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suppose； for example； that he had been approached by some foreign
agent。 It might have been done under such pledges as would have
prevented him from speaking of it； and yet would have affected
his thoughts in the direction indicated by his remarks to his
fiancee。 Very good。 We will now suppose that as he went to the
theatre with the young lady he suddenly； in the fog； caught a
glimpse of this same agent going in the direction of the office。
He was an impetuous man； quick in his decisions。 Everything gave
way to his duty。 He followed the man； reached the window； saw
the abstraction of the documents； and pursued the thief。 In this
way we get over the objection that no one would take originals
when he could make copies。 This outsider had to take originals。
So far it holds together。〃
〃What is the next step？〃
〃Then we e into difficulties。 One would imagine that under
such circumstances the first act of young Cadogan West would be
to seize the villain and raise the alarm。 Why did he not do so？
Could it have been an official superior who took the papers？
That would explain West's conduct。 Or could the chief have given
West the slip in the fog； and West started at once to London to
head him off from his own rooms； presuming that he knew where the
rooms were？ The call must have been very pressing； since he left
his girl standing in the fog and made no effort to municate
with her。 Our scent runs cold here； and there is a vast gap
between either hypothesis and the laying of West's body； with
seven papers in his pocket； on the roof of a Metropolitan train。
My instinct now is to work form the other end。 If Mycroft has
given us the list of addresses we may be able to pick our man and
follow two tracks instead of one。〃
Surely enough； a note awaited us at Baker Street。 A government
messenger had brought it post…haste。 Holmes glanced at it and
threw it over to me。
There are numerous small fry； but few who would handle so big an
affair。 The only men worth considering are Adolph Mayer； of 13
Great George Street； Westminster； Louis La Rothiere； of Campden
Mansions； Notting Hill； and Hugo Oberstein； 13 Caulfield Gardens；
Kensington。 The latter was known to be in town on Monday and is
now reported as having left。 Glad to hear you have seen some
light。 The Cabi awaits your final report with the utmost
anxiety。 Urgent representations have arrived from the very
highest quarter。 The whole force of the State is at your back if
you should need it。
Mycroft。
〃I'm afraid；〃 said Holmes； smiling； 〃that all the queen's horses
and all the queen's men cannot avail in this matter。〃 He had
spread out his big map of London and leaned eagerly over it。
〃Well； well；〃 said he presently with an exclamation of
satisfaction； 〃things are turning a little in our direction at
last。 Why； Watson； I do honestly believe that we are going to
pull it off； after all。〃 He slapped me on the shoulder with a
sudden burst of hilarity。 〃I am going out now。 It is only a
reconnaissance。 I will do nothing serious without my trusted
rade and biographer at my elbow。 Do you stay here； and the
odds are that you will see me again in an hour or two。 If time
hangs heavy get foolscap and a pen； and begin your narrative of
how we saved the State。〃
I felt some reflection of his elation in my own mind； for I knew
well that he would not depart so far from his usual austerity of
demeanour unless there was good cause for exultation。 All the
long November evening I waited； filled with impatience for his
return。 At last； shortly after nine o'clock； there arrived a
messenger with a note：
Am dining at Goldini's Restaurant； Gloucester Road； Kensington。
Please e at once and join me there。 Bring with you a jemmy； a
dark lantern； a chisel； and a revolver。
S。H。
It ent for a respectable citizen to carry
through the dim； fog…draped streets。 I stowed them all
discreetly away in my overcoat and drove straight to the address
given。 There sat my friend at a little round table near the door
of the garish Italian restaurant。
〃Have you had something to eat？ Then join me in a coffee and
curacao。 Try one of the proprietor's cigars。 They are less
poisonous than one would expect。 Have you the tools？〃
〃They are here； in my overcoat。〃
〃Excellent。 Let me give you a short sketch of what I have done；
with some indication of what we are about to do。 Now it must be
evident to you； Watson； that this young man's body was PLACED on
the roof of the train。 That was clear from the instant that I
determined the fact that it was from the roof； and not from a
carriage； that he had fallen。〃
〃Could it not have been dropped from a bridge？〃
〃I should say it was impossible。 If you examine the roofs you
will find that they are slightly rounded； and there is no railing
round them。 Therefore； we can say for certain that young Cadogan
West was placed on it。〃
〃How could he be placed there？〃
〃That was the question which we had to answer。 There is only one
possible way。 You are aware that the Underground runs clear of
tunnels at some points in the West End。 I had a vague memory
that as I have travelled by it I have occasionally seen windows
just above my head。 Now； suppose that a train halted under such
a window； would there be any difficulty in laying a body upon the
roof？〃
〃It seems most improbable。〃
〃We must fall back upon the old axiom that when all other
contingencies fail； whatever remains； however improbable； must be
the truth。 Here all other contingencies HAVE failed。 When I
found that the leading international agent； who had just left
London； lived in a row of houses which abutted upon the
Underground； I was so pleased that you were a little astonished
at my sudden frivolity。〃
〃Oh； that was it； was it？〃
〃Yes； that was it。 Mr。 Hugo Oberstein； of 13 Caulfield Gardens；
had bee my objective。 I began my operations at Gloucester
Road Station； where a very helpful official walked with me along
the track and allowed me to satisfy myself not only that the
back…stair windows of Caulfield Gardens open on the line but the
even more essential fact that； owing to the intersection of one
of the larger railways； the Underground trains are frequently
held motionless for some minutes at that very spot。〃
〃Splendid； Holmes！ You have got it！〃
〃So far……so far； Watson。 We advance； but the goal is afar。
Well； having seen the back of Caulfield Gardens； I visited the
front and satisfied myself that the bird was indeed flown。 It is
a considerable house； unfurnished； so far as I could judge； in
the upper rooms。 Oberstein lived there with a single valet； who
was probably a confederate entirely in his confidence。 We must
bear in mind that Oberstein has gone to the Continent to dispose
of his booty； but not with any idea of flight； for he had no
reason to fear a warrant； and the idea of an amateur domiciliary
visit would certainly never occur to him。 Yet that is precisely
what we are about to make。〃
〃Could we not get a warrant and legalize it？〃
〃Hardly on the evidence。〃
〃What can we hope to do？〃
〃We cannot tell what correspondence may be there。〃
〃I don't like it； Holmes。〃
〃My dear fellow； you shall keep watch in the street。 I'll do the
criminal part。 It's not a time to stick at trifles。 Think of
Mycroft's note； of the Admiralty； the Cabi； the exalted person
who waits for news。 We are bound to go。〃
My answer was to rise from the table。
〃You are right； Holmes。 We are bound to go。〃
He sprang up and shook me by the hand。
〃I knew you would not shrink at the last；〃 said he； and for a
moment I saw something in his eyes which was nearer to tenderness
than I had ever seen。 The next instant he was his masterful；
practical self once more。
〃It is nearly half a mile； but there is no hurry。 Let us walk；〃
said he。 〃Don't drop the instruments； I beg。 Your arrest as a
suspicious character would be a most unfortunate plication。〃
Caulfield Gardens was one of those lines of flat…faced pillared；
and porticoed houses which are so prominent a product of the
middle Victorian epoch in the West End of London。 Next door
there appeared to be a children's party； for the merry buzz of
young voices and the clatter of a piano resounded through the
night。 The fog still hung about and screened us with its
friendly shade。 Holmes had lit his lantern and flashed it upon
the massive door。
〃This is a serious proposition；〃 said he。 〃It is certainly
bolted as well as locked。 We would do better in the area。 There
is an excellent archway down yonder in case a too zealous
policeman should intrude。 Give me a hand； Watson； and I'll do
the same for you。〃
A minute later we were both in the area。 Hardly had we reached
the dark shadows before the step of the policeman was heard in
the fog above。 As its soft rhythm died away； Holmes set to work
upon the lower door。 I saw him stoop and strain until with a
sharp crash it flew open。 We sprang through into the dark
passage； closing the area door behind us。 Holmes let the way up
the curving； uncarpeted stair。 His little fan of yellow light
shone upon a low window。
〃Here we are； W