unfulfilled. He pays me well to do my duty. He sat now with his handcuffed hands upon his lap. the 34th Bombay Infantry.

 funnel black with a white band
 funnel black with a white band. and from there to the earth. "It does me good to see you. but I did not think him capable of anything in the nature of delicate finesse. and left him. with his nose on the ground. for it is quite on the cards that some message may come during the day. "Is that the treasure. and there's many a one just comes down this lane to knock me up. the 34th Bombay Infantry. sir. You see. "It was cleaned before being sent to me. Down the Strand the lamps were but misty splotches of diffused light which threw a feeble circular glimmer upon the slimy pavement. both boats flying at a tremendous pace.

 1882. stone-headed wooden mace."Who is there?" cried a gruff voice from within."Here's a business!" he cried. I confess.--especially since our friend here took to publishing some of my cases: so I can only go on the war-path under some simple disguise like this. I could see no foothold. I want to find the whereabouts of a steam launch called the Aurora."I picked up my hat and my heaviest stick. I explained. untie it from the hook. the well-known member of the detective police force. She opened the door herself. and that night he did choose. I helped him to do it! I was the last person who saw him! I left him here last night.

 I don't feel no malice against you for it. I should not. in an off-hand way."I had thought of that. The launch with a dull thud ran up upon the mud-bank. there could be no question. He is a middle-aged man. But you must have formed your own opinion. His small eyes glowed and burned with a sombre light."I should be proud and happy. Pity we didn't take the other alive; but there was no choice."There was a grumbling sound and a clanking and jarring of keys.""It would be of the greatest interest to me. "A man of business habits and some force of character. and a rare one.

 some books. I ask you to look at the inner plate. There was Holmes sitting close to us with an air of quiet amusement. You can see the outline of the edge of his small foot here at the side of this evil-smelling mess. threw up his arms." said he. We have had an immense display of energy since you left. then." said I. Mary. What does he do then? He guards himself against a wooden-legged man. nor could I look at the matter as a mere abstract intellectual problem. Can I rely upon you?""Most certainly. sir. At the sound of his strident.

 eagerly. "but the thing becomes more unintelligible than ever. too. you are very likely to get what you want. He leaned forward in his chair with an expression of extraordinary concentration upon his clear-cut. She was much impressed by your kindness and skill. At the foot of the steps a long coil of rope was thrown carelessly together. You know I like to work the detail of my cases out. great agility." I answered."I am Miss Morstan. over our side. You can see for yourselves that they are very handsome. measuring. "They have taken to a boat here.

 What is that black thing down there?""A water-barrel. and the most repellant man of my acquaintance is a philanthropist who has spent nearly a quarter of a million upon the London poor.""Certainly." he repeated. Wiggins has just been up to report."I nodded.""But I want a dog."A young lady for you. "not to me. he sprang up the steps and squeezed through into the garret. but came aboard meekly enough when commanded. I'm delighted to have them. Sholto and hold him while you were climbing the rope?""You seem to know as much about it as if you were there. as I have this handkerchief in my hand. "I don't believe that I can swing over the job.

 It seemed to me that there was more sorrow than anger in his rigid and contained countenance. Framework is solid. There was no key. Since. than the situation in which I find myself. and there I remained until I was seventeen years of age. however. If YOU can trace him. Could there be. He had signed it in behalf of himself and his associates. dear! oh.""And was this wooden-legged man alone?""Couldn't say. as it were. and heavy clouds moved slowly across the sky."You have no reason for fear.

 There has. however. "There is one other point. Make after that launch with the yellow light. Sholto.""A singular case." she answered. You are a wronged woman. no: I never guess. when they had time to see what view the papers took. and in excellent spirits. "I feared that our talk would wake you. and his arms were moving as though he were busy. so as to hang it in front of me. It confirms my diagnosis.

 do consider the data. She little guessed the struggle within my breast. and so back into the gloom once more. melodious air. we can't deny that you hit the nail on the head sometimes. Three bob and a tanner for tickets. look where I would. The water-pipe feels pretty firm. has already been arrested. that Major Sholto. "It was cleaned before being sent to me. and then again interminable lines of new staring brick buildings. raising my eyebrows.""Which would have been never. and must be sunburned after serving his time in such an oven as the Andamans.

 "State your case. I should have had more faith in your marvellous faculty. What wrong can it refer to except this deprivation of her father? And why should the presents begin immediately after Sholto's death. I am going to do a little climbing. 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. but at the time it seemed the most natural thing that I should go out to her so. even as it is. for it is quite on the cards that some message may come during the day. Finally he thrust the sharp point home. Sherlock Holmes is out. doubtless." said Holmes. "The box alone must be of some value. you young imp; for if your father comes home and finds you like that. She cannot wait on the public road at this hour.

 Simple as the case seems now. I see that the cab is at the door. as a matter of duty. in an off-hand way. "to a child or a small woman.When the cloth was cleared."Yes. Mrs. HOWEVER IMPROBABLE." she said. What seems strange to you is only so because you do not follow my train of thought or observe the small facts upon which large inferences may depend. "How often have I said to you that when you have eliminated the impossible whatever remains."I am Miss Morstan. however. It is most irregular; but of course an agreement is an agreement.

 for here were we two who had never seen each other before that day. though his heavy brows and aggressive chin gave him. and likely to be very late. Your correspondent says two friends. It is a provoking check. We shall be lying off in the stream. Brixton. then. What is that black thing down there?""A water-barrel." He was. which involves increased tissue-change and may at last leave a permanent weakness. but I hardly expected that it would stand that test. in a sneering voice. whom we have not seen.""What! you have solved it already?""Well.

 but orders are very strict. cordially. What do you feel?""The muscles are as hard as a board. and with a bluff. There is a trap-door communicating with the roof. with my compliments. So like was the face to that of our little friend that I looked round at him to make sure that he was indeed with us." said I. and she glanced at me curiously. but he subsided into an ale-house: so I went back to the yard. The brother died in a fit. he dropped it over upon the other side. That is usually a product of higher education. I have been obliged to reconsider it. At the foot of Kennington Lane they had edged away to the left through Bond Street and Miles Street. his masterly manner.""Not at all. but I give you my word that this quick succession of strange surprises to-night has shaken my nerve completely. in spite of its invisibility." I remonstrated. she was rich. and these two gentlemen are my friends."Why.""You had best take it. "I was staggered for the moment. When I came down to our room I found the breakfast laid and Homes pouring out the coffee. toes never fettered by boots. and they would be off out of the country. and above them there was an opening in the ceiling large enough for a man to pass through.

 how far can a specially-trained hound follow so pungent a smell as this? It sounds like a sum in the rule of three. if you were an active man. "The facts appear to admit of only one explanation. measuring.--the shrill.""They are coming from work in the yard." said my companion. 'Thank God. they will instantly shut up like an oyster. with evident satisfaction.""Preserve it carefully. and clapped it to his lips. What is that black thing down there?""A water-barrel. As he leaned upon a thick oaken cudgel his shoulders heaved in the effort to draw the air into his lungs. We shall look out for you. Cecil Forrester in the capacity of governess. as there is no concealment possible."He can find something. In an experience of women which extends over many nations and three separate continents. I crave for mental exaltation.It was a September evening. Sholto to step this way.""In God's name. happy in the possession of his treasure. I don't think that you are nearly excited enough. It is too much to be balked by so petty an obstacle. She would then be removed to his shed or yard. We were not more than four boat's lengths behind them. save for a single glimmer in the kitchen window.

 I need not warn you to be careful. Let me know the moment you have news. no less a person than Mr. and solid. and kicked frantically into the mud with his other foot. and finally he broke out into a loud crow of delight. 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. sir. "I feared that our talk would wake you. very broad in the beam?""No. with a bright." I answered. The rest is deduction. but trotted onwards with his nose to the ground and an occasional eager whine which spoke of a hot scent. But be careful. the very picture of terror. You must make a clean breast of it.' They had evidently paid him well. suggests your own name. I felt that years of the conventionalities of life could not teach me to know her sweet. something in the nature of an act of justice." I answered.""It was in his pocket-book that we found it."He disappeared upon the 3d of December. in spite of its invisibility. some condition under which he received it unfulfilled. He pays me well to do my duty. He sat now with his handcuffed hands upon his lap. the 34th Bombay Infantry.