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prize to headquarters with his own hands。 I think that your course
of action is an excellent one。 Meanwhile； Hope； we cannot neglect
all our other duties on account of this one misfortune。 Should there
be any fresh developments during the day we shall communicate with
you； and you will no doubt let us know the results of your own
inquiries。〃
The two statesmen bowed and walked gravely from the room。
When our illustrious visitors had departed Holmes lit his pipe in
silence and sat for some time lost in the deepest thought。 I had
opened the morning paper and was immersed in a sensational crime which
had occurred in London the night before； when my friend gave an
exclamation； sprang to his feet； and laid his pipe down upon the
mantelpiece。
〃Yes；〃 said he； 〃there is no better way of approaching it。 The
situation is desperate； but not hopeless。 Even now； if we could be
sure which of them has taken it； it is just possible that it has not
yet passed out of his hands。 After all； it is a question of money with
these fellows； and I have the British treasury behind me。 If it's on
the market I'll buy it… if it means another penny on the income…tax。
It is conceivable that the fellow might hold it back to see what
bids come from this side before he tries his luck on the other。
There are only those three capable of playing so bold a game… there
are Oberstein； La Rothiere； and Eduardo Lucas。 I will see each of
them。〃
I glanced at my morning paper。
〃Is that Eduardo Lucas of Godolphin Street？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃You will not see him。〃
〃Why not？〃
〃He was murdered in his house last night。〃
My friend has so often astonished me in the course of our adventures
that it was with a sense of exultation that I realized how
completely I had astonished him。 He stared in amazement； and then
snatched the paper from my hands。 This was the paragraph which I had
been engaged in reading when he rose from his chair。
MURDER IN WESTMINSTER
A crime of mysterious character was committed last night at 16
Godolphin Street； one of the old…fashioned and secluded rows of
eighteenth century houses which lie between the river and the Abbey；
almost in the shadow of the great Tower of the Houses of Parliament。
This small but select mansion has been inhabited for some years by Mr。
Eduardo Lucas； well known in society circles both on account of his
charming personality and because he has the well…deserved reputation
of being one of the best amateur tenors in the country。 Mr。 Lucas is
an unmarried man； thirty…four years of age； and his establishment
consists of Mrs。 Pringle； an elderly housekeeper； and of Mitton； his
valet。 The former retires early and sleeps at the top of the house。
The valet was out for the evening； visiting a friend at Hammersmith。
From ten o'clock onward Mr。 Lucas had the house to himself。 What
occurred during that time has not yet transpired； but at a quarter
to twelve Police…constable Barrett； passing along Godolphin Street
observed that the door of No。 16 was ajar。 He knocked； but received no
answer。 Perceiving a light in the front room； he advanced into the
passage and again knocked； but without reply。 He then pushed open
the door and entered。 The room was in a state of wild disorder； the
furniture being all swept to one side； and one chair lying on its back
in the centre。 Beside this chair； and still grasping one of its
legs； lay the unfortunate tenant of the house。 He had been stabbed
to the heart and must have died instantly。 The knife with which the
crime had been committed was a curved Indian dagger； plucked down from
a trophy of Oriental arms which adorned one of the walls。 Robbery does
not appear to have been the motive of the crime； for there had been no
attempt to remove the valuable contents of the room。 Mr。 Eduardo Lucas
was so well known and popular that his violent and mysterious fate
will arouse painful interest and intense sympathy in a widespread
circle of friends。
〃Well； Watson； what do you make of this？〃 asked Holmes； after a long
pause。
〃It is an amazing coincidence。〃
〃A coincidence！ Here is one of the three men whom we had named as
possible actors in this drama； and he meets a violent death during the
very hours when we know that that drama was being enacted。 The odds
are enormous against its being coincidence。 No figures could express
them。 No； my dear Watson； the two events are connected… must be
connected。 It is for us to find the connection。〃
〃But now the official police must know all。〃
〃Not at all。 They know all they see at Godolphin Street。 They
know… and shall know… nothing of Whitehall Terrace。 Only we know of
both events； and can trace the relation between them。 There is one
obvious point which would； in any case； have turned my suspicions
against Lucas。 Godolphin Street； Westminster； is only a few minutes'
walk from Whitehall Terrace。 The other secret agents whom I have named
live in the extreme West End。 It was easier； therefore； for Lucas than
for the others to establish a connection or receive a message from the
European Secretary's household… a small thing； and yet where events
are compressed into a few hours it may prove essential。 Halloa！ what
have we here？〃
Mrs。 Hudson had appeared with a lady's card upon her salver。
Holmes glanced at it； raised his eyebrows； and handed it over to me。
〃Ask Lady Hilda Trelawney Hope if she will be kind enough to step
up；〃 said he。
A moment later our modest apartment； already so distinguished that
morning； was further honoured by the entrance of the most lovely woman
in London。 I had often heard of the beauty of the youngest daughter of
the Duke of Belminster； but no description of it； and no contemplation
of colourless photographs； had prepared me for the subtle； delicate
charm and the beautiful colouring of that exquisite head。 And yet as
we saw it that autumn morning； it was not its beauty which would be
the first thing to impress the observer。 The cheek was lovely but it
was paled with emotion； the eyes were bright but it was the brightness
of fever； the sensitive mouth was tight and drawn in an effort after
self…command。 Terror… not beauty… was what sprang first to the eye
as our fair visitor stood framed for an instant in the open door。
〃Has my husband been here； Mr。 Holmes？〃
〃Yes； madam。 he has been here。〃
〃Mr。 Holmes。 I implore you not to tell him that I came here。〃 Holmes
bowed coldly； and motioned the lady to a chair。
〃Your ladyship places me in a very delicate position。 I beg that you
will sit down and tell me what you desire； but I fear that I cannot
make any unconditional promise。〃
She swept across the room and seated herself with her back to the
window。 It was a queenly presence… tall； graceful； and intensely
womanly。
〃Mr。 Holmes；〃 she said… and her white…gloved hands clasped and
unclasped as she spoke… 〃I will speak frankly to you in the hopes that
it may induce you to speak frankly in return。 There is complete
confidence between my husband and me on all matters save one。 That one