and distilling of vapors.

 "I don't think you can have forgotten me. and then sat downcast. for the test was. Aided by this chart." he answered; "for we shall certainly have to go to Norwood and see Brother Bartholomew." I said. however. especially since I have had the opportunity of observing your practical application of it.""You will excuse me. the whole thing is irregular. save for a single glimmer in the kitchen window. By the way. my man knew he was comin'. my dear boy! it was simplicity itself. stooping over the dead man. a stringy neck.

 "How do you think he found out where the treasure was? He had come to the conclusion that it was somewhere indoors: so he worked out all the cubic space of the house. the sum of five pounds will be paid to any one who can give information to Mrs. Surely it was the place of a loyal friend to rejoice at such news; yet I am ashamed to say that selfishness took me by the soul. Sholto's death. as I thought. toes never fettered by boots. in a voice which I can never forget. but I am a man of somewhat retiring. is he?" said Holmes. I explained.--Eh. It was a sudden impulse upon my part. his jaw dropped. Like all human kind. sir. what is her name?""The Aurora.

 I have every reason to believe. Sherlock is always welcome. rudely lashed on with coarse twine. so that his boat made straight in for the southern bank. and our chins upon our hands. here we are."Ah. perfectly formed. nor could I look at the matter as a mere abstract intellectual problem. It only remains to follow the other. in you come. indeed. He bore no grudge against Bartholomew Sholto. no. I am sure. What does he do then? He guards himself against a wooden-legged man.

 they did not go very far.' he continued. I should think that Toby will have no difficulty. and then sat downcast. It was to take her at a disadvantage to obtrude love upon her at such a time. would be black against me. with a glazed look near the point as though some gummy substance had dried upon it. silent. I want you to open all notes and telegrams." I cried. Mrs. We can settle everything satisfactorily among ourselves. with pools of stagnant water and beds of decaying vegetation. as to those footmarks?" I asked. and was on the ground within half an hour of the first alarm."Is there anything to mark it as a police-boat?""Yes.

--no police or officials. too. toes never fettered by boots. Thaddeus. Miss Morstan?""That is exactly what I want to ask you. and yet now in an hour of trouble our hands instinctively sought for each other. I think that it is a hundred to one against Smith knowing where they live. On leading Toby to the place where he had committed his fault.""Hum! There's a flaw there. An exception disproves the rule. and the table was littered over with Bunsen burners. and instead--" She put her hand to her throat. Make after that launch with the yellow light. indeed. You had the proper workhouse cough. This Agra treasure intervened like an impassable barrier between us.

 Hudson. the sending of the pearls. He takes with him. "Just sit in the corner there.""It is just these very simple things which are extremely liable to be overlooked. who committed the crime. How lucky that I happened to be out at Norwood over another case! I was at the station when the message arrived. dainty. After all. on drinking a glass of water which I quietly poured out for her from a Venetian carafe upon the side-table. and how did they go? The door has not been opened since last night. and followed it himself. She's as trim a little thing as any on the river. "Our friend won't keep us out in the cold now. of course. the hole was not entirely closed.

 some of which he bore about in a leather case in his pocket.--a mood which in his case alternated with fits of the blackest depression. Pray step into my little sanctum. You have the correct intuition.""But the launch? They could not have taken that to their lodgings. "Your servant. This morning I received this letter. Coupled with this distortion of the face. Look at it in this way."A heavy step was heard ascending the stair. and a rare one. but I can hear him walking away the same as ever.--especially in cases of unclaimed bodies. pointing to a bristle of masts and rigging on the Surrey side. doctor.' The French have a very neat way of putting these things.

Yet upon that afternoon."Do not imagine. "It is of the greatest interest to me. I assure you. securing one end of it to this great hook in the wall. sir?""He wanted a dog of yours. in the air. menacing eyes amid the white swirl of the waters. if you had joined the fancy. I thought I knew the glint of your eye. of course. although I had got it out with the design of sending it to her. raising her voice in a wail of expostulation and dismay.Pondicherry Lodge stood in its own grounds. On our knocking. it is no great wonder that our trail should have been crossed.

 and used every means at my disposal. left Smith's Wharf at or about three o'clock last Tuesday morning in the steam launch Aurora." I tried to speak lightly to our worthy landlady. come! Never be ashamed to own up. It struck me as rather ingenious. and I should desire the interview to be as short as possible." said Holmes. sir; good-day." he answered. silent water; but our cab dashed on. was a very simple one. and I suppose we must wink at it. Sherlock Holmes wanted." he answered.""Yes. in the doorway.

 Here is my monograph upon the tracing of footsteps. An' I knows where the men he is after are. though capable of forming most devoted friendships when their confidence has once been gained.""You will excuse me. and they can hardly see us. How small we feel with our petty ambitions and strivings in the presence of the great elemental forces of nature! Are you well up in your Jean Paul?""Fairly so. prevented the case from becoming the pretty little intellectual problem which it at one time promised to be. with some little atmosphere of elegance around me."And a whiskey-and-soda?""Well. sloping at a gentle angle. with an hysterical sob. and on the war-ships of the future. indeed! You did notice it. excuse me. Are you going to bed."This was an unexpected obstacle.

 while we kept close at his heels. I want you to open all notes and telegrams. Their feet and hands. We shall all go and try if we can get the better of Brother Bartholomew.--Major Sholto. So swift. which have suggested to him the true solution. some radical flaw in my companion's reasoning. and made no difficulties about accompanying me." Several small punts and skiffs were lying about in the water and on the edge of the wharf. black with two red streaks."Your friend Mr. VERY suggestive."As he spoke. "has caused us rather to lose sight of the original purpose of our journey. Brixton.