r it. At present we can do nothing until we have a fresh
message from our friend at Norbury."

But we had not very long to wait. It came just as we had finished our
tea. "The cottage is still tenanted," it said. "Have seen the face again
at the window. I'll meet the seven o'clock train, and take no steps
until you arrive."

He was waiting on the platform when we stepped out, and we could see in
the light of the station lamps that he was very pale, and quivering with
agitation.

"They are still there, Mr. Holmes," said he, laying his hand upon my
friend's sleeve. "I saw lights in the cottage as I came down. We shall
settle it now, once and for all."

"What is your plan, then?" asked Holmes, as we walked down the dark,
tree-lined road.

"I am going to force my way in, and see for myself who is in the house.
I wish you both to be there as witnesses."

"You are quite determined to do this, in spite of your wife's warning
that it was better that you should not solve the mystery?"

"Yes, I am determined."

"Well, I think that you are in the right. Any truth is better than
indefinite doubt. We had better go up at once. Of course, legally we are
putting ourselves hopelessly in the wrong, but I think that it is worth
it."

It was a very dark night and a thin rain began to fall as we turned from
the high road into a narrow lane, deeply rutted, with hedges on either
side. Mr. Grant Munro pushed impatiently forward, however, and we
stumbled after him as best we could.

"There are the lights of my house," he murmured, pointing to a glimmer
among the trees, "and here is the cottage which I am going to enter."

We turned a corner in the lane as he spoke, and there was the building
close beside us. A yellow bar falling across the black foreground showed
that the door was not quite closed, and one window in the upper story
was brightly illuminated. As we looked we saw a dark blurr moving across
the blind.

"There is that creature," cried Grant Munro; "you can see for yourselves
that someone is there. Now follow me, and we shall soon know all."

We approached the door, but suddenly a woman appeared out of the shadow
and stood in the golden track of the lamp light. I could not see her
face in the darkness, but her arms were thrown out in an attitude of
entreaty.

"For God's sake, don't, Jack!" she cried. "I had a presentiment that you
would come this evening. Think better of it, dear! Trust me again, and
you will never