第2部分(第2/7 页)

n　of　getting　details。

Give　me　your　details；　and　from　an　armchair　I　will　return　you　an

excellent　expert　opinion。 But　to　run　here　and　run　there；　to

cross…question　railway　guards；　and　lie　on　my　face　with　a　lens　to

my　eye……it　is　not　my　metier。 No；　you　are　the　one　man　who　can

clear　the　matter　up。 If　you　have　a　fancy　to　see　your　name　in　the

next　honours　list……〃

My　friend　smiled　and　shook　his　head。

〃I　play　the　game　for　the　game's　own　sake；〃　said　he。 〃But　the

problem　certainly　presents　some　points　of　interest；　and　I　shall

be　very　pleased　to　look　into　it。 Some　more　facts；　please。〃

〃I　have　jotted　down　the　more　essential　ones　upon　this　sheet　of

paper；　together　with　a　few　addresses　which　you　will　find　of

service。 The　actual　official　guardian　of　the　papers　is　the

famous　government　expert；　Sir　James　Walter；　whose　decorations　and

sub…titles　fill　two　lines　of　a　book　of　reference。 He　has　grown

gray　in　the　service；　is　a　gentleman；　a　favoured　guest　in　the　most

exalted　houses；　and；　above　all；　a　man　whose　patriotism　is　beyond

suspicion。 He　is　one　of　two　who　have　a　key　of　the　safe。 I　may

add　that　the　papers　were　undoubtedly　in　the　office　during　working

hours　on　Monday；　and　that　Sir　James　left　for　London　about　three

o'clock　taking　his　key　with　him。 He　was　at　the　house　of　Admiral

Sinclair　at　Barclay　Square　during　the　whole　of　the　evening　when

this　incident　occurred。〃

〃Has　the　fact　been　verified？〃

〃Yes；　his　brother；　Colonel　Valentine　Walter；　has　testified　to　his

departure　from　Woolwich；　and　Admiral　Sinclair　to　his　arrival　in

London；　so　Sir　James　is　no　longer　a　direct　factor　in　the

problem。〃