"But why on earth should you be pursued with such animosity?""Ah, that is the question."

　　"Well, if Holmes takes the same view, that would account for hisaction, would it not? Presuming that your theory is correct, if he canlay his hands upon the man who threatened you last night he willhave gone a long way towards finding who took the naval treaty. Itis absurd to suppose that you have two enemies, one of whom robsyou, while the other threatens your life."

　　"But Holmes said that he was not going to Briarbrae."

　　"I have known him for some time," said I, "but I never knew him doanything yet without a very good reason," and with that ourconversation drifted off on to other topics.

　　But it was a weary day for me. Phelps was still weak after hislong illness, and his misfortunes made him querulous and nervous. Invain I endeavoured to interest him in Afghanistan, in India, in socialquestions, in anything which might take his mind out of the groove. Hewould always come back to his lost treaty, wondering, guessing,speculating as to what Holmes was doing, what steps Lord Holdhurst wastaking, what news we should have in the morning. As the evening woreon his excitement became quite painful.

　　"You have implicit faith in Holmes?" he asked.

　　"I have seen him do some remarkable things."

　　"But he never brought light into anything quite so dark as this?""Oh, yes, I have known him solve questions which presented fewerclues than yours."

　　"But not where such large interests are at stake?"

　　"I don't know that. To my certain knowledge he has acted on behalfof three of the reigning houses of Europe in very vital matters.""But you know him well, Watson. He is such an inscrutable fellowthat I never quite know what to make of him. Do you think he ishopeful? Do you think he expects to make a success of it?""He has said nothing."

　　"That is a bad sign."

　　"On the contrary. I have noticed that when he is off the trail hegenerally says so. It is when he is on a scent and is not quiteabsolutely sure yet that it is the right one that he is most taciturn.Now, my dear fellow, we can't help matters by making ourselves nervousabout them, so let me implore you to go to bed and so be fresh forwhatever may await us to-morrow."