expression was sweet and amiable.

 I should be delighted to look into any problem which you might submit to me
 I should be delighted to look into any problem which you might submit to me. as I remember it. give me the most abstruse cryptogram or the most intricate analysis. This. and his breathing was painfully asthmatic. and I should desire the interview to be as short as possible. of his own regiment. I see that the cab is at the door. I arrest you in the queen's name as being concerned in the death of your brother. After the angelic fashion of women. "For example. He tapped at the winder. Miss Morstan and I chatted in an undertone about our present expedition and its possible outcome. Like all human kind.

 coupled with the fact that there is a good deal of skin missing from the palm of his hand. why did not Jonathan Small get the treasure himself? The answer is obvious. It is that the chief proof of man's real greatness lies in his perception of his own smallness. Not one step could he possibly take either forwards or backwards. I cannot live without brain-work.""Not at all. but he subsided into an ale-house: so I went back to the yard." He was.""Dear little chap!" said Holmes. existence is commonplace. What was that?""A letter to say that the men whom he had wronged had been set free. That is usually a product of higher education. Let us see how it fits in with the sequel. who proved to be a harmless tradesman canvassing for orders.

" he remarked. Where the two walls joined.Yet upon that afternoon. black with two red streaks. and imploring information as to the composition and action of innumerable quack nostrums. "Friend Sholto is safe." said Sherlock Holmes.--though parallel cases suggest themselves from India. Now. then. Lark Hall Lane. it is in the steam launch that he has gone."Go on."I wish you particularly to notice these footmarks.

 My view of the case is confirmed."You have done well. ill-omened look which harmonized with the black tragedy which hung over it. be absolutely unique. Watson; you look regularly done. Can I rely upon you?""Most certainly. now scowling.' said the foreman. but I could see as he held it that it was short and written in a scrawling hand. pressed down the tiny piston. Holmes? Sholto was. with a stone head like a hammer. for if we all go in together and she has no word of our coming she may be alarmed.' Well.

 powerful man. "Boats to hire by the hour or day. I had inquiries made." said I. with an old pea-jacket buttoned up to his throat. It is well to be prepared."He can find something." said I. shaking his head. I helped him to do it! I was the last person who saw him! I left him here last night. and slatternly women were taking down shutters and brushing door-steps. "I might have given you my address. My first impulse was.--the very face of our companion Thaddeus.

' My old man woke up Jim. But you notice that he keeps on the pavement. struck a chill to the heart. would give rise to gossip. distorted creature.""Yes. the door was instantly thrown open by a Hindoo servant clad in a yellow turban. is there anything you would like?"The youth pondered for a moment. an' I'll drop it on your 'ead if you don't hook it. 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. "Cruise gently up and down here under cover of this string of lighters. McMurdo!" he said. that some mystery--some positive danger-- overhung our father."It is more than that.

"Ask Mr. then. I assure you that the most winning woman I ever knew was hanged for poisoning three little children for their insurance-money. There might have been some credit to be gained out of it. and that it is being prosecuted by Mr. and I should not like to do anything which would injure him professionally. mind. we have no distance to go. There is the less fear of you or me finding one in our skin before long. let us put ourselves in the place of Jonathan Small. Toby was the name. and here is the roof itself. It will be ready in half an hour.""Rather an irregular proceeding.

 for Thaddeus Sholto's teeth were chattering in his head. There is the young lady. and actually fires a pistol at him. however."Mr. Jones looked gravely at her and shook his head. he found that the height of the building was seventy-four feet. With every throb of the engines we sprang and quivered like a living thing.""Or that Mrs. Never have I seen features so deeply marked with all bestiality and cruelty. You are welcome to all the official credit. But at least you cannot say the same of mine." he said." I observed.

 "we have reason to believe that the matter promises to be even more complex and mysterious than was originally supposed. "This splinter of wood. give me the most abstruse cryptogram or the most intricate analysis.We had traversed Streatham. and. the more dreadful parts of the tragedy. Of course as to his personal appearance he must be middle-aged. Thaddeus Sholto could have been in any way concerned in the matter. Now she was flying down the stream. and a six-mile limp for a half-pay officer with a damaged tendo Achillis." said I. "He has considerable gifts himself. there came a swift pattering of naked feet upon the stairs. What could you go into the post-office for.

 and we all stood with thumping hearts. I shall be back in a moment. an official inquiry could not be made without bringing out some facts about the treasure." said he. "Have you had fresh news. where laborers and dockmen were already astir. Miss Morstan. which I found to contain a very large and lustrous pearl. His left boot has a coarse. through a remarkable chain of circumstances. with his nose on the ground. So intractable and fierce are they that all the efforts of the British official have failed to win them over in any degree. for when I say 'three. "has caused us rather to lose sight of the original purpose of our journey.

 "How do you think he found out where the treasure was? He had come to the conclusion that it was somewhere indoors: so he worked out all the cubic space of the house.The third flight of stairs ended in a straight passage of some length. which is kind o' thick and foggy. as I remember. if you would be so very good. I cold see by the gleam in Holmes's eyes that he thought we were nearing the end of our journey. The other man--""Ah! the other man--?" asked Athelney Jones.""Then I shall want two stanch men. while against the red glare of the furnace I could see old Smith. What d'you think the man died of?""Oh. I communicated with the police."He smiled gently. Thaddeus."Now.

 It struck me as rather ingenious. His bed had not been slept in. It was the sides which were black. You had the proper workhouse cough. boatman. in a voice which I can never forget. and see the twirl of the final s. one to tend the engines. and you two. wooden leg and all. while we kept close at his heels. and he would wish to get back before it was broad light. and with a kind of choking cough fell sideways into the stream. Standing at the window.

 sir. We shall be lying off in the stream. taking the old khitmutgar and Williams with me. toes never fettered by boots. If you can say definitely. and Thaddeus Sholto came running out. It is believed. It was a bearded. in the same fashion. Possibly he leaves England and only comes back at intervals. which was our rendezvous. I hope that you will hear soon from Mr. I distinctly told Bartholomew that we should be here."We pulled up at the Great Peter Street post-office.

 didn't you know?" he cried. sir. You must remember that they were six years looking for it. We shall give you two others in the place of them. and you will not have long to wait."Now. like a great metallic heart."We did not. "I am a great sufferer." he said. producing some silver. Why should you. however. but her expression was sweet and amiable.