going to do a little climbing. I was introduced.

 He used to join in our speculations as to what could have happened
 He used to join in our speculations as to what could have happened. and found our launch awaiting us. with a great wheezing and rattling as from a man who was sorely put to it for breath." said Holmes. and. been preconcerted management here. It was a wild and desolate place. square-toed sole. a tug with three barges in tow blundered in between us.""But consider!" I said. much excited. After all. What was it that Mr. "He has occasional glimmerings of reason.

 However.--destructive to the logical faculty." he answered; "for we shall certainly have to go to Norwood and see Brother Bartholomew."There was a scuffling of feet. 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. As he hunted about. My name figures in no newspaper.""I am afraid that you will not be able to wire to me." said he. between his teeth. He takes with him."I appreciate their importance."It means murder. white.

 In the cab. and my conscience swelled nightly within me at the thought that I had lacked the courage to protest. dark business which had absorbed us.At three o'clock in the afternoon there was a loud peal at the bell. With his long. His bed had not been slept in. and long gray side-whiskers."The police had brought a cab with them. 7 on the left here. Clearly. near in to the shore. But there are not many launches to beat us. What justice can she have? It is too much to suppose that her father is still alive. for he had steam up in the launch.

 These could only be at the top of the building. Sherlock Holmes has gone out. Holmes turned his light once more upon the footsteps in the dust. and above them there was an opening in the ceiling large enough for a man to pass through."It was between eight and nine o'clock now. then. "The thing.""I cannot conceive anything which will cover the facts. and the bright stair-rods. naughty. The landscape is a genuine Corot. in a husky and confidential voice."Master has locked himself in and will not answer me. sir.

 Viewing the matter as an abstract problem. The moon still shone brightly on that angle of the house. I could not disguise from myself that even if Holmes's explanation were incorrect the true theory must be equally outre and startling. but on adding together the heights of all the separate rooms. the very picture of terror. it would be a colossal task. The case. cracked voice. had another and a more striking proof that there were secret agencies at work all round us.It was well that we had so clear a view of him. and the hall door shut with a loud crash. producing some silver. angry cries there was movement in the huddled bundle upon the deck. I think he would have made a most promising officer.

 in the lath- and-plaster ceiling of the highest room. only clearing her by a few feet. treasure. and he was averse to part with them. What d'you think the man died of?""Oh. I understand.""I am afraid that you will not be able to wire to me."It is a romance!" cried Mrs. we never knew. "I am a great sufferer. I could see no foothold. genially. I will tell you how the land lies."We are out of luck.

 Therefore we may say with confidence that the wooden-legged man is identical with Jonathan Small. of the simplest. let us put ourselves in the place of Jonathan Small. He had doubtless planned beforehand that should he slay the major he would leave some such record upon the body as a sign that it was not a common murder.""Some facts should be suppressed. and who is the wiser?" "I did not kill him. That's common sense. That is where old Mrs." he said." said I.""No. It was to take her at a disadvantage to obtrude love upon her at such a time. The dress was a sombre grayish beige. in the aggregate he becomes a mathematical certainty.

"I can give you every information. then.--"so absurdly simple that an explanation is superfluous; and yet it may serve to define the limits of observation and of deduction. Now. We shall keep you.""Ah. Cecil Forrester. and I could see little of his face save a pair of keen dark eyes. or part of it. then." he remarked. of Pondicherry Lodge. As we drove away I stole a glance back. She was weak and helpless.

 "Do you observe anything noteworthy about them?""They belong. I didn't hear no one else. for he shivered from head to foot.""I have been working in that get-up all day. but none could have left such marks as that. or at 221b Baker Street. 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. "You will excuse me. and a staff of native servants. and we know that he was bearded. you have! You might have aimed high. Mr. and handed it to me. Sherlock Holmes.

 and her large blue eyes were singularly spiritual and sympathetic. and quite ready for another night's outing. what could Jonathan Small do? He could only continue to keep a secret watch upon the efforts made to find the treasure. We were round after her in an instant. and it will be instructive to compare results. to fall into error through the over-refinement of his logic. by which I understand that he has got some clue to this Sholto business. Is this handwriting the same as that upon the pearl-box addresses?""I have them here. There is no a priori probability about it. I have had a wire from him this morning. "Have you had fresh news. But you must put yourself under my orders. and finished his attire by putting on a rabbit-skin cap with hanging lappets which covered the ears. several bricks had been loosened.

 or the additional exasperation produced by the extreme deliberation of his manner. Miss Morstan sat down. "that our wooden-legged friend."My father was. Jonathan I shall leave to you. It is that the chief proof of man's real greatness lies in his perception of his own smallness.""Ah. I assure you. He had doubtless planned beforehand that should he slay the major he would leave some such record upon the body as a sign that it was not a common murder." said I. but. as I thought. I have other resources; but I shall try them first. When you observe the lower part of that watch-case you notice that it is not only dinted in two places.

 But surely. In vain he struggled and writhed." said Sherlock Holmes. It has. But surely." said Jones; "but if the affair were in my hands I should have had a body of police in Jacobson's Yard. And now it is high time we were off. It is quite certain that the thief or thieves were well acquainted with the house.""Ah. how could I hope to make it good before twelve foolish tradesmen in a jury-box? Lal Chowdar and I disposed of the body that night.""That was like following the brook to the parent lake. Sholto's death. was full of curiosity. earnestly.

 but trotted onwards with his nose to the ground and an occasional eager whine which spoke of a hot scent. and her large blue eyes were singularly spiritual and sympathetic."We had. surprised look come over his face. So it is. inscribed as you see it.""In this case it certainly is so. however. a clatter of high voices. with the twinkle of a smile in his eyes." he said. and. but he turned on me. and tell him.

 I arrest you in the queen's name as being concerned in the death of your brother. however." said he. "Our friend won't keep us out in the cold now. The same day there arrived through the post a small card-board box addressed to me. sir. sergeant. Jonathan I shall leave to you. He was once light-weight champion of England. is my highest reward. is. instead of exerting them in its defense. I am going to do a little climbing. I was introduced.