The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-05-07

of duty could never be discovered,
and yet a mere glance at that drugget
was enough to convince me that some
enc had been admitted to the room.
It's lucky for you, my man, that moth
ing is missing, or you would find your
self in Quarter Street. I'm sorry to
have called you down over such pet.
ty business, Mr.. Holmes but l thought
the point of the second stain not cor
responding with the first would inter-
est YOU"
Certainly, it was most interesting.
Has this woman only been here once,
constable"
Yes, sir, only once"
"Who was she?'
Don't know the name, sir. Was
answering an advertisement about
typewriting and came to the wrong
number-very pleasant, genteel young
woman, sir
Tall? Handsome"
eyes. sir. she was a well~grown
young woman. ] suppose you might
say she was handsome. Perhaps some
would say she was very handsome.
oh. officer. do let me have a peep!
says she. She had pretty, coaXing
ways, as you might say, and | thought
there was no harm in letting her just
put her head through the DOOR"
"How was she dressed? ?"
"Quiet, sir-a long mantle down to
her feet"
What time was it?"
at was just growing dusk at the
time They were lighting the lamps
as [ came back with the brandy"
VERY good" said Holmes. Come
Watson, l think that we have more
important work elsewhere"
AS we left the house Lestrade re-
manned in the front room while the
repentant constable opened the door
to let us out. Holmes turned on the
step and held up something in his
hand The constable stared intently.
Good Lord, sir" he cried, with
amazement on his face. Holmes put
his finger on his lips replaced his
hand in his breast pocket, and burst
out laughing as we turned down the
street Excellent said he. "Come,
friend Watson, the curtain rings up
for the last act. You will be relieved
to hear that there will be no war.
that the Right Honorable Trelawney
Hope will suffer no setback in his
brilliant career, that the indiscreet
Sovereign will receive no punishment
for his indiscretion, that the Prime
Minister will have no European COM
plicatiOn to deal with, and that with a
little tact and management upon our
part nobody will be a penny the worse
incident"
My mind filled with admiration for
this extraordinary man.
you have solved it," [ cried.
Hardly that, Watson There are
some points which are as dark as ever
But we have so much that it Will be
our own fault if we cannot get the
rest We will go straight to White
hall Terrace and bring the matter to
head
When we arrived at the residence of
the European Secretary it was for
Lady Hilda Trelawney Hope that Sher-
lock Holmes inquired. We were shown
into the mOrning-room.
"Mr Holmese' said the lady, and
her face was pink with her indigna-
ton, "this is surely most unfair and
ungenerous upon your part. | desir-
ed, as l have explained, to keep my
visit to you a secret, lest my husband
should think that l was intruding into
his affairs. And yet you compromise
me by coming here and so showing
that there are business relations be-
tween us"
unfortunately madam, / had no
possible alternative. / have been COM
missioned to recover this immensely
important paper. / must therefore
ask YOU madam, to be kind enough
to place it in my hands"
The lady sprang to her feet, with
the colour all dashed in an instant
from her beautiful face. Her eyes
glazed-she tottered-I thought that
She would faint Then with a grand
effort she rallied from the shock, and
q supreme establishment and indigna-
ton chased every other expression
from her features.
"You-you insult me, Mr.. Holmes.
"Come, come, madam, it is useless.
Give up the letter.
She darted to the bell.
THE butler shall show you out"
do not ring, Lady Hildra. If you
do, then all my earnest efforts to avoid
a scandal will be frustrated. Give up
the letter and all will be set right. IL
you will work with me I can arrange
everything. If you work against me /
must expose you
She stood grandly defiant, a queenly
figure, her eyes fixed upon his as if
she would read his very soul. Her
hand was on the bell, but. she had
forborne to ring it.
you are trying to brighten me. 1t
is not a very manly thing, Mr.. Holmes.
to come here and browbeat a woman.
You say that you know something.
What is it that you know?"
pray sit down, madam. You will
hurt yourself if you fall I will not
speak until you sit down. Thank
YOU"
4 give you five minutes, Mr..
Holmes"
zone is enough, Lady Hilda.
know Of your visit to Eduardo Lucas,
Of your giving him this document of
your ingenious return to the room
last night, and of the manner in which
you took the letter from the hiding
place under the carpet"
She stared at him with an ashen
face and gulped twice before she could
speak
You are mad, Mr.. HoImes-you
are mad' she cNed, at last.
He drew a small piece of cardboard
from his pocket 1t was the face of a
woman cut out of a portrait.
II have carried this because /
thought it might be useful" said he.
THE policeman has recognised it,"
She gave a gasp and her head
dropped back in the chair.
Come, Lady Hilda. You have the
letter. The matter may still be adj
justed. / have no desire to bring
trouble to you. My duty ends when h
have returned the lost letter to your
husband. Take my advice and be
frank with me. 1t is your only
chance"