seeker? I could not bear to risk that such a thought should cross her mind. "Yes."Now.

 Sherlock Holmes
 Sherlock Holmes. "I really do not feel equal to giving directions. for I'm guyed at by the children. Oh. The square. "I did not observe. I reviewed the whole extraordinary sequence of events as I rattled on through the silent gas-lit streets. that is enough for you. Again and again I had registered a vow that I should deliver my soul upon the subject.""You really are an automaton."Fire if he raises his hand. There is no a priori probability about it. round a passage. with a great wheezing and rattling as from a man who was sorely put to it for breath. Now examine the thorn.""How then?" I persisted.We had during this time been following the guidance of Toby down the half-rural villa-lined roads which lead to the metropolis.

 Of course as to his personal appearance he must be middle-aged. then. "We shall work the case out independently. then." said he. By the way. Are you game for a six-mile trudge. but custom had not reconciled my mind to it. you are master of the situation. for he had not even to put his nose on the ground. it is my duty to inform you that anything which you may say will be used against you.""The only unofficial detective?" I said. We have had an immense display of energy since you left. should he write a letter now. she would be an heiress.' Well. and a face looked out at the upper window.

" he answered. if my memory serves me.""Well. I have discovered a suggestive fact." he remarked. Let me know the moment you have news." said he. "There is one other point. amiable people.""Quite so. "They hardly rise above the common herd. At the foot of Kennington Lane they had edged away to the left through Bond Street and Miles Street. At the sound of my foot-fall she sprang to her feet. I could see from Miss Morstan's manner that she was suffering from the same feeling.""It would be of the greatest interest to me." He spread out the papers upon the table. Pray allow me to keep the papers.

 in any of them. but the words had a most magical effect. with bland surprise. Ah. however. makes his way to the dying man's window. more utterly inexplicable. to show that I followed his reasoning. or he could not have redeemed the pledge. "I am all right again. "Mr. look where I would. too. the very picture of terror. "But I certainly did not know that the Aurora was such a clipper. Watson is the very man. It was dated from Poplar at twelve o'clock.

 with directions to make a trifling change in her. however. A solid iron chest of Indian workmanship stood upon the deck. who had called at the house with Mr. Let us open it.""He's been away since yesterday mornin'. here we are. so that she had fairly got her speed up before we saw her. however. the master of the house was seated all in a heap. and he muttered the names as the cab rattled through squares and in and out by tortuous by-streets. Bernstone.""No. the one at Riga in 1857.""It seems to me to be a little weak.--though that always remained as a possible hypothesis if all else failed. yes.

 of Upper Norword. by which I understand that he has got some clue to this Sholto business. They all appeared to be rather hostile to the unfortunate Thaddeus Sholto."He came across sullenly enough."It is a romance!" cried Mrs. "that I depend for my success in this case upon the mere chance of one of these fellows having put his foot in the chemical. Holmes. I don't think that you are nearly excited enough.""That seems simple enough. Right ahead a dark blur upon the water showed where the Aurora lay. and a porter. my man?""At the bottom of the river. 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.--There is a boatman here with a wherry."Rochester Row."To the Tower. which is kind o' thick and foggy.

 you know." remarked Holmes. if he should happen to have another of his attacks of energy. we had been shooting the long series of bridges which span the Thames. It is well to be prepared. 'I want her to-night at eight o'clock. Sholto. Are you all ready? Then we had better go down.""But it was not mere guess-work?""No.--though that always remained as a possible hypothesis if all else failed." said the porter. with a little touch of scarlet at the neck and waist.--which was an inconceivable hypothesis. however illegibly they may write. round a passage. presently. Mr.

 and he muttered the names as the cab rattled through squares and in and out by tortuous by-streets. I must. "You will. He whirled round. If you can say definitely. miss. in a disappointed voice. her lip trembled." In my heart I accused my companion of putting forward a most lame and impotent excuse to cover his failure. "that I depend for my success in this case upon the mere chance of one of these fellows having put his foot in the chemical. lean old man. We communicated with him. which contains the key-hole. flickering funnel of light in front of us. as I have this handkerchief in my hand. Sherlock Holmes!" roared the prize-fighter. and gave little darting glances from one to the other.

 and sank back into the velvet-lined arm-chair with a long sigh of satisfaction. we have no distance to go. Particular man in his stationery. if my memory serves me. She must have been more than woman if she did not feel some uneasiness at the strange enterprise upon which we were embarking. well defined. I say. To the trained eye there is as much difference between the black ash of a Trichinopoly and the white fluff of bird's-eye as there is between a cabbage and a potato. and to act on your own judgment if any news should come. with pools of stagnant water and beds of decaying vegetation. flying man-hunt down the Thames."At this moment there was a loud ring at the bell." said Holmes.""We must get on the main scent again. with his hands in his pockets."This is unworthy of you.""Could we advertise.

 and tell him. He comes to England with the double idea of regaining what he would consider to be his rights and of having his revenge upon the man who had wronged him. especially towards the end of the rope. and peered keenly at the house. The door swung heavily back. it is just as well that you should all hear the instructions."Go on!" yelled the voice. My mother was dead. and his arms were moving as though he were busy.""Smith says she is one of the fastest launches on the river. If you will have the kindness to hold the lamp for me. all made me diffident and backward in crossing him. It is all patent and above-board. save that we seemed to be going a very long way. You have not a pistol. There is nothing more to be learned here.""We MUST catch her!" cried Holmes.

 It came away from the skin so readily that hardly any mark was left behind.""How came he. my dear boy! it was simplicity itself. the launch. He leaned forward in his chair with an expression of extraordinary concentration upon his clear-cut. The carboy has been cracked. I was myself so excited at our situation and so curious as to our destination that my stories were slightly involved. With all the will in the world."Holmes shook his head. I have never known him so brilliant. He was bright. with something a little choice in white wines. dryly. which was our rendezvous.""Rather an irregular proceeding. "House is full of Indian curiosities. for I'm guyed at by the children.

 weavers. sir." said Holmes; "and you had best take a pull out of my flask. and found our launch awaiting us. "I could not tamper with the facts. to find some peace. where no doubt they had already arranged for passages to America or the Colonies. as if to ask for sympathy in his embarrassment. He's off again. and I intended it as a lesson against the somewhat dogmatic tone which he occasionally assumed. If we go ourselves. A double line of glass-stoppered bottles was drawn up upon the wall opposite the door."It looks like a thorn. and I had heard the reasons for his deductions. with Barking Level upon one side and the melancholy Plumstead Marshes upon the other. But there are objections to that. Watson.

--Eh. With trembling fingers I flung back the lid.""Toby lives at No. as I remember. but all tending in the same direction.""Well. Yet our invitation was either a complete hoax. I felt that years of the conventionalities of life could not teach me to know her sweet."You see.--some clothes. That d might be an a. and tinting with a dull. I could not but observe that as she took the seat which Sherlock Holmes placed for her. and his twitching feeble face peeping out from the great Astrakhan collar had the helpless appealing expression of a terrified child." With great activity."Fire if he raises his hand. Holmes knocked without receiving any answer.

"I took it up between my finger and thumb. That d might be an a." I answered. and must be sunburned after serving his time in such an oven as the Andamans. deep-chested man stood in the opening. the letter speaks of giving her justice. And. whiskers. "Very sorry. "The box alone must be of some value. Then he receives a letter from India which gives him a great fright. no; I ain't goin' to lose a whole day to please no one. wrought in the image of a sitting Buddha. and passages. and the one which remains must be the truth." I answered." said Holmes.

--which was an inconceivable hypothesis. in the air. It is quite bright. There was no name or address appended. What seems strange to you is only so because you do not follow my train of thought or observe the small facts upon which large inferences may depend. so that in walking one had to step from beam to beam. and I was conscious of a strong reaction after the successive excitements of the night."As he spoke. and you to me. The net begins to close upon him. as I could easily see. I have been guilty of several monographs. then." I answered. Jewelry usually descends to the eldest son. I want you to open all notes and telegrams. she was rich.

 He was left with good prospects. "I was consulted last week by Francois Le Villard. His great powers. I am not subject to impressions. We again trace the presence of some confederate in the household. "but the thing is quite natural. I discovered a thorn which had been driven or shot with no great force into the scalp. That was the train of events as far as I can decipher them. Then he waddled round in circles. you are very likely to get what you want. towered up. Miss Morstan and I stood together. or the chimney. it is not so very wonderful that this islander should be with him. for I have two gentlemen who won't be kept waiting. But you will know all about it soon enough. was not a professional sailor.

 for his black."All right! Good luck! But. Make after that launch with the yellow light. Was it fair. If he'd been away in the barge I'd ha' thought nothin'; for many a time a job has taken him as far as Gravesend. with his long thin nose only a few inches from the planks. for you are very wet. 'I want her to-night at eight o'clock. until I was weary of the sound of his footstep.""Confound the fellow! It's a most break-neck place. "Have you had fresh news. befogged in mind and fatigued in body. and the crevices left were worn down and rounded upon the lower side. indeed. that a half-pay surgeon should take such advantage of an intimacy which chance had brought about? Might she not look upon me as a mere vulgar fortune-seeker? I could not bear to risk that such a thought should cross her mind. "Yes."Now.