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〃I'd be very glad of a hint or two；〃 said the detective； changing
his manner。 〃I've certainly had no credit from the case so far。〃
〃What steps have you taken？〃
〃Tangey； the commissionaire； has been shadowed。 He left the Guards
with a good character； and we can find nothing against him。 His wife
is a bad lot； though。 I fancy she knows more about this than appears。〃
〃Have you shadowed her？〃
〃We have set one of our women on to her。 Mrs。 Tangey drinks； and our
woman has been with her twice when she was well on； but she could
get nothing out of her。〃
〃I understand that they have had brokers in the house？〃
〃Yes； but they were paid off。〃
〃Where did the money come from？〃
〃That was all right。 His pension was due。 They have not shown any
sign of being in funds。〃
〃What explanation did she give of having answered the bell when
Mr。 Phelps rang for the coffee？〃
〃She said that her husband was very tired and she wished to
relieve him。〃
〃Well； certainly that would agree with his being found a little
later asleep in his chair。 There is nothing against them then but
the woman's character。 Did you ask her why she hurried away that
night？ Her haste attracted the attention of the police constable。〃
〃She was later than usual and wanted to get home。〃
〃Did you point out to her that you and Mr。 Phelps； who started at
least twenty minutes after her； got home before her？〃
〃She explains that by the difference between a bus and a hansom。〃
〃Did she make it clear why； on reaching her house； she ran into
the back kitchen？〃
〃Because she had the money there with which to pay off the brokers。〃
〃She has at least an answer for everything。 Did you ask her
whether in leaving she met anyone or saw anyone loitering about
Charles Street？〃
〃She saw no one but the constable。〃
〃Well； you seem to have cross…examined her pretty thoroughly。 What
else have you done？〃
〃The clerk Gorot has been shadowed all these nine weeks； but without
result。 We can show nothing against him。〃
〃Anything else？〃
〃Well； we have nothing else to go upon…no evidence of any kind。〃
〃Have you formed any theory about how that bell rang？〃
〃Well； I must confess that it beats me。 It was a cool hand；
whoever it was； to go and give the alarm like that。〃
〃Yes； it was a queer thing to do。 Many thanks to you for what you
have told me。 If I can put the man into your hands you shall hear from
me。 Come along Watson。〃
〃Where are we going to now？〃 I asked as we left the office。
〃We are now going to interview Lord Holdhurst； the cabinet
minister and future premier of England。〃
We were fortunate in finding that Lord Holdhurst was still in his
chambers in Downing Street； and on Holmes sending in his card we
were instantly shown up。 The statesman received us with that
old…fashioned courtesy for which he is remarkable and seated us on the
two luxuriant lounges on either side of the fireplace。 Standing on the
rug between us； with his slight； tall figure； his sharp features；
thoughtful face； and curling hair prematurely tinged with gray； he
seemed to represent that not too common type； a nobleman who is in
truth noble。
〃Your name is very familiar to me； Mr。 Holmes；〃 said he； smiling。
〃And of course I cannot pretend to be ignorant of the object of your
visit。 There has only been one occurrence in these offices which could
call for your attention。 In whose interest are you acting； may I ask？〃
〃In that of Mr。 Percy Phelps；〃 answered Holmes。
〃Ah； my unfortunate nephew！ You can understand that our kinship
makes it the more impossible for me to screen him in any way。 I fear
that the incident must have a very prejudicial effect upon his
career。〃
〃But if the document is found？〃
〃Ah； that； of course； would be different。〃
〃I had one or two questions which I wished to ask you； Lord
Holdhurst。〃
〃I shall be happy to give you any information in my power。〃
〃Was it in this room that you gave your instructions as to the
copying of the document？〃
〃It was。〃
〃Then you could hardly have been overheard？〃
〃It is out of the question。〃
〃Did you ever mention to anyone that it was your intention to give
anyone the treaty to be copied？〃
〃Never。〃
〃You are certain of that？〃
〃Absolutely。〃
〃Well； since you never said so； and Mr。 Phelps never said so； and
nobody else knew anything of the matter； then the thief's presence
in the room was purely accidental。 He saw his chance and he took it。〃
The statesman smiled。 〃You take me out of my province there；〃 said
he。
Holmes considered for a moment。 〃There is another very important
point which I wish to discuss with you；〃 said he。 〃You feared； as I
understand； that very grave results might follow from the details of
this treaty becoming known。〃
A shadow passed over the expressive face of the statesman。 〃Very
grave results indeed。〃
〃And have they occurred？〃
〃Not yet。〃
〃If the treaty had reached； let us say； the French or Russian
Foreign Office； you would expect to hear of it？〃
〃I should；〃 said Lord Holdhurst with a wry face。
〃Since nearly ten weeks have elapsed； then； and nothing has been
heard； it is not unfair to suppose that for some reason the treaty has
not reached them。〃
Lord Holdhurst shrugged his shoulders。
〃We can hardly suppose； Mr。 Holmes； that the thief took the treaty
in order to frame it and hang it up。〃
〃Perhaps he is waiting for a better price。〃
〃If he waits a little longer he will get no price at all。 The treaty
will cease to be secret in a few months。〃
〃That is most important；〃 said Holmes。 〃Of course； it is a
possible supposition that the thief has had a sudden illness…〃
〃An attack of brain…fever； for example？〃 asked the statesman；
flashing a swift glance at him。
〃I did not say so；〃 said Holmes imperturbably。 〃And now； Lord
Holdhurst； we have already taken up too much of your valuable time；
and we shall wish you good…day。〃
〃Every success to your investigation； be the criminal who it may；〃
answered the nobleman as he bowed us out at the door。
〃He's a fine fellow；〃 said Holmes as we came out into Whitehall。
〃But he has a struggle to keep up his position。 He is far from rich
and has many calls。 You noticed； of that his boots had been resoled。
Now； Watson； I won't detain you from your legitimate work any
longer。 I shall do nothing more to…day unless I have an answer to my
cab advertisement。 But I should be extremely obliged to you if you
would come down with me to Woking to…morrow by the same train which we
took yesterday。〃
I met him accordingly next morning and we travelled down to Woking
together。 He had had no answer to his advertisement； he said； and no
fresh light had been thrown upon the case。 He had； when he so willed
it； the utter immobility of countenance of a red Indian； and I could
not gather from his appearance whether he was satisfied or not with
the position of the case。 His conversation； I remember； was about
the Bertillon system of measurements； and he expressed his
enthusiastic admiration of the French savant。
We found our client still under the charge of his devoted nurse； but
looking considerably better than before。 He rose from the sofa and
greeted us without difficulty when we entered。
〃Any news？〃 he asked eagerly。
〃My report； as I expected； is a negative one；〃 said Holmes。 〃I
have seen Forbes； and I have seen your uncle； and I have set one or
two trains of inquiry upon foot which may lead to something。〃
〃You have not lost heart； then？〃
〃By no means。〃
〃God bless you for saying that！〃 cried Miss Harrison。 〃If we keep
our courage and our patience the truth must come out。〃
〃We have more to tell you than you have for us；〃 said Phelps；
reseating himself upon the couch。
〃I hoped you might have something。〃
〃Yes； we have had an adventure during the night； and one which might
have proved to be a serious one。〃 His expression grew very grave as he
spoke； and a look of something akin to fear sprang up in his eyes。 〃Do
you know；〃 said he； 〃that I begin to believe that I am the unconscious
centre of some monstrous conspiracy； and that my life is aimed at as
well as my honour？〃
〃Ah！〃 cried Holmes。
〃It sounds incredible； for I have not； as far as I know； an enemy in
the world。 Yet from last night's experience I can come to no other
conclusion。〃
〃Pray let me hear it。〃
〃You must know that last night was the very first night that I
have ever slept without a nurse in the room。 I was so much better that
I though I could dispense with one。 I had a night…light burning；
however。 Well； about two in the morning I had sunk into a light
sleep when I was suddenly aroused by a slight noise。 It was like the
sound which a mouse makes when it is gnawing a plank； and I lay
listening to it for some time under the impression that it must come
from that cause。 Then it grew louder； and suddenly there came from the
window a sharp metallic snick。 I sat up in amazement。 There could be
no doubt what the sounds were now。 The first ones had been caused by