4 The Mysterious Intruder

Chapter 4 The Mysterious Intruder I met Holmes at the station the next morning and we took the same early train down to Woking. He had received no answer to his advertisement and no fresh light had been shed on the case. My friend's face has the mobility of a rock sometimes, and I couldn't tell whether he felt hopeful or gloomy about his chances with this mystery. Phelps was delighted to see us. He looked stronger today and managed to rise from his sofa and greet us with a handshake.

"Any news?" he enquired. "Nothing to report as yet," said Holmes. "I've spoken to Forbes and your uncle and made some enquiries, which may yet bear fruit." "I do hope so" breathed Phelps. "You know, something strange happened last night. I had quite an adventure." He was trying to be lighthearted, but I saw the fear springing up in eyes. "Sometimes I feel like I'm the target of a monstrous conspiracy. First the treaty, and now this. Yet I haven't an enemy in the world." "Please tell us what happened," I urged him. Phelps reseated himself on the sofa and told us his story.

"Last night," he said, "was my first night without a nurse in the room, for I was feeling well enough not to need her. At about two in the morning, I was woken by a slight noise. I lay there for some time listening to it, thinking it was a mouse gnawing on some wood. Then it grew louder, and suddenly from the window I heard a sharp metallic click. I sat up, fearful now, for I realized that the first sound had been a blade being forced through the slit between the window sashes, and the second was a catch being pressed back. "There followed a pause of about ten minutes, as if the person was waiting to see if the noise had woken me. Then I heard a gentle creak as the window was very slowly opened. The tension

grew too much, and I sprang out of bed and flung open the shutters. A man was crouching there. I only glimpsed him because he was gone in a flash. Most of his face was covered by a cloak, but I did see something gleaming in his hand, which looked like a knife. "If I'd been stronger, I'd have chased after him. Instead, I could only ring the bell and shout for help. That soon brought Joseph down and he roused the rest of the household. They found marks on the flower bed outside the window, but the weather has been dry and they couldn't follow the intruder's trail across the grass. They did, however, find some damage to the fence, where he might have broken into the property."

My friend's story seemed to have an electric effect on Sherlock Holmes. He rose from his chair and began pacing the room in excitement. "Are you strong enough to walk around the grounds with me?" he asked Phelps. "Oh yes, I could do with some fresh air." "And I, too," said Annie. "I'm afraid not, Miss Harrison," said Holmes. "You must stay exactly where you are." The young woman sat back down with a look of displeasure. Her brother, however, joined us, and the four of us set off together around the garden.

"I wonder," remarked Holmes, "why the burglar chose your room for his break-in, Mr. Phelps. The larger windows of the drawing room and dining room would be easier to open, less likely to be occupied, and there is more to steal in those rooms."