第3部分(第2/7 页)

OF　of　a　carriage。〃

〃On　the　roof！〃

〃Remarkable；　is　it　not？ But　consider　the　facts。 Is　it　a

coincidence　that　it　is　found　at　the　very　point　where　the　train

pitches　and　sways　as　it　es　round　on　the　points？ Is　not　that

the　place　where　an　object　upon　the　roof　might　be　expected　to　fall

off？ The　points　would　affect　no　object　inside　the　train。 Either

the　body　fell　from　the　roof；　or　a　very　curious　coincidence　has

occurred。 But　now　consider　the　question　of　the　blood。 Of

course；　there　was　no　bleeding　on　the　line　if　the　body　had　bled

elsewhere。 Each　fact　is　suggestive　in　itself。 Together　they

have　a　cumulative　force。〃

〃And　the　ticket；　too！〃　I　cried。

〃Exactly。 We　could　not　explain　the　absence　of　a　ticket。 This

would　explain　it。 Everything　fits　together。〃

〃But　suppose　it　were　so；　we　are　still　as　far　as　ever　from

unravelling　the　mystery　of　his　death。 Indeed；　it　bees　not

simpler　but　stranger。〃

〃Perhaps；〃　said　Holmes；　thoughtfully；　〃perhaps。〃 He　relapsed

into　a　silent　reverie；　which　lasted　until　the　slow　train　drew　up

at　last　in　Woolwich　Station。 There　he　called　a　cab　and　drew

Mycroft's　paper　from　his　pocket。

〃We　have　quite　a　little　round　of　afternoon　calls　to　make；〃　said

he。 〃I　think　that　Sir　James　Walter　claims　our　first　attention。〃

The　house　of　the　famous　official　was　a　fine　villa　with　green

lawns　stretching　down　to　the　Thames。 As　we　reached　it　the　fog

was　lifting；　and　a　thin；　watery　sunshine　was　breaking　through。 A

butler　answered　our　ring。

〃Sir　James；　sir！〃　said　he　with　solemn　face。 〃Sir　James　died　this

morning。〃

〃Good　heavens！〃　cried　Holmes　in　amazement。 〃H