'
　　'Tangey, the commissionaire, has been shadowed. He left the Guards with a goodcharacter, and we can find nothing against him. His wife is a bad lot, though. I fancyshe knows more about this than appears.'
　　'Have you shadowed her?'
　　'We have set one of our women on to her. Mrs. Tangey drinks, and our woman hasbeen with her twice when she 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 infunds.'
　　'What explanation did she give of having answered the bell when Mr. Phelps rangfor the coffee?'
　　'She said that her husband was very tired and she wished to relieve him.'
　　'Well, certainly that would agree with his being found, a little later, asleep in hischair. There is nothing against them, then, but the woman's character. Did you ask herwhy she hurried away that night? Her haste attracted the attention of thepolice-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 twentyminutes after her, got there before her?'
　　'She explains that by the difference between a bus and a hansom.'
　　'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 brokers.'
　　'She has at least an answer for everything. Did you ask her whether in leaving hismet 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 youdone?'
　　'The clerk, Gorot, has been shadowed all these nine weeks, but without result. Wecan show nothing against him.'
　　'Anything else?'
　　'Well, we have nothing else to go upon—no evidence of any kind.'
　　'Have you formed any theory about how that bell rang?'
　　'Well, I must confess that it bears me. It was a cool hand, whoever it was, to go andgive the alarm like that.'
　　'Yes, it was a queer thing to do. Many thanks to you for what you have told me. If Ican put the man into your hands you shall hear from me. Come along, Watson!'
　　'Where are we going to now?' I asked, as we left the office.
　　'We are now going to interview Lord Holdhurst, the Cabinet Minister and futurePremier of England.'
　　We were fortunate in finding that Lord Holdhurst was still in his chambers atDowning Street, and on Holmes sending in his card we were instantly shown up. Thestatesman received us with that old-fashioned courtesy for which he is remarkable,and seated us on the two luxurious easy chairs on either side of the fireplace. Standingon the rug between us, with his slight, tall figure, his sharp-featured, thoughtful face,and his curling hair prematurely tinged with grey, he seemed to represent that not toocommon type, a nobleman who is in truth noble.
　　'Your name is very familiar to me, Mr. Holmes,' said he, smiling. 'And, of course, Icannot pretend to be ignorant of the object of your visit. There has only been oneoccurrence in these offices 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 our kinship makes it themore impossible for me to screen him in any way. I fear that the incident must have avery 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 thedocument?'
　　'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 out the treaty tobe copied?'
　　'Never.'
　　'You are certain of that?'
　　'Absolutely.'
　　'Well, since you never said so, and Mr. Phelps never said so, and nobody else knewanything of the matter, then the thief's presence in the room was purely accidental. Hesaw 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 Iwish to discuss with you,' said he. 'You feared, as I understand, that very grave resultsmight 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 yet.'
　　'If the treaty had reached, let us say, the French or Russian Foreign Office, youwould expect to hear of it?'
　　'I should,' said Lord Holdhurst, with a wry face.
　　'Since nearly ten weeks have elapsed, then, and nothing has been heard, it is notunfair to suppose that for some reason the treaty has not reached them?'
　　Lord Holdhurst shrugged his shoulders.
　　'We can hardly suppose, Mr. Holmes, that the thief took the treaty in order to frameit and hang it up.'
　　'Perhaps he is waiting for a better price.'
　　'If he waits a little longer he will get no price at all. The treaty will cease to be asecret in a few months.'
　　'That is most important,' said Holmes. 'Of course it is a possible supposition thatthe thief has had a sudden illness—'
　　'An attack of brain fever, for example?' asked the statesman, flashing a swiftglance at him.
　　'I did not say so,' said Holmes, imperturbably. 'And now, Lord Holdhurst, we havealready taken up too much of your valuable time, and we shall wish you a good day.'
　　'Every success to your investigation, be the criminal who it may,' answered thenobleman, as he bowed us out at the door.
　　'He's a fine fellow,' said Holmes, as we came out into Whitehall. 'But he has astruggle to keep up his position. He is far from rich, and has many calls. You noticed,of course, that his boots had been re-soled?