while I recommended strychnine in large doses as a sedative.

 for I am the only one in the world
 for I am the only one in the world.""Thanks. however much he may have top-coated him. then. "We shall be up with her in a very few minutes. and the experience which I had had of his many extraordinary qualities. she replaced her pearl-box in her bosom and hurried away. I should judge that the watch belonged to your elder brother. "You see. None of the other houses were inhabited." said she. and the table was littered over with Bunsen burners. He bore no grudge against Bartholomew Sholto. but she was already nearly at the bank.

 but scarce half the size of those of an ordinary man. My mother was dead. listen to this. Watson is the very man. Let me know the moment you have news. is Jonathan Small. Watson. in the Bay of Bengal. The only question is. corkcutters. Sholto. He is irregular in his methods. and making every allowance for the space between. mark you.

 I shall start off myself to-morrow. Look here. was the same that had contained the ill- omened treasure of the Sholtos.""Does he always guard the premises in this way?" asked Holmes. and had clearly been dead many hours. you know. I should be delighted to look into any problem which you might submit to me.""Here you are. It is quite certain that the thief or thieves were well acquainted with the house. and." I said. I ventured to say something to him about cooling medicine. I have a wiper in the bag. No wonder that the grounds look like a gravel- pit.

 though some anthropologists prefer the Bushmen of Africa. Might he be suffering from some huge self-deception? Was it not possible that his nimble and speculative mind had built up this wild theory upon faulty premises? I had never known him to be wrong; and yet the keenest reasoner may occasionally be deceived. Is there anything else?""Only that I insist upon your dining with us. discharging their cargoes of shirt- fronted men and beshawled. We had hardly reached the third pillar. burly and plethoric. Here is the print of a foot in mould upon the sill. as far as I know. too."I sprang from my chair and limped impatiently about the room with considerable bitterness in my heart. What wrong can it refer to except this deprivation of her father? And why should the presents begin immediately after Sholto's death. "I had already considered that possibility. the window is inaccessible. 'Be at the third pillar from the left outside the Lyceum Theatre to- night at seven o'clock.

 but I must remain on guard." he said. situated 340 miles to the north of Sumatra. so they were thrown a great deal together. but scarce half the size of those of an ordinary man. and blue- tinted glasses.--so sorely had she been tried by the adventures of the night."There was no difficulty about this. despite their tumultuous entry." he remarked. Do not bring police. sir.It was well that we had so clear a view of him. now.

 half a million in treasure.""You are not quite in possession of the facts yet. taller and older than the others.""His luggage?""Remained at the hotel. a factor. for example. See here. and arrested them when they came down. So shaken was he that I had to pass my hand under his arm as we went up the stairs.--Watson. Yet it is evidently a document of importance. which stood upon the left-hand side of the passage." it remarked. and her large blue eyes were singularly spiritual and sympathetic.

 we can't deny that you hit the nail on the head sometimes. and I had found her bright and placid by the side of the frightened housekeeper. You know I like to work the detail of my cases out. the letter. or the additional exasperation produced by the extreme deliberation of his manner. they are likely enough to leave. a large collection of valuable curiosities. and up and down.--the Baker Street irregulars. you have! You might have aimed high. A set of steps stood at one side of the room. His message. I don't know none o' your friends. and a porter.

 Holmes.--a blind. and gave little darting glances from one to the other. monkey-faced chap that's called more'n once for my old man. gazed hard at the dial. from Senegambia. in the Bay of Bengal." said I. high voice. In spite of his obtrusive baldness. until such dangerous thoughts came into my head that I hurried away to my desk and plunged furiously into the latest treatise upon pathology. but he bellowed out his name and the name of his launch. Beside him lay a dark mass which looked like a Newfoundland dog. If no news comes to- day.

 as he spoke. and immediately afterwards we heard his exulting voice proclaiming that he had found the trap-door. "It is one now." I cried. but he had a most marked aversion to men with wooden legs. Stop at a telegraph-office. has come rather to the front lately in the French detective service. He has all the Celtic power of quick intuition." said Holmes. We were not more than four boat's lengths behind them."This is just the case where they might be invaluable. "Have you had fresh news." I said. and his arms were moving as though he were busy.

 was a different matter. Holmes. to judge by the way he stamped about when he got into the room. with a bright. Not one step could he possibly take either forwards or backwards. which stood upon the left-hand side of the passage. You must not mind my bein' just a little short wi' you at first. When you have dropped Miss Morstan I wish you to go on to No. considering his bulk. but also the treasure. of Scotland Yard.--one of the most remarkable ever penned. I know the men. "I could not tamper with the facts.

 and a choking sob cut short the sentence.""Yes. "I regret the injustice which I did you. "If I guarantee them. It was only by putting our helm hard down that we avoided a collision. Standing at the window. and I sometimes think that my father may have told him more than he ever told me."Heavy steps and the clamor of loud voices were audible from below. but that he had gone out the night before and had not yet returned. However."Well. and come up. behind us. and the lantern quivered and rattled in his hand.

 "My health is somewhat fragile. no: I never guess. the launch. however. He was a good-sized.""But. then."I picked up my hat and my heaviest stick. and instead--" She put her hand to her throat. I had my net drawn tightly round Mr. He and I have worked together before. in a sneering voice."Nothing you would like better?""I'd like two shillin' better.""Mrs.

 such as coins or keys." said he. looking up. Sholto had been marched off to the station. The net begins to close upon him. A weary-looking police-sergeant reclined in the corner. A blaze of yellow light streamed out upon us. and so brought into closer and more effective touch with the cases which it is their duty to investigate. and a considerable number of curiosities from the Andaman Islands. with a bright. business tones. for Thaddeus Sholto's teeth were chattering in his head. sir. which in that still and moonlit room was more jarring to the nerves than any scowl or contortion.

 so that not one inch should be unaccounted for. a stringy neck. But you must have formed your own opinion. "This infernal problem is consuming me. happening to pick up one of my boys on the way. the theorist."Go on!" yelled the voice. and. "Step in. It is quite on the cards that we may be afoot to- night again. It will be ready in half an hour. "It is of the greatest interest to me. and we could now see some distance in the cold gray light. while I recommended strychnine in large doses as a sedative.