"Capital ! " said Holmes, calmly "Watson, bucket of water over the straw do ! Lestrade, allow me you with your principal missing witness, Mr Jonas Oldacre "

The detective stared new-comer with blank amazement The latter was blinking bright light corridor, and peering at us and smouldering fire an odious face -- crafty, vicious, malignant, with shifty, light-grey eyes and white eyelashes

"What's this, then ? " said Lestrade at last "What been doing all , eh ? "

Oldacre gave an uneasy laugh, shrinking back furious red face angry detective

" no harm "

"No harm ? You your best an innocent man hanged wasn't gentleman here, not sure that succeeded "

The wretched creature began to whimper

" , sir, only my practical joke "

"Oh ! joke, ? You won't find the laugh side, I promise you Take him down and keep him sitting-room until I come Mr Holmes," he continued, had gone, " speak constables, but I don't mind saying, presence of Dr Watson, the brightest thing that you yet, though mystery how it saved an innocent man's life, and prevented very grave scandal, which ruined my reputation Force "

Holmes smiled and clapped Lestrade shoulder

"Instead of being ruined, my good sir, that your reputation enormously enhanced Just make few alterations report which you were writing, and understand how hard to throw dust eyes of Inspector Lestrade "

"And you don't want to appear ? "

"Not at all The work is its own reward Perhaps get the credit also at some distant day when I permit my zealous historian to lay out his foolscap once more -- eh, Watson ? Well, now, where this rat lurking "

lath-and-plaster partition run across the passage six feet end, with door cunningly concealed lit within by slits under the eaves few articles of furniture and supply of food and water were within, together with number of books and papers

"There's the advantage of being builder," said Holmes, came out " able to fix up his own little hiding-place without any confederate -- save, , that precious housekeeper , whom lose no time in adding to your bag, Lestrade "

"I'll take your advice But how did place, Mr Holmes ? "

" up my mind fellow was in hiding house When I paced one corridor and found it six feet shorter corresponding one below, pretty clear where he the nerve to lie quiet before an alarm of fire , , in and taken him, but it amused me him reveal himself; besides, I owed you little mystification, Lestrade, for your chaff morning "

"Well, sir, you certainly got equal with me But how did that house at all ? "

"The thumb-mark, Lestrade You said final; and so , in very different sense it there the day before I pay of attention to matters of detail, observed, and I had examined the hall and was sure wall was clear Therefore, it put on during the night "

"But how ? "

"Very simply packets were sealed up, Jonas Oldacre got McFarlane to secure seals by putting his thumb soft wax It so quickly and so naturally that I dare say the young man himself has no recollection of it Very likely it just so happened, and Oldacre had himself no notion use put it to Brooding over the case den , it suddenly struck him what absolutely damning evidence make against McFarlane by using that thumb-mark It simplest thing for him wax impression seal, to moisten it in blood as get from pin-prick, and the mark wall during the night, either own hand or housekeeper examine among those documents which into his retreat lay you wager that you find the seal thumb-mark upon it "

"Wonderful ! " said Lestrade "Wonderful ! It's all as clear as crystal, put it But the object deep deception, Mr Holmes ? "

amusing how the detective's overbearing manner had changed suddenly of child asking questions teacher

"Well, I don't think very hard to explain very deep, malicious, vindictive person gentleman now awaiting us downstairs that once refused by McFarlane's mother ? You don't ! you that go to Blackheath first and Norwood afterwards Well, this injury, as consider it, has rankled wicked, scheming brain, and all his life he has longed for vengeance, but never seen his chance year or two things against him -- secret speculation, -- and he finds himself in bad way He determines to swindle his creditors, and purpose he pays large cheques to certain Mr Cornelius, , I imagine, himself under another name traced these cheques yet, but were banked under that name at some provincial town where Oldacre led double existence He intended his name altogether, draw this money, and vanish, starting life again elsewhere "

"Well, that's likely enough "

"It would strike him that in disappearing he might throw all pursuit off his track, and same time have an ample and crushing revenge upon his old sweetheart, if give the impression that he murdered by her only child masterpiece of villainy, and he carried it out like master The idea will, which would give an obvious motive crime, the secret visit unknown own parents, the retention stick, the blood, animal remains and buttons wood-pile, all were admirable net it seemed few that no possible escape But he that supreme gift artist, the knowledge of when to stop to improve that already perfect -- to draw the rope tighter yet round the neck unfortunate victim -- and so he ruined all descend, Lestrade just questions that ask him "

The malignant creature was seated own parlour with policeman upon each side of him

" joke, my good sir, practical joke, nothing more," he whined incessantly "I assure you, sir, that I simply concealed myself the effect disappearance, and that so unjust imagine that allowed any harm to befall poor young Mr McFarlane "

"That's for jury to decide," said Lestrade "Anyhow, you on charge of conspiracy, for attempted murder "

"And you'll probably find that your creditors will impound the banking account of Mr Cornelius," said Holmes

The little man started and turned his malignant eyes upon my friend

" ," said he "Perhaps I'll pay my debt some day "

Holmes smiled indulgently

"I fancy that for some few years your time very fully occupied," said he " , it you put wood-pile besides your old trousers ? dead dog, or rabbits, or what ? You won't tell ? Dear me, how very unkind of you ! Well, well, I dare say that couple of rabbits would account both blood and charred ashes If ever you write an account, Watson, rabbits serve your turn "