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！
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。〃
〃I assure you that it was all a mystery to him as it is to you
and to all of us。 He had already put all his knowledge at the
disposal of the police。 Naturally he had no doubt that Cadogan
West was guilty。 But all the rest was inconceivable。〃
〃You cannot throw any new light upon the affair？〃
〃I know nothing myself save what I have read or heard。 I have no
desire to be discourteous； but you can understand； Mr。 Holmes；
that we are much disturbed at present； and I must ask you to
hasten this interview to an end。〃
〃This is indeed an unexpected development；〃 said my friend when
we had regained the cab。 〃I wonder if the death was natural； or
whether the poor old fellow killed himself！ If the latter； may
it be taken as some sign of self…reproach for duty neglected？ We
must leave that question to the future。 Now we shall turn to the
Cadogan Wests。〃
A small but well…kept house in the outskirts of the town
sheltered the bereaved mother。 The old lady was too dazed with
grief to be of any use to us； but at her side was a white…faced
young lady； who introduced herself as Miss Violet Westbury； the
fiancee of the dead man； and the last to see him upon that fatal
night。
〃I cannot explain it； Mr。 Holmes；〃 she said。 〃I have not shut an
eye since the tragedy； thinking； thinking； thinking； night and
day； what the true meaning of it can be。 Arthur was the most
single…minded； chivalrous； patriotic man upon earth。 He would
have cut his right hand off before he would sell a State secret
confided to his keeping。 It is absurd； impossible； preposterous
to anyone who knew him。〃
〃But the facts； Miss Westbury？〃
〃Yes； yes； I admit I cannot explain them。〃
〃Was he in any want of money？〃
〃No； his needs were very simple and his salary ample。 He had
saved a few hundreds； and we were to marry at the New Year。〃
〃No signs of any mental excitement？ e； Miss Westbury； be
absolutely frank with us。〃
The quick eye of my panion had noted some change in her
manner。 She coloured and hesitated。
〃Yes；〃 she said at last； 〃I had a feeling that there was
something on his mind。〃
〃For long？〃
〃Only for the last week or so。 He was thoughtful and worried。
Once I pressed him about it。 He admitted that there was
something； and that it was concerned with his official life。 'It
is too serious for me to speak about； even to you；' said he。 I
could get nothing more。〃
Holmes looked grave。
〃Go on； Miss Westbury。 Even if it seems to tell against him； go
on。 We cannot say what it may lead to。〃
〃Indeed； I have nothing more to tell。 Once or twice it seemed to
me that he was on the point of telling me something。 He spoke
one evening of the importance of the secret； and I have some
recollection that he said that no doubt foreign spies would pay a
great deal to have it。〃
My friend's face grew graver still。
〃Anything else？〃
〃He said that we were slack about such matters……that it would be
easy for a traitor to get the plans。〃
〃Was it only recently that he made such remarks？〃
〃Yes； quite recently。〃
〃Now tell us of that last evening。〃
〃We were to go to the theatre。 The fog was so thick that a cab
was useless。 We walked； and our way took us close to the office。
Suddenly he darted away into the fog。〃
〃Without a word？〃
〃He gave an exclamation； that was all。 I waited but he never
returned。 Then I walked home。 Next morning； after the office
opened； they came to inquire。 About twelve o'clock we heard the
terrible news。 Oh； Mr。 Holmes； if you could only； only save his
honour！ It was so much to him。〃
Holmes shook his head sadly。
〃e； Watson；〃 said he； 〃our ways lie elsewhere。 Our next
station must be the office from which the papers were taken。
〃It was black enough before against this young man； but our
inquiries make it blacker；〃 he remarked as the cab lumbered off。
〃His ing marriage gives a motive for the crime。 He naturally
wanted money。 The idea was in his head； since he spoke about it。
He nearly made the girl an acplice in the treason by telling
her his plans。 It is all very bad。〃
〃But surely； Holmes； character goes for something？ Then； again；
why should he leave the girl in the street and dart away to
mit a felony？〃
〃Exactly！ There are certainly objections。 But it is a
formidable case which they have to meet。〃
Mr。 Sidney Johnson； the senior clerk； met us at the office and
received us with that respect which my panion's card always
manded。 He was a thin； gruff； bespectacled man of middle age；
his cheeks haggard； and his hands twitching from the nervous
strain to which he had been subjected。
〃It is bad； Mr。 Holmes； very bad！ Have you heard of the death of
the chief？〃
〃We have just e from his house。〃
〃The place is disorganized。 The chief dead； Cadogan West dead；
our papers stolen。 And yet； when we closed our door on Monday
evening； we were as efficient an office as any in the government
service。 Good God； it's dreadful to think of！ That West； of all
men； should have done such a thing！〃
〃You are sure of his guilt； then？〃
〃I can see no other way out of it。 And yet I would have trusted
him as I trust myself。〃
〃At what hour was the office closed on Monday？〃
〃At five。〃
〃Did you close it？〃
〃I am always the last man out。〃
〃Where were the plans？〃
〃In that safe。 I put them there myself。〃
〃Is there no watchman to the building？〃
〃There is； but he has other departments to look after as well。
He is an old soldier and a most trustworthy man。 He saw nothing
that evening。 Of course the fog was very thick。〃
〃Suppose that Cadogan West wished to make his way into the
building after hours； he would need three keys； would he not；
before the could reach the papers？〃
〃Yes； he would。 The key of the outer door； the key of the
office； and the key of the safe。〃
〃Only Sir James Walter and you had those keys？〃
〃I had no keys of the doors……only of the safe。〃
〃Was Sir James a man who was orderly in his habits？〃
〃Yes； I think he was。 I know that so far as those three keys are
concerned