the Woolwich Theatre； dated for that very evening。 Also a small packet
of technical papers。〃
Holmes gave an exclamation of satisfaction。
〃There we have it at last； Watson！ British government… Woolwich。
Arsenal… technical papers… Brother Mycroft； the chain is complete。 But
here he comes； if I am not mistaken； to speak for himself。〃
A moment later the tall and portly form of Mycroft Holmes was
ushered into the room。 Heavily built and massive； there was a
suggestion of uncouth physical inertia in the figure； but above this
unwieldy frame there was perched a head so masterful in its brow； so
alert in its steel…gray； deep…set eyes； so firm in its lips； and so
subtle in its play of expression； that after the first glance one
forgot the gross body and remembered only the dominant mind。
At his heels came our old friend Lestrade； of Scotland Yard… thin
and austere。 The gravity of both their faces foretold some weighty
quest。 The detective shook hands without a word。 Mycroft Holmes
struggled out of his overcoat and subsided into an armchair。
〃A most annoying business； Sherlock；〃 said he。 〃I extremely
dislike altering my habits； but the powers that be would take no
denial。 In the present state of Siam it is most awkward that I
should be away from the office。 But it is a real crisis。 I have
never seen the Prime Minister so upset。 As to the Admiralty… it is
buzzing like an overturned bee…hive。 Have you read up the case？〃
〃We have just done so。 What were the technical papers？〃
〃Ah； there's the point！ Fortunately； it has not come out。 The
press would be furious if it did。 The papers which this wretched youth
had in his pocket were the plans of the Bruce…Partington submarine。〃
Mycroft Holmes spoke with a solemnity which showed his sense of
the importance of the subject。 His brother and I sat expectant。
〃Surely you have heard of it？ I thought everyone had heard of it。〃
〃Only as a name。〃
〃Its importance can hardly be exaggerated。 It has been the most
jealously guarded of all government secrets。 You may take it from me
that naval warfare becomes impossible within the radius of a
Bruce…Partington's operation。 Two years ago a very large sum was
smuggled through the Estimates and was expended in acquiring a
monopoly of the invention。 Every effort has been made to keep the
secret。 The plans； which are exceedingly intricate； comprising some
thirty separate patents； each essential to the working of the whole；
are kept in an elaborate safe in a confidential office adjoining the
arsenal； with burglar…proof doors and windows。 Under no conceivable
circumstances were the plans to be taken from the office。 If the chief
constructor of the Navy desired to consult them； even he was forced to
go to the Woolwich office for the purpose。 And yet here we find them
in the pocket of a dead junior clerk in the heart of London。 From an
official point of view it's simply awful。〃
〃But you have recovered them？〃
〃No； Sherlock； no！ That's the pinch。 We have not。 Ten papers were
taken from Woolwich。 There were seven in the pocket of Cadogan West。
The three most essential are gone… stolen； vanished。 You must drop
everything； Sherlock。 Never mind your usual petty puzzles of the
police…court。 It's a vital international problem that you have to
solve。 Why did Cadogan West take the papers； where are the missing
ones； how did he die； how came his body where it was found； how can
the evil be set right？ Find an answer to all these questions； and
you will have done good service for your country。〃
〃Why do you not solve it yourself； Mycroft？ You can see as far as
I。〃
〃Possibly； Sherlock。 But it is a question of getting details。 Give
me your details； and from an armchair I will return you an excellent
expert opinion。 But to run here and run there； to cross…question
railway guards； and lie on my face with a lens to my eye… it is not my
metier。 No； you are the one man who can clear the matter up。 If you
have a fancy to see your name in the next honours list…〃
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 impetuous； 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 the plans up 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 compartment。〃
〃Aldgate； where the body was found； is considerably past the station
for 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 fiance
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 become of the other three？ He certainly would not leave them of
his own free will。 Then； again； where is the price of his treason？ One
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 t