The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1905-12-21


public. This resolution of mine was
not due to any lack of material, since
have notes of many hundreds of cases
to which have never alluded, nor was
1t caused by any waning interest on
the part Of my readers in the singular
personality and unique methods Of this
remarkable man. The real reason lay
In the reluctance which Mr.. Holmes
has shown to the continued publication
of his experiences. So long as he was
IN actual professional practice the rec
Ords Of his successes were of some
practical value to him, but since he has
definitely retired from London and be-
taken himself to study and bee farm
ing on the Sussex downs notoriety has
become hateful to him, and he has per-
empt0rily requested that his wishes in
this matter should be strictly observed.
1t was only upon my representing to
him that had given promise that
THE Adventure Of the Second Stain"
should be published when the times
were ripe and pointing out to him that
1t Is only appropriate that this long
series Of episodes should eliminate in
the most important international case
which he has ever been called upon to
handle that I at last succeeded in OBJ
tanning his consent that carefully
guarded account of the incident should
at last he laid before the public.
1t was. then, in year, even in dec
ade 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. The one, austere, high nosed,
eagle eyed and dominant, was none 9TH
er than the illustrious Lord Bellinger,
twice premier of Britain. The other,
dark, clean cut and elegant, hardly yet
of middle age and endowed with ev-
cry beauty Of body and of mind, was
the Right Hon. Trelawney Hope, Sec
rotary for European affairs and the
most rising statesman in the country.
They sat side by side upon our paper
Uttered 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.
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. The European secre-
tary pulled nervously at his mustache
and fdgeted with the seals of his
watch chain.
When I discovered my loss, Mr..
Holmes, which was at o'clock this
morning, at once informed the prime
minister. 1t was at his suggestion that
we have both come to you"
''Have you informed the police?"
mo, sir" said the prime minister,
with the quick, decisive manner for
which he was famous 1--WE have not
done SO, nor Is it possible that we
should do so. To inform the police
must, in the long run, mean to inform
the public. This is what we particular
ly desire to avoid"
"And why, sir?"
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.
1t is not tor much to say that peace or
war may hang upon the issue. Unless
Its recovery can be attended with the
utmost secrecy then 1t may as we'll not
be recovered at all, for all that is aim
ed at by those who have taken It Is
that Its contents should be generally
known"
Il understand. Now, Mr.. Trelawney
Hope. should be much obliged IL you
would tell me exactly the circum-
stances under which this document
disappeared"
THAT can be done in very few
words, Mr.. Holmes. The letter-for it
was letter from foreign potentate-
was received six days ago. 1t was of
such Importance that have never left
1t in my safe, but have taken it
across each evening to my house in
Whitehall terrace and kept 1t in my
bedroom in a locked dispatch box. 1t
was there last night OF that am
certain. actually opened the box
while I was dressing for dinner and
saw the document inside This morn
ing 1t was gone The dispatch box had
stood beside the glass upon my dress
ing table all night. am light sleep
er, 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?"
"Half past Z"
GLOW long was it before you went
to bed2"
my wife had gone to the theater. l
waited up for her. 1t was half past II
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 housemaid In the
morning and my valet or my wife's
maid during the rest of the day. They
are both trusty servants and have beer
with us for some time. Besides. neither
of them could possibly have known
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