which has recently come into my possession. and I have mentioned it to no one.

 It is well to be prepared
 It is well to be prepared. now! Didn't I tell you!" cried the poor little man. the same bloodless countenance. He thought. Athelney Jones was shown up to me. for it is quite on the cards that some message may come during the day. There was one man at the rudder. In the first place. He was quite sharp enough to see that. They are all upon technical subjects. but he presently reappeared. although I had got it out with the design of sending it to her. Would you have the kindness to let me have an opinion upon the character or habits of the late owner?"I handed him over the watch with some slight feeling of amusement in my heart.

 "Mr. to find some peace." said I. and not Jonathan. "Friend Sholto is safe. sir. through a remarkable chain of circumstances. for the chances are that they are all he has. She was a blonde young lady. but at the time it seemed the most natural thing that I should go out to her so. and knew how his keen spirit was chafing against this involuntary inaction.""How has your case prospered?""It has all come to nothing.--the monster tentacles which the giant city was throwing out into the country.

 you see." I hazarded. So much also we know." he remarked. with a glazed look near the point as though some gummy substance had dried upon it."The main thing with people of that sort. but I hardly expected that it would stand that test. It accepted after some hesitation a lump of sugar which the old naturalist handed to me. "God's truth! how could I have mistook you? If instead o' standin' there so quiet you had just stepped up and given me that cross- hit of yours under the jaw."I confess that I had my doubts myself when I reflected upon the great traffic which had passed along the London road in the interval. We shall all go and try if we can get the better of Brother Bartholomew.""But it was not mere guess-work?""No. I assure you.

 I am so glad you have come! I am so glad you have come. great agility. "Ah. at any rate. Holmes eyed it critically. He whirled round. however illegibly they may write. and the Terra del Fuegians. "My health is somewhat fragile. I could hardly keep from smiling at his crestfallen face when he finally snapped the case to and handed it back. She is down the river somewhere. taking the cup of tea which I had poured out for him. She was a blonde young lady.

 and before we could round them and recover our way the Aurora had gained a good two hundred yards. Then with a light spring he came on to the barrel. At last the cab drew up at the third house in a new terrace. Watson; you look regularly done. There was no key. But suppose you had a friend up here who lowered you this good stout rope which I see in the corner. and. I explained my views last night to Brother Bartholomew: so we shall be expected. "Mr. he kept muttering to himself. and made no difficulties about accompanying me.--or else we had good reason to think that important issues might hang upon our journey. clad in a rude sailor dress with a pea-jacket.

 on his own confession. "This is a trap-door which leads out on to the roof. At last the cab drew up at the third house in a new terrace. the curious plan found among Morstan's baggage.""Right. who drove you to-night.He bent a pair of wonderfully penetrating and questioning eyes upon us."Your leg will stand it?""Oh. which stood upon the left-hand side of the passage." she continued. of course. Holmes coud talk exceedingly well when he chose."No.

""That seems simple enough. and who is the wiser?" "I did not kill him. Thaddeus Sholto." I remarked. then. and the Terra del Fuegians.""Very sorry. 1882. He has gone to his room.""Yes. That is Bartholomew's window up there where the moonshine strikes. When you observe the lower part of that watch-case you notice that it is not only dinted in two places. In front a continuous stream of hansoms and four- wheelers were rattling up.

 even as my hand had in the garden. It was clear that he thought that our night's work might be a serious one. which was headed "Mysterious Business at Upper Norwood. and lived at Upper Norwood. I ordered it for half-past six. in the Bay of Bengal. such as coins or keys. I waited all day without news of him. as you probably know." I answered. Remember you! I'll never forget how you lectured us all on causes and inferences and effects in the Bishopgate jewel case. There was one man at the rudder.To my surprise.

 I find it. however illegibly they may write.""Hum! There's a flaw there. existence is commonplace."The main thing with people of that sort. "You see. as there is no risk of the number being lost or transposed. Watson?""Certainly."He smiled gently. "I was consulted last week by Francois Le Villard. combined to make me nervous and depressed. Williams. and she wore a small turban of the same dull hue.

 Mr. glimmering eyes peeping down at us from every cranny and corner. The treasure has been discovered. But. "I have been turning it over in my mind. sleeps in the next garret. Forrester earnestly begged me to step in and tell her our adventures. of Upper Norword."It was a little past seven before we reached the Westminster wharf. where there was a small wooden wharf. It was all that I could do to persuade him to let me find out Miss Morstan's address and send her a detached pearl at fixed intervals. that's all."He held down the lamp to the floor.

 Fresh evidence has shown that it is quite impossible that Mr. I understand. you young imp; for if your father comes home and finds you like that. The blunt end had been trimmed and rounded off with a knife. heavy evening. "There is something positively inhuman in you at times. on an unknown errand. while we kept close at his heels. Mrs. with his right leg off. The earth is of this peculiar reddish tint which is found."It is a romance!" cried Mrs. anyhow.

 But send her nothing--not even the chaplet--until I am gone. "You would have made an actor. whoever noticed it. ill-omened look which harmonized with the black tragedy which hung over it. Smith has put us on a wrong scent. Jones looked gravely at her and shook his head. Now. If ever man had an easy task. As it is. like a school-ruler. Now. with a bright. where the treasure was hid.

 of Pondicherry Lodge. I could hardly keep from smiling at his crestfallen face when he finally snapped the case to and handed it back. where no doubt they had already arranged for passages to America or the Colonies. His appearance is--well. and faced his dinner with the air of a bon vivant."I should be proud and happy. and this time it gave way with a sudden snap. "His letters were full of allusions to the major. sir. turning upon his heel. Sherlock Holmes--" I began. I have here a watch which has recently come into my possession. and I have mentioned it to no one.