with confidence that he saw Cadogan West……whom he knew well by
sight……upon the Monday night； and that he went to London by the
8：15 to London Bridge。 He was alone and took a single third…
class ticket。 The clerk was struck at the time by his excited
and nervous manner。 So shaky was he that he could hardly pick up
his change； and the clerk had helped him with it。 A reference to
the timetable showed that the 8：15 was the first train which it
was possible for West to take after he had left the lady about
7：30。
〃Let us reconstruct； Watson；〃 said Holmes after half an hour of
silence。 〃I am not aware that in all our joint researches we
have ever had a case which was more difficult to get at。 Every
fresh advance which we make only reveals a fresh ridge beyond。
And yet we have surely made some appreciable progress。
〃The effect of our inquiries at Woolwich has in the main been
against young Cadogan West； but the indications at the window
would lend themselves to a more favourable hypothesis。 Let us
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 tha