copying of the document？〃
〃It was。〃
〃Then you could hardly have been overheard？〃
〃It is out of the question。〃
〃Did you ever mention to anyone that it was your intention to give
anyone the treaty to be copied？〃
〃Never。〃
〃You are certain of that？〃
〃Absolutely。〃
〃Well； since you never said so； and Mr。 Phelps never said so； 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 it。〃
The statesman smiled。 〃You take me out of my province there；〃 said
he。
Holmes considered for a moment。 〃There is another very important
point which I wish to discuss with you；〃 said he。 〃You feared； as I
understand； that very grave results might follow from the details of
this treaty becoming known。〃
A shadow passed over the expressive face of the statesman。 〃Very
grave results indeed。〃
〃And have they occurred？〃
〃Not yet。〃
〃If the treaty had reached； let us say； the French or Russian
Foreign Office； you would expect to hear of it？〃
〃I should；〃 said Lord Holdhurst with a wry face。
〃Since nearly ten weeks have elapsed； then； and nothing has been
heard； it is not unfair to suppose that for some reason the treaty has
not reached them。〃
Lord Holdhurst shrugged his shoulders。
〃We can hardly suppose； Mr。 Holmes； that the thief took the treaty
in order to frame it and hang it up。〃
〃Perhaps he is waiting for a better price。〃
〃If he waits a little longer he will get no price at all。 The treaty
will cease to be secret in a few months。〃
〃That is most important；〃 said Holmes。 〃Of course； it is a
possible supposition that the thief has had a sudden illness…〃
〃An attack of brain…fever； for example？〃 asked the statesman；
flashing a swift glance at him。
〃I did not say so；〃 said Holmes imperturbably。 〃And now； Lord
Holdhurst； we have already taken up too much of your valuable time；
and we shall wish you good…day。〃
〃Every success to your investigation； be the criminal who it may；〃
answered the nobleman as he bowed us out at the door。
〃He's a fine fellow；〃 said Holmes as we came out into Whitehall。
〃But he has a struggle to keep up his position。 He is far from rich
and has many calls。 You noticed； of that his boots had been resoled。
Now； Watson； I won't detain you from your legitimate work any
longer。 I shall do nothing more to…day unless I have an answer to my
cab advertisement。 But I should be extremely obliged to you if you
would come down with me to Woking to…morrow by the same train which we
took yesterday。〃
I met him accordingly next morning and we travelled down to Woking
together。 He had had no answer to his advertisement； he said； and no
fresh light had been thrown upon the case。 He had； when he so willed
it； the utter immobility of countenance of a red Indian； and I could
not gather from his appearance whether he was satisfied or not with
the position of the case。 His conversation； I remember； was about
the Bertillon system of measurements； and he expressed his
enthusiastic admiration of the French savant。
We found our client still under the charge of his devoted nurse； but
looking considerably better than before。 He rose from the sofa and
greeted us without difficulty when we entered。
〃Any news？〃 he asked eagerly。
〃My report； as I expected； is a negative one；〃 said Holmes。 〃I
have seen Forbes； and I have seen your uncle； and I have set one or
two trains of inquiry upon foot which may lead to something。〃
〃You have not lost heart； then？〃
〃By no means。〃
〃God bless you for saying that！〃 cried Miss Harrison。 〃If we keep
our courage and our patience the truth must come out。〃
〃We have more to tell you than you have for us；〃 said Phelps；
reseating himself upon the couch。
〃I hoped you might have something。〃
〃Yes； we have had an adventure during the night； and one which might
have proved to be a serious one。〃 His expression grew very grave as he
spoke； and a look of something akin to fear sprang up in his eyes。 〃Do
you know；〃 said he； 〃that I begin to believe that I am the unconscious
centre of some monstrous conspiracy； and that my life is aimed at as
well as my honour？〃
〃Ah！〃 cried Holmes。
〃It sounds incredible； for I have not； as far as I know； an enemy in
the world。 Yet from last night's experience I can come to no other
conclusion。〃
〃Pray let me hear it。〃
〃You must know that last night was the very first night that I
have ever slept without a nurse in the room。 I was so much better that
I though I could dispense with one。 I had a night…light burning；
however。 Well； about two in the morning I had sunk into a light
sleep when I was suddenly aroused by a slight noise。 It was like the
sound which a mouse makes when it is gnawing a plank； and I lay
listening to it for some time under the impression that it must come
from that cause。 Then it grew louder； and suddenly there came from the
window a sharp metallic snick。 I sat up in amazement。 There could be
no doubt what the sounds were now。 The first ones had been caused by
someone forcing an instrument through the slit between the sashes； and
the second by the catch being pressed back。
〃There was a pause then for about ten minutes； as if the person
were waiting to see whether the noise had awakened me。 Then I heard
a gentle creaking as the window was very slowly opened。 I could
stand it no longer； for my nerves are not what they used to be。 I
sprang out of bed and flung open the shutters。 A man was crouching
at the window。 I could see little of him； for he was gone like a
flash。 He was wrapped in some sort of cloak which came across the
lower part of his face。 One thing only I am sure of； and that is
that he had some weapon in his hand。 It looked to me like a long
knife。 I distinctly saw the gleam of it as he turned to run。〃
〃This is most interesting；〃 said Holmes。 〃Pray what did you do
then？〃
〃I should have followed him through the open window if I had been
stronger。 As it was； I rang the bell and roused the house。 It took
some little time； for the bell rings in the kitchen and the servants
all sleep upstairs。 I shouted； however； and that brought Joseph
down； and he roused the others。 Joseph and the groom found marks on
the bed outside the window； but the weather has been so dry lately
that they found it hopeless to follow the trail across the grass。
There's a place； however； on the wooden fence which skirts the road
which shows signs； they tell me； as if someone had got over； and had
snapped the top of the rail in doing so。 I have said nothing to the
local police yet； for I thought I had best have your opinion first。〃
This tale of our client's appeared to have an extraordinary effect
upon Sherlock Holmes。 He rose from his chair and paced about the
room in uncontrollable excitement。
〃Misfortunes never come single；〃 said Phelps； smiling； though it was
evident that his adventure had somewhat shaken him。
〃You have certainly had your share；〃 said Holmes。 〃Do you think
you could walk round the house with me？〃
〃Oh； yes； I should like a little sunshine。 Joseph will come； too。〃
〃And I also；〃 said Miss Harrison。
〃I am afraid not；〃 said Holmes； shaking his head。 〃I think I must
ask you to remain sitting exactly where you are。〃
The young lady resumed her seat with an air of displeasure。 Her
brother； however； had joined us and we set off all four together。 We
passed round the lawn to the outside of the young diplomatist's
window。 There were； as he had said； marks upon the bed； but they
were hopelessly blurred and vague。 Holmes stooped over them for an
instant； and then rose shrugging his shoulders。
〃I don't think anyone could make much of this；〃 said he。 〃Let us
go round the house and see why this particular room was chosen by
the burglar。 I should have thought those larger windows of the
drawing…room and dining…room would have had more attractions for him。〃
〃They are more visible from the road；〃 suggested Mr。 Joseph
Harrison。
〃Ah； yes； of course。 There is a door here which he might have
attempted。 What is it for？〃
〃It is the side entrance for trades…people。 Of course it is locked
at night。〃
〃Have you ever had an alarm like this before？〃
〃Never；〃 said our client。
〃Do you keep plate in the house； or anything to attract burglars？〃
〃Nothing of value。〃
Holmes strolled round the house with his hands in his pockets and
a negligent air which was unusual with him。
〃By the way；〃 said he to Joseph Harrison； 〃you found some place； I
understand； where the fellow scaled the fence。 Let us have a look at
that！〃
The plump young man led us to a spot where the top of one of the
wooden rails had been cracked。 A small fragment of the wood was
hanging down。 Holmes pulled it off and examined it critically。
〃Do you think that was done last night？ It looks rather old； does it
not？〃
〃Well； possibly so。〃
〃There are no marks of anyone jumping down upon the other side。
No； I fancy we shall get no help here。 Let us go back to the bedroom
and talk the matter over。〃
Percy Phelps was walking very slowly； leaning upon the arm of his
future brother…in…law。 Holmes walked swiftly across the lawn； and we
were at the open window of the bedroom long before the others came up。
〃Miss Harrison；〃 said Holmes； speaking with the utmost intensity
of manner； 〃you must stay where you are all day。 Let nothing prevent
you from staying where you are all day。 It is of the utmost
importance。〃
〃Certainly； if you wish it； Mr。 Holmes；〃 said the girl in
astonishment。
〃When you go to bed lock the door of this room on the outside and
keep the key。 Promise to do this。〃
〃But Percy？〃
〃He will come to London with us。〃
〃And am I to remain here？〃
〃It is for his sake。 You can serve him。 Quick！ Promise！〃
She gave a quick nod of assent just as the other two came up。
〃Why do you sit moping there； Annie？〃 cried her brother。 〃Come out
into the sunshine！〃
〃No； thank you； Joseph。 I have a slight headache and this room is
deliciously co