布鲁斯-帕廷顿计划-the bruce-partington plans-第2章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！



My　friend　smiled　and　shook　his　head。

〃I　play　the　game　for　the　game's　own　sake；〃　said　he。　　〃But　the
problem　certainly　presents　some　points　of　interest；　and　I　shall
be　very　pleased　to　look　into　it。　　Some　more　facts；　please。〃

〃I　have　jotted　down　the　more　essential　ones　upon　this　sheet　of
paper；　together　with　a　few　addresses　which　you　will　find　of
service。　　The　actual　official　guardian　of　the　papers　is　the
famous　government　expert；　Sir　James　Walter；　whose　decorations　and
sub…titles　fill　two　lines　of　a　book　of　reference。　　He　has　grown
gray　in　the　service；　is　a　gentleman；　a　favoured　guest　in　the　most
exalted　houses；　and；　above　all；　a　man　whose　patriotism　is　beyond
suspicion。　　He　is　one　of　two　who　have　a　key　of　the　safe。　　I　may
add　that　the　papers　were　undoubtedly　in　the　office　during　working
hours　on　Monday；　and　that　Sir　James　left　for　London　about　three
o'clock　taking　his　key　with　him。　　He　was　at　the　house　of　Admiral
Sinclair　at　Barclay　Square　during　the　whole　of　the　evening　when
this　incident　occurred。〃

〃Has　the　fact　been　verified？〃

〃Yes；　his　brother；　Colonel　Valentine　Walter；　has　testified　to　his
departure　from　Woolwich；　and　Admiral　Sinclair　to　his　arrival　in
London；　so　Sir　James　is　no　longer　a　direct　factor　in　the
problem。〃

〃Who　was　the　other　man　with　a　key？〃

〃The　senior　clerk　and　draughtsman；　Mr。　Sidney　Johnson。　　He　is　a
man　of　forty；　married；　with　five　children。　　He　is　a　silent；
morose　man；　but　he　has；　on　the　whole；　an　excellent　record　in　the
public　service。　　He　is　unpopular　with　his　colleagues；　but　a　hard
worker。　　According　to　his　own　account；　corroborated　only　by　the
word　of　his　wife；　he　was　at　home　the　whole　of　Monday　evening
after　office　hours；　and　his　key　has　never　left　the　watch…chain
upon　which　it　hangs。〃

〃Tell　us　about　Cadogan　West。〃

〃He　has　been　ten　years　in　the　service　and　has　done　good　work。　　He
has　the　reputation　of　being　hot…headed　and　imperious；　but　a
straight；　honest　man。　　We　have　nothing　against　him。　　He　was　next
Sidney　Johnson　in　the　office。　　His　duties　brought　him　into　daily；
personal　contact　with　the　plans。　　No　one　else　had　the　handling　of
them。〃

〃Who　locked　up　the　plans　that　night？〃

〃Mr。　Sidney　Johnson；　the　senior　clerk。〃

〃Well；　it　is　surely　perfectly　clear　who　took　them　away。　　They　are
actually　found　upon　the　person　of　this　junior　clerk；　Cadogan
West。　　That　seems　final；　does　it　not？〃

〃It　does；　Sherlock；　and　yet　it　leaves　so　much　unexplained。　　In
the　first　place；　why　did　he　take　them？〃

〃I　presume　they　were　of　value？〃

〃He　could　have　got　several　thousands　for　them　very　easily。〃

〃Can　you　suggest　any　possible　motive　for　taking　the　papers　to
London　except　to　sell　them？〃

〃No；　I　cannot。〃

〃Then　we　must　take　that　as　our　working　hypothesis。　　Young　West
took　the　papers。　　Now　this　could　only　be　done　by　having　a　false
key……〃

〃Several　false　keys。　　He　had　to　open　the　building　and　the　room。〃

〃He　had；　then；　several　false　keys。　　He　took　the　papers　to　London
to　sell　the　secret；　intending；　no　doubt；　to　have　the　plans
themselves　back　in　the　safe　next　morning　before　they　were　missed。
While　in　London　on　this　treasonable　mission　he　met　his　end。〃

〃How？〃

〃We　will　suppose　that　he　was　travelling　back　to　Woolwich　when　he
was　killed　and　thrown　out　of　the　partment。〃

〃Aldgate；　where　the　body　was　found；　is　considerably　past　the
station　London　Bridge；　which　would　be　his　route　to　Woolwich。〃

〃Many　circumstances　could　be　imagined　under　which　he　would　pass
London　Bridge。　　There　was　someone　in　the　carriage；　for　example；
with　whom　he　was　having　an　absorbing　interview。　　This　interview
led　to　a　violent　scene　in　which　he　lost　his　life。　　Possibly　he
tried　to　leave　the　carriage；　fell　out　on　the　line；　and　so　met　his
end。　　The　other　closed　the　door。　　There　was　a　thick　fog；　and
nothing　could　be　seen。〃

〃No　better　explanation　can　be　given　with　our　present　knowledge；
and　yet　consider；　Sherlock；　how　much　you　leave　untouched。　　We
will　suppose；　for　argument's　sake；　that　young　Cadogan　West　HAD
determined　to　convey　these　papers　to　London。　　He　would　naturally
have　made　an　appointment　with　the　foreign　agent　and　kept　his
evening　clear。　　Instead　of　that　he　took　two　tickets　for　the
theatre；　escorted　his　fiancee　halfway　there；　and　then　suddenly
disappeared。〃

〃A　blind；〃　said　Lestrade；　who　had　sat　listening　with　some
impatience　to　the　conversation。

〃A　very　singular　one。　　That　is　objection　No。　1。　　Objection　No。　2：
We　will　suppose　that　he　reaches　London　and　sees　the　foreign
agent。　　He　must　bring　back　the　papers　before　morning　or　the　loss
will　be　discovered。　　He　took　away　ten。　　Only　seven　were　in　his
pocket。　　What　had　bee　of　the　other　three？　　He　certainly　would
not　leave　them　of　his　own　free　will。　　Then；　again；　where　is　the
price　of　his　treason？　　Once　would　have　expected　to　find　a　large
sum　of　money　in　his　pocket。〃

〃It　seems　to　me　perfectly　clear；〃　said　Lestrade。　　〃I　have　no
doubt　at　all　as　to　what　occurred。　　He　took　the　papers　to　sell
them。　　He　saw　the　agent。　They　could　not　agree　as　to　price。　　He
started　home　again；　but　the　agent　went　with　him。　　In　the　train
the　agent　murdered　him；　took　the　more　essential　papers；　and　threw
his　body　from　the　carriage。　　That　would　account　for　everything；
would　it　not？〃

〃Why　had　he　no　ticket？〃

〃The　ticket　would　have　shown　which　station　was　nearest　the
agent's　house。　　Therefore　he　took　it　from　the　murdered　man's
pocket。〃

〃Good；　Lestrade；　very　good；〃　said　Holmes。　　〃Your　theory　holds
together。　　But　if　this　is　true；　then　the　case　is　at　an　end。　　On
the　one　hand；　the　traitor　is　dead。　　On　the　other；　the　plans　of
the　Bruce…Partington　submarine　are　presumably　already　on　the
Continent。　　What　is　there　for　us　to　do？〃

〃To　act；　Sherlock……to　act！〃　cried　Mycroft；　springing　to　his　feet。
〃All　my　instincts　are　against　this　explanation。　　Use　your　powers！
Go　to　the　scene　of　the　crime！　　See　the　people　concerned！　　Leave
no　stone　unturned！　　In　all　your　career　you　have　never　had　so
great　a　chance　of　serving　your　country。〃

〃Well；　well！〃　said　Holmes；　shrugging　his　shoulders。　　〃e；
Watson！　　And　you；　Lestrade；　could　you　favour　us　with　your　pany
for　an　hour　or　two？　　We　will　begin　our　investigation　by　a　visit
to　Aldgate　Station。　　Good…bye；　Mycroft。　　I　shall　let　you　have　a
report　before　evening；　but　I　warn　you　in　advance　that　you　have
little　to　expect。〃

An　hour　later　Holmes；　Lestrade　and　I　stood　upon　the　Underground
railroad　at　the　point　where　it　emerges　from　the　tunnel
immediately　before　Aldgate　Station。　　A　courteous　red…faced　old
gentleman　represented　the　railway　pany。

〃This　is　where　the　young　man's　body　lay；〃　said　he；　indicating　a
spot　about　three　feet　from　the　metals。　　〃It　could　not　have　fallen
from　above；　for　these；　as　you　see；　are　all　blank　walls。
Therefore；　it　could　only　have　e　from　a　train；　and　that　train；
so　far　as　we　can　trace　it；　must　have　passed　about　midnight　on
Monday。〃

〃Have　the　carriages　been　examined　for　any　sign　of　violence？〃

〃There　are　no　such　signs；　and　no　ticket　has　been　found。〃

〃No　record　of　a　door　being　found　open？〃

〃None。〃

〃We　have　had　some　fresh　evidence　this　morning；〃　said　Lestrade。
〃A　passenger　who　passed　Aldgate　in　an　ordinary　Metropolitan　train
about　11：40　on　Monday　night　declares　that　he　heard　a　heavy　thud；
as　of　a　body　striking　the　line；　just　before　the　train　reached　the
station。　　There　was　dense　fog；　however；　and　nothing　could　be
seen。　　He　made　no　report　of　it　at　the　time。　　Why；　whatever　is　the
matter　with　Mr。　Holmes？〃

My　friend　was　standing　with　an　expression　of　strained　intensity
upon　his　face；　staring　at　the　railway　metals　where　they　curved
out　of　the　tunnel。　　Aldgate　is　a　junction；　and　there　was　a
work　of　points。　　On　these　his　eager；　questioning　eyes　were
fixed；　and　I　saw　on　his　keen；　alert　face　that　tightening　of　the
lips；　that　quiver　of　the　nostrils；　and　concentration　of　the
heavy；　tufted　brows　which　I　knew　so　well。

〃Points；〃　he　muttered；　〃the　points。〃

〃What　of　it？　　What　do　you　mean？〃

〃I　suppose　there　are　no　great　number　of　points　on　a　system　such
as　this？〃

〃No；　they　are　very　few。〃

〃And　a　curve；　too。　　Points；　and　a　curve。　　By　Jove！　if　it　were
only　so。〃

〃What　is　it；　Mr。　Holmes？　　Have　you　a　clue？〃

〃An　idea……an　indication；　no　more。　　But　the　case　certainly　grows
in　interest。　　Unique；　perfectly　unique；　and　yet　why　not？　　I　do
not　see　any　indications　of　bleeding　on　the　line。〃

〃There　were　hardly　any。〃

〃But　I　understand　that　there　was　a　considerable　wound。〃

〃The　bone　was　crushed；　but　there　was　no　great　external　injury。〃

〃And　yet　one　would　have　expected　some　bleeding。　　Would　it　be
possible　for　me　to　inspect　the　train　which　contained　the
passenger　who　heard　the　thud　of　a　fall　in　the　fog？〃

〃I　fear　not；　Mr。　Holmes。　　The　train　has　been　broken　up　before
now；　and　the　carriages　redistributed。〃

〃I　can　assure　you；　Mr。　Holmes；〃　said　Lestrade；　〃that　every
carriage　has　been　carefully　examined。　　I　saw　to　it　myself。〃

It　was　one　of　my　friend's　most　obvious　weaknesses　that　he　was
impatient　with　less　alert　intelligences　than　his　own。

〃Very　likely；〃　said　he；　turning　away。　　〃As　it　happens；　it　was　not
the　carriages　which　I　desired　to　examine。　　Watson；　we　have　done
all　we　can　here。　　We　need　not　trouble　you　any　further；　Mr。
Lestrade。　　I　think　our　investigations　must　now　carry　us　to
Woolwich。〃

At　London　Bridge；　Holmes　wrote　a　telegram　to　his　brother；　which
he　handed　to　me　before　dispatching　it。　　It　ran　thus：

See　some　light　in　the　darkness；　but　it　may　possibly　flicker　out。
Meanwhile；　please　send　by　messenger；　to　await　return　at　Baker
Street；　a　plete　list　of　all　foreign　spies　or　international
agents　known　to　be　in　England；　with　full　address。

Sherlock。

〃That　should　be　helpful；　Watson；〃　he　remarked　as　we　took　our
seats　in　the　Woolwich　train。　　〃We　certainly　owe　Brother　Mycroft　a
debt　for　having　introduced　us　to　what　promises　to　be　a　really
very　remarkable　case。〃

His　eager　face　still　wore　that　expression　of　intense　and　high…
strung　energy；　which　showed　me　that　some　novel　and　suggestive
circumstance　had　opened　up　a　stimulating　line　of　thought。　　See
the　foxhound　with　hanging　ears　and　drooping　tail　as　it　lolls
about　the　kennels；　and　pare　it　with　the　same　hound　as；　with
gleaming　eyes　and　straining　muscles；　it　runs　upon　a　breast…high
scent……such　was　the　change　in　Holmes　since　the　morning。　　He　was　a
different　man　from　the　limp　and　lounging　figure　in　the　mouse…
coloured　dressing…gown　who　had　prowled　so　restlessly　only　a　few
hours　before　round　the　fog…girt　room。

〃There　is　material　here。　　There　is　scope；〃　said　he。　　〃I　am　dull
indeed　not　to　have　understood　its　possibilities。〃

〃Even　now　they　are　dark　to　me。〃

〃The　end　is　dark　to　me　also；　but　I　have　hold　of　one　idea　which
may　lead　us　far。　　The　man　met　his　death　elsewhere；　and　his　body
was　on　the　ROOF　of　a　carriage。〃

〃On　the　roof！〃

〃Remarkable；　is　it　not？　　But　consider　the　facts。　　Is　it　a
coincidence　that　it　is　found　at　the　very　point　where　the　train
pitches　and　sways　as　it　es　round　on　the　points？　　Is　not　that
the　place　where　an　object　upon　the　roof　might　be　expected　to　fall
off？　　The　points　would　affect　no　object　inside　the　train。　　Either
the　body　fell　from　the　roof；　or　a　very　curious　coincidence　has
occurred。　　But　now　consider　the　question　of　the　blood。　　Of
course；　there　was　no　bleeding　on　the　line　if　the　body　had　bled
elsewhere。　　Each　fact　is　suggestive　in　itself。　　Together　they
have　a　cumulative　force。〃

〃And　the　ticket；　too！〃　I　cried。

〃Exactly。　　We　could　not　explain　the　absence　of　a　ticket。　　This
would　explain　it。　　Everything　fits　together。〃

〃But　suppose　it　were　so；　we　are　still　as　far　as　ever　from
unravelling　the　mystery　of　his　death。　　Indeed；　it　bees　not
simpler　but　stranger。〃

〃Perhaps；〃　said　Holmes；　thoughtfully；　〃perhaps。〃　　He　relapsed
into　a　silent　reverie；　which　lasted　until　the　slow　train　drew　up
at　last　in　Woolwich　Station。　　There　he　called　a　cab　and　drew
Mycroft's　paper　from　his　pocket。

〃We　have　quite　a　little　round　of　afternoon　calls　to　make；〃　said
he。　　〃I　think　that　Sir　James　Walter　claims　our　first　attention。〃

The　house　of　the　famous　official　was　a　fine　villa　with　green
lawns　stretching　down　to　the　Thames。　　As　we　reached　it　the　fog
was　lifting；　and　a　thin；　watery　sunshine　was　breaking　through。　　A
butler　answered　our　ring。

〃Sir　James；　sir！〃　said　he　with　solemn　face。　　〃Sir　James　died　this
morning。〃

〃Good　heavens！〃　cried　Holmes　in　amazement。　　〃How　did　he　die？〃

〃Perhaps　you　would　care　to　step　in；　sir；　and　see　his　brother；
Colonel　Valentine？〃

〃Yes；　we　had　best　do　so。〃

We　were　ushered　into　a　dim…lit　drawing…room；　where　an　instant
later　we　were　joined　by　a　very　tall；　handsome；　light…beared　man
of　fifty；　the　younger　brother　of　the　dead　scientist。　　His　wild
eyes；　stained　cheeks；　and　unkempt　hair　all　spoke　of　the　sudden
blow　which　had　fallen　upon　the　household。　　He　was　hardly
articulate　as　he　spoke　of　it。

〃It　was　this　horrible　scandal；〃　said　he。　　〃My　brother；　Sir　James；
was　a　man　of　very　sensitive　honour；　and　he　could　not　survive　such
an　affair。　　It　broke　his　heart。　　He　was　always　so　proud　of　the
efficiency　of　his　department；　and　this　was　a　crushing　blow。〃

〃We　had　hoped　that　he　might　have　given　us　some　indications　which
would　have　helped　us　to　clear　the　matter　up。〃