Chapter V The Tragedy of Pondicherry Lodge

Itwasnearlyeleveno’clockwhenwereachedthisfinalstageofournight’sadventures.Wehadleftthedampfogofthegreatcitybehindus,andthenightwasfairlyfine.Awarmwindblewfromthewestward,andheavycloudsmovedslowlyacrossthesky,withhalfamoonpeepingoccasionallythroughtherifts.Itwasclearenoughtoseeforsomedistance,butThaddeusSholtotookdownoneoftheside-lampsfromthecarriagetogiveusabetterlightuponourway. PondicherryLodgestoodinitsowngrounds,andwasgirtroundwithaveryhighstonewalltoppedwithbrokenglass.Asinglenarrowiron-clampeddoorformedtheonlymeansofentrance.Onthisourguideknockedwithapeculiarpostman-likerat-tat. “Whoisthere?”criedagruffvoicefromwithin. “ItisI,McMurdo.Yousurelyknowmyknockbythistime.” Therewasagrumblingsoundandaclankingandjarringofkeys.Thedoorswungheavilyback,andashort,deep-chestedmanstoodintheopening,withtheyellowlightofthelanternshininguponhisprotrudedfaceandtwinklingdistrustfuleyes. “Thatyou,Mr.Thaddeus?Butwhoaretheothers?Ihadnoordersaboutthemfromthemaster.” “No,McMurdo?Yousurpriseme!ItoldmybrotherlastnightthatIshouldbringsomefriends.” “Heain’tbeenouto’hisroomto-day,Mr.Thaddeus,andIhavenoorders.YouknowverywellthatImuststicktoregulations.Icanletyouin,butyourfriendsmustjuststopwheretheyare.” Thiswasanunexpectedobstacle.ThaddeusSholtolookedabouthiminaperplexedandhelplessmanner.“Thisistoobadofyou,McMurdo!”hesaid.“IfIguaranteethem,thatisenoughforyou.Thereistheyounglady,too.Shecannotwaitonthepublicroadatthishour.” “Verysorry,Mr.Thaddeus,”saidtheporter,inexorably.“Folkmaybefriendso’yours,andyetnofriendso’themaster’s.Hepaysmewelltodomyduty,andmydutyI’lldo.Idon’tknownoneo’yourfriends.” “Oh,yesyoudo,McMurdo,”criedSherlockHolmes,genially.“Idon’tthinkyoucanhaveforgottenme.Don’tyouremembertheamateurwhofoughtthreeroundswithyouatAlison’sroomsonthenightofyourbenefitfouryearsback?” “NotMr.SherlockHolmes!”roaredtheprize-fighter.“God’struth!howcouldIhavemistookyou?Ifinsteado’standin’theresoquietyouhadjuststeppedupandgivenmethatcross-hitofyoursunderthejaw,I’dha’knownyouwithoutaquestion.Ah,you’reonethathaswastedyourgifts,youhave!Youmighthaveaimedhigh,ifyouhadjoinedthefancy.” “Yousee,Watson,ifallelsefailsmeIhavestilloneofthescientificprofessionsopentome,”saidHolmes,laughing.“Ourfriendwon’tkeepusoutinthecoldnow,Iamsure.” “Inyoucome,sir,inyoucome,—youandyourfriends,”heanswered.“Very