Jun 09 2023 17 mins
Tonight, we conclude our story:
The Adventure of The Naval Treaty, by Arthur Conan Doyle
Percy Phelps, a young Foreign Office employee from Woking, sends a letter to Dr. Watson, a former schoolfellow of his. Phelps indicates something has caused him a nine-week attack of "brain fever"; now that he has recovered, he begs Watson to bring Holmes to his aid. Holmes views the letter, and deduces that it was dictated to, and written by, a woman. He accompanies Watson to Briarbrae, Phelps' house. There, they are greeted by Joseph Harrison, the brother of Phelps' fiancee Annie. Joseph shows them in to see Phelps, who is still recovering from his long illness and being nursed by Annie (the author of the letter).
Phelps lays the case before Holmes. Two months earlier, his uncle and superior in the Foreign Office, Lord Holdhurst, had ordered him to copy an important naval treaty between England and Italy. The treaty was to be kept secret, for many foreign governments were willing to pay great sums to get their hands on it. Phelps told no one of this assignment, and waited until the building was empty except for Tangey, the commissionaire, and his wife, who did the charring. Phelps then copied the papers as quickly as he could, because he was hoping to meet Joseph at the train station. However, it soon became apparent the task would take most of the night.
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