either committed when insane； or that its immediate effect was to
drive the unhappy woman out of her mind。 At present she is unable to
give any coherent account of the past； and the doctors hold out no
hopes of the reestablishment of her reason。 There is evidence that a
woman； who might have been Mme。 Fournaye； was seen for some hours upon
Monday night watching the house in Godolphin Street。
〃What do you think of that； Holmes？〃 I had read the account aloud to
him； while he finished his breakfast。
〃My dear Watson；〃 said he； as he rose from the table and paced up
and down the room； 〃You are most long…suffering； but if I have told
you nothing in the last three days； it is because there is nothing
to tell。 Even now this report from Paris does not help us much。〃
〃Surely it is final as regards the man's death。〃
〃The man's death is a mere incident… a trivial episode… in
comparison with our real task； which is to trace this document and
save a European catastrophe。 Only one important thing has happened
in the last three days； and that is that nothing has happened。 I get
reports almost hourly from the government； and it is certain that
nowhere in Europe is there any sign of trouble。 Now； if this letter
were loose… no； it can't be loose… but if it isn't loose； where can it
be？ Who has it？ Why is it held back？ That's the question that beats in
my brain like a hammer。 Was it； indeed； a coincidence that Lucas
should meet his death on the night when the letter disappeared？ Did
the letter ever reach him？ If so； why is it not among his papers？
Did this mad wife of his carry it off with her？ If so； is it in her
house in Paris？ How could I search for it without the French police
having their suspicions aroused？ It is a case； my dear Watson； where
the law is as dangerous to us as the criminals are。 Every man's hand
is against us； and yet the interests at stake are colossal。 Should I
bring it to a successful conclusion； it will certainly represent the
crowning glory of my career。 Ah； here is my latest from the front！〃 He
glanced hurriedly at the note which had been handed in。 〃Halloa！
Lestrade seems to have observed something of interest。 Put on your
hat； Watson； and we will stroll down together to Westminster。〃
It was my first visit to the scene of the crime… a high； dingy；
narrow…chested house； prim； formal； and solid； like the century
which gave it birth。 Lestrade's bulldog features gazed out at us
from the front window； and he greeted us warmly when a big constable
had opened the door and let us in。 The room into which we were shown
was that in which the crime had been committed； but no trace of it now
remained save an ugly； irregular stain upon the carpet。 This carpet
was a small square drugget in the centre of the room； surrounded by
a broad expanse of beautiful； old…fashioned wood…flooring in square
blocks； highly polished。 Over the fireplace was a magnificent trophy
of weapons； one of which had been used on that tragic night。 In the
window was a sumptuous writing…desk； and every detail of the
apartment； the pictures； the rugs； and the hangings； all pointed to
a taste which was luxurious to the verge of effeminacy。
〃Seen the Paris news？' asked Lestrade。
Holmes nodded。
〃Our French friends seem to have touched the spot this time。 No
doubt it's just as they say。 She knocked at the door… surprise
visit； I guess； for he kept his life in water…tight compartments… he
let her in； couldn't keep her in the street。 She told him how she
had traced him； reproached him。 One thing led to another； and then
with that dagger so handy the end soon came。 It wasn't all done in
an instant； though； for these chairs were all swept over yonder； and
he had one in his hand as if he had tried to hold her off with it。
We've got it all clear as if we had seen it。〃
Holmes raised his eyebrows。
〃And yet you have sent for me？〃
〃Ah； yes； that's another matter… a mere trifle； but the sort of
thing you take an interest in… queer； you know； and what you might
call freakish。 It has nothing to do with the main fact… can't have； on
the face of it。〃
〃What is it； then？〃
〃Well； you know； after a crime of this sort we are very careful to
keep things in their position。 Nothing has been moved。 Officer in
charge here day and night。 This morning； as the man was buried and the
investigation over… so far as this room is concerned… we thought we
could tidy up a bit。 This carpet。 You see； it is not fastened down；
only just laid there。 We had occasion to raise it。 We found…〃
〃Yes？ You found…〃
Holmes's face grew tense with anxiety。
〃Well； I'm sure you would never guess in a hundred years what we did
find。 You see that stain on the carpet？ Well； a great deal must have
soaked through； must it not？〃
〃Undoubtedly it must。〃
〃Well； you will be surprised to hear that there is no stain on the
white woodwork to correspond。〃
〃No stain！ But there must…〃
〃Yes； so you would say。 But the fact remains that there isn't。〃
He took the corner of the carpet in his hand and； turning it over；
he showed that it was indeed as he said。
〃But the under side is as stained as the upper。 It must have left
a mark。〃
Lestrade chuckled with delight at having puzzled the famous expert。
〃Now； I'll show you the explanation。 There is a second stain； but it
does not correspond with the other。 See for yourself。〃 As he spoke
he turned over another portion of the carpet； and there； sure
enough； was a great crimson spill upon the square white facing of
the old…fashioned floor。 〃What do you make of that； Mr。 Holmes？〃
〃Why； it is simple enough。 The two stains did correspond； but the
carpet has been turned round。 As it was square and unfastened it was
easily done。〃
The official police don't need you； Mr。 Holmes； to tell them that
the carpet must have been turned round。 That's clear enough； for the
stains lie above each other… if you lay it over this way。 But what I
want to know is； who shifted the carpet； and why？〃
I could see from Holmes's rigid face that he was vibrating with
inward excitement。
〃Look here； Lestrade；〃 said he； 〃has that constable in the passage
been in charge of the place all the time？〃
〃Yes； he has。〃
〃Well； take my advice。 Examine him carefully。 Don't do it before us。
Well wait here。 You take him into the back room。 You'll be more likely
to get a confession out of him alone。 Ask him how he dared to admit
people and leave them alone in this room。 Don't ask him if he has done
it。 Take it for granted。 Tell him you know someone has been here。
Press him。 Tell him that a full confession is his only chance of
forgiveness。 Do exactly what I tell you！〃
〃By George； if he knows I'll have it out of him！〃 cried Lestrade。 He
darted into the hall； and a few moments later his bullying voice
sounded from the back room。
〃Now； Watson； now！〃 cried Holmes with frenzied eagerness。 All the
demoniacal force of the man masked behind that listless manner burst
out in a paroxysm of energy。 He tore the drugget from the floor； and
in an instant was down on his hands and knees clawing at each of the
squares of wood beneath it。 One turned sideways as he dug his nails
into the edge of it。 It hinged back like the lid of a box。 A small
black cavity opened beneath it。 Holmes plunged his eager hand into
it and drew it out with a bitter snarl of anger and disappointment。 It
was empty。
〃Quick； Watson； quick！ Get it back again！〃 The wooden lid was
replaced； and the drugget had only just been drawn straight when
Lestrade's voice was heard in the passage。 He found Holmes leaning
languidly against the mantelpiece； resigned and patient；
endeavouring to conceal his irrepressible yawns。
〃Sorry to keep you waiting； Mr。 Holmes。 I can see that you are bored
to death with the whole affair。 Well； he has confessed； all right。
Come in here； MacPherson。 Let these gentlemen hear of your most
inexcusable conduct。〃
The big constable； very hot and penitent； sidled into the room。
〃I meant no harm； sir； I'm sure。 The young woman came to the door
last evening… mistook the house； she did。 And then we got talking。
It's lonesome； when you're on duty here all day。〃
〃Well； what happened then？〃
〃She wanted to see where the crime was done… had read about it in
the papers； she said。 She was a very respectable； well…spoken young
woman； sir； and I saw no harm in letting her have a peep。 When she saw
that mark on the carpet； down she dropped on the floor； and lay as
if she were dead。 I ran to the back and got some water； but I could
not bring her to。 Then I went round the corner to the Ivy Plant for
some brandy； and by the time I had brought it back the young woman had
recovered and was off… ashamed of herself； I daresay； and dared not
face me。〃
〃How about moving that drugget？〃
〃Well； sir； it was a bit rumpled； certainly； when I came back。 You
see； she fell on it and it lies on a polished floor with nothing to
keep it in place。 I straightened it out afterwards。〃
〃It's a lesson to you that you can't deceive me； Constable
MacPherson；〃 said Lestrade； with dignity。 〃No doubt you thought that
your breach of duty could never be discovered； and yet a mere glance
at that drugget was enough to convince me that someone had been
admitted to the room。 It's lucky for you； my man； that nothing is
missing； or you would find yourself in Queer Street。 I'm sorry to have
called you down over such a petty business； Mr。 Holmes； but I
thought the point of the second stain not corresponding with the first
would interest you。〃
〃Certainly； it was most interesting。 Has this woman only been here
once； constable？〃
〃Yes； sir； only once。〃
〃Who was she？〃
〃Don't know the name； sir。 Was answering an advertisement about
typewriting and came to the wrong number… very pleasant； genteel young
woman； sir。〃
〃Tall？ Handsome？〃
〃Yes； sir； she was a well…grown young woman。 I suppose you might say
she was handsome。 Perhaps some would say she was very handsome。 'Oh；
officer； do let me have a peep！' says she。 She had pretty