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〃This is where young McFarlane must have come out to get his hat
after the crime was done；〃 said he。 〃Now look at this。〃 With
dramatic suddenness he struck a match； and by its light exposed a
stain of blood upon the whitewashed wall。 As he held the match nearer；
I saw that it was more than a stain。 It was the well…marked print of a
thumb。
〃Look at that with your magnifying glass； Mr。 Holmes。〃
〃Yes； I am doing so。〃
〃You are aware that no two thumb…marks are alike？〃
〃I have heard something of the kind。〃
〃Well； then； will you please compare that print with this wax
impression of young McFarlane's right thumb； taken by my orders this
morning？〃
As he held the waxen print close to the blood…stain； it did not take
a magnifying glass to see that the two were undoubtedly from the
same thumb。 It was evident to me that our unfortunate client was lost。
〃That is final；〃 said Lestrade。
〃Yes； that is final；〃 I involuntarily echoed。
〃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