by Arthur Conan Doyle

spring year 1894 that all London was interested, fashionable world dismayed, murder Honourable Ronald Adair under most unusual and inexplicable circumstances The public has already learned those particulars crime which came out police investigation; but was suppressed upon that occasion, case prosecution was so overwhelmingly strong not necessary to bring forward all the facts Only now, end of nearly ten years, am I allowed to supply those missing links which make up the whole remarkable chain The crime was of interest in itself, but that interest was as nothing compared inconceivable sequel, which afforded me the greatest shock and surprise of any event in my adventurous life Even now, long interval, myself thrilling as of it, and feeling once more that sudden flood of joy, amazement, and incredulity which utterly submerged my mind Let me say public shown some interest in those glimpses which occasionally given them thoughts and actions of very remarkable man not to blame me if shared my knowledge , for considered it my first duty to so had I not been barred by positive prohibition own lips, only withdrawn third of last month

It imagined that my close intimacy with Sherlock Holmes had interested me deeply in crime, after his disappearance I never failed to read with care the various problems which came public, and I even attempted more than once own private satisfaction to employ his methods in their solution, though with indifferent success none, however, which appealed like this tragedy of Ronald Adair As the evidence inquest, which led verdict of wilful murder against some person or persons unknown, I realised more clearly than I had ever done the loss which the community had sustained death of Sherlock Holmes There were points strange business which would, sure, have specially appealed to him, efforts police supplemented, or more probably anticipated, trained observation alert mind first criminal agent in Europe All day as I drove upon my round I turned over the case in my mind, and found no explanation which appeared adequate risk of telling twice-told tale recapitulate the facts were known public conclusion inquest

The Honourable Ronald Adair second son Earl of Maynooth, Governor of Australian Colonies Adair's mother had returned from Australia to undergo the operation for cataract, and she, her son Ronald, and her daughter Hilda were living together at 427, Park Lane The youth moved best society, had, as was known, no enemies, and no particular vices He engaged to Miss Edith Woodley, of Carstairs, but the engagement broken off by mutual consent some months before, and no sign had left any very profound feeling behind it rest the man's life moved in narrow and conventional circle, habits were quiet nature unemotional Yet easy-going young aristocrat that death came in most strange and unexpected form hours of ten and eleven-twenty night of March 30th, 1894

Ronald Adair was fond of cards, playing continually, but never for such stakes as would hurt him member Baldwin, the Cavendish, Bagatelle card clubs shown that after dinner day death he had played rubber of whist latter club He had also played there afternoon The evidence who had played -- Mr Murray, Sir John Hardy, and Colonel Moran -- showed game was whist, fairly equal fall cards Adair lost five pounds, but not more His fortune was considerable one, and such loss in affect him He had played nearly every day at one club or other, but cautious player, and usually rose winner It came out in evidence that in partnership with Colonel Moran he had actually won as four hundred and twenty pounds in sitting some weeks before from Godfrey Milner and Lord Balmoral recent history, as it came out inquest

evening crime he returned club exactly at ten His mother and sister were out spending the evening with relation The servant deposed that she heard him enter the front room second floor, generally used as his sitting-room She had lit fire there, and as it smoked she had opened the window No sound was heard room until eleven-twenty, the hour return of Lady Maynooth and her daughter Desiring good-night, she had attempted to enter her son's room The door was locked inside, and no answer got cries and knocking Help was obtained door forced The unfortunate young man was found lying near the table His head horribly mutilated by an expanding revolver bullet, but no weapon of any sort was found room table lay two bank-notes for ten pounds each and seventeen pounds ten in silver and gold, the money arranged in little piles of varying amount There were some figures also upon sheet of paper names of some club friends opposite , conjectured that before his death endeavouring out his losses or winnings at cards

minute examination circumstances served only to case more complex first place, no reason given why the young man fastened the door inside the possibility murderer had done this and had afterwards escaped window The drop was twenty feet, however, and bed of crocuses in full bloom lay beneath Neither the flowers nor the earth showed any sign of having been disturbed, nor were there any marks narrow strip of grass which separated the house road Apparently, therefore, it young man himself who had fastened the door But how did he come by his death ? No one climbed window without leaving traces Suppose man had fired window, it would indeed be remarkable shot with revolver inflict so deadly wound Again, Park Lane is frequented thoroughfare, and cab-stand within hundred yards house No one had heard shot And yet the dead man, and there the revolver bullet, which had mushroomed out, as soft-nosed bullets will, and so inflicted wound have caused instantaneous death Such were the circumstances Park Lane Mystery, which were further complicated by entire absence of motive, since, as said, young Adair was not known any enemy, and no attempt made to remove the money or valuables room

All day I turned these facts over in my mind, endeavouring to hit upon some theory which could reconcile them all, and that line of least resistance which my poor friend had declared the starting-point of every investigation I confess that little progress evening I strolled across the Park, and found myself about six o'clock Oxford Street end of Park Lane group of loafers pavements, all staring up at particular window, directed me house which I had come tall, thin man with coloured glasses, whom I strongly suspected of being plain-clothes detective, was pointing out some theory own, while the others crowded round to listen to what I got as near him as , but his observations seemed absurd, so I withdrew again in some disgust As so I struck against an elderly deformed man, who behind me, and I knocked down several books which carrying I remember that as I picked them up I observed the title of , "The Origin of Tree Worship," and it struck me fellow some poor bibliophile who, either as trade or as hobby, was collector of obscure volumes I endeavoured to apologise accident, but evident books which I had so unfortunately maltreated were very precious objects eyes owner With snarl of contempt he turned upon his heel, and his curved back and white side-whiskers disappear throng

My observations of No 427, Park Lane did little to clear up the problem interested The house was separated street by low wall and railing, the whole not more than five feet high perfectly easy, therefore, for anyone garden, but the window was entirely inaccessible, since no water-pipe or anything which could help the most active man to climb it More puzzled than ever I retraced my steps to Kensington I in my study five minutes maid entered that person desired me To my astonishment none my strange old book-collector, his sharp, wizened face peering out from frame of white hair, precious volumes, dozen , wedged under his right arm

"You're surprised me, sir," said he, in strange, croaking voice

I acknowledged that

"Well, I've conscience, sir, and when I chanced you go house, as hobbling after you, to myself, I'll just step in that kind gentleman, and tell him that if bit gruff in my manner not any harm meant, much obliged to him for picking up my books "

"You make of trifle," said I "May I ask how who ? "