The Return of Sherlock Holmes Part 2 (1/2)
My friend seemed struck by this remark
”I don't ly 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-! I dare say that in the course of the day I shall drop in at Norwood and see how you are getting on”
When the detective departed, my friend rose and made his preparations for the day's ith the alert air of a enial task before him
”My first movement Watson,” said he, as he bustled into his frockcoat, ”must, as I said, be in the direction of Blackheath”
”And why not Norwood?”
”Because we have in this case one singular incident coular incident The police aretheir attention upon the second, because it happens to be the one which is actually criical way to approach the case is to begin by trying to throw soht upon the first incident-- the curious will, so suddenlyto simplify what followed No, my dear fellow, I don't think you can help er, or I should not drea 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 soster, who has thrown himself upon my protection”
It was late when ard and anxious face, that the high hopes hich be 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 instrued into a detailed account of his , Watson--all as wrong as it can go I kept a bold face before Lestrade, but, upon ht 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 o to Blackheath?”
”Yes, Watson, I went there, and I found very quickly that the late lauard The father ay in search of his son The mother was at home--a little, fluffy, blue-eyed person, in a trenation Of course, she would not aduilt 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 fashi+on, it would predispose hinant and cunning ape than a hu,' said she, `and he alas, ever since he was a young man'
”`You knew him at that time?' said I
”`Yes, I knew him well, in fact, he was an old suitor of mine Thank heaven that I had the sense to turn away froed to hi 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 ed in a bureau, and presently she produced a photograph of a woman, shamefully defaced and raph,' she said `He sent it to '
”`Well,' said I, `at least he has forgiven you now, since he has left all his property to your son'
”`Neitherfrom Jonas Oldacre, dead or alive!' she cried, with a proper spirit `There is a God in heaven, Mr Holmes, and that same God who has punished that wicked uiltless of his blood'
”Well, I tried one or two leads, but could get at nothing which would help our hypothesis, and several points which would ave it up at last and off I went to Norwood
”This place, Deep Dene House, is a big rounds, with a laurel-cluht and some distance back from the road was the tih plan on a leaf of my notebook Thison 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 thethe 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,' as Oldacres tailor I then worked the lawn very carefully for signs and traces, but this drought haswas to be seen save that soe which is in a line with the wood-pile All that, of course, fits in with the official theory I crawled about the laith an August sun on ot up at the end of an hour no wiser than before
”Well, after this fiasco I went into the bedrooht, mere smears and discolourations, but undoubtedly fresh The stick had been reht There is no doubt about the stick belonging to our client He admits it Footmarks of both men could be ain is a trick for the other side They were piling up their score all the tilea I examined the contents of the safe, most of which had been taken out and left on the table The papers had been made up 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 argu if he knew that he would shortly inherit it?
”Finally, having drawn every other cover and picked up no scent, I tried ton is her name--a little, dark, silent person, with suspicious and sidelong eyes She could tell us so 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 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 ti could be seen but flames She and all the fire of the papers, nor of Mr Oldacre's private affairs
”So, my dear Watson, there's my report of a failure And yet-- and yet--” he clenched his thin hands in a paroxys I feel it inthat 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”
”Surely,” said I, ”the o far with any jury?”
”That is a dangerous argument my dear Watson You remeet him off in '87? Was there ever aman?”
”It is true”
”Unless we succeed in establishi+ng an alternative theory, this man is lost You can hardly find a flaw in the case which can now be presented against hithen it By the way, there is one curious little point about those papers whichover the bank-book I found that the low state of the balance was principally due to large checks which have beenthe last year to Mr Cornelius I confess that I should be interested to knoho this Mr Cornelius e transactions Is it possible that he has had a hand in the affair? Cornelius ht be a broker, but we have found no scrip to correspond with these large pay 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, loriously by Lestrade hanging our client, which will certainly be a triumph for Scotland Yard”
I do not kno far Sherlock Holht, but when I caht eyes the brighter for the dark shadows round thearette-ends and with the early editions of the ram lay upon the table
”What do you think of this, Watson?” he asked, tossing it across
It was from Norwood, and ran as follows: Iuilt definitely established Advise you to abandon case LESTRADE
”This sounds serious,” said I
”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, i, and may possibly cut in a very different direction to that which Lestrade iether and see e can do I feel as if I shall need your company and your moral support today”
My friend had no breakfast himself, for it was one of his peculiarities that in his more intense moments he would permit himself no food, and I have known hith until he has fainted froy and nerve force for digestion,” he would say in answer to my medical re he left his untouched meal behind hihtseers were still gathered round Deep Dene House, which was just such a suburban villa as I had pictured Within the gates Lestrade rossly triumphant
”Well, Mr Hol yet? Have you found your tramp?” he cried
”I have formed no conclusion whatever,” my companion answered
”But we formed ours yesterday, and now it proves to be correct, so you e that we have been a little in front of you this time, Mr Hol unusual having occurred,” said Holhed loudly
”You don't like being beaten any more than the rest of us do,” said he ”A man can't expect always to have it his oay, 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 crie and out into a dark hall beyond
”This is where young McFarlane et his hat after the crime was done,” said he ”Now look at this” With draht exposed a stain of blood upon the ashed wall As he held the match nearer, I saw that it was more than a stain It was the well-nifying glass, Mr Hol so”
”You are aware that no two thu of the kind”
”Well, then, will you please co McFarlane's right thu?”
As he held the waxen print close to the blood-stain, it did not take a lass to see that the tere undoubtedly from the same thumb It was evident to me that our unfortunate client was lost
”That is final,” said Lestrade
”Yes, that is final,” I involuntarily echoed
”It is final,” said Holht e had co with inwardlike stars It see desperate efforts to restrain a convulsive attack of laughter
”Dear me! Dear ht it? And how deceptive appearancesment, is it not, Lestrade?”
”Yes, some of us are a little too much inclined to be cock-sure, Mr Hol, but we could not resent it
”What a providential thing that this younghis hat fro! Such a very natural action, too, if you come to think of it” Holle of suppressed excitement as he spoke
”By the way, Lestrade, who made this remarkable discovery?”