His Last Bow Part 7 (1/2)
”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 comes round on the points? Is not that the place where an object upon the roof ht 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 fro the mystery of his death Indeed, it becoer”
”Perhaps,” said Holhtfully, ”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 fa down to the Tha, and a thin, watery sunshi+ne was breaking through A butler answered our ring
”Sir James, sir!” said he with sole”
”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 di-room, where an instant later ere joined by a very tall, handsoer brother of the dead scientist His wild eyes, stained cheeks, and unkempt hair all spoke of the sudden blohich 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 depart blow”
”We had hoped that he iven 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 developained the cab ”I wonder if the death was natural, or whether the poor old fellow killed hin of self-reproach for duty neglected? We must leave that question to the future Noe shall turn to the Cadogan Wests”
A small but well-kept house in the outskirts of the town sheltered the bereaved rief 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 ht
”I cannot explain it, Mr Holedy, thinking, thinking, thinking, night and day, what the true le-minded, chivalrous, patriotic ht 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 ere to ns of any mental excitement? Come, Miss Westbury, be absolutely frank with us”
The quick eye of e in her manner She coloured and hesitated
”Yes,” she said at last, ”I had a feeling that there was so?”
”Only for the last week or so He was thoughtful and worried Once I pressed hi, and that it was concerned with his official life 'It is too serious forrave
”Go on, Miss Westbury Even if it seeo on We cannot say what itmore to tell Once or twice it see He spoke one evening of the importance of the secret, and I have son spies would pay a great deal to have it”
My friend's face grew graver still
”Anything else?”
”He said that ere slack about such et 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 ho, 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
”Come, Watson,” said he, ”our ways lie elsewhere Our next station must be the office froh before against this young man, but our inquiries make it blacker,” he reives a motive for the crime He naturally wanted money The idea was in his head, since he spoke about it He nearlyher his plans It is all very bad”
”But surely, Holain, why should he leave the girl in the street and dart away to commit a felony?”
”Exactly! There are certainly objections But it is a formidable case which they have to meet”
Mr Sidney Johnson, the senior clerk, met us at the office and received us with that respect which ruff, bespectacledfrom the nervous strain to which he had been subjected
”It is bad, Mr Holmes, very bad! Have you heard of the death of the chief?”
”We have just coanized The chief dead, Cadogan West dead, our papers stolen And yet, e closed our door on Monday evening, ere as efficient an office as any in the government service Good God, it's dreadful to think of! That West, of all !”
”You are sure of his guilt, then?”