"It was in vain that she protested and resisted. A four-wheelerwas brought, and we all three drove back in it. We had first made anexamination of the kitchen, and especially of the kitchen fire, to seewhether she might have made away with the papers during the instantthat she was alone. There were no signs, however, of any ashes orscraps. When we reached Scotland Yard she was handed over at once tothe female searcher. I waited in an agony of suspense until she cameback with her report. There were no signs of the papers."Then for the first time the horror of my situation came in its fullforce. Hitherto I had been acting, and action had numbed thought. Ihad been so confident of regaining the treaty at once that I had notdared to think of what would be the consequence if I failed to doso. But now there was nothing more to be done, and I had leisure torealize my position. It was horrible. Watson there would tell you thatI was a nervous, sensitive boy at school. It is my nature. I thoughtof my uncle and of his colleagues in the Cabinet, of the shame which Ihad brought upon him, upon myself, upon everyone connected with me.What though I was the victim of an extraordinary accident? Noallowance is made for accidents where diplomatic interests are atstake. I was ruined, shamefully, hopelessly ruined. I don't knowwhat I did. I fancy I must have made a scene. I have a dimrecollection of a group of officials who crowded round me,endeavouring to soothe me. One of them drove down with me to Waterloo,and saw me into the Woking train. I believe that he would have comeall the way had it not been that Dr. Ferrier, who lives near me, wasgoing down by that very train. The doctor most kindly took charge ofme, and it was well he did so, for I had a fit in the station, andbefore we reached home I was practically a raving maniac."You can imagine the state of things here when they were roused fromtheir beds by the doctor's ringing and found me in this condition.Poor Annie here and my mother were broken-hearted. Dr. Ferrier hadjust heard enough from the detective at the station to be able to givean idea of what had happened, and his story did not mend matters. Itwas evident to all that I was in for a long illness, so Joseph wasbundled out of this cheery bedroom, and it was turned into a sick-roomfor me. Here I have lain, Mr. Holmes, for over nine weeks,unconscious, and raving with brain-fever. If it had not been forMiss Harrison here and for the doctor's care, I should not be speakingto you now. She has nursed me by day and a hired nurse has lookedafter me by night, for in my mad fits I was capable of anything.Slowly my reason has cleared, but it is only during the last threedays that my memory has quite returned. Sometimes I wish that it neverhad. The first thing that I did was to wire to Mr. Forbes, who had thecase in hand. He came out, and assures me that, though everythinghas been done, no trace of a clue has been discovered. Thecommissionaire and his wife have been examined in every way withoutany light being thrown upon the matter. The suspicions of the policethen rested upon young Gorot, who, as you may remember, stayedover-time in the office that night. His remaining behind and hisFrench name were really the only two points which could suggestsuspicion; but, as a matter of fact, I did not begin work until he hadgone, and his people are of Huguenot extraction, but as English insympathy and tradition as you and I are. Nothing was found toimplicate him in any way, and there the matter dropped. I turn to you,Mr. Holmes, as absolutely my last hope. If you fail me, then my honouras well as my position are forever forfeited."

　　The invalid sank back upon his cushions, tired out by this longrecital, while his nurse poured him out a glass of some stimulatingmedicine. Holmes sat silently, with his head thrown back and hiseyes closed, in an attitude which might seem listless to a stranger,but which I knew betokened the most intense self-absorption."Your statement has been so explicit," said he at last, "that youhave really left me very few questions to ask. There is one of thevery utmost importance, however. Did you tell anyone that you had thisspecial task to perform?"

　　"No one."

　　"Not Miss Harrison here, for example?"