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 word Mycroft Holmes struggled out 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 present state of Siam most awkward that away office But real crisis never seen the Prime Minister so upset Admiralty- buzzing like an overturned bee-hive read up the case ? "

" just done so What were the technical papers ? "

"Ah, there's the point ! Fortunately, it come out The press furious did The papers which this wretched youth had pocket were the plans Bruce-Partington submarine "

Mycroft Holmes spoke with solemnity which showed his sense importance subject His brother and I sat expectant

"Surely heard of it ? everyone had heard of it "

"Only as name "

"Its importance can hardly be exaggerated the most jealously guarded of all government secrets take it from me that naval warfare becomes impossible radius of Bruce-Partington's operation Two very large sum was smuggled Estimates and was expended in acquiring monopoly invention Every effort made the secret The plans, which are exceedingly intricate, comprising some thirty separate patents, each essential working whole, are kept in an elaborate safe in confidential office adjoining the arsenal, with burglar-proof doors and windows Under no conceivable circumstances were the plans taken office chief constructor Navy desired to consult them, even forced Woolwich office And yet here them pocket of dead junior clerk heart of London From an official point of view it's simply awful "

"But recovered them ? "

"No, Sherlock, no ! That's the pinch Ten papers were taken from Woolwich There were seven pocket of Cadogan West The three most essential are gone- stolen, vanished drop everything, Sherlock Never mind your usual petty puzzles police-court It's vital international problem that to solve Why did Cadogan West papers, where are the missing ones, how did he die, how came his body where found, how can the evil be set right ? Find an answer to all these questions, and done good service for your country "

"Why not solve it yourself, Mycroft ? You as far as I "

"Possibly, Sherlock But question of getting details your details, and from an armchair return you an excellent expert opinion But to run here and run there, to cross-question railway guards, and lie on my face with lens to my eye- my metier No, the one man clear the matter up fancy next honours list-"

My friend smiled and shook his head

"I play the game game's own sake," said he "But the problem certainly presents some points of interest, and very pleased to look Some more facts, please "

" jotted down the more essential ones sheet of paper, together with few addresses which of service The actual official guardian papers famous government expert, Sir James Walter, whose decorations and sub-titles fill two lines of book of reference He has grown gray service, is gentleman, favoured guest most exalted houses, and, above all, man whose patriotism is beyond suspicion one of two key safe add papers were undoubtedly office during working hours on Monday, Sir James left for London about three o'clock taking his key house of Admiral Sinclair at Barclay Square during the whole evening incident occurred "

" fact been verified ? "

"Yes; his brother, Colonel Valentine Walter, has testified departure from Woolwich, and Admiral Sinclair arrival in London; so Sir James is no longer direct factor problem "

"Who other man with key ? "

"The senior clerk and draughtsman, Mr Sidney Johnson man of forty, married, with five children silent, morose man, but he has, whole, an excellent record public service unpopular colleagues, but hard worker According own account, corroborated only word wife, at home the whole of Monday evening after office hours, key has never left the watch-chain it hangs "

"Tell us about Cadogan West "

"He ten years service and good work He reputation of being hot-headed and impetuous, but straight, honest man nothing against him next Sidney Johnson office His duties brought him into daily, personal contact plans No one else had the handling "

"Who locked the plans up that night ? "

" Mr Sidney Johnson, the senior clerk "

"Well, surely perfectly clear who took them away actually found person junior clerk, Cadogan West That seems final, does it not ? "

"It does, Sherlock, and yet it leaves unexplained first place, why did he take them ? "

"I presume they were of value ? "

"He got several thousands very easily "

" suggest any possible motive for taking the papers to London except them ? "

"No, "

"Then take that as our working hypothesis Young West took the papers Now this could only by having false key-"

"Several false keys He had to open the building room "

"He had, then, several false keys the papers to London the secret, intending, , the plans themselves back safe next morning were missed While in London treasonable mission he met his end "

"How ? "

" suppose that travelling back to Woolwich when killed and thrown compartment "

"Aldgate, where the body was found, is considerably past the station for London Bridge, which his route to Woolwich "

"Many circumstances imagined under which pass London Bridge someone carriage, for example, having an absorbing interview This interview led to violent scene his life Possibly he tried to leave the carriage, fell out line, and so met his end The other closed the door thick fog, and nothing seen "

"No better explanation given present knowledge; and yet consider, Sherlock, you leave untouched suppose, for argument's sake, that young Cadogan West had determined to convey these papers to London naturally an appointment foreign agent and kept his evening clear Instead two tickets theatre, escorted his fiance halfway there, and then suddenly disappeared "

"A blind," said Lestrade, who had sat listening with some impatience conversation

"A very singular one objection No 1 Objection No 2 : suppose that he reaches London and sees the foreign agent bring back the papers before morning or the loss discovered away ten Only seven were pocket What had become other three ? He certainly leave them own free will Then, again, where price treason ? One expected large sum of money pocket "