when he met his death； was travelling in this direction at some
late hour of the night； but at what point he entered the train it
is impossible to state。〃
〃His ticket； of course； would show that。〃
〃There was no ticket in his pockets。〃
〃No ticket！ Dear me； Watson； this is really very singular。
According to my experience it is not possible to reach the
platform of a Metropolitan train without exhibiting one's ticket。
Presumably； then； the young man had one。 Was it taken from him
in order to conceal the station from which he came？ It is
possible。 Or did he drop it in the carriage？ That is also
possible。 But the point is of curious interest。 I understand
that there was no sign of robbery？〃
〃Apparently not。 There is a list here of his possessions。 His
purse contained two pounds fifteen。 He had also a check…book on
the Woolwich branch of the Capital and Counties Bank。 Through
this his identity was established。 There were also two dress…
circle tickets for 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
plete。 But here he es； 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 e 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 bees impossible withing 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； prising 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 imperious； 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 up the plans 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 hi