THE RETURN OF SHERLOCK HOLMES

k Holmes, "London has become a singularly uninteresting cit

ld find many decent citizens to

. 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 he

A young doctor, named Verner, had purchased my small Kensington practice, and given with astonishingly little demur the highest price that I ventured to ask-an inci

o 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 publ

tely 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

n't blame me. I am nearly mad. Mr. Hol

his visit and its manner, but I could see, by my companion'

st 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 menti

uctions, and to observe the untidiness of attire, the sheaf of legal papers, the watch-ch

sake, don't abandon me, Mr. Holmes! If they come to arrest me before I have finished my story, make them give me

y most grati-most interesting. On w

rdering Mr. Jonas Olda

sympathy which was not, I am afr

that I was saying to my friend, Dr. Watson, that s

hand and picked up the DAILY TELEG

it to you. Listen to this, Mr. Holmes. The headlines are: 'Mysterious Affair at Lower Norwood. Disappearance of a Well Known Builder. Suspicion of Murder and Arson. A Clue to the Criminal.' That is the clue which they are already following, Mr. Holmes, and I know that it leads infa

t negative fashion, with frightened blue eyes, and a clean-shaven face, with a weak, sensitive mouth. His age may have been about twenty-seven, his dres

atson, would you have the kindness to take

ch our client had quoted, I read the

was given that one of the stacks was on fire. The engines were soon upon the spot, but the dry wood burned with great fury, and it was impossible to arrest the conflagration until the stack had been entirely consumed. Up to this point the incident bore the appearance of an ordinary accident, but fresh indications seem to point to serious crime. Surprise was expressed at the absence of the master of the establishment from the scene of the fire, and an inquiry followed, which showed that he had disappeared from the house. An examination of his room revealed that the bed had not been slept in, that a safe which stood in it was open, that a number of important papers were scattered about t

wn that the French windows of his bedroom (which is on the ground floor) were found to be open, that there were marks as if some bulky object had been dragged across to the wood-pile, and, finally, it is asserted that charred remains have been found among the charcoal ashes of the fire. The police theory is that a most sensational crime has been committed, that the vic

sed eyes and fingertips together

on. "May I ask, in the first place, Mr. McFarlane, how it is that you are still

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 yo

ir. A moment later, our old friend Lestrade appeared in the doorway. Over

or McFarlane?"

client rose with

l murder of Mr. Jonas Oldac

of despair, and sank into his chair

no difference to you, and the gentleman was about to give us an account o

fficulty in clearing it up,"

ssion, I should be much interes

twice in the past, and we owe you a good turn at Scotland Yard," said Lestrade. "At the same time I must r

t. "All I ask is that you should

watch. "I'll give you

ey 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 astoni

. McFarlane, to cast it into proper le

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-w

ent 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

id Holmes. "Who

n, who was, I suppo

I presume, who me

," said

proc

amp brow, and then co

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

ind down?"

y 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 upo

?" said Lestrade, whose eyebrows had gone up on

have been t

Norwood," s

Lestrade had learned by more experiences than he would care to acknowledge that that brain co

f my constables are at the door, and there is a four-wheeler waiting." The wretched young man arose, and with

rough draft of the will, and was looking

document, Lestrade, are there not?

d at them with a p

one or two at the end. Those are as clear as print," said he, "but the writing i

make of that?

t do YOU m

ould 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

began t

get on your theories, Mr. Holmes,"

ious-is it not?-that a man should draw up so important a document in so haphazard a fashion. It suggests that he did not think it wa

n death warrant at the s

ou thi

't y

sible, but the case is

ee 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 s

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

flurried, and does such things, which a cool man would avoid. He was very likely

t 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 onl

the tramp bu

of that, why s

some ev

o hide that any murder at al

the tramp t

papers that he co

eemed to me that his manner was less

which is right. Just notice this point, Mr. Holmes: that so far as we know, none of the papers were removed, and that the prisoner

med struck by

only wish to point out that there are other theories possible. As you say, the future will decide. Good-morni

s preparations for the day's work with the alert

bustled into his frockcoat, "must, as

y not N

e 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

ith which he had started had not been fulfilled. For an hour he droned away upon his violin, endeavouring to sooth

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

go to Bla

e, 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 p

im at that t

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

orgiven you now, since he has left

roper spirit. 'There is a God in heaven, Mr. Holmes, and that same God who has punished that

uld help our hypothesis, and several points which would make

lation 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 'H

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 ma

en 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 allusi

t 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 t

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

man's appearance woul

ble murderer, Bert Stevens, who wanted us to get him off in '87

is t

ok 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

and harassed, his bright eyes the brighter for the dark shadows round them. The carpet round his chair was l

this, Watson?" he as

orwood, and r

lane's guilt definitely establish

ds serious

all, important fresh evidence is a two-edged thing, and may possibly cut in a very different direction to that which Lestrade imagines. Take you

"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

ed us to be wrong yet? Have you

nclusion whatever,"

correct, so you must acknowledge that we have bee

of something unusual having

laughed

always to have it his own way, can he, Dr. Watson? Step this way, if you please, gentlemen

e passage and out in

his." With dramatic suddenness he struck a match, and by its light exposed a stain of blood upon the whitewas

your magnifying g

am doi

hat no two thumb

d something

with this wax impression of young McFarlan

magnifying glass to see that the two were undoubtedly from the same

inal," sai

inal," I involu

nal," sai

me over his face. It was writhing with inward merriment. His two eyes were shining like stars. I

nd how deceptive appearances may be, to be sure! Such a nice young man to loo

ock-sure, Mr. Holmes," said Lestrade. The man's i

taking his hat from the peg! Such a very natural action, too, if you come to think of it." Hol

de, who made this r

exington, who drew the night co

the night

where the crime was committed, so as

he police see thi

reful examination of the hall. Besides, i

se there is no doubt that the

his mind. I confess that I was myself surprised both at

he night in order to strengthen the evidence against himself," said Lestrade. "I

onably the mark

and when I have got my evidence I come to my conclusions. If you have

though I still seemed to detect

not?" said he. "And yet there are singular points

aid I, heartily. "I was afraid

fact is that there is one really serious flaw in this ev

Holmes! W

n I examined the hall yesterday. And now, Watson,

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 no

our friend Lestrade into our confidence. He has had his little smile at our expense, and perhaps we may do as

still writing in the parlour w

were writing a report

I

remature? I can't help thinking that

isregard his words. He laid down his

ou mean, M

n important witness w

u produ

ink I

n do

st. How many con

three wit

sk if they are all large, able-bod

ugh I fail to see what their v

or two other things as well," said Hol

three policemen had

t. I think it will be of the greatest assistance in producing the witness whom I require. Thank you very much. I beli

marshalled by Sherlock Holmes, the constables grinning and Lestrade staring at my friend with amazement, expectation, and d

of water? Put the straw on the floor here, free from the

u are playing a game with us, Mr. Sherlock Holmes," said he. "If yo

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

of gray smoke swirled down the corrid

you, Lestrade. Might I ask you all to join

we all

will trouble y

ir

, gentlemen, an

ut must have ru

ew open out of what appeared to be solid wall at the end of the corridor,

the straw. That will do! Lestrade, allow me to present y

he bright light of the corridor, and peering at us and at the smouldering fire. It was

de, at last. "What have you been

inking back from the furious red

done n

an hanged. If it wasn't for this gentleman here,

creature bega

it was only my

ad 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 i

clapped Lestrade

rmously enhanced. Just make a few alterations in that report which you were writing, a

t want your n

t some distant day, when I permit my zealous historian to lay out his foolscap

r cunningly concealed in it. It was lit within by slits under the eaves. A few articles of fur

to fix up his own little hiding-place without any confederate-save, of course, that pr

But how did you know of

ne 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

e on that. But how in the world did

en there the day before. I pay a good deal of attention to matters of detail, as you may have observed, and I

t h

lf 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

s clear as crystal, as you put it. But what

overbearing manner had changed suddenly to

ankled 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

at's like

idea of the will, which would give an obvious motive for the 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 escap

in his own parlour, with a polic

at I simply concealed myself in order to see the effect of my disappearance, and I am sure that you would

"Anyhow, we shall have you on a charge

editors will impound the banking

and turned his maligna

d deal," said he. "Perhaps I'l

miled in

besides your old trousers? A dead dog, or rabbits, or what? You won't tell? Dear me, how very unkind of you! Well, well, I daresay that a couple