〃A passenger who passed Aldgate in an ordinary Metropolitan train
about 11：40 on Monday night declares that he heard a heavy thud；
as of a body striking the line； just before the train reached the
station。 There was dense fog； however； and nothing could be
seen。 He made no report of it at the time。 Why； whatever is the
matter with Mr。 Holmes？〃
My friend was standing with an expression of strained intensity
upon his face； staring at the railway metals where they curved
out of the tunnel。 Aldgate is a junction； and there was a
work of points。 On these his eager； questioning eyes were
fixed； and I saw on his keen； alert face that tightening of the
lips； that quiver of the nostrils； and concentration of the
heavy； tufted brows which I knew so well。
〃Points；〃 he muttered； 〃the points。〃
〃What of it？ What do you mean？〃
〃I suppose there are no great number of points on a system such
as this？〃
〃No； they are very few。〃
〃And a curve； too。 Points； and a curve。 By Jove！ if it were
only so。〃
〃What is it； Mr。 Holmes？ Have you a clue？〃
〃An idea……an indication； no more。 But the case certainly grows
in interest。 Unique； perfectly unique； and yet why not？ I do
not see any indications of bleeding on the line。〃
〃There were hardly any。〃
〃But I understand that there was a considerable wound。〃
〃The bone was crushed； but there was no great external injury。〃
〃And yet one would have expected some bleeding。 Would it be
possible for me to inspect the train which contained the
passenger who heard the thud of a fall in the fog？〃
〃I fear not； Mr。 Holmes。 The train has been broken up before
now； and the carriages redistributed。〃
〃I can assure you； Mr。 Holmes；〃 said Lestrade； 〃that every
carriage has been carefully examined。 I saw to it myself。〃
It was one of my friend's most obvious weaknesses that he was
impatient with less alert intelligences than his own。
〃Very likely；〃 said he； turning away。 〃As it happens； it was not
the carriages which I desired to examine。 Watson； we have done
all we can here。 We need not trouble you any further； Mr。
Lestrade。 I think our investigations must now carry us to
Woolwich。〃
At London Bridge； Holmes wrote a telegram to his brother； which
he handed to me before dispatching it。 It ran thus：
See some light in the darkness； but it may possibly flicker out。
Meanwhile； please send by messenger； to await return at Baker
Street； a plete list of all foreign spies or international
agents known to be in England； with full address。
Sherlock。
〃That should be helpful； Watson；〃 he remarked as we took our
seats in the Woolwich train。 〃We certainly owe Brother Mycroft a
debt for having introduced us to what promises to be a really
very remarkable case。〃
His eager face still wore that expression of intense and high…
strung energy； which showed me that some novel and suggestive
circumstance had opened up a stimulating line of thought。 See
the foxhound with hanging ears and drooping tail as it lolls
about the kennels； and pare it with the same hound as； with
gleaming eyes and straining muscles； it runs upon a breast…high
scent……such was the change in Holmes since the morning。 He was a
different man from the limp and lounging figure in the mouse…
coloured dressing…gown who had prowled so restlessly only a few
hours before round the fog…girt room。
〃There is material here。 There is scope；〃 said he。 〃I am dull
indeed not to have understood its possibilities。〃
〃Even now they are dark to me。〃
〃The end is dark to me also； but I have hold of one idea which
may lead us far。 The man met his death elsewhere； and his body
was on the ROOF of a carriage。〃
〃On the roof！〃
〃Remarkable； is it not？ But consider the facts。 Is it a
coincidence that it is found at the very point where the train
pitches and sways as it es round on the points？ Is not that
the place where an object upon the roof might be expected to fall
off？ The points would affect no object inside the train。 Either
the body fell from the roof； or a very curious coincidence has
occurred。 But now consider the question of the blood。 Of
course； there was no bleeding on the line if the body had bled
elsewhere。 Each fact is suggestive in itself。 Together they
have a cumulative force。〃
〃And the ticket； too！〃 I cried。
〃Exactly。 We could not explain the absence of a ticket。 This
would explain it。 Everything fits together。〃
〃But suppose it were so； we are still as far as ever from
unravelling the mystery of his death。 Indeed； it bees not
simpler but stranger。〃
〃Perhaps；〃 said Holmes； thoughtfully； 〃perhaps。〃 He relapsed
into a silent reverie； which lasted until the slow train drew up
at last in Woolwich Station。 There he called a cab and drew
Mycroft's paper from his pocket。
〃We have quite a little round of afternoon calls to make；〃 said
he。 〃I think that Sir James Walter claims our first attention。〃
The house of the famous official was a fine villa with green
lawns stretching down to the Thames。 As we reached it the fog
was lifting； and a thin； watery sunshine was breaking through。 A
butler answered our ring。
〃Sir James； sir！〃 said he with solemn face。 〃Sir James died this
morning。〃
〃Good heavens！〃 cried Holmes in amazement。 〃How did he die？〃
〃Perhaps you would care to step in； sir； and see his brother；
Colonel Valentine？〃
〃Yes； we had best do so。〃
We were ushered into a dim…lit drawing…room； where an instant
later we were joined by a very tall； handsome； light…beared man
of fifty； the younger brother of the dead scientist。 His wild
eyes； stained cheeks； and unkempt hair all spoke of the sudden
blow which had fallen upon the household。 He was hardly
articulate as he spoke of it。
〃It was this horrible scandal；〃 said he。 〃My brother； Sir James；
was a man of very sensitive honour； and he could not survive such
an affair。 It broke his heart。 He was always so proud of the
efficiency of his department； and this was a crushing blow。〃
〃We had hoped that he might have given us some indications which
would have helped us to clear the matter up。〃
〃I assure you that it was all a mystery to him as it is to you
and to all of us。 He had already put all his knowledge at the
disposal of the police。 Naturally he had no doubt that Cadogan
West was guilty。 But all the rest was inconceivable。〃
〃You cannot throw any new light upon the affair？〃
〃I know nothing myself save what I have read or heard。 I have no
desire to be discourteous； but you can understand； Mr。 Holmes；
that we are much disturbed at present； and I must ask you to
hasten this interview to an end。〃
〃This is indeed an unexpected development；〃 said my friend when
we had regained the cab。 〃I wonder if the death was natural； or
whether the poor old fellow killed himself！ If the latter； may
it be taken as some sign of self…reproach for duty neglected？ We
must leave that question to the future。 Now we shall turn to the
Cadogan Wests。〃
A small but well…kept house in the outskirts of the town
sheltered the bereaved mother。 The old lady was too dazed with
grief to be of any use to us； but at her side was a white…faced
young lady； who introduced herself as Miss Violet Westbury； the
fiancee of the dead man； and the last to see him upon that fatal
night。
〃I cannot explain it； Mr。 Holmes；〃 she said。 〃I have not shut an
eye since the tragedy； thinking； thinking； thinking； night and
day； what the true meaning of it can be。 Arthur was the most
single…minded； chivalrous； patriotic man upon earth。 He would
have cut his right hand off before he would sell a State secret
confided to his keeping。 It is absurd； impossible； preposterous
to anyone who knew him。〃
〃But the facts； Miss Westbury？〃
〃Yes； yes； I admit I cannot explain them。〃
〃Was he in any want of money？〃
〃No； his needs were very simple and his salary ample。 He had
saved a few hundreds； and we were to marry at the New Year。〃
〃No signs of any mental excitement？ e； Miss Westbury； be
absolutely frank with us。〃
The quick eye of my panion had noted some change in her
manner。 She coloured and hesitated。
〃Yes；〃 she said at last； 〃I had a feeling that there was
something on his mind。〃
〃For long？〃
〃Only for the last week or so。 He was thoughtful and worried。
Once I pressed him about it。 He admitted that there was
something； and that it was concerned with his official life。 'It
is too serious for me to speak about； even to you；' said he。 I
could get nothing more。〃
Holmes looked grave。
〃Go on； Miss Westbury。 Even if it seems to tell against him； go
on。 We cannot say what it may lead to。〃
〃Indeed； I have nothing more to tell。 Once or twice it seemed to
me that he was on the point of telling me something。 He spoke
one evening of the importance of the secret； and I have some
recollection that he said that no doubt foreign spies would pay a
great deal to have it。〃
My friend's face grew graver still。
〃Anything else？〃
〃He said that we were slack about such matters……that it would be
easy for a traitor to get the plans。〃
〃Was it only recently that he made such remarks？〃
〃Yes； quite recently。〃
〃Now tell us of that last evening。〃
〃We were to go to the theatre。 The fog was so thick that a cab
was useless。 We walked； and our way took us close to the office。
Suddenly he darted away into the fog。〃
〃Without a word？〃
〃He gave an exclamation； that was all。 I waited but he never
returned。 Then I walked home。 Next morning； after the office
opened； they came to inquire。 About twelve o'clock we heard the
terrible news。 Oh； Mr。 Holmes； if you could only； only save his
honour！ It was so much to him。〃
Holmes shook his head sadly。
〃e； Watson；〃 said he； 〃our ways lie elsewhere。 Our next
station must be the office from which the papers were taken。
〃It was black enough before against this young man； but our
inquiries make it blacker；〃 he remarked as the cab lumbered off。
〃His ing marriage gives a motive for the crime。 He naturally
wanted money。 The idea was in his head； since he spoke about it。
He nearly made the girl an acplice in the treason by telling
her his plans。 It is al