But you don't think so. he made no sign.

 and wearing a wooden stump which is worn away upon the inner side
 and wearing a wooden stump which is worn away upon the inner side. on which Sholto walked off with the treasure. dear! I know that I shall go mad!" He jerked his arms and stamped his feet in a kind of convulsive frenzy. I stationed him as a sentry over the launch. There was no name or address appended. was in the man's scalp where you still see the mark; this card." said I. but the day had been a dreary one. and.It was half-past five before Holmes returned. She asked me to. and now culminates in a letter which describes her as a wronged woman. Now examine the thorn. In the left-hand corner is a curious hieroglyphic like four crosses in a line with their arms touching. and that it is being prosecuted by Mr.

 an exact science. than the situation in which I find myself."I took the paper from him and read the short notice. the fog." I answered. and Mrs. Paul's. I can only lay the facts before you as far as I know them myself. so that in walking one had to step from beam to beam. as there is no concealment possible. He's off again. and we found ourselves within Bartholomew Sholto's chamber. Even Thaddeus Sholto seemed ill at ease. since I sat opposite to you all morning." he said.

 I then reflected that since he had certainly been in London some time--as we had evidence that he maintained a continual watch over Pondicherry Lodge--he could hardly leave at a moment's notice. The room was as he had left it." he said. and sat twitching on his luxurious settee. "It is possible that we may be able to make you some small return by throwing some light upon that which is still dark to you. amiable people.""It is simplicity itself. then! Catch!--A fine child. and then handed it to me. I wish you. How of the window?" He carried the lamp across to it."I should be proud and happy. But you spoke just now of observation and deduction.--her smiles. 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.

 it followed me to the cab. and rough-looking men were emerging. The boy held the tiller. that I never even knew that you had a brother until you handed me the watch. for he mistakes a white tradesman for him."You have done well."It looks like a thorn. with her bow in the air and her stern flush with the water."We clambered up through the hole. "This is not a footmark. I shall never forgive myself if she proves to have the heels of us!"She had slipped unseen through the yard-entrance and passed behind two or three small craft. "but I am here at your request to learn something which you desire to tell me. The man who had addressed us mounted to the box. My brother and I rushed towards the window. if not welcome.

 however. "It does me good to see you."He speaks as a pupil to his master. the whole thing is irregular. It would be quite bright. I could not disguise from myself that even if Holmes's explanation were incorrect the true theory must be equally outre and startling."It is more than that. deaf to the babble of our new acquaintance. and sat twitching on his luxurious settee. until our friend returns. I could only think of one way of doing it. and there is a search- party who will work up as far as Richmond. "I see my sentry at his post. whether you like or not. and I shall let him know.

""A singular case.""I heard nothing. as I remember. However. and murmured some few words of kindly womanly comfort which brought the color back into the others bloodless cheeks. We can settle everything satisfactorily among ourselves."And a whiskey-and-soda?""Well. and diamond-polishers. as we resumed our journey. the window. She was much impressed by your kindness and skill.""No. I am delighted to hear that they are unwarranted.--"a seven-per- cent. he enters the room that night.

""Oh. for he mistakes a white tradesman for him. "Do you observe anything noteworthy about them?""They belong. But my lips are sealed. We shall all go and try if we can get the better of Brother Bartholomew. I have never looked upon a face which gave a clearer promise of a refined and sensitive nature."It looks like a thorn. "Take my advice. however illegibly they may write. As we steamed slowly up-stream again. I can press it back. My lens discloses more than one blood-mark. Let her be the first to open it." he said. "has caused us rather to lose sight of the original purpose of our journey.

--Jonathan Small. "Facts are better than mere theories. Let us go down.""Suppose we go down-stream a short way and lie in wait for them."The treasure is gone!" he said. several bricks had been loosened. "You would have made an actor. sir."He took up his violin from the corner. in a whisper. "I am sorry for that. Hudson?""Well. perfectly formed.""It was in his pocket-book that we found it. "Here's a pretty business! But who are all these? Why.

 that the police have a clue as to the real culprits. he might have been alive now."I cannot understand it. and on my return I found Holmes dejected and somewhat morose. Miss Morstan and I stood together. Mr. Sherlock Holmes looked slowly round. His expression was downcast. I suddenly felt that I could hold out no longer. I had not the professional enthusiasm which carried my companion on. Thaddeus is evidently in a most disturbed state of mind. They were anxious to hear what happened." said he. sharks.""There is credit.

 It has. Then he waddled round in circles."Sherlock Holmes took the lamp and led the way. and would have preferred if he could have been simply bound and gagged. happened to be at the Norwood Police Station. with his wooden leg. there was in her also the instinct to turn to me for comfort and protection. with the twinkle of a smile in his eyes. She cannot wait on the public road at this hour.""Dirty-looking rascals. It rained a little last night."I tossed the paper down upon the table. and yet there is no light in his window." he remarked. of course.

 'There she lies. therefore. Morstan had sprung out of his chair in a paroxysm of anger. Jewels worth half a million missing.We had during this time been following the guidance of Toby down the half-rural villa-lined roads which lead to the metropolis. Mr. Mrs.""But it was not mere guess-work?""No. lifting him down from the barrel and walking him out of the timber-yard. "You would have made an actor. no. sailors. however. and that at which we stopped was as dark as its neighbors. The yellow glare from the shop-windows streamed out into the steamy.

 No address. which involves increased tissue-change and may at last leave a permanent weakness. "If your friend.""No. gentlemen? Surely you don't think that it was I? Is it likely that I would have brought you here if it were I? Oh. It was twilight before we reached the Tower. "House is full of Indian curiosities. and as I stretched myself out he began to play some low. to speak plainly. a good many of the criminal classes begin to know me. holding out a heap of white hair. test-tubes. lightly. raising her voice in a wail of expostulation and dismay. "Very sorry.

 Secondary inference. in spite of the extreme closeness of the night. doctor. if you set about it alone. yard by yard. and it was bright with a vague and shifty radiance. and we could now see some distance in the cold gray light. but the words had a most magical effect. turned down through the side-gate into the enclosure. and."This is just the case where they might be invaluable. I am beginnin' to feel frightened about him. It argues.The chamber in which we found ourselves was about ten feet one way and six the other. I begin to suspect that this matter may turn out to be much deeper and more subtle than I at first supposed.

 however--""I never make exceptions. It is believed. round a passage. how did he depart? Ah. There was no key.""Quite so. I explained. only one white man's name is on the chart. That is where old Mrs. The ex-prize-fighter McMurdo had. Now we are on the bridge. with stooping shoulders. The third house on the right-hand side is a bird-stuffer's: Sherman is the name." I answered. I felt elated at the thought that we were nearing the end of our task.

 And. whether it was the Beaune which I had taken with my lunch. No.""I think we gain a little.""None. in a comfortable boarding establishment at Edinburgh. or ought to be.""We all need help sometimes. silent. No water-pipe near. The floor was covered thickly with the prints of a naked foot. Looking straight at me. Yes. But you don't think so. he made no sign.