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Lucas quickly turned back the drugget； thrust the document into some
hiding…place there； and covered it over。
〃What happened after that is like some fearful dream。 I have a
vision of a dark； frantic face； of a woman's voice； which screamed
in French； 'My waiting is not in vain。 At last； at last I have found
you with her！' There was a savage struggle。 I saw him with a chair
in his hand； a knife gleamed in hers。 I rushed from the horrible
scene； ran from the house； and only next morning in the paper did I
learn the dreadful result。 That night I was happy； for I had my
letter； and I had not seen yet what the future would bring。
〃It was the next morning that I realized that I had only exchanged
one trouble for another。 My husband's anguish at the loss of his paper
went to my heart。 I could hardly prevent myself from there and then
kneeling down at his feet and telling him what I had done。 But that
again would mean a confession of the past。 I came to you that
morning in order to understand the full enormity of my offence。 From
the instant that I grasped it my whole mind was turned to the one
thought of getting back my husband's paper。 It must still be where
Lucas had placed it； for it was concealed before this dreadful woman
entered the room。 If it had not been for her coming； I should not have
known where his biding…place was。 How was I to get into the room？
For two days I watched the place； but the door was never left open。
Last night I made a last attempt。 What I did and how I succeeded；
you have already learned。 I brought the paper back with me； and
thought of destroying it； since I could see no way of returning it
without confessing my guilt to my husband。 Heavens； I hear his step
upon the stair！〃
The European Secretary burst excitedly into the room。
〃Any news； Mr。 Holmes； any news？〃 he cried。
〃I have some hopes。〃
〃Ah； thank heaven！〃 His face became radiant。 〃The Prime Minister
is lunching with me。 May he share your hopes？ He has nerves of
steel； and yet I know that he has hardly slept since this terrible
event。 Jacobs； will you ask the Prime Minister to come up？ As to
you； dear； I fear that this is a matter of politics。 We will join
you in a few minutes in the dining…room。〃
The Prime Minister's manner was subdued； but I could see by the
gleam of his eyes and the twitchings of his bony hands that he
shared the excitement of his young colleague。
〃I understand that you have something to report； Mr。 Holmes？〃
〃Purely negative as yet；〃 my friend answered。 〃I have inquired at
every point where it might be； and I am sure that there is no danger
to be apprehended。〃
〃But that is not enough； Mr。 Holmes。 We cannot live forever on
such a volcano。 We must have something definite。〃
〃I am in hopes of getting it。 That is why I am here。 The more I
think of the matter the more convinced I am that the letter has
never left this house。〃
〃Mr。 Holmes！〃
〃If it had it would certainly have been public by now。〃
〃But why should anyone take it in order to keep it in his house？〃
〃I am not convinced that anyone did take it。〃
〃Then how could it leave the despatch…box？〃
〃I am not convinced that it ever did leave the despatch…box。〃
〃Mr。 Holmes； this joking is very ill…timed。 You have my assurance
that it left the box。〃
〃Have you examined the box since Tuesday morning？〃
〃No。 It was not necessary。〃
〃You may conceivably have overlooked it。〃
〃Impossible； I say。〃
〃But I am not convinced of it。 I have known such things to happen。 I
presume there are other papers there。 Well； it may have got mixed with
them。〃
〃It was on the top。〃
〃Someone may have shaken the box and displaced it。〃
〃No； no； I had everything out。〃
〃Surely it is easily； decided； Hope；〃 said the Premier。 〃Let us have
the despatch…box brought in。〃
The Secretary rang the bell。
〃Jacobs； bring down my despatch…box。 This is a farcical waste of
time； but still； if nothing else will satisfy you； it shall be done。
Thank you； Jacobs； put it here。 I have always had the key on my
watch…chain。 Here are the papers； you see。 Letter from Lord Merrow；
report from Sir Charles Hardy； memorandum from Belgrade； note on the
Russo…German grain taxes； letter from Madrid； note from Lord
Flowers… Good heavens！ what is this？ Lord Bellinger！ Lord Bellinger！〃
The Premier snatched the blue envelope from his hand。
〃Yes； it is it… and the letter is intact。 Hope； I congratulate you。〃
〃Thank you！ Thank you！ What a weight from my heart。 But this is
inconceivable… impossible。 Mr。 Holmes； you are a wizard； a sorcerer！
How did you know it was there？〃
〃Because I knew it was nowhere else。〃
〃I cannot believe my eyes！〃 He ran wildly to the door。 〃Where is
my wife？ I must tell her that all is well。 Hilda！ Hilda！〃 we heard his
voice on the stairs。
The Premier looked at Holmes with twinkling eyes。
〃Come； sir；〃 said he。 〃There is more in this than meets the eye。 How
came the letter back in the box？〃
Holmes turned away smiling from the keen scrutiny of those wonderful
eyes。
〃We also have our diplomatic secrets；〃 said he and； picking up his
hat； he turned to the door。
…THE END…
。