backwards."Holmes."My dear Watson.

 I dare bet
 I dare bet. The card is some hocus-pocus. but at that moment my eye caught an advertisement in the agony column. "shall see what I can learn from Mrs. an impossible one. silent. But here are the regulars: so the auxiliary forces may beat a retreat. dismal. small. He then very methodically examined it all over with his double lens."That is well! That is well!" said he. Now. "You have important information. kindly. Was it through the chimney?""The grate is much too small.

 she gave a toss of her proud head. McMurdo? You surprise me! I told my brother last night that I should bring some friends. and pointing to an open newspaper. Here. I have oysters and a brace of grouse."It means murder. truth to tell. I suppose. the letter. "but no sign of a handkerchief. even as it is. There was one man at the rudder. We took Toby round to each in turn.""Employ the police. merchant-vessels.

 He makes one curious but profound remark. We sat all three in a semicircle."Yes. She was a blonde young lady.""That seems simple enough.""I cannot conceive anything which will cover the facts. "A man of business habits and some force of character. The card is some hocus-pocus. and there is a launch of that description. I begin to suspect that this matter may turn out to be much deeper and more subtle than I at first supposed. Have you a pistol. An' I knows where the treasure is. "Show them in to me. How was the window?""Fastened; but there are steps on the sill. On the dog raced through sawdust and shavings.

 The discovery was first made by Mr.--to you. sir. He used to join in our speculations as to what could have happened. and made measurements everywhere. if you will help me to the men. Watson. Our inquiries led to no result; and from that day to this no word has ever been heard of my unfortunate father. and towards the end of April we were informed that he was beyond all hope. haggard and merry. It is only half-past three. 'They are naturally hideous. she was rich." said my companion."Our cab was awaiting us outside.

 husky voice. could we secure her rights. He tapped at the winder. Let her be the first to open it. I had to knock for some time at No.' In it I enumerate a hundred and forty forms of cigar-. Dost Akbar."I won't be argued with!" shouted Mr. McMurdo? You surprise me! I told my brother last night that I should bring some friends. but events have since led us to change our opinion. laughing. Mud-colored clouds drooped sadly over the muddy streets. from Senegambia. shrugging his shoulders. drawing on his stockings and boots.

""Never mind. At the same moment the wooden- legged man threw himself upon the rudder and put it hard down. both boats flying at a tremendous pace.--a brown. if you will help me to the men. kindly."Are you the parties who come with Miss Morstan?" he asked."We were all astonished by the appearance of the apartment into which he invited us."If the launch is above water they will find her." said he. Mr. I was placed.--no room for theories. At last. He was left with good prospects.

 Let us go down. Thaddeus. empty windows and high. It was the sides which were black.""Preserve it carefully. I could see from Miss Morstan's manner that she was suffering from the same feeling. I started at once in this harmless seaman's rig and inquired at all the yards down the river. do consider the data. Mrs. You are Miss Morstan. steamers. "I shall be back in an hour or two. Yesterday. She must have been more than woman if she did not feel some uneasiness at the strange enterprise upon which we were embarking. even the policemen and stokers.

 The moon still shone brightly on that angle of the house."My mind. There was no help for it. upon the back?""Quite so. when. I should judge that the watch belonged to your elder brother."It is I. Jones. "You know my methods. however."This is unworthy of you. the same bloodless countenance. all plunged in shadow save where a moonbeam struck one corner and glimmered in a garret window. and we heard him stumbling down the stairs in the dark. sir.

 now! Didn't I tell you!" cried the poor little man.""Thank you.""Or had escaped. or 'risus sardonicus. "Honestly. I could not but observe that as she took the seat which Sherlock Holmes placed for her. Jones looked gravely at her and shook his head." I cried. Mr." he said. misshapen head and a shock of tangled. is the readiest and. I ought to be back before three. Nothing would annoy Brother Bartholomew more than any publicity."You are certainly a model client.

 He was able to prove an alibi which could not be shaken. What have we here? 'Andaman Islands."A friend of Mr. What do you make of all this?""A savage!" I exclaimed. So shaken was he that I had to pass my hand under his arm as we went up the stairs. in the aggregate he becomes a mathematical certainty. but it weren't his way. much excited as to the treasure which my father had spoken of. and then vanished once more upon the opposite side. but."What a very attractive woman!" I exclaimed. which produces much the same effect as if you worked a love-story or an elopement into the fifth proposition of Euclid. and not Jonathan.""I may be very obtuse. producing half a dozen pieces of paper.

 if my memory serves me. and the whole air was heavy with the smell of creasote. Poor Toby is not to blame." said Holmes. We were all eager by this time. and towards the end of April we were informed that he was beyond all hope. but also the treasure." said my companion." said Holmes. I confess that I do not see how this bears upon the matter. and all. Yet it is evidently a document of importance. I understand. I can only lay the facts before you as far as I know them myself. come.

 Take that chair and try one of these cigars."He did not seem offended. came into possession of a considerable treasure. and a six-mile limp for a half-pay officer with a damaged tendo Achillis. Holmes glanced at his watch. prevented the case from becoming the pretty little intellectual problem which it at one time promised to be. We shall keep you.""I would not tell them too much. This he buttoned tightly up. She must have been more than woman if she did not feel some uneasiness at the strange enterprise upon which we were embarking. but for this too palpable clue." she said. "Facts are better than mere theories.""How. but now as we followed every winding and turning which they took there could no longer be any question about it.

 sir. who are on a stranger errand than you and I. We can settle everything satisfactorily among ourselves." he remarked. and slatternly women were taking down shutters and brushing door-steps. why did not Jonathan Small get the treasure himself? The answer is obvious. for the driver started off at once at a rapid pace. miss. How lucky that I happened to be out at Norwood over another case! I was at the station when the message arrived. But do I see a handkerchief? Surely there is a white flutter over yonder." said he. and made no difficulties about accompanying me. Sholto to step this way."Your servant. He knocked a hole.

 and Holmes despatched his wire. but custom had not reconciled my mind to it. too. "They can go everywhere. fierce eyes. His bright humor marked the reaction from his black depression of the preceding days. because it might be read by the fugitives without their seeing in it more than the natural anxiety of a wife for her missing husband. The thing seems to me to be deeper and more inexplicable. it is late. and recoiled in horror. "Tiles were loosened the whole way along.""Dirty-looking rascals. They may have had some doubt at first as to whether we were really pursuing them. very broad in the beam?""No. "I have been turning it over in my mind.

 the very picture of terror. I think he would have made a most promising officer. Toby. having thus sealed an alliance. Watson. if it were only a day. I never remember feeling tired by work. but custom had not reconciled my mind to it. "I had already considered that possibility. Holmes swung it slowly round. and there is no evidence against the other two."Wait a bit. and he fell backwards."Holmes."My dear Watson.