LITMIR.BIZ

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it to. Brooding over the case in that den of his, it suddenly struck him what absolutely damning evidence he could make against McFarlane by using that thumb-mark. It was the simplest thing in the world for him to take a wax impression from the seal, to moisten it in as much blood as he could get from a pin-prick, and to put the mark upon the wall during the night, either with his own hand or with that of his housekeeper. If you examine among those documents which he took with him into his retreat, I will lay you a wager that you find the seal with the thumb-mark upon it.’

      ‘Wonderful!’ said Lestrade. ‘Wonderful! It’s all as clear as crystal, as you put it. But what is the object of this deep deception, Mr. Holmes?’

      It was amusing to me to see how the detective’s overbearing manner had changed suddenly to that of a child asking questions of its teacher.

      ‘Well, I don’t think that is very hard to explain. A very deep, malicious, vindictive person is the gentleman who is now waiting us downstairs. You know that he was once refused by McFarlane’s mother? You don’t! I told you that you should go to Blackheath first and Norwood afterwards. Well, this injury, as he would consider it, has rankled in his wicked, scheming brain, and all his life he has longed for vengeance, but never seen his chance. During the last year or two, things have gone against him – secret speculation, I think – and he finds himself in a bad way. He determines to swindle his creditors, and for this purpose he pays large cheques to a certain Mr. Cornelius, who is, I imagine, himself under another name. I have not traced these cheques yet, but I have no doubt that they were banked under that name at some provincial town where Oldacre from time to time led a double existence. He intended to change 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 at the same time have an ample and crushing revenge upon his old sweetheart, if he could give the impression that he had been murdered by her only child. It was a masterpiece of villainy, and he carried it out like a master. The idea of the will, which would give an obvious motive for the crime, the secret visit unknown to his own parents, the retention of the stick, the blood, and the animal remains and buttons in the wood-pile, all were admirable. It was a net from which it seemed to me, a few hours ago, that there was no possible escape. But he had not that supreme gift of the artist, the knowledge of when to stop. He wished to improve that which was already perfect – to draw the rope tighter yet round the neck of his unfortunate victim – and so he ruined all. Let us descend, Lestrade. There are just one or two questions that I would ask him.’

      The malignant creature was seated in his own parlour, with a policeman upon each side of him.

      ‘It was a joke, my good sir – a practical joke, nothing more,’ he whined incessantly. ‘I assure you, sir, that I simply concealed myself in order to see the effect of my disappearance, and I am sure that you would not be so unjust as to imagine that I would have allowed any harm to befall poor young Mr. McFarlane.’

      ‘That’s for a jury to decide,’ said Lestrade. ‘Anyhow, we shall have you on a charge of conspiracy, if not 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.

      ‘I have to thank you for a good deal,’ said he. ‘Perhaps I’ll pay my debt some day.’

      Holmes smiled indulgently.

      ‘I fancy that, for some few years, you will find your time very fully occupied,’ said he. ‘By the way, what was it you put into the wood-pile besides your old trousers? A dead dog, or rabbits, or what? You won’t tell? Dear me, how very unkind of you! Well, well, I daresay that a couple of rabbits would account both for the blood and for the charred ashes. If ever you write an account, Watson, you can make rabbits serve your turn.’

       CHAPTER 3

       The Dancing Men

      Holmes had been seated for some hours in silence with his long, thin back curved over a chemical vessel in which he was brewing a particularly malodorous product. His head was sunk upon his breast, and he looked from my point of view like a strange, lank bird, with dull grey plumage and a black top-knot.

      ‘So, Watson,’ said he, suddenly, ‘you do not propose to invest in South African securities?’

      I gave a start of astonishment. Accustomed as I was to Holmes’s curious faculties, this sudden intrusion into my most intimate thoughts was utterly inexplicable.

      ‘How on earth do you know that?’ I asked.

      He wheeled round upon his stool, with a steaming test-tube in his hand, and a gleam of amusement in his deep-set eyes.

      ‘Now, Watson, confess yourself utterly taken aback,’ said he.

      ‘I am.’

      ‘I ought to make you sign a paper to that effect.’

      ‘Why?’

      ‘Because in five minutes you will say that it is all so absurdly simple.’

      ‘I am sure that I shall say nothing of the kind.’

      ‘You see, my dear Watson,’ – he propped his test-tube in the rack, and began to lecture with the air of a professor addressing his class – ‘it is not really difficult to construct a series of inferences, each dependent upon its predecessor and each simple in itself. If, after doing so, one simply knocks out all the central inferences and presents one’s audience with the starting-point and the conclusion, one may produce a startling, though possibly a meretricious, effect. Now, it was not really difficult, by an inspection of the groove between your left forefinger and thumb, to feel sure that you did not propose to invest your small capital in the gold fields.’

      ‘I see no connection.’

      ‘Very likely not; but I can quickly show you a close connection. Here are the missing links of the very simple chain: 1. You had chalk between your left finger and thumb when you returned from the club last night. 2. You put chalk there when you play billiards, to steady the cue. 3. You never play billiards except with Thurston. 4. You told me, four weeks ago, that Thurston had an option on some South African property which would expire in a month, and which he desired you to share with him. 5. Your check book is locked in my drawer, and you have not asked for the key. 6. You do not propose to invest your money in this manner.’

      ‘How absurdly simple!’ I cried.

      ‘Quite so!’ said he, a little nettled. ‘Every problem becomes very childish when once it is explained to you. Here is an unexplained one. See what you can make of that, friend Watson.’ He tossed a sheet of paper upon the table, and turned once more to his chemical analysis.

      I looked with amazement at the absurd hieroglyphics upon the paper.

      ‘Why, Holmes, it is a child’s drawing,’ I cried.

      ‘Oh, that’s your idea!’

      ‘What else should it be?’

      ‘That is what Mr. Hilton Cubitt, of Riding Thorpe Manor, Norfolk, is very anxious to know. This little conundrum came by the first post, and he was to follow by the next train. There’s a ring at the bell, Watson. I should not be very much surprised if this were he.’

      A heavy step was heard upon the stairs, and an instant later there entered a tall, ruddy, clean-shaven gentleman, whose clear eyes and florid cheeks told of a life led far from the fogs of Baker Street. He seemed to bring a whiff of his strong, fresh, bracing, east-coast air with him as he entered. Having shaken hands with each of us, he was about to sit down, when his eye rested upon the paper with the curious markings, which I had just examined

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