第2部分(第1/7 頁)

from　me　that　naval　warfare　bees　impossible　withing　the　radius

of　a　Bruce…Partington's　operation。 Two　years　ago　a　very　large

sum　was　smuggled　through　the　Estimates　and　was　expended　in

acquiring　a　monopoly　of　the　invention。 Every　effort　has　been

made　to　keep　the　secret。 The　plans；　which　are　exceedingly

intricate；　prising　some　thirty　separate　patents；　each

essential　to　the　working　of　the　whole；　are　kept　in　an　elaborate

safe　in　a　confidential　office　adjoining　the　arsenal；　with

burglar…proof　doors　and　windows。 Under　no　conceivable

circumstances　were　the　plans　to　be　taken　from　the　office。 If　the

chief　constructor　of　the　Navy　desired　to　consult　them；　even　he

was　forced　to　go　to　the　Woolwich　office　for　the　purpose。 And　yet

here　we　find　them　in　the　pocket　of　a　dead　junior　clerk　in　the

heart　of　London。 From　an　official　point　of　view　it's　simply

awful。〃

〃But　you　have　recovered　them？〃

〃No；　Sherlock；　no！ That's　the　pinch。 We　have　not。 Ten　papers

were　taken　from　Woolwich。 There　were　seven　in　the　pocket　of

Cadogan　West。 The　three　most　essential　are　gone……stolen；

vanished。 You　must　drop　everything；　Sherlock。 Never　mind　your

usual　petty　puzzles　of　the　police…court。 It's　a　vital

international　problem　that　you　have　to　solve。 Why　did　Cadogan

West　take　the　papers；　where　are　the　missing　ones；　how　did　he　die；

how　came　his　body　where　it　was　found；　how　can　the　evil　be　set

right？ Find　an　answer　to　all　these　questions；　and　you　will　have

done　good　service　for　your　country。〃

〃Why　do　you　not　solve　it　yourself；　Mycroft？ You　can　see　as　far

as　I。〃

〃Possibly；　Sherlock。 But　it　is　a　questio