Page 31 - The Noorwood Mistery

@apter f;ve innocent. But, as Inspector Lestrade tells us, he had a good

Who is Mr Cornelius? motive for killing Jon as Oldacre and he was at Deep Dene
House yesterday evening.'
t was early evening when Holmes arrived back at 221B. 'What did you learn from his mother, Holmes?' said
I Baker Street. Mrs Hudson opened the door to him and Watson.
he followed her upstairs. Watson was waiting for him in 'I learned something very interesting,' replied Holmes. 'I
learned that Oldacre once asked h e r to marry him.'
their rooms.
olmes!' he cried. 'At last! Where have you been? I was 'Really?'
' H
'Really, ' said Holmes. 'And he was very unhappy when
worried.'
'No need to worry, Watson,' Holmes replied. 'I've been to she said no to him. He was so angry that he sent her a
photograph of herself which was slashed with a knife across
Blackheath and also to Norwood.'
'You must tell me everything,' said Watson, who was her face. Mrs Mcfarlane was a very beautiful young woman,
Watson. It isn't difficult to understand why the builder was
very excited.
'Later,' answered Holmes. 'First I must think some so hurt when she married another man, a man with no
money. The photograph arrived on the day that she married
more.' John McFarlane's father.'
'But Holmes . . . !' Watson shouted angrily.
'Oh dear!' said Watson. 'So Oldacre was unlucky in love.'
Holmes held up a hand.
'I must think, Watson,' Holmes said again. He walked 'Yes,' Holmes agreed. 'But it is strange that he wanted to
'Y
to the corner of the room and picked up his violin. Mrs leave everything that he had to Mrs McFarlane's son. Very
Hudson left the room, shaking her head. Watson angrily strange.'
started to read a book while Holmes began to play the ' W as Mrs Mcfarlane surprised?' asked Watson.
"'I want nothing from Mr Jonas Oldacre," she said,'
violin.
He played for mor� than an hour, his eyes closed. Watson 1 l olmes replied, "'and my son wants nothing from him. I
......
knew that his friend was thinking deeply. He had to wait until 11111 happy that he is dead." I understand how she feels '
Holmes was ready to tell him about his visits to Blackheath Watson. She's a good woman, I am sure, too good for Mr
Jonas Oldacre.'
and Norwood.
At last Holmes put his violin on the table and sat down. 'Did she tell you more about him '
?
atson, ' he said, 'it has been a strange day. I have spoken ' N o, nothing more,' said Holmes. 'Next I travelled to
' W
to Mr McFarlane's mother and Mr Oldacre's housekeeper, a Norwood, to Deep Dene House, to see for myself the place
, and still I don' t know what really happened where the builder met his death. It's a big, modern house
Mrs Lexington
pick up to take at Deep Dene House last night. Perhaps our Mr Mcfarlane with a large garden. There are a lot of trees.'
something in your 'So Oldacre was a very rich man,' Watson suggested.
hand isn't innocent after all, but an evil murderer.'
violin a musical 'Do you really think that, Holmes?' asked Watson. ' l f e had a large house and a large garden,' Holmes replied,
instrument, made
of wood with 'No, Watson, I don't,' Holmes answered. 'I still think he's 'but he wasn't so rich after all. I saw his bank book.' Here
strings across it
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