" indeed an unexpected development," said my friend when we had regained the cab "I wonder death was natural, or whether the poor old fellow killed himself ! latter, may it be taken as some sign of self-reproach for duty neglected ? leave that question future Now turn Cadogan Wests "

small but well-kept house outskirts town sheltered the bereaved mother The old lady was too dazed with grief of any use , but at her side was white-faced young lady, who introduced herself as Miss Violet Westbury, the fiancee dead man, last him upon that fatal night

" explain it, Mr Holmes," she said " shut an eye tragedy, thinking, thinking, thinking, night and day, what the true meaning of it Arthur most single-minded, chivalrous, patriotic man upon earth cut his right hand off before sell State secret confided keeping absurd, impossible, preposterous to anyone who knew him "

"But the facts, Miss Westbury ? "

"Yes, yes; I admit explain them "

"Was he in any want of money ? "

"No; his needs were very simple salary ample He had saved few hundreds, and we were to marry New Year "

"No signs of any mental excitement ? Come, Miss Westbury, be absolutely frank "

The quick eye companion had noted some change in her manner She coloured and hesitated

"Yes," she said at last, "I had feeling that something mind "

"For long ? "

"Only week or so thoughtful and worried Once I pressed him He admitted that something, and concerned official life ' too serious about, even ,' said he get nothing more "

Holmes looked grave

"Go on, Miss Westbury Even seems against him, go on what it may lead to,"

"Indeed, nothing more it seemed that point of telling me something He spoke one evening importance secret, and some recollection that that foreign spies would pay great deal it "

My friend's face grew graver still

"Anything else ? "

" that we were slack about such matters- easy for traitor the plans "

" only recently that such remarks ? "

"Yes, quite recently "

"Now tell us last evening "

"We were theatre The fog was so thick that cab was useless We walked, way took us close office Suddenly he darted away fog "

"Without word ? "

" an exclamation; that was all I waited but he never returned Then I walked home Next morning, office opened, they came to inquire About twelve o'clock we heard the terrible news Oh, Mr Holmes, only, only save his honour ! to him "

Holmes shook his head sadly

"Come, Watson," said he, "our ways lie elsewhere Our next station the office the papers were taken

" black enough before against this young man, but our inquiries make it blacker," he remarked cab lumbered off "His coming marriage gives motive crime He naturally wanted money The idea was head, since he spoke He nearly made the girl an accomplice treason by telling her his plans all very bad "

"But surely, Holmes, character goes for something ? Then, again, why should he leave the girl street and dart away to commit felony ? "

"Exactly ! certainly objections But formidable case to meet "

Mr Sidney Johnson, the senior clerk, met us office and received us respect which my companion's card always commanded thin, gruff, bespectacled man of middle age, his cheeks haggard, hands twitching nervous strain he subjected

" bad, Mr Holmes, very bad ! heard death chief ? "

" just come house "

"The place is disorganized The chief dead, Cadogan West dead, our papers stolen And yet, when we closed our door on Monday evening, we were as efficient an office as any government service Good God, it's dreadful off That West, of all men, done such thing ! "

" guilt, then ? "

" no other way out of it And yet trusted him as I trust myself "

"At what hour office closed on Monday ? "

"At five "

"Did you close it ? "

" always the last man out "

"Where were the plans ? "

" safe I put them there myself "

" no watchman building ? "

" , but he has other departments to look after an old soldier and most trustworthy man nothing that evening the fog was very thick "

"Suppose that Cadogan West wished his way building after hours; need three keys, would he not, before reach the papers ? "

"Yes, The key outer door, the key office, key safe "

"Only Sir James Walter and you had those keys ? "

"I had no keys doors- only safe "

"Was Sir James man who was orderly habits ? "

"Yes, that three keys are concerned he kept them same ring often seen them there "

" ring went to London ? "

" so "

"And your key never left your possession ? "

"Never "

"Then West, if he culprit, had duplicate And yet none were found upon his body One other point: if clerk office desired the plans, would it not be simpler to copy the plans for himself than to originals, as was actually done ? "

"It would take considerable technical knowledge to copy the plans in an effective way "

"But I suppose either Sir James, or you, or West had that technical knowledge ? "

" we had, but I beg you won't try to drag me matter, Mr Holmes the use speculating original plans were actually found on West ? "

"Well, certainly singular that run the risk of taking originals if safely have taken copies, which equally served his turn "

"Singular, - and yet so "

"Every inquiry in reveals something inexplicable Now three papers still missing , as I understand, the vital ones "

"Yes, so "

" that anyone holding these three papers, and without the seven others, could construct Bruce-Partington submarine ? "

"I reported effect Admiralty But to-day over the drawings again, and not so sure of it The double valves automatic self-adjusting slots are drawn in papers been returned Until the foreigners had invented that for themselves boat soon get over the difficulty "

"But the three missing drawings are the most important ? "

"Undoubtedly "

" , with your permission, now take stroll round the premises recall question which I desired to ask "

He examined the lock safe, the door room, and finally the iron shutters window only when we were lawn outside that his interest was strongly excited laurel bush outside the window, and several branches bore signs of having been twisted or snapped He examined them carefully lens, and then some dim and vague marks earth beneath Finally he asked the chief clerk to close the iron shutters, and he pointed out hardly met centre, it possible for anyone outside going on room