Page 11 - The Noorwood Mistery

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@apter two . when I read that he wanted to leave everything to me! Mr
McFarlane1s story Oldacre was a strange little man with very white hair and
grey eyes. When I looked at him, I saw that he found my
cFarlane put his head in his hands and sat down. surprise very funny. He laughed and told me that he was
M 'Mr Holmes, help me, please.' unmarried and had no children. He knew my mother and
Holmes turned to Lestrade. 'Inspector, ' he said, 'perhaps father when he was a young man and wanted to help me
you can give us half an hour? I'm interested to hear Mr to make my way in the world because I was their son. I
McFarlane's story.' didn't know what to say, but I thanked him warmly and
'And I'm sure it will be a very good story,' replied Lestrade. finished the will. Here it is.' McFarlane showed Holmes a
'But it won't be true.' blue piece of paper. 'Mr Oldacre then asked me to go to his
'Please, Inspector, ' said Watson. house at Norwood yesterday evening because he had more
Lestrade thought for a long time. 'All right,' he agreed papers there that I needed to see. I didn't want to go, but
at last. 'You've often helped us, Mr Holmes. But I must I had to. "You must promise not to tell your mother or
stay with Mr McFarlane and I will listen very carefully to father about this," he said. "It must be a wonderful surprise
everything that he says. You have half an hour,' he went for them." I promised him that I would say nothing, but I
on, looking at his watch. didn't understand why it was so important to him.'
'Thank you, Inspector,' said McFarlane.
,
'You can thank Mr Holmes ' replied Lestrade, sitting down
opposite the young man.
'First,' McFarlane began his story, 'I know nothing about
Mr Jonas Oldacre, only his name. My parents met him many
years ago and they were friends for a long time. But Mr
Oldacre moved to Nor�bod, I understand, and after that
the City a part
of London with a they never saw him. So I was very surprised when he walked
lot of banks and .
offices into my office at three o'clock yesterday afternoon. I work
lawyer someone in the City of London as a lawyer. When he told me why
who works to help
people with the law he wanted to see me, I was astonished.' Here he stopped
astonished very
surprised and looked first at Holmes, then at Lestrade.
will the paper 'Go on,' said Lestrade at last.
that you write and
sign, which says 'He had some papers in his hand, these papers.' McFarlane
how you want to
divide your money took them out of his pocket and put them on the table.
between people in
your family when "'This is my will," he said. "I've written it myself. But you
you die
are a lawyer. Please copy it for me. I will wait. " I agreed
copy to write
something again to do this. I started to copy the will but was very surprised

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