The Adventure of the Second Stain

I had intended "The Adventure of the Abbey Grange" to be the last of those exploits of my friend, Mr. Sherloc !olmes, "hich I should ever communicate to the public. This resolution of mine "as not due to any lac of material, since I have notes of many hundreds of cases to "hich I have never alluded, nor "as it caused by any "aning interest on the part of my readers in the singular personality and uni#ue methods of this remar able man. The real reason lay in the reluctance "hich Mr. !olmes has sho"n to the continued publication of his experiences. So long as he "as in actual professional practice the records of his successes "ere of some practical value to him, but since he has definitely retired from $ondon and beta en himself to study and bee%farming on the Sussex &o"ns, notoriety has become hateful to him, and he has peremptorily re#uested that his "ishes in this matter should be strictly observed. It "as only upon my representing to him that I had given a promise that "The Adventure of the Second Stain" should be published "hen the times "ere ripe, and pointing out to him that it is only appropriate that this long series of episodes should culminate in the most important international case "hich he has ever been called upon to handle, that I at last succeeded in obtaining his consent that a carefully guarded account of the incident should at last be laid before the public. If in telling the story I seem to be some"hat vague in certain details, the public "ill readily understand that there is an excellent reason for my reticence. It "as, then, in a year, and even in a decade, that shall be nameless, that upon one Tuesday morning in autumn "e found t"o visitors of 'uropean fame "ithin the "alls of our humble room in (a er Street. The one, austere, high%nosed, eagle%eyed, and dominant, "as none other than the illustrious $ord (ellinger, t"ice )remier of (ritain. The other, dar , clear%cut, and elegant, hardly yet of middle age, and endo"ed "ith every beauty of body and of mind, "as the *ight !onourable Trela"ney !ope, Secretary for 'uropean Affairs, and the most rising statesman in the country. They sat side by side upon our paper%littered settee, and it "as easy to see from their "orn and anxious faces that it "as business of the most pressing importance "hich had brought them. The )remier+s thin, blue%veined hands "ere clasped tightly over the ivory head of his umbrella, and his gaunt, ascetic face loo ed gloomily from !olmes to me. The 'uropean Secretary pulled nervously at his moustache and fidgeted "ith the seals of his "atch%chain. ",hen I discovered my loss, Mr. !olmes, "hich "as at eight

o+cloc this morning, I at once informed the )rime Minister. It "as at his suggestion that "e have both come to you." "!ave you informed the police-" ".o, sir," said the )rime Minister, "ith the #uic , decisive manner for "hich he "as famous. ",e have not done so, nor is it possible that "e should do so. To inform the police must, in the long run, mean to inform the public. This is "hat "e particularly desire to avoid." "And "hy. sir-" "(ecause the document in #uestion is of such immense importance that its publication might very easily %% I might almost say probably %% lead to 'uropean complications of the utmost moment. It is not too much to say that peace or "ar may hang upon the issue. /nless its recovery can be attended "ith the utmost secrecy, then it may as "ell not be recovered at all, for all that is aimed at by those "ho have ta en it is that its contents should be generally no"n." "I understand. .o", Mr. Trela"ney !ope, I should be much obliged if you "ould tell me exactly the circumstances under "hich this document disappeared." "That can be done in a very fe" "ords, Mr. !olmes. The letter %% for it "as a letter from a foreign potentate %% "as received six days ago. It "as of such importance that I have never left it in my safe, but I have ta en it across each evening to my house in ,hitehall Terrace, and ept it in my bedroom in a loc ed despatch%box. It "as there last night. 0f that I am certain. I actually opened the box "hile I "as dressing for dinner and sa" the document inside. This morning it "as gone. The despatch% box had stood beside the glass upon my dressing%table all night. I am a light sleeper, and so is my "ife. ,e are both prepared to s"ear that no one could have entered the room during the night. And yet I repeat that the paper is gone." ",hat time did you dine-" "!alf%past seven." "!o" long "as it before you "ent to bed-" "My "ife had gone to the theatre. I "aited up for her. It "as half%past eleven before "e "ent to our room." "Then for four hours the despatch%box had lain unguarded-" ".o one is ever permitted to enter that room save the house% maid in the morning, and my valet, or my "ife+s maid, during the rest of the day. They are both trusty servants "ho have been "ith us for some time. (esides, neither of them could possibly have no"n that there "as anything more valuable than the ordinary departmental papers in my despatch%box." ",ho did no" of the existence of that letter-" ".o one in the house."

"Surely your "ife ne"-" ".o, sir. I had said nothing to my "ife until I missed the paper this morning." The )remier nodded approvingly. "I have long no"n, sir, ho" high is your sense of public duty," said he. "I am convinced that in the case of a secret of this importance it "ould rise superior to the most intimate domestic ties." The 'uropean Secretary bo"ed. "1ou do me no more than 2ustice, sir. /ntil this morning I have never breathed one "ord to my "ife upon this matter." "3ould she have guessed-" ".o, Mr. !olmes, she could not have guessed %% nor could anyone have guessed." "!ave you lost any documents before-" ".o, sir." ",ho is there in 'ngland "ho did no" of the existence of this letter-" "'ach member of the 3abinet "as informed of it yesterday, but the pledge of secrecy "hich attends every 3abinet meeting "as increased by the solemn "arning "hich "as given by the )rime Minister. Good heavens, to thin that "ithin a fe" hours I should myself have lost it4" !is handsome face "as distorted "ith a spasm of despair, and his hands tore at his hair. 5or a moment "e caught a glimpse of the natural man, impulsive, ardent, eenly sensitive. The next the aristocratic mas "as replaced, and the gentle voice had returned. "(esides the members of the 3abinet there are t"o, or possibly three, departmental officials "ho no" of the letter. .o one else in 'ngland, Mr. !olmes, I assure you." "(ut abroad-" "I believe that no one abroad has seen it save the man "ho "rote it. I am "ell convinced that his Ministers %% that the usual official channels have not been employed." !olmes considered for some little time. ".o", sir, I must as you more particularly "hat this document is, and "hy its disappearance should have such momentous conse#uences-" The t"o statesmen exchanged a #uic glance and the )remier+s shaggy eyebro"s gathered in a fro"n. "Mr. !olmes, the envelope is a long, thin one of pale blue colour. There is a seal of red "ax stamped "ith a crouching lion. It is addressed in large, bold hand"riting to %%" "I fear, sir," said !olmes, "that, interesting and indeed essential as these details are, my in#uiries must go more to the root of things. ,hat "as the letter-"

"That is a State secret of the utmost importance, and I fear that I cannot tell you, nor do I see that it is necessary. If by the aid of the po"ers "hich you are said to possess you can find such an envelope as I describe "ith its enclosure, you "ill have deserved "ell of your country, and earned any re"ard "hich it lies in our po"er to besto"." Sherloc !olmes rose "ith a smile. "1ou are t"o of the most busy men in the country," said he, "and in my o"n small "ay I have also a good many calls upon me. I regret exceedingly that I cannot help you in this matter, and any continuation of this intervie" "ould be a "aste of time." The )remier sprang to his feet "ith that #uic , fierce gleam of his deep%set eyes before "hich a 3abinet has co"ered. "I am not accustomed, sir," he began, but mastered his anger and resumed his seat. 5or a minute or more "e all sat in silence. Then the old statesman shrugged his shoulders. ",e must accept your terms, Mr. !olmes. .o doubt you are right, and it is unreasonable for us to expect you to act unless "e give you our entire confidence." "I agree "ith you," said the younger statesman. "Then I "ill tell you, relying entirely upon your honour and that of your colleague, &r. ,atson. I may appeal to your patriotism also, for I could not imagine a greater misfortune for the country than that this affair should come out." "1ou may safely trust us." "The letter, then, is from a certain foreign potentate "ho has been ruffled by some recent 3olonial developments of this country. It has been "ritten hurriedly and upon his o"n responsibility entirely. In#uiries have sho"n that his Ministers no" nothing of the matter. At the same time it is couched in so unfortunate a manner, and certain phrases in it are of so provocative a character, that its publication "ould undoubtedly lead to a most dangerous state of feeling in this country. There "ould be such a ferment, sir, that I do not hesitate to say that "ithin a "ee of the publication of that letter this country "ould be involved in a great "ar." !olmes "rote a name upon a slip of paper and handed it to the )remier. "'xactly. It "as he. And it is this letter %% this letter "hich may "ell mean the expenditure of a thousand millions and the lives of a hundred thousand men %% "hich has become lost in this unaccountable fashion." "!ave you informed the sender-" "1es, sir, a cipher telegram has been despatched." ")erhaps he desires the publication of the letter."

".o, sir, "e have strong reason to believe that he already understands that he has acted in an indiscreet and hot%headed manner. It "ould be a greater blo" to him and to his country than to us if this letter "ere to come out." "If this is so, "hose interest is it that the letter should come out- ,hy should anyone desire to steal it or to publish it-" "There, Mr. !olmes, you ta e me into regions of high international politics. (ut if you consider the 'uropean situation you "ill have no difficulty in perceiving the motive. The "hole of 'urope is an armed camp. There is a double league "hich ma es a fair balance of military po"er. Great (ritain holds the scales. If (ritain "ere driven into "ar "ith one confederacy, it "ould assure the supremacy of the other confederacy, "hether they 2oined in the "ar or not. &o you follo"-" "6ery clearly. It is then the interest of the enemies of this potentate to secure and publish this letter, so as to ma e a breach bet"een his country and ours-" "1es, sir." "And to "hom "ould this document be sent if it fell into the hands of an enemy-" "To any of the great 3hancelleries of 'urope. It is probably speeding on its "ay thither at the present instant as fast as steam can ta e it." Mr. Trela"ney !ope dropped his head on his chest and groaned aloud. The )remier placed his hand indly upon his shoulder. "It is your misfortune, my dear fello". .o one can blame you. There is no precaution "hich you have neglected. .o", Mr. !olmes, you are in full possession of the facts. ,hat course do you recommend-" !olmes shoo his head mournfully. "1ou thin , sir, that unless this document is recovered there "ill be "ar-" "I thin it is very probable." "Then, sir, prepare for "ar." "That is a hard saying, Mr. !olmes." "3onsider the facts, sir. It is inconceivable that it "as ta en after eleven%thirty at night, since I understand that Mr. !ope and his "ife "ere both in the room from that hour until the loss "as found out. It "as ta en, then, yesterday evening bet"een seven% thirty and eleven%thirty, probably near the earlier hour, since "hoever too it evidently ne" that it "as there and "ould naturally secure it as early as possible. .o", sir, if a document of this importance "ere ta en at that hour, "here can it be no".o one has any reason to retain it. It has been passed rapidly on to those "ho need it. ,hat chance have "e no" to overta e or even to trace it- It is beyond our reach."

The )rime Minister rose from the settee. ",hat you say is perfectly logical, Mr. !olmes. I feel that the matter is indeed out of our hands." "$et us presume, for argument+s sa e, that the document "as ta en by the maid or by the valet %%" "They are both old and tried servants." "I understand you to say that your room is on the second floor, that there is no entrance from "ithout, and that from "ithin no one could go up unobserved. It must, then, be some% body in the house "ho has ta en it. To "hom "ould the thief ta e it- To one of several international spies and secret agents "hose names are tolerably familiar to me. There are three "ho may be said to be the heads of their profession. I "ill begin my research by going round and finding if each of them is at his post. If one is missing %% especially if he has disappeared since last night %% "e "ill have some indication as to "here the document has gone." ",hy should he be missing-" as ed the 'uropean Secretary. "!e "ould ta e the letter to an 'mbassy in $ondon, as li ely as not." "I fancy not. These agents "or independently, and their relations "ith the 'mbassies are often strained." The )rime Minister nodded his ac#uiescence. "I believe you are right, Mr. !olmes. !e "ould ta e so valuable a pri7e to head#uarters "ith his o"n hands. I thin that your course of action is an excellent one. Mean"hile, !ope, "e cannot neglect all our other duties on account of this one misfortune. Should there be any fresh developments during the day "e shall communicate "ith you, and you "ill no doubt let us no" the results of your o"n in#uiries." The t"o statesmen bo"ed and "al ed gravely from the room. ,hen our illustrious visitors had departed !olmes lit his pipe in silence and sat for some time lost in the deepest thought. I had opened the morning paper and "as immersed in a sensational crime "hich had occurred in $ondon the night before, "hen my friend gave an exclamation, sprang to his feet, and laid his pipe do"n upon the mantelpiece. "1es," said he, "there is no better "ay of approaching it. The situation is desperate, but not hopeless. 'ven no", if "e could be sure "hich of them has ta en it, it is 2ust possible that it has not yet passed out of his hands. After all, it is a #uestion of money "ith these fello"s, and I have the (ritish treasury behind me. If it+s on the mar et I+ll buy it %% if it means another penny on the income%tax. It is conceivable that the fello" might hold it bac to see "hat bids come from this side before he tries his luc on the other. There are only those three capable of playing so

bold a game %% there are 0berstein, $a *othiere, and 'duardo $ucas. I "ill see each of them." I glanced at my morning paper. "Is that 'duardo $ucas of Godolphin Street-" "1es." "1ou "ill not see him." ",hy not-" "!e "as murdered in his house last night." My friend has so often astonished me in the course of our adventures that it "as "ith a sense of exultation that I reali7ed ho" completely I had astonished him. !e stared in ama7ement, and then snatched the paper from my hands. This "as the paragraph "hich I had been engaged in reading "hen he rose from his chair. M/*&'* I. ,'STMI.ST'* A crime of mysterious character "as committed last night at 89 Godolphin Street, one of the old%fashioned and secluded ro"s of eighteenth century houses "hich lie bet"een the river and the Abbey, almost in the shado" of the great To"er of the !ouses of )arliament. This small but select mansion has been inhabited for some years by Mr. 'duardo $ucas, "ell no"n in society circles both on account of his charming personality and because he has the "ell%deserved reputation of being one of the best amateur tenors in the country. Mr. $ucas is an unmarried man, thirty%four years of age, and his establishment consists of Mrs. )ringle, an elderly house eeper, and of Mitton, his valet. The former retires early and sleeps at the top of the house. The valet "as out for the evening, visiting a friend at !ammersmith. 5rom ten o+cloc on"ard Mr. $ucas had the house to himself. ,hat occured during that time has not yet transpired, but at a #uarter to t"elve )olice%constable (arrett, passing along Godolphin Street, observed that the door of .o. 89 "as a2ar. !e noc ed, but received no ans"er. )erceiving a light in the front room, he advanced into the passage and again noc ed, but "ithout reply. !e then pushed open the door and entered. The room "as in a state of "ild disorder, the furniture being all s"ept to one side, and one chair lying on its bac in the centre. (eside this chair, and still grasping one of its legs, lay the unfortunate tenant of the house. !e had been stabbed to the heart and must have died instantly. The nife "ith "hich the crime had been committed "as a curved Indian dagger, pluc ed do"n from a trophy of 0riental arms "hich adorned one of the "alls. *obbery does not appear to have been the motive

of the crime, for there had been no attempt to remove the valuable contents of the room. Mr. 'duardo $ucas "as so "ell no"n and popular that his violent and mysterious fate "ill arouse painful interest and intense sympathy in a "idespread circle of friends. ",ell, ,atson, "hat do you ma e of this-" as ed !olmes, after a long pause. "It is an ama7ing coincidence." "A coincidence4 !ere is one of the three men "hom "e had named as possible actors in this drama, and he meets a violent death during the very hours "hen "e no" that that drama "as being enacted. The odds are enormous against its being coincidence. .o figures could express them. .o, my dear ,atson, the t"o events are connected %% must be connected. It is for us to find the connection." "(ut no" the official police must no" all." ".ot at all. They no" all they see at Godolphin Street. They no" %% and shall no" %% nothing of ,hitehall Terrace. 0nly "e no" of both events, and can trace the relation bet"een them. There is one obvious point "hich "ould, in any case, have turned my suspicions against $ucas. Godolphin Street, ,estminster, is only a fe" minutes+ "al from ,hitehall Terrace. The other secret agents "hom I have named live in the extreme ,est 'nd. It "as easier, therefore, for $ucas than for the others to establish a connection or receive a message from the 'uropean Secretary+s household %% a small thing, and yet "here events are compressed into a fe" hours it may prove essential. !alloa4 "hat have "e here-" Mrs. !udson had appeared "ith a lady+s card upon her salver. !olmes glanced at it, raised his eyebro"s, and handed it over to me. "As $ady !ilda Trela"ney !ope if she "ill be ind enough to step up," said he. A moment later our modest apartment, already so distinguished that morning, "as further honoured by the entrance of the most lovely "oman in $ondon: I had often heard of the beauty of the youngest daughter of the &u e of (elminster, but no description of it, and no contemplation of colourless photographs, had prepared me for the subtle, delicate charm and the beautiful colouring of that ex#uisite head. And yet as "e sa" it that autumn morning, it "as not its beauty "hich "ould be the first thing to impress the observer. The chee "as lovely but it "as paled "ith emotion, the eyes "ere bright, but it "as the brightness of fever, the sensitive mouth "as tight and dra"n in an effort after self%command. Terror %% not beauty %% "as "hat sprang first to the eye as our fair visitor stood framed for an

instant in the open door. "!as my husband been here, Mr. !olmes-" "1es, madam, he has been here." "Mr. !olmes, I implore you not to tell him that I came here." !olmes bo"ed coldly, and motioned the lady to a chair. "1our ladyship places me in a very delicate position. I beg that you "ill sit do"n and tell me "hat you desire, but I fear that I cannot ma e any unconditional promise." She s"ept across the room and seated herself "ith her bac to the "indo". It "as a #ueenly presence %% tall, graceful, and intensely "omanly. "Mr. !olmes," she said %% and her "hite%gloved hands clasped and unclasped as she spo e %% "I "ill spea fran ly to you in the hopes that it may induce you to spea fran ly in return. There is complete confidence bet"een my husband and me on all matters save one. That one is politics. 0n this his lips are sealed. !e tells me nothing. .o", I am a"are that there "as a most deplorable occurrence in our house last night. I no" that a paper has disappeared. (ut because the matter is political my husband refuses to ta e me into his complete confidence. .o" it is essential %% essential, I say %% that I should thoroughly understand it. 1ou are the only other person, save only these politicians, "ho no"s the true facts. I beg you then, Mr. !olmes, to tell me exactly "hat has happened and "hat it "ill lead to. Tell me all, Mr. !olmes. $et no regard for your client+s interests eep you silent, for I assure you that his interests, if he "ould only see it, "ould be best served by ta ing me into his complete confidence. ,hat "as this paper "hich "as stolen-" "Madam, "hat you as me is really impossible." She groaned and san her face in her hands. "1ou must see that this is so, madam. If your husband thin s fit to eep you in the dar over this matter, is it for me, "ho has only learned the true facts under the pledge of professional secrecy, to tell "hat he has "ithheld- It is not fair to as it. It is him "hom you must as ." "I have as ed him. I come to you as a last resource. (ut "ithout your telling me anything definite, Mr. !olmes, you may do a great service if you "ould enlighten me on one point." ",hat is it, madam-" "Is my husband+s political career li ely to suffer through this incident-" ",ell, madam, unless it is set right it may certainly have a very unfortunate effect." "Ah4" She dre" in her breath sharply as one "hose doubts are resolved. "0ne more #uestion, Mr. !olmes. 5rom an expression "hich

my husband dropped in the first shoc of this disaster I understood that terrible public conse#uences might arise from the loss of this document." "If he said so, I certainly cannot deny it." "0f "hat nature are they-" ".ay, madam, there again you as me more than I can possibly ans"er." "Then I "ill ta e up no more of your time. I cannot blame you, Mr. !olmes, for having refused to spea more freely, and you on your side "ill not, I am sure, thin the "orse of me because I desire, even against his "ill, to share my husband+s anxieties. 0nce more I beg that you "ill say nothing of my visit. She loo ed bac at us from the door, and I had a last impression of that beautiful haunted face, the startled eyes, and the dra"n mouth. Then she "as gone. ".o", ,atson, the fair sex is your department," said !olmes "ith a smile, "hen the d"indling frou%frou of s irts had ended in the slam of the front door. ",hat "as the fair lady+s game,hat did she really "ant-" "Surely her o"n statement is clear and her anxiety very natural. " "!um4 Thin of her appearance, ,atson %% her manner, her suppressed excitement, her restlessness, her tenacity in as ing #uestions. *emember that she comes of a caste "ho do not lightly sho" emotion." "She "as certainly much moved." "*emember also the curious earnestness "ith "hich she assured us that it "as best for her husband that she should no" all. ,hat did she mean by that- And you must have observed, ,atson, ho" she manoeuvred to have the light at her bac . She did not "ish us to read her expression." "1es, she chose the one chair in the room." "And yet the motives of "omen are so inscrutable. 1ou remember the "oman at Margate "hom I suspected for the same reason. .o po"der on her nose %% that proved to be the correct solution. !o" can you build on such a #uic sand- Their most trivial action may mean volumes, or their most extraordinary conduct may depend upon a hairpin or a curling tongs. Good% morning, ,atson." "1ou are off-" "1es, I "ill "hile a"ay the morning at Godolphin Street "ith our friends of the regular establishment. ,ith 'duardo $ucas lies the solution of our problem, though I must admit that I have not an in ling as to "hat form it may ta e. It is a capital mista e to theori7e in advance of the facts. &o you stay on guard, my good

,atson, and receive any fresh visitors. I+ll 2oin you at lunch if I am able." All that day and the next and the next !olmes "as in a mood "hich his friends "ould call taciturn, and others morose. !e ran out and ran in, smo ed incessantly, played snatches on his violin, san into reveries, devoured sand"iches at irregular hours, and hardly ans"ered the casual #uestions "hich I put to him. It "as evident to me that things "ere not going "ell "ith him or his #uest. !e "ould say nothing of the case, and it "as from the papers that I learned the particulars of the in#uest, and the arrest "ith the subse#uent release of ;ohn Mitton, the valet of the deceased. The coroner+s 2ury brought in the obvious ,ilful Murder, but the parties remained as un no"n as ever. .o motive "as suggested. The room "as full of articles of value, but none had been ta en. The dead man+s papers had not been tampered "ith. They "ere carefully examined, and sho"ed that he "as a een student of international politics, an indefatigable gossip, a remar able linguist, and an untiring letter "riter. !e had been on intimate terms "ith the leading politicians of several countries. (ut nothing sensational "as discovered among the documents "hich filled his dra"ers. As to his relations "ith "omen, they appeared to have been promiscuous but superficial. !e had many ac#uaintances among them, but fe" friends, and no one "hom he loved. !is habits "ere regular, his conduct inoffensive. !is death "as an absolute mystery and li ely to remain so. As to the arrest of ;ohn Mitton, the valet, it "as a council of despair as an alternative to absolute inaction. (ut no case could be sustained against him. !e had visited friends in !ammersmith that night. The alibi "as complete. It is true that he started home at an hour "hich should have brought him to ,estminster before the time "hen the crime "as discovered, but his o"n explanation that he had "al ed part of the "ay seemed probable enough in vie" of the fineness of the night. !e had actually arrived at t"elve o+cloc , and appeared to be over"helmed by the unexpected tragedy. !e had al"ays been on good terms "ith his master. Several of the dead man+s possessions %% notably a small case of ra7ors %% had been found in the valet+s boxes, but he explained that they had been presents from the deceased, and the house eeper "as able to corroborate the story. Mitton had been in $ucas+s employment for three years. It "as noticeable that $ucas did not ta e Mitton on the 3ontinent "ith him. Sometimes he visited )aris for three months on end, but Mitton "as left in charge of the Godolphin Street house. As to the house eeper, she had heard nothing on the night of the crime. If her master had a visitor he had himself admitted him. So for three mornings the mystery remained, so far as I could

follo" it in the papers. If !olmes ne" more, he ept his o"n counsel, but, as he told me that Inspector $estrade had ta en him into his confidence in the case, I ne" that he "as in close touch "ith every development. /pon the fourth day there appeared a long telegram from )aris "hich seemed to solve the "hole #uestion. A discovery has 2ust been made by the )arisian police <said the &aily Telegraph= "hich raises the veil "hich hung round the tragic fate of Mr. 'duardo $ucas, "ho met his death by violence last Monday night at Godolphin Street, ,estminster. 0ur readers "ill remember that the deceased gentleman "as found stabbed in his room, and that some suspicion attached to his valet, but that the case bro e do"n on an alibi. 1esterday a lady, "ho has been no"n as Mme. !enri 5ournaye, occupying a small villa in the *ue Austerlit7, "as reported to the authorities by her servants as being insane. An examination sho"ed she had indeed developed mania of a dangerous and permanent form. 0n in#uiry, the police have discovered that Mme. !enri 5ournaye only returned from a 2ourney to $ondon on Tuesday last, and there is evidence to connect her "ith the crime at ,estminster. A comparison of photographs has proved conclusively that M. !enri 5ournaye and 'duardo $ucas "ere really one and the same person, and that the deceased had for some reason lived a double life in $ondon and )aris. Mme. 5ournaye, "ho is of 3reole origin, is of an extremely excitable nature, and has suffered in the past from attac s of 2ealousy "hich have amounted to fren7y. It is con2ectured that it "as in one of these that she committed the terrible crime "hich has caused such a sensation in $ondon. !er movements upon the Monday night have not yet been traced, but it is undoubted that a "oman ans"ering to her description attracted much attention at 3haring 3ross Station on Tuesday morning by the "ildness of her appearance and the violence or her gestures. It is probable, there% fore, that the crime "as either committed "hen insane, or that its immediate effect "as to drive the unhappy "oman out of her mind. At present she is unable to give any coherent account of the past, and the doctors hold out no hopes of the reestablishment of her reason. There is evidence that a "oman, "ho might have been Mme. 5ournaye, "as seen for some hours upon Monday night "atching the house in Godolphin Street. ",hat do you thin of that, !olmes-" I had read the account aloud to him, "hile he finished his brea fast.

"My dear ,atson," said he, as he rose from the table and paced up and do"n the room, "you are most long%suffering, but if I have told you nothing in the last three days, it is because there is nothing to tell. 'ven no" this report from )aris does not help us much." "Surely it is final as regards the man+s death." "The man+s death is a mere incident %% a trivial episode > in comparison "ith our real tas , "hich is to trace this document and save a 'uropean catastrophe. 0nly one important thing has happened in the last three days, and that is that nothing has happened. I get reports almost hourly from the government, and it is certain that no"here in 'urope is there any sign of trouble. .o", if this letter "ere loose %% no, it can+t be loose %% but if it isn+t loose, "here can it be- ,ho has it- ,hy is it held bac That+s the #uestion that beats in my brain li e a hammer. ,as it indeed, a coincidence that $ucas should meet his death on the night "hen the letter disappeared- &id the letter ever reach himIf so, "hy is it not among his papers- &id this mad "ife of his carry it off "ith her- If so, is it in her house in )aris- !o" could I search for it "ithout the 5rench police having their suspicions aroused- It is a case, my dear ,atson, "here the la" is as dangerous to us as the criminals are. 'very man+s hand is against us, and yet the interests at sta e are colossal. Should I bring it to a successful conclusion, it "ill certainly represent the cro"ning glory of my career. Ah, here is my latest from the front4" !e glanced hurriedly at the note "hich had been handed in. "!alloa4 $estrade seems to have observed something of interest. )ut on your hat, ,atson, and "e "ill stroll do"n together to ,estminster." It "as my first visit to the scene of the crime %% a high, dingy, narro"%chested house, prim, formal, and solid, li e the century "hich gave it birth. $estrade+s bulldog features ga7ed out at us from the front "indo", and he greeted us "armly "hen a big constable had opened the door and let us in. The room into "hich "e "ere sho"n "as that in "hich the crime had been committed, but no trace of it no" remained save an ugly, irregular stain upon the carpet. This carpet "as a small s#uare drugget in the centre of the room, surrounded by a broad expanse of beautiful, old%fashioned "ood%flooring in s#uare bloc s, highly polished. 0ver the fireplace "as a magnificent trophy of "eapons, one of "hich had been used on that tragic night. In the "indo" "as a sumptuous "riting%des , and every detail of the apartment, the pictures, the rugs, and the hangings, all pointed to a taste "hich "as luxurious to the verge of effeminacy. "Seen the )aris ne"s-" as ed $estrade. !olmes nodded.

"0ur 5rench friends seem to have touched the spot this time. .o doubt it+s 2ust as they say. She noc ed at the door %% surprise visit, I guess, for he ept his life in "ater%tight compartments %% he let her in, couldn+t eep her in the street. She told him ho" she had traced him, reproached him. 0ne thing led to another, and then "ith that dagger so handy the end soon came. It "asn+t all done in an instant, though, for these chairs "ere all s"ept over yonder, and he had one in his hand as if he had tried to hold her off "ith it. ,e+ve got it all clear as if "e had seen it." !olmes raised his eyebro"s. "And yet you have sent for me-" "Ah, yes, that+s another matter %% a mere trifle, but the sort of thing you ta e an interest in %% #ueer, you no", and "hat you might call frea ish. It has nothing to do "ith the main fact %% can+t have, on the face of it." ",hat is it, then-" ",ell, you no", after a crime of this sort "e are very careful to eep things in their position. .othing has been moved. 0fficer in charge here day and night. This morning, as the man "as buried and the investigation over %% so far as this room is concerned %% "e thought "e could tidy up a bit. This carpet. 1ou see, it is not fastened do"n, only 2ust laid there. ,e had occasion to raise it. ,e found %%" "1es- 1ou found %% " !olmes+s face gre" tense "ith anxiety. ",ell, I+m sure you "ould never guess in a hundred years "hat "e did find. 1ou see that stain on the carpet- ,ell, a great deal must have soa ed through, must it not-" "/ndoubtedly it must." ",ell, you "ill be surprised to hear that there is no stain on the "hite "ood"or to correspond." ".o stain4 (ut there must %%" "1es, so you "ould say. (ut the fact remains that there isn+t." !e too the corner of the carpet in his hand and, turning it over, he sho"ed that it "as indeed as he said. "(ut the under side is as stained as the upper. It must have left a mar ." $estrade chuc led "ith delight at having pu77led the famous expert. ".o", I+ll sho" you the explanation. There is a second stain, but it does not correspond "ith the other. See for yourself." As he spo e he turned over another portion of the carpet, and there, sure enough, "as a great crimson spill upon the s#uare "hite facing of the old%fashioned floor. ",hat do you ma e of that, Mr. !olmes-"

",hy, it is simple enough. The t"o stains did correspond, but the carpet has been turned round. As it "as s#uare and unfastened it "as easily done." "The official police don+t need you, Mr. !olmes, to tell them that the carpet must have been turned round. That+s clear enough, for the stains lie above each other %% if you lay it over this "ay. (ut "hat I "ant to no" is, "ho shifted the carpet, and "hy-" I could see from !olmes+s rigid face that he "as vibrating "ith in"ard excitement. "$oo here, $estrade," said he, "has that constable in the passage been in charge of the place all the time-" "1es, he has." ",ell, ta e my advice. 'xamine him carefully. &on+t do it before us. ,e+ll "ait here. 1ou ta e him into the bac room. 1ou+ll be more li ely to get a confession out of him alone. As him ho" he dared to admit people and leave them alone in this room. &on+t as him if he has done it. Ta e it for granted. Tell him you no" someone has been here. )ress him. Tell him that a full confession is his only chance of forgiveness. &o exactly "hat I tell you4" "(y George, if he no"s I+ll have it out of him4" cried $estrade. !e darted into the hall, and a fe" moments later his bullying voice sounded from the bac room. ".o", ,atson, no"4" cried !olmes "ith fren7ied eagerness. All the demoniacal force of the man mas ed behind that listless manner burst out in a paroxysm of energy. !e tore the drugget from the floor, and in an instant "as do"n on his hands and nees cla"ing at each of the s#uares of "ood beneath it. 0ne turned side"ays as he dug his nails into the edge of it. It hinged bac li e the lid of a box. A small blac cavity opened beneath it. !olmes plunged his eager hand into it and dre" it out "ith a bitter snarl of anger and disappointment. It "as empty. "?uic , ,atson, #uic 4 Get it bac again4" The "ooden lid "as replaced, and the drugget had only 2ust been dra"n straight "hen $estrade+s voice "as heard in the passage. !e found !olmes leaning languidly against the mantelpiece, resigned and patient, endeavouring to conceal his irrepressible ya"ns. "Sorry to eep you "aiting, Mr. !olmes. I can see that you are bored to death "ith the "hole affair. ,ell, he has confessed, all right. 3ome in here, Mac)herson. $et these gentlemen hear of your most inexcusable conduct." The big constable, very hot and penitent, sidled into the room. "I meant no harm, sir, I+m sure. The young "oman came to the door last evening %% mistoo the house, she did. And then "e got tal ing. It+s lonesome, "hen you+re on duty here all day." ",ell, "hat happened then-"

"She "anted to see "here the crime "as done %% had read about it in the papers, she said. She "as a very respectable, "ell%spo en young "oman, sir, and I sa" no harm in letting her have a peep. ,hen she sa" that mar on the carpet. do"n she dropped on the floor, and lay as if she "ere dead. I ran to the bac and got some "ater, but I could not bring her to. Then I "ent round the corner to the Ivy )lant for some brandy, and by the time I had brought it bac the young "oman had recovered and "as off %% ashamed of herself, I daresay, and dared not face me." "!o" about moving that drugget-" ",ell, sir, it "as a bit rumpled, certainly, "hen I came bac . 1ou see, she fell on it and it lies on a polished floor "ith nothing to eep it in place. I straightened it out after"ards." "It+s a lesson to you that you can+t deceive me, 3onstable Mac)herson," said $estrade, "ith dignity. ".o doubt you thought that your breach of duty could never be discovered, and yet a mere glance at that drugget "as enough to convince me that someone had been admitted to the room. It+s luc y for you my man, that nothing is missing, or you "ould find yourself in ?ueer Street. I+m sorry to have called you do"n over such a petty business, Mr. !olmes, but I thought the point of the second stain not corresponding "ith the first "ould interest you." "3ertainly, it "as most interesting. !as this "oman only been here once, constable-" "1es, sir, only once." ",ho "as she-" "&on+t no" the name, sir. ,as ans"ering an advertisement about type"riting and came to the "rong number %% very pleasant, genteel young "oman, sir." "Tall- !andsome-" "1es, sir, she "as a "ell%gro"n young "oman. I suppose you might say she "as handsome. )erhaps some "ould say she "as very handsome. +0h, officer, do let me have a peep4+ says she. She had pretty, coaxing "ays, as you might say, and I thought there "as no harm in letting her 2ust put her head through the door. "!o" "as she dressed-" "?uiet, sir %% a long mantle do"n to her feet." ",hat time "as it-" "It "as 2ust gro"ing dus at the time. They "ere lighting the lamps as I came bac "ith the brandy." "6ery good," said !olmes. "3ome, ,atson, I thin that "e have more important "or else"here." As "e left the house $estrade remained in the front room

"hile the repentant constable opened the door to let us out. !olmes turned on the step and held up something in his hand. The constable stared intently. "Good $ord, sir4" he cried, "ith ama7ement on his face. !olmes put his finger on his lips, replaced his hand in his breast poc et, and burst out laughing as "e turned do"n the street. "'xcellent4" said he. "3ome, friend ,atson, the curtain rings up for the last act. 1ou "ill be relieved to hear that there "ill be no "ar, that the *ight !onourable Trela"ney !ope "ill suffer no setbac in his brilliant career, that the indiscreet Sovereign "ill receive no punishment for his indiscretion, that the )rime Minister "ill have no 'uropean complication to deal "ith, and that "ith a little tact and management upon our part nobody "ill be a penny the "orse for "hat might have been a very ugly incident." My mind filled "ith admiration for this extraordinary man. "1ou have solved it4" I cried. "!ardly that, ,atson. There are some points "hich are as dar as ever. (ut "e have so much that it "ill be our o"n fault if "e cannot get the rest. ,e "ill go straight to ,hitehall Terrace and bring the matter to a head." ,hen "e arrived at the residence of the 'uropean Secretary it "as for $ady !ilda Trela"ney !ope that Sherloc !olmes in#uired. ,e "ere sho"n into the morning%room. "Mr. !olmes4" said the lady, and her face "as pin "ith her indignation. "This is surely most unfair and ungenerous upon your part. I desired, as I have explained, to eep my visit to you a secret, lest my husband should thin that I "as intruding into his affairs. And yet you compromise me by coming here and so sho"ing that there are business relations bet"een us." "/nfortunately, madam, I had no possible alternative. I have been commissioned to recover this immensely important paper. I must therefore as you, madam, to be ind enough to place it in my hands." The lady sprang to her feet, "ith the colour all dashed in an instant from her beautiful face. !er eyes gla7ed %% she tottered %% I thought that she "ould faint. Then "ith a grand effort she rallied from the shoc , and a supreme astonishment and indignation chased every other expression from her features. "1ou %% you insult me, Mr. !olmes." "3ome, come, madam, it is useless. Give up the letter." She darted to the bell. "The butler shall sho" you out." "&o not ring, $ady !ilda. If you do, then all my earnest efforts to avoid a scandal "ill be frustrated. Give up the letter and all "ill be set right. If you "ill "or "ith me I can arrange

everything. If you "or against me I must expose you." She stood grandly defiant, a #ueenly figure, her eyes fixed upon his as if she "ould read his very soul. !er hand "as on the bell, but she had forborne to ring it. "1ou are trying to frighten me. It is not a very manly thing, Mr. !olmes, to come here and bro"beat a "oman. 1ou say that you no" something. ,hat is it that you no"-" ")ray sit do"n, madam. 1ou "ill hurt yourself there if you fall. I "ill not spea until you sit do"n. Than you." "I give you five minutes, Mr. !olmes." "0ne is enough, $ady !ilda. I no" of your visit to 'duardo $ucas, of your giving him this document, of your ingenious return to the room last night, and of the manner in "hich you too the letter from the hiding%place under the carpet." She stared at him "ith an ashen face and gulped t"ice before she could spea . "1ou are mad, Mr. !olmes %% you are mad4" she cried, at last. !e dre" a small piece of cardboard from his poc et. It "as the face of a "oman cut out of a portrait. "I have carried this because I thought it might be useful," said he. "The policeman has recogni7ed it." She gave a gasp, and her head dropped bac in the chair. "3ome, $ady !ilda. 1ou have the letter. The matter may still be ad2usted. I have no desire to bring trouble to you. My duty ends "hen I have returned the lost letter to your husband. Ta e my advice and be fran "ith me. It is your only chance." !er courage "as admirable. 'ven no" she "ould not o"n defeat. "I tell you again, Mr. !olmes, that you are under some absurd illusion." !olmes rose from his chair. "I am sorry for you, $ady !ilda. I have done my best for you. I can see that it is all in vain." !e rang the bell. The butler entered. "Is Mr. Trela"ney !ope at home-" "!e "ill be home, sir, at a #uarter to one." !olmes glanced at his "atch. "Still a #uarter of an hour," said he. "6ery good, I shall "ait." The butler had hardly closed the door behind him "hen $ady !ilda "as do"n on her nees at !olmes+s feet, her hands outstretched, her beautiful face upturned and "et "ith her tears. "0h, spare me, Mr. !olmes4 Spare me4" she pleaded, in a fren7y of supplication. "5or heaven+s sa e, don+t tell him4 I love him so4 I "ould not bring one shado" on his life, and this I

no" "ould brea his noble heart." !olmes raised the lady. "I am than ful, madam, that you have come to your senses even at this last moment4 There is not an instant to lose. ,here is the letter-" She darted across to a "riting%des , unloc ed it, and dre" out a long blue envelope. "!ere it is, Mr. !olmes. ,ould to heaven I had never seen it4" "!o" can "e return it-" !olmes muttered. "?uic , #uic , "e must thin of some "ay4 ,here is the despatch%box-" "Still in his bedroom." ",hat a stro e of luc 4 ?uic , madam, bring it here4" A moment later she had appeared "ith a red flat box in her hand. "!o" did you open it before- 1ou have a duplicate ey- 1es, of course you have. 0pen it4" 5rom out of her bosom $ady !ilda had dra"n a small ey. The box fle" open. It "as stuffed "ith papers. !olmes thrust the blue envelope deep do"n into the heart of them, bet"een the leaves of some other document. The box "as shut, loc ed, and returned to the bedroom. ".o" "e are ready for him," said !olmes. ",e have still ten minutes. I am going far to screen you, $ady !ilda. In return you "ill spend the time in telling me fran ly the real meaning of this extraordinary affair." "Mr. !olmes, I "ill tell you everything," cried the lady. "0h, Mr. !olmes, I "ould cut off my right hand before I gave him a moment of sorro"4 There is no "oman in all $ondon "ho loves her husband as I do, and yet if he ne" ho" I have acted %% ho" I have been compelled to act %% he "ould never forgive me. 5or his o"n honour stands so high that he could not forget or pardon a lapse in another. !elp me, Mr. !olmes4 My happiness, his happiness, our very lives are at sta e4" "?uic , madam, the time gro"s short4" "It "as a letter of mine, Mr. !olmes, an indiscreet letter "ritten before my marriage %% a foolish letter, a letter of an impulsive, loving girl. I meant no harm, and yet he "ould have thought it criminal. !ad he read that letter his confidence "ould have been forever destroyed. It is years since I "rote it. I had thought that the "hole matter "as forgotten. Then at last I heard from this man, $ucas, that it had passed into his hands, and that he "ould lay it before my husband. I implored his mercy. !e said that he "ould return my letter if I "ould bring him a certain document "hich he described in my husband+s despatch%box. !e had some spy in the office "ho had told him of its existence. !e assured me that no harm could come to my husband. )ut your%

self in my position, Mr. !olmes4 ,hat "as I to do-" "Ta e your husband into your confidence." "I could not, Mr. !olmes, I could not4 0n the one side seemed certain ruin, on the other, terrible as it seemed to ta e my husband+s paper, still in a matter of politics I could not understand the conse#uences, "hile in a matter of love and trust they "ere only too clear to me. I did it, Mr. !olmes4 I too an impression of his ey. This man, $ucas, furnished a duplicate. I opened his despatch%box, too the paper, and conveyed it to Godolphin Street." ",hat happened there, madam-" "I tapped at the door as agreed. $ucas opened it. I follo"ed him into his room, leaving the hall door a2ar behind me, for I feared to be alone "ith the man. I remember that there "as a "oman outside as I entered. 0ur business "as soon done. !e had my letter on his des , I handed him the document. !e gave me the letter. At this instant there "as a sound at the door. There "ere steps in the passage. $ucas #uic ly turned bac the drugget, thrust the document into some hiding%place there, and covered it over. ",hat happened after that is li e some fearful dream. I have a vision of a dar , frantic face, of a "oman+s voice, "hich screamed in 5rench, +My "aiting is not in vain. At last, at last I have found you "ith her4+ There "as a savage struggle. I sa" him "ith a chair in his hand, a nife gleamed in hers. I rushed from the horrible scene, ran from the house, and only next morning in the paper did I learn the dreadful result. That night I "as happy, for I had my letter, and I had not seen yet "hat the future "ould bring. "It "as the next morning that I reali7ed that I had only exchanged one trouble for another. My husband+s anguish at the loss of his paper "ent to my heart. I could hardly prevent myself from there and then neeling do"n at his feet and telling him "hat I had done. (ut that again "ould mean a confession of the past. I came to you that morning in order to understand the full enormity of my offence. 5rom the instant that I grasped it my "hole mind "as turned to the one thought of getting bac my husband+s paper. It must still be "here $ucas had placed it, for it "as concealed before this dreadful "oman entered the room. If it had not been for her coming, I should not have no"n "here his hiding%place "as. !o" "as I to get into the room- 5or t"o days I "atched the place, but the door "as never left open. $ast night I made a last attempt. ,hat I did and ho" I succeeded, you have already learned. I brought the paper bac "ith me, and thought of destroying it, since I could see no "ay of returning it "ithout confessing my guilt to my husband. !eavens, I hear his step

upon the stair4" The 'uropean Secretary burst excitedly into the room. "Any ne"s, Mr. !olmes, any ne"s-" he cried. "I have some hopes." "Ah, than heaven4" !is face became radiant. "The )rime Minister is lunching "ith me. May he share your hopes- !e has nerves of steel, and yet I no" that he has hardly slept since this terrible event. ;acobs, "ill you as the )rime Minister to come up- As to you, dear, I fear that this is a matter of politics. ,e "ill 2oin you in a fe" minutes in the dining%room." The )rime Minister+s manner "as subdued, but I could see by the gleam of his eyes and the t"itchings of his bony hands that he shared the excitement of his young colleague. "I understand that you have something to report, Mr. !olmes-" ")urely negative as yet," my friend ans"ered. "I have in#uired at every point "here it might be, and I am sure that there is no danger to be apprehended." "(ut that is not enough, Mr. !olmes. ,e cannot live forever on such a volcano. ,e must have something definite." "I am in hopes of getting it. That is "hy I am here. The more I thin of the matter the more convinced I am that the letter has never left this house." "Mr. !olmes4" "If it had it "ould certainly have been public by no"." "(ut "hy should anyone ta e it in order to eep it in his house-" "I am not convinced that anyone did ta e it." "Then ho" could it leave the despatch%box-" "I am not convinced that it ever did leave the despatch%box." "Mr. !olmes, this 2o ing is very ill%timed. 1ou have my assurance that it left the box." "!ave you examined the box since Tuesday morning-" ".o. It "as not necessary." "1ou may conceivably have overloo ed it." "Impossible, I say." "(ut I am not convinced of it. I have no"n such things to happen. I presume there are other papers there. ,ell, it may have got mixed "ith them." "It "as on the top." "Someone may have sha en the box and displaced it." ".o, no, I had everything out." "Surely it is easily decided, !ope," said the )remier. "$et us have the despatch%box brought in." The Secretary rang the bell. ";acobs, bring do"n my despatch%box. This is a farcical "aste of time, but still, if nothing else "ill satisfy you, it shall

be done. Than you, ;acobs, put it here. I have al"ays had the ey on my "atch%chain. !ere are the papers, you see. $etter from $ord Merro", report from Sir 3harles !ardy, memorandum from (elgrade, note on the *usso%German grain taxes, letter from Madrid, note from $ord 5lo"ers %% Good heavens4 "hat is this- $ord (ellinger4 $ord (ellinger4" The )remier snatched the blue envelope from his hand. "1es, it is it %% and the letter is intact. !ope, I congratulate you." "Than you4 Than you4 ,hat a "eight from my heart. (ut this is inconceivable %% impossible. Mr. !olmes, you are a "i7ard, a sorcerer4 !o" did you no" it "as there-" "(ecause I ne" it "as no"here else." "I cannot believe my eyes4" !e ran "ildly to the door. ",here is my "ife- I must tell her that all is "ell. !ilda4 !ilda4" "e heard his voice on the stairs. The )remier loo ed at !olmes "ith t"in ling eyes. "3ome, sir," said he. "There is more in this than meets the eye. !o" came the letter bac in the box-" !olmes turned a"ay smiling from the een scrutiny of those "onderful eyes. ",e also have our diplomatic secrets," said he and, pic ing up his hat, he turned to the door. <@'nd@=