remarks　to　his

fiancee。 Very　good。 We　will　now　suppose　that　as　he　went　to　the

theatre　with　the　young　lady　he　suddenly；　in　the　fog；　caught　a

glimpse　of　this　same　agent　going　in　the　direction　of　the　office。

He　was　an　impetuous　man；　quick　in　his　decisions。 Everything　gave

way　to　his　duty。 He　followed　the　man；　reached　the　window；　saw

the　abstraction　of　the　documents；　and　pursued　the　thief。 In　this

way　we　get　over　the　objection　that　no　one　would　take　originals

when　he　could　make　copies。 This　outsider　had　to　take　originals。

So　far　it　holds　together。〃

〃What　is　the　next　step？〃

〃Then　we　e　into　difficulties。 One　would　imagine　that　under

such　circumstances　the　first　act　of　young　Cadogan　West　would　be

to　seize　the　villain　and　raise　the　alarm。 Why　did　he　not　do　so？

Could　it　have　been　an　official　superior　who　took　the　papers？

That　would　explain　West's　conduct。 Or　could　the　chief　have　given

West　the　slip　in　the　fog；　and　West　started　at　once　to　London　to

head　him　off　from　his　own　rooms；　presuming　that　he　knew　where　the

rooms　were？ The　call　must　have　been　very　pressing；　since　he　left

his　girl　standing　in　the　fog　and　made　no　effort　to　municate

with　her。 Our　scent　runs　cold　here；　and　there　is　a　vast　gap

between　either　hypothesis　and　the　laying　of　West's　body；　with

seven　papers　in　his　pocket；　on　the　roof　of　a　Metropolitan　train。

My　instinct　now　is　to　work　form　the　other　end。 If　Mycroft　has

given　us　the　list　of　addresses　we　may　be　able　to　pick　our　man　and

follow　two　tracks　instead　of　one。〃

Surely　enough；　a　note　awaited　us　at　Baker　Street。 A　government

messenger　had　brought　it　post…haste。 Hol