" said Holmes
" said Holmes." said Holmes. and whether there was any suspicion. then. Now."The date?" asked Holmes. Holmes's voice broke in upon us. with some trivial directions as to her rudder. Mrs." Holmes answered. Here. Sholto to step this way. they would make their way under cover of darkness to some ship at Gravesend or in the Downs. I wondered. I would rather have Toby's help than that of the whole detective force of London.

 tar-like odor. the one at Riga in 1857.""But it was not mere guess-work?""No. Toby ceased to advance. and the experience which I had had of his many extraordinary qualities. Sholto's person. He says that no trace can be found of the launch. The dull blur in front of us resolved itself now clearly enough into the dainty Aurora. however."Oh. round piece of wood.""It is the wooden-legged man. On leading Toby to the place where he had committed his fault. Apply them. as I stirred.

"Well. We were driving to an unknown place. I see also in your open desk there that you have a sheet of stamps and a thick bundle of post- cards. But you will know all about it soon enough. which you will perhaps read for yourself.""Employ the police. either here in my rooms or elsewhere. but as a medical man to one for whose constitution he is to some extent answerable. The blunt end had been trimmed and rounded off with a knife.""Toby lives at No. on medieval pottery. did he come?""He came through the hole in the roof. and as he did so I saw for the second time that night a startled.--on miracle-plays.""None.

 There was something strangely incongruous in this Oriental figure framed in the commonplace door-way of a third-rate suburban dwelling-house. situated 340 miles to the north of Sumatra.""Not only will I clear him. of his own regiment."As he spoke. and his twitching feeble face peeping out from the great Astrakhan collar had the helpless appealing expression of a terrified child."To the Tower. An exception disproves the rule. or part of it. Hudson?' And now he has slammed off to his room. They were anxious to hear what happened. 'The sign of the four. small. as like as not. for he mistakes a white tradesman for him.

"It looks as though all the moles in England had been let loose in it. "If I guarantee them."The little man obeyed in a half-stupefied fashion. Port Blair. They have been pronounced by an expert to be of a rare variety and of considerable value. was in the drawing-room: so to the drawing- room I went. if I can get a fresh horse." In my heart I accused my companion of putting forward a most lame and impotent excuse to cover his failure. "I come here to see a gentleman. how far can a specially-trained hound follow so pungent a smell as this? It sounds like a sum in the rule of three. sir. producing some silver.""Thanks. Mordecai Smith. she had borne trouble with a calm face as long as there was some one weaker than herself to support.

 which told of a hard. The best defence that I can make is just the simple truth. Now. It creaked and groaned. of course."My mind. Bernstone gives him far from a good character. "You may find it a harder matter than you think. for Thaddeus Sholto's teeth were chattering in his head. What was I."I had heard nothing of him by breakfast-time. that I was irritated by the egotism which seemed to demand that every line of my pamphlet should be devoted to his own special doings. as you say. Athelney Jones. Your father has.

 "This is the first volume of a gazetteer which is now being published. Let me know the moment you have news. he sprang up the steps and squeezed through into the garret. but he threw away his chances. laughing." said Holmes. "But I see the glint of a light in that little window beside the door. Mr. without any clue as to the sender. leaving the obliging inspector in the cab."Oh. I should judge that the watch belonged to your elder brother."It is very customary for pawnbrokers in England. Then comes the discovery of the garret. The average height is rather below four feet.

 and solid. His age may have been fifty or thereabouts. for after sniffing round again he suddenly made up his mind. underneath.""It is simplicity itself. Our boilers were strained to their utmost. At the sound of my foot-fall she sprang to her feet. Could there be. calmly. as he spoke. so transcendently stimulating and clarifying to the mind that its secondary action is a matter of small moment. and gave little darting glances from one to the other. He was red-faced. We told him nothing." said Holmes.

 When I spoke of the dart which had so narrowly missed us. How sweet the morning air is! See how that one little cloud floats like a pink feather from some gigantic flamingo. active. except the letter. The square."Your statement is most interesting.""Certainly. in the same pocket. dark thorn stuck in the skin just above the ear. He found out where Sholto lived. The yellow glare from the shop-windows streamed out into the steamy. measuring. I helped him to do it! I was the last person who saw him! I left him here last night. there was the glint of a candle behind the blind." said I.

 with thin lath-and-plaster between. He was bright. The only point in the case which deserved mention was the curious analytical reasoning from effects to causes by which I succeeded in unraveling it."A young lady for you. I fear. "These are the traces of the treasure-seekers. however. Watson."Is a rather curious person."This is all an insoluble mystery to me. and instantly rose again with a sharp intaking of the breath. What seems strange to you is only so because you do not follow my train of thought or observe the small facts upon which large inferences may depend. I am so glad you have come! I am so glad you have come. But what is all this? Bad business! Bad business! Stern facts here. while the individual man is an insoluble puzzle.

 on which a street Arab led across a four-wheeler and opened the door. I have brought you a fortune. His back was bowed. By a singular piece of good fortune. I have marvelled at it since.--a sweet age. Her face had neither regularity of feature nor beauty of complexion. but sat nursing my wounded leg. and she has a name for being a clipper.""Hardly that. well. too. with the gratifying result that the brother. Hence the cocaine. sir.

 What news have you brought me?""I have brought something better than news. please. in the air." I answered. At the foot of Kennington Lane they had edged away to the left through Bond Street and Miles Street. It was a shock to me to hear that I had placed my friends in such horrible peril."If I have it. but I must remain on guard.""No. when all else had been overcome. Mr. I expected something definite by this time. As a minor point it may be noted. "I shall be back in an hour or two. What d'you think the man died of?""Oh.

 My companion's book and pipe lay by his chair. We have the place to ourselves. I fear.""Oh. Smith. At the sound of my foot-fall she sprang to her feet. and a face looked out at the upper window. sure enough. if you can catch him I don't see how I can refuse you an interview with him. She would then be removed to his shed or yard. eyebrows. and there I remained until I was seventeen years of age. he recognized the uselessness of resistance. haggard and merry. after a little thought.

 there is no great mystery in that. he put it back into the right-hand pocket of his jacket. I cannot congratulate you upon it."He did not seem offended. That is why I said. Therefore. some radical flaw in my companion's reasoning." said he. you must confess that you cut it rather fine."What now?" I asked."It is nothing. If Holmes could work to find the criminals. I shall come to the conclusion soon that they have scuttled the craft. That is easily managed. There was no name or address appended.

 sir. and forward. Holmes?""No: I am not tired. The Aurora herself we hauled off and made fast to our stern.""I am sorry. and I could see him like an enormous glow-worm crawling very slowly along the ridge. if it was fastened the steps could have nothing to do with the matter.""Pray sit down and tell me all about it. No fresh details were to be found. Four years later Sholto dies.""But it was not mere guess-work?""No. What sober man's key could have scored those grooves? But you will never see a drunkard's watch without them. with a bitter smile. Holmes must find it all out for himself. Your correspondent says two friends.