the adventure of the bruce-partington plan-第4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！


an　effective　way。〃

　　〃But　I　suppose　either　Sir　James；　or　you；　or　West　had　that

technical　knowledge？〃

　　〃No　doubt　we　had；　but　I　beg　you　won't　try　to　drag　me　into　the

matter；　Mr。　Holmes。　What　is　the　use　of　our　speculating　in　this　way

when　the　original　plans　were　actually　found　on　West？〃

　　〃Well；　it　is　certainly　singular　that　he　should　run　the　risk　of

taking　originals　if　he　could　safely　have　taken　copies；　which　would

have　equally　served　his　turn。〃

　　〃Singular；　no　doubt…　and　yet　he　did　so。〃

　　〃Every　inquiry　in　this　case　reveals　something　inexplicable。　Now

there　are　three　papers　still　missing。　They　are；　as　I　understand；　the

vital　ones。〃

　　〃Yes；　that　is　so。〃

　　〃Do　you　mean　to　say　that　anyone　holding　these　three　papers；　and

without　the　seven　others；　could　construct　a　Bruce…Partington

submarine？〃

　　〃I　reported　to　that　effect　to　the　Admiralty。　But　to…day　I　have

been　over　the　drawings　again；　and　I　am　not　so　sure　of　it。　The　double

valves　with　the　automatic　self…adjusting　slots　are　drawn　in　one　of　the

papers　which　have　been　returned。　Until　the　foreigners　had　invented

that　for　themselves　they　could　not　make　the　boat。　Of　course　they　might

soon　get　over　the　difficulty。〃

　　〃But　the　three　missing　drawings　are　the　most　important？〃

　　〃Undoubtedly。〃

　　〃I　think；　with　your　permission；　I　will　now　take　a　stroll　round　the

premises。　I　do　not　recall　any　other　question　which　I　desired　to　ask。〃

　　He　examined　the　lock　of　the　safe；　the　door　of　the　room；　and

finally　the　iron　shutters　of　the　window。　It　was　only　when　we　were　on

the　lawn　outside　that　his　interest　was　strongly　excited。　There　was　a

laurel　bush　outside　the　window；　and　several　of　the　branches　bore　signs

of　having　been　twisted　or　snapped。　He　examined　them　carefully　with　his

lens；　and　then　some　dim　and　vague　marks　upon　the　earth　beneath。

Finally　he　asked　the　chief　clerk　to　close　the　iron　shutters；　and　he

pointed　out　to　me　that　they　hardly　met　in　the　centre；　and　that　it

would　be　possible　for　anyone　outside　to　see　what　was　going　on　within

the　room。

　　〃The　indications　are　ruined　by　the　three　days'　delay。　They　may

mean　something　or　nothing。　Well；　Watson；　I　do　not　think　that

Woolwich　can　help　us　further。　It　is　a　small　crop　which　we　have

gathered。　Let　us　see　if　we　can　do　better　in　London。〃

　　Yet　we　added　one　more　sheaf　to　our　harvest　before　we　left　Woolwich

Station。　The　clerk　in　the　ticket　office　was　able　to　say　with

confidence　that　he　saw　Cadogan　West…　whom　he　knew　well　by　sight…

upon　the　Monday　night；　and　that　he　went　to　London　by　the　8：15　to

London　Bridge。　He　was　alone　and　took　a　single　third…class　ticket。

The　clerk　was　struck　at　the　time　by　his　excited　and　nervous　manner。　So

shaky　was　he　that　he　could　hardly　pick　up　his　change；　and　the　clerk

had　helped　him　with　it。　A　reference　to　the　timetable　showed　that　the

8：15　was　the　first　train　which　it　was　possible　for　West　to　take

after　he　had　left　the　lady　about　7：30。

　　〃Let　us　reconstruct；　Watson；〃　said　Holmes　after　half　an　hour　of

silence。　〃I　am　not　aware　that　in　all　our　joint　researches　we　have　ever

had　a　case　which　was　more　difficult　to　get　at。　Every　fresh　advance

which　we　make　only　reveals　a　fresh　ridge　beyond。　And　yet　we　have

surely　made　some　appreciable　progress。

　　〃The　effect　of　our　inquiries　at　Woolwich　has　in　the　main　been

against　young　Cadogan　West；　but　the　indications　at　the　window　would

lend　themselves　to　a　more　favourable　hypothesis。　Let　us　suppose；　for

example；　that　he　had　been　approached　by　some　foreign　agent。　It　might

have　been　done　under　such　pledges　as　would　have　prevented　him　from

speaking　of　it；　and　yet　would　have　affected　his　thoughts　in　the

direction　indicated　by　his　remarks　to　his　fiancee。　Very　good。　We

will　now　suppose　that　as　he　went　to　the　theatre　with　the　young　lady　he

suddenly；　in　the　fog；　caught　a　glimpse　of　this　same　agent　going　in　the

direction　of　the　office。　He　was　an　impetuous　man；　quick　in　his

decisions。　Everything　gave　way　to　his　duty。　He　followed　the　man；

reached　the　window；　saw　the　abstraction　of　the　documents；　and

pursued　the　thief。　In　this　way　we　get　over　the　objection　that　no　one

would　take　originals　when　he　could　make　copies。　This　outsider　had　to

take　originals。　So　far　it　holds　together。〃

　　〃What　is　the　next　step？〃

　　〃Then　we　come　into　difficulties。　One　would　imagine　that　under　such

circumstances　the　first　act　of　young　Cadogan　West　would　be　to　seize

the　villain　and　raise　the　alarm。　Why　did　he　not　do　so？　Could　it　have

been　an　official　superior　who　took　the　papers？　That　would　explain

West's　conduct。　Or　could　the　chief　have　given　West　the　slip　in　the

fog；　and　West　started　at　once　to　London　to　head　him　off　from　his　own

rooms；　presuming　that　he　knew　where　the　rooms　were？　The　call　must　have

been　very　pressing；　since　he　left　his　girl　standing　in　the　fog　and

made　no　effort　to　communicate　with　her。　Our　scent　runs　cold　here；

and　there　is　a　vast　gap　between　either　hypothesis　and　the　laying　of

West's　body；　with　seven　papers　in　his　pocket；　on　the　roof　of　a

Metropolitan　train。　My　instinct　now　is　to　work　from　the　other　end。

If　Mycroft　has　given　us　the　list　of　addresses　we　may　be　able　to　pick

our　man　and　follow　two　tracks　instead　of　one。〃

　　Surely　enough；　a　note　awaited　us　at　Baker　Street。　A　government

messenger　had　brought　it　post…haste。　Holmes　glanced　at　it　and　threw　it

over　to　me。



　　〃There　are　numerous　small　fry；　but　few　who　would　handle　so　big　an

affair。　The　only　men　worth　considering　are　Adolph　Meyer；　of　13　Great

George　Street；　Westminster；　Louis　La　Rothiere；　of　Campden　Mansions；

Notting　Hill；　and　Hugo　Oberstein；　13　Caulfield　Gardens；　Kensington。

The　latter　was　known　to　be　in　town　on　Monday　and　is　now　reported　as

having　left。　Glad　to　hear　you　have　seen　some　light。　The　Cabinet　awaits

your　final　report　with　the　utmost　anxiety。　Urgent　representations　have

arrived　from　the　very　highest　quarter。　The　whole　force　of　the　State　is

at　your　back　if　you　should　need　it。

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　MYCROFT。



　　〃I'm　afraid；〃　said　Holmes；　smiling；　〃that　all　the　queen's　horses　and

all　the　queen's　men　cannot　avail　in　this　matter。〃　He　had　spread　out

his　big　map　of　London　and　leaned　eagerly　over　it。　〃Well；　well；〃　said

he　presently　with　an　exclamation　of　satisfaction；　〃things　are

turning　a　little　in　our　direction　at　last。　Why；　Watson；　I　do

honestly　believe　that　we　are　going　to　pull　it　off；　after　all。〃　He

slapped　me　on　the　shoulder　with　a　sudden　burst　of　hilarity；　〃I　am

going　out　now。　It　is　only　a　reconnaissance。　I　will　do　nothing

serious　without　my　trusted　comrade　and　biographer　at　my　elbow。　Do

you　stay　here；　and　the　odds　are　that　you　will　see　me　again　in　an

hour　or　two。　If　time　hangs　heavy　get　foolscap　and　a　pen；　and　begin

your　narrative　of　how　we　saved　the　State。〃

　　I　felt　some　reflection　of　his　elation　in　my　own　mind；　for　I　knew

well　that　he　would　not　depart　so　far　from　his　usual　austerity　of

demeanour　unless　there　was　good　cause　for　exultation。　All　the　long

November　evening　I　waited；　filled　with　impatience　for　his　return。　At

last；　shortly　after　nine　o'clock；　there　arrived　a　messenger　with　a

note：



　　Am　dining　at　Goldini's　Restaurant；　Gloucester　Road；　Kensington。

Please　come　at　once　and　join　me　there。　Bring　with　you　a　jemmy；　a

dark　lantern；　a　chisel；　and　a　revolver。

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　S。　H。



　　It　was　a　nice　equipment　for　a　respectable　citizen　to　carry　through

the　dim；　fog…draped　streets。　I　stowed　them　all　discreetly　away　in　my

overcoat　and　drove　straight　to　the　address　given。　There　sat　my

friend　at　a　little　round　table　near　the　door　of　the　garish　Italian

restaurant。

　　〃Have　you　had　something　to　eat？　Then　join　me　in　a　coffee　and

curacao。　Try　one　of　the　proprietor's　cigars。　They　are　less　poisonous

than　one　would　expect。　Have　you　the　tools？〃

　　〃They　are　here；　in　my　overcoat。〃

　　〃Excellent。　Let　me　give　you　a　short　sketch　of　what　I　have　done；　with

some　indication　of　what　we　are　about　to　do。　Now　it　must　be　evident

to　you；　Watson；　that　this　young　man's　body　was　placed　on　the　roof　of

the　train。　That　was　clear　from　the　instant　that　I　determined　the

fact　that　it　was　from　the　roof；　and　not　from　a　carriage；　that　he　had

fallen。〃

　　〃Could　it　not　have　been　dropped　from　a　bridge？〃

　　〃I　should　say　it　was　impossible。　If　you　examine　the　roofs　you　will

find　that　they　are　slightly　rounded；　and　there　is　no　railing　round

them。　Therefore；　we　can　say　for　certain　that　young　Cadogan　West　was

placed　on　it。〃

　　〃How　could　he　be　placed　there？〃

　　〃That　was　the　question　which　we　had　to　answer。　There　is　only　one

possible　way。　You　are　aware　that　the　Underground　runs　clear　of　tunnels

at　some　points　in　the　West　End。　I　had　a　vague　memory　that　as　I　have

travelled　by　it　I　have　occasionally　seen　windows　just　above　my　head。

Now；　suppose　that　a　train　halted　under　such　a　window；　would　there　be

any　difficulty　in　laying　a　body　upon　the　roof？〃

　　〃It　seems　most　improbable。〃

　　〃We　must　fall　back　upon　the　old　axiom　that　when　all　other

contingencies　fail；　whatever　remains；　however　improbable；　must　be

the　truth。　Here　all　other　contingencies　have　failed。　When　I　found　that

the　leading　international　agent；　who　had　just　left　London；　lived　in

a　row　of　houses　which　abutted　upon　the　Underground；　I　was　so　pleased

that　you　were　a　little　astonished　at　my　sudden　frivolity。〃

　　〃Oh；　that　was　it；　was　it？〃

　　〃Yes；　that　was　it。　Mr。　Hugo　Oberstein；　Of　13　Caulfield　Gardens；

had　become　my　objective。　I　began　my　operations　at　Gloucester　Road

Station；　where　a　very　helpful　official　walked　with　me　along　the

track　and　allowed　me　to　satisfy　myself　not　only　that　the　back…stair

windows　of　Caulfield　Gardens　open　on　the　line　but　the　even　more

essential　fact　that；　owing　to　the　intersection　of　one　of　the　larger

railways；　the　Underground　trains　are　frequently　held　motionless　for

some　minutes　at　that　very　spot。〃

　　〃Splendid；　Holmes！　You　have　got　it！〃

　　〃So　far…　so　far；　Watson。　We　advance；　but　the　goal　is　afar。　Well；

having　seen　the　back　of　Caulfield　Gardens；　I　visited　the　front　and

satisfied　myself　that　the　bird　was　indeed　flown。　It　is　a

considerable　house；　unfurnished；　so　far　as　I　could　judge；　in　the　upper

rooms。　Oberstein　lived　there　with　a　single　valet；　who　was　probably　a

confederate　entirely　in　his　confidence。　We　must　bear　in　mind　that

Oberstein　has　gone　to　the　Continent　to　dispose　of　his　booty；　but　not

with　any　idea　of　flight；　for　he　had　no　reason　to　fear　a　warrant；　and

the　idea　of　an　amateur　domiciliary　visit　would　certainly　never　occur

to　him。　Yet　that　is　precisely　what　we　are　about　to　make。〃

　　〃Could　we　not　get　a　warrant　and　legalize　it？〃

　　〃Hardly　on　the　evidence。〃

　　〃What　can　we　hope　to　do？〃

　　〃We　cannot　tell　what　correspondence　may　be　there。〃

　　〃I　don't　like　it；　Holmes。〃

　　〃My　dear　fellow；　you　shall　keep　watch　in　the　street。　I'll　do　the

criminal　part。　It's　not　a　time　to　stick　at　trifles。　Think　of　Mycroft's

note；　of　the　Admiralty；　the　Cabinet；　the　exalted　person　who　waits

for　news。　We　are　bound　to　go。〃

　　My　answer　was　to　rise　from　the　table。

　　〃You　are　right；　Holmes。　We　are　bound　to　go。〃

　　He　sprang　up　and　shook　me　b