"'Where have you been?' I asked, more sternly.
"'I don't wonder that you are surprised,' said she, and I could see thather fingers were trembling as she undid the fastenings of her mantle.'Why, I never remember having done such a thing in my life before. Thefact is that I felt as though I were choking, and had a perfect longingfor a breath of fresh air. I really think that I should have fainted ifI had not gone out. I stood at the door for a few minutes, and now I amquite myself again.'
"All the time that she was telling me this story she never once lookedin my direction, and her voice was quite unlike her usual tones. Itwas evident to me that she was saying what was false. I said nothingin reply, but turned my face to the wall, sick at heart, with my mindfilled with a thousand venomous doubts and suspicions. What was it thatmy wife was concealing from me? Where had she been during that strangeexpedition? I felt that I should have no peace until I knew, and yet Ishrank from asking her again after once she had told me what was false.All the rest of the night I tossed and tumbled, framing theory aftertheory, each more unlikely than the last.
"I should have gone to the City that day, but I was too disturbed in mymind to be able to pay attention to business matters. My wife seemedto be as upset as myself, and I could see from the little questioningglances which she kept shooting at me that she understood that Idisbelieved her statement, and that she was at her wits' end what to do.We hardly exchanged a word during breakfast, and immediately afterwardsI went out for a walk, that I might think the matter out in the freshmorning air.
"I went as far as the Crystal Palace, spent an hour in the grounds, andwas back in Norbury by one o'clock. It happened that my way took me pastthe cottage, and I stopped for an instant to look at the windows, and tosee if I could catch a glimpse of the strange face which had lookedout at me on the day before. As I stood there, imagine my surprise, Mr.Holmes, when the door suddenly opened and my wife walked out.
"I was struck dumb with astonishment at the sight of her; but myemotions were nothing to those which showed themselves upon her facewhen our eyes met. She seemed for an instant to wish to shrink backinside the house again; and then, seeing how useless all concealmentmust be, she came forward, with a very white face and frightened eyeswhich belied the smile upon her lips.
"'Ah, Jack,' she said, 'I have just been in to see if I can be of anyassistance to our new neighbors. Why do you look at me like that, Jack?You are not angry with me?'
"'So,' said I, 'this is where you went during the night.'
"'What do you mean?' she cried.
"'You came here. I am sure of it. Who are these people, that you shouldvisit them at such an hour?'
"'I have not been here before.'
"'How can you tell me what you know is false?' I cried. 'Your very voicechanges as you speak. When have I ever had a secret from you? I shallenter that cottage, and I shall probe the matter to the bottom.'
"'No, no, Jack, for God's sake!' she gasped, in uncontrollable emotion.Then, as I approached the door, she seized my sleeve and pulled me backwith convulsive strength.
"'I implore you not to do this, Jack,' she cried. 'I swear that I willtell you everything some day, but nothing but misery can come of it ifyou enter that cottage.' Then, as I tried to shake her off, she clung tome in a frenzy of entreaty.
"'Trust me, Jack!' she cried. 'Trust me only this once. You will neverhave cause to regret it. You know that I would not have a secret fromyou if it were not for your own sake. Our whole lives are at stake inthis. If you come home with me, all will be well. If you force your wayinto that cottage, all is over between us.'
"There was such earnestness, such despair, in her manner that her wordsarrested me, and I stood irresolute before the door.
"'I will trust you on one condition, and on one condition only,' said Iat last. 'It is that this mystery comes to an end from now. You areat liberty to preserve your secret, but you must promise me that thereshall be no more nightly visits, no more doings which are kept from myknowledge. I am willing to forget those which are passed if you willpromise that there shall be no more in the future.'
"'I was sure that you would trust me,' she cried, with a great sigh ofrelief. 'It shall be just as you wish. Come away--oh, come away up tothe house.'
"Still pulling at my sleeve, she led me away from the cottage. As wewent I glanced back, and there was that yellow livid face watching usout of the upper window. What link could there be between that creatureand my wife? Or how could the coarse, rough woman whom I had seen theday before be connected with her? It was a strange puzzle, and yet Iknew that my mind could never know ease again until I had solved it.
"For two days after this I stayed at home, and my wife appeared to abideloyally by our engagement, for, as far as I know, she never stirred outof the house. On the third day, however, I had ample evidence thather solemn promise was not enough to hold her back from this secretinfluence which drew her away from her husband and her duty.
"I had gone into town on that day, but I returned by the 2.40 instead ofthe 3.36, which is my usual train. As I entered the house the maid raninto the hall with a startled face.
"'Where is your mistress?' I asked.
"'I think that she has gone out for a walk,' she answered.
"My mind was instantly filled with suspicion. I rushed upstairs to makesure that she was not in the house. As I did so I happened to glance outof one of the upper windows, and saw the maid with whom I had just beenspeaking running across the field in the direction of the cottage. Thenof course I saw exactly what it all meant. My wife had gone over there,and had asked the servant to call her if I should return. Tingling withanger, I rushed down and hurried across, determined to end the matteronce and forever. I saw my wife and the maid hurrying back along thelane, but I did not stop to speak with them. In the cottage lay thesecret which was casting a shadow over my life. I vowed that, come whatmight, it should be a secret no longer. I did not even knock when Ireached it, but turned the handle and rushed into the passage.
"It was all still and quiet upon the ground floor. In the kitchen akettle was singing on the fire, and a large black cat lay coiled up inthe basket; but there was no sign of the woman whom I had seen before.I ran into the other room, but it was equally deserted. Then I rushed upthe stairs, only to find two other rooms empty and deserted at the top.There was no one at all in the whole house. The furniture and pictureswere of the most common and vulgar description, save in the one chamberat the window of which I had seen the strange face. That was comfortableand elegant, and all my suspicions rose into a fierce bitter flame whenI saw that on the mantelpiece stood a copy of a full-length photographof my wife, which had been taken at my request only three months ago.
"I stayed long enough to make certain that the house was absolutelyempty. Then I left it, feeling a weight at my heart such as I had neverhad before. My wife came out into the hall as I entered my house; but Iwas too hurt and angry to speak with her, and pushing past her, I mademy way into my study. She followed me, however, before I could close thedoor.
"'I am sorry that I broke my promise, Jack,' said she; 'but if you knewall the circumstances I am sure that you would forgive me.'
"'Tell me everything, then,' said I.
"'I cannot, Jack, I cannot,' she cried.
"'Until you tell me who it is that has been living in that cottage, andwho it is to whom you have given that photograph, there can never be anyconfidence between us,' said I, and breaking away from her, I left thehouse. That was yesterday, Mr. Holmes, and I have not seen her since,nor do I know anything more about this strange business. It is the firstshadow that has co