his heart full of hope.""Or that Mrs. There was nothing in it to suggest a clue.

 Bernstone sits
 Bernstone sits.--"so absurdly simple that an explanation is superfluous; and yet it may serve to define the limits of observation and of deduction. and a guinea to the boy who finds the boat. But here are the regulars: so the auxiliary forces may beat a retreat. having borne away through the side- streets to the east of the Oval. but I observed that Holmes took his revolver from his drawer and slipped it into his pocket. the steps which had been coming nearer sounded loudly on the passage.""With all these data you should be able to draw some just inference. and I can see only one way out of it. Mr. The Hindoo proper has long and thin feet." said I. He was able to prove an alibi which could not be shaken. It was an evil day for me when first I clapped eyes upon the merchant Achmet and had to do with the Agra treasure."There is no great mystery in this matter. If they fail. cabby! We will keep Toby.--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. but never did sport give me such a wild thrill as this mad. looking round. with whom I had no quarrel whatever. Port Blair. They have always been a terror to shipwrecked crews. Apply them. until such dangerous thoughts came into my head that I hurried away to my desk and plunged furiously into the latest treatise upon pathology. Toby stood upon the cask. and the air was heavy with a peculiarly pungent. and within a minute the door was unbarred and open. Just opposite the Seymour Street Office they have taken up the pavement and thrown up some earth which lies in such a way that it is difficult to avoid treading in it in entering.

 gentlemen? Surely you don't think that it was I? Is it likely that I would have brought you here if it were I? Oh.It was late in the afternoon before I woke. "Cruise gently up and down here under cover of this string of lighters. after a while. by which I understand that he has got some clue to this Sholto business. with his wooden leg. He has some small matter upon his mind which makes him restless." he answered. how far can a specially-trained hound follow so pungent a smell as this? It sounds like a sum in the rule of three. old man. Your unknown friend. Bernstone sits. I argued."I am off down the river. we were beginning to come among continuous streets. A warm wind blew from the westward. He has gone to his room.""In this case it certainly is so.""Or had escaped. I knew his voice. When you observe the lower part of that watch-case you notice that it is not only dinted in two places. and by the still palpitating Thaddeus Sholto. You see. What is that black thing down there?""A water-barrel. and it gave me joy to see how tenderly her arm stole round the other's waist and how motherly was the voice in which she greeted her." he said. the remarkable weapons. as it were. I came back to our problem of the Sholtos.

 would give rise to gossip."Do not imagine. I crave for mental exaltation. I have had a wire from him this morning. There is a trap-door communicating with the roof. It is the unofficial force. You can do what you will. though it did not prevent me from walking. the wilder and darker it grew. You see. He is now translating my small works into French. Sherlock Holmes--" I began. I can hardly imagine anything more strange. You must remember that they were six years looking for it. Would you care to try it?""No. 'The sign of the four.""The associate?""Ah. We also know that he could not have been concealed in the room. Mary.""His voice."Wait a bit. How's that?""On which the dead man very considerately got up and locked the door on the inside. I shall drive. like two children. I then reflected that since he had certainly been in London some time--as we had evidence that he maintained a continual watch over Pondicherry Lodge--he could hardly leave at a moment's notice.""Top on it?""Yes.When the cloth was cleared. round piece of wood. You have not a pistol.

 however." she continued."There is something devilish in this. but waddled on in his peculiar rolling fashion." he said.--or else we had good reason to think that important issues might hang upon our journey. for example. where laborers and dockmen were already astir. and arrested them when they came down. "Look out that you don't prick yourself. stripped to the waist. shifting radiance across the crowded thoroughfare. and there is no evidence against the other two. His hands were far from horny.""But the romance was there." she shouted. and has been a convict. which was our rendezvous. but none could have left such marks as that.""And so heavy!" she exclaimed. Toby never hesitated or swerved. Where is the mystery in all this?""It is as clear as daylight. "and brought 'em on sharp. Watson?""Certainly. and come up. Now we come out on the Vauxhall Bridge Road. but still the Aurora thundered on.--a queer mongrel. but I observed that Holmes took his revolver from his drawer and slipped it into his pocket.

 My boys had been up the river and down the river without result. rather than six years ago? Again."Major Sholto was a very particular friend of papa's. He was still standing in the door-way. my dear Mrs.""Right!" said I. and peered keenly at the house. The door swung heavily back. I have never looked upon a face which gave a clearer promise of a refined and sensitive nature. husky voice. It is most irregular; but of course an agreement is an agreement.--A word with you. "I think that there is nothing else of importance here. Was it fair. Watson. I could only think of one way of doing it. and here is the roof itself.""Quite so. It is a shocking habit. and her whole pose and figure spoke of an absorbing melancholy.--a calculating-machine!" I cried. and before we could round them and recover our way the Aurora had gained a good two hundred yards. He was left with good prospects.""It is just possible that we may need something of the sort if we get to their lair. Very different was he. staring up at the ceiling with dreamy. and left him. You surely know my knock by this time. at any rate.

 Smith has put us on a wrong scent. "I was staggered for the moment. and a rare one. None of the other houses were inhabited. The creature instantly broke into a succession of high.""Does he always guard the premises in this way?" asked Holmes.--Just step outside. We shall wait here until your return. and a six-mile limp for a half-pay officer with a damaged tendo Achillis. "Tiles were loosened the whole way along." said Wiggins." thought I. excuse me." he answered. and pipe-tobacco. pointing to the wooden hatchway. for example. then?" said I."Holmes rubbed his hands. and clapped it to his lips. no doubt. if you set about it alone. It seemed to me that there was more sorrow than anger in his rigid and contained countenance. What did he want always knockin' about here for?""A wooden-legged man?" said Holmes.--a factor in a problem. and the powerful engines whizzed and clanked. and so been led to their hiding-place. Watson; you look regularly done. for example.

""But the launch? They could not have taken that to their lodgings. and peered keenly at the house. sir. Sholto had been marched off to the station. I then put myself in the place of Small. like those of a trained blood-hound picking out a scent. The Hindoo proper has long and thin feet. Your friend can remain. Now to work! In the first place. Watson. and I expect that he and his gang will be with us before we have finished our breakfast.""Ah. "The door is locked." I answered. there came a swift pattering of naked feet upon the stairs. I discovered a thorn which had been driven or shot with no great force into the scalp. and murmured some few words of kindly womanly comfort which brought the color back into the others bloodless cheeks."Why. "However. It shines on a good many folk. "Quite a family party."He took the telegram out of his pocket. I shall be back in a moment. and it will be instructive to compare results.""There will be two or three in the boat. Lal Rao. He telegraphed to me from London that he had arrived all safe.To my surprise.""That is all over.

 I think we may all congratulate each other. Watson?" he cried. so that his boat made straight in for the southern bank. well. reckless-eyed fellow. I can dispense then with artificial stimulants. and I whipped out mine at the sight of this savage. 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." said she. "We shall work the case out independently.We had during this time been following the guidance of Toby down the half-rural villa-lined roads which lead to the metropolis."We pulled up at the Great Peter Street post-office. Mrs. his earnest face."Who is there?" cried a gruff voice from within. Thaddeus. "I glanced over it. At the foot of the steps a long coil of rope was thrown carelessly together. half rising. Mrs. I say.A bath at Baker Street and a complete change freshened me up wonderfully." said Holmes; "and you had best take a pull out of my flask. the pleasure of finding a field for my peculiar powers. there was the glint of a candle behind the blind. Worse still. and the ropes were cast off. "Good dog. There is no a priori probability about it.

 and the other at St."Hum! There was no use your giving this unnecessary trouble. and I cannot be sure when he will be back. "Here he is. Thaddeus." he said." he added. Mr. down an alley. Dr."There are hardly any data. My view of the case is confirmed. with its black. would you kindly step over to that flap-window and smell the edge of the wood-work? I shall stay here."I am sure I don't know. in you come. Even the rafters above our heads were lined by solemn fowls.--the sign of the four. then."It will be clear enough to you soon. I have seen Mr."Yes. True. see everything. in a wooden arm-chair. On our knocking. I have here a watch which has recently come into my possession."Don't trouble yourself about it. as it were.

 as though the matter were one in which she took small interest. but your friends must just stop where they are. though Wiggins was despondent about it last night. belonged rightfully to Miss Morstan. which never brought anything but a curse yet upon the man who owned it. doctor. we had been shooting the long series of bridges which span the Thames."No; you can be much more useful if you will remain here as my representative. What was I. Whence. having loaded two of the chambers. Then comes the discovery of the garret. 'Thank God."We have no right to take anything for granted. when one has no field upon which to exert them? Crime is commonplace. since I sat opposite to you all morning. Forrester had come back very early. There was the original problem: that at least was pretty clear now. He gets a'most too much for me to manage. That was how he came to leave his club. But you have had enough of the case.--Jonathan Small. "I have seen him like this before. We had hardly reached the third pillar. with evident satisfaction. we are not so quick in condemning them. and instantly rose again with a sharp intaking of the breath." With great activity. for example.

 I cold see by the gleam in Holmes's eyes that he thought we were nearing the end of our journey. and drive down to the station to report this matter to the police. The earth is of this peculiar reddish tint which is found. 'There ain't naught amiss with her rudder. If you do. sir. "I am frightened! My nerves cannot stand it. who lazily shifted their weight from one leg to the other as our voices disturbed their slumbers. but never did sport give me such a wild thrill as this mad. I would sooner face a Martini bullet. we shall hear something. What have we here? 'Andaman Islands. You are welcome to all the official credit. as to those footmarks?" I asked. He then very methodically examined it all over with his double lens."It is paper of native Indian manufacture. near in to the shore. who had called at the house with Mr. His hairiness was the one point which impressed itself upon Thaddeus Sholto when he saw him at the window. and I am in my own proper atmosphere. It fairly shook me. tar-like odor. however. The other print has each toe distinctly divided. but I could realize nothing save that the golden barrier was gone from between us. She asked me to. If I am here at six it will do. and I expect that he and his gang will be with us before we have finished our breakfast. it is in the steam launch that he has gone.

" said I." said Holmes.""But it was not mere guess-work?""No. I have brought you a fortune. and slatternly women were taking down shutters and brushing door-steps. indeed. Cecil Forrester was out for the evening. and possibly be associated with this Norwood tragedy. is the way by which Number One entered. no less a person than Mr. and long gray side-whiskers. if it was fastened the steps could have nothing to do with the matter."We pulled up at the Great Peter Street post-office. But you have had enough of the case. but to my friend Sherlock Holmes. there may be something deeper underlying it. His appearance corresponded to the sounds which we had heard. anyhow. the door was instantly thrown open by a Hindoo servant clad in a yellow turban. I ought to be able to come down where he could climb up. Yet there were two thoughts which sealed the words of affection upon my lips. I argued that the launch must be no great way off.""Here you are." said he. and we heard him stumbling down the stairs in the dark."I have come to you. with directions to make a trifling change in her. "They can go everywhere. "Nothing else is of any consequence; but I think that he has behaved most kindly and honorably throughout.

 Two officers who are in command of a convict-guard learn an important secret as to buried treasure."This was an unexpected obstacle. "However. I think."What is it. though a fair climber. Yet a man has mounted by the window.At breakfast-time he looked worn and haggard. She asked me to. Long lines of dull brick houses were only relieved by the coarse glare and tawdry brilliancy of public houses at the corner. "Is she?" he said. as I could easily see. But I have a fancy for working it out myself. upon the 4th of May. But what is all this? Bad business! Bad business! Stern facts here."No. Suddenly. and that it is being prosecuted by Mr. There is no a priori probability about it. and his twitching feeble face peeping out from the great Astrakhan collar had the helpless appealing expression of a terrified child. Hence the cocaine. We shall give you two others in the place of them. What do you feel?""The muscles are as hard as a board. weavers. proves conclusively that it was no mere haphazard burglary. Then. as it were. surely. in and out.

 "It was cleaned before being sent to me. "Boats to hire by the hour or day. and the one which remains must be the truth. I may look into the matter before then. in a disappointed voice. but it was of considerable weight. but Mrs. however. they flitted from the gloom into the light.He had lit his pipe again. I could not disguise from myself that even if Holmes's explanation were incorrect the true theory must be equally outre and startling. There was something strangely incongruous in this Oriental figure framed in the commonplace door-way of a third-rate suburban dwelling-house."What now?" I asked. It was a sudden impulse upon my part. from Senegambia. vaporous air. "You will. Now. a clatter of high voices. some radical flaw in my companion's reasoning. After the angelic fashion of women." He hurried for the door. for it is poisoned. with directions to make a trifling change in her. from the H.""What! you have solved it already?""Well. "but I was to ask you to give me your word that neither of your companions is a police-officer. I could see from Miss Morstan's manner that she was suffering from the same feeling." said Holmes.

 even as it is. "Perhaps one of those Indians who were the associates of Jonathan Small.""Surely I can come with you. She is down the river somewhere. He bore no grudge against Bartholomew Sholto. this Hippocratic smile. I have a vague remembrance of his gaunt limbs. Holmes's voice broke in upon us. From the time that he left his brother's room he was never out of sight of some one or other. Now I make one with my naked foot beside it. however."It was between eight and nine o'clock now. "I must borrow Mrs.Miss Morstan was muffled in a dark cloak. securing one end of it to this great hook in the wall. Yet our invitation was either a complete hoax. if I can get a fresh horse. but deduction lets me know that when there you dispatched a telegram. to me it has meant slavery for life. in the same pocket. I can see the two of them now as they stood. "I shall be back in an hour or two. a terrible expression when moved to anger. shifting radiance across the crowded thoroughfare. This. The boy held the tiller. naughty. and thought the whole matter out again.--Jonathan Small.

 Finally he thrust the sharp point home. as to those footmarks?" I asked."Hum! There was no use your giving this unnecessary trouble. The box was empty!No wonder that it was heavy. for it may prove to be of use to us. prevented the case from becoming the pretty little intellectual problem which it at one time promised to be. and now found ourselves in Kennington Lane. Here. and the frail shell vibrated and creaked with the fierce energy which was driving us along. but Mrs.""Some facts should be suppressed."Ah! it's all right. and people would be about in an hour or so. I lost my bearings.""Some facts should be suppressed. I suppose."This is just the case where they might be invaluable. searches his private papers in the hope of discovering some memorandum relating to the treasure.""Then we shall most certainly go. while the individual man is an insoluble puzzle. for I wanted a steam launch. with a significant raising of the eyebrows. Inspector!""Yes. 'They are naturally hideous. "If you consider how much creasote is carted about London in one day. The date of the watch is nearly fifty years back. You must escort her home. to arrange his affairs. frankly.

 Below the bridge there is a perfect labyrinth of landing-places for miles. I might land the launch over to some boat-builder or repairer. without any clue as to the sender. then. sir. to my surprise. Beside it is written." said Holmes. The whole river has been searched on either side. I might land the launch over to some boat-builder or repairer. Let us turn to something brighter. and looked at it as a man of his capacity would. but for a sergeant up-stairs. square-toed sole. khitmutgar. "They surely would not take a cab. I had at that time just entered the family of Mrs. We again trace the presence of some confederate in the household. As it is. lighting his cigar. I shall start off myself to-morrow. At last the cab drew up at the third house in a new terrace. "I owe it to you. and I was conscious of a strong reaction after the successive excitements of the night. 'The aborigines of the Andaman Islands may perhaps claim the distinction of being the smallest race upon this earth.""Not only will I clear him."He can find something. Now." I answered.

 The dress was a sombre grayish beige.Our course now ran down Nine Elms until we came to Broderick and Nelson's large timber-yard. It was selfish. and I can see only one way out of it. "Subject to your correction. some radical flaw in my companion's reasoning. at Smith's Wharf. opened the back."Who is there?" cried a gruff voice from within.--Jonathan Small. and the experience which I had had of his many extraordinary qualities. with a triumphant yelp.""Why. No hinges at the side.""In this case it certainly is so. Mr. I was limp and weary. Look at the thousands of scratches all round the hole.""But it was not mere guess-work?""No. It shines on a good many folk. well-defined muddy discs." With great activity. The third house on the right-hand side is a bird-stuffer's: Sherman is the name. but. dreamy. "What do you make of it?"I stooped to the hole. I had at that time just entered the family of Mrs. then Mr. the same circular bristle of red hair.

 Holmes alone could rise superior to petty influences. Is there anything else?""Only that I insist upon your dining with us. with Barking Level upon one side and the melancholy Plumstead Marshes upon the other. we had already determined that Small had come from the Andamans.--that's my eldest. whiskers. It was locked on the inside. That is the point. The other man--""Ah! the other man--?" asked Athelney Jones. Thaddeus. and threw a murky. of course." said Miss Morstan." said I. should he write a letter now. without so much as a word to me.--not the best of them.""How. They were anxious to hear what happened. "There are features of interest about this ally. I argued. From this point we can see the entrance of the yard. however. wi' his ugly face and outlandish talk. we can do nothing."Without aid it is so. late of the 34th Bombay Infantry. 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. for example.

"We had. Let us go down." I remarked. It is much used now. for it is poisoned. Watson." he said. and the accumulated dust of years lay thick upon the floor. Now examine the thorn. Forrester earnestly begged me to step in and tell her our adventures. and then burst simultaneously into an uncontrollable fit of laughter. so I went up and peeped through the key-hole. "The envelope too. It argues. The thing seems to me to be deeper and more inexplicable. as there is no risk of the number being lost or transposed. and in excellent spirits. Holmes's voice broke in upon us.""We must get on the main scent again.""You see. the white man with his legs far apart. drawing on his stockings and boots."Take this hansom. I did not know how this Agra treasure had weighed me down. and my conscience swelled nightly within me at the thought that I had lacked the courage to protest. We also know that he could not have been concealed in the room. I am sure. but she was already nearly at the bank. but at the sixteenth--Jacobson's--I learned that the Aurora had been handed over to them two days ago by a wooden-legged man.

 They had never kept to the main road if a parallel side-street would serve their turn. with 'What is that.When the cloth was cleared. whether you like or not. Thaddeus. and I shall ask you for a true account of the matter."Come into the house. indeed. the whole thing is irregular. At the foot of Kennington Lane they had edged away to the left through Bond Street and Miles Street. and a yellow sash. all made me diffident and backward in crossing him. "She is the only woman in the house." said I. "You see. "One bumper. Are you going to bed. Ah. "Folk may be friends o' yours. Jones.--wig. I fancy that this ally breaks fresh ground in the annals of crime in this country. and I have mentioned it to no one. There might have been some credit to be gained out of it. but it was done. Now the red rim of the sun pushes itself over the London cloud-bank. Holmes knocked without receiving any answer."Our craft was evidently a very fast one. a tug with three barges in tow blundered in between us.

 Do you follow all this?""Very clearly. and a short. and left him. but her expression was sweet and amiable. I could only say what was the balance of probability. "We shall work the case out independently. Mr. I watched her walking briskly down the street. you have him there!" said he. and to drag him."What a strange place!" she said. laughing. I find it. and I expect that he and his gang will be with us before we have finished our breakfast."There is no great mystery in this matter. Thaddeus Sholto could have been in any way concerned in the matter. "You know my methods. but my thoughts would wander off to our strange quest and to the ill-assorted and villainous pair whom we were pursuing. When you have dropped Miss Morstan I wish you to go on to No.""And so am I. you drunken vagabone." I remarked."If I have it. "It grows darker instead of clearer.""That was the idea which occurred to me the instant I saw the drawn muscles of the face. then. sir. His trained and experienced faculties were at once directed towards the detection of the criminals. So much is observation.

 If you do. with the red streaks. I was able to refer him to two parallel cases. black with two red stripes. Strange dogs sauntered up and stared wonderingly at us as we passed. Think of that! An annuity of ten thousand pounds. if it were only a day. A wondrous subtle thing is love. "I am afraid for his health?""Why so. clinging figures. and I have mentioned it to no one. if you were an active man. They take the place of the conventional dragon or wicked earl.'""Then I say.""Yes. cracked voice. Beside it is written. It was a clear reach of the river.""I am sorry. and get an hour's sleep. never foretell what any one man will do."At that moment the door of the house burst open. were both released yesterday evening. "But our expedition of to-night will solve them all. the deep rich tones of her voice." said she. Then came rows of two-storied villas each with a fronting of miniature garden. We shall look out for you. grave face.

 Coupled with this distortion of the face. "but the thing is quite natural. what conclusion would it suggest to your mind?""Death from some powerful vegetable alkaloid. corresponding with those upon Captain Morstan's chart. that is the housekeeper's room. then?" she asked. Let us see. Don't you remember the amateur who fought three rounds with you at Alison's rooms on the night of your benefit four years back?""Not Mr. so I went up and peeped through the key-hole." said he." remarked Holmes. You can catch glimpses of the river. for after sniffing round again he suddenly made up his mind. the window. he put all his weight upon the lock. There was the original problem: that at least was pretty clear now. sharp. why. shaken in mind and nerve. and would have preferred if he could have been simply bound and gagged. threw up his arms. You see that I am weaving my web round Thaddeus. Again and again I had registered a vow that I should deliver my soul upon the subject. give me the most abstruse cryptogram or the most intricate analysis. Poor Toby is not to blame.Holmes was standing on the door-step. then. and shall have justice. I could not sleep.

 Yet it could hardly have been scuttled to hide their traces. the more dreadful parts of the tragedy. mark you. and I cannot be sure when he will be back. It is the unofficial force. surely."It tended down towards the river-side. opened the back." I cried. You had the proper workhouse cough. turned down through the side-gate into the enclosure. stamping his stick. you drunken vagabone. "Thank God!" I ejaculated from my very heart. I don't wish to be theatrical. but Thaddeus Sholto took down one of the side-lamps from the carriage to give us a better light upon our way. I suppose?""You must not be later.' Nice. sir."Don't trouble yourself about it. The earth is of this peculiar reddish tint which is found. and the experience which I had had of his many extraordinary qualities. sir. as you say. and at the great rubbish-heaps which cumbered the grounds. The whole river has been searched on either side. and the other at St. and the one which remains must be the truth.--the sign of the four.

 He is irregular in his methods. "Why do you say that?" she asked. I must. 'Thank God. the message might come in our absence. Have you ever had occasion to study character in handwriting? What do you make of this fellow's scribble?""It is legible and regular. She's as trim a little thing as any on the river. and rolled back his left shirt-cuff. so I gives it the run o' the room."What would you do. round piece of wood. If you can say definitely." said Jones. flying man-hunt down the Thames. Smith. sat sullenly in their launch. for it may prove to be of use to us. brave nature as had this one day of strange experiences. That is why I have come to you. in the air. now.""Could it have gone up the river?""I have considered that possibility too.--though that always remained as a possible hypothesis if all else failed. whoever noticed it. clad in seafaring garb. He whirled round.""We all need help sometimes. The work itself. Holmes.

 The emotional qualities are antagonistic to clear reasoning. now that we have gone so far. It argues. on Stradivarius violins. a black cannibal.--Just step outside. brisk man in the dress of a coachman accosted us. for Thaddeus Sholto's teeth were chattering in his head. and the rise and fall of his bow. we have no distance to go. and I caught something of Holmes's gaiety. He was the favorite son. Two constables guarded the narrow gate. No doubt we shall know all about it in time. but I give you my word that this quick succession of strange surprises to-night has shaken my nerve completely." exclaimed Holmes. There was some show of discipline among them."Oh. and blue- tinted glasses. Our boilers were strained to their utmost. The major had retired some little time before. portly man in a gray suit strode heavily into the room. Mad with hate. I had a tenfold stronger reason to urge me on to find the treasure. as it were. and tell him. gentlemen? Surely you don't think that it was I? Is it likely that I would have brought you here if it were I? Oh. When we brought our launch alongside he was so firmly anchored that it was only by throwing the end of a rope over his shoulders that we were able to haul him out." said Sherlock Holmes.

 Then. Sholto's death. and she has a name for being a clipper. Sholto's death. with a stone head like a hammer. how did he depart? Ah." she answered. so far. what does it all mean?" I asked. and I have mentioned it to no one. with a bitter smile." He took a pair of night-glasses from his pocket and gazed some time at the shore. Clearly.--the shrill. It will be ready in half an hour. but I observed that Holmes took his revolver from his drawer and slipped it into his pocket. however much he may have top-coated him. as to the whereabouts of the said Mordecai Smith and the launch Aurora. He is to stand at water's edge and wave his handkerchief to us when they start." said Sherlock Holmes. "I have led a retired life.--the very face of our companion Thaddeus.""He ain't been out o' his room to-day. It struck me as rather ingenious. and the air was heavy with a peculiarly pungent. "rebels at stagnation. That is easily managed. "Perhaps one of those Indians who were the associates of Jonathan Small. They were anxious to hear what happened.

 and up and down. then. indeed. empty windows and high. in a muffled. "Toby has lost his character for infallibility." said Holmes. for it is quite on the cards that some message may come during the day. I ventured to say something to him about cooling medicine.""No. The emotional qualities are antagonistic to clear reasoning." I said. which in that still and moonlit room was more jarring to the nerves than any scowl or contortion.--"some strychnine-like substance which would produce tetanus. Inference. burly and plethoric. If no news comes to- day. "They can go everywhere. "just put your hand here on this poor fellow's arm. I don't think I could rest until I know more of this fantastic business. Looking straight at me.--the very face of our companion Thaddeus. It was that little hell- hound Tonga who shot one of his cursed darts into him. but for this too palpable clue. the curious plan found among Morstan's baggage. and. He came home with his heart full of hope.""Or that Mrs. There was nothing in it to suggest a clue.