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〃Any news？〃 he asked； eagerly。
〃My report； as I expected； is a negative one；〃 said
Holmes。 〃I have seen Forbes； and I have seen your
uncle； and I have set one or two trains of inquiry
upon foot which may lead to something。〃
〃You have not lost heart； then？〃
〃By no means。〃
〃God bless you for saying that！〃 cried Miss Harrison。
〃If we keep our courage and our patience the truth
must come out。〃
〃We have more to tell you than you have for us；〃 said
Phelps； reseating himself upon the couch。
〃I hoped you might have something。〃
〃Yes； we have had an adventure during the night； and
one which might have proved to be a serious one。〃 His
expression grew very grave as he spoke； and a look of
something akin to fear sprang up in his eyes。 〃Do you
know；〃 said he； 〃that I begin to believe that I am the
unconscious centre of some monstrous conspiracy； and
that my life is aimed at as well as my honor？〃
〃Ah！〃 cried Holmes。
〃It sounds incredible； for I have not； as far as I
know； an enemy in the world。 Yet from last night's
experience I can come to no other conclusion。〃
〃Pray let me hear it。〃
〃You must know that last night was the very first
night that I have ever slept without a nurse in the
room。 I was so much better that I thought I could
dispense with one。 I had a night…light burning；
however。 Well； about two in the morning I had sunk
into a light sleep when I was suddenly aroused by a
slight noise。 It was like the sound which a mouse
makes when it is gnawing a plank； and I lay listening
to it for some time under the impression that it must
come from that cause。 Then it grew louder； and
suddenly there came from the window a sharp metallic
snick。 I sat up in amazement。 There could be no
doubt what the sounds were now。 The first ones had
been caused by some one forcing an instrument through
the slit between the sashes； and the second by the
catch being pressed back。
〃There was a pause then for about ten minutes； as if
the person were waiting to see whether the noise had
awakened me。 Then I heard a gentle creaking as the
window was very slowly opened。 I could stand it no
longer； for my nerves are not what they used to be。 I
sprang out of bed and flung open the shutters。 A man
was crouching at the window。 I could see little of
him； for he was gone like a flash。 He was wrapped in
some sort of cloak which came across the lower part of
his face。 One thing only I am sure of； and that is
that he had some weapon in his hand。 It looked to me
like a long knife。 I distinctly saw the gleam of it
as he turned to run。〃
〃This is most interesting；〃 said Holmes。 〃Pray what
did you do then？〃
〃I should have followed him through the open window if
I had been stronger。 As it was； I rang the bell and
roused the house。 It took me some little time； for
the bell rings in the kitchen and the servants all
sleep upstairs。 I shouted； however； and that brought
Joseph down； and he roused the others。 Joseph and the
groom found marks on the bed outside the window； but
the weather has been so dry lately that they found it
hopeless to follow the trail across the grass。
There's a place； however； on the wooden fence which
skirts the road which shows signs； they tell me； as if
some one had got over； and had snapped the top of the
rail in doing so。 I have said nothing to the local
police yet； for I thought I had best have your opinion
first。〃
This tale of our client's appeared to have an
extraordinary effect upon Sherlock Holmes。 He rose
from his chair and paced about the room in
uncontrollable excitement。
〃Misfortunes never come single；〃 said Phelps； smiling；
though it was evident that his adventure had somewhat
shaken him。
〃You have certainly had your share；〃 said Holmes。 〃Do
you think you could walk round the house with me？〃
〃Oh； yes； I should like a little sunshine。 Joseph
will come； too。〃
〃And I also；〃 said Miss Harrison。
〃I am afraid not；〃 said Holmes； shaking his head。 〃I
think I must ask you to remain sitting exactly where
you are。〃
The young lady resumed her seat with an air of
displeasure。 Her brother； however； had joined us and
we set off all four together。 We passed round the
lawn to the outside of the young diplomatist's window。
There were； as he had said； marks upon the bed； but
they were hopelessly blurred and vague。 Holmes
stopped over them for an instant； and then rose
shrugging his shoulders。
〃I don't think any one could make much of this；〃 said
he。 〃Let us go round the house and see why this
particular room was chose by the burglar。 I should
have thought those larger windows of the drawing…room
and dining…room would have had more attractions for
him。〃
〃They are more visible from the road；〃 suggested Mr。
Joseph Harrison。
〃Ah； yes； of course。 There is a door here which he
might have attempted。 What is it for？〃
〃It is the side entrance for trades…people。 Of course
it is locked at night。〃
〃Have you ever had an alarm like this before？〃
〃Never；〃 said our client。
〃Do you keep plate in the house； or anything to
attract burglars？〃
〃Nothing of value。〃
Holmes strolled round the house with his hands in his
pockets and a negligent air which was unusual with
him。
〃By the way；〃 said he to Joseph Harrison； 〃you found
some place； I understand； where the fellow scaled the
fence。 Let us have a look at that！〃
The plump young man led us to a spot where the top of
one of the wooden rails had been cracked。 A small
fragment of the wood was hanging down。 Holmes pulled
it off and examined it critically。
〃Do you think that was done last night？ It looks
rather old； does it not？〃
〃Well； possibly so。〃
〃There are no marks of any one jumping down upon the
other side。 No； I fancy we shall get no help here。
Let us go back to the bedroom and talk the matter
over。〃
Percy Phelps was walking very slowly； leaning upon the
arm of his future brother…in…law。 Holmes walked
swiftly across the lawn； and we were at the open
window of the bedroom long before the others came up。
〃Miss Harrison；〃 said Holmes； speaking with the utmost
intensity of manner； 〃you must stay where you are all
day。 Let nothing prevent you from staying where you
are all day。 It is of the utmost importance。〃
〃Certainly； if you wish it； Mr。 Holmes；〃 said the girl
in astonishment。
〃When you go to bed lock the door of this room on the
outside and keep the key。 Promise to do this。〃
〃But Percy？〃
〃He will come to London with us。〃
〃And am I to remain here？〃
〃It is for his sake。 You can serve him。 Quick！
Promise！〃
She gave a quick nod of assent just as the other two
came up。
〃Why do you sit moping there； Annie？〃 cried her
brother。 〃Come out into the sunshine！〃
〃No； thank you； Joseph。 I have a slight headache and
this room is deliciously cool and soothing。〃
〃What do you propose now； Mr。 Holmes？〃 asked our
client。
〃Well； in investigating this minor affair we must not
lose sight of our main inquiry。 It would be a very
great help to me if you would come up to London with
us。〃
〃At once？〃
〃Well； as soon as you conveniently can。 Say in an
hour。〃
〃I feel quite strong enough； if I can really be of any
help。〃
〃The greatest possible。〃
〃Perhaps you would like me the stay there to…night？〃
〃I was just going to propose it。〃
〃Then； if my friend of the night comes to revisit me；
he will find the bird flown。 We are all in your
hands； Mr。 Holmes； and you must tell us exactly what
you would like done。 Perhaps you would prefer that
Joseph came wit us so as to look after me？〃
〃Oh； no； my friend Watson is a medical man； you know；
and he'll look after you。 We'll have our lunch here；
if you will permit us； and then we shall al three set
off for town together。〃
It was arranged as he suggested； though Miss Harrison
excused herself from leaving the bedroom； in
accordance with Holmes's suggestion。 What the object
of my friend's manoeuvres was I could not conceive；
unless it were to keep the lady away from Phelps； who；
rejoiced by his returning health and by the prospect
of action； lunched with us in the dining…room。 Holmes
had still more startling surprise for us； however；
for； after accompanying us down to the station and
seeing us into our carriage； he calmly announced that
he had no intention of leaving Woking。
〃There are one or two small points which I should
desire to clear up before I go；〃 said he。 〃Your
absence； Mr。 Phelps； will in some ways rather assist
me。 Watson； when you reach London you would oblige me
by driving at once to Baker Street with our friend
here； and remaining with him until I see you again。
It is fortunate