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-=====The Adventure of the Noble Bachelor=====
+=====The Adventure of the Norwood Builder=====
 ===Sir Arthur Conan Doyle===
-The Lord St. Simon marriage, and its curious termination, have long
+“From the point of view of the criminal expert,” said Mr.
-ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles in which
+Sherlock Holmes, “London has become a singularly uninteresting
-the unfortunate bridegroom moves. Fresh scandals have eclipsed it, and
+city since the death of the late lamented Professor Moriarty.”
-their more piquant details have drawn the gossips away from this
-four-year-old drama. As I have reason to believe, however, that the
-full facts have never been revealed to the general public, and as my
-friend Sherlock Holmes had a considerable share in clearing the matter
-up, I feel that no memoir of him would be complete without some little
-sketch of this remarkable episode.
-It was a few weeks before my own marriage, during the days when I was
+“I can hardly think that you would find many decent citizens to
-still sharing rooms with Holmes in Baker Street, that he came home from
+agree with you,” I answered.
-an afternoon stroll to find a letter on the table waiting for him. I
-had remained indoors all day, for the weather had taken a sudden turn
-to rain, with high autumnal winds, and the jezail bullet which I had
-brought back in one of my limbs as a relic of my Afghan campaign
-throbbed with dull persistence. With my body in one easy-chair and my
-legs upon another, I had surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers
-until at last, saturated with the news of the day, I tossed them all
-aside and lay listless, watching the huge crest and monogram upon the
-envelope upon the table and wondering lazily who my friend’s noble
-correspondent could be.
-“Here is a very fashionable epistle,” I remarked as he entered. “Your
+“Well, well, I must not be selfish,” said he, with a smile, as he
-morning letters, if I remember right, were from a fish-monger and a
+pushed back his chair from the breakfast-table. “The community is
-tide-waiter.”
+certainly the gainer, and no one the loser, save the poor
+out-of-work specialist, whose occupation has gone. With that man
+in the field, one’s morning paper presented infinite
+possibilities. Often it was only the smallest trace, Watson, the
+faintest indication, and yet it was enough to tell me that the
+great malignant brain was there, as the gentlest tremors of the
+edges of the web remind one of the foul spider which lurks in the
+centre. Petty thefts, wanton assaults, purposeless outrage---to the
+man who held the clue all could be worked into one connected
+whole. To the scientific student of the higher criminal world, no
+capital in Europe offered the advantages which London then
+possessed. But now------” He shrugged his shoulders in humorous
+deprecation of the state of things which he had himself done so
+much to produce.
-“Yes, my correspondence has certainly the charm of variety,” he
+At the time of which I speak, Holmes had been back for some
-answered, smiling, “and the humbler are usually the more interesting.
+months, and I at his request had sold my practice and returned to
-This looks like one of those unwelcome social summonses which call upon
+share the old quarters in Baker Street. A young doctor, named
-a man either to be bored or to lie.”
+Verner, had purchased my small Kensington practice, and given
+with astonishingly little demur the highest price that I ventured
+to ask---an incident which only explained itself some years later,
+when I found that Verner was a distant relation of Holmes, and
+that it was my friend who had really found the money.
-He broke the seal and glanced over the contents.
+Our months of partnership had not been so uneventful as he had
+stated, for I find, on looking over my notes, that this period
+includes the case of the papers of ex-President Murillo, and also
+the shocking affair of the Dutch steamship //Friesland//, which so
+nearly cost us both our lives. His cold and proud nature was
+always averse, however, from anything in the shape of public
+applause, and he bound me in the most stringent terms to say no
+further word of himself, his methods, or his successes---a
+prohibition which, as I have explained, has only now been
+removed.
-“Oh, come, it may prove to be something of interest, after all.”
+Mr. Sherlock Holmes was leaning back in his chair after his
+whimsical protest, and was unfolding his morning paper in a
+leisurely fashion, when our attention was arrested by a
+tremendous ring at the bell, followed immediately by a hollow
+drumming sound, as if someone were beating on the outer door with
+his fist. As it opened there came a tumultuous rush into the
+hall, rapid feet clattered up the stair, and an instant later a
+wild-eyed and frantic young man, pale, disheveled, and
+palpitating, burst into the room. He looked from one to the other
+of us, and under our gaze of inquiry he became conscious that
+some apology was needed for this unceremonious entry.
-“Not social, then?”
+“I’m sorry, Mr. Holmes,” he cried. “You mustn’t blame me. I am
+nearly mad. Mr. Holmes, I am the unhappy John Hector McFarlane.”
-“No, distinctly professional.”
+He made the announcement as if the name alone would explain both
+his visit and its manner, but I could see, by my companion’s
+unresponsive face, that it meant no more to him than to me.
-“And from a noble client?”
+“Have a cigarette, Mr. McFarlane,” said he, pushing his case
+across. “I am sure that, with your symptoms, my friend Dr. Watson
+here would prescribe a sedative. The weather has been so very
+warm these last few days. Now, if you feel a little more
+composed, I should be glad if you would sit down in that chair,
+and tell us very slowly and quietly who you are, and what it is
+that you want. You mentioned your name, as if I should recognize
+it, but I assure you that, beyond the obvious facts that you are
+a bachelor, a solicitor, a Freemason, and an asthmatic, I know
+nothing whatever about you.”
-“One of the highest in England.”
+Familiar as I was with my friend’s methods, it was not difficult
+for me to follow his deductions, and to observe the untidiness of
+attire, the sheaf of legal papers, the watch-charm, and the
+breathing which had prompted them. Our client, however, stared in
+amazement.
-“My dear fellow, I congratulate you.”
+“Yes, I am all that, Mr. Holmes; and, in addition, I am the most
+unfortunate man at this moment in London. For heaven’s sake,
+don’t abandon me, Mr. Holmes! If they come to arrest me before I
+have finished my story, make them give me time, so that I may
+tell you the whole truth. I could go to jail happy if I knew that
+you were working for me outside.”
-“I assure you, Watson, without affectation, that the status of my
+“Arrest you!” said Holmes. “This is really most grati---most
-client is a matter of less moment to me than the interest of his case.
+interesting. On what charge do you expect to be arrested?”
-It is just possible, however, that that also may not be wanting in this
-new investigation. You have been reading the papers diligently of late,
-have you not?”
-“It looks like it,” said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in the
+“Upon the charge of murdering Mr. Jonas Oldacre, of Lower
-corner. “I have had nothing else to do.”
+Norwood.”
-“It is fortunate, for you will perhaps be able to post me up. I read
+My companion’s expressive face showed a sympathy which was not, I
-nothing except the criminal news and the agony column. The latter is
+am afraid, entirely unmixed with satisfaction.
-always instructive. But if you have followed recent events so closely
-you must have read about Lord St. Simon and his wedding?”
-“Oh, yes, with the deepest interest.”
+“Dear me,” said he, “it was only this moment at breakfast that I
+was saying to my friend, Dr. Watson, that sensational cases had
+disappeared out of our papers.”
-“That is well. The letter which I hold in my hand is from Lord St.
+Our visitor stretched forward a quivering hand and picked up the
-Simon. I will read it to you, and in return you must turn over these
+//Daily Telegraph//, which still lay upon Holmes’s knee.
-papers and let me have whatever bears upon the matter. This is what he
-says:
-~~~~“'MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES,---Lord Backwater tells me that I may\\
+“If you had looked at it, sir, you would have seen at a glance
-~~~~place implicit reliance upon your judgment and discretion. I have\\
+what the errand is on which I have come to you this morning. I
-~~~~determined, therefore, to call upon you and to consult you in\\
+feel as if my name and my misfortune must be in every man’s
-~~~~reference to the very painful event which has occurred in\\
+mouth.” He turned it over to expose the central page. “Here it
-~~~~connection with my wedding. Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, is\\
+is, and with your permission I will read it to you. Listen to
-~~~~acting already in the matter, but he assures me that he sees no\\
+this, Mr. Holmes. The headlines are: ‘Mysterious Affair at Lower
-~~~~objection to your co-operation, and that he even thinks that it\\
+Norwood. Disappearance of a Well-known Builder. Suspicion of
-~~~~might be of some assistance. I will call at four o’clock in the\\
+Murder and Arson. A Clue to the Criminal.’ That is the clue which
-~~~~afternoon, and, should you have any other engagement at that time,\\
+they are already following, Mr. Holmes, and I know that it leads
-~~~~I hope that you will postpone it, as this matter is of paramount\\
+infallibly to me. I have been followed from London Bridge
-~~~~importance. Yours faithfully,\\
+Station, and I am sure that they are only waiting for the warrant
-\\
+to arrest me. It will break my mother’s heart---it will break her
-~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~“‘ROBERT ST. SIMON.’
+heart!” He wrung his hands in an agony of apprehension, and
+swayed backward and forward in his chair.
-“It is dated from Grosvenor Mansions, written with a quill pen, and the
+I looked with interest upon this man, who was accused of being
-noble lord has had the misfortune to get a smear of ink upon the outer
+the perpetrator of a crime of violence. He was flaxen-haired and
-side of his right little finger,” remarked Holmes as he folded up the
+handsome, in a washed-out negative fashion, with frightened blue
-epistle.
+eyes, and a clean-shaven face, with a weak, sensitive mouth. His
+age may have been about twenty-seven, his dress and bearing that
+of a gentleman. From the pocket of his light summer overcoat
+protruded the bundle of indorsed papers which proclaimed his
+profession.
-“He says four o’clock. It is three now. He will be here in an hour.”
+“We must use what time we have,” said Holmes. “Watson, would you
+have the kindness to take the paper and to read the paragraph in
+question?”
-“Then I have just time, with your assistance, to get clear upon the
+Underneath the vigorous headlines which our client had quoted, I
-subject. Turn over those papers and arrange the extracts in their order
+read the following suggestive narrative:
-of time, while I take a glance as to who our client is.” He picked a
-red-covered volume from a line of books of reference beside the
-mantelpiece. “Here he is,” said he, sitting down and flattening it out
-upon his knee. “‘Lord Robert Walsingham de Vere St. Simon, second son
-of the Duke of Balmoral.’ Hum! ‘Arms: Azure, three caltrops in chief
-over a fess sable. Born in 1846.’ He’s forty-one years of age, which is
-mature for marriage. Was Under-Secretary for the colonies in a late
-administration. The Duke, his father, was at one time Secretary for
-Foreign Affairs. They inherit Plantagenet blood by direct descent, and
-Tudor on the distaff side. Ha! Well, there is nothing very instructive
-in all this. I think that I must turn to you Watson, for something more
-solid.”
-“I have very little difficulty in finding what I want,” said I, “for
+~~~~~~~~“Late last night, or early this morning, an incident occurred at\\
-the facts are quite recent, and the matter struck me as remarkable. I
+~~~~Lower Norwood which points, it is feared, to a serious crime. Mr.\\
-feared to refer them to you, however, as I knew that you had an inquiry
+~~~~Jonas Oldacre is a well-known resident of that suburb, where he\\
-on hand and that you disliked the intrusion of other matters.”
+~~~~has carried on his business as a builder for many years. Mr.\\
+~~~~Oldacre is a bachelor, fifty-two years of age, and lives in Deep\\
-“Oh, you mean the little problem of the Grosvenor Square furniture van.
+~~~~Dene House, at the Sydenham end of the road of that name. He has\\
-That is quite cleared up now---though, indeed, it was obvious from the
+~~~~had the reputation of being a man of eccentric habits, secretive\\
-first. Pray give me the results of your newspaper selections.”
+~~~~and retiring. For some years he has practically withdrawn from\\
+~~~~the business, in which he is said to have massed considerable\\
-“Here is the first notice which I can find. It is in the personal
+~~~~wealth. A small timber-yard still exists, however, at the back of\\
-column of the //Morning Post//, and dates, as you see, some weeks back:
+~~~~the house, and last night, about twelve o’clock, an alarm was\\
-‘A marriage has been arranged,’ it says, ‘and will, if rumour is
+~~~~given that one of the stacks was on fire. The engines were soon\\
-correct, very shortly take place, between Lord Robert St. Simon, second
+~~~~upon the spot, but the dry wood burned with great fury, and it\\
-son of the Duke of Balmoral, and Miss Hatty Doran, the only daughter of
+~~~~was impossible to arrest the conflagration until the stack had\\
-Aloysius Doran. Esq., of San Francisco, Cal., U.S.A.’ That is all.”
+~~~~been entirely consumed. Up to this point the incident bore the\\
+~~~~appearance of an ordinary accident, but fresh indications seem to\\
-“Terse and to the point,” remarked Holmes, stretching his long, thin
+~~~~point to serious crime. Surprise was expressed at the absence of\\
-legs towards the fire.
+~~~~the master of the establishment from the scene of the fire, and\\
+~~~~an inquiry followed, which showed that he had disappeared from\\
-“There was a paragraph amplifying this in one of the society papers of
+~~~~the house. An examination of his room revealed that the bed had\\
-the same week. Ah, here it is: ‘There will soon be a call for
+~~~~not been slept in, that a safe which stood in it was open, that a\\
-protection in the marriage  market, for the present free-trade
+~~~~number of important papers were scattered about the room, and\\
-principle appears to tell heavily against our home product. One by one
+~~~~finally, that there were signs of a murderous struggle, slight\\
-the management of the noble houses of Great Britain is passing into the
+~~~~traces of blood being found within the room, and an oaken\\
-hands of our fair cousins from across the Atlantic. An important
+~~~~walking-stick, which also showed stains of blood upon the handle.\\
-addition has been made during the last week to the list of the prizes
+~~~~It is known that Mr. Jonas Oldacre had received a late visitor in\\
-which have been borne away by these charming invaders. Lord St. Simon,
+~~~~his bedroom upon that night, and the stick found has been\\
-who has shown himself for over twenty years proof against the little
+~~~~identified as the property of this person, who is a young London\\
-god’s arrows, has now definitely announced his approaching marriage
+~~~~solicitor named John Hector McFarlane, junior partner of Graham\\
-with Miss Hatty Doran, the fascinating daughter of a California
+~~~~and McFarlane, of 426, Gresham Buildings, E.C. The police believe\\
-millionaire. Miss Doran, whose graceful figure and striking face
+~~~~that they have evidence in their possession which supplies a very\\
-attracted much attention at the Westbury House festivities, is an only
+~~~~convincing motive for the crime, and altogether it cannot be\\
-child, and it is currently reported that her dowry will run to
+~~~~doubted that sensational developments will follow.\\
-considerably over the six figures, with expectancies for the future. As
+\\
-it is an open secret that the Duke of Balmoral has been compelled to
+~~~~~~~~“LATER.---It is rumoured as we go to press that Mr. John Hector\\
-sell his pictures within the last few years, and as Lord St. Simon has
+~~~~McFarlane has actually been arrested on the charge of the\\
-no property of his own save the small estate of Birchmoor, it is
+~~~~murder of Mr. Jonas Oldacre. It is at least certain that a\\
-obvious that the Californian heiress is not the only gainer by an
+~~~~warrant has been issued. There have been further and sinister\\
-alliance which will enable her to make the easy and common transition
+~~~~developments in the investigation at Norwood. Besides the\\
-from a Republican lady to a British peeress.’”
+~~~~signs of a struggle in the room of the unfortunate builder it\\
+~~~~is now known that the French windows of his bedroom (which is\\
-“Anything else?” asked Holmes, yawning.
+~~~~on the ground floor) were found to be open, that there were\\
+~~~~marks as if some bulky object had been dragged across to the\\
-“Oh, yes; plenty. Then there is another note in the //Morning Post// to
+~~~~wood-pile, and, finally, it is asserted that charred remains\\
-say that the marriage would be an absolutely quiet one, that it would
+~~~~have been found among the charcoal ashes of the fire. The\\
-be at St. George’s, Hanover Square, that only half a dozen intimate
+~~~~police theory is that a most sensational crime has been\\
-friends would be invited, and that the party would return to the
+~~~~committed, that the victim was clubbed to death in his own\\
-furnished house at Lancaster Gate which has been taken by Mr. Aloysius
+~~~~bedroom, his papers rifled, and his dead body dragged across\\
-Doran. Two days later---that is, on Wednesday last---there is a curt
+~~~~to the wood-stack, which was then ignited so as to hide all\\
-announcement that the wedding had taken place, and that the honeymoon
+~~~~traces of the crime. The conduct of the criminal\\
-would be passed at Lord Backwater’s place, near Petersfield. Those are
+~~~~investigation has been left in the experienced hands of\\
-all the notices which appeared before the disappearance of the bride.”
+~~~~Inspector Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, who is following up the\\
+~~~~clues with his accustomed energy and sagacity.”
-“Before the what?” asked Holmes with a start.
-“The vanishing of the lady.”
-“When did she vanish, then?”
-“At the wedding breakfast.”
-“Indeed. This is more interesting than it promised to be; quite
-dramatic, in fact.”
-“Yes; it struck me as being a little out of the common.”
-“They often vanish before the ceremony, and occasionally during the
+Sherlock Holmes listened with closed eyes and fingertips together
-honeymoon; but I cannot call to mind anything quite so prompt as this.
+to this remarkable account.
-Pray let me have the details.”
-“I warn you that they are very incomplete.”
+“The case has certainly some points of interest,” said he, in his
+languid fashion. “May I ask, in the first place, Mr. McFarlane,
+how it is that you are still at liberty, since there appears to
+be enough evidence to justify your arrest?”
-“Perhaps we may make them less so.”
+“I live at Torrington Lodge, Blackheath, with my parents, Mr.
+Holmes, but last night, having to do business very late with Mr.
+Jonas Oldacre, I stayed at an hotel in Norwood, and came to my
+business from there. I knew nothing of this affair until I was in
+the train, when I read what you have just heard. I at once saw
+the horrible danger of my position, and I hurried to put the case
+into your hands. I have no doubt that I should have been arrested
+either at my city office or at my home. A man followed me from
+London Bridge Station, and I have no doubt---Great heaven! what is
+that?”
-“Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a morning
+It was a clang of the bell, followed instantly by heavy steps
-paper of yesterday, which I will read to you. It is headed, ‘Singular
+upon the stair. A moment later, our old friend Lestrade appeared
-Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding’:
+in the doorway. Over his shoulder I caught a glimpse of one or
+two uniformed policemen outside.
-“‘The family of Lord Robert St. Simon has been thrown into the greatest
+“Mr. John Hector McFarlane?” said Lestrade.
-consternation by the strange and painful episodes which have taken
-place in connection with his wedding. The ceremony, as shortly
-announced in the papers of yesterday, occurred on the previous morning;
-but it is only now that it has been possible to confirm the strange
-rumours which have been so persistently floating about. In spite of the
-attempts of the friends to hush the matter up, so much public attention
-has now been drawn to it that no good purpose can be served by
-affecting to disregard what is a common subject for conversation.
-“‘The ceremony, which was performed at St. George’s, Hanover Square,
+Our unfortunate client rose with a ghastly face.
-was a very quiet one, no one being present save the father of the
-bride, Mr. Aloysius Doran, the Duchess of Balmoral, Lord Backwater,
-Lord Eustace and Lady Clara St. Simon (the younger brother and sister
-of the bridegroom), and Lady Alicia Whittington. The whole party
-proceeded afterwards to the house of Mr. Aloysius Doran, at Lancaster
-Gate, where breakfast had been prepared. It appears that some little
-trouble was caused by a woman, whose name has not been ascertained, who
-endeavoured to force her way into the house after the bridal party,
-alleging that she had some claim upon Lord St. Simon. It was only after
-a painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler and
-the footman. The bride, who had fortunately entered the house before
-this unpleasant interruption, had sat down to breakfast with the rest,
-when she complained of a sudden indisposition and retired to her room.
-Her prolonged absence having caused some comment, her father followed
-her, but learned from her maid that she had only come up to her chamber
-for an instant, caught up an ulster and bonnet, and hurried down to the
-passage. One of the footmen declared that he had seen a lady leave the
-house thus apparelled, but had refused to credit that it was his
-mistress, believing her to be with the company. On ascertaining that
-his daughter had disappeared, Mr. Aloysius Doran, in conjunction with
-the bridegroom, instantly put themselves in communication with the
-police, and very energetic inquiries are being made, which will
-probably result in a speedy clearing up of this very singular business.
-Up to a late hour last night, however, nothing had transpired as to the
-whereabouts of the missing lady. There are rumours of foul play in the
-matter, and it is said that the police have caused the arrest of the
-woman who had caused the original disturbance, in the belief that, from
-jealousy or some other motive, she may have been concerned in the
-strange disappearance of the bride.’”
-“And is that all?”
+“I arrest you for the wilful murder of Mr. Jonas Oldacre, of
+Lower Norwood.”
-“Only one little item in another of the morning papers, but it is a
+McFarlane turned to us with a gesture of despair, and sank into
-suggestive one.”
+his chair once more like one who is crushed.
-“And it is---”
+“One moment, Lestrade,” said Holmes. “Half an hour more or less
+can make no difference to you, and the gentleman was about to
+give us an account of this very interesting affair, which might
+aid us in clearing it up.”
-“That Miss Flora Millar, the lady who had caused the disturbance, has
+“I think there will be no difficulty in clearing it up,” said
-actually been arrested. It appears that she was formerly a //danseuse//
+Lestrade, grimly.
-at the Allegro, and that she has known the bridegroom for some years.
-There are no further particulars, and the whole case is in your hands
-now---so far as it has been set forth in the public press.”
-“And an exceedingly interesting case it appears to be. I would not have
+“None the less, with your permission, I should be much interested
-missed it for worlds. But there is a ring at the bell, Watson, and as
+to hear his account.”
-the clock makes it a few minutes after four, I have no doubt that this
-will prove to be our noble client. Do not dream of going, Watson, for I
-very much prefer having a witness, if only as a check to my own
-memory.”
-“Lord Robert St. Simon,” announced our page-boy, throwing open the
+“Well, Mr. Holmes, it is difficult for me to refuse you anything,
-door. A gentleman entered, with a pleasant, cultured face, high-nosed
+for you have been of use to the force once or twice in the past,
-and pale, with something perhaps of petulance about the mouth, and with
+and we owe you a good turn at Scotland Yard,” said Lestrade. “At
-the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose pleasant lot it had ever
+the same time I must remain with my prisoner, and I am bound to
-been to command and to be obeyed. His manner was brisk, and yet his
+warn him that anything he may say will appear in evidence against
-general appearance gave an undue impression of age, for he had a slight
+him.”
-forward stoop and a little bend of the knees as he walked. His hair,
-too, as he swept off his very curly-brimmed hat, was grizzled round the
-edges and thin upon the top. As to his dress, it was careful to the
-verge of foppishness, with high collar, black frock-coat, white
-waistcoat, yellow gloves, patent-leather shoes, and light-coloured
-gaiters. He advanced slowly into the room, turning his head from left
-to right, and swinging in his right hand the cord which held his golden
-eyeglasses.
-“Good-day, Lord St. Simon,” said Holmes, rising and bowing. “Pray take
+“I wish nothing better,” said our client. “All I ask is that you
-the basket-chair. This is my friend and colleague, Dr. Watson. Draw up
+should hear and recognize the absolute truth.”
-a little to the fire, and we will talk this matter over.”
-“A most painful matter to me, as you can most readily imagine, Mr.
+Lestrade looked at his watch. “I’ll give you half an hour,” said
-Holmes. I have been cut to the quick. I understand that you have
+he.
-already managed several delicate cases of this sort, sir, though I
-presume that they were hardly from the same class of society.”
-“No, I am descending.”
+“I must explain first,” said McFarlane, “that I knew nothing of
+Mr. Jonas Oldacre. His name was familiar to me, for many years
+ago my parents were acquainted with him, but they drifted apart.
+I was very much surprised therefore, when yesterday, about three
+o’clock in the afternoon, he walked into my office in the city.
+But I was still more astonished when he told me the object of his
+visit. He had in his hand several sheets of a notebook, covered
+with scribbled writing---here they are---and he laid them on my
+table.
-“I beg pardon.”
+“‘Here is my will,’ said he. ‘I want you, Mr. McFarlane, to cast
+it into proper legal shape. I will sit here while you do so.’
-“My last client of the sort was a king.”
+“I set myself to copy it, and you can imagine my astonishment
+when I found that, with some reservations, he had left all his
+property to me. He was a strange little ferret-like man, with
+white eyelashes, and when I looked up at him I found his keen
+grey eyes fixed upon me with an amused expression. I could hardly
+believe my own as I read the terms of the will; but he explained
+that he was a bachelor with hardly any living relation, that he
+had known my parents in his youth, and that he had always heard
+of me as a very deserving young man, and was assured that his
+money would be in worthy hands. Of course, I could only stammer
+out my thanks. The will was duly finished, signed, and witnessed
+by my clerk. This is it on the blue paper, and these slips, as I
+have explained, are the rough draft. Mr. Jonas Oldacre then
+informed me that there were a number of documents---building
+leases, title-deeds, mortgages, scrip, and so forth---which it was
+necessary that I should see and understand. He said that his mind
+would not be easy until the whole thing was settled, and he
+begged me to come out to his house at Norwood that night,
+bringing the will with me, and to arrange matters. ‘Remember, my
+boy, not one word to your parents about the affair until
+everything is settled. We will keep it as a little surprise for
+them.’ He was very insistent upon this point, and made me promise
+it faithfully.
-“Oh, really! I had no idea. And which king?”
+“You can imagine, Mr. Holmes, that I was not in a humour to
+refuse him anything that he might ask. He was my benefactor, and
+all my desire was to carry out his wishes in every particular. I
+sent a telegram home, therefore, to say that I had important
+business on hand, and that it was impossible for me to say how
+late I might be. Mr. Oldacre had told me that he would like me to
+have supper with him at nine, as he might not be home before that
+hour. I had some difficulty in finding his house, however, and it
+was nearly half-past before I reached it. I found him------”
-“The King of Scandinavia.”
+“One moment!” said Holmes. “Who opened the door?”
-“What! Had he lost his wife?”
+“A middle-aged woman, who was, I suppose, his housekeeper.”
-“You can understand,” said Holmes suavely, “that I extend to the
+“And it was she, I presume, who mentioned your name?”
-affairs of my other clients the same secrecy which I promise to you in
-yours.”
-“Of course! Very right! very right! I’m sure I beg pardon. As to my own
+“Exactly,” said McFarlane.
-case, I am ready to give you any information which may assist you in
-forming an opinion.”
-“Thank you. I have already learned all that is in the public prints,
+“Pray proceed.”
-nothing more. I presume that I may take it as correct---this article, for
-example, as to the disappearance of the bride.”
-Lord St. Simon glanced over it. “Yes, it is correct, as far as it
+McFarlane wiped his damp brow, and then continued his narrative:
-goes.”
-“But it needs a great deal of supplementing before anyone could offer
+“I was shown by this woman into a sitting-room, where a frugal
-an opinion. I think that I may arrive at my facts most directly by
+supper was laid out. Afterwards, Mr. Jonas Oldacre led me into
-questioning you.”
+his bedroom, in which there stood a heavy safe. This he opened
+and took out a mass of documents, which we went over together. It
+was between eleven and twelve when we finished. He remarked that
+we must not disturb the housekeeper. He showed me out through his
+own French window, which had been open all this time.”
-“Pray do so.”
+“Was the blind down?” asked Holmes.
-“When did you first meet Miss Hatty Doran?”
+“I will not be sure, but I believe that it was only half down.
+Yes, I remember how he pulled it up in order to swing open the
+window. I could not find my stick, and he said, ‘Never mind, my
+boy, I shall see a good deal of you now, I hope, and I will keep
+your stick until you come back to claim it.’ I left him there,
+the safe open, and the papers made up in packets upon the table.
+It was so late that I could not get back to Blackheath, so I
+spent the night at the Anerley Arms, and I knew nothing more
+until I read of this horrible affair in the morning.”
-“In San Francisco, a year ago.”
+“Anything more that you would like to ask, Mr. Holmes?” said
+Lestrade, whose eyebrows had gone up once or twice during this
+remarkable explanation.
-“You were travelling in the States?”
+“Not until I have been to Blackheath.”
-“Yes.”
+“You mean to Norwood,” said Lestrade.
-“Did you become engaged then?”
+“Oh, yes, no doubt that is what I must have meant,” said Holmes,
+with his enigmatical smile. Lestrade had learned by more
+experiences than he would care to acknowledge that that brain
+could cut through that which was impenetrable to him. I saw him
+look curiously at my companion.
-“No.”
+“I think I should like to have a word with you presently, Mr.
+Sherlock Holmes,” said he. “Now, Mr. McFarlane, two of my
+constables are at the door, and there is a four-wheeler waiting.”
+The wretched young man arose, and with a last beseeching glance
+at us walked from the room. The officers conducted him to the
+cab, but Lestrade remained.
-“But you were on a friendly footing?”
+Holmes had picked up the pages which formed the rough draft of
+the will, and was looking at them with the keenest interest upon
+his face.
-“I was amused by her society, and she could see that I was amused.”
+“There are some points about that document, Lestrade, are there
+not?” said he, pushing them over.
-“Her father is very rich?”
+The official looked at them with a puzzled expression.
-“He is said to be the richest man on the Pacific slope.”
+“I can read the first few lines and these in the middle of the
+second page, and one or two at the end. Those are as clear as
+print,” said he, “but the writing in between is very bad, and
+there are three places where I cannot read it at all.”
-“And how did he make his money?”
+“What do you make of that?” said Holmes.
-“In mining. He had nothing a few years ago. Then he struck gold,
+“Well, what do //you// make of it?”
-invested it, and came up by leaps and bounds.”
-“Now, what is your own impression as to the young lady’s---your wife’s
+“That it was written in a train. The good writing represents
-character?”
+stations, the bad writing movement, and the very bad writing
+passing over points. A scientific expert would pronounce at once
+that this was drawn up on a suburban line, since nowhere save in
+the immediate vicinity of a great city could there be so quick a
+succession of points. Granting that his whole journey was
+occupied in drawing up the will, then the train was an express,
+only stopping once between Norwood and London Bridge.”
-The nobleman swung his glasses a little faster and stared down into the
+Lestrade began to laugh.
-fire. “You see, Mr. Holmes,” said he, “my wife was twenty before her
-father became a rich man. During that time she ran free in a mining
-camp and wandered through woods or mountains, so that her education has
-come from Nature rather than from the schoolmaster. She is what we call
-in England a tomboy, with a strong nature, wild and free, unfettered by
-any sort of traditions. She is impetuous---volcanic, I was about to say.
-She is swift in making up her mind and fearless in carrying out her
-resolutions. On the other hand, I would not have given her the name
-which I have the honour to bear”---he gave a little stately cough---“had I
-not thought her to be at bottom a noble woman. I believe that she is
-capable of heroic self-sacrifice and that anything dishonourable would
-be repugnant to her.”
-“Have you her photograph?”
+“You are too many for me when you begin to get on your theories,
+Mr. Holmes,” said he. “How does this bear on the case?”
-“I brought this with me.” He opened a locket and showed us the full
+“Well, it corroborates the young man’s story to the extent that
-face of a very lovely woman. It was not a photograph but an ivory
+the will was drawn up by Jonas Oldacre in his journey yesterday.
-miniature, and the artist had brought out the full effect of the
+It is curious---is it not?---that a man should draw up so important a
-lustrous black hair, the large dark eyes, and the exquisite mouth.
+document in so haphazard a fashion. It suggests that he did not
-Holmes gazed long and earnestly at it. Then he closed the locket and
+think it was going to be of much practical importance. If a man
-handed it back to Lord St. Simon.
+drew up a will which he did not intend ever to be effective, he
+might do it so.”
-“The young lady came to London, then, and you renewed your
+“Well, he drew up his own death warrant at the same time,” said
-acquaintance?”
+Lestrade.
-“Yes, her father brought her over for this last London season. I met
+“Oh, you think so?”
-her several times, became engaged to her, and have now married her.”
-“She brought, I understand, a considerable dowry?”
+“Don’t you?”
-“A fair dowry. Not more than is usual in my family.”
+“Well, it is quite possible, but the case is not clear to me
+yet.”
-“And this, of course, remains to you, since the marriage is a //fait
+“Not clear? Well, if that isn’t clear, what //could// be clearer?
-accompli//?”
+Here is a young man who learns suddenly that, if a certain older
+man dies, he will succeed to a fortune. What does he do? He says
+nothing to anyone, but he arranges that he shall go out on some
+pretext to see his client that night. He waits until the only
+other person in the house is in bed, and then in the solitude of
+a man’s room he murders him, burns his body in the wood-pile, and
+departs to a neighbouring hotel. The blood-stains in the room and
+also on the stick are very slight. It is probable that he
+imagined his crime to be a bloodless one, and hoped that if the
+body were consumed it would hide all traces of the method of his
+death---traces which, for some reason, must have pointed to him. Is
+not all this obvious?”
-“I really have made no inquiries on the subject.”
+“It strikes me, my good Lestrade, as being just a trifle too
+obvious,” said Holmes. “You do not add imagination to your other
+great qualities, but if you could for one moment put yourself in
+the place of this young man, would you choose the very night
+after the will had been made to commit your crime? Would it not
+seem dangerous to you to make so very close a relation between
+the two incidents? Again, would you choose an occasion when you
+are known to be in the house, when a servant has let you in? And,
+finally, would you take the great pains to conceal the body, and
+yet leave your own stick as a sign that you were the criminal?
+Confess, Lestrade, that all this is very unlikely.”
-“Very naturally not. Did you see Miss Doran on the day before the
+“As to the stick, Mr. Holmes, you know as well as I do that a
-wedding?”
+criminal is often flurried, and does such things, which a cool
+man would avoid. He was very likely afraid to go back to the
+room. Give me another theory that would fit the facts.”
-“Yes.”
+“I could very easily give you half a dozen,” said Holmes. “Here
+for example, is a very possible and even probable one. I make you
+a free present of it. The older man is showing documents which
+are of evident value. A passing tramp sees them through the
+window, the blind of which is only half down. Exit the solicitor.
+Enter the tramp! He seizes a stick, which he observes there,
+kills Oldacre, and departs after burning the body.”
-“Was she in good spirits?”
+“Why should the tramp burn the body?”
-“Never better. She kept talking of what we should do in our future
+“For the matter of that, why should McFarlane?”
-lives.”
-“Indeed! That is very interesting. And on the morning of the wedding?”
+“To hide some evidence.”
-“She was as bright as possible---at least until after the ceremony.”
+“Possibly the tramp wanted to hide that any murder at all had
+been committed.”
-“And did you observe any change in her then?”
+“And why did the tramp take nothing?”
-“Well, to tell the truth, I saw then the first signs that I had ever
+“Because they were papers that he could not negotiate.”
-seen that her temper was just a little sharp. The incident however, was
-too trivial to relate and can have no possible bearing upon the case.”
-“Pray let us have it, for all that.”
+Lestrade shook his head, though it seemed to me that his manner
+was less absolutely assured than before.
-“Oh, it is childish. She dropped her bouquet as we went towards the
+“Well, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, you may look for your tramp, and
-vestry. She was passing the front pew at the time, and it fell over
+while you are finding him we will hold on to our man. The future
-into the pew. There was a moment’s delay, but the gentleman in the pew
+will show which is right. Just notice this point, Mr. Holmes:
-handed it up to her again, and it did not appear to be the worse for
+that so far as we know, none of the papers were removed, and that
-the fall. Yet when I spoke to her of the matter, she answered me
+the prisoner is the one man in the world who had no reason for
-abruptly; and in the carriage, on our way home, she seemed absurdly
+removing them, since he was heir-at-law, and would come into them
-agitated over this trifling cause.”
+in any case.”
-“Indeed! You say that there was a gentleman in the pew. Some of the
+My friend seemed struck by this remark.
-general public were present, then?”
-“Oh, yes. It is impossible to exclude them when the church is open.”
+“I don’t mean to deny that the evidence is in some ways very
+strongly in favour of your theory,” said he. “I only wish to
+point out that there are other theories possible. As you say, the
+future will decide. Good-morning! I dare say that in the course
+of the day I shall drop in at Norwood and see how you are getting
+on.”
-“This gentleman was not one of your wife’s friends?”
+When the detective departed, my friend rose and made his
+preparations for the day’s work with the alert air of a man who
+has a congenial task before him.
-“No, no; I call him a gentleman by courtesy, but he was quite a
+“My first movement Watson,” said he, as he bustled into his
-common-looking person. I hardly noticed his appearance. But really I
+frockcoat, “must, as I said, be in the direction of Blackheath.”
-think that we are wandering rather far from the point.”
-“Lady St. Simon, then, returned from the wedding in a less cheerful
+“And why not Norwood?”
-frame of mind than she had gone to it. What did she do on re-entering
-her father’s house?”
-“I saw her in conversation with her maid.”
+“Because we have in this case one singular incident coming close
+to the heels of another singular incident. The police are making
+the mistake of concentrating their attention upon the second,
+because it happens to be the one which is actually criminal. But
+it is evident to me that the logical way to approach the case is
+to begin by trying to throw some light upon the first
+incident---the curious will, so suddenly made, and to so unexpected
+an heir. It may do something to simplify what followed. No, my
+dear fellow, I don’t think you can help me. There is no prospect
+of danger, or I should not dream of stirring out without you. I
+trust that when I see you in the evening, I will be able to
+report that I have been able to do something for this unfortunate
+youngster, who has thrown himself upon my protection.”
-“And who is her maid?”
+It was late when my friend returned, and I could see, by a glance
+at his haggard and anxious face, that the high hopes with which
+he had started had not been fulfilled. For an hour he droned away
+upon his violin, endeavouring to soothe his own ruffled spirits.
+At last he flung down the instrument, and plunged into a detailed
+account of his misadventures.
-“Alice is her name. She is an American and came from California with
+“It’s all going wrong, Watson---all as wrong as it can go. I kept a
-her.”
+bold face before Lestrade, but, upon my soul, I believe that for
+once the fellow is on the right track and we are on the wrong.
+All my instincts are one way, and all the facts are the other,
+and I much fear that British juries have not yet attained that
+pitch of intelligence when they will give the preference to my
+theories over Lestrade’s facts.”
-“A confidential servant?”
+“Did you go to Blackheath?”
-“A little too much so. It seemed to me that her mistress allowed her to
+“Yes, Watson, I went there, and I found very quickly that the
-take great liberties. Still, of course, in America they look upon these
+late lamented Oldacre was a pretty considerable blackguard. The
-things in a different way.”
+father was away in search of his son. The mother was at home---a
+little, fluffy, blue-eyed person, in a tremor of fear and
+indignation. Of course, she would not admit even the possibility
+of his guilt. But she would not express either surprise or regret
+over the fate of Oldacre. On the contrary, she spoke of him with
+such bitterness that she was unconsciously considerably
+strengthening the case of the police for, of course, if her son
+had heard her speak of the man in this fashion, it would
+predispose him towards hatred and violence. ‘He was more like a
+malignant and cunning ape than a human being,’ said she, ‘and he
+always was, ever since he was a young man.’
-“How long did she speak to this Alice?”
+“‘You knew him at that time?’ said I.
-“Oh, a few minutes. I had something else to think of.”
+“‘Yes, I knew him well, in fact, he was an old suitor of mine.
+Thank heaven that I had the sense to turn away from him and to
+marry a better, if poorer, man. I was engaged to him, Mr. Holmes,
+when I heard a shocking story of how he had turned a cat loose in
+an aviary, and I was so horrified at his brutal cruelty that I
+would have nothing more to do with him.’ She rummaged in a
+bureau, and presently she produced a photograph of a woman,
+shamefully defaced and mutilated with a knife. ‘That is my own
+photograph,’ she said. ‘He sent it to me in that state, with his
+curse, upon my wedding morning.’
-“You did not overhear what they said?”
+“‘Well,’ said I, ‘at least he has forgiven you now, since he has
+left all his property to your son.’
-“Lady St. Simon said something about ‘jumping a claim.’ She was
+“‘Neither my son nor I want anything from Jonas Oldacre, dead or
-accustomed to use slang of the kind. I have no idea what she meant.”
+alive!’ she cried, with a proper spirit. ‘There is a God in
+heaven, Mr. Holmes, and that same God who has punished that
+wicked man will show, in His own good time, that my son’s hands
+are guiltless of his blood.’
-“American slang is very expressive sometimes. And what did your wife do
+“Well, I tried one or two leads, but could get at nothing which
-when she finished speaking to her maid?”
+would help our hypothesis, and several points which would make
+against it. I gave it up at last and off I went to Norwood.
-“She walked into the breakfast-room.”
+“This place, Deep Dene House, is a big modern villa of staring
+brick, standing back in its own grounds, with a laurel-clumped
+lawn in front of it. To the right and some distance back from the
+road was the timber-yard which had been the scene of the fire.
+Here’s a rough plan on a leaf of my notebook. This window on the
+left is the one which opens into Oldacre’s room. You can look
+into it from the road, you see. That is about the only bit of
+consolation I have had to-day. Lestrade was not there, but his
+head constable did the honours. They had just found a great
+treasure-trove. They had spent the morning raking among the ashes
+of the burned wood-pile, and besides the charred organic remains
+they had secured several discoloured metal discs. I examined them
+with care, and there was no doubt that they were trouser buttons.
+I even distinguished that one of them was marked with the name of
+‘Hyams,’ who was Oldacres tailor. I then worked the lawn very
+carefully for signs and traces, but this drought has made
+everything as hard as iron. Nothing was to be seen save that some
+body or bundle had been dragged through a low privet hedge which
+is in a line with the wood-pile. All that, of course, fits in
+with the official theory. I crawled about the lawn with an August
+sun on my back, but I got up at the end of an hour no wiser than
+before.
-“On your arm?”
+“Well, after this fiasco I went into the bedroom and examined
+that also. The blood-stains were very slight, mere smears and
+discolourations, but undoubtedly fresh. The stick had been
+removed, but there also the marks were slight. There is no doubt
+about the stick belonging to our client. He admits it. Footmarks
+of both men could be made out on the carpet, but none of any
+third person, which again is a trick for the other side. They
+were piling up their score all the time and we were at a
+standstill.
-“No, alone. She was very independent in little matters like that. Then,
+“Only one little gleam of hope did I get---and yet it amounted to
-after we had sat down for ten minutes or so, she rose hurriedly,
+nothing. I examined the contents of the safe, most of which had
-muttered some words of apology, and left the room. She never came
+been taken out and left on the table. The papers had been made up
-back.”
+into sealed envelopes, one or two of which had been opened by the
+police. They were not, so far as I could judge, of any great
+value, nor did the bank-book show that Mr. Oldacre was in such
+very affluent circumstances. But it seemed to me that all the
+papers were not there. There were allusions to some
+deeds---possibly the more valuable---which I could not find. This, of
+course, if we could definitely prove it, would turn Lestrade’s
+argument against himself, for who would steal a thing if he knew
+that he would shortly inherit it?
-“But this maid, Alice, as I understand, deposes that she went to her
+“Finally, having drawn every other cover and picked up no scent,
-room, covered her bride’s dress with a long ulster, put on a bonnet,
+I tried my luck with the housekeeper. Mrs. Lexington is her
-and went out.”
+name---a little, dark, silent person, with suspicious and sidelong
+eyes. She could tell us something if she would---I am convinced of
+it. But she was as close as wax. Yes, she had let Mr. McFarlane
+in at half-past nine. She wished her hand had withered before she
+had done so. She had gone to bed at half-past ten. Her room was
+at the other end of the house, and she could hear nothing of what
+had passed. Mr. McFarlane had left his hat, and to the best of
+her belief his stick, in the hall. She had been awakened by the
+alarm of fire. Her poor, dear master had certainly been murdered.
+Had he any enemies? Well, every man had enemies, but Mr. Oldacre
+kept himself very much to himself, and only met people in the way
+of business. She had seen the buttons, and was sure that they
+belonged to the clothes which he had worn last night. The
+wood-pile was very dry, for it had not rained for a month. It
+burned like tinder, and by the time she reached the spot, nothing
+could be seen but flames. She and all the firemen smelled the
+burned flesh from inside it. She knew nothing of the papers, nor
+of Mr. Oldacre’s private affairs.
-“Quite so. And she was afterwards seen walking into Hyde Park in
+“So, my dear Watson, there’s my report of a failure. And yet---and
-company with Flora Millar, a woman who is now in custody, and who had
+yet---” he clenched his thin hands in a paroxysm of conviction---“I
-already made a disturbance at Mr. Doran’s house that morning.”
+//know// it’s all wrong. I feel it in my bones. There is something
+that has not come out, and that housekeeper knows it. There was a
+sort of sulky defiance in her eyes, which only goes with guilty
+knowledge. However, there’s no good talking any more about it,
+Watson; but unless some lucky chance comes our way I fear that
+the Norwood Disappearance Case will not figure in that chronicle
+of our successes which I foresee that a patient public will
+sooner or later have to endure.”
-“Ah, yes. I should like a few particulars as to this young lady, and
+“Surely,” said I, “the man’s appearance would go far with any
-your relations to her.”
+jury?”
-Lord St. Simon shrugged his shoulders and raised his eyebrows. “We have
+“That is a dangerous argument my dear Watson. You remember that
-been on a friendly footing for some years---I may say on a //very//
+terrible murderer, Bert Stevens, who wanted us to get him off in
-friendly footing. She used to be at the Allegro. I have not treated her
+’87? Was there ever a more mild-mannered, Sunday-school young
-ungenerously, and she had no just cause of complaint against me, but
+man?”
-you know what women are, Mr. Holmes. Flora was a dear little thing, but
-exceedingly hot-headed and devotedly attached to me. She wrote me
-dreadful letters when she heard that I was about to be married, and, to
-tell the truth, the reason why I had the marriage celebrated so quietly
-was that I feared lest there might be a scandal in the church. She came
-to Mr. Doran’s door just after we returned, and she endeavoured to push
-her way in, uttering very abusive expressions towards my wife, and even
-threatening her, but I had foreseen the possibility of something of the
-sort, and I had two police fellows there in private clothes, who soon
-pushed her out again. She was quiet when she saw that there was no good
-in making a row.”
-“Did your wife hear all this?”
+“It is true.”
-“No, thank goodness, she did not.”
+“Unless we succeed in establishing an alternative theory, this
+man is lost. You can hardly find a flaw in the case which can now
+be presented against him, and all further investigation has
+served to strengthen it. By the way, there is one curious little
+point about those papers which may serve us as the starting-point
+for an inquiry. On looking over the bank-book I found that the
+low state of the balance was principally due to large checks
+which have been made out during the last year to Mr. Cornelius. I
+confess that I should be interested to know who this Mr.
+Cornelius may be with whom a retired builder has such very large
+transactions. Is it possible that he has had a hand in the
+affair? Cornelius might be a broker, but we have found no scrip
+to correspond with these large payments. Failing any other
+indication, my researches must now take the direction of an
+inquiry at the bank for the gentleman who has cashed these
+checks. But I fear, my dear fellow, that our case will end
+ingloriously by Lestrade hanging our client, which will certainly
+be a triumph for Scotland Yard.”
-“And she was seen walking with this very woman afterwards?”
+I do not know how far Sherlock Holmes took any sleep that night,
+but when I came down to breakfast I found him pale and harassed,
+his bright eyes the brighter for the dark shadows round them. The
+carpet round his chair was littered with cigarette-ends and with
+the early editions of the morning papers. An open telegram lay
+upon the table.
-“Yes. That is what Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, looks upon as so
+“What do you think of this, Watson?” he asked, tossing it across.
-serious. It is thought that Flora decoyed my wife out and laid some
-terrible trap for her.”
-“Well, it is a possible supposition.”
+It was from Norwood, and ran as follows:
-“You think so, too?”
+~~~~~~Important fresh evidence to hand. McFarlane’s guilt definitely\\
+~~~~~~established. Advise you to abandon case.\\
+~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~LESTRADE.
-“I did not say a probable one. But you do not yourself look upon this
+“This sounds serious,” said I.
-as likely?”
-“I do not think Flora would hurt a fly.”
+“It is Lestrade’s little cock-a-doodle of victory,” Holmes
+answered, with a bitter smile. “And yet it may be premature to
+abandon the case. After all, important fresh evidence is a
+two-edged thing, and may possibly cut in a very different
+direction to that which Lestrade imagines. Take your breakfast,
+Watson, and we will go out together and see what we can do. I
+feel as if I shall need your company and your moral support
+today.”
-“Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray what is
+My friend had no breakfast himself, for it was one of his
-your own theory as to what took place?”
+peculiarities that in his more intense moments he would permit
+himself no food, and I have known him presume upon his iron
+strength until he has fainted from pure inanition. “At present I
+cannot spare energy and nerve force for digestion,” he would say
+in answer to my medical remonstrances. I was not surprised,
+therefore, when this morning he left his untouched meal behind
+him, and started with me for Norwood. A crowd of morbid
+sightseers were still gathered round Deep Dene House, which was
+just such a suburban villa as I had pictured. Within the gates
+Lestrade met us, his face flushed with victory, his manner
+grossly triumphant.
-“Well, really, I came to seek a theory, not to propound one. I have
+“Well, Mr. Holmes, have you proved us to be wrong yet? Have you
-given you all the facts. Since you ask me, however, I may say that it
+found your tramp?” he cried.
-has occurred to me as possible that the excitement of this affair, the
-consciousness that she had made so immense a social stride, had the
-effect of causing some little nervous disturbance in my wife.”
-“In short, that she had become suddenly deranged?”
+“I have formed no conclusion whatever,” my companion answered.
-“Well, really, when I consider that she has turned her back---I will not
+“But we formed ours yesterday, and now it proves to be correct,
-say upon me, but upon so much that many have aspired to without
+so you must acknowledge that we have been a little in front of
-success---I can hardly explain it in any other fashion.”
+you this time, Mr. Holmes.”
-“Well, certainly that is also a conceivable hypothesis,” said Holmes,
+“You certainly have the air of something unusual having
-smiling. “And now, Lord St. Simon, I think that I have nearly all my
+occurred,” said Holmes.
-data. May I ask whether you were seated at the breakfast-table so that
-you could see out of the window?”
-“We could see the other side of the road and the Park.”
+Lestrade laughed loudly.
-“Quite so. Then I do not think that I need to detain you longer. I
+“You don’t like being beaten any more than the rest of us do,”
-shall communicate with you.”
+said he. “A man can’t expect always to have it his own way, can
+he, Dr. Watson? Step this way, if you please, gentlemen, and I
+think I can convince you once for all that it was John McFarlane
+who did this crime.”
-“Should you be fortunate enough to solve this problem,” said our
+He led us through the passage and out into a dark hall beyond.
-client, rising.
-“I have solved it.”
+“This is where young McFarlane must have come out to get his hat
+after the crime was done,” said he. “Now look at this.” With
+dramatic suddenness he struck a match, and by its light exposed a
+stain of blood upon the whitewashed wall. As he held the match
+nearer, I saw that it was more than a stain. It was the
+well-marked print of a thumb.
-“Eh? What was that?”
+“Look at that with your magnifying glass, Mr. Holmes.”
-“I say that I have solved it.”
+“Yes, I am doing so.”
-“Where, then, is my wife?”
+“You are aware that no two thumb-marks are alike?”
-“That is a detail which I shall speedily supply.”
+“I have heard something of the kind.”
-Lord St. Simon shook his head. “I am afraid that it will take wiser
+“Well, then, will you please compare that print with this wax
-heads than yours or mine,” he remarked, and bowing in a stately,
+impression of young McFarlane’s right thumb, taken by my orders
-old-fashioned manner he departed.
+this morning?”
-“It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting it on a
+As he held the waxen print close to the blood-stain, it did not
-level with his own,” said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. “I think that I
+take a magnifying glass to see that the two were undoubtedly from
-shall have a whisky and soda and a cigar after all this
+the same thumb. It was evident to me that our unfortunate client
-cross-questioning. I had formed my conclusions as to the case before
+was lost.
-our client came into the room.”
-“My dear Holmes!”
+“That is final,” said Lestrade.
-“I have notes of several similar cases, though none, as I remarked
+“Yes, that is final,” I involuntarily echoed.
-before, which were quite as prompt. My whole examination served to turn
-my conjecture into a certainty. Circumstantial evidence is occasionally
-very convincing, as when you find a trout in the milk, to quote
-Thoreau’s example.”
-“But I have heard all that you have heard.”
+“It is final,” said Holmes.
-“Without, however, the knowledge of pre-existing cases which serves me
+Something in his tone caught my ear, and I turned to look at him.
-so well. There was a parallel instance in Aberdeen some years back, and
+An extraordinary change had come over his face. It was writhing
-something on very much the same lines at Munich the year after the
+with inward merriment. His two eyes were shining like stars. It
-Franco-Prussian War. It is one of these cases---but, hullo, here is
+seemed to me that he was making desperate efforts to restrain a
-Lestrade! Good-afternoon, Lestrade! You will find an extra tumbler upon
+convulsive attack of laughter.
-the sideboard, and there are cigars in the box.”
-The official detective was attired in a pea-jacket and cravat, which
+“Dear me! Dear me!” he said at last. “Well, now, who would have
-gave him a decidedly nautical appearance, and he carried a black canvas
+thought it? And how deceptive appearances may be, to be sure!
-bag in his hand. With a short greeting he seated himself and lit the
+Such a nice young man to look at! It is a lesson to us not to
-cigar which had been offered to him.
+trust our own judgment, is it not, Lestrade?”
-“What’s up, then?” asked Holmes with a twinkle in his eye. “You look
+“Yes, some of us are a little too much inclined to be cock-sure,
-dissatisfied.”
+Mr. Holmes,” said Lestrade. The man’s insolence was maddening,
+but we could not resent it.
-“And I feel dissatisfied. It is this infernal St. Simon marriage case.
+“What a providential thing that this young man should press his
-I can make neither head nor tail of the business.”
+right thumb against the wall in taking his hat from the peg! Such
+a very natural action, too, if you come to think of it.” Holmes
+was outwardly calm, but his whole body gave a wriggle of
+suppressed excitement as he spoke.
-“Really! You surprise me.”
+“By the way, Lestrade, who made this remarkable discovery?”
-“Who ever heard of such a mixed affair? Every clue seems to slip
+“It was the housekeeper, Mrs. Lexington, who drew the night
-through my fingers. I have been at work upon it all day.”
+constable’s attention to it.”
-“And very wet it seems to have made you,” said Holmes laying his hand
+“Where was the night constable?”
-upon the arm of the pea-jacket.
-“Yes, I have been dragging the Serpentine.”
+“He remained on guard in the bedroom where the crime was
+committed, so as to see that nothing was touched.”
-“In Heaven’s name, what for?”
+“But why didn’t the police see this mark yesterday?”
-“In search of the body of Lady St. Simon.”
+“Well, we had no particular reason to make a careful examination
+of the hall. Besides, it’s not in a very prominent place, as you
+see.”
-Sherlock Holmes leaned back in his chair and laughed heartily.
+“No, no---of course not. I suppose there is no doubt that the mark
+was there yesterday?”
-“Have you dragged the basin of Trafalgar Square fountain?” he asked.
+Lestrade looked at Holmes as if he thought he was going out of
+his mind. I confess that I was myself surprised both at his
+hilarious manner and at his rather wild observation.
-“Why? What do you mean?”
+“I don’t know whether you think that McFarlane came out of jail
+in the dead of the night in order to strengthen the evidence
+against himself,” said Lestrade. “I leave it to any expert in the
+world whether that is not the mark of his thumb.”
-“Because you have just as good a chance of finding this lady in the one
+“It is unquestionably the mark of his thumb.”
-as in the other.”
-Lestrade shot an angry glance at my companion. “I suppose you know all
+“There, that’s enough,” said Lestrade. “I am a practical man, Mr.
-about it,” he snarled.
+Holmes, and when I have got my evidence I come to my conclusions.
+If you have anything to say, you will find me writing my report
+in the sitting-room.”
-“Well, I have only just heard the facts, but my mind is made up.”
+Holmes had recovered his equanimity, though I still seemed to
+detect gleams of amusement in his expression.
-“Oh, indeed! Then you think that the Serpentine plays no part in the
+“Dear me, this is a very sad development, Watson, is it not?”
-matter?”
+said he. “And yet there are singular points about it which hold
+out some hopes for our client.”
-“I think it very unlikely.”
+“I am delighted to hear it,” said I, heartily. “I was afraid it
+was all up with him.”
-“Then perhaps you will kindly explain how it is that we found this in
+“I would hardly go so far as to say that, my dear Watson. The
-it?” He opened his bag as he spoke, and tumbled onto the floor a
+fact is that there is one really serious flaw in this evidence to
-wedding-dress of watered silk, a pair of white satin shoes and a
+which our friend attaches so much importance.”
-bride’s wreath and veil, all discoloured and soaked in water. “There,”
-said he, putting a new wedding-ring upon the top of the pile. “There is
-a little nut for you to crack, Master Holmes.”
-“Oh, indeed!” said my friend, blowing blue rings into the air. “You
+“Indeed, Holmes! What is it?”
-dragged them from the Serpentine?”
-“No. They were found floating near the margin by a park-keeper. They
+“Only this: that I //know// that that mark was not there when I
-have been identified as her clothes, and it seemed to me that if the
+examined the hall yesterday. And now, Watson, let us have a
-clothes were there the body would not be far off.”
+little stroll round in the sunshine.”
-“By the same brilliant reasoning, every man’s body is to be found in
+With a confused brain, but with a heart into which some warmth of
-the neighbourhood of his wardrobe. And pray what did you hope to arrive
+hope was returning, I accompanied my friend in a walk round the
-at through this?”
+garden. Holmes took each face of the house in turn, and examined
+it with great interest. He then led the way inside, and went over
+the whole building from basement to attic. Most of the rooms were
+unfurnished, but none the less Holmes inspected them all
+minutely. Finally, on the top corridor, which ran outside three
+untenanted bedrooms, he again was seized with a spasm of
+merriment.
-“At some evidence implicating Flora Millar in the disappearance.”
+“There are really some very unique features about this case,
+Watson,” said he. “I think it is time now that we took our friend
+Lestrade into our confidence. He has had his little smile at our
+expense, and perhaps we may do as much by him, if my reading of
+this problem proves to be correct. Yes, yes, I think I see how we
+should approach it.”
-“I am afraid that you will find it difficult.”
+The Scotland Yard inspector was still writing in the parlour when
+Holmes interrupted him.
-“Are you, indeed, now?” cried Lestrade with some bitterness. “I am
+“I understood that you were writing a report of this case,” said
-afraid, Holmes, that you are not very practical with your deductions
+he.
-and your inferences. You have made two blunders in as many minutes.
-This dress does implicate Miss Flora Millar.”
-“And how?”
+“So I am.”
-“In the dress is a pocket. In the pocket is a card-case. In the
+“Don’t you think it may be a little premature? I can’t help
-card-case is a note. And here is the very note.” He slapped it down
+thinking that your evidence is not complete.”
-upon the table in front of him. “Listen to this: ‘You will see me when
-all is ready. Come at once. F. H. M.’ Now my theory all along has been
-that Lady St. Simon was decoyed away by Flora Millar, and that she,
-with confederates, no doubt, was responsible for her disappearance.
-Here, signed with her initials, is the very note which was no doubt
-quietly slipped into her hand at the door and which lured her within
-their reach.”
-“Very good, Lestrade,” said Holmes, laughing. “You really are very fine
+Lestrade knew my friend too well to disregard his words. He laid
-indeed. Let me see it.” He took up the paper in a listless way, but his
+down his pen and looked curiously at him.
-attention instantly became riveted, and he gave a little cry of
-satisfaction. “This is indeed important,” said he.
-“Ha! you find it so?”
+“What do you mean, Mr. Holmes?”
-“Extremely so. I congratulate you warmly.”
+“Only that there is an important witness whom you have not seen.”
-Lestrade rose in his triumph and bent his head to look. “Why,” he
+“Can you produce him?”
-shrieked, “you’re looking at the wrong side!”
-“On the contrary, this is the right side.”
+“I think I can.”
-“The right side? You’re mad! Here is the note written in pencil over
+“Then do so.”
-here.”
-“And over here is what appears to be the fragment of a hotel bill,
+“I will do my best. How many constables have you?”
-which interests me deeply.”
-“There’s nothing in it. I looked at it before,” said Lestrade. “‘Oct.
+“There are three within call.”
-th, rooms 8//s//., breakfast 2//s//. 6//d//., cocktail 1//s//., lunch 2//s//.
-//d//., glass sherry, 8//d//.’ I see nothing in that.”
-“Very likely not. It is most important, all the same. As to the note,
+“Excellent!” said Holmes. “May I ask if they are all large,
-it is important also, or at least the initials are, so I congratulate
+able-bodied men with powerful voices?”
-you again.”
-“I’ve wasted time enough,” said Lestrade, rising. “I believe in hard
+“I have no doubt they are, though I fail to see what their voices
-work and not in sitting by the fire spinning fine theories. Good-day,
+have to do with it.”
-Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom of the matter
-first.” He gathered up the garments, thrust them into the bag, and made
-for the door.
-“Just one hint to you, Lestrade,” drawled Holmes before his rival
+“Perhaps I can help you to see that and one or two other things
-vanished; “I will tell you the true solution of the matter. Lady St.
+as well,” said Holmes. “Kindly summon your men, and I will try.”
-Simon is a myth. There is not, and there never has been, any such
-person.”
-Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me, tapped his
+Five minutes later, three policemen had assembled in the hall.
-forehead three times, shook his head solemnly, and hurried away.
-He had hardly shut the door behind him when Holmes rose to put on his
+“In the outhouse you will find a considerable quantity of straw,”
-overcoat. “There is something in what the fellow says about outdoor
+said Holmes. “I will ask you to carry in two bundles of it. I
-work,” he remarked, “so I think, Watson, that I must leave you to your
+think it will be of the greatest assistance in producing the
-papers for a little.”
+witness whom I require. Thank you very much. I believe you have
+some matches in your pocket Watson. Now, Mr. Lestrade, I will ask
+you all to accompany me to the top landing.”
-It was after five o’clock when Sherlock Holmes left me, but I had no
+As I have said, there was a broad corridor there, which ran
-time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a confectioner’s
+outside three empty bedrooms. At one end of the corridor we were
-man with a very large flat box. This he unpacked with the help of a
+all marshalled by Sherlock Holmes, the constables grinning and
-youth whom he had brought with him, and presently, to my very great
+Lestrade staring at my friend with amazement, expectation, and
-astonishment, a quite epicurean little cold supper began to be laid out
+derision chasing each other across his features. Holmes stood
-upon our humble lodging-house mahogany. There were a couple of brace of
+before us with the air of a conjurer who is performing a trick.
-cold woodcock, a pheasant, a //pâté de foie gras// pie with a group of
-ancient and cobwebby bottles. Having laid out all these luxuries, my
-two visitors vanished away, like the genii of the Arabian Nights, with
-no explanation save that the things had been paid for and were ordered
-to this address.
-Just before nine o’clock Sherlock Holmes stepped briskly into the room.
+“Would you kindly send one of your constables for two buckets of
-His features were gravely set, but there was a light in his eye which
+water? Put the straw on the floor here, free from the wall on
-made me think that he had not been disappointed in his conclusions.
+either side. Now I think that we are all ready.”
-“They have laid the supper, then,” he said, rubbing his hands.
+Lestrade’s face had begun to grow red and angry. “I don’t know
+whether you are playing a game with us, Mr. Sherlock Holmes,”
+said he. “If you know anything, you can surely say it without all
+this tomfoolery.”
-“You seem to expect company. They have laid for five.”
+“I assure you, my good Lestrade, that I have an excellent reason
+for everything that I do. You may possibly remember that you
+chaffed me a little, some hours ago, when the sun seemed on your
+side of the hedge, so you must not grudge me a little pomp and
+ceremony now. Might I ask you, Watson, to open that window, and
+then to put a match to the edge of the straw?”
-“Yes, I fancy we may have some company dropping in,” said he. “I am
+I did so, and driven by the draught a coil of grey smoke swirled
-surprised that Lord St. Simon has not already arrived. Ha! I fancy that
+down the corridor, while the dry straw crackled and flamed.
-I hear his step now upon the stairs.”
-It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in,
+“Now we must see if we can find this witness for you, Lestrade.
-dangling his glasses more vigorously than ever, and with a very
+Might I ask you all to join in the cry of ‘Fire!’? Now then; one,
-perturbed expression upon his aristocratic features.
+two, three------”
-“My messenger reached you, then?” asked Holmes.
+“Fire!” we all yelled.
-“Yes, and I confess that the contents startled me beyond measure. Have
+“Thank you. I will trouble you once again.”
-you good authority for what you say?”
-“The best possible.”
+“Fire!”
-Lord St. Simon sank into a chair and passed his hand over his forehead.
+“Just once more, gentlemen, and all together.”
-“What will the Duke say,” he murmured, “when he hears that one of the
+“Fire!” The shout must have rung over Norwood.
-family has been subjected to such humiliation?”
-“It is the purest accident. I cannot allow that there is any
+It had hardly died away when an amazing thing happened. A door
-humiliation.”
+suddenly flew open out of what appeared to be solid wall at the
+end of the corridor, and a little, wizened man darted out of it,
+like a rabbit out of its burrow.
-“Ah, you look on these things from another standpoint.”
+“Capital!” said Holmes, calmly. “Watson, a bucket of water over
+the straw. That will do! Lestrade, allow me to present you with
+your principal missing witness, Mr. Jonas Oldacre.”
-“I fail to see that anyone is to blame. I can hardly see how the lady
+The detective stared at the newcomer with blank amazement. The
-could have acted otherwise, though her abrupt method of doing it was
+latter was blinking in the bright light of the corridor, and
-undoubtedly to be regretted. Having no mother, she had no one to advise
+peering at us and at the smouldering fire. It was an odious
-her at such a crisis.”
+face---crafty, vicious, malignant, with shifty, light-grey eyes and
+white lashes.
-“It was a slight, sir, a public slight,” said Lord St. Simon, tapping
+“What’s this, then?” said Lestrade, at last. “What have you been
-his fingers upon the table.
+doing all this time, eh?”
-“You must make allowance for this poor girl, placed in so unprecedented
+Oldacre gave an uneasy laugh, shrinking back from the furious red
-a position.”
+face of the angry detective.
-“I will make no allowance. I am very angry indeed, and I have been
+“I have done no harm.”
-shamefully used.”
-“I think that I heard a ring,” said Holmes. “Yes, there are steps on
+“No harm? You have done your best to get an innocent man hanged.
-the landing. If I cannot persuade you to take a lenient view of the
+If it wasn’t for this gentleman here, I am not sure that you
-matter, Lord St. Simon, I have brought an advocate here who may be more
+would not have succeeded.”
-successful.” He opened the door and ushered in a lady and gentleman.
-“Lord St. Simon,” said he “allow me to introduce you to Mr. and Mrs.
-Francis Hay Moulton. The lady, I think, you have already met.”
-At the sight of these newcomers our client had sprung from his seat and
+The wretched creature began to whimper.
-stood very erect, with his eyes cast down and his hand thrust into the
-breast of his frock-coat, a picture of offended dignity. The lady had
-taken a quick step forward and had held out her hand to him, but he
-still refused to raise his eyes. It was as well for his resolution,
-perhaps, for her pleading face was one which it was hard to resist.
-“You’re angry, Robert,” said she. “Well, I guess you have every cause
+“I am sure, sir, it was only my practical joke.”
-to be.”
-“Pray make no apology to me,” said Lord St. Simon bitterly.
+“Oh! a joke, was it? You won’t find the laugh on your side, I
+promise you. Take him down, and keep him in the sitting-room
+until I come. Mr. Holmes,” he continued, when they had gone, “I
+could not speak before the constables, but I don’t mind saying,
+in the presence of Dr. Watson, that this is the brightest thing
+that you have done yet, though it is a mystery to me how you did
+it. You have saved an innocent man’s life, and you have prevented
+a very grave scandal, which would have ruined my reputation in
+the Force.”
-“Oh, yes, I know that I have treated you real bad and that I should
+Holmes smiled, and clapped Lestrade upon the shoulder.
-have spoken to you before I went; but I was kind of rattled, and from
-the time when I saw Frank here again I just didn’t know what I was
-doing or saying. I only wonder I didn’t fall down and do a faint right
-there before the altar.”
-“Perhaps, Mrs. Moulton, you would like my friend and me to leave the
+“Instead of being ruined, my good sir, you will find that your
-room while you explain this matter?”
+reputation has been enormously enhanced. Just make a few
+alterations in that report which you were writing, and they will
+understand how hard it is to throw dust in the eyes of Inspector
+Lestrade.”
-“If I may give an opinion,” remarked the strange gentleman, “we’ve had
+“And you don’t want your name to appear?”
-just a little too much secrecy over this business already. For my part,
-I should like all Europe and America to hear the rights of it.” He was
-a small, wiry, sunburnt man, clean-shaven, with a sharp face and alert
-manner.
-“Then I’ll tell our story right away,” said the lady. “Frank here and I
+“Not at all. The work is its own reward. Perhaps I shall get the
-met in ’84, in McQuire’s camp, near the Rockies, where Pa was working a
+credit also at some distant day, when I permit my zealous
-claim. We were engaged to each other, Frank and I; but then one day
+historian to lay out his foolscap once more---eh, Watson? Well,
-father struck a rich pocket and made a pile, while poor Frank here had
+now, let us see where this rat has been lurking.”
-a claim that petered out and came to nothing. The richer Pa grew the
-poorer was Frank; so at last Pa wouldn’t hear of our engagement lasting
-any longer, and he took me away to ’Frisco. Frank wouldn’t throw up his
-hand, though; so he followed me there, and he saw me without Pa knowing
-anything about it. It would only have made him mad to know, so we just
-fixed it all up for ourselves. Frank said that he would go and make his
-pile, too, and never come back to claim me until he had as much as Pa.
-So then I promised to wait for him to the end of time and pledged
-myself not to marry anyone else while he lived. ‘Why shouldn’t we be
-married right away, then,’ said he, ‘and then I will feel sure of you;
-and I won’t claim to be your husband until I come back?’ Well, we
-talked it over, and he had fixed it all up so nicely, with a clergyman
-all ready in waiting, that we just did it right there; and then Frank
-went off to seek his fortune, and I went back to Pa.
-“The next I heard of Frank was that he was in Montana, and then he went
+A lath-and-plaster partition had been run across the passage six
-prospecting in Arizona, and then I heard of him from New Mexico. After
+feet from the end, with a door cunningly concealed in it. It was
-that came a long newspaper story about how a miners’ camp had been
+lit within by slits under the eaves. A few articles of furniture
-attacked by Apache Indians, and there was my Frank’s name among the
+and a supply of food and water were within, together with a
-killed. I fainted dead away, and I was very sick for months after. Pa
+number of books and papers.
-thought I had a decline and took me to half the doctors in ’Frisco. Not
-a word of news came for a year and more, so that I never doubted that
-Frank was really dead. Then Lord St. Simon came to ’Frisco, and we came
-to London, and a marriage was arranged, and Pa was very pleased, but I
-felt all the time that no man on this earth would ever take the place
-in my heart that had been given to my poor Frank.
-“Still, if I had married Lord St. Simon, of course I’d have done my
+“There’s the advantage of being a builder,” said Holmes, as we
-duty by him. We can’t command our love, but we can our actions. I went
+came out. “He was able to fix up his own little hiding-place
-to the altar with him with the intention to make him just as good a
+without any confederate---save, of course, that precious
-wife as it was in me to be. But you may imagine what I felt when, just
+housekeeper of his, whom I should lose no time in adding to your
-as I came to the altar rails, I glanced back and saw Frank standing and
+bag, Lestrade.”
-looking at me out of the first pew. I thought it was his ghost at
-first; but when I looked again there he was still, with a kind of
-question in his eyes, as if to ask me whether I were glad or sorry to
-see him. I wonder I didn’t drop. I know that everything was turning
-round, and the words of the clergyman were just like the buzz of a bee
-in my ear. I didn’t know what to do. Should I stop the service and make
-a scene in the church? I glanced at him again, and he seemed to know
-what I was thinking, for he raised his finger to his lips to tell me to
-be still. Then I saw him scribble on a piece of paper, and I knew that
-he was writing me a note. As I passed his pew on the way out I dropped
-my bouquet over to him, and he slipped the note into my hand when he
-returned me the flowers. It was only a line asking me to join him when
-he made the sign to me to do so. Of course I never doubted for a moment
-that my first duty was now to him, and I determined to do just whatever
-he might direct.
-“When I got back I told my maid, who had known him in California, and
+“I’ll take your advice. But how did you know of this place, Mr.
-had always been his friend. I ordered her to say nothing, but to get a
+Holmes?”
-few things packed and my ulster ready. I know I ought to have spoken to
-Lord St. Simon, but it was dreadful hard before his mother and all
-those great people. I just made up my mind to run away and explain
-afterwards. I hadn’t been at the table ten minutes before I saw Frank
-out of the window at the other side of the road. He beckoned to me and
-then began walking into the Park. I slipped out, put on my things, and
-followed him. Some woman came talking something or other about Lord St.
-Simon to me---seemed to me from the little I heard as if he had a little
-secret of his own before marriage also---but I managed to get away from
-her and soon overtook Frank. We got into a cab together, and away we
-drove to some lodgings he had taken in Gordon Square, and that was my
-true wedding after all those years of waiting. Frank had been a
-prisoner among the Apaches, had escaped, came on to ’Frisco, found that
-I had given him up for dead and had gone to England, followed me there,
-and had come upon me at last on the very morning of my second wedding.”
-“I saw it in a paper,” explained the American. “It gave the name and
+“I made up my mind that the fellow was in hiding in the house.
-the church but not where the lady lived.”
+When I paced one corridor and found it six feet shorter than the
+corresponding one below, it was pretty clear where he was. I
+thought he had not the nerve to lie quiet before an alarm of
+fire. We could, of course, have gone in and taken him, but it
+amused me to make him reveal himself. Besides, I owed you a
+little mystification, Lestrade, for your chaff in the morning.”
-“Then we had a talk as to what we should do, and Frank was all for
+“Well, sir, you certainly got equal with me on that. But how in
-openness, but I was so ashamed of it all that I felt as if I should
+the world did you know that he was in the house at all?”
-like to vanish away and never see any of them again---just sending a line
-to Pa, perhaps, to show him that I was alive. It was awful to me to
-think of all those lords and ladies sitting round that breakfast-table
-and waiting for me to come back. So Frank took my wedding-clothes and
-things and made a bundle of them, so that I should not be traced, and
-dropped them away somewhere where no one could find them. It is likely
-that we should have gone on to Paris to-morrow, only that this good
-gentleman, Mr. Holmes, came round to us this evening, though how he
-found us is more than I can think, and he showed us very clearly and
-kindly that I was wrong and that Frank was right, and that we should be
-putting ourselves in the wrong if we were so secret. Then he offered to
-give us a chance of talking to Lord St. Simon alone, and so we came
-right away round to his rooms at once. Now, Robert, you have heard it
-all, and I am very sorry if I have given you pain, and I hope that you
-do not think very meanly of me.”
-Lord St. Simon had by no means relaxed his rigid attitude, but had
+“The thumb-mark, Lestrade. You said it was final; and so it was,
-listened with a frowning brow and a compressed lip to this long
+in a very different sense. I knew it had not been there the day
-narrative.
+before. I pay a good deal of attention to matters of detail, as
+you may have observed, and I had examined the hall, and was sure
+that the wall was clear. Therefore, it had been put on during the
+night.”
-“Excuse me,” he said, “but it is not my custom to discuss my most
+“But how?”
-intimate personal affairs in this public manner.”
-“Then you won’t forgive me? You won’t shake hands before I go?”
+“Very simply. When those packets were sealed up, Jonas Oldacre
+got McFarlane to secure one of the seals by putting his thumb
+upon the soft wax. It would be done so quickly and so naturally,
+that I daresay the young man himself has no recollection of it.
+Very likely it just so happened, and Oldacre had himself no
+notion of the use he would put it to. Brooding over the case in
+that den of his, it suddenly struck him what absolutely damning
+evidence he could make against McFarlane by using that
+thumb-mark. It was the simplest thing in the world for him to
+take a wax impression from the seal, to moisten it in as much
+blood as he could get from a pin-prick, and to put the mark upon
+the wall during the night, either with his own hand or with that
+of his housekeeper. If you examine among those documents which he
+took with him into his retreat, I will lay you a wager that you
+find the seal with the thumb-mark upon it.”
-“Oh, certainly, if it would give you any pleasure.” He put out his hand
+“Wonderful!” said Lestrade. “Wonderful! It’s all as clear as
-and coldly grasped that which she extended to him.
+crystal, as you put it. But what is the object of this deep
+deception, Mr. Holmes?”
-“I had hoped,” suggested Holmes, “that you would have joined us in a
+It was amusing to me to see how the detective’s overbearing
-friendly supper.”
+manner had changed suddenly to that of a child asking questions
+of its teacher.
-“I think that there you ask a little too much,” responded his Lordship.
+“Well, I don’t think that is very hard to explain. A very deep,
-“I may be forced to acquiesce in these recent developments, but I can
+malicious, vindictive person is the gentleman who is now waiting
-hardly be expected to make merry over them. I think that with your
+us downstairs. You know that he was once refused by McFarlane’s
-permission I will now wish you all a very good-night.” He included us
+mother? You don’t! I told you that you should go to Blackheath
-all in a sweeping bow and stalked out of the room.
+first and Norwood afterwards. Well, this injury, as he would
+consider it, has rankled in his wicked, scheming brain, and all
+his life he has longed for vengeance, but never seen his chance.
+During the last year or two, things have gone against him---secret
+speculation, I think---and he finds himself in a bad way. He
+determines to swindle his creditors, and for this purpose he pays
+large checks to a certain Mr. Cornelius, who is, I imagine,
+himself under another name. I have not traced these checks yet,
+but I have no doubt that they were banked under that name at some
+provincial town where Oldacre from time to time led a double
+existence. He intended to change his name altogether, draw this
+money, and vanish, starting life again elsewhere.”
-“Then I trust that you at least will honour me with your company,” said
+“Well, that’s likely enough.”
-Sherlock Holmes. “It is always a joy to meet an American, Mr. Moulton,
-for I am one of those who believe that the folly of a monarch and the
-blundering of a minister in far-gone years will not prevent our
-children from being some day citizens of the same world-wide country
-under a flag which shall be a quartering of the Union Jack with the
-Stars and Stripes.”
-“The case has been an interesting one,” remarked Holmes when our
+“It would strike him that in disappearing he might throw all
-visitors had left us, “because it serves to show very clearly how
+pursuit off his track, and at the same time have an ample and
-simple the explanation may be of an affair which at first sight seems
+crushing revenge upon his old sweetheart, if he could give the
-to be almost inexplicable. Nothing could be more natural than the
+impression that he had been murdered by her only child. It was a
-sequence of events as narrated by this lady, and nothing stranger than
+masterpiece of villainy, and he carried it out like a master. The
-the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr. Lestrade of Scotland
+idea of the will, which would give an obvious motive for the
-Yard.”
+crime, the secret visit unknown to his own parents, the retention
+of the stick, the blood, and the animal remains and buttons in
+the wood-pile, all were admirable. It was a net from which it
+seemed to me, a few hours ago, that there was no possible escape.
+But he had not that supreme gift of the artist, the knowledge of
+when to stop. He wished to improve that which was already
+perfect---to draw the rope tighter yet round the neck of his
+unfortunate victim---and so he ruined all. Let us descend,
+Lestrade. There are just one or two questions that I would ask
+him.”
-“You were not yourself at fault at all, then?”
+The malignant creature was seated in his own parlour, with a
+policeman upon each side of him.
-“From the first, two facts were very obvious to me, the one that the
+“It was a joke, my good sir-----a practical joke, nothing more,” he
-lady had been quite willing to undergo the wedding ceremony, the other
+whined incessantly. “I assure you, sir, that I simply concealed
-that she had repented of it within a few minutes of returning home.
+myself in order to see the effect of my disappearance, and I am
-Obviously something had occurred during the morning, then, to cause her
+sure that you would not be so unjust as to imagine that I would
-to change her mind. What could that something be? She could not have
+have allowed any harm to befall poor young Mr. McFarlane.”
-spoken to anyone when she was out, for she had been in the company of
-the bridegroom. Had she seen someone, then? If she had, it must be
-someone from America because she had spent so short a time in this
-country that she could hardly have allowed anyone to acquire so deep an
-influence over her that the mere sight of him would induce her to
-change her plans so completely. You see we have already arrived, by a
-process of exclusion, at the idea that she might have seen an American.
-Then who could this American be, and why should he possess so much
-influence over her? It might be a lover; it might be a husband. Her
-young womanhood had, I knew, been spent in rough scenes and under
-strange conditions. So far I had got before I ever heard Lord St.
-Simon’s narrative. When he told us of a man in a pew, of the change in
-the bride’s manner, of so transparent a device for obtaining a note as
-the dropping of a bouquet, of her resort to her confidential maid, and
-of her very significant allusion to claim-jumping---which in miners’
-parlance means taking possession of that which another person has a
-prior claim to---the whole situation became absolutely clear. She had
-gone off with a man, and the man was either a lover or was a previous
-husband---the chances being in favour of the latter.”
-“And how in the world did you find them?”
+“That’s for a jury to decide,” said Lestrade. “Anyhow, we shall
+have you on a charge of conspiracy, if not for attempted murder.”
-“It might have been difficult, but friend Lestrade held information in
+“And you’ll probably find that your creditors will impound the
-his hands the value of which he did not himself know. The initials
+banking account of Mr. Cornelius,” said Holmes.
-were, of course, of the highest importance, but more valuable still was
-it to know that within a week he had settled his bill at one of the
-most select London hotels.”
-“How did you deduce the select?”
+The little man started, and turned his malignant eyes upon my
+friend.
-“By the select prices. Eight shillings for a bed and eightpence for a
+“I have to thank you for a good deal,” said he. “Perhaps I’ll pay
-glass of sherry pointed to one of the most expensive hotels. There are
+my debt some day.”
-not many in London which charge at that rate. In the second one which I
-visited in Northumberland Avenue, I learned by an inspection of the
-book that Francis H. Moulton, an American gentleman, had left only the
-day before, and on looking over the entries against him, I came upon
-the very items which I had seen in the duplicate bill. His letters were
-to be forwarded to 226 Gordon Square; so thither I travelled, and being
-fortunate enough to find the loving couple at home, I ventured to give
-them some paternal advice and to point out to them that it would be
-better in every way that they should make their position a little
-clearer both to the general public and to Lord St. Simon in particular.
-I invited them to meet him here, and, as you see, I made him keep the
-appointment.”
-“But with no very good result,” I remarked. “His conduct was certainly
+Holmes smiled indulgently.
-not very gracious.”
-“Ah, Watson,” said Holmes, smiling, “perhaps you would not be very
+“I fancy that, for some few years, you will find your time very
-gracious either, if, after all the trouble of wooing and wedding, you
+fully occupied,” said he. “By the way, what was it you put into
-found yourself deprived in an instant of wife and of fortune. I think
+the wood-pile besides your old trousers? A dead dog, or rabbits,
-that we may judge Lord St. Simon very mercifully and thank our stars
+or what? You won’t tell? Dear me, how very unkind of you! Well,
-that we are never likely to find ourselves in the same position. Draw
+well, I daresay that a couple of rabbits would account both for
-your chair up and hand me my violin, for the only problem we have still
+the blood and for the charred ashes. If ever you write an
-to solve is how to while away these bleak autumnal evenings.”
+account, Watson, you can make rabbits serve your turn.”

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