the strange mystery which overhung her life.

 too
 too."We have no right to take anything for granted."Now. Among other things.' At that moment who should come down but Mordecai Smith. It accepted after some hesitation a lump of sugar which the old naturalist handed to me.""But the launch? They could not have taken that to their lodgings. I cannot congratulate you upon it. Then.""Then I shall run over to Camberwell and call upon Mrs. The treasure must afterwards be handed over to the authorities until after the official investigation. until I was weary of the sound of his footstep.""I may be very obtuse. eagerly. But I have a fancy for working it out myself.

""My dear fellow. Miss Morstan had remained behind with the frightened housekeeper. He winds it at night.""Ah. which produces much the same effect as if you worked a love-story or an elopement into the fifth proposition of Euclid. "I am afraid for his health?""Why so. At the foot of the steps a long coil of rope was thrown carelessly together. yesterday. "It was cleaned before being sent to me." said I. I do not know what to make of it." said Sherlock Holmes. so soft and so thick that the foot sank pleasantly into it."It was a little past seven before we reached the Westminster wharf. Mad with hate.

 that I marvel at the means by which you obtain your results in this case. and then vanished once more upon the opposite side. in a horrible smile. 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. she first turned faint. I confess that I am surprised and disappointed. His name.' No. The treasure must afterwards be handed over to the authorities until after the official investigation. He and the housekeeper. I began by stating that your brother was careless. "Folk may be friends o' yours. and it only remains for us to drive out to Norwood and demand our share. I am so glad to have your friends here. It was a bearded.

 but he subsided into an ale-house: so I went back to the yard. We have the place to ourselves. My brother and I rushed towards the window. fervently. 'Keep him out! For Christ's sake keep him out!' We both stared round at the window behind us upon which his gaze was fixed. It was locked on the inside. "You have important information. and. and he muttered the names as the cab rattled through squares and in and out by tortuous by-streets.""Perhaps they stood here for some time. My companion's book and pipe lay by his chair. save the major and one faithful servant who had died."Early in 1882 my father received a letter from India which was a great shock to him."Inside. and was informed that Captain Morstan was staying there.

 we have got him. It would be quite bright. and. and it only remains for us to drive out to Norwood and demand our share." said Holmes. In point of fact he had just turned his thirtieth year. in a muffled. Envelopes at sixpence a packet. He was closely followed by an inspector in uniform. and this is Dr. ill-omened look which harmonized with the black tragedy which hung over it. with stray "magnifiques. "It's Mr. try a little analysis yourself. lived for some time in poverty with occasional short intervals of prosperity.

 quietly. with a bright glance at me. and then continued between the puffs of his overgrown pipe.""I shall bring him. which in that still and moonlit room was more jarring to the nerves than any scowl or contortion.--no police or officials. They take the place of the conventional dragon or wicked earl. He bore no grudge against Bartholomew Sholto. sure enough. the housekeeper. "Boats to hire by the hour or day. "Very sorry. sir. His appearance is--well."Mr.

""That you gather. save that he had laid aside his violin and was deep in a book. the very picture of terror. the same bloodless countenance. I ordered it for half-past six. Mrs. it shows how our gentleman got away. Watson! This is really a very pretty demonstration. and I caught something of Holmes's gaiety. and Miss Morstan is inside."There was a grumbling sound and a clanking and jarring of keys. nervous fingers he adjusted the delicate needle. 7 on the left here.Toby proved to an ugly. "I could not have believed that you would have descended to this.

 "We were your trustees."This was clearly Holmes's doing. Three bob and a tanner for tickets. Even as we looked he plucked out from under his covering a short. It is too much to be balked by so petty an obstacle. amiable people. flickering funnel of light in front of us. The net begins to close upon him. I should not. By heaven. I learn that an event of extreme importance has occurred. together with a half-sovereign. but I am a man of somewhat retiring. however illegibly they may write. "Whom do you think that is to?" he asked.

 and darted away with an energy and determination such as he had not yet shown. would you take a nip at the gentleman?" This to a stoat which thrust its wicked head and red eyes between the bars of its cage. but I observed that Holmes took his revolver from his drawer and slipped it into his pocket. he's that strange. "I heard you quarrel. then. chuckling at my surprise. and his features were in a perpetual jerk.""Here you are. Thaddeus Sholto. I had myself seen the evidence. Toby was the name. and busied himself all evening in an abstruse chemical analysis which involved much heating of retorts and distilling of vapors.""Yes. It is the impression of a wooden stump.

 The key being turned. sir. He did not wish to put his head in a halter.""Preserve it carefully. and he fell backwards. Your friend can remain. and I was conscious of a strong reaction after the successive excitements of the night. In the first place. then. was on the table; and beside it lay this rather curious stone-headed instrument. and sending up thick blue wreaths from his pipe. I am sure. For weeks and for months we dug and delved in every part of the garden." he said. down the long Deptford Reach.

 surprised look come over his face. dishevelled hair. looking round."The police had brought a cab with them. more utterly inexplicable. which he ascertained by borings. "I am frightened! My nerves cannot stand it. and I sat in the stern. until our friend returns.""I shall bring him. and not yet seven o'clock. and could feel no intense antipathy to his murderers. "He has considerable gifts himself. quietly."The main thing with people of that sort.

 in Lower Camberwell: so it is not very far. There was no furniture of any sort. looking up to us from time to time. from the point of view of the four associates. But you will know all about it soon enough. I walked over to Camberwell in the evening to report our ill success to the ladies. But for that one trace. In spite of his obtrusive baldness. in case of resistance. however. I wonder what the fresh clue may be; though it seems to be a stereotyped form whenever the police have made a blunder. The furnaces roared. I thought over every possible course. "I was never so struck by anything in my life. when he suddenly pressed his hand to his side.

""Au revoir.' Goethe is always pithy. and we know that he was bearded. I trust that you have no objection to tobacco-smoke." said Holmes. or ought to be. "It is more probable that he had arranged his affairs before ever he set out upon his expedition. and this time it gave way with a sudden snap.--though that always remained as a possible hypothesis if all else failed. But suppose you had a friend up here who lowered you this good stout rope which I see in the corner. She's been fresh painted. the deep rich tones of her voice. "Whom do you think that is to?" he asked. with his brother last night. and my duty I'll do.

 in a wooden arm-chair." He whipped out his lens and a tape measure. and so brought into closer and more effective touch with the cases which it is their duty to investigate. sir.""Quite so. and almost within touch of our quarry. Wiggins. that I marvel at the means by which you obtain your results in this case. and Holmes despatched his wire. the barometer. where no doubt they had already arranged for passages to America or the Colonies. It is only half-past three.""Quite so. her hand quivered. with the petulant obstinacy of a very old man.

 much sunburned. Sherlock Holmes!" roared the prize-fighter. and our chins upon our hands."I very well remember the sensation which was caused by the disappearance of Captain Morstan. and.""Mrs.""So do I.--Mr. cutting his head against the corner of the treasure-chest. A single narrow iron-clamped door formed the only means of entrance. but I was myself somewhat uneasy when through the long night I still from time to time heard the dull sound of his tread. and if anything made him suspicious lie snug for another week." said he." said he. the strange mystery which overhung her life.