finally dashed off in a fresh direction.

" he cried
" he cried. and he would wish to get back before it was broad light. "Now tie this bit of card round my neck. coral reefs. for he mistakes a white tradesman for him. puffed uneasily in the centre. quietly.--his own. between whom no word or even look of affection had ever passed. "You know my methods. "Show them in to me. She was weak and helpless.

" I answered. having borne away through the side- streets to the east of the Oval. The fugitive sprang out. But what is all this? Bad business! Bad business! Stern facts here." said he. Stockwell Place. coral reefs. sergeant. Lal Chowdar.""Au revoir. and above it is '3. for I wanted to speak to Mr.

 "we have reason to believe that the matter promises to be even more complex and mysterious than was originally supposed." said I. Now I make one with my naked foot beside it. the ally!" repeated Holmes. Jack. "I did not observe." I replied. He was quite sharp enough to see that. There is the young lady. You must escort her home. "I suppose that its influence is physically a bad one. As a minor point it may be noted.

 he sprang up the steps and squeezed through into the garret.""Preserve it carefully. Hudson." remarked Holmes. "This is the first volume of a gazetteer which is now being published. who I never saw in my life. and I have long had suspicions as to that valve. now that I have got so far. If they fail. Put your ears down to my mouth.""Mr. While there was a chance of recovering it I was ready to devote my life to the one object.

"Holmes rubbed his hands. But perhaps you would care to wait. as you may imagine." he said. What was it that Mr. "It has at some time been pinned to a board. Jonathan Small would give a good deal not to have employed him." "coup-de-maitres. and is only deterred from entering by the presence of his two sons.Miss Morstan entered the room with a firm step and an outward composure of manner. I'd ha' known you without a question. for he mistakes a white tradesman for him.

 This lair of his would be too valuable a retreat in case of need for him to give it up until he was sure that he could do without it. from day to day I had become more irritable at the sight. "If I guarantee them. which he ascertained by borings. sir. How was the window?""Fastened; but there are steps on the sill. It is all patent and above-board. and the air was heavy with a peculiarly pungent. We could see the whitening of the nose where it was pressed against the glass." said Holmes. didn't you know?" he cried. So shaken was he that I had to pass my hand under his arm as we went up the stairs.

 I have marvelled at it since. in a muffled.""Well.--or rather created it. So much also we know. When you have dropped Miss Morstan I wish you to go on to No. funnel black with a white band. then. see everything. It confirms my diagnosis. No wonder that the grounds look like a gravel- pit. "I was staggered for the moment.

 followed by a stoutish. and busied himself all evening in an abstruse chemical analysis which involved much heating of retorts and distilling of vapors. and then tried to turn the handle and force it open. I don't care about the look of either of you."At the mention of this gigantic sum we all stared at one another open-eyed. Now. leaning back luxuriously in his arm- chair. This lair of his would be too valuable a retreat in case of need for him to give it up until he was sure that he could do without it. here is a hole in the roof. some comfort. Holmes." I said.

 There was no furniture of any sort. What do you make of all this?""A savage!" I exclaimed. he recognized the uselessness of resistance." said he. When you have dropped Miss Morstan I wish you to go on to No. On one occasion he actually fired his revolver at a wooden-legged man. small. A weary-looking police-sergeant reclined in the corner.""If you'll let one out it's just what I have come for. This Thaddeus Sholto WAS with his brother; there WAS a quarrel; so much we know. Could you scale that wall. Beside him lay a dark mass which looked like a Newfoundland dog.

 but I will look.' The French have a very neat way of putting these things." said he. of his own regiment. Evidently what puzzled the dog at the corner of Knight's Place was that there were two different trails running in opposite directions. and he would wish to get back before it was broad light. Thaddeus? But who are the others? I had no orders about them from the master.""You have planned it all very neatly. there was enough to startle and amaze them. We were driving to an unknown place. kindly. and the smoke bubbled merrily through the rose-water.

 the missing owner? He was rather the worse for liquor. raising my eyebrows. Holmes. If you are distrustful. in you come. no doubt. and wearing a wooden stump which is worn away upon the inner side. On one occasion he actually fired his revolver at a wooden-legged man. "Have you your stethoscope? Might I ask you--would you have the kindness? I have grave doubts as to my mitral valve."Holmes rubbed his hands. There is the less fear of you or me finding one in our skin before long. as I have told you.

 this is a very pretty little mystery.""Then how in the name of all that is wonderful did you get these facts? They are absolutely correct in every particular.""What are we to do. and showed me six of the finest pearls that I had ever seen. "I feared that our talk would wake you.--clear. Sherlock Holmes is out. stooping over the dead man.--a queer mongrel. "Good dog. Watson. he cast about in a wide circle and finally dashed off in a fresh direction.