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He took the corner of the carpet in his hand and； turning it over；
he showed that it was indeed as he said。
〃But the under side is as stained as the upper。 It must have left
a mark。〃
Lestrade chuckled with delight at having puzzled the famous expert。
〃Now； I'll show you the explanation。 There is a second stain； but it
does not correspond with the other。 See for yourself。〃 As he spoke
he turned over another portion of the carpet； and there； sure
enough； was a great crimson spill upon the square white facing of
the old…fashioned floor。 〃What do you make of that； Mr。 Holmes？〃
〃Why； it is simple enough。 The two stains did correspond； but the
carpet has been turned round。 As it was square and unfastened it was
easily done。〃
The official police don't need you； Mr。 Holmes； to tell them that
the carpet must have been turned round。 That's clear enough； for the
stains lie above each other… if you lay it over this way。 But what I
want to know is； who shifted the carpet； and why？〃
I could see from Holmes's rigid face that he was vibrating with
inward excitement。
〃Look here； Lestrade；〃 said he； 〃has that constable in the passage
been in charge of the place all the time？〃
〃Yes； he has。〃
〃Well； take my advice。 Examine him carefully。 Don't do it before us。
Well wait here。 You take him into the back room。 You'll be more likely
to get a confession out of him alone。 Ask him how he dared to admit
people and leave them alone in this room。 Don't ask him if he has done
it。 Take it for granted。 Tell him you know someone has been here。
Press him。 Tell him that a full confession is his only chance of
forgiveness。 Do exactly what I tell you！〃
〃By George； if he knows I'll have it out of him！〃 cried Lestrade。 He
darted into the hall； and a few moments later his bullying voice
sounded from the back room。
〃Now； Watson； now！〃 cried Holmes with frenzied eagerness。 All the
demoniacal force of the man masked behind that listless manner burst
out in a paroxysm of energy。 He tore the drugget from the floor； and
in an instant was down on his hands and knees clawing at each of the
squares of wood beneath it。 One turned sideways as he dug his nails
into the edge of it。 It hinged back like the lid of a box。 A small
black cavity opened beneath it。 Holmes plunged his eager hand into
it and drew it out with a bitter snarl of anger and disappointment。 It
was empty。
〃Quick； Watson； quick！ Get it back again！〃 The wooden lid was
replaced； and the drugget had only just been drawn straight when
Lestrade's voice was heard in the passage。 He found Holmes leaning
languidly against the mantelpiece； resigned and patient；
endeavouring to conceal his irrepressible yawns。
〃Sorry to keep you waiting； Mr。 Holmes。 I can see that you are bored
to death with the whole affair。 Well； he has confessed； all right。
Come in here； MacPherson。 Let these gentlemen hear of your most
inexcusable conduct。〃
The big constable； very hot and penitent； sidled into the room。
〃I meant no harm； sir； I'm sure。 The young woman came to the door
last evening… mistook the house； she did。 And then we got talking。
It's lonesome； when you're on duty here all day。〃
〃Well； what happened then？〃
〃She wanted to see where the crime was done… had read about it in
the papers； she said。 She was a very respectable； well…spoken young
woman； sir； and I saw no harm in letting her have a peep。 When she saw
that mark on the carpet； down she dropped on the floor； and lay as
if she were dead。 I ran to the back and got some water； but I could
not bring her to。 Then I went round the corner to the Ivy Plant for
some brandy； and by the time I had brought it back the young woman had
recovered and was off… ashamed of herself； I daresay； and dared not
face me。〃
〃How about moving that drugget？〃
〃Well； sir； it was a bit rumpled； certainly； when I came back。 You
see； she fell on it and it lies on a polished floor with nothing to
keep it in place。 I straightened it out afterwards。〃
〃It's a lesson to you that you can't deceive me； Constable
MacPherson；〃 said Lestrade； with dignity。 〃No doubt you thought that
your breach of duty could never be discovered； and yet a mere glance
at that drugget was enough to convince me that someone had been
admitted to the room。 It's lucky for you； my man； that nothing is
missing； or you would find yourself in Queer Street。 I'm sorry to have
called you down over such a petty business； Mr。 Holmes； but I
thought the point of the second stain not corresponding with the first
would interest you。〃
〃Certainly； it was most interesting。 Has this woman only been here
once； constable？〃
〃Yes； sir； only once。〃
〃Who was she？〃
〃Don't know the name； sir。 Was answering an advertisement about
typewriting and came to the wrong number… very pleasant； genteel young
woman； sir。〃
〃Tall？ Handsome？〃
〃Yes； sir； she was a well…grown young woman。 I suppose you might say
she was handsome。 Perhaps some would say she was very handsome。 'Oh；
officer； do let me have a peep！' says she。 She had pretty； coaxing
ways； as you might say； and I thought there was no harm in letting her
just put her head through the door。〃
〃How was she dressed？〃
〃Quiet； sir… a long mantle down to her feet。〃
〃What time was it？〃
〃It was just growing dusk at the time。 They were lighting the
lamps as I came back with the brandy。〃
〃Very good；〃 said Holmes。 〃Come； Watson； I think that we have more
important work elsewhere。〃
As we left the house Lestrade remained in the front room； while
the repentant constable opened the door to let us out。 Holmes turned
on the step and held up something in his hand。 The constable stared
intently。
〃Good Lord； sir！〃 he cried； with amazement on his face。 Holmes put
his finger on his lips； replaced his hand in his breast pocket； and
burst out laughing as we turned down the street。 〃Excellent！〃 said he。
〃Come； friend Watson； the curtain rings up for the last act。 You
will be relieved to hear that there will be no war； that the Right
Honourable Trelawney Hope will suffer no setback in his brilliant
career； that the indiscreet Sovereign will receive no punishment for
his indiscretion； that the Prime Minister will have no Europe an
complication to deal with； and that with a little tact and
management upon our part nobody will be a penny the worse for what
might have been a very ugly incident。〃
My mind filled with admiration for this extraordinary man。
〃You have solved it！〃 I cried。
〃Hardly that； Watson。 There are some points which are as dark as
ever。 But we have so much that it will be our own fault if we cannot
get the rest。 We will go straight to Whitehall Terrace and bring the
matter to a head。〃
When we arrived at the residence of the European Secretary it was
for Lady Hilda Trelawney Hope that Sherlock Holmes inquired。 We were
shown into the morning…room。
〃Mr。 Holmes！〃 said the lady； and her face was pink with her
indignation。 〃This is surely most unfair and ungenerous upon your
part。 I desired； as I have explained； to keep my vis