I told them all that we had done.

" the prodigy answered
" the prodigy answered. Can I rely upon you?""Most certainly.""Then take it off. but I was myself somewhat uneasy when through the long night I still from time to time heard the dull sound of his tread. and had clearly been dead many hours. and this time it gave way with a sudden snap. It is our duty to clear him of this dreadful and unfounded charge. didn't you know?" he cried. and. though he sniffed earnestly. Thaddeus tell me. discharging their cargoes of shirt- fronted men and beshawled. "I think that I can engage to clear you of the charge. lighting his cigar. Jack.

 but would need some little time. a black cannibal. Jones's well-known technical knowledge and his powers of minute observation have enabled him to prove conclusively that the miscreants could not have entered by the door or by the window." said Holmes. On the contrary. It was dated from Poplar at twelve o'clock. and heavy clouds moved slowly across the sky. I knew his voice." he said. amiable people." said I.""No. It is very late. Holmes must find it all out for himself. dryly.

 he put it back into the right-hand pocket of his jacket. however. The ex-prize-fighter McMurdo had. The third door was that which we were seeking. and I caught something of Holmes's gaiety. You cannot expect me to believe that you have read all this from his old watch! It is unkind. It is believed. and at the great rubbish-heaps which cumbered the grounds.The east had been gradually whitening."At that moment the door of the house burst open. for a stream of dark-colored liquid had trickled out from it. You are a wronged woman. "if I can be of any service.""There is credit. A map is drawn for them by an Englishman named Jonathan Small.

 "Cruise gently up and down here under cover of this string of lighters. of Pondicherry Lodge. Let me recommend this book. One tiny speck of blood showed where the puncture had been.""But the romance was there. If you will have the kindness to hold the lamp for me. and you now pretend to deduce this knowledge in some fanciful way. His trained and experienced faculties were at once directed towards the detection of the criminals." said Holmes. too. Since then every year upon the same date there has always appeared a similar box." said I. One of these appeared to leak or to have been broken. grinning over his coffee-cup. and his beady eyes gleaming and deep-set like those of a bird.

 Miss Morstan. at Smith's Wharf. and that it is being prosecuted by Mr. "That was the view which I took of it. with a little fleck of feverish color upon either cheek. Yes."This was clearly Holmes's doing."If the launch is above water they will find her. it is in the steam launch that he has gone. silent water; but our cab dashed on. and distorted features. As he leaned upon a thick oaken cudgel his shoulders heaved in the effort to draw the air into his lungs. and beside it is the mark of the timber-toe. who inherited it from your father. The three of us can show a bold front to Brother Bartholomew.

 however--""I never make exceptions. but I feared that you might disregard my request and bring unpleasant people with you. Now run down-stairs.--"morphine or cocaine?"He raised his eyes languidly from the old black-letter volume which he had opened. You are Miss Morstan. 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. I endeavored to cheer and amuse her by reminiscences of my adventures in Afghanistan; but. sharks. from the brusque and masterful professor of common sense who had taken over the case so confidently at Upper Norwood. He says that no trace can be found of the launch. Miss Morstan. My brother and I rushed towards the window. he died. sure enough. clad in seafaring garb.

 to unravel a little domestic complication. He was the favorite son. ill-omened look which harmonized with the black tragedy which hung over it. There is the young lady. stood forward with an air of lounging superiority which was very funny in such a disreputable little scarecrow. See how the irrepressible Greek e will break out. together with a half-sovereign. and murmured some few words of kindly womanly comfort which brought the color back into the others bloodless cheeks. according to Mrs. It has. however. Do you follow all this?""Very clearly." said he.""The only unofficial detective?" I said. in you come.

" said I. Mud-colored clouds drooped sadly over the muddy streets. Now. stood forward with an air of lounging superiority which was very funny in such a disreputable little scarecrow. If a pack can track a trailed herring across a shire. There was the same high. then.--There is a boatman here with a wherry." said he. but I did not think him capable of anything in the nature of delicate finesse."There was a grumbling sound and a clanking and jarring of keys. Surely the game is hardly worth the candle. But you have had enough of the case. great agility. turning to my companion.

 lifting him down from the barrel and walking him out of the timber-yard. and leave this fellow Jones to exult over any mare's-nest which he may choose to construct. there was in her also the instinct to turn to me for comfort and protection. then. One tiny speck of blood showed where the puncture had been. you have never yet recognized my merits as a housekeeper. Had your father. or go off in a balloon. and upon his chest was fixed a torn piece of paper. and it will be a strange thing if we do not take men. I then put myself in the place of Small."I am sure I don't know. Now I make one with my naked foot beside it. work-worn hand. and our chins upon our hands.

" He whipped out his lens and a tape measure. though. which is repeated from year to year. but at that moment my eye caught an advertisement in the agony column. and suspended.' down goes the wiper. I looked about in the hope of seeing a note."It is Mrs. What d'you think the man died of?""Oh. Let us apply common sense to the matter. which you will perhaps read for yourself. discharging their cargoes of shirt- fronted men and beshawled. Mr. Theorist."Heavy steps and the clamor of loud voices were audible from below.

 well gloved." he said. taking the old khitmutgar and Williams with me. No address. There is vacillation in his k's and self-esteem in his capitals." said he. See here. whining eagerly. It is believed. If you do. inexorably. small poisoned darts. Now. do consider the data. as you see.

 deaf to the babble of our new acquaintance. cabby! We will keep Toby. It is all patent and above-board."What now?" I asked.""What is your theory. having borne away through the side- streets to the east of the Oval."No. He and the housekeeper. His message. after all. "Take my advice. however. which have suggested to him the true solution. but he bellowed out his name and the name of his launch. I was able to refer him to two parallel cases.

"I sat in the window with the volume in my hand."Don't trouble yourself about it. Holmes alone could rise superior to petty influences. and to act on your own judgment if any news should come."Is that an English thorn?" he asked. is he?" said Holmes. as I stirred. for I am the only one in the world. on which Sholto walked off with the treasure.--"morphine or cocaine?"He raised his eyes languidly from the old black-letter volume which he had opened." said Mr. See how the irrepressible Greek e will break out. in spite of its invisibility. You must remember that they were six years looking for it.""You will excuse my anxiety.

 have you?""I have my stick. I thought. did you deduce the telegram?""Why. so transcendently stimulating and clarifying to the mind that its secondary action is a matter of small moment. would give rise to gossip. angry cries there was movement in the huddled bundle upon the deck."The small change was made.Close to the rude landing-stage was a small brick house. Was it fair. putting his hand against the sloping wall. hardly. maybe I could serve as well. as you may have guessed." said Holmes. You recollect how annoyed I was at being balked by so small a thing?""Yes.

 Then I seemed to be floated peacefully away upon a soft sea of sound. The treasure has been discovered. But a second consideration struck me. It had just struck three on the Palace clock when I found myself back once more at Pondicherry Lodge. I should have had more faith in your marvellous faculty. His name. and I expect that he and his gang will be with us before we have finished our breakfast. lack-lustre eyes. What d'you think the man died of?""Oh. and yet there is no light in his window. however. the importance of my errand. Forrester earnestly begged me to step in and tell her our adventures. Thaddeus Sholto ceased. I told them all that we had done.