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no doubt what the sounds were now。 The first ones had been caused by
someone 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
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 someone 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 stooped over them for an
instant； and then rose shrugging his shoulders。
〃I don't think anyone could make much of this；〃 said he。 〃Let us
go round the house and see why this particular room was chosen 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 anyone 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 to 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 with 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 all 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 maneuvres 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 a 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 that you are old
school…fellows； as you must have much to talk over。 Mr。 Phelps can
have the spare bedroom to…night； and I will be with you in time for
breakfast； for there is a train which will take me into Waterloo at
eight。〃
〃But how about our investigation in London？〃 asked Phelps ruefully。
〃We can do that to…morrow。 I think that just at present I can be
of more immediate use here。〃
〃You might tell them at Briarbrae that I hope to be back to…morrow
night；〃 cried Phelps； as we began to move from the platform。
〃I hardly expect to go back to Briarbrae；〃 answered Holmes； and
waved his hand to us cheerily as we shot out from the station。
Phelps and I talked it over on our journey； but neither of us
could devise a satisfactory reason for this new development。
〃I suppose he wants to find out some clues as to the burglary last
night； if a burglar it was。 For myself； I don't believe it was an
ordinary thief。〃
〃What is your own idea； then？〃
〃Upon my word； you may put it down to my weak nerves or not； but I
believe there is some deep political intrigue going on around me；
and that for some reason that passes my understanding my life is aimed
at by the conspirators。 It sounds high…flown and absurd； but
consider the facts！ Why should a thief try to break in at a bedroom
window where there could be no hope of any plunder； and why should
he come with a long knife in his hand？〃
〃You are sure it was not a house…breaker's jimmy？〃
〃Oh； no； it was a knife。 I saw the flash of the blade quite
distinctly。〃
〃But why on earth should you be pursued with such animosity？〃
〃Ah； that is the question。〃
〃Well； if Holmes takes the same view； that would account for his
action； would it not？ Presuming that your theory is correct； if he can
lay his hands upon the man who threatened you last night he will
have gone a long way towards finding who took the naval treaty。 It
is absurd to suppose that you have two enemies； one of whom robs
you； while the other threatens your life。〃
〃But Holmes said that he was not going to Briarbrae。〃
〃I have known him for some time；〃 said I； 〃but I never knew him do
anything yet without a very g