\"No，no，LadyBrackenstall，itisnouse。YoumayhaveheardofanylittlereputationwhichIpossess。Iwillstakeitallonthefactthatyourstoryisanabsolutefabrication。\"
MistressandmaidwerebothstaringatHolmeswithpalefacesandfrightenedeyes。
\"Youareanimpudentfellow！\"criedTheresa。\"Doyoumeantosaythatmymistresshastoldalie？\"
Holmesrosefromhischair。
\"Haveyounothingtotellme？\"
\"Ihavetoldyoueverything。\"
\"Thinkoncemore，LadyBrackenstall。Woulditnotbebettertobefrank？\"
Foraninstanttherewashesitationinherbeautifulface。
Thensomenewstrongthoughtcausedittosetlikeamask。
\"IhavetoldyouallIknow。\"
Holmestookhishatandshruggedhisshoulders。\"Iamsorry，\"
hesaid，andwithoutanotherwordwelefttheroomandthehouse。Therewasapondinthepark，andtothismyfriendledtheway。Itwasfrozenover，butasingleholewasleftfortheconvenienceofasolitaryswan。Holmesgazedatitandthenpassedontothelodgegate。TherehescribbledashortnoteforStanleyHopkinsandleftitwiththelodge—keeper。
\"Itmaybeahitoritmaybeamiss，butweareboundtodosomethingforfriendHopkins，justtojustifythissecondvisit，\"
saidhe。\"Iwillnotquitetakehimintomyconfidenceyet。
IthinkournextsceneofoperationsmustbetheshippingofficeoftheAdelaide—Southamptonline，whichstandsattheendofPallMall，ifIrememberright。ThereisasecondlineofsteamerswhichconnectSouthAustraliawithEngland，butwewilldrawthelargercoverfirst。\"
Holmes’scardsentintothemanagerensuredinstantattention，andhewasnotlonginacquiringalltheinformationwhichheneeded。InJuneof’95onlyoneoftheirlinehadreachedahomeport。ItwastheROCKOFGIBRALTAR，theirlargestandbestboat。AreferencetothepassengerlistshowedthatMissFraserofAdelaide，withhermaid，hadmadethevoyageinher。TheboatwasnowonherwaytoAustralia，somewheretothesouthoftheSuezCanal。Herofficerswerethesameasin’95，withoneexception。Thefirstofficer，Mr。JackCroker，hadbeenmadeacaptainandwastotakechargeoftheirnewship，theBASSROCK，sailingintwodays’timefromSouthampton。HelivedatSydenham，buthewaslikelytobeinthatmorningforinstructions，ifwecaredtowaitforhim。
No；Mr。Holmeshadnodesiretoseehim，butwouldbegladtoknowmoreabouthisrecordandcharacter。
Hisrecordwasmagnificent。Therewasnotanofficerinthefleettotouchhim。Astohischaracter，hewasreliableonduty，butawild，desperatefellowoffthedeckofhisship，hot—headed，excitable，butloyal，honest，andkind—hearted。
ThatwasthepithoftheinformationwithwhichHolmeslefttheofficeoftheAdelaide—Southamptoncompany。ThencehedrovetoScotlandYard，butinsteadofenteringhesatinhiscabwithhisbrowsdrawndown，lostinprofoundthought。FinallyhedroveroundtotheCharingCrosstelegraphoffice，sentoffamessage，andthen，atlast，wemadeforBakerStreetoncemore。
\"No，Icouldn’tdoit，Watson，\"saidhe，aswere—enteredourroom。\"Oncethatwarrantwasmadeoutnothingonearthwouldsavehim。OnceortwiceinmycareerIfeelthatIhavedonemorerealharmbymydiscoveryofthecriminalthaneverhehaddonebyhiscrime。Ihavelearnedcautionnow，andIhadratherplaytrickswiththelawofEnglandthanwithmyownconscience。
Letusknowalittlemorebeforeweact。\"
BeforeeveningwehadavisitfromInspectorStanleyHopkins。
Thingswerenotgoingverywellwithhim。
\"Ibelievethatyouareawizard，Mr。Holmes。Ireallydosometimesthinkthatyouhavepowersthatarenothuman。
Now，howonearthcouldyouknowthatthestolensilverwasatthebottomofthatpond？\"
\"Ididn’tknowit。\"
\"Butyoutoldmetoexamineit。\"
\"Yougotit，then？\"
\"Yes，Igotit。\"
\"IamverygladifIhavehelpedyou。\"
\"Butyouhaven’thelpedme。Youhavemadetheaffairfarmoredifficult。Whatsortofburglarsaretheywhostealsilverandthenthrowitintothenearestpond？\"
\"Itwascertainlyrathereccentricbehaviour。Iwasmerelygoingontheideathatifthesilverhadbeentakenbypersonswhodidnotwantit，whomerelytookitforablindasitwere，thentheywouldnaturallybeanxioustogetridofit。\"
\"Butwhyshouldsuchanideacrossyourmind？\"
\"Well，Ithoughtitwaspossible。WhentheycameoutthroughtheFrenchwindowtherewasthepond，withonetemptinglittleholeintheice，rightinfrontoftheirnoses。Couldtherebeabetterhiding—place？\"
\"Ah，ahiding—place——thatisbetter！\"criedStanleyHopkins。
\"Yes，yes，Iseeitallnow！Itwasearly，therewerefolkupontheroads，theywereafraidofbeingseenwiththesilver，sotheysankitinthepond，intendingtoreturnforitwhenthecoastwasclear。Excellent，Mr。Holmes——thatisbetterthanyourideaofablind。\"
\"Quiteso；youhavegotanadmirabletheory。Ihavenodoubtthatmyownideaswerequitewild，butyoumustadmitthattheyhaveendedindiscoveringthesilver。\"
\"Yes，sir，yes。Itwasallyourdoing。ButIhavehadabadset—back。\"
\"Aset—back？\"
\"Yes，Mr。Holmes。TheRandallgangwerearrestedinNewYorkthismorning。\"
\"Dearme，Hopkins！ThatiscertainlyratheragainstyourtheorythattheycommittedamurderinKentlastnight。\"
\"Itisfatal，Mr。Holmes，absolutelyfatal。Still，thereareothergangsofthreebesidestheRandalls，oritmaybesomenewgangofwhichthepolicehaveneverheard。\"
\"Quiteso；itisperfectlypossible。What，areyouoff？\"
Yes，Mr。Holmes；thereisnorestformeuntilIhavegottothebottomofthebusiness。Isupposeyouhavenohinttogiveme？\"
\"Ihavegivenyouone。\"
\"Which？\"
\"Well，Isuggestedablind。\"
\"Butwhy，Mr。Holmes，why？\"
\"Ah，that’sthequestion，ofcourse。ButIcommendtheideatoyourmind。Youmightpossiblyfindthattherewassomethinginit。Youwon’tstopfordinner？Well，good—bye，andletusknowhowyougeton。\"
DinnerwasoverandthetableclearedbeforeHolmesalludedtothematteragain。Hehadlithispipeandheldhisslipperedfeettothecheerfulblazeofthefire。Suddenlyhelookedathiswatch。
\"Iexpectdevelopments，Watson。\"
\"When？\"
\"Now——withinafewminutes。IdaresayyouthoughtIactedratherbadlytoStanleyHopkinsjustnow？\"
\"Itrustyourjudgment。\"
\"Averysensiblereply，Watson。Youmustlookatitthisway：
whatIknowisunofficial；whatheknowsisofficial。Ihavetherighttoprivatejudgment，buthehasnone。Hemustdiscloseall，orheisatraitortohisservice。InadoubtfulcaseI
wouldnotputhiminsopainfulaposition，andsoIreservemyinformationuntilmyownmindisclearuponthematter。\"
\"Butwhenwillthatbe？\"
\"Thetimehascome。Youwillnowbepresentatthelastsceneofaremarkablelittledrama。\"
Therewasasounduponthestairs，andourdoorwasopenedtoadmitasfineaspecimenofmanhoodaseverpassedthroughit。
Hewasaverytallyoungman，golden—moustached，blue—eyed，withaskinwhichhadbeenburnedbytropicalsuns，andaspringystepwhichshowedthatthehugeframewasasactiveasitwasstrong。Heclosedthedoorbehindhim，andthenhestoodwithclenchedhandsandheavingbreast，chokingdownsomeovermasteringemotion。
\"Sitdown，CaptainCroker。Yougotmytelegram？\"
Ourvisitorsankintoanarm—chairandlookedfromonetotheotherofuswithquestioningeyes。
\"Igotyourtelegram，andIcameatthehouryousaid。Iheardthatyouhadbeendowntotheoffice。Therewasnogettingawayfromyou。Let’sheartheworst。Whatareyougoingtodowithme？
Arrestme？Speakout，man！Youcan’tsitthereandplaywithmelikeacatwithamouse。\"
\"Givehimacigar，\"saidHolmes。\"Biteonthat，CaptainCroker，anddon’tletyournervesrunawaywithyou。IshouldnotsitheresmokingwithyouifIthoughtthatyouwereacommoncriminal，youmaybesureofthat。Befrankwithme，andwemaydosomegood。
Playtrickswithme，andI’llcrushyou。\"
\"Whatdoyouwishmetodo？\"
\"TogivemeatrueaccountofallthathappenedattheAbbeyGrangelastnight——aTRUEaccount，mindyou，withnothingaddedandnothingtakenoff。IknowsomuchalreadythatifyougooneinchoffthestraightI’llblowthispolicewhistlefrommywindowandtheaffairgoesoutofmyhandsforever。\"
Thesailorthoughtforalittle。Thenhestruckhislegwithhisgreat，sun—burnedhand。
\"I’llchanceit，\"hecried。\"Ibelieveyouareamanofyourword，andawhiteman，andI’lltellyouthewholestory。
ButonethingIwillsayfirst。SofarasIamconcernedIregretnothingandIfearnothing，andIwoulddoitallagainandbeproudofthejob。Cursethebeast，ifhehadasmanylivesasacathewouldowethemalltome！Butit’sthelady，Mary——
MaryFraser——forneverwillIcallherbythataccursedname。
WhenIthinkofgettingherintotrouble，Iwhowouldgivemylifejusttobringonesmiletoherdearface，it’sthatthatturnsmysoulintowater。Andyet——andyet——whatlesscouldIdo？
I’lltellyoumystory，gentlemen，andthenI’llaskyouasmantomanwhatlesscouldIdo。
\"Imustgobackabit。Youseemtoknoweverything，soIexpectthatyouknowthatImetherwhenshewasapassengerandIwasfirstofficeroftheROCKOFGIBRALTAR。FromthefirstdayI
methershewastheonlywomantome。EverydayofthatvoyageIlovedhermore，andmanyatimesincehaveIkneeleddowninthedarknessofthenightwatchandkissedthedeckofthatshipbecauseIknewherdearfeethadtrodit。Shewasneverengagedtome。Shetreatedmeasfairlyaseverawomantreatedaman。
Ihavenocomplainttomake。Itwasallloveonmyside，andallgoodcomradeshipandfriendshiponhers。Whenwepartedshewasafreewoman，butIcouldneveragainbeafreeman。
\"NexttimeIcamebackfromseaIheardofhermarriage。
Well，whyshouldn’tshemarrywhomsheliked？Titleandmoney——
whocouldcarrythembetterthanshe？Shewasbornforallthatisbeautifulanddainty。Ididn’tgrieveoverhermarriage。
Iwasnotsuchaselfishhoundasthat。Ijustrejoicedthatgoodluckhadcomeherway，andthatshehadnotthrownherselfawayonapennilesssailor。That’showIlovedMaryFraser。
\"Well，Ineverthoughttoseeheragain；butlastvoyageIwaspromoted，andthenewboatwasnotyetlaunched，soIhadtowaitforacoupleofmonthswithmypeopleatSydenham。
OnedayoutinacountrylaneImetTheresaWright，heroldmaid。
Shetoldmeabouther，abouthim，abouteverything。Itellyou，gentlemen，itnearlydrovememad。Thisdrunkenhound，thatheshoulddaretoraisehishandtoherwhosebootshewasnotworthytolick！ImetTheresaagain。ThenImetMaryherself——
andmetheragain。Thenshewouldmeetmenomore。ButtheotherdayIhadanoticethatIwastostartonmyvoyagewithinaweek，andIdeterminedthatIwouldseeheroncebeforeIleft。
Theresawasalwaysmyfriend，forshelovedMaryandhatedthisvillainalmostasmuchasIdid。FromherIlearnedthewaysofthehouse。Maryusedtositupreadinginherownlittleroomdownstairs。Icreptroundtherelastnightandscratchedatthewindow。Atfirstshewouldnotopentome，butinherheartIknowthatnowshelovesme，andshecouldnotleavemeinthefrostynight。Shewhisperedtometocomeroundtothebigfrontwindow，andIfounditopenbeforemesoastoletmeintothedining—room。AgainIheardfromherownlipsthingsthatmademybloodboil，andagainIcursedthisbrutewhomishandledthewomanthatIloved。Well，gentlemen，Iwasstandingwithherjustinsidethewindow，inallinnocence，asHeavenismyjudge，whenherushedlikeamadmanintotheroom，calledherthevilestnamethatamancouldusetoawoman，andweltedheracrossthefacewiththestickhehadinhishand。
Ihadsprungforthepoker，anditwasafairfightbetweenus。
Seehereonmyarmwherehisfirstblowfell。Thenitwasmyturn，andIwentthroughhimasifhehadbeenarottenpumpkin。
DoyouthinkIwassorry？NotI！Itwashislifeormine，butfarmorethanthatitwashislifeorhers，forhowcouldI
leaveherinthepowerofthismadman？ThatwashowIkilledhim。
WasIwrong？Well，then，whatwouldeitherofyougentlemenhavedoneifyouhadbeeninmyposition？\"
\"Shehadscreamedwhenhestruckher，andthatbroughtoldTheresadownfromtheroomabove。Therewasabottleofwineonthesideboard，andIopeneditandpouredalittlebetweenMary’slips，forshewashalfdeadwiththeshock。ThenItookadropmyself。Theresawasascoolasice，anditwasherplotasmuchasmine。Wemustmakeitappearthatburglarshaddonethething。Theresakeptonrepeatingourstorytohermistress，whileIswarmedupandcuttheropeofthebell。ThenIlashedherinherchair，andfrayedouttheendoftheropetomakeitlooknatural，elsetheywouldwonderhowintheworldaburglarcouldhavegotuptheretocutit。ThenIgatheredupafewplatesandpotsofsilver，tocarryouttheideaofarobbery，andthereIleftthemwithorderstogivethealarmwhenIhadaquarterofanhour’sstart。IdroppedthesilverintothepondandmadeoffforSydenham，feelingthatforonceinmylifeIhaddonearealgoodnight’swork。Andthat’sthetruthandthewholetruth，Mr。Holmes，ifitcostsmemyneck。\"
Holmessmokedforsometimeinsilence。Thenhecrossedtheroomandshookourvisitorbythehand。
\"That’swhatIthink，\"saidhe。\"Iknowthateverywordistrue，foryouhavehardlysaidawordwhichIdidnotknow。
Noonebutanacrobatorasailorcouldhavegotuptothatbell—ropefromthebracket，andnoonebutasailorcouldhavemadetheknotswithwhichthecordwasfastenedtothechair。
Onlyoncehadthisladybeenbroughtintocontactwithsailors，andthatwasonhervoyage，anditwassomeoneofherownclassoflife，sinceshewastryinghardtoshieldhimandsoshowingthatshelovedhim。YouseehoweasyitwasformetolaymyhandsuponyouwhenonceIhadstartedupontherighttrail。\"
\"Ithoughtthepolicenevercouldhaveseenthroughourdodge。\"
\"Andthepolicehaven’t；norwillthey，tothebestofmybelief。
Now，lookhere，CaptainCroker，thisisaveryseriousmatter，thoughIamwillingtoadmitthatyouactedunderthemostextremeprovocationtowhichanymancouldbesubjected。Iamnotsurethatindefenceofyourownlifeyouractionwillnotbepronouncedlegitimate。However，thatisforaBritishjurytodecide。
MeanwhileIhavesomuchsympathyforyouthatifyouchoosetodisappearinthenexttwenty—fourhoursIwillpromiseyouthatnoonewillhinderyou。\"
\"Andthenitwillallcomeout？\"
\"Certainlyitwillcomeout。\"
Thesailorflushedwithanger。
\"Whatsortofproposalisthattomakeaman？IknowenoughoflawtounderstandthatMarywouldbehadasaccomplice。
DoyouthinkIwouldleaveheralonetofacethemusicwhileIslunkaway？No，sir；letthemdotheirworstuponme，butforHeaven’ssake，Mr。Holmes，findsomewayofkeepingmypoorMaryoutofthecourts。\"
Holmesforasecondtimeheldouthishandtothesailor。
\"Iwasonlytestingyou，andyouringtrueeverytime。
Well，itisagreatresponsibilitythatItakeuponmyself，butIhavegivenHopkinsanexcellenthint，andifhecan’tavailhimselfofitIcandonomore。Seehere，CaptainCroker，we’lldothisindueformoflaw。Youaretheprisoner。
Watson，youareaBritishjury，andInevermetamanwhowasmoreeminentlyfittedtorepresentone。Iamthejudge。
Now，gentlemanofthejury，youhaveheardtheevidence。
Doyoufindtheprisonerguiltyornotguilty？\"
\"Notguilty，mylord，\"saidI。
\"Voxpopuli，voxDei。Youareacquitted，CaptainCroker。
Solongasthelawdoesnotfindsomeothervictimyouaresafefromme。Comebacktothisladyinayear，andmayherfutureandyoursjustifyusinthejudgmentwhichwehavepronouncedthisnight。\"
XIII。———TheAdventureoftheSecondStain。
IHADintended\"TheAdventureoftheAbbeyGrange\"tobethelastofthoseexploitsofmyfriend，Mr。SherlockHolmes，whichIshouldevercommunicatetothepublic。Thisresolutionofminewasnotduetoanylackofmaterial，sinceIhavenotesofmanyhundredsofcasestowhichIhaveneveralluded，norwasitcausedbyanywaninginterestonthepartofmyreadersinthesingularpersonalityanduniquemethodsofthisremarkableman。
TherealreasonlayinthereluctancewhichMr。Holmeshasshowntothecontinuedpublicationofhisexperiences。Solongashewasinactualprofessionalpracticetherecordsofhissuccesseswereofsomepracticalvaluetohim；butsincehehasdefinitelyretiredfromLondonandbetakenhimselftostudyandbee—farmingontheSussexDowns，notorietyhasbecomehatefultohim，andhehasperemptorilyrequestedthathiswishesinthismattershouldbestrictlyobserved。ItwasonlyuponmyrepresentingtohimthatIhadgivenapromisethat\"TheAdventureoftheSecondStain\"shouldbepublishedwhenthetimeswereripe，andpointingouttohimthatitisonlyappropriatethatthislongseriesofepisodesshouldculminateinthemostimportantinternationalcasewhichhehaseverbeencalledupontohandle，thatIatlastsucceededinobtaininghisconsentthatacarefully—guardedaccountoftheincidentshouldatlastbelaidbeforethepublic。IfintellingthestoryIseemtobesomewhatvagueincertaindetailsthepublicwillreadilyunderstandthatthereisanexcellentreasonformyreticence。
Itwas，then，inayear，andeveninadecade，thatshallbenameless，thatupononeTuesdaymorninginautumnwefoundtwovisitorsofEuropeanfamewithinthewallsofourhumbleroominBakerStreet。Theone，austere，high—nosed，eagle—eyed，anddominant，wasnoneotherthantheillustriousLordBellinger，twicePremierofBritain。Theother，dark，clear—cut，andelegant，hardlyyetofmiddleage，andendowedwitheverybeautyofbodyandofmind，wastheRightHonourableTrelawneyHope，SecretaryforEuropeanAffairs，andthemostrisingstatesmaninthecountry。Theysatsidebysideuponourpaper—litteredsettee，anditwaseasytoseefromtheirwornandanxiousfacesthatitwasbusinessofthemostpressingimportancewhichhadbroughtthem。ThePremier’sthin，blue—veinedhandswereclaspedtightlyovertheivoryheadofhisumbrella，andhisgaunt，asceticfacelookedgloomilyfromHolmestome。
TheEuropeanSecretarypullednervouslyathismoustacheandfidgetedwiththesealsofhiswatch—chain。
\"WhenIdiscoveredmyloss，Mr。Holmes，whichwasateighto’clockthismorning，IatonceinformedthePrimeMinister。
Itwasathissuggestionthatwehavebothcometoyou。\"
\"Haveyouinformedthepolice？\"
\"No，sir，\"saidthePrimeMinister，withthequick，decisivemannerforwhichhewasfamous。\"Wehavenotdoneso，norisitpossiblethatweshoulddoso。Toinformthepolicemust，inthelongrun，meantoinformthepublic。Thisiswhatweparticularlydesiretoavoid。\"
\"Andwhy，sir？\"
\"Becausethedocumentinquestionisofsuchimmenseimportancethatitspublicationmightveryeasily——Imightalmostsayprobably——leadtoEuropeancomplicationsoftheutmostmoment。
Itisnottoomuchtosaythatpeaceorwarmayhangupontheissue。Unlessitsrecoverycanbeattendedwiththeutmostsecrecy，thenitmayaswellnotberecoveredatall，forallthatisaimedatbythosewhohavetakenitisthatitscontentsshouldbegenerallyknown。\"
\"Iunderstand。Now，Mr。TrelawneyHope，Ishouldbemuchobligedifyouwouldtellmeexactlythecircumstancesunderwhichthisdocumentdisappeared。\"
\"Thatcanbedoneinaveryfewwords，Mr。Holmes。
Theletter——foritwasaletterfromaforeignpotentate——
wasreceivedsixdaysago。ItwasofsuchimportancethatIhaveneverleftitinmysafe，butIhavetakenitacrosseacheveningtomyhouseinWhitehallTerrace，andkeptitinmybedroominalockeddespatch—box。Itwastherelastnight。OfthatIamcertain。IactuallyopenedtheboxwhileIwasdressingfordinner，andsawthedocumentinside。Thismorningitwasgone。
Thedespatch—boxhadstoodbesidetheglassuponmydressing—tableallnight。Iamalightsleeper，andsoismywife。Wearebothpreparedtoswearthatnoonecouldhaveenteredtheroomduringthenight。AndyetIrepeatthatthepaperisgone。\"
\"Whattimedidyoudine？\"
\"Half—pastseven。\"
\"Howlongwasitbeforeyouwenttobed？\"
\"Mywifehadgonetothetheatre。Iwaitedupforher。
Itwashalf—pastelevenbeforewewenttoourroom。\"
\"Thenforfourhoursthedespatch—boxhadlainunguarded？\"
\"Nooneiseverpermittedtoenterthatroomsavethehousemaidinthemorning，andmyvalet，ormywife’smaid，duringtherestoftheday。Theyarebothtrustyservantswhohavebeenwithusforsometime。Besides，neitherofthemcouldpossiblyhaveknownthattherewasanythingmorevaluablethantheordinarydepartmentalpapersinmydespatch—box。\"
\"Whodidknowoftheexistenceofthatletter？\"
\"Nooneinthehouse。\"
\"Surelyyourwifeknew？\"
\"No，sir；IhadsaidnothingtomywifeuntilImissedthepaperthismorning。\"
ThePremiernoddedapprovingly。
\"Ihavelongknown，sir，howhighisyoursenseofpublicduty，\"
saidhe。\"Iamconvincedthatinthecaseofasecretofthisimportanceitwouldrisesuperiortothemostintimatedomesticties。\"
TheEuropeanSecretarybowed。
\"Youdomenomorethanjustice，sir。UntilthismorningIhaveneverbreathedonewordtomywifeuponthismatter。\"
\"Couldshehaveguessed？\"
\"No，Mr。Holmes，shecouldnothaveguessed——norcouldanyonehaveguessed。\"
\"Haveyoulostanydocumentsbefore？\"
\"No，sir。\"
\"WhoisthereinEnglandwhodidknowoftheexistenceofthisletter？\"
\"EachmemberoftheCabinetwasinformedofityesterday；
butthepledgeofsecrecywhichattendseveryCabinetmeetingwasincreasedbythesolemnwarningwhichwasgivenbythePrimeMinister。Goodheavens，tothinkthatwithinafewhoursI
shouldmyselfhavelostit！\"Hishandsomefacewasdistortedwithaspasmofdespair，andhishandstoreathishair。
Foramomentwecaughtaglimpseofthenaturalman，impulsive，ardent，keenlysensitive。Thenextthearistocraticmaskwasreplaced，andthegentlevoicehadreturned。\"BesidesthemembersoftheCabinettherearetwo，orpossiblythree，departmentalofficialswhoknowoftheletter。NooneelseinEngland，Mr。Holmes，Iassureyou。\"