13888    Phelps thrust away the precious document into the innermost pocket of his coat.

13889    'I have not the heart to interrupt your breakfast any further, and yet I am dying to know how you got it and where it was.'

13890    Sherlock Holmes swallowed a cup of coffee and turned his attention to the ham and eggs.

13891    Then he rose, lit his pipe, and settled himself down into his chair.

13892    'I'll tell you what I did first, and how I came to do it afterwards,' said he.

13893    'After leaving you at the station I went for a charming walk through some admirable Surrey scenery to a pretty little village called Ripley, where I had my tea at an inn, and took the precaution of filling my flask and of putting a paper of sandwiches in my pocket.

13894    There I remained until evening, when I set off for Woking again and found myself in the high-road outside Briarbrae just after sunset.

13895    'Well, I waited until the road was clear - it is never a very frequented one at any time, I fancy - and then I clambered over the fence into the grounds.'

13896    'Surely the gate was open?' ejaculated Phelps.

13897    'Yes; but I have a peculiar taste in these matters.

13898    I chose the place where the three fir trees stand, and behind their screen I got over without the least chance of anyone in the house being able to see me.

13899    I crouched down among the bushes on the other side, and crawled from one to the other - witness the disreputable state of my trouser knees - until I had reached the clump of rhododendrons just opposite to your bedroom window.

13900    There I squatted down and awaited developments.

13901    'The blind was not down in your room, and I could see Miss Harrison sitting there reading by the table.

13902    It was a quarter past ten when she closed her book, fastened the shutters, and retired.