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