The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-06-28
ADVENTURE XVI.
The Naval Treaty.

from his bureau, is the original of that secret
treaty between England and Italy, of which, I
regret to say, some rumOrs have already got
into the public press. 1t is Of enormous impor-
lance that nothing further should leak out.
an immense sum to learn the contents Of these
papers. They should not leave my bureau were
1t not that it is absolutely necessary to have
them copied. You have desk in your office ~
!" Yes SIR
Then take the treaty and lock it up there.
shall give directions that you may remain be.
at your leisure without fear of being overlooked.
When you have finished, relock both the original
and the draft in the desk and hand them over to
me personally tomorrow morning
Il took the papers and--'
Excuse me an instant said Holmes. "Were
you alone during this conversational
Absolutely"
''rn a large room?"
Thirty feet each way"
SIN the center?"
eyes, about it."
"And speaking low?'
MY uncle's voice Is always remarkably low
hardly spoke at ALL
''Thank YOU said Holmes, shutting his eyes,
pray go on
81 did exactly what he indicated, and waited
until the other clerks had departed. One of them
in my room, Charles Gorot. had some arrears Of
out to dine. When returned he was gone l
was anxious to hurry my work, for knew that
Joseph-the Mr.. Harrison whom we saw just
now-Was in town--and that he would travel
down to Woking by the\ IL o'clock train, and
wanted if possible to catch it.
o.. Nnen i calhe 10 examine the treaty saw at
once that 1t was of such Importance that my
uncle bad been guilty Of no exaggeration in
what he had said. Without going into details
| may say that it defined the position of Great
Britain towards the triple alliance and fore
Swallowed the policy which this country would
pursue in the event Of the French fleet gaining
complete sascendancy over that of Italy in the
Mediterranean. The questions treated in 1T were
purely naval. At the end We're the signat lures
of the high dignitaries who had signed it. I
glanced my eyes over it and then settled down
TO Iae task OF copying
language ard containing twentysix separate arti-
cles. copied as quickly as could, but at 8
oclock had only done nine articles, and it
seemed hopelessly for me to attempt to catch my
train l was feeling drowsy and stupid, partly
long days work. A cup of coffee would clear
my brain. A commissionnaire remains all night
in little lodge at the foot of the stairs and is
| IN the habit CT making coffee at his spirit lamp
Tor any OF the officials who may be working over.
time. l rang the bell, therefore, to summon
him. 0001 ~''NN
ITO my surprise, it was woman who an.
sWered the summons, large, coarse faced.
M n fe @ ia that fn
charing. and l gave her the order for the coffee
/ wrote two more articles. and then. feeling
more drowsy than ever, rose and walked up
cOltee mad not yet come, and I wondered what
/ the cause of the delay could be- Opening the
door. started down the corridor to find out
Mas str h M ,s dmy ghted
working, and was the only exit from it. il
enaea IN cNrying staircase, with the com
tom Half way down this staircase is a small
LANDING. With another passage running into il
at right angles. This second one leads by means
! Of a second small stair to a side door useS
| by servants and also as short cut by clerks
when coming from Charles street. Here is .
| rough chart of the place -