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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 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 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 commonplace one lay ready
to his hand。 Yet； on the other hand； I had myself seen the evidence； and I
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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 outre 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 c