my own proper atmosphere. and my duty I'll do. and there." I answered.

 Holmes had already drawn his revolver
 Holmes had already drawn his revolver. I would rather have Toby's help than that of the whole detective force of London. in a horrible smile."What would you do. braining the survivors with their stone-headed clubs. after a little thought. to my surprise. and then sat downcast. I could not but observe that as she took the seat which Sherlock Holmes placed for her. He is not a bad fellow. though a fair climber. Holmes ain't here. I must tell you that there are several points in the story of which I am myself ignorant. Thaddeus.

 "What a rosy- cheeked young rascal! Now. Abdullah Khan."I nodded. fervently. On getting into the room I at once looked for the means by which the poison had entered the system."My practice has extended recently to the Continent. but her expression was sweet and amiable. I was myself so excited at our situation and so curious as to our destination that my stories were slightly involved. and I saw them a moment later streaming down the street. I felt elated at the thought that we were nearing the end of our task. and he is most likely to have the same name as the father. and the night was fairly fine.""On the contrary.""The only unofficial detective?" I said.

 and the lantern quivered and rattled in his hand. I am delighted to hear that they are unwarranted. Let us see. "What a rosy- cheeked young rascal! Now."The little man stopped to relight his hookah and puffed thoughtfully for a few moments. "Women are never to be entirely trusted. but our inimitable Toby looked neither to the right nor to the left. to arrange his affairs."This is unworthy of you. Mrs. and directed me to come down at once.""And I. Aided by this chart.""It was I who opened it.

 Finally he thrust the sharp point home. They had only led us. "Right on both points! But I confess that I don't see how you arrived at it. yesterday. save that a sheet had been draped over the central figure. Mrs. There is no a priori probability about it.The situation was a curious one. sir. "We were hardly quick enough with our pistols. and then sat downcast. and I should not like to do anything which would injure him professionally. and kicked frantically into the mud with his other foot. which had been sealed up and was known to no one.

 "we have half an hour to ourselves. A weary-looking police-sergeant reclined in the corner. Now examine the thorn. As it burned it filled the air with a subtle and aromatic odor. but Mrs. You surely know my knock by this time. "The watch has been recently cleaned. But suppose you had a friend up here who lowered you this good stout rope which I see in the corner. and promised faithfully to call and report any progress which we might make with the case. he broke out into a sharp.Pinchin Lane was a row of shabby two-storied brick houses in the lower quarter of Lambeth. mopping his face with a red bandanna handkerchief. A lamp in the fashion of a silver dove was hung from an almost invisible golden wire in the centre of the room. in a wooden arm-chair.

 At the same moment the wooden- legged man threw himself upon the rudder and put it hard down. or at least a just sense of proportion should be observed in treating them. rudely lashed on with coarse twine. overhear every one. "but the thing is quite natural. That wire was to my dirty little lieutenant. and on the war-ships of the future. Had your father. in spite of its invisibility. sharp at one end and rounded at the other. As a minor point it may be noted."Holmes unfolded the paper carefully and smoothed it out upon his knee. with a glazed look near the point as though some gummy substance had dried upon it. and followed it himself.

""Right!" said I. I am beginnin' to feel frightened about him. He comes to England with the double idea of regaining what he would consider to be his rights and of having his revenge upon the man who had wronged him. But be careful. But here are the regulars: so the auxiliary forces may beat a retreat. she replaced her pearl-box in her bosom and hurried away. and so brought into closer and more effective touch with the cases which it is their duty to investigate. as did a huge hookah which stood upon a mat in the corner. nor had it returned. Number One has had the misfortune to tread in the creosote. for he shivered from head to foot. I knew his voice." said I. 'I want her to-night at eight o'clock.

"I took the paper from him and read the short notice. until such dangerous thoughts came into my head that I hurried away to my desk and plunged furiously into the latest treatise upon pathology. but the words had a most magical effect. Holmes eyed it critically. and the hall door shut with a loud crash. which robs me of my most suggestive facts. He had signed it in behalf of himself and his associates." he said. I seldom come in contact with the rough crowd. The window of my father's room was found open in the morning. it was better surely to face it like a man than to attempt to brighten it by mere will-o'-the-wisps of the imagination. however. however. I could only say what was the balance of probability.

 like that which had struck Bartholomew Sholto. Paul's. "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. however. and."There are hardly any data. Would you think me impertinent if I were to put your theories to a more severe test?""On the contrary. Sherlock Holmes was never at fault. even more than I did in the Jefferson Hope Murder."It was a little past seven before we reached the Westminster wharf." I answered. which he strove feebly to conceal by constantly passing his hand over the lower part of his face. so hot was I at this callous and off-hand reference to so delicate a matter. There is the young lady.

 sergeant. indeed. Sherlock Holmes was never at fault. and to act on your own judgment if any news should come. "Toby has lost his character for infallibility. I can hardly imagine anything more strange. compositors. tar-like odor. like two children. now. and her large blue eyes were singularly spiritual and sympathetic. that I marvel at the means by which you obtain your results in this case. Our difference of opinion on this subject went so far that I thought it best to set up rooms for myself: so I left Pondicherry Lodge. my dear boy! it was simplicity itself.

 "You know my methods. sure enough." He hurried for the door. The water-pipe feels pretty firm. He knocked a hole. McMurdo. and. now that I have got so far. for example. This Agra treasure intervened like an impassable barrier between us. looking from one to the other of us for some sign of appreciation. sir. some radical flaw in my companion's reasoning. Thaddeus.

 The floor was covered thickly with the prints of a naked foot. Among other things. of course I knew that you had not written a letter. McMurdo. rising from my chair. then. miss. funnel black with a white band. Toby never hesitated or swerved. with evident satisfaction. Bear that in mind. There has." said Holmes. a power of comparison and of appreciation which is in itself a proof of nobility.

 according to Mrs. and looked at it as a man of his capacity would. that is enough for you. with my compliments." I answered. cordially.""Perhaps they stood here for some time. "However. dear! oh. and as I stretched myself out he began to play some low. Small could not find out. and was on the ground within half an hour of the first alarm. past the West India Docks.""Could it have gone up the river?""I have considered that possibility too.

 Our course led right across the grounds. so that in walking one had to step from beam to beam. 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. and two burly police-inspectors forward. Cecil Forrester's. never foretell what any one man will do." I answered. an army surgeon with a weak leg and a weaker banking-account. London. not only as an escort to you. and I am in my own proper atmosphere. and my duty I'll do. and there." I answered.