<s> 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 </s><s> 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 </s><s> THE FORMER RETIRES EARLY AND SLEEPS AT THE TOP OF THE HOUSE </s><s> THE VALET WAS OUT FOR THE EVENING VISITING A FRIEND AT HAMMERSMITH </s><s> FROM TEN O'CLOCK ONWARD MR. LUCAS HAD THE HOUSE TO HIMSELF </s><s> WHAT OCCURED DURING THAT TIME HAS NOT YET TRAN SPIRED BUT AT A QUARTER TO TWELVE POLICE CONSTABLE BARRETT PASSING ALONG GODOLPHIN STREET OBSERVED THAT THE DOOR OF NUMBER SIXTEEN WAS AJAR </s><s> HE KNOCKED BUT RECEIVED NO ANSWER </s><s> PERCEIVING A LIGHT IN THE FRONT ROOM HE ADVANCED INTO THE PASSAGE AND AGAIN KNOCKED BUT WITHOUT REPLY </s><s> HE THEN PUSHED OPEN THE DOOR AND ENTERED </s><s> 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 </s><s> BESIDE THIS CHAIR AND STILL GRASPING ONE OF ITS LEGS LAY THE UNFORTUNATE TENANT OF THE HOUSE </s><s> HE HAD BEEN STABBED TO THE HEART AND MUST HAVE DIED INSTANTLY </s><s> 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 </s><s> 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 </s><s> MR. EDUARDO LUCAS WAS SO WELL KNOWN AND POPULAR THAT HIS VIOLENT AND MYSTERIOUS FATE WILL AROUSE PAINFUL INTEREST AND INTENSE SYMPATHY IN A WIDE SPREAD CIRCLE OF FRIENDS </s><s> WELL WATSON WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF THIS ASKED HOLMES AFTER A LONG PAUSE </s><s> IT IS AN AMAZING COINCIDENCE </s><s> A COINCIDENCE </s><s> 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 </s><s> THE ODDS ARE ENORMOUS AGAINST ITS BEING COINCIDENCE </s><s> NO FIGURES COULD EXPRESS THEM </s><s> NO MY DEAR WATSON THE TWO EVENTS ARE CONNECTED MUST BE CONNECTED </s><s> IT IS FOR US TO FIND THE CONNECTION QUOTE </s><s> BUT NOW THE OFFICIAL POLICE MUST KNOW ALL </s><s> NOT AT ALL </s><s> THEY KNOW ALL THEY SEE AT GODOLPHIN STREET </s><s> THEY KNOW AND SHALL KNOW NOTHING OF WHITEHALL TERRACE </s><s> ONLY WE KNOW OF BOTH EVENTS AND CAN TRACE THE RELATION BETWEEN THEM </s><s> THERE IS ONE OBVIOUS POINT WHICH WOULD IN ANY CASE HAVE TURNED MY SUSPICIONS AGAINST LUCAS </s><s> GODOLPHIN STREET WESTMINSTER IS ONLY A FEW MINUTES' WALK FROM WHITEHALL TERRACE </s><s> THE OTHER SECRET AGENTS WHOM I HAVE NAMED LIVE IN THE EXTREME WEST END </s><s> 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 </s><s> HALLOA WHAT HAVE WE HERE </s><s> MRS. HUDSON HAD APPEARED WITH A LADY'S CARD UPON HER SALVER </s><s> HOLMES GLANCED AT IT RAISED HIS EYEBROWS AND HANDED IT OVER TO ME </s><s> ASK LADY HILDA TRELAWNEY HOPE IF SHE WILL BE KIND ENOUGH TO STEP UP SAID HE </s><s> 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 </s><s> AND YET AS WE SAW IT THAT AUTUMN MORNING IT WAS NOT ITS BEAUTY WHICH WOULD BE THE FIRST THING TO IMPRESS THE OBSERVER </s><s> 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 </s><s> TERROR NOT BEAUTY WAS WHAT SPRANG FIRST TO THE EYE AS OUR FAIR VISITOR STOOD FRAMED FOR AN INSTANT IN THE OPEN DOOR </s><s> HAS MY HUSBAND BEEN HERE MR. HOLMES </s><s> QUOTE YES MADAM HE HAS BEEN HERE QUOTE </s><s> MR. HOLMES I IMPLORE YOU NOT TO TELL HIM THAT I CAME HERE </s><s> HOLMES BOWED COLDLY AND MOTIONED THE LADY TO A CHAIR </s><s> YOUR LADYSHIP PLACES ME IN A VERY DELICATE POSITION </s><s> I BEG THAT YOU WILL SIT DOWN AND TELL ME WHAT YOU DESIRE BUT I FEAR THAT I CANNOT MAKE ANY UNCONDITIONAL PROMISE </s><s> SHE SWEPT ACROSS THE ROOM AND SEATED HERSELF WITH HER BACK TO THE WINDOW </s><s> IT WAS A QUEENLY PRESENCE TALL GRACEFUL AND INTENSELY WOMANLY </s><s> 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 </s><s> THERE IS COMPLETE CONFIDENCE BETWEEN MY HUSBAND AND ME ON ALL MATTERS SAVE ONE </s><s> THAT ONE IS POLITICS </s><s> ON THIS HIS LIPS ARE SEALED </s><s> HE TELLS ME NOTHING </s><s> NOW I AM AWARE THAT THERE WAS A MOST DEPLORABLE OCCURRENCE IN OUR HOUSE LAST NIGHT </s><s> I KNOW THAT A PAPER HAS DISAPPEARED </s><s> BUT BECAUSE THE MATTER IS POLITICAL MY HUSBAND REFUSES TO TAKE ME INTO HIS COMPLETE CONFIDENCE </s><s> NOW IT IS ESSENTIAL ESSENTIAL I SAY THAT I SHOULD THOROUGHLY UNDERSTAND IT </s><s> YOU ARE THE ONLY OTHER PERSON SAVE ONLY THESE POLITICIANS WHO KNOWS THE TRUE FACTS </s><s> I BEG YOU THEN MR. HOLMES TO TELL ME EXACTLY WHAT HAS HAPPENED AND WHAT IT WILL LEAD TO </s><s> TELL ME ALL MR. HOLMES </s><s> 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 </s><s> WHAT WAS THIS PAPER WHICH WAS STOLEN </s><s> QUOTE MADAM WHAT YOU ASK ME IS REALLY IMPOSSIBLE QUOTE </s><s> SHE GROANED AND SANK HER FACE IN HER HANDS </s><s> YOU MUST SEE THAT THIS IS SO MADAM </s><s> 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 </s><s> IT IS NOT FAIR TO ASK IT </s><s> IT IS HIM WHOM YOU MUST ASK </s><s> I HAVE ASKED HIM </s><s> I COME TO YOU AS A LAST RESOURCE </s><s> BUT WITHOUT YOUR TELLING ME ANYTHING DEFINITE MR. HOLMES YOU MAY DO A GREAT SERVICE IF YOU WOULD ENLIGHTEN ME ON ONE POINT </s><s> WHAT IS IT MADAM </s><s> QUOTE IS MY HUSBAND'S POLITICAL CAREER LIKELY TO SUFFER THROUGH THIS INCIDENT QUOTE </s><s> WELL MADAM UNLESS IT IS SET RIGHT IT MAY CERTAINLY HAVE A VERY UNFONUNATE EFFECT </s><s> AH </s><s> SHE DREW IN HER BREATH SHARPLY AS ONE WHOSE DOUBTS ARE RESOLVED </s><s> ONE MORE QUESTION MR. HOLMES </s><s> 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 </s><s> IF HE SAID SO I CERTAINLY CANNOT DENY IT </s><s> QUOTE OF WHAT NATURE ARE THEY QUOTE </s><s> NAY MADAM THERE AGAIN YOU ASK ME MORE THAN I CAN POSSIBLY ANSWER </s><s> THEN I WILL TAKE UP NO MORE OF YOUR TIME </s><s> 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 </s><s> ONCE MORE I BEG THAT YOU WILL SAY NOTHING OF MY VISIT </s><s> 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 </s><s> THEN SHE WAS GONE </s><s> 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 </s><s> WHAT WAS THE FAIR LADY'S GAME </s><s> WHAT DID SHE REALLY WANT </s><s> QUOTE SURELY HER OWN STATEMENT IS CLEAR AND HER ANXIETY VERY NATURAL QUOTE </s><s> HUM </s><s> THINK OF HER APPEARANCE WATSON HER MANNER HER SUPPRESSED EXCITEMENT HER RESTLESSNESS HER TENACITY IN ASKING QUESHONS </s><s> REMEMBER THAT SHE COMES OF A CASTE WHO DO NOT LIGHTLY SHOW EMOTION </s><s> SHE WAS CERTAINLY MUCH MOVED </s><s> REMEMBER ALSO THE CURIOUS EARNESTNESS WITH WHICH SHE ASSURED US THAT IT WAS BEST FOR HER HUSBAND THAT SHE SHOULD KNOW ALL </s><s> WHAT DID SHE MEAN BY THAT </s><s> AND YOU MUST HAVE OBSERVED WATSON HOW SHE MANOEUVRED TO HAVE THE LIGHT AT HER BACK </s><s> SHE DID NOT WISH US TO READ HER EXPRESSION </s><s> QUOTE YES SHE CHOSE THE ONE CHAIR IN THE ROOM QUOTE </s><s> AND YET THE MOTIVES OF WOMEN ARE SO INSCRUTABLE </s><s> YOU REMEMBER THE WOMAN AT MARGATE WHOM I SUSPECTED FOR THE SAME REASON </s><s> NO POWDER ON HER NOSE THAT PROVED TO BE THE CORRECT SOLUTION </s><s> HOW CAN YOU BUILD ON SUCH A QUICKSAND </s><s> THEIR MOST TRIVIAL ACTION MAY MEAN VOLUMES OR THEIR MOST EXTRAORDINARY CONDUCT MAY DEPEND UPON A HAIRPIN OR A CURLING TONGS </s><s> GOODMORNING WATSON </s><s> YOU ARE OFF </s><s> YES I WILL WHILE AWAY THE MORNING AT GODOLPHIN STREET WITH OUR FRIENDS OF THE REGULAR ESTABLISHMENT </s><s> 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 </s><s> IT IS A CAPITAL MISTAKE TO THEORIZE IN ADVANCE OF THE FACTS </s><s> DO YOU STAY ON GUARD MY GOOD WATSON AND RECEIVE ANY FRESH VISITORS </s><s> I'LL JOIN YOU AT LUNCH IF I AM ABLE </s><s> ALL THAT DAY AND THE NEXT AND THE NEXT HOLMES WAS IN A MOOD WHICH HIS FRIENDS WOULD CALL TACITURN AND OTHERS MOROSE </s><s> 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 </s><s> IT WAS EVIDENT TO ME THAT THINGS WERE NOT GOING WELL WITH HIM OR HIS QUEST </s><s> 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 </s><s> THE CORONER'S JURY BROUGHT IN THE OBVIOUS WILFUL MURDER BUT THE PARTIES REMAINED AS UNKNOWN AS EVER </s><s> NO MOTIVE WAS SUGGESTED </s><s> THE ROOM WAS FULL OF ARTICLES OF VALUE BUT NONE HAD BEEN TAKEN </s><s> THE DEAD MAN'S PAPERS HAD NOT BEEN TAMPERED WITH </s><s> 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 </s><s> HE HAD BEEN ON INTIMATE TERMS WITH THE LEADING POLITICIANS OF SEVERAL COUNTRIES </s><s> BUT NOTHING SENSATIONAL WAS DISCOVERED AMONG THE DOCUMENTS WHICH FILLED HIS DRAWERS </s><s> AS TO HIS RELATIONS WITH WOMEN THEY APPEARED TO HAVE BEEN PROMISCUOUS BUT SUPERFICIAL </s><s> HE HAD MANY ACQUAINTANCES AMONG THEM BUT FEW FRIENDS AND NO ONE WHOM HE LOVED </s><s> HIS HABITS WERE REGULAR HIS CONDUCT INOFFENSIVE </s><s> HIS DEATH WAS AN ABSOLUTE MYSTERY AND LIKELY TO REMAIN SO </s><s> AS TO THE ARREST OF JOHN MITTON THE VALET IT WAS A COUNCIL OF DESPAIR AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO ABSOLUTE INACTION </s><s> BUT NO CASE COULD BE SUSTAINED AGAINST HIM </s><s> HE HAD VISITED FRIENDS IN HAMMERSMITH THAT NIGHT </s><s> THE ALIBI WAS COMPLETE </s><s> 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 </s><s> HE HAD ACTUALLY ARRIVED AT TWELVE O'CLOCK AND APPEARED TO BE OVERWHELMED BY THE UNEXPECTED TRAGEDY </s><s> HE HAD ALWAYS BEEN ON GOOD TERMS WITH HIS MASTER </s><s> 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 </s><s> MITTON HAD BEEN IN LUCAS'S EMPLOYMENT FOR THREE YEARS </s><s> IT WAS NOTICEABLE THAT LUCAS DID NOT TAKE MITTON ON THE CONTINENT WITH HIM </s><s> SOMETIMES HE VISITED PARIS FOR THREE MONTHS ON END BUT MITTON WAS LEFT IN CHARGE OF THE GODOLPHIN STREET HOUSE </s><s> AS TO THE HOUSEKEEPER SHE HAD HEARD NOTHING ON THE NIGHT OF THE CRIME </s><s> IF HER MASTER HAD A VISITOR HE HAD HIMSELF ADMITTED HIM </s><s> SO FOR THREE MORNINGS THE MYSTERY REMAINED SO FAR AS I COULD FOLLOW IT IN THE PAPERS </s><s> IF HOLMES KNEW MORE HE KEPT HIS OWN COUNSEL BUT AS HE TOLD ME THAT INSPECTOR LESTRADE HAD TAKEN HIM INTO HIS CONFIDENCE IN THE CASE I KNEW THAT HE WAS IN CLOSE TOUCH WITH EVERY DEVELOPMENT </s><s> UPON THE FOURTH DAY THERE APPEARED A LONG TELEGRAM FROM PARIS WHICH SEEMED TO SOLVE THE WHOLE QUESTION </s><s> A DISCOVERY HAS JUST BEEN MADE BY THE PARISIAN POLICE SAID THE DAILY TELEGRAPH WHICH RAISES THE VEIL WHICH HUNG ROUND THE TRAGIC FATE OF MR. EDUARDO LUCAS WHO MET HIS DEATH BY VIOLENCE LAST MONDAY NIGHT AT GODOLPHIN STREET WESTMINSTER </s><s> OUR READERS WILL REMEMBER THAT THE DECEASED GENTLEMAN WAS FOUND STABBED IN HIS ROOM AND THAT SOME SUSPICION ATTACHED TO HIS VALET BUT THAT THE CASE BROKE DOWN ON AN ALIBI </s><s> YESTERDAY A LADY WHO HAS BEEN KNOWN AS M. M. E. </s><s> HENRI FOURNAYE OCCUPYING A SMALL VILLA IN THE RUE AUSTERLITZ WAS REPORTED TO THE AUTHORITIES BY HER SERVANTS AS BEING INSANE </s><s> AN EXAMINATION SHOWED SHE HAD INDEED DE VELOPED MANIA OF A DANGEROUS AND PERMANENT FORM </s><s> ON INQUIRY THE POLICE HAVE DISCOVERED THAT M. M. E. </s><s> HENRI FOURNAYE ONLY RETURNED FROM A JOURNEY TO LONDON ON TUESDAY LAST AND THERE IS EVIDENCE TO CONNECT HER WITH THE CRIME AT WESTMINSTER </s><s> A COMPARISON OF PHOTOGRAPHS HAS PROVED CONCLUSIVELY THAT M. HENRI FOURNAYE AND EDUARDO LUCAS WERE REALLY ONE AND THE SAME PERSON AND THAT THE DECEASED HAD FOR SOME REASON LIVED A DOUBLE LIFE IN LONDON AND PARIS </s><s> M. M. E. </s><s> FOURNAYE WHO IS OF CREOLE ORIGIN IS OF AN EXTREMELY EXCITABLE NATURE AND HAS SUFFERED IN THE PAST FROM ATTACKS OF JEALOUSY WHICH HAVE AMOUNTED TO FRENZY </s><s> IT IS CONJECTURED THAT IT WAS IN ONE OF THESE THAT SHE COMMITTED THE TERRIBLE CRIME WHICH HAS CAUSED SUCH A SENSATION IN LONDON </s><s> HER MOVEMENTS UPON THE MONDAY NIGHT HAVE NOT YET BEEN TRACED BUT IT IS UNDOUBTED THAT A WOMAN ANSWERING TO HER DESCRIPTION ATTRACTED MUCH ATTENTION AT CHARING CROSS STATION ON TUESDAY MORNING BY THE WILDNESS OF HER APPEAR ANCE AND THE VIOLENCE OR HER GESTURES </s><s> IT IS PROBABLE THERE FORE THAT THE CRIME WAS EITHER COMMITTED WHEN INSANE OR THAT ITS IMMEDIATE EFFECT WAS TO DRIVE THE UNHAPPY WOMAN OUT OF HER MIND </s><s> AT PRESENT SHE IS UNABLE TO GIVE ANY COHERENT ACCOUNT OF THE PAST AND THE DOCTORS HOLD OUT NO HOPES OF THE REESTABLISHMENT OF HER REASON </s><s> THERE IS EVI DENCE THAT A WOMAN WHO MIGHT HAVE BEEN M. M. E. </s><s> FOURNAYE WAS SEEN FOR SOME HOURS UPON MONDAY NIGHT WATCHING THE HOUSE IN GODOLPHIN STREET </s><s> QUOTE WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THAT HOLMES QUOTE </s><s> I HAD READ THE ACCOUNT ALOUD TO HIM WHILE HE FINISHED HIS BREAKFAST </s><s> MY DEAR WATSON SAID HE AS HE ROSE FROM THE TABLE AND PACED UP AND DOWN THE ROOM YOU ARE MOST LONG SUFFERING BUT IF I HAVE TOLD YOU NOTHING IN THE LAST THREE DAYS IT IS BECAUSE THERE IS NOTHING TO TELL </s><s> EVEN NOW THIS REPORT FROM PARIS DOES NOT HELP US MUCH </s><s> SURELY IT IS FINAL AS REGARDS THE MAN'S DEATH </s><s> THE MAN'S DEATH IS A MERE INCIDENT A TRIVIAL EPISODE IN COMPARISON WITH OUR REAL TASK WHICH IS TO TRACE THIS DOCUMENT AND SAVE A EUROPEAN CATASTROPHE </s><s> ONLY ONE IMPORTANT THING HAS HAPPENED IN THE LAST THREE DAYS AND THAT IS THAT NOTHING HAS HAPPENED </s><s> I GET REPORTS ALMOST HOURLY FROM THE GOVERNMENT AND IT IS CERTAIN THAT NOWHERE IN EUROPE IS THERE ANY SIGN OF TROUBLE </s><s> NOW IF THIS LETTER WERE LOOSE NO IT CAN'T BE LOOSE BUT IF IT ISN'T LOOSE WHERE CAN IT BE </s><s> WHO HAS IT </s><s> WHY IS IT HELD BACK </s><s> THAT'S THE QUESTION THAT BEATS IN MY BRAIN LIKE A HAMMER </s><s> WAS IT INDEED A COINCIDENCE THAT LUCAS SHOULD MEET HIS DEATH ON THE NIGHT WHEN THE LETTER DISAPPEARED </s><s> DID THE LETTER EVER REACH HIM </s><s> IF SO WHY IS IT NOT AMONG HIS PAPERS </s><s> DID THIS MAD WIFE OF HIS CARRY IT OFF WITH HER </s><s> IF SO IS IT IN HER HOUSE IN PARIS </s><s> HOW COULD I SEARCH FOR IT WITHOUT THE FRENCH POLICE HAVING THEIR SUSPICIONS AROUSED </s><s> IT IS A CASE MY DEAR WATSON WHERE THE LAW IS AS DANGEROUS TO US AS THE CRIMINALS ARE </s><s> EVERY MAN'S HAND IS AGAINST US AND YET THE INTERESTS AT STAKE ARE COLOSSAL </s><s> SHOULD I BRING IT TO A SUCCESSFUL CONCLUSION IT WILL CERTAINLY REPRESENT THE CROWNING GLORY OF MY CAREER </s><s> AH HERE IS MY LATEST FROM THE FRONT </s><s> HE GLANCED HURRIEDLY AT THE NOTE WHICH HAD BEEN HANDED IN </s><s> QUOTE HALLOA </s><s> LESTRADE SEEMS TO HAVE OBSERVED SOMETHING OF INTEREST </s><s> PUT ON YOUR HAT WATSON AND WE WILL STROLL DOWN TOGETHER TO WESTMINSTER </s><s> IT WAS MY FIRST VISIT TO THE SCENE OF THE CRIME A HIGH DINGY NARROW CHESTED HOUSE PRIM FORMAL AND SOLID LIKE THE CENTURY WHICH GAVE IT BIRTH </s><s> LESTRADE'S BULLDOG FEATURES GAZED OUT AT US FROM THE FRONT WINDOW AND HE GREETED US WARMLY WHEN A BIG CONSTABLE HAD OPENED THE DOOR AND LET US IN </s>