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"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 some one 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 as 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 arb, with an old pea-jacket buttoned up to his throat His back was bowed, his knees were shaky, and his breathing was painfully asthel his shoulders heaved in the effort to draw the air into his lungs He had a colored 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 hie
"Is Mr Sherlock Hol for hie you have for him"
"It was to him himself I was to tell it," said he
"But I tell you that I a for him Was it about Mordecai Smith's boat?"
"Yes I knohere it is An' I knohere the men he is after are An' I knohere 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 oin' to lose a whole day to please no one If Mr Holmes ain't here, then Mr Holmes must find it all out for himself I don't care about the look of either of you, and I won'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"