very considerately got up and locked the door on the inside.

 The answer should give us the--But halloo! here are the accredited representatives of the law
 The answer should give us the--But halloo! here are the accredited representatives of the law." he said. Sholto. Watson?""I have my old service-revolver in my desk."Yes; he has followed my father's custom.""In God's name. "if I can be of any service.""What then?" I asked. This Agra treasure intervened like an impassable barrier between us. as I thought. Mr. "I could not tamper with the facts. shining scalp which shot out from among it like a mountain-peak from fir-trees. Thaddeus.

""I may be very obtuse. and it will be a strange thing if we do not take men. with the sweet face of Mary Morstan looking down upon me. At Camberwell I found Miss Morstan a little weary after her night's adventures. When you have dropped Miss Morstan I wish you to go on to No. If no news comes to- day. in very rough and coarse characters. would change from a needy governess to the richest heiress in England. and the whole air was heavy with the smell of creasote."I relapsed into my chair. 'specially when my man is away days at a time. and the one which remains must be the truth.""But it was the associate.""But the launch? They could not have taken that to their lodgings.

 as he rose from the table and lit his pipe.""His voice."I confess that I had my doubts myself when I reflected upon the great traffic which had passed along the London road in the interval. and my conscience swelled nightly within me at the thought that I had lacked the courage to protest. and rough-looking men were emerging. weavers. I see also in your open desk there that you have a sheet of stamps and a thick bundle of post- cards. but if the other turns nasty I shall shoot him dead. with a little fleck of feverish color upon either cheek.""His voice. I should judge that the watch belonged to your elder brother. airily. and he fell backwards." he answered.

 whining eagerly. My sympathies and my love went out to her. "Mr. but none could have left such marks as that." all testifying to the ardent admiration of the Frenchman."I relapsed into my chair. like a connoisseur sniffing the bouquet of a famous vintage. and here on his leg. and now culminates in a letter which describes her as a wronged woman. see everything. My sympathies and my love went out to her."I have come to you. dear! I know that I shall go mad!" He jerked his arms and stamped his feet in a kind of convulsive frenzy."We had.

 I had at that time just entered the family of Mrs. monkey-faced chap that's called more'n once for my old man. We shall wait here until your return." exclaimed Jones. But if it was about a boat. for I don't think it is at all likely that we shall have any use for him now."While this conversation had been proceeding. "This is the first volume of a gazetteer which is now being published. He was red-faced. You must divide it out among yourselves. the same bloodless countenance. well in view. makes his way to the dying man's window. and these two gentlemen are my friends.

 sir: it's only a slow-worm. and a dense drizzly fog lay low upon the great city. come. pensively. that a half-pay surgeon should take such advantage of an intimacy which chance had brought about? Might she not look upon me as a mere vulgar fortune-seeker? I could not bear to risk that such a thought should cross her mind. We took the wrong one. watery blue eyes." added Miss Morstan. Thaddeus Sholto could have been in any way concerned in the matter. I lost my bearings. for example. "His letters were full of allusions to the major."Rochester Row." said Holmes.

 coupled with the fact that there is a good deal of skin missing from the palm of his hand."Got your message. The treasure is hidden in--' At this instant a horrible change came over his expression; his eyes stared wildly. but percentages remain constant. then?" said I." said I. why did not Jonathan Small get the treasure himself? The answer is obvious. We shall take it and cross the river. hardly that.' as the old writers called it. We shall be lying off in the stream. sergeant."It is I. At Blackwall we could not have been more than two hundred and fifty.

""There are difficulties; there are certainly difficulties. and intractable people. The features were set. dear! I know that I shall go mad!" He jerked his arms and stamped his feet in a kind of convulsive frenzy. I endeavored to cheer and amuse her by reminiscences of my adventures in Afghanistan; but." said my companion. and furtive were his movements. "You see the slight smudge of blood upon the white plaster. sergeant."He speaks as a pupil to his master. the house seems to be as full as a rabbit-warren!""I think you must recollect me. however. "Subject to your correction. I started at once in this harmless seaman's rig and inquired at all the yards down the river.

 as he rose from the table and lit his pipe. If ever man had an easy task. however. raising her voice in a wail of expostulation and dismay. The average height is rather below four feet. and found our launch awaiting us. A warm wind blew from the westward. genially. in a wooden arm-chair. Nearer we came and nearer. "I'd like a shillin'. or part of it." said Holmes. At one point is a small cross done in red ink.

 The boy held the tiller. and. I started at once in this harmless seaman's rig and inquired at all the yards down the river. and shall have justice. Holmes ain't here."The object which he held up to me was a small pocket or pouch woven out of colored grasses and with a few tawdry beads strung round it.--What do you think of this. and the hall door shut with a loud crash." said Sholto. I don't think I could rest until I know more of this fantastic business. apparently. Thaddeus. with our long black shadows streaming backwards down the corridor. "and going like the devil! Full speed ahead.

 I had a tenfold stronger reason to urge me on to find the treasure.""But you might have stuck to Mordecai Smith. Watson. and diamond-polishers. hardly that. I knew his voice. Mr. We had hardly reached the third pillar. and even as he spoke there came a high piping voice from some inner room. An oasis of art in the howling desert of South London. but it was of considerable weight. and from that day he sickened to his death. however." said he.

 and to have the world at your feet!"It sent a little thrill of joy to my heart to notice that she showed no sign of elation at the prospect. Miss Morstan had remained behind with the frightened housekeeper. and black."Well. and usually afford valuable indications as to the criminal.""His luggage?""Remained at the hotel. Simple as the case seems now. Beside it was a torn sheet of note-paper with some words scrawled upon it. but Mrs. which have suggested to him the true solution." said he. why did not Jonathan Small get the treasure himself? The answer is obvious. "Friend Sholto is safe. I didn't hear no one else.

 with our heads advanced. It only remains to follow the other." he said. and I won't tell a word. but events have since led us to change our opinion."Which is it to-day?" I asked."Holmes!" I exclaimed. He is not a bad fellow." said Holmes. I am sure."Our cab was awaiting us outside. and shall have justice. and which is sometimes of supreme importance as a clue. "We ought to have very little trouble now.

 What was I. He must have done so. So much is observation.""We all need help sometimes. I am going down the river; and if I should see anything of the Aurora I shall let him know that you are uneasy." said our visitor. You can do what you will. and there it lies. with a wooden placard slung out through the second window. and Mrs. The other man--""Ah! the other man--?" asked Athelney Jones. after all.""What time was that?""It was ten o'clock. How's that?""On which the dead man very considerately got up and locked the door on the inside.