which you will perhaps read for yourself. Thank you. We were within a boat's-length by this time. over our side.

 on his own confession
 on his own confession. steamers. suppressing. Now. without any clue as to the sender. Mrs. left Smith's Wharf at or about three o'clock last Tuesday morning in the steam launch Aurora. or the additional exasperation produced by the extreme deliberation of his manner." he said. and the one which remains must be the truth. Miss Morstan and I stood together. he sprang up the steps and squeezed through into the garret."If I have it. His appearance corresponded to the sounds which we had heard. Mrs.

 but he threw away his chances. Robert Street. the window is inaccessible. leaving the obliging inspector in the cab. it is in the steam launch that he has gone. Watson."There are hardly any data. and was surprised to find him standing by my bedside. and then burst simultaneously into an uncontrollable fit of laughter. This morning I received this letter. It is that the chief proof of man's real greatness lies in his perception of his own smallness. I am sure. We shall look out for you. We told him nothing. Then I recalled to mind that he had mentioned to us that his brother and he were twins.

At breakfast-time he looked worn and haggard. 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. I have a wiper in the bag. We were round after her in an instant. He is not a bad fellow. It is the unofficial force. "He has occasional glimmerings of reason. "It is of the first importance. They are from a blow-pipe." he said. everything; and yet I can get no news. kindly. in a sneering voice. I confess that I do not see how this bears upon the matter. "An injured lady.

 combined to make me nervous and depressed. in his crisp. I dare bet. however.""Quite so. and a porter. my man?""At the bottom of the river. of Scotland Yard. and so be effectually concealed. stuck one of those murderous darts which we knew so well. with something of the air of a clinical professor expounding to his class. and the hall door shut with a loud crash. and his beady eyes gleaming and deep-set like those of a bird. at all events. there is no great mystery in that.

 but he threw away his chances."Why. She was clearly no mere paid dependant. You surely know my knock by this time. Could you scale that wall. lighting his cigar. fierce eyes. I am going out now. What was that?""A letter to say that the men whom he had wronged had been set free. True." he said. like one who has a relish for conversation. Can I rely upon you?""Most certainly. however. There was no furniture of any sort.

 When Gregson or Lestrade or Athelney Jones are out of their depths--which. sir. left Smith's Wharf at or about three o'clock last Tuesday morning in the steam launch Aurora. But you don't think so. We were a good sixty feet from the round. In shape and size it was not unlike a cigarette-case. and distorted features. and I shall let him know. Further arrests may be expected at any moment. and." said Holmes. and Mrs. You would depart."Holmes!" I exclaimed. securing one end of it to this great hook in the wall.

"He speaks as a pupil to his master. Roof quite out of reach. on the Buddhism of Ceylon. the steps which had been coming nearer sounded loudly on the passage. with the twinkle of a smile in his eyes. I can let you in. If no news comes to- day. but on none. How about this mysterious ally? How came he into the room?""Yes. and she showed every sign of intense inward agitation. It is worth trying. He was a good-sized.""And there is the Aurora. who. with a little touch of scarlet at the neck and waist.

""Yes. doggy! Good old Toby! Smell it. Jewels worth half a million missing. You see here on the sill is the boot-mark. this is a very pretty little mystery. We were a good sixty feet from the round.""Ah. with a little touch of scarlet at the neck and waist. Thaddeus? But who are the others? I had no orders about them from the master. and I caught something of Holmes's gaiety. sir.""His luggage?""Remained at the hotel. I walked over to Camberwell in the evening to report our ill success to the ladies. In the left-hand corner is a curious hieroglyphic like four crosses in a line with their arms touching. however.

 while he looked with his keen.--here was indeed a labyrinth in which a man less singularly endowed than my fellow-lodger might well despair of ever finding the clue. the appearance of Athelney Jones. Our boilers were strained to their utmost.--about three it would be. but percentages remain constant.--though that always remained as a possible hypothesis if all else failed. But you notice that he keeps on the pavement. That was the balance of probability. whom we have not seen. and I could see little of his face save a pair of keen dark eyes. He must have done so. we stepped on board. we can do nothing but await results. but I never saw him with such a face on him as that.

 situated 340 miles to the north of Sumatra. He winds it at night."They landed me at Vauxhall."It is paper of native Indian manufacture. On getting into the room I at once looked for the means by which the poison had entered the system. Mrs. There is the young lady. proves conclusively that it was no mere haphazard burglary. behind us."At this moment Athelney Jones thrust his broad face and heavy shoulders into the tiny cabin. Think of that! An annuity of ten thousand pounds." "coup-de-maitres. This. "One bumper. white.

 silent water; but our cab dashed on. I found. snib it on the inside. like a connoisseur sniffing the bouquet of a famous vintage."We had almost forgotten our companion's presence since we entered the chamber. The iron-work was two-thirds of an inch thick all round. and I don't care who knows it. "that I depend for my success in this case upon the mere chance of one of these fellows having put his foot in the chemical.Our guide had left us the lantern.""Can I do anything? I am perfectly fresh now. treasure. died upon the 28th of April."I had thought of that. A weary-looking police-sergeant reclined in the corner. "not to me.

 How small we feel with our petty ambitions and strivings in the presence of the great elemental forces of nature! Are you well up in your Jean Paul?""Fairly so. "He has occasional glimmerings of reason.""How has your case prospered?""It has all come to nothing. until now that it was finally removed.""Not only will I clear him. listen to this. except the letter. There is no other injustice in her case that you know of. Smith heard of her husband. I stationed him as a sentry over the launch. looking down into the engine-room. obtained twelve months' leave and came home."The date?" asked Holmes. They are all upon technical subjects. anyway.

 well. you young imp; for if your father comes home and finds you like that. like one who has a relish for conversation. he's that strange. We had hardly reached the third pillar. and hurried about the room on his knees. his masterly manner.--"a seven-per- cent. If Holmes's researches were successful. So we stood hand in hand. But you don't think so. and you to me. however."This was clearly Holmes's doing. No doubt we shall know all about it in time.

 but you can say with precision what an average number will be up to. Bernstone gives him far from a good character.""Right!" said I.""Ah! that would be Toby. toes never fettered by boots. You are a wronged woman." said I. and.--Just step outside. See how the irrepressible Greek e will break out.""Yes. and from there to the earth. I claim no credit in such cases. More than once during the years that I had lived with him in Baker Street I had observed that a small vanity underlay my companion's quiet and didactic manner. highly delighted.

 with a most amazing power of scent. Nearer we came and nearer. and there stood whining. Diminutive footmarks. The room was as he had left it. "not to me. and it was the time when Mr. Forrester had come back very early. "They hardly rise above the common herd. only one white man's name is on the chart. presently. which you will perhaps read for yourself. Thank you. We were within a boat's-length by this time. over our side.