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hold all the cards； and we have only to fear some
sudden act of violence on their part。 If they give us
time we must have them。〃
〃But how can we find where this house lies？〃
〃Well； if our conjecture is correct and the girl's
name is or was Sophy Kratides； we should have no
difficulty in tracing her。 That must be our main
hope； for the brother is； of course； a complete
stranger。 It is clear that some time has elapsed
since this Harold established these relations with the
girlsome weeks； at any ratesince the brother in
Greece has had time to hear of it and come across。 If
they have been living in the same place during this
time； it is probable that we shall have some answer to
Mycroft's advertisement。〃
We had reached our house in Baker Street while we had
been talking。 Holmes ascended the stair first； and as
he opened the door of our room he gave a start of
surprise。 Looking over his shoulder； I was equally
astonished。 His brother Mycroft was sitting smoking
in the arm…chair。
〃Come in； Sherlock！ Come in； sir；〃 said he blandly；
smiling at our surprised faces。 〃You don't expect
such energy from me； do you； Sherlock？ But somehow
this case attracts me。〃
〃How did you get here？〃
〃I passed you in a hansom。〃
〃There has been some new development？〃
〃I had an answer to my advertisement。〃
〃Ah！〃
〃Yes； it came within a few minutes of your leaving。〃
〃And to what effect？〃
Mycroft Holmes took out a sheet of paper。
〃Here it is；〃 said he； 〃written with a J pen on royal
cream paper by a middle…aged man with a weak
constitution。 'Sir；' he says； 'in answer to your
advertisement of to…day's date； I beg to inform you
that know the young lady in question very well。 If
you should care to call upon me I could give you some
particulars as to her painful history。 She is living
at present at The Myrtles； Beckenham。 Yours
faithfully； J。 Davenport。'
〃He writes from Lower Brixton；〃 said Mycroft Holmes。
〃Do you not think that we might drive to him now；
Sherlock； and learn these particulars？〃
〃My dear Mycroft； the brother's life is more valuable
than the sister's story。 I think we should call at
Scotland Yard for Inspector Gregson； and go straight
out to Beckenham。 We know that a man is being done to
death； and every hour may be vital。〃
〃Better pick up Mr。 Melas on our way；〃 I suggested。
〃We may need an interpreter。〃
〃Excellent；〃 said Sherlock Holmes。 〃Send the boy for
a four…wheeler； and we shall be off at once。〃 He
opened the table…drawer as he spoke； and I noticed
that he slipped his revolver into his pocket。 〃Yes；〃
said he； in answer to my glance； 〃I should say from
what we have heard； that we are dealing with a
particularly dangerous gang。〃
It was almost dark before we found ourselves in Pall
Mall； at the rooms of Mr。 Melas。 A gentleman had just
called for him； and he was gone。
〃Can you tell me where？〃 asked Mycroft Holmes。
〃I don't know； sir；〃 answered the woman who had opened
the door； 〃I only know that he drove away with the
gentleman in a carriage。〃
〃Did the gentleman give a name？〃
〃No； sir。〃
〃He wasn't a tall； handsome； dark young man？〃
〃Oh； nor； sir。 He was a little gentleman； with
glasses； thin in the face； but very pleasant in his
ways； for he was laughing al the time that he was
talking。〃
〃Come along！〃 cried Sherlock Holmes； abruptly。 〃This
grows serious；〃 he observed； as we drove to Scotland
Yard。 〃These men have got hold of Melas again。 He is
a man of no physical courage； as they are well aware
from their experience the other night。 This villain
was able to terrorize him the instant that he got into
his presence。 No doubt they want his professional
services； but； having used him； they may be inclined
to punish him for what they will regard as his
treachery。〃
Our hope was that； by taking train； we might get to
Beckenham as soon or sooner than the carriage。 On
reaching Scotland Yard； however； it was more than an
hour before we could get Inspector Gregson and comply
with the legal formalities which would enable us to
enter the house。 It was a quarter to ten before we
reached London Bridge； and half past before the four
of us alighted on the Beckenham platform。 A drive of
half a mile brought us to The Myrtlesa large； dark
house standing back from the road in its own grounds。
Here we dismissed our cab； and made our way up the
drive together。
〃The windows are all dark；〃 remarked the inspector。
〃The house seems deserted。〃
〃Our birds are flown and the nest empty；〃 said Holmes。
〃Why do you say so？〃
〃A carriage heavily loaded with luggage has passed out
during the last hour。〃
The inspector laughed。 〃I saw the wheel…tracks in the
light of the gate…lamp； but where does the luggage
come in？〃
〃You may have observed the same wheel…tracks going the
other way。 But the outward…bound ones were very much
deeperso much so that we can say for a certainty
that there was a very considerable weight on the
carriage。〃
〃You get a trifle beyond me there；〃 said the
inspector； shrugging his shoulder。 〃It will not be an
easy door to force； but we will try if we cannot make
some one hear us。〃
He hammered loudly at the knocker and pulled at the
bell； but without any success。 Holmes had slipped
away； but he came back in a few minutes。
〃I have a window open；〃 said he。
〃It is a mercy that you are on the side of the force；
and not against it； Mr。 Holmes；〃 remarked the
inspector； as he noted the clever way in which my
friend had forced back the catch。 〃Well； I think that
under the circumstances we may enter without an
invitation。〃
One after the other we made our way into a large
apartment； which was evidently that in which Mr。 Melas
had found himself。 The inspector had lit his lantern；
and by its light we could see the two doors； the
curtain； the lamp； and the suit of Japanese mail as he
had described them。 On the table lay two glasses； and
empty brandy…bottle； and the remains of a meal。
〃What is that？〃 asked Holmes； suddenly。
We all stood still and listened。 A low moaning sound
was coming from somewhere over our heads。 Holmes
rushed to the door and out into the hall。 The dismal
noise came from upstairs。 He dashed up； the inspector
and I at his heels； while his brother Mycroft followed
as quickly as his great bulk would permit。
Three doors faced up upon the second floor； and it was
from the central of these that the sinister sounds
were issuing； sinking sometimes into a dull mumble and
rising again into a shrill whine。 It was locked； but
the key had been left on the outside。 Holmes flung
open the door and rushed in； but he was out again in
an instant； with his hand to his throat。〃
〃It's charcoal；〃 he cried。 〃Give it time。 It will
clear。〃
Peering