middle Victorian epoch in the West End of London。 Next door
there appeared to be a children's party； for the merry buzz of
young voices and the clatter of a piano resounded through the
night。 The fog still hung about and screened us with its
friendly shade。 Holmes had lit his lantern and flashed it upon
the massive door。
〃This is a serious proposition；〃 said he。 〃It is certainly
bolted as well as locked。 We would do better in the area。 There
is an excellent archway down yonder in case a too zealous
policeman should intrude。 Give me a hand； Watson； and I'll do
the same for you。〃
A minute later we were both in the area。 Hardly had we reached
the dark shadows before the step of the policeman was heard in
the fog above。 As its soft rhythm died away； Holmes set to work
upon the lower door。 I saw him stoop and strain until with a
sharp crash it flew open。 We sprang through into the dark
passage； closing the area door behind us。 Holmes let the way up
the curving； uncarpeted stair。 His little fan of yellow light
shone upon a low window。
〃Here we are； Watson……this must be the one。〃 He threw it open；
and as he did so there was a low； harsh murmur； growing steadily
into a loud roar as a train dashed past us in the darkness。
Holmes swept his light along the window…sill。 It was thickly
coated with soot from the passing engines； but the black surface
was blurred and rubbed in places。
〃You can see where they rested the body。 Halloa； Watson！ what is
this？ There can be no doubt that it is a blood mark。〃 He was
pointing to faint discolourations along the woodwork of the
window。 〃Here it is on the stone of the stair also。 The
demonstration is plete。 Let us stay here until a train
stops。〃
We had not long to wait。 The very next train roared from the
tunnel as before； but slowed in the open； and then； with a
creaking of brakes； pulled up immediately beneath us。 It was not
four feet from the window…ledge to the roof of the carriages。
Holmes softly closed the window。
〃So far we are justified；〃 said he。 〃What do you think of it；
Watson？〃
〃A masterpiece。 You have never risen to a greater height。〃
〃I cannot agree with you there。 From the moment that I conceived
the idea of the body being upon the roof； which surely was not a
very abstruse one； all the rest was inevitable。 If it were not
for the grave interests involved the affair up to this point
would be insignificant。 Our difficulties are still before us。
But perhaps we may find something here which may help us。〃
We had ascended the kitchen stair and entered the suite of rooms
upon the first floor。 One was a dining…room； severely furnished
and containing nothing of interest。 A second was a bedroom；
which also drew blank。 The remaining room appeared more
promising； and my panion settled down to a systematic
examination。 It was littered with books and papers； and was
evidently used as a study。 Swiftly and methodically Holmes
turned over the contents of drawer after drawer and cupboard
after cupboard； but no gleam of success came to brighten his
austere face。 At the end of an hour he was no further than when
he started。
〃The cunning dog has covered his tracks；〃 said he。 〃He has left
nothing to incriminate him。 His dangerous correspondence has
been destroyed or removed。 This is our last chance。〃
It was a small tin cash…box which stood upon the writing…desk。
Holmes pried it open with his chisel。 Several rolls of paper
were within； covered with figures and calculations； without any
note to show to what they referred。 The recurring words； 〃water
pressure〃 and 〃pressure to the square inch〃 suggested some
possible relation to a submarine。 Holmes tossed them all
impatiently aside。 There only remained an envelope with some
small newspaper slips inside it。 He shook them out on the table；
and at once I saw by his eager face that his hopes had been
raised。
〃What's this； Watson？ Eh？ What's this？ Record of a series of
messages in the advertisements of a paper。 Daily Telegraph agony
column by the print and paper。 Right…hand top corner of a page。
No dates……but messages arrange themselves。 This must be the
first：
〃Hoped to hear sooner。 Terms agreed to。 Write fully to address
given on card。
〃Pierrot。
〃Next es：
〃Too plex for description。 Must have full report； Stuff
awaits you when goods delivered。
〃Pierrot。
〃Then es：
〃Matter presses。 Must withdraw offer unless contract pleted。
Make appointment by letter。 Will confirm by advertisement。
〃Pierrot。
〃Finally：
〃Monday night after nine。 Two taps。 Only ourselves。 Do not be
so suspicious。 Payment in hard cash when goods delivered。
〃Pierrot。
〃A fairly plete record； Watson！ If we could only get at the
man at the other end！〃 He sat lost in thought； tapping his
fingers on the table。 Finally he sprang to his feet。
〃Well； perhaps it won't be so difficult； after all。 There is
nothing more to be done here； Watson。 I think we might drive
round to the offices of the Daily Telegraph； and so bring a good
day's work to a conclusion。〃
Mycroft Holmes and Lestrade had e round by appointment after
breakfast next day and Sherlock Holmes had recounted to them our
proceedings of the day before。 The professional shook his head
over our confessed burglary。
〃We can't do these things in the force； Mr。 Holmes；〃 said he。
〃No wonder you get results that are beyond us。 But some of these
days you'll go too far； and you'll find yourself and your friend
in trouble。〃
〃For England； home and beauty……eh； Watson？ Martyrs on the altar
of our country。 But what do you think of it； Mycroft？〃
〃Excellent； Sherlock！ Admirable！ But what use will you make of
it？〃
Holmes picked up the Daily Telegraph which lay upon the table。
〃Have you seen Pierrot's advertisement to…day？〃
〃What？ Another one？〃
〃Yes； here it is：
〃To…night。 Same hour。 Same place。 Two taps。 Most vitally
important。 Your own safety at stake。
〃Pierrot。
〃By George！〃 cried Lestrade。 〃If he answers that we've got him！〃
〃That was my idea when I put it in。 I think if you could both
make it convenient to e with us about eight o'clock to
Caulfield Gardens we might possibly get a little nearer to a
solution。〃
One of the most remarkable characteristics of Sherlock Holmes was
his power of throwing his brain out of action and switching all
his thoughts on to lighter things whenever he had convinced
himself that he could no longer work to advantage。 I remember
that during the whole of that memorable day he lost himself in a
monograph which he had undertaken upon the Polyphonic Motets of
Lassus。 For my own part I had none of this power of detachment；
and the day； in consequence； appeared to be interminable。 The
great national importance of the issue； the suspense in high
quarters； the direct nature of the experiment which we were
trying……all bined to work upon my nerve。 It was a relief to
me when at last； after a light dinner； we set out upon our
expedition。 Lestrade and Mycroft met us by appointment at the
outside of Gloucester Road Station。 The area door of Oberstein's
house had been left open the night before； and it was necessary
for me； as Mycroft Holmes absolutely and indignantly declined to
climb the railings； to pass in and open the hall door。 By nine
o'clock we were all seated in the study； waiting patently for our
man。
An hour passed and yet another。 When eleven struck； the measured
beat of the great church clock seemed to sound the dirge of our
hopes。 Lestrade and Mycroft were fidgeting in their seats and
looking twice a minute at their watches。 Holmes sat silent and
posed； his eyelids half shut； but every sense on the alert。
He raised his head with a sudden jerk。
〃He is ing；〃 said he。
There had been a furtive step past the door。 Now it returned。
We heard a shuffling sound outside； and then two sharp taps with
the knocker。 Holmes rose； motioning us to remain seated。 The gas
in the hall was a mere point of light。 He opened the outer door；
and then as a dark figure slipped past him he closed and fastened
it。 〃This way！〃 we heard him say； and a moment later our man
stood before us。 Holmes had followed him closely； and as the man
turned with a cry of surprise and alarm he caught him by the
collar and threw him back into the room。 Before our prisoner had
recovered his balance the door was shut and Holmes standing with
his back against it。 The man glared round him； staggered； and
fell senseless upon the floor。 With the shock； his broad…brimmed
hat flew from his head； his cravat slipped sown from his lips；
and there were the long light beard and the soft； handsome
delicate features of Colonel Valentine Walter。
Holmes gave a whistle of surprise。
〃You can write me down an ass this time； Watson；〃 said he。 〃This
was not the bird that I was looking for。〃
〃Who is he？〃 asked Mycroft eagerly。
〃The younger brother of the late Sir James Walter； the head of
the Submarine Department。 Yes； yes； I see the fall of the cards。
He is ing to。 I think that you had best leave his examination
to me。〃
We had carried the prostrate body to the sofa。 Now our prisoner
sat up； looked round him with a horror…stricken face； and passed
his hand over his forehead； like one who cannot believe his own
senses。
〃What is this？〃 he asked。 〃I came here to visit Mr。 Oberstein。〃
〃Everything is known； Colonel Walter；〃 said Holmes。 〃How an English gentleman could behave in such a manner is beyond my prehension。 But your whole correspondence and relations with Oberstein are within our knowledge。 So also are the circumstances connected with the death of young Cadogan West。
Let me advise you to gain at least the small credit for repentance and confession； since there are still some details which we can only learn from your lips。〃
The man groaned and sank his face in his hands。 We waited； but he was silent。
〃I can assure you；〃 said Holmes； 〃that every essential is already known。 We know that you were pressed for money； that you took an impress of the keys which your brother held； and that you entered into a correspondence with Oberstein； who answered your letters through the advertisement columns of the Daily Telegraph。
We are aware that you went down to the office in the fog on Monday night； but that you were seen and followed by young Cadogan West； who had probably some previous reason to suspect you。 He saw your theft； but could not give the alarm； as it was just possible that you were taking the papers to your brother in London。
Leaving all his private concerns； like the good citizen that he was； he followed you closely in the fog and kept at your heels until you reached this very house。 There he intervened； and then it was； Colonel Walter； that to treason you added the more terrible crime of murder。〃
〃I did not！ I did not！ Before God I swear that I did not！〃 cried our wretched prisoner。
〃Tell us； then； how Cadogan West met his end before you laid him upon the roof of a railway carriage。〃
〃I will。 I swear to you that I will。 I did the rest。 I confess it。 It was just as you say。 A Stock Exchange debt had to be paid。 I needed the money bad