othing　more。〃

Holmes　looked　grave。

〃Go　on；　Miss　Westbury。 Even　if　it　seems　to　tell　against　him；　go

on。 We　cannot　say　what　it　may　lead　to。〃

〃Indeed；　I　have　nothing　more　to　tell。 Once　or　twice　it　seemed　to

me　that　he　was　on　the　point　of　telling　me　something。 He　spoke

one　evening　of　the　importance　of　the　secret；　and　I　have　some

recollection　that　he　said　that　no　doubt　foreign　spies　would　pay　a

great　deal　to　have　it。〃

My　friend's　face　grew　graver　still。

〃Anything　else？〃

〃He　said　that　we　were　slack　about　such　matters……that　it　would　be

easy　for　a　traitor　to　get　the　plans。〃

〃Was　it　only　recently　that　he　made　such　remarks？〃

〃Yes；　quite　recently。〃

〃Now　tell　us　of　that　last　evening。〃

〃We　were　to　go　to　the　theatre。 The　fog　was　so　thick　that　a　cab

was　useless。 We　walked；　and　our　way　took　us　close　to　the　office。

Suddenly　he　darted　away　into　the　fog。〃

〃Without　a　word？〃

〃He　gave　an　exclamation；　that　was　all。 I　waited　but　he　never

returned。 Then　I　walked　home。 Next　morning；　after　the　office

opened；　they　came　to　inquire。 About　twelve　o'clock　we　heard　the

terrible　news。 Oh；　Mr。　Holmes；　if　you　could　only；　only　save　his

honour！ It　was　so　much　to　him。〃

Holmes　shook　his　head　sadly。

〃e；　Watson；〃　said　he；　〃our　ways　lie　elsewhere。 Our　next

station　must　be　the　office　from　which　the　papers　were　taken。

〃It　was　black　enough　before　against　this　young　man；　but　our

inquiries　make　it　blacker；〃　he　remarked　as　the　cab　lumbered　off。

〃His　ing　marriage　gives　a　motive　for　the　crime。 He　naturally

wanted　money。 The　idea　was　in　his　head；　since　he　spoke　about　it。

He　nearly　made