his eyes. “Yes, I think we had better do as you suggest.”


We got off, paid our fare, and the trap rattled back on its way to Leatherhead.


“I thought it as well,” said Holmes as we climbed the stile,

“that this fellow should think we had come here as architects, or on some

definite business. It may stop his gossip. Good-afternoon, Miss Stoner. You see

that we have been as good as our word.”


Our client of the morning had hurried forward to meet us with a face which

spoke her joy. “I have been waiting so eagerly for you,” she cried,

shaking hands with us warmly. “All has turned out splendidly. Dr. Roylott

has gone to town, and it is unlikely that he will be back before

evening.”


“We have had the pleasure of making the Doctor’s

acquaintance,” said Holmes, and in a few words he sketched out what had

occurred. Miss Stoner turned white to the lips as she listened.


“Good heavens!” she cried, “he has followed me, then.”


“So it appears.”


“He is so cunning that I never know when I am safe from him. What will he

say when he returns?”


“He must guard himself, for he may find that there is someone more

cunning than himself upon his track. You must lock yourself up from him

to-night. If he is violent, we shall take you away to your aunt’s at

Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our time, so kindly take us at once

to the rooms which we are to examine.”


The building was of grey, lichen-blotched stone, with a high central portion

and two curving wings, like the claws of a crab, thrown out on each side. In

one of these wings the windows were broken and blocked with wooden boards,

while the roof was partly caved in, a picture of ruin. The central portion was

in little better repair, but the right-hand block was comparatively modern, and

the blinds in the windows, with the blue smoke curling up from the chimneys,

showed that this was where the family resided. Some scaffolding had been