adventure10-第1章

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Adventure　X





The　Naval　Treaty





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　Monsieur　Dubugue　of　the

Paris　police；　and　Fritz　von　Waldbaum；　the　well…known

specialist　of　Dantzig；　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　a　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　gaudy　relationship　did

him　little　good　at　school。　　On　the　contrary；　it　seemed

rather　a　piquant　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：





Briarbrae；　Woking。

My　dear　Watson；I　have　no　doubt　that　you　can　remember

〃Tadpole〃　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　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　probably　that　I　shall　have　to　narrate

them　to　you。　　I　have　only　just　recovered　from　nine

weeks　of　brain…fever；　and　am　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　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　Holmes。　　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。



Holmes　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　Bunsen　burner；　and

the　distilled　drops　were　condensing　into　a　two…litre

measure。　　My　friend　hardly　glanced　up　as　I　entered；

and　I；　seeing　that　his　investigation　must　be　of

importance；　seated　myself　in　an　arm…chair　and　waited。　

He　dipped　into　this　bottle　or　that；　drawing　out　a　few

drops　of　each　with　his　glass　pipette；　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。　

〃Hum！　　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

petrel　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；　and　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　some　one　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

Waterloo；　and　in　a　little　under　an　hour　we　found

ourselves　among　the　fir…woods　and　the　heather　of

Woking。　　Briarbrae　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　forty　than　thirty；　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　effusion。　　〃Percy　has　been　inquiring

for　you　all　morning。　　Ah；　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；〃　observed　Holmes。　　〃I

perceive　that　you　are　not　yourself　a　member　of　the

family。〃



Our　acquaintance　looked　surprised；　and　then；　glancing

down；　he　began　to　laugh。



〃Of　course　you　saw　the　J　H　monogram　on　my　locket；〃

said　he。　　〃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　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　balmy　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　moustache；　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　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

Holdhurst；　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　ten　weeks　agoto　be　more　accurate；　on　the　23d

of　Mayhe　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　further　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　lock　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　a