The Complete Works of Sherlock Holmes

Chapter 90 The Return (5)
"Glen Cottage is a large modern villa, all built of burnt bricks, with a courtyard in front and a lawn with laurel bushes. On the right is the burning lumberyard, and from there to the main road There is a distance. This is a sketch I drew in a notebook. This window on the left is Oldecke's room, and you can see it from this road, you understand. Lestrade is not there, this Is the only consolation I've had today, but his sheriff has done his best. They've just found a great treasure. They've searched through the ashes all morning and found, in addition to charred organic remains, Several discs of discolored metal. I inspected the discs carefully and they turned out to be men's trouser buttons. I even made out the mark on one button - 'Hyam', the tailor of Oldec I then examined the lawn carefully, hoping to find other marks and footprints, but the drought had made everything hard as iron, and I could see nothing but what looked like a corpse or A bundle of something had been hauled across a low hedge of wax trees, in the direction of the lumberyard. These certainly fit the police's surmise. I crawled up and down the lawn, with the August sun on my back, I stood up an hour later, still as confused as before I went.

"Finding nothing in the yard, I went in to examine the bedroom. There was little blood in it, just stained, but the color was new. The cane had been moved, and there was little blood on it. The cane was indeed It belonged to McFarlane, he admitted. His and Oldeker's footprints were visible on the carpet, but there were no third-party footprints, which gave the police another win. Their scores were going up, We didn't move.

"I saw a little hope, but it was in vain. I checked the contents of the safe, and most of them have been taken out and placed on the table. The papers are all sealed in envelopes, and one or two have been opened by them. Open. It seems to me that those are things of little value; and Mr. Oldacre's wealth cannot be seen from the bank book. But I think not all the papers are there. There are several references to some The deed--could be more valuable, but I can't find it. Of course, if we could prove it, it would contradict Lestrade's statement. Could someone steal the Inherited something?
"I checked everywhere else and couldn't find a clue, and finally had to try my luck with the housekeeper. The housekeeper was Mrs Lexington, and she was short, dark, not very talkative, and had a lot of squinting eyes Doubtful. I'm sure she'd be able to say something if she'd talk, but she shut her mouth like a wax figure. Yes, she let Mr. MacFarlane in at 09:30. She felt for it. Regret. She went to bed at 10:30, her room was on the other side and couldn't hear what was going on here. Mr McFarlane left his hat and cane in the hall. She was woken by the fire alarm. Her poor The good master must have been murdered. Has he any enemies? Well, everybody has enemies, but Mr. Oldacre sees very little, except those who ask him to do business. She looked at the buttons and decided it was him last night. from the clothes she was wearing. Since there had been no rain for a month, the woodpile was very dry, so it caught fire quickly. When she got to the lumber yard, there was nothing in sight but a raging fire. She and all All the firefighters smelled of burnt meat. She knew nothing about papers or anything about Mr. Oldacre's personal affairs.

"Here, my dear Watson, this is how I failed. But...but..." He clenched his fists suddenly, as if regaining his confidence, "I know it's all wrong. I do realize it. There are other important things that are unclear, but the housekeeper knows, but she keeps her mouth shut. Her sullen, defiant look only shows that she feels guilty. But it's useless to say more. Unless luck finds her way, I'm afraid This Norwood disappearance will not be added to our crackdown. I think the patient public will just have to put up with this one."

"This young man's appearance must have impressed any jury?" I said.

"That's a dangerous argument, my dear Watson. You remember that murderer Bert Stephens in [-] who wanted us to exonerate him? A young man as pure as a Sunday-school child?"

"That's true."

"Unless we can come up with another hypothesis, it's over for McFarlane. In a case where he can be charged right now, you can't find a single hole. Further investigation will make the prosecution more favorable. I Come to think of it, there's still something odd about those notes that might serve as a starting point for our investigation. When I looked through my bankbook, I found that the balance was very small, because several large checks were written to Cornelius in the past year. Mr. Yass. I'd love to know who Mr. Cornelias was who had such a big deal with this retired architect. Does this case have anything to do with him? Mr. Cornelias may be a broker , but I have found no evidence to match these large payments. Since there is no other clue now, I must redirect my direction and inquire with the bank which gentleman cashed the check. But, my friend, I fear The case will end ignominiously with Lestrade hanging our client, and it will be a great victory for Scotland Yard."

I do not know how long Holmes slept that night, but when I came down to breakfast I found him pale and sad, and his bright eyes seemed even brighter by their dark circles.The carpet around his chair was littered with cigarette butts and the day's morning paper.A telegram was spread out on the dining table.

"What do you think it means, Watson?" he asked me, throwing the telegram at me.

The telegram was from Norwood and reads as follows:
Newly obtained important evidence, McFarlane has been convicted, and is advised to abandon the case.

Lestrade
"Looks real," I said.

"This is a small triumph for Lestrade," said Holmes with a wry smile. "However, it is too early to abandon the case. In any case, any new important evidence is like a double-edged sword. Cut in the direction of Lestrade's conjecture. Let's have breakfast first, Watson. Let's go out together later and see what we can do. Today I feel as if I need your company and spiritual assistance."

My friend didn't eat breakfast herself.When he is nervous, he will not eat, which is a characteristic of him.I've seen him exhaust himself until he passed out from lack of nutrition. "I don't have the energy to digest my food right now," he always responded to my medical advice with this phrase.It did not surprise me, therefore, that he set off with me for Norwood that day without breakfast.There is a group of curious people gathered outside Glen Mountain Villa, and this suburban villa is exactly as I imagined.Lestrade greeted us inside, his face flushed with triumph and triumphant. "Ah, Mr. Holmes, you have proved us wrong? Have you found the tramp?" he cried.

"I have not yet drawn any conclusions," replied my companion.

"But the conclusions we reached yesterday have been proved to be correct, and you must admit that we are ahead of you this time, Mr. Holmes."

"You do look as though something unusual has happened." Lestrade laughed.

"And you, like us, don't want to be left behind," said he. "One can't do everything well, don't you, Dr. Watson? Come this way, gentlemen. I think I can make it all right." You are convinced that the murderer in this case is John Hector MacFarlane."

He led us down the hall into a dimly lit foyer.

"This is where young MacFarlane must come for his hat after he commits a crime," he said. blood.When he brought the match closer, what I saw was not only blood, but a bloody thumb mark that was clearly printed.

"Take a look with your magnifying glass, Mr. Holmes."

"I'm looking at it with a magnifying glass."

"You know, no two thumbprints are the same."

"I've heard it said."

"Well, please compare the print on the wall with the wax print I ordered to be taken from McFarlane's right thumb this morning." He held the wax print against the blood, without a magnifying glass at this time. It can also be seen that they are all printed on the same thumb.It was evident that our unfortunate client was doomed.

"It was decisive," said Lestrade.

"Yes, it is decisive." I can't help but answer him.

"Decisive!" said Holmes.I heard something in his tone and turned to look at him.There was an unexpected change in his expression, his face couldn't hide the joy in his heart, his eyes were shining like stars, and he seemed to be trying to hold back his laughter.

"Ah! ah!" he said at last, "who would have thought that? It's true how unreliable appearances are! Such a good-looking young man! It teaches us not to trust our eyes too much. , don't you, Lestrade?"

"Yes, Mr. Holmes, some of us are simply overconfident," said Lestrade.The arrogance of this man is infuriating, but we cannot argue with it.

"When the young man took his hat from the peg, he pressed the thumb of his right hand against the wall. It was God's will! What a natural action, if you think about it." Holmes was calm on the surface, but he When he said this, his whole body trembled with uncontrollable excitement.

"By the way, Lestrade, who discovered this astonishing detail?"

"Mrs. Lexington, the housekeeper, told the night sergeant."

"Where was the night constable?"

"He stayed in the bedroom where the accident happened, and prevented people from touching the contents."

"But why didn't you find this bloodstain yesterday?"

"Well, we had no particular reason to examine this hall carefully. Besides, you see, it's not a very conspicuous place."

"Yes, yes, inconspicuously, of course. I suppose the blood was probably on the wall yesterday?"

Lestrade looked at Holmes, as if wondering if the man had gone mad.I confess that even I was surprised at Holmes's excitement and rather capricious expression of opinion.

"I don't know if you think McFarlane ran out of jail in the middle of the night to add to his case," Lestrade said. "I could ask any expert in the world to identify if it was his thumb." print."

"There is no doubt that it is his thumbprint."

"That will suffice," said Lestrade. "I am a practical man, Mr. Holmes, and I judge only when I have evidence. If you have anything to say, you can find it in the drawing-room." Me. I'm going to write my report there."

Holmes had regained his composure, but I still seemed to be able to read from his expression that he was absurd.

"Well, things are going in a bad direction, aren't they, Watson? But there is something wonderful about it, and it leaves some hope for our client."

"I'm glad to hear you say that," I said sincerely. "Just now I thought there was no hope for him."

"I would hate to say that, my dear Watson. There is, in fact, a great defect in the evidence which our friend regards so highly."

"Really? What flaw?"

"That's it: I know that when I examined the hall yesterday, there was no blood on the wall. Now, Watson, let us go for a walk in the sun."

I walked with my friend in the garden.My mind was confused, but my heart began to feel a little warm because of hope.Holmes looked at each side of the villa in turn, and examined them with interest.Then he led the way into the house.From the basement to the attic, he looked over the entire building.Most of the rooms are unfurnished.But he still examined the rooms carefully.At last he reached the corridor on the top floor, where there were three empty bedrooms, and Holmes suddenly became excited again.

"The case is indeed quite characteristic, Watson," said he, "and I think it is time to speak the truth to our friend Lestrade. He has laughed at us, and if my judgment of the case proves to be right If it does, maybe we can pay him back. There, there, I think I know what to do."

While the Scotland Yard Inspector was rushing to write his report in the living room, Holmes interrupted him.

"I know you're writing a report on the case," he said.

"I'm writing."

"Don't you think it's a little premature? I always feel that your evidence is not enough."

Lestrade knew my friend too well to take his words seriously.He put down his pen and looked at Holmes curiously.

"What do you mean, Mr. Holmes?"

"I'm just saying there's an important witness you haven't seen yet."

"can you find it?"

"I think I can do it."

"Then let him come."

"I'll do my best. How many constables do you have?"

"There are three who can be summoned immediately."

"Excellent!" said Holmes. "Aren't they all strong and loud?"

"Of course they are, but I don't see what their voices have to do with it."

"Perhaps I can help you to clear up this and one or two other points," said Holmes. "Please call your sergeant, and I will try."

Five minutes later, three police officers had assembled in the hall.

"There is a large pile of straw in the shed outside," said Holmes. "I beg you to bring in two bundles. I think this will help me get the witnesses I need. Thank you. Watson, I believe you have matches in your pocket." .And now, Mr. Lestrade, you will all accompany me to the top landing."

As I have already said, there was a wide corridor outside the three empty bedrooms.Holmes assembled us all at one end of the corridor.Three police officers were grinning.Lestrade looked at my friend with alternating expressions of surprise, anticipation, and sneer.Holmes stood in front of us with the air of a conjurer in the midst of his conjuring.

"Would you please send a constable to fetch two buckets of water? Put the two sheaves of straw here, not against the wall. Now everything is ready."

Lestrade's face was already turning red with anger.

"I wonder if you are joking with us, Mr. Sherlock Holmes," said he. "If you know something, you can tell it without such a waste of time."

"My good Lestrade, I can assure you that I have every reason for doing this. You may remember that you played a little joke on me a few hours ago when you seemed to have the upper hand, and now you Just don't let me show it. Watson, will you open the window first, and then strike a match and light the straw?"

I did as he said.The dry straw crackled, the flames rose, and a puff of white smoke was blown all over the corridor by the draft.

"Now we'll see if we can get you that witness, Lestrade. Will you all shout 'Fire' to me? Come on, one, two, three—"

"Fire!" we all yelled.

"Thank you. Please do it again."

"on fire!"

"Gentlemen, come again and shout together."

"It's on fire!" Probably the whole Norwood heard the sound.

As soon as the voice fell, something unexpected happened.The seemingly unbroken wall at the end of the corridor suddenly opened a door, and through it burst a small, wizened figure like a rabbit popping out of its burrow.

"Excellent!" said Holmes calmly. "Watson, pour a pail of water over the straw. That will do! Let me introduce you, Lestrade, your chief witness to the disappearance Mr Nath Oldecke."

Lestrade looked at the stranger in great astonishment.The light in the hallway made him blink.He looked at us, then at the still smoking fire.It was a hideous face: sly, evil, fierce, with pale gray, suspicious eyes.

"What's the matter?" said Lestrade at last. "What are you doing?"

Oldecke, frightened by the detective's anger, gave an unnatural laugh.

"I did no harm."

"Have you done no harm? You have taken great pains to hang an innocent man. If it had not been for this gentleman, you might have succeeded."

The wretch began to sob.

"Honestly, sir, I was only joking."

"Ah, is this still a joke? I promise you won't laugh. Take him down and leave him in the living room until I come."

After the three policemen took Oldacre away, Lestrade went on to say: "Mr. Holmes, I can't say it in front of the policemen just now, but in front of Dr. Watson, I am not afraid to admit that you have done the best job." Brilliant, though I can't figure out how you did it. You saved an innocent life and avoided a scandal that would ruin my reputation as a police officer."

Holmes smiled and patted Lestrade on the shoulder.

"Not only will your reputation be spared, my good sir, but you will see your reputation rise. Just alter your report a little, and they will think how hard it is to deceive Inspector Lestrade's eyes." Difficult thing."

"And you don't want your name on the report?"

"Never thought of it. The work is the reward. When I allow this eager historian to take up his pen again, perhaps I will be praised then--eh, Watson? Well, now let us see This mouse's hiding place."

Six feet from the end of this passage, a small room had been plastered and lathed out, and a secret door had been artfully fitted in the partition.The small room is completely illuminated by a little light coming through the cracks in the eaves. There are a few pieces of furniture, food and water, as well as some books and newspapers.

(End of this chapter)