The Adventure of the Norwood Builder

Arthur Conan Doyle

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F rom the point of view of the criminal ex-
pert,” said Mr. Sherlock Holmes, “London
has become a singularly uninteresting city
since the death of the late lamented Profes-
sor Moriarty.”
“I can hardly think that you would find many
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, dishevelled, and palpitating, burst into the room.
He looked from one to the other of us, and under
decent citizens to agree with you,” I answered.
our gaze of inquiry he became conscious that some
“Well, well, I must not be selfish,” said he, with a apology was needed for this unceremonious entry.
smile, as he pushed back his chair from the breakfast- “I’m sorry, Mr. Holmes,” he cried. “You mustn’t
table. “The community is certainly the gainer, and blame me. I am nearly mad. Mr. Holmes, I am the
no one the loser, save the poor out-of-work specialist, unhappy John Hector McFarlane.”
whose occupation has gone. With that man in the
field one’s morning paper presented infinite possibili- He made the announcement as if the name alone
ties. Often it was only the smallest trace, Watson, the would explain both his visit and its manner; but I
faintest indication, and yet it was enough to tell me could see by my companion’s unresponsive face that
that the great malignant brain was there, as the gen- it meant no more to him than to me.
tlest tremors of the edges of the web remind one of “Have a cigarette, Mr. McFarlane,” said he, push-
the foul spider which lurks in the centre. Petty thefts, ing his case across. “I am sure that with your symp-
wanton assaults, purposeless outrage—to the man toms my friend Dr. Watson here would prescribe a
who held the clue all could be worked into one con- sedative. The weather has been so very warm these
nected whole. To the scientific student of the higher last few days. Now, if you feel a little more com-
criminal world no capital in Europe offered the ad- posed, I should be glad if you would sit down in
vantages which London then possessed. But now—” that chair and tell us very slowly and quietly who
He shrugged his shoulders in humorous deprecation you are and what it is that you want. You mentioned
of the state of things which he had himself done so your name as if I should recognise it, but I assure you
much to produce. that, beyond the obvious facts that you are a bachelor,
a solicitor, a Freemason, and an asthmatic, I know
At the time of which I speak Holmes had been
nothing whatever about you.”
back for some months, and I, at his request, had sold
my practice and returned to share the old quarters Familiar as I was with my friend’s methods, it
in Baker Street. A young doctor, named Verner, had was not difficult for me to follow his deductions, and
purchased my small Kensington practice, and given to observe the untidiness of attire, the sheaf of legal
with astonishingly little demur the highest price that papers, the watch-charm, and the breathing which
I ventured to ask—an incident which only explained had prompted them. Our client, however, stared in
itself some years later when I found that Verner was a amazement.
distant relation of Holmes’s, and that it was my friend “Yes, I am all that, Mr. Holmes, and in addition
who had really found the money. I am the most unfortunate man at this moment in
London. For Heaven’s sake don’t abandon me, Mr.
Our months of partnership had not been so un-
Holmes! If they come to arrest me before I have fin-
eventful as he had stated, for I find, on looking over
ished my story, make them give me time so that I may
my notes, that this period includes the case of the
tell you the whole truth. I could go to jail happy if I
papers of Ex-President Murillo, and also the shock-
knew that you were working for me outside.”
ing affair of the Dutch steamship Friesland, which so
nearly cost us both our lives. His cold and proud “Arrest you!” said Holmes. “This is really most
nature was always averse, however, to anything in the grati—most interesting. On what charge do you ex-
shape of public applause, and he bound me in the pect to be arrested?”
most stringent terms to say no further word of himself, “Upon the charge of murdering Mr. Jonas Oldacre,
his methods, or his successes—a prohibition which, of Lower Norwood.”
as I have explained, has only now been removed. My companion’s expressive face showed a sym-
Mr. Sherlock Holmes was leaning back in his chair pathy which was not, I am afraid, entirely unmixed
after his whimsical protest, and was unfolding his with satisfaction.
morning paper in a leisurely fashion, when our at- “Dear me,” said he; “it was only this moment at
tention was arrested by a tremendous ring at the bell, breakfast that I was saying to my friend, Dr. Watson,

1
that sensational cases had disappeared out of our about twelve o’clock, an alarm was given that
papers.” one of the stacks was on fire. The engines
Our visitor stretched forward a quivering hand were soon upon the spot, but the dry wood
and picked up the Daily Telegraph, which still lay upon burned with great fury, and it was impossible
Holmes’s knee. to arrest the conflagration until the stack had
“If you had looked at it, sir, you would have seen been entirely consumed. Up to this point the
at a glance what the errand is on which I have come incident bore the appearance of an ordinary
to you this morning. I feel as if my name and my mis- accident, but fresh indications seem to point
fortune must be in every man’s mouth.” He turned it to serious crime. Surprise was expressed at
over to expose the central page. “Here it is, and with the absence of the master of the establishment
your permission I will read it to you. Listen to this, from the scene of the fire, and an inquiry fol-
Mr. Holmes. The head-lines are: ‘Mysterious Affair lowed, which showed that he had disappeared
at Lower Norwood. Disappearance of a Well-known from the house. An examination of his room
Builder. Suspicion of Murder and Arson. A Clue to revealed that the bed had not been slept in,
the Criminal.’ That is the clue which they are already that a safe which stood in it was open, that
following, Mr. Holmes, and I know that it leads infal- a number of important papers were scattered
libly to me. I have been followed from London Bridge about the room, and, finally, that there were
Station, and I am sure that they are only waiting for signs of a murderous struggle, slight traces
the warrant to arrest me. It will break my mother’s of blood being found within the room, and an
heart—it will break her heart!” He wrung his hands oaken walking-stick, which also showed stains
in an agony of apprehension, and swayed backwards of blood upon the handle. It is known that
and forwards in his chair. Mr. Jonas Oldacre had received a late visitor
in his bedroom upon that night, and the stick
I looked with interest upon this man, who was ac- found has been identified as the property of
cused of being the perpetrator of a crime of violence. this person, who is a young London solicitor
He was flaxen-haired and handsome in a washed- named John Hector McFarlane, junior partner
out negative fashion, with frightened blue eyes and of Graham and McFarlane, of 426, Gresham
a clean-shaven face, with a weak, sensitive mouth. Buildings, E.C. The police believe that they
His age may have been about twenty-seven; his dress have evidence in their possession which sup-
and bearing that of a gentleman. From the pocket of plies a very convincing motive for the crime,
his light summer overcoat protruded the bundle of and altogether it cannot be doubted that sen-
endorsed papers which proclaimed his profession. sational developments will follow.
“We must use what time we have,” said Holmes. “Later.—It is rumoured as we go to press
“Watson, would you have the kindness to take the that Mr. John Hector McFarlane has actu-
paper and to read me the paragraph in question?” ally been arrested on the charge of the mur-
Underneath the vigorous head-lines which our der of Mr. Jonas Oldacre. It is at least cer-
client had quoted I read the following suggestive nar- tain that a warrant has been issued. There
rative:— have been further and sinister developments
“Late last night, or early this morning, an in the investigation at Norwood. Besides the
incident occurred at Lower Norwood which signs of a struggle in the room of the un-
points, it is feared, to a serious crime. Mr. fortunate builder it is now known that the
Jonas Oldacre is a well-known resident of that French windows of his bedroom (which is on
suburb, where he has carried on his business the ground floor) were found to be open, that
as a builder for many years. Mr. Oldacre is there were marks as if some bulky object had
a bachelor, fifty-two years of age, and lives in been dragged across to the wood-pile, and, fi-
Deep Dene House, at the Sydenham end of nally, it is asserted that charred remains have
the road of that name. He has had the repu- been found among the charcoal ashes of the
tation of being a man of eccentric habits, se- fire. The police theory is that a most sensa-
cretive and retiring. For some years he has tional crime has been committed, that the vic-
practically withdrawn from the business, in tim was clubbed to death in his own bedroom,
which he is said to have amassed considerable his papers rifled, and his dead body dragged
wealth. A small timber-yard still exists, how- across to the wood-stack, which was then ig-
ever, at the back of the house, and last night, nited so as to hide all traces of the crime.

2
 The conduct of the criminal investigation has warn him that anything he may say will appear in
been left in the experienced hands of Inspector evidence against him.”
Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, who is following “I wish nothing better,” said our client. “All I ask
up the clues with his accustomed energy and is that you should hear and recognise the absolute
sagacity.” truth.”
Sherlock Holmes listened with closed eyes and finger- Lestrade looked at his watch. “I’ll give you half
tips together to this remarkable account. an hour,” said he.
“The case has certainly some points of interest,” “I must explain first,” said McFarlane, “that I knew
said he, in his languid fashion. “May I ask, in the first nothing of Mr. Jonas Oldacre. His name was famil-
place, Mr. McFarlane, how it is that you are still at iar to me, for many years ago my parents were ac-
liberty, since there appears to be enough evidence to quainted with him, but they drifted apart. I was very
justify your arrest?” much surprised, therefore, when yesterday, about
“I live at Torrington Lodge, Blackheath, with my three o’clock in the afternoon, he walked into my
parents, Mr. Holmes; but last night, having to do busi- office in the City. But I was still more astonished
ness very late with Mr. Jonas Oldacre, I stayed at an when he told me the object of his visit. He had in
hotel in Norwood, and came to my business from his hand several sheets of a note-book, covered with
there. I knew nothing of this affair until I was in the scribbled writing—here they are—and he laid them
train, when I read what you have just heard. I at once on my table.
saw the horrible danger of my position, and I hurried “ ‘Here is my will,’ said he. ‘I want you, Mr. Mc-
to put the case into your hands. I have no doubt that Farlane, to cast it into proper legal shape. I will sit
I should have been arrested either at my City office here while you do so.’
or at my home. A man followed me from London “I set myself to copy it, and you can imagine my
Bridge Station, and I have no doubt—Great Heaven, astonishment when I found that, with some reserva-
what is that?” tions, he had left all his property to me. He was a
It was a clang of the bell, followed instantly by strange little, ferret-like man, with white eyelashes,
heavy steps upon the stair. A moment later our old and when I looked up at him I found his keen grey
friend Lestrade appeared in the doorway. Over his eyes fixed upon me with an amused expression. I
shoulder I caught a glimpse of one or two uniformed could hardly believe my own senses as I read the
policemen outside. terms of the will; but he explained that he was a
“Mr. John Hector McFarlane?” said Lestrade. bachelor with hardly any living relation, that he had
known my parents in his youth, and that he had al-
Our unfortunate client rose with a ghastly face. ways heard of me as a very deserving young man,
“I arrest you for the wilful murder of Mr. Jonas and was assured that his money would be in wor-
Oldacre, of Lower Norwood.” thy hands. Of course, I could only stammer out my
McFarlane turned to us with a gesture of despair, thanks. The will was duly finished, signed, and wit-
and sank into his chair once more like one who is nessed by my clerk. This is it on the blue paper, and
crushed. these slips, as I have explained, are the rough draft.
“One moment, Lestrade,” said Holmes. “Half an Mr. Jonas Oldacre then informed me that there were
hour more or less can make no difference to you, and a number of documents—building leases, title-deeds,
the gentleman was about to give us an account of this mortgages, scrip, and so forth—which it was neces-
very interesting affair, which might aid us in clearing sary that I should see and understand. He said that
it up.” his mind would not be easy until the whole thing was
settled, and he begged me to come out to his house at
“I think there will be no difficulty in clearing it Norwood that night, bringing the will with me, and
up,” said Lestrade, grimly. to arrange matters. ‘Remember, my boy, not one word
“None the less, with your permission, I should be to your parents about the affair until everything is
much interested to hear his account.” settled. We will keep it as a little surprise for them.’
“Well, Mr. Holmes, it is difficult for me to refuse He was very insistent upon this point, and made me
you anything, for you have been of use to the force promise it faithfully.
once or twice in the past, and we owe you a good turn “You can imagine, Mr. Holmes, that I was not in
at Scotland Yard,” said Lestrade. “At the same time a humour to refuse him anything that he might ask.
I must remain with my prisoner, and I am bound to He was my benefactor, and all my desire was to carry

3
out his wishes in every particular. I sent a telegram “I think I should like to have a word with you
home, therefore, to say that I had important business presently, Mr. Sherlock Holmes,” said he. “Now, Mr.
on hand, and that it was impossible for me to say McFarlane, two of my constables are at the door and
how late I might be. Mr. Oldacre had told me that he there is a four-wheeler waiting.” The wretched young
would like me to have supper with him at nine, as man arose, and with a last beseeching glance at us
he might not be home before that hour. I had some walked from the room. The officers conducted him to
difficulty in finding his house, however, and it was the cab, but Lestrade remained.
nearly half-past before I reached it. I found him—” Holmes had picked up the pages which formed
“One moment!” said Holmes. “Who opened the the rough draft of the will, and was looking at them
door?” with the keenest interest upon his face.
“A middle-aged woman, who was, I suppose, his “There are some points about that document,
housekeeper.” Lestrade, are there not?” said he, pushing them over.
“And it was she, I presume, who mentioned your The official looked at them with a puzzled expres-
name?” sion.
“Exactly,” said McFarlane. “I can read the first few lines, and these in the
“Pray proceed.” middle of the second page, and one or two at the end.
McFarlane wiped his damp brow and then contin- Those are as clear as print,” said he; “but the writing
ued his narrative:— in between is very bad, and there are three places
where I cannot read it at all.”
“I was shown by this woman into a sitting-room,
where a frugal supper was laid out. Afterwards Mr. “What do you make of that?” said Holmes.
Jonas Oldacre led me into his bedroom, in which there “Well, what do you make of it?”
stood a heavy safe. This he opened and took out a “That it was written in a train; the good writing
mass of documents, which we went over together. It represents stations, the bad writing movement, and
was between eleven and twelve when we finished. He the very bad writing passing over points. A scientific
remarked that we must not disturb the housekeeper. expert would pronounce at once that this was drawn
He showed me out through his own French window, up on a suburban line, since nowhere save in the
which had been open all this time.” immediate vicinity of a great city could there be so
“Was the blind down?” asked Holmes. quick a succession of points. Granting that his whole
“I will not be sure, but I believe that it was only journey was occupied in drawing up the will, then
half down. Yes, I remember how he pulled it up in the train was an express, only stopping once between
order to swing open the window. I could not find my Norwood and London Bridge.”
stick, and he said, ‘Never mind, my boy; I shall see Lestrade began to laugh.
a good deal of you now, I hope, and I will keep your
“You are too many for me when you begin to get
stick until you come back to claim it.’ I left him there,
on your theories, Mr. Holmes,” said he. “How does
the safe open, and the papers made up in packets
this bear on the case?”
upon the table. It was so late that I could not get
back to Blackheath, so I spent the night at the Anerley “Well, it corroborates the young man’s story to the
Arms, and I knew nothing more until I read of this extent that the will was drawn up by Jonas Oldacre
horrible affair in the morning.” in his journey yesterday. It is curious—is it not?—that
a man should draw up so important a document in
“Anything more that you would like to ask, Mr.
so haphazard a fashion. It suggests that he did not
Holmes?” said Lestrade, whose eyebrows had gone
think it was going to be of much practical importance.
up once or twice during this remarkable explanation.
If a man drew up a will which he did not intend ever
“Not until I have been to Blackheath.” to be effective he might do it so.”
“You mean to Norwood,” said Lestrade. “Well, he drew up his own death-warrant at the
“Oh, yes; no doubt that is what I must have same time,” said Lestrade.
meant,” said Holmes, with his enigmatical smile. “Oh, you think so?”
Lestrade had learned by more experiences than he
would care to acknowledge that that razor-like brain “Don’t you?”
could cut through that which was impenetrable to “Well, it is quite possible; but the case is not clear
him. I saw him look curiously at my companion. to me yet.”

4
 “Not clear? Well, if that isn’t clear, what could be Lestrade shook his head, though it seemed to me
clear? Here is a young man who learns suddenly that that his manner was less absolutely assured than be-
if a certain older man dies he will succeed to a fortune. fore.
What does he do? He says nothing to anyone, but “Well, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, you may look for
he arranges that he shall go out on some pretext to your tramp, and while you are finding him we will
see his client that night; he waits until the only other hold on to our man. The future will show which is
person in the house is in bed, and then in the solitude right. Just notice this point, Mr. Holmes: that so far as
of a man’s room he murders him, burns his body in we know none of the papers were removed, and that
the wood-pile, and departs to a neighbouring hotel. the prisoner is the one man in the world who had no
The blood-stains in the room and also on the stick are reason for removing them, since he was heir-at-law
very slight. It is probable that he imagined his crime and would come into them in any case.”
to be a bloodless one, and hoped that if the body were
consumed it would hide all traces of the method of My friend seemed struck by this remark.
his death—traces which for some reason must have “I don’t mean to deny that the evidence is in some
pointed to him. Is all this not obvious?” ways very strongly in favour of your theory,” said he.
“It strikes me, my good Lestrade, as being just a “I only wish to point out that there are other theories
trifle too obvious,” said Holmes. “You do not add possible. As you say, the future will decide. Good
imagination to your other great qualities; but if you morning! I dare say that in the course of the day I
could for one moment put yourself in the place of this shall drop in at Norwood and see how you are getting
young man, would you choose the very night after the on.”
will had been made to commit your crime? Would When the detective departed my friend rose and
it not seem dangerous to you to make so very close made his preparations for the day’s work with the
a relation between the two incidents? Again, would alert air of a man who has a congenial task before
you choose an occasion when you are known to be in him.
the house, when a servant has let you in? And, finally,
would you take the great pains to conceal the body “My first movement, Watson,” said he, as he bus-
and yet leave your own stick as a sign that you were tled into his frock-coat, “must, as I said, be in the
the criminal? Confess, Lestrade, that all this is very direction of Blackheath.”
unlikely.” “And why not Norwood?”
“As to the stick, Mr. Holmes, you know as well as “Because we have in this case one singular inci-
I do that a criminal is often flurried and does things dent coming close to the heels of another singular
which a cool man would avoid. He was very likely incident. The police are making the mistake of con-
afraid to go back to the room. Give me another theory centrating their attention upon the second, because it
that would fit the facts.” happens to be the one which is actually criminal. But
“I could very easily give you half-a-dozen,” said it is evident to me that the logical way to approach the
Holmes. “Here, for example, is a very possible and case is to begin by trying to throw some light upon
even probable one. I make you a free present of it. the first incident—the curious will, so suddenly made,
The older man is showing documents which are of and to so unexpected an heir. It may do something to
evident value. A passing tramp sees them through simplify what followed. No, my dear fellow, I don’t
the window, the blind of which is only half down. think you can help me. There is no prospect of danger,
Exit the solicitor. Enter the tramp! He seizes a stick, or I should not dream of stirring out without you. I
which he observes there, kills Oldacre, and departs trust that when I see you in the evening I will be able
after burning the body.” to report that I have been able to do something for
“Why should the tramp burn the body?” this unfortunate youngster who has thrown himself
upon my protection.”
“For the matter of that why should McFarlane?”
“To hide some evidence.” It was late when my friend returned, and I could
see by a glance at his haggard and anxious face that
“Possibly the tramp wanted to hide that any mur-
the high hopes with which he had started had not
der at all had been committed.”
been fulfilled. For an hour he droned away upon his
“And why did the tramp take nothing?” violin, endeavouring to soothe his own ruffled spirits.
“Because they were papers that he could not ne- At last he flung down the instrument and plunged
gotiate.” into a detailed account of his misadventures.

5
 “It’s all going wrong, Watson—all as wrong as it “This place, Deep Dene House, is a big mod-
can go. I kept a bold face before Lestrade, but, upon ern villa of staring brick, standing back in its own
my soul, I believe that for once the fellow is on the grounds, with a laurel-clumped lawn in front of it.
right track and we are on the wrong. All my instincts To the right and some distance back from the road
are one way and all the facts are the other, and I much was the timber-yard which had been the scene of the
fear that British juries have not yet attained that pitch fire. Here’s a rough plan on a leaf of my note-book.
of intelligence when they will give the preference to This window on the left is the one which opens into
my theories over Lestrade’s facts.” Oldacre’s room. You can look into it from the road,
you see. That is about the only bit of consolation
“Did you go to Blackheath?”
I have had to-day. Lestrade was not there, but his
“Yes, Watson, I went there, and I found very head constable did the honours. They had just made
quickly that the late lamented Oldacre was a pretty a great treasure-trove. They had spent the morning
considerable black-guard. The father was away in raking among the ashes of the burned wood-pile, and
search of his son. The mother was at home—a little, besides the charred organic remains they had secured
fluffy, blue-eyed person, in a tremor of fear and in- several discoloured metal discs. I examined them
dignation. Of course, she would not admit even the with care, and there was no doubt that they were
possibility of his guilt. But she would not express trouser buttons. I even distinguished that one of them
either surprise or regret over the fate of Oldacre. On was marked with the name of ‘Hyams,’ who was
the contrary, she spoke of him with such bitterness Oldacre’s tailor. I then worked the lawn very care-
that she was unconsciously considerably strengthen- fully for signs and traces, but this drought has made
ing the case of the police, for, of course, if her son had everything as hard as iron. Nothing was to be seen
heard her speak of the man in this fashion it would save that some body or bundle had been dragged
predispose him towards hatred and violence. ‘He was through a low privet hedge which is in a line with the
more like a malignant and cunning ape than a human wood-pile. All that, of course, fits in with the official
being,’ said she, ‘and he always was, ever since he theory. I crawled about the lawn with an August sun
was a young man.’ on my back, but I got up at the end of an hour no
“ ‘You knew him at that time?’ said I. wiser than before.

“ ‘Yes, I knew him well; in fact, he was an old “Well, after this fiasco I went into the bedroom
suitor of mine. Thank Heaven that I had the sense to and examined that also. The blood-stains were very
turn away from him and to marry a better, if a poorer, slight, mere smears and discolorations, but undoubt-
man. I was engaged to him, Mr. Holmes, when I edly fresh. The stick had been removed, but there also
heard a shocking story of how he had turned a cat the marks were slight. There is no doubt about the
loose in an aviary, and I was so horrified at his brutal stick belonging to our client. He admits it. Footmarks
cruelty that I would have nothing more to do with of both men could be made out on the carpet, but
him.’ She rummaged in a bureau, and presently she none of any third person, which again is a trick for
produced a photograph of a woman, shamefully de- the other side. They were piling up their score all the
faced and mutilated with a knife. ‘That is my own time and we were at a standstill.
photograph,’ she said. ‘He sent it to me in that state, “Only one little gleam of hope did I get—and yet
with his curse, upon my wedding morning.’ it amounted to nothing. I examined the contents of
“ ‘Well,’ said I, ‘at least he has forgiven you now, the safe, most of which had been taken out and left on
since he has left all his property to your son.’ the table. The papers had been made up into sealed
envelopes, one or two of which had been opened by
“ ‘Neither my son nor I want anything from Jonas
the police. They were not, so far as I could judge,
Oldacre, dead or alive,’ she cried, with a proper spirit.
of any great value, nor did the bank-book show that
‘There is a God in Heaven, Mr. Holmes, and that same
Mr. Oldacre was in such very affluent circumstances.
God who has punished that wicked man will show in
But it seemed to me that all the papers were not
His own good time that my son’s hands are guiltless
there. There were allusions to some deeds—possibly
of his blood.’
the more valuable—which I could not find. This, of
“Well, I tried one or two leads, but could get at course, if we could definitely prove it, would turn
nothing which would help our hypothesis, and sev- Lestrade’s argument against himself, for who would
eral points which would make against it. I gave it up steal a thing if he knew that he would shortly inherit
at last and off I went to Norwood. it?

6
 “Finally, having drawn every other cover and to large cheques which have been made out during
picked up no scent, I tried my luck with the house- the last year to Mr. Cornelius. I confess that I should
keeper. Mrs. Lexington is her name, a little, dark, be interested to know who this Mr. Cornelius may
silent person, with suspicious and sidelong eyes. She be with whom a retired builder has such very large
could tell us something if she would—I am convinced transactions. Is it possible that he has had a hand
of it. But she was as close as wax. Yes, she had let Mr. in the affair? Cornelius might be a broker, but we
McFarlane in at half-past nine. She wished her hand have found no scrip to correspond with these large
had withered before she had done so. She had gone payments. Failing any other indication my researches
to bed at half-past ten. Her room was at the other must now take the direction of an inquiry at the bank
end of the house, and she could hear nothing of what for the gentleman who has cashed these cheques. But
passed. Mr. McFarlane had left his hat, and to the I fear, my dear fellow, that our case will end inglo-
best of her belief his stick, in the hall. She had been riously by Lestrade hanging our client, which will
awakened by the alarm of fire. Her poor, dear master certainly be a triumph for Scotland Yard.”
had certainly been murdered. Had he any enemies? I do not know how far Sherlock Holmes took any
Well, every man had enemies, but Mr. Oldacre kept sleep that night, but when I came down to breakfast
himself very much to himself, and only met people I found him pale and harassed, his bright eyes the
in the way of business. She had seen the buttons, and brighter for the dark shadows round them. The carpet
was sure that they belonged to the clothes which he round his chair was littered with cigarette-ends and
had worn last night. The wood-pile was very dry, for with the early editions of the morning papers. An
it had not rained for a month. It burned like tinder, open telegram lay upon the table.
and by the time she reached the spot nothing could “What do you think of this, Watson?” he asked,
be seen but flames. She and all the firemen smelled tossing it across.
the burned flesh from inside it. She knew nothing of It was from Norwood, and ran as follows:
the papers, nor of Mr. Oldacre’s private affairs.
“So, my dear Watson, there’s my report of a failure. “Important fresh evidence to hand. McFar-
And yet—and yet—”—he clenched his thin hands in lane’s guilt definitely established. Advise
a paroxysm of conviction—“I know it’s all wrong. I you to abandon case.
feel it in my bones. There is something that has not — Lestrade.
come out, and that housekeeper knows it. There was “This sounds serious,” said I.
a sort of sulky defiance in her eyes, which only goes
“It is Lestrade’s little cock-a-doodle of victory,”
with guilty knowledge. However, there’s no good
Holmes answered, with a bitter smile. “And yet it
talking any more about it, Watson; but unless some
may be premature to abandon the case. After all, im-
lucky chance comes our way I fear that the Norwood
portant fresh evidence is a two-edged thing, and may
Disappearance Case will not figure in that chronicle
possibly cut in a very different direction to that which
of our successes which I foresee that a patient public
Lestrade imagines. Take your breakfast, Watson, and
will sooner or later have to endure.”
we will go out together and see what we can do. I
“Surely,” said I, “the man’s appearance would go feel as if I shall need your company and your moral
far with any jury?” support to-day.”
“That is a dangerous argument, my dear Watson. My friend had no breakfast himself, for it was
You remember that terrible murderer, Bert Stevens, one of his peculiarities that in his more intense mo-
who wanted us to get him off in ’87? Was there ever ments he would permit himself no food, and I have
a more mild-mannered, Sunday-school young man?” known him presume upon his iron strength until he
has fainted from pure inanition. “At present I cannot
“It is true.”
spare energy and nerve force for digestion,” he would
“Unless we succeed in establishing an alternative say in answer to my medical remonstrances. I was
theory this man is lost. You can hardly find a flaw not surprised, therefore, when this morning he left
in the case which can now be presented against him, his untouched meal behind him and started with me
and all further investigation has served to strengthen for Norwood. A crowd of morbid sightseers were still
it. By the way, there is one curious little point about gathered round Deep Dene House, which was just
those papers which may serve us as the starting-point such a suburban villa as I had pictured. Within the
for an inquiry. On looking over the bank-book I found gates Lestrade met us, his face flushed with victory,
that the low state of the balance was principally due his manner grossly triumphant.

7
 “Well, Mr. Holmes, have you proved us to be “Dear me! Dear me!” he said at last. “Well, now,
wrong yet? Have you found your tramp?” he cried. who would have thought it? And how deceptive ap-
“I have formed no conclusion whatever,” my com- pearances may be, to be sure! Such a nice young man
panion answered. to look at! It is a lesson to us not to trust our own
judgment, is it not, Lestrade?”
“But we formed ours yesterday, and now it proves
“Yes, some of us are a little too much inclined to
to be correct; so you must acknowledge that we have
be cocksure, Mr. Holmes,” said Lestrade. The man’s
been a little in front of you this time, Mr. Holmes.”
insolence was maddening, but we could not resent it.
“You certainly have the air of something unusual “What a providential thing that this young man
having occurred,” said Holmes. should press his right thumb against the wall in tak-
Lestrade laughed loudly. ing his hat from the peg! Such a very natural action,
too, if you come to think of it.” Holmes was out-
“You don’t like being beaten any more than the
wardly calm, but his whole body gave a wriggle of
rest of us do,” said he. “A man can’t expect always
suppressed excitement as he spoke. “By the way,
to have it his own way, can he, Dr. Watson? Step
Lestrade, who made this remarkable discovery?”
this way, if you please, gentlemen, and I think I can
convince you once for all that it was John McFarlane “It was the housekeeper, Mrs. Lexington, who
who did this crime.” drew the night constable’s attention to it.”
“Where was the night constable?”
He led us through the passage and out into a dark
“He remained on guard in the bedroom where the
hall beyond.
crime was committed, so as to see that nothing was
“This is where young McFarlane must have come touched.”
out to get his hat after the crime was done,” said “But why didn’t the police see this mark yester-
he. “Now, look at this.” With dramatic suddenness day?”
he struck a match and by its light exposed a stain of
“Well, we had no particular reason to make a care-
blood upon the whitewashed wall. As he held the
ful examination of the hall. Besides, it’s not in a very
match nearer I saw that it was more than a stain. It
prominent place, as you see.”
was the well-marked print of a thumb.
“No, no, of course not. I suppose there is no doubt
“Look at that with your magnifying glass, Mr. that the mark was there yesterday?”
Holmes.” Lestrade looked at Holmes as if he thought he was
“Yes, I am doing so.” going out of his mind. I confess that I was myself sur-
“You are aware that no two thumb marks are prised both at his hilarious manner and at his rather
alike?” wild observation.
“I don’t know whether you think that McFar-
“I have heard something of the kind.”
lane came out of jail in the dead of the night in
“Well, then, will you please compare that print order to strengthen the evidence against himself,”
with this wax impression of young McFarlane’s right said Lestrade. “I leave it to any expert in the world
thumb, taken by my orders this morning?” whether that is not the mark of his thumb.”
As he held the waxen print close to the blood- “It is unquestionably the mark of his thumb.”
stain it did not take a magnifying glass to see that the “There, that’s enough,” said Lestrade. “I am a
two were undoubtedly from the same thumb. It was practical man, Mr. Holmes, and when I have got my
evident to me that our unfortunate client was lost. evidence I come to my conclusions. If you have any-
“That is final,” said Lestrade. thing to say you will find me writing my report in the
sitting-room.”
“Yes, that is final,” I involuntarily echoed.
Holmes had recovered his equanimity, though I
“It is final,” said Holmes. still seemed to detect gleams of amusement in his
Something in his tone caught my ear, and I turned expression.
to look at him. An extraordinary change had come “Dear me, this is a very sad development, Watson,
over his face. It was writhing with inward merriment. is it not?” said he. “And yet there are singular points
His two eyes were shining like stars. It seemed to about it which hold out some hopes for our client.”
me that he was making desperate efforts to restrain a “I am delighted to hear it,” said I, heartily. “I was
convulsive attack of laughter. afraid it was all up with him.”

8
 “I would hardly go so far as to say that, my dear “I have no doubt they are, though I fail to see what
Watson. The fact is that there is one really serious their voices have to do with it.”
flaw in this evidence to which our friend attaches so “Perhaps I can help you to see that and one or two
much importance.” other things as well,” said Holmes. “Kindly summon
“Indeed, Holmes! What is it?” your men, and I will try.”
“Only this: that I know that that mark was not Five minutes later three policemen had assembled
there when I examined the hall yesterday. And now, in the hall.
Watson, let us have a little stroll round in the sun- “In the outhouse you will find a considerable quan-
shine.” tity of straw,” said Holmes. “I will ask you to carry in
With a confused brain, but with a heart into which two bundles of it. I think it will be of the greatest assis-
some warmth of hope was returning, I accompanied tance in producing the witness whom I require. Thank
my friend in a walk round the garden. Holmes took you very much. I believe you have some matches in
each face of the house in turn and examined it with your pocket, Watson. Now, Mr. Lestrade, I will ask
great interest. He then led the way inside and went you all to accompany me to the top landing.”
over the whole building from basement to attics. Most As I have said, there was a broad corridor there,
of the rooms were unfurnished, but none the less which ran outside three empty bedrooms. At one
Holmes inspected them all minutely. Finally, on the end of the corridor we were all marshalled by Sher-
top corridor, which ran outside three untenanted bed- lock Holmes, the constables grinning and Lestrade
rooms, he again was seized with a spasm of merri- staring at my friend with amazement, expectation,
ment. and derision chasing each other across his features.
“There are really some very unique features about Holmes stood before us with the air of a conjurer who
this case, Watson,” said he. “I think it is time now is performing a trick.
that we took our friend Lestrade into our confidence. “Would you kindly send one of your constables
He has had his little smile at our expense, and per- for two buckets of water? Put the straw on the floor
haps we may do as much by him if my reading of this here, free from the wall on either side. Now I think
problem proves to be correct. Yes, yes; I think I see that we are all ready.”
how we should approach it.” Lestrade’s face had begun to grow red and angry.
The Scotland Yard inspector was still writing in “I don’t know whether you are playing a game
the parlour when Holmes interrupted him. with us, Mr. Sherlock Holmes,” said he. “If you know
“I understood that you were writing a report of anything, you can surely say it without all this tom-
this case,” said he. foolery.”
“So I am.” “I assure you, my good Lestrade, that I have an
“Don’t you think it may be a little premature? I excellent reason for everything that I do. You may
can’t help thinking that your evidence is not com- possibly remember that you chaffed me a little some
plete.” hours ago, when the sun seemed on your side of the
hedge, so you must not grudge me a little pomp and
Lestrade knew my friend too well to disregard his
ceremony now. Might I ask you, Watson, to open that
words. He laid down his pen and looked curiously at
window, and then to put a match to the edge of the
him.
straw?”
“What do you mean, Mr. Holmes?”
I did so, and, driven by the draught, a coil of grey
“Only that there is an important witness whom smoke swirled down the corridor, while the dry straw
you have not seen.” crackled and flamed.
“Can you produce him?” “Now we must see if we can find this witness for
“I think I can.” you, Lestrade. Might I ask you all to join in the cry of
“Then do so.” ‘Fire!’? Now, then; one, two, three—”
“I will do my best. How many constables have “Fire!” we all yelled.
you?” “Thank you. I will trouble you once again.”
“There are three within call.” “Fire!”
“Excellent!” said Holmes. “May I ask if they are “Just once more, gentlemen, and all together.”
all large, able-bodied men with powerful voices?” “Fire!” The shout must have rung over Norwood.

9
 It had hardly died away when an amazing thing A lath-and-plaster partition had been run across
happened. A door suddenly flew open out of what the passage six feet from the end, with a door cun-
appeared to be solid wall at the end of the corridor, ningly concealed in it. It was lit within by slits under
and a little, wizened man darted out of it, like a rabbit the eaves. A few articles of furniture and a supply of
out of its burrow. food and water were within, together with a number
“Capital!” said Holmes, calmly. “Watson, a bucket of books and papers.
of water over the straw. That will do! Lestrade, al- “There’s the advantage of being a builder,” said
low me to present you with your principal missing Holmes, as we came out. “He was able to fix up
witness, Mr. Jonas Oldacre.” his own little hiding-place without any confeder-
The detective stared at the new-comer with blank ate—save, of course, that precious housekeeper of
amazement. The latter was blinking in the bright light his, whom I should lose no time in adding to your
of the corridor, and peering at us and at the smoul- bag, Lestrade.”
dering fire. It was an odious face—crafty, vicious, “I’ll take your advice. But how did you know of
malignant, with shifty, light-grey eyes and white eye- this place, Mr. Holmes?”
lashes. “I made up my mind that the fellow was in hiding
“What’s this, then?” said Lestrade at last. “What in the house. When I paced one corridor and found
have you been doing all this time, eh?” it six feet shorter than the corresponding one below,
it was pretty clear where he was. I thought he had
Oldacre gave an uneasy laugh, shrinking back
not the nerve to lie quiet before an alarm of fire. We
from the furious red face of the angry detective.
could, of course, have gone in and taken him, but
“I have done no harm.” it amused me to make him reveal himself; besides,
“No harm? You have done your best to get an I owed you a little mystification, Lestrade, for your
innocent man hanged. If it wasn’t for this gentle- chaff in the morning.”
man here, I am not sure that you would not have “Well, sir, you certainly got equal with me on that.
succeeded.” But how in the world did you know that he was in
The wretched creature began to whimper. the house at all?”
“I am sure, sir, it was only my practical joke.” “The thumb-mark, Lestrade. You said it was fi-
“Oh! a joke, was it? You won’t find the laugh on nal; and so it was, in a very different sense. I knew
your side, I promise you. Take him down and keep it had not been there the day before. I pay a good
him in the sitting-room until I come. Mr. Holmes,” he deal of attention to matters of detail, as you may have
continued, when they had gone, “I could not speak observed, and I had examined the hall and was sure
before the constables, but I don’t mind saying, in the that the wall was clear. Therefore, it had been put on
presence of Dr. Watson, that this is the brightest thing during the night.”
that you have done yet, though it is a mystery to me “But how?”
how you did it. You have saved an innocent man’s life, “Very simply. When those packets were sealed up,
and you have prevented a very grave scandal, which Jonas Oldacre got McFarlane to secure one of the seals
would have ruined my reputation in the Force.” by putting his thumb upon the soft wax. It would
Holmes smiled and clapped Lestrade upon the be done so quickly and so naturally that I dare say
shoulder. the young man himself has no recollection of it. Very
likely it just so happened, and Oldacre had himself
“Instead of being ruined, my good sir, you will
no notion of the use he would put it to. Brooding over
find that your reputation has been enormously en-
the case in that den of his, it suddenly struck him
hanced. Just make a few alterations in that report
what absolutely damning evidence he could make
which you were writing, and they will understand
against McFarlane by using that thumb-mark. It was
how hard it is to throw dust in the eyes of Inspector
the simplest thing in the world for him to take a wax
Lestrade.”
impression from the seal, to moisten it in as much
“And you don’t want your name to appear?” blood as he could get from a pin-prick, and to put
“Not at all. The work is its own reward. Perhaps the mark upon the wall during the night, either with
I shall get the credit also at some distant day when his own hand or with that of his housekeeper. If you
I permit my zealous historian to lay out his foolscap examine among those documents which he took with
once more—eh, Watson? Well, now, let us see where him into his retreat I will lay you a wager that you
this rat has been lurking.” find the seal with the thumb-mark upon it.”

10
 “Wonderful!” said Lestrade. “Wonderful! It’s all few hours ago that there was no possible escape. But
as clear as crystal, as you put it. But what is the object he had not that supreme gift of the artist, the knowl-
of this deep deception, Mr. Holmes?” edge of when to stop. He wished to improve that
It was amusing to me to see how the detective’s which was already perfect—to draw the rope tighter
overbearing manner had changed suddenly to that of yet round the neck of his unfortunate victim—and so
a child asking questions of its teacher. he ruined all. Let us descend, Lestrade. There are just
one or two questions that I would ask him.”
“Well, I don’t think that is very hard to explain. A
very deep, malicious, vindictive person is the gentle- The malignant creature was seated in his own
man who is now awaiting us downstairs. You know parlour with a policeman upon each side of him.
that he was once refused by McFarlane’s mother? You “It was a joke, my good sir, a practical joke, noth-
don’t! I told you that you should go to Blackheath ing more,” he whined incessantly. “I assure you, sir,
first and Norwood afterwards. Well, this injury, as he that I simply concealed myself in order to see the
would consider it, has rankled in his wicked, schem- effect of my disappearance, and I am sure that you
ing brain, and all his life he has longed for vengeance, would not be so unjust as to imagine that I would
but never seen his chance. During the last year or two have allowed any harm to befall poor young Mr. Mc-
things have gone against him—secret speculation, I Farlane.”
think—and he finds himself in a bad way. He deter-
mines to swindle his creditors, and for this purpose “That’s for a jury to decide,” said Lestrade. “Any-
he pays large cheques to a certain Mr. Cornelius, who how, we shall have you on a charge of conspiracy, if
is, I imagine, himself under another name. I have not not for attempted murder.”
traced these cheques yet, but I have no doubt that “And you’ll probably find that your creditors will
they were banked under that name at some provincial impound the banking account of Mr. Cornelius,” said
town where Oldacre from time to time led a double Holmes.
existence. He intended to change his name altogether, The little man started and turned his malignant
draw this money, and vanish, starting life again else- eyes upon my friend.
where.”
“I have to thank you for a good deal,” said he.
“Well, that’s likely enough.”
“Perhaps I’ll pay my debt some day.”
“It would strike him that in disappearing he might
throw all pursuit off his track, and at the same time Holmes smiled indulgently.
have an ample and crushing revenge upon his old “I fancy that for some few years you will find your
sweetheart, if he could give the impression that he time very fully occupied,” said he. “By the way, what
had been murdered by her only child. It was a mas- was it you put into the wood-pile besides your old
terpiece of villainy, and he carried it out like a master. trousers? A dead dog, or rabbits, or what? You won’t
The idea of the will, which would give an obvious mo- tell? Dear me, how very unkind of you! Well, well, I
tive for the crime, the secret visit unknown to his own dare say that a couple of rabbits would account both
parents, the retention of the stick, the blood, and the for the blood and for the charred ashes. If ever you
animal remains and buttons in the wood-pile, all were write an account, Watson, you can make rabbits serve
admirable. It was a net from which it seemed to me a your turn.”

11