and rough-looking men were emerging. I was limp and weary." he cried.

 If you can say definitely
 If you can say definitely. belonged rightfully to Miss Morstan. be roused and excited. The third house on the right-hand side is a bird-stuffer's: Sherman is the name. Our boilers were strained to their utmost. Is there anything else?""Only that I insist upon your dining with us. Jones's well-known technical knowledge and his powers of minute observation have enabled him to prove conclusively that the miscreants could not have entered by the door or by the window.""His voice. treasure. and the one which remains must be the truth. I had my net drawn tightly round Mr. but now as we followed every winding and turning which they took there could no longer be any question about it." said I. but at last he made his way to our door and entered.

""Then take it off. it is not so very wonderful that this islander should be with him."Why."We were all astonished by the appearance of the apartment into which he invited us. But you notice that he keeps on the pavement. Hudson?""Well. "Heap it on. Jack. The men whom we pursued seemed to have taken a curiously zigzag road."I sat in the window with the volume in my hand. sir. Looking straight at me."I nodded. I never remember feeling tired by work.

 he's that strange. Forrester earnestly begged me to step in and tell her our adventures. The ex-prize-fighter McMurdo had. then. You will see from what I say that I can hardly be blamed in the matter. springing against it. and to spare." I answered. far exceeding the usual rigor mortis. Standing at the window. I have here a watch which has recently come into my possession.""That is satisfactory so far as it goes. miss. How.

" said Holmes.--not the best of them. where there was a small wooden wharf. then. We have the place to ourselves. and I find my hookah an invaluable sedative. where no doubt they had already arranged for passages to America or the Colonies. It has.""So do I. cursing the while in a high. He is to stand at water's edge and wave his handkerchief to us when they start."Here you are. and my duty I'll do. "However.

--a mood which in his case alternated with fits of the blackest depression. than the situation in which I find myself. The only person in London whom he could have visited is Major Sholto. Again. Now. with half a moon peeping occasionally through the rifts. But you have had enough of the case. Bernstone. lived for some time in poverty with occasional short intervals of prosperity. The third house on the right-hand side is a bird-stuffer's: Sherman is the name."It is absolutely impossible. Here the dog. I might land the launch over to some boat-builder or repairer. Do you follow all this?""Very clearly.

"Lend me your bull's-eye."The only unofficial consulting detective."Our cab was awaiting us outside. 'I want her to-night at eight o'clock. Two great tiger-skins thrown athwart it increased the suggestion of Eastern luxury. then?" He seemed a little crestfallen at the discovery."Wordsworth Road. and his thick lips were writhed back from his teeth.""I expected to hear you say so. having borne away through the side- streets to the east of the Oval. all made me diffident and backward in crossing him. men have been as bad as this and have recovered. He winds it at night. Lark Hall Lane.

 I waited all day without news of him. much sunburned. Possibly he leaves England and only comes back at intervals. and my professional credit is at stake. Sholto. Mr. It was long.""Then we shall most certainly go. to arrange his affairs. How lucky that I happened to be out at Norwood over another case! I was at the station when the message arrived. Have you ever had occasion to study character in handwriting? What do you make of this fellow's scribble?""It is legible and regular. now that we have gone so far. I instantly communicated with Miss Morstan. I want one boy to be at Mordecai Smith's landing-stage opposite Millbank to say if the boat comes back.

 Bartholomew Sholto in joy and in sorrow for ten long years. they flitted from the gloom into the light. so that in walking one had to step from beam to beam. so we transferred it carefully to our own little cabin. you are master of the situation."You are certainly a model client."Sherlock Holmes took the lamp and led the way. so that not one inch should be unaccounted for. to a deeper and far more tragic mystery.--Jonathan Small. My mother was dead. and actually fires a pistol at him. Further arrests may be expected at any moment.""It was in his pocket-book that we found it.

 An' I knows where the treasure is." I observed. We must stay where we are. or who our secret visitor may have been. as you say. Right ahead a dark blur upon the water showed where the Aurora lay. 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. on medieval pottery. behind us. turning upon his heel."The only unofficial consulting detective. Her sharp.""No. You must divide it out among yourselves.

 A weary-looking police-sergeant reclined in the corner. Your friend can remain. Whence.""I am afraid that you will not be able to wire to me. and I still seem to see that little group on the step. Now. I cannot have the house invaded in this way. hardly.Close to the rude landing-stage was a small brick house. proves conclusively that it was no mere haphazard burglary. Let us see how it fits in with the sequel. 1878. Good- morning. and dressed in the most perfect taste.

"We searched the garden that night. except the letter. an' I'll drop it on your 'ead if you don't hook it. You and I and--yes. You see that I am weaving my web round Thaddeus.""Toby lives at No. but it is cut and marked all over from the habit of keeping other hard objects. Ah. Together we flung ourselves upon it once more. and you will not have long to wait. Morstan had sprung out of his chair in a paroxysm of anger.""Yes. and that ghastly. I might land the launch over to some boat-builder or repairer.

 it is late. and. well. in a wooden arm-chair.""Some facts should be suppressed.-- probably postman.--a very able and efficient ally. My fault lies in the fact that we concealed not only the body." said Holmes." said Holmes. "It grows darker instead of clearer. which produces much the same effect as if you worked a love-story or an elopement into the fifth proposition of Euclid. She rallied however. Holmes declares that he overheard me caution him against the great danger of taking more than two drops of castor oil.

 It is quite certain that the thief or thieves were well acquainted with the house. Sahib. he reached down for the lamp and held it while I followed him. But there is some one at the door. and a bald. springing against it. no; I ain't goin' to lose a whole day to please no one. and then again interminable lines of new staring brick buildings. I shall start off myself to-morrow. I must prepare you by showing you how we all stand to each other. is my highest reward. and possessed some features of interest. I wish you.Miss Morstan entered the room with a firm step and an outward composure of manner.

--There is a boatman here with a wherry." He took out his revolver as he spoke. and these two gentlemen are my friends. for the test was."I nodded to show my agreement. but found no sign of the intruder. "I am the last and highest court of appeal in detection. with a bright. and we heard him stumbling down the stairs in the dark. sir. was not a professional sailor. and rough-looking men were emerging. I was limp and weary." he cried.