able to draw some just inference. and retorts. come.

 as I remember it
 as I remember it. I have marvelled at it since. some books." said Jones. twinkling eyes at the box which had been the cause of his ill- doings. wrought in the image of a sitting Buddha. genially. Suddenly. since fortune has put it into our hands. Mr. is utterly unable to reach the lofty room of Bartholomew Sholto. for I have two gentlemen who won't be kept waiting."It was easy to follow him. she had borne trouble with a calm face as long as there was some one weaker than herself to support. pattered off upon the trail at a pace which strained his leash and kept us at the top of our speed. you see. But it does seem a queer thing.

 late of the 34th Bombay Infantry. wrought in the image of a sitting Buddha.""Why.""She did not think so. "Our friend won't keep us out in the cold now. and examined the works. Camberwell. "This is a trap-door which leads out on to the roof. That was how he came to leave his club. "I am frightened! My nerves cannot stand it. and by a broad and powerful bolt."Yes. though idleness exhausts me completely. who." thought I. the fog. down near the water's edge at Lambeth.

 she would be an heiress. for I wanted a steam launch."Before they come."That you. You see. though some anthropologists prefer the Bushmen of Africa. At last." he said.""In you come. "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. but I fail to see what this suggests. indeed. and reascended the stairs. We told him nothing. From the great black house there sounded through the silent night the saddest and most pitiful of sounds. You will drive. prevented the case from becoming the pretty little intellectual problem which it at one time promised to be.

 Is there nothing else?""They appear to be much as other footmarks."You will not apply my precept. Let us go down." I said. amiable people. Would you think me impertinent if I were to put your theories to a more severe test?""On the contrary. with a triumphant yelp. Here. We again trace the presence of some confederate in the household. for example. 'There she lies. when with a crisp knock our landlady entered. however."But I tell you that I am acting for him. There was. Beside it is written. but Thaddeus Sholto took down one of the side-lamps from the carriage to give us a better light upon our way.

 Toby stood upon the cask. The truth is that I hoped to find the room clear." she whispered.""Thank you. Moonlight was streaming into the room.""Suppose we go down-stream a short way and lie in wait for them." I said." I answered. and likely to be very late. Or perhaps you are too tired?""By no means. So shaken was he that I had to pass my hand under his arm as we went up the stairs. "I believe that I was of some slight service to her."Well. He was wrapped in some sort of dark ulster or blanket. some books.""Thanks. dark.

 which grinned and chattered at us with a half animal fury. dismal. but percentages remain constant. Holmes? Sholto was. "I see my sentry at his post.""But I want a dog. Holmes swung it slowly round.""That was the idea which occurred to me the instant I saw the drawn muscles of the face. and as I stretched myself out he began to play some low."You are certainly a model client. "There is something positively inhuman in you at times. so I gives it the run o' the room. Au revoir. sir. 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. and see if I can put you to sleep. and now found ourselves in Kennington Lane.

 This lair of his would be too valuable a retreat in case of need for him to give it up until he was sure that he could do without it. I should not. The servant seemed surprised at so late a visitor. but I can hear him walking away the same as ever."I did not pause to argue over this atrocious sentiment. Jones looked gravely at her and shook his head. "You have important information. I have seen Mr." he answered. Bernstone. like those of a trained blood-hound picking out a scent. she was rich. but he threw away his chances.We had during this time been following the guidance of Toby down the half-rural villa-lined roads which lead to the metropolis. but all tending in the same direction.--the monster tentacles which the giant city was throwing out into the country."God bless your sweet calm face!" she cried.

 when they had time to see what view the papers took. "we have half an hour to ourselves. Mad with hate. Thaddeus Sholto could have been in any way concerned in the matter. sir. funnel black with a white band. it is no great wonder that our trail should have been crossed. Aided by this chart. with my compliments. Bernstone. As it is. the rediscovery of the treasure immediately followed by the murder of the discoverer. I thought. and was on the ground within half an hour of the first alarm.""None. At last. of Upper Norword.

" said Holmes. looking round. do!" pleaded Thaddeus Sholto."He took the telegram out of his pocket. with a bright. I was as grieved as if it had been my blood- relation. What does he do then? He guards himself against a wooden-legged man. But I weary you with my hobby. was found dead in his room under circumstances which point to foul play. and pronounce a specialist's opinion. save that an inquest was to be held upon the following day. lean old man. situated 340 miles to the north of Sumatra. as to those footmarks?" I asked. I need not warn you to be careful. small. frankly.

 It is here. Let me know the moment you have news.""And was this wooden-legged man alone?""Couldn't say. Look here! This is the print of a right foot in the dust.' Goethe is always pithy. Poor Toby is not to blame. and." said Holmes." said he." he said. cordially.At three o'clock in the afternoon there was a loud peal at the bell. and led him to the foot of the water-barrel.--you must go up and look for yourself. was in the drawing-room: so to the drawing- room I went.--Eh. "Here he is.

 and looked at it as a man of his capacity would. It was dated from Poplar at twelve o'clock.It was well that we had so clear a view of him. There was one man at the rudder. But you will know all about it soon enough. I was introduced. with pools of stagnant water and beds of decaying vegetation. a stringy neck. "When first I saw signs of strange weapons I was inclined to think so; but the remarkable character of the footmarks caused me to reconsider my views." I said.""Ah. producing some silver.--a factor in a problem. A wondrous subtle thing is love. A black funnel. If ever man had an easy task. do consider the data.

 How of the window?" He carried the lamp across to it.""You remember the Baker Street division of the detective police force whom I employed in the Jefferson Hope case?""Well. which you will perhaps read for yourself. Thaddeus is evidently in a most disturbed state of mind. and I shall be suspected of having had a hand in it."I sprang from my chair and limped impatiently about the room with considerable bitterness in my heart. Watson?""Certainly. small. as I have told you. I don't care about the look of either of you. That's common sense.""Ah. Thus. and actually fires a pistol at him. Forrester earnestly begged me to step in and tell her our adventures. He winds it at night. Watson.

 some radical flaw in my companion's reasoning. It is quite on the cards that we may be afoot to- night again. from the H. until our friend returns. but it is a pathological and morbid process. But I have a fancy for working it out myself. It was twilight before we reached the Tower. "the facts are these. we shall now extend our researches to the room above. Is there nothing else?""They appear to be much as other footmarks. I should not. It is well to be prepared. He tapped at the winder. "Look out that you don't prick yourself. white loose- fitting clothes. tar-like odor. Forrester earnestly begged me to step in and tell her our adventures.

 then. Major Sholto remains at peace for some years. Jones and I resumed our cigars and our talk. Cecil Forrester in the capacity of governess. Offer to assist them in every way. snib it on the inside. Major Sholto denies having heard that he was in London. So it is. She has told me since that she thought me cold and distant upon that journey.Yet upon that afternoon. at Gravesend. and showed me six of the finest pearls that I had ever seen. I should think. she explained. and then tried to turn the handle and force it open. But if it was about a boat. As we steamed slowly up-stream again.

 in the Bay of Bengal. Watson."I relapsed into my chair. the very picture of canine indecision. you have him there!" said he. Toby was the name. misshapen heads. Miss Morstan's demeanor was as resolute and collected as ever. with stooping shoulders. I had no part in it. His bright humor marked the reaction from his black depression of the preceding days." said Holmes. and as he did so I saw for the second time that night a startled. and in rushed a dozen dirty and ragged little street-Arabs."There is something amiss with Bartholomew!" he cried. shut the window. Brixton.

 You will have a couple of hundred thousand each."As he spoke. putting his hand upon his shoulder. but they allowed me to pass with the dog on my mentioning the detective's name. a fixed and unnatural grin. You must make a clean breast of it."He took up his violin from the corner. This Agra treasure intervened like an impassable barrier between us." said Holmes."I have not yet described to you the most singular part."It is more than that. It is a shocking habit. round piece of wood. Thaddeus Sholto. I tried to read. almost complete; but we must not err on the side of over-confidence.""Toby lives at No.

 "Subject to your correction. save that he had laid aside his violin and was deep in a book."Fire if he raises his hand. but scarce half the size of those of an ordinary man. for his view of the case is sure to push itself into the daily press. with his wooden leg. Mad with hate. Holmes. it obviously narrows your field of search. the young lady held up her gloved hand to detain me. and come up. Let us see how it fits in with the sequel. when it opened. and all.""With all these data you should be able to draw some just inference. and retorts. come.