We found our client still under the charge of his devoted nurse, butlooking considerably better than before. He rose from the sofa andgreeted us without difficulty when we entered.
"Any news?" he asked, eagerly.
"My report, as I expected, is a negative one," said Holmes. "I have seenForbes, and I have seen your uncle, and I have set one or two trains ofinquiry 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 ourcourage and our patience the truth must come out."
"We have more to tell you than you have for us," said Phelps, reseatinghimself upon the couch.
"I hoped you might have something."
"Yes, we have had an adventure during the night, and one which mighthave proved to be a serious one." His expression grew very grave as hespoke, and a look of something akin to fear sprang up in his eyes. "Doyou know," said he, "that I begin to believe that I am the unconsciouscentre of some monstrous conspiracy, and that my life is aimed at aswell as my honor?"
"Ah!" cried Holmes.
"It sounds incredible, for I have not, as far as I know, an enemy inthe world. Yet from last night's experience I can come to no otherconclusion."
"Pray let me hear it."
"You must know that last night was the very first night that I have everslept without a nurse in the room. I was so much better that I thoughtI 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 wassuddenly aroused by a slight noise. It was like the sound which a mousemakes when it is gnawing a plank, and I lay listening to it for sometime under the impression that it must come from that cause. Then itgrew louder, and suddenly there came from the window a sharp metallicsnick. I sat up in amazement. There could be no doubt what the soundswere now. The first ones had been caused by some one forcing aninstrument through the slit between the sashes, and the second by thecatch being pressed back.
"There was a pause then for about ten minutes, as if the person werewaiting to see whether the noise had awakened me. Then I heard a gentlecreaking as the window was very slowly opened. I could stand it nolonger, for my nerves are not what they used to be. I sprang out of bedand flung open the shutters. A man was crouching at the window. I couldsee little of him, for he was gone like a flash. He was wrapped in somesort of cloak which came across the lower part of his face. One thingonly I am sure of, and that is that he had some weapon in his hand. Itlooked to me like a long knife. I distinctly saw the gleam of it as heturned 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 beenstronger. As it was, I rang the bell and roused the house. It took mesome little time, for the bell rings in the kitchen and the servants allsleep upstairs. I shouted, however, and that brought Joseph down, and heroused the others. Joseph and the groom found marks on the bed outsidethe window, but the weather has been so dry lately that they found ithopeless to follow the trail across the grass. There's a place, however,on the wooden fence which skirts the road which shows signs, they tellme, as if some one had got over, and had snapped the top of the rail indoing so. I have said nothing to the local police yet, for I thought Ihad best have your opinion first."
This tale of our client's appeared to have an extraordinary effect uponSherlock Holmes. He rose from his chair and paced about the room inuncontrollable excitement.
"Misfortunes never come single," said Phelps, smiling, though it wasevident that his adventure had somewhat shaken him.
"You have certainly had your share," said Holmes. "Do you think youcould 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 askyou 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 roundthe 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 andvague. Holmes stopped over them for an instant, and then rose shrugginghis shoulders.
"I don't think any one could make much of this," said he. "Let us goround the house and see why this particular room was chosen by theburglar. I should have thought those larger windows of the drawing-roomand 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 atnight."
"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?"