the naval treaty-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！


them　over　to　me　personally　to…morrow　morning。'

　　〃'I　took　the　papers　and…'

　　〃Excuse　me　an　instant；〃　said　Holmes。　〃Were　you　alone　during　this

conversation？〃

　　〃Absolutely。〃

　　〃'In　a　large　room？〃

　　〃Thirty　feet　each　way。〃

　　〃In　the　centre？〃

　　〃Yes；　about　it。〃

　　〃And　speaking　low？〃

　　〃My　uncle's　voice　is　always　remarkably　low。　I　hardly　spoke　at　all。〃

　　〃Thank　you；〃　said　Holmes；　shutting　his　eyes；　〃pray　go　on。〃

　　〃I　did　exactly　what　he　indicated　and　waited　until　the　other　clerks

had　departed。　One　of　them　in　my　room；　Charles　Gorot；　had　some

arrears　of　work　to　make　up；　so　I　left　him　there　and　went　out　to

dine。　When　I　returned　he　was　gone。　I　was　anxious　to　hurry　my　work；　for

I　knew　that　Joseph…the　Mr。　Harrison　whom　you　saw　just　now…was　in　town；

and　that　he　would　travel　down　to　Woking　by　the　eleven…o'clock　train；

and　I　wanted　if　possible　to　catch　it。

　　〃When　I　came　to　examine　the　treaty　I　saw　at　once　that　it　was　of　such

importance　that　my　uncle　had　been　guilty　of　no　exaggeration　in　what　he

said。　Without　going　into　details；　I　may　say　that　it　defined　the

position　of　Great　Britain　towards　the　Triple　Alliance；　and

foreshadowed　the　policy　which　this　country　would　pursue　in　the　event

of　the　French　fleet　gaining　a　complete　ascendency　over　that　of　Italy

in　the　Mediterranean。　The　questions　treated　in　it　were　purely　naval。

At　the　end　were　the　signatures　of　the　high　dignitaries　who　had

signed　it。　I　glanced　my　eyes　over　it；　and　then　settled　down　to　my　task

of　copying。

　　〃It　was　a　long　document；　written　in　the　French　language；　and

containing　twenty　six　separate　articles。　I　copied　as　quickly　as　I

could；　but　at　nine　o'clock　I　had　only　done　nine　articles；　and　it

seemed　hopeless　for　me　to　attempt　to　catch　my　train。　I　was　feeling

drowsy　and　stupid；　partly　from　my　dinner　and　also　from　the　effects

of　a　long　day's　work。　A　cup　of　coffee　would　clear　my　brain。　A

commissionaire　remains　all　night　in　a　little　lodge　at　the　foot　of

the　stairs　and　is　in　the　habit　of　making　coffee　at　his　spirit…lamp　for

any　of　the　officials　who　may　be　working　overtime。　I　rang　the　bell；

therefore；　to　summon　him。

　　〃To　my　surprise；　it　was　a　woman　who　answered　the　summons；　a　large；

coarse　faced；　elderly　woman；　in　an　apron。　She　explained　that　she　was

the　commissionaire's　wife；　who　did　the　charing；　and　I　gave　her　the

order　for　the　coffee。

　　〃I　wrote　two　more　articles；　and　then；　feeling　more　drowsy　than　ever；

I　rose　and　walked　up　and　down　the　room　to　stretch　my　legs。　My　coffee

had　not　yet　come；　and　I　wondered　what　the　cause　of　the　delay　could　be。

Opening　the　door；　I　started　down　the　corridor　to　find　out。　There　was　a

straight　passage；　dimly　lighted；　which　led　from　the　room　in　which　I

had　been　working；　and　was　the　only　exit　from　it。　It　ended　in　a　curving

staircase；　with　the　commissionaire's　lodge　in　the　passage　at　the

bottom。　Halfway　down　this　staircase　is　a　small　landing；　with　another

passage　running　into　it　at　right　angles。　This　second　one　leads　by

means　of　a　second　small　stair　to　a　side　door；　used　by　servants；　and

also　as　a　short　cut　by　clerks　when　coming　from　Charles　Street。　Here　is

a　rough　chart　of　the　place。〃　（See　illustration。）

　　〃Thank　you。　I　think　that　I　quite　follow　you；〃　said　Sherlock　Holmes。

　　〃It　is　of　the　utmost　importance　that　you　should　notice　this　point。　I

went　down　the　stairs　and　into　the　hall；　where　I　found　the

commissionaire　fast　asleep　in　his　box；　with　the　kettle　boiling

furiously　upon　the　spirit…lamp。　I　took　off　the　kettle　and　blew　out　the

lamp；　for　the　water　was　spurting　over　the　floor。　Then　I　put　out　my

hand　and　was　about　to　shake　the　man；　who　was　still　sleeping　soundly；

when　a　bell　over　his　head　rang　loudly；　and　he　woke　with　a　start。

　　〃'Mr。　Phelps；　sir！'　said　he；　looking　at　me　in　bewilderment。

　　〃'I　came　down　to　see　if　my　coffee　was　ready。'

　　〃'I　was　boiling　the　kettle　when　I　fell　asleep；　sir。'　He　looked　at　me

and　then　up　at　the　still　quivering　bell　with　an　ever…growing

astonishment　upon　his　face。

　　〃'If　you　was　here；　sir；　then　who　rang　the　bell？'　he　asked。

　　〃'The　bell！'　I　cried。　'What　bell　is　it？'

　　〃'It's　the　bell　of　the　room　you　were　working　in。'

　　〃A　cold　hand　seemed　to　close　round　my　heart。　Someone；　then；　was　in

that　room　where　my　precious　treaty　lay　upon　the　table。　I　ran

frantically　up　the　stair　and　along　the　passage。　There　was　no　one　in

the　corridors；　Mr。　Holmes。　There　was　no　one　in　the　room。　All　was

exactly　as　I　left　it；　save　only　that　the　papers　which　had　been

committed　to　my　care　had　been　taken　from　the　desk　on　which　they　lay。

The　copy　was　there；　and　the　original　was　gone。〃

　　Holmes　sat　up　in　his　chair　and　rubbed　his　hands。　I　could　see　that

the　problem　was　entirely　to　his　heart。　〃Pray；　what　did　you　do　then？〃

he　murmured。

　　〃I　recognized　in　an　instant　that　the　thief　must　have　come　up　the

stairs　from　the　side　door。　Of　course　I　must　have　met　him　if　he　had

come　the　other　way。〃

　　〃You　were　satisfied　that　he　could　not　have　been　concealed　in　the

room　all　the　time；　or　in　the　corridor　which　you　have　just　described

as　dimly　lighted？〃

　　〃It　is　absolutely　impossible。　A　rat　could　not　conceal　himself　either

in　the　room　or　the　corridor。　There　is　no　cover　at　all。〃

　　〃Thank　you。　Pray　proceed。〃

　　〃The　commissionaire；　seeing　by　my　pale　face　that　something　was　to　be

feared；　had　followed　me　upstairs。　Now　we　both　rushed　along　the

corridor　and　down　the　steep　steps　which　led　to　Charles　Street。　The

door　at　the　bottom　was　closed　but　unlocked。　We　flung　it　open　and

rushed　out。　I　can　distinctly　remember　that　as　we　did　so　there　came

three　chimes　from　a　neighbouring　clock。　It　was　a　quarter　to　ten。〃

　　〃That　is　of　enormous　importance；〃　said　Holmes；　making　a　note　upon

his　shirt…cuff。

　　〃The　night　was　very　dark；　and　a　thin；　warm　rain　was　falling。　There

was　no　one　in　Charles　Street；　but　a　great　traffic　was　going　on；　as

usual；　in　Whitehall；　at　the　extremity。　We　rushed　along　the　pavement；

bare…headed　as　we　were；　and　at　the　far　corner　we　found　a　policeman

standing。

　　〃'A　robbery　has　been　committed；'　I　gasped。　'A　document　of　immense

value　has　been　stolen　from　the　Foreign　Office。　Has　anyone　passed

this　way？'

　　〃'I　have　been　standing　here　for　a　quarter　of　an　hour；　sir；'　said　he；

'only　one　person　has　passed　during　that　time…a　woman；　tall　and

elderly；　with　a　Paisley　shawl。'

　　〃'Ah；　that　is　only　my　wife；'　cried　the　commissionaire；　'has　no　one

else　passed？'

　　〃'No　one。'

　　〃'Then　it　must　be　the　other　way　that　the　thief　took；'　cried　the

fellow；　tugging　at　my　sleeve。

　　〃But　I　was　not　satisfied；　and　the　attempts　which　he　made　to　draw

me　away　increased　my　suspicions。

　　〃'Which　way　did　the　woman　go？'　I　cried。

　　〃'I　don't　know；　sir。　I　noticed　her　pass；　but　I　had　no　special　reason

for　watching　her。　She　seemed　to　be　in　a　hurry。'

　　〃'How　long　ago　was　it？'

　　〃'Oh；　not　very　many　minutes。'

　　〃'Within　the　last　five？'

　　〃'Well；　it　could　not　have　been　more　than　five。'

　　〃'You're　only　wasting　your　time；　sir；　and　every　minute　now　is　of

importance；'　cried　the　commissionaire；　'take　my　word　for　it　that　my

old　woman　has　nothing　to　do　with　it　and　come　down　to　the　other　end

of　the　street。　Well；　if　you　won't；　I　will。'　And　with　that　he　rashed

off　in　the　other　direction。

　　〃'But　I　was　after　him　in　an　instant　and　caught　him　by　the　sleeve。

　　〃'Where　do　you　live？'　said　I。

　　〃'16　Ivy　Lane；　Brixton；'　he　answered。　'But　don't　let　yourself　be

drawn　away　upon　a　false　scent；　Mr。　Phelps。　Come　to　the　other　end　of

the　street　and　let　us　see　if　we　can　hear　of　anything。'

　　〃Nothing　was　to　be　lost　by　following　his　advice。　With　the

policeman　we　both　hurried　down；　but　only　to　find　the　street　full　of

traffic；　many　people　coming　and　going；　but　all　only　too　eager　to　get

to　a　place　of　safety　upon　so　wet　a　night。　There　was　no　lounger　who

could　tell　us　who　had　passed。

　　〃Then　we　returned　to　the　office　and　searched　the　stairs　and　the

passage　without　result。　The　corridor　which　led　to　the　room　was　laid

down　with　a　kind　of　creamy　linoleum　which　shows　an　impression　very

easily。　We　examined　it　very　carefully；　but　found　no　outline　of　any

footmark。〃

　　〃Had　it　been　raining　all　evening？〃

　　〃Since　about　seven。〃

　　〃How　is　it；　then；　that　the　woman　who　came　into　the　room　about　nine

left　no　traces　with　her　muddy　boots？〃

　　〃I　am　glad　you　raised　the　point。　It　occurred　to　me　at　the　time。

The　charwomen　are　in　the　habit　of　taking　off　their　boots　at　the

commissionaire's　office；　and　putting　on　list　slippers。〃

　　〃That　is　very　clear。　There　were　no　marks　then；　though　the　night

was　a　wet　one？　The　chain　of　events　is　certainly　one　of　extraordinary

interest。　What　did　you　do　next？〃

　　〃We　examined　the　room　also。　There　is　no　possibility　of　a　secret

door；　and　the　windows　are　quite　thirty　feet　from　the　ground。　Both　of

them　were　fastened　on　the　inside。　The　carpet　prevents　any

possibility　of　a　trapdoor；　and　the　ceiling　is　of　the　ordinary

whitewashed　kind。　I　will　pledge　my　life　that　whoever　stole　my　papers

could　only　have　come　through　the　door。〃

　　〃How　about　the　fireplace？〃

　　〃They　use　none。　There　is　a　stove。　The　bell…rope　hangs　from　the

wire　just　to　the　right　of　my　desk。　Whoever　rang　it　must　have　come

right　up　to　the　desk　to　do　it。　But　why　should　any　criminal　wish　to

ring　the　bell？　It　is　a　most　insoluble　mystery。〃

　　〃Certainly　the　incident　was　unusual。　What　were　your　next　steps？

You　examined　the　room；　I　presume；　to　see　if　the　intruder　had　left

any　traces…any　cigar…end　or　dropped　glove　or　hairpin　or　other　trifle？〃

　　〃There　was　nothing　of　the　sort。〃

　　〃No　smell？〃

　　〃Well；　we　never　thought　of　that。〃

　　〃Ah；　a　scent　of　tobacco　would　have　been　worth　a　great　deal　to　us

in　such　an　investigation。〃

　　〃I　never　smoke　myself；　so　I　think　I　should　have　observed　it　if　there

had　been　any　smell　of　tobacco。　There　was　absolutely　no　clue　of　any

kind。　The　only　tangible　fact　was　that　the　commissionaire's　wife…Mrs。

Tangey　was　the　name…had　hurried　out　of　the　place。　He　could　give　no

explanation　save　that　it　was　about　the　time　when　the　woman　always　went

home。　The　policeman　and　I　agreed　that　our　best　plan　would　be　to

seize　the　woman　before　she　could　get　rid　of　the　papers；　presuming　that

she　had　them。

　　〃The　alarm　had　reached　Scotland　Yard　by　this　time；　and　Mr。　Forbes；

the　detective；　came　round　at　once　and　took　up　the　case　with　a　great

deal　of　energy。　We　hired　a　hansom；　and　in　half　an　hour　we　were　at

the　address　which　had　been　given　to　us。　A　young　woman　opened　the　door；

who　proved　to　be　Mrs。　Tangey's　eldest　daughter。　Her　mother　had　not

come　back　yet；　and　we　were　shown　into　the　front　room　to　wait。

　　〃About　ten　minutes　later　a　knock　came　at　the　door；　and　here　we

made　the　one　serious　mistake　for　which　I　blame　myself。　Instead　of

opening　the　door　ourselves；　we　allowed　the　girl　to　do　so。　We　heard　her

say；　'Mother；　there　are　two　men　in　the　house　waiting　to　see　you；'

and　an　instant　afterwards　we　heard　the　patter　of　feet　rushing　down　the

passage。　Forbes　flung　open　the　door；　and　we　both　ran　into　the　back

room　or　kitchen；　but　the　woman　had　got　there　before　us。　She　stared

at　us　with　defiant　eyes；　and　then；　suddenly　recognizing　me；　an

expression　of　absolute　astoni