Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1905-09-30

bowed and motioned her to chair
Your ladyship places me in a very
delicate position. l beg that you vii!
sit down and tell me what YOU desire.
but / fear that 1 cannot make any IN
conditional promise"
She swept across the room and seated
herself with her back TO the window.
1t was queenly presence-tall, grace
ful and intensely wouanly.
MIR Holmes" she said. and her
white gloYed hands clasped and un-
clasped as she spoke. Il will speak
frankly TO you in the hopes that it may
induce you 10 speak frankly in return.
There is complete confidence between
my husband and me on all matters
save one. That one is politics. ON this
his lips are sealed. He tells me moth
Ing. Now, 1 am aware that there was
a most deplOrable occurrence in our
house last night. l know that a paper
has disappeared. But because the mat
ter is political my husband refuses to
take me into his complete confidence.
Now il is sSential-essential. 1 say
that 1 should thoroughly understand il.
You are the only other person. save
only these politicians, who knows the
true facts. beg YOU then. Mr.. Holmes.
to tell exactly what has happened and
what IL VIII lead to. Tell me all. Mr..
Holmes. Let no regard for your
clients interests keep you silent. for I
assure you that his interests. II he
would only see it. would be best served
by taking me into his complete con
hdence- What was this paper which
was stolen!"
Madam, what you ask me is really
impossible"
She groaned and sank her face in her
hands.
You must see that this is SO. mad
am. If your husband thinks ut to
keep YOU in the dark over this matter.
is IL for me, who have only learned the
true facts under the pledge OF profes-
sionel secrecy, TO tell what he has
withheld? 1t is not fair to ask it, 1t
Is him whom you must ask"
Il have asked him. l come 70 you
as last resource. But without your
telling me anything definite. Mr..
Holmes, you may DO a great service
II you would enlighten me on one
point"
what Is Il. MADAME"
us my husbands political career
likely to suffer through this incideut?"
We'll, madam, unless it is set right
Il may certainly have a very unfortu-
nate effect"
An She drew IN her breath sharp
". as one whose doubts are resolved.
zone more question. Mr.. Holmes.
From an expression which my hus-
band dropped in the first shock OK
this disaster l understood that terrible
public consequences might arise from
the loss of this document"
IF he said 80 l certainly cannot deny
Il"
"Of what nature are they?"
Nay, madam; there again you ask
me more than l can possibly answer"
Then l Will take M no more OF YOUR
time cannot blame you. Mr.. Holmes
for having refused to speak more free
", and you on your side will not.
am sure. think the worse Of me be
cause desire, even against his Will
TO share my husbands anxieties. once
more / beg that you will say nothing
OF my visit"
She looked back at us from the door.
and l had last impression OF that
beautiful haunted face. the startled
ey and the drawn mouth Then she
was gone.
Now, Watson. the fair sex Is your
department" said Holmes. with
smile, when the dwindling froufrou Of
skirts had ended IN the slam OF the
front door. what was the fair ladv's
gamef What d!d she really want?"
surely her own statement is clear
and her anxiety very natural"
Hum. Think of her appearance.
Natsou-hcr manner, her suppressed
excitement. her rcstlcssncsS. her teuac-
ity In asking questions. Remember that
she comes Of a caste who do not lightly
show emotion"
'She was cH-taiAly much moved"
Remember also tle curious earnest
ness with wl.ch she assured us that II
was best for her husband that She
should know an What dM she mean
by thott And you must have observed.
Watson. how She maueuvcrcd 10 have
the light 40 her back. she did not wish
us 10 read Ecr expression"
YES. she chose the one chair In the
room"
And yet the motives Of women are
so inscrutablc. You remember the vvO-
man AT Margote whom / suspected for
the same reason. No powder on her
nose-that proved 10 be the correct So /
luton How can you build on such n
quicksandF Their most trivial action
may mean volumes. or their most ex-
traordinary conduct may depend upon
hairpln or a curling tongs. Good
morning. Watson"
you are ofc?"
Yes. will while away the morning
at Godoiphin street with our friends of
the regular establishment With Ed
uardo Lucas lies the solution Of orr
problem, though / must admit thar
have not an inkling as 10 what form II
may take. II is a capital mistake To
theorize In advance of the facts Do
you stay on guard. my good Watson
and receive any fresh visitors. III ioin
you at lunch If l am able"
All that day and the next and next
Holmes I'm