Sherlock Holmes.

Chapter 122 The Return (33)
Lesred said sternly: "Macpherson, this time is a lesson, not an example. You must think that you will not be found out if you are irresponsible at work, but I only need to look at the carpet to know that someone has come in and left nothing behind." You are lucky for something, otherwise you will suffer. Mr. Holmes, I am sorry to ask you to come for such a trivial matter. Perhaps you will be interested in these two different bloodstains."

"Yes, I'm very interested. Sergeant, has this lady been here just once?"

"Yes, only once."

"do you know her?"

"I don't know who she is. She's an ad for a typing job in the area, and she's gone through the wrong door. She's a nice young lady."

"Tall, isn't she? Very pretty?"

"It's true, she's very good-looking and very personable. She said, 'Sir, please let me have a look!' She has a way of getting close. I would have liked her to look through the window. Yeah, I don't think there's anything wrong with that."

"What's the difference in her dress?"

"Very elegant, wearing a long skirt that reaches to the feet."

"at what time?"

"It was just dark, and when I came back from buying wine, people had already lit the lamps."

"Very well," said Holmes. "Come on, Watson, we must go elsewhere, and we have something very important to do."

Lethred remained in the front house when we left, and the policeman opened the door for us.When Holmes reached the steps, and turning round, the policeman was taken aback by something in his hand, and, staring at us motionless, exclaimed, "Good God!" My friend put his forefinger to his lips. , motioned to be silent, put the thing in his pocket, and walked triumphantly out into the street, when he burst out laughing.He said: "Don't worry, there will be no more war. Mr. Trelawney Hope's bright future will never be affected, and the less cautious monarch will not be punished, Prime Minister." There is no need to worry about the complicated changes in the European situation. As long as we use some means, this matter will definitely be resolved well."

In my heart, he has really become a special and special person.

I couldn't help shouting: "Have you figured out the problem yet?"

"Watson, I can't draw a conclusion. There are still a few points that I haven't fully understood. But as far as we have now, we have quite a lot. If we can't clarify other problems, then we are incompetent. Now we have to Go to Whitehall Row, and come and settle this matter."

When we arrived at the European Secretary's residence, it was Mrs Hilda Trelawney Hope that my friend was looking for.We entered the house.

The lady said angrily: "Mr. Holmes, you are too dishonest, unfair, and even less lenient. I have explained it to you clearly, and I hope you can keep it secret for me, lest my husband think I am interfering." His business. But why did you come here, to show that there is some business connection between us, and to damage my reputation."

"Madame, there is nothing I can do. Since I have been entrusted with recovering that extraordinary letter, I can only ask you to return it to me."

The lady stood up suddenly, and her beautiful face became very ugly.Her eyes were staring straight ahead, and her body was shaking so much that I thought she was going to faint.She managed to cheer herself up and tried her best to keep herself calm. In an instant, the extremely complicated expression on her face was completely covered by anger and surprise.

"Mr. Holmes, you are insulting me!"

"Ma'am, calm down. It's useless for you to use these methods. You'd better give the letter to me."

She ran to the handbell.

"The butler will come and ask you out."

"Mrs. Hilda, there is no need to ring the bell. If you ring the bell, all I have done will be in vain, and gossip will follow. If you will give me the letter, all will be well. If you and I cooperate well, I will arrange everything. If you oppose me, I will expose you."

She didn't seem to be afraid of it, and looked very dignified.Her eyes were fixed on Holmes's, and she tried to see through him.She put her hand on the handbell, but refrained from shaking it.

"Mr. Holmes, you are trying to frighten me. You have come here to frighten me. It is not a manly thing. You say you know something. What is it?"

"Madam, please sit down. If you fall down, it will hurt you. If you don't sit down, I won't say anything."

"Mr. Holmes, I'll just give you five minutes."

"Mrs. Hilda, one minute is enough. I know that you have been to the house of Eduardo Lucas, and that you have given him a letter. I also understand that last night you entered there again subtly. The house. I know better that you have brought the letter back from its hiding place under the rug."

She stared at my friend, pale, and on two occasions she was out of breath, unable to speak.

After a while she cried out: "You are crazy, Mr. Holmes!"

Holmes took from his pocket a piece of cardboard, which represented the cut-out face from the photograph.

"I always carry this with me," said Holmes, "in the hope that it may be of use when the policeman has recognized you.

She took a deep breath and leaned back in her chair.

"Mrs. Hilda, if the letter is with you, there is still time to correct the error. I will not trouble you, I will give it to your husband, and my task will be completed. I hope you will take my advice, And be honest, this is your last chance."

Her courage really amazed me, and she still didn't admit defeat.

"I repeat, Mr. Holmes, you are ridiculous."

My friend stood up from his chair.

"Mrs. Hilda, I am very sorry for your behavior. I have tried my best, and it has all been in vain."

Holmes rang the bell, and the butler entered.

"Is Mr. Trelawney Hope at home?"

"Sir, he comes home at twelve forty-five."

Holmes looked at his watch and said, "There are still fifteen minutes. I will wait for him here."

No sooner had the butler left the room than Mrs. Hilda knelt at my friend's feet, and, with her hands spread out, she looked up at him with tears in her eyes.

She begged bitterly: "Forgive me, Mr. Holmes, forgive me! For God's sake, don't tell him! I love him very much! I don't want him to have any unpleasant things in his heart. But it's going to break his heart."

Holmes helped the lady up.

"Great, ma'am, you finally understand. Time is running out. Where is the letter now?"

She walked quickly to a writing desk, picked up the key, opened the drawer, and took out a letter, which was quite long and blue.

"Here is the letter, Mr. Holmes. I promise I have never opened it."

Holmes said in a low voice, "How are we going to put it back? Come on, we have to figure it out. Where is the file-box now?"

"Still in his bedroom."

"Great! Ma'am, bring that box here!"

After a while, she took out a red flat box.

"How did you open it in the first place? Yes, there must be a duplicate key, yes, you must have one. Open the box!" Hilda took out a small key from her pocket.After opening the box, it was full of documents.Holmes stuffed the letter between two pages in a lower file, closed and locked the box, and carried it back to the bedroom.

Holmes said: "Now everything is ready, the only thing we need is east wind, and we just need to wait for your husband to come back. There are about 10 minutes left. Mrs. Hilda, I have done a lot to protect you. For the remaining 10 minutes, You should tell me all frankly, why you did this extraordinary thing?"

The lady called out: "Mr. Holmes, I would like to tell you everything. I would rather cut off my right arm than have my husband feel a little sad! I don't think there is a second chance in London." A woman loves her husband as much as I do. But if he knows what I do, no matter what motives I do, he will never forgive me. He takes his reputation very seriously, so He never forgets or forgives any wrong done to anyone. You must save me, Mr. Holmes! Our happiness and our lives are at stake!"

"Ma'am, tell me, time is running out!"

"The problem, sir, is a letter I wrote before my marriage. It was careless and very stupid, and I wrote it on the spur of the moment. There is no malice in my letter." No, but he'd consider it a crime if he found out. If he read it, I don't think he'd ever believe me again. I've been trying to forget about it, but then Lucas the bastard Wrote me and told me that the letter was in his possession and had to give it to my husband. I begged him not to do that and he said I had to get him the papers he asked for before giving me the letter. My husband There are spies in his office who have spoken of such a letter. He has sworn to me that it will do no harm to my husband. Mr. Holmes, what can I do in my position?"

"Tell all this to your husband."

"No, Mr. Holmes! Not only would it ruin our happiness, but it would make things even more dreadful. That's why I dared to steal my husband's papers. But in politics, I don't know what the consequences will be, and I don't know what to do." Understand that love and trust are both very important. Mr. Holmes, I gave Lucas the key mold and he gave me a duplicate key. I opened my husband's file box and took out the documents he wanted and sent to his house."

"What's going on there?"

"I knocked on the door as agreed, and when he opened it, I followed him into the house, but because I was terrified of being alone with this man, I did not close the door of the hall. I remember very well when When I entered the house, I found a woman outside. We were done quickly, and my letter was on his desk. I handed the papers to him, and he returned the letter to me. At this time, the door There was a sound, and then footsteps, and Lucas quickly lifted the rug and stuffed it into a hiding place, then put the rug back on.

"What happened after that was like a nightmare. I saw a woman, dark-skinned, looking a little crazy, and I heard her voice, and she said in French: 'I didn't wait in vain, let me see you with me. She's with her!' The two of them fought very violently. Lucas picked up a chair in his hand, and the woman held a shiny knife in his hand. It was so scary, I rushed out of the house and left The next day I saw in the newspaper that he had been killed. I was so happy that night because I got what I wanted back, but I really didn't expect such serious consequences.

"Only the next morning, I realized that I had new troubles. My husband's anxiety after losing the documents made me uneasy. I almost fell to my knees at his feet and told him that I had the letters. but it was about telling him about my past. I went to you that morning to clear up a serious mistake I had made. From the moment I took the letter, I have been trying to get Get it back. If he hadn't hid the letter in front of me, I wouldn't know where it was. I wonder how I can get in? I've been going there for days, but the door always It was locked tightly. Last night, I made one last attempt, and I think you already know how I got it. I brought this file back, and I was going to destroy it. I couldn't Give it back to my husband without having to take on the mistake. My God! I hear his footsteps!"

The European Minister hurried into the room.

"What news, Mr. Holmes?" said he.

"There is hope."

There was a look of surprise on his face. "Thank goodness! The Prime Minister is having lunch with me, can he come and listen? He's very nervous, and hasn't slept since this incident. Jacob, send the Prime Minister upstairs. Honey, I think it has something to do with politics, we'll go to the restaurant later."

The prime minister's demeanor is calm, but from his excited eyes and trembling hands, I know he is very excited.

"Mr. Holmes, I hear that you have brought us good news."

My friend replied: "Until now, I have not fully figured it out. I have searched all possible places, but I still can't find it, but I am sure there is no danger."

"That will not do, Mr. Holmes. We must not sit on the crater all day and all night. We must get the matter right."

"I have come here because there is hope of finding the paper. I have the feeling that there is no way it will ever leave your house."

"Mr. Holmes!"

"If the document was taken, it must have been published by now."

"Did someone steal it just to keep it at home?"

"I would never believe someone took it."

"Then why isn't the letter in that file box?"

"I think the letter is probably still in the file box."

"Mr. Holmes, it would be really inappropriate at this time to be joking. I am sure it is not in the box."

"Have you checked the box since Tuesday morning?"

"It's not necessary."

"Did it occur to you that you might have neglected to check?"

"It's impossible."

"I'm not saying it has to be, but I think it's quite possible. I think there must be some other papers in the box, maybe mixed in."

"I put it on top."

"Perhaps someone shook the case and got it mixed up."

"No, it can't be, I've taken everything out."

The Prime Minister said: "Hope, this is not easy to deal with. Let's bring the file box over and have a look."

The minister rang the bell.

"Jacobs, bring the file box here. This is ridiculous and a waste of time, but I can't convince you to do it. Thanks, Jacob, put it here, The key is on my fob-chain. Look at the papers, the letter from Lord Maima, the report from Sir Charles Hardy, the letter from Madrid, the letter from Sir Flor. Good God! What is this? Lord Bellinger!"

The Prime Minister hastily took the letter from him.

"Yes, that's it. The letter is really untouched! Hope, I congratulate you."

"Thank you, thank you very much! I am now a stone on the ground. But I cannot imagine. Mr. Holmes, are you a wizard or a magician? How do you know it is here?"

"I really can't believe my eyes!" He walked quickly to the door. "Where is my wife now? I'm going to tell her it's over. Hilda!" we heard him shout.The Prime Minister looked at my friend, his eyes kept rolling.

He said: "Sir, there must be something wrong here. How can the document be here?"

Holmes smiled, averting those curious and curious eyes.

"We have our own diplomacy," he said, taking his hat and walking towards the door.

(End of this chapter)