Page 27 of 657

"I can't imagine. I suppose that you have been watching the

habits, and perhaps the house, of Miss Irene Adler."

"Quite so; but the sequel was rather unusual. I will tell you,

however. I left the house a little after eight o'clock this

morning in the character of a groom out of work. There is a

wonderful sympathy and freemasonry among horsey men. Be one of

them, and you will know all that there is to know. I soon found

Briony Lodge. It is a bijou villa, with a garden at the back, but

built out in front right up to the road, two stories. Chubb lock

to the door. Large sitting-room on the right side, well

furnished, with long windows almost to the floor, and those

preposterous English window fasteners which a child could open.

Behind there was nothing remarkable, save that the passage window

could be reached from the top of the coach-house. I walked round

it and examined it closely from every point of view, but without

noting anything else of interest.