No. 3 The Adventure of the Yellow Face by Arthur Conan Doyle
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empty van coming up the lane, and saw a pile of carpets and things lying about on_the grass- plot beside the porch . it_was clear that_the cottage had at last been let .I walked past it, and wondered what sort of folk they were who had come to live so near us . and as I looked I suddenly became aware that a face was watching me out of one_of_the upper windows .

"I don't know what there_was about_that face, Mr Holmes, but it seemed to send a chill right down my back . i_was some little way off, so_that I_could_not make out the features, but there_was something unnatural and inhuman about_the face . that was_the impression that I had, and I moved quickly forwards to_get a nearer view of_the person who was watching me . but as I_did so the face suddenly disappeared, so suddenly that_it seemed to_have_been plucked away into_the darkness of_the room .I stood for five minutes thinking the business over, and trying to analyse my impressions . I_could_not tell if_the face were that of a man or a woman . it had_been too far from me for_that . but its colour was what had impressed me most . it_was of a livid chalky white, and with something set and rigid about_it which_was shockingly unnatural . so disturbed was I that I determined to_see a little more of_the new inmates of_the cottage .I approached and knocked at_the door, which_was instantly opened by a tall, gaunt woman with a harsh, forbidding face .

"' what may you be wantin' ? ' she asked, in a northern accent .

"' I_am your neighbour over yonder,' said I, nodding towards my house .' I_see that you_have only just moved in, so i_thought that if I_could_be of any help to_you in any--'

"'Ay, we'll just ask ye when we_want ye,' said she, and shut the door in my face . annoyed at_the churlish rebuff, I turned my back and walked home . all evening, though I tried to_think of other things, my mind would still turn to_the apparition at_the window and_the rudeness of_the woman .I determined to_say nothing about_the former to my wife, for she_is a nervous, highly strung woman, and I had no wish that she_would share the unpleasant impression which had_been produced upon myself .I remarked to her, however, before I fell asleep, that_the cottage was now occupied, to_which she returned no reply .

" I_am usually an extremely sound sleeper . it_has_been astanding jest in_the family that nothing could ever wake me during the night . and yet somehow on_that particular night, whether it may have_been the slight excitement produced by my little adventure or not I_know not, but I slept much more lightly than usual . half in my dreams i_was dimly conscious that something was going on in_the room, and gradually became aware that my wife had dressed herself and was slipping on her mantle and her bonnet . my lips were parted to murmur out some sleepy words of surprise or remonstrance at_this untimely preparation, when suddenly my half- opened eyes fell upon her face, illuminated by_the candle- light, and astonishment held me dumb . she wore an expression such as I had never seen before-- such as i_should_have thought her incapable of assuming . she was deadly pale and breathing fast, glancing furtively towards the bed as she fastened her mantle, to_see if she had disturbed me . then, thinking that i_was still asleep, she slipped noiselessly from_the room, and an instant later I heard a sharp creaking which could only come from_the hinges of_the front door .I sat up in bed and rapped my knuckles against the rail to_make certain that i_was truly awake . then i_took my watch from under the pillow . it_was three in_the morning . what on_this earth could my wife be doing out on_the country road at three in_the morning ?

"I had sat for about twenty minutes turning the thing over in my mind and trying to_find some possible explanation . the more i_thought, the ore extraordinary and inexplicable did it appear . i_was still puzzling over it when I heard the door gently close again, and her footsteps coming up the stairs .

"' where in_the_world have_you been, Effie ? ' I asked as she entered .

" she gave a violent start and a kind of gasping cry when I spoke, and_that cry and start troubled me more than all the rest, for there_was something indescribably guilty about_them . my wife had always been a woman of a frank, open nature, and it gave_me a chill to_see her slinking into her own room, and crying out and wincing when her own husband spoke to her .

"' you awake, jack ! ' she cried, with a nervous laugh .' why, i_thought that nothing could awake you .'

"' where have_you been ? ' I asked, more sternly .

"'I don't wonder that you_are surprised,' said she, and I could_see that her fingers were trembling as she undid the fastenings of her mantle .' why, I never remember having done such a thing in my life before . the fact is_that I_felt as_though I were choking, and had a perfect longing for a breath of fresh air .I really think that i_should_have fainted if I had_not gone out .I stood at_the door for_a_few_minutes, and now I_am quite myself again .'

" all the time that she was telling me this story she never once looked in my direction, and her voice was quite unlike her usual tones . it_was evident to_me that she was saying what_was false . I_said nothing in reply, but turned my face to_the wall, sick at heart, with my mind filled with a thousand venomous doubts and suspicions . what_was it that my wife was concealing from me ? where had she been during that strange expedition ? I_felt that i_should_have no peace until I_knew, and yet I shrank from asking her again after once she had told me what_was false . all the rest of_the night I tossed and tumbled, framing theory after theory, each more unlikely than_the last .

" i_should_have gone to_the city that day, but i_was too disturbed in my mind to_be_able to_pay attention to business matters . my wife seemed to_be as upset as myself, and I could_see from_the little questioning glances which she kept shooting at me that she understood that I disbelieved her statement, and_that she was at her wits' end what to_do . we hardly exchanged a word during breakfast, and immediately afterwards I went out for a walk, that I_might think the matter out in_the fresh morning air .

"I went as far as_the crystal palace, spent an hour in_the grounds, and was back in Norbury by one o'clock . it happened that my way took me past the cottage, and I stopped for an instant to look at_the windows, and to_see if I_could catch a glimpse of_the strange face which had looked out at me on_the day before . as I stood there, imagine my surprise, Mr Holmes, when_the door suddenly opened and my wife walked out .

" i_was struck dumb with astonishment at_the sight of her; but my emotions were nothing to_those which showed themselves upon her face when our eyes met . she seemed for an instant to wish to shrink back inside the house again; and then, seeing how useless all concealment must_be, she came forward, with a very white face and frightened eyes which belied the smile upon her lips .

"'Ah, jack,' she said, ' I_have just been in to_see if I_can_be of any assistance to our new neighbours . why do_you look at me like that, jack ? you_are_not angry with me ? '

"' so,' said I, ' this_is where you went during the night .'

"' what do_you_mean ? " she cried .

"' you came here . I_am_sure of it . who_are these people, that you_should visit them at such an hour ? '

"'I have_not_been here before .'

"' how can_you tell me what you_know is false ? ' I cried .' your very voice changes as_you speak . when have I ever had a secret from_you ? I_shall enter that cottage, and I_shall probe the matter to_the bottom .'

"' no, no, jack, for god's sake ! ' she gasped, in uncontrollable emotion . then, as I approached the door, she seized my sleeve and pulled me back with convulsive strength .

"'I implore you not to do_this, jack,' she cried .'I swear that i_will tell you everything some day, but nothing but misery can come of it if_you enter that cottage .' then, as I tried to shake her off, she clung to_me in a frenzy of entreaty .

"' trust me, jack ! ' she cried .' trust me only this once . you_will never have cause to regret it . you_know that i_would_not have a secret from_you if_it were_not for your own sake . our whole lives are at stake in_this . if_you come home with me, all will_be well . if_you force your way into that cottage, all is over between_us .'

" there_was such earnestness, such despair, in her manner that her words arrested me, and I stood irresolute before_the door .

"' i_will trust you on one condition, and on one condition only,' said I at last .' it_is that_this mystery comes to an end from now . you_are at liberty to preserve your secret, but you_must promise me that there shall be no more nightly visits, no more doings which are kept from my knowledge . I_am willing to forget those which are passed if_you_will promise that there shall be no more in_the_future .'

"' i_was sure that you_would trust me,' she cried, with a great sigh of relief .' it shall be just as_you wish . come away--oh, come away up_to_the house .'

" still pulling at my sleeve, she led me away from_the cottage . as_we went I glanced back, and there_was that yellow livid face watching us out_of_the upper window . what link could there be between that creature and my wife ? or how could the coarse, rough woman whom I had seen the day before be connected with her ? it_was a strange puzzle, and yet I_knew that my mind could never know ease again until I had solved it .

" for two days after_this I stayed at home, and my wife appeared to abide loyally by our engagement, for, as far as I_know, she never stirred out_of_the house . on_the third day, however, I had ample evidence that her solemn promise was not enough to hold her back from_this secret influence which drew her away from her husband and her duty .

"I had gone into town on_that_day, but I returned by_the 2 .40 instead of_the 3 .36, which_is my usual train . as I entered the house the maid ran into_the hall with a startled face .

"' where is your mistress ? ' I asked .

"' i_think that she has gone out for a walk,' she answered .

" my mind was instantly filled with suspicion .I rushed upstairs to_make sure that she was not in_the house . as I_did so I happened to glance out of one_of_the upper windows, and saw the maid with_whom I had just been speaking running across the field in_the direction of_the cottage . then of_course I_saw exactly what it all meant . my wife had gone over there, and had asked the servant to_call her if i_should return .Tingling with anger, I rushed down and hurried across, determined to end the matter once and forever . I_saw my wife and_the maid hurrying back along the lane, but I_did_not stop to_speak with_them . in_the cottage lay the secret which_was casting a shadow over my life .I vowed that, come what might, it should_be a secret no longer . I_did_not even knock when I reached it, but turned the handle and rushed into_the passage .

" it_was all still and quiet upon_the ground floor . in_the kitchen akettle was singing on_the fire, and a large black cat lay coiled up in_the basket; but there_was no sign of_the woman whom I had seen before .I ran into_the other room, but it_was equally deserted . then I rushed up the stairs, only to_find two other rooms empty and deserted at_the top . there_was no one at all in_the whole house . the furniture and pictures were of_the most common and vulgar description, save in_the one chamber at_the window of_which I had seen the strange face . that was comfortable and elegant, and all my suspicions rose into a fierce bitter flame when I_saw that on_the mantelpiece stood a copy of afell- length photograph of_my wife, which had_been taken at my request only three months_ago .

"I stayed long enough to_make certain that_the house was absolutely empty . then I left it, feeling a weight at my heart such as I had never had before . my wife came out into_the hall as I entered my house; but i_was too hurt and angry to_speak with her, and pushing past her, I_made my way into my study . she followed me, however, before I_could close the door .

"' I_am sorry that I broke my promise, jack,' said she; ' but if you_knew all the circumstances I_am_sure that you_would forgive me .'

"' tell me everything, then,' said I .

"' I_cannot, jack, I_cannot,' she cried .

"' until you tell me who it is_that has_been living in_that cottage, and who it_is to_whom you_have given that photograph, there can never be any confidence between_us,' said I, and breaking away from her, I left the house . that was yesterday, Mr Holmes, and I_have_not seen her since, nor do I_know anything more about_this strange business . it_is_the first shadow that has_come between_us, and it has so shaken me that I_do_not know what i_should do for_the best . suddenly this_morning it occurred to_me that you were the man to advise me, so I_have hurried to_you now, and I place myself unreservedly in your hands . if_there_is any point which I_have_not made clear, pray question me about_it . but, above

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