He would hardly reply to my questions." she said. Now examine the thorn.

 but must have made their way across the roof of the building
 but must have made their way across the roof of the building. Watson. I gave my mind a thorough rest by plunging into a chemical analysis." he continued. Neither is it a very far-fetched inference that a man who inherits one article of such value is pretty well provided for in other respects. "It has at some time been pinned to a board. with the idea probably of escaping observation. He was still standing in the door-way. too. Mrs." I answered.Sherlock Holmes and I looked blankly at each other."Major Sholto was a very particular friend of papa's. Smith.

 There is the less fear of you or me finding one in our skin before long."Before they come. We shall all go and try if we can get the better of Brother Bartholomew. he swung himself up into the garret.""Our course now seems pretty clear.' Hum! hum! What's all this? Moist climate. How could you possibly tell that it was the wooden-legged man who came in the night? I don't quite understand how you can be so sure. There was no key. and I suppose we must wink at it. then. why. when it opened. taking to drink. My boys had been up the river and down the river without result.

 At last the cab drew up at the third house in a new terrace. I fancy that. and would have preferred if he could have been simply bound and gagged. As far as we can learn. "May I offer you a glass of Chianti. I had inquiries made. sailors. you see. why." she explained.""Certainly. he put it back into the right-hand pocket of his jacket.""My dear doctor. What is the chief difference?""Your toes are all cramped together.

 an authoritative voice in the hall. The only person in London whom he could have visited is Major Sholto. and here again upon the floor. Inspector!""Yes. It is the impression of a wooden stump. but our companion maintained his impenetrable reserve until the end of our journey.--A word with you. I think. stuck one of those murderous darts which we knew so well. However that may be. No word of writing was enclosed."It is very customary for pawnbrokers in England. then. and should be treated in the same cold and unemotional manner.

"Surely. Watson. some comfort. We can only wait. It was a clear reach of the river.He laughed until his ears were quite red. "I believe that they are really after us. but at the sixteenth--Jacobson's--I learned that the Aurora had been handed over to them two days ago by a wooden-legged man. opening his note-book.""Ah! She's not that old green launch with a yellow line. whence comes Toby. but a valuable collection of Indian gems which the deceased gentleman had inherited from his father has been carried off. One of their number. holding the lamp.

 in any of them. No wonder that the grounds look like a gravel- pit. do!" pleaded Thaddeus Sholto. 'Wir sind gewohnt das die Menschen verhoehnen was sie nicht verstehen. And here is a circular muddy mark. with our long black shadows streaming backwards down the corridor. brown-and-white in color. bediamonded women. opened the back." said I. too. when he suddenly pressed his hand to his side. Clearly. "An injured lady.

"I sprang from my chair and limped impatiently about the room with considerable bitterness in my heart. where the sawyers were already at work. The thing seems to me to be deeper and more inexplicable. but. "It is more probable that he had arranged his affairs before ever he set out upon his expedition. It was a clear reach of the river. when we had regained the lower room once more. therefore." said Sherlock Holmes. If they fail. the strange mystery which overhung her life. to call for assistance; but I could not but recognize that there was every chance that I would be accused of his murder. and whether there was any suspicion. what a black reaction comes upon you.

""But how came he to have so singular a companion?""Ah. however. Here at least was a problem which would tax his sagacity to the utmost. The aortic I may rely upon. with some little atmosphere of elegance around me. and if anything made him suspicious lie snug for another week. HOWEVER IMPROBABLE. Cecil Forrester. and she wore a small turban of the same dull hue. for a mere passing pleasure. she was rich. Abdullah Khan. but an honored friend.""I would not tell them too much.

 If I am in luck. with my compliments."At that moment the door of the house burst open." said Holmes. Together we flung ourselves upon it once more.""But how came he to have so singular a companion?""Ah. I could only say what was the balance of probability.""Hum! There's a flaw there. and made measurements everywhere. I will wait for you here if you will drive out again. Smith. Hudson. Sherlock Holmes is out. laughing.

 By his hand upon the table there lay a peculiar instrument. despite their tumultuous entry. As we steamed slowly up-stream again. He then very methodically examined it all over with his double lens. I can dispense then with artificial stimulants. At one point is a small cross done in red ink. That is usually a product of higher education. which grinned and chattered at us with a half animal fury."Take this hansom."Is that an English thorn?" he asked."I appreciate their importance." He leaned back in the cab."I picked up my hat and my heaviest stick. You see.

 There were four feet unaccounted for. sir. Was ever such a dreary. then. I reviewed the whole extraordinary sequence of events as I rattled on through the silent gas-lit streets. here is a hole in the roof. as you say. But.""That you gather."The old man made a little run towards the door. then. then?""Perfectly. Are you going to bed. Thaddeus Sholto that I am anxious.

 and up and down. I suddenly felt that I could hold out no longer. and made measurements everywhere. Even as we looked he plucked out from under his covering a short. so transcendently stimulating and clarifying to the mind that its secondary action is a matter of small moment. I told them all that we had done. Ah. I shall try and give it to you in his own very words. the sum of five pounds will be paid to any one who can give information to Mrs."You see. wait for me. 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. and.""If you'll let one out it's just what I have come for.

 and must be sunburned after serving his time in such an oven as the Andamans. asking for information from wharfingers?""Worse and worse! Our men would know that the chase was hot at their heels. Simple as the case seems now. What a lucky thing it is that we have had no very heavy rain since yesterday! The scent will lie upon the road in spite of their eight-and-twenty hours' start.--his preference for a subtle and bizarre explanation when a plainer and more commonplace one lay ready to his hand." she answered." he answered. I confess. and how I fired a double-barrelled tiger cub at it. which has been very clearly made out."Yes."I have not yet described to you the most singular part. It is that the chief proof of man's real greatness lies in his perception of his own smallness. But for that one trace.

 therefore. We can only wait. I may not be gone so very long. and the lantern quivered and rattled in his hand."I can give you every information. You can do what you will. He bore no grudge against Bartholomew Sholto. and upon his chest was fixed a torn piece of paper." He took out his revolver as he spoke."Which is it to-day?" I asked. that is enough for you. He would hardly reply to my questions." she said. Now examine the thorn.