<s> I HAD INTENDED QUOTE THE ADVENTURE OF THE ABBEY GRANGE QUOTE TO BE THE LAST OF THOSE EXPLOITS OF MY FRIEND MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES WHICH I SHOULD EVER COMMUNICATE TO THE PUBLIC </s><s> THIS RESOLUTION OF MINE WAS NOT DUE TO ANY LACK OF MATERIAL SINCE I HAVE NOTES OF MANY HUNDREDS OF CASES TO WHICH I HAVE NEVER ALLUDED NOR WAS IT CAUSED BY ANY WANING INTEREST ON THE PART OF MY READERS IN THE SINGULAR PERSONALITY AND UNIQUE METHODS OF THIS REMARKABLE MAN </s><s> THE REAL REASON LAY IN THE RELUCTANCE WHICH MR. HOLMES HAS SHOWN TO THE CONTINUED PUBLICATION OF HIS EXPERIENCES </s><s> SO LONG AS HE WAS IN ACTUAL PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE THE RECORDS OF HIS SUCCESSES WERE OF SOME PRACTICAL VALUE TO HIM BUT SINCE HE HAS DEFINITELY RETIRED FROM LONDON AND BETAKEN HIMSELF TO STUDY AND BEE FARMING ON THE SUSSEX DOWNS NOTORIETY HAS BECOME HATEFUL TO HIM AND HE HAS PEREMPTORILY REQUESTED THAT HIS WISHES IN THIS MATTER SHOULD BE STRICTLY OBSERVED </s><s> IT WAS ONLY UPON MY REPRESENTING TO HIM THAT I HAD GIVEN A PROMISE THAT THE ADVENTURE OF THE SECOND STAIN SHOULD BE PUBLISHED WHEN THE TIMES WERE RIPE AND POINTING OUT TO HIM THAT IT IS ONLY APPROPRIATE THAT THIS LONG SERIES OF EPISODES SHOULD CULMINATE IN THE MOST IMPORTANT INTERNATIONAL CASE WHICH HE HAS EVER BEEN CALLED UPON TO HANDLE THAT I AT LAST SUCCEEDED IN OBTAINING HIS CONSENT THAT A CAREFULLY GUARDED ACCOUNT OF THE INCIDENT SHOULD AT LAST BE LAID BEFORE THE PUBLIC </s><s> IF IN TELLING THE STORY I SEEM TO BE SOMEWHAT VAGUE IN CERTAIN DETAILS THE PUBLIC WILL READILY UNDERSTAND THAT THERE IS AN EXCELLENT REASON FOR MY RETICENCE </s><s> IT WAS THEN IN A YEAR AND EVEN IN A DECADE THAT SHALL BE NAMELESS THAT UPON ONE TUESDAY MORNING IN AUTUMN WE FOUND TWO VISITORS OF EUROPEAN FAME WITHIN THE WALLS OF OUR HUMBLE ROOM IN BAKER STREET </s><s> THE ONE AUSTERE HIGH NOSED EAGLE EYED AND DOMINANT WAS NONE OTHER THAN THE ILLUSTRIOUS LORD BELLINGER TWICE PREMIER OF BRITAIN </s><s> THE OTHER DARK CLEAR CUT AND ELEGANT HARDLY YET OF MIDDLE AGE AND ENDOWED WITH EVERY BEAUTY OF BODY AND OF MIND WAS THE RIGHT HONOURABLE TRELAWNEY HOPE SECRETARY FOR EUROPEAN AFFAIRS AND THE MOST RISING STATESMAN IN THE COUNTRY </s><s> THEY SAT SIDE BY SIDE UPON OUR PAPER LITTERED SETTEE AND IT WAS EASY TO SEE FROM THEIR WORN AND ANXIOUS FACES THAT IT WAS BUSINESS OF THE MOST PRESSING IMPORTANCE WHICH HAD BROUGHT THEM </s><s> THE PREMIER'S THIN BLUE VEINED HANDS WERE CLASPED TIGHTLY OVER THE IVORY HEAD OF HIS UMBRELLA AND HIS GAUNT ASCETIC FACE LOOKED GLOOMILY FROM HOLMES TO ME </s><s> THE EUROPEAN SECRETARY PULLED NERVOUSLY AT HIS MOUSTACHE AND FIDGETED WITH THE SEALS OF HIS WATCH CHAIN </s><s> WHEN I DISCOVERED MY LOSS MR. HOLMES WHICH WAS AT EIGHT O'CLOCK THIS MORNING I AT ONCE INFORMED THE PRIME MINISTER </s><s> IT WAS AT HIS SUGGESTION THAT WE HAVE BOTH COME TO YOU </s><s> HAVE YOU INFORMED THE POLICE </s><s> NO SIR SAID THE PRIME MINISTER WITH THE QUICK DECISIVE MANNER FOR WHICH HE WAS FAMOUS </s><s> QUOTE WE HAVE NOT DONE SO NOR IS IT POSSIBLE THAT WE SHOULD DO SO </s><s> TO INFORM THE POLICE MUST IN THE LONG RUN MEAN TO INFORM THE PUBLIC </s><s> THIS IS WHAT WE PARTICULARLY DESIRE TO AVOID </s><s> AND WHY. SIR </s><s> BECAUSE THE DOCUMENT IN QUESTION IS OF SUCH IMMENSE IMPORTANCE THAT ITS PUBLICATION MIGHT VERY EASILY I MIGHT ALMOST SAY PROBABLY LEAD TO EUROPEAN COMPLICATIONS OF THE UTMOST MOMENT </s><s> IT IS NOT TOO MUCH TO SAY THAT PEACE OR WAR MAY HANG UPON THE ISSUE </s><s> UNLESS ITS RECOVERY CAN BE ATTENDED WITH THE UTMOST SECRECY THEN IT MAY AS WELL NOT BE RECOVERED AT ALL FOR ALL THAT IS AIMED AT BY THOSE WHO HAVE TAKEN IT IS THAT ITS CONTENTS SHOULD BE GENERALLY KNOWN </s><s> I UNDERSTAND </s><s> NOW MR. TRELAWNEY HOPE I SHOULD BE MUCH OBLIGED IF YOU WOULD TELL ME EXACTLY THE CIRCUMSTANCES UNDER WHICH THIS DOCUMENT DISAPPEARED QUOTE </s><s> THAT CAN BE DONE IN A VERY FEW WORDS MR. HOLMES </s><s> THE LETTER FOR IT WAS A LETTER FROM A FOREIGN POTENTATE WAS RECEIVED SIX DAYS AGO </s><s> IT WAS OF SUCH IMPORTANCE THAT I HAVE NEVER LEFT IT IN MY SAFE BUT I HAVE TAKEN IT ACROSS EACH EVENING TO MY HOUSE IN WHITEHALL TERRACE AND KEPT IT IN MY BEDROOM IN A LOCKED DESPATCH BOX </s><s> IT WAS THERE LAST NIGHT </s><s> OF THAT I AM CERTAIN </s><s> I ACTUALLY OPENED THE BOX WHILE I WAS DRESSING FOR DINNER AND SAW THE DOCUMENT INSIDE </s><s> THIS MORNING IT WAS GONE </s><s> THE DESPATCHBOX HAD STOOD BESIDE THE GLASS UPON MY DRESSING TABLE ALL NIGHT </s><s> I AM A LIGHT SLEEPER AND SO IS MY WIFE </s><s> WE ARE BOTH PREPARED TO SWEAR THAT NO ONE COULD HAVE ENTERED THE ROOM DURING THE NIGHT </s><s> AND YET I REPEAT THAT THE PAPER IS GONE </s><s> WHAT TIME DID YOU DINE </s><s> HALF PAST SEVEN </s><s> HOW LONG WAS IT BEFORE YOU WENT TO BED </s><s> QUOTE MY WIFE HAD GONE TO THE THEATRE </s><s> I WAITED UP FOR HER </s><s> IT WAS HALF PAST ELEVEN BEFORE WE WENT TO OUR ROOM </s><s> THEN FOR FOUR HOURS THE DESPATCH BOX HAD LAIN UNGUARDED </s><s> NO ONE IS EVER PERMITTED TO ENTER THAT ROOM SAVE THE HOUSEMAID IN THE MORNING AND MY VALET OR MY WIFE'S MAID DURING THE REST OF THE DAY </s><s> THEY ARE BOTH TRUSTY SERVANTS WHO HAVE BEEN WITH US FOR SOME TIME </s><s> BESIDES NEITHER OF THEM COULD POSSIBLY HAVE KNOWN THAT THERE WAS ANYTHING MORE VALUABLE THAN THE ORDINARY DEPARTMENTAL PAPERS IN MY DESPATCH BOX </s><s> WHO DID KNOW OF THE EXISTENCE OF THAT LETTER </s><s> QUOTE NO ONE IN THE HOUSE QUOTE </s><s> SURELY YOUR WIFE KNEW </s><s> NO SIR </s><s> I HAD SAID NOTHING TO MY WIFE UNTIL I MISSED THE PAPER THIS MORNING </s><s> THE PREMIER NODDED APPROVINGLY </s><s> I HAVE LONG KNOWN SIR HOW HIGH IS YOUR SENSE OF PUBLIC DUTY SAID HE </s><s> I AM CONVINCED THAT IN THE CASE OF A SECRET OF THIS IMPORTANCE IT WOULD RISE SUPERIOR TO THE MOST INTIMATE DOMESTIC TIES </s><s> THE EUROPEAN SECRETARY BOWED </s><s> QUOTE YOU DO ME NO MORE THAN JUSTICE SIR </s><s> UNTIL THIS MORNING I HAVE NEVER BREATHED ONE WORD TO MY WIFE UPON THIS MATTER </s><s> COULD SHE HAVE GUESSED </s><s> NO MR. HOLMES SHE COULD NOT HAVE GUESSED NOR COULD ANYONE HAVE GUESSED </s><s> HAVE YOU LOST ANY DOCUMENTS BEFORE </s><s> NO SIR </s><s> QUOTE WHO IS THERE IN ENGLAND WHO DID KNOW OF THE EXISTENCE OF THIS LETTER QUOTE </s><s> EACH MEMBER OF THE CABINET WAS INFORMED OF IT YESTERDAY BUT THE PLEDGE OF SECRECY WHICH ATTENDS EVERY CABINET MEETING WAS INCREASED BY THE SOLEMN WARNING WHICH WAS GIVEN BY THE PRIME MINISTER </s><s> GOOD HEAVENS TO THINK THAT WITHIN A FEW HOURS I SHOULD MYSELF HAVE LOST IT </s><s> HIS HANDSOME FACE WAS DISTORTED WITH A SPASM OF DESPAIR AND HIS HANDS TORE AT HIS HAIR </s><s> FOR A MOMENT WE CAUGHT A GLIMPSE OF THE NATURAL MAN IMPULSIVE ARDENT KEENLY SENSITIVE </s><s> THE NEXT THE ARISTOCRATIC MASK WAS REPLACED AND THE GENTLE VOICE HAD RETURNED </s><s> BESIDES THE MEMBERS OF THE CABINET THERE ARE TWO OR POSSIBLY THREE DEPARTMENTAL OFFICIALS WHO KNOW OF THE LETTER </s><s> NO ONE ELSE IN ENGLAND MR. HOLMES I ASSURE YOU </s><s> BUT ABROAD </s><s> QUOTE I BELIEVE THAT NO ONE ABROAD HAS SEEN IT SAVE THE MAN WHO WROTE IT </s><s> I AM WELL CONVINCED THAT HIS MINISTERS THAT THE USUAL OFFICIAL CHANNELS HAVE NOT BEEN EMPLOYED </s><s> HOLMES CONSIDERED FOR SOME LITTLE TIME </s><s> NOW SIR I MUST ASK YOU MORE PARTICULARLY WHAT THIS DOCUMENT IS AND WHY ITS DISAPPEARANCE SHOULD HAVE SUCH MOMENTOUS CONSEQUENCES </s><s> THE TWO STATESMEN EXCHANGED A QUICK GLANCE AND THE PREMIER'S SHAGGY EYEBROWS GATHERED IN A FROWN </s><s> MR. HOLMES THE ENVELOPE IS A LONG THIN ONE OF PALE BLUE COLOUR </s><s> THERE IS A SEAL OF RED WAX STAMPED WITH A CROUCHING LION </s><s> IT IS ADDRESSED IN LARGE BOLD HANDWRITING TO </s><s> I FEAR SIR SAID HOLMES THAT INTERESTING AND INDEED ESSENTIAL AS THESE DETAILS ARE MY INQUIRIES MUST GO MORE TO THE ROOT OF THINGS </s><s> WHAT WAS THE LETTER QUOTE </s><s> THAT IS A STATE SECRET OF THE UTMOST IMPORTANCE AND I FEAR THAT I CANNOT TELL YOU NOR DO I SEE THAT IT IS NECESSARY </s><s> IF BY THE AID OF THE POWERS WHICH YOU ARE SAID TO POSSESS YOU CAN FIND SUCH AN ENVELOPE AS I DESCRIBE WITH ITS ENCLOSURE YOU WILL HAVE DESERVED WELL OF YOUR COUNTRY AND EARNED ANY REWARD WHICH IT LIES IN OUR POWER TO BESTOW </s><s> SHERLOCK HOLMES ROSE WITH A SMILE </s><s> YOU ARE TWO OF THE MOST BUSY MEN IN THE COUNTRY SAID HE AND IN MY OWN SMALL WAY I HAVE ALSO A GOOD MANY CALLS UPON ME </s><s> I REGRET EXCEEDINGLY THAT I CANNOT HELP YOU IN THIS MATTER AND ANY CONTINUATION OF THIS INTERVIEW WOULD BE A WASTE OF TIME </s><s> THE PREMIER SPRANG TO HIS FEET WITH THAT QUICK FIERCE GLEAM OF HIS DEEP SET EYES BEFORE WHICH A CABINET HAS COWERED </s><s> I AM NOT ACCUSTOMED SIR HE BEGAN BUT MASTERED HIS ANGER AND RESUMED HIS SEAT </s><s> FOR A MINUTE OR MORE WE ALL SAT IN SILENCE </s><s> THEN THE OLD STATESMAN SHRUGGED HIS SHOULDERS </s><s> QUOTE WE MUST ACCEPT YOUR TERMS MR. HOLMES </s><s> NO DOUBT YOU ARE RIGHT AND IT IS UNREASONABLE FOR US TO EXPECT YOU TO ACT UNLESS WE GIVE YOU OUR ENTIRE CONFIDENCE </s><s> I AGREE WITH YOU SAID THE YOUNGER STATESMAN </s><s> THEN I WILL TELL YOU RELYING ENTIRELY UPON YOUR HONOUR AND THAT OF YOUR COLLEAGUE DOCTOR WATSON </s><s> I MAY APPEAL TO YOUR PATRIOTISM ALSO FOR I COULD NOT IMAGINE A GREATER MISFORTUNE FOR THE COUNTRY THAN THAT THIS AFFAIR SHOULD COME OUT </s><s> YOU MAY SAFELY TRUST US </s><s> QUOTE THE LETTER THEN IS FROM A CERTAIN FOREIGN POTENTATE WHO HAS BEEN RUFFLED BY SOME RECENT COLONIAL DEVELOPMENTS OF THIS COUNTRY </s><s> IT HAS BEEN WRITTEN HURRIEDLY AND UPON HIS OWN RESPONSIBILITY ENTIRELY </s><s> INQUIRIES HAVE SHOWN THAT HIS MINISTERS KNOW NOTHING OF THE MATTER </s><s> AT THE SAME TIME IT IS COUCHED IN SO UNFORTUNATE A MANNER AND CERTAIN PHRASES IN IT ARE OF SO PROVOCATIVE A CHARACTER THAT ITS PUBLICATION WOULD UNDOUBTEDLY LEAD TO A MOST DANGEROUS STATE OF FEELING IN THIS COUNTRY </s><s> THERE WOULD BE SUCH A FERMENT SIR THAT I DO NOT HESITATE TO SAY THAT WITHIN A WEEK OF THE PUBLICATION OF THAT LETTER THIS COUNTRY WOULD BE INVOLVED IN A GREAT WAR </s><s> HOLMES WROTE A NAME UPON A SLIP OF PAPER AND HANDED IT TO THE PREMIER </s><s> EXACTLY </s><s> IT WAS HE </s><s> AND IT IS THIS LETTER THIS LETTER WHICH MAY WELL MEAN THE EXPENDITURE OF A THOUSAND MILLIONS AND THE LIVES OF A HUNDRED THOUSAND MEN WHICH HAS BECOME LOST IN THIS UNACCOUNTABLE FASHION </s><s> HAVE YOU INFORMED THE SENDER </s><s> YES SIR A CIPHER TELEGRAM HAS BEEN DESPATCHED </s><s> QUOTE PERHAPS HE DESIRES THE PUBLICATION OF THE LETTER QUOTE </s><s> NO SIR WE HAVE STRONG REASON TO BELIEVE THAT HE ALREADY UNDERSTANDS THAT HE HAS ACTED IN AN INDISCREET AND HOT HEADED MANNER </s><s> IT WOULD BE A GREATER BLOW TO HIM AND TO HIS COUNTRY THAN TO US IF THIS LETTER WERE TO COME OUT </s><s> IF THIS IS SO WHOSE INTEREST IS IT THAT THE LETTER SHOULD COME OUT </s><s> WHY SHOULD ANYONE DESIRE TO STEAL IT OR TO PUBLISH IT </s><s> THERE MR. HOLMES YOU TAKE ME INTO REGIONS OF HIGH INTERNATIONAL POLITICS </s><s> BUT IF YOU CONSIDER THE EUROPEAN SITUATION YOU WILL HAVE NO DIFFICULTY IN PERCEIVING THE MOTIVE </s><s> THE WHOLE OF EUROPE IS AN ARMED CAMP </s><s> THERE IS A DOUBLE LEAGUE WHICH MAKES A FAIR BALANCE OF MILITARY POWER </s><s> GREAT BRITAIN HOLDS THE SCALES </s><s> IF BRITAIN WERE DRIVEN INTO WAR WITH ONE CONFEDERACY IT WOULD ASSURE THE SUPREMACY OF THE OTHER CONFEDERACY WHETHER THEY JOINED IN THE WAR OR NOT </s><s> DO YOU FOLLOW QUOTE </s><s> VERY CLEARLY </s><s> IT IS THEN THE INTEREST OF THE ENEMIES OF THIS POTENTATE TO SECURE AND PUBLISH THIS LETTER SO AS TO MAKE A BREACH BETWEEN HIS COUNTRY AND OURS </s><s> YES SIR </s><s> AND TO WHOM WOULD THIS DOCUMENT BE SENT IF IT FELL INTO THE HANDS OF AN ENEMY </s><s> TO ANY OF THE GREAT CHANCELLERIES OF EUROPE </s><s> IT IS PROBABLY SPEEDING ON ITS WAY THITHER AT THE PRESENT INSTANT AS FAST AS STEAM CAN TAKE IT QUOTE </s><s> MR. TRELAWNEY HOPE DROPPED HIS HEAD ON HIS CHEST AND GROANED ALOUD </s><s> THE PREMIER PLACED HIS HAND KINDLY UPON HIS SHOULDER </s><s> IT IS YOUR MISFORTUNE MY DEAR FELLOW </s><s> NO ONE CAN BLAME YOU </s><s> THERE IS NO PRECAUTION WHICH YOU HAVE NEGLECTED </s><s> NOW MR. HOLMES YOU ARE IN FULL POSSESSION OF THE FACTS </s><s> WHAT COURSE DO YOU RECOMMEND </s><s> HOLMES SHOOK HIS HEAD MOURNFULLY </s><s> YOU THINK SIR THAT UNLESS THIS DOCUMENT IS RECOVERED THERE WILL BE WAR </s><s> I THINK IT IS VERY PROBABLE </s><s> THEN SIR PREPARE FOR WAR </s><s> QUOTE THAT IS A HARD SAYING MR. HOLMES QUOTE </s><s> CONSIDER THE FACTS SIR </s><s> IT IS INCONCEIVABLE THAT IT WAS TAKEN AFTER ELEVEN THIRTY AT NIGHT SINCE I UNDERSTAND THAT MR. HOPE AND HIS WIFE WERE BOTH IN THE ROOM FROM THAT HOUR UNTIL THE LOSS WAS FOUND OUT </s><s> IT WAS TAKEN THEN YESTERDAY EVENING BETWEEN SEVENTHIRTY AND ELEVEN THIRTY PROBABLY NEAR THE EARLIER HOUR SINCE WHOEVER TOOK IT EVIDENTLY KNEW THAT IT WAS THERE AND WOULD NATURALLY SECURE IT AS EARLY AS POSSIBLE </s><s> NOW SIR IF A DOCUMENT OF THIS IMPORTANCE WERE TAKEN AT THAT HOUR WHERE CAN IT BE NOW </s><s> NO ONE HAS ANY REASON TO RETAIN IT </s><s> IT HAS BEEN PASSED RAPIDLY ON TO THOSE WHO NEED IT </s><s> WHAT CHANCE HAVE WE NOW TO OVERTAKE OR EVEN TO TRACE IT </s><s> IT IS BEYOND OUR REACH </s><s> THE PRIME MINISTER ROSE FROM THE SETTEE </s><s> WHAT YOU SAY IS PERFECTLY LOGICAL MR. HOLMES </s><s> I FEEL THAT THE MATTER IS INDEED OUT OF OUR HANDS </s><s> THEY ARE BOTH OLD AND TRIED SERVANTS </s><s> QUOTE I UNDERSTAND YOU TO SAY THAT YOUR ROOM IS ON THE SECOND FLOOR THAT THERE IS NO ENTRANCE FROM WITHOUT AND THAT FROM WITHIN NO ONE COULD GO UP UNOBSERVED </s><s> IT MUST THEN BE SOMEBODY IN THE HOUSE WHO HAS TAKEN IT </s><s> TO WHOM WOULD THE THIEF TAKE IT </s><s> TO ONE OF SEVERAL INTERNATIONAL SPIES AND SECRET AGENTS WHOSE NAMES ARE TOLERABLY FAMILIAR TO ME </s><s> THERE ARE THREE WHO MAY BE SAID TO BE THE HEADS OF THEIR PROFESSION </s><s> I WILL BEGIN MY RESEARCH BY GOING ROUND AND FINDING IF EACH OF THEM IS AT HIS POST </s><s> IF ONE IS MISSING ESPECIALLY IF HE HAS DISAPPEARED SINCE LAST NIGHT WE WILL HAVE SOME INDICATION AS TO WHERE THE DOCUMENT HAS GONE </s><s> WHY SHOULD HE BE MISSING ASKED THE EUROPEAN SECRETARY </s><s> HE WOULD TAKE THE LETTER TO AN EMBASSY IN LONDON AS LIKELY AS NOT </s><s> I FANCY NOT </s><s> THESE AGENTS WORK INDEPENDENTLY AND THEIR RELATIONS WITH THE EMBASSIES ARE OFTEN STRAINED </s><s> THE PRIME MINISTER NODDED HIS ACQUIESCENCE </s><s> QUOTE I BELIEVE YOU ARE RIGHT MR. HOLMES </s><s> HE WOULD TAKE SO VALUABLE A PRIZE TO HEADQUARTERS WITH HIS OWN HANDS </s><s> I THINK THAT YOUR COURSE OF ACTION IS AN EXCELLENT ONE </s><s> MEANWHILE HOPE WE CANNOT NEGLECT ALL OUR OTHER DUTIES ON ACCOUNT OF THIS ONE MISFORTUNE </s><s> 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 </s><s> THE TWO STATESMEN BOWED AND WALKED GRAVELY FROM THE ROOM </s><s> WHEN OUR ILLUSTRIOUS VISITORS HAD DEPARTED HOLMES LIT HIS PIPE IN SILENCE AND SAT FOR SOME TIME LOST IN THE DEEPEST THOUGHT </s><s> 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 </s><s> YES SAID HE THERE IS NO BETTER WAY OF APPROACHING IT </s><s> THE SITUATION IS DESPERATE BUT NOT HOPELESS </s><s> 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 </s><s> AFTER ALL IT IS A QUESTION OF MONEY WITH THESE FELLOWS AND I HAVE THE BRITISH TREASURY BEHIND ME </s><s> IF IT'S ON THE MARKET I'LL BUY IT IF IT MEANS ANOTHER PENNY ON THE INCOME TAX </s><s> 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 </s><s> THERE ARE ONLY THOSE THREE CAPABLE OF PLAYING SO BOLD A GAME THERE ARE OBERSTEIN LA ROTHIERE AND EDUARDO LUCAS </s><s> I WILL SEE EACH OF THEM </s><s> I GLANCED AT MY MORNING PAPER </s><s> IS THAT EDUARDO LUCAS OF GODOLPHIN STREET </s><s> YES </s><s> QUOTE YOU WILL NOT SEE HIM QUOTE </s><s> WHY NOT </s><s> HE WAS MURDERED IN HIS HOUSE LAST NIGHT </s><s> 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 </s><s> HE STARED IN AMAZEMENT AND THEN SNATCHED THE PAPER FROM MY HANDS </s><s> THIS WAS THE PARAGRAPH WHICH I HAD BEEN ENGAGED IN READING WHEN HE ROSE FROM HIS CHAIR </s><s> MURDER IN WESTMINSTER A CRIME OF MYSTERIOUS CHARACTER WAS COMMITTED LAST NIGHT AT SIXTEEN GODOLPHIN STREET ONE OF THE OLD FASHIONED AND SE CLUDED 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 </s>