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Phelps was happy to see us. He looked stronger today and managed to get up from his sofa and shake our hands.

“Any news?” he asked.

“Nothing yet,” said Holmes. “I’ve spoken to Forbes and your uncle and made some inquiries, which may yet bring results.”

“I hope so,” said Phelps. “You know, something strange happened last night. I had quite an adventure.” He tried to sound cheerful, but I saw fear in his eyes. “Sometimes I feel like I’m the target of a conspiracy. First the treaty, and now this. Yet I don’t have an enemy in the world.”

“Please tell us what happened,” I urged him.

Phelps sat back down on the sofa and began to tell us his story.

"Last night," Phelps began, "was my first night without a nurse in the room because I felt well enough not to need her. At around two in the morning, I woke up to a small noise. I lay there listening, thinking it was a mouse chewing on some wood. Then the noise got louder, and suddenly I heard a sharp metallic click from the window. I sat up, scared, because I realized the first noise was a blade being forced between the window sashes, and the second was a catch being pressed back.

"There was a pause for about ten minutes, as if the person was waiting to see if I had woken up. Then I heard the window slowly creak open. The tension was too much, and I jumped out of bed and flung open the shutters. A man was crouching there. I only saw him for a second because he disappeared quickly. Most of his face was covered by a cloak, but I saw something shiny in his hand, which looked like a knife.

"If I had been stronger, I would have chased after him. Instead, I could only ring the bell and shout for help. That quickly brought Joseph down, and he woke up the rest of the household. They found marks on the flower bed outside the window, but the weather has been dry, and they couldn't follow the intruder's trail across the grass. They did find some damage to the fence, where he might have broken in."

Phelps's story had an immediate effect on Sherlock Holmes. He jumped up from his chair and started pacing the room excitedly. "Are you strong enough to walk around the grounds with me?" he asked Phelps.

"Oh yes, I could use some fresh air."

"And I could too," said Annie.

"I'm afraid not, Miss Harrison," said Holmes. "You must stay right here."

Annie looked disappointed but sat back down. Her brother joined us, and the four of us went outside to walk around the garden.

"I wonder," Holmes pondered, "why the burglar picked your room, Mr. Phelps, for the break-in. The bigger windows in the drawing room and dining room would be easier to open, less likely to be occupied, and there's more to steal in those rooms."