\"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。