BEFORE READING Write sentences describing these people from The Norwood Mystery. a Sherlock Holmes b Doctor Watson c John McFarlane d_ Inspector Lestrade | 4 4 e Mrs McFarlane ‘Sergeant Judd . g Mrs Lexington fh Jonas Oldacre Which of these things do you think you will read about? Tick two boxes. Sherlock Holmes tries to find the murderer of Mrs McFarlane. Jonas Oldacre marries Mrs McFarlane. Inspector Lestrade arrests John McFarlane for murder. Mrs Lexington asks Sherlock Holmes for help. CL) Sherlock Holmes saves an innocent man. Sergeant Judd is a criminal. Dr Watson investigates a murder without Holmes. mmrenoce( —_ one A wild, excited young man ‘L ife in London is not what it was,’ said Sherlock Holmes to Dr Watson. They were sitting at the breakfast table in their Baker Street rooms one morning in the summer of 1894. Holmes was smoking a cigarette and Watson was reading the newspaper. “True, Holmes,’ said the doctor. ‘For most people life is much better now.’ ‘But for me, Watson, life is not so interesting,’ explained Holmes. ‘I loved to read the newspaper, hoping to find some news of an interesting crime for me to investigate or a dangerous criminal for me to catch. Where are all those investigate to find ‘out about something clever criminals these days?’ He smiled sadly. ‘criminal a person ‘Someti * a eit who does something ‘Sometimes I don’t understand you, Holmes,’ said Watson. ogainat cy ‘T like living a quiet life myself.” law Holmes did not reply, but opened his newspaper in a lazy Sag nenuntaney way and started to read. Suddenly they heard a loud knock bree the cia when someone hi at the street door downstairs. They heard the knock again a door :housekeeper 3 woman who looks after a person's house hhall_a room in the middle of a house from which you can go to all the ‘other rooms trouble difficulty arrest to take 2 Person to prison mystery something that you cannot explain ‘easily ‘builder a man who makes houses and again. Mrs Hudson, the housekeeper, ran to open the door and a wild, excited young man fell into the hall. He pushed the poor housekeeper out of his way and ran up the stairs. ‘Who are you, sir?’ asked Watson. ‘And what do you want?" The young man looked at Watson, then at Holmes, and started to explain. ‘I'm sorry, Mr Holmes, I'm sorry,’ he said. ‘Please don't be angry. I feel so afraid, Mr Holmes.’ Holmes asked the young man to come into the room and told him to sit down. ‘Have a cigarette,’ he said, ‘and tell us who you are and why you have come here.’ The man took a cigarette from the box on the table, and Watson lit it for him. After some minutes he stopped shaking and spoke. ‘My name is John McFarlane,’ he began. Neither Holmes nor Watson knew the name. ‘And?’ asked Holmes. ‘And,’ replied McFarlane, starting to shake again, ‘I am in terrible trouble. You must help me, Mr Holmes. The police want to arrest me and send me to prison. And I have done nothing, Mr Holmes, nothing.” ‘Interesting,’ said Holmes, ‘very interesting. Don't you agree, Watson?’ Watson saw that his friend was excited by this mystery, and wanted to know more. “Mr McFarlane,’ Holmes went on, ‘why do the police want to arrest you? What have you done?’ ‘Nothing. I told you, I've done nothing. But they think that I murdered a man called Jonas Oldacre, a builder who lives — who lived — in south London, at Norwood.’ Holmes lit another cigarette. ‘I'm very sorry to hear this, Mr McFarlane. Please tell us your story.’McFarlane saw Watson's newspaper on the breakfast table and opened it. ‘It's here,’ he said, ‘in today’s newspaper. The story of the murder of Jonas Oldacre. I'll read it to you. Terrible gat crime at Norwood. Murder of well-known builder. The police are sure that | am the man who killed him. They've followed me here from the station and are waiting to arrest me. This news will kill my poor old mother, Mr Holmes, it will kill her.’ McFarlane was still shaking and smoking his cigarette. Watson looked at him in an interested way. McFarlane was a_ good-looking young man with bright blue eyes and long hair, but he looked very afraid. He was about twenty- seven years old and Watson could see that he came from a good family. ‘If the police are following you,’ said Holmes, ‘we must work quickly. Mr McFarlane, please have another cigarette.timber yard a place where wood is kept fire brigade if your house is an fire, you call the fire brigade put out to stop something burning safe a very strong ‘box that people put ‘money and other ‘expensive things in bloodstains ‘marks made by blood walking stick a stick to help you walk motive the reason for a crime remains what is left Watson, could you take the newspaper and read us the story?” Watson opened the newspaper and started to read. Sherlock Holmes listened carefully, his eyes closed, as Watson read the story from the morning newspaper. Murder of well-known builder Late last night, or early this morning, a terrible crime took place at Norwood in south London, Mr Jonas Oldacre has lived at Norwood and has worked there as a builder for many years. He is. fifty-two years old, unmarried, and he lives in Deep Dene House on the Sydenham Road. The people of Norwood know Mr Oldacre as an unusual_man, He does not often leave his house, but his business has made him very rich. There is a small timber yard behind his house and last night, at about midnight, a man who was out walking saw that some of the wood there was ‘on fire. He immediately ¢alled the fire brigade, who arrived soon after. The wood was very dry and burned quickly, so it was impossible to put out the fire. The fire brigade were surprised when Mr Oldacre did not come out of the house, and two of their officers went inside to look for him. But Mr Oldacre was not in the house. In the bedroom the two men found an open safe, which was empty. There were papers on the floor and bloodstains on the walls, The men also found a bloodstained walking stick in the room. ‘This stick belongs to Mr John McFarlane, who visited Mr Oldacre at his home yesterday evening. The police are sure that they know the motive for the crime and are looking for Mr McFarlane, They will arrest him when they find him. At Norwood, police now say that Mr Oldacre’s bedroom windows on the ground floor of the house were open. ‘They have found some burnt remains, possibly of a body, in the fire in the timber yard. The police think that there has been a murder. They say that the criminal killed the builder in his bedroom, then pulled his dead body into the garden and burned it in / the timber yard. Inspector Lestrade of Scotland Yard is the policeman who is investigating this most terrible crime. 4 aed ated alan aie ne‘This is very interesting,’ he said at last. ‘Can I ask, Mr McFarlane, why the police have not already arrested you? I understand from the newspaper that they are sure you murdered Mr Oldacre.’ ‘I live at Torrington Lodge, Blackheath, with my mother and father, Mr Holmes, but last night, after my business with Mr Oldacre, I stayed in a hotel at Norwood and went to work from there this morning. I knew nothing about this crime until I was on the train, when I read the story in the newspaper. I understood immediately that I was in terrible trouble, so when my train arrived at the station I ran to Baker Street to see you, Mr Holmes, and to tell you that I am not a criminal. I did not murder Mr Jonas Oldacre. The police, I'm sure, were waiting for me at work and also at my father’s house at Blackheath. A man followed me here from the station and— Suddenly there was another knock ai the street door. Then they heard men on the stairs, and Inspector Lestrade entered the room with two other policemen, ‘Are you Mr John McFarlane?’ he asked. The young man stood up, his face whi ‘Iam,’ he said. Lestrade gave him a long look. ‘John McFarlane, I am arresting you for the murder of Mr Jonas Oldacre, the builder, of Norwood, south London.”READING CHECK 1 Are these sentences true or false? Tick the boxes. True False a Holmes and Watson are sitting at the breakfast table when John McFarlane knocks on their door. = [4 Holmes’s housekeeper, Mrs Hudson, opens the door to McFarlane. McFarlane is very excited Watson knows Mcfarlane’s name. — [] McFarlane says that the police want to send him to prison. Jonas Oldacre lives in Blackheath. [] @ McFarlane lives alone. ~ Te Jat Wie Tet Tee Lestrade wants to arrest McFarlane for the murder of Jonas Oldacre. O 2 Match the first and second parts of the sentences. a ‘Where are all those clever criminals? SNe 1 says Lestrade to McFarlane. b ‘I like living a quiet life myself,’ 2 Holmes asks Watson. ¢ ‘The police want to arrest me,’ 3 says Watson to Holmes. d ‘He comes from a good family,’ 4 Holmes asks McFarlane. e ‘Can | ask why the police have not already 5 says McFarlane to Holmes. arrested you” f ‘lam arresting you for the murder of Jonas 6 thinks Watson about McFarlane. Oldacre,’WORD WORK Correct the boxed words in these sentences. They all come from Chapter 1. There were important papers in the sale... S0f@. A young man came into the ball They heard a clock at the door. ..... He had a talking brick in his hand. . : What was his motor for killing the man? ............... He explained that he was in terrible tremble. ............... Holmes was excited by the history. ....... Jonas Oldacre was a south London building. ........ There were floodstains on the walls. .................. The police found some burnt reminds in the timber-yard Can you put off that fire with some water? She cried badly when her cat died. ... -3sSe tee te Bo ce GUESS WHAT What happens in the next chapter? Tick four boxes. Holmes listens to McFarlane's story. CO We learn more about Inspector Lestrade. We learn more about McFarlane’s family. a b © d [_] Lestrade asks McFarlane some questions. e McFarlane says that he killed Jonas Oldacre. f 8 h Holmes decides to go to Blackheath. C The police take McFarlane away. Lestrade has breakfast with Holmes and Watson.the City o part ‘of London with a lot of banks and offices lawyer someone who works to help people with the law astonished very surprised will the paper that you write and sign, which says how you want to divide your money between people in ‘your family when, you die copy to write something again ( hapter two McFarlane’s story Mor put his head in his hands and sat down. ‘Mr Holmes, help me, please.’ Holmes turned to Lestrade. ‘Inspector,’ he said, ‘perhaps you can give us half an hour? I'm interested to hear Mr McFarlane'’s story.’ ‘And I'm sure it will be a very good story,’ replied Lestrade. ‘But it won't be true.’ “Please, Inspector,’ said Watson. Lestrade thought for a long time. All right,’ he agreed at last. ‘You've often helped us, Mr Holmes. But I must stay with Mr McFarlane and I will listen very carefully to everything that he says. You have half an hour,’ he went on, looking at his watch. “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 Norwood, I understand, and after that they never saw him. So I was very surprised when he walked into my office at three o'clock yesterday afternoon. I work in the City of London as a lawyer. When he told me why he wanted to see me, I was astonished.’ Here he stopped and looked first at Holmes, then at Lestrade. ‘Go on,’ said Lestrade at last. ‘He had some papers in his hand, these papers.’ McFarlane took them out of his pocket and put them on the table. “This is my will,” he said. “I've written it myself. But you are a lawyer. Please copy it for me. I will wait.” I agreed to do this. I started to copy the will but was very surprisedwhen I read that he wanted to leave everything to me! Mr Oldacre was a strange little man with very white hair and grey eyes. When I looked at him, I saw that he found my surprise very funny. He laughed and told me that he was unmarried and had no children. He knew my mother and father when he was a young man and wanted to help me to make my way in the world because I was their son. I didn't know what to say, but I thanked him warmly and finished the will. Here it is.’ McFarlane showed Holmes a blue piece of paper. ‘Mr Oldacre then asked me to go to his house at Norwood yesterday evening because he had more papers there that I needed to see. I didn’t want to go, but I had to. “You must promise not to tell your mother or father about this,” he said. “It must be a wonderful surprise for them.” I promised him that I would say nothing, but I didn't understand why it was so important to him.’dining room the room in a house ‘where people eat French windows glass doors ‘I took the train to Norwood and arrived there at about nine o'clock. It was difficult to find Mr Oldacre’s house on the Sydenham Road and it was nine-thirty when I at last knocked on the door of Deep Dene House.’ ‘Stop,’ said Holmes. ‘Who opened the door to you?" ‘It was Mr Oldacre’s housekeeper,’ McFarlane replied. ‘A woman of about fifty-five years.” ‘And she told Mr Oldacre that you were there?’ Holmes went on. ‘That's right,’ McFarlane agreed. ‘She then took me into the dining room, where Mr Oldacre was waiting for me. We ate a light meal of sandwiches and fruit, then Mr Oldacre took me to his bedroom, There was a safe in the corner of the room, and Mr Oldacre opened it and took out a lot of papers. We looked at them together and didn’t finish until about half past eleven. Mr Oldacre said that we mustn't wake up the housekeeper, so I left the house by the French windows in the bedroom, which were open. I couldn't find my walking stick, but Mr Oldacre said that he would give it back to me next time. “I hope you will come back often,” he said. When I left, Mr Oldacre was in his bedroom and the safe was open. His papers were on the table. It was too late for me to go back té my father's house at Blackheath, so I went to a hotel called the Anerley Arms in Norwood and spent the ‘night there. I knew nothing more about Mr Oldacre until I read the story in the newspaper this morning. And everything that I've told you is true.’ Lestrade looked at Holmes. ‘Any more questions?’ ‘Possibly,’ said Holmes. ‘But first I must go to Blackheath.’ “You mean Norwood,’ said Lestrade. ‘Perhaps,’ replied Holmes with a strange smile. The Inspector didn’t understand, but said nothing. ‘Mr McFarlane?’ said one of the other policemen, who was waiting at the door. ‘Come with us, please.’McFarlane stood up and the two policemen took him down the stairs and out into Baker Street. Lestrade stayed in the room with Holmes and Watson. Holmes looked at McFarlane's papers, which were still on the table. ‘Interesting,’ he said. ‘Mr Oldacre's writing is very easy to read in some places, but very difficult to read in others, And here it’s impossible. Can you read this, Watson?” Watson agreed that it was impossible to read. ‘And why is that?’ asked Holmes. ‘T've no idea,’ Watson replied. ‘Is this important, Mr Holmes?’ asked Lestrade. ‘Possibly,’ said Holmes. ‘Mr Oldacre wrote his will on a train. We can read everything that he wrote when the train was at a station, but it’s impossible to read what he wrote when the train was moving. Mr Oldacre spent the journey writing his will, so his train was an express, which stopped only once between Norwood and London Bridge.’ “Very interesting, Mr Holmes,’ said Lestrade, ‘but I have a murderer to see. I must go. Goodbye, Mr Holmes. Dr Watson.’ ‘Goodbye, Inspector,’ said Holmes with a smile.READING CHECK Put these sentences in the correct order. Number them 1-11. i a ee Oldacre asks McFarlane to copy his will. Oldacre and McFarlane eat sandwiches. MoFarlane takes the train to Norwood. Oldacre takes papers out of his safe. Oldacre’s housekeeper opens the door of Deep Dene House to McFarlane. Oldacre tells McFarlane that he wants to leave him everything in his will. ‘| Oldacre walks into McFarlane’s office. McFarlane arrives at Deep Dene House. McFarlane spends the night at a hotel in Norwood. McFarlane leaves Deep Dene House through the French windows. Oldacre tells McFarlane to say nothing to his parents. WORD WORK Use the words in the safe to complete the sentences. He worked in an office in of London. McFarlane was . = .. that Oldacre wanted to leave him his money! © lawyer A .... helps people when they astor have problems with the police. will My ae left me £1,000 in her He asked me to ........ the words very carefully on a piece of paper. They ate their dinner in the ach windows Frer dining room Let's open the .. . out into the garden. and walkGUESS WHAT Who does Holmes speak to in the next chapter? Tick two pictures. b LD Or Watson John McFarlane’s mother e John McFarlane’s father Tt Jonas Oldacre 4 donas Oldacre’s housekeeperthree A visit to Blackheath aul omee | ell me, Holmes,’ said Watson when they were alone again, ‘why is it important that Mr Oldacre wrote his will on the train?’ Holmes lit a cigarette. ‘Because it means he wrote it i, yesterday on his journey to see Mr McFarlane. I think it's very strange that he worked on these important papers on the train. Perhaps they weren't so important for him.’ ‘What are you thinking, Holmes?’ asked Watson. ‘I'm not yet sure what has happened here, Watson,’ Holmes replied, ‘but give me time, give me time. Now I must leave you and go to Blackheath. I need, I think, to speak to Mr McFarlane’s mother and father.’ Holmes put on his coat. ‘While I am out, Watson, ask yourself this question. Is Mr McFarlane a stupid man? I think not. But does a clever man immediately kill someone who has just promised to leave him everything in his will?’ Holmes gave Watson a long look. ‘Goodbye, Watson. Until later.’When Sherlock Holmes needed to think, he liked to walk, and this morning he decided to walk all the way from Baker Street to London Bridge. His long legs moved quickly as he crossed the city. A lot of people stopped to look at the tall detective as he made his way to the station, but Holmes didn't see them. He was thinking about John McFarlane and Jonas Oldacre, and asking himself if McFarlane was a murderer. He really didn’t think so, but he knew that it would be difficult to convince Inspector Lestrade of Scotland Yard. To Lestrade, McFarlane was the murderer of Jonas Oldacre. He had a good motive and he spent the evening at the builder's house. Holmes arrived at London Bridge station and found that he had to wait twenty minutes for the next train to Blackheath, He bought the late morning newspaper and read: Norwood Murder. Man Arrested. Holmes didn’t read the story, but looked at the end: Says Inspector Lestrade: ‘I think we have our man.’ Holmes bought a ticket and got on the train. Soon he was leaving London and travelling south to Blackheath. Tt was a little before eleven thirty when he knocked on the door of the McFarlanes’ house. It was a large house with a long, green garden at the front, and Holmes was a little surprised when Mrs McFarlane herself answered the door. ‘Mrs McFarlane? Good morning. My name is Sherlock Holmes and | am trying to help your son in his time of trouble.’ ‘Oh, Mr Holmes, please come in,’ the woman replied. Holmes followed her into a small room at the back of the house, where a fire was burning brightly. They sat down. ‘John is not a murderer,’ she began immediately. ‘I know my son, Mr Holmes and—’ Holmes held up his hand. convince to make someone believe something‘orwel unkind ‘and liking to hurt people fine a long thin mark ‘slash to cut wildly and angrily ‘thoughtfully thinking carefully ‘Mrs McFarlane,’ he said, ‘I can see that you're very worried, but there are some questions that I must ask you.’ ‘Anything,’ she replied. ‘Please ask me anything.” ‘What can you tell me about Mr Jonas Oldacre?’ At thi$ question Mrs McFarlane was suddenly very excited. ‘He is — or was — a very bad man,’ she said. ‘A long time ago he and I were friends. He wanted to marry me, but I found out that he was a cruel man, a dangerous man. I told him that I didn’t want to see him again and six months later | married my husband, John’s father. He wasn’t rich like Oldacre, but he was a good man —~ he is a good man, Mr Holmes, and a good father to John. We've always been a happy family. And now this!’ “What did Oldacre do when you sent him away?’ Holmes went on. ‘He was angry, very angry. He sent me this in the post.’ Mrs McFarlane got up and took a photograph from the desk in the corner of the room. It was a photograph of her as a young woman. There were black lines across her face, where many years before Oldacre once slashed the photograph with a knife, but Holmes could see that she was a very beautiful woman. ‘It arrived the day that I married my husband.’ Holmes took the photograph from her and looked at it thoughtfully. ‘A dangerous man,’ he said. ‘Oh yes,’ Mrs McFarlane agreed, ‘a very dangerous man.’ ‘It is strange, then,’ Holmes went on, ‘that in his will he left everything that he had to your son.’ ‘We don't want anything from that man, Mr Holmes. If he’s dead, then I'm happy, but I know that it wasn’t John who killed him.’ Holmes stood up. ‘Mrs McFarlane, thank you. Is Mr McFarlane not at home?’Mrs McFarlane shook her head. ‘He’s taken the train to London to see if he can help John,’ she explained. “Then I won't stay any longer,’ said Holmes. “Try not to worry too much, my good woman. If your son is really innocent, I’m sure we can convince the police. Inspector Lestrade is sometimes a little slow but he is a good detective.’ “Thank you, Mr Holmes,’ said Mrs McFarlane. ‘I'm sure that you will do everything that you can to help John.’ “Mrs McFarlane, you can be sure of that,’ Holmes replied with a warm smile. Mrs McFarlane said goodbye to the great detective at her front door and watched him walk quickly away to the station. innocent having done nothing. wrongREADING CHECK Match the first and second parts of these sentences. a Holmes thinks that McFarlane is the murderer of Jonas Oldacre. b Holmes goes to Blackheath pcm ine 2 pe ae wrote his will on the train to id “Holmes is urprised 3. to speak to John McFarlane’s parents. ie Mrs Morariane.tells Holmes 4 that Jonas Oldacre was her friend. ¥ doin McFeriane's father 5 has taken the train to London to try to help John. @ Holmes tells McFarlane that Lestrade is a good but slow detective. ~ when Mrs McFarlane opens the door. WORD WORK Find words in the train on page 19 to complete the sentences. a_ The idea of John McFarlane murdering someone who is going to leave him everything ¢ Mrs McFarlane says that Oldacre was a very ... d Oldacre once a photograph of Mrs McFarlane with a knife. e Holmes looks at the old photograph very ..... f There are long black .... ... across young Mrs McFarlane’s beautiful face. § Holmes is sure he can ..... .. Lestrade that John McFarlane is not a murderer.RUCEL “TLUGHULTY FOH OVENCINGC SINEL does Holmes do in the next chapter? Tick one of the boxes. (J He goes to Scotland Yard to talk to Inspector Lestrade. He visits John McFarlane in prison. He travels to Norwood. He goes back to Baker Street to talk to Dr Watson.hhay dry grass crouch down to bend your knees so that your body is ‘close to the ground i something that a detective does to understand how or why a crime has happened shine (oast shone) the sun shines in the sky ‘suppose to think that something is true button a small round thing on clothes ashes the grey ‘stuff that you see after something hhas burnt hapter A visit to Norwood H:™ arrived in Norwood early that afternoon. He had no problem finding Deep Dene House on the Sydenham Road. The builder's house was large and modern, and had a big garden with a lot of very old trees. Next to the house Holmes saw the timber yard, where the police found the burnt remains after the fire. He walked into it and saw piles of wood everywhere and also some bags of hay. On the ground he saw some burnt remains and he crouched down to look at them. Were these the remains of Jonas Oldacre’s body? It was impossible to say. Holmes stood up and went back into the garden. As he stood there looking thoughtfully at the house, a policeman came out. ‘Can I help you, sir?’ he asked. ‘I'm Sherlock Holmes,’ said the detective. ‘Perhaps you've heard my name.’ ‘Mr Holmes! Of course I know your name, sir,’ replied the policeman in surprise. He was fat, perhaps fifty years old, with a round face and bright blue eyes. ‘Sergeant Judd, Scotland Yard. I'm very pleased to meet you, sir.’ ‘And I'm pleased to meet you,’ said Holmes. ‘I'm helping Inspector Lestrade with his investigation. Have you found anything here?’ Judd looked very pleased. His blue eyes shone. “Yes, sir, we have. You know about the burnt remains in the timber yard, | suppose?’ ‘I do,’ Holmes agreed. ‘I've seen them for myself.’ ‘Well, we've found some buttons in the ashes — and we think they're the buttons from Mr Oldacre’s trousers. It’s murder, Mr Holmes, we're sure of that.’ ‘Perhaps,’ said Holmes. ‘But I prefer to decide for myself. Is itall right if I look round the house and garden, Sergeant?’ ‘Please do, Mr Holmes, but I think that you'll find that we're right. There’s been a murder and Inspector Lestrade has arrested the criminal. We can all sleep better in our beds now that McFarlane is under arrest.’ Judd went back into the house while Holmes stayed outside in the garden. There were very few flowers and the garden was very different from the McFarlanes’ garden in Blackheath. Holmes crouched down to look at the Tawn. It was a warm day and the lawn was very dry. He fawn the grass in @ garden‘search to look carefully footprint a mark that your foot or shoe makes on the ground or floor deeds the papers that show who a house belongs to looked carefully for more than an hour but found nothing interesting in the garden. Next he decided to search the house. The front door was open and a policeman was standing inside, ‘Good morning,’ said Holmes as he walked into the house. At the end of the hall he found Oldacre’s bedroom. There were no police in the room and Holmes spent a long time looking at the walls. He saw the bloodstains, which were a deep red colour, and on the floor footprints made by Oldacre and McFarlane. But he found no one else's footprints. He looked at the papers from the safe and he also found the builder's bank books. He spent a long time looking at these and was interested to see that Oldacre wasn’t as rich as everyone thought. To Holmes’ surprise, he had very little money in the bank. He then tried to find the deeds to the house, but they were not with the other papers. Holmes asked himself why. When he was sure that there was nothing more to see in the bedroom, he crossed the hall to the kitchen, where he found Oldacre’s housekeeper, Mrs Lexington, at the table. She was a small, dark, silent woman with grey eyes and silver hair. She didn’t jook at the detective when he walked into the room and spoke to her. ‘Good morning. My name's Sherlock Holmes and I'm helping Scotland Yard with their investigation,’ he said. ‘Mrs... 2” ‘Lexington,’ she replied without looking up. ‘Mrs Lexington, housekeeper to Mr Jonas Oldacre.” ‘I'm very pleased to meet you, Mrs Lexington,’ Holmes went on, and sat down opposite her at the table. ‘What can you tell me about yesterday evening?” The housekeeper gave Holmes a long look. ‘Nothing,’ she replied. “There's nothing that I can tell you, Mr Sherlock Holmes.’‘Really?’ said Holmes. ‘So you didn’t answer the door to Mr McFarlane last night?" ‘I did!’ she shouted angrily. ‘The murderer!’ ‘Ah!’ said Holmes. ‘So there is something that you can tell me?" Mrs Lexington looked very cross. ‘I opened the front door of this house to McFarlane at 9.30. I know now that I opened the door to a murderer!’ ‘And then?’ Holmes asked. ‘Then nothing,’ she said at last. ‘I was very tired and I went to bed an hour later at half past ten. My bedroom is at the other end of the house. I fell asleep immediately. I heard nothing and I saw nothing.’ ‘Did you sleep all night without waking up?’ asked Holmes, ‘The smell from the fire woke me up,’ Mrs Lexington answered. ‘I got out of bed and started to look for Mr Oldacre. I looked in every room of the house but I couldn't find him anywhere. He was dead, of course, I know that now. McFarlane killed him and burnt his body in the timber yard. And Mr Oldacre was such a good, kind man. . ‘Please,’ said Holmes, ‘don’t upset yourself. ‘Tell me, did Mr Oldacre have any enemies?’ ‘Everyone has enemies,’ replied Mrs Lexington. ‘But Mr Oldacre lived a very quiet life here at Deep Dene House. No one in Norwood wanted to kill him. That's how I know that McFarlane is the murderer. That young man has evil eyes, Mr Holmes, he has the eyes of a murderer.’ ‘Thank you, Mrs Lexington,’ said Holmes. ‘Is there ‘hing more you can tell me? Anything that could help ‘us with our investigation?’ ‘Ican tell you this,’ answered the housekeeper. ‘The police found some buttons in those remains in the timber yard this morning. Those buttons are Mr Oldacre’s. They're the buttons from his trousers. He was wearing them last night.’ upset yourself to ‘make yourself feel unhappy evil very bad‘You've been very helpful,’ said Holmes. He stood up. ‘But now I must go. Thank you for your time, Mrs Lexington.’ The housekeeper got up suddenly. ‘I tried to save him, Mr Holmes, poor Mr Oldacre,’ she said. ‘I ran out into the timber yard, but the wood was so dry. It was burning so quickly. I can’t remember the last time it rained. The smell was terrible... when I think ..‘Thank you, Mrs Lexington,’ Holmes said once more. ‘Goodbye.’ He closed the door behind him as he left the kitchen. In the hall he met Sergeant Judd, who was coming down the stairs. ‘Mr Holmes,’ said the policeman. ‘I hope that your visit has been helpful.’ ‘Very helpful, Sergeant,’ Holmes replied. “Thank you. And I hope that your investigation is going well.’ ‘We have our murderer, Mr Holmes,’ the policeman answered. ‘Inspector Lestrade is talking to him now at Scotland Yard. His name is John Hector McFarlane and he killed Mr Oldacre for his house and his money.’ ‘I'm very pleased to hear that you have your man,’ said Holmes with his strange smile. ‘It's obvious, I'm sure, that Mr McFarlane murdered Jonas Oldacre and burnt his body in the timber yard.’ ‘I'm happy to hear that you agree, sir,’ replied Judd. ‘Goodbye, Mr Holmes.’ ‘Goodbye, Sergeant,’ said Holmes. He walked slowly to the front door, looking carefully at the walls in the hall, and left the builder's house. Outside he took a last look at the garden, house, and timber yard and drew a plan in his notebook before walking through the streets of Norwood to the station. It was a fine summer ( but Holmes wasn’t happy. In the train back to London, he asked himself a number of questions. Could John McFarlane really be a murderer? Was Jonas Oldacre really dead? Why did the builder suddenly le to leave all his money to a young man that he didn’t iow? And why did he write his will on an express train? now, Holmes did not know the answer to his questions, it he was sure that they were good questions to ask. obvious easy to see or understand draw (past drew, drawn) to make a picture with a pen or peneilHolmes finds Deep Dene House with-di a b The builder’s house is small and modern. ¢ The police have found burnt remains in the garden. d_ Sergeant Judd doesn’t know Sherlock Holmes’s name. e Holmes says that he is helping Sergeant Judd with his investigation. f The police have found keys from Oldacre’s trousers in the ashes. Judd thinks that Oldacre is the murderer. hh In the bedroom Holmes finds bloodstains and fingerprints. i Holmes finds out that Oldacre has a lot of money in the bank. J. Mrs Lexington is Jonas Oldacre's daughter. Mrs Lexington says that Oldacre is alive. WORD WORK 1 Find ten words from Chapter 4 Bite eee SoeNAN --- are Jonas Oldacre's body. | Holmes spends more than an hour in the garden, looking at the ............2..... e Sergeant Judd’s eyes ... «.. excitedly. d After looking at the garden, Holmes . ... the house. The police find some trouser ... in the remains of the fire. “There are - on the bedroom floor. a to the house aren't in the safe. Lexington says that John McFarlane has iat happens in the next chapter? Tick the boxes. ies arrives back at Baker Street in the middle of the night. is waiting for Holmes at Baker Street. s immediately tells Watson what he has done in skheath and Norwood. 8 tells Watson that he thinks that John McFarlane is Jes tells Watson that Oldacre was a very rich man. O ‘Starts to think that McFarlane murdered Oldacre for ney. spends the night thinking and smoking cigarettes.pick up to toke ‘something in your hand violin a musical instrument, made ‘of wood with strings across it hapter Who is Mr Cornelius? Hi: was early evening when Holmes arrived back at 221B Baker Street. Mrs Hudson opened the door to him and he followed her upstairs. Watson was waiting for him in their rooms. ‘Holmes!’ he cried. ‘At last! Where have you been? I was worried.’ ‘No need to worry, Watson,’ Holmes replied. ‘I've been to Blackheath and also to Norwood.’ ‘You must tell me everything,’ said Watson, who was very excited. ‘Later,’ answered Holmes. ‘First I must think some more.’ ‘But Holmes . . . !' Watson shouted angrily. Holmes held up a hand. ‘I must think, Watson,’ Holmes said again. He walked to the corner of the room and picked up his violin. Mrs Hudson left the room, shaking her head. Watson angrily started to read a book while Holmes began to play the violin. He played for mort than an hour, his eyes closed. Watson knew that his friend was thinking deeply. He had to wait until Holmes was ready to tell him about his visits to Blackheath and Norwood. At last Holmes put his violin on the table and sat down. ‘Watson,’ he said, ‘it has been a strange day. I have spoken to Mr McFarlane’s mother and Mr Oldacre’s housekeeper. a Mrs Lexington, and still I don’t know what really happened at Deep Dene House last night. Perhaps our Mr McFarlane isn’t innocent after all, but an evil murderer.’ ‘Do you really think that, Holmes?’ asked Watson. ‘No, Watson, I don't,’ Holmes answered. ‘I still think he'sinnocent. But, as Inspector Lestrade tells us, he had a good motive for killing Jonas Oldacre and he was at Deep Dene House yesterday evening.’ “What did you learn from his mother, Holmes?’ said Watson. ‘I learned something very interesting,’ replied Holmes. ‘I learned that Oldacre once asked her to marry him.’ “Really?” ‘Really,’ said Holmes. ‘And he was very unhappy when she said no to him. He was so angry that he sent her a photograph of herself which was slashed with a knife across her face. Mrs McFarlane was a very beautiful young woman, Watson. It isn’t difficult to understand why the builder was so hurt when she married another man, a man with no money. The photograph arrived on the day that she married ohn McFarlane’s father.’ “Oh dear!’ said Watson. ‘So Oldacre was unlucky in love.’ ‘Yes,’ Holmes agreed. ‘But it is strange that he wanted to We everything that he had to Mrs McFarlane's son. Very ‘Was Mrs McFarlane surprised?’ asked Watson, “I want nothing from Mr Jonas Oldacre,” she said,’ Jolmes replied, ‘“and my son wants nothing from him. I im happy that he is dead.” I understand how she feels, Vatson. She's a good woman, I am sure, too good for Mr gnas Oldacre.’ ‘Did she tell you more about him?" nothing more,’ said Holmes. ‘Next I travelled to ood, to Deep Dene House, to see for myself the place the builder met his death. It's a big, modern house a large garden. There are a lot of trees.’ So Oldacre was a very rich man,’ Watson suggested. had a large house and a large garden,’ Holmes replied, he wasn't so rich after all. I saw his bank book.’ HereHolmes opened the cigarette box on the table and took out a cigarette. He gave his friend a short time to think about his words before he lit it. ‘I see,’ said Watson at last. “Do you?’ asked Holmes. ‘I'm not sure I see yet. But I must go on with my story. As I said, Oldacre’s house was large and modern, and next to it was the famous timber yard.’ He took out his notebook and opened it on the table in front of him. ‘Here, Watson, I drew a plan of it.’ Watson got up and walked across the room to stand behind Holmes and look at the plan.“You see,’ Holmes went on, ‘this is the Sydenham Road, here is Deep Dene House and this is the timber yard. On the left are the French windows which open into the builder's bedroom. As you can see, it's possible to look into the bedroom from the road.’ ‘Is that important, Holmes?’ asked Watson. ‘I don’t know,’ Holmes replied. ‘Possibly. Inspector Lestrade wasn’t at Norwood this afternoon, but I met his sergeant, a man called Judd. He, of course, was quite sure that our Mr McFarlane is a murderer. The police found some buttons in the ashes in the timber yard, you see, and these buttons were buttons from Oldacre’s trousers. And so, says Sergeant Judd, the builder is dead, and so McFarlane is a murderer.’ “This doesn't look good, Holmes,’ said Watson. ‘No,’ Holmes agreed. ‘Our young friend is in deep trouble here, I'm afraid. But we must not give up hope, Watson, I searched the garden after talking to Sergeant Judd, but I found nothing. Then I went into the house. First I searched builder's bedroom. The bloodstains on the walls were , and I saw Oldacre's footprints on the floor, together John McFarlane’s. But there were no others. I looked the papers from the safe, which were on the table, but ‘m sure that some of the papers were not there. I couldn't the deeds to the house anywhere.’ ‘Where do you think they are, Holmes?’ asked Watson. ‘I don’t know. But I'm sure that our young friend didn't them. He had no reason to steal the deeds if Oldacre ited to leave his house and money to him. Well, Watson, I spoke to the builder's housekeeper, Mrs Lexington. A , quiet woman, she never looked at me once when she talking to me. | am sure that she knows much more she wanted to tell me. She agreed that she answered front door to John McFarlane at nine thirty yesterday ling. She went to bed at ten thirty — her bedroom is ave given) to stop trying to do something fresh made not long ago; not old reason why you do somethingmad_not thinking well ‘nod to move your head up and down chequebook 2 book with pieces of paper that you can write on and use to pay for things at the other end of the house — and fell asleep. She woke up later and smelled smoke from the fire. She got up and searched everywhere for Oldacre, but she couldn't find him. Of course, she thinks that this is because he was dead, murdered.’ ‘What did she say about the builder?’ asked Watson. Holmes held up his hand. ‘A good man, she told me. He had enemies, of course, as everyone has enemies, but his life at Norwood was a quiet one. Nobody wanted him dead — only his murderer, our friend McFarlane. He has evil eyes, she tells me, Watson.’ ‘Evil eyes?’ Watson replied. ‘Was the woman mad?” ‘Not mad, Watson,’ said Holmes, ‘but also not very helpful. Mrs Lexington told me very little. As I said, | am sure that she knows more.’ ‘Did you find out nothing at Norwood that could help McFarlane?’ asked Watson. Holmes looked thoughtful. ‘Possibly,’ he said at last. “You remember I said that I saw Oldacre’s bank book and that it showed that he was not as rich as everybody thought?” Watson nodded. ‘Well,’ Holmes went on, ‘when I looked at his chequebook I found that he wrote a lot of cheques to someone called Mr Cornelius. These were cheques for a lot of money. Who is this Mr Cornelius, Watson? And why did our builder pay him so much money? That is what I want to know.’ “This could help our young friend and prove to Lestrade that he is not a murderer, that he is innocent,’ cried Watson, excited by Holmes’ news. ‘Perhaps, Watson,’ Holmes agreed. ‘But for now we have nothing more while Lestrade has McFarlane's visit to Oldacre, the buttons from the builder’s trousers in the ashes in the timber yard and Mrs Lexington’s story. | must say, Watson, I do not feel hopeful.’Holmes put out his cigarette and picked up his violin again. Watson ate dinner alone that night and went to bed early. Holmes did not go to bed at all. He spent the night playing the violin, smoking cigarette after cigarette and thinking about John McFarlane and Jonas Oldacre. In the end, as the sun came up the next morning, he fell asleep in his chair. xX é Si aS! We Tale lao 77s, pees ceREADING CHECK Are these sentences true or false? Tick the boxes. ‘a Mrs Hudson opens the door to Sherlock Holmes when he arrives back at 221B Baker Street. Watson is very pleased to see Holmes. Watson reads the newspaper while Holmes plays the violin. Watson decides that John McFarlane is an evil murderer. Holmes tells Watson that Oldacre once asked McFarlane’s mother to marry him. f Holmes shows Watson his plan of Deep Dene House. Holmes tells Watson that the deeds to the house were in the builder's safe. Watson agrees that McFarlane has evil eyes. Holmes wants to know who Mr Cornelius is. Holmes feels hopeful for John McFarlane. Holmes does not sleep until morning. True False w Oo Oo U Lee | Oo UO te! OWatson angrily starts to read a book when Holmes picks uphis_i__i ) McFarlane has an obvious _e__ 0 _ for killing Oldacre — his money. b__k Pcie Gia es _ Holmes saw the name ‘Mr Cornelius’ in Oldacre's Watson doesn't say ‘yes’ but he _ 0 __ at what Holmes says. The bloodstains on the wall weren't old. They were __e olmes doesn't want to _i__ u_ hope that McFarlane is innocent. son thinks Mrs Lexington is _ a _. finds Holmes asleep in his chair. has breakfast with Inspector Lestrade. tells Holmes why he is sure that McFarlane murdered Oldacre. LJ tells McFarlane that he is a murderer. LU visits John McFarlane’s mother and father.‘gently softly ma short letter that you send very ‘quickly what you think about someone or something. japter si A thumbprint on the wall Wes was surprised to find his friend fast asleep when he came down to breakfast the next morning. He shook him gently. ‘Wake up,’ he said. ‘Mrs Hudson will be here soon.’ Holmes woke up immediately. ‘Good morning, Watson,’ he replied. He saw the questions in the doctor's eyes before he could ask them. ‘Yes, I have been here all night. Yes, I have slept very little. And no, I do not know how we can save our young friend, John McFarlane.” ‘Oh,’ said Watson, ‘then perhaps you should wash and change before breakfast.’ “You're right, Watson,’ Holmes agreed. He left the room, and Watson sat down at the table. Soon after Mrs Hudson came in with the morning newspaper and a telegram. ‘Good morning, Dr Watson,’ she said. ‘Here's your newspaper, and this telegram has just arrived for Mr Holmes. It looks very important.’ Watson took the telegram and looked at it thoughtfully. ‘I'm sure it is very important,’ he agreed. ‘Perhaps it’s about Mr McFarlane.’ “The young man who came here yesterday morning? “That's right,’ said Watson. ‘Inspector Lestrade is convinced that he’s a murderer, but Holmes and I don’t agree.’ ‘A murderer?’ the housekeeper replied. ‘Well, he was a strange young man — so wild and excited. But a murderer? I don’t think so.’ ‘Mrs Hudson, your opinion is good enough for me,’ said Watson. ‘Now is that my breakfast that I can smell?’ The housekeeper smiled. ‘You're always ready for your breakfast, Dr Watson," she said. ‘It'll be about ten minutes.’ As Mrs Hudson left the room, Holmes returned. Heimmediately saw the telegram in Watson’s hand. ‘That looks interesting,’ he said. ‘For me?" Watson nodded and gave him the telegram, Holmes opened it with a paper knife and read it silently. He said nothing but looked out of the window onto Baker Street. ‘Well?’ asked Watson when he could wait no longer. Holmes turned to look at his friend ‘It’s from Lestrade. The Inspector is at Deep Dene House at the moment. He says he has proof that McFarlane is the murderer of Jonas Oldacre. In his opinion, we should now give up.’ ‘This doesn’t look good, Holmes,’ said Watson. To his surprise, Holmes laughed. ‘Inspector Lestrade has always been sure that John McFarlane killed the builder,’ he said, ‘and now he says that he has proof. Well, let's see his proof. This is not the time to give up, Watson. We'll go to Norwood immediately.’ ‘But Holmes,’ said Watson, ‘it’s still very early and— Just then Mrs Hudson arrived with their breakfasts. ‘And you haven't had your breakfast,’ Holmes went on ith a smile. ‘All right, Watson, we'll go after breakfast. I'm that Inspector Lestrade’s proof can wait.’ Holmes ate nothing himself, so Watson enjoyed a very ‘ge meal and it was after nine o'clock when they left Baker . They took a cab to the station and it was not long re they were at the front door of Deep Dene House. Vatson rang the doorbell. ‘Now, Watson,’ said Holmes, ‘you will meet the silent Mrs gton.” A moment later the door opened and the housekeeper in front of them. ‘Mr Holmes,’ she said. ‘How can I help you?” ‘Good morning to you, Mrs Lexington,’ said Holmes. ‘This my good friend, Dr Watson. Is Inspector Lestrade here?’ is,’ the housekeeper replied. proof information that shows that ‘something is really true doorbell the bell ‘on the front doorthe mark that your ‘thumb makes: when it touches something ‘Please take us to him.’ Holmes and Watson went in and followed Mrs Lexington to the back of the house. Lestrade was sitting at a table. He looked very pleased to see them. ‘Mr Holmes, Dr Watson! Good morning!’ he said, standing up. ‘You've come to see my proof, I suppose.’ “That's right,’ Holmes agreed with a smile. ‘I am very happy for you, Lestrade, that you were right all the time.” ‘It's good of you to agree that you were wrong,’ said the Inspector. ‘As for me, I never thought that McFarlane was innocent. The man is a murderer.’ ‘I'm sure that you are right, Inspector,’ Holmes agreed, ‘but perhaps we can see your proof now.’ ‘Of course,’ said Lestrade. ‘Come with me.’ He stood up and Holmes and Watson followed him into the hall. ‘Here,’ said the Inspector. ‘Look at this.’ Holmes and Watson crouched down to look at a bloodstain on the wall. ‘It's a thumbprint,’ Lestrade explained. ‘John McFarlane’s thumbprint.’ ‘Are you sure?’ asked Watson. ‘Oh yes,’ Lestrade replied. ‘That is John McFarlane’s thumbprint. I'm sorry, Dr Watson, but your young friend killed Jonas Oldacre. He will die for this crime.’Holmes looked very thoughtful. “You're very quiet, Mr Holmes,’ said the Inspector. ‘Do you have nothing to say?’ Holmes stood up. ‘As I said before, Inspector, it's obvious that you are right about McFarlane. He killed the builder for his money and his house. I have only two questions.’ ‘Go on,’ said Lestrade, who was no longer smiling. ‘First,’ said Holmes, ‘who found this thumbprint?’ ‘It was Mrs Lexington, the housekeeper, who saw it first,’ the Inspector replied. ‘She showed it to Sergeant Judd.’ ‘Really?’ Holmes looked very pleased with this answer. ‘What's your second question, Mr Holmes?’ asked Lestrade. “Why didn’t your men find the thumbprint yesterday?’ “That's easy to explain,’ the Inspector replied. “They weren't king for thumbprints yesterday, not in the hall. And the jumbprint is a little hard to see.’ “Yes, it’s hard to see,’ Holmes agreed. ‘Watson and I had crouch down to see it. But Mrs Lexington saw it. Perhaps was washing the floor. I suppose that you are sure that thumbprint was here yesterday, Inspector?” “Of course it was!’ Lestrade replied crossly. ‘Do you think it McFarlane left Scotland Yard during the night and came to make a thumbprint in blood on the wall?” ‘Perhaps not,’ said Holmes thoughtfully, “Then I must ask you both to excuse me. I must return Scotland Yard to talk to the murderer.’ trade left the room. ‘So John McFarlane is a murderer,’ said Watson sadly. don't think so, Watson,’ Holmes replied. ‘What? But Lestrade’s proof — the thumbprint! How do explain it, Holmes?’ 's impossible to explain,’ said Holmes, ‘and for a very reason. There was no thumbprint on this wall when here yesterday.’READING CHECK Correct eleven more mistakes in the story. asieep Watson is surprised to find Holmes-awake when he comes down to breakfast the next morning. Holmes has slept very little. Mrs Hudson arrives with the newspaper and a letter for Holmes. When Holmes is out of the room, Mrs Hudson and Watson talk about Jonas Oldacre. Inspector Lestrade has written from Blackheath to say he is now sure that McFarlane killed the builder and wants Holmes and Watson to go on with their investigation. Holmes and Watson take a cab to Norwood. Sergeant Judd opens the door of Deep Dene House. Lestrade shows Holmes McFarlane’s fingerprint on the floor. But Sergeant Judd found it earlier that day and showed it to Lestrade. Holmes is convinced by Lestrade’s proof. WORD WORK i Match the words in the violin with the underlined words in the sentences on page 41. : és opinion goal proof telegram thumbprint cab doorbellLestrade’s way of inking is that Rcreriane is Oldacre's murderer. Listen. It's the bell on the door! I'll go and see who it is. Lestrade says that McFarlane killed the builder, and that he has now got ‘something that shows his idea is true. . Watson and Holmes take a taxi with horses p1 This glass is dirty; there's a mark from someone's thumb on it. .................. iS WHAT happens in the next r? Tick six boxes. John McFarlane goes back to Deep Dene House. Holmes understands why the thumbprint is important. Watson decides that McFarlane is a murderer. | Holmes and Watson go into the garden to look at Oldacre's house. Inspector Lestrade writes about the murder. Holmes asks Watson to start a fire in the house. The police find a woman in a secret room. Holmes finds Jonas Oldacre’s murderer. Lestrade agrees that Holmes is right about John McFarlane. The police decide to arrest Mrs Lexington.‘cella small room ina prison or police station probable almost Certainly true basement downstairs from ‘the ground floor of a house ( hapter seven The man on the top floor We did not know what to think. ‘I don’t understand this, Holmes,’ he said at last. ‘I don’t understand this at all. If the thumbprint wasn’t here yesterday—'’ Holmes held up a hand to stop him. ‘There are two possibilities, Watson. The first is that John McFarlane left his cell at Scotland Yard during the night, took the train to Norwood and came to Deep Dene Lodge to make a bloody thumbprint on the wall here. I do not think this is very probable, Watson, do you?’ ‘Of course not, Holmes,’ said Watson. ‘Then you and I and Inspector Lestrade have the same opinion, and it was not John McFarlane who left this thumbprint.” “But Lestrade said that it was McFarlane’s thumbprint!’ said Watson excitedly. ‘Oh I am sure that it is McFarlane’s thumbprint,’ Holmes replied, ‘but I am also sure that it was not John McFarlane who left it here. Come, Watson.’ Dr Watson followdd his friend out into the garden. “What are we doing, Holmes?’ he asked. ‘We're looking,’ said Holmes, ‘we're looking very carefully.’ Holmes stood in the garden and looked thoughtfully at the front of the house. Then he walked across the lawn and looked at the side of the house. Next Watson followed him to the back of the house and then to the other side, which looked onto the Sydenham Road. Here Holmes stood for a long time with a look of great interest on his face. ‘Good,’ he said at last, and walked quickly back to the front door, which was still open. Watson followed him inside and downstairs into the basement. Holmes looked very carefullyin every room on that floor, then did the same on the ground floor. There was no furniture in many of the rooms, but Holmes looked thoughtfully at the walls and at the floor. He and Watson then went upstairs and visited all the bedrooms and the bathroom. After that they climbed to the top floor of the house, where there were three bedrooms, all empty. Holmes began to laugh. He laughed and laughed. Watson looked at his friend, astonished. ‘Holmes, what is it?’ he asked. ‘Are you not feeling well?’ Holmes stopped laughing at once and turned to Watson. ‘T'm feeling very well, Watson,’ he said with a strange smile. ‘Come, let us find Inspector Lestrade.’ ‘They went downstairs and found the Inspector at his table. was busy writing his report. ‘Are you writing your report already, Inspector?’ asked es. ‘Are you so sure that you have your murderer?’ Lestrade stopped writing and put down his pen. He did it look pleased. “Mr Holmes, I have shown you my proof. John McFarlane’s jumbprint proves that he killed Jonas Oldacre. | have my lerer. He is in his cell at Scotland Yard as we speak.’ ‘I think, Inspector,’ said Holmes, ‘that you should speak to me more person before you finish writing your report.’ ‘Who is this person?’ asked Lestrade. ‘And where can I id him?’ ‘How many policemen do you have here today, Inspector?’ trade was surprised, but he answered immediately, ‘Sergeant Judd and two others.’ ‘And are they all big, strong men with loud voices?’ ade looked at Watson. Watson looked at Lestrade. were both baffled. ey are all tall and I'm sure that they can shout very if they need to,’ the Inspector replied, ‘but I don’t ‘stand— furniture tables ‘and chairs for example report what ‘someone writes to explain something that has happened rove to show that something is certainly true baffled when you don't understand somethingmatch you use this to light a fire joke something that you do to make people laugh Holmes held up a hand. “You will understand, Inspector. Now could you please call your men?’ It was obvious that Lestrade was not happy, but he left the room and went to look for Sergeant Judd and the others. Five minutes later Holmes and Watson found Lestrade in the hall with his men. “Sergeant Judd, you will find some hay in the timber yard. Could you please bring it into the house?’ asked Holmes. Judd looked at Lestrade, who nodded. He came back a few minutes later with a bag of hay. “This will help us to find our man,’ said Holmes. ‘Now, Watson, do you have any matches in your pocket?’ Watson nodded. ‘Then we are ready. Follow me, please.’ ‘The policemen followed Holmes and Watson as they climbed the stairs to the top of the house. When they arrived, Lestrade’s face was very red. ‘What are you doing, Mr Holmes?’ he asked crossly. ‘I hope that this is not a joke.’ “You will not have to wait much longer, Inspector,’ said Holmes with a smile. ‘Could you please ask one of your men to bring some water from the bathroom?’ ‘Water!’ Lestrade replied. ‘Mr Holmes, | really must..." ‘Please, Inspector.’ Lestrade thought for a long moment, but in the end sent one of his men to the bathroom for water. When he returned, Holmes opened a window and then asked Watson to light the hay with a match. The hay caught fire immediately and suddenly there was smoke everywhere. ‘Now we will find our man, Lestrade,’ said Holmes. ‘Could we all please shout “fire”? ? One, two, three .. . Holmes, Watson and the four policemen all shouted ‘fire!’ in loud voices.‘And again! ‘Fire!’ This time the shout was so loud that Lestrade put his fingers in his ears. Just then a very strange thing happened: a secret door in the wall opened suddenly and a little man ran out. ‘Here's your man, Inspector,’ said Holmes with a laugh. “Sergeant Judd, please put some water on the hay to put out our little fire. Thank you. Inspector, this is Mr Jonas Oldacre, the Norwood builder. I think we will learn that he also has another name — Mr Cornelius.’ Watson and the policemen looked long and hard at theugly not beautiful passage the ‘space between rooms in a house be little man, who was standing in front of them and shaking. He had grey eyes and white hair and was very ugly. ‘Well,’ said Lestrade at last when the fire was out. ‘Do you have nothing to say, Mr Jonas Oldacre?" Lestrade’s face was red and angry. Oldacre looked very afraid, but he laughed excitedly. ‘It was a joke, Inspector,’ he explained. ‘No more. I never wanted to make any trouble for anybody.’ ‘What?’ said Lestrade angrily. ‘You didn’t want to make any trouble? And an innocent man is in the cells at Scotland Yard as we speak!’ ‘Just my little joke, Inspector,’ the builder said again. ‘Take him away, Sergeant,’ said Lestrade. “The man is dangerous.’ Oldacre went downstairs with Judd and the other policemen. Lestrade turned to Holmes. “Well, Mr Holmes, once again I have to thank you. This time I was wrong and you were right. John McFarlane is an innocent man. It’s obvious that there was no murder here.” “That's right, Inspector,’ Holmes smiled, ‘but I understand your mistake. Jonas Oldacre was very clever.’ ‘But Sherlock Holmes was cleverer!’ said Watson. ‘Very good work, Holmes.’ ‘Thank you, Watson. Now let's see the secret room.’ Watson and Lestrade followed Holmes into the room, which was about two metres long. It was impossible to see the door from the passage, but in the room they found some furniture, food and water, newspapers and books. Holmes picked up a newspaper. “This morning's newspaper,’ he said. ‘I'm sure that Oldacre has enjoyed reading about Mr McFarlane’s arrest. And I suppose that Mrs Lexington is the person who has brought him his newspapers and his food and drink.’‘I must speak to that woman again,’ said Lestrade. ‘I _ telllies to say things which are always thought she had her secrets.’ not true ‘Perhaps she has a very big secret,’ said Holmes. ‘Perhaps Late ad she is more to Mr Oldacre than a housekeeper.’ stay when they do ‘something wrong Lestrade looked thoughtful. ‘Of course,’ he said at last. ‘That's why she was happy to tell lies for him. She will go to prison for this, Mr Holmes.’ “Very good,’ Holmes replied. ‘Norwood will be a better place without her.’ ‘L have just one more question for you, Mr Holmes,’ said Lestrade. ‘Why did Oldacre do this? Why did he want me to arrest John McFarlane?’ Holmes gave the Inspector a long look. ‘Many years ago, Inspector,’ he explained, ‘Jonas Oldacre fell in love. He fell in love with John McFarlane’s mother. ‘They spent some time together, but Mrs McFarlane saw that Oldacre was cruel and dangerous and she sent him away. Later she married John’s father. On the day that they married Oldacre sent her a jotograph of herself with her face shed. He was very angry and he r forgot it.” ‘I see,’ said Lestrade. ‘So that’s why went to Blackheath.’ ‘I wanted to talk to John’s parents,’ Imes explained. ‘I couldn't and why Oldacre wanted to everything to John in his will.’ ‘T've been very stupid,’ said Lestrade ly. ‘Not at all,’ said Watson kindly. ‘But k Holmes has been very clever” lolmes himself said nothing.READING CHECK What do they say? Holmes tells Watson: Watson asks Holmes: Holmes asks Lestrade: Lestrade tells Holmes: Holmes tells Lestrade: . Holmes tells Sergeant Judd: Holmes asks Watson and the policemen: Lestrade asks Oldacre: ...............4 Cc Oldacre tells Lestrade: Lestrade says to Sergeant Judd: a b c d e f & h i j WORD WORK Find words from Chapter 7. a BABLEROP f b TURINFURE ... 0: FLEDIAR |. Genie ns dd SHETMAC Oe LEG ce si SP PSAPOESAR SG jihetersen xsa Holmes did not think that it was . P-OPO.0I€. that John McFarlane made the thumbprint. b Lestrade thought that he could ........... ¢ He was writing a .... _ stopped him. BA ss. . iS a room under the ground at the bottom of a house. | There was no -. in many of the rooms in the house. Lestrade and Watson were .................. when Holmes asked about the policemen’s “voices. They couldn't understand why he was asking. :V and dry hay to light a fire. 1 Holmes knew there was a secret room behind one of the walls in the .... »»- when a criminal sends an innocent man to prison for .... that John McFarlane was a murderer. . about the murder of Jonas Oldacre when Holmes Something he didn't do. dacre will spend some time in a prison ESS WHAT happens in the next chapter? Match the first and second parts of these in McFarlane erlock Holmes explains Holmes, Watson and McFarlane Natson asks Holmes Inspector Lestrade agrees strade thanks Holmes take a cab to Scotland Yard. that Holmes has been very helpful. visits Holmes and Watson in Baker Street. for saving the life of an innocent man. why they are going to see Inspector Lestrade. how he realized that Jonas Oldacre was not dead.realize to suddenly understand something ‘commit to do a crime ‘calm nat worried ( ) apter eight A free man a wo days later, on a fine summer morning, Holmes and Watson were sitting once again in their Baker Street rooms, Watson was reading the newspaper excitedly. ‘It's here, Holmes!’ he cried. ‘The story of our Norwood builder. Listen to this: Inspector Lestrade of Scotland Yard realized that Jonas Oldacre was still alive and found him on the top floor of his house, Deep Dene Lodge at Norwood, where he was hiding in a secret room. But Lestrade realized nothing at all, Holmes! This is terrible. If you— ‘It’s not important, Watson,’ said Holmes quietly. ‘What is important is that Oldacre will go to prison and John McFarlane will not die for a crime that he didn’t commit. Lestrade knows what really happened, after all.’ ‘I don’t understand how you can be so calm about this,’ said Watson crossly. ‘It was you who realized that the builder wasn't dead, not Lestrade. Lestrade was convinced that John McFarlane was a murderer.’ Just then the door opened and Mrs Hudson came in. ‘A young man to see you, Mr Holmes,’ she said with a smile. é John McFarlane walked into the room. He looked calm and very happy. Holmes and Watson stood up. ‘Mr McFarlane,’ said Holmes, ‘I'm very pleased to see you.’ ‘Mr Holmes, Dr Watson, what can I say?’ McFarlane replied. ‘Thank you so much for everything. You have saved my life. The police were convinced that I killed Jonas Oldacre.’ Watson asked the young man to sit down, and Mrs Hudson left them. Holmes lit a cigarette from the box on the table. ‘I was sure that I would die,’ McFarlane went on. ‘I was at Deep Dene House. I had a very good motive. And when the police found my thumbprint on the wall . . . Please tellme, Mr Holmes, how you proved to Inspector Lestrade that T was innocent of this crime.’ Holmes did not speak for a long moment. He looked very thoughtful. ‘It was a long time before I realized that there was no murder, but when I realized this, I understood everything. Oldacre once loved your mother and was very angry when she married another man. He had a lot of trouble with his business last year and lost a lot of money. His plan was to disappear, with Mrs Lexington perhaps, and start a new life with a different name: Mr Cornelius. He wanted everyone to think that he was dead because he didn’t want anyone to look for him. And he wanted to hurt your mother and father. He wanted you to die for a crime that never happened.’ “But the burnt remains in the timber yard — what were they?’ McFarlane wanted to know. ‘A dead dog, I think,’ Holmes replied. ‘Not a dead builder.’ ‘What an evil man!’ cried McFarlane. ‘My mother was it to say no when he asked her to marry him.’ ‘Oh yes,’ Holmes agreed. ‘Jonas Oldacre is a very bad man and I hope that he will go to prison for a very long time.’ ‘I don't know how to thank you, Mr Holmes,’ said ‘arlane. ‘I am so pleased that I came to you in my ble.’ Holmes put out his cigarette and turned to Watson. ‘Are we free this morning, Watson?" he asked. "Yes,’ his friend replied in surprise. ‘Why do you ask?’ ‘It's a beautiful morning,’ said Holmes. ‘Let’s go out.’ Watson and McFarlane followed Holmes down the stairs out into Baker Street. The sun was shining and the ts of London were warm. ‘A beautiful morning,’ Holmes said once again. ‘Watson, se find us a cab.’ disappear to go away suddenlyunpleasant not rice thanks to because of ‘seal to close by sticking two parts together wax candies are made of wax ‘Ten minutes later the three men were in a cab and travelling south towards Scotland Yard. ‘Why are we going to Scotland Yard, Holmes?’ asked Watson. ‘I'm sure that our good friend, inspector Lestrade, has something to say to Mr McFarlane,’ Holmes replied. At Scotland Yard they found Lestrade in his office. He looked surprised to see them. ‘I was just finishing my report,’ he explained. ‘I thought that you might have something to say to Mr McFarlane, Inspector,’ said Holmes as the young man followed the detective and Dr Watson into Lestrade’s office. ‘Oh, of course,’ Lestrade agreed. He didn't look very happy. ‘Mr McFarlane, I am very sorry that I thought that you were a murderer. I was wrong, of course, and Mr Holmes was right. I hope that the time you spent here at Scotland Yard wasn’t too unpleasant.” “It wasn’t the happiest time of my life,’ McFarlane replied. ‘but the important thing is that I am now a free man — thanks to Mr Sherlock Holmes.’ “Yes, Mr Holmes has been very helpful, once again,’ said Lestrade. ‘We work very well together, Mr Holmes and I.’ Holmes smiled. Watson looked angry, but said nothing. ‘Mr Holmes, as you're here,’ the Inspector went on, ‘and I'm writing my report, I have one more question for you. Why was Mr McFarlane’s thumbprint on the wall?’ ‘Oldacre put it there,’ Holmes explained. ‘When he and Mr McFarlane were working on his papers he asked Mr McFarlane to seal a letter with wax. He then had John's thumbprint in the wax and he put this on the wall with some of his own blood.’ “Very clever,’ said Lestrade. ‘Yes,’ Holmes agreed. ‘His only problem was that I knew that the thumbprint wasn’t there the day before. As MrMcFarlane was in a cell here at Scotland Yard, he didn’t put it there, so I asked myself who did. The answer to the mystery was obvious. Oldacre, of course. And how is the Norwood builder?’ ‘He's not a happy man,’ said Lestrade, smiling at last. ‘It was all a joke, he says. And of course he didn’t want to hurt Mr McFarlane here.’ ‘A strange joke!’ said Dr Watson. “Yes,’ Holmes agreed, ‘it's a very strange joke that sends a man to his death!’ ‘Lhave to thank you, Mr Holmes,’ said Lestrade, ‘for saving the life of an innocent man.’ Holmes smiled. “That is my business, Inspector: to save innocent people and make sure that those who are guilty go to prison. As Jong as I can do that, I will be a happy man.’ guilty wino has done something wrongREADING CHECK Tick the correct pictures. a sees the story of the Norwood builder in the newspaper. CSherlock Holmes (7 Doctor Watson b Mrs Hudson opens the door to... Inspector John McFarlane Lestrade ¢ Holmes explains that Mr Cornelius Ber Jonas Oldacre []John McFarlane’s father The builder planned to disappear with (Mrs McFarlane (Mrs Lexington e At Scotland Yard Holmes, Watson and McFarlane find . CLestrade in his Judd in his office f Holmes explains that .. . put the bloody thumbprint on the wall. Cuonas Oldacre CiMrs LexingtonNANA leave Scotland Yard today a (1) S09, man. | will not go to prison for a murder id .. Mer Sherlock Holmes. He cleverly _ man who hated me and my parents. after his ‘death’ as Mr Cornelius, ‘at he used the thumbprint { made in the (1) ven E(B) secon is N\ to put a bloody thumbprint on the wall. Now Mr Holmes has convinced Inspector {can go home, a free. mant thanks to disappear Wax ~eah. unpleasant realized commit guilty at happens after the story ends? Choose from these ideas or add your own. J) Sherlock Holmes investigates another crime. (J donas Oldacre and Mrs Lexington go to prison. U John McFarlane sells his story to the newspapers. (CJ Inspector Lestrade writes a report explaining how he always knew McFarlane was really innocent. McFarlane’s parents invite Holmes and Watson to dinner. Doctor Watson realizes that Lestrade is not a bad policeman.ak ae: 1 Look at the map and make sentences about the places in The Norwood Mystery.2 Complete the text with the words below. If you visit London in 1895... Never talk to men (1)......- show you the way, try to sell you cigarettes or (2) wea drink, Tf you don't (3)... , go into a shop and ask, Spe Soak © policeman. Walk past anyone (4 for money and don't walk along quiet streets after dark. Don't .. where poor people live. Don't carry (6)......... _ with you. Be very SP osiilioillcaous taorey when you ots a ieee (.. , when you are on the bus, and when you are in the street. Enjoy your visit! @ lot of money ¢ orto church e invite you for & goto places } who want to d_ know the way f who asks you write about your village, town or city. Start like this: ou visit ....... in