cameto
us
either
from
Wiggins
or
from
the
other
agencies
.
There
were
articles
in
most
of
the
papers
upon
the
Norwood
tragedy
.
They
all
appeared
to
be
rather
hostile
to
the
unfortunate
Thaddeus
Sholto
.
No
fresh
details
were
to
be
found
,
however
,
in
any
of
them
,
save
that
an
inquest
was
to
be
held
upon
the
following
day
.
I
walked
over
to
Camberwell
in
the
evening
to
report
our
ill-success
to
the
ladies
,
and
on
my
return
I
found
Holmes
dejected
and
somewhat
morose
.
He
would
hardly
reply
to
my
questions
,
and
busied
himself
all
the
evening
in
an
abstruse
chemical
analysis
which
involved
much
heating
of
retorts
and
distilling
of
vapours
,
ending
at
last
in
a
smell
which
fairly
drove
me
out
of
the
apartment
.
Up
to
the
small
hours
of
the
morning
I
could
hear
the
clinking
of
his
test-tubes
which
told
me
that
he
was
still
engaged
in
his
malodorous
experiment
.
In
the
early
dawn
I
woke
with
a
start
,
and
was
surprised
to
find
him
standing
by
my
bedside
,
clad
in
a
rude
sailor
dress
with
a
pea-jacket
,
and
a
coarse
red
scarf
round
his
neck
.
'
I
am
off
down
the
river
,
Watson
,
'
said
he
.
'
I
have
been
turning
it
over
in
my
mind
,
and
I
can
see
only
one
way
out
of
it
.
It
is
worth
trying
,
at
all
events
.
'
'
Surely
I
can
come
with
you
,
then
?
'
said
I
.
'
No
;
you
can
be
much
more
useful
if
you
will
remain
here
as
my
representative
.
I
am
loath
to
go
,
for
it
is
quite
on
the
cards
that
some
message
may
come
during
the
day
,
though
Wiggins
was
despondent
about
it
last
night
.
I
want
you
to
open
all
notes
and
telegrams
,
and
to
act
on
your
own
judgment
if
any
news
should
come
.
Can
I
rely
upon
you
?
'
'
Most
certainly
.
'
'
I
am
afraid
that
you
will
not
be
able
to
wire
to
me
,
for
I
can
hardly
tell
yet
where
I
may
find
myself
.
If
I
am
in
luck
,
however
,
I
may
not
be
gone
so
very
long
.
I
shall
have
news
of
some
sort
or
other
before
I
get
back
.
'
I
had
heard
nothing
of
him
by
breakfast
time
.
On
opening
the
Standard
,
however
,
I
found
that
there
was
a
fresh
allusion
to
the
business
.
'
With
reference
to
the
Upper
Norwood
tragedy
,
'
it
remarked
,
'
we
have
reason
to
believe
that
the
matter
promises
to
be
even
more
complex
and
mysterious
than
was
originally
supposed
.
Fresh
evidence
has
shown
that
it
is
quite
impossible
that
Mr.
Thaddeus
Sholto
could
have
been
in
any
way
concerned
in
the
matter
.
He
and
the
housekeeper
,
Mrs.
Bernstone
,
were
both
released
yesterday
evening
.
It
is
believed
,
however
,
that
the
police
have
a
clue
as
to
the
real
culprits
,
and
that
it
is
being
prosecuted
by
Mr.
Athelney
Jones
,
of
Scotland
Yard
,
with
all
his
well-known
energy
and
sagacity
.
Further
arrests
may
be
expected
at
any
moment
.
'
'
That
is
satisfactory
so
far
as
it
goes
,
'
thought
I
.
'
Friend
Sholto
is
safe
,
at
any
rate
.
I
wonder
what
the
fresh
clue
may
be
,
though
it
seems
to
be
a
stereotyped
form
whenever
the
police
have
made
a
blunder
.
'
I
tossed
the
paper
down
upon
the
table
,
but
at
that
moment
my
eye
caught
an
advertisement
in
the
agony
column
.
It
ran
in
this
way
:
'
Lost
.
—
Whereas
Mordecai
Smith
,
boatman
,
and
his
son
Jim
,
left
Smith
's
Wharf
at
or
about
three
o'clock
last
Tuesday
morning
in
the
steam
launch
Aurora
,
black
with
two
red
stripes
,
funnel
black
with
a
white
band
,
the
sum
of
five
pounds
will
be
paid
to
anyone
who
can
give
information
to
Mrs.
Smith
,
at
Smith
's
Wharf
,
or
at
221
b
,
Baker
Street
,
as
to
the
whereabouts
of
the
said
Mordecai
Smith
and
the
launch
Aurora
.
'
This
was
clearly
Holmes
's
doing
.
The
Baker
Street
address
was
enough
to
prove
that
.
It
struck
me
as
rather
ingenious
,
because
it
might
be
read
by
the
fugitives
without
their
seeing
in
it
more
than
the
natural
anxiety
of
a
wife
for
her
missing
husband
.
It
was
a
long
day
.
Every
time
that
a
knock
came
to
the
door
,
or
a
sharp
step
passed
in
the
street
,
I
imagined
that
it
was
either
Holmes
returning
or
an
answer
to
his
advertisement
.
I
tried
to
read
,
but
my
thoughts
would
wander
off
to
our
strange
quest
and
to
the
ill-assorted
and
villainous
pair
whom
we
were
pursuing
.
Could
there
be
,
I
wondered
,
some
radical
flaw
in
my
companion
's
reasoning
?
Might
he
not
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
.
He
was
likely
,
I
thought
,
to
fall
into
error
through
the
over-refinement
of
his
logic
—
his
preference
for
a
subtle
and
bizarre
explanation
when
a
plainer
and
more
common-place
one
lay
ready
to
his
hand
.
Yet
,
on
the
other
hand
,
I
had
myself
seen
the
evidence
,
and
I
had
heard
the
reasons
for
his
deductions
.
When
I
looked
back
on
the
long
chain
of
curious
circumstances
,
many
of
them
trivial
in
themselves
,
but
all
tending
in
the
same
direction
,
I
could
not
disguise
from
myself
that
even
if
Holmes
's
explanation
were
incorrect
the
true
theory
must
be
equally
outré
and
startling
.
At
three
o'clock
in
the
afternoon
there
was
a
loud
peal
at
the
bell
,
an
authoritative
voice
in
the
hall
,
and
,
to
my
surprise
,
no
less
a
person
than
Mr.
Athelney
Jones
was
shown
up
to
me
.
Very
different
was
he
,
however
,
from
the
brusque
and
masterful
professor
of
common
sense
who
had
taken
over
the
case
so
confidently
at
Upper
Norwood
.
His
expression
was
downcast
,
and
his
bearing
meek
and
even
apologetic
.
'
Good-day
,
sir
;
good-day
,
'
said
he
.
'
Mr
.
Sherlock
Holmes
is
out
,
I
understand
.
'
'
Yes
,
and
I
cannot
be
sure
when
he
will
be
back
.
But
perhaps
you
would
care
to
wait
.
Take
that
chair
and
try
one
of
these
cigars
.
'
'
Thank
you
;
I
do
n't
mind
if
I
do
,
'
said
he
,
mopping
his
face
with
a
red
bandanna
handkerchief
.
'
And
a
whisky
and
soda
?
'
'
Well
,
half
a
glass
.
It
is
very
hot
for
the
time
of
year
;
and
I
have
had
a
good
deal
to
worry
and
try
me
.
You
know
my
theory
about
this
Norwood
case
?
'
'
I
remember
that
you
expressed
one
.
'
'
Well
,
I
have
been
obliged
to
reconsider
it
.
I
had
my
net
drawn
tightly
round
Mr.
Sholto
,
sir
,
when
pop
he
went
through
a
hole
in
the
middle
of
it
.
He
was
able
to
prove
an
alibi
which
could
not
be
shaken
.
From
the
time
that
he
left
his
brother
's
room
he
was
never
out
of
sight
of
someone
or
other
.
So
it
could
not
be
he
who
climbed
over
roofs
and
through
trap-doors
.
It
's
a
very
dark
case
,
and
my
professional
credit
is
at
stake
.
I
should
be
very
glad
of
a
little
assistance
.
'
'
We
all
need
help
sometimes
,
'
said
I
.
'
Your
friend
Mr.
Sherlock
Holmes
is
a
wonderful
man
,
sir
,
'
said
he
,
in
a
husky
and
confidential
voice
.
'
He
's
a
man
who
is
not
to
be
beat
.
I
have
known
that
young
man
go
into
a
good
many
cases
,
but
I
never
saw
the
case
yet
that
he
could
not
throw
a
light
upon
.
He
is
irregular
in
his
methods
,
and
a
little
quick
perhaps
in
jumping
at
theories
,
but
,
on
the
whole
,
I
think
he
would
have
made
a
most
promising
officer
,
and
I
do
n't
care
who
knows
it
.
I
have
had
a
wire
from
him
this
morning
,
by
which
I
understand
that
he
has
got
some
clue
to
this
Sholto
business
.
Here
is
his
message
.
'
He
took
the
telegram
out
of
his
pocket
,
and
handed
it
to
me
.
It
was
dated
from
Poplar
at
twelve
o'clock
.
'
Go
to
Baker
Street
at
once
,
'
it
said
.
'
If
I
have
not
returned
,
wait
for
me
.
I
am
close
on
the
track
of
the
Sholto
gang
.
You
can
come
with
us
to-night
if
you
want
to
be
in
at
the
finish
.
'
'
This
sounds
well
.
He
has
evidently
picked
up
the
scent
again
,
'
said
I
.
'
Ah
,
then
he
has
been
at
fault
too
,
'
exclaimed
Jones
,
with
evident
satisfaction
.
'
Even
the
best
of
us
are
thrown
off
sometimes
.
Of
course
this
may
prove
to
be
a
false
alarm
;
but
it
is
my
duty
as
an
officer
of
the
law
to
allow
no
chance
to
slip
.
But
there
is
someone
at
the
door
.
Perhaps
this
is
he
.
'
A
heavy
step
was
heard
ascending
the
stair
,
with
a
great
wheezing
and
rattling
as
from
a
man
who
was
sorely
put
to
it
for
breath
.
Once
or
twice
he
stopped
,
as
though
the
climb
were
too
much
for
him
,
but
at
last
he
made
his
way
to
our
door
and
entered
.
His
appearance
corresponded
to
the
sounds
which
we
had
heard
.
He
was
an
aged
man
,
clad
in
seafaring
garb
,
with
an
old
pea-jacket
buttoned
up
to
his
throat
.
His
back
was
bowed
,
his
knees
were
shaky
,
and
his
breathing
was
painfully
asthmatic
.
As
he
leaned
upon
a
thick
oaken
cudgel
his
shoulders
heaved
in
the
effort
to
draw
the
air
into
his
lungs
.
He
had
a
coloured
scarf
round
his
chin
,
and
I
could
see
little
of
his
face
save
a
pair
of
keen
dark
eyes
,
overhung
by
bushy
white
brows
,
and
long
gray
side-whiskers
.
Altogether
he
gave
me
the
impression
of
a
respectable
master
mariner
who
had
fallen
into
years
and
poverty
.
'
What
is
it
,
my
man
?
'
I
asked
.
He
looked
about
him
in
the
slow
methodical
fashion
of
old
age
.
'
Is
Mr.
Sherlock
Holmes
here
?
'
said
he
.
'
No
;
but
I
am
acting
for
him
.
You
can
tell
me
any
message
you
have
for
him
.
'
'
It
was
to
him
himself
I
was
to
tell
it
,
'
said
he
.
'
But
I
tell
you
that
I
am
acting
for
him
.
Was
it
about
Mordecai
Smith
's
boat
?
'
'
Yes
.
I
knows
well
where
it
is
.
An
'
I
knows
where
the
men
he
is
after
are
.
An
'
I
knows
where
the
treasure
is
.
I
knows
all
about
it
.
'
'
Then
tell
me
,
and
I
shall
let
him
know
.
'
'
It
was
to
him
I
was
to
tell
it
,
'
he
repeated
,
with
the
petulant
obstinacy
of
a
very
old
man
.
'
Well
,
you
must
wait
for
him
.
'
'
No
,
no
;
I
ai
n't
goin
'
to
lose
a
whole
day
to
please
no
one
.
If
Mr.
Holmes
ai
n't
here
,
then
Mr.
Holmes
must
find
it
all
out
for
himself
.
I
do
n't
care
about
the
look
of
either
of
you
,
and
I
wo
n't
tell
a
word
.
'
He
shuffled
towards
the
door
,
but
Athelney
Jones
got
in
front
of
him
.
'
Wait
a
bit
,
my
friend
,
'
said
he
.
'
You
have
important
information
,
and
you
must
not
walk
off
.
We
shall
keep
you
,
whether
you
like
or
not
,
until
our
friend
returns
.
'
The
old
man
made
a
little
run
towards
the
door
,
but
,
as
Athelney
Jones
put
his
broad
back
up
against
it
,
he
recognised
the
uselessness
of
resistance
.
'
Pretty
sort
o
'
treatment
this
!
'
he
cried
,
stamping
his
stick
.
'
I
come
here
to
see
a
gentleman
,
and
you
two
,
who
I
never
saw
in
my
life
,
seize
me
and
treat
me
in
this
fashion
!
'
'
You
will
be
none
the
worse
,
'
I
said
.
'
We
shall
recompense
you
for
the
loss
of
your
time
.
Sit
over
here
on
the
sofa
,
and
you
will
not
have
long
to
wait
.
'
He
came
across
sullenly
enough
,
and
seated
himself
with
his
face
resting
on
his
hands
.
Jones
and
I
resumed
our
cigars
and
our
talk
.
Suddenly
,
however
,
Holmes
's
voice
broke
in
upon
us
.
'
I
think
that
you
might
offer
me
a
cigar
too
,
'
he
said
.
We
both
started
in
our
chairs
.
There
was
Holmes
sitting
close
to
us
with
an
air
of
quiet
amusement
.
'
Holmes
!
'
I
exclaimed
.
'
You
here
!
But
where
is
the
old
man
?
'
'
Here
is
the
old
man
,
'
said
he
,
holding
out
a
heap
of
white
hair
.
'
Here
he
is
—
wig
,
whiskers
,
eyebrows
,
and
all
.
I
thought
my
disguise
was
pretty
good
,
but
I
hardly
expected
that
it
would
stand
that
test
.
'
'
Ah
,
you
rogue
!
'
cried
Jones
,
highly
delighted
.
'
You
would
have
made
an
actor
and
a
rare
one
.
You
had
the
proper
workhouse
cough
,
and
those
weak
legs
of
yours
are
worth
ten
pound
a
week
.
I
thought
I
knew
the
glint
of
your
eye
,
though
.
You
did
n't
get
away
from
us
so
easily
,
you
see
.
'
'
I
have
been
working
in
that
get-up
all
day
,
'
said
he
,
lighting
his
cigar
.
'
You
see
,
a
good
many
of
the
criminal
classes
begin
to
know
me
—
especially
since
our
friend
here
took
to
publishing
some
of
my
cases
:
so
I
can
only
go
on
the
war-path
under
some
simple
disguise
like
this
.
You
got
my
wire
?
'
'
Yes
;
that
was
what
brought
me
here
.
'
'
How
has
your
case
prospered
?
'
'
It
has
all
come
to
nothing
.
I
have
had
to
release
two
of
my
prisoners
,
and
there
is
no
evidence
against
the
other
two
.
'
'
Never
mind
.
We
shall
give
you
two
others
in
the
place
of
them
.
But
you
must
put
yourself
under
my
orders
.
You
are
welcome
to
all
the
official
credit
,
but
you
must
act
on
the
lines
that
I
point
out
.
Is
that
agreed
?
'
'
Entirely
,
if
you
will
help
me
to
the
men
.
'
'
Well
,
then
,
in
the
first
place
I
shall
want
a
fast
police-boat
—
a
steam
launch
—
to
be
at
the
Westminster
Stairs
at
seven
o'clock
.
'
'
That
is
easily
managed
.
There
is
always
one
about
there
;
but
I
can
step
across
the
road
and
telephone
to
make
sure
.
'
'
Then
I
shall
want
two
stanch
men
,
in
case
of
resistance
.
'
'
There
will
be
two
or
three
in
the
boat
.
What
else
?
'
'
When
we
secure
the
men
we
shall
get
the
treasure
.
I
think
that
it
would
be
a
pleasure
to
my
friend
here
to
take
the
box
round
to
the
young
lady
to
whom
half
of
it
rightfully
belongs
.
Let
her
be
the
first
to
open
it
.
Eh
,
Watson
?
'
'
It
would
be
a
great
pleasure
to
me
.
'
'
Rather
an
irregular
proceeding
,
'
said
Jones
,
shaking
his
head
.
'
However
,
the
whole
thing
is
irregular
,
and
I
suppose
we
must
wink
at
it
.
The
treasure
must
afterwards
be
handed
over
to
the
authorities
until
after
the
official
investigation
.
'
'
Certainly
.
That
is
easily
managed
.
One
other
point
.
I
should
much
like
to
have
a
few
details
about
this
matter
from
the
lips
of
Jonathan
Small
himself
.
You
know
I
like
to
work
the
details
of
my
cases
out
.
There
is
no
objection
to
my
having
an
unofficial
interview
with
him
,
either
here
in
my
rooms
or
elsewhere
,
as
long
as
he
is
efficiently
guarded
?
'
'
Well
,
you
are
master
of
the
situation
.
I
have
had
no
proof
yet
of
the
existence
of
this
Jonathan
Small
.
However
,
if
you
can
catch
him
,
I
do
n't
see
how
I
can
refuse
you
an
interview
with
him
.
'
'
That
is
understood
,
then
?
'
'
Perfectly
.
Is
there
anything
else
?
'
'
Only
that
I
insist
upon
your
dining
with
us
.
It
will
be
ready
in
half
an
hour
.
I
have
oysters
and
a
brace
of
grouse
,
with
something
a
little
choice
in
white
wines
.
—
Watson
,
you
have
never
yet
recognized
my
merits
as
a
housekeeper
.
'
CHAPTER
X
.
THE
END
OF
THE
ISLANDER
.
Our
meal
was
a
merry
one
.
Holmes
could
talk
exceedingly
well
when
he
chose
,
and
that
night
he
did
choose
.
He
appeared
to
be
in
a
state
of
nervous
exaltation
.
I
have
never
known
him
so
brilliant
.
He
spoke
on
a
quick
succession
of
subjects
—
on
miracle
plays
,
on
mediæval
pottery
,
on
Stradivarius
violins
,
on
the
Buddhism
of
Ceylon
,
and
on
the
warships
of
the
future
—
handling
each
as
though
he
had
made
a
special
study
of
it
.
His
bright
humour
marked
the
reaction
from
his
black
depression
of
the
preceding
days
.
Athelney
Jones
proved
to
be
a
sociable
soul
in
his
hours
of
relaxation
,
and
faced
his
dinner
with
the
air
of
a
bon
vivant
.
For
myself
,
I
felt
elated
at
the
thought
that
we
were
nearing
the
end
of
our
task
,
and
I
caught
something
of
Holmes
's
gaiety
.
None
of
us
alluded
during
dinner
to
the
cause
which
had
brought
us
together
.
When
the
cloth
was
cleared
,
Holmes
glanced
at
his
watch
,
and
filled
up
three
glasses
with
port
.
'
One
bumper
,
'
said
he
,
'
to
the
success
of
our
little
expedition
.
And
now
it
is
high
time
we
were
off
.
Have
you
a
pistol
,
Watson
?
'
'
I
have
my
old
service-revolver
in
my
desk
.
'
'
You
had
best
take
it
,
then
.
It
is
well
to
be
prepared
.
I
see
that
the
cab
is
at
the
door
.
I
ordered
it
for
half-past
six
.
'
It
was
a
little
past
seven
before
we
reached
the
Westminster
wharf
,
and
found
our
launch
awaiting
us
.
Holmes
eyed
it
critically
.
'
Is
there
anything
to
mark
it
as
a
police-boat
?
'
'
Yes
,
that
green
lamp
at
the
side
.
'
'
Then
take
it
off
.
'
The
small
change
was
made
,
we
stepped
on
board
,
and
the
ropes
were
cast
off
.
Jones
,
Holmes
,
and
I
sat
in
the
stern
.
There
was
one
man
at
the
rudder
,
one
to
tend
the
engines
,
and
two
burly
police-inspectors
forward
.
'
Where
to
?
asked
Jones
.
'
To
the
Tower
.
Tell
them
to
stop
opposite
to
Jacobson
's
Yard
.
'
Our
craft
was
evidently
a
very
fast
one
.
We
shot
past
the
long
lines
of
loaded
barges
as
though
they
were
stationary
.
Holmes
smiled
with
satisfaction
as
we
overhauled
a
river
steamer
and
left
her
behind
us
.
'
We
ought
to
be
able
to
catch
anything
on
the
river
,
'
he
said
.
'
Well
,
hardly
that
.
But
there
are
not
many
launches
to
beat
us
.
'
'
We
shall
have
to
catch
the
Aurora
,
and
she
has
a
name
for
being
a
clipper
.
I
will
tell
you
how
the
land
lies
,
Watson
.
You
recollect
how
annoyed
I
was
at
being
baulked
by
so
small
a
thing
?
'
'
Yes
.
'
'
Well
,
I
gave
my
mind
a
thorough
rest
by
plunging
into
a
chemical
analysis
.
One
of
our
greatest
statesmen
has
said
that
a
change
of
work
is
the
best
rest
.
So
it
is
.
When
I
had
succeeded
in
dissolving
the
hydrocarbon
which
I
was
at
work
at
,
I
came
back
to
our
problem
of
the
Sholtos
,
and
thought
the
whole
matter
out
again
.
My
boys
had
been
up
the
river
and
down
the
river
without
result
.
The
launch
was
not
at
any
landingstage
or
wharf
,
nor
had
it
returned
.
Yet
it
could
hardly
have
been
scuttled
to
hide
their
traces
,
though
that
always
remained
as
a
possible
hypothesis
if
all
else
failed
.
I
knew
that
this
man
Small
had
a
certain
degree
of
low
cunning
,
but
I
did
not
think
him
capable
of
anything
in
the
nature
of
delicate
finesse
.
That
is
usually
a
product
of
higher
education
.
I
then
reflected
that
since
he
had
certainly
been
in
London
some
time
—
as
we
had
evidence
that
he
maintained
a
continual
watch
over
Pondicherry
Lodge
—
he
could
hardly
leave
at
a
moment
's
notice
,
but
would
need
some
little
time
,
if
it
were
only
a
day
,
to
arrange
his
affairs
.
That
was
the
balance
of
probability
,
at
any
rate
.
'
'
It
seems
to
me
to
be
a
little
weak
,
'
said
I
;
'
it
is
more
probable
that
he
had
arranged
his
affairs
before
ever
he
set
out
upon
his
expedition
.
'
'
No
,
I
hardly
think
so
.
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
.
But
a
second
consideration
struck
me
.
Jonathan
Small
must
have
felt
that
the
peculiar
appearance
of
his
companion
,
however
much
he
may
have
top
coated
him
,
would
give
rise
to
gossip
,
and
possibly
be
associated
with
this
Norwood
tragedy
.
He
was
quite
sharp
enough
to
see
that
.
They
had
started
from
their
headquarters
under
cover
of
darkness
,
and
he
would
wish
to
get
back
before
it
was
broad
light
.
Now
,
it
was
past
three
o'clock
,
according
to
Mrs.
Smith
,
when
they
got
the
boat
.
It
would
be
quite
bright
,
and
people
would
be
about
in
an
hour
or
so
.
Therefore
,
I
argued
,
they
did
not
go
very
far
.
They
paid
Smith
well
to
hold
his
tongue
,
reserved
his
launch
for
the
final
escape
,
and
hurried
to
their
lodgings
with
the
treasure-box
.
In
a
couple
of
nights
,
when
they
had
time
to
see
what
view
the
papers
took
,
and
whether
there
was
any
suspicion
,
they
would
make
their
way
under
cover
of
darkness
to
some
ship
at
Gravesend
or
in
the
Downs
,
where
no
doubt
they
had
already
arranged
for
passages
to
America
or
the
Colonies
.
'
'
But
the
launch
?
They
could
not
have
taken
that
to
their
lodgings
.
'
'
Quite
so
.
I
argued
that
the
launch
must
be
no
great
way
off
,
in
spite
of
its
invisibility
.
I
then
put
myself
in
the
place
of
Small
,
and
looked
at
it
as
a
man
of
his
capacity
would
.
He
would
probably
consider
that
to
send
back
the
launch
or
to
keep
it
at
a
wharf
would
make
pursuit
easy
if
the
police
did
happen
to
get
on
his
track
.
How
,
then
,
could
he
conceal
the
launch
and
yet
have
her
at
hand
when
wanted
?
I
wondered
what
I
should
do
myself
if
I
were
in
his
shoes
.
I
could
only
think
of
one
way
of
doing
it
.
I
might
hand
the
launch
over
to
some
boat-builder
or
repairer
,
with
directions
to
make
a
trifling
change
in
her
.
She
would
then
be
removed
to
his
shed
or
yard
,
and
so
be
effectually
concealed
,
while
at
the
same
time
I
could
have
her
at
a
few
hours
'
notice
.
'
'
That
seems
simple
enough
.
'
'
It
is
just
these
very
simple
things
which
are
extremely
liable
to
be
overlooked
.
However
,
I
determined
to
act
on
the
idea
.
I
started
at
once
in
this
harmless
seaman
's
rig
and
inquired
at
all
the
yards
down
the
river
.
I
drew
blank
at
fifteen
,
but
at
the
sixteenth
—
Jacobson
's
—
I
learned
that
the
Aurora
had
been
handed
over
to
them
two
days
ago
by
a
wooden-legged
man
,
with
some
trivial
directions
as
to
her
rudder
.
"
There
ai
n't
naught
amiss
with
her
rudder
,
"
said
the
foreman
.
"
There
she
lies
,
with
the
red
streaks
.
"
At
that
moment
who
should
come
down
but
Mordecai
Smith
,
the
missing
owner
?
He
was
rather
the
worse
for
liquor
.
I
should
not
,
of
course
,
have
known
him
,
but
he
bellowed
out
his
name
and
the
name
of
his
launch
.
"
I
want
her
to-night
at
eight
o'clock
,
"
said
he
—
"
eight
o'clock
sharp
,
mind
,
for
I
have
two
gentlemen
who
wo
n't
be
kept
waiting
.
"
They
had
evidently
paid
him
well
,
for
he
was
very
flush
of
money
,
chucking
shillings
about
to
the
men
.
I
followed
him
some
distance
,
but
he
subsided
into
an
alehouse
;
so
I
went
back
to
the
yard
,
and
,
happening
to
pick
up
one
of
my
boys
on
the
way
,
I
stationed
him
as
a
sentry
over
the
launch
.
He
is
to
stand
at
the
water
's
edge
and
wave
his
handkerchief
to
us
when
they
start
.
We
shall
be
lying
off
in
the
stream
,
and
it
will
be
a
strange
thing
if
we
do
not
take
men
,
treasure
,
and
all
.
'
'
You
have
planned
it
all
very
neatly
,
whether
they
are
the
right
men
or
not
,
'
said
Jones
;
'
but
if
the
affair
were
in
my
hands
I
should
have
had
a
body
of
police
in
Jacobson
's
Yard
,
and
arrested
them
when
they
came
down
.
'
'
Which
would
have
been
never
.
This
man
Small
is
a
pretty
shrewd
fellow
.
He
would
send
a
scout
on
ahead
,
and
if
anything
made
him
suspicious
he
would
lie
snug
for
another
week
.
'
'
But
you
might
have
stuck
to
Mordecai
Smith
,
and
so
been
led
to
their
hiding-place
,
'
said
I
.
'
In
that
case
I
should
have
wasted
my
day
.
I
think
that
it
is
a
hundred
to
one
against
Smith
knowing
where
they
live
.
As
long
as
he
has
liquor
and
good
pay
,
why
should
he
ask
questions
?
They
send
him
messages
what
to
do
.
No
,
I
thought
over
every
possible
course
,
and
this
is
the
best
.
'
While
this
conversation
had
been
proceeding
,
we
had
been
shooting
the
long
series
of
bridges
which
span
the
Thames
.
As
we
passed
the
City
the
last
rays
of
the
sun
were
gilding
the
cross
upon
the
summit
of
St.
Paul
's
.
It
was
twilight
before
we
reached
the
Tower
.
'
That
is
Jacobson
's
Yard
,
'
said
Holmes
,
pointing
to
a
bristle
of
masts
and
rigging
on
the
Surrey
side
.
'
Cruise
gently
up
and
down
here
under
cover
of
this
string
of
lighters
.
'
He
took
a
pair
of
night-glasses
from
his
pocket
and
gazed
some
time
at
the
shore
.
'
I
see
my
sentry
at
his
post
,
'
he
remarked
,
'
but
no
sign
of
a
handkerchief
.
'
'
Suppose
we
go
down
stream
a
short
way
and
lie
in
wait
for
them
,
'
said
Jones
eagerly
.
We
were
all
eager
by
this
time
,
even
the
policemen
and
stokers
,
who
had
a
very
vague
idea
of
what
was
going
forward
.
'
We
have
no
right
to
take
anything
for
granted
,
'
Holmes
answered
.
'
It
is
certainly
ten
to
one
that
they
go
down
stream
,
but
we
cannot
be
certain
.
From
this
point
we
can
see
the
entrance
of
the
yard
,
and
they
can
hardly
see
us
.
It
will
be
a
clear
night
and
plenty
of
light
.
We
must
stay
where
we
are
See
how
the
folk
swarm
over
yonder
in
the
gaslight
.
'
'
They
are
coming
from
work
in
the
yard
.
'
'
Dirty-looking
rascals
,
but
I
suppose
every
one
has
some
little
immortal
spark
concealed
about
him
.
You
would
not
think
it
,
to
look
at
them
.
There
is
no
a
priori
probability
about
it
.
A
strange
enigma
is
man
!
'
'
Someone
calls
him
a
soul
concealed
in
an
animal
,
'
I
suggested
.
'
Winwood
Reade
is
good
upon
the
subject
,
'
said
Holmes
.
'
He
remarks
that
,
while
the
individual
man
is
an
insoluble
puzzle
,
in
the
aggregate
he
becomes
a
mathematical
certainty
.
You
can
,
for
example
,
never
foretell
what
any
one
man
will
do
,
but
you
can
say
with
precision
what
an
average
number
will
be
up
to
.
Individuals
vary
,
but
percentages
remain
constant
.
So
says
the
statistician
.
But
do
I
see
a
handkerchief
?
Surely
there
is
a
white
flutter
over
yonder
.
'
'
Yes
,
it
is
your
boy
,
'
I
cried
.
'
I
can
see
him
plainly
.
'
'
And
there
is
the
Aurora
,
'
exclaimed
Holmes
,
'
and
going
like
the
devil
!
Full
speed
ahead
,
engineer
.
Make
after
that
launch
with
the
yellow
light
.
By
heaven
,
I
shall
never
forgive
myself
if
she
proves
to
have
the
heels
of
us
!
'
She
had
slipped
unseen
through
the
yard-entrance
and
passed
behind
two
or
three
small
craft
,
so
that
she
had
fairly
got
her
speed
up
before
we
saw
her
.
Now
she
was
flying
down
the
stream
,
near
in
to
the
shore
,
going
at
a
tremendous
rate
.
Jones
looked
gravely
at
her
and
shook
his
head
.
'
She
is
very
fast
,
'
he
said
.
'
I
doubt
if
we
shall
catch
her
.
'
'
We
must
catch
her
!
'
cried
Holmes
,
between
his
teeth
.
'
Heap
it
on
,
stokers
!
Make
her
do
all
she
can
!
If
we
burn
the
boat
we
must
have
them
!
'
We
were
fairly
after
her
now
.
The
furnaces
roared
,
and
the
powerful
engines
whizzed
and
clanked
,
like
a
great
metallic
heart
.
Her
sharp
,
steep
prow
cut
through
the
still
river-water
and
sent
two
rolling
waves
to
right
and
to
left
of
us
.
With
every
throb
of
the
engines
we
sprang
and
quivered
like
a
living
thing
.
One
great
yellow
lantern
in
our
bows
threw
a
long
,
flickering
funnel
of
light
in
front
of
us
.
Right
ahead
a
dark
blur
upon
the
water
showed
where
the
Aurora
lay
,
and
the
swirl
of
white
foam
behind
her
spoke
of
the
pace
at
which
she
was
going
.
We
flashed
past
barges
,
steamers
,
merchant-vessels
,
in
and
out
,
behind
this
one
and
round
the
other
.
Voices
hailed
us
out
of
the
darkness
,
but
still
the
Aurora
thundered
on
,
and
still
we
followed
close
upon
her
track
.
'
Pile
it
on
,
men
,
pile
it
on
!
'
cried
Holmes
,
looking
down
into
the
engine-room
,
while
the
fierce
glow
from
below
beat
upon
his
eager
,
aquiline
face
.
'
Get
every
pound
of
steam
you
can
.
'
'
I
think
we
gain
a
little
,
'
said
Jones
,
with
his
eyes
on
the
Aurora
.
'
I
am
sure
of
it
,
'
said
I
.
'
We
shall
be
up
with
her
in
a
very
few
minutes
.
'
At
that
moment
,
however
,
as
our
evil
fate
would
have
it
,
a
tug
with
three
barges
in
tow
blundered
in
between
us
.
It
was
only
by
putting
our
helm
hard
down
that
we
avoided
a
collision
,
and
before
we
could
round
them
and
recover
our
way
the
Aurora
had
gained
a
good
two
hundred
yards
.
She
was
still
,
however
,
well
in
view
,
and
the
murky
,
uncertain
twilight
was
settling
into
a
clear
,
starlit
night
.
Our
boilers
were
strained
to
their
utmost
,
and
the
frail
shell
vibrated
and
creaked
with
the
fierce
energy
which
was
driving
us
along
.
We
had
shot
through
the
pool
,
past
the
West
India
Docks
,
down
the
long
Deptford
Reach
,
and
up
again
after
rounding
the
Isle
of
Dogs
.
The
dull
blur
in
front
of
us
resolved
itself
now
clearly
enough
into
the
dainty
Aurora
.
Jones
turned
our
search
light
upon
her
,
so
that
we
could
plainly
see
the
figures
upon
her
deck
.
One
man
sat
by
the
stern
,
with
something
black
between
his
knees
,
over
which
he
stooped
.
Beside
him
lay
a
dark
mass
,
which
looked
like
a
Newfoundland
dog
.
The
boy
held
the
tiller
,
while
against
the
red
glare
of
the
furnace
I
could
see
old
Smith
,
stripped
to
the
waist
,
and
shovelling
coals
for
dear
life
.
They
may
have
had
some
doubt
at
first
as
to
whether
we
were
really
pursuing
them
,
but
now
as
we
followed
every
winding
and
turning
which
they
took
there
could
no
longer
be
any
question
about
it
.
At
Greenwich
we
were
about
three
hundred
paces
behind
them
.
At
Blackwall
we
could
not
have
been
more
than
two
hundred
and
fifty
.
I
have
coursed
many
creatures
in
many
countries
during
my
chequered
career
,
but
never
did
sport
give
me
such
a
wild
thrill
as
this
mad
,
flying
manhunt
down
the
Thames
.
Steadily
we
drew
in
upon
them
,
yard
by
yard
.
In
the
silence
of
the
night
we
could
hear
the
panting
and
clanking
of
their
machinery
.
The
man
in
the
stern
still
crouched
upon
the
deck
,
and
his
arms
were
moving
as
though
he
were
busy
,
while
every
now
and
then
he
would
look
up
and
measure
with
a
glance
the
distance
which
still
separated
us
.
Nearer
we
came
and
nearer
.
Jones
yelled
to
them
to
stop
.
We
were
not
more
than
four
boat's-lengths
behind
them
,
both
boats
flying
at
a
tremendous
pace
.
It
was
a
clear
reach
of
the
river
,
with
Barking
Level
upon
one
side
and
the
melancholy
Plumstead
Marshes
upon
the
other
.
At
our
hail
the
man
in
the
stern
sprang
up
from
the
deck
and
shook
his
two
clenched
fists
at
us
,
cursing
the
while
in
a
high
,
cracked
voice
.
He
was
a
good-sized
,
powerful
man
,
and
as
he
stood
poising
himself
with
legs
astride
,
I
could
see
that
from
the
thigh
downwards
there
was
but
a
wooden
stump
upon
the
right
side
.
At
the
sound
of
his
strident
,
angry
cries
,
there
was
movement
in
the
huddled
bundle
upon
the
deck
.
It
straightened
itself
into
a
little
black
man
—
the
smallest
I
have
even
seen
—
with
a
great
,
misshapen
head
and
a
shock
of
tangled
,
dishevelled
hair
.
Holmes
had
already
drawn
his
revolver
,
and
I
whipped
out
mine
at
the
sight
of
this
savage
,
distorted
creature
.
He
was
wrapped
in
some
sort
of
dark
ulster
or
blanket
,
which
left
only
his
face
exposed
;
but
that
face
was
enough
to
give
a
man
a
sleepless
night
.
Never
have
I
seen
features
so
deeply
marked
with
all
bestiality
and
cruelty
.
His
small
eyes
glowed
and
burned
with
a
sombre
light
,
and
his
thick
lips
were
writhed
back
from
his
teeth
,
which
grinned
and
chattered
at
us
with
half
animal
fury
.
'
Fire
if
he
raises
his
hand
,
'
said
Holmes
quietly
.
We
were
within
a
boat's-length
by
this
time
,
and
almost
within
touch
of
our
quarry
.
I
can
see
the
two
of
them
now
as
they
stood
,
the
white
man
with
his
legs
far
apart
,
shrieking
out
curses
,
and
the
unhallowed
dwarf
with
his
hideous
face
,
and
his
strong
yellow
teeth
gnashing
at
us
in
the
light
of
our
lantern
.
It
was
well
that
we
had
so
clear
a
view
of
him
.
Even
as
we
looked
he
plucked
out
from
under
his
covering
a
short
,
round
piece
of
wood
,
like
a
school-ruler
,
and
clapped
it
to
his
lips
.
Our
pistols
rang
out
together
.
He
whirled
round
,
threw
up
his
arms
,
and
,
with
a
kind
of
choking
cough
,
fell
sideways
into
the
stream
.
I
caught
one
glimpse
of
his
venomous
,
menacing
eyes
amid
the
white
swirl
of
the
waters
.
At
the
same
moment
the
wooden-legged
man
threw
himself
upon
the
rudder
and
put
it
hard
down
,
so
that
his
boat
made
straight
in
for
the
southern
bank
,
while
we
shot
past
her
stern
,
only
clearing
her
by
a
few
feet
.
We
were
round
after
her
in
an
instant
,
but
she
was
already
nearly
at
the
bank
.
It
was
a
wild
and
desolate
place
,
where
the
moon
glimmered
upon
a
wide
expanse
of
marsh-land
,
with
pools
of
stagnant
water
and
beds
of
decaying
vegetation
.
The
launch
,
with
a
dull
thud
,
ran
up
upon
the
mud-bank
,
with
her
bow
in
the
air
and
her
stern
flush
with
the
water
.
The
fugitive
sprang
out
,
but
his
stump
instantly
sank
its
whole
length
into
the
sodden
soil
.
In
vain
he
struggled
and
writhed
.
Not
one
step
could
he
possibly
take
either
forwards
or
backwards
.
He
yelled
in
impotent
rage
,
and
kicked
frantically
into
the
mud
with
his
other
foot
;
but
his
struggles
only
bored
his
wooden
pin
the
deeper
into
the
sticky
bank
.
When
we
brought
our
launch
alongside
he
was
so
firmly
anchored
that
it
was
only
by
throwing
the
end
of
a
rope
over
his
shoulders
that
we
were
able
to
haul
him
out
,
and
to
drag
him
,
like
some
evil
fish
,
over
our
side
.
The
two
Smiths
,
father
and
son
,
sat
sullenly
in
their
launch
,
but
came
aboard
meekly
enough
when
commanded
.
The
Aurora
herself
we
hauled
off
and
made
fast
to
our
stern
.
A
solid
iron
chest
of
Indian
workmanship
stood
upon
the
deck
.
This
,
there
could
be
no
question
,
was
the
same
that
had
contained
the
ill-omened
treasure
of
the
Sholtos
.
There
was
no
key
,
but
it
was
of
considerable
weight
,
so
we
transferred
it
carefully
to
our
own
little
cabin
.
As
we
steamed
slowly
up-stream
again
,
we
flashed
our
search-light
in
every
direction
,
but
there
was
no
sign
of
the
Islander
.
Somewhere
in
the
dark
ooze
at
bottom
of
the
Thames
lie
the
bones
of
that
strange
visitor
to
our
shores
.
'
See
here
,
'
said
Holmes
,
pointing
to
the
wooden
hatchway
.
'
We
were
hardly
quick
enough
with
our
pistols
.
'
There
,
sure
enough
,
just
behind
where
we
had
been
standing
,
stuck
one
of
those
murderous
darts
which
we
knew
so
well
.
It
must
have
whizzed
between
us
at
the
instant
we
fired
.
Holmes
smiled
at
it
and
shrugged
his
shoulders
in
his
easy
fashion
,
but
I
confess
that
it
turned
me
sick
to
think
of
the
horrible
death
which
had
passed
so
close
to
us
that
night
.
CHAPTER
XI
.
THE
GREAT
AGRA
TREASURE
.
Our
captive
sat
in
the
cabin
opposite
to
the
iron
box
which
he
had
done
so
much
and
waited
so
long
to
gain
.
He
was
a
sunburned
,
reckless-eyed
fellow
,
with
a
network
of
lines
and
wrinkles
all
over
his
mahogany
features
,
which
told
of
a
hard
,
open-air
life
.
There
was
a
singular
prominence
about
his
bearded
chin
which
marked
a
man
who
was
not
to
be
easily
turned
from
his
purpose
.
His
age
may
have
been
fifty
or
thereabouts
,
for
his
black
,
curly
hair
was
thickly
shot
with
gray
.
His
face
in
repose
was
not
an
unpleasing
one
,
though
his
heavy
brows
and
aggressive
chin
gave
him
,
as
I
had
lately
seen
,
a
terrible
expression
when
moved
to
anger
.
He
sat
now
with
his
handcuffed
hands
upon
his
lap
,
and
his
head
sunk
upon
his
breast
,
while
he
looked
with
his
keen
,
twinkling
eyes
at
the
box
which
had
been
the
cause
of
his
illdoings
.
It
seemed
to
me
that
there
was
more
sorrow
than
anger
in
his
rigid
and
contained
countenance
.
Once
he
looked
up
at
me
with
a
gleam
of
something
like
humour
in
his
eyes
.
'
Well
,
Jonathan
Small
,
'
said
Holmes
,
lighting
a
cigar
,
'
I
am
sorry
that
it
has
come
to
this
.
'
'
And
so
am
I
,
sir
,
'
he
answered
frankly
.
'
I
do
n't
believe
that
I
can
swing
over
the
job
.
I
give
you
my
word
on
the
book
that
I
never
raised
hand
against
Mr.
Sholto
.
It
was
that
little
hell-hound
Tonga
who
shot
one
of
his
cursed
darts
into
him
.
I
had
no
part
in
it
,
sir
.
I
was
as
grieved
as
if
it
had
been
my
blood-relation
.
I
welted
the
little
devil
with
the
slack
end
of
the
rope
for
it
,
but
it
was
done
,
and
I
could
not
undo
it
again
.
'
'
Have
a
cigar
,
'
said
Holmes
;
'
and
you
had
best
take
a
pull
out
of
my
flask
,
for
you
are
very
wet
.
How
could
you
expect
so
small
and
weak
a
man
as
this
black
fellow
to
overpower
Mr.
Sholto
and
hold
him
while
you
were
climbing
the
rope
?
'
'
You
seem
to
know
as
much
about
it
as
if
you
were
there
,
sir
.
The
truth
is
that
I
hoped
to
find
the
room
clear
.
I
knew
the
habits
of
the
house
pretty
well
,
and
it
was
the
time
when
Mr.
Sholto
usually
went
down
to
his
supper
.
I
shall
make
no
secret
of
the
business
.
The
best
defence
that
I
can
make
is
just
the
simple
truth
.
Now
,
if
it
had
been
the
old
major
I
would
have
swung
for
him
with
a
light
heart
.
I
would
have
thought
no
more
of
knifing
him
than
of
smoking
this
cigar
.
But
it
's
cursed
hard
that
I
should
be
lagged
over
this
young
Sholto
,
with
whom
I
had
no
quarrel
whatever
.
'
'
You
are
under
the
charge
of
Mr.
Athelney
Jones
,
of
Scotland
Yard
.
He
is
going
to
bring
you
up
to
my
rooms
,
and
I
shall
ask
you
for
a
true
account
of
the
matter
.
You
must
make
a
clean
breast
of
it
,
for
if
you
do
I
hope
that
I
may
be
of
use
to
you
.
I
think
I
can
prove
that
the
poison
acts
so
quickly
that
the
man
was
dead
before
ever
you
reached
the
room
.
'
'
That
he
was
,
sir
.
I
never
got
such
a
turn
in
my
life
as
when
I
saw
him
grinning
at
me
with
his
head
on
his
shoulder
as
I
climbed
through
the
window
.
It
fairly
shook
me
,
sir
.
I
'd
have
half
killed
Tonga
for
it
if
he
had
not
scrambled
off
.
That
was
how
he
came
to
leave
his
club
,
and
some
of
his
darts
too
,
as
he
tells
me
,
which
I
dare
say
helped
to
put
you
on
our
track
;
though
how
you
kept
on
it
is
more
than
I
can
tell
.
I
do
n't
feel
no
malice
against
you
for
it
.
But
it
does
seem
a
queer
thing
,
'
he
added
,
with
a
bitter
smile
,
'
that
I
,
who
have
a
fair
claim
to
half
a
million
of
money
,
should
spend
the
first
half
of
my
life
building
a
breakwater
in
the
Andamans
,
and
am
like
to
spend
the
other
half
digging
drains
at
Dartmoor
.
It
was
an
evil
day
for
me
when
first
I
clapped
eyes
upon
the
merchant
Achmet
and
had
to
do
with
the
Agra
treasure
,
which
never
brought
anything
but
a
curse
yet
upon
the
man
who
owned
it
.
To
him
it
brought
murder
,
to
Major
Sholto
it
brought
fear
and
guilt
,
to
me
it
has
meant
slavery
for
life
.
'
At
this
moment
Athelney
Jones
thrust
his
broad
face
and
heavy
shoulders
into
the
tiny
cabin
.
'
Quite
a
family
party
,
'
he
remarked
.
'
I
think
I
shall
have
a
pull
at
that
flask
,
Holmes
.
Well
,
I
think
we
may
all
congratulate
each
other
.
Pity
we
did
n't
take
the
other
'
alive
;
but
there
was
no
choice
.
I
say
,
Holmes
,
you
must
confess
that
you
cut
it
rather
fine
.
It
was
all
we
could
do
to
overhaul
her
.
'
'
All
is
well
that
ends
well
,
'
said
Holmes
.
'
But
I
certainly
did
not
know
that
the
Aurora
was
such
a
clipper
.
'
'
Smith
says
she
is
one
of
the
fastest
launches
on
the
river
,
and
that
if
he
had
had
another
man
to
help
him
with
the
engines
we
should
never
have
caught
her
.
He
swears
he
knew
nothing
of
this
Norwood
business
.
'
'
Neither
he
did
,
'
cried
our
prisoner
—
'
not
a
word
.
I
chose
his
launch
because
I
heard
that
she
was
a
flier
.
We
told
him
nothing
;
but
we
paid
him
well
,
and
he
was
to
get
something
handsome
if
we
reached
our
vessel
,
the
Esmeralda
,
at
Gravesend
,
outward
bound
for
the
Brazils
.
'
'
Well
,
if
he
has
done
no
wrong
we
shall
see
that
no
wrong
comes
to
him
.
If
we
are
pretty
quick
in
catching
our
men
,
we
are
not
so
quick
in
condemning
them
.
'
It
was
amusing
to
notice
how
the
consequential
Jones
was
already
beginning
to
give
himself
airs
on
the
strength
of
the
capture
.
From
the
slight
smile
which
played
over
Sherlock
Holmes
's
face
,
I
could
see
that
the
speech
had
not
been
lost
upon
him
.
'
We
will
be
at
Vauxhall
Bridge
presently
,
'
said
Jones
,
'
and
shall
land
you
,
Dr.
Watson
,
with
the
treasure-box
.
I
need
hardly
tell
you
that
I
am
taking
a
very
grave
responsibility
upon
myself
in
doing
this
.
It
is
most
irregular
;
but
of
course
an
agreement
is
an
agreement
.
I
must
,
however
,
as
a
matter
of
duty
,
send
an
inspector
with
you
,
since
you
have
so
valuable
a
charge
.
You
will
drive
,
no
doubt
?
'
'
Yes
,
I
shall
drive
.
'
'
It
is
a
pity
there
is
no
key
,
that
we
may
make
an
inventory
first
.
You
will
have
to
break
it
open
.
Where
is
the
key
,
my
man
?
'
'
At
the
bottom
of
the
river
,
'
said
Small
shortly
.
'
Hum
!
There
was
no
use
your
giving
this
unnecessary
trouble
.
We
have
had
work
enough
already
through
you
.
However
,
doctor
,
I
need
not
warn
you
to
be
careful
.
Bring
the
box
back
with
you
to
the
Baker
Street
rooms
.
You
will
find
us
there
,
on
our
way
to
the
station
.
'
They
landed
me
at
Vauxhall
,
with
my
heavy
iron
box
,
and
with
a
bluff
,
genial
inspector
as
my
companion
.
A
quarter
of
an
hour
's
drive
brought
us
to
Mrs.
Cecil
Forrester
's
.
The
servant
seemed
surprised
at
so
late
a
visitor
.
Mrs.
Cecil
Forrester
was
out
for
the
evening
,
she
explained
,
and
likely
to
be
very
late
.
Miss
Morstan
,
however
,
was
in
the
drawing-room
;
so
to
the
drawing-room
I
went
,
box
in
hand
,
leaving
the
obliging
inspector
in
the
cab
.
She
was
seated
by
the
open
window
,
dressed
in
some
sort
of
white
diaphanous
material
,
with
a
little
touch
of
scarlet
at
the
neck
and
waist
.
The
soft
light
of
a
shaded
lamp
fell
upon
her
as
she
leaned
back
in
the
basket
chair
,
playing
over
her
sweet
grave
face
,
and
tinting
with
a
dull
,
metallic
sparkle
the
rich
coils
of
her
luxuriant
hair
.
One
white
arm
and
hand
drooped
over
the
side
of
the
chair
,
and
her
whole
pose
and
figure
spoke
of
an
absorbing
melancholy
.
At
the
sound
of
my
footfall
she
sprang
to
her
feet
,
however
,
and
a
bright
flush
of
surprise
and
of
pleasure
coloured
her
pale
cheeks
.
'
I
heard
a
cab
drive
up
,
'
she
said
.
'
I
thought
that
Mrs.
Forrester
had
come
back
very
early
,
but
I
never
dreamed
that
it
might
be
you
.
What
news
have
you
brought
me
?
'
'
I
have
brought
something
better
than
news
,
'
said
I
,
putting
down
the
box
upon
the
table
and
speaking
jovially
and
boisterously
,
though
my
heart
was
heavy
within
me
.
'
I
have
brought
you
something
which
is
worth
all
the
news
in
the
world
.
I
have
brought
you
a
fortune
.
'
She
glanced
at
the
iron
box
.
'
Is
that
the
treasure
then
?
'
she
asked
,
coolly
enough
.
'
Yes
,
this
is
the
great
Agra
treasure
.
Half
of
it
is
yours
and
half
is
Thaddeus
Sholto
's
.
You
will
have
a
couple
of
hundred
thousand
each
.
Think
of
that
!
An
annuity
of
ten
thousand
pounds
.
There
will
be
few
richer
young
ladies
in
England
.
Is
it
not
glorious
?
'
I
think
that
I
must
have
been
rather
overacting
my
delight
,
and
that
she
detected
a
hollow
ring
in
my
congratulations
,
for
I
saw
her
eyebrows
rise
a
little
,
and
she
glanced
at
me
curiously
.
'
If
I
have
it
,
'
said
she
,
'
I
owe
it
to
you
.
'
'
No
,
no
,
'
I
answered
,
'
not
to
me
,
but
to
my
friend
Sherlock
Holmes
.
With
all
the
will
in
the
world
,
I
could
never
have
followed
up
a
clue
which
has
taxed
even
his
analytical
genius
.
As
it
was
,
we
very
nearly
lost
it
at
the
last
moment
.
'
'
Pray
sit
down
and
tell
me
all
about
it
,
Dr.
Watson
,
'
said
she
.
I
narrated
briefly
what
had
occurred
since
I
had
seen
her
last
.
Holmes
's
new
method
of
search
,
the
discovery
of
the
Aurora
,
the
appearance
of
Athelney
Jones
,
our
expedition
in
the
evening
,
and
the
wild
chase
down
the
Thames
.
She
listened
with
parted
lips
and
shining
eyes
to
my
recital
of
our
adventures
.
When
I
spoke
of
the
dart
which
had
so
narrowly
missed
us
,
she
turned
so
white
that
I
feared
that
she
was
about
to
faint
.
'
It
is
nothing
,
'
she
said
,
as
I
hastened
to
pour
her
out
some
water
.
'
I
am
all
right
again
.
It
was
a
shock
to
me
to
hear
that
I
had
placed
my
friends
in
such
horrible
peril
.
'
'
That
is
all
over
,
'
I
answered
.
'
It
was
nothing
.
I
will
tell
you
no
more
gloomy
details
.
Let
us
turn
to
something
brighter
.
There
is
the
treasure
.
What
could
be
brighter
than
that
?
I
got
leave
to
bring
it
with
me
,
thinking
that
it
would
interest
you
to
be
the
first
to
see
it
.
'
'
It
would
be
of
the
greatest
interest
to
me
,
'
she
said
.
There
was
no
eagerness
in
her
voice
,
however
.
It
had
struck
her
,
doubtless
,
that
it
might
seem
ungracious
upon
her
part
to
be
indifferent
to
a
prize
which
had
cost
so
much
to
win
.
'
What
a
pretty
box
!
'
she
said
,
stooping
over
it
.
'
This
is
Indian
work
,
I
suppose
?
'
'
Yes
;
it
is
Benares
metal-work
.
'
'
And
so
heavy
!
'
she
exclaimed
,
trying
to
raise
it
.
'
The
box
alone
must
be
of
some
value
.
Where
is
the
key
?
'
'
Small
threw
it
into
the
Thames
,
'
I
answered
.
'
I
must
borrow
Mrs.
Forrester
's
poker
.
'
There
was
in
the
front
a
thick
and
broad
hasp
,
wrought
in
the
image
of
a
sitting
Buddha
.
Under
this
I
thrust
the
end
of
the
poker
and
twisted
it
outward
as
a
lever
.
The
hasp
sprang
open
with
a
loud
snap
.
With
trembling
fingers
I
flung
back
the
lid
.
We
both
stood
gazing
in
astonishment
.
The
box
was
empty
!
No
wonder
that
it
was
heavy
.
The
ironwork
was
two-thirds
of
an
inch
thick
all
round
.
It
was
massive
,
well
made
,
and
solid
,
like
a
chest
constructed
to
carry
things
of
great
price
,
but
not
one
shred
or
crumb
of
metal
or
jewellery
lay
within
it
.
It
was
absolutely
and
completely
empty
.
'
The
treasure
is
lost
,
'
said
Miss
Morstan
calmly
.
As
I
listened
to
the
words
and
realized
what
they
meant
,
a
great
shadow
seemed
to
pass
from
my
soul
.
I
did
not
know
how
this
Agra
treasure
had
weighed
me
down
,
until
now
that
it
was
finally
removed
.
It
was
selfish
,
no
doubt
,
disloyal
,
wrong
,
but
I
could
realize
nothing
save
that
the
golden
barrier
was
gone
from
between
us
.
'
Thank
God
!
'
I
ejaculated
from
my
very
heart
.
She
looked
at
me
with
a
quick
,
questioning
smile
.
'
Why
do
you
say
that
?
'
she
asked
.
'
Because
you
are
within
my
reach
again
,
'
I
said
,
taking
her
hand
.
She
did
not
withdraw
it
.
'
Because
I
love
you
,
Mary
,
as
truly
as
ever
a
man
loved
a
woman
.
Because
this
treasure
,
these
riches
,
sealed
my
lips
.
Now
that
they
are
gone
I
can
tell
you
how
I
love
you
.
That
is
why
I
said
,
"
Thank
God
.
"
'
'
Then
I
say
"
Thank
God
,
"
too
,
'
she
whispered
,
as
I
drew
her
to
my
side
.
Whoever
had
lost
a
treasure
,
I
knew
that
night
that
I
had
gained
one
.
CHAPTER
XII
.
THE
STRANGE
STORY
OF
JONATHAN
SMALL
.
A
very
patient
man
was
that
inspector
in
the
cab
,
for
it
was
a
weary
time
before
I
rejoined
him
.
His
face
clouded
over
when
I
showed
him
the
empty
box
.
'
There
goes
the
reward
!
'
said
he
gloomily
.
'
Where
there
is
no
money
there
is
no
pay
.
This
night
's
work
would
have
been
worth
a
tenner
each
to
Sam
Brown
and
me
if
the
treasure
had
been
there
.
'
'
Mr
.
Thaddeus
Sholto
is
a
rich
man
,
'
I
said
;
'
he
will
see
that
you
are
rewarded
,
treasure
or
no
.
'
The
inspector
shook
his
head
despondently
,
however
.
'
It
's
a
bad
job
,
'
he
repeated
;
'
and
so
Mr.
Athelney
Jones
will
think
.
'
His
forecast
proved
to
be
correct
,
for
the
detective
looked
blank
enough
when
I
got
to
Baker
Street
and
showed
him
the
empty
box
.
They
had
only
just
arrived
,
Holmes
,
the
prisoner
,
and
he
,
for
they
had
changed
their
plans
so
far
as
to
report
themselves
at
a
station
upon
the
way
.
My
companion
lounged
in
his
arm-chair
with
his
usual
listless
expression
,
while
Small
sat
stolidly
opposite
to
him
with
his
wooden
leg
cocked
over
his
sound
one
.
As
I
exhibited
the
empty
box
he
leaned
back
in
his
chair
and
laughed
aloud
.
'
This
is
your
doing
,
Small
,
'
said
Athelney
Jones
angrily
.
'
Yes
,
I
have
put
it
away
where
you
shall
never
lay
hand
upon
it
,
'
he
cried
exultantly
.
'
It
is
my
treasure
,
and
if
I
ca
n't
have
the
loot
I
'll
take
darned
good
care
that
no
one
else
does
.
I
tell
you
that
no
living
man
has
any
right
to
it
,
unless
it
is
three
men
who
are
in
the
Andaman
convict-barracks
and
myself
.
I
know
now
that
I
cannot
have
the
use
of
it
,
