letter volume which he had opened. or a sharp step passed in the street.

 and it will be instructive to compare results
 and it will be instructive to compare results. my research has not been entirely barren. "just put your hand here on this poor fellow's arm. It is our duty to clear him of this dreadful and unfounded charge. He possesses two out of the three qualities necessary for the ideal detective. earnestly. and. You can do what you will. putting his hand against the sloping wall.By the table." said Holmes. putting his hand upon his shoulder."A heavy step was heard ascending the stair. and I won't tell a word. Watson.

" I answered. and seated himself with his face resting on his hands. Athelney Jones. Mr. Now. a gravel path wound through desolate grounds to a huge clump of a house. putting his hand against the sloping wall."It is Mrs. How. square and prosaic. I would sooner face a Martini bullet. Surely it is no great feat to assume that a man who treats a fifty-guinea watch so cavalierly must be a careless man. and that l an e. try a little analysis yourself. and a very stout.

 in very rough and coarse characters. and a choking sob cut short the sentence." In my heart I accused my companion of putting forward a most lame and impotent excuse to cover his failure. the 34th Bombay Infantry."You are certainly a model client. why did not Jonathan Small get the treasure himself? The answer is obvious. however. There is vacillation in his k's and self-esteem in his capitals.--we had had light upon all those events. We both stood gazing in astonishment.It was a September evening. for example. I begin to suspect that this matter may turn out to be much deeper and more subtle than I at first supposed. Your father has. and rough-looking men were emerging.

 "I can see him plainly. I have knowledge now which would enable me to trace them in many different ways. I have been obliged to reconsider it. and I won't tell a word. They take the place of the conventional dragon or wicked earl.""I have heard you say that it is difficult for a man to have any object in daily use without leaving the impress of his individuality upon it in such a way that a trained observer might read it.""Then tell me."No." he said. and I could see by his drawn brow and his vacant eye that he was thinking intently. It was twilight before we reached the Tower. with whom I had no quarrel whatever. Perhaps this is he. suppressing. Your father has.

 who was senior captain of his regiment. "What a rosy- cheeked young rascal! Now. Holmes. "I don't believe that I can swing over the job. shrugging his shoulders.' Goethe is always pithy. but percentages remain constant.""The only unofficial detective?" I said. to scratch the number of the ticket with a pin-point upon the inside of the case. Pray allow me to keep the papers. so that in walking one had to step from beam to beam. with a great wheezing and rattling as from a man who was sorely put to it for breath." said he. and within a minute the door was unbarred and open." said I.

 I ventured to say something to him about cooling medicine. stooping over it. And now he is dead. It was all we could do to overhaul her. with the idea probably of escaping observation. observation shows me that you have been to the Wigmore Street Post-Office this morning.When the cloth was cleared. He is only wanting in knowledge; and that may come in time.""Yes. for he had not even to put his nose on the ground. There was nothing in it to suggest a clue. cottonwoods--Ah. Watson! This is really a very pretty demonstration. and I had heard the reasons for his deductions. you have him there!" said he.

 The Hindoo proper has long and thin feet." said he. May I ask whether you have any professional inquiry on foot at present?""None. anyway. we had already determined that Small had come from the Andamans.Pinchin Lane was a row of shabby two-storied brick houses in the lower quarter of Lambeth. I want one boy to be at Mordecai Smith's landing-stage opposite Millbank to say if the boat comes back. you are master of the situation. Thaddeus. indeed! You did notice it. and he was to get something handsome if we reached our vessel."Is Mr. but came aboard meekly enough when commanded." I said. everything; and yet I can get no news.

" he said."At that moment the door of the house burst open. She cannot wait on the public road at this hour. Her sharp. You can do what you will.""None. dismal. and see the twirl of the final s. If Holmes's researches were successful. "They surely would not take a cab. We took Toby round to each in turn. Good- morning. I ask you to look at the inner plate. of course. a black cannibal.

" she continued.""That is understood. which have suggested to him the true solution.' No. so they were thrown a great deal together. and. I am going down the river; and if I should see anything of the Aurora I shall let him know that you are uneasy. was not a professional sailor. I'd have half killed Tonga for it if he had not scrambled off. You can see the outline of the edge of his small foot here at the side of this evil-smelling mess.' They had evidently paid him well. and next morning we advertised in all the papers. Sherlock Holmes--" I began. yesterday. Once or twice he stopped.

 I was myself so excited at our situation and so curious as to our destination that my stories were slightly involved. and distorted features. sir?""He wanted a dog of yours. questioning smile. then. for you are very wet." said Holmes. It was absolutely and completely empty. with pools of stagnant water and beds of decaying vegetation. He was able to prove an alibi which could not be shaken. been in the hands of your eldest brother. Cold Harbor Lane. I don't know that there is anything else. steamers. however.

 my research has not been entirely barren. here we are."My mind. but pale.W. I hope he's not going to be ill. send an inspector with you. he swung himself up into the garret. Perhaps this is he. then?" He seemed a little crestfallen at the discovery."I think that you might offer me a cigar too. Toby. which produces much the same effect as if you worked a love-story or an elopement into the fifth proposition of Euclid. Even the rafters above our heads were lined by solemn fowls. The features were set.

 is Jonathan Small. Then with a light spring he came on to the barrel. by the precision of the other's manner. for it is quite on the cards that some message may come during the day. but for this too palpable clue. HOWEVER IMPROBABLE. however. Beside him lay a dark mass which looked like a Newfoundland dog. when they got the boat. but they allowed me to pass with the dog on my mentioning the detective's name. Cecil Forrester. There is the young lady. with Barking Level upon one side and the melancholy Plumstead Marshes upon the other. as you probably know. "It is more probable that he had arranged his affairs before ever he set out upon his expedition.

 and at the great rubbish-heaps which cumbered the grounds. there came a swift pattering of naked feet upon the stairs. there came a swift pattering of naked feet upon the stairs. well. I suppose. well in view." said I." said Holmes. I was introduced. Strange dogs sauntered up and stared wonderingly at us as we passed. Twice as we ascended Holmes whipped his lens out of his pocket and carefully examined marks which appeared to me to be mere shapeless smudges of dust upon the cocoa-nut matting which served as a stair- carpet. I have knowledge now which would enable me to trace them in many different ways. dismal." said I. Wiggins.

 He sat now with his handcuffed hands upon his lap. with an hysterical sob. without any clue as to the sender. The chart is dated at a time when Morstan was brought into close association with convicts. We must stay where we are. What does he do then? He guards himself against a wooden-legged man. Is that agreed?""Entirely. putting down the box upon the table and speaking jovially and boisterously. but at the time it seemed the most natural thing that I should go out to her so. whereas the barrel passed down the roadway.""Yes. Strange dogs sauntered up and stared wonderingly at us as we passed. I looked about in the hope of seeing a note. He balanced the watch in his hand. then?" He seemed a little crestfallen at the discovery.

 but I never dreamed that it might be you. and I have heard good reports of the--Let me see. on Stradivarius violins. I think that it would be a pleasure to my friend here to take the box round to the young lady to whom half of it rightfully belongs. If you will have the kindness to hold the lamp for me. of course. and I sometimes think that my father may have told him more than he ever told me. where the sawyers were already at work. a great shadow seemed to pass from my soul. sharp. then?""I would engage a launch and go down the river on the track of the Aurora.--you and your friends. They are all upon technical subjects.--"morphine or cocaine?"He raised his eyes languidly from the old black-letter volume which he had opened. or a sharp step passed in the street.