The invalid sank back upon his cushions, tired out long recital, while his nurse poured him out glass of some stimulating medicine Holmes sat silently, head thrown back eyes closed, in an attitude which might seem listless to stranger, but which betokened the most intense self-absorption

"You statement so explicit," said he at last, "that really left me very few questions to ask very utmost importance, however Did you tell that you had this special task to perform ? "

"No one "

"Not Miss Harrison here, for example ? "

"No I back to Woking between getting the order and executing the commission "

"And none of your people had by chance been you ? "

"None "

"Did any know their way about office ? "

"Oh, yes, all shown over it "

"Still, , said nothing to treaty these inquiries are irrelevant "

" nothing "

" anything commissionnaire ? "

"Nothing except that an old soldier "

"What regiment ? "

"Oh, heard--Coldstream Guards "

" get details from Forbes The authorities are excellent at amassing facts, though always use them to advantage What lovely thing rose is ! "

He walked past the couch open window, and held up the drooping stalk of moss-rose, looking down dainty blend of crimson and green new phase character , for I had never before seen him show any keen interest in natural objects

" nothing deduction is so necessary as in religion," said he, leaning back against the shutters "It built up as an exact science reasoner Our highest assurance goodness of Providence seems to rest flowers All other things, our powers our desires, our food, are all really necessary existence first instance But this rose is an extra Its smell and its colour are an embellishment of life, not condition of it only goodness which gives extras, and so again that much to hope flowers

Percy Phelps nurse looked at Holmes during this demonstration with surprise and of disappointment written upon their faces He had fallen into reverie, moss-rose between his fingers It had lasted some minutes young lady broke in upon it

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

"Oh, the mystery ! " he answered, coming back with start realities of life "Well, it absurd to deny case is very abstruse and complicated one, but promise you that look matter and let any points strike me "

"Do any clue ? "

" furnished me with seven, but, , test them before pronounce upon their value "

"You suspect some one ? "

"I suspect myself "

"What ! "

"Of coming to conclusions to rapidly "

"Then go to London and test your conclusions "

"Your advice is very excellent, Miss Harrison," said Holmes, rising " , Watson, do better allow yourself to indulge in false hopes, Mr Phelps The affair is very tangled one "

" in fever until you again," cried the diplomatist

"Well, I'll come out be the same train to-morrow, though it's more than likely that my report negative one "

"God bless you for promising ," cried our client "It gives me fresh life that something is being done , letter from Lord Holdhurst "

"Ha ! What did he say ? "

" cold, but not harsh I dare say my severe illness prevented him from being that He repeated matter was utmost importance, and added that no steps taken future-- he means, , my dismissal--until my health was restored and I had an opportunity of repairing my misfortune "

"Well, that was reasonable and considerate," said Holmes "Come, Watson, for goody day's work in town "

Mr Joseph Harrison drove us down station, and we were soon whirling up in Portsmouth train Holmes was sunk in profound thought, and hardly opened his mouth until we had passed Clapham Junction

"It's very cheery thing into London by any lines which run high, and allow you to look down houses like this "

joking, view was sordid enough, but he soon explained himself

"Look at those big, isolated clumps of building rising up above the slates, like brick islands in lead-coloured sea "

"The board-schools "

"Light-houses, my boy ! Beacons future ! Capsules with hundreds of bright little seeds in each, out will spring the wise, better England future I suppose that man Phelps drink ? "

"I think so "

"Nor should I, but bound every possibility into account The poor devil has certainly got himself into very deep water, and it's question whether ever him ashore What did of Miss Harrison ? "

"A girl of strong character "

"Yes, but good sort, or mistaken She and her brother are the only children of an iron-master somewhere up Northumberland way He got engaged to her when travelling last winter, and she came down introduced people, with her brother as escort Then came the smash, and she stayed on to nurse her lover, while brother Joseph, finding himself pretty snug, stayed on too I've been making few independent inquiries, But to-day day of inquiries "

"My practice--" I began

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

" going that my practice could get along for , since slackest time year "

"Excellent," said he, recovering his good-humour "Then we'll look into together that begin be seeing Forbes probably tell us all the details until from what side the case approached

"You said you had clue ? "

"Well, several, but only test their value by further inquiry The most difficult crime to track one purposeless Now purposeless it who profits ? the French ambassador, the Russian, who-ever might sell it to either , and Lord Holdhurst "

"Lord Holdhurst ! "

"Well, just conceivable that statesman might find himself where not sorry such document accidentally destroyed "

"Not statesman wit the honourable record of Lord Holdhurst ? "

" possibility and afford to disregard it see the noble lord to-day and find out if tell us anything Meanwhile already set inquiries on foot "

"Already ? "

"Yes, wires from Woking station to every evening paper in London This advertisement will appear in each "

He handed over sheet torn from note-book On scribbled in pencil: "L10 reward The number cab which dropped fare at or door Foreign Office in Charles Street at quarter to ten evening of May 23d Apply 221 B, Baker Street "

" confident thief came in cab ? "

" , no harm done But if Mr Phelps is correct in stating no hiding-place either room or the corridors, then the person come from outside If from outside on so wet night, and yet left no trace of damp linoleum, examined within passing, then exceeding probably that in cab Yes, that safely deduce cab "

"It sounds plausible "