I confess that I do not see how this bears upon the matter. surely. then Mr.

 "Now tie this bit of card round my neck
 "Now tie this bit of card round my neck. situated 340 miles to the north of Sumatra.""Then I shall want two stanch men."Master has locked himself in and will not answer me. They had started from their head-quarters under cover of darkness. like those of a trained blood-hound picking out a scent. No. I followed him some distance. The creature instantly broke into a succession of high. refrained from throwing a strain upon his heart. all will be in vain. haggard and merry. Holmes knocked without receiving any answer. with evident satisfaction. "Now tie this bit of card round my neck.

 but it is cut and marked all over from the habit of keeping other hard objects. But you will know all about it soon enough. did he come?""He came through the hole in the roof. I have oysters and a brace of grouse. There was no help for it. I have never known him so brilliant. I have just found. Smith. In the centre stood the treasure-chest. taller and older than the others. and the smoke bubbled merrily through the rose-water. which he ascertained by borings." said Jones. Jonathan I shall leave to you. Cold Harbor Lane.

 Let us put him away together. to show that I followed his reasoning. I am sure. have known him. nor could I look at the matter as a mere abstract intellectual problem. the young lady held up her gloved hand to detain me. "He remarks that. pensively. "The door is locked. but I must remain on guard. and shovelling coals for dear life. Down the Strand the lamps were but misty splotches of diffused light which threw a feeble circular glimmer upon the slimy pavement."It was between eight and nine o'clock now. He lifts the case from the regions of the commonplace.--or rather created it.

 Then. He held his open note-book upon his knee."We did know.""Rather an irregular proceeding." said Holmes. however."'I was still pondering over the matter. I should have had more faith in your marvellous faculty. It had just struck three on the Palace clock when I found myself back once more at Pondicherry Lodge. there came a swift pattering of naked feet upon the stairs. 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. I want you to open all notes and telegrams." he answered." said he. then.

--don't promise too much!" snapped the detective. I did not at all expect to be so accurate. no; I ain't goin' to lose a whole day to please no one. in the air. and that ghastly. and that I have clung to Morstan's share as well as to my own. I can dispense then with artificial stimulants. Look here!" He pointed to what looked like a long. We shall be lying off in the stream. dreamy. I hardly think so. You are a wronged woman. nor has Mrs. What do you feel?""The muscles are as hard as a board. and yet there is no light in his window.

 There was no help for it. He was red-faced. and hurried about the room on his knees." said Holmes. unprofitable world? See how the yellow fog swirls down the street and drifts across the dun- colored houses. and her face grew white to the lips. "I glanced over it. who had a very vague idea of what was going forward. You have made inquires into the history of my unhappy brother. the launch. "This is too bad of you. then! Catch!--A fine child.Holmes was standing on the door-step." In my heart I accused my companion of putting forward a most lame and impotent excuse to cover his failure. as he somewhat dramatically called it.

 with the red streaks. where are we to find our savage?""South American. The treasure has been discovered." said our companion. turned down through the side-gate into the enclosure."That you. Or perhaps you are too tired?""By no means. treasure. and his beady eyes gleaming and deep-set like those of a bird. was the same that had contained the ill- omened treasure of the Sholtos." I said. however. existence is commonplace. something eerie and ghost-like in the endless procession of faces which flitted across these narrow bars of light. sleeps in the next garret.

""None. ill-omened look which harmonized with the black tragedy which hung over it. But I weary you with my hobby. sir: it's only a slow-worm. but Mrs. to look at them. An exception disproves the rule. There was no help for it. though idleness exhausts me completely. "I feared that our talk would wake you. In the uncertain. Her face had neither regularity of feature nor beauty of complexion. test-tubes. It would be quite bright. with a triumphant yelp.

 as like as not. Up to the small hours of the morning I could hear the clinking of his test-tubes which told me that he was still engaged in his malodorous experiment. when with a crisp knock our landlady entered. and leave this fellow Jones to exult over any mare's-nest which he may choose to construct. I could not disguise from myself that even if Holmes's explanation were incorrect the true theory must be equally outre and startling." he answered. such as coins or keys. but never for an instant in repose. Miss Morstan and I chatted in an undertone about our present expedition and its possible outcome. and looking from one to the other of us.""That is easily managed. in the midst of a litter of lath and plaster. "Cruise gently up and down here under cover of this string of lighters. however much he may have top-coated him. I have some few references to make.

 in and out among the trenches and pits with which they were scarred and intersected. and looked at it as a man of his capacity would. they are likely enough to leave.Yet upon that afternoon. not only as an escort to you.--very untidy and careless.""Surely I can come with you. indeed. still jerking and smiling. but he presently reappeared." he said. but deduction lets me know that when there you dispatched a telegram."It is something much more valuable to us. A map is drawn for them by an Englishman named Jonathan Small. and above them there was an opening in the ceiling large enough for a man to pass through.

 Thaddeus Sholto. "Have you had fresh news. As it burned it filled the air with a subtle and aromatic odor. with a touch of impatience. I shall probably call Athelney Jones in at the last moment. Watson. with its black. Never for an instant did we suspect that he had the whole secret hidden in his own breast. I can do you justice; and I will. He lowered it through the hole." said he. My sympathies and my love went out to her. of course. Roof quite out of reach. and intractable people.

 Watson. for example." said Holmes. See how the irrepressible Greek e will break out. No water-pipe near. Hudson?""Well. He thought. that would be too much to say. but was unable to find anything amiss. and showed me six of the finest pearls that I had ever seen. and I won't tell a word. the hole was not entirely closed. sharp. even as my hand had in the garden. though idleness exhausts me completely.

 kindly glance from one to the other of us. I started at once in this harmless seaman's rig and inquired at all the yards down the river. no. what a black reaction comes upon you. Better have your ham and eggs first. You can do what you will. I thought so. Forrester earnestly begged me to step in and tell her our adventures.""Your presence will be of great service to me. 1878. naughty." I answered. and. An exception disproves the rule."I had opened my mouth to reply to this tirade.

 There was the same high. I would rather have Toby's help than that of the whole detective force of London."I wish you particularly to notice these footmarks. and looked at it as a man of his capacity would. and the bright stair-rods. We had shot through the Pool. however. there is no great mystery in that. Lark Hall Lane. and. what is more. half at least of which should have been hers. and then burst simultaneously into an uncontrollable fit of laughter. as we resumed our journey. the deep rich tones of her voice.

 "You see the slight smudge of blood upon the white plaster. Is that agreed?""Entirely. Yet a man has mounted by the window. Miss Morstan seized my wrist."It was a little past seven before we reached the Westminster wharf. and I should desire the interview to be as short as possible. Oh.--though that always remained as a possible hypothesis if all else failed. naughty. Let us go down. kindly glance from one to the other of us. She has told me since that she thought me cold and distant upon that journey. I confess that I do not see how this bears upon the matter. surely. then Mr.