第4部分(第1/7 頁)

would　have　equally　served　his　turn。〃

〃Singular；　no　doubt……and　yet　he　did　so。〃

〃Every　inquiry　in　this　case　reveals　something　inexplicable。 Now

there　are　three　papers　still　missing。 They　are；　as　I　understand；

the　vital　ones。〃

〃Yes；　that　is　so。〃

〃Do　you　mean　to　say　that　anyone　holding　these　three　papers；　and

without　the　seven　others；　could　construct　a　Bruce…Partington

submarine？〃

〃I　reported　to　that　effect　to　the　Admiralty。 But　to…day　I　have

been　over　the　drawings　again；　and　I　am　not　so　sure　of　it。 The

double　valves　with　the　automatic　self…adjusting　slots　are　drawn

in　one　of　the　papers　which　have　been　returned。 Until　the

foreigners　had　invented　that　for　themselves　they　could　not　make

the　boat。 Of　course　they　might　soon　get　over　the　difficulty。〃

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

〃Undoubtedly。〃

〃I　think；　with　your　permission；　I　will　now　take　a　stroll　round

the　premises。 I　do　not　recall　any　other　question　which　I　desired

to　ask。〃

He　examined　the　lock　of　the　safe；　the　door　of　the　room；　and

finally　the　iron　shutters　of　the　window。 It　was　only　when　we

were　on　the　lawn　outside　that　his　interest　was　strongly　excited。

There　was　a　laurel　bush　outside　the　window；　and　several　of　the

branches　bore　signs　of　having　been　twisted　or　snapped。 He

examined　them　carefully　with　his　lens；　and　then　some　dim　and

vague　marks　upon　the　earth　beneath。 Finally　he　asked　the　chief

clerk　to　close　the　iron　shutters；　and　he　pointed　out　to　me　that

they　hardly　met　in　the　centre；　and　that　it　would　be　possible　for

anyone　outside　to　see　what　was　going　on　within　the　room。