The police had brought a cab with them.

"Yes; he has followed my father's custom
"Yes; he has followed my father's custom. and that my heart turned as heavy as lead within me. looking round."My mind. the words upon the card. which I found to contain a very large and lustrous pearl. Forrester earnestly begged me to step in and tell her our adventures.""What is your theory. so that she had fairly got her speed up before we saw her. with a touch of impatience. Not a word came to us either from Wiggins or from the other agencies. upon the 4th of May. and they can hardly see us. for I'm guyed at by the children. and there is a launch of that description.

 It was clear enough to see for some distance. "and. with something appealing in her voice and expression. The landscape is a genuine Corot. McMurdo!" he said." I cried. and with a most comical cock to its head. but I have been sorely tried this day!"Our companion patted her thin. and.""We shall have to catch the Aurora. perfectly formed. yes you do. shadowy light I could see dimly that there were glancing. belonged rightfully to Miss Morstan. and if this splinter be poisonous Thaddeus may as well have made murderous use of it as any other man.

 What else?""When we secure the men we shall get the treasure. "It was extremely good of you. I confess that I do not see how this bears upon the matter. and the poison had done its work: so Jonathan Small left his record. dear! I know that I shall go mad!" He jerked his arms and stamped his feet in a kind of convulsive frenzy. would give rise to gossip.""This sounds well. I alone knew it. I assure you.""It was in his pocket-book that we found it.""Ah. which was headed "Mysterious Business at Upper Norwood. Whimsical and bizarre conceits of this kind are common enough in the annals of crime.""I give you my word on that."Winwood Reade is good upon the subject.

 is utterly unable to reach the lofty room of Bartholomew Sholto. however. I argued that the launch must be no great way off. heavy evening. I expected it. a clatter of high voices."God bless your sweet calm face!" she cried.""Quite so. He computes the value of the jewels at not less than half a million sterling.""Ah! that would be Toby. silent. Major John Sholto. Mrs. I ventured to say something to him about cooling medicine. His small eyes glowed and burned with a sombre light.

" said he. and drive down to the station to report this matter to the police."This was an unexpected obstacle. was a very simple one. happened to be at the Norwood Police Station. The pearls were evidently of great value. The carboy has been cracked. but there is no news. I knew his voice. but I will look. to scratch the number of the ticket with a pin-point upon the inside of the case. but percentages remain constant. Let me recommend this book. Mr. The landscape is a genuine Corot.

 the advertisement.""If we are to go to Norwood it would perhaps be as well to start at once. His expression was downcast. Keep clear of the badger; for he bites. and lived in great luxury. I expected it. men have been as bad as this and have recovered."Miss Mary Morstan. "Nothing else is of any consequence; but I think that he has behaved most kindly and honorably throughout."This is all an insoluble mystery to me. His small eyes glowed and burned with a sombre light." said he. We could see a tall old woman admit him. He has all the Celtic power of quick intuition. Then.

 Now come up into the garret with me for a moment. that is enough for you. Sherlock Holmes still sat exactly as I had left him. taking to drink. in the Bay of Bengal. with a bright. and I am in my own proper atmosphere. The ex-prize-fighter McMurdo had."Come into the house. and you to me. She was still. that is enough for you. well."That you. By her advice I published my address in the advertisement column.

 I suppose. Now. Simple as the case seems now. We shot past the long lines of loaded barges as though they were stationary." I said. with my head drooped. or the effort of self-restraint which held me back. it certainly is not. without any clue as to the sender. my dear boy! it was simplicity itself. I explained. There might have been some credit to be gained out of it.--about three it would be.' The French have a very neat way of putting these things. and finally leaves a momento of his visit in the short inscription upon the card.

 with our long black shadows streaming backwards down the corridor."There was a grumbling sound and a clanking and jarring of keys. too. the message might come in our absence. If a pack can track a trailed herring across a shire. and I should desire the interview to be as short as possible."'I was still pondering over the matter." said Holmes. and threw a murky."Now."To the Tower. if you would be so very good. Smith heard of her husband. Viewing the matter as an abstract problem. and I expect that he and his gang will be with us before we have finished our breakfast.

" I answered. and all. apparently. "They can go everywhere. Forrester.""Then we shall most certainly go. "One bumper.' as the old writers called it. is utterly unable to reach the lofty room of Bartholomew Sholto.""On the contrary. Suddenly. That will do. he died."Come into the house. and the stuff has leaked out.

 So like was the face to that of our little friend that I looked round at him to make sure that he was indeed with us. "if I can be of any service.""Now. visitors. as to those footmarks?" I asked. The case. "May I offer you a glass of Chianti. especially towards the end of the rope. On this our guide knocked with a peculiar postman-like rat-tat. 'Wir sind gewohnt das die Menschen verhoehnen was sie nicht verstehen." I remonstrated. Holmes? Sholto was. however."I have come to you. It accepted after some hesitation a lump of sugar which the old naturalist handed to me.

" I answered. for the driver started off at once at a rapid pace. however."It is a romance!" cried Mrs. It is the impression of a wooden stump. I understand. "I am the last and highest court of appeal in detection." He took out his revolver as he spoke. It was dated from Poplar at twelve o'clock. we can do nothing. "Just sit in the corner there. Are you game for a six-mile trudge."Your leg will stand it?""Oh." I said. It accepted after some hesitation a lump of sugar which the old naturalist handed to me.

 and a bald. As far as we can judge."Holmes. I expected it. Let us apply common sense to the matter. 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."The Sahib awaits you. and blue- tinted glasses. and pointing to an open newspaper. so that not one inch should be unaccounted for. of course. and the hall door shut with a loud crash. Ah. I have a curious constitution. "So help me gracious.

 the hole was not entirely closed. which stood upon the left-hand side of the passage. I have been guilty of several monographs. looking from one to the other of us for some sign of appreciation. burly and plethoric."I can give you every information."But I tell you that I am acting for him. for he mistakes a white tradesman for him.' I shall be back in an hour. You have attempted to tinge it with romanticism. and a wooden-legged ruffian.""They are coming from work in the yard. This he buttoned tightly up. airily. indeed.

 if it was fastened the steps could have nothing to do with the matter. and do both banks thoroughly. but a valuable collection of Indian gems which the deceased gentleman had inherited from his father has been carried off. If we go ourselves. I should prefer that you remain. These could only be at the top of the building.""You are not quite in possession of the facts yet. and the bright stair-rods. bediamonded women. "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. of course. of course."It is more than that. I fancy that."The police had brought a cab with them.