SHERLOCK HOLMES
THE ADVENTURE OF THE SECOND STAIN
by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
THE ADVENTURE OF THE SECOND STAIN
I had intended 〃The Adventure of the Abbey Grange〃 to be the last of
those exploits of my friend； Mr。 Sherlock Holmes； which I should
ever communicate to the public。 This resolution of mine was not due to
any lack of material； since I have notes of many hundreds of cases
to which I have never alluded； nor was it caused by any waning
interest on the part of my readers in the singular personality and
unique methods of this remarkable man。 The real reason lay in the
reluctance which Mr。 Holmes has shown to the continued publication
of his experiences。 So long as he was in actual professional
practice the records of his successes were of some practical value
to him； but since he has definitely retired from London and betaken
himself to study and bee…farming on the Sussex Downs； notoriety has
become hateful to him； and he has peremptorily requested that his
wishes in this matter should be strictly observed。 It was only upon my
representing to him that I had given a promise that 〃The Adventure
of the Second Stain〃 should be published when the times were ripe； and
pointing out to him that it is only appropriate that this long
series of episodes should culminate in the most important
international case which he has ever been called upon to handle；
that I at last succeeded in obtaining his consent that a carefully
guarded account of the incident should at last be laid before the
public。 If in telling the story I seem to be somewhat vague in certain
details； the public will readily understand that there is an excellent
reason for my reticence。
It was； then； in a year； and even in a decade； that shall be
nameless； that upon one Tuesday morning in autumn we found two
visitors of European fame within the walls of our humble room in Baker
Street。 The one； austere； high…nosed； eagle…eyed； and dominant； was
none other than the illustrious Lord Bellinger； twice Premier of
Britain。 The other； dark； clear…cut； and elegant； hardly yet of middle
age； and endowed with every beauty of body and of mind； was the
Right Honourable Trelawney Hope； Secretary for European Affairs； and
the most rising statesman in the country。 They sat side by side upon
our paper…littered settee； and it was easy to see from their worn
and anxious faces that it was business of the most pressing importance
which had brought them。 The Premier's thin； blue…veined hands were
clasped tightly over the ivory head of his umbrella； and his gaunt；
ascetic face looked gloomily from Holmes to me。 The European Secretary
pulled nervously at his moustache and fidgeted with the seals of his
watch…chain。
〃When I discovered my loss； Mr。 Holmes； which was at eight o'clock
this morning； I at once informed the Prime Minister。 It was at his
suggestion that we have both come to you。〃
〃Have you informed the police？〃
〃No； sir；〃 said the Prime Minister； with the quick； decisive
manner for which he was famous。 〃We have not done so； nor is it
possible that we should do so。 To inform the police must； in the
long run； mean to inform the public。 This is what we particularly
desire to avoid。〃
〃And why； sir？〃
〃Because the document in question is of such immense importance
that its publication might very easily… I might almost say probably…
lead to European complications of the utmost moment。 It is not too
much to say that peace or war may hang upon the issue。 Unless its
recovery can be attended with the utmost secrecy； then it may as
well not be recovered at all； for all that is aimed at by those who
have taken it is that its contents should be generally 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
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 house…maid
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。 Holmes。 No doubt you are right；
and it is unreasonable for us to expect you to act unless we give
you our entire confidence。〃
〃I agree with you；〃 said the younger statesman。
〃Then I will tell you； relying entirely upon your honour and that of
your colleague； Dr。 Watson。 I may appeal to your patriotism also；
for I could not imagine a greater misfortune for the country than that
this affair should come out。〃
〃You may safely trust us。〃
〃The letter； then； is from a certain foreign potentate who bas
been ruffled by some recent Colonial developments of this country。
It has been written hurriedly and upon his own responsibility
entirely。 Inquiries have shown that his Ministers know nothing of
the matter。 At the same time it is couched in so unfortunate a manner；
and certain phrases in it are of so provocative a character； that
its publication would undoubtedly lead to a most dangerous state of
feeling in this country。 There would be such a ferment； sir； that I do
not hesitate to say that within a week of the publication of that
letter this country would be involved in a great war。〃
Holmes wrote a name upon a slip of paper and handed it to the
Premier。
〃Exactly。 It was he。 And it is this letter… this letter which may
well mean the expenditure of a thousand millions and the lives of a
hundred thousand men… which has become lost in this unaccountable
fashion。〃
〃Have you informed the sender？〃
〃Yes； sir； a cipher telegram