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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