Whyisitheldback？That’sthequestionthatbeatsinmybrainlikeahammer。Wasit，indeed，acoincidencethatLucasshouldmeethisdeathonthenightwhentheletterdisappeared？
Didthelettereverreachhim？Ifso，whyisitnotamonghispapers？Didthismadwifeofhiscarryitoffwithher？Ifso，isitinherhouseinParis？HowcouldIsearchforitwithouttheFrenchpolicehavingtheirsuspicionsaroused？Itisacase，mydearWatson，wherethelawisasdangeroustousasthecriminalsare。Everyman’shandisagainstus，andyettheinterestsatstakearecolossal。ShouldIbringittoasuccessfulconclusionitwillcertainlyrepresentthecrowninggloryofmycareer。Ah，hereismylatestfromthefront！\"
Heglancedhurriedlyatthenotewhichhadbeenhandedin。
\"Halloa！Lestradeseemstohaveobservedsomethingofinterest。
Putonyourhat，Watson，andwewillstrolldowntogethertoWestminster。\"
Itwasmyfirstvisittothesceneofthecrime——ahigh，dingy，narrow—chestedhouse，prim，formal，andsolid，likethecenturywhichgaveitbirth。Lestrade’sbulldogfeaturesgazedoutatusfromthefrontwindow，andhegreeteduswarmlywhenabigconstablehadopenedthedoorandletusin。Theroomintowhichwewereshownwasthatinwhichthecrimehadbeencommitted，butnotraceofitnowremained，saveanugly，irregularstainuponthecarpet。Thiscarpetwasasmallsquaredruggetinthecentreoftheroom，surroundedbyabroadexpanseofbeautiful，old—fashionedwood—flooringinsquareblockshighlypolished。Overthefireplacewasamagnificenttrophyofweapons，oneofwhichhadbeenusedonthattragicnight。
Inthewindowwasasumptuouswriting—desk，andeverydetailoftheapartment，thepictures，therugs，andthehangings，allpointedtoatastewhichwasluxurioustothevergeofeffeminacy。
\"SeentheParisnews？\"askedLestrade。
Holmesnodded。
\"OurFrenchfriendsseemtohavetouchedthespotthistime。
Nodoubtit’sjustastheysay。Sheknockedatthedoor——
surprisevisit，Iguess，forhekepthislifeinwater—tightcompartments。Heletherin——couldn’tkeepherinthestreet。
Shetoldhimhowshehadtracedhim，reproachedhim，onethingledtoanother，andthenwiththatdaggersohandytheendsooncame。Itwasn’talldoneinaninstant，though，forthesechairswereallsweptoveryonder，andhehadoneinhishandasifhehadtriedtoholdheroffwithit。We’vegotitallclearasifwehadseenit。\"
Holmesraisedhiseyebrows。
\"Andyetyouhavesentforme？\"
\"Ah，yes，that’sanothermatter——ameretrifle，butthesortofthingyoutakeaninterestin——queer，youknow，andwhatyoumightcallfreakish。Ithasnothingtodowiththemainfact——can’thave，onthefaceofit。\"
\"Whatisit，then？\"
\"Well，youknow，afteracrimeofthissortweareverycarefultokeepthingsintheirposition。Nothinghasbeenmoved。
Officerinchargeheredayandnight。Thismorning，asthemanwasburiedandtheinvestigationover——sofarasthisroomisconcerned——wethoughtwecouldtidyupabit。Thiscarpet。
Yousee，itisnotfasteneddown；onlyjustlaidthere。Wehadoccasiontoraiseit。Wefound————\"
\"Yes？Youfound————\"
Holmes’sfacegrewtensewithanxiety。
\"Well，I’msureyouwouldneverguessinahundredyearswhatwedidfind。Youseethatstainonthecarpet？Well，agreatdealmusthavesoakedthrough，mustitnot？\"
\"Undoubtedlyitmust。\"
\"Well，youwillbesurprisedtohearthatthereisnostainonthewhitewoodworktocorrespond。\"
\"Nostain！Buttheremust————\"
\"Yes；soyouwouldsay。Butthefactremainsthatthereisn’t。\"
Hetookthecornerofthecarpetinhishandand，turningitover，heshowedthatitwasindeedashesaid。
\"Buttheundersideisasstainedastheupper。Itmusthaveleftamark。\"
Lestradechuckledwithdelightathavingpuzzledthefamousexpert。
\"NowI’llshowyoutheexplanation。ThereISasecondstain，butitdoesnotcorrespondwiththeother。Seeforyourself。\"
Ashespokeheturnedoveranotherportionofthecarpet，andthere，sureenough，wasagreatcrimsonspilluponthesquarewhitefacingoftheold—fashionedfloor。\"Whatdoyoumakeofthat，Mr。Holmes？\"
\"Why，itissimpleenough。Thetwostainsdidcorrespond，butthecarpethasbeenturnedround。Asitwassquareandunfasteneditwaseasilydone。\"
Theofficialpolicedon’tneedyou，Mr。Holmes，totellthemthatthecarpetmusthavebeenturnedround。That’sclearenough，forthestainslieaboveeachother——ifyoulayitoverthisway。
ButwhatIwanttoknowis，whoshiftedthecarpet，andwhy？\"
IcouldseefromHolmes’srigidfacethathewasvibratingwithinwardexcitement。
\"Lookhere，Lestrade，\"saidhe，\"hasthatconstableinthepassagebeeninchargeoftheplaceallthetime？\"
\"Yes，hehas。\"
\"Well，takemyadvice。Examinehimcarefully。Don’tdoitbeforeus。We’llwaithere。Youtakehimintothebackroom。
You’llbemorelikelytogetaconfessionoutofhimalone。
Askhimhowhedaredtoadmitpeopleandleavethemaloneinthisroom。Don’taskhimifhehasdoneit。Takeitforgranted。
TellhimyouKNOWsomeonehasbeenhere。Presshim。Tellhimthatafullconfessionishisonlychanceofforgiveness。
DoexactlywhatItellyou！\"
\"ByGeorge，ifheknowsI’llhaveitoutofhim！\"criedLestrade。
Hedartedintothehall，andafewmomentslaterhisbullyingvoicesoundedfromthebackroom。
\"Now，Watson，now！\"criedHolmes，withfrenziedeagerness。
Allthedemoniacalforceofthemanmaskedbehindthatlistlessmannerburstoutinaparoxysmofenergy。Hetorethedruggetfromthefloor，andinaninstantwasdownonhishandsandkneesclawingateachofthesquaresofwoodbeneathit。
Oneturnedsidewaysashedughisnailsintotheedgeofit。
Ithingedbacklikethelidofabox。Asmallblackcavityopenedbeneathit。Holmesplungedhiseagerhandintoit，anddrewitoutwithabittersnarlofangeranddisappointment。
Itwasempty。
\"Quick，Watson，quick！Getitbackagain！\"Thewoodenlidwasreplaced，andthedruggethadonlyjustbeendrawnstraightwhenLestrade’svoicewasheardinthepassage。HefoundHolmesleaninglanguidlyagainstthemantelpiece，resignedandpatient，endeavouringtoconcealhisirrepressibleyawns。
\"Sorrytokeepyouwaiting，Mr。Holmes。Icanseethatyouareboredtodeathwiththewholeaffair。Well，hehasconfessed，allright。Comeinhere，MacPherson。Letthesegentlemenhearofyourmostinexcusableconduct。\"
Thebigconstable，veryhotandpenitent，sidledintotheroom。
\"Imeantnoharm，sir，I’msure。Theyoungwomancametothedoorlastevening——mistookthehouse，shedid。Andthenwegottalking。It’slonesome，whenyou’reondutyhereallday。\"
\"Well，whathappenedthen？\"
\"Shewantedtoseewherethecrimewasdone——hadreadaboutitinthepapers，shesaid。Shewasaveryrespectable，well—spokenyoungwoman，sir，andIsawnoharminlettingherhaveapeep。Whenshesawthatmarkonthecarpet，downshedroppedonthefloor，andlayasifsheweredead。Irantothebackandgotsomewater，butIcouldnotbringherto。ThenI
wentroundthecornertotheIvyPlantforsomebrandy，andbythetimeIhadbroughtitbacktheyoungwomanhadrecoveredandwasoff——ashamedofherself，Idaresay，anddarednotfaceme。\"
\"Howaboutmovingthatdrugget？\"
\"Well，sir，itwasabitrumpled，certainly，whenIcameback。
Yousee，shefellonit，anditliesonapolishedfloorwithnothingtokeepitinplace。Istraighteneditoutafterwards。\"
\"It’salessontoyouthatyoucan’tdeceiveme，ConstableMacPherson，\"saidLestrade，withdignity。\"Nodoubtyouthoughtthatyourbreachofdutycouldneverbediscovered，andyetamereglanceatthatdruggetwasenoughtoconvincemethatsomeonehadbeenadmittedtotheroom。It’sluckyforyou，myman，thatnothingismissing，oryouwouldfindyourselfinQueerStreet。I’msorrytohavecalledyoudownoversuchapettybusiness，Mr。Holmes，butIthoughtthepointofthesecondstainnotcorrespondingwiththefirstwouldinterestyou。\"
\"Certainly，itwasmostinteresting。Hasthiswomanonlybeenhereonce，constable？\"
\"Yes，sir，onlyonce。\"
\"Whowasshe？\"
\"Don’tknowthename，sir。Wasansweringanadvertisementabouttype—writing，andcametothewrongnumber——verypleasant，genteelyoungwoman，sir。\"
\"Tall？Handsome？\"
\"Yes，sir；shewasawell—grownyoungwoman。Isupposeyoumightsayshewashandsome。Perhapssomewouldsayshewasveryhandsome。`Oh，officer，doletmehaveapeep！’saysshe。
Shehadpretty，coaxingways，asyoumightsay，andIthoughttherewasnoharminlettingherjustputherheadthroughthedoor。\"
\"Howwasshedressed？\"
\"Quiet，sir——alongmantledowntoherfeet。\"
\"Whattimewasit？\"
\"Itwasjustgrowingduskatthetime。TheywerelightingthelampsasIcamebackwiththebrandy。\"
\"Verygood，\"saidHolmes。\"Come，Watson，Ithinkthatwehavemoreimportantworkelsewhere。\"
AsweleftthehouseLestraderemainedinthefrontroom，whiletherepentantconstableopenedthedoortoletusout。
Holmesturnedonthestepandheldupsomethinginhishand。
Theconstablestaredintently。
\"GoodLord，sir！\"hecried，withamazementonhisface。
Holmesputhisfingeronhislips，replacedhishandinhisbreast—pocket，andburstoutlaughingasweturneddownthestreet。
\"Excellent！\"saidhe。\"Come，friendWatson，thecurtainringsupforthelastact。Youwillberelievedtohearthattherewillbenowar，thattheRightHonourableTrelawneyHopewillsuffernoset—backinhisbrilliantcareer，thattheindiscreetSovereignwillreceivenopunishmentforhisindiscretion，thatthePrimeMinisterwillhavenoEuropeancomplicationtodealwith，andthatwithalittletactandmanagementuponourpartnobodywillbeapennytheworseforwhatmighthavebeenaveryuglyincident。\"
Mymindfilledwithadmirationforthisextraordinaryman。
\"Youhavesolvedit！\"Icried。
\"Hardlythat，Watson。Therearesomepointswhichareasdarkasever。Butwehavesomuchthatitwillbeourownfaultifwecannotgettherest。WewillgostraighttoWhitehallTerraceandbringthemattertoahead。\"
WhenwearrivedattheresidenceoftheEuropeanSecretaryitwasforLadyHildaTrelawneyHopethatSherlockHolmesinquired。
Wewereshownintothemorning—room。
\"Mr。Holmes！\"saidthelady，andherfacewaspinkwithherindignation，\"thisissurelymostunfairandungenerousuponyourpart。Idesired，asIhaveexplained，tokeepmyvisittoyouasecret，lestmyhusbandshouldthinkthatIwasintrudingintohisaffairs。Andyetyoucompromisemebycominghereandsoshowingthattherearebusinessrelationsbetweenus。\"
\"Unfortunately，madam，Ihadnopossiblealternative。Ihavebeencommissionedtorecoverthisimmenselyimportantpaper。
Imustthereforeaskyou，madam，tobekindenoughtoplaceitinmyhands。\"
Theladysprangtoherfeet，withthecolouralldashedinaninstantfromherbeautifulface。Hereyesglazed——shetottered——Ithoughtthatshewouldfaint。Thenwithagrandeffortsheralliedfromtheshock，andasupremeastonishmentandindignationchasedeveryotherexpressionfromherfeatures。
\"You——youinsultme，Mr。Holmes。\"
\"Come，come，madam，itisuseless。Giveuptheletter。\"
Shedartedtothebell。
\"Thebutlershallshowyouout。\"
\"Donotring，LadyHilda。Ifyoudo，thenallmyearnesteffortstoavoidascandalwillbefrustrated。Giveuptheletterandallwillbesetright。IfyouwillworkwithmeIcanarrangeeverything。IfyouworkagainstmeImustexposeyou。\"
Shestoodgrandlydefiant，aqueenlyfigure，hereyesfixeduponhisasifshewouldreadhisverysoul。Herhandwasonthebell，butshehadforbornetoringit。
\"Youaretryingtofrightenme。Itisnotaverymanlything，Mr。Holmes，tocomehereandbrowbeatawoman。Yousaythatyouknowsomething。Whatisitthatyouknow？\"
\"Praysitdown，madam。Youwillhurtyourselfthereifyoufall。
Iwillnotspeakuntilyousitdown。Thankyou。\"
\"Igiveyoufiveminutes，Mr。Holmes。\"
\"Oneisenough，LadyHilda。IknowofyourvisittoEduardoLucas，ofyourgivinghimthisdocument，ofyouringeniousreturntotheroomlastnight，andofthemannerinwhichyoutooktheletterfromthehiding—placeunderthecarpet。\"
Shestaredathimwithanashenfaceandgulpedtwicebeforeshecouldspeak。
\"Youaremad，Mr。Holmes——youaremad！\"shecried，atlast。
Hedrewasmallpieceofcardboardfromhispocket。Itwasthefaceofawomancutoutofaportrait。
\"IhavecarriedthisbecauseIthoughtitmightbeuseful，\"
saidhe。\"Thepolicemanhasrecognisedit。\"
Shegaveagaspandherheaddroppedbackinthechair。
\"Come，LadyHilda。Youhavetheletter。Themattermaystillbeadjusted。Ihavenodesiretobringtroubletoyou。
MydutyendswhenIhavereturnedthelostlettertoyourhusband。
Takemyadviceandbefrankwithme；itisyouronlychance。\"
Hercouragewasadmirable。Evennowshewouldnotowndefeat。
\"Itellyouagain，Mr。Holmes，thatyouareundersomeabsurdillusion。\"
Holmesrosefromhischair。
\"Iamsorryforyou，LadyHilda。Ihavedonemybestforyou；
Icanseethatitisallinvain。\"
Herangthebell。Thebutlerentered。
\"IsMr。TrelawneyHopeathome？\"
\"Hewillbehome，sir，ataquartertoone。\"
Holmesglancedathiswatch。
\"Stillaquarterofanhour，\"saidhe。\"Verygood，Ishallwait。\"
ThebutlerhadhardlyclosedthedoorbehindhimwhenLadyHildawasdownonherkneesatHolmes’sfeet，herhandsout—stretched，herbeautifulfaceupturnedandwetwithhertears。
\"Oh，spareme，Mr。Holmes！Spareme！\"shepleaded，inafrenzyofsupplication。\"ForHeaven’ssake，don’ttellhim！Ilovehimso！Iwouldnotbringoneshadowonhislife，andthisI
knowwouldbreakhisnobleheart。\"
Holmesraisedthelady。\"Iamthankful，madam，thatyouhavecometoyoursensesevenatthislastmoment！Thereisnotaninstanttolose。Whereistheletter？\"
Shedartedacrosstoawriting—desk，unlockedit，anddrewoutalongblueenvelope。
\"Hereitis，Mr。Holmes。WouldtoHeavenIhadneverseenit！\"
\"Howcanwereturnit？\"Holmesmuttered。\"Quick，quick，wemustthinkofsomeway！Whereisthedespatch—box？\"
\"Stillinhisbedroom。\"
\"Whatastrokeofluck！Quick，madam，bringithere！\"
Amomentlatershehadappearedwitharedflatboxinherhand。
\"Howdidyouopenitbefore？Youhaveaduplicatekey？
Yes，ofcourseyouhave。Openit！\"
FromoutofherbosomLadyHildahaddrawnasmallkey。
Theboxflewopen。Itwasstuffedwithpapers。Holmesthrusttheblueenvelopedeepdownintotheheartofthem，betweentheleavesofsomeotherdocument。Theboxwasshut，locked，andreturnedtothebedroom。
\"Nowwearereadyforhim，\"saidHolmes；\"wehavestilltenminutes。Iamgoingfartoscreenyou，LadyHilda。Inreturnyouwillspendthetimeintellingmefranklytherealmeaningofthisextraordinaryaffair。\"
\"Mr。Holmes，Iwilltellyoueverything，\"criedthelady。
\"Oh，Mr。Holmes，IwouldcutoffmyrighthandbeforeIgavehimamomentofsorrow！ThereisnowomaninallLondonwholovesherhusbandasIdo，andyetifheknewhowIhaveacted——howIhavebeencompelledtoact——hewouldneverforgiveme。Forhisownhonourstandssohighthathecouldnotforgetorpardonalapseinanother。Helpme，Mr。Holmes！Myhappiness，hishappiness，ourverylivesareatstake！\"
\"Quick，madam，thetimegrowsshort！\"
\"Itwasaletterofmine，Mr。Holmes，anindiscreetletterwrittenbeforemymarriage——afoolishletter，aletterofanimpulsive，lovinggirl。Imeantnoharm，andyethewouldhavethoughtitcriminal。Hadhereadthatletterhisconfidencewouldhavebeenforeverdestroyed。ItisyearssinceIwroteit。
Ihadthoughtthatthewholematterwasforgotten。ThenatlastIheardfromthisman，Lucas，thatithadpassedintohishands，andthathewouldlayitbeforemyhusband。Iimploredhismercy。
HesaidthathewouldreturnmyletterifIwouldbringhimacertaindocumentwhichhedescribedinmyhusband’sdespatch—box。
Hehadsomespyintheofficewhohadtoldhimofitsexistence。
Heassuredmethatnoharmcouldcometomyhusband。Putyourselfinmyposition，Mr。Holmes！WhatwasItodo？\"
\"Takeyourhusbandintoyourconfidence。\"
\"Icouldnot，Mr。Holmes，Icouldnot！Ontheonesideseemedcertainruin；ontheother，terribleasitseemedtotakemyhusband’spaper，stillinamatterofpoliticsIcouldnotunderstandtheconsequences，whileinamatterofloveandtrusttheywereonlytoocleartome。Ididit，Mr。Holmes！Itookanimpressionofhiskey；thismanLucasfurnishedaduplicate。
Iopenedhisdespatch—box，tookthepaper，andconveyedittoGodolphinStreet。\"
\"Whathappenedthere，madam？\"
\"Itappedatthedoorasagreed。Lucasopenedit。Ifollowedhimintohisroom，leavingthehalldoorajarbehindme，forI
fearedtobealonewiththeman。IrememberthattherewasawomanoutsideasIentered。Ourbusinesswassoondone。Hehadmyletteronhisdesk；Ihandedhimthedocument。Hegavemetheletter。Atthisinstanttherewasasoundatthedoor。
Therewerestepsinthepassage。Lucasquicklyturnedbackthedrugget，thrustthedocumentintosomehiding—placethere，andcovereditover。
\"Whathappenedafterthatislikesomefearfuldream。
Ihaveavisionofadark，franticface，ofawoman’svoice，whichscreamedinFrench，`Mywaitingisnotinvain。Atlast，atlastIhavefoundyouwithher！’Therewasasavagestruggle。
Isawhimwithachairinhishand，aknifegleamedinhers。
Irushedfromthehorriblescene，ranfromthehouse，andonlynextmorninginthepaperdidIlearnthedreadfulresult。
ThatnightIwashappy，forIhadmyletter，andIhadnotseenyetwhatthefuturewouldbring。
\"ItwasthenextmorningthatIrealizedthatIhadonlyexchangedonetroubleforanother。Myhusband’sanguishatthelossofhispaperwenttomyheart。IcouldhardlypreventmyselffromthereandthenkneelingdownathisfeetandtellinghimwhatIhaddone。Butthatagainwouldmeanaconfessionofthepast。Icametoyouthatmorninginordertounderstandthefullenormityofmyoffence。FromtheinstantthatIgraspeditmywholemindwasturnedtotheonethoughtofgettingbackmyhusband’spaper。ItmuststillbewhereLucashadplacedit，foritwasconcealedbeforethisdreadfulwomanenteredtheroom。Ifithadnotbeenforhercoming，Ishouldnothaveknownwherehishiding—placewas。HowwasItogetintotheroom？FortwodaysIwatchedtheplace，butthedoorwasneverleftopen。LastnightImadealastattempt。WhatIdidandhowIsucceeded，youhavealreadylearned。Ibroughtthepaperbackwithme，andthoughtofdestroyingitsinceIcouldseenowayofreturningit，withoutconfessingmyguilttomyhusband。
Heavens，Ihearhisstepuponthestair！\"
TheEuropeanSecretaryburstexcitedlyintotheroom。
\"Anynews，Mr。Holmes，anynews？\"hecried。
\"Ihavesomehopes。\"
\"Ah，thankheaven！\"Hisfacebecameradiant。\"ThePrimeMinisterislunchingwithme。Mayheshareyourhopes？Hehasnervesofsteel，andyetIknowthathehashardlysleptsincethisterribleevent。Jacobs，willyouaskthePrimeMinistertocomeup？Astoyou，dear，Ifearthatthisisamatterofpolitics。Wewilljoinyouinafewminutesinthedining—room。\"
ThePrimeMinister’smannerwassubdued，butIcouldseebythegleamofhiseyesandthetwitchingsofhisbonyhandsthathesharedtheexcitementofhisyoungcolleague。
\"Iunderstandthatyouhavesomethingtoreport，Mr。Holmes？\"
\"Purelynegativeasyet，\"myfriendanswered。\"Ihaveinquiredateverypointwhereitmightbe，andIamsurethatthereisnodangertobeapprehended。\"
\"Butthatisnotenough，Mr。Holmes。Wecannotliveforeveronsuchavolcano。Wemusthavesomethingdefinite。\"
\"Iaminhopesofgettingit。ThatiswhyIamhere。
ThemoreIthinkofthematterthemoreconvincedIamthattheletterhasneverleftthishouse。\"
\"Mr。Holmes！\"
\"Ifithaditwouldcertainlyhavebeenpublicbynow。\"
\"Butwhyshouldanyonetakeitinordertokeepitinhishouse？\"
\"Iamnotconvincedthatanyonedidtakeit。\"
\"Thenhowcoulditleavethedespatch—box？\"
\"Iamnotconvincedthatiteverdidleavethedespatch—box。\"
\"Mr。Holmes，thisjokingisveryill—timed。Youhavemyassurancethatitleftthebox。\"
\"HaveyouexaminedtheboxsinceTuesdaymorning？\"
\"No；itwasnotnecessary。\"
\"Youmayconceivablyhaveoverlookedit。\"
\"Impossible，Isay。\"
\"ButIamnotconvincedofit；Ihaveknownsuchthingstohappen。
Ipresumethereareotherpapersthere。Well，itmayhavegotmixedwiththem。\"
\"Itwasonthetop。\"
\"Someonemayhaveshakentheboxanddisplacedit。\"
\"No，no；Ihadeverythingout。\"
\"Surelyitiseasilydecided，Hope，\"saidthePremier。
\"Letushavethedespatch—boxbroughtin。\"
TheSecretaryrangthebell。
\"Jacobs，bringdownmydespatch—box。Thisisafarcicalwasteoftime，butstill，ifnothingelsewillsatisfyyou，itshallbedone。Thankyou，Jacobs；putithere。Ihavealwayshadthekeyonmywatch—chain。Herearethepapers，yousee。LetterfromLordMerrow，reportfromSirCharlesHardy，memorandumfromBelgrade，noteontheRusso—Germangraintaxes，letterfromMadrid，notefromLordFlowers——goodheavens！whatisthis？
LordBellinger！LordBellinger！\"
ThePremiersnatchedtheblueenvelopefromhishand。
\"Yes，itisit——andtheletterisintact。Hope，Icongratulateyou。\"
\"Thankyou！Thankyou！Whataweightfrommyheart。Butthisisinconceivable——impossible。Mr。Holmes，youareawizard，asorcerer！Howdidyouknowitwasthere？\"
\"BecauseIknewitwasnowhereelse。\"
\"Icannotbelievemyeyes！\"Heranwildlytothedoor。
\"Whereismywife？Imusttellherthatalliswell。
Hilda！Hilda！\"weheardhisvoiceonthestairs。
ThePremierlookedatHolmeswithtwinklingeyes。
\"Come，sir，\"saidhe。\"Thereismoreinthisthanmeetstheeye。
Howcametheletterbackinthebox？\"
Holmesturnedawaysmilingfromthekeenscrutinyofthosewonderfuleyes。
\"Wealsohaveourdiplomaticsecrets，\"saidhe，andpickinguphishatheturnedtothedoor。
End
