ly known."

"i understand. now, mr. trelawney hope, i should be much obliged

if you would tell me exactly the circumstances under which this

document disappeared."

"that can be done in a very few words, mr. holmes. the letter --

for it was a letter from a foreign potentate -- was received six

days ago. it was of such importance that i have never left it in

my safe, but i have taken it across each evening to my house in

whitehall terrace, and kept it in my bedroom in a locked

despatch-box. it was there last night. of that i am certain. i

actually opened the box while i was dressing for dinner, and saw

the document inside. this morning it was gone. the despatch-box

had stood beside the glass upon my dressing-table all night. i am

a light sleeper, and so is my wife. we are both prepared to swear

that no one could have entered the room during the night. and yet

i repeat that the paper is gone."

"what time did you dine?"

"half-past seven."

"how long was it before you went to bed?"

"my wife had gone to the theatre. i waited up for her. it was

half-past eleven before we went to our room."

"then for four hours the despatch-box had lain unguarded?"

"no one is ever permitted to enter that room save the housemaid in

the morning, and my valet, or my wife's maid, during the rest of

the day. they are both trusty servants who have been with us for

some time. besides, neither of them could possibly have known

that there was anything more valuable than the ordinary

departmental papers in my despatch-box."

"who did know of the existence of that letter?"

"no one in the house."

"surely your wife knew?"

"no, sir; i had said nothing to my wife until i missed the paper

this morning."

the premier nodded approvingly.

"i have long known, sir, how high is your sense of public duty,"

said he. "i am convinced that in the case of a secret of this

importance it would rise superior to the most intimate domestic

ties."

the european secretary bowed.

"you do me no more than justice, sir. until this morning i have

never breathed one word to my wife upon this matter."

"could she have guessed?"

"no, mr. holmes, she could not have guessed -- nor could anyone

have guessed."

"have you lost any documents before?"

"no, sir."

"who is there in england who did know of the existence of this

letter?"

"each member of the cabinet was informed of it yesterday; but the

pledge of secrecy which attends every cabinet meeting was

increased by the solemn warning which was given by the prime

minister. good heavens, to think that within a few hours i should

myself have lost it!" his handsome face was distorted with a

spasm of despair, and his hands tore at his hair. for a moment we

caught a glimpse of the natural man, impulsive, ardent, keenly

sensitive. the next the aristocratic mask was replaced, and the

gentle voice had returned. "besides the members of the cabinet

there are two, or possibly three, departmental officials who know

of the letter. no one else in england, mr. holmes, i assure you."

"but abroad?"

"i believe that no one abroad has seen it save the man who wrote

it. i am well convinced that his ministers -- that the usual

official channels have not been employed."

holmes considered for some little time.

"now, sir, i must ask you more particularly what this document is,

and why its disappearance should have such momentous

consequences?"

the two statesmen exchanged a quick glance and the premier's

shaggy eyebrows gathered in a frown.

"mr. holmes, the envelope is a long, thin one of pale blue colour.

there is a seal of red wax stamped with a crouching lion. it is

addressed in large, bold handwriting to ----"

"i fear, sir," said holmes, "that, interesting and indeed

essential as these details are, my inquiries must go more to the

root of things. what _was_ the letter?"

"that is a state secret of the utmost importance, and i fear that

i cannot tell you, nor do i see that it is necessary. if by the

aid of the powers which you are said to possess you can find such

an envelope as i describe with its enclosure, you will have

deserved well of your country, and earned any reward which it lies

in our power to bestow."

sherlock holmes rose with a smile.

"you are two of the most busy men in the country," said he, "and

in my own small way i have also a good many calls upon me. i

regret exceedingly that i cannot help you in this matter, and any

continuation of this interview would be a waste of time."

the premier sprang to his feet with that quick, fierce gleam of

his deep-set eyes before which a cabinet has cowered. "i am not

accustomed, sir ----" he began, but mastered his anger and resumed

his seat. for a minute or more we all sat in silence. then the

old statesman shrugged his shoulders.

"we must accept your terms, mr. ho