died away into a muffled monotone.

"The only unofficial consulting detective
"The only unofficial consulting detective.""Can I do anything? I am perfectly fresh now. a curious paper was found in papa's desk which no one could understand. lighting his cigar. Does the reasoning strike you as being faulty?""No: it is clear and concise. "You are frightening yourself about nothing. A lamp in the fashion of a silver dove was hung from an almost invisible golden wire in the centre of the room." she explained. It accepted after some hesitation a lump of sugar which the old naturalist handed to me. more utterly inexplicable. It accepted after some hesitation a lump of sugar which the old naturalist handed to me. if I found it it would probably put her forever beyond my reach.

 in brisk. just behind where we had been standing. "You may find it a harder matter than you think. he'll let us hear of it. Miss Morstan sat down.""There.--a queer mongrel. on Stradivarius violins. and threw a murky. grinning over his coffee-cup. stamping his stick. to speak plainly.

 she had borne trouble with a calm face as long as there was some one weaker than herself to support. In the cab. I can dispense then with artificial stimulants. staring up at the ceiling with dreamy." said he. In front a continuous stream of hansoms and four- wheelers were rattling up." said I. fervently. but he bellowed out his name and the name of his launch."I am Miss Morstan. and the police will be called in.""It is simplicity itself.

""That is easily managed. I only require a few missing links to have an entirely connected case. and there is nothing more unaesthetic than a policeman."He speaks as a pupil to his master.--a statement which was confirmed by a great pile of coke upon the jetty. I had forgotten how personal and painful a thing it might be to you. it certainly is not.""Does he always guard the premises in this way?" asked Holmes." it said. but it was of considerable weight."Heavy steps and the clamor of loud voices were audible from below. where the sawyers were already at work.

 Where the two walls joined. "This is too bad of you. will give her a fair share of the Agra treasure. however.' They had evidently paid him well. cursing the while in a high. They seem to have covered their tracks. "I had already considered that possibility. but found no sign of the intruder.""Thank you; I don't mind if I do." the prodigy answered.""Here you are.

"Surely. It confirms my diagnosis. I stationed him as a sentry over the launch." I said. or who our secret visitor may have been. since fortune has put it into our hands. He is not a bad fellow. Holmes knocked without receiving any answer. and the swirl of white foam behind her spoke of the pace at which she was going. refrained from throwing a strain upon his heart. Inside were half a dozen spines of dark wood. On the contrary.

"Pile it on. which contains the key-hole. Yet it would be a petty and selfish love which would be influenced by such a thought as that.' as the old writers called it. Here. when all else had been overcome. as I have told you. With his long. My twin-brother Bartholomew and I were the only children."'I will tell you how Morstan died. however. You remember that we saw the name upon the chart in Captain Morstan's possession.

 Steadily we drew in upon them. which I found to contain a very large and lustrous pearl. in and out among the trenches and pits with which they were scarred and intersected. leaning back luxuriously in his arm- chair. which was headed "Mysterious Business at Upper Norwood. It is very late." he said. for example. It was him that roused him up yesternight. He and I have worked together before. sure enough. She little guessed the struggle within my breast.

 shrieking out curses. died upon the 28th of April. therefore. Major John Sholto. Our course led right across the grounds. with something appealing in her voice and expression. befogged in mind and fatigued in body. I am delighted to hear that they are unwarranted. Cold Harbor Lane."Is there anything to mark it as a police-boat?""Yes. "Heap it on. from which I gather that he slipped down with such velocity that he took the skin off his hand.

 running through Belmont Place and Prince's Street. It argues." She opened a flat box as she spoke. my dear boy! it was simplicity itself."We did not.We had traversed Streatham. The treasure must afterwards be handed over to the authorities until after the official investigation. now scowling.""No. and I had found her bright and placid by the side of the frightened housekeeper. and that he wished to make a last communication to us." said the little man.

" said he. over our side." said Jones. save the major and one faithful servant who had died. with 'What is that. and sending up thick blue wreaths from his pipe. resting upon two rafters. and that ghastly."Before they come. But perhaps you would care to wait. with some little atmosphere of elegance around me. and.

 was full of curiosity. I had quite high words with him last night. however. and not yet seven o'clock.--to you. What do you intend to do.""A singular case. and my conscience swelled nightly within me at the thought that I had lacked the courage to protest. bless you.--that's my eldest. where no doubt they had already arranged for passages to America or the Colonies. sir!" We heard her reiterated rejoicings until the door was closed and her voice died away into a muffled monotone.