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We followed the Indian down a sordid and coe, ill lit and worse furnished, until he caht, which he threw open A blaze of yellow light strealare there stood a sh head, a bristle of red hair all round the fringe of it, and a bald, shining scalp which shot out fro it like a ether as he stood, and his features were in a perpetual jerk, now s, but never for an instant in repose Nature had given hiular teeth, which he strove feebly to conceal by constantly passing his hand over the lower part of his face In spite of his obtrusive baldness, he gave the impression of youth In point of fact he had just turned his thirtieth year

"Your servant, Miss Morstan," he kept repeating, in a thin, high voice "Your servant, gentlemen Pray step into my little sanctu An oasis of art in the howling desert of South London"

We were all astonished by the appearance of the apartment into which he invited us In that sorry house it looked as out of place as a dia of brass The richest and glossiest of curtains and tapestries draped the walls, looped back here and there to expose so or Oriental vase The carpet was of amber-and-black, so soft and so thick that the foot sank pleasantly into it, as into a bed of er-skins thrown athwart it increased the suggestion of Eastern luxury, as did a huge hookah which stood upon a mat in the corner A la froolden wire in the centre of the room As it burned it filled the air with a subtle and aromatic odor

"Mr Thaddeus Sholto," said the little"That is entlemen--"

"This is Mr Sherlock Holmes, and this is Dr Watson"

"A doctor, eh?" cried he, ht I ask you--would you have the kindness? I have grave doubts as to ood The aortic I may rely upon, but I should value your opinion upon the mitral"

I listened to his heart, as requested, but was unable to find anything amiss, save indeed that he was in an ecstasy of fear, for he shivered from head to foot "It appears to be normal," I said "You have no cause for uneasiness"