“If not, there is no harm done. But if Mr. Phelps is correct instating that there is no hiding-place either in the room or thecorridors, then the person must have come from outside. If hecame from outside on so wet a night, and yet left no trace of dampupon the linoleum, which was examined within a few minutes ofhis passing, then it is exceeding 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 tosomething. And then, of course, there is the bell—which is themost distinctive feature of the case. Why should the bell ring?
Was it the thief who did it out of bravado? Or was it some onewho 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 stateof intense and silent thought from which he had emerged; but itseemed to me, accustomed as I was to his every mood, that somenew possibility had dawned suddenly upon him.
It was twenty past three when we reached our terminus, andafter a hasty luncheon at the buffet we pushed on at once toScotland Yard. Holmes had already wired to Forbes, and we foundhim waiting to receive us—a small, foxy man with a sharp but by nomeans amiable expression. He was decidedly frigid in his manner tous, especially when he heard the errand upon which we had come.
“I’ve heard of your methods before now, Mr. Holmes,” said hetartly. “You are ready enough to use all the information that thepolice can lay at your disposal, and then you try to finish the caseyourself and bring discredit on them.”
“On the contrary,” said Holmes, “out of my last fifty-three casesmy name has only appeared in four, and the police have had all thecredit in forty-nine. I don’t blame you for not knowing this, foryou are young and inexperienced, but if you wish to get on in yournew duties you will work with me and not against me.”
“I’d be very glad of a hint or two,” said the detective, changinghis manner. “I’ve certainly had no credit from the case so far.”
“What steps have you taken?”
“Tangey, the commissionnaire, has been shadowed. He left theMemoirs of Sherlock Holmes 821
Guards with a good character, and we can find nothing againsthim. His wife is a bad lot, though. I fancy she knows more aboutthis than appears.”
“Have you shadowed her?”
“We have set one of our women on to her. Mrs. Tangey drinks,and our woman has been with her twice when she was well on, butshe 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 shownany sign of being in funds.”
“What explanation did she give of having answered the bellwhen Mr. Phelps rang for the coffee?”
“She said that he husband was very tired and she wished torelieve him.”
“Well, certainly that would agree with his being found a littlelater asleep in his chair. There is nothing against them then butthe woman’s character. Did you ask her why she hurried away thatnight? 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 startedat least twenty minutes after her, got home before her?”
“She explains that by the difference between a ’bus and ahansom.”
“Did she make it clear why, on reaching her house, she ran intothe back kitchen?”
“Because she had the money there with which to pay off thebrokers.”
“She has at least an answer for everything. Did you ask herwhether in leaving she met any one or saw any one loitering aboutCharles 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 Gorot has been shadowed all these nine weeks, butwithout result. We can show nothing against him.”
“Anything else?”
“Well, we have nothing else to go upon—no evidence of anykind.”
“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 queer thing to do. Many thanks to you for what youhave told me. If I can put the man into your hands you shall hearfrom me. Come along, Watson.”
822 The Complete Sherlock Holmes
“Where are we going to now?” I asked, as we left the office.
“We are now going to interview Lord Holdhurst, the cabinetminister and future premier of England.”
We were fortunate in finding that Lord Holdhurst was still inhis chambers in Downing Street, and on Holmes sending in hiscard we were instantly shown up. The statesman received us withthat old-fashioned courtesy for which he is remarkable, and seatedus on the two luxuriant lounges on either side of the fireplace.
Standing on the rug between us, with his slight, tall figure, hissharp features, thoughtful face, and curling hair prematurelytinged with gray, he seemed to represent that not too commontype, 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 theobject of your visit. There has only been one occurrence in theseoffices which could call for your attention. In whose interest areyou acting, may I ask?”
“In that of Mr. Percy Phelps,” answered Holmes.
“Ah, my unfortunate nephew! You can understand that ourkinship makes it the more impossible for me to screen him in anyway. I fear that the incident must have a very prejudicial effectupon 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, LordHoldhurst.”
“I shall be happy to give you any information in my power.”
“Was it in this room that you gave your instructions as to thecopying of the document?”
“It was.”
“Then you could hardly have been overheard?”
“It is out of the question.”
“Did you ever mention to any one that it was your intention togive any one the treaty to be copied?”
“Never.”
“You are certain of that?”