"' last vie ? '

"'Well, it more than five '

"'You're only wasting your time, sir, and now is of importance,' cried the commissionnaire; 'take my word that my old woman has nothing with it, and come down other end street Well, won't, ' And he rushed off other direction

"But after him in an instant and caught him sleeve

"'Where live ? ' said I

"'16 Ivy Lane, Brixton,' he answered 'But don't let yourself be drawn away upon false scent, Mr Phelps Come other end street and hear of anything '

"Nothing was lost by following his advice policeman we both hurried down, but only the street full of traffic, many people coming and going, but all only too eager to place of safety upon so wet night no lounger tell us who had passed

"Then we returned office, and searched the stairs passage without result The corridor which led room was laid down with kind of creamy linoleum which shows an impression very easily We examined it very carefully, but found no outline of any footmark "

"Had it been raining all evening ? "

"Since about seven "

"How , then, woman who came room about nine left no traces with her muddy boots ? "

" you raised the point It occurred The charwomen are habit of taking off their boots commissionnaire's office, and putting on list slippers "

" very clear There were no marks, then, though the night was wet one ? The chain of events is certainly one of extraordinary interest What did next ?

"We examined the room also no possibility of secret door, windows are quite thirty feet ground Both were fastened inside The carpet prevents any possibility of trap-door, ceiling is ordinary whitewashed kind pledge my life that whoever stole my papers could only have come door "

"How fireplace ? "

"They use none stove The bell-rope hangs wire just right desk Whoever rang it come right desk But why should any criminal wish to ring the bell ? most insoluble mystery "

""Certainly the incident was unusual What were your next steps ? You examined the room, I presume, intruder had left any traces--any cigar-end or dropped glove or hairpin or other trifle ? "

" nothing sort "

"No smell ? "

"Well, we never thought "

"Ah, scent of tobacco worth great deal an investigation "

"I never smoke myself, so observed it if there any smell of tobacco absolutely no clue of any kind The only tangible fact the commissionnaire's wife- Mrs Tangey name--had hurried our place give no explanation save woman always went home The policeman and I agreed best plan to seize the woman before get rid papers, presuming that she had them

"The alarm had reached Scotland Yard , and Mr Forbes, the detective, came round at once and took up the case with great deal of energy We hire hansom, and in half an hour we were address which given young woman opened the door, who proved Mrs Tangey's eldest daughter Her mother come back yet, and we were shown front room to wait

"About ten minutes later knock came door, and here the one serious mistake I blame myself Instead of opening the door ourselves, we allowed the girl We heard her say, 'Mother, two men house waiting you,' and an instant afterwards we heard the patter of feet rushing down the passage Forbes flung open the door, and we both ran back room or kitchen, but the woman had got there She stared at us with defiant eyes, and then, suddenly recognising me, an expression of absolute astonishment came over her face

"'Why, isn't Mr Phelps, office ! ' she cried

"'Come, come, who did we were ran away ? ' asked my companion

"' you were the brokers,' said she, ' some trouble with tradesman '

"'That's not quite good enough,' answered Forbes ' reason that taken paper of importance fro the Foreign Office, you ran in here to dispose of it come back to Scotland Yard searched '

" in vain that she protested and resisted four-wheeler was brought, and we all three drove back We had first made an examination kitchen, and especially kitchen fire, whether she made away papers during the instant that she was alone There were no signs, however, of any ashes or scraps When we reached Scotland Yard she was handed over at once female searcher I waited in an agony of suspense until she came back with her report There were no signs papers

"Then first time the horror situation came in its full force Hitherto I acting, and action had numbed thought I so confident of regaining the treaty at once that I dared of what the consequence if I failed But now nothing more , and I had leisure to realise my position horrible Watson there would tell you that nervous, sensitive boy at school my nature uncle and colleagues Cabinet, shame which I had brought upon him, upon myself, upon connected with me What though I victim of an extraordinary accident ? No allowance is made for accidents where diplomatic interests are at stake ruined, shamefully, hopelessly ruined I don't know what I fancy made scene dim recollection of group of officials who crowded round me, endeavouring to soothe me drove down with me to Waterloo, and saw me Woking train I believe that come all the way had it not been that Dr Ferrier, who lives near me, was going down very train The doctor most kindly took charge of me, and well so, for I had fit station, and before we reached home practically raving maniac