布鲁斯-帕廷顿计划-the bruce-partington plans-第6部分

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〃That　was　my　idea　when　I　put　it　in。　　I　think　if　you　could　both
make　it　convenient　to　e　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　bined　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　patently　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
posed；　his　eyelids　half　shut；　but　every　sense　on　the　alert。
He　raised　his　head　with　a　sudden　jerk。

〃He　is　ing；〃　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　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　sown　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　ing　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　prehension。　　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　myself　from　ruin。　　But　as　to　murder；　I　am　as　innocent　as　you。〃

〃What　happened；　then？〃

〃He　had　his　suspicions　before；　and　he　followed　me　as　you　describe。　　I　never　knew　it　until　I　was　at　the　very　door。　　It　was　thick　fog；　and　one　could　not　see　three　yards。　　I　had　given　two　taps　and　Oberstein　had　e　to　the　door。　　The　young　man　rushed　up　and　demanded　to　know　what　we　were　about　to　do　with　the　papers。
Oberstein　had　a　short　life…preserver。　　He　always　carried　it　with　him。　　As　West　forced　his　way　after　us　into　the　house　Oberstein　struck　him　on　the　head。　　The　blow　was　a　fatal　one。　　He　was　dead　within　five　minutes。　　There　he　lay　in　the　hall；　and　we　were　at　our　wit's　end　what　to　do。　　Then　Oberstein　had　this　idea　about　the　trains　which　halted　under　his　back　window。　　
But　first　he　examined　the　papers　which　I　had　brought。　　
He　said　that　three　of　them　were　essential；　and　that　he　must　keep　them。　　'You　cannot　keep　them；'　said　I。　
　'There　will　be　a　dreadful　row　at　Woolwich　if　they　are　not　returned。'　
　'I　must　keep　them；'　said　he；　'for　they　are　so　technical　that　it　is　impossible　in　the　time　to　make　copies。'
'Then　they　must　all　go　back　together　to…night；'　said　I。　　He　thought　for　a　little；　and　then　he　cried　out　that　he　had　it。
'Three　I　will　keep；'　said　he。　　'The　others　we　will　stuff　into　the　pocket　of　this　young　man。　　When　he　is　found　the　whole　business　will　assuredly　be　put　to　his　account。'　　I　could　see　no　other　way　out　of　it；　so　we　did　as　he　suggested。　　We　waited　half　an　hour　at　the　window　before　a　train　stopped。　　It　was　so　thick　that　nothing　could　be　seen；　and　we　had　no　difficulty　in　lowering　West's　body　on　to　the　train。　　That　was　the　end　of　the　matter　so　far　as　I　was　concerned。〃

〃And　your　brother？〃

〃He　said　nothing；　but　he　had　caught　me　once　with　his　keys；　and　I　think　that　he　suspected。　　I　read　in　his　eyes　that　he　suspected。　As　you　know；　he　never　held　up　his　head　again。〃

There　was　silence　in　the　room。　　It　was　broken　by　Mycroft　Holmes。

〃Can　you　not　make　reparation？　　It　would　ease　your　conscience；　and　possibly　your　punishment。〃

〃What　reparation　can　I　make？〃

〃Where　is　Oberstein　with　the　papers？〃

〃I　do　not　know。〃

〃Did　he　give　you　no　address？〃

〃He　said　that　letters　to　the　Hotel　du　Louvre；　Paris；　would　eventually　reach　him。〃

〃Then　reparation　is　still　within　your　power；〃　said　Sherlock　Holmes。

〃I　will　do　anything　I　can。　　I　owe　this　fellow　no　particular　good…will。　　He　has　been　my　ruin　and　my　downfall。〃

〃Here　are　paper　and　pen。　　Sit　at　this　desk　and　write　to　my　dictation。　　Direct　the　envelope　to　the　address　given。　　That　is　right。　　Now　the　letter：

〃Dear　Sir：

〃With　regard　to　our　transaction；　you　will　no　doubt　have　observed　by　now　that　one　essential　detail　is　missing。　　
I　have　a　tracing　which　will　make　it　plete。　　
This　has　involved　me　in　extra　trouble；　however；　and　I　must　ask　you　for　a　further　advance　of　five　hundred　pounds。　
　I　will　not　trust　it　to　the　post；　nor　will　I　take　anything　but　gold　or　notes。　　
I　would　e　to　you　abroad；　but　it　would　excite　remark　if　I　left　the　country　at　present。
Therefore　I　shall　expect　to　meet　you　in　the　smoking…room　of　the　Charing　Cross　Hotel　at　noon　on　Saturday。　　Remember　that　only　English　notes；　or　gold；　will　be　taken。

〃That　will　do　very　well。　　I　shall　be　very　much　surprised　if　it　does　not　fetch　our　man。〃

And　it　did！　　It　is　a　matter　of　history……that　secret　history　of　a　nation　which　is　often　so　much　more　intimate　and　interesting　than　its　public　chronicles……that　Oberstein；　eager　to　plete　the　coup　of　his　lifetime；　came　to　the　lure　and　was　safely　engulfed　for　fifteen　years　in　a　British　prison。　　
In　his　trunk　were　found　the　invaluable　Bruce…Partington　plans；　which　he　had　put　up　for　auction　in　all　the　naval　centres　of　Europe。

Colonel　Walter　died　in　prison　towards　the　end　of　the　second　year　of　his　sentence。　　
As　to　Holmes；　he　returned　refreshed　to　his　monograph　upon　the　Polyphonic　Motets　of　Lassus；　which　has　since　been　printed　for　private　circulation；　and　is　said　by　experts　to　be　the　last　word　upon　the　subject。　　

Some　weeks　afterwards　I　learned　incidentally　that　my　friend　spent　a　day　at　Windsor；whence　be　returned　with　a　remarkably　fine　emerald　tie…pin。　　
When　I　asked　him　if　he　had　bought　it；　he　answered　that　it　was　a　present　from　a　certain　gracious　lady　in　whose　interests　he　had　once　been　fortunate　enough　to　carry　out　a　small　mission。　　
He　said　no　more；　but　I　fancy　that　I　could　guess　at　that　lady's　august　name；　and　I　have　little　doubt　that　the　emerald　pin　will　forever　recall　to　my　friend's　memory　the　adventure　of　the　Bruce…Partington　plans。





End　of　Project　Gutenberg　Etext　Adventure　of　the　Bruce…Partington　Plans
。
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