The Return of Sherlock Holmes Part 25 (2/2)
”Quick, rows short!”
”It was a letter of mine, Mr Hole--a foolish letter, a letter of an iirl I ht it criminal Had he read that letter his confidence would have been forever destroyed It is years since I wrote it I had thought that the whole otten Then at last I heard from this man, Lucas, that it had passed into his hands, and that he would lay it before my husband I implored hishim a certain document which he described in my husband's despatch-box He had some spy in the office who had told him of its existence He assured me that no harm could come to my husband Put yourself in my position, Mr Holmes! What was I to do?”
”Take your husband into your confidence”
”I could not, Mr Holmes, I could not! On the one side seemed certain ruin, on the other, terrible as it seemed to take my husband's paper, still in a matter of politics I could not understand the consequences, while in a matter of love and trust they were only too clear to me I did it, Mr Holmes! I took an impression of his key This man, Lucas, furnished a duplicate I opened his despatch-box, took the paper, and conveyed it to Godolphin Street”
”What happened there, reed Lucas opened it I followed hi the hall door ajar behind me, for I feared to be alone with the man I remember that there was a woman outside as I entered Our business was soon done He had ave me the letter At this instant there was a sound at the door There were steps in the passage Lucas quickly turned back the drugget, thrust the docu-place there, and covered it over
”What happened after that is like some fearful dream I have a vision of a dark, frantic face, of a wo is not in vain At last, at last I have found you with her!' There was a savage struggle I saw hileamed in hers I rushed from the horrible scene, ran fro in the paper did I learn the dreadful result That night I was happy, for I had
”It was the next ed one trouble for another My husband's anguish at the loss of his paper went to my heart I could hardly preventdown at his feet and telling hiain wouldin order to understand the full enorrasped itback my husband's paper It must still be where Lucas had placed it, for it was concealed before this dreadful wo, I should not have knohere his hiding-place was Hoas I to get into the room? For two days I watched the place, but the door was never left open Last night I made a last attempt What I did and how I succeeded, you have already learned I brought the paper back withit, since I could see no way of returning it without confessing uilt to my husband Heavens, I hear his step upon the stair!”
The European Secretary burst excitedly into the room ”Any news, Mr Holmes, any news?” he cried
”I have some hopes”
”Ah, thank heaven!” His face beca with me May he share your hopes? He has nerves of steel, and yet I know that he has hardly slept since this terrible event Jacobs, will you ask the Prime Minister to come up? As to you, dear, I fear that this is a matter of politics We will join you in a few -room”
The Prileas of his bony hands that he shared the exciteue
”I understand that you have soative as yet,” my friend answered ”I have inquired at every point where it er to be apprehended”
”But that is not enough, Mr Holmes We cannot live forever on such a volcano Weit That is why I am here The more I think of the matter the more convinced I am that the letter has never left this house”
”Mr Holmes!”
”If it had it would certainly have been public by now”
”But why should anyone take it in order to keep it in his house?”
”I am not convinced that anyone did take it”
”Then how could it leave the despatch-box?”
”I am not convinced that it ever did leave the despatch-box”
”Mr Hol is very ill-timed You have my assurance that it left the box”
”Have you exa?”
”No It was not necessary”
”You may conceivably have overlooked it”
”Impossible, I say”
”But I as to happen I presuot mixed with them”
”It was on the top”
”Someone may have shaken the box and displaced it”
”No, no, I had everything out”
”Surely it is easily, decided, Hope,” said the Preht in”
The Secretary rang the bell
”Jacobs, bring down my despatch-box This is a farcical waste of ti else will satisfy you, it shall be done Thank you, Jacobs, put it here I have always had the key on my watch-chain Here are the papers, you see Letter from Lord Merrow, report frorade, note on the Russo-Gerrain taxes, letter from Madrid, note froer! Lord Bellinger!”
The Premier snatched the blue envelope from his hand
”Yes, it is it--and the letter is intact Hope, I congratulate you”
”Thank you! Thank you! What a weight from my heart But this is inconceivable--impossible Mr Holmes, you are a wizard, a sorcerer! How did you knoas there?”
”Because I kneas nowhere else”
”I cannot believe my eyes!” He ran wildly to the door ”Where is my wife? I must tell her that all is well Hilda! Hilda!” we heard his voice on the stairs
The Pre eyes
”Come, sir,” said he ”There is more in this than meets the eye How came the letter back in the box?”
Hol from the keen scrutiny of those wonderful eyes
”We also have our diplo up his hat, he turned to the door