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this affair should come out。〃
〃You may safely trust us。〃
〃The letter； then； is from a certain foreign potentate who bas
been ruffled by some recent Colonial developments of this country。
It has been written hurriedly and upon his own responsibility
entirely。 Inquiries have shown that his Ministers know 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 would undoubtedly lead to a most dangerous state of
feeling in this country。 There would be such a ferment； sir； that I do
not hesitate to say that within a week of the publication of that
letter this country would be involved in a great war。〃
Holmes wrote a name upon a slip of paper and handed it to the
Premier。
〃Exactly。 It was he。 And it is this letter… this letter which may
well mean the expenditure of a thousand millions and the lives of a
hundred thousand men… which has become lost in this unaccountable
fashion。〃
〃Have you informed the sender？〃
〃Yes； sir； a cipher telegram has been despatched。〃
〃Perhaps he desires the publication of the letter。〃
〃No； sir； we have strong reason to believe that he already
understands that he has acted in an indiscreet and hot…headed
manner。 It would be a greater blow to him and to his country than to
us if this letter were to come out。〃
〃If this is so； whose interest is it that； the letter should come
out？ Why should anyone desire to steal it or to publish it？〃
〃There； Mr。 Holmes； you take me into regions of high international
politics。 But if you consider the European situation you will have
no difficulty in perceiving the motive。 The whole of Europe is an
armed camp。 There is a double league which makes a fair balance of
military power。 Great Britain holds the scales。 If Britain were driven
into war with one confederacy； it would assure the supremacy of the
other confederacy； whether they joined in the war or not。 Do you
follow？〃
〃Very clearly。 It is then the interest of the enemies of this
potentate to secure and publish this letter； so as to make a breach
between his country and ours？〃
〃Yes； sir。〃
〃And to whom would this document be sent if it fell into the hands
of an enemy？〃
〃To any of the great Chancelleries of Europe。 It is probably
speeding on its way thither at the present instant as fast as steam
can take it。〃
Mr。 Trelawney Hope dropped his head on his chest and groaned
aloud。 The Premier placed his hand kindly upon his shoulder。
〃It is your misfortune； my dear fellow。 No one can blame you。
There is no precaution which you have neglected。 Now； Mr。 Holmes；
you are in full possession of the facts。 What course do you
recommend？〃
Holmes shook his head mournfully。
〃You think； sir； that unless this document is recovered there will
be war？〃
〃I think it is very probable。〃
〃Then； sir； prepare for war。〃
〃That is a hard saying； Mr。 Holmes。〃
〃Consider the facts； sir。 It is inconceivable that it was taken
after eleven…thirty at night； since I understand that Mr。 Hope and his
wife were both in the room from that hour until the loss was found
out。 It was taken； then； yesterday evening between seven…thirty and
eleven…thirty； probably near the earlier hour； since whoever took it
evidently knew that it was there and would naturally secure it as
early as possible。 Now； sir； if a document of this importance were
taken at that hour； where can it be now？ No one has any reason to
retain it。 It has been passed rapidly on to those who need it。 What
chance have we now to overtake or even to trace it？ It is beyond our
reach。〃
The Prime Minister rose from the settee。
〃What you say is perfectly logical； Mr。 Holmes。 I feel that the
matter is indeed out of our hands。〃
〃Let us presume； for argument's sake； that the document was taken 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 without； and that from within no one could
go up unobserved。 It must； then； be somebody in the house who has
taken it。 To whom would the thief take it？ To one of several
international spies and secret agents； whose names are tolerably
familiar to me。 There are three who may be said to be the heads of
their profession。 I will 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… we will have some
indication as to where the document has gone。〃
〃Why should he be missing？〃 asked the European Secretary。 〃He
would take the letter to an Embassy in London； as likely as not。〃
〃I fancy not。 These agents work independently； and their relations
with the Embassies are often strained。〃
The Prime Minister nodded his acquiescence。
〃I believe you are right； Mr。 Holmes。 He would take so valuable a
prize to headquarters with his own hands。 I think that your course
of action is an excellent one。 Meanwhile； Hope； we cannot neglect
all our other duties on account of this one misfortune。 Should there
be any fresh developments during the day we shall communicate with
you； and you will no doubt let us know the results of your own
inquiries。〃
The two statesmen bowed and walked gravely from the room。
When our illustrious visitors had departed Holmes lit his pipe in
silence and sat for some time lost in the deepest thought。 I had
opened the morning paper and was immersed in a sensational crime which
had occurred in London the night before； when my friend gave an
exclamation； sprang to his feet； and laid his pipe down upon the
mantelpiece。
〃Yes；〃 said he； 〃there is no better way of approaching it。 The
situation is desperate； but not hopeless。 Even now； if we could be
sure which of them has taken it； it is just possible that it has not
yet passed out of his hands。 After all； it is a question of money with
these fellows； and I have the British treasury behind me。 If it's on
the market I'll buy it… if it means another penny on the income…tax。
It is conceivable that the fellow might hold it back to see what
bids come from this side before he tries his luck on the other。
There are only those three capable of playing so bold a game… there
are Oberstein； La Rothiere； and Eduardo Lucas。 I will see each of
them。〃
I glanced at my morning paper。
〃Is that Eduardo Lucas of Godolphin Street？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃You will not see him。〃
〃Why not？〃
〃He was murdered in his house last night。〃
My friend has so often astonished me in the course of our adventures
that it was with a sense of exultation that I realized how
completely I had astonished him。 He stared in amazement； and then
snatched the paper from my hands。 This was the paragraph which I had
been engaged in reading when he rose from his chair。
MURDER IN WESTMINSTER
A crime of mysterious character was committed last night at 16
Godolphin Street； one of the old…fashioned and secluded rows of
eighteenth century houses which lie between the river and the Abbey；
almost in the shadow of the great Tower of the Houses of Parliament。
This small but select mansion has been inhabited for some years by Mr。
Eduardo Lucas； well known in society circles both on account of his
charming personality and because he has the well…deserved reputation
of being one of the best amateur tenors in the country。 Mr。 Lucas is
an unmarried man； thirty…four years of age； and his establishment
consists of Mrs。 Pringle； an elderly housekeeper； and of Mitton； his
valet。 The former retires early and sleeps at the top of the house。
The valet was out for the evening； visiting a friend at Hammersmith。
From ten o'clock onward Mr。 Lucas had the house to himself。 What
occurred during that time has not yet transpired； but at a quarter
to twelve Police…constable Barrett； passing along Godolphin Street
observed that the door of No。 16 was ajar。 He knocked； but received no
answer。 Perceiving a light in the front room； he advanced into the
passage and again knocked； but without reply。 He then pushed open
the door and entered。 The room was in a state of wild disorder； the
furniture being all swept to one side； and one chair lying on its back
in the centre。 Beside this chair； and still grasping one of its
legs； lay the unfortunate tenant of the house。 He had been stabbed
to the heart and must have died instantly。 The knife with which the
crime had been committed was a curved Indian dagger； plucked down from
a trophy of Oriental arms which adorned one of the walls。 Robbery 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。 Eduardo Lucas
was so well known and popular that his violent and mysterious fate
will arouse painful interest and intense sympathy in a widespread
circle of friends。
〃Well； Watson； what do you make of this？〃 asked Holmes； after a long
pause。
〃It is an amazing coincidence。〃
〃A coincidence！ Here is one of