“The Naval Treaty”, one of the 56 Sherlock Holmes short stories written by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, is one of 12 stories in the cycle collected as The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes. Doyle ranked “The Adventure of the Naval Treaty” 19th in a list of his 19 favourite Sherlock Holmes stories.
Dr. Watson receives a letter, which he then refers to Holmes, from an old schoolmate, now a Foreign Office employee from Woking who has had an important naval treaty stolen from his office. It disappeared while Mr. Percy Phelps had stepped out of his office momentarily late in the evening to see about some coffee that he had ordered. His office has two entrances, each joined by a stairway to a single landing. The commissionaire kept watch at the main entrance. There was no-one watching at the side entrance. Phelps also knew that his fiancée’s brother was in town and that he might drop by. Phelps was alone in the office.
Author: Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
Narrated by Sam Kusi
The naval treaty by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle narrated by Sam KUSI the July which immediately succeeded my marriage was made memorable by three cases of interest in which I had the privilege of being associated with Sherlock Holmes and of studying his methods I find them recorded in my notes
Under the headings of the adventure of the second stain the adventure of the naval treaty and the adventure of the tired Captain the first of these however deals with interest of such importance and implicates so many of the first families in the Kingdom that for many
Years it will be impossible to make it public no case however in which Holmes was engaged has ever Illustrated the value of his analytical methods so clearly or has impressed those who were associated with him so deeply I still retain an almost verbatim report of the interview in which he
Demonstrated the true facts of the case to miss duuk of the Paris Police and Fritz Von wbom the well-known Specialist of Danzig both of whom had wasted their energies upon what proved to be side issues the new century will have come however before the story can be safely
Told meanwhile I pass on to the second on my list which promised also at one time to be of national importance and was marked by several incidents which give it quite unique character during my school days I had been intimately associated with a lad named Percy Phelps
Who was of much the same age as myself though he was two classes ahead of me he was a very brilliant boy and carried away every prize which the school had to offer finished his exploits by winning a scholarship which sent him on to continue his triumphant career at
Cambridge he was I remember extremely well connected and even when we were all little boys together we knew that his mother’s brother was Lord holdhurst the great conservative politician this gy relationship did him little good at school on the contrary it seemed rather a pecon thing to us to
Chevy him about the playground and hit him over The Shins with a wicket but it was another thing when he came out into the world I heard vaguely that his abilities and the influences which he commanded had won him a good position at the foreign office and then he passed
Completely out of my mind until the following letter recalled his existence briab BR woking my dear Watson I have no doubt that you can remember Tad Paul Phelps who was in the fifth form when you were in the third it is possible even that you may have heard that through my
Uncle’s influence I obtained a good appointment appointment at the foreign office and that I was in a situation of trust and honor until a horrible Misfortune came suddenly to blast my career there is no use writing of the details of that Dreadful event in the event of your acceding to my request it
Is probable that I shall have to narrate them to you I have only just recovered from 9 weeks of brain fever and I’m still exceedingly weak do you think that you could bring your friend Mr Holmes down to see me I should like to have his opinion of the case though the
Authorities assure me that nothing more can be done do try to bring him down and as soon as possible every minute seems an hour while I live in this state of horrible suspense assure him that if I have not asked his advice sooner it was not because I did not appreciate his talents
But because I have been off my head ever since the blow fell now now I am clear again though I dare not think of it too much for fear of a relapse I am still so weak that I have to write as you see by dictating do try to bring him your old
School fellow Percy Phelps there was something that touched me as I read this letter something pitiable in the reiterated appeals to bring homes so moved was I that even had it been a difficult matter I should have tried it but of course I knew well that
Holmes loved his art so that he was ever as ready to bring his Aid as his client could be to receive it my wife agreed with me that not a moment should be lost in laying the matter before him and so within an hour of breakfast time I found
Myself back once more in the old rooms in Baker Street homes was seated at his side table clad in his dressing gown and working hard over a chemical investigation a large curved retort was boiling furiously in the bluish flame of a bunson burner and the distilled drops
Were condensing into a 2 L measure my friend hardly glanced up as I entered and I seeing that his investigation must be of importance seated myself in an armchair and waited he dipped into his bottle drawing out a few drops of each with his glass pipet and finally brought
A test tube containing a solution over to the table in his right hand he held a slip of litmus paper you come at a crisis Watson said he if this paper remains blue all is well if it turns red it means a man’s life he dipped it into the
Test tube and it flushed at once into a dull dirty Crimson H I thought as much he cried I will be at your service in an instant Watson you will find tobacco in the Persian slipper he turned to his desk and scribbled off several telegrams which were handed over
To the page boy then he threw himself down into the chair opposite and Drew up his knees until his fingers clasped round his long thin shins a very commonplace little murder said he you’ve got something better I fancy you are the stormy petrol of crime Watson what is it I handed him the
Letter which he read with the most concentrated attention it does not tell us very much does it he remarked as he handed it back to me hardly anything and yet the writing is of interest but the writing is not his own precisely it is a woman’s a man’s surely I cried no a
Woman’s a woman of rare character you see at the commencement of an investigation it is something to know that your client is in close contact with someone who for good or evil has an exceptional nature my interest is already awakened in the case if you are ready we will
Start at once for woking and see this diplomatist who is in such evil case and the lady to whom he dictates his letters we were fortunate enough to catch an early train at waloo and in a little under an hour we found ourselves among the fur woods and the Heather of working
Brib proved to be a large detached house standing in extensive grounds within a few minutes walk of the station on sending in our cards we were shown into an elegantly appointed drawing room where we were joined in a few minutes by a rather Stout man who received us with much
Hospitality his age may have been nearer 40 than 30 but his cheeks were so Ruddy and his eyes so merry that he still conveyed the impression of a plump and mischievous boy I am so glad that you have come said he shaking our hands with a fusion Percy has been inquiring for
You all morning a poor old chap he clings to any straw his father and his mother asked me to see you for the mere mention of the subject is very painful to them we have had no details yet observe toes I perceive that you are not yourself a member of the family our
Acquaintance looked surprised and then glancing down he began to laugh for a moment I thought you had done something clever Joseph Harrison is my name and as Percy is to marry my sister Annie I shall at least be a relation by marriage you will find my sister in his room for
She has nursed him hand and foot for this two months back perhaps we’d better go in at once for I know how impatient he is the chamber in which we were shown was on the same floor as the drawing room it was furnished partly as a sitting and partly as a bedroom with
Flowers arranged daintily in every nook and Corner a young man very pale and worn was lying upon a sofa near the open window through which came the rich scent of the garden and the baly summer air a woman was sitting beside him who Rose as we entered shall I leave Percy she asked
He clutched her hand to detain her how are you Watson said he cordially I should never have known you under that mustache and I dare say you would not be prepared to swear to me this I presume is your celebrated friend Mr Sherlock Holmes I introduced him in a few words
And we both sat down the Stout young man had left us but his sister still remained with her hand in that of the invalid she was a striking looking woman a little short and thick for symmetry but with a beautiful Olive complexion large dark Italian eyes and a wealth of
Deep black hair her rich tints made the white face of her companion the more worn and Haggard by the contrast I won’t waste your time said he raising himself upon the sofa I’ll plunge into the matter without further Preamble I was a happy and successful
Man Mr Holmes and on the eve of my being married when a sudden and Dreadful Misfortune wrecked all my prospects in life I was as Watson may have told you in the foreign office and through the influences of my uncle Lord Hurst I Rose rapidly to a responsible
Position when my uncle became foreign minister in this Administration he gave me several missions of trust and as I always brought them to a successful conclusion he came at last to have the utmost confidence in my ability and tact nearly 10 weeks ago to be more accurate
On the 23rd of may he called me into his private room and after complimenting me on the good work which I had done he informed me that he had a new Commission of trust for me to execute this said he taking a gray roll of paper from his
Bureau is the original of that secret treaty between England and Italy of which I regret to say some rumors have already got into the public press it is of enormous importance that nothing else should leak out the French or the Russian Embassy would pay an immense sum to learn the contents of
These papers they should not leave my Bureau were it not that it is absolutely necessary to have them copied you have a desk in your office yes sir then take the treaty and look it up there I shall give directions that you may remain behind when the others go so that you
May copy it at your leisure without fear of being overlooked when you have finished relock both the original and the draft in the desk and hand them over to me personally tomorrow morning I took the papers and excuse me an instant said Holmes were you alone during this
Conversation absolutely in a large room 30 ft each way in the center yes about it and speaking low my uncle’s voice is always remarkably low I hardly spoke at all thank you said Holmes shutting his eyes pray go on I did exactly what he indicated and waited until the other
Clerks had departed one of them in my room Charles gorett had some Aras of of work to make up so I left him there and went out to dine when I returned he was gone I was anxious to hurry my work for I knew that Joseph the Mr Harrison whom
You saw just now was in town and that he would travel down to woking by the 11:00 train and I wanted if possible to catch it when I came to examine the treaty I saw at once that it was of such importance that my uncle had been guilty
Of knowing exaggeration in what he had said without going into details I may say that it defined the position of Great Britain toward the Triple Alliance and foreshadowed the policy which this country would pursue in the event of the French Fleet gaining a complete ascendancy over that of Italy in the
Mediterranean the questions treated in it were purely Naval at the end were the signatures of the high dignitaries who had signed it I glanced my eyes over it and then settled down to my task of copying it was a long document written in the French language and containing 26 separate
Articles I copied as quickly as I could but at 9:00 I had only done nine articles and it seemed hopeless for me to attempt to catch my train I was feeling drowsy and stupid partly from my dinner and also from the effects of a Long Day’s Work a cup of
Coffee would clear my brain a commissioner remains all night in a little Lodge at the foot of the stairs and is in the habit of making coffee at his spirits lamp for any of the officials who may be working overtime I rang the bell therefore to summon him to my
Surprise it was a woman who answered the summons a large coarse faac elderly woman in an apron she explained that she was the commissioner’s wife who did the chairing and I gave her the order for the coffee I wrote two more articles and then feeling more drowsy than ever I
Rose and walked up and down the room to stretch my legs my coffee had not yet come and I wondered what the cause of the delay could be opening the door I started down the corridor to find out there was straight passage dimly lighted which led
From the room in which I had been working and was the only exit from it it ended in a curving staircase with the commissioner’s Lodge in the passage at the bottom halfway down the staircase is a small Landing with another passage running into it at right angles the
Second one leads by means of a second small stair to the side door used by servants and also as a shortcut by clerks when coming from CH Street here is a rough chart of the place thank you I think that I quite follow you said Sherlock Holmes it is of
Utmost importance that you should notice this point I went down the stairs and into the Hall where I found the commissioner fast asleep in his box with the kettle boiling furiously upon the spirits lamp I took off the kettle tool and blew out the lamp and the water was
Spurting over the floor then I put out my hand and was about to shake the man who was still sleeping soundly when a bell over his head rang loudly and he woke with a start Mr Phelps sir said he looking at me in bewilderment I came down to see if my
Coffee was ready I was boiling the kettle when I fell asleep sir he looked at me and then up at the still quivering bow with an Ever growing astonishment upon his face if you was here sir then who rang the bell he asked the bell I
Cried what bell is it it’s the bell of the room you were working in a cold hand seemed to close round my heart someone then was in that room where my precious treaty lay upon the table I ran frantically up the stairs and along the passage there was no one in the
Corridors Mr Holmes there was no one in the room all was exactly as I left it save only that the papers which had been committed to my care had been taken from the desk on which they lay the copy was there and the original was
Gone Holm sat up in his chair and rubbed his hands I could see that the problem was entirely to his heart pray what did you do then he murmured I recognized in an instant that the thief must have come up the stairs from the side door of course I must have
Met him if he had come the other way you were satisfied that he could not have been concealed in the room all the time or in the corridor which you have just described as dimly lighted it is absolutely impossible a rat could not conceal himself either in the room or the corridor
There is no cover at all thank you pray proceed the commissioner seeing my pale face that something was to be feared had followed me upstairs now we both rushed along the corridor and down the Steep steps which led to CH Street the door at the bottom was closed but unlocked we
Flung it open and rushed out I can distinctly remember that as we did so there came three chimes from the neighboring clock it was qu to 10 that is of enormous importance said Holmes making a note upon his shirt cuff the night was still very dark and a thin
Warm rain was falling there was no one in Char street but a great traffic was going on as usual in whiteall at the extremity we rushed along the pavement bareheaded as we were and at the far Corner we found found a policeman standing a robbery has been committed I
Gasped a document of immense value has been stolen from the foreign office has anyone passed this way I have been standing here for a quarter of an hour sir said he only one person has passed during that time a woman tall and Elderly with a pacely Shaw ah that is
Only my wife cried the commissionaire has no one else passed no one then it must be the other way that the thief took cried the fellow tugging at my sleeve but I was not satisfied and the attempts which he made to draw me away increased my suspicions which way did
The woman go I cried I don’t know sir I noticed her pass but I had no special reason for watching her she seemed to be in a hurry how long ago was it oh not very many minutes within the last five well it could not have been more than
Five you only wasting your time sir and every minute now is of importance cried the commissioner take my word for it that my old woman has nothing to do with it and come down to the other end of the street well if you won’t I will and with
That he rushed off in the other direction but I was after him in an instant and caught him by the sleeve where do he live said I 16 Ivy Lane brickton he said but don’t let yourself be drawn away upon a false scent Mr Phelps come to the other end of the
Street and let us see if we can hear anything nothing was to be lost by following his advice with the policemen we both hurried down but only to find the street full of traffic many people coming and going but all only too eager to get to a place of safety upon so wet
A night there was no lounger who could tell us who had passed then we returned to the office and searched the stairs and the passage without result the corridor which led to the room was laid down with a kind of creamy lolium which shows an impression very easily We
Examined it very carefully but found no outline of any footm Mark had it been raining all evening since about 7 how is it then that the woman who came into the room about 9: left no traces with her muddy boots I am glad you raised the
Point it occurred to me at the time the charwoman are in the habit of taking off their boots at the commissioner’s office and putting on list slippers that is very clear there were no marks then though the night was a wet one the chain of events is certainly one
Of extraordinary interest what did you do next We examined the room also there is no possibility of a secret door and the windows are quite 30 ft from the ground both of them were fastened on the inside the carpet prevents any possibility of a trapo and the ceiling is of the ordinary
White-washed kind I will pledge my life that whoever stole my papers could only have come through the door how about the fireplace they use none there is a stove the Bell rope hangs from The Wire just to the right of my desk whoever rang it must have come
Right up to to the desk to do it but why should any criminal wish to ring the bell it is a most insoluble mystery certainly the incident was unusual what were your next steps you examine the room I presume to see if the Intruder had left any traces any cigar
End or dropped glove or hair pin or other trifle there was nothing of the sort no smell well we never thought of that ah a scent of tobacco would have been worth a great deal to us in such an investigation I never smoked myself so I
Think I should have observed it if there had been any smell of tobacco there was absolutely no clue of any kind the only tangible fact was that the commissioner’s wife Mrs Tangi was the name had hurried out of the place he could give no explanation save that it
Was about the time when the woman always went home the policemen and I agreed that our best plan would be to seize the woman before she could get rid of the papers presuming that she had them the alarm had reached Scotland Yard by that time and Mr Forbes the detective came round
At once and took up the case with a great deal of energy we hired a handsome and in half an hour we were at the address which had been given to us a young woman opened the door who proved to be Mrs Tang’s eldest daughter her mother had not come back
Yet and we were shown into the front room to wait about 10 minutes later a knock came at the door and here we made the one serious mistake for which I blame myself instead of opening the door ourselves we allow the girl to do so we
Heard her say mother there there are two men in the house waiting to see you and an instant afterwards we heard the patter of feet rushing down the passage Forbes flung the door open and we both ran into the back room or kitchen but the woman had got there before us she
Stared at us with defiant eyes and then suddenly recognizing me an expression of absolute astonishment came over her face why if it isn’t Mr Phelps of the office she cried come come who did you think we were when you ran away from us asked my companion I thought you were the Brokers
Said she we have had some trouble with a Tradesman that’s not quite good enough answered Forbes we have reason to believe that you have taken a paper of importance from the foreign office and that you ran in here to dispose of it you must come back with us to Scotland Yard to be
Searched it was was in vain that she protested and resisted a four-wheeler was brought and we all three drove back in it we had first made an examination of the kitchen and especially of the kitchen fire to see whether she might have made a way with the 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 to the female searcher I waited in agony of suspense until she came back with her report there were no signs of the
Papers then for the first time the horror of my situation came in its full force hither to I had been acting and action had numbed thought I had been so confident of regaining the treaty at once that I had not dared to think of what would be the
Consequence if I failed to do so but now there was nothing more more to be done and I had Leisure to realize my position it was horrible Watson there would tell you that I was a nervous sensitive boy at school it is my nature I thought of
My uncle and his colleagues in the cabinet of the shame which I had brought upon Him upon myself upon everyone connected with me what though if I was the victim of an extraordinary accident no allowances made for accidents where diplomatic interests are at stake I was ruined shamefully hopelessly ruined I
Don’t know what I did I fancy I must have made a scene I have a dim recollection of a group of officials who crowded round me endeavoring to soothe me one of them drove down with me to watero and saw me into the woking train I believe that he would have come all
The way had it not been that Dr fer who lives near me was going down by that very train the doctor most kindly took charge of me and it was well he did so for I had to fit in the station and before we reached home I was practically a raving
Maniac you can imagine the state of things here when they were roused from their beds by the doctor’s ringing and found me in this condition poor Annie here and my mother were Brokenhearted Dr Fier had just heard enough from the detective at the station
To be able to give an idea of what had happened and his story did not mend matters it was evident to all that I was in for a long illness so Joseph was bundled out of this cheery bedroom and it was turned into a sick room for
Me here I have laay Mr Holmes for over 9 weeks unconscious and raving with brain fever if it had not been for Miss Harrison here and for the doctor’s care I should not be speaking to you now she has nursed Me by day and hired a nurse to
Look after me by night for in my mad fits I was capable of anything slowly my reason has cleared but it is only during the last 3 days that my memory has quite returned sometimes I wish that it’s never had the first thing that I did was
To wire to Mr Forbes who had the case in hand he came out and assures me that though everything has been done no trace of a clue has been discovered the commissioner and his wife have been examined in every way without any light being thrown upon the
Matter the suspicions of the police then rested upon Young gorat Who as you may remember stayed overtime in the office that night his remaining behind and his French name were really the only two points which could suggest suspicion but as a matter of fact I did not begin work
Until he had gone and his people are of Hugo extraction but as English in sympathy and tradition as you and I are nothing was found to implicate him in any way and there the matter dropped I Turn to You Mr Holmes as absolutely my last hope if you fail me then my honor
As well as my position are forever forfeited the invalid sank back upon his cushions tied out by this long recital when the nurse bought him a glass of some stimulating medicine Holmes sat silently with his head thrown back and his eyes closed in an attitude which might seem listless to
A stranger but which I knew betokened the most intense self-absorption your statement has been so explicit said he at last that you have really left me very few questions to ask there is one of the very utmost importance however did you tell anyone that you had this special task to
Perform no one not Miss Harrison here for example no I had not been back to working between getting the order and executing the commission and none of your people had by chance been to see you none did any of them know their way about in the office oh yes all of them
Had been shown over it still of course if you said nothing to anyone about the Treaty these inquiries are irrelevant I said nothing do you know anything of the commissionaire nothing except that he is an old Soldier what regiment oh I have heard Cold Stream guards thank you I
Have no doubt that I can get details from Forbes the authorities are excellent at amassing facts though they do not always use them to Advantage what a lovely thing a roses he walked past the couch to the open window and held up the drooping stalk of a moss rose looking down at the
Dainty blend of crimson and green it was a new phase of his character to me for I had never before seen him show any Keen interest in natural objects there is nothing in which deduction is so necessary as in religion said he leaning with his back against
The shutters it can be built up as an exact science by the Reasoner our highest Assurance of the goodness of Providence seems to me to rest in the flow Powers all other things our powers our desires our food are all really necessary for our existence in the first
Instance but this Rose is an extra its smell and its colors are an embellishment of life not a condition of it it is only goodness which gives extras and so I say again that we have much to Hope from the flowers Percy Phelps and his nurse looked at home’s during this
Demonstration with surprise and a good deal of disappointment written upon their faces he had fallen into a rever with the moss rose between his fingers it had lasted some minutes before the young lady broke in upon it do you see any Prospect of solving this mystery Mr Holmes she asked with a touch
Of asperity in her voice oh the mystery he answered coming back with a start to the realities of life well it would be absurd to deny that the case is a very abstruse and complicated one but I can promise you that I will look into the
Matter and let you know any points which may strike me did you see any clue you have furnished me with seven but of course I must test them before I can pronounce upon their value you suspect someone I suspect myself what of coming to conclusions too rapidly then go to
London and test your conclusions your advice is very excellent Mrs Harrison said Holmes Rising I think Watson we cannot do better do not allow yourself to indulge in false hopes Mr Phelps the affair is a very Tangled one I shall be in a fever until I see you again cried
The diplomatist well I’ll come out by the same train tomorrow though it’s more than likely that my report will be a negative one God bless you for promising to come cried our client it gives me a fresh life to know that something is being done by the way I have had a
Letter from Lord Hurst huh what did he say he was cold but not harsh I dare say my severe illness prevented him from being that he repeated that the matter was of the utmost importance and added that no steps would be taken about my future by which he means of course 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 we have a good day’s work before us in town Mr Joseph Harrison drove us down to the station and we were soon whirling up
In a Portsmouth train Holmes was sunk in profound thought and hardly opened his mouth until we had passed clap Junction it’s a very cheery thing to come into London by any of these lines which Run High and allow you to look down upon the houses like
This I thought he was joking for the view was SED enough but he soon explained himself look at those big isolated clumps of building rising up above the slates like brick Islands in a lead colored sea the board schools lighthouses my boy beacons of the future capsules with hundreds of bright little
Seeds in each out of which will Spring the wise better England of the future I suppose that man Phelps does not drink I should not think so nor should I but we are bound to take every possibility into account the poor devil has certainly got himself into very deep water and it’s a
Question whether we shall ever be able to get him ashore what did you think of Miss Harrison a girl of strong character yes but she is a good sort or I am mistaken she and her brother are the only children of an iron master somewhere up Northumberland way he got
Engaged to her when traveling last winter and she came down to be introduced to his people with her brother as an 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 a few independent
Inquiries you see but today must be a day of inquiries my practice I began oh if you find your own cases more interesting than mine said Holmes with some asperity I was going to say that my practice could get along very well for a day or
Two since it is the slackest time of the year excellent said he recovering his good humor then we’ll look into the matter together I think that we shall Begin by seeing Forbes he can probably tell us all the details we want until we know from what side the case is to be
Approached you said you had a clue well we have several but we can only test their value by further inquiry the most difficult crime to track is the one which is purposeless now this is not purposeless who is it who profits by it there is the French Ambassador there is
The Russian there is whoever might sell it to either of these and there is Lord hust Lord hust well it is just conceivable that a Statesman might find himself in position where he was not sorry to have such a document accidentally destroyed not a Statesman with a
Honorable record of Lord holdhurst it is a possibility and we cannot afford to disregard it we shall see the noble Lord today and find out if he can tell us anything meanwhile I have already set inquiries on foot already yes I sent wires from working station to every evening paper in London this
Advertisement will appear in each of them he handed over a sheet torn from a notebook on it was scribbled in pencil £10 reward the number of the cab which dropped a fair at or about the door of the foreign office in char Street at4 to 10 in the evening of May 23rd apply
221B Baker Street you are confident that the thief came in a cab if not there is no harm done but if Mr Phelps is correct in stating that there is no Hiding Place either in the room or in the corridors then the person must have come from
Outside if he came from outside on so wet a night and yet left no trace of damp upon the lolium which was examined within a few minutes of his passing then it is exceedingly probable that he came in a cab yes I think that we may safely deduce a cab it sounds
Plausible that is one of the clues of which I spoke it may lead us to something and then of course there is the Bell which is the most distinctive feature of the case why should the bell ring was it the thief who did it out of
Bravado or was it someone who was with the thief who did it in order to prevent the crime or was it an accident or was it he sank back into the state of intense and Silent thought from which he had emerged but it seemed to me
Accustomed as I was to his every mood that some new possibility had dawned suddenly upon him it was 20 p 3 when we reached our Terminus and after a hasty luncheon at the buffet we pushed on at once to Scotland Yard Holmes had already wired to Forbes and we found him waiting
To receive us a small foxy man with a sharp but by no means amiable expression he was decidedly frigid in his manner to us especially when he heard the errand upon which we had come I’ve heard of your methods before now Mr Holmes said he tartly you are
Ready enough to use all the information that the police can lay out at your disposal and then you try to finish the case yourself and bring discredit on them on the contrary said Holmes out of my last 53 cases my name has only appeared in four and the police have had
All the credit in 49 I don’t blame you for not knowing this for you are young and inexperienced but if you wish to get on in your new duties you will work with me and not against me I’d be very glad of a hint or two said the detective changing
His manner I’ve certainly had no credit from the case so far what steps have you taken Tangi the commissioner has been shadowed he left the guards with a good character and we can find nothing against him his wife is a bad lot though I fancy she knows more
About this than appears have you shadowed her we have set one of our women onto her Mrs Tangi drinks and our woman has been with her twice when she was well on but she could get nothing out of her I understand that they have had brokers in the house yes but they were
Paid off where did the money come from that was all right his pension was due they have not shown any sign of being in funds what explanation did she give of having answered the Bell when Mr Phelps rang for the coffee she said that her husband was very tired and she wished to
Relieve him well certainly that’s would agree with his being found a little later asleep in his chair there is nothing against them then but the woman’s character did you ask her why she hurried away that night her haste attracted the attention of the police Constable she was later than usual and
Wanted to get home did you point out to her that you and Mr Phelps who started at least 20 minutes after her got home before her she explains that by the difference between a bus and a handsome did she make it clear why on reaching her house she ran into the back
Kitchen because she had the money there with which to pay off the broker she has at least an answer for everything did you ask her whether on leaving she met anyone or saw anyone loitering about Charles Street she saw no one but the Constable well you seem to have cross-examined her pretty
Thoroughly what else have you done the clerk gorat has been shadowed all these N9 weeks but without result we can show nothing against him anything else well we have nothing else to go upon no evidence of any kind have you formed a theory about how that bell
Rang well I must confess that it beats me it was a cool hand whoever it was to go and give the alarm like that yes it was a queer thing to do many thanks to you for what you have told me if I can put the man into your hands you shall
Hear from me come along Watson where are we going now I asked as we left the office we are now going to interview Lord Hurst the cabinet minister and future premier of England we were fortunate in finding that Lord Hurst was still in his Chambers in Downing Street and on home
Sending in his card we were instantly shown up the Statesman received us with that oldfashioned courtesy for which he is remarkable and seated us on the two luxuriant lounges on either side of the fireplace standing on the rug between us with his slight tall figure his sharp features thoughtful face and curling
Hair prematurely tinged with gray he seemed to represent that not too common type A nobleman who is in truth Noble your name is very familiar to me Mr Holmes said he smiling and of course I cannot pretend to be ignorant of the object of your visit there has only been
One occurrence in these offices which could call for your attention in whose interest are you acting may I ask in that of Mr Percy Phelps answered Holmes ah my unfortunate nephew you can understand that our kinship makes it more impossible for me to screen him in
Any way I fear that the incident must have a very prejudicial effect upon his career but if the document is found ah that of course would be different I had one or two questions which I wished to ask you Lord holdhurst I shall be happy to give you any information in my
Power was it in this room that you gave your instructions as to the 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 to 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 Hurst with a very Ry face since nearly 10 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 Hurst Shrugged his shoulders we can hardly suppose Mr Holmes that the th took the treaty in order to frame it and hang it up perhaps he was 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 asks the Statesman flashing a Swift glance at him I did not say so said Holmes imperturbably and now Lord hust 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 and he bowed us out the door he’s a fine fellow said Holmes as we came out into whiteall but he has a struggle to keep up his position he is far from Rich and has many calls you noticed of course that his boots had been resold now Watson I won’t detain you
From your legitimate work any longer I shall do nothing more today 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 tomorrow by the same train which we took yesterday I met him accordingly next
Morning and we traveled 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 beron system of measurements and he expressed his enthusiastic admiration of the French Sant 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 Center of some monstrous conspiracy and that my life is aimed at as well as my honor 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 thought I could dispense with one I had a nightlight burning however well
About 2: 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 Goring a plank and I lay listening to it for some time under the impression that it must come
From the cause then it grew louder and suddenly there came from the window a sharp metallic snake 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 10 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’m 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 there 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 me 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 that I had best have your opinion first this tale of our clients 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 around the house with me oh yes I shall like a little sunshine Joseph will
Come too and I also said Miss Harrison I’m 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 window there were as he had said marks upon the bed but they were hopelessly blur and vague Holmes stopped 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 around 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 plates in the house
Or anything to attract burglars nothing of value Holmes strolled around 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 said 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 ascent 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 cool and soothing what do you propose now Mr Holmes asked our client well in investigating this minor Affair we must not lose sight of our main inquiry it would be a very great help to
Me if you would come up to London with us at once well as soon as you conveniently can say in an hour I feel quite strong enough if I can really be of any help the greatest possible perhaps you would like me to stay there tonight I was just going to propose it
Then if my friend of the Night Comes to revisit me he will find the bird flown we are all in your hands Mr Holmes and you must tell us exactly what you would like done perhaps you would prefer that Joseph came with us so as to look after
Me oh no my friend Watson is a medical man you know and he’ll look after you we’ll have our lunch here if you will permit us and then we shall all three set off for Town together it was arranged as he suggested though Miss Harrison excused herself from leaving the bedroom in accordance
With Holmes’s suggestion what the object of my friend’s Maneuvers was I could not conceive unless it were to keep the lady away from Phelps who rejoined by his returning health and by the prospect of action lunched with us in the dining room Holmes had a still more startling
Surprise for us however for after accompanying us down to the station and seeing us into our Carriage he calmly announced that he had no intention of leaving woking there are one or two small points which I should desire to clear up before before I go said he your absence Mr
Phelps will in some ways rather assist me Watson When You Reach London you would oblige Me by driving at once to Baker streets with our friend here and remaining with him until I see you again it is fortunate that you are Old School Fellows as you must have much to talk
Over Mr Phelps can have the spare room tonight and I will be with you in time for breakfast for there is a train which will take me into waterl at 8 but how about our investigation in London asked Phelps ruly we can do that tomorrow I think
That just at present I can be of more immediate use here you might tell them at Bri that I hope to be back tomorrow night cried Phelps as we began to move from the platform I hardly expect to go back to briber answered Holmes and waved his
Hand to us cheerily as we shot out from the station Phelps and I talked it over on our journey but neither of us could devise a satisfactory reason for this new development I suppose he wants to find out some clue as to the burglary last
Night if a burglar it was for myself I don’t believe it was an ordinary Thief what is your own idea then upon my word you may put it down to my weak nerves or not but I believe there is some deep political Intrigue going on around me and that for some reason that
Passes my understanding my life is aimed at by the conspirators it sounds High flown and absurd but consider the facts why should a thief tried to break in at a bedroom window where there could be no hope of any plunder and why should he come with
A long knife in his hand you are sure it was not a housebreakers Jimmy oh no it was a knife I saw the flash of the blade quite distinctly but why on Earth should you be pursued with such animosity ah that is the question well if Holmes takes the same view that would
Account for his action would it not presuming that your theory is correct if he can lay his hands upon the man who threatened you last night he will certainly have gone a long way towards finding who took the naval treaty it is absurd to suppose that you
Have two enemies one of whom robs you while the other threatens your life but Holmes said that he was not going to briber I have known him for some time said I but I never knew him to do anything yet without a very good reason and with that our conversation
Drifted off onto other topics but it was a weary day for me Phelps was still weak after his long illness and his Misfortune made him querulous and nervous in vain I endeavored to interest him in Afghanistan in India in Social questions in anything which might take his mind out of the
Groove he would always come back to his lost treaty wondering guessing speculating as to what homes was doing what steps Lord Hur was taking what news we would have in the morning as the evening wore on his excitement became quite painful you have implicit faith in homes
He asked I have seen him do some remarkable things but he never brought light into anything quite so dark as this oh yes I have known him solve questions which presented fewer Clues than yours but not where such large interests are at stake I don’t know that
To my certain knowledge he has acted on behalf of three of the riging houses of Europe in very vital matters but you know him well Watson he is such an inscrutable fellow that I never quite know what to make of him do you think he’s hopeful do you think he
Expects to make a success of it he has said nothing that is a bad sign on the contrary I have noticed that when he is off the trail he generally says so it is when he is on ascent and he not quite absolutely sure yet that it is the right
One that he is most taciturn now my dear fellow we can’t help matters by making ourselves nervous about them so let me implore you to go to bed and be so fresh for whatever May await us tomorrow I was able at last to persuade my companion to take my advice though I
Knew from his excited manner that there was not much hope of sleep for him indeed his mood was infectious for I lay tossing half the night myself brooding over this strange problem and inventing a hundred theories Each of which was more impossible than the last why had Holmes remained at
Woking why had he asked Miss Harrison to remain in the sick room all day why had he been so careful not to inform the people at Bri that he intended to remain near them I cudgel my brains until I fell asleep in the Endeavor to find some explanation which
Would cover all these facts it was 7:00 when I awoke and I set off at once for Phelps room to find him Haggard and spent after a sleepless night his first question was whether Holmes had arrived yet he’ll be here when he promised said I and not an instant sooner or
Later and my words were true for shortly after 8 a handsome dashed up to the door and our friend got out of it standing in the window we saw that his left hand was swayed breed in a bandage and that his face was very grim and pale he entered
The house but it was some little time before he came upstairs he looks like a beaten man cried Phelps I was forced to confess that he was right after all said I the clue of the matter lies probably here in town Phelps gave a
Groan I don’t know how it is he said but I had hoped for so much from his return but surely his hand was not tied up like that yesterday what can be the matter you are not wounded Holmes I asked as my friend entered the
Room it is only a scratch through my own clumsiness he answered nodding his good mornings to us this case of yours Mr Phelps is certainly one of the darkest which I have ever investigated I feared that you would find it Beyond you it has been the most remarkable experience that bandage tells of
Adventures said I won’t you tell us what has happened after my breakfast my dear Watson remember that I have breathed 30 Mi of sorry air this morning I suppose that there has been no answer from my cabman advertisement well well we cannot expect to score every
Time the table was all laid and just as I was about to read ring Mrs Hudson entered with the tea and coffee a few minutes later she brought in three covers and we all Dro to the table homes ravenous I curious and Phelps in the gloomiest state of
Depression Mrs Hudson had risen to the occasion and homes uncovering a dish of curried chicken her Cuisine is a little limited but she has a as good an idea of breakfast as a scotch woman what have you here Watson ham and eggs I answered good what are you going
To take Mr Phelps CED fowl or eggs or will you help yourself thank you I cannot eat nothing said Phelps oh come try the dish before you thank you I would really rather not well then said Holmes with a mischievous twinkle I suppose that you have no objection to
Helping me Phelps raised the cover and as he did so he uttered a scream and sat there staring with a face as white as the plate upon which he looked across the center of it was lying a little cylinder of blue gray paper he caught it
Up devoured it with his eyes and then danced madly about the room pressing it to his B him and shrieking out in his Delight then he fell back into an armchair so limp and exhausted with his own emotions that we had to pour Brandy down his throat to keep him from
Fainting there there said Holmes soothing patting him upon the shoulder it was too bad to spring it on you like this but Watson here will tell you that I never can resist a touch of the dramatic Phelps seized his hand and kissed it God bless you he cried you have saved my
Honor well my own was at stake you know said Holmes I assure you it is just as hateful to me to fail in a case as it can be to you to blunder over a commission Phelps thrust away the precious document into the innermost pocket of his coat I have the heart to
Interrupt your breakfast any further and yet I am dying to know how you got it and where it was Sherlock Holmes swallowed a cup of coffee and turned his attention to the ham and eggs then he rose lit his pipe and settled himself down into his
Chair I’ll tell you what I did first and how I came to do it afterwards said he after leaving you at the station I went for a Charming walk through some admirable s scenery to a pretty little village called Ripley where I had my tea at an in and took the precaution of
Filling my flask and of putting a paper of sandwiches in my pocket there I remained until evening when I set off for woking again and found myself in the high road outside Bri just after Sunset well I waited until the road was clear it is never a very frequented one
At any time my fancy and then I clambered over the fence into the grounds surely the Gat was open ejaculated Phelps yes but I have a peculiar taste in these matters I chose the place where the three fur trees stand and behind their screen I got over
Without the least chance of anyone in the house being able to see me I crouched down among the bushes on the other side and crawled from one to the other witnessed the disreputable state of my trouser until I had reached the clump of raded endons just opposite to your bedroom
Window there I squatted down and awaited developments the blind was not down in your room and I could see Miss Harrison sitting there reading by the table it was qu 10 when she closed her book fastened the shutters and retired I heard her shut the door and
Felt quite sure that she had turned the key in the lock the key ejaculated Phelps yes I had given Miss Harrison instructions to lock the door on the outside and take the key with her when she went to bed she carried out every one of my injunctions to the letter and
Certainly without her cooperation you would not have that paper in your coat pocket she departed then and the lights went out and I was left squatting in the roted dendron bush the night was fine but still it was a very weary vigil of course it has the sort of excitement
About it that the Sportsman feels when he lies beside the water course and waits for the big game it was very long though almost as long Watson as when you and I waited in that deadly room when we looked into the little problem of the Speckled Band
There was a church clock down at woking which struck the quarters and I thought more than once that it had stopped at last however about 2: in the morning I suddenly heard the gentle sound of a bolt being pushed back and the creaking of a key a moment later the servant’s
Door was opened and Mr Joseph Harrison stepped out into the Moonlight Joseph ejaculated Phelps he was bareheaded but he had a black coat thrown over his shoulder so that he could conceal his face in an instant if there were any alarm He Walked on tiptoe under the
Shadow of the wall and when he reached the window he worked a long bladed knife through the Sash and pushed back the catch then he flung open the window and putting his knife through the crack in the shutters he thrust the bar up and
Swung them open from where I lay I had a perfect view of the inside of the room and of every one of his movements he lit the two candles which stood upon the mantel piece and then he proceeded to turn back the corner of the carpet in the neighborhood of the
Door presently he stopped and picked out a square piece of board such as is usually left to enable plumbers to get at the joints of the gas pipes this one covered as a matter of fact the T joint which gives off the pipe which supplies the kitchen
Underneath out of this hiding place he drew that little cylinder of paper pushed down the board rearranged the carpet blew out the candles and walked straight into my arms as I stood waiting for him outside the window well he has rather more viciousness than I give him credit for has Master
Joseph he flew at me with his knife and I had to grasp him twice and got a cut over the knuckles before I had the upper hand over him he looked murder out of the only eye he could see with when we had finished but he listened to reason and gave up the
Papers having got them I let my man go but I wired four particulars to Forbes this morning if he is quick enough to catch his bird well and good but if as I shredly suspect he finds the nest empty before he gets there why all the better for the
Government I fancy that Lord Hur for one and Mr Percy Phelps for another would very much rather that the affair never got as far as a police Court my God gasped our client do you tell me that during these long 10 weeks of Agony the stolen papers were within the Very Room
With me all the time so it was and Joseph Joseph a villain and a thief H I am afraid Joseph’s character is a rather deep deeper and more dangerous one than one might judge from his appearance from what I have heard from him this morning I gather that he has
Lost heavily in dabbling with stocks and that he is ready to do anything on Earth to better his fortunes being an absolutely selfish man when a chance presented itself he did not allow either his sister’s happiness or your reputation to hold his hand Percy Phelps sank back in his chair
My head WS said he your words have dazed me the principal difficulty in your case remarked Holmes in his didactic fashion lay in the fact of there being too much evidence what was vital was overlaid and hidden by what was irrelevant of all the facts which were
Presented to us us we had to pick just those which we deemed to be essential and then piece them together in their order so as to reconstruct this very remarkable chain of events I had already begun to suspect Joseph from the fact that you had intended to travel home with him that
Night and that therefore it was a likely enough thing that he should call for you knowing the foreign office well upon his way when I heard that someone had been so anxious to get into the bedroom in which no one but Joseph could have concealed anything you told us in your
Narrative how you had turned Joseph out when you arrived with the doctor my suspicions all changed to certainties especially as the attempt was made on the first night upon which the nurse was absent showing that the Intruder was well acquainted with the ways of the
House how BL blind I have been the facts of the case as far as I have worked them out are these this Joseph Harrison entered the office through the Charles Street door and knowing his way he walked straight into your room the instant after you left
It finding no one there he promptly rang the bell and at the instant that he did so his eyes caught the paper upon the table a glass showed him that chance had put in his way a state document of immense value and in an instant he had
Thrust it into his pocket and was gone a few minutes elapsed as you remember before the Sleepy commissionaire Drew your attention to the bell and those were just enough to give the thief time to make his Escape he made his way to woking by the first train and having examined his booty and
Assured himself that it really was of immense value he had concealed it in what he thought was a very safe place with the intention of taking it out again in a day or two and carrying it to the French Embassy or whatever he thought that a long price was to be had
Then came your sudden return He without a moment’s warning was bundled out of his room and from that time onward there were always at least two of you there to prevent him from regaining his treasure the situation to him must have been a maddening one but at last he
Thought he saw his chance he tried to steal in but was baffled by your wakefulness you remember that you did not take your usual draft that night I remember I fancy that he had taken taken steps to make that draft efficacious and that he quite relied upon your being
Unconscious of course I understood that he would repeat the attempt whenever it could be done with safety your leaving the room gave him the chance he wanted I kept Miss Harrison in it all day so that he might not anticipate us then having given him the idea that the
Coast was clear I kept guard as I have described I already knew that the papers were probably in the room but I had no desire to rip up all the planking and skirting in search of them I let him take them therefore from The Hiding Place and so saved myself an Infinity of
Trouble is there any other point which I could make clear why did he try the window on the first occasion I asked when he might have entered by the door in reaching the door he would have to pass seven bedrooms on the other hand he could get out onto the lawn with
Ease anything else you do not think asked Phelps that he had any murderous intention the knife was only meant as a tool it may be so answered Holmes shrugging his shoulders I can only say for certain that Mr Joseph Harrison is a gentleman to whose Mercy I should be extremely unwilling to trust