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would have noted even so self…evident a thing as that。〃
〃How on earth…〃
〃My dear fellow； I know you well。 I know the military neatness which
characterizes you。 You shave every morning； and in this season you
shave by the sunlight； but since your shaving is less and less
complete as we get farther back on the left side； until it becomes
positively slovenly as we get round the angle of the jaw； it is surely
very clear that that is less illuminated than the other。 I could not
imagine a man of your habits looking at himself in an equal light
and being satisfied with such a result。 I only quote this as a trivial
example of observation and inference。 Therein lies my metier； and it
is just possible that it may be of some service in the investigation
which lies before us。 There are one or two minor points which were
brought out in the inquest； and which are worth considering。〃
〃What are they？〃
〃It appears that his arrest did not take place at once； but after
the return to Hatherley Farm。 On the inspector of constabulary
informing him that he was a prisoner； he remarked that he was not
surprised to hear it； and that it was no more than his deserts。 His
observation of his had the natural effect of removing any traces of
doubt which might have remained in the minds of the coroner's jury。〃
〃It was a confession；〃 I ejaculated。
〃No； for it was followed by a protestation of innocence。〃
〃Coming on the top of such a damning series of events； it was at
least a most suspicious remark。〃
〃On the contrary；〃 said Holmes； 〃it is the brightest rift which I
can at present see in the clouds。 However innocent he might be； he
could not be such an absolute imbecile as not to see that the
circumstances were very black against him。 Had he appeared surprised
at his own arrest or feigned indignation at it； I should have looked
upon it as highly suspicious； because such surprise or anger would not
be natural under the circumstances； and yet might appear to be the
best policy to a scheming man。 His frank acceptance of the situation
marks him as either an innocent man； or else as a man of
considerable self…restraint and firmness。 As to his remark about his
deserts； it was also not unnatural if you consider that he stood
beside the dead body of his father； and that there is no doubt that he
had that very day so far forgotten his filial duty as to bandy words
with him； and even； according to the little girl whose evidence is
so important； to raise his hand as if to strike him。 The self…reproach
and contrition which are displayed in his remark appear to me to be
the signs of a healthy mind rather than of a guilty one。〃
I shook my head。 〃Many men have been hanged on far slighter
evidence；〃 I remarked。
〃So they have。 And many men have been wrongfully hanged。〃
〃What is the young man's own account of the matter？〃
〃It is； I am afraid； not very encouraging to his supporters；
though there are one or two points in it which are suggestive。 You
will find it here； and may read it for yourself。〃
He picked out from his bundle a copy of the local Herefordshire
paper； and having turned down the sheet he pointed out the paragraph
in which the unfortunate young man had given his own statement of what
had occurred。 I settled myself down in the corner of the carriage
and read it very carefully。 It ran in this way：
Mr。 James McCarthy； the only son of the deceased； was then called
and gave evidence as follows： 〃I had been away from home for three
days at Bristol； and had only just returned upon the morning of last
Monday； the 3rd。 My father was absent from home at the time of my
arrival； and I was informed by the maid that he had driven over to
Ross with John Cobb； the groom。 Shortly after my return I heard the
wheels of his trap in the yard； and； looking out of my window； I saw
him get out and walk rapidly out of the yard； though I was not aware
in which direction he was going。 I then took my gun and strolled out
in the direction of the Boscombe Pool； with the intention of
visiting the rabbit…warren which is upon the other side。 On my way I
saw William Crowder； the game…keeper； as he had stated in his
evidence； but he is mistaken in thinking that I was following my
father。 I had no idea that he was in front of me。 When about a hundred
yards from the pool I heard a cry of 'Cooee！' which was a usual signal
between my father and myself。 I then hurried forward； and found him
standing by the pool。 He appeared to be much surprised at seeing me
and asked me rather roughly what I was doing there。 A conversation
ensued which led to high words and almost to blows； for my father
was a man of a very violent temper。 Seeing that his passion was
becoming ungovernable； I left him and returned towards Hatherley Farm。
I had not gone more than 150 yards； however； when I heard a hideous
outcry behind me； which caused me to run back again。 I found my father
expiring upon the ground； with his head terribly injured。 I dropped my
gun and held him in my arms； but he almost instantly expired。 I
knelt beside him for some minutes； and then made my way to Mr。
Turner's lodge…keeper； his house being the nearest； to ask for
assistance。 I saw no one near my father when I returned； and I have no
idea how he came by his injuries。 He was not a popular man； being
somewhat cold and forbidding in his manners； but he had； as far as I
know； no active enemies。 I know nothing further of the matter。〃
The Coroner： Did your father make any statement to you before he
died？
Witness： He mumbled a few words； but I could only catch some
allusion to a rat。
The Coroner： What did you understand by that？
Witness： It conveyed no meaning to me。 I thought that he was
delirious。
The Coroner： What was the point upon which you and your father had
this final quarrel？
Witness： I should prefer not to answer。
The Coroner： I am afraid that I must press it。
Witness： It is really impossible for me to tell you。 I can assure
you that it has nothing to do with the sad tragedy which followed。
The Coroner： That is for the court to decide。 I need not point out
to you that your refusal to answer will prejudice your case
considerably in any future proceedings which may arise。
Witness： I must still refuse。
The Coroner： I understand that the cry of 'Cooee' was a common
signal between you and your father？
Witness： It was。
The Coroner： How was it； then； that he uttered it before he saw you；
and before he even knew that you had returned from Bristol？
Witness （with considerable confusion）： I do not know。
A Juryman： Did you see nothing which aroused your suspicions when
you returned on hearing the cry and found your father fatally injured？
Witness： Nothing definite。
The Coroner： What do you mean？
Witness： I was so disturbed and excited as I rushed out into the
open； that I could think of nothing except of my father。 Yet I have
a vague impression that as I ran forward something lay upon the ground
to the left of me。 It seemed to me to be something gray in colour； a
coat of some sort； or a plaid perhaps。 When I rose from my father I
looked round for it； but it was gone。
〃Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help？〃
〃Yes； it was gone。〃
〃You cannot say what it was？〃
〃No； I had a feeling something was there。〃
〃How far from the body？〃
〃A dozen yards or so。〃
〃And how far from the edge of the wood？〃
〃About the same。〃
〃Then if it was removed it was while you were within a dozen yards
of it？〃
〃Yes； but with my back towards it。〃
This concluded the examination of the witness。
〃I see；〃 said I as I glanced down the column； 〃that the coroner in
his concluding remarks was rather severe upon young McCarthy。 He calls
attention； and with reason； to the discrepancy about his father having
signalled to him before seeing him； also to his refusal to give
details of his conversation with his father； and his singular
account of his father's dying words。 They are all； as he remarks； very
much against the son。〃
Holmes laughed softly to himself and stretched himself out upon
the cushioned seat。 〃Both you and the coroner have been at some
pains；〃 said he； 〃to single out the very strongest points in the young
man's favour。 Don't you see that you alternately give him credit for
having too much imagination and too little？ Too little； if he could
not invent a cause of quarrel which would give him the sympathy of the
jury； too much； if he evolved from his own inner consciousness
anything so outre as a dying reference to a rat； and the incident of
the vanishing cloth。 No； sir； I shall approach this case from the
point of view that what this young man says is true； and we shall
see whither that hypothesis will lead us。 And now here is my pocket
Petrarch； and not another word shall I say of this case until we are
on the scene of action。 We lunch at Swindon； and I see that we shall
be there in twenty minutes。〃
It was nearly four o'clock when we at last； after passing through
the beautiful Stroud Valley； and