"Butabroad？"
　　"Ibelievethatnooneabroadhasseenitsavethemanwhowroteit。
　　IamwellconvincedthathisMinisters——thattheusualofficialchannelshavenotbeenemployed。"
　　Holmesconsideredforsomelittletime。
　　"Now，sir，Imustaskyoumoreparticularlywhatthisdocumentis，andwhyitsdisappearanceshouldhavesuchmomentousconsequences？"
　　ThetwostatesmenexchangedaquickglanceandthePremier’sshaggyeyebrowsgatheredinafrown。
　　"Mr。Holmes，theenvelopeisalong，thinoneofpalebluecolour。
　　Thereisasealofredwaxstampedwithacrouchinglion。
　　Itisaddressedinlarge，boldhandwritingto———"
　　"Ifear，sir，"saidHolmes，"that，interestingandindeedessentialasthesedetailsare，myinquiriesmustgomoretotherootofthings。WhatWAStheletter？"
　　"ThatisaStatesecretoftheutmostimportance，andIfearthatIcannottellyou，nordoIseethatitisnecessary。
　　IfbytheaidofthepowerswhichyouaresaidtopossessyoucanfindsuchanenvelopeasIdescribewithitsenclosure，youwillhavedeservedwellofyourcountry，andearnedanyrewardwhichitliesinourpowertobestow。"
　　SherlockHolmesrosewithasmile。
　　"Youaretwoofthemostbusymeninthecountry，"saidhe，"andinmyownsmallwayIhavealsoagoodmanycallsuponme。
　　IregretexceedinglythatIcannothelpyouinthismatter，andanycontinuationofthisinterviewwouldbeawasteoftime。"
　　ThePremiersprangtohisfeetwiththatquick，fiercegleamofhisdeep—seteyesbeforewhichaCabinethascowered。"Iamnotaccustomed，sir————"hebegan，butmasteredhisangerandresumedhisseat。Foraminuteormoreweallsatinsilence。
　　Thentheoldstatesmanshruggedhisshoulders。
　　"Wemustacceptyourterms，Mr。Holmes。Nodoubtyouareright，anditisunreasonableforustoexpectyoutoactunlesswegiveyouourentireconfidence。"
　　"Iagreewithyou，sir，"saidtheyoungerstatesman。
　　"ThenIwilltellyou，relyingentirelyuponyourhonourandthatofyourcolleague，Dr。Watson。Imayappealtoyourpatriotismalso，forIcouldnotimagineagreatermisfortuneforthecountrythanthatthisaffairshouldcomeout。"
　　"Youmaysafelytrustus。"
　　"Theletter，then，isfromacertainforeignpotentatewhohasbeenruffledbysomerecentColonialdevelopmentsofthiscountry。Ithasbeenwrittenhurriedlyanduponhisownresponsibilityentirely。InquirieshaveshownthathisMinistersknownothingofthematter。Atthesametimeitiscouchedinsounfortunateamanner，andcertainphrasesinitareofsoprovocativeacharacter，thatitspublicationwouldundoubtedlyleadtoamostdangerousstateoffeelinginthiscountry。Therewouldbesuchaferment，sir，thatIdonothesitatetosaythatwithinaweekofthepublicationofthatletterthiscountrywouldbeinvolvedinagreatwar。"
　　HolmeswroteanameuponaslipofpaperandhandedittothePremier。
　　"Exactly。Itwashe。Anditisthisletter——thisletterwhichmaywellmeantheexpenditureofathousandmillionsandthelivesofahundredthousandmen——whichhasbecomelostinthisunaccountablefashion。"
　　"Haveyouinformedthesender？"
　　"Yes，sir，aciphertelegramhasbeendespatched。"
　　"Perhapshedesiresthepublicationoftheletter。"
　　"No，sir，wehavestrongreasontobelievethathealreadyunderstandsthathehasactedinanindiscreetandhot—headedmanner。Itwouldbeagreaterblowtohimandtohiscountrythantousifthisletterweretocomeout。"
　　"Ifthisisso，whoseinterestisitthatthelettershouldcomeout？Whyshouldanyonedesiretostealitortopublishit？"
　　"There，Mr。Holmes，youtakemeintoregionsofhighinternationalpolitics。ButifyouconsidertheEuropeansituationyouwillhavenodifficultyinperceivingthemotive。
　　ThewholeofEuropeisanarmedcamp。Thereisadoubleleaguewhichmakesafairbalanceofmilitarypower。GreatBritainholdsthescales。IfBritainweredrivenintowarwithoneconfederacy，itwouldassurethesupremacyoftheotherconfederacy，whethertheyjoinedinthewarornot。Doyoufollow？"
　　"Veryclearly。Itisthentheinterestoftheenemiesofthispotentatetosecureandpublishthisletter，soastomakeabreachbetweenhiscountryandours？"
　　"Yes，sir。"
　　"Andtowhomwouldthisdocumentbesentifitfellintothehandsofanenemy？"
　　"ToanyofthegreatChancelleriesofEurope。Itisprobablyspeedingonitswaythitheratthepresentinstantasfastassteamcantakeit。"
　　Mr。TrelawneyHopedroppedhisheadonhischestandgroanedaloud。ThePremierplacedhishandkindlyuponhisshoulder。
　　"Itisyourmisfortune，mydearfellow。Noonecanblameyou。
　　Thereisnoprecautionwhichyouhaveneglected。
　　Now，Mr。Holmes，youareinfullpossessionofthefacts。
　　Whatcoursedoyourecommend？"
　　Holmesshookhisheadmournfully。
　　"Youthink，sir，thatunlessthisdocumentisrecoveredtherewillbewar？"
　　"Ithinkitisveryprobable。"
　　"Then，sir，prepareforwar。"
　　"Thatisahardsaying，Mr。Holmes。"
　　"Considerthefacts，sir。Itisinconceivablethatitwastakenaftereleven—thirtyatnight，sinceIunderstandthatMr。Hopeandhiswifewerebothintheroomfromthathouruntilthelosswasfoundout。Itwastaken，then，yesterdayeveningbetweenseven—thirtyandeleven—thirty，probablyneartheearlierhour，sincewhoevertookitevidentlyknewthatitwasthereandwouldnaturallysecureitasearlyaspossible。Now，sir，ifadocumentofthisimportanceweretakenatthathour，wherecanitbenow？Noonehasanyreasontoretainit。Ithasbeenpassedrapidlyontothosewhoneedit。Whatchancehavewenowtoovertakeoreventotraceit？Itisbeyondourreach。"
　　ThePrimeMinisterrosefromthesettee。
　　"Whatyousayisperfectlylogical，Mr。Holmes。Ifeelthatthematterisindeedoutofourhands。"
　　"Letuspresume，forargument’ssake，thatthedocumentwastakenbythemaidorbythevalet————"
　　"Theyarebotholdandtriedservants。"
　　"Iunderstandyoutosaythatyourroomisonthesecondfloor，thatthereisnoentrancefromwithout，andthatfromwithinnoonecouldgoupunobserved。Itmust，then，besomebodyinthehousewhohastakenit。Towhomwouldthethieftakeit？
　　Tooneofseveralinternationalspiesandsecretagents，whosenamesaretolerablyfamiliartome。Therearethreewhomaybesaidtobetheheadsoftheirprofession。Iwillbeginmyresearchbygoingroundandfindingifeachofthemisathispost。Ifoneismissing——especiallyifhehasdisappearedsincelastnight——wewillhavesomeindicationastowherethedocumenthasgone。"
　　"Whyshouldhebemissing？"askedtheEuropeanSecretary。
　　"HewouldtakethelettertoanEmbassyinLondon，aslikelyasnot。"
　　"Ifancynot。Theseagentsworkindependently，andtheirrelationswiththeEmbassiesareoftenstrained。"
　　ThePrimeMinisternoddedhisacquiescence。
　　"Ibelieveyouareright，Mr。Holmes。Hewouldtakesovaluableaprizetohead—quarterswithhisownhands。Ithinkthatyourcourseofactionisanexcellentone。Meanwhile，Hope，wecannotneglectallourotherdutiesonaccountofthisonemisfortune。Shouldtherebeanyfreshdevelopmentsduringthedayweshallcommunicatewithyou，andyouwillnodoubtletusknowtheresultsofyourowninquiries。"
　　Thetwostatesmenbowedandwalkedgravelyfromtheroom。
　　WhenourillustriousvisitorshaddepartedHolmeslithispipeinsilence，andsatforsometimelostinthedeepestthought。
　　IhadopenedthemorningpaperandwasimmersedinasensationalcrimewhichhadoccurredinLondonthenightbefore，whenmyfriendgaveanexclamation，sprangtohisfeet，andlaidhispipedownuponthemantelpiece。
　　"Yes，"saidhe，"thereisnobetterwayofapproachingit。
　　Thesituationisdesperate，butnothopeless。Evennow，ifwecouldbesurewhichofthemhastakenit，itisjustpossiblethatithasnotyetpassedoutofhishands。
　　Afterall，itisaquestionofmoneywiththesefellows，andIhavetheBritishTreasurybehindme。Ifit’sonthemarketI’llbuyit——ifitmeansanotherpennyontheincome—tax。
　　Itisconceivablethatthefellowmightholditbacktoseewhatbidscomefromthissidebeforehetrieshisluckontheother。
　　Thereareonlythosethreecapableofplayingsoboldagame；
　　thereareOberstein，LaRothiere，andEduardoLucas。
　　Iwillseeeachofthem。"
　　Iglancedatmymorningpaper。
　　"IsthatEduardoLucasofGodolphinStreet？"
　　"Yes。"
　　"Youwillnotseehim。"
　　"Whynot？"
　　"Hewasmurderedinhishouselastnight。"
　　MyfriendhassooftenastonishedmeinthecourseofouradventuresthatitwaswithasenseofexultationthatI
　　realizedhowcompletelyIhadastonishedhim。Hestaredinamazement，andthensnatchedthepaperfrommyhands。ThiswastheparagraphwhichIhadbeenengagedinreadingwhenherosefromhischair：——
　　"MURDERINWESTMINSTER。
　　"Acrimeofmysteriouscharacterwascommittedlastnightat16，GodolphinStreet，oneoftheold—fashionedandsecludedrowsofeighteenth—centuryhouseswhichliebetweentheriverandtheAbbey，almostintheshadowofthegreatToweroftheHousesofParliament。ThissmallbutselectmansionhasbeeninhabitedforsomeyearsbyMr。EduardoLucas，wellknowninsocietycirclesbothonaccountofhischarmingpersonalityandbecausehehasthewell—deservedreputationofbeingoneofthebestamateurtenorsinthecountry。Mr。Lucasisanunmarriedman，thirty—fouryearsofage，andhisestablishmentconsistsofMrs。Pringle，anelderlyhousekeeper，andofMitton，hisvalet。
　　Theformerretiresearlyandsleepsatthetopofthehouse。
　　Thevaletwasoutfortheevening，visitingafriendatHammersmith。
　　Fromteno’clockonwardsMr。Lucashadthehousetohimself。
　　Whatoccurredduringthattimehasnotyettranspired，butataquartertotwelvePolice—constableBarrett，passingalongGodolphinStreet，observedthatthedoorofNo。16wasajar。
　　Heknocked，butreceivednoanswer。Perceivingalightinthefrontroomheadvancedintothepassageandagainknocked，butwithoutreply。Hethenpushedopenthedoorandentered。
　　Theroomwasinastateofwilddisorder，thefurniturebeingallswepttooneside，andonechairlyingonitsbackinthecentre。Besidethischair，andstillgraspingoneofitslegs，laytheunfortunatetenantofthehouse。Hehadbeenstabbedtotheheartandmusthavediedinstantly。TheknifewithwhichthecrimehadbeencommittedwasacurvedIndiandagger，pluckeddownfromatrophyofOrientalarmswhichadornedoneofthewalls。Robberydoesnotappeartohavebeenthemotiveofthecrime，fortherehadbeennoattempttoremovethevaluablecontentsoftheroom。Mr。EduardoLucaswassowellknownandpopularthathisviolentandmysteriousfatewillarousepainfulinterestandintensesympathyinawide—spreadcircleoffriends。"
　　"Well，Watson，whatdoyoumakeofthis？"askedHolmes，afteralongpause。
　　"Itisanamazingcoincidence。"
　　"Acoincidence！Hereisoneofthethreemenwhomwehadnamedaspossibleactorsinthisdrama，andhemeetsaviolentdeathduringtheveryhourswhenweknowthatthatdramawasbeingenacted。Theoddsareenormousagainstitsbeingcoincidence。
　　Nofigurescouldexpressthem。No，mydearWatson，thetwoeventsareconnected——MUSTbeconnected。Itisforustofindtheconnection。"
　　"Butnowtheofficialpolicemustknowall。"
　　"Notatall。TheyknowalltheyseeatGodolphinStreet。
　　Theyknow——andshallknow——nothingofWhitehallTerrace。
　　OnlyWEknowofbothevents，andcantracetherelationbetweenthem。
　　Thereisoneobviouspointwhichwould，inanycase，haveturnedmysuspicionsagainstLucas。GodolphinStreet，Westminster，isonlyafewminutes’walkfromWhitehallTerrace。TheothersecretagentswhomIhavenamedliveintheextremeWest—end。
　　Itwaseasier，therefore，forLucasthanfortheotherstoestablishaconnectionorreceiveamessagefromtheEuropeanSecretary’shousehold——asmallthing，andyetwhereeventsarecompressedintoafewhoursitmayproveessential。
　　Halloa！whathavewehere？"
　　Mrs。Hudsonhadappearedwithalady’scarduponhersalver。
　　Holmesglancedatit，raisedhiseyebrows，andhandeditovertome。
　　"AskLadyHildaTrelawneyHopeifshewillbekindenoughtostepup，"saidhe。
　　Amomentlaterourmodestapartment，alreadysodistinguishedthatmorning，wasfurtherhonouredbytheentranceofthemostlovelywomaninLondon。IhadoftenheardofthebeautyoftheyoungestdaughteroftheDukeofBelminster，butnodescriptionofit，andnocontemplationofcolourlessphotographs，hadpreparedmeforthesubtle，delicatecharmandthebeautifulcolouringofthatexquisitehead。Andyetaswesawitthatautumnmorning，itwasnotitsbeautywhichwouldbethefirstthingtoimpresstheobserver。Thecheekwaslovely，butitwaspaledwithemotion；theeyeswerebright，butitwasthebrightnessoffever；thesensitivemouthwastightanddrawninaneffortafterself—command。Terror——notbeauty——waswhatsprangfirsttotheeyeasourfairvisitorstoodframedforaninstantintheopendoor。
　　"Hasmyhusbandbeenhere，Mr。Holmes？"
　　"Yes，madam，hehasbeenhere。"
　　"Mr。Holmes，IimploreyounottotellhimthatIcamehere。"
　　Holmesbowedcoldly，andmotionedtheladytoachair。
　　"Yourladyshipplacesmeinaverydelicateposition。
　　Ibegthatyouwillsitdownandtellmewhatyoudesire；
　　butIfearthatIcannotmakeanyunconditionalpromise。"
　　Shesweptacrosstheroomandseatedherselfwithherbacktothewindow。Itwasaqueenlypresence——tall，graceful，andintenselywomanly。
　　"Mr。Holmes，"shesaid，andherwhite—glovedhandsclaspedandunclaspedasshespoke——"Iwillspeakfranklytoyouinthehopethatitmayinduceyoutospeakfranklyinreturn。Thereiscompleteconfidencebetweenmyhusbandandmeonallmatterssaveone。Thatoneispolitics。Onthishislipsaresealed。
　　Hetellsmenothing。Now，Iamawarethattherewasamostdeplorableoccurrenceinourhouselastnight。Iknowthatapaperhasdisappeared。Butbecausethematterispoliticalmyhusbandrefusestotakemeintohiscompleteconfidence。Nowitisessential——essential，Isay——thatIshouldthoroughlyunderstandit。Youaretheonlyotherperson，saveonlythesepoliticians，whoknowsthetruefacts。Ibegyou，then，Mr。Holmes，totellmeexactlywhathashappenedandwhatitwillleadto。Tellmeall，Mr。Holmes。Letnoregardforyourclient’sinterestskeepyousilent，forIassureyouthathisinterests，ifhewouldonlyseeit，wouldbebestservedbytakingmeintohiscompleteconfidence。Whatwasthispaperwhichwasstolen？"
　　"Madam，whatyouaskmeisreallyimpossible。"
　　Shegroanedandsankherfaceinherhands。
　　"Youmustseethatthisisso，madam。Ifyourhusbandthinksfittokeepyouinthedarkoverthismatter，isitforme，whohasonlylearnedthetruefactsunderthepledgeofprofessionalsecrecy，totellwhathehaswithheld？Itisnotfairtoaskit。
　　Itishimwhomyoumustask。"
　　"Ihaveaskedhim。Icometoyouasalastresource。Butwithoutyourtellingmeanythingdefinite，Mr。Holmes，youmaydoagreatserviceifyouwouldenlightenmeononepoint。"
　　"Whatisit，madam？"
　　"Ismyhusband’spoliticalcareerlikelytosufferthroughthisincident？"
　　"Well，madam，unlessitissetrightitmaycertainlyhaveaveryunfortunateeffect。"
　　"Ah！"Shedrewinherbreathsharplyasonewhosedoubtsareresolved。
　　"Onemorequestion，Mr。Holmes。FromanexpressionwhichmyhusbanddroppedinthefirstshockofthisdisasterIunderstoodthatterriblepublicconsequencesmightarisefromthelossofthisdocument。"
　　"Ifhesaidso，Icertainlycannotdenyit。"
　　"Ofwhatnaturearethey？"
　　"Nay，madam，thereagainyouaskmemorethanIcanpossiblyanswer。"
　　"ThenIwilltakeupnomoreofyourtime。Icannotblameyou，Mr。Holmes，forhavingrefusedtospeakmorefreely，andyouonyoursidewillnot，Iamsure，thinktheworseofmebecauseIdesire，evenagainsthiswill，tosharemyhusband’sanxieties。
　　OncemoreIbegthatyouwillsaynothingofmyvisit。"
　　Shelookedbackatusfromthedoor，andIhadalastimpressionofthatbeautifulhauntedface，thestartledeyes，andthedrawnmouth。Thenshewasgone。
　　"Now，Watson，thefairsexisyourdepartment，"saidHolmes，withasmile，whenthedwindlingfrou—frouofskirtshadendedintheslamofthefrontdoor。"Whatwasthefairlady’sgame？
　　Whatdidshereallywant？"
　　"Surelyherownstatementisclearandheranxietyverynatural。"
　　"Hum！Thinkofherappearance，Watson——hermanner，hersuppressedexcitement，herrestlessness，hertenacityinaskingquestions。Rememberthatshecomesofacastewhodonotlightlyshowemotion。"
　　"Shewascertainlymuchmoved。"
　　"Rememberalsothecuriousearnestnesswithwhichsheassuredusthatitwasbestforherhusbandthatsheshouldknowall。
　　Whatdidshemeanbythat？Andyoumusthaveobserved，Watson，howshemanoeuvredtohavethelightatherback。Shedidnotwishustoreadherexpression。"
　　"Yes；shechosetheonechairintheroom。"
　　"Andyetthemotivesofwomenaresoinscrutable。YourememberthewomanatMargatewhomIsuspectedforthesamereason。
　　Nopowderonhernose——thatprovedtobethecorrectsolution。
　　Howcanyoubuildonsuchaquicksand？Theirmosttrivialactionmaymeanvolumes，ortheirmostextraordinaryconductmaydependuponahairpinoracurling—tongs。Goodmorning，Watson。"
　　"Youareoff？"
　　"Yes；IwillwileawaythemorningatGodolphinStreetwithourfriendsoftheregularestablishment。WithEduardoLucasliesthesolutionofourproblem，thoughImustadmitthatIhavenotaninklingastowhatformitmaytake。Itisacapitalmistaketotheorizeinadvanceofthefacts。Doyoustayonguard，mygoodWatson，andreceiveanyfreshvisitors。I’lljoinyouatlunchifIamable。"
　　AllthatdayandthenextandthenextHolmeswasinamoodwhichhisfriendswouldcalltaciturn，andothersmorose。
　　Heranoutandranin，smokedincessantly，playedsnatchesonhisviolin，sankintoreveries，devouredsandwichesatirregularhours，andhardlyansweredthecasualquestionswhichIputtohim。Itwasevidenttomethatthingswerenotgoingwellwithhimorhisquest。Hewouldsaynothingofthecase，anditwasfromthepapersthatIlearnedtheparticularsoftheinquest，andthearrestwiththesubsequentreleaseofJohnMitton，thevaletofthedeceased。Thecoroner’sjurybroughtintheobvious"WilfulMurder，"butthepartiesremainedasunknownasever。Nomotivewassuggested。Theroomwasfullofarticlesofvalue，butnonehadbeentaken。Thedeadman’spapershadnotbeentamperedwith。Theywerecarefullyexamined，andshowedthathewasakeenstudentofinternationalpolitics，anindefatigablegossip，aremarkablelinguist，andanuntiringletter—writer。Hehadbeenonintimatetermswiththeleadingpoliticiansofseveralcountries。Butnothingsensationalwasdiscoveredamongthedocumentswhichfilledhisdrawers。Astohisrelationswithwomen，theyappearedtohavebeenpromiscuousbutsuperficial。Hehadmanyacquaintancesamongthem，butfewfriends，andnoonewhomheloved。Hishabitswereregular，hisconductinoffensive。Hisdeathwasanabsolutemystery，andlikelytoremainso。
　　AstothearrestofJohnMitton，thevalet，itwasacounselofdespairasanalternativetoabsoluteinaction。Butnocasecouldbesustainedagainsthim。HehadvisitedfriendsinHammersmiththatnight。TheALIBIwascomplete。ItistruethathestartedhomeatanhourwhichshouldhavebroughthimtoWestminsterbeforethetimewhenthecrimewasdiscovered，buthisownexplanationthathehadwalkedpartofthewayseemedprobableenoughinviewofthefinenessofthenight。
　　Hehadactuallyarrivedattwelveo’clock，andappearedtobeoverwhelmedbytheunexpectedtragedy。Hehadalwaysbeenongoodtermswithhismaster。Severalofthedeadman’spossessions——notablyasmallcaseofrazors——hadbeenfoundinthevalet’sboxes，butheexplainedthattheyhadbeenpresentsfromthedeceased，andthehousekeeperwasabletocorroboratethestory。MittonhadbeeninLucas’semploymentforthreeyears。ItwasnoticeablethatLucasdidnottakeMittonontheContinentwithhim。SometimeshevisitedParisforthreemonthsonend，butMittonwasleftinchargeoftheGodolphinStreethouse。Astothehousekeeper，shehadheardnothingonthenightofthecrime。Ifhermasterhadavisitorhehadhimselfadmittedhim。
　　Soforthreemorningsthemysteryremained，sofarasIcouldfollowitinthepapers。IfHolmesknewmorehekepthisowncounsel，but，ashetoldmethatInspectorLestradehadtakenhimintohisconfidenceinthecase，Iknewthathewasinclosetouchwitheverydevelopment。UponthefourthdaythereappearedalongtelegramfromPariswhichseemedtosolvethewholequestion。
　　"AdiscoveryhasjustbeenmadebytheParisianpolice，"saidtheDAILYTELEGRAPH，"whichraisestheveilwhichhungroundthetragicfateofMr。EduardoLucas，whomethisdeathbyviolencelastMondaynightatGodolphinStreet，Westminster。Ourreaderswillrememberthatthedeceasedgentlemanwasfoundstabbedinhisroom，andthatsomesuspicionattachedtohisvalet，butthatthecasebrokedownonanALIBI。Yesterdayalady，whohasbeenknownasMme。HenriFournaye，occupyingasmallvillaintheRueAusterlitz，wasreportedtotheauthoritiesbyherservantsasbeinginsane。Anexaminationshowedthatshehadindeeddevelopedmaniaofadangerousandpermanentform。
　　OninquirythepolicehavediscoveredthatMme。HenriFournayeonlyreturnedfromajourneytoLondononTuesdaylast，andthereisevidencetoconnectherwiththecrimeatWestminster。
　　AcomparisonofphotographshasprovedconclusivelythatM。HenriFournayeandEduardoLucaswerereallyoneandthesameperson，andthatthedeceasedhadforsomereasonlivedadoublelifeinLondonandParis。Mme。Fournaye，whoisofCreoleorigin，isofanextremelyexcitablenature，andhassufferedinthepastfromattacksofjealousywhichhaveamountedtofrenzy。
　　ItisconjecturedthatitwasinoneofthesethatshecommittedtheterriblecrimewhichhascausedsuchasensationinLondon。
　　HermovementsupontheMondaynighthavenotyetbeentraced，butitisundoubtedthatawomanansweringtoherdescriptionattractedmuchattentionatCharingCrossStationonTuesdaymorningbythewildnessofherappearanceandtheviolenceofhergestures。Itisprobable，therefore，thatthecrimewaseithercommittedwheninsane，orthatitsimmediateeffectwastodrivetheunhappywomanoutofhermind。Atpresentsheisunabletogiveanycoherentaccountofthepast，andthedoctorsholdoutnohopesofthere—establishmentofherreason。
　　Thereisevidencethatawoman，whomighthavebeenMme。Fournaye，wasseenforsomehoursonMondaynightwatchingthehouseinGodolphinStreet。"
　　"Whatdoyouthinkofthat，Holmes？"Ihadreadtheaccountaloudtohim，whilehefinishedhisbreakfast。
　　"MydearWatson，"saidhe，asherosefromthetableandpacedupanddowntheroom，"youaremostlong—suffering，butifI
　　havetoldyounothinginthelastthreedaysitisbecausethereisnothingtotell。EvennowthisreportfromParisdoesnothelpusmuch。"
　　"Surelyitisfinalasregardstheman’sdeath。"
　　"Theman’sdeathisamereincident——atrivialepisode——incomparisonwithourrealtask，whichistotracethisdocumentandsaveaEuropeancatastrophe。Onlyoneimportantthinghashappenedinthelastthreedays，andthatisthatnothinghashappened。IgetreportsalmosthourlyfromtheGovernment，anditiscertainthatnowhereinEuropeisthereanysignoftrouble。Now，ifthisletterwereloose——no，itCAN’Tbeloose——butifitisn’tloose，wherecanitbe？Whohasit？