Itwasnearlyeleveno’clockwhenwereachedthisfinalstageofournight’sadventures.Wehadleftthedampfogofthegreatcitybehindus,andthenightwasfairlyfine.Awarmwindblewfromthewestward,andheavycloudsmovedslowlyacrossthesky,withhalfamoonpeepingoccasionallythroughtherifts.Itwasclearenoughtoseeforsomedistance,butThaddeusSholtotookdownoneoftheside-lampsfromthecarriagetogiveusabetterlightuponourway.
PondicherryLodgestoodinitsowngrounds,andwasgirtroundwithaveryhighstonewalltoppedwithbrokenglass.Asinglenarrowiron-clampeddoorformedtheonlymeansofentrance.Onthisourguideknockedwithapeculiarpostman-likerat-tat.
“Whoisthere?”criedagruffvoicefromwithin.
“ItisI,McMurdo.Yousurelyknowmyknockbythistime.”
Therewasagrumblingsoundandaclankingandjarringofkeys.Thedoorswungheavilyback,andashort,deep-chestedmanstoodintheopening,withtheyellowlightofthelanternshininguponhisprotrudedfaceandtwinklingdistrustfuleyes.
“Thatyou,Mr.Thaddeus?Butwhoaretheothers?Ihadnoordersaboutthemfromthemaster.”
“No,McMurdo?Yousurpriseme!ItoldmybrotherlastnightthatIshouldbringsomefriends.”
“Heain’tbeenouto’hisroomto-day,Mr.Thaddeus,andIhavenoorders.YouknowverywellthatImuststicktoregulations.Icanletyouin,butyourfriendsmustjuststopwheretheyare.”
Thiswasanunexpectedobstacle.ThaddeusSholtolookedabouthiminaperplexedandhelplessmanner.“Thisistoobadofyou,McMurdo!”hesaid.“IfIguaranteethem,thatisenoughforyou.Thereistheyounglady,too.Shecannotwaitonthepublicroadatthishour.”
“Verysorry,Mr.Thaddeus,”saidtheporter,inexorably.“Folkmaybefriendso’yours,andyetnofriendso’themaster’s.Hepaysmewelltodomyduty,andmydutyI’lldo.Idon’tknownoneo’yourfriends.”
“Oh,yesyoudo,McMurdo,”criedSherlockHolmes,genially.“Idon’tthinkyoucanhaveforgottenme.Don’tyouremembertheamateurwhofoughtthreeroundswithyouatAlison’sroomsonthenightofyourbenefitfouryearsback?”
“NotMr.SherlockHolmes!”roaredtheprize-fighter.“God’struth!howcouldIhavemistookyou?Ifinsteado’standin’theresoquietyouhadju