。 He must bring back the papers before morning or the loss
will be discovered。 He took away ten。 Only seven were in his
pocket。 What had bee of the other three？ He certainly would
not leave them of his own free will。 Then； again； where is the
price of his treason？ Once would have expected to find a large
sum of money in his pocket。〃
〃It seems to me perfectly clear；〃 said Lestrade。 〃I have no
doubt at all as to what occurred。 He took the papers to sell
them。 He saw the agent。 They could not agree as to price。 He
started home again； but the agent went with him。 In the train
the agent murdered him； took the more essential papers； and threw
his body from the carriage。 That would account for everything；
would it not？〃
〃Why had he no ticket？〃
〃The ticket would have shown which station was nearest the
agent's house。 Therefore he took it from the murdered man's
pocket。〃
〃Good； Lestrade； very good；〃 said Holmes。 〃Your theory holds
together。 But if this is true； then the case is at an end。 On
the one hand； the traitor is dead。 On the other； the plans of
the Bruce…Partington submarine are presumably already on the
Continent。 What is there for us to do？〃
〃To act； Sherlock……to act！〃 cried Mycroft； springing to his feet。
〃All my instincts are against this explanation。 Use your powers！
Go to the scene of the crime！ See the people concerned！ Leave
no stone unturned！ In all your career you have never had so
great a chance of serving your country。〃
〃Well； well！〃 said Holmes； shrugging his shoulders。 〃e；
Watson！ And you； Lestrade； could you favour us with your pany