〃It is final；〃 said Holmes。
Something in his tone caught my ear； and I turned to look at him。 An
extraordinary change had come over his face。 It was writhing with
inward merriment。 His two eyes were shining like stars。 It seemed to
me that he was making desperate efforts to restrain a convulsive
attack of laughter。
〃Dear me！ Dear me！〃 he said at last。 〃Well； now； who would have
thought it？ And how deceptive appearances may be； to be sure！ Such a
nice young man to look at！ It is a lesson to us not to trust our own
judgment； is it not； Lestrade？〃
〃Yes； some of us are a little too much inclined to be cock…sure； Mr。
Holmes；〃 said Lestrade。 The man's insolence was maddening； but we
could not resent it。
〃What a providential thing that this young man should press his
right thumb against the wall in taking his hat from the peg！ Such a
very natural action； too； if you come to think if it。〃 Holmes was
outwardly calm； but his whole body gave a wriggle of suppressed
excitement as he spoke。
〃By the way； Lestrade； who made this remarkable discovery？〃
〃It was the housekeeper； Mrs。 Lexington； who drew the night
constable's attention to it。〃
〃Where was the night constable？〃
〃He remained on guard in the bedroom where the crime was
committed； so as to see that nothing was touched。〃
〃But why didn't the police see this mark yesterday？〃
〃Well； we had no particular reason to make a careful examination
of the hall。 Besides； it's not in a very prominent place； as you see。〃
〃No； no… of course not。 I suppose there is no doubt that the mark
was there yesterday？〃
Lestrade looked at Holmes as if he thought he was going out of his
mind。 I confess that I was myself surprised both at his hilarious
manner and at his rather wild observation。
〃I don't know whether you think that McFarlane came out of jail in
the dead of the night in order to strengthen the evidence against
himself；〃 said Lestrade。 〃I leave it to any expert in the world
whether that is not the mark of his thumb。〃
〃It is unquestionably the mark of his thumb。〃
〃There； that's enough；〃 said Lestrade。 〃I am a practical man； Mr。
Holmes； and when I have got my evidence I come to my conclusions。 If
you have anything to say； you will find me writing my report in the
sitting…room。〃
Holmes had recovered his equanimity； though I still seemed to detect
gleams of amusement in his expression。
〃Dear me； this is a very sad development； Watson； is it not？〃 said
he。 〃And yet there are singular points about it which hold out some
hopes for our client。〃
〃I am delighted to hear it；〃 said I； heartily。 〃I was afraid it
was all up with him。〃
〃I would hardly go so far as to say that； my dear Watson。 The fact
is that there is one really serious flaw in this evidence to which our
friend attaches so much importance。〃
〃Indeed； Holmes！ What is it？〃
〃Only this： that I know that that was not there when I examined
the hall yesterday。 And now； Watson； let us have a little stroll round
in the sunshine。〃
With a confused brain； but with a heart into which some warmth of
hope was returning； I accompanied my friend in a walk round the
garden。 Holmes took each face of the house in turn； and examined it
with great interest。 He then led the way inside； and went over the
whole building from basement to attic。 Most of the rooms were
unfurnished； but none the less Holmes inspected them all minutely。
Finally； on the top corridor； which ran outside three untenanted
bedrooms； he again was seized with a spasm of merriment。
〃There are really some very unique features about this case；
Watson；〃 said he。 〃I think it is time now that we took our friend
Lestrade into our confidence。 He has had his little smile at our
expense； and perhaps we may do as much by him； if my reading of this
problem proves to be correct。 Yes； yes； I think I see how we should
approach it。〃
The Scotland Yard inspector was still writing in the parlour when
Holmes interrupted him。
〃I understood that you were writing a report of this case；〃 said he。
〃So I am。〃
〃Don't you think it may be a little premature？ I can't help thinking
that your evidence is not complete。〃
Lestrade knew my friend too well to disregard his words。 He laid
down his pen and looked curiously at him。
〃What do you mean； Mr。 Holmes？〃
〃Only that there is an important witness whom you have not seen。〃
〃Can you produce him？〃
〃I think I can。〃
〃Then do so。〃
〃I will do my best。 How many constables have you？〃
〃There are three within call。〃
〃Excellent！〃 said Holmes。 〃May I ask if they are all large；
able…bodied men with powerful voices？〃
〃I have no doubt they are； though I fail to see what their voices
have to do with it。〃
〃Perhaps I can help you to see that and one or two other things as
well；〃 said Holmes。 〃Kindly summon your men； and I will try。〃
Five minutes later； three policemen had assembled in the hall。
〃In the outhouse you will find a considerable quantity of straw；〃
said Holmes。 〃I will ask you to carry in two bundles of it。 I think it
will be of the greatest assistance in producing the witness whom I
require。 Thank you very much。 I believe you have some matches in
your pocket Watson。 Now； Mr。 Lestrade； I will ask you all to accompany
me to the top landing。〃
As I have said； there was a broad corridor there； which ran
outside three empty bedrooms。 At one end of the corridor we were all
marshalled by Sherlock Holmes； the constables grinning and Lestrade
staring at my friend with amazement； expectation； and derision chasing
each other across his features。 Holmes stood before us with the air of
a conjurer who is performing a trick。
〃Would you kindly send one of your constables for two buckets of
water？ Put the straw on the floor here； free from the wall on either
side。 Now I think that we are all ready。〃
Lestrade's face had begun to grow red and angry。
〃I don't know whether you are playing a game with us； Mr。 Sherlock
Holmes；〃 said he。 〃If you know anything； you can surely say it without
all this tomfoolery。〃
〃I assure you； my good Lestrade； that I have an excellent reason for
everything that I do。 You may possibly remember that you chaffed me
a little； some hours ago； when the sun seemed on your side of the
hedge； so you must not grudge me a little pomp and ceremony now。 Might
I ask you； Watson； to open that window； and then to put a match to the
edge of the straw？〃
I did so； and driven by the draught a coil of gray smoke swirled
down the corridor； while the dry straw crackled and flamed。
〃Now we must see if we can find this witness for you； Lestrade。
Might I ask you all to join in the cry of ‘Fire！'？ Now then； one； two；
three…〃
〃Fire！〃 we all yelled。
〃Thank you。 I will trouble you once again。〃
〃Fire！〃
〃Just once more； gentlemen； and all together。〃
〃Fire！〃 The shout must have rung over Norwood。
It had hardly died away when an amazing thing happened。 A door
suddenly flew open out of what appeared to be solid wall at the end of
the corridor； and a little； wizened man darted out of it； like a
rabbit out of its burrow。
〃Capital！〃 said Holmes； calmly。 〃Watson； a bucket of water over
the straw。 That will do！ Lestrade； allow me to present you with your
principal missing witness； Mr。 Jonas Oldacre。〃
The detective stared at the newcomer with blank amazement。 The
latter was blinking in the bright light of the corridor； and peering
at us and at the smouldering fire。 It was an odious face… crafty；
vicious； malignant； with shifty； light…gray eyes and white lashes。
〃What's this； then？〃 said Lestrade； at last。 〃What have you been
doing all this time； eh？〃
Oldacre gave an uneasy laugh； shrinking back from the furious red
face of the angry detective。
〃I have done no harm。〃
〃No harm？ You have done your best to get an innocent man hanged。
If it wasn't this gentleman here； I am not sure that you would not
have succeeded。〃
The wretched creature began to whimper。
〃I am sure； sir； it was only my practical joke。〃
〃Oh！ a joke； was it？ You won't find the laugh on your side； I promise
you。 Take him down； and keep him in the sitting…room until I come。 Mr。
Holmes；〃 he continued； when they had gone； 〃I could not speak before
the constables； but I don't mind saying； in the presence of Dr。
Watson； that this is the brightest thing that you have done yet；
though it is a mystery to me how you did it。 You have saved an
innocent man's life； and you have prevented a very grave scandal；
which would have ruined my reputation in the Force。〃
Holmes smiled； and clapped Lestrade upon the shoulder。
〃Instead of being ruined； my good sir； you will find that your
reputation has been enormously enhanced。 Just make a few alterations
in that report which you were writing； and they will understand how
hard it is to throw dust in the eyes of Inspector Lestrade。〃
〃And you don't want your name to appear？〃
〃Not at all。 The work is its own reward。 Perhaps I shall get the
credit also at some distant day； when I permit my zealous histori