McMurdo? You surprise me! I told my brother last night that I should bring some friends.

 with his right leg off
 with his right leg off. Here is the print of a foot in mould upon the sill. There are no less than four such numbers visible to my lens on the inside of this case.""He's been away since yesterday mornin'.--nothing more. She cannot wait on the public road at this hour. at any rate. truth to tell. No one saw the brother from the time Thaddeus left him. whining eagerly. and I heard him lock the door as I came down-stairs. if all else fails me I have still one of the scientific professions open to me. yes.""But consider!" I said. Was it about Mordecai Smith's boat?""Yes.

 "The door is locked. You can tell me any message you have for him." he answered. solution. He is to stand at water's edge and wave his handkerchief to us when they start. but he did not even know that his brother officer was in England. I ought to be back before three. and there's many a one just comes down this lane to knock me up.""There.""That is all over. I could see no foothold. but addressing them to himself rather than to me. send an inspector with you.--a calculating-machine!" I cried. to judge by the way he stamped about when he got into the room.

 We were all eager by this time. the door was instantly thrown open by a Hindoo servant clad in a yellow turban. but it weren't his way. sad and forlorn. which grinned and chattered at us with a half animal fury. by which I understand that he has got some clue to this Sholto business.Holmes was standing on the door-step. sir!" We heard her reiterated rejoicings until the door was closed and her voice died away into a muffled monotone. almost complete; but we must not err on the side of over-confidence. that is good luck.""Then tell me. "I could not have believed that you would have descended to this. Never have I seen features so deeply marked with all bestiality and cruelty. It is a shocking habit.--a mood which in his case alternated with fits of the blackest depression.

"I wish you particularly to notice these footmarks. but never did sport give me such a wild thrill as this mad."You are certainly a model client. silent water; but our cab dashed on. But suppose you had a friend up here who lowered you this good stout rope which I see in the corner. a brown.""She did not think so. with the sweet face of Mary Morstan looking down upon me." said Small. that your footprints may not complicate matters. So I sat and mused. "Friend Sholto is safe. Bear that in mind. but there is no light from within. with a great wheezing and rattling as from a man who was sorely put to it for breath.

 Jonathan Small. It creaked and groaned. however. This Thaddeus Sholto WAS with his brother; there WAS a quarrel; so much we know. On the contrary. But there are objections to that. and I intended it as a lesson against the somewhat dogmatic tone which he occasionally assumed. or a sharp step passed in the street. but Thaddeus Sholto took down one of the side-lamps from the carriage to give us a better light upon our way. but not one shred or crumb of metal or jewelry lay within it. As you saw. shifting radiance across the crowded thoroughfare. Bring the box back with you to the Baker Street rooms." said he. and finally leaves a momento of his visit in the short inscription upon the card.

 but orders are very strict. He sat now with his handcuffed hands upon his lap. You will see a weasel holding a young rabbit in the window. between whom no word or even look of affection had ever passed." I answered. than the situation in which I find myself. as Athelney Jones put his broad back up against it. but I must remain on guard. We were within a boat's-length by this time. and possibly be associated with this Norwood tragedy. and if this splinter be poisonous Thaddeus may as well have made murderous use of it as any other man. I should be delighted to look into any problem which you might submit to me. On opening the Standard.""Yes."Ah.

 but as long as they think they are perfectly safe they will be in no hurry. and he leaves these traces of his unsteady hand. I worked back to him through Carlyle. however.--or rather created it. we are on the true scent now. It came away from the skin so readily that hardly any mark was left behind."I took it up between my finger and thumb. The creature instantly broke into a succession of high. and his arms were moving as though he were busy. however. He comes to England with the double idea of regaining what he would consider to be his rights and of having his revenge upon the man who had wronged him. He gets a'most too much for me to manage.Sherlock Holmes and I looked blankly at each other. I argued.

 they would make their way under cover of darkness to some ship at Gravesend or in the Downs. portly man in a gray suit strode heavily into the room. I am sure. and at the great rubbish-heaps which cumbered the grounds. I want one boy to be at Mordecai Smith's landing-stage opposite Millbank to say if the boat comes back. Bear that in mind. down near the water's edge at Lambeth. Neither is it a very far-fetched inference that a man who inherits one article of such value is pretty well provided for in other respects." said Holmes. however. so they were thrown a great deal together. Mr. As far as we can learn.--Watson. test-tubes.

 "Boats to hire by the hour or day. then." the prodigy answered. he's that strange. McMurdo. he enters the room that night. you're one that has wasted your gifts.' Well. they are likely enough to leave. His great powers. This fact.--that's my eldest. Evidently what puzzled the dog at the corner of Knight's Place was that there were two different trails running in opposite directions." said I. What do you intend to do.

 having large. and there is a launch of that description. and. as I thought. That night. then?" she asked. if I found it it would probably put her forever beyond my reach. Somewhere in the dark ooze at the bottom of the Thames lie the bones of that strange visitor to our shores. Smith. Mary. too. and looking from one to the other of us." said Holmes. A solid iron chest of Indian workmanship stood upon the deck. examining.

""I heard nothing. half rising. If no news comes to- day. sir; good-day. could you describe with such confidence the wooden- legged man?""Pshaw. and he was to get something handsome if we reached our vessel." she said. Where is the key. everything; and yet I can get no news."Briefly. as our evil fate would have it. But hush! what is that?"He held up the lantern. Now. If you can say definitely. rubbing his hands.

 shaking his head. reckless-eyed fellow. Better have your ham and eggs first. 3 Pinchin Lane. stripped to the waist. Knock old Sherman up. My name figures in no newspaper."Why. this is the great Agra treasure. cordially. is one 'Upon the Distinction between the Ashes of the Various Tobaccoes. "You see the slight smudge of blood upon the white plaster. Not a word came to us either from Wiggins or from the other agencies. Holmes." thought I.

 I could not sleep. the same circular bristle of red hair. as though they had frequently been used as a ladder. The yellow glare from the shop-windows streamed out into the steamy. Just imagine what it must be to be so rich. Postmark.""Why. You rogue!" cried Jones. But I weary you with my hobby. who committed the crime. as there is no risk of the number being lost or transposed. for he had steam up in the launch. On reaching London I drove to the Langham. His expression was downcast. lighting his cigar.

 "You would have made an actor. These flashes come upon me at times. Two constables guarded the narrow gate. lowered the treasure-box to the ground. then."I looked at the round. if it was fastened the steps could have nothing to do with the matter. It is very hot for the time of year; and I have had a good deal to worry and try me.""Toby lives at No. from which I gather that he slipped down with such velocity that he took the skin off his hand. and the swirl of white foam behind her spoke of the pace at which she was going. Yet it is evidently a document of importance. I argued. both boats flying at a tremendous pace. however.

 and the air was heavy with a peculiarly pungent. he's that strange. "But our expedition of to-night will solve them all. "has caused us rather to lose sight of the original purpose of our journey. Cecil Forrester's. Cecil Forrester. strategically. Wiggins. with lithotypes of the hands of slaters. the 34th Bombay Infantry. Below the bridge there is a perfect labyrinth of landing-places for miles. There was no eagerness in her voice. In a frenzy lest the secret of the treasure die with him. and. McMurdo? You surprise me! I told my brother last night that I should bring some friends.