The San Francisco call., 1905-05-28

muse tAl5iOilS OF my lIlGlG. SNGflOCk
- Holmes, which ] should ever con-
munieate 10 the public. This resolu'
ton Of mine was not due 10 any lack OF
material, since have notes Of many hun
dreds Of cases TO which have never al
luded, nor was il caused by any waning
interest On the part of my readers in the
singular personality and unique methods
Of this remarkable man. 4 ne real reason
lay in the reluctance which r. Holmes
has shown 10 the continued publication of
his experiences. So long as he was in
actual professional practice he records
OF his successes were of some practical
value TO him, but since he has definitely
retired from London and betaken himself
10 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. II was only upon my
representing 10 him that ] had given a
promise that THE Adventure of the Sec
old Stain" should be published when the
times were ripe, and pointing out TO him
that il is only appropriate that this long
series of episodes should culnainate in the
most important international case which
he has ever been called upon to handle,
that ] at last succeeded in obtaining his
consent that a carefully guarded account
OF the incident should at last be laid be-
fore the public. If in telling the story
seem TO be somewhat vague in certain
details the public viii readily understand
that there is an excellent reason for my
retfcence.
1t was then in 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 Tho walls Of 7r4- hs,y,,
Baker street. The one, austere, high
nosed, eagle-eyed and dominant, was none
other than the illustrious Lord Bellinger,
twice Premier of Britain 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 Hon Trelawney Hope, Secretary
Tor European Affairs, and the most
rising statesman in the country. They
sat side by side upon our paper-littered
settee, and il was easy to see from their
worn and anxious faces that it was bust
ness OF the most pressing importance
which had brought them. The Premier's
thin, blue-veined hands were clasped
tightly over the ivory head of his UNI
brella, and his gaunt. ascetic face looked
gloomily from Holmes TO me. The Euro
pean Secretary pulled nervously at his
mustache and fidgeted witt the seals of
his watch chain.
When discovered my loss, Mr..
Holmes, which was at o'clock this
morning. at once informed the Prime
Minister. II was at his suggestion that
We have both come to you"
Have you informed the poIice?"
No. sir" said the Prime Minister. with
the quick, decisive manner for which he
was famous. I'VE have not done so. nor
Is II possible that we should do SO. To
inform the police must, in the long run,
mean to inform the public. This is what
we particularly desire to avoid"
And why, sir?'
Because the document in question is
OF such immense Importance that its pub
hcation might very easily-I might al
most say probably-lead to European
complications Of the utmost moment. IT
is NOT too much to say that peace or
war may hang upon the issue. Unless its
recovery can be attended with the ut
most secrecy, then il may as well not
be recovered at all, for all that is aimed
al by those who have taken ii is that its
contents should be generally known
j understand. Now, Mr. Trelavney
Hope, ] should be much obliged If you
would tell me exactly the circumstances
under which this document disappeared. -
That can be done in q very few words
MT Holmes. The letter-for it was a
letter from a foreign potentate-was re-
ceiKec six days ago. It was Of such
importance that I have never left it in
my safe, but have taken Il across each
evening to my house in Whitehall Ter
race, and kept it in my bedroom In a
locked dispatch-box. II was there last
night. OF that 1 am certain. 1 actually
opened the box while I was dressing for
dinner, and saw the document inside.
This morning II was gone The DISPATCH
box had stood beside the glass upon my
dressing table all night I am a light
sleeper, and so is my wife. We are both
prepared to swear that no one could have
entered the room during the night. And
yet ] repeat. that the paper is gone"
What time did you dine?''
'Han-past seven"
How long was it before you went to
bed?"
ny wife had gone to the theater. /
waited UP for her. 1t was half-past
eleven before we went to our room"
Then for four hours the dispatch-box
had lain unguarded?"
No one is ever permitted TO enter that
room save the housesnaid In the morn
ing. and my valet. or my wife's maid.
during the rest Of the day. They are
both trusty servants who have been with
us for some time. Besides, neither of
them could possibly have known that
there was anything more valuable than
the ordinary departmental papers IN my
dispatch-box."
who did know of the existence of that
letter."
NO one in the house"
Surely your wife knew"
No, sir. 1 had said nothing to nv
wife until I missed the paper this morn
ing"
The Premier nodded approvingiy.
i have long known. sir, how high is
your sense Of public duty" said he. sT
am convinced that in the case of a secret
of this importance it would rise superior
TO the most intimate domestic ties"
The European Secretary bowed.
You do me no more than Justice. sir
Until this morning have never breathed
one word to my wife upon this matter. -
Gould she have guessed?''
mo, Mr.. Holmes, she could not have
guessed-nor could any one have guessed. ."
Have you lost any documents before?"
mo, sir
who is there in England who did
know Of the existence of this letter."
Each member of the Cabinet was IN
formed of 1t yesterday, but the pledge Of
secrecy which attends every Cabinet
meeting was increased by the solemn
warning which was given by the Prime
Minister. Good heavens, to think that
within 3. few hours ] should myself have
lost itt His handsome face was dis