The Zoo 3: Sodden/The Zoo 3 - Sodden (Disk 2 of 2).adf/Edited_Articles/HolmesNorwood2.ZOO

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1619Y00F05roman16Y00C1NTHE ADVENTURE OF THE NORWOOD BUILDER
2421Y00F07bookman24Y00C3N
1213Y00F04ruby12NExtracted from the novel:
1201NThe Return of Sherlock Holmes, A Collection of Holmes Adventures
2421Y00F07bookman24Y00C5N
2401Nby
2401NSIR ARTHUR CONAN DOYLE
2401N
2401N
2406Y00C3N
1614Y00F05roman16NTHE ADVENTURE OF THE NORWOOD BUILDER
1606Y00C5NPart 2
0819Y00F05pearl08Y02C1N
0801N
0814Y00F05pearl08NSherlock Holmes listened with closed eyes and fingertips together to this
0801Nremarkable account.
0801N
0801N"The case has certainly some points of interest," said he, in his languid
0801Nfashion.  "May I ask, in the first place, Mr. McFarlane, how it is that you
0801Nare still at liberty, since there appears to be enough evidence to justify
0801Nyour arrest?"
0801N
0801N"I live at Torrington Lodge, Blackheath, with my parents, Mr. Holmes, but
0801Nlast night, having to do business very late with Mr. Jonas Oldacre, I stayed
0801Nat an hotel in Norwood, and came to my business from there.  I knew nothing
0801Nof this affair until I was in the train, when I read what you have just
0801Nheard.  I at once saw the horrible danger of my position, and I hurried to
0801Nput the case into your hands.  I have no doubt that I should have been
0801Narrested either at my city office or at my home.  A man followed me from
0801NLondon Bridge Station, and I have no doubt--Great heaven! what is that?"
0801N
0801NIt was a clang of the bell, followed instantly by heavy steps upon the stair.
0801NA moment later, our old friend Lestrade appeared in the doorway.  Over his
0801Nshoulder I caught a glimpse of one or two uniformed policemen outside.
0801N
0801N"Mr. John Hector McFarlane?" said Lestrade.
0801N
0801NOur unfortunate client rose with a ghastly face.
0801N
0801N"I arrest you for the wilful murder of Mr. Jonas Oldacre, of Lower Norwood."
0801N
0801NMcFarlane turned to us with a gesture of despair, and sank into his chair
0801Nonce more like one who is crushed.
0801N
0801N"One moment, Lestrade," said Holmes.  "Half an hour more or less can make no
0801Ndifference to you, and the gentleman was about to give us an account of this
0801Nvery interesting affair, which might aid us in clearing it up."
0801N
0801N"I think there will be no difficulty in clearing it up," said Lestrade,
0801Ngrimly.
0801N
0801N"None the less, with your permission, I should be much interested to hear his
0801Naccount."
0801N
0801N"Well, Mr. Holmes, it is difficult for me to refuse you anything, for you
0801Nhave been of use to the force once or twice in the past, and we owe you a
0801Ngood turn at Scotland Yard," said Lestrade.  "At the same time I must remain
0801Nwith my prisoner, and I am bound to warn him that anything he may say will
0801Nappear in evidence against him."
0801N
0801N"I wish nothing better," said our client.  "All I ask is that you should hear
0801Nand recognize the absolute truth."
0801N
0801NLestrade looked at his watch.  "I'll give you half an hour," said he.
0801N
0801N"I must explain first," said McFarlane, "that I knew nothing of Mr. Jonas
0801NOldacre.  His name was familiar to me, for many years ago my parents were
0801Nacquainted with him, but they drifted apart.  I was very much surprised
0801Ntherefore, when yesterday, about three o'clock in the afternoon, he walked
0801Ninto my office in the city.  But I was still more astonished when he told me
0801Nthe object of his visit.  He had in his hand several sheets of a notebook,
0801Ncovered with scribbled writing--here they are--and he laid them on my table.
0801N
0801N"`Here is my will,' said he. `I want you, Mr. McFarlane, to cast it into
0801Nproper legal shape.  I will sit here while you do so.'
0801N
0801N"I set myself to copy it, and you can imagine my astonishment when I found
0801Nthat, with some reservations, he had left all his property to me.  He was a
0801Nstrange little ferret-like man, with white eyelashes, and when I looked up at
0801Nhim I found his keen gray eyes fixed upon me with an amused expression.  I
0801Ncould hardly believe my own as I read the terms of the will; but he explained
0801Nthat he was a bachelor with hardly any living relation, that he had known my
0801Nparents in his youth, and that he had always heard of me as a very deserving
0801Nyoung man, and was assured that his money would be in worthy hands.  Of
0801Ncourse, I could only stammer out my thanks.  The will was duly finished,
0801Nsigned, and witnessed by my clerk.  This is it on the blue paper, and these
0801Nslips, as I have explained, are the rough draft.  Mr. Jonas Oldacre then
0801Ninformed me that there were a number of documents--building leases,
0801Ntitle-deeds, mortgages, scrip, and so forth--which it was necessary that I
0801Nshould see and understand.  He said that his mind would not be easy until the
0801Nwhole thing was settled, and he begged me to come out to his house at Norwood
0801Nthat night, bringing the will with me, and to arrange matters.  `Remember, my
0801Nboy, not one word to your parents about the affair until everything is
0801Nsettled.  We will keep it as a little surprise for them.'  He was very
0801Ninsistent upon this point, and made me promise it faithfully.
0801N
0801N"You can imagine, Mr. Holmes, that I was not in a humour to refuse him
0801Nanything that he might ask.  He was my benefactor, and all my desire was to
0801Ncarry out his wishes in every particular. I sent a telegram home, therefore,
0801Nto say that I had important business on hand, and that it was impossible for
0801Nme to say how late I might be.  Mr. Oldacre had told me that he would like
0801Nme to have supper with him at nine, as he might not be home before that hour.
0801NI had some difficulty in finding his house, however, and it was nearly
0801Nhalf-past before I reached it.  I found him----"
0801N
0801N"One moment!" said Holmes.  "Who opened the door?"
0801N
0801N"A middle-aged woman, who was, I suppose, his housekeeper."
0801N
0801N"And it was she, I presume, who mentioned your name?"
0801N
0801N"Exactly," said McFarlane.
0801N
0801N"Pray proceed."
0801N
0801NMcFarlane wiped his damp brow, and then continued his narrative:
0801N
0801N"I was shown by this woman into a sitting-room, where a frugal supper was
0801Nlaid out.  Afterwards, Mr. Jonas Oldacre led me into his bedroom, in which
0801Nthere stood a heavy safe.  This he opened and took out a mass of documents,
0801Nwhich we went over together. It was between eleven and twelve when we
0801Nfinished.  He remarked that we must not disturb the housekeeper.  He showed
0801Nme out through his own French window, which had been open all this time."
0801N
0801N"Was the blind down?" asked Holmes.
0801N
0801N"I will not be sure, but I believe that it was only half down. Yes, I
0801Nremember how he pulled it up in order to swing open the window.  I could not
0801Nfind my stick, and he said, `Never mind, my boy, I shall see a good deal of
0801Nyou now, I hope, and I will keep your stick until you come back to claim it.'
0801NI left him there, the safe open, and the papers made up in packets upon the
0801Ntable. It was so late that I could not get back to Blackheath, so I spent the
0801Nnight at the Anerley Arms, and I knew nothing more until I read of this
0801Nhorrible affair in the morning."
0801N
0801N"Anything more that you would like to ask, Mr. Holmes?" said Lestrade, whose
0801Neyebrows had gone up once or twice during this remarkable explanation.
0801N
0801N"Not until I have been to Blackheath."
0801N
0801N"You mean to Norwood," said Lestrade.
0801N
0801N"Oh, yes, no doubt that is what I must have meant," said Holmes, with his
0801Nenigmatical smile.  Lestrade had learned by more experiences than he would
0801Ncare to acknowledge that that brain could cut through that which was
0801Nimpenetrable to him.  I saw him look curiously at my companion.
0801N
0801N"I think I should like to have a word with you presently, Mr. Sherlock
0801NHolmes," said he.  "Now, Mr. McFarlane, two of my constables are at the door,
0801Nand there is a four-wheeler waiting."  The wretched young man arose, and with
0801Na last beseeching glance at us walked from the room.  The officers conducted
0801Nhim to the cab, but Lestrade remained.
0801N
0801NHolmes had picked up the pages which formed the rough draft of the will, and
0801Nwas looking at them with the keenest interest upon his face.
0801N
0801N"There are some points about that document, Lestrade, are there not?" said
0801Nhe, pushing them over.
0801N
0801NThe official looked at them with a puzzled expression.
0801N
0801N"I can read the first few lines and these in the middle of the second page,
0801Nand one or two at the end.  Those are as clear as print," said he, "but the
0801Nwriting in between is very bad, and there are three places where I cannot
0801Nread it at all."
*!EOF