No. 11 The Adventure of the Naval Treaty by Arthur Conan Doyle

No. 11 The Adventure of the Naval Treaty by Arthur Conan Doyle
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objects

" there_is nothing in_which deduction necessary religion ," said , leaning with_his back against the shutters " can_be built exact science by_the reasoner our highest assurance of_the goodness Providence seems to_me rest in_the flowers all other things , our powers our desires , our food , are all really necessary for_our existence in_the first instance but this rose extra its smell and its colour are embellishment life , not condition it_is only goodness which gives extras, and I_say again that we_have much hope from_the flowers

Percy Phelps and_his nurse looked Holmes during this demonstration with surprise and good_deal disappointment written upon their faces had fallen into reverie , with_the moss - rose between his fingers had lasted some minutes before_the young lady broke upon

" you_see any prospect solving this mystery , Mr Holmes ? " she asked , with touch asperity her voice

"Oh, the mystery ! " answered , coming back with start to_the realities life " well , would_be absurd deny that_the case very abstruse and complicated one , but I_can promise you that i_will look into_the matter and let you_know any points which_may strike "

" you_see any clue ? "

" you_have furnished with seven, but , of_course , I_must test them before I_can pronounce upon their value "

" you suspect some one ? "

"I suspect myself "

" what ! "

" coming conclusions rapidly "

" then London and test your conclusions "

" your advice very excellent , miss Harrison ," said Holmes, rising " i_think , Watson, we_cannot better do_not allow yourself indulge false hopes, Mr Phelps the affair very tangled one "

" I_shall_be fever until I_see you again ," cried the diplomatist

" well , I'll come out the same train - morrow , though 's more than likely that report will_be negative one "

" god bless you for promising to_come ," cried our client " gives fresh life to_know that something being done by_the_way , I_have_had letter from lord Holdhurst "

"Ha ! what did say ? "

" he_was cold , but not harsh I dare say severe illness prevented him from being that repeated that_the matter was of_the utmost importance , and added that steps would_be taken about_my future -- by_which means, of_course , dismissal -- until health was restored and I had opportunity repairing misfortune "

" well , that was reasonable and considerate ," said Holmes " come , Watson, for we_have goody day 's work before_us town "

Mr Joseph Harrison drove down to_the station , and were soon whirling Portsmouth train Holmes was sunk profound thought , and hardly opened his mouth until had passed Clapham junction

" 's very cheery thing to_come into London any of_these lines which run high , and allow you look down upon_the houses like this "

i_thought he_was joking, for_the view was sordid enough , but soon explained himself

" look those big , isolated clumps building rising above the slates, like brick islands lead -coloured sea "

" the board -schools "

" light -houses, boy ! Beacons of_the future ! Capsules with hundreds bright little seeds each , out of_which will spring the wise , better England of_the future I suppose that man Phelps does_not drink ? "

"I should_not think "

" nor should I, but we_are bound to_take every possibility into account the poor devil has certainly got himself into very deep water , and 's question whether we_shall ever be_able to_get him ashore what did you_think miss Harrison ? "

"A girl strong character "

" yes , but she_is good sort , I_am mistaken she and her brother are the only children iron - master somewhere Northumberland way got engaged her when travelling last winter , and she came down to_be introduced to_his people , with her brother escort then came the smash , and she stayed nurse her lover , while brother Joseph , finding himself pretty snug , stayed too I've been making few independent inquiries , you_see but - day must_be day "

" practice --" I began

"Oh, if_you find your own cases more interesting than mine --" said Holmes, with some asperity

" i_was going to_say that practice could get along very_well for day_or_two , since it_is_the slackest time in_the year "

" excellent ," said , recovering his good -humour " then 'll look into this_matter together i_think that we_should begin seeing Forbes he_can probably tell all the details we_want until we_know from what side the case is_to_be approached

" you said you had clue ? "

" well , we_have several , but we_can only test their value further inquiry the most difficult crime track is_the one which_is purposeless now this_is_not who_is who profits by_it ? there_is the French ambassador , the Russian , who - ever might sell either of_these , and lord Holdhurst "

" lord Holdhurst ! "

" well , it_is just conceivable that statesman might find himself in_a_position where he_was not sorry to_have such document accidentally destroyed "

" not statesman wit the honourable record lord Holdhurst ? "

" it_is possibility and we_cannot afford disregard we_shall see the noble lord - day and find out he_can tell anything meanwhile I_have already set inquiries foot "

" already ? "

" yes , I_sent wires from Woking station every evening paper London this advertisement will appear each of_them "

handed over sheet torn from note - book it_was scribbled pencil : "L10 reward the number of_the cab which dropped fare about_the door of_the foreign office Charles street quarter ten in_the evening may 23d apply 221 B, baker street "

" you_are confident that_the thief came cab ? "

" if_not , there_is harm done but Mr Phelps correct stating that_there_is hiding- place either in_the room the corridors, then the person must_have come from outside he_came from outside wet night , and yet left trace damp upon_the linoleum , which_was examined within few_minutes of_his passing, then it_is exceeding probably that he_came cab yes , i_think that we_may safely deduce cab "

" sounds plausible "

" that_is one_of_the clues of_which I spoke may lead something and then , of_course , there_is the bell -- which_is the most distinctive feature of_the case why should the bell ring ? was_it the thief who did out bravado ? was_it some one who was with_the thief who did in_order to_prevent the crime ? was_it accident ? was_it -- ? " sank back into_the state intense and silent thought from_which had emerged ; but seemed to_me , accustomed i_was to_his every mood , that some new possibility had dawned suddenly upon him

it_was twenty past three when reached our terminus , and after hasty luncheon at_the buffet pushed once Scotland yard Holmes had already wired Forbes, and we_found him waiting receive --a small , foxy man with sharp but means amiable expression he_was decidedly frigid in_his manner to_us , especially when heard the errand upon_which had come

"I've heard your methods before now , Mr Holmes," said , tartly " you_are ready enough use all the information that_the police can lay your disposal , and then you try finish the case yourself and bring discredit them "

" on_the contrary ," said Holmes, " out of_my last fifty- three cases name has only appeared four, and_the police have_had all the credit forty-nine I don't blame you for not knowing this , for you_are young and inexperienced, but if_you_wish to_get your new duties you_will work with and not against "

"I'd very_glad hint two ," said the detective , changing his manner "I've certainly had credit from_the case so_far "

" what steps have_you taken ? "

"Tangey, the commissionnaire, has_been shadowed left the Guards with good character and we_can find nothing against him his wife bad lot, though I fancy she knows more about_this than appears "

" have_you shadowed her ? "

" we_have set one_of_our women her Mrs Tangey drinks, and_our woman has_been with her twice when she was well , but she_could get nothing out 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 being funds "

" what explanation did she give having answered the bell when Mr Phelps rang for_the coffee ? "

" she said that husband was very tired and she wished relieve him "

" well , certainly that_would agree with_his being found 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 her that you and Mr Phelps, who started at_least twenty minutes after , got home before her ? "

" she explains that by_the difference between ' bus and hansom "

" did she make clear why , 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 answer for everything did you ask her whether leaving she met any_one saw any_one loitering about Charles street ? "

" she saw 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 -- evidence any kind "

" have_you formed theory about how that bell rang ? "

" well , I_must confess that_it beats it_was cool hand , whoever it_was , to_go and give the alarm like that "

" yes , it_was queer thing to_do many thanks to_you for what you_have told I_can put the man into your hands you shall hear from come along , Watson "

" where are going now ? " I asked , as_we left the office

" we_are now going interview lord Holdhurst, the cabinet minister and future premier England "

were fortunate finding that lord Holdhurst was still in_his chambers Downing street , and Holmes sending in_his card were instantly shown the statesman received with_that old - fashioned courtesy for_which he_is remarkable , and seated on_the two luxuriant lounges either side of_the fireplace Standing on_the run between_us , with_his slight , tall , his sharp features, thoughtful face , and curling hair prematurely tinged with grey, he_seemed represent that not common type , nobleman who_is truth noble

" you name very familiar to_me , Mr Holmes," said , smiling " and , of_course , I_cannot pretend to_be ignorant of_the object your visit there has only been once occurrence in_these offices which could call for your attention whose interest are_you acting, may I ask ? "

" in_that Mr Percy Phelps," answered Holmes

"Ah, unfortunate nephew ! you_can understand that_our kinship makes the more impossible for_me screen him any_way I_fear that_the incident must_have very prejudicial effect upon his career "

" but if_the document found ? "

"Ah, that , of_course , would_be different "

"I had one_or_two questions which I wished ask_you , lord Holdhurst "

" I_shall_be happy to_give_you any information 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 any_one that_it_was your intention to_give any_one the treaty to_be copied ? "

" never "

" you_are certain of_that ? "

" absolutely "

" well , since you never said , and Mr Phelps never said , 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 "

the statesman smiled " you take out of_my province there ," said

Holmes considered for moment " there_is another very_important point which i_wish discuss with_you ," said " you feared , I understand , that very grave results might follow from_the details of_this treaty becoming known "

shadow passed over the expressive face of_the statesman " very grave results indeed "

" any have they occurred ? "

" not yet "

" if_the treaty had reached , let_us_say , the French Russian foreign office , you_would expect hear ? "

" i_should ," said lord Holdhurst, with wry face

" since nearly ten weeks have elapsed , then , and nothing has_been heard , it_is_not unfair suppose that for some reason the treaty has_not reached them "