policeman upon each side of him。
〃It was a joke； my good sir… a practical joke； nothing more；〃 he
whined incessantly。 〃I assure you； sir； that I simply concealed myself
in order to see the effect of my disappearance； and I am sure that you
would not be so unjust as to imagine that I would have allowed any
harm to befall poor young Mr。 McFarlane。〃
〃That's for a jury to decide；〃 said Lestrade。 〃Anyhow； we shall have
you on a charge of conspiracy； if not for attempted murder。〃
〃And you'll probably find that your creditors will impound the
banking account of Mr。 Cornelius；〃 said Holmes。
The little man started； and turned his malignant eyes upon my
friend。
〃I have to thank you for a good deal；〃 said he。 〃Perhaps I'll pay my
debt some day。〃
Holmes smiled indulgently。
〃I fancy that； for some few years； you will find your time very
fully occupied；〃 said he。 〃By the way； what was it you put into the
wood…pile besides your old trousers？ A dead dog； or rabbits； or
what？ You won't tell？ Dear me； how very unkind of you！ Well； well； I
daresay that a couple of rabbits would account both for the blood
and for the charred ashes。 If ever you write an account； Watson； you
can make rabbits serve your turn。〃
…THE END…
。