No. 2 The Adventure of the Norwood Builder by Arthur Conan Doyle

No. 2 The Adventure of the Norwood Builder by Arthur Conan Doyle
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Lestrade

honours

-trove

raking

remains

discoloured metal

discs

trouser buttons

`Hyams',

Oldacre's

signs

traces,

dragged

, fits

" well , after_this fiasco I went into_the bedroom and examined that also the blood -stains were very slight , mere smears and discolourations, but undoubtedly fresh the stick had_been removed , but there also the marks were slight there_is no_doubt about_the stick belonging our client admits Footmarks both men could_be made out on_the carpet , but none any third person , which again trick for_the other side they were piling their score all the time and were standstill

" only_one little gleam hope did I get -- and yet amounted nothing I examined the contents of_the safe , most of_which had_been taken out and left on_the table the papers made into sealed envelopes, one_or_two opened by_the police they were_not , so_far I_could judge , any great value , nor did the bank - book show that Mr Oldacre was in_such very affluent circumstances but seemed to_me that all the papers there there were allusions some deeds -- possibly the more valuable -- which I_could_not find this , of_course , if_we_could definitely prove , would turn Lestrade's argument against himself , for who_would steal thing he_knew that he_would shortly inherit ?

" finally , having drawn every_other cover and picked scent , I tried luck with_the housekeeper Mrs Lexington her name , little , dark , silent person , with suspicious and sidelong eyes she_could tell something she_would -- I_am convinced but she was wax yes , she had let Mr McFarlane half - past nine she wished her hand had withered before she had done she had gone bed half - past ten her room was at_the other end of_the house , and she_could hear nothing what passed Mr McFarlane had left his hat , and to_the best her belief his stick , in_the hall she had_been awakened by_the alarm fire her poor , dear master had certainly been murdered had any enemies ? well , every man had enemies, but Mr Oldacre kept himself very_much himself , and only met people in_the way business she had seen the buttons, and was sure that_they belonged to_the clothes which had worn last night the wood - pile was very dry , for_it had_not rained for month burned like tinder , and by_the_time she reached the spot nothing could_be seen but flames she and all the firemen smelled the burned flesh from inside she knew nothing of_the papers, nor Mr Oldacre's private affairs

" , dear Watson, there 's report failure and yet -- and yet ---" -- clenched his thin hands paroxysm conviction -- " I_know 's all wrong I_feel bones there_is something that has_not come out , and_that housekeeper knows there_was sort sulky Defiance her eyes , which only goes with guilty knowledge however , there 's good talking any more about_it , Watson; but unless some lucky chance comes our way I_fear that_the Norwood disappearance case will not in_that chronicle of_our successes which I foresee that patient public will sooner later have endure "

" surely ," said I, " the man 's appearance would far with any jury ? "

" that_is dangerous argument , dear Watson you remember that terrible murderer , Bert Stevens, who wanted to_get him off '87 ? was there ever more mild - mannered , Sunday - school young man ? "

" it_is true "

" unless succeed establishing alternative theory this man lost you_can hardly find flaw in_the case which can now presented against him , and all further investigation has served strengthen by_the_way , there_is one curious little point about_those papers which_may serve as_the starting- point for inquiry looking over the bank - book I_found that_the low state of_the balance was principally due large cheques which_have been made out during_the_last year Mr Cornelius I confess that i_should_be interested to_know who this Mr Cornelius may_be with_whom retired builder has such very large transactions is_it possible that has had hand in_the affair ? Cornelius might_be broker , but we_have found scrip correspond with_these large payments Failing any_other indication researches must now take_the direction inquiry at_the bank for_the gentleman who has cashed these cheques but I_fear , dear fellow , that_our case will end ingloriously Lestrade hanging our client , which will certainly triumph for Scotland yard "

I_do_not know how far Sherlock Holmes took any sleep that night , but when I_came down breakfast I_found him pale and harassed, his bright eyes the brighter for_the dark shadows round them the carpet round his chair was littered with cigarette -ends and with_the early editions of_the morning papers open lay upon_the table

" what do_you_think of_this , Watson ? " asked , tossing across

it_was from Norwood , and ran follows:--

" important fresh evidence hand Mcfarlane's guilt definitely established advise you abandon case -- Lestrade "

" this sounds serious ," said I

" it_is Lestrade's little cock-a-doodle victory ," Holmes answered , with bitter smile " and yet may_be premature abandon the case after all , important fresh evidence two - edged thing , and may possibly cut very different direction to_that which Lestrade imagines take your breakfast , Watson, and we_will out together and_see what we_can I_feel as_if I_shall need your company and your moral support - day "

friend had breakfast himself , for it_was one of_his peculiarities that in_his more intense moments he_would permit himself food , and I_have known him presume upon his iron strength until has fainted from pure inanition " present I_cannot spare energy and nerve force for digestion ," say answer medical remonstrances i_was not surprised , therefore , when this_morning left his untouched meal behind him and started with for Norwood crowd morbid sightseers were still gathered round deep Dene house , which_was just such suburban villa I had pictured within_the gates Lestrade met , his face flushed with victory , his manner grossly triumphant

" well , Mr Holmes, have_you proved to_be wrong yet ? found your tramp ? " cried

" I_have formed conclusion whatever ," companion answered

" but formed ours yesterday , and now proves to_be correct ; you_must acknowledge that we_have_been little front you this_time , Mr Holmes "

" you certainly have the air something unusual having occurred ," said Holmes

Lestrade laughed loudly

" you don't like being beaten any more than_the rest ," said "A man can 't expect always to_have his own way , can , Dr Watson ? step this_way , if_you please , gentlemen , and i_think I_can convince you once for all that_it_was John McFarlane who did this crime "

led through_the passage and out into dark hall beyond

" this_is where young McFarlane must_have come out to_get his hat after_the crime was_done ," said " now , look at_this " with dramatic suddenness struck match and its light exposed stain blood upon_the whitewashed wall held the match nearer I_saw that_it_was more than stain was_the well - marked print

" look at_that with your magnifying glass , Mr Holmes "

" yes , I_am doing_so "

" you_are aware that two marks are alike ? "

" I_have heard something of_the kind "

" well , then , will_you_please compare that print with_this wax impression young McFarlane's right , taken orders this_morning ? "

held the waxen print to_the blood - stain did_not take magnifying glass to_see that_the two were undoubtedly from_the same 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 Holmes

something in_his tone caught ear , and I turned look him extraordinary change had come over his face it_was writhing with inward merriment his two eyes were shining like stars seemed to_me that he_was making desperate efforts restrain convulsive attack laughter

" dear ! dear ! " he_said last " well , now , who_would_have thought ? and how deceptive appearances may_be , to_be_sure ! such nice young man look ! it_is lesson to_us not trust our own judgement, is_it not , Lestrade ? "

" yes , some are little too_much inclined to_be cocksure , Mr Holmes," said Lestrade the man 's insolence was maddening, but we_could_not resent

" what providential thing that_this young man should press his right against the wall taking his hat from_the Peg ! such very natural action , too , if_you come to_think " Holmes was outwardly calm , but his whole body gave wriggle suppressed excitement spoke " by_the_way , Lestrade, who_made this remarkable discovery ? "

" was_the housekeeper , Mrs Lexington , who drew the night constable 's attention to_it "

" where was_the night constable ? "

" remained guard in_the bedroom where the crime was committed , to_see that nothing was touched "

" but why didn't the police see this mark yesterday ? "

" well , had particular reason to_make careful examination of_the hall besides , 's not very prominent place , you_see "

" , , of_course not I suppose there_is no_doubt that_the mark was there yesterday ? "

Lestrade looked Holmes as_if thought he_was going out of_his mind I confess that i_was myself surprised both his hilarious manner and his rather wild observation

"I don't know whether you_think that McFarlane came out gaol in_the dead of_the night in_order strengthen the evidence against himself ," said Lestrade "I leave any expert in_the_world whether that_is_not the mark of_his "

" it_is unquestionably the mark of_his "

" there , that 's enough ," said Lestrade " I_am practical man , Mr Holmes, and when I_have got evidence I come conclusions if_you_have anything to_say you_will_find writing report in_the sitting- room "

Holmes had recovered his equanimity , though I still seemed detect gleams amusement in_his expression

" dear , this_is very sad development , Watson, is_it not ? " said " and yet there_are singular points about_it which hold out some hopes for_our client "

" I_am delighted hear ," said I, heartily " i_was afraid it_was all with_him "

" i_would hardly so_far to_say that , dear Watson the fact that_there_is one really serious flaw in_this evidence to_which our friend attaches so_much importance "

" indeed , Holmes ! what_is ? "

" only this : that I_know that that mark was not there when I examined the hall yesterday and now , Watson, let_us_have little stroll round in_the sunshine "

with confused brain , but with heart into which some warmth hope was returning, I accompanied friend walk round the garden Holmes took each face of_the house turn and examined with great interest then led the way inside and went over the whole building from basement attics most of_the rooms were unfurnished , but none the less Holmes inspected them all minutely finally , on_the top corridor , which ran outside three untenanted bedrooms, again was seized with spasm merriment

" there_are really some very unique features about_this case , Watson," said " i_think it_is time now that took our friend Lestrade into our confidence has had his little smile our expense , and perhaps we_may as_much him if_my reading of_this problem proves to_be correct yes , yes ; i_think I_see how we_should approach "