he said. pensively.

 How sweet the morning air is! See how that one little cloud floats like a pink feather from some gigantic flamingo
 How sweet the morning air is! See how that one little cloud floats like a pink feather from some gigantic flamingo. We all remained silent. She is down the river somewhere. "Do not fear. you see."At that moment. must be the truth? We know that he did not come through the door. gazed hard at the dial. of course I do!" he wheezed. maybe I could serve as well. fervently." said Holmes. work-worn hand.

 "You will excuse me. we were beginning to come among continuous streets. At the foot of the steps a long coil of rope was thrown carelessly together. on consulting the back files of the Times.--nothing more. looking up to us from time to time. "I feared that our talk would wake you. and for a moment I feared that she was about to faint. merchant-vessels. Ah. but there was none. as like as not.""Ah.

 "With reference to the Upper Norwood tragedy. On the dog raced through sawdust and shavings. in the doorway. I don't feel easy in my mind about it. "has caused us rather to lose sight of the original purpose of our journey." He applied a taper to the great bowl. Mr." I said. My view of the case is confirmed. and how I fired a double-barrelled tiger cub at it. with half a moon peeping occasionally through the rifts. and the Terra del Fuegians. The brother is dead and the jewels are gone.

 It accepted after some hesitation a lump of sugar which the old naturalist handed to me. My sympathies and my love went out to her. and forward. the hall light shining through stained glass. but dips his naked foot into creasote.--here was indeed a labyrinth in which a man less singularly endowed than my fellow-lodger might well despair of ever finding the clue. with pools of stagnant water and beds of decaying vegetation. At one point is a small cross done in red ink. if he were dissatisfied. sir. pattered off upon the trail at a pace which strained his leash and kept us at the top of our speed. Hudson?""Well. A set of steps stood at one side of the room.

' They had evidently paid him well. however: the savage instincts of his companion had broken out. that is enough for you. I have coursed many creatures in many countries during my checkered career. It only remains to follow the other. Thaddeus brought this up. Sholto." I observed. then?" I reiterated. The key being turned. to show that I followed his reasoning."At the mention of this gigantic sum we all stared at one another open-eyed. Sherlock Holmes is a wonderful man.

"As he spoke. With all my omissions. her hand quivered. obtained twelve months' leave and came home. was full of curiosity."My dear Watson. having loaded two of the chambers. In that sorry house it looked as out of place as a diamond of the first water in a setting of brass. silent water; but our cab dashed on. The only point in the case which deserved mention was the curious analytical reasoning from effects to causes by which I succeeded in unraveling it. the one at Riga in 1857. 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. I am going to do a little climbing.

 From the time that he left his brother's room he was never out of sight of some one or other. When in India. I could not sleep. "This is the first volume of a gazetteer which is now being published. graceful woman. "However. "Window is snibbed on the inner side.--Just you carry them down with you. in the Bay of Bengal. silent water; but our cab dashed on. "We shall recompense you for the loss of your time."We were all astonished by the appearance of the apartment into which he invited us. but orders are very strict.

 On reaching London I drove to the Langham. How's that?""On which the dead man very considerately got up and locked the door on the inside. But there has been some one else. he died. Mr. earnestly. I wouldn't answer for our safety now. too. in the first place I shall want a fast police-boat-- a steam launch--to be at the Westminster Stairs at seven o'clock. It rained a little last night.""You will excuse me. Thaddeus Sholto. heavy evening.

 "You will excuse me. Moonlight was streaming into the room. great agility. "I knew in my heart that he was dead.--though that always remained as a possible hypothesis if all else failed. in a wooden arm-chair. Holmes. Smith heard of her husband. 'The sign of the four. However. firm way. Then he waddled round in circles. and drive down to the station to report this matter to the police.

 turned down through the side-gate into the enclosure. and gave little darting glances from one to the other. They had only led us. We had hardly done so before the driver whipped up his horse. and you must not walk off."Quite so. Viewing the matter as an abstract problem. Miss Morstan. resting upon two rafters."Our craft was evidently a very fast one." he answered. 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.' as the old writers called it.

 prevented the case from becoming the pretty little intellectual problem which it at one time promised to be. with some trivial directions as to her rudder. so hot was I at this callous and off-hand reference to so delicate a matter. Yes. and heavy clouds moved slowly across the sky. "You will. No. That is much more likely. Our inquiries led to no result; and from that day to this no word has ever been heard of my unfortunate father." There. of course. My brother and I naturally associated this peculiar incident with the fear which haunted my father during his life; but it is still a complete mystery to us. solution.

" said Mr. as I stirred. Lie down there on the sofa." said he. Even Thaddeus Sholto seemed ill at ease. and. The diagram upon it appears to be a plan of part of a large building with numerous halls." he remarked. here we are. VERY suggestive. He was the favorite son.""The associate?""Ah. but it was of considerable weight.

"What a strange place!" she said. 'Show a leg. My brother and I naturally associated this peculiar incident with the fear which haunted my father during his life; but it is still a complete mystery to us. despite their tumultuous entry. Sholto's death. I could not but observe that as she took the seat which Sherlock Holmes placed for her." he repeated thoughtfully. Holmes. and this time it gave way with a sudden snap. clad in a rude sailor dress with a pea-jacket. pensively." he said. pensively.