No. 13 The Adventure of the Second Stain by Arthur Conan Doyle
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believe you_are right, Mr Holmes . he_would take so valuable a prize to head-quarters with_his own hands . i_think that your course of action is an excellent one . meanwhile, hope, we_cannot neglect all our other duties on account of this_one misfortune . should there be any fresh developments during the day we_shall communicate with_you, and you_will no_doubt let_us_know the results of your own inquiries ."

the two statesmen bowed and walked gravely from_the room .

when our illustrious visitors had departed Holmes lit his pipe in silence, and sat for some_time lost in_the deepest thought .I had opened the morning paper and was immersed in a sensational crime which had occurred in London the night before, when my friend gave an exclamation, sprang to_his feet, and laid his pipe down upon_the mantelpiece .

" yes," said he, " there_is no better way of approaching it . the situation is desperate, but not hopeless . even now, if_we could_be_sure which of_them has taken it, it_is just possible that_it has_not_yet passed out of_his hands . after all, it_is a question of money with_these fellows, and I_have the British treasury behind me . if_it's on_the market I'll buy it -- if_it means another penny on_the income- tax . it_is conceivable that_the fellow might hold it back to_see what bids come from_this side before he tries his luck on_the other . there_are only those three capable of playing so bold a game; there_are Oberstein, La Rothiere, and Eduardo Lucas . i_will_see each of_them ."

I glanced at my morning paper .

" is_that Eduardo Lucas of Godolphin street ? "

" yes ."

" you_will_not see him ."

" why_not ? "

" he_was murdered in_his house last night ."

my friend has so often astonished me in_the course of_our adventures that_it_was with a sense of exultation that I realised how completely I had astonished him . he stared in amazement, and then snatched the paper from my hands . this_was the paragraph which I had_been engaged in reading when he rose from_his chair:--

" murder in Westminster .

"A crime of mysterious character was committed last night at 16, Godolphin street, one_of_the old- fashioned and secluded rows of eighteenth- century houses which lie between_the river and_the abbey, almost in_the shadow of_the great Tower of_the Houses of parliament . this small but select mansion has_been inhabited for_some_years by_Mr Eduardo Lucas, well known in society circles both on account of_his charming personality and because he has_the well- deserved reputation of being one_of_the_best amateur tenors in_the country .Mr Lucas is an unmarried man, thirty-four years_of_age, and_his establishment consists of Mrs Pringle, an elderly housekeeper, and of Mitton, his valet . the former retires early and sleeps at_the top of_the house . the valet was out for_the evening, visiting a friend at Hammersmith . from ten o'clock onwards Mr Lucas had the house to himself . what occurred during that_time has_not_yet transpired, but at a quarter to twelve police- constable Barrett, passing along Godolphin street, observed that_the door of no .16 was ajar . he knocked, but received no answer .Perceiving a light in_the front room he advanced into_the passage and again knocked, but without reply . he then pushed open the door and entered . the room was in a state of wild disorder, the furniture being all swept to one side, and one chair lying on its back in_the centre . beside this chair, and still grasping one of_its legs, lay the unfortunate tenant of_the house . he had_been stabbed to_the heart and must_have died instantly . the knife with_which the crime had_been committed was a curved Indian dagger, plucked down from a trophy of oriental arms which adorned one_of_the walls . robbery does_not appear to_have_been the motive of_the crime, for there had_been no attempt to remove the valuable contents of_the room .Mr Eduardo Lucas was so_well known and popular that his violent and mysterious fate will arouse painful interest and intense sympathy in a wide- spread circle of friends ."

" well, Watson, what do_you make of_this ? " asked Holmes, after a long pause .

" it_is an amazing coincidence ."

"A coincidence ! here_is one_of_the three men whom we had named as possible actors in_this drama, and he meets a violent death during the very hours when we_know that that drama was being enacted . the odds are enormous against its being coincidence . no figures could express them . no, my dear Watson, the two events are connected -- must_be connected . it_is for_us to_find the connection ."

" but now the official police must know all ."

" not at all . they know all they see at Godolphin street . they know -- and shall know -- nothing of Whitehall terrace . only we_know of both events, and can trace the relation between_them . there_is one obvious point which would, in any case, have turned my suspicions against Lucas .Godolphin street, Westminster, is only a few_minutes' walk from Whitehall terrace . the other secret agents whom I_have named live in_the extreme west- end . it_was easier, therefore, for Lucas than for_the others to establish a connection or receive a message from_the European secretary's household -- a small thing, and yet where events are compressed into a few hours it may prove essential .Halloa ! what have we here ? "

Mrs Hudson had appeared with a lady's card upon her salver .Holmes glanced at it, raised his eyebrows, and handed it over to_me .

" ask lady Hilda Trelawney hope if she will_be kind enough to step up," said he .

a moment later our modest apartment, already so distinguished that morning, was further honoured by_the entrance of_the most lovely woman in London .I had often heard of_the beauty of_the youngest daughter of_the duke of Belminster, but no description of it, and no contemplation of colourless photographs, had prepared me for_the subtle, delicate charm and_the beautiful colouring of_that exquisite head . and yet as_we saw it that autumn morning, it_was not its beauty which would_be the first thing to impress the observer . the cheek was lovely, but it_was paled with emotion; the eyes were bright, but it was_the brightness of fever; the sensitive mouth was tight and drawn in an effort after self- command . terror -- not beauty -- was what sprang first to_the eye as our fair visitor stood framed for an instant in_the open door .

" has my husband been here, Mr Holmes ? "

" yes, madam, he has_been here ."

" Mr Holmes, I implore you not to_tell him that I_came here ." Holmes bowed coldly, and motioned the lady to a chair .

" your ladyship places me in a very delicate position .I beg that you_will sit down and tell me what you_desire; but I_fear that I_cannot make any unconditional promise ."

she swept across the room and seated herself with her back to_the window . it_was a queenly presence -- tall, graceful, and intensely womanly .

" Mr Holmes," she said, and her white-gloved hands clasped and unclasped as she spoke -- " i_will speak frankly to_you in_the hope_that it may induce you to_speak frankly in return . there_is complete confidence between my husband and me on all matters save one . that one is politics . on_this his lips are sealed . he tells me nothing . now, I_am aware that there_was a most deplorable occurrence in_our house last night . I_know that a paper has disappeared . but because the matter is political my husband refuses to_take me into his complete confidence . now it_is essential -- essential, I_say -- that i_should thoroughly understand it . you_are the only other person, save only these politicians, who knows the true facts .I beg you, then, Mr Holmes, to_tell me exactly what has happened and what it_will lead to . tell me all, Mr Holmes . let no regard for your client's interests keep you silent, for I assure you that his interests, if he_would only see it, would_be best served by taking me into his complete confidence . what_was this paper which_was stolen ? "

" madam, what you ask me is really impossible ."

she groaned and sank her face in her hands .

" you_must see that_this_is so, madam . if your husband thinks fit to_keep you in_the dark over this_matter, is_it for_me, who has only learned the true facts under the pledge of professional secrecy, to_tell what he has withheld ? it_is_not fair to ask it . it_is him whom you_must ask ."

" I_have asked him .I come to_you as a last resource . but without your telling me anything definite, Mr Holmes, you_may do a great service if_you_would enlighten me on one point ."

" what_is it, madam ? "

" is my husband's political career likely to suffer through_this incident ? "

" well, madam, unless it_is set right it may certainly have a very unfortunate effect ."

"Ah ! " she drew in her breath sharply as one whose doubts are resolved .

" one more question, Mr Holmes . from an expression which my husband dropped in_the first shock of_this disaster I understood that terrible public consequences might arise from_the loss of_this document ."

" if he_said so, I certainly cannot deny it ."

" of what nature are they ? "

"Nay, madam, there again you ask me more than I_can possibly answer ."

" then i_will take up no more of your time . I_cannot blame you, Mr Holmes, for having refused to_speak more freely, and you on_your side will not, I_am_sure, think the worse of me because I_desire, even against his will, to share my husband's anxieties . once more I beg that you_will say nothing of_my visit ." she looked back at us from_the door, and I had a last impression of_that beautiful haunted face, the startled eyes, and_the drawn mouth . then she was gone .

" now, Watson, the fair sex is your department," said Holmes, with a smile, when_the dwindling frou-frou of skirts had ended in_the slam of_the front door ." what_was the fair lady's game ? what did she really want ? "

" surely her own statement is clear and her anxiety very natural ."

" hum ! think of her appearance, Watson -- her manner, her suppressed excitement, her restlessness, her tenacity in asking questions . remember that she comes of a caste who_do_not lightly show emotion ."

" she was certainly much moved ."

" remember also the curious earnestness with_which she assured us that_it_was best for her husband that she should know all . what did she mean by_that ? and you_must_have observed, Watson, how she manoeuvred to_have the light at her back . she did_not wish us to read her expression ."

" yes; she chose the one chair in_the room ."

" and yet the motives of women are so inscrutable . you remember the woman at Margate whom I suspected for_the same reason . no powder on her nose -- that proved to_be the correct solution . how can_you build on_such a quicksand ? their most trivial action may mean volumes, or their most extraordinary conduct may depend upon a hairpin or acurling- tongs . good morning, Watson ."

" you_are off ? "

" yes; i_will wile away the morning at Godolphin street with_our friends of_the regular establishment . with Eduardo Lucas lies the solution of_our problem, though I_must admit that I_have_not an inkling as_to what form it may take . it_is a capital mistake to theorise in advance of_the facts . do_you stay on guard, my good Watson, and receive any fresh visitors .I'll join you at lunch if I_am able ."

all that day and_the next and_the next Holmes was in a mood which his friends would call taciturn, and others morose . he ran out and ran in, smoked incessantly, played snatches on_his violin, sank into reveries, devoured sandwiches at irregular hours, and hardly answered the casual questions which I put to him . it_was evident to_me that things were_not going well with_him or his quest . he_would say nothing of_the case, and it_was from_the papers that I learned the particulars of_the inquest, and_the arrest with_the subsequent release of John Mitton, the valet of_the deceased . the coroner's jury brought in_the obvious "Wilful murder," but the parties remained as unknown as ever . no motive was suggested . the room was full of articles of value, but none had_been taken . the dead man's papers had_not_been tampered with . they were carefully examined, and showed that he_was a keen student of international politics, an indefatigable gossip, a remarkable linguist, and an untiring letter- writer . he had_been on intimate terms with_the leading politicians of several countries . but nothing sensational was discovered among_the documents which filled his drawers . as to_his relations with women, they appeared to_have_been promiscuous but superficial . he had many acquaintances among them, but few friends, and no one whom he loved . his habits were regular, his conduct inoffensive . his death was an absolute mystery, and likely to remain so .

as_to_the arrest of John Mitton, the valet, it_was a counsel of despair as an alternative to absolute inaction . but no case could_be sustained against him . he had visited friends in Hammersmith that night . the alibi was complete . it_is true that he started home at an hour which should_have brought him to Westminster before_the time when_the crime was discovered, but his own explanation that he had walked part of_the way seemed probable enough in view of_the fineness of_the night . he had actually arrived at twelve o'clock, and appeared to_be overwhelmed by_the unexpected tragedy . he had always been on good terms with_his master . several of_the dead man's possessions -- notably a small case of razors -- had_been found in_the valet's boxes, but he explained that_they had_been presents from_the deceased, and_the housekeeper was able to corroborate the story .Mitton had_been in Lucas's employment for three years . it_was noticeable that Lucas did_not take Mitton on_the continent with_him .Sometimes he visited Paris for three months on end, but Mitton was left in charge of_the Godolphin

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