"Sorry to keep you waiting, Mr. Holmes. I can see that you are bored todeath with the whole affair. Well, he has confessed, all right. Comein here, MacPherson. Let these gentlemen hear of your most inexcusableconduct."
The big constable, very hot and penitent, sidled into the room.
"I meant no harm, sir, I'm sure. The young woman came to the door lastevening--mistook the house, she did. And then we got talking. It'slonesome, when you're on duty here all day."
"Well, what happened then?"
"She wanted to see where the crime was done--had read about it in thepapers, she said. She was a very respectable, well-spoken young woman,sir, and I saw no harm in letting her have a peep. When she saw thatmark on the carpet, down she dropped on the floor, and lay as if shewere dead. I ran to the back and got some water, but I could not bringher to. Then I went round the corner to the Ivy Plant for some brandy,and by the time I had brought it back the young woman had recovered andwas off--ashamed of herself, I dare say, and dared not face me."
"How about moving that drugget?"
"Well, sir, it was a bit rumpled, certainly, when I came back. You see,she fell on it, and it lies on a polished floor with nothing to keep itin place. I straightened it out afterwards."
"It's a lesson to you that you can't deceive me, Constable MacPherson,"said Lestrade, with dignity. "No doubt you thought that your breach ofduty could never be discovered, and yet a mere glance at that druggetwas enough to convince me that someone had been admitted to the room.It's lucky for you, my man, that nothing is missing, or you would findyourself in Queer Street. I'm sorry to have called you down over such apetty business, Mr. Holmes, but I thought the point of the second stainnot corresponding with the first would interest 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 abouttype-writing, and came to the wrong number--very pleasant, genteel youngwoman, sir."
"Tall? Handsome?"
"Yes, sir; she was a well-grown young woman. I suppose you might sayshe 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 I thought there was no harm in letting her justput her head through the door."
"How was she dressed?"
"Quiet, sir--a long mantle down to her feet."
"What time was it?"
"It was just growing dusk at the time. They were lighting the lamps as Icame back with the brandy."
"Very good," said Holmes. "Come, Watson, I think that we have moreimportant work elsewhere."
As we left the house Lestrade remained in the front room, while therepentant constable opened the door to let us out. Holmes turned on thestep and held up something in his hand. The constable stared intently.
"Good Lord, sir!" he cried, with amazement on his face. Holmes put hisfinger on his lips, replaced his hand in his breast-pocket, and burstout laughing as we turned down the street. "Excellent!" said he. "Come,friend Watson, the curtain rings up for the last act. You will berelieved to hear that there will be no war, that the Right HonourableTrelawney Hope will suffer no set-back in his brilliant career, that theindiscreet Sovereign will receive no punishment for his indiscretion,that the Prime Minister will have no European complication to deal with,and that with a little tact and management upon our part nobody will bea penny the worse for what might have been a very ugly incident."
My mind filled with admiration for this extraordinary man.
"You have solved it!" I 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 therest. We will go straight to Whitehall Terrace and bring the matter to ahead."
When we arrived at the residence of the European Secretary it was forLady Hilda Trelawney Hope that Sherlock Holmes inquired. We were showninto the morning-room.
"Mr. Holmes!" said the lady, and her face was pink with her indignation,"this is surely most unfair and ungenerous upon your part. I desired,as I have explained, to keep my visit to you a secret, lest my husbandshould think that I was intruding into his affairs. And yet youcompromise me by coming here and so showing that there are businessrelations between us."
"Unfortunately, madam, I had no possible alternative. I have beencommissioned to recover this immensely important paper. I must thereforeask 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 instantfrom her beautiful face. Her eyes glazed--she tottered--I thought thatshe would faint. Then with a grand effort she rallied from the shock,and a supreme astonishment and indignation chased every other expressionfrom her features.
"You--you insult me, Mr. Holme
s."