\"Butabroad？\"
\"Ibelievethatnooneabroadhasseenitsavethemanwhowroteit。
IamwellconvincedthathisMinisters——thattheusualofficialchannelshavenotbeenemployed。\"
Holmesconsideredforsomelittletime。
\"Now，sir，Imustaskyoumoreparticularlywhatthisdocumentis，andwhyitsdisappearanceshouldhavesuchmomentousconsequences？\"
ThetwostatesmenexchangedaquickglanceandthePremier’sshaggyeyebrowsgatheredinafrown。
\"Mr。Holmes，theenvelopeisalong，thinoneofpalebluecolour。
Thereisasealofredwaxstampedwithacrouchinglion。
Itisaddressedinlarge，boldhandwritingto———\"
\"Ifear，sir，\"saidHolmes，\"that，interestingandindeedessentialasthesedetailsare，myinquiriesmustgomoretotherootofthings。WhatWAStheletter？\"
\"ThatisaStatesecretoftheutmostimportance，andIfearthatIcannottellyou，nordoIseethatitisnecessary。
IfbytheaidofthepowerswhichyouaresaidtopossessyoucanfindsuchanenvelopeasIdescribewithitsenclosure，youwillhavedeservedwellofyourcountry，andearnedanyrewardwhichitliesinourpowertobestow。\"
SherlockHolmesrosewithasmile。
\"Youaretwoofthemostbusymeninthecountry，\"saidhe，\"andinmyownsmallwayIhavealsoagoodmanycallsuponme。
IregretexceedinglythatIcannothelpyouinthismatter，andanycontinuationofthisinterviewwouldbeawasteoftime。\"
ThePremiersprangtohisfeetwiththatquick，fiercegleamofhisdeep—seteyesbeforewhichaCabinethascowered。\"Iamnotaccustomed，sir————\"hebegan，butmasteredhisangerandresumedhisseat。Foraminuteormoreweallsatinsilence。
Thentheoldstatesmanshruggedhisshoulders。
\"Wemustacceptyourterms，Mr。Holmes。Nodoubtyouareright，anditisunreasonableforustoexpectyoutoactunlesswegiveyouourentireconfidence。\"
\"Iagreewithyou，sir，\"saidtheyoungerstatesman。
\"ThenIwilltellyou，relyingentirelyuponyourhonourandthatofyourcolleague，Dr。Watson。Imayappealtoyourpatriotismalso，forIcouldnotimagineagreatermisfortuneforthecountrythanthatthisaffairshouldcomeout。\"
\"Youmaysafelytrustus。\"
\"Theletter，then，isfromacertainforeignpotentatewhohasbeenruffledbysomerecentColonialdevelopmentsofthiscountry。Ithasbeenwrittenhurriedlyanduponhisownresponsibilityentirely。InquirieshaveshownthathisMinistersknownothingofthematter。Atthesametimeitiscouchedinsounfortunateamanner，andcertainphrasesinitareofsoprovocativeacharacter，thatitspublicationwouldundoubtedlyleadtoamostdangerousstateoffeelinginthiscountry。Therewouldbesuchaferment，sir，thatIdonothesitatetosaythatwithinaweekofthepublicationofthatletterthiscountrywouldbeinvolvedinagreatwar。\"
HolmeswroteanameuponaslipofpaperandhandedittothePremier。
\"Exactly。Itwashe。Anditisthisletter——thisletterwhichmaywellmeantheexpenditureofathousandmillionsandthelivesofahundredthousandmen——whichhasbecomelostinthisunaccountablefashion。\"
\"Haveyouinformedthesender？\"
\"Yes，sir，aciphertelegramhasbeendespatched。\"
\"Perhapshedesiresthepublicationoftheletter。\"
\"No，sir，wehavestrongreasontobelievethathealreadyunderstandsthathehasactedinanindiscreetandhot—headedmanner。Itwouldbeagreaterblowtohimandtohiscountrythantousifthisletterweretocomeout。\"
\"Ifthisisso，whoseinterestisitthatthelettershouldcomeout？Whyshouldanyonedesiretostealitortopublishit？\"
\"There，Mr。Holmes，youtakemeintoregionsofhighinternationalpolitics。ButifyouconsidertheEuropeansituationyouwillhavenodifficultyinperceivingthemotive。
ThewholeofEuropeisanarmedcamp。Thereisadoubleleaguewhichmakesafairbalanceofmilitarypower。GreatBritainholdsthescales。IfBritainweredrivenintowarwithoneconfederacy，itwouldassurethesupremacyoftheotherconfederacy，whethertheyjoinedinthewarornot。Doyoufollow？\"
\"Veryclearly。Itisthentheinterestoftheenemiesofthispotentatetosecureandpublishthisletter，soastomakeabreachbetweenhiscountryandours？\"
\"Yes，sir。\"
\"Andtowhomwouldthisdocumentbesentifitfellintothehandsofanenemy？\"
\"ToanyofthegreatChancelleriesofEurope。Itisprobablyspeedingonitswaythitheratthepresentinstantasfastassteamcantakeit。\"
Mr。TrelawneyHopedroppedhisheadonhischestandgroanedaloud。ThePremierplacedhishandkindlyuponhisshoulder。
\"Itisyourmisfortune，mydearfellow。Noonecanblameyou。
Thereisnoprecautionwhichyouhaveneglected。
Now，Mr。Holmes，youareinfullpossessionofthefacts。
Whatcoursedoyourecommend？\"
Holmesshookhisheadmournfully。
\"Youthink，sir，thatunlessthisdocumentisrecoveredtherewillbewar？\"
\"Ithinkitisveryprobable。\"
\"Then，sir，prepareforwar。\"
\"Thatisahardsaying，Mr。Holmes。\"
\"Considerthefacts，sir。Itisinconceivablethatitwastakenaftereleven—thirtyatnight，sinceIunderstandthatMr。Hopeandhiswifewerebothintheroomfromthathouruntilthelosswasfoundout。Itwastaken，then，yesterdayeveningbetweenseven—thirtyandeleven—thirty，probablyneartheearlierhour，sincewhoevertookitevidentlyknewthatitwasthereandwouldnaturallysecureitasearlyaspossible。Now，sir，ifadocumentofthisimportanceweretakenatthathour，wherecanitbenow？Noonehasanyreasontoretainit。Ithasbeenpassedrapidlyontothosewhoneedit。Whatchancehavewenowtoovertakeoreventotraceit？Itisbeyondourreach。\"
ThePrimeMinisterrosefromthesettee。
\"Whatyousayisperfectlylogical，Mr。Holmes。Ifeelthatthematterisindeedoutofourhands。\"
\"Letuspresume，forargument’ssake，thatthedocumentwastakenbythemaidorbythevalet————\"
\"Theyarebotholdandtriedservants。\"
\"Iunderstandyoutosaythatyourroomisonthesecondfloor，thatthereisnoentrancefromwithout，andthatfromwithinnoonecouldgoupunobserved。Itmust，then，besomebodyinthehousewhohastakenit。Towhomwouldthethieftakeit？
Tooneofseveralinternationalspiesandsecretagents，whosenamesaretolerablyfamiliartome。Therearethreewhomaybesaidtobetheheadsoftheirprofession。Iwillbeginmyresearchbygoingroundandfindingifeachofthemisathispost。Ifoneismissing——especiallyifhehasdisappearedsincelastnight——wewillhavesomeindicationastowherethedocumenthasgone。\"
\"Whyshouldhebemissing？\"askedtheEuropeanSecretary。
\"HewouldtakethelettertoanEmbassyinLondon，aslikelyasnot。\"
\"Ifancynot。Theseagentsworkindependently，andtheirrelationswiththeEmbassiesareoftenstrained。\"
ThePrimeMinisternoddedhisacquiescence。
\"Ibelieveyouareright，Mr。Holmes。Hewouldtakesovaluableaprizetohead—quarterswithhisownhands。Ithinkthatyourcourseofactionisanexcellentone。Meanwhile，Hope，wecannotneglectallourotherdutiesonaccountofthisonemisfortune。Shouldtherebeanyfreshdevelopmentsduringthedayweshallcommunicatewithyou，andyouwillnodoubtletusknowtheresultsofyourowninquiries。\"
Thetwostatesmenbowedandwalkedgravelyfromtheroom。
WhenourillustriousvisitorshaddepartedHolmeslithispipeinsilence，andsatforsometimelostinthedeepestthought。
IhadopenedthemorningpaperandwasimmersedinasensationalcrimewhichhadoccurredinLondonthenightbefore，whenmyfriendgaveanexclamation，sprangtohisfeet，andlaidhispipedownuponthemantelpiece。
\"Yes，\"saidhe，\"thereisnobetterwayofapproachingit。
Thesituationisdesperate，butnothopeless。Evennow，ifwecouldbesurewhichofthemhastakenit，itisjustpossiblethatithasnotyetpassedoutofhishands。
Afterall，itisaquestionofmoneywiththesefellows，andIhavetheBritishTreasurybehindme。Ifit’sonthemarketI’llbuyit——ifitmeansanotherpennyontheincome—tax。
Itisconceivablethatthefellowmightholditbacktoseewhatbidscomefromthissidebeforehetrieshisluckontheother。
Thereareonlythosethreecapableofplayingsoboldagame；
thereareOberstein，LaRothiere，andEduardoLucas。
Iwillseeeachofthem。\"
Iglancedatmymorningpaper。
\"IsthatEduardoLucasofGodolphinStreet？\"
\"Yes。\"
\"Youwillnotseehim。\"
\"Whynot？\"
\"Hewasmurderedinhishouselastnight。\"
MyfriendhassooftenastonishedmeinthecourseofouradventuresthatitwaswithasenseofexultationthatI
realizedhowcompletelyIhadastonishedhim。Hestaredinamazement，andthensnatchedthepaperfrommyhands。ThiswastheparagraphwhichIhadbeenengagedinreadingwhenherosefromhischair：——
\"MURDERINWESTMINSTER。
\"Acrimeofmysteriouscharacterwascommittedlastnightat16，GodolphinStreet，oneoftheold—fashionedandsecludedrowsofeighteenth—centuryhouseswhichliebetweentheriverandtheAbbey，almostintheshadowofthegreatToweroftheHousesofParliament。ThissmallbutselectmansionhasbeeninhabitedforsomeyearsbyMr。EduardoLucas，wellknowninsocietycirclesbothonaccountofhischarmingpersonalityandbecausehehasthewell—deservedreputationofbeingoneofthebestamateurtenorsinthecountry。Mr。Lucasisanunmarriedman，thirty—fouryearsofage，andhisestablishmentconsistsofMrs。Pringle，anelderlyhousekeeper，andofMitton，hisvalet。
Theformerretiresearlyandsleepsatthetopofthehouse。
Thevaletwasoutfortheevening，visitingafriendatHammersmith。
Fromteno’clockonwardsMr。Lucashadthehousetohimself。
Whatoccurredduringthattimehasnotyettranspired，butataquartertotwelvePolice—constableBarrett，passingalongGodolphinStreet，observedthatthedoorofNo。16wasajar。
Heknocked，butreceivednoanswer。Perceivingalightinthefrontroomheadvancedintothepassageandagainknocked，butwithoutreply。Hethenpushedopenthedoorandentered。
Theroomwasinastateofwilddisorder，thefurniturebeingallswepttooneside，andonechairlyingonitsbackinthecentre。Besidethischair，andstillgraspingoneofitslegs，laytheunfortunatetenantofthehouse。Hehadbeenstabbedtotheheartandmusthavediedinstantly。TheknifewithwhichthecrimehadbeencommittedwasacurvedIndiandagger，pluckeddownfromatrophyofOrientalarmswhichadornedoneofthewalls。Robberydoesnotappeartohavebeenthemotiveofthecrime，fortherehadbeennoattempttoremovethevaluablecontentsoftheroom。Mr。EduardoLucaswassowellknownandpopularthathisviolentandmysteriousfatewillarousepainfulinterestandintensesympathyinawide—spreadcircleoffriends。\"
\"Well，Watson，whatdoyoumakeofthis？\"askedHolmes，afteralongpause。
\"Itisanamazingcoincidence。\"
\"Acoincidence！Hereisoneofthethreemenwhomwehadnamedaspossibleactorsinthisdrama，andhemeetsaviolentdeathduringtheveryhourswhenweknowthatthatdramawasbeingenacted。Theoddsareenormousagainstitsbeingcoincidence。
Nofigurescouldexpressthem。No，mydearWatson，thetwoeventsareconnected——MUSTbeconnected。Itisforustofindtheconnection。\"
\"Butnowtheofficialpolicemustknowall。\"
\"Notatall。TheyknowalltheyseeatGodolphinStreet。
Theyknow——andshallknow——nothingofWhitehallTerrace。
OnlyWEknowofbothevents，andcantracetherelationbetweenthem。
Thereisoneobviouspointwhichwould，inanycase，haveturnedmysuspicionsagainstLucas。GodolphinStreet，Westminster，isonlyafewminutes’walkfromWhitehallTerrace。TheothersecretagentswhomIhavenamedliveintheextremeWest—end。
Itwaseasier，therefore，forLucasthanfortheotherstoestablishaconnectionorreceiveamessagefromtheEuropeanSecretary’shousehold——asmallthing，andyetwhereeventsarecompressedintoafewhoursitmayproveessential。
Halloa！whathavewehere？\"
Mrs。Hudsonhadappearedwithalady’scarduponhersalver。
Holmesglancedatit，raisedhiseyebrows，andhandeditovertome。
\"AskLadyHildaTrelawneyHopeifshewillbekindenoughtostepup，\"saidhe。
Amomentlaterourmodestapartment，alreadysodistinguishedthatmorning，wasfurtherhonouredbytheentranceofthemostlovelywomaninLondon。IhadoftenheardofthebeautyoftheyoungestdaughteroftheDukeofBelminster，butnodescriptionofit，andnocontemplationofcolourlessphotographs，hadpreparedmeforthesubtle，delicatecharmandthebeautifulcolouringofthatexquisitehead。Andyetaswesawitthatautumnmorning，itwasnotitsbeautywhichwouldbethefirstthingtoimpresstheobserver。Thecheekwaslovely，butitwaspaledwithemotion；theeyeswerebright，butitwasthebrightnessoffever；thesensitivemouthwastightanddrawninaneffortafterself—command。Terror——notbeauty——waswhatsprangfirsttotheeyeasourfairvisitorstoodframedforaninstantintheopendoor。
\"Hasmyhusbandbeenhere，Mr。Holmes？\"
\"Yes，madam，hehasbeenhere。\"
\"Mr。Holmes，IimploreyounottotellhimthatIcamehere。\"
Holmesbowedcoldly，andmotionedtheladytoachair。
\"Yourladyshipplacesmeinaverydelicateposition。
Ibegthatyouwillsitdownandtellmewhatyoudesire；
butIfearthatIcannotmakeanyunconditionalpromise。\"
Shesweptacrosstheroomandseatedherselfwithherbacktothewindow。Itwasaqueenlypresence——tall，graceful，andintenselywomanly。
\"Mr。Holmes，\"shesaid，andherwhite—glovedhandsclaspedandunclaspedasshespoke——\"Iwillspeakfranklytoyouinthehopethatitmayinduceyoutospeakfranklyinreturn。Thereiscompleteconfidencebetweenmyhusbandandmeonallmatterssaveone。Thatoneispolitics。Onthishislipsaresealed。
Hetellsmenothing。Now，Iamawarethattherewasamostdeplorableoccurrenceinourhouselastnight。Iknowthatapaperhasdisappeared。Butbecausethematterispoliticalmyhusbandrefusestotakemeintohiscompleteconfidence。Nowitisessential——essential，Isay——thatIshouldthoroughlyunderstandit。Youaretheonlyotherperson，saveonlythesepoliticians，whoknowsthetruefacts。Ibegyou，then，Mr。Holmes，totellmeexactlywhathashappenedandwhatitwillleadto。Tellmeall，Mr。Holmes。Letnoregardforyourclient’sinterestskeepyousilent，forIassureyouthathisinterests，ifhewouldonlyseeit，wouldbebestservedbytakingmeintohiscompleteconfidence。Whatwasthispaperwhichwasstolen？\"
\"Madam，whatyouaskmeisreallyimpossible。\"
Shegroanedandsankherfaceinherhands。
\"Youmustseethatthisisso，madam。Ifyourhusbandthinksfittokeepyouinthedarkoverthismatter，isitforme，whohasonlylearnedthetruefactsunderthepledgeofprofessionalsecrecy，totellwhathehaswithheld？Itisnotfairtoaskit。
Itishimwhomyoumustask。\"
\"Ihaveaskedhim。Icometoyouasalastresource。Butwithoutyourtellingmeanythingdefinite，Mr。Holmes，youmaydoagreatserviceifyouwouldenlightenmeononepoint。\"
\"Whatisit，madam？\"
\"Ismyhusband’spoliticalcareerlikelytosufferthroughthisincident？\"
\"Well，madam，unlessitissetrightitmaycertainlyhaveaveryunfortunateeffect。\"
\"Ah！\"Shedrewinherbreathsharplyasonewhosedoubtsareresolved。
\"Onemorequestion，Mr。Holmes。FromanexpressionwhichmyhusbanddroppedinthefirstshockofthisdisasterIunderstoodthatterriblepublicconsequencesmightarisefromthelossofthisdocument。\"
\"Ifhesaidso，Icertainlycannotdenyit。\"
\"Ofwhatnaturearethey？\"
\"Nay，madam，thereagainyouaskmemorethanIcanpossiblyanswer。\"
\"ThenIwilltakeupnomoreofyourtime。Icannotblameyou，Mr。Holmes，forhavingrefusedtospeakmorefreely，andyouonyoursidewillnot，Iamsure，thinktheworseofmebecauseIdesire，evenagainsthiswill，tosharemyhusband’sanxieties。
OncemoreIbegthatyouwillsaynothingofmyvisit。\"
Shelookedbackatusfromthedoor，andIhadalastimpressionofthatbeautifulhauntedface，thestartledeyes，andthedrawnmouth。Thenshewasgone。
\"Now，Watson，thefairsexisyourdepartment，\"saidHolmes，withasmile，whenthedwindlingfrou—frouofskirtshadendedintheslamofthefrontdoor。\"Whatwasthefairlady’sgame？
Whatdidshereallywant？\"
\"Surelyherownstatementisclearandheranxietyverynatural。\"
\"Hum！Thinkofherappearance，Watson——hermanner，hersuppressedexcitement，herrestlessness，hertenacityinaskingquestions。Rememberthatshecomesofacastewhodonotlightlyshowemotion。\"
\"Shewascertainlymuchmoved。\"
\"Rememberalsothecuriousearnestnesswithwhichsheassuredusthatitwasbestforherhusbandthatsheshouldknowall。
Whatdidshemeanbythat？Andyoumusthaveobserved，Watson，howshemanoeuvredtohavethelightatherback。Shedidnotwishustoreadherexpression。\"
\"Yes；shechosetheonechairintheroom。\"
\"Andyetthemotivesofwomenaresoinscrutable。YourememberthewomanatMargatewhomIsuspectedforthesamereason。
Nopowderonhernose——thatprovedtobethecorrectsolution。
Howcanyoubuildonsuchaquicksand？Theirmosttrivialactionmaymeanvolumes，ortheirmostextraordinaryconductmaydependuponahairpinoracurling—tongs。Goodmorning，Watson。\"
\"Youareoff？\"
\"Yes；IwillwileawaythemorningatGodolphinStreetwithourfriendsoftheregularestablishment。WithEduardoLucasliesthesolutionofourproblem，thoughImustadmitthatIhavenotaninklingastowhatformitmaytake。Itisacapitalmistaketotheorizeinadvanceofthefacts。Doyoustayonguard，mygoodWatson，andreceiveanyfreshvisitors。I’lljoinyouatlunchifIamable。\"
AllthatdayandthenextandthenextHolmeswasinamoodwhichhisfriendswouldcalltaciturn，andothersmorose。
Heranoutandranin，smokedincessantly，playedsnatchesonhisviolin，sankintoreveries，devouredsandwichesatirregularhours，andhardlyansweredthecasualquestionswhichIputtohim。Itwasevidenttomethatthingswerenotgoingwellwithhimorhisquest。Hewouldsaynothingofthecase，anditwasfromthepapersthatIlearnedtheparticularsoftheinquest，andthearrestwiththesubsequentreleaseofJohnMitton，thevaletofthedeceased。Thecoroner’sjurybroughtintheobvious\"WilfulMurder，\"butthepartiesremainedasunknownasever。Nomotivewassuggested。Theroomwasfullofarticlesofvalue，butnonehadbeentaken。Thedeadman’spapershadnotbeentamperedwith。Theywerecarefullyexamined，andshowedthathewasakeenstudentofinternationalpolitics，anindefatigablegossip，aremarkablelinguist，andanuntiringletter—writer。Hehadbeenonintimatetermswiththeleadingpoliticiansofseveralcountries。Butnothingsensationalwasdiscoveredamongthedocumentswhichfilledhisdrawers。Astohisrelationswithwomen，theyappearedtohavebeenpromiscuousbutsuperficial。Hehadmanyacquaintancesamongthem，butfewfriends，andnoonewhomheloved。Hishabitswereregular，hisconductinoffensive。Hisdeathwasanabsolutemystery，andlikelytoremainso。
AstothearrestofJohnMitton，thevalet，itwasacounselofdespairasanalternativetoabsoluteinaction。Butnocasecouldbesustainedagainsthim。HehadvisitedfriendsinHammersmiththatnight。TheALIBIwascomplete。ItistruethathestartedhomeatanhourwhichshouldhavebroughthimtoWestminsterbeforethetimewhenthecrimewasdiscovered，buthisownexplanationthathehadwalkedpartofthewayseemedprobableenoughinviewofthefinenessofthenight。
Hehadactuallyarrivedattwelveo’clock，andappearedtobeoverwhelmedbytheunexpectedtragedy。Hehadalwaysbeenongoodtermswithhismaster。Severalofthedeadman’spossessions——notablyasmallcaseofrazors——hadbeenfoundinthevalet’sboxes，butheexplainedthattheyhadbeenpresentsfromthedeceased，andthehousekeeperwasabletocorroboratethestory。MittonhadbeeninLucas’semploymentforthreeyears。ItwasnoticeablethatLucasdidnottakeMittonontheContinentwithhim。SometimeshevisitedParisforthreemonthsonend，butMittonwasleftinchargeoftheGodolphinStreethouse。Astothehousekeeper，shehadheardnothingonthenightofthecrime。Ifhermasterhadavisitorhehadhimselfadmittedhim。
Soforthreemorningsthemysteryremained，sofarasIcouldfollowitinthepapers。IfHolmesknewmorehekepthisowncounsel，but，ashetoldmethatInspectorLestradehadtakenhimintohisconfidenceinthecase，Iknewthathewasinclosetouchwitheverydevelopment。UponthefourthdaythereappearedalongtelegramfromPariswhichseemedtosolvethewholequestion。
\"AdiscoveryhasjustbeenmadebytheParisianpolice，\"saidtheDAILYTELEGRAPH，\"whichraisestheveilwhichhungroundthetragicfateofMr。EduardoLucas，whomethisdeathbyviolencelastMondaynightatGodolphinStreet，Westminster。Ourreaderswillrememberthatthedeceasedgentlemanwasfoundstabbedinhisroom，andthatsomesuspicionattachedtohisvalet，butthatthecasebrokedownonanALIBI。Yesterdayalady，whohasbeenknownasMme。HenriFournaye，occupyingasmallvillaintheRueAusterlitz，wasreportedtotheauthoritiesbyherservantsasbeinginsane。Anexaminationshowedthatshehadindeeddevelopedmaniaofadangerousandpermanentform。
OninquirythepolicehavediscoveredthatMme。HenriFournayeonlyreturnedfromajourneytoLondononTuesdaylast，andthereisevidencetoconnectherwiththecrimeatWestminster。
AcomparisonofphotographshasprovedconclusivelythatM。HenriFournayeandEduardoLucaswerereallyoneandthesameperson，andthatthedeceasedhadforsomereasonlivedadoublelifeinLondonandParis。Mme。Fournaye，whoisofCreoleorigin，isofanextremelyexcitablenature，andhassufferedinthepastfromattacksofjealousywhichhaveamountedtofrenzy。
ItisconjecturedthatitwasinoneofthesethatshecommittedtheterriblecrimewhichhascausedsuchasensationinLondon。
HermovementsupontheMondaynighthavenotyetbeentraced，butitisundoubtedthatawomanansweringtoherdescriptionattractedmuchattentionatCharingCrossStationonTuesdaymorningbythewildnessofherappearanceandtheviolenceofhergestures。Itisprobable，therefore，thatthecrimewaseithercommittedwheninsane，orthatitsimmediateeffectwastodrivetheunhappywomanoutofhermind。Atpresentsheisunabletogiveanycoherentaccountofthepast，andthedoctorsholdoutnohopesofthere—establishmentofherreason。
Thereisevidencethatawoman，whomighthavebeenMme。Fournaye，wasseenforsomehoursonMondaynightwatchingthehouseinGodolphinStreet。\"
\"Whatdoyouthinkofthat，Holmes？\"Ihadreadtheaccountaloudtohim，whilehefinishedhisbreakfast。
\"MydearWatson，\"saidhe，asherosefromthetableandpacedupanddowntheroom，\"youaremostlong—suffering，butifI
havetoldyounothinginthelastthreedaysitisbecausethereisnothingtotell。EvennowthisreportfromParisdoesnothelpusmuch。\"
\"Surelyitisfinalasregardstheman’sdeath。\"
\"Theman’sdeathisamereincident——atrivialepisode——incomparisonwithourrealtask，whichistotracethisdocumentandsaveaEuropeancatastrophe。Onlyoneimportantthinghashappenedinthelastthreedays，andthatisthatnothinghashappened。IgetreportsalmosthourlyfromtheGovernment，anditiscertainthatnowhereinEuropeisthereanysignoftrouble。Now，ifthisletterwereloose——no，itCAN’Tbeloose——butifitisn’tloose，wherecanitbe？Whohasit？