Sherlock Holmes listened with closed eyes and finger-tips together tothis remarkable account.
"The case has certainly some points of interest," said he, in hislanguid fashion. "May I ask, in the first place, Mr. McFarlane, howit is that you are still at liberty, since there appears to be enoughevidence to justify your arrest?"
"I 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. Iknew nothing of this affair until I was in the train, when I read whatyou 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 Ishould have been arrested either at my City office or at my home. Aman followed me from London Bridge Station, and I have no doubt--GreatHeaven, what is that?"
It was a clang of the bell, followed instantly by heavy steps upon thestair. A moment later our old friend Lestrade appeared in the doorway.Over his shoulder I caught a glimpse of one or two uniformed policemenoutside.
"Mr. John Hector McFarlane?" said Lestrade.
Our unfortunate client rose with a ghastly face.
"I arrest you for the wilful murder of Mr. Jonas Oldacre, of LowerNorwood."
McFarlane turned to us with a gesture of despair, and sank into hischair once more like one who is crushed.
"One moment, Lestrade," said Holmes. "Half an hour more or less can makeno difference to you, and the gentleman was about to give us an accountof this very interesting affair, which might aid us in clearing it up."
"I think there will be no difficulty in clearing it up," said Lestrade,grimly.
"None the less, with your permission, I should be much interested tohear his account."
"Well, Mr. Holmes, it is difficult for me to refuse you anything, foryou have been of use to the force once or twice in the past, and we oweyou a good turn at Scotland Yard," said Lestrade. "At the same time Imust remain with my prisoner, and I am bound to warn him that anythinghe may say will appear in evidence against him."
"I wish nothing better," said our client. "All I ask is that you shouldhear and recognise the absolute truth."
Lestrade looked at his watch. "I'll give you half an hour," said he.
"I must explain first," said McFarlane, "that I knew nothing of Mr.Jonas Oldacre. His name was familiar to me, for many years ago myparents were acquainted with him, but they drifted apart. I was verymuch surprised, therefore, when yesterday, about three o'clock in theafternoon, he walked into my office in the City. But I was still moreastonished when he told me the object of his visit. He had in his handseveral sheets of a note-book, covered with scribbled writing--here theyare--and he laid them on my table.
"'Here is my will,' said he. 'I want you, Mr. McFarlane, to cast it intoproper legal shape. I will sit here while you do so.'
"I set myself to copy it, and you can imagine my astonishment when Ifound that, with some reservations, he had left all his property to me.He was a strange little, ferret-like man, with white eyelashes, andwhen I looked up at him I found his keen grey eyes fixed upon me withan amused expression. I could hardly believe my own senses as I read theterms of the will; but he explained that he was a bachelor with hardlyany living relation, that he had known my parents in his youth, and thathe had always heard of me as a very deserving young man, and was assuredthat his money would be in worthy hands. Of course, I could only stammerout my thanks. The will was duly finished, signed, and witnessed bymy clerk. This is it on the blue paper, and these slips, as I haveexplained, are the rough draft. Mr. Jonas Oldacre then informed methat there were a number of documents--building leases, title-deeds,mortgages, scrip, and so forth--which it was necessary that I should seeand understand. He said that his mind would not be easy until the wholething was settled, and he begged me to come out to his house atNorwood that night, bringing the will with me, and to arrange matters.'Remember, my boy, not one word to your parents about the affair untileverything is settled. We will keep it as a little surprise forthem.' He was very insistent upon this point, and made me promise itfaithfully.
"You can imagine, Mr. Holmes, that I was not in a humour to refuse himanything that he might ask. He was my benefactor, and all my desire wasto 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 wasimpossible for me to say how late I might be. Mr. Oldacre had told methat he would like me to have supper with him at nine, as he might notbe 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 him--"
"One moment!" said Holmes. "Who opened the door?"
"A middle-aged woman, who was, I suppose, his housekeeper."
"And it was she, I presume, who mentioned your name?"
"Exactly," said McFarlane.
"Pray proceed."
McFarlane wiped his damp brow and then continued his narrative:--
"I was shown by this woman into a sitting-room, where a frugal supperwas laid out. Afterwards Mr. Jonas Oldacre led me into his bedroom, inwhich there stood a heavy safe. This he opened and took out a mass ofdocuments, which we went over together. It was between eleven and twelvewhen we finished. He remarked that we must not disturb the housekeeper.He showed me out through his own French window, which had been open allthis time."
"Was the blind down?" asked Holmes.
"I will not be sure, but I believe that it was only half down. Yes, Iremember how he pulled it up in order to swing open the window. I couldnot find my stick, and he said, 'Never mind, my boy; I shall see a gooddeal of you now, I hope, and I will keep your stick until you come backto claim it.' I left him there, the safe open, and the papers made upin packets upon the table. It was so late that I could not get back toBlackheath, so I spent the night at the Anerley Arms, and I knew nothingmore until I read of this horrible affair in the morning."
"Anything more that you would like to ask, Mr. Holmes?" said Lestrade,whose eyebrows had gone up once or twice during this remarkableexplanation.
"Not until I have been to Blackheath."
"You mean to Norwood," said Lestrade.