<s> THE MATTER MAY STILL BE ADJUSTED </s><s> I HAVE NO DESIRE TO BRING TROUBLE TO YOU </s><s> MY DUTY ENDS WHEN I HAVE RETURNED THE LOST LETTER TO YOUR HUSBAND </s><s> TAKE MY ADVICE AND BE FRANK WITH ME </s><s> IT IS YOUR ONLY CHANCE QUOTE </s><s> HER COURAGE WAS ADMIRABLE </s><s> EVEN NOW SHE WOULD NOT OWN DEFEAT </s><s> I TELL YOU AGAIN MR. HOLMES THAT YOU ARE UNDER SOME ABSURD ILLUSION </s><s> HOLMES ROSE FROM HIS CHAIR </s><s> I AM SORRY FOR YOU LADY HILDA </s><s> I HAVE DONE MY BEST FOR YOU </s><s> I CAN SEE THAT IT IS ALL IN VAIN </s><s> HE RANG THE BELL </s><s> THE BUTLER ENTERED </s><s> IS MR. TRELAWNEY HOPE AT HOME </s><s> HE WILL BE HOME SIR AT A QUARTER TO ONE </s><s> HOLMES GLANCED AT HIS WATCH </s><s> QUOTE STILL A QUARTER OF AN HOUR QUOTE SAID HE </s><s> VERY GOOD I SHALL WAIT </s><s> THE BUTLER HAD HARDLY CLOSED THE DOOR BEHIND HIM WHEN LADY HILDA WAS DOWN ON HER KNEES AT HOLMES'S FEET HER HANDS OUTSTRETCHED HER BEAUTIFUL FACE UPTURNED AND WET WITH HER TEARS </s><s> OH SPARE ME MR. HOLMES </s><s> SPARE ME SHE PLEADED IN A FRENZY OF SUPPLICATION </s><s> FOR HEAVEN'S SAKE DON'T TELL HIM </s><s> I LOVE HIM SO </s><s> I WOULD NOT BRING ONE SHADOW ON HIS LIFE AND THIS I KNOW WOULD BREAK HIS NOBLE HEART </s><s> HOLMES RAISED THE LADY </s><s> QUOTE I AM THANKFUL MADAM THAT YOU HAVE COME TO YOUR SENSES EVEN AT THIS LAST MOMENT </s><s> THERE IS NOT AN INSTANT TO LOSE </s><s> WHERE IS THE LETTER </s><s> SHE DARTED ACROSS TO A WRITING DESK UNLOCKED IT AND DREW OUT A LONG BLUE ENVELOPE </s><s> HERE IT IS MR. HOLMES </s><s> WOULD TO HEAVEN I HAD NEVER SEEN IT </s><s> HOW CAN WE RETURN IT </s><s> HOLMES MUTTERED </s><s> QUICK QUICK WE MUST THINK OF SOME WAY </s><s> WHERE IS THE DESPATCH BOX QUOTE </s><s> STILL IN HIS BEDROOM </s><s> WHAT A STROKE OF LUCK </s><s> QUICK MADAM BRING IT HERE </s><s> A MOMENT LATER SHE HAD APPEARED WITH A RED FLAT BOX IN HER HAND </s><s> HOW DID YOU OPEN IT BEFORE </s><s> YOU HAVE A DUPLICATE KEY </s><s> YES OF COURSE YOU HAVE </s><s> OPEN IT </s><s> FROM OUT OF HER BOSOM LADY HILDA HAD DRAWN A SMALL KEY </s><s> THE BOX FLEW OPEN </s><s> IT WAS STUFFED WITH PAPERS </s><s> HOLMES THRUST THE BLUE ENVELOPE DEEP DOWN INTO THE HEART OF THEM BETWEEN THE LEAVES OF SOME OTHER DOCUMENT </s><s> THE BOX WAS SHUT LOCKED AND RETURNED TO THE BEDROOM </s><s> QUOTE NOW WE ARE READY FOR HIM QUOTE SAID HOLMES </s><s> WE HAVE STILL TEN MINUTES </s><s> I AM GOING FAR TO SCREEN YOU LADY HILDA </s><s> IN RETURN YOU WILL SPEND THE TIME IN TELLING ME FRANKLY THE REAL MEANING OF THIS EXTRAORDINARY AFFAIR </s><s> MR. HOLMES I WILL TELL YOU EVERYTHING CRIED THE LADY </s><s> OH MR. HOLMES I WOULD CUT OFF MY RIGHT HAND BEFORE I GAVE HIM A MOMENT OF SORROW </s><s> THERE IS NO WOMAN IN ALL LONDON WHO LOVES HER HUSBAND AS I DO AND YET IF HE KNEW HOW I HAVE ACTED HOW I HAVE BEEN COMPELLED TO ACT HE WOULD NEVER FORGIVE ME </s><s> FOR HIS OWN HONOUR STANDS SO HIGH THAT HE COULD NOT FORGET OR PARDON A LAPSE IN ANOTHER </s><s> HELP ME MR. HOLMES </s><s> MY HAPPINESS HIS HAPPINESS OUR VERY LIVES ARE AT STAKE </s><s> QUOTE QUICK MADAM THE TIME GROWS SHORT QUOTE </s><s> IT WAS A LETTER OF MINE MR. HOLMES AN INDISCREET LETTER WRITTEN BEFORE MY MARRIAGE A FOOLISH LETTER A LETTER OF AN IMPULSIVE LOVING GIRL </s><s> I MEANT NO HARM AND YET HE WOULD HAVE THOUGHT IT CRIMINAL </s><s> HAD HE READ THAT LETTER HIS CONFIDENCE WOULD HAVE BEEN FOREVER DESTROYED </s><s> IT IS YEARS SINCE I WROTE IT </s><s> I HAD THOUGHT THAT THE WHOLE MATTER WAS FORGOTTEN </s><s> THEN AT LAST I HEARD FROM THIS MAN LUCAS THAT IT HAD PASSED INTO HIS HANDS AND THAT HE WOULD LAY IT BEFORE MY HUSBAND </s><s> I IMPLORED HIS MERCY </s><s> HE SAID THAT HE WOULD RETURN MY LETTER IF I WOULD BRING HIM A CERTAIN DOCUMENT WHICH HE DESCRIBED IN MY HUSBAND'S DESPATCH BOX </s><s> HE HAD SOME SPY IN THE OFFICE WHO HAD TOLD HIM OF ITS EXISTENCE </s><s> HE ASSURED ME THAT NO HARM COULD COME TO MY HUSBAND </s><s> PUT YOURSELF IN MY POSITION MR. HOLMES </s><s> WHAT WAS I TO DO </s><s> TAKE YOUR HUSBAND INTO YOUR CONFIDENCE </s><s> I COULD NOT MR. HOLMES I COULD NOT </s><s> ON THE ONE SIDE SEEMED CERTAIN RUIN ON THE OTHER TERRIBLE AS IT SEEMED TO TAKE MY HUSBAND'S PAPER STILL IN A MATTER OF POLITICS I COULD NOT UNDERSTAND THE CONSEQUENCES WHILE IN A MATTER OF LOVE AND TRUST THEY WERE ONLY TOO CLEAR TO ME </s><s> I DID IT MR. HOLMES </s><s> I TOOK AN IMPRESSION OF HIS KEY </s><s> THIS MAN LUCAS FURNISHED A DUPLICATE </s><s> I OPENED HIS DESPATCH BOX TOOK THE PAPER AND CONVEYED IT TO GODOLPHIN STREET </s><s> QUOTE WHAT HAPPENED THERE MADAM QUOTE </s><s> I TAPPED AT THE DOOR AS AGREED </s><s> LUCAS OPENED IT </s><s> I FOLLOWED HIM INTO HIS ROOM LEAVING THE HALL DOOR AJAR BEHIND ME FOR I FEARED TO BE ALONE WITH THE MAN </s><s> I REMEMBER THAT THERE WAS A WOMAN OUTSIDE AS I ENTERED </s><s> OUR BUSINESS WAS SOON DONE </s><s> HE HAD MY LETTER ON HIS DESK I HANDED HIM THE DOCUMENT </s><s> HE GAVE ME THE LETTER </s><s> AT THIS INSTANT THERE WAS A SOUND AT THE DOOR </s><s> THERE WERE STEPS IN THE PASSAGE </s><s> LUCAS QUICKLY TURNED BACK THE DRUGGET THRUST THE DOCUMENT INTO SOME HIDING PLACE THERE AND COVERED IT OVER </s><s> WHAT HAPPENED AFTER THAT IS LIKE SOME FEARFUL DREAM </s><s> I HAVE A VISION OF A DARK FRANTIC FACE OF A WOMAN'S VOICE WHICH SCREAMED IN FRENCH MY WAITING IS NOT IN VAIN </s><s> AT LAST AT LAST I HAVE FOUND YOU WITH HER </s><s> THERE WAS A SAVAGE STRUGGLE </s><s> I SAW HIM WITH A CHAIR IN HIS HAND A KNIFE GLEAMED IN HERS </s><s> I RUSHED FROM THE HORRIBLE SCENE RAN FROM THE HOUSE AND ONLY NEXT MORNING IN THE PAPER DID I LEARN THE DREADFUL RESULT </s><s> THAT NIGHT I WAS HAPPY FOR I HAD MY LETTER AND I HAD NOT SEEN YET WHAT THE FUTURE WOULD BRING </s><s> IT WAS THE NEXT MORNING THAT I REALIZED THAT I HAD ONLY EXCHANGED ONE TROUBLE FOR ANOTHER </s><s> MY HUSBAND'S ANGUISH AT THE LOSS OF HIS PAPER WENT TO MY HEART </s><s> I COULD HARDLY PREVENT MYSELF FROM THERE AND THEN KNEELING DOWN AT HIS FEET AND TELLING HIM WHAT I HAD DONE </s><s> BUT THAT AGAIN WOULD MEAN A CONFESSION OF THE PAST </s><s> I CAME TO YOU THAT MORNING IN ORDER TO UNDERSTAND THE FULL ENORMITY OF MY OFFENCE </s><s> FROM THE INSTANT THAT I GRASPED IT MY WHOLE MIND WAS TURNED TO THE ONE THOUGHT OF GETTING BACK MY HUSBAND'S PAPER </s><s> IT MUST STILL BE WHERE LUCAS HAD PLACED IT FOR IT WAS CONCEALED BEFORE THIS DREADFUL WOMAN ENTERED THE ROOM </s><s> IF IT HAD NOT BEEN FOR HER COMING I SHOULD NOT HAVE KNOWN WHERE HIS HIDING PLACE WAS </s><s> HOW WAS I TO GET INTO THE ROOM </s><s> FOR TWO DAYS I WATCHED THE PLACE BUT THE DOOR WAS NEVER LEFT OPEN </s><s> LAST NIGHT I MADE A LAST ATTEMPT </s><s> WHAT I DID AND HOW I SUCCEEDED YOU HAVE ALREADY LEARNED </s><s> 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 </s><s> HEAVENS I HEAR HIS STEP UPON THE STAIR </s><s> THE EUROPEAN SECRETARY BURST EXCITEDLY INTO THE ROOM </s><s> ANY NEWS MR. HOLMES ANY NEWS HE CRIED </s><s> QUOTE I HAVE SOME HOPES QUOTE </s><s> AH THANK HEAVEN </s><s> HIS FACE BECAME RADIANT </s><s> THE PRIME MINISTER IS LUNCHING WITH ME </s><s> MAY HE SHARE YOUR HOPES </s><s> HE HAS NERVES OF STEEL AND YET I KNOW THAT HE HAS HARDLY SLEPT SINCE THIS TERRIBLE EVENT </s><s> JACOBS WILL YOU ASK THE PRIME MINISTER TO COME UP </s><s> AS TO YOU DEAR I FEAR THAT THIS IS A MATTER OF POLITICS </s><s> WE WILL JOIN YOU IN A FEW MINUTES IN THE DINING ROOM </s><s> 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 </s><s> I UNDERSTAND THAT YOU HAVE SOMETHING TO REPORT MR. HOLMES </s><s> PURELY NEGATIVE AS YET MY FRIEND ANSWERED </s><s> QUOTE I HAVE INQUIRED AT EVERY POINT WHERE IT MIGHT BE AND I AM SURE THAT THERE IS NO DANGER TO BE APPREHENDED QUOTE </s><s> BUT THAT IS NOT ENOUGH MR. HOLMES </s><s> WE CANNOT LIVE FOREVER ON SUCH A VOLCANO </s><s> WE MUST HAVE SOMETHING DEFINITE </s><s> I AM IN HOPES OF GETTING IT </s><s> THAT IS WHY I AM HERE </s><s> THE MORE I THINK OF THE MATTER THE MORE CONVINCED I AM THAT THE LETTER HAS NEVER LEFT THIS HOUSE </s><s> MR. HOLMES </s><s> QUOTE IF IT HAD IT WOULD CERTAINLY HAVE BEEN PUBLIC BY NOW QUOTE </s><s> BUT WHY SHOULD ANYONE TAKE IT IN ORDER TO KEEP IT IN HIS HOUSE </s><s> I AM NOT CONVINCED THAT ANYONE DID TAKE IT </s><s> THEN HOW COULD IT LEAVE THE DESPATCH BOX </s><s> I AM NOT CONVINCED THAT IT EVER DID LEAVE THE DESPATCH BOX </s><s> MR. HOLMES THIS JOKING IS VERY ILL TIMED </s><s> YOU HAVE MY ASSURANCE THAT IT LEFT THE BOX QUOTE </s><s> HAVE YOU EXAMINED THE BOX SINCE TUESDAY MORNING </s><s> NUMBER </s><s> IT WAS NOT NECESSARY </s><s> YOU MAY CONCEIVABLY HAVE OVERLOOKED IT </s><s> IMPOSSIBLE I SAY </s><s> QUOTE BUT I AM NOT CONVINCED OF IT </s><s> I HAVE KNOWN SUCH THINGS TO HAPPEN </s><s> I PRESUME THERE ARE OTHER PAPERS THERE </s><s> WELL IT MAY HAVE GOT MIXED WITH THEM </s><s> IT WAS ON THE TOP </s><s> SOMEONE MAY HAVE SHAKEN THE BOX AND DISPLACED IT </s><s> NO NO I HAD EVERYTHING OUT </s><s> SURELY IT IS EASILY DECIDED HOPE SAID THE PREMIER </s><s> QUOTE LET US HAVE THE DESPATCH BOX BROUGHT IN QUOTE </s><s> THE SECRETARY RANG THE BELL </s><s> JACOBS BRING DOWN MY DESPATCH BOX </s><s> THIS IS A FARCICAL WASTE OF TIME BUT STILL IF NOTHING ELSE WILL SATISFY YOU IT SHALL BE DONE </s><s> THANK YOU JACOBS PUT IT HERE </s><s> I HAVE ALWAYS HAD THE KEY ON MY WATCH CHAIN </s><s> HERE ARE THE PAPERS YOU SEE </s><s> 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 </s><s> LORD BELLINGER </s><s> LORD BELLINGER </s><s> THE PREMIER SNATCHED THE BLUE ENVELOPE FROM HIS HAND </s><s> YES IT IS IT AND THE LETTER IS INTACT </s><s> HOPE I CONGRATULATE YOU </s><s> THANK YOU </s><s> THANK YOU </s><s> WHAT A WEIGHT FROM MY HEART </s><s> BUT THIS IS INCONCEIVABLE IMPOSSIBLE </s><s> MR. HOLMES YOU ARE A WIZARD A SORCERER </s><s> HOW DID YOU KNOW IT WAS THERE QUOTE </s><s> BECAUSE I KNEW IT WAS NOWHERE ELSE </s><s> I CANNOT BELIEVE MY EYES </s><s> HE RAN WILDLY TO THE DOOR </s><s> WHERE IS MY WIFE </s><s> I MUST TELL HER THAT ALL IS WELL </s><s> HILDA </s><s> HILDA WE HEARD HIS VOICE ON THE STAIRS </s><s> THE PREMIER LOOKED AT HOLMES WITH TWINKLING EYES </s><s> COME SIR SAID HE </s><s> QUOTE THERE IS MORE IN THIS THAN MEETS THE EYE </s><s> HOW CAME THE LETTER BACK IN THE BOX </s><s> HOLMES TURNED AWAY SMILING FROM THE KEEN SCRUTINY OF THOSE WONDERFUL EYES </s><s> WE ALSO HAVE OUR DIPLOMATIC SECRETS SAID HE AND PICKING UP HIS HAT HE TURNED TO THE DOOR </s>