13832    'On the contrary, I have noticed that when he is off the trail he generally says so.

13833    It is when he is on a scent, and is not quite absolutely sure yet that it is the right one, that he is most taciturn.

13834    Now, my dear fellow, we can't help matters by making ourselves nervous about them, so let me implore you to go to bed, and so be fresh for whatever may await us tomorrow.'

13835    I was able at last to persuade my companion to take my advice, though I knew from his excited manner that there was not much hope of sleep for him.

13836    Indeed, his mood was infectious, for I lay tossing half the night myself, brooding over this strange problem, and inventing a hundred theories, each of which was more impossible than the last.

13837    Why had Holmes remained at Woking?

13838    Why had he asked Miss Harrison to stay in the sick-room all day?

13839    Why had he been so careful not to inform the people at Briarbrae that he intended to remain near them?

13840    I cudgelled my brains until I fell asleep in the endeavour to find some explanation which would cover all these facts.

13841    It was seven o'clock when I awoke, and I set off at once for Phelps' room, to find him haggard and spent after a sleepless night.

13842    His first question was whether Holmes had arrived yet.

13843    'He'll be here when he promised,' said I, 'and not an instant sooner or later.'

13844    And my words were true, for shortly after eight a hansom dashed up to the door and our friend got out of it.

13845    Standing in the window, we saw that his left hand was swathed in a bandage and that his face was very grim and pale.

13846    He entered the house, but it was some little time before he came upstairs.