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bright glance at me。
〃Why； Mary； your fortune depends upon the issue of this search。 I
don't think that you are nearly excited enough。 Just imagine what it must
be to be so rich； and to have the world at your feet！〃
It sent a little thrill of joy to my heart to notice that she showed no sign
of elation at the prospect。 On the contrary； she gave a toss of her proud
head； as though the matter were one in which she took small interest。
〃It is for Mr。 Thaddeus Sholto that I am anxious；〃 she said。 〃Nothing
else is of any consequence； but I think that he has behaved most kindly
and honorably throughout。 It is our duty to clear him of this dreadful and
unfounded charge。〃
It was evening before I left Camberwell； and quite dark by the time I
reached home。 My companion's book and pipe lay by his chair； but he
had disappeared。 I looked about in the hope of seeing a note； but there
was none。
〃I suppose that Mr。 Sherlock Holmes has gone out；〃 I said to Mrs。
Hudson as she came up to lower the blinds。
〃No； sir。 He has gone to his room； sir。 Do you know； sir；〃 sinking
her voice into an impressive whisper； 〃I am afraid for his health？〃
〃Why so； Mrs。 Hudson？〃
〃Well； he's that strange； sir。 After you was gone he walked and he
walked； up and down； and up and down； until I was weary of the sound of
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his footstep。 Then I heard him talking to himself and muttering； and
every time the bell rang out he came on the stairhead； with 'What is that；
Mrs。 Hudson？' And now he has slammed off to his room； but I can hear
him walking away the same as ever。 I hope he's not going to be ill； sir。
I ventured to say something to him about cooling medicine； but he turned
on me； sir； with such a look that I don't know how ever I got out of the
room。〃
〃I don't think that you have any cause to be uneasy； Mrs。 Hudson；〃 I
answered。 〃I have seen him like this before。 He has some small matter
upon his mind which makes him restless。〃 I tried to speak lightly to our
worthy landlady； but I was myself somewhat uneasy when through the
long night I still from time to time heard the dull sound of his tread； and
knew how his keen spirit was chafing against this involuntary inaction。
At breakfast…time he looked worn and haggard； with a little fleck of
feverish color upon either cheek。
〃You are knocking yourself up； old man；〃 I remarked。 〃I heard you
marching about in the night。〃
〃No； I could not sleep；〃 he answered。 〃This infernal problem is
consuming me。 It is too much to be balked by so petty an obstacle； when
all else had been overcome。 I know the men； the launch； everything； and
yet I can get no news。 I have set other agencies at work； and used every
means at my disposal。 The whole river has been searched on either side；
but there is no news； nor has Mrs。 Smith heard of her husband。 I shall
come to the conclusion soon that they have scuttled the craft。 But there
are objections to that。〃
〃Or that Mrs。 Smith has put us on a wrong scent。〃
〃No； I think that may be dismissed。 I had inquiries made； and there is
a launch of that description。〃
〃Could it have gone up the river？〃
〃I have considered that possibility too； and there is a search… party who
will work up as far as Richmond。 If no news comes to… day； I shall start
off myself to…morrow； and go for the men rather than the boat。 But
surely； surely； we shall hear something。〃
We did not； however。 Not a word came to us either from Wiggins or
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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 evening in an abstruse chemical analysis which involved much
heating of retorts and distilling of vapors； 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
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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 any one who can give information
to Mrs。 Smith； at Smith's Wharf； or at 221b 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 strang