The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes Part 18 (2/2)
”Ah!” cried Holmes
”It sounds incredible, for I have not, as far as I know, an eneht's experience I can come to no other conclusion”
”Pray let ht was the very first night that I have ever slept without a nurse in the rooht I could dispense with one I had a night-light burning, however Well, about two in the ht sleep when I was suddenly aroused by a slight noise It was like the sound which ato it for some time under the irew louder, and suddenly there came from thea 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 soh the slit between the sashes, and the second by the catch being pressed back
”There was a pause then for about tento see whether the noise had awakenedas the as very slowly opened I could stand it no longer, forout of bed and flung open the shutters Aat theI could see little of hione like a flash He rapped in some sort of cloak which ca only I am sure of, and that is that he had so knife I distinctly saw the glea,” said Holmes ”Pray what did you do then?”
”I should have followed hier As it was, I rang the bell and roused the house It took s 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 , 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 ot 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 excitele,” said Phelps, sh 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 sunshi+ne Joseph will come, too”
”And I also,” said Miss Harrison
”I a his head ”I think Iexactly 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'sThere were, as he had said, ue Hol his shoulders
”I don't think any one could o round the house and see why this particular rooer s of the drawing-roo-room would have had more attractions for hiested Mr Joseph Harrison
”Ah, yes, of course There is a door here which he ht 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 plu man led us to a spot where the top of one of the wooden rails had been cracked A s 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 nodown upon the other side No, I fancy we shall get no help here Let us go back to the bedroo very slowly, leaning upon the arm of his future brother-in-law Holmes walked swiftly across the lawn, and ere at the openof the bedroo before the others ca with the utmost intensity ofprevent you fro where you are all day It is of the utmost importance”
”Certainly, if you wish it, Mr Holo 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 hiave a quick nod of assent just as the other two ca there, Annie?” cried her brother ”Come out into the sunshi+ne!”
”No, thank you, Joseph I have a slight headache and this roo”
”What do you propose now, Mr Hol this ht of our reat 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 liketo propose it”
”Then, if ht 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 perether”
It was arranged as he suggested, though Miss Harrison excused herself froestion What the object of my friend's manoeuvres was I could not conceive, unless it were to keep the lady away fro health and by the prospect of action, lunched with us in the dining-roo surprise for us, however, for, after accoe, he cal
”There are one or two so,” said he ”Your absence, Mr Phelps, will in some ways rather assist eat once to Baker Street with our friend here, and reain It is fortunate that you are old school-fellows, as you must have much to talk over Mr Phelps can have the spare bedrooht, and I will be with you in time for breakfast, for there is a train which will take ation 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”