Chapter V The Tragedy of Pondicherry Lodge

sorry,Mr.Thaddeus,butordersareverystrict.HadtobecertainofyourfriendsbeforeIletthemin.” Inside,agravelpathwoundthroughdesolategroundstoahugeclumpofahouse,squareandprosaic,allplungedinshadowsavewhereamoonbeamstruckonecornerandglimmeredinagarretwindow.Thevastsizeofthebuilding,withitsgloomanditsdeathlysilence,struckachilltotheheart.EvenThaddeusSholtoseemedillatease,andthelanternquiveredandrattledinhishand. “Icannotunderstandit,”hesaid.“Theremustbesomemistake.IdistinctlytoldBartholomewthatweshouldbehere,andyetthereisnolightinhiswindow.Idonotknowwhattomakeofit.” “Doeshealwaysguardthepremisesinthisway?”askedHolmes. “Yeshehasfollowedmyfather’scustom.Hewasthefavouriteson,youknow,andIsometimesthinkthatmyfathermayhavetoldhimmorethanheevertoldme.ThatisBartholomew’swindowuptherewherethemoonshinestrikes.Itisquitebright,butthereisnolightfromwithin,Ithink.” “None,”saidHolmes.“ButIseetheglintofalightinthatlittlewindowbesidethedoor.” “Ah,thatisthehousekeeper’sroom.ThatiswhereoldMrs.Bernstonesits.Shecantellusallaboutit.Butperhapsyouwouldnotmindwaitinghereforaminuteortwo,forifweallgointogetherandshehasnowordofourcomingshemaybealarmed.Buthush!whatisthat?” Heheldupthelantern,andhishandshookuntilthecirclesoflightflickeredandwaveredallroundus.MissMorstanseizedmywrist,andweallstoodwiththumpinghearts,strainingourears.Fromthegreatblackhousetheresoundedthroughthesilentnightthesaddestandmostpitifulofsounds,—theshrill,brokenwhimperingofafrightenedwoman. “ItisMrs.Bernstone,”saidSholto.“Sheistheonlywomaninthehouse.Waithere.Ishallbebackinamoment.”Hehurriedforthedoor,andknockedinhispeculiarway.Wecouldseeatalloldwomanadmithim,andswaywithpleasureattheverysightofhim. “Oh,Mr.Thaddeus,sir,Iamsogladyouhavecome!Iamsogladyouhavecome,Mr.Thaddeus,sir!”Weheardherreiteratedrejoicingsuntilthedoorwasclosedandhervoicediedawayintoamuffledmonotone. Ourguidehadleftusthelantern.Holmesswungitslowlyround,andpeeredkeenlyatthehouse,andatthegreatrubbish-heapswhichcumberedthegrounds.MissMorstanandIstoodtogether,andherhandwasinmine.Awondroussubtlethingislove,forherewerewetwowhohadneverseeneachotherbeforethatday,betweenwhomnowordorevenlookofaffectionhadeverpassed,andyetnowinanhouroftroubleourhandsinstinctivelysoughtforeachother.Ihavemarvelledatitsince,butatthetimeitseemedthemostnaturalthingthatIshouldgoouttoherso,and,