paid the driver and he set off back to Leatherhead. Miss Stoner hurried forward to meet us. "We have plenty of time,' she said. "Dr Roylott won't return from London until this evening. "We've already met your stepfather,' said Holmes. He told Miss Stoner about Dr Roylott's visit. Miss Stoner's face went white So he followed me," she said. "I'll never be safe from him "Come," said Holmes. "Let's examine the bedrooms. We walked across the fields to the house. We saw that work was being done on one wall of the house. This was the wall of Miss Stoner's bedroom. "This is strange," said Holmes. can't see why this work is necessary. "No," said Miss Stoner. "I am sure that the work is not necessary. It is an excuse to get me to move from my room. "Well," said Holmes, "I want to examine the room you're sleeping in now your sister Julia's room. The room was small, with a low ceiling15 and a wide fireplace. There was some old furniture in the room a bed, a table and two chairs. Holmes examined everything carefully. Suddenly he pointed to a long rope which hung down by the bed. The end of this rope touched the pillow. The rope looked like a bell rope for calling a servant. If the person in bed wanted something, they could pull the rope. The rope would be attached to a bell in another part of the house. The bell would ring and a servant would come "That bell rope looks very new,' Holmes remarked "Yes," replied Miss Stoner. "It was put in only two years ago." Holmes pulled the bell rope. We waited. But nothing hap pened. We could not hear a bell ringing anywhere in the house. "Look," said Holmes suddenly. This isn't a real bell rope. It doesn't go anywhere. It's attached to a hook on the ceiling