“I should have followed him through the open window if I hadbeen stronger. As it was, I rang the bell and roused the house. Ittook me some little time, for the bell rings in the kitchen and theservants all sleep upstairs. I shouted, however, and that broughtJoseph down, and he roused the others. Joseph and the groomfound marks on the bed outside the window, but the weather hasbeen so dry lately that they found it hopeless to follow the trailacross the grass. There’s a place, however, on the wooden fencewhich 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 besthave your opinion first.”
This tale of our client’s appeared to have an extraordinary effectupon Sherlock Holmes. He rose from his chair and paced aboutthe room in uncontrollable excitement.
“Misfortunes never come single,” said Phelps, smiling, though itwas evident that his adventure had somewhat shaken him.
“You have certainly had your share,” said Holmes. “Do you thinkyou 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 mustask you to remain sitting exactly where you are.”
The young lady resumed her seat with an air of displeasure. Herbrother, however, had joined us and we set off all four together. Wepassed round the lawn to the outside of the young diplomatist’swindow. There were, as he had said, marks upon the bed, but theywere hopelessly blurred and vague. Holmes stopped over them foran instant, and then rose shrugging his shoulders.
“I don’t think any one could make much of this,” said he. “Let usgo round the house and see why this particular room was chosenby the burglar. I should have thought those larger windows of thedrawing-room and dining-room would have had more attractionsfor him.”
“They are more visible from the road,” suggested Mr. JosephHarrison.
“Ah, yes, of course. There is a door here which he might haveattempted. What is it for?”
“It is the side entrance for trades-people. Of course it is lockedat night.”
“Have you ever had an alarm like this before?”
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“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 pocketsand a negligent air which was unusual with him.
“By the way,” said he to Joseph Harrison, “you found some place,understand, where the fellow scaled the fence. Let us have a lookat that!”
The plump young man led us to a spot where the top of one ofthe wooden rails had been cracked. A small fragment of the woodwas hanging down. Holmes pulled it off and examined it critically.
“Do you think that was done last night? It looks rather old, doesnot?”
“Well, possibly so.”
“There are no marks of any one jumping down upon the otherside. No, I fancy we shall get no help here. Let us go back to thebedroom and talk the matter over.”
Percy Phelps was walking very slowly, leaning upon the arm ofhis future brother-in-law. Holmes walked swiftly across the lawn,and we were at the open window of the bedroom long before theothers came up.
“Miss Harrison,” said Holmes, speaking with the utmostintensity of manner, “you must stay where you are all day. Letnothing prevent you from staying where you are all day. It is of theutmost importance.”
“Certainly, if you wish it, Mr. Holmes,” said the girl inastonishment.
“When you go to bed lock the door of this room on the outsideand 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. “Comeout into the sunshine!”
“No, thank you, Joseph. I have a slight headache and this roomdeliciously cool and soothing.”
“What do you propose now, Mr. Holmes?” asked our client.
“Well, in investigating this minor affair we must not lose sight ofour main inquiry. It would be a very great help to me if you wouldcome 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.”
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“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 willfind the bird flown. We are all in your hands, Mr. Holmes, and youmust tell us exactly what you would like done. Perhaps you wouldprefer that Joseph came with us so as to look after me?”
“Oh, no, my friend Watson is a medical man, you know, and he’lllook after you. We’ll have our lunch here, if you will permit us, andthen we shall all three set off for town together.”
It was arranged as he suggested, though Miss Harrison excusedherself from leaving the bedroom, in accordance with Holmes’ssuggestion. What the object of my friend’s manoeuvres was Icould not conceive, unless it were to keep the lady away fromPhelps, who, rejoiced by his returning health and by the prospectof action, lunched with us in the dining-room. Holmes had a stillmore startling surprise for us, however, for, after accompanyingus down to the station and seeing us into our carriage, he calmlyannounced that he had no intention of leaving Woking.
“There are one or two small points which I should desire toclear up before I go,” said he. “Your absence, Mr. Phelps, will insome ways rather assist me. Watson, when you reach London youwould oblige me by driving at once to Baker Street with our friendhere, and remaining with him until I see you again. It is fortunatethat you are old school-fellows, as you must have much to talkover. Mr. Phelps can have the spare bedroom to-night, and I willbe with you in time for breakfast, for there is a train which willtake me into Waterloo at eight.”
