"I am afraid," said I, "that the facts are so obvious that youwill find little credit to be gained out of this case."
"There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact," heanswered, laughing. "Besides, we may chance to hit upon someother obvious facts which may have been by no means obvious toMr. Lestrade. You know me too well to think that I am boastingwhen I say that I shall either confirm or destroy his theory bymeans which he is quite incapable of employing, or even ofunderstanding. To take the first example to hand, I very
clearlyperceive that in your bedroom the window is upon the right-handside, and yet I question whether Mr. Lestrade would have notedeven so self-evident a thing as that."
"How on earth--"
"My dear fellow, I know you well. I know the military neatnesswhich characterises you. You shave every morning, and in thisseason you shave by the sunlight; but since your shaving is lessand less complete as we get farther back on the left side, untilit becomes positively slovenly as we get round the angle of thejaw, it is surely very clear that that side is less illuminatedthan the other. I could not imagine a man of your habits lookingat himself in an equal light and being satisfied with such aresult. I only quote this as a trivial example of observation andinference. Therein lies my metier, and it is just possible thatit may be of some service in the investigation which lies beforeus. There are one or two minor points which were brought out inthe inquest, and which are worth considering."
"What are they?"
"It appears that his arrest did not take place at once, but afterthe return to Hatherley Farm. On the inspector of constabularyinforming him that he was a prisoner, he remarked that he was notsurprised to hear it, and that it was no more than his deserts.This observation of his had the natural effect of removing anytraces of doubt which might have remained in the minds of thecoroner'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 atleast a most suspicious remark."
"On the contrary," said Holmes, "it is the brightest rift which Ican at present see in the clouds. However innocent he might be,he could not be such an absolute imbecile as not to see that thecircumstances were very black against him. Had he appearedsurprised at his own arrest, or feigned indignation at it, Ishould have looked upon it as highly suspicious, because suchsurprise or anger would not be natural under the circumstances,and yet might appear to be the best policy to a scheming man. Hisfrank acceptance of the situation marks him as either an innocentman, or else as a man of considerable self-restraint andfirmness. As to his remark about his deserts, it was also notunnatural if you consider that he stood beside the dead body ofhis father, and that there is no doubt that he had that very dayso far forgotten his filial duty as to bandy words with him, andeven, according to the little girl whose evidence is soimportant, to raise his hand as if to strike him. Theself-reproach and contrition which are displayed in his remarkappear to me to be the signs of a healthy mind rather than of aguilty one."
I shook my head. "Many men have been hanged on far slighterevidence," 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 Herefordshirepaper, and having turned down the sheet he pointed out theparagraph in which the unfortunate young man had given his ownstatement of what had occurred. I settled myself down in thecorner of the carriage and read it very carefully. It ran in thisway:
"Mr. James McCarthy, the only son of the deceased, was then calledand gave evidence as follows: 'I had been away from home forthree days at Bristol, and had only just returned upon themorning of last Monday, the 3rd. My father was absent from home atthe time of my arrival, and I was informed by the maid that hehad driven over to Ross with John Cobb, the groom. Shortly aftermy 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 outof the yard, though I was not aware in which direction he wasgoing. I then took my gun and strolled out in the direction ofthe Boscombe Pool, with the intention of visiting the rabbitwarren which is upon the other side. On my way I saw WilliamCrowder, the game-keeper, as he had stated in his evidence; buthe is mistaken in thinking that I was following my father. I hadno idea that he was in front of me. When about a hundred yardsfrom the pool I heard a cry of "Cooee!" which was a usual signalbetween my father and myself. I then hurried forward, and foundhim standing by the pool. He appeared to be much surprised atseeing me and asked me rather roughly what I was doing there. Aconversation ensued which led to high words and almost to blows,for my father was a man of a very violent temper. Seeing that hispassion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returnedtowards Hatherley Farm. I had not gone more than 150 yards,however, when I heard a hideous outcry behind me, which caused meto run back again. I found my father expiring upon the ground,with his head terribly injured. I dropped my gun and held him inmy arms, but he almost instantly expired. I knelt beside him forsome minutes, and then made my way to Mr. Turner's lodge-keeper,his house being the nearest, to ask for assistance. I saw no onenear my father when I returned, and I have no idea how he came byhis injuries. He was not a popular man, being somewhat cold andforbidding in his manners, but he had, as far as I know, noactive enemies. I know nothing further of the matter.'
"The Coroner: Did your father make any statement to you beforehe died?
"Witness: He mumbled a few words, but I could only catch someallusion to a rat.
"The Coroner: What did you understand by that?
"Witness: It conveyed no meaning to me. I thought that he wasdelirious.
"The Coroner: What was the point upon which you and your fatherhad 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 canassure you that it has nothing to do with the sad tragedy whichfollowed.
"The Coroner: That is for the court to decide. I need not pointout to you that your refusal to answer will prejudice your caseconsiderably in any future proceedings which may arise.
"Witness: I must still refuse.
"The Coroner: I understand that the cry of 'Cooee' was a commonsignal between you and your father?
"Witness: It was.
"The Coroner: How was it, then, that he uttered it before he sawyou, and before he even knew that you had returned from Bristol?