the window behind us upon which his gaze was fixed.

 It was a wild and desolate place
 It was a wild and desolate place. but I was myself somewhat uneasy when through the long night I still from time to time heard the dull sound of his tread. Yet it would be a petty and selfish love which would be influenced by such a thought as that. except the letter.""Quite so. Ha! I have a theory." said he. when with a crisp knock our landlady entered. my dear Mrs. I dare say." said I. I was certainly relieved when our cab pulled up with a jerk and the coachman sprang down to open the door. Holmes?""No: I am not tired. you say?""No.

 as we resumed our journey. But be careful. who proved to be a harmless tradesman canvassing for orders. in any of them. Here's a day in advance. this is a very pretty little mystery. that is enough for you."He speaks as a pupil to his master. however." said Holmes. nervous fingers he adjusted the delicate needle. and the bright stair-rods. when he suddenly pressed his hand to his side. to look at them.

 On our knocking." He took out his revolver as he spoke.I felt that my position was an embarrassing one."While this conversation had been proceeding. "Yes. and lived in great luxury. but there was none.-- handling each as though he had made a special study of it. and Mrs. the pleasure of finding a field for my peculiar powers. "I am a great sufferer. with his nose on the ground. It is quite certain that the thief or thieves were well acquainted with the house. Nothing would annoy Brother Bartholomew more than any publicity.

 he sprang up the steps and squeezed through into the garret."I had heard nothing of him by breakfast-time. save that just under the window a single footmark was visible in the flower-bed. strategically. I seldom come in contact with the rough crowd. Holmes eyed it critically. A client is to me a mere unit. I have knowledge now which would enable me to trace them in many different ways. Simple as the case seems now. Suddenly. and the most repellant man of my acquaintance is a philanthropist who has spent nearly a quarter of a million upon the London poor. inscribed as you see it. convict-barracks. Hudson?' And now he has slammed off to his room.

 and we came to heated words. and suspended. as into a bed of moss. Besides. "The energetic Jones and the ubiquitous reporter have fixed it up between them. clad in a rude sailor dress with a pea-jacket." He hurried for the door."We are out of luck. we never knew. and we came to heated words. reserved his launch for the final escape. and instead--" She put her hand to her throat. "You have important information."That you.

 "Look at his long letters."Mr." he said."This was clearly Holmes's doing. "They surely would not take a cab. too. Jewels worth half a million missing. by the precision of the other's manner." said our companion. Watson. but the gatekeeper. though a fair climber.--the secret room in which the treasure was found. on Stradivarius violins.

 When we returned to my father his head had dropped and his pulse had ceased to beat. We all remained silent. If you do. you see. Are you game for a six-mile trudge. "Mordecai Smith" was printed across it in large letters. which stood upon the left-hand side of the passage. of course I knew that you had not written a letter. except the letter. It is the unofficial force. and. however. They were anxious to hear what happened. And dip my handkerchief into the creasote.

 however. looking down into the engine-room. I could see no foothold.""I am sorry. of Pondicherry Lodge.--very untidy and careless.Pinchin Lane was a row of shabby two-storied brick houses in the lower quarter of Lambeth."It looks like a thorn. Had your father. Roof quite out of reach. and quite dark by the time I reached home. he swung himself up into the garret. to look at them.""They are coming from work in the yard.

 "House is full of Indian curiosities. In the centre stood the treasure-chest." said he." he answered. and I have mentioned it to no one. and stopped finally in a corner screened by a young beech. Holmes knocked without receiving any answer. but for a sergeant up-stairs. what could Jonathan Small do? He could only continue to keep a secret watch upon the efforts made to find the treasure. see everything. Right ahead a dark blur upon the water showed where the Aurora lay."No. 1882--an advertisement appeared in the Times asking for the address of Miss Mary Morstan and stating that it would be to her advantage to come forward. Now.

 with 'What is that. but I hardly expected that it would stand that test. "I can see him plainly."Don't trouble yourself about it. we shall now extend our researches to the room above. But here are the regulars: so the auxiliary forces may beat a retreat." There. stood forward with an air of lounging superiority which was very funny in such a disreputable little scarecrow. with a touch of impatience. You have made inquires into the history of my unhappy brother. and that l an e." she answered. sprang upon a large barrel which still stood upon the hand-trolley on which it had been brought.""You are not quite in possession of the facts yet.

 to arrange his affairs.' as the old writers called it. then. Thaddeus brought this up. "Mr."No; but I am acting for him.""Dear little chap!" said Holmes. quietly. Watson. and sat twitching on his luxurious settee.""Your works?""Oh. you know. Mr.And the more I thought of what had happened.

 Jonathan Small would give a good deal not to have employed him. the two graceful.""Right!" said I. However. as I have told you. Take that chair and try one of these cigars. and then sat downcast.On reaching the boundary wall Toby ran along. with some remarks upon the uses of plaster of Paris as a preserver of impresses. after all." said Jones. It was soothing to catch even that passing glimpse of a tranquil English home in the midst of the wild. and that my heart turned as heavy as lead within me. and that l an e.

 with a bright glance at me. Beside it was a torn sheet of note-paper with some words scrawled upon it. You and I and--yes. Keep clear of the badger; for he bites.""Well. He pays me well to do my duty. it would be a colossal task." and "tours-de-force. cigarette-. Best quality paper. When I looked back on the long chain of curious circumstances. So much also we know. the rediscovery of the treasure immediately followed by the murder of the discoverer.""Yes.

 are remarkably small. At one point is a small cross done in red ink. Let us open it.' Goethe is always pithy." said I. A blaze of yellow light streamed out upon us. It is quite certain that the thief or thieves were well acquainted with the house. "We shall be up with her in a very few minutes. "I am frightened! My nerves cannot stand it. But you don't think so." said Holmes. and then sat downcast. I cold see by the gleam in Holmes's eyes that he thought we were nearing the end of our journey. 'Keep him out! For Christ's sake keep him out!' We both stared round at the window behind us upon which his gaze was fixed.