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SHERLOCK HOLMES
THE NAVAL TREATY
by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
THE NAVAL TREATY
The July which immediately succeeded my marriage was made
memorable by three cases of interest； in which I had the privilege
of being associated with Sherlock Holmes and of studying his
methods。 I find them recorded in my notes under the headings of 〃The
Adventure of the Second Stain；〃 〃The Adventure of the Naval Treaty；〃
and 〃The Adventure of the Tired Captain。〃 The first of these； however；
deals with interests of such importance and implicates so many of
the first families in the kingdom that for many years it will be
impossible to make it public。 No case； however； in which Holmes was
engaged has ever illustrated the value of his analytical methods so
clearly or has impressed those who were associated with him so deeply。
I still retain an almost verbatim report of the interview in which
he demonstrated the true facts of the case to Monsieur Dubugue of
the Paris police； and Fritz von Waldbaum； the well…known specialist of
Dantzig； both of whom had wasted their energies upon what proved to be
side…issues。 The new century will have come； however； before the story
can be safely told。 Meanwhile I pass on to the second on my list；
which promised also at one time to be of national importance and was
marked by several incidents which give it a quite unique character。
During my school…days I had been intimately associated with a lad
named Percy Phelps； who was of much the same age as myself； though
he was two classes ahead of me。 He was a very brilliant boy and
carried away every prize which the school had to offer； finishing
his exploits by winning a scholarship which sent him on to continue
his triumphant career at Cambridge。 He was； I remember； extremely well
connected； and even when we were all little boys together we knew that
his mother's brother was Lord Holdhurst； the great conservative
politician。 This gaudy relationship did him little good at school。
On the contrary； it seemed rather a piquant thing to us to chevy him
about the playground and hit him over the shins with a wicket。 But
it was another thing when he came out into the world。 I heard
vaguely that his abilities and the influences which he commanded had
won him a good position at the Foreign Office； and then he passed
completely out of my mind until the following letter recalled his
existence：
Briarbrae； Woking。
MY DEAR WATSON：
I have no doubt that you can remember 〃Tadpole〃 Phelps； who was in
the fifth form when you were in the third。 It is possible even that
you may have heard that through my uncle's influence I obtained a good
appointment at the Foreign Office； and that I was in a situation of
trust and honour until a horrible misfortune came suddenly to blast my
career。
There is no use writing the details of that dreadful event。 In the
event of your acceding to my request it is probable that I shall
have to narrate them to you。 I have only just recovered from nine
weeks of brain…fever and am still exceedingly weak。 Do you think
that you could bring your friend Mr。 Holmes down to see me？ I should
like to have his opinion of the case； though the authorities assure me
that nothing more can be done。 Do try to bring him down； and as soon
as possible。 Every minute seems an hour while I live in this state
of horrible suspense。 Assure him that if I have not asked his advice
sooner it was not because I did not appreciate his talents； but
because I have been off my head ever since the blow fell。 Now I am
clear again； though I dare not think of it too much for fear of a
relapse。 I am still so weak that I have to write； as you see； by
dictating。 Do try to bring him。
Your old school…fellow；
PERCY PHELPS。
There was something that touched me as I read this letter； something
pitiable in the reiterated appeals to bring Holmes。 So moved was I
that even had it been a difficult matter I should have tried it； but
of course I knew well that Holmes loved his art； so that he was ever
as ready to bring his aid as his client could be to receive it。 My
wife agreed with me that not a moment should be lost in laying the
matter before him； and so within an hour of breakfast…time I found
myself back once more in the old rooms in Baker Street。
Holmes was seated at his side…table clad in his dressing…gown and
working hard over a chemical investigation。 A large curved retort
was boiling furiously in the bluish flame of a Bunsen burner； and
the distilled drops were condensing into a two…litre measure。 My
friend hardly glanced up as I entered； and I； seeing that his
investigation must be of importance； seated myself in an armchair
and waited。 He dipped into this bottle or that； drawing out a few
drops of each with his glass pipette； and finally brought the
test…tube containing a solution over to the table。 In his right hand
he held a slip of litmus…paper。
〃You come at a crisis Watson；〃 said he。 〃If this paper remains blue；
all is well。 If it turns red； it means a man's life。〃 He dipped it
into the test…tube and it flushed at once into a dull； dirty
crimson。 〃Hum！ I thought as much！〃 he cried。 〃I will be at your
service in an instant； Watson。 You will find tobacco in the Persian
slipper。〃 He turned to his desk and scribbled off several telegrams；
which were handed over to the page…boy。 Then he threw himself down
into the chair opposite and drew up his knees until his fingers
clasped round his long； thin shins。
〃A very commonplace little murder；〃 said he。 〃You've got something
better； I fancy。 You are the stormy petrel of crime； Watson。 What is
it？〃 I handed him the letter； which he read with the most concentrated
attention。
〃It does not tell us very much； does it？〃 he remarked as he handed
it back to me。
〃Hardly anything。〃
〃And yet the writing is of interest。〃
〃But the writing is not his own。〃
〃Precisely。 It is a woman's。〃
〃A man's surely；〃 I cried。
〃No； a woman's； and a woman of rare character。 You see； at the
commencement of an investigation it is something to know that your
client is in close contact with someone who； for good or evil； has
an exceptional nature。 My interest is already awakened in the case。 If
you are ready we will start at once for Woking and see this
diplomatist who is in such evil case and the lady to whom he
dictates his letters。〃
We were fortunate enough to catch an early train at Waterloo； and in
a little under an hour we found ourselves among the fir…woods and
the heather of Woking。 Briarbrae proved to be a large detached house
standing in extensive grounds within a few minutes' walk of the
station。 On sending in our cards we were shown into an elegantly
appointed drawing…room； where we were joined in a few minutes by a
rather stout man who received us with much hospitality。 His age may
have b