SHERLOCK HOMES
THE ADVENTURE OF THE NORWOOD BUILDER
by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
THE ADVENTURE OF THE NORWOOD BUILDER
〃From the point of view of the criminal〃 said Mr。 Sherlock Holmes；
〃London has become a singularly uninteresting city since the death
of the late lamented Professor Moriarty。〃
〃I can hardly think that you would find many decent citizens to
agree with you；〃 I answered。
〃Well； well； I must not be selfish；〃 said he； with a smile； as be
pushed back his chair from the breakfast…table。 〃The community is
certainly the gainer； and no one the loser； save the poor
out…of…work specialist； whose occupation has gone。 With that man in
the field； one's morning paper presented infinite possibilities。 Often
it was only the smallest trace； Watson； the faintest indication； and
yet it was enough to tell me that the great malignant brain was there；
as the gentlest tremors of the edges of the web remind one of the foul
spider which lurks in the centre。 Petty thefts； wanton assaults；
purposeless outrage… to the man who held the clue all could be
worked into one connected whole。 To the scientific student of the
higher criminal world； no capital in Europe offered the advantages
which London then possessed。 But now…〃 He shrugged his shoulders in
humorous deprecation of the state of things which he had himself
done so much to produce。
At the time of which I speak； Holmes had been back for some
months； and I at his request had sold my practice and returned to
share the old quarters in Baker Street。 A young doctor； named
Verner； had purchased my small Kensington practice； and given with
astonishingly little demur the highest price that I ventured to ask…
an incident which only explained itself some years later； when I found
that Verner was a distant relation of Holmes； and that it was my
friend who had really found the money。
Our months of partnership had not been so uneventful as he had
stated； for I find； on looking over my notes； that this period
includes the case of the papers of ex…President Murillo； and also
the shocking affair of the Dutch steamship Friesland； which so
nearly cost us both our lives。 His cold and proud nature was always
averse； however； from anything in the shape of public applause； and he
bound me in the most stringent terms to say no further word of
himself； his methods； or his successes… a prohibition which； as I have
explained； has only now been removed。
Mr。 Sherlock Holmes was leaning back in his chair after his
whimsical protest； and was unfolding his morning paper in a
leisurely fashion； when our attention was arrested by a tremendous
ring at the bell； followed immediately by a hollow drumming sound；
as if someone were beating on the outer door with his fist。 As it
opened there came a tumultuous rush into the hall； rapid feet
clattered up the stair； and an instant later a wild…eyed and frantic
young man； pale； disheveled； and palpitating； burst into the room。
He looked from one to the other of us； and under our gaze of inquiry
he became conscious that some apology was needed for this
unceremonious entry。
〃I'm sorry； Mr。 Holmes；〃 he cried。 〃You mustn't blame me。 I am
nearly mad。 Mr。 Holmes； I am the unhappy John Hector McFarlane。〃
He made the announcement as if the name alone would explain both his
visit and its manner； but I could see； by my companion's
unresponsive face； that it meant no more to him than to me。
〃Have a cigarette； Mr。 McFarlane；〃 said he； pushing his case across。
〃I am sure that； with your symptoms； my friend Dr。 Watson here would
prescribe a sedative。 The weather has been so very warm these last few
days。 Now； if you feel a little more composed； I should be glad if you
would sit down in that chair； and tell us very slowly and quietly
who you are； and what it is that you want。 You mentioned your name； as
if I should recognize it； but I assure you that； beyond the obvious
facts that you are a bachelor； a solicitor； a Freemason； and an
asthmatic； I know nothing whatever about you。〃
Familiar as I was with my friend's methods； it was not difficult for
me to follow his deductions； and to observe the untidiness of
attire； the sheaf of legal papers； the watch…charm； and the
breathing which had prompted them。 Our client； however； stared in
amazement。
〃Yes； I am all that； Mr。 Holmes； and； in addition； I am the most
unfortunate man at this moment in London。 For heaven's sake； don't
abandon me； Mr。 Holmes！ If they come to arrest me before I have
finished my story； make them give me time； so that I may tell you
the whole truth。 I could go to jail happy if I knew that you were
working for me outside。〃
〃Arrest you！〃 said Holmes。 〃This is really most grati… most
interesting。 On what charge do you expect to be arrested？〃
〃Upon the charge of murdering Mr。 Jonas Oldacre； of Lower Norwood。〃
My companion's expressive face showed a sympathy which was not； I am
afraid； entirely unmixed with satisfaction。
〃Dear me；〃 said he； 〃it was only this moment at breakfast that I was
saying to my friend； Dr。 Watson； that sensational cases had
disappeared out of our papers。〃
Our visitor stretched forward a quivering hand and picked up the
Daily Telegraph； which still lay upon Holmes's knee。
〃If you had looked at it； sir； you would have seen at a glance
what the errand is on which I have come to you this morning。 I feel as
if my name and my misfortune must be in every man's mouth。〃 He
turned it over to expose the central page。 〃Here it is； and with
your permission I will read it to you。 Listen to this； Mr。 Holmes。 The
headlines are： ‘Mysterious Affair at Lower Norwood。 Disappearance of a
Well Known Builder。 Suspicion of Murder and Arson。 A Clue to the
Criminal。' That is the clue which they are already following； Mr。
Holmes； and I know that it leads infallibly to me。 I have been
followed from London Bridge Station； and I am sure that they are
only waiting for the warrant to arrest me。 It will break my mother's
heart… it will break her heart！〃 He wrung his hands in an agony of
apprehension； and swayed backward and forward in his chair。
I looked with interest upon this man； who was accused of being the
perpetrator of a crime of violence。 He was flaxen…haired and handsome；
in a washed…out negative fashion； with frightened blue eyes； and a
clean…shaven face； with a weak； sensitive mouth。 His age may have been
about twenty…seven； his dress and bearing that of a gentleman。 From
the pocket of his light summer overcoat protruded the bundle of
indorsed papers which proclaimed his profession。
〃We must use what time we have；〃 said Holmes 〃Watson； would you have
the kindness to take the paper and to read the paragraph in question？〃
Underneath the vigorous headlines which our client had quoted； I
read the following suggestive narrative：
〃Late last night； or early this morning； an incident occurred at
Lower Norwood which points； it is feared； to a serious crime。 Mr。
Jonas Oldacre is a well known resident of that suburb； where he has
carried on his business as a builder for many years。 Mr。 Oldacre is
a bachelor； fifty…two years of age； and lives in Deep Dene House； at
the Sydenham end of the road of that name。 He has had the reputation
of being a man of eccentric habits； secretive and retiring。 For some
years he has practically withdrawn from the business； in which he is
said to have massed considerable wealth。 A small timber…yard still
exists； however； at the back of the house； and last night； about
twelve o'clock； an alarm was given that one of the stacks was on fire。
The engines were soon upon the spot； but the dry wood burned with
great fury； and it was impossible to arrest the conflagration until
the stack had been entirely consumed。 Up to this point the incident
bore the appearance of an ordinary accident； but fresh indications
seem to point to serious crime。 Surprise was expressed at the
absence of the master of the establishment from the scene of the fire；
and an inquiry followed； which showed that he had disappeared from the
house。 An examination of his room revealed that the bed had not been
slept in； that a safe which stood in it was open； that a number of
important papers were scattered about the room； and finally； that
there were signs of a murderous struggle； slight traces of blood being
found within the room； and an oaken walking…stick； which also showed
stains of blood upon the handle。 It is known that Mr。 Jonas Oldacre
had received a late visitor in his bedroom upon that night； and the
stick found has been identified as the property of this person； who is
a young London solicitor named John Hector McFarlane； junior partner
of Graham and McFarlane； of 426 Gresham Buildings； E。C。 The police
believe that they have evidence in their possession which supplies a
very convincing motive for the crime； and altogether it cannot be
doubted that sensational developments will follow。
〃LATER。… It is rumoured as we go to press that Mr。 John Hector