What is he
hiding for? What has he done? Except for the girl, I am all
alone in the house with him, and it's more than my nerves can
stand."
Holmes leaned forward and laid his long, thin fingers upon the
woman's shoulder. He had an almost hypnotic power of soothing
when he wished. The scared look faded from her eyes, and her
agitated features smoothed into their usual commonplace. She sat
down in the chair which he had indicated.
"If I take it up I must understand every detail," said he. "Take
time to consider. The smallest point may be the most essential.
You say that the man came ten days ago and paid you for a
fortnight's board and lodging?"
"He asked my terms, sir. I said fifty shillings a week. There
is a small sitting-room and bedroom, and all complete, at the top
of the house."
"Well?"
"He said, 'I'll pay you five pounds a week if I can have it on my
own terms.' I'm a poor woman, sir, and Mr. Warren earns little,
and the money meant much to me. He took out a ten-pound note,
and he held it out to me then and there. 'You can have the same
every fortnight for a long time to come if you keep the terms,'
he said. 'If not, I'll have no more to do with you.'
"What were the terms?"
"Well, sir, they were that he was to have a key of the house.
That was all right. Lodgers often have them. Also, that he was
to be left entirely to himself and never, upon any excuse, to be
disturbed.
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