The Return of Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle (polar express read aloud .TXT) ๐
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- Author: Arthur Conan Doyle
Read book online ยซThe Return of Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle (polar express read aloud .TXT) ๐ยป. Author - Arthur Conan Doyle
Sherlock Holmes listened with closed eyes and fingertips together to this remarkable account.
โThe case has certainly some points of interest,โ said he, in his languid fashion. โMay I ask, in the first place, Mr. McFarlane, how it is that you are still at liberty, since there appears to be enough evidence to justify your arrest?โ
โI live at Torrington Lodge, Blackheath, with my parents, Mr. Holmes, but last night, having to do business very late with Mr. Jonas Oldacre, I stayed at an hotel in Norwood, and came to my business from there. I knew nothing of this affair until I was in the train, when I read what you have just heard. I at once saw the horrible danger of my position, and I hurried to put the case into your hands. I have no doubt that I should have been arrested either at my city office or at my home. A man followed me from London Bridge Station, and I have no doubtโGreat heaven! what is that?โ
It was a clang of the bell, followed instantly by heavy steps upon the stair. A moment later, our old friend Lestrade appeared in the doorway. Over his shoulder I caught a glimpse of one or two uniformed policemen outside.
โMr. John Hector McFarlane?โ said Lestrade.
Our unfortunate client rose with a ghastly face.
โI arrest you for the wilful murder of Mr. Jonas Oldacre, of Lower Norwood.โ
McFarlane turned to us with a gesture of despair, and sank into his chair once more like one who is crushed.
โOne moment, Lestrade,โ said Holmes. โHalf an hour more or less can make no difference to you, and the gentleman was about to give us an account of this very interesting affair, which might aid us in clearing it up.โ
โI think there will be no difficulty in clearing it up,โ said Lestrade, grimly.
โNone the less, with your permission, I should be much interested to hear his account.โ
โWell, Mr. Holmes, it is difficult for me to refuse you anything, for you have been of use to the force once or twice in the past, and we owe you a good turn at Scotland Yard,โ said Lestrade. โAt the same time I must remain with my prisoner, and I am bound to warn him that anything he may say will appear in evidence against him.โ
โI wish nothing better,โ said our client. โAll I ask is that you should hear and recognize the absolute truth.โ
Lestrade looked at his watch. โIโll give you half an hour,โ said he.
โI must explain first,โ said McFarlane, โthat I knew nothing of Mr. Jonas Oldacre. His name was familiar to me, for many years ago my parents were acquainted with him, but they drifted apart. I was very much surprised therefore, when yesterday, about three oโclock in the afternoon, he walked into my office in the city. But I was still more astonished when he told me the object of his visit. He had in his hand several sheets of a notebook, covered with scribbled writingโhere they areโand he laid them on my table.
โโHere is my will,โ said he. โI want you, Mr. McFarlane, to cast it into proper legal shape. I will sit here while you do so.โ
โI set myself to copy it, and you can imagine my astonishment when I found that, with some reservations, he had left all his property to me. He was a strange little ferret-like man, with white eyelashes, and when I looked up at him I found his keen grey eyes fixed upon me with an amused expression. I could hardly believe my own as I read the terms of the will; but he explained that he was a bachelor with hardly any living relation, that he had known my parents in his youth, and that he had always heard of me as a very deserving young man, and was assured that his money would be in worthy hands. Of course, I could only stammer out my thanks. The will was duly finished, signed, and witnessed by my clerk. This is it on the blue paper, and these slips, as I have explained, are the rough draft. Mr. Jonas Oldacre then informed me that there were a number of documentsโbuilding leases, title-deeds, mortgages, scrip, and so forthโwhich it was necessary that I should see and understand. He said that his mind would not be easy until the whole thing was settled, and he begged me to come out to his house at Norwood that night, bringing the will with me, and to arrange matters. โRemember, my boy, not one word to your parents about the affair until everything is settled. We will keep it as a little surprise for them.โ He was very insistent upon this point, and made me promise it faithfully.
โYou can imagine, Mr. Holmes, that I was not in a humour to refuse him anything that he might ask. He was my benefactor, and all my desire was to carry out his wishes in every particular. I sent a telegram home, therefore, to say that I had important business on hand, and that it was impossible for me to say how late I might be. Mr. Oldacre had told me that he would like me to have supper with him at nine, as he might not be home before that hour. I had some difficulty in finding his house, however, and it was nearly half-past before I reached it. I found himโโโ
โOne moment!โ said Holmes. โWho opened the door?โ
โA middle-aged woman, who was, I suppose, his housekeeper.โ
โAnd it was she, I presume, who mentioned your name?โ
โExactly,โ said McFarlane.
โPray proceed.โ
McFarlane wiped his damp brow, and then continued his narrative:
โI was shown by this woman into a sitting-room, where a frugal supper was laid out. Afterwards, Mr. Jonas Oldacre led me into his bedroom, in which there stood a heavy safe. This he opened and took out a mass of documents, which we went over together. It was between eleven and twelve when we finished. He remarked that we must not disturb the housekeeper. He showed me out through his own French window, which had been open all this time.โ
โWas the blind down?โ asked Holmes.
โI will not be sure, but I believe that it was only half down. Yes, I remember how he pulled it up in order to swing open the window. I could not find my stick, and he said, โNever mind, my boy, I shall see a good deal of you now, I hope, and I will keep your stick until you come back to claim it.โ I left him there, the safe open, and the papers made up in packets upon the table. It was so late that I could not get back to Blackheath, so I spent the night at the Anerley Arms, and I knew nothing more until I read of this horrible affair in the morning.โ
โAnything more that you would like to ask, Mr. Holmes?โ said Lestrade, whose eyebrows had gone up once or twice during this remarkable explanation.
โNot until I have been to Blackheath.โ
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