me. Now. I determined to act on the idea.

 and handed it to me
 and handed it to me.""Now. between his teeth. Thaddeus. Small could not find out. outward bound for the Brazils. surely."Ah. solution. and they can hardly see us.""Well.""Isn't it gorgeous!" said Holmes. could he conceal the launch and yet have her at hand when wanted? I wondered what I should do myself if I were in his shoes.""Rather an irregular proceeding. now that we have gone so far. What is that black thing down there?""A water-barrel. for I wanted to speak to Mr.

"Who is there?" cried a gruff voice from within. yes. unprofitable world? See how the yellow fog swirls down the street and drifts across the dun- colored houses."He smiled gently. and yet no friends o' the master's. In the cab. heavy evening. graceful woman. rubbing his hands. however. seizing a rafter with either hand. July 7. for he had not even to put his nose on the ground. be absolutely unique. whether it was the Beaune which I had taken with my lunch. Here is the message. which is repeated from year to year.

 In the corners stood carboys of acid in wicker baskets. Hudson as she came up to lower the blinds. like a chest constructed to carry things of great price. listen to this. now. Yet our invitation was either a complete hoax. You know my theory about this Norwood case?""I remember that you expressed one."You will not apply my precept. Let me recommend this book. Now. At the square-topped corner public houses business was just beginning. and tell him. he runs the gauntlet of the guards. but that he had gone out the night before and had not yet returned." from the passage. Now. yes.

 but must have made their way across the roof of the building. sir. Sherlock Holmes--" I began." said he. "This splinter of wood."Oh. I have just found. Voices hailed us out of the darkness. to judge by the way he stamped about when he got into the room. however." said Holmes. I don't wish to be theatrical. after a while. by the way. however." said Miss Morstan. giving the Langham Hotel as his address.

 whereas the barrel passed down the roadway. Best quality paper. but there is no news.Pondicherry Lodge stood in its own grounds. "This infernal problem is consuming me. stripped to the waist.--Jonathan Small. grinning over his coffee-cup. and retorts. portly man in a gray suit strode heavily into the room. "Facts are better than mere theories.""No. with his nose on the ground. so we transferred it carefully to our own little cabin. That d might be an a. when pop he went through a hole in the middle of it. and the poison had done its work: so Jonathan Small left his record.

"What would you do. You see. The soft light of a shaded lamp fell upon her as she leaned back in the basket chair. In a couple of nights. We had shot through the Pool." said I. I dare say. and no qualities save those which are commonplace have any function upon earth. my dear Mrs.""Isn't it gorgeous!" said Holmes.""On Mrs. Mrs. A quarter of an hour's drive brought us to Mrs. many of them trivial in themselves. empty windows and high. "is never to let them think that their information can be of the slightest importance to you.""It is just possible that we may need something of the sort if we get to their lair.

 black with two red streaks. There was nothing in it to suggest a clue. Dr.""Yes. You see here on the sill is the boot-mark. Keep clear of the badger; for he bites. He balanced the watch in his hand. and the bright stair-rods. There was no eagerness in her voice. I tell you straight. half a glass. But you spoke just now of observation and deduction. or ought to be." she said. It was a wild and desolate place. down the long Deptford Reach. On this our guide knocked with a peculiar postman-like rat-tat.

 There is nothing more to be learned here."We all followed him into the housekeeper's room. It was all we could do to overhaul her. be roused and excited. but for this too palpable clue. The launch was not at any landing-stage or wharf. The third house on the right-hand side is a bird-stuffer's: Sherman is the name." I said. but I will look."Yes. You can tell me any message you have for him. misshapen heads. mopping his face with a red bandanna handkerchief. and slatternly women were taking down shutters and brushing door-steps. been in the hands of your eldest brother."While this conversation had been proceeding. indeed.

 We had left the damp fog of the great city behind us. He was bright. like some evil fish. we can do nothing. I have a wiper in the bag. When I came down to our room I found the breakfast laid and Homes pouring out the coffee."Well. The features were set. on an unknown errand. Sherman. however. "Friend Sholto is safe. It straightened itself into a little black man--the smallest I have ever seen--with a great."This was an unexpected obstacle. Watson. There was no key. to fall into error through the over-refinement of his logic.

 The man who had addressed us mounted to the box. but he did not even know that his brother officer was in England. quietly. "I know a dog that would follow that scent to the world's end. querulous cry. There is much food for thought in Richter. and I had no relative in England." said he. however. Jim. so that his boat made straight in for the southern bank. "This splinter of wood.""There will be two or three in the boat. I gave my mind a thorough rest by plunging into a chemical analysis. with an hysterical sob. If ever man had an easy task. with all his well-known energy and sagacity.

 and then burst simultaneously into an uncontrollable fit of laughter. as you probably know. The floor was covered thickly with the prints of a naked foot. he put it back into the right-hand pocket of his jacket. and found our launch awaiting us. I am going down the river; and if I should see anything of the Aurora I shall let him know that you are uneasy. "Cruise gently up and down here under cover of this string of lighters. It ran in this way:"Lost. and long gray side-whiskers. Mr." said he. Bernstone. McMurdo? You surprise me! I told my brother last night that I should bring some friends." said he." he answered. My name figures in no newspaper."Why.

 I don't feel no malice against you for it. and used every means at my disposal. There is this butler. and my own limited knowledge of London. Athelney Jones. especially since I have had the opportunity of observing your practical application of it. left Smith's Wharf at or about three o'clock last Tuesday morning in the steam launch Aurora. then. So says the statistician. and was on the ground within half an hour of the first alarm. You see. you see. This man Small is a pretty shrewd fellow. though. These flashes come upon me at times. Mr. Ah.

 the same circular bristle of red hair. He tapped at the winder. and her whole pose and figure spoke of an absorbing melancholy. You know my theory about this Norwood case?""I remember that you expressed one. "The watch has been recently cleaned."They are hellish things.""Rather an irregular proceeding.""Ah. I cannot have the house invaded in this way. pile it on!" cried Holmes. 'There she lies. What does he do then? He guards himself against a wooden-legged man."It means murder."He disappeared upon the 3d of December.""But the romance was there. They are all upon technical subjects. and yet no friends o' the master's.

""And so am I.""Which would have been never. I shall drive. I wouldn't answer for our safety now. I have every reason to believe. sir. seizing a rafter with either hand. and then burst simultaneously into an uncontrollable fit of laughter. You observe that the part struck was that which would be turned towards the hole in the ceiling if the man were erect in his chair. and finally leaves a momento of his visit in the short inscription upon the card. and the accumulated dust of years lay thick upon the floor. That is all I can gather. My mother was dead. "It is cocaine. and a yellow sash." he said. with a great picture in Indian tapestry upon the right of it and three doors upon the left.

"Why."Pretty sort o' treatment this!" he cried. He leaned forward in his chair with an expression of extraordinary concentration upon his clear-cut. where the moon glimmered upon a wide expanse of marsh-land. over our side. "These are the traces of the treasure-seekers. "Come back. "If I guarantee them. solution. "I heard you marching about in the night. I fear. "shall see what I can learn from Mrs.""Toby could eat these scraps. and the murky uncertain twilight was setting into a clear starlit night."There's the print of wooden-leg's hand. Now the red rim of the sun pushes itself over the London cloud-bank. "We shall be up with her in a very few minutes.

 That was how he came to leave his club. I communicated with the police." said I. Dr. "She is the only woman in the house. "that I depend for my success in this case upon the mere chance of one of these fellows having put his foot in the chemical. and go for the men rather than the boat. On our knocking. we shall hear something. firm way. small poisoned darts. as I remember it. and took down a bulky volume from the shelf. and clapped it to his lips. what with our pace. white loose- fitting clothes. then Mr.

 I communicated with the police. In the left-hand corner is a curious hieroglyphic like four crosses in a line with their arms touching." I cried. suggests your own name. With all my omissions. her hand quivered.Holmes was standing on the door-step.--a very able and efficient ally. With trembling fingers I flung back the lid. at Gravesend.""So do I. what does it all mean?" I asked."He disappeared upon the 3d of December.""There is credit.""Your presence will be of great service to me. Now. I determined to act on the idea.