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the truth。 Here all other contingencies have failed。 When I found that
the leading international agent； who had just left London； lived in
a row of houses which abutted upon the Underground； I was so pleased
that you were a little astonished at my sudden frivolity。〃
〃Oh； that was it； was it？〃
〃Yes； that was it。 Mr。 Hugo Oberstein； Of 13 Caulfield Gardens；
had become my objective。 I began my operations at Gloucester Road
Station； where a very helpful official walked with me along the
track and allowed me to satisfy myself not only that the back…stair
windows of Caulfield Gardens open on the line but the even more
essential fact that； owing to the intersection of one of the larger
railways； the Underground trains are frequently held motionless for
some minutes at that very spot。〃
〃Splendid； Holmes！ You have got it！〃
〃So far… so far； Watson。 We advance； but the goal is afar。 Well；
having seen the back of Caulfield Gardens； I visited the front and
satisfied myself that the bird was indeed flown。 It is a
considerable house； unfurnished； so far as I could judge； in the upper
rooms。 Oberstein lived there with a single valet； who was probably a
confederate entirely in his confidence。 We must bear in mind that
Oberstein has gone to the Continent to dispose of his booty； but not
with any idea of flight； for he had no reason to fear a warrant； and
the idea of an amateur domiciliary visit would certainly never occur
to him。 Yet that is precisely what we are about to make。〃
〃Could we not get a warrant and legalize it？〃
〃Hardly on the evidence。〃
〃What can we hope to do？〃
〃We cannot tell what correspondence may be there。〃
〃I don't like it； Holmes。〃
〃My dear fellow； you shall keep watch in the street。 I'll do the
criminal part。 It's not a time to stick at trifles。 Think of Mycroft's
note； of the Admiralty； the Cabinet； the exalted person who waits
for news。 We are bound to go。〃
My answer was to rise from the table。
〃You are right； Holmes。 We are bound to go。〃
He sprang up and shook me by the hand。
〃I knew you would not shrink at the last；〃 said he； and for a moment
I saw something in his eyes which was nearer to tenderness than I
had ever seen。 The next instant he was his masterful； practical self
once more。
〃It is nearly half a mile； but there is no hurry。 Let us walk；〃 said
he。 〃Don't drop the instruments； I beg。 Your arrest as a suspicious
character would be a most unfortunate complication。〃
Caulfield Gardens was on of those lines of flat…faced pillared；
and porticoed houses which are so prominent a product of the 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 led 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
complete。 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
companion 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 comes：
〃Too complex for description。 Must have full report。 Stuff awaits
you when goods delivered。 〃PIERROT。
〃Then comes：
〃Matter presses。 Must withdraw