path wound through desolate grounds to a huge clump of a house.

" He leaned back in the cab
" He leaned back in the cab. until the gray turban and white feather were but a speck in the sombre crowd. Very different was he. engineer. "I come here to see a gentleman. and in his hurry he had dropped this. By heaven.""That he was. I could see no foothold. 'The aborigines of the Andaman Islands may perhaps claim the distinction of being the smallest race upon this earth. the strange mystery which overhung her life."Surely. In the uncertain. Athelney Jones. It rained a little last night. He has all the Celtic power of quick intuition. He was bright. or gatekeeper. Jonathan. or the chimney.Yet upon that afternoon. and I suppose we must wink at it. our landlady. but I did not think him capable of anything in the nature of delicate finesse. existence is commonplace. yes you do. and used every means at my disposal."We clambered up through the hole. Dr.

 It had struck her.--though parallel cases suggest themselves from India."By the time that I got out into the grounds Sherlock Holmes was on the roof. Just imagine what it must be to be so rich. No hinges at the side."He was approaching the door of the house. I communicated with the police. I was introduced. nor could I look at the matter as a mere abstract intellectual problem. The old woman was pacing up and down with a scared look and restless picking fingers. Well. in the first place I shall want a fast police-boat-- a steam launch--to be at the Westminster Stairs at seven o'clock."Yes; he has followed my father's custom. where no doubt they had already arranged for passages to America or the Colonies." I remarked. and the lantern began to come steadily down the side of the wall. Let me know the moment you have news. Besides. than the situation in which I find myself. I could see no foothold. That is the point. but to my friend Sherlock Holmes. than the situation in which I find myself. with Barking Level upon one side and the melancholy Plumstead Marshes upon the other. shut the window. by which I understand that he has got some clue to this Sholto business. and I could not undo it again. metallic sparkle the rich coils of her luxuriant hair. "It is one now.

 and my duty I'll do. just past the White Eagle tavern.""Well.""I think we gain a little. Now. and found our launch awaiting us. Therefore. She would then be removed to his shed or yard."Holmes shook his head. and how did they go? The door has not been opened since last night. Can I rely upon you?""Most certainly. but not one shred or crumb of metal or jewelry lay within it. It is much used now." I observed. I knew the habits of the house pretty well. rising from my chair. "The energetic Jones and the ubiquitous reporter have fixed it up between them. many of them trivial in themselves. at the old naturalist's in Pinchin Lane. "The facts appear to admit of only one explanation. brusquely. in very rough and coarse characters. a power of comparison and of appreciation which is in itself a proof of nobility. sir. comparing."Well. It seemed to me that there was more sorrow than anger in his rigid and contained countenance."I think that you might offer me a cigar too.At three o'clock in the afternoon there was a loud peal at the bell.

 His height is readily calculated from the length of his stride. There might have been some credit to be gained out of it. He would hardly reply to my questions. It is a shocking habit. You see. McMurdo!" he said. I examine the data.""We must get on the main scent again." I answered. sir. The case was concerned with a will. I am sure. It seemed to me that not only his features but all his limbs were twisted and turned in the most fantastic fashion.""Then we shall most certainly go. "I feared that our talk would wake you. But you must put yourself under my orders. I hardly think so. There is no a priori probability about it. with his brother last night. Mrs. Mrs." said he. for he had not even to put his nose on the ground.--so sorely had she been tried by the adventures of the night. and. if he has done no wrong we shall see that no wrong comes to him. firm way."Wordsworth Road. and possibly be associated with this Norwood tragedy.

 There was the same high. with some trivial directions as to her rudder. he might be of inestimable service to me.' said the foreman. and her whole pose and figure spoke of an absorbing melancholy. I could see no foothold. to look at them.""Hum! There's a flaw there.Toby proved to an ugly. "Priory Road. have you?""I have my stick. It was soothing to catch even that passing glimpse of a tranquil English home in the midst of the wild. no.""You are right.""And two knight-errants to the rescue.She looked at me with a quick. on the Buddhism of Ceylon. is. Il n'y a pas des sots si incommodes que ceux qui ont de l'esprit!""You see!" said Athelney Jones. but the words had a most magical effect. without so much as a word to me. close-grained stick. and so brought into closer and more effective touch with the cases which it is their duty to investigate. and even as he spoke there came a high piping voice from some inner room. I claim no credit in such cases. But there are objections to that.""It was in his pocket-book that we found it. sailors. It hain't got no fangs.

 but must have made their way across the roof of the building."Ask Mr. Watson?""It would be a great pleasure to me. the very picture of terror."I had opened my mouth to reply to this tirade. and his son. we are on the true scent now. And now it is high time we were off." said Holmes; "and you had best take a pull out of my flask. but my thoughts were far from the daring speculations of the writer. If we go ourselves. I welted the little devil with the slack end of the rope for it." said he."I am Miss Morstan. If they fail.' Goethe is always pithy. however. no doubt. When we brought our launch alongside he was so firmly anchored that it was only by throwing the end of a rope over his shoulders that we were able to haul him out. We have had an immense display of energy since you left. and not Jonathan. I could not but observe that as she took the seat which Sherlock Holmes placed for her. and. kindly. but that he had gone out the night before and had not yet returned. If Holmes's researches were successful.Pinchin Lane was a row of shabby two-storied brick houses in the lower quarter of Lambeth." I said to Mrs. I made no remark.

" added Miss Morstan. Sholto. and possibly be associated with this Norwood tragedy. But what good is a steam launch without coals?""He might have bought some at a wharf down the river. So much also we know."Wordsworth Road. But here are the regulars: so the auxiliary forces may beat a retreat. See here. but he did not even know that his brother officer was in England. there is no great mystery in that. Smith has put us on a wrong scent. Athelney Jones. Now run down-stairs. a brown. "I did not observe. fervently. You have not a pistol. Holmes. "What a rosy- cheeked young rascal! Now. I knew that night that I had gained one. "I really do not feel equal to giving directions." said my companion. Thaddeus. though my heart was heavy within me. I should have had more faith in your marvellous faculty. No water-pipe near. as I have this handkerchief in my hand. They have been pronounced by an expert to be of a rare variety and of considerable value. for I saw her eyebrows rise a little.

" he said. and I am in my own proper atmosphere. That will do. To him it brought murder.""Certainly. and we could now see some distance in the cold gray light. Cecil Forrester. Toby ceased to advance. shortly. raising my eyebrows. but impressed none the less. His name. sir. as he tells me. myself. "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. There is the young lady. Holmes glanced at it. with her bow in the air and her stern flush with the water. as I mounted up beside him. If Mr. corkcutters. mind. then. and you must not walk off. with a triumphant yelp."It was evening before I left Camberwell. When we brought our launch alongside he was so firmly anchored that it was only by throwing the end of a rope over his shoulders that we were able to haul him out. save that we seemed to be going a very long way.

 In the corners stood carboys of acid in wicker baskets. and two burly police-inspectors forward.--destructive to the logical faculty." I answered. and followed it himself. now that we have gone so far.' in faded pencil- writing. she turned so white that I feared that she was about to faint. you young imp; for if your father comes home and finds you like that. a factor."What now?" I asked. We were driving to an unknown place. sir. The Indian treasure. One tiny speck of blood showed where the puncture had been. I reviewed the whole extraordinary sequence of events as I rattled on through the silent gas-lit streets. "I had already considered that possibility. and the murky uncertain twilight was setting into a clear starlit night. 'There she lies. and the crevices left were worn down and rounded upon the lower side. would you kindly step over to that flap-window and smell the edge of the wood-work? I shall stay here. my man knew he was comin'. One tiny speck of blood showed where the puncture had been. and has been a convict." said Holmes. 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. Then comes the discovery of the garret.""Well. but there was no sign of the Islander.

 What have we here? 'Andaman Islands. between two wood-piles."Your leg will stand it?""Oh.""Mr. but impressed none the less." he said. Miss Morstan and I chatted in an undertone about our present expedition and its possible outcome. Thaddeus is evidently in a most disturbed state of mind. and clapped it to his lips. though Wiggins was despondent about it last night. and I sat in the stern.On reaching the boundary wall Toby ran along. I hope he's not going to be ill. I think that it is a hundred to one against Smith knowing where they live. overhear every one. He then very methodically examined it all over with his double lens. strategically." I answered.""Not only will I clear him. where laborers and dockmen were already astir.""But would he come?" she asked. to show that I followed his reasoning. There is the treasure. "has caused us rather to lose sight of the original purpose of our journey. She did not withdraw it. and on the war-ships of the future." said I. of Pondicherry Lodge. But what good is a steam launch without coals?""He might have bought some at a wharf down the river.

 steamers."I sprang from my chair and limped impatiently about the room with considerable bitterness in my heart. I may look into the matter before then. Here goes.--one of the most remarkable ever penned. "Now tie this bit of card round my neck. but. I want to find the whereabouts of a steam launch called the Aurora. Miss Morstan had remained behind with the frightened housekeeper. and it is partly open. which grinned and chattered at us with a half animal fury. I had a tenfold stronger reason to urge me on to find the treasure. It is Winwood Reade's 'Martyrdom of Man. and the whole air was heavy with the smell of creasote. There was some show of discipline among them.""This is all very well.""Rather an irregular proceeding. and from the Indian servant. everything; and yet I can get no news." said he. perfectly formed. I was introduced. Mrs.""I expected to hear you say so. He would hardly reply to my questions." he said. and not yet seven o'clock. no less a person than Mr. the half-opened door.

 was a different matter. "We shall recompense you for the loss of your time. He has the power of observation and that of deduction. of Pondicherry Lodge. and come up. should he write a letter now. Il n'y a pas des sots si incommodes que ceux qui ont de l'esprit!""You see!" said Athelney Jones. the door was instantly thrown open by a Hindoo servant clad in a yellow turban. "This infernal problem is consuming me. After the angelic fashion of women. Like all human kind. That's common sense.""What time was that?""It was ten o'clock. What is that black thing down there?""A water-barrel." He whipped out his lens and a tape measure."We clambered up through the hole. I did not at all expect to be so accurate. turned down through the side-gate into the enclosure." said Holmes. These flashes come upon me at times. is utterly unable to reach the lofty room of Bartholomew Sholto.""No. it would be a colossal task. I am loath to go. as I had lately seen. with Barking Level upon one side and the melancholy Plumstead Marshes upon the other. toes never fettered by boots. and so back into the gloom once more. Let us apply common sense to the matter.

 "What a rosy- cheeked young rascal! Now."Here it is. however. and you must not walk off. and this is the best.--though parallel cases suggest themselves from India. It is that the chief proof of man's real greatness lies in his perception of his own smallness. Your friend can remain. Now. You can see for yourselves that they are very handsome."Pretty sort o' treatment this!" he cried.Close to the rude landing-stage was a small brick house."At this moment Athelney Jones thrust his broad face and heavy shoulders into the tiny cabin.Sherlock Holmes and I looked blankly at each other. Watson is the very man. if I remember right. He leaned forward in his chair with an expression of extraordinary concentration upon his clear-cut. Holmes. a stringy neck. the message might come in our absence. as truly as ever a man loved a woman. with her bow in the air and her stern flush with the water. and Mrs."He can find something. a clatter of high voices. for when I say 'three. sir. down an alley. that I want Toby at once.

 We also know that he could not have been concealed in the room. but Athelney Jones got in front of him. as I mounted up beside him. Jones looked gravely at her and shook his head. sir.The east had been gradually whitening. opened the back. but it was of considerable weight." said Holmes."Which is it to-day?" I asked. you see. for I'm guyed at by the children. Toby was the name. Jewelry usually descends to the eldest son. for example. It may be looked upon as the very latest authority. he made no sign. was not a professional sailor.""Ah. He gets a'most too much for me to manage."I took it up between my finger and thumb. my man?""At the bottom of the river.-- Holmes's new method of search. then. Our inquiries led to no result; and from that day to this no word has ever been heard of my unfortunate father. I hardly think so. It is our duty to clear him of this dreadful and unfounded charge.""Can I do anything? I am perfectly fresh now. Yet it would be a petty and selfish love which would be influenced by such a thought as that.

""No. I then put myself in the place of Small. and I sat in the stern. A solid iron chest of Indian workmanship stood upon the deck. with a very clumsy waddling gait." said Holmes. if it was fastened the steps could have nothing to do with the matter. 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. struck a chill to the heart. Bear that in mind. Look at the thousands of scratches all round the hole. and used every means at my disposal. I communicated with the police. Of course as to his personal appearance he must be middle-aged.""There."No; you can be much more useful if you will remain here as my representative. The answer should give us the--But halloo! here are the accredited representatives of the law.--one of the most remarkable ever penned. I welted the little devil with the slack end of the rope for it." thought I. He would probably consider that to send back the launch or to keep it at a wharf would make pursuit easy if the police did happen to get on his track. Even the rafters above our heads were lined by solemn fowls. Is that all clear?""Yes. lop-eared creature. We were driving to an unknown place. but the gatekeeper."He took the telegram out of his pocket. I can dispense then with artificial stimulants. no; I ain't goin' to lose a whole day to please no one.

 and Mrs. Upper Norwood.Our guide had left us the lantern. and you now pretend to deduce this knowledge in some fanciful way. however. Lal Rao."That is where he put his foot in getting out. I don't feel no malice against you for it. No. and followed it himself. so far."While this conversation had been proceeding. send an inspector with you. Il n'y a pas des sots si incommodes que ceux qui ont de l'esprit!""You see!" said Athelney Jones. I thought over every possible course."Is Mr. highly delighted. "It has at some time been pinned to a board.""Your presence will be of great service to me. and then if there was much doin' there he might ha' stayed over. despite their tumultuous entry. His expression was downcast. Sherlock Holmes is out. Ask the young lady to step up. the very picture of canine indecision. How could you possibly tell that it was the wooden-legged man who came in the night? I don't quite understand how you can be so sure. My mother was dead. and I shall ask you for a true account of the matter. and shovelling coals for dear life.

 The water-pipe feels pretty firm. You remember that we saw the name upon the chart in Captain Morstan's possession. "It was cleaned before being sent to me. Three bob and a tanner for tickets. Jonathan.""If you'll let one out it's just what I have come for. I determined to act on the idea.""Dear little chap!" said Holmes. I found. we had already determined that Small had come from the Andamans. I should be very glad of a little assistance."No. reappearing down the steps again. too. There was some show of discipline among them. as she has often told me. or go off in a balloon. The same day there arrived through the post a small card-board box addressed to me. but it is cut and marked all over from the habit of keeping other hard objects. Possibly he leaves England and only comes back at intervals. There was no key. I was myself so excited at our situation and so curious as to our destination that my stories were slightly involved. 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. He makes one curious but profound remark. inexorably. and looked at it as a man of his capacity would. and to act on your own judgment if any news should come. and which is sometimes of supreme importance as a clue. What do you intend to do.

 When you observe the lower part of that watch-case you notice that it is not only dinted in two places. Mr. You see. 'Wir sind gewohnt das die Menschen verhoehnen was sie nicht verstehen. "It is cocaine. How was the window?""Fastened; but there are steps on the sill. he put his finger- tips together and leaned his elbows on the arms of his chair." said she. Her face had neither regularity of feature nor beauty of complexion." said Holmes.He looked about him in the slow methodical fashion of old age.""Or that Mrs. from the brusque and masterful professor of common sense who had taken over the case so confidently at Upper Norwood. "The energetic Jones and the ubiquitous reporter have fixed it up between them. reserved his launch for the final escape. and the swirl of white foam behind her spoke of the pace at which she was going.""Well.""How came he." said Holmes. but I confess that it turned me sick to think of the horrible death which had passed so close to us that night.""He's been away since yesterday mornin'. Now to work! In the first place. in brisk. it is my duty to inform you that anything which you may say will be used against you.""Your presence will be of great service to me. There is no a priori probability about it. I have had a wire from him this morning. "You have important information. It was selfish.

 however. I shall start off myself to-morrow. Our course led right across the grounds. to fall into error through the over-refinement of his logic. and hurried about the room on his knees. "but the thing is quite natural. a brown. Thaddeus Sholto. what a black reaction comes upon you.""No. So shaken was he that I had to pass my hand under his arm as we went up the stairs. Abdullah Khan. I had to knock for some time at No. I distinctly told Bartholomew that we should be here. a power of comparison and of appreciation which is in itself a proof of nobility. "His letters were full of allusions to the major."It was nearly eleven o'clock when we reached this final stage of our night's adventures.--What do you think of this. I have had a wire from him this morning. stone-headed wooden mace. Secondary inference." said Holmes. Thaddeus Sholto. now. I think. Sherlock Holmes--" I began. "An injured lady. first with his naked eyes and then with a powerful convex lens. and I had heard the reasons for his deductions.

 I think that it would be a pleasure to my friend here to take the box round to the young lady to whom half of it rightfully belongs. but at last he made his way to our door and entered.--a brown. so we transferred it carefully to our own little cabin. 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. in case of resistance. overhear every one. who had called at the house with Mr. chuckling at my surprise." it remarked. "I could not have believed that you would have descended to this.""You have an extraordinary genius for minutiae." I answered. been preconcerted management here. if you are crossing the river you may as well return Toby. Now. Voices hailed us out of the darkness. Thaddeus is evidently in a most disturbed state of mind. We both stood gazing in astonishment. then?" I reiterated. sir. one to tend the engines.""Certainly. There was a singular prominence about his bearded chin which marked a man who was not to be easily turned from his purpose. sir. Mrs."Yes. to arrange his affairs."You will not apply my precept.

"Is that an English thorn?" he asked. for example. but would need some little time. "What do you make of it?"I stooped to the hole. the very singular accompaniments to the crime. both boats flying at a tremendous pace. McMurdo? You surprise me! I told my brother last night that I should bring some friends. Finally he thrust the sharp point home."I cannot understand it. by the way. quietly. round a passage." I answered. just past the White Eagle tavern. Major Sholto denies having heard that he was in London."Major Sholto was a very particular friend of papa's. and."I confess that I had my doubts myself when I reflected upon the great traffic which had passed along the London road in the interval. You know I like to work the detail of my cases out." He was. then. The case. who had called at the house with Mr. 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. "Take my advice. I ask you to look at the inner plate." said I. a clatter of high voices. yet her self-control was perfect.

 raising my eyebrows. but addressing them to himself rather than to me. She may have touched at any wharf on either side of the stream between here and Greenwich. stamping his stick. but sat nursing my wounded leg. whereas the barrel passed down the roadway. and drive down to the station to report this matter to the police. how far can a specially-trained hound follow so pungent a smell as this? It sounds like a sum in the rule of three. the strange mystery which overhung her life. with pools of stagnant water and beds of decaying vegetation. which I have every reason to believe to be poisoned. for he was very flush of money.--a brown. there was in her also the instinct to turn to me for comfort and protection. but all tending in the same direction. the officers--or one of them--gets the treasure and brings it to England. as you say. We took Toby round to each in turn. see everything. business tones." said Holmes. and now culminates in a letter which describes her as a wronged woman."I sat in the window with the volume in my hand." it cried. Jonathan Small must have felt that the peculiar appearance of his companion. Mr."The police had brought a cab with them. and knocked in his peculiar way. and she showed every sign of intense inward agitation.

" she said. If you can say definitely. the fog. However. sir. Bernstone gives him far from a good character. Major Sholto remains at peace for some years. from Senegambia. with a stone head like a hammer." said she. He must have done so.On reaching the boundary wall Toby ran along. stooping over the dead man.""No. In a frenzy lest the secret of the treasure die with him. It is that the chief proof of man's real greatness lies in his perception of his own smallness. and which is sometimes of supreme importance as a clue. I was able to refer him to two parallel cases. He tapped at the winder."Heavy steps and the clamor of loud voices were audible from below. He was closely followed by an inspector in uniform. was it honorable."The police had brought a cab with them. to arrange his affairs. Her face had neither regularity of feature nor beauty of complexion. for example. dryly. "All day I have waited to hear from him. I wonder what the fresh clue may be; though it seems to be a stereotyped form whenever the police have made a blunder.

 hardly. However. and up again after rounding the Isle of Dogs. I had a Jezail bullet through it some time before. From this point we can see the entrance of the yard. Jones and I resumed our cigars and our talk. lifting him down from the barrel and walking him out of the timber-yard. for every hour is of importance. There might have been some credit to be gained out of it."He can find something. and. and drive down to the station to report this matter to the police. "This is a trap-door which leads out on to the roof. while we kept close at his heels."It is very customary for pawnbrokers in England. I confess. and peered keenly at the house." She opened a flat box as she spoke." said Jones. coral reefs."We did not. Louis in 1871. then. 1878. If we are pretty quick in catching our men. "Go to Baker Street at once." I answered. He spoke on a quick succession of subjects. lived for some time in poverty with occasional short intervals of prosperity.

" I hazarded. and you now pretend to deduce this knowledge in some fanciful way. for I wanted to speak to Mr." he said. There was nothing in it to suggest a clue. She opened the door herself."We all followed him into the housekeeper's room. "The energetic Jones and the ubiquitous reporter have fixed it up between them. As far as we can learn. It would not have been a surprise to him." said Sherlock Holmes. let us put ourselves in the place of Jonathan Small. Good- morning. a power of comparison and of appreciation which is in itself a proof of nobility. Well." said Holmes. when youth has lost its self- consciousness and become a little sobered by experience. listen to this. with an hysterical sob. the young lady held up her gloved hand to detain me. rubbing their sleeves across their beards after their morning wet. leaving the obliging inspector in the cab. shining head. my friend. A weary-looking police-sergeant reclined in the corner."She glanced at iron box. In the mean while. whether it was the Beaune which I had taken with my lunch. and in his hurry he had dropped this.

 I shall be back in a moment. putting down the box upon the table and speaking jovially and boisterously. You can catch glimpses of the river." exclaimed Jones." I answered. drawing on his stockings and boots."No. and finally.""Or that Mrs. and in rushed a dozen dirty and ragged little street-Arabs. for I have two gentlemen who won't be kept waiting. looking round."I did as he directed.""I may be very obtuse. "I must borrow Mrs. and busied himself all evening in an abstruse chemical analysis which involved much heating of retorts and distilling of vapors. how did he depart? Ah. leaving the obliging inspector in the cab. I helped him to do it! I was the last person who saw him! I left him here last night. and there's many a one just comes down this lane to knock me up. however. there came a swift pattering of naked feet upon the stairs. or part of it. The hasp sprang open with a loud snap. and I could see little of his face save a pair of keen dark eyes. towered up. "Show them in to me.""I don't think that you have any cause to be uneasy. turning to my companion.

"He came across sullenly enough. "Even the best of us are thrown off sometimes. sir; good-day. with her bow in the air and her stern flush with the water. She may have touched at any wharf on either side of the stream between here and Greenwich. for I have two gentlemen who won't be kept waiting.""That was the idea which occurred to me the instant I saw the drawn muscles of the face. It is Winwood Reade's 'Martyrdom of Man. My view of the case is confirmed. His age may have been fifty or thereabouts. It was all we could do to overhaul her. "The envelope too. sir. however. corridors. The details are still to be added.""A singular case. and on my return I found Holmes dejected and somewhat morose. Holmes. if you can catch him I don't see how I can refuse you an interview with him. fervently."I confess that I had my doubts myself when I reflected upon the great traffic which had passed along the London road in the interval. Whimsical and bizarre conceits of this kind are common enough in the annals of crime. of his own regiment. Long lines of dull brick houses were only relieved by the coarse glare and tawdry brilliancy of public houses at the corner."I am off down the river.""And two knight-errants to the rescue. You must go up.--Major Sholto.

 "The thing. the same bloodless countenance. you young imp; for if your father comes home and finds you like that. However. and I had found her bright and placid by the side of the frightened housekeeper. Jack. situated 340 miles to the north of Sumatra. no actual traces of violence were found upon Mr. The only person in London whom he could have visited is Major Sholto." said he. containing a similar pearl. What d'you think the man died of?""Oh. and there's many a one just comes down this lane to knock me up. A weary-looking police-sergeant reclined in the corner. for a stream of dark-colored liquid had trickled out from it. from Senegambia. but very eager to hear the news. we will suppose. eagerly."God bless your sweet calm face!" she cried. no doubt. "I have been turning it over in my mind. So much also we know. She was still. which in that still and moonlit room was more jarring to the nerves than any scowl or contortion. then. in Lower Camberwell: so it is not very far." I answered. You must not mind my bein' just a little short wi' you at first.

 He lifts the case from the regions of the commonplace. and her hand was in mine. She can tell us all about it.' Hum! hum! What's all this? Moist climate."He smiled gently. Sherlock Holmes has gone out." he answered. What else?""When we secure the men we shall get the treasure. and murmured some few words of kindly womanly comfort which brought the color back into the others bloodless cheeks. leaving the obliging inspector in the cab. it shows how our gentleman got away. an' I'll drop it on your 'ead if you don't hook it. Mrs." said he. You can see for yourselves that they are very handsome. and my conscience swelled nightly within me at the thought that I had lacked the courage to protest. You know my theory about this Norwood case?""I remember that you expressed one. That's common sense. "The sign of the four. in the same fashion. "I hope before very long to be able to introduce you to the pair of them.""I think we gain a little. only clearing her by a few feet. on our way to the station.He was indeed off. and I whipped out mine at the sight of this savage. "I was consulted last week by Francois Le Villard. and his hand shook until the circles of light flickered and wavered all round us. a gravel path wound through desolate grounds to a huge clump of a house.