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confidence between my husband and me on all matters save one。 That one
is politics。 On this his lips are sealed。 He tells me nothing。 Now；
I am aware that there was a most deplorable occurrence in our house
last night。 I know that a paper has disappeared。 But because the
matter is political my husband refuses to take me into his complete
confidence。 Now it is essential… essential； I say… that I should
thoroughly understand it。 You are the only other person； save only
these politicians； who knows the true facts。 I beg you then； Mr。
Holmes； to tell me exactly what has happened and what it will lead to。
Tell me all； Mr。 Holmes。 Let no regard for your client's interests
keep you silent； for I assure you that his interests； if he would only
see it； would be best served by taking me into his complete
confidence。 What was this paper which was stolen？〃
〃Madam； what you ask me is really impossible。〃
She groaned and sank her face in her hands。
〃You must see that this is so； madam。 If your husband thinks fit
to keep you in the dark over this matter； is it for me； who has only
learned the true facts under the pledge of professional secrecy； to
tell what he has withheld？ It is not fair to ask it。 It is him whom
you must ask。〃
〃I have asked him。 I come to you as a last resource。 But without
your telling me anything definite； Mr。 Holmes； you may do a great
service if you would enlighten me on one point。〃
〃What is it； madam？〃
〃Is my husband's political career likely to suffer through this
incident？〃
〃Well； madam； unless it is set right it may certainly have a very
unfortunate effect。〃
〃Ah！〃 She drew in her breath sharply as one whose doubts are
resolved。
〃One more question； Mr。 Holmes。 From an expression which my
husband dropped in the first shock of this disaster I understood
that terrible public consequences might arise from the loss of this
document。〃
〃If he said so； I certainly cannot deny it。〃
〃Of what nature are they？〃
〃Nay； madam； there again you ask me more than I can possibly
answer。〃
〃Then I will take up no more of your time。 I cannot blame you； Mr。
Holmes； for having refused to speak more freely； and you on your
side will not； I am sure； think the worse of me because I desire； even
against his will； to share my husband's anxieties。 Once more I beg
that you will say nothing of my visit。〃
She looked back at us from the door； and I had a last impression
of that beautiful haunted face； the startled eyes； and the drawn
mouth。 Then she was gone。
〃Now； Watson； the fair sex is your department；〃 said Holmes； with
a smile； when the dwindling frou…frou of skirts had ended in the
slam of the front door。 〃What was the fair lady's game？ What did she
really want？〃
〃Surely her own statement is clear and her anxiety very natural。〃
〃Hum！ Think of her appearance； Watson… her manner； her suppressed
excitement； her restlessness； her tenacity in asking questions。
Remember that she comes of a caste who do not lightly show emotion。〃
〃She was certainly much moved。〃
〃Remember also the curious earnestness with which she assured us
that it was best for her husband that she should know all。 What did
she mean by that？ And you must have observed； Watson； how she
manoeuvred to have the light at her back。 She did not wish us to
read her expression。〃
〃Yes； she chose the one chair in the room。〃
〃And yet the motives of women are so inscrutable。 You remember the
woman at Margate whom I suspected for the same reason。 No powder on
her nose… that proved to be the correct solution。 How can you build on
such a quicksand？ Their most trivial action may mean volumes； or their
most extraordinary conduct may depend upon a hairpin or a curling
tongs。 Good…morning； Watson。〃
〃You are off？〃
〃Yes； I will while away the morning at Godolphin Street with our
friends of the regular establishment。 With Eduardo Lucas lies the
solution of our problem； though I must admit that I have not an
inkling as to what form it may take。 It is a capital mistake to
theorize in advance of the facts。 Do you stay on guard； my good
Watson； and receive any fresh visitors。 I'll join you at lunch if I am
able。〃
All that day and the next and the next Holmes was in a mood which
his friends would can taciturn； and others morose。 He ran out and
ran in； smoked incessantly； played snatches on his violin； sank into
reveries； devoured sandwiches at irregular hours； and hardly
answered the casual questions which I put to him。 It was evident to me
that things were not going well with him or his quest。 He would say
nothing of the case； and it was from the papers that I learned the
particulars of the inquest； and the arrest with the subsequent release
of John Mitton； the valet of the deceased。 The coroner's jury
brought in the obvious Wilful Murder； but the；parties remained as
unknown as ever。 No motive was suggested。 The room was full of
articles of value； but none had been taken。 The dead man's papers
had not been tampered with。 They were carefully examined； and showed
that he was a keen student of international politics； an indefatigable
gossip； a remarkable linguist； and an untiring letter writer。 He had
been on intimate terms with the leading politicians of several
countries。 But nothing sensational was discovered among the
documents which filled his drawers。 As to his relations with women；
they appeared to have been promiscuous but superficial。 He had many
acquaintances among them； but few friends； and no one whom he loved。
His habits were regular； his conduct inoffensive。 His death was an
absolute mystery and likely to remain so。
As to the arrest of John Mitton； the valet； it was a council of
despair as an alternative to absolute inaction。 But no case could be
sustained against him。 He had visited friends in Hammersmith that
night。 The alibi was complete。 It is true that he started home at an
hour which should have brought him to Westminster before the time when
the crime was discovered； but his own explanation that he had walked
part of the way seemed probable enough in view of the fineness of
the night。 He had actually arrived at twelve o'clock； and appeared
to be overwhelmed by the unexpected tragedy。 He had always been on
good terms with his master。 Several of the dead man's possessions…
notably a small case of razors… had been found in the valet's boxes；
but he explained that they had been presents from the deceased； and
the housekeeper was able to corroborate the story。 Mitton had been
in Lucas's employment for three years。 It was noticeable that Lucas
did not take Mitton on the Continent with him。 Sometimes he visited
Paris for three months on end； but Mitton was left in charge of the
Godolphin Street house。 As to the housekeeper； she had heard nothing
on the night of the crime。 If her master had a visitor he had
himself admitted him。
So for three mornings the mystery remained； so far as I could follow
it in the papers。 If Holmes knew more； he kept his own counsel； but；
as he told me that Inspector Lestrade had taken him into hi