13946 'The facts of the case, as far as I have worked them out, are these: This Joseph Harrison entered the office through the Charles Street door, and knowing his way he walked straight into your room the instant after you left it.
13947 Finding no one there he promptly rang the bell, and at the instant that he did so his eyes caught the paper upon the table.
13948 A glance showed him that chance had put in his way a State document of immense value, and in a flash he had thrust it into his pocket and was gone.
13949 A few minutes elapsed, as you remember, before the sleepy commissionaire drew your attention to the bell, and those were just enough to give the thief time to make his escape.
13950 'He made his way to Woking by the first train, and, having examined his booty, and assured himself that it really was of immense value, he concealed it in what he thought was a very safe place, with the intention of taking it out again in a day or two, and carrying it to the French Embassy, or wherever he thought that a long price was to be had.
13951 Then came your sudden return.
13952 He, without a moment's warning, was bundled out of his room, and from that time onwards there were always at least two of you there to prevent him from regaining his treasure.
13953 The situation to him must have been a maddening one.
13954 But at last he thought he saw his chance.
13955 He tried to steal in, but was baffled by your wakefulness.
13956 You may remember that you did not take your usual draught that night.'
13957 'I remember.'
13958 'I fancy that he had taken steps to make that draught efficacious, and that he quite relied upon your being unconscious.
13959 Of course, I understood that he would repeat the attempt whenever it could be done with safety.