"Haveacigarette，Mr。McFarlane，"saidhe，pushinghiscaseacross。
"IamsurethatwithyoursymptomsmyfriendDr。Watsonherewouldprescribeasedative。Theweatherhasbeensoverywarmtheselastfewdays。Now，ifyoufeelalittlemorecomposed，Ishouldbegladifyouwouldsitdowninthatchairandtellusveryslowlyandquietlywhoyouareandwhatitisthatyouwant。YoumentionedyournameasifIshouldrecogniseit，butIassureyouthat，beyondtheobviousfactsthatyouareabachelor，asolicitor，aFreemason，andanasthmatic，Iknownothingwhateveraboutyou。"
FamiliarasIwaswithmyfriend’smethods，itwasnotdifficultformetofollowhisdeductions，andtoobservetheuntidinessofattire，thesheafoflegalpapers，thewatch—charm，andthebreathingwhichhadpromptedthem。Ourclient，however，staredinamazement。
"Yes，Iamallthat，Mr。Holmes，andinadditionIamthemostunfortunatemanatthismomentinLondon。ForHeaven’ssakedon’tabandonme，Mr。Holmes！IftheycometoarrestmebeforeIhavefinishedmystory，makethemgivemetimesothatImaytellyouthewholetruth。IcouldgotogaolhappyifIknewthatyouwereworkingformeoutside。"
"Arrestyou！"saidHolmes。"Thisisreallymostgrati——mostinteresting。Onwhatchargedoyouexpecttobearrested？"
"UponthechargeofmurderingMr。JonasOldacre，ofLowerNorwood。"
Mycompanion’sexpressivefaceshowedasympathywhichwasnot，Iamafraid，entirelyunmixedwithsatisfaction。
"Dearme，"saidhe；"itwasonlythismomentatbreakfastthatIwassayingtomyfriend，Dr。Watson，thatsensationalcaseshaddisappearedoutofourpapers。"
OurvisitorstretchedforwardaquiveringhandandpickeduptheDAILYTELEGRAPH，whichstilllayuponHolmes’sknee。
"Ifyouhadlookedatit，sir，youwouldhaveseenataglancewhattheerrandisonwhichIhavecometoyouthismorning。
Ifeelasifmynameandmymisfortunemustbeineveryman’smouth。"Heturneditovertoexposethecentralpage。"Hereitis，andwithyourpermissionIwillreadittoyou。Listentothis，Mr。Holmes。Thehead—linesare：`MysteriousAffairatLowerNorwood。DisappearanceofaWell—knownBuilder。SuspicionofMurderandArson。ACluetotheCriminal。’Thatisthecluewhichtheyarealreadyfollowing，Mr。Holmes，andIknowthatitleadsinfalliblytome。IhavebeenfollowedfromLondonBridgeStation，andIamsurethattheyareonlywaitingforthewarranttoarrestme。Itwillbreakmymother’sheart——itwillbreakherheart！"Hewrunghishandsinanagonyofapprehension，andswayedbackwardsandforwardsinhischair。
Ilookedwithinterestuponthisman，whowasaccusedofbeingtheperpetratorofacrimeofviolence。Hewasflaxen—hairedandhandsomeinawashed—outnegativefashion，withfrightenedblueeyesandaclean—shavenface，withaweak，sensitivemouth。
Hisagemayhavebeenabouttwenty—seven；hisdressandbearingthatofagentleman。Fromthepocketofhislightsummerovercoatprotrudedthebundleofendorsedpaperswhichproclaimedhisprofession。
"Wemustusewhattimewehave，"saidHolmes。"Watson，wouldyouhavethekindnesstotakethepaperandtoreadmetheparagraphinquestion？"
Underneaththevigoroushead—lineswhichourclienthadquotedIreadthefollowingsuggestivenarrative：———
Latelastnight，orearlythismorning，anincidentoccurredatLowerNorwoodwhichpoints，itisfeared，toaseriouscrime。
Mr。JonasOldacreisawell—knownresidentofthatsuburb，wherehehascarriedonhisbusinessasabuilderformanyyears。
Mr。Oldacreisabachelor，fifty—twoyearsofage，andlivesinDeepDeneHouse，attheSydenhamendoftheroadofthatname。
Hehashadthereputationofbeingamanofeccentrichabits，secretiveandretiring。Forsomeyearshehaspracticallywithdrawnfromthebusiness，inwhichheissaidtohaveamassedconsiderablewealth。Asmalltimber—yardstillexists，however，atthebackofthehouse，andlastnight，abouttwelveo’clock，analarmwasgiventhatoneofthestackswasonfire。Theenginesweresoonuponthespot，butthedrywoodburnedwithgreatfury，anditwasimpossibletoarresttheconflagrationuntilthestackhadbeenentirelyconsumed。Uptothispointtheincidentboretheappearanceofanordinaryaccident，butfreshindicationsseemtopointtoseriouscrime。Surprisewasexpressedattheabsenceofthemasteroftheestablishmentfromthesceneofthefire，andaninquiryfollowed，whichshowedthathehaddisappearedfromthehouse。Anexaminationofhisroomrevealedthatthebedhadnotbeensleptin，thatasafewhichstoodinitwasopen，thatanumberofimportantpaperswerescatteredabouttheroom，and，finally，thatthereweresignsofamurderousstruggle，slighttracesofbloodbeingfoundwithintheroom，andanoakenwalking—stick，whichalsoshowedstainsofblooduponthehandle。ItisknownthatMr。
JonasOldacrehadreceivedalatevisitorinhisbedroomuponthatnight，andthestickfoundhasbeenidentifiedasthepropertyofthisperson，whoisayoungLondonsolicitornamedJohnHectorMcFarlane，juniorpartnerofGrahamandMcFarlane，of426，GreshamBuildings，E。C。Thepolicebelievethattheyhaveevidenceintheirpossessionwhichsuppliesaveryconvincingmotiveforthecrime，andaltogetheritcannotbedoubtedthatsensationaldevelopmentswillfollow。
LATER。——ItisrumouredaswegotopressthatMr。JohnHectorMcFarlanehasactuallybeenarrestedonthechargeofthemurderofMr。JonasOldacre。Itisatleastcertainthatawarranthasbeenissued。TherehavebeenfurtherandsinisterdevelopmentsintheinvestigationatNorwood。BesidesthesignsofastruggleintheroomoftheunfortunatebuilderitisnowknownthattheFrenchwindowsofhisbedroom（whichisonthegroundfloor）werefoundtobeopen，thatthereweremarksasifsomebulkyobjecthadbeendraggedacrosstothewood—pile，and，finally，itisassertedthatcharredremainshavebeenfoundamongthecharcoalashesofthefire。Thepolicetheoryisthatamostsensationalcrimehasbeencommitted，thatthevictimwasclubbedtodeathinhisownbedroom，hispapersrifled，andhisdeadbodydraggedacrosstothewood—stack，whichwasthenignitedsoastohidealltracesofthecrime。TheconductofthecriminalinvestigationhasbeenleftintheexperiencedhandsofInspectorLestrade，ofScotlandYard，whoisfollowinguptheclueswithhisaccustomedenergyandsagacity。
SherlockHolmeslistenedwithclosedeyesandfinger—tipstogethertothisremarkableaccount。
"Thecasehascertainlysomepointsofinterest，"saidhe，inhislanguidfashion。"MayIask，inthefirstplace，Mr。McFarlane，howitisthatyouarestillatliberty，sincethereappearstobeenoughevidencetojustifyyourarrest？"
"IliveatTorringtonLodge，Blackheath，withmyparents，Mr。Holmes；butlastnight，havingtodobusinessverylatewithMr。JonasOldacre，IstayedatanhotelinNorwood，andcametomybusinessfromthere。IknewnothingofthisaffairuntilIwasinthetrain，whenIreadwhatyouhavejustheard。
Iatoncesawthehorribledangerofmyposition，andIhurriedtoputthecaseintoyourhands。IhavenodoubtthatIshouldhavebeenarrestedeitheratmyCityofficeoratmyhome。
AmanfollowedmefromLondonBridgeStation，andIhavenodoubt———GreatHeaven，whatisthat？"
Itwasaclangofthebell，followedinstantlybyheavystepsuponthestair。AmomentlaterouroldfriendLestradeappearedinthedoorway。OverhisshoulderIcaughtaglimpseofoneortwouniformedpolicemenoutside。
"Mr。JohnHectorMcFarlane？"saidLestrade。
Ourunfortunateclientrosewithaghastlyface。
"IarrestyouforthewilfulmurderofMr。JonasOldacre，ofLowerNorwood。"
McFarlaneturnedtouswithagestureofdespair，andsankintohischaironcemorelikeonewhoiscrushed。
"Onemoment，Lestrade，"saidHolmes。"Halfanhourmoreorlesscanmakenodifferencetoyou，andthegentlemanwasabouttogiveusanaccountofthisveryinterestingaffair，whichmightaidusinclearingitup。"
"Ithinktherewillbenodifficultyinclearingitup，"
saidLestrade，grimly。
"Nonetheless，withyourpermission，Ishouldbemuchinterestedtohearhisaccount。"
"Well，Mr。Holmes，itisdifficultformetorefuseyouanything，foryouhavebeenofusetotheforceonceortwiceinthepast，andweoweyouagoodturnatScotlandYard，"saidLestrade。
"AtthesametimeImustremainwithmyprisoner，andIamboundtowarnhimthatanythinghemaysaywillappearinevidenceagainsthim。"
"Iwishnothingbetter，"saidourclient。"AllIaskisthatyoushouldhearandrecognisetheabsolutetruth。"
Lestradelookedathiswatch。"I’llgiveyouhalfanhour，"
saidhe。
"Imustexplainfirst，"saidMcFarlane，"thatIknewnothingofMr。JonasOldacre。Hisnamewasfamiliartome，formanyyearsagomyparentswereacquaintedwithhim，buttheydriftedapart。
Iwasverymuchsurprised，therefore，whenyesterday，aboutthreeo’clockintheafternoon，hewalkedintomyofficeintheCity。ButIwasstillmoreastonishedwhenhetoldmetheobjectofhisvisit。Hehadinhishandseveralsheetsofanote—book，coveredwithscribbledwriting——heretheyare——andhelaidthemonmytable。
"`Hereismywill，’saidhe。`Iwantyou，Mr。McFarlane，tocastitintoproperlegalshape。Iwillsitherewhileyoudoso。’
"Isetmyselftocopyit，andyoucanimaginemyastonishmentwhenIfoundthat，withsomereservations，hehadleftallhispropertytome。Hewasastrangelittle，ferret—likeman，withwhiteeyelashes，andwhenIlookedupathimIfoundhiskeengreyeyesfixeduponmewithanamusedexpression。IcouldhardlybelievemyownsensesasIreadthetermsofthewill；
butheexplainedthathewasabachelorwithhardlyanylivingrelation，thathehadknownmyparentsinhisyouth，andthathehadalwaysheardofmeasaverydeservingyoungman，andwasassuredthathismoneywouldbeinworthyhands。Ofcourse，Icouldonlystammeroutmythanks。Thewillwasdulyfinished，signed，andwitnessedbymyclerk。Thisisitonthebluepaper，andtheseslips，asIhaveexplained，aretheroughdraft。
Mr。JonasOldacretheninformedmethattherewereanumberofdocuments——buildingleases，title—deeds，mortgages，scrip，andsoforth——whichitwasnecessarythatIshouldseeandunderstand。Hesaidthathismindwouldnotbeeasyuntilthewholethingwassettled，andhebeggedmetocomeouttohishouseatNorwoodthatnight，bringingthewillwithme，andtoarrangematters。`Remember，myboy，notonewordtoyourparentsabouttheaffairuntileverythingissettled。Wewillkeepitasalittlesurpriseforthem。’Hewasveryinsistentuponthispoint，andmademepromiseitfaithfully。
"Youcanimagine，Mr。Holmes，thatIwasnotinahumourtorefusehimanythingthathemightask。Hewasmybenefactor，andallmydesirewastocarryouthiswishesineveryparticular。
Isentatelegramhome，therefore，tosaythatIhadimportantbusinessonhand，andthatitwasimpossibleformetosayhowlateImightbe。Mr。Oldacrehadtoldmethathewouldlikemetohavesupperwithhimatnine，ashemightnotbehomebeforethathour。Ihadsomedifficultyinfindinghishouse，however，anditwasnearlyhalf—pastbeforeIreachedit。Ifoundhim———"
"Onemoment！"saidHolmes。"Whoopenedthedoor？"
"Amiddle—agedwoman，whowas，Isuppose，hishousekeeper。"
"Anditwasshe，Ipresume，whomentionedyourname？"
"Exactly，"saidMcFarlane。
"Prayproceed。"
McFarlanewipedhisdampbrowandthencontinuedhisnarrative：——
"Iwasshownbythiswomanintoasitting—room，whereafrugalsupperwaslaidout。AfterwardsMr。JonasOldacreledmeintohisbedroom，inwhichtherestoodaheavysafe。Thisheopenedandtookoutamassofdocuments，whichwewentovertogether。
Itwasbetweenelevenandtwelvewhenwefinished。Heremarkedthatwemustnotdisturbthehousekeeper。HeshowedmeoutthroughhisownFrenchwindow，whichhadbeenopenallthistime。"
"Wastheblinddown？"askedHolmes。
"Iwillnotbesure，butIbelievethatitwasonlyhalfdown。
Yes，Irememberhowhepulleditupinordertoswingopenthewindow。Icouldnotfindmystick，andhesaid，`Nevermind，myboy；Ishallseeagooddealofyounow，Ihope，andIwillkeepyourstickuntilyoucomebacktoclaimit。’Ilefthimthere，thesafeopen，andthepapersmadeupinpacketsuponthetable。
ItwassolatethatIcouldnotgetbacktoBlackheath，soI
spentthenightattheAnerleyArms，andIknewnothingmoreuntilIreadofthishorribleaffairinthemorning。"
"Anythingmorethatyouwouldliketoask，Mr。Holmes？"
saidLestrade，whoseeyebrowshadgoneuponceortwiceduringthisremarkableexplanation。
"NotuntilIhavebeentoBlackheath。"
"YoumeantoNorwood，"saidLestrade。
"Oh，yes；nodoubtthatiswhatImusthavemeant，"saidHolmes，withhisenigmaticalsmile。Lestradehadlearnedbymoreexperiencesthanhewouldcaretoacknowledgethatthatrazor—likebraincouldcutthroughthatwhichwasimpenetrabletohim。Isawhimlookcuriouslyatmycompanion。
"IthinkIshouldliketohaveawordwithyoupresently，Mr。SherlockHolmes，"saidhe。"Now，Mr。McFarlane，twoofmyconstablesareatthedoorandthereisafour—wheelerwaiting。"Thewretchedyoungmanarose，andwithalastbeseechingglanceatuswalkedfromtheroom。Theofficersconductedhimtothecab，butLestraderemained。
Holmeshadpickedupthepageswhichformedtheroughdraftofthewill，andwaslookingatthemwiththekeenestinterestuponhisface。
"Therearesomepointsaboutthatdocument，Lestrade，aretherenot？"saidhe，pushingthemover。
Theofficiallookedatthemwithapuzzledexpression。
"Icanreadthefirstfewlines，andtheseinthemiddleofthesecondpage，andoneortwoattheend。Thoseareasclearasprint，"saidhe；"butthewritinginbetweenisverybad，andtherearethreeplaceswhereIcannotreaditatall。"
"Whatdoyoumakeofthat？"saidHolmes。
"Well，whatdoYOUmakeofit？"
"Thatitwaswritteninatrain；thegoodwritingrepresentsstations，thebadwritingmovement，andtheverybadwritingpassingoverpoints。Ascientificexpertwouldpronounceatoncethatthiswasdrawnuponasuburbanline，sincenowheresaveintheimmediatevicinityofagreatcitycouldtherebesoquickasuccessionofpoints。Grantingthathiswholejourneywasoccupiedindrawingupthewill，thenthetrainwasanexpress，onlystoppingoncebetweenNorwoodandLondonBridge。"
Lestradebegantolaugh。
"Youaretoomanyformewhenyoubegintogetonyourtheories，Mr。Holmes，"saidhe。"Howdoesthisbearonthecase？"
"Well，itcorroboratestheyoungman’sstorytotheextentthatthewillwasdrawnupbyJonasOldacreinhisjourneyyesterday。
Itiscurious——isitnot？——thatamanshoulddrawupsoimportantadocumentinsohaphazardafashion。Itsuggeststhathedidnotthinkitwasgoingtobeofmuchpracticalimportance。Ifamandrewupawillwhichhedidnotintendevertobeeffectivehemightdoitso。"
"Well，hedrewuphisowndeath—warrantatthesametime，"
saidLestrade。
"Oh，youthinkso？"
"Don’tyou？"
"Well，itisquitepossible；butthecaseisnotcleartomeyet。"
"Notclear？Well，ifthatisn’tclear，whatCOULDbeclear？
Hereisayoungmanwholearnssuddenlythatifacertainoldermandieshewillsucceedtoafortune。Whatdoeshedo？
Hesaysnothingtoanyone，buthearrangesthatheshallgooutonsomepretexttoseehisclientthatnight；hewaitsuntiltheonlyotherpersoninthehouseisinbed，andtheninthesolitudeofaman’sroomhemurdershim，burnshisbodyinthewood—pile，anddepartstoaneighbouringhotel。Theblood—stainsintheroomandalsoonthestickareveryslight。Itisprobablethatheimaginedhiscrimetobeabloodlessone，andhopedthatifthebodywereconsumeditwouldhidealltracesofthemethodofhisdeath——traceswhichforsomereasonmusthavepointedtohim。Isallthisnotobvious？"
"Itstrikesme，mygoodLestrade，asbeingjustatrifletooobvious，"saidHolmes。"Youdonotaddimaginationtoyourothergreatqualities；butifyoucouldforonemomentputyourselfintheplaceofthisyoungman，wouldyouchoosetheverynightafterthewillhadbeenmadetocommityourcrime？
Woulditnotseemdangeroustoyoutomakesoveryclosearelationbetweenthetwoincidents？Again，wouldyouchooseanoccasionwhenyouareknowntobeinthehouse，whenaservanthasletyouin？And，finally，wouldyoutakethegreatpainstoconcealthebodyandyetleaveyourownstickasasignthatyouwerethecriminal？Confess，Lestrade，thatallthisisveryunlikely。"
"Astothestick，Mr。Holmes，youknowaswellasIdothatacriminalisoftenflurriedanddoesthingswhichacoolmanwouldavoid。Hewasverylikelyafraidtogobacktotheroom。
Givemeanothertheorythatwouldfitthefacts。"
"Icouldveryeasilygiveyouhalf—a—dozen，"saidHolmes。
"Here，forexample，isaverypossibleandevenprobableone。
Imakeyouafreepresentofit。Theoldermanisshowingdocumentswhichareofevidentvalue。Apassingtrampseesthemthroughthewindow，theblindofwhichisonlyhalfdown。
Exitthesolicitor。Enterthetramp！Heseizesastick，whichheobservesthere，killsOldacre，anddepartsafterburningthebody。"
"Whyshouldthetrampburnthebody？"
"ForthematterofthatwhyshouldMcFarlane？"
"Tohidesomeevidence。"
"Possiblythetrampwantedtohidethatanymurderatallhadbeencommitted。"
"Andwhydidthetramptakenothing？"
"Becausetheywerepapersthathecouldnotnegotiate。"
Lestradeshookhishead，thoughitseemedtomethathismannerwaslessabsolutelyassuredthanbefore。
"Well，Mr。SherlockHolmes，youmaylookforyourtramp，andwhileyouarefindinghimwewillholdontoourman。
Thefuturewillshowwhichisright。Justnoticethispoint，Mr。Holmes：thatsofarasweknownoneofthepaperswereremoved，andthattheprisoneristheonemanintheworldwhohadnoreasonforremovingthem，sincehewasheir—at—lawandwouldcomeintotheminanycase。"
Myfriendseemedstruckbythisremark。
"Idon’tmeantodenythattheevidenceisinsomewaysverystronglyinfavourofyourtheory，"saidhe。"Ionlywishtopointoutthatthereareothertheoriespossible。Asyousay，thefuturewilldecide。Goodmorning！IdaresaythatinthecourseofthedayIshalldropinatNorwoodandseehowyouaregettingon。"
Whenthedetectivedepartedmyfriendroseandmadehispreparationsfortheday’sworkwiththealertairofamanwhohasacongenialtaskbeforehim。
"Myfirstmovement，Watson，"saidhe，ashebustledintohisfrock—coat，"must，asIsaid，beinthedirectionofBlackheath。"
"AndwhynotNorwood？"
"Becausewehaveinthiscaseonesingularincidentcomingclosetotheheelsofanothersingularincident。Thepolicearemakingthemistakeofconcentratingtheirattentionuponthesecond，becauseithappenstobetheonewhichisactuallycriminal。Butitisevidenttomethatthelogicalwaytoapproachthecaseistobeginbytryingtothrowsomelightuponthefirstincident——thecuriouswill，sosuddenlymade，andtosounexpectedanheir。Itmaydosomethingtosimplifywhatfollowed。No，mydearfellow，Idon’tthinkyoucanhelpme。
Thereisnoprospectofdanger，orIshouldnotdreamofstirringoutwithoutyou。ItrustthatwhenIseeyouintheeveningIwillbeabletoreportthatIhavebeenabletodosomethingforthisunfortunateyoungsterwhohasthrownhimselfuponmyprotection。"
Itwaslatewhenmyfriendreturned，andIcouldseebyaglanceathishaggardandanxiousfacethatthehighhopeswithwhichhehadstartedhadnotbeenfulfilled。Foranhourhedronedawayuponhisviolin，endeavouringtosoothehisownruffledspirits。Atlastheflungdowntheinstrumentandplungedintoadetailedaccountofhismisadventures。
"It’sallgoingwrong，Watson——allaswrongasitcango。
IkeptaboldfacebeforeLestrade，but，uponmysoul，Ibelievethatforoncethefellowisontherighttrackandweareonthewrong。Allmyinstinctsareonewayandallthefactsaretheother，andImuchfearthatBritishjurieshavenotyetattainedthatpitchofintelligencewhentheywillgivethepreferencetomytheoriesoverLestrade’sfacts。"
"DidyougotoBlackheath？"
"Yes，Watson，Iwentthere，andIfoundveryquicklythatthelatelamentedOldacrewasaprettyconsiderableblack—guard。
Thefatherwasawayinsearchofhisson。Themotherwasathome——alittle，fluffy，blue—eyedperson，inatremoroffearandindignation。Ofcourse，shewouldnotadmiteventhepossibilityofhisguilt。ButshewouldnotexpresseithersurpriseorregretoverthefateofOldacre。Onthecontrary，shespokeofhimwithsuchbitternessthatshewasunconsciouslyconsiderablystrengtheningthecaseofthepolice，for，ofcourse，ifhersonhadheardherspeakofthemaninthisfashionitwouldpredisposehimtowardshatredandviolence。`Hewasmorelikeamalignantandcunningapethanahumanbeing，’saidshe，`andhealwayswas，eversincehewasayoungman。’
"`Youknewhimatthattime？’saidI。
"`Yes，Iknewhimwell；infact，hewasanoldsuitorofmine。
ThankHeaventhatIhadthesensetoturnawayfromhimandtomarryabetter，ifapoorer，man。Iwasengagedtohim，Mr。Holmes，whenIheardashockingstoryofhowhehadturnedacatlooseinanaviary，andIwassohorrifiedathisbrutalcrueltythatIwouldhavenothingmoretodowithhim。’
Sherummagedinabureau，andpresentlysheproducedaphotographofawoman，shamefullydefacedandmutilatedwithaknife。
`Thatismyownphotograph，’shesaid。`Hesentittomeinthatstate，withhiscurse，uponmyweddingmorning。’
"`Well，’saidI，`atleasthehasforgivenyounow，sincehehasleftallhispropertytoyourson。’
"`NeithermysonnorIwantanythingfromJonasOldacre，deadoralive，’shecried，withaproperspirit。`ThereisaGodinHeaven，Mr。Holmes，andthatsameGodwhohaspunishedthatwickedmanwillshowinHisowngoodtimethatmyson’shandsareguiltlessofhisblood。’
"Well，Itriedoneortwoleads，butcouldgetatnothingwhichwouldhelpourhypothesis，andseveralpointswhichwouldmakeagainstit。IgaveitupatlastandoffIwenttoNorwood。
"Thisplace，DeepDeneHouse，isabigmodernvillaofstaringbrick，standingbackinitsowngrounds，withalaurel—clumpedlawninfrontofit。Totherightandsomedistancebackfromtheroadwasthetimber—yardwhichhadbeenthesceneofthefire。Here’saroughplanonaleafofmynote—book。ThiswindowontheleftistheonewhichopensintoOldacre’sroom。
Youcanlookintoitfromtheroad，yousee。ThatisabouttheonlybitofconsolationIhavehadto—day。Lestradewasnotthere，buthisheadconstabledidthehonours。Theyhadjustmadeagreattreasure—trove。Theyhadspentthemorningrakingamongtheashesoftheburnedwood—pile，andbesidesthecharredorganicremainstheyhadsecuredseveraldiscolouredmetaldiscs。Iexaminedthemwithcare，andtherewasnodoubtthattheyweretrouserbuttons。Ievendistinguishedthatoneofthemwasmarkedwiththenameof`Hyams，’whowasOldacre’stailor。Ithenworkedthelawnverycarefullyforsignsandtraces，butthisdroughthasmadeeverythingashardasiron。
Nothingwastobeseensavethatsomebodyorbundlehadbeendraggedthroughalowprivethedgewhichisinalinewiththewood—pile。Allthat，ofcourse，fitsinwiththeofficialtheory。IcrawledaboutthelawnwithanAugustsunonmyback，butIgotupattheendofanhournowiserthanbefore。
"Well，afterthisfiascoIwentintothebedroomandexaminedthatalso。Theblood—stainswereveryslight，meresmearsanddiscolorations，butundoubtedlyfresh。Thestickhadbeenremoved，buttherealsothemarkswereslight。Thereisnodoubtaboutthestickbelongingtoourclient。Headmitsit。Footmarksofbothmencouldbemadeoutonthecarpet，butnoneofanythirdperson，whichagainisatrickfortheotherside。Theywerepilinguptheirscoreallthetimeandwewereatastandstill。
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