the adventure of the bruce-partington plan-第7章
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Holmes pried it open with his chisel。 Several rolls of paper were
within； covered with figures and calculations； without any note to
show to what they referred。 The recurring words； 'water pressure'
and 'pressure to the square inch' suggested some possible relation
to a submarine。 Holmes tossed them all impatiently aside。 There only
remained an envelope with some small newspaper slips inside it。 He
shook them out on the table； and at once I saw by his eager face
that his hopes had been raised。
〃What's this； Watson？ Eh？ What's this？ Record of a series of
messages in the advertisements of a paper。 Daily Telegraph agony
column by the print and paper。 Right…hand top corner of a page。 No
dates… but messages arrange themselves。 This must be the first：
〃Hoped to hear sooner。 Terms agreed to。 Write fully to address given
on card。 〃PIERROT。
〃Next comes：
〃Too complex for description。 Must have full report。 Stuff awaits
you when goods delivered。 〃PIERROT。
〃Then comes：
〃Matter presses。 Must withdraw offer unless contract completed。 Make
appointment by letter。 Will confirm by advertisement。
〃PIERROT。
〃Finally：
〃Monday night after nine。 Two taps。 Only ourselves。 Do not be so
suspicious。 Payment in hard cash when goods delivered。
〃PIERROT。
〃A fairly complete record； Watson！ If we could only get at the man
at the other end！〃 He sat lost in thought； tapping his fingers on
the table。 Finally he sprang to his feet。
〃Well； perhaps it won't be so difficult； after all。 There is nothing
more to be done here； Watson。 I think we might drive round to the
offices of the Daily Telegraph； and so bring a good day's work to a
conclusion。〃
Mycroft Holmes and Lestrade had come round by appointment after
breakfast next day and Sherlock Holmes had recounted to them our
proceedings of the day before。 The professional shook his head over
our confessed burglary。
〃We can't do these things in the force； Mr。 Holmes；〃 said he。 〃No
wonder you get results that are beyond us。 But some of these days
you'll go too far； and you'll find yourself and your friend in
trouble。〃
〃For England； home and beauty… eh； Watson？ Martyrs on the altar of
our country。 But what do you think of it； Mycroft？〃
〃Excellent； Sherlock！ Admirable！ But what use will you make of it？〃
Holmes picked up the Daily Telegraph which lay upon the table。
〃Have you seen Pierrot's advertisement to…day？〃
〃What？ Another one？〃
〃Yes； here it is：
〃To…night。 Same hour。 Same place。 Two taps。 Most vitally
important。 Your own safety at stake。
〃PIERROT。
〃By George！〃 cried Lestrade。 〃If he answers that we've got him！〃
〃That was my idea when I put it in。 I think if you could both make
it convenient to come with us about eight o'clock to Caulfield Gardens
we might possibly get a little nearer to a solution。〃
One of the most remarkable characteristics of Sherlock Holmes was
his power of throwing his brain out of action and switching all his
thoughts on to lighter things whenever he had convinced himself that
he could no longer work to advantage。 I remember that during the whole
of that memorable day he lost himself in a monograph which he had
undertaken upon the Polyphonic Motets of Lassus。 For my own part I had
none of this power of detachment； and the day； in consequence；
appeared to be interminable。 The great national importance of the
issue； the suspense in high quarters； the direct nature of the
experiment which we were trying… all combined to work upon my nerve。
It was a relief to me when at last； after a light dinner； we set out
upon our expedition。 Lestrade and Mycroft met us by appointment at the
outside of Gloucester Road Station。 The area door of Oberstein's house
had been left open the night before； and it was necessary for me； as
Mycroft Holmes absolutely and indignantly declined to climb the
railings； to pass in and open the hall door。 By nine o'clock we were
all seated in the study； waiting patiently for our man。
An hour passed and yet another。 When eleven struck； the measured
beat of the great church clock seemed to sound the dirge of our hopes。
Lestrade and Mycroft were fidgeting in their seats and looking twice a
minute at their watches。 Holmes sat silent and composed； his eyelids
half shut； but every sense on the alert。 He raised his head with a
sudden jerk。
〃He is coming；〃 said he。
There had been a furtive step past the door。 Now it returned。 We
heard a shuffling sound outside； and then two sharp taps with the
knocker。 Holmes rose； motioning to us to remain seated。 The gas in the
hall was a mere point of light。 He opened the outer door； and then
as a dark figure slipped past him he closed and fastened it。 〃This
way！〃 we heard him say； and a moment later our man stood before us。
Holmes had followed him closely； and as the man turned with a cry of
surprise and alarm he caught him by the collar and threw him back into
the room。 Before our prisoner had recovered his balance the door was
shut and Holmes standing with his back against it。 The man glared
round him； staggered； and fell senseless upon the floor。 With the
shock； his broad…brimmed hat flew from his head； his cravat slipped
down from his lips； and there were the long light beard and the
soft； handsome delicate features of Colonel Valentine Walter。
Holmes gave a whistle of surprise。
〃You can write me down an ass this time； Watson；〃 said he。 〃This was
not the bird that I was looking for。〃
〃Who is he？〃 asked Mycroft eagerly。
〃The younger brother of the late Sir James Walter； the head of the
Submarine Department。 Yes； yes； I see the fall of the cards。 He is
coming to。 I think that you had best leave his examination to me。〃
We had carried the prostrate body to the sofa。 Now our prisoner
sat up； looked round him with a horror…stricken face； and passed his
hand over his forehead； like one who cannot believe his own senses。
〃What is this？〃 he asked。 〃I came here to visit Mr。 Oberstein。〃
〃Everything is known； Colonel Walter；〃 said Holmes。 〃How an
English gentleman could behave in such a manner is beyond my
comprehension。 But your whole correspondence and relations with
Oberstein are within our knowledge。 So also are the circumstances
connected with the death of young Cadogan West。 Let me advise you to
gain at least the small credit for repentance and confession； since
there are still some details which we can only learn from your lips。〃
The man groaned and sank his face in his hands。 We waited； but he
was silent。
〃I can assure you；〃 said Holmes； 〃that every essential is already
known。 We know that you were pressed for money； that you took an
impress of the keys which your brother held； and that you entered into
a correspondence with Oberstein； who answered your letters through the
advertisement columns of the Daily Telegraph。 We are aware that you
went down to the office in the fog on Monday night； but that you
were seen and followed by young Cadogan West； who had probably some
previous reason to suspect you。 He saw your theft； but could not
give the alarm； as it was just possible that you were taking the
papers to your brother in London。 Leaving all his private concerns；
like the good citizen that he was； he followed you closely in the
fog and kept at your heels until you reached this very house。 There he
intervened； and then it was； Colonel Walter； that to treason you added
the more terrible crime of murder。〃
〃I did not！ I did not！ Before God I swear that I did not！〃 cried our
wretched prisoner。
〃Tell us； then； how Cadogan West met his end before you laid him
upon the roof of a railway carriage。〃
〃I will。 I swear to you that I will。 I did the rest。 I confess it。
It was just as you say。 A Stock Exchange debt had to be paid。 I needed
the money badly。 Oberstein offered me five thousand。 It was to save
mys
