布鲁斯-帕廷顿计划-the bruce-partington plans-第1部分

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　…　手机访问　m。
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The　Adventure　of　the　Bruce…Partington　Plans　By　Sir　Arthur　Conan　Doyle

柯南道尔爵士布鲁斯历险记…帕廷顿计划


In　the　third　week　of　November；　in　the　year　1895；　a　dense　yellow　fog　settled　down　upon　London。　　
From　the　Monday　to　the　Thursday　I　doubt　whether　it　was　ever　possible　from　our　windows　in　Baker　Street　to　see　the　loom　of　the　opposite　houses。　　
The　first　day　Holmes　had　spent　in　cross…indexing　his　huge　book　of　references。
The　second　and　third　had　been　patiently　occupied　upon　a　subject　which　he　hand　recently　made　his　hobby……the　music　of　the　Middle　Ages。　　
But　when；　for　the　fourth　time；　after　pushing　back　our　chairs　from　breakfast　we　saw　the　greasy；　heavy　brown　swirl　still　drifting　past　us　and　condensing　in　oily　drops　upon　the　window…　panes；　my　rade's　impatient　and　active　nature　could　endure　this　drab　existence　no　longer。　　
He　paced　restlessly　about　our　sitting…room　in　a　fever　of　suppressed　energy；　biting　his　nails；　tapping　the　furniture；　and　chafing　against　inaction。

〃Nothing　of　interest　in　the　paper；　Watson？〃　he　said。

In　was　aware　that　by　anything　of　interest；　Holmes　meant　anything
of　criminal　interest。　　There　was　the　news　of　a　revolution；　of　a
possible　war；　and　of　an　impending　change　of　government；　but　these
did　not　e　within　the　horizon　of　my　panion。　　I　could　see
nothing　recorded　in　the　shape　of　crime　which　was　not　monplace
and　futile。　　Holmes　groaned　and　resumed　hs　restless　meanderings。

〃The　London　criminal　is　certainly　a　dull　fellow；〃　said　he　in　the
querulous　voice　of　the　sportsman　whose　game　has　failed　him。
〃Look　out　this　window；　Watson。　　See　how　the　figures　loom　up；　are
dimly　seen；　and　then　blend　once　more　into　the　cloud…bank。　　The
thief　or　the　murderer　could　roam　London　on　such　a　day　as　the
tiger　does　the　jungle；　unseen　until　he　pounces；　and　then　evident
only　to　his　victim。〃

〃There　have；〃　said　I；　〃been　numerous　petty　thefts。〃

Holmes　snorted　his　contempt。

〃This　great　and　sombre　stage　is　set　for　something　more　worthy
than　that；〃　said　he。　　〃It　is　fortunate　for　this　munity　that　I
am　not　a　criminal。〃

〃It　is；　indeed！〃　said　I　heartily。

〃Suppose　that　I　were　Brooks　or　Woodhouse；　or　any　of　the　fifty　men
who　have　good　reason　for　taking　my　life；　how　long　could　I　survive
against　my　own　pursuit？　　A　summons；　a　bogus　appointment；　and　all
would　be　over。　　It　is　well　they　don't　have　days　of　fog　in　the
Latin　countries……the　countries　of　assassination。　　By　Jove！　here
es　something　at　last　to　break　our　dead　monotony。〃

It　was　the　maid　with　a　telegram。　　Holmes　tore　it　open　and　burst
out　laughing。

〃Well；　well！　　What　next？〃　said　he。　　〃Brother　Mycroft　is　ing
round。〃

〃Why　not？〃　I　asked。

〃Why　not？　　It　is　as　if　you　met　a　tram…car　ing　down　a　country
lane。　　Mycroft　has　his　rails　and　he　runs　on　them。　　His　Pall　Mall
lodgings；　the　Diogenes　Club；　Whitehall……that　is　his　cycle。　　Once；
and　only　once；　he　has　been　here。　　What　upheaval　can　possibly　have
derailed　him？〃

〃Does　he　not　explain？〃

Holmes　handed　me　his　brother's　telegram。

Must　see　you　over　Cadogen　West。　　ing　at　once。

Mycroft。

〃Cadogen　West？　　I　have　heard　the　name。〃

〃It　recalls　nothing　to　my　mind。　　But　that　Mycroft　should　break
out　in　this　erratic　fashion！　　A　pla　might　as　well　leave　its
orbit。　　By　the　way；　do　you　know　what　Mycroft　is？〃

I　had　some　vague　recollection　of　an　explanation　at　the　time　of
the　Adventure　of　the　Greek　Interpreter。

〃You　told　me　that　he　had　some　small　office　under　the　British
government。〃

Holmes　chuckled。

〃I　did　not　know　you　quite　so　well　in　those　days。　　One　has　to　be
discreet　when　one　talks　of　high　matters　of　state。　　You　are　right
in　thinking　that　he　under　the　British　government。　　You　would　also
be　right　in　a　sense　if　you　said　that　occasionally　he　IS　the
British　government。〃

〃My　dear　Holmes！〃

〃I　thought　I　might　surprise　you。　　Mycroft　draws　four　hundred　and
fifty　pounds　a　year；　remains　a　subordinate；　has　no　ambitions　of
any　kind；　will　receive　neither　honour　nor　title；　but　remains　the
most　indispensable　man　in　the　country。〃

〃But　how？〃

〃Well；　his　position　is　unique。　　He　has　made　it　for　himself。
There　has　never　been　anything　like　it　before；　nor　will　be　again。
He　has　the　tidiest　and　most　orderly　brain；　with　the　greatest
capacity　for　storing　facts；　of　any　man　living。　　The　same　great
powers　which　I　have　turned　to　the　detection　of　crime　he　has　used
for　this　particular　business。　　The　conclusions　of　every
department　are　passed　to　him；　and　he　is　the　central　exchange；　the
clearinghouse；　which　makes　out　the　balance。　　All　other　men　are
specialists；　but　his　specialism　is　omniscience。　　We　will　suppose
that　a　minister　needs　information　as　to　a　point　which　involves
the　Navy；　India；　Canada　and　the　bimetallic　question；　he　could　get
his　separate　advices　from　various　departments　upon　each；　but　only
Mycroft　can　focus　them　all；　and　say　offhand　how　each　factor　would
affect　the　other。　　They　began　by　using　him　as　a　short…cut；　a
convenience；　now　he　has　made　himself　an　essential。　　In　that　great
brain　of　his　everything　is　pigeon…holed　and　can　be　handed　out　in
an　instant。　　Again　and　again　his　word　has　decided　the　national
policy。　　He　lives　in　it。　　He　thinks　of　nothing　else　save　when；　as
an　intellectual　exercise；　he　unbends　if　I　call　upon　him　and　ask
him　to　advise　me　on　one　of　my　little　problems。　　But　Jupiter　is
descending　to…day。　　What　on　earth　can　it　mean？　　Who　is　Cadogan
West；　and　what　is　he　to　Mycroft？〃

〃I　have　it；〃　I　cried；　and　plunged　among　the　litter　of　papers　upon
the　sofa。　　〃Yes；　yes；　here　he　is；　sure　enough！　　Cadogen　West　was
the　young　man　who　was　found　dead　on　the　Underground　on　Tuesday
morning。〃

Holmes　sat　up　at　attention；　his　pipe　halfway　to　his　lips。

〃This　must　be　serious；　Watson。　　A　death　which　has　caused　my
brother　to　alter　his　habits　can　be　no　ordinary　one。　　What　in　the
world　can　he　have　to　do　with　it？　　The　case　was　featureless　as　I
remember　it。　　The　young　man　had　apparently　fallen　out　of　the
train　and　killed　himself。　　He　had　not　been　robbed；　and　there　was
no　particular　reason　to　suspect　violence。　　Is　that　not　so？〃

〃There　has　been　an　inquest；〃　said　I；　〃and　a　good　many　fresh　facts
have　e　out。　　Looked　at　more　closely；　I　should　certainly　say
that　it　was　a　curious　case。〃

〃Judging　by　its　effect　upon　my　brother；　I　should　think　it　must　be
a　most　extraordinary　one。〃　　He　snuggled　down　in　his　armchair。
〃Now；　Watson；　let　us　have　the　facts。〃

〃The　man's　name　was　Arthur　Cadogan　West。　　He　was　twenty…seven
years　of　age；　unmarried；　and　a　clerk　at　Woolwich　Arsenal。〃

〃Government　employ。　　Behold　the　link　with　Brother　Mycroft！〃

〃He　left　Woolwich　suddenly　on　Monday　night。　　Was　last　seen　by　his
fiancee；　Miss　Violet　Westbury；　whom　he　left　abruptly　in　the　fog
about　7：30　that　evening。　　There　　and
she　can　give　no　motive　for　his　action。　　The　next　thing　heard　of
him　was　when　his　dead　body　was　discovered　by　a　plate…layer　named
Mason；　just　outside　Aldgate　Station　on　the　Underground　system　in
London。〃

〃When？〃

〃The　body　was　found　at　six　on　Tuesday　morning。　　It　was　lying　wide
of　the　metals　upon　the　left　hand　of　the　track　as　one　goes
eastward；　at　a　point　close　to　the　station；　where　the　line　emerges
from　the　tunnel　in　which　it　runs。　　The　head　was　badly　crushed……an
injury　which　might　well　have　been　caused　by　a　fall　from　the
train。　　The　body　could　only　have　e　on　the　line　in　that　way。
Had　it　been　carried　down　from　any　neighbouring　street；　it　must
have　passed　the　station　barriers；　where　a　collector　is　always
standing。　　This　point　seems　absolutely　certain。〃

〃Very　good。　　The　case　is　definite　enough。　　The　man；　dead　or
alive；　either　fell　or　was　precipitated　from　a　train。　　So　much　is
clear　to　me。　　Continue。〃

〃The　trains　which　traverse　the　lines　of　rail　beside　which　the
body　was　found　are　those　which　run　from　west　to　east；　some　being
purely　Metropolitan；　and　some　from　Willesden　and　outlying
junctions。　　It　can　be　stated　for　certain　that　this　young　man；
when　he　met　his　death；　was　travelling　in　this　direction　at　some
late　hour　of　the　night；　but　at　what　point　he　entered　the　train　it
is　impossible　to　state。〃

〃His　ticket；　of　course；　would　show　that。〃

〃There　was　no　ticket　in　his　pockets。〃

〃No　ticket！　　Dear　me；　Watson；　this　is　really　very　singular。
According　to　my　experience　it　is　not　possible　to　reach　the
platform　of　a　Metropolitan　train　without　exhibiting　one's　ticket。
Presumably；　then；　the　young　man　had　one。　　Was　it　taken　from　him
in　order　to　conceal　the　station　from　which　he　came？　　It　is
possible。　　Or　did　he　drop　it　in　the　carriage？　　That　is　also
possible。　　But　the　point　is　of　curious　interest。　　I　understand
that　there　was　no　sign　of　robbery？〃

〃Apparently　not。　　There　is　a　list　here　of　his　possessions。　　His
purse　contained　two　pounds　fifteen。　　He　had　also　a　check…book　on
the　Woolwich　branch　of　the　Capital　and　Counties　Bank。　　Through
this　his　identity　was　established。　　There　were　also　two　dress…
circle　tickets　for　the　Woolwich　Theatre；　dated　for　that　very
evening。　　Also　a　small　packet　of　technical　papers。〃

Holmes　gave　an　exclamation　of　satisfaction。

〃There　we　have　it　at　last；　Watson！　　British　government……Woolwich。
Arsenal……technical　papers……Brother　Mycroft；　the　chain　is
plete。　　But　here　he　es；　if　I　am　not　mistaken；　to　speak　for
himself。〃

A　moment　later　the　tall　and　portly　form　of　Mycroft　Holmes　was
ushered　into　the　room。　　Heavily　built　and　massive；　there　was　a
suggestion　of　uncouth　physical　inertia　in　the　figure；　but　above
this　unwieldy　frame　there　was　perched　a　head　so　masterful　in　its
brow；　so　alert　in　its　steel…gray；　deep…set　eyes；　so　firm　in　its
lips；　and　so　subtle　in　its　play　of　expression；　that　after　the
first　glance　one　forgot　the　gross　body　and　remembered　only　the
dominant　mind。

At　his　heels　came　our　old　friend　Lestrade；　of　Scotland　Yard……thin
and　austere。　　The　gravity　of　both　their　faces　foretold　some
weighty　quest。　　The　detective　shook　hands　without　a　word。
Mycroft　Holmes　struggled　out　of　his　overcoat　and　subsided　into　an
armchair。

〃A　most　annoying　business；　Sherlock；〃　said　he。　　〃I　extremely
dislike　altering　my　habits；　but　the　powers　that　be　would　take　no
denial。　　In　the　present　state　of　Siam　it　is　most　awkward　that　I
should　be　away　from　the　office。　　But　it　is　a　real　crisis。　　I　have
never　seen　the　Prime　Minister　so　upset。　　As　to　the　Admiralty……it
is　buzzing　like　an　overturned　bee…hive。　　Have　you　read　up　the
case？〃

〃We　have　just　done　so。　　What　were　the　technical　papers？〃

〃Ah；　there's　the　point！　　Fortunately；　it　has　not　e　out。　　The
press　would　be　furious　if　it　did。　　The　papers　which　this　wretched
youth　had　in　his　pocket　were　the　plans　of　the　Bruce…Partington
submarine。〃

Mycroft　Holmes　spoke　with　a　solemnity　which　showed　his　sense　of
the　importance　of　the　subject。　　His　brother　and　I　sat　expectant。

〃Surely　you　have　heard　of　it？　　I　thought　everyone　had　heard　of
it。〃

〃Only　as　a　name。〃

〃Its　importance　can　hardly　be　exaggerated。　　It　has　been　the　most
jealously　guarded　of　all　government　secrets。　　You　may　take　it
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　question　of　getting　details。
Give　me　your　details；　and　from　an　armchair　I　will　return　you　an
excellent　expert　opinion。　　But　to　run　here　and　run　there；　to
cross…question　railway　guards；　and　lie　on　my　face　with　a　lens　to
my　eye……it　is　not　my　metier。　　No；　you　are　the　one　man　who　can
clear　the　matter　up。　　If　you　have　a　fancy　to　see　your　name　in　the
next　honours　list……〃

My　friend　smiled　and　shook　his　head。

〃I　play　the　game　for　the　game's　own　sake；〃　said　he。　　〃But　the
problem　certainly　presents　some　points　of　interest；　and　I　shall
be　very　pleased　to　look　into　it。　　Some　more　facts；　please。〃

〃I　have　jotted　down　the　more　essential　ones　upon　this　sheet　of
paper；　together　with　a　few　addresses　which　you　will　find　of
service。　　The　actual　official　guardian　of　the　papers　is　the
famous　government　expert；　Sir　James　Walter；　whose　decorations　and
sub…titles　fill　two　lines　of　a　book　of　reference。　　He　has　grown
gray　in　the　service；　is　a　gentleman；　a　favoured　guest　in　the　most
exalted　houses；　and；　above　all；　a　man　whose　patriotism　is　beyond
suspicion。　　He　is　one　of　two　who　have　a　key　of　the　safe。　　I　may
add　that　the　papers　were　undoubtedly　in　the　office　during　working
hours　on　Monday；　and　that　Sir　James　left　for　London　about　three
o'clock　taking　his　key　with　him。　　He　was　at　the　house　of　Admiral
Sinclair　at　Barclay　Square　during　the　whole　of　the　evening　when
this　incident　occurred。〃

〃Has　the　fact　been　verified？〃

〃Yes；　his　brother；　Colonel　Valentine　Walter；　has　testified　to　his
departure　from　Woolwich；　and　Admiral　Sinclair　to　his　arrival　in
London；　so　Sir　James　is　no　longer　a　direct　factor　in　the
problem。〃

〃Who　was　the　other　man　with　a　key？〃

〃The　senior　clerk　and　draughtsman；　Mr。　Sidney　Johnson。　　He　is　a
man　of　forty；　married；　with　five　children。　　He　is　a　silent；
morose　man；　but　he　has；　on　the　whole；　an　excellent　record　in　the
public　service。　　He　is　unpopular　with　his　colleagues；　but　a　hard
worker。　　According　to　his　own　account；　corroborated　only　by　the
word　of　his　wife；　he　was　at　home　the　whole　of　Monday　evening
after　office　hours；　and　his　key　has　never　left　the　watch…chain
upon　which　it　hangs。〃

〃Tell　us　about　Cadogan　West。〃

〃He　has　been　ten　years　in　the　service　and　has　done　good　work。　　He
has　the　reputation　of　being　hot…headed　and　imperious；　but　a
straight；　honest　man。　　We　have　nothing　against　him。　　He　was　next
Sidney　Johnson　in　the　office。　　His　duties　brought　him　into　daily；
personal　contact　with　the　plans。　　No　one　else　had　the　handling　o