"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。