"No，no，LadyBrackenstall，itisnouse。YoumayhaveheardofanylittlereputationwhichIpossess。Iwillstakeitallonthefactthatyourstoryisanabsolutefabrication。"
　　MistressandmaidwerebothstaringatHolmeswithpalefacesandfrightenedeyes。
　　"Youareanimpudentfellow！"criedTheresa。"Doyoumeantosaythatmymistresshastoldalie？"
　　Holmesrosefromhischair。
　　"Haveyounothingtotellme？"
　　"Ihavetoldyoueverything。"
　　"Thinkoncemore，LadyBrackenstall。Woulditnotbebettertobefrank？"
　　Foraninstanttherewashesitationinherbeautifulface。
　　Thensomenewstrongthoughtcausedittosetlikeamask。
　　"IhavetoldyouallIknow。"
　　Holmestookhishatandshruggedhisshoulders。"Iamsorry，"
　　hesaid，andwithoutanotherwordwelefttheroomandthehouse。Therewasapondinthepark，andtothismyfriendledtheway。Itwasfrozenover，butasingleholewasleftfortheconvenienceofasolitaryswan。Holmesgazedatitandthenpassedontothelodgegate。TherehescribbledashortnoteforStanleyHopkinsandleftitwiththelodge—keeper。
　　"Itmaybeahitoritmaybeamiss，butweareboundtodosomethingforfriendHopkins，justtojustifythissecondvisit，"
　　saidhe。"Iwillnotquitetakehimintomyconfidenceyet。
　　IthinkournextsceneofoperationsmustbetheshippingofficeoftheAdelaide—Southamptonline，whichstandsattheendofPallMall，ifIrememberright。ThereisasecondlineofsteamerswhichconnectSouthAustraliawithEngland，butwewilldrawthelargercoverfirst。"
　　Holmes’scardsentintothemanagerensuredinstantattention，andhewasnotlonginacquiringalltheinformationwhichheneeded。InJuneof’95onlyoneoftheirlinehadreachedahomeport。ItwastheROCKOFGIBRALTAR，theirlargestandbestboat。AreferencetothepassengerlistshowedthatMissFraserofAdelaide，withhermaid，hadmadethevoyageinher。TheboatwasnowonherwaytoAustralia，somewheretothesouthoftheSuezCanal。Herofficerswerethesameasin’95，withoneexception。Thefirstofficer，Mr。JackCroker，hadbeenmadeacaptainandwastotakechargeoftheirnewship，theBASSROCK，sailingintwodays’timefromSouthampton。HelivedatSydenham，buthewaslikelytobeinthatmorningforinstructions，ifwecaredtowaitforhim。
　　No；Mr。Holmeshadnodesiretoseehim，butwouldbegladtoknowmoreabouthisrecordandcharacter。
　　Hisrecordwasmagnificent。Therewasnotanofficerinthefleettotouchhim。Astohischaracter，hewasreliableonduty，butawild，desperatefellowoffthedeckofhisship，hot—headed，excitable，butloyal，honest，andkind—hearted。
　　ThatwasthepithoftheinformationwithwhichHolmeslefttheofficeoftheAdelaide—Southamptoncompany。ThencehedrovetoScotlandYard，butinsteadofenteringhesatinhiscabwithhisbrowsdrawndown，lostinprofoundthought。FinallyhedroveroundtotheCharingCrosstelegraphoffice，sentoffamessage，andthen，atlast，wemadeforBakerStreetoncemore。
　　"No，Icouldn’tdoit，Watson，"saidhe，aswere—enteredourroom。"Oncethatwarrantwasmadeoutnothingonearthwouldsavehim。OnceortwiceinmycareerIfeelthatIhavedonemorerealharmbymydiscoveryofthecriminalthaneverhehaddonebyhiscrime。Ihavelearnedcautionnow，andIhadratherplaytrickswiththelawofEnglandthanwithmyownconscience。
　　Letusknowalittlemorebeforeweact。"
　　BeforeeveningwehadavisitfromInspectorStanleyHopkins。
　　Thingswerenotgoingverywellwithhim。
　　"Ibelievethatyouareawizard，Mr。Holmes。Ireallydosometimesthinkthatyouhavepowersthatarenothuman。
　　Now，howonearthcouldyouknowthatthestolensilverwasatthebottomofthatpond？"
　　"Ididn’tknowit。"
　　"Butyoutoldmetoexamineit。"
　　"Yougotit，then？"
　　"Yes，Igotit。"
　　"IamverygladifIhavehelpedyou。"
　　"Butyouhaven’thelpedme。Youhavemadetheaffairfarmoredifficult。Whatsortofburglarsaretheywhostealsilverandthenthrowitintothenearestpond？"
　　"Itwascertainlyrathereccentricbehaviour。Iwasmerelygoingontheideathatifthesilverhadbeentakenbypersonswhodidnotwantit，whomerelytookitforablindasitwere，thentheywouldnaturallybeanxioustogetridofit。"
　　"Butwhyshouldsuchanideacrossyourmind？"
　　"Well，Ithoughtitwaspossible。WhentheycameoutthroughtheFrenchwindowtherewasthepond，withonetemptinglittleholeintheice，rightinfrontoftheirnoses。Couldtherebeabetterhiding—place？"
　　"Ah，ahiding—place——thatisbetter！"criedStanleyHopkins。
　　"Yes，yes，Iseeitallnow！Itwasearly，therewerefolkupontheroads，theywereafraidofbeingseenwiththesilver，sotheysankitinthepond，intendingtoreturnforitwhenthecoastwasclear。Excellent，Mr。Holmes——thatisbetterthanyourideaofablind。"
　　"Quiteso；youhavegotanadmirabletheory。Ihavenodoubtthatmyownideaswerequitewild，butyoumustadmitthattheyhaveendedindiscoveringthesilver。"
　　"Yes，sir，yes。Itwasallyourdoing。ButIhavehadabadset—back。"
　　"Aset—back？"
　　"Yes，Mr。Holmes。TheRandallgangwerearrestedinNewYorkthismorning。"
　　"Dearme，Hopkins！ThatiscertainlyratheragainstyourtheorythattheycommittedamurderinKentlastnight。"
　　"Itisfatal，Mr。Holmes，absolutelyfatal。Still，thereareothergangsofthreebesidestheRandalls，oritmaybesomenewgangofwhichthepolicehaveneverheard。"
　　"Quiteso；itisperfectlypossible。What，areyouoff？"
　　Yes，Mr。Holmes；thereisnorestformeuntilIhavegottothebottomofthebusiness。Isupposeyouhavenohinttogiveme？"
　　"Ihavegivenyouone。"
　　"Which？"
　　"Well，Isuggestedablind。"
　　"Butwhy，Mr。Holmes，why？"
　　"Ah，that’sthequestion，ofcourse。ButIcommendtheideatoyourmind。Youmightpossiblyfindthattherewassomethinginit。Youwon’tstopfordinner？Well，good—bye，andletusknowhowyougeton。"
　　DinnerwasoverandthetableclearedbeforeHolmesalludedtothematteragain。Hehadlithispipeandheldhisslipperedfeettothecheerfulblazeofthefire。Suddenlyhelookedathiswatch。
　　"Iexpectdevelopments，Watson。"
　　"When？"
　　"Now——withinafewminutes。IdaresayyouthoughtIactedratherbadlytoStanleyHopkinsjustnow？"
　　"Itrustyourjudgment。"
　　"Averysensiblereply，Watson。Youmustlookatitthisway：
　　whatIknowisunofficial；whatheknowsisofficial。Ihavetherighttoprivatejudgment，buthehasnone。Hemustdiscloseall，orheisatraitortohisservice。InadoubtfulcaseI
　　wouldnotputhiminsopainfulaposition，andsoIreservemyinformationuntilmyownmindisclearuponthematter。"
　　"Butwhenwillthatbe？"
　　"Thetimehascome。Youwillnowbepresentatthelastsceneofaremarkablelittledrama。"
　　Therewasasounduponthestairs，andourdoorwasopenedtoadmitasfineaspecimenofmanhoodaseverpassedthroughit。
　　Hewasaverytallyoungman，golden—moustached，blue—eyed，withaskinwhichhadbeenburnedbytropicalsuns，andaspringystepwhichshowedthatthehugeframewasasactiveasitwasstrong。Heclosedthedoorbehindhim，andthenhestoodwithclenchedhandsandheavingbreast，chokingdownsomeovermasteringemotion。
　　"Sitdown，CaptainCroker。Yougotmytelegram？"
　　Ourvisitorsankintoanarm—chairandlookedfromonetotheotherofuswithquestioningeyes。
　　"Igotyourtelegram，andIcameatthehouryousaid。Iheardthatyouhadbeendowntotheoffice。Therewasnogettingawayfromyou。Let’sheartheworst。Whatareyougoingtodowithme？
　　Arrestme？Speakout，man！Youcan’tsitthereandplaywithmelikeacatwithamouse。"
　　"Givehimacigar，"saidHolmes。"Biteonthat，CaptainCroker，anddon’tletyournervesrunawaywithyou。IshouldnotsitheresmokingwithyouifIthoughtthatyouwereacommoncriminal，youmaybesureofthat。Befrankwithme，andwemaydosomegood。
　　Playtrickswithme，andI’llcrushyou。"
　　"Whatdoyouwishmetodo？"
　　"TogivemeatrueaccountofallthathappenedattheAbbeyGrangelastnight——aTRUEaccount，mindyou，withnothingaddedandnothingtakenoff。IknowsomuchalreadythatifyougooneinchoffthestraightI’llblowthispolicewhistlefrommywindowandtheaffairgoesoutofmyhandsforever。"
　　Thesailorthoughtforalittle。Thenhestruckhislegwithhisgreat，sun—burnedhand。
　　"I’llchanceit，"hecried。"Ibelieveyouareamanofyourword，andawhiteman，andI’lltellyouthewholestory。
　　ButonethingIwillsayfirst。SofarasIamconcernedIregretnothingandIfearnothing，andIwoulddoitallagainandbeproudofthejob。Cursethebeast，ifhehadasmanylivesasacathewouldowethemalltome！Butit’sthelady，Mary——
　　MaryFraser——forneverwillIcallherbythataccursedname。
　　WhenIthinkofgettingherintotrouble，Iwhowouldgivemylifejusttobringonesmiletoherdearface，it’sthatthatturnsmysoulintowater。Andyet——andyet——whatlesscouldIdo？
　　I’lltellyoumystory，gentlemen，andthenI’llaskyouasmantomanwhatlesscouldIdo。
　　"Imustgobackabit。Youseemtoknoweverything，soIexpectthatyouknowthatImetherwhenshewasapassengerandIwasfirstofficeroftheROCKOFGIBRALTAR。FromthefirstdayI
　　methershewastheonlywomantome。EverydayofthatvoyageIlovedhermore，andmanyatimesincehaveIkneeleddowninthedarknessofthenightwatchandkissedthedeckofthatshipbecauseIknewherdearfeethadtrodit。Shewasneverengagedtome。Shetreatedmeasfairlyaseverawomantreatedaman。
　　Ihavenocomplainttomake。Itwasallloveonmyside，andallgoodcomradeshipandfriendshiponhers。Whenwepartedshewasafreewoman，butIcouldneveragainbeafreeman。
　　"NexttimeIcamebackfromseaIheardofhermarriage。
　　Well，whyshouldn’tshemarrywhomsheliked？Titleandmoney——
　　whocouldcarrythembetterthanshe？Shewasbornforallthatisbeautifulanddainty。Ididn’tgrieveoverhermarriage。
　　Iwasnotsuchaselfishhoundasthat。Ijustrejoicedthatgoodluckhadcomeherway，andthatshehadnotthrownherselfawayonapennilesssailor。That’showIlovedMaryFraser。
　　"Well，Ineverthoughttoseeheragain；butlastvoyageIwaspromoted，andthenewboatwasnotyetlaunched，soIhadtowaitforacoupleofmonthswithmypeopleatSydenham。
　　OnedayoutinacountrylaneImetTheresaWright，heroldmaid。
　　Shetoldmeabouther，abouthim，abouteverything。Itellyou，gentlemen，itnearlydrovememad。Thisdrunkenhound，thatheshoulddaretoraisehishandtoherwhosebootshewasnotworthytolick！ImetTheresaagain。ThenImetMaryherself——
　　andmetheragain。Thenshewouldmeetmenomore。ButtheotherdayIhadanoticethatIwastostartonmyvoyagewithinaweek，andIdeterminedthatIwouldseeheroncebeforeIleft。
　　Theresawasalwaysmyfriend，forshelovedMaryandhatedthisvillainalmostasmuchasIdid。FromherIlearnedthewaysofthehouse。Maryusedtositupreadinginherownlittleroomdownstairs。Icreptroundtherelastnightandscratchedatthewindow。Atfirstshewouldnotopentome，butinherheartIknowthatnowshelovesme，andshecouldnotleavemeinthefrostynight。Shewhisperedtometocomeroundtothebigfrontwindow，andIfounditopenbeforemesoastoletmeintothedining—room。AgainIheardfromherownlipsthingsthatmademybloodboil，andagainIcursedthisbrutewhomishandledthewomanthatIloved。Well，gentlemen，Iwasstandingwithherjustinsidethewindow，inallinnocence，asHeavenismyjudge，whenherushedlikeamadmanintotheroom，calledherthevilestnamethatamancouldusetoawoman，andweltedheracrossthefacewiththestickhehadinhishand。
　　Ihadsprungforthepoker，anditwasafairfightbetweenus。
　　Seehereonmyarmwherehisfirstblowfell。Thenitwasmyturn，andIwentthroughhimasifhehadbeenarottenpumpkin。
　　DoyouthinkIwassorry？NotI！Itwashislifeormine，butfarmorethanthatitwashislifeorhers，forhowcouldI
　　leaveherinthepowerofthismadman？ThatwashowIkilledhim。
　　WasIwrong？Well，then，whatwouldeitherofyougentlemenhavedoneifyouhadbeeninmyposition？"
　　"Shehadscreamedwhenhestruckher，andthatbroughtoldTheresadownfromtheroomabove。Therewasabottleofwineonthesideboard，andIopeneditandpouredalittlebetweenMary’slips，forshewashalfdeadwiththeshock。ThenItookadropmyself。Theresawasascoolasice，anditwasherplotasmuchasmine。Wemustmakeitappearthatburglarshaddonethething。Theresakeptonrepeatingourstorytohermistress，whileIswarmedupandcuttheropeofthebell。ThenIlashedherinherchair，andfrayedouttheendoftheropetomakeitlooknatural，elsetheywouldwonderhowintheworldaburglarcouldhavegotuptheretocutit。ThenIgatheredupafewplatesandpotsofsilver，tocarryouttheideaofarobbery，andthereIleftthemwithorderstogivethealarmwhenIhadaquarterofanhour’sstart。IdroppedthesilverintothepondandmadeoffforSydenham，feelingthatforonceinmylifeIhaddonearealgoodnight’swork。Andthat’sthetruthandthewholetruth，Mr。Holmes，ifitcostsmemyneck。"
　　Holmessmokedforsometimeinsilence。Thenhecrossedtheroomandshookourvisitorbythehand。
　　"That’swhatIthink，"saidhe。"Iknowthateverywordistrue，foryouhavehardlysaidawordwhichIdidnotknow。
　　Noonebutanacrobatorasailorcouldhavegotuptothatbell—ropefromthebracket，andnoonebutasailorcouldhavemadetheknotswithwhichthecordwasfastenedtothechair。
　　Onlyoncehadthisladybeenbroughtintocontactwithsailors，andthatwasonhervoyage，anditwassomeoneofherownclassoflife，sinceshewastryinghardtoshieldhimandsoshowingthatshelovedhim。YouseehoweasyitwasformetolaymyhandsuponyouwhenonceIhadstartedupontherighttrail。"
　　"Ithoughtthepolicenevercouldhaveseenthroughourdodge。"
　　"Andthepolicehaven’t；norwillthey，tothebestofmybelief。
　　Now，lookhere，CaptainCroker，thisisaveryseriousmatter，thoughIamwillingtoadmitthatyouactedunderthemostextremeprovocationtowhichanymancouldbesubjected。Iamnotsurethatindefenceofyourownlifeyouractionwillnotbepronouncedlegitimate。However，thatisforaBritishjurytodecide。
　　MeanwhileIhavesomuchsympathyforyouthatifyouchoosetodisappearinthenexttwenty—fourhoursIwillpromiseyouthatnoonewillhinderyou。"
　　"Andthenitwillallcomeout？"
　　"Certainlyitwillcomeout。"
　　Thesailorflushedwithanger。
　　"Whatsortofproposalisthattomakeaman？IknowenoughoflawtounderstandthatMarywouldbehadasaccomplice。
　　DoyouthinkIwouldleaveheralonetofacethemusicwhileIslunkaway？No，sir；letthemdotheirworstuponme，butforHeaven’ssake，Mr。Holmes，findsomewayofkeepingmypoorMaryoutofthecourts。"
　　Holmesforasecondtimeheldouthishandtothesailor。
　　"Iwasonlytestingyou，andyouringtrueeverytime。
　　Well，itisagreatresponsibilitythatItakeuponmyself，butIhavegivenHopkinsanexcellenthint，andifhecan’tavailhimselfofitIcandonomore。Seehere，CaptainCroker，we’lldothisindueformoflaw。Youaretheprisoner。
　　Watson，youareaBritishjury，andInevermetamanwhowasmoreeminentlyfittedtorepresentone。Iamthejudge。
　　Now，gentlemanofthejury，youhaveheardtheevidence。
　　Doyoufindtheprisonerguiltyornotguilty？"
　　"Notguilty，mylord，"saidI。
　　"Voxpopuli，voxDei。Youareacquitted，CaptainCroker。
　　Solongasthelawdoesnotfindsomeothervictimyouaresafefromme。Comebacktothisladyinayear，andmayherfutureandyoursjustifyusinthejudgmentwhichwehavepronouncedthisnight。"
　　XIII。———TheAdventureoftheSecondStain。
　　IHADintended"TheAdventureoftheAbbeyGrange"tobethelastofthoseexploitsofmyfriend，Mr。SherlockHolmes，whichIshouldevercommunicatetothepublic。Thisresolutionofminewasnotduetoanylackofmaterial，sinceIhavenotesofmanyhundredsofcasestowhichIhaveneveralluded，norwasitcausedbyanywaninginterestonthepartofmyreadersinthesingularpersonalityanduniquemethodsofthisremarkableman。
　　TherealreasonlayinthereluctancewhichMr。Holmeshasshowntothecontinuedpublicationofhisexperiences。Solongashewasinactualprofessionalpracticetherecordsofhissuccesseswereofsomepracticalvaluetohim；butsincehehasdefinitelyretiredfromLondonandbetakenhimselftostudyandbee—farmingontheSussexDowns，notorietyhasbecomehatefultohim，andhehasperemptorilyrequestedthathiswishesinthismattershouldbestrictlyobserved。ItwasonlyuponmyrepresentingtohimthatIhadgivenapromisethat"TheAdventureoftheSecondStain"shouldbepublishedwhenthetimeswereripe，andpointingouttohimthatitisonlyappropriatethatthislongseriesofepisodesshouldculminateinthemostimportantinternationalcasewhichhehaseverbeencalledupontohandle，thatIatlastsucceededinobtaininghisconsentthatacarefully—guardedaccountoftheincidentshouldatlastbelaidbeforethepublic。IfintellingthestoryIseemtobesomewhatvagueincertaindetailsthepublicwillreadilyunderstandthatthereisanexcellentreasonformyreticence。
　　Itwas，then，inayear，andeveninadecade，thatshallbenameless，thatupononeTuesdaymorninginautumnwefoundtwovisitorsofEuropeanfamewithinthewallsofourhumbleroominBakerStreet。Theone，austere，high—nosed，eagle—eyed，anddominant，wasnoneotherthantheillustriousLordBellinger，twicePremierofBritain。Theother，dark，clear—cut，andelegant，hardlyyetofmiddleage，andendowedwitheverybeautyofbodyandofmind，wastheRightHonourableTrelawneyHope，SecretaryforEuropeanAffairs，andthemostrisingstatesmaninthecountry。Theysatsidebysideuponourpaper—litteredsettee，anditwaseasytoseefromtheirwornandanxiousfacesthatitwasbusinessofthemostpressingimportancewhichhadbroughtthem。ThePremier’sthin，blue—veinedhandswereclaspedtightlyovertheivoryheadofhisumbrella，andhisgaunt，asceticfacelookedgloomilyfromHolmestome。
　　TheEuropeanSecretarypullednervouslyathismoustacheandfidgetedwiththesealsofhiswatch—chain。
　　"WhenIdiscoveredmyloss，Mr。Holmes，whichwasateighto’clockthismorning，IatonceinformedthePrimeMinister。
　　Itwasathissuggestionthatwehavebothcometoyou。"
　　"Haveyouinformedthepolice？"
　　"No，sir，"saidthePrimeMinister，withthequick，decisivemannerforwhichhewasfamous。"Wehavenotdoneso，norisitpossiblethatweshoulddoso。Toinformthepolicemust，inthelongrun，meantoinformthepublic。Thisiswhatweparticularlydesiretoavoid。"
　　"Andwhy，sir？"
　　"Becausethedocumentinquestionisofsuchimmenseimportancethatitspublicationmightveryeasily——Imightalmostsayprobably——leadtoEuropeancomplicationsoftheutmostmoment。
　　Itisnottoomuchtosaythatpeaceorwarmayhangupontheissue。Unlessitsrecoverycanbeattendedwiththeutmostsecrecy，thenitmayaswellnotberecoveredatall，forallthatisaimedatbythosewhohavetakenitisthatitscontentsshouldbegenerallyknown。"
　　"Iunderstand。Now，Mr。TrelawneyHope，Ishouldbemuchobligedifyouwouldtellmeexactlythecircumstancesunderwhichthisdocumentdisappeared。"
　　"Thatcanbedoneinaveryfewwords，Mr。Holmes。
　　Theletter——foritwasaletterfromaforeignpotentate——
　　wasreceivedsixdaysago。ItwasofsuchimportancethatIhaveneverleftitinmysafe，butIhavetakenitacrosseacheveningtomyhouseinWhitehallTerrace，andkeptitinmybedroominalockeddespatch—box。Itwastherelastnight。OfthatIamcertain。IactuallyopenedtheboxwhileIwasdressingfordinner，andsawthedocumentinside。Thismorningitwasgone。
　　Thedespatch—boxhadstoodbesidetheglassuponmydressing—tableallnight。Iamalightsleeper，andsoismywife。Wearebothpreparedtoswearthatnoonecouldhaveenteredtheroomduringthenight。AndyetIrepeatthatthepaperisgone。"
　　"Whattimedidyoudine？"
　　"Half—pastseven。"
　　"Howlongwasitbeforeyouwenttobed？"
　　"Mywifehadgonetothetheatre。Iwaitedupforher。
　　Itwashalf—pastelevenbeforewewenttoourroom。"
　　"Thenforfourhoursthedespatch—boxhadlainunguarded？"
　　"Nooneiseverpermittedtoenterthatroomsavethehousemaidinthemorning，andmyvalet，ormywife’smaid，duringtherestoftheday。Theyarebothtrustyservantswhohavebeenwithusforsometime。Besides，neitherofthemcouldpossiblyhaveknownthattherewasanythingmorevaluablethantheordinarydepartmentalpapersinmydespatch—box。"
　　"Whodidknowoftheexistenceofthatletter？"
　　"Nooneinthehouse。"
　　"Surelyyourwifeknew？"
　　"No，sir；IhadsaidnothingtomywifeuntilImissedthepaperthismorning。"
　　ThePremiernoddedapprovingly。
　　"Ihavelongknown，sir，howhighisyoursenseofpublicduty，"
　　saidhe。"Iamconvincedthatinthecaseofasecretofthisimportanceitwouldrisesuperiortothemostintimatedomesticties。"
　　TheEuropeanSecretarybowed。
　　"Youdomenomorethanjustice，sir。UntilthismorningIhaveneverbreathedonewordtomywifeuponthismatter。"
　　"Couldshehaveguessed？"
　　"No，Mr。Holmes，shecouldnothaveguessed——norcouldanyonehaveguessed。"
　　"Haveyoulostanydocumentsbefore？"
　　"No，sir。"
　　"WhoisthereinEnglandwhodidknowoftheexistenceofthisletter？"
　　"EachmemberoftheCabinetwasinformedofityesterday；
　　butthepledgeofsecrecywhichattendseveryCabinetmeetingwasincreasedbythesolemnwarningwhichwasgivenbythePrimeMinister。Goodheavens，tothinkthatwithinafewhoursI
　　shouldmyselfhavelostit！"Hishandsomefacewasdistortedwithaspasmofdespair，andhishandstoreathishair。
　　Foramomentwecaughtaglimpseofthenaturalman，impulsive，ardent，keenlysensitive。Thenextthearistocraticmaskwasreplaced，andthegentlevoicehadreturned。"BesidesthemembersoftheCabinettherearetwo，orpossiblythree，departmentalofficialswhoknowoftheletter。NooneelseinEngland，Mr。Holmes，Iassureyou。"