three men, appeared on the threshold. Holmes darted forward and
barred their way.

"Take it back!" he cried, laying his hand on the breast of the
foremost. "Take it back this instant!"

"What the devil do you mean? Once again I ask you, where is your
warrant?" shouted the furious Peters, his big red face glaring
over the farther end of the coffin.

"The warrant is on its way. The coffin shall remain in the house
until it comes."

The authority in Holmes's voice had its effect upon the bearers.
Peters had suddenly vanished into the house, and they obeyed
these new orders. "Quick, Watson, quick! Here is a screw-
driver!" he shouted as the coffin was replaced upon the table.
"Here's one for you, my man! A sovreign if the lid comes off in
a minute! Ask no questions--work away! That's good! Another!
And another! Now pull all together! It's giving! It's giving!
Ah, that does it at last."

With a united effort we tore off the coffin-lid. As we did so
there came from the inside a stupefying and overpowering smell of
chloroform. A body lay within, its head all wreathed in cotton-
wool, which had been soaked in the narcotic. Holmes plucked it
off and disclosed the statuesque face of a handsome and spiritual
woman of middle age. In an instant he had passed his arm round
the figure and raised her to a sitting position.