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with the thief who did it in order to prevent the
crime？ Or was it an accident？ Or was it？〃 He sank
back into the state of intense and silent thought from
which he had emerged； but it seemed to me； accustomed
as I was to his every mood； that some new possibility
had dawned suddenly upon him。
It was twenty past three when we reached our terminus；
and after a hasty luncheon at the buffet we pushed on
at once to Scotland Yard。 Holmes had already wired to
Forbes； and we found him waiting to receive usa
small； foxy man with a sharp but by no means amiable
expression。 He was decidedly frigid in his manner to
us； especially when he heard the errand upon which we
had come。
〃I've heard of your methods before now； Mr。 Holmes；〃
said he； tartly。 〃You are ready enough to use all the
information that the police can lay at your disposal；
and then you try to finish the case yourself and bring
discredit on them。〃
〃On the contrary；〃 said Holmes； 〃out of my last
fifty…three cases my name has only appeared in four；
and the police have had all the credit in forty…nine。
I don't blame you for not knowing this； for you are
young and inexperienced； but if you wish to get on in
your new duties you will work with me and not against
me。〃
〃I'd be very glad of a hint or two；〃 said the
detective； changing his manner。 〃I've certainly had
no credit from the case so far。〃
〃What steps have you taken？〃
〃Tangey； the commissionnaire； has been shadowed。 He
left the Guards with a good character and we can find
nothing against him。 His wife is a bad lot； though。
I fancy she knows more about this than appears。〃
〃Have you shadowed her？〃
〃We have set one of our women on to her。 Mrs。 Tangey
drinks； and our woman has been with her twice when she
was well on； but she could get nothing out of her。〃
〃I understand that they have had brokers in the
house？〃
〃Yes； but they were paid off。〃
〃Where did the money come from？〃
〃That was all right。 His pension was due。 They have
not shown any sign of being in funds。〃
〃What explanation did she give of having answered the
bell when Mr。 Phelps rang for the coffee？〃
〃She said that he husband was very tired and she
wished to relieve him。〃
〃Well； certainly that would agree with his being found
a little later asleep in his chair。 There is nothing
against them then but the woman's character。 Did you
ask her why she hurried away that night？ Her haste
attracted the attention of the police constable。〃
〃She was later than usual and wanted to get home。〃
〃Did you point out to her that you and Mr。 Phelps； who
started at least twenty minutes after he； got home
before her？〃
〃She explains that by the difference between a 'bus
and a hansom。〃
〃Did she make it clear why； on reaching her house； she
ran into the back kitchen？〃
〃Because she had the money there with which to pay off
the brokers。〃
〃She has at least an answer for everything。 Did you
ask her whether in leaving she met any one or saw any
one loitering about Charles Street？〃
〃She saw no one but the constable。〃
〃Well； you seem to have cross…examined her pretty
thoroughly。 What else have you done？〃
〃The clerk Gorot has been shadowed all these nine
weeks； but without result。 We can show nothing
against him。〃
〃Anything else？〃
〃Well； we have nothing else to go uponno evidence of
any kind。〃
〃Have you formed a theory about how that bell rang？〃
〃Well； I must confess that it beats me。 It was a cool
hand； whoever it was； to go and give the alarm like
that。〃
〃Yes； it was queer thing to do。 Many thanks to you
for what you have told me。 If I can put the man into
your hands you shall hear from me。 Come along；
Watson。〃
〃Where are we going to now？〃 I asked； as we left the
office。
〃We are now going to interview Lord Holdhurst； the
cabinet minister and future premier of England。〃
We were fortunate in finding that Lord Holdhurst was
still in his chambers in Downing Street； and on Holmes
sending in his card we were instantly shown up。 The
statesman received us with that old…fashioned courtesy
for which he is remarkable； and seated us on the two
luxuriant lounges on either side of the fireplace。
Standing on the run between us； with his slight； tall
figure； his sharp features； thoughtful face； and
curling hair prematurely tinged with gray； he seemed
to represent that not to common type； a nobleman who
is in truth noble。
〃You name is very familiar to me； Mr。 Holmes；〃 said
he； smiling。 〃And； of course； I cannot pretend to be
ignorant of the object of your visit。 There has only
been once occurrence in these offices which could call
for your attention。 In whose interest are you acting；
may I ask？〃
〃In that of Mr。 Percy Phelps；〃 answered Holmes。
〃Ah； my unfortunate nephew！ You can understand that
our kinship makes it the more impossible for me to
screen him in any way。 I fear that the incident must
have a very prejudicial effect upon his career。〃
〃But if the document if found？〃
〃Ah； that； of course； would be different。〃
〃I had one or two questions which I wished to ask you；
Lord Holdhurst。〃
〃I shall be happy to give you any information in my
power。〃
〃Was it in this room that you gave your instructions
as to the copying of the document？〃
〃It was。〃
〃Then you could hardly have been overheard？〃
〃It is out of the question。〃
〃Did you ever mention to any one that it was your
intention to give any one the treaty to be copied？〃
〃Never。〃
〃You are certain of that？〃
〃Absolutely。〃
〃Well； since you never said so； and Mr。 Phelps never
said so； and nobody else knew anything of the matter；
then the thief's presence in the room was purely
accidental。 He saw his chance and he took it。〃
The statesman smiled。 〃You take me out of my province
there；〃 said he。
Holmes considered for a moment。 〃There is another
very important point which I wish to discuss with
you；〃 said he。 〃You feared； as I understand； that
very grave results might follow from the details of
this treaty becoming known。〃
A shadow passed over the expressive face of the
statesman。 〃Very grave results indeed。〃
〃Any have they occurred？〃
〃Not yet。〃
〃If the treaty had reached； let us say； the French or
Russian Foreign Office； you would expect to hear of
it？〃
〃I should；〃 said Lord Holdhurst； with a wry face。
〃Since nearly ten weeks have elapsed； then； and
nothing has been heard； it is not unfair to suppose
that for some reason the treaty has not reached them。〃
Lord Holdhurst shrugged his shoulders。
〃We can hardly suppose； Mr。 Holmes； that the thief
took the treaty in order to frame it and hang it up。〃
〃Perhaps he is waiting for a better price。〃
〃If he waits a little longer he will get no price at
all。 The treaty will cease to be secret in a few
months。〃
〃That is most important；〃 said Holmes。 〃Of course； it
is a possible supposition that the thief has had a
sudden illness〃
〃An attack of brain…fever； for example？〃 asked the
statesman； flashing a swift glance at him。
〃I did not say so；〃 said Holmes； imperturbably。 〃And
now； Lord Holdhurst； we have already taken up too much
of your valuable time； and we shall wish you
good…day。〃
〃Every success to your investigation； be the criminal
who it may；〃 answered the nobleman； as he bowed us out
the door。
〃He's a fine fellow；〃 said Holmes； as we came out into
Whitehall。 〃But he has a struggle to keep up his
position。 He is far from rich and has many calls。
You noticed； of course； that his boots had been
resoled。 Now； Watson； I won't detain you from your
legitimate work any longer。 I shall do nothing more
to…day； unless I have an answer to my cab
advertisement。 But I should be extremely obliged to
you if you would come down with me to Woking
to…morrow； by the same train which we took yesterday。〃
I met him accordingly next morning and we traveled
down to Woking together。 He had had no answer to his
advertisement； he said； and no fresh light had been
thrown upon the case。 He had； when he so willed it；
the utter immobility of countenance of a red Indian；
and I could not gather from his appearance whether he
was satisfied or not with the position of the case。
His conversation； I remember； was about the Bertillon
system of measurements； and he expressed his
enthusiastic admiration of the French savant。
We found our client still under the charge of his
devoted nurse； but looking considerably better than
before。 He rose from the sofa and greeted us without
difficulty when we entered。
〃Any news？〃 he asked； eagerly。
〃My report； as I expected； is a negative one；〃 said
Holmes。 〃I have s