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SHERLOCK HOLMES
THE ADVENTURE OF THE EMPTY HOUSE
by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
It was in the spring of the year 1894 that all London was
interested； and the fashionable world dismayed； by the murder of the
Honourable Ronald Adair under most unusual and inexplicable
circumstances。 The public has already learned those particulars of the
crime which came out in the police investigation； but a good deal
was suppressed upon that occasion； since the case for the
prosecution was so overwhelmingly strong that it was not necessary
to bring forward all the facts。 Only now； at the end of nearly ten
years； am I allowed to supply those missing links which make up the
whole of that remarkable chain。 The crime was of interest in itself；
but that interest was as nothing to me compared to the inconceivable
sequel； which afforded me the greatest shock and surprise of any event
in my adventurous life。 Even now； after this long interval； I find
myself thrilling as I think of it； and feeling once more that sudden
flood of joy； amazement； and incredulity which utterly submerged my
mind。 Let me say to that public； which has shown some interest in
those glimpses which I have occasionally given them of the thoughts
and actions of a very remarkable man； that they are not to blame me if
I have not shared my knowledge with them； for I should have considered
it my first duty to do so； had I not been barred by a positive
prohibition from his own lips； which was only withdrawn upon the third
of last month。
It can be imagined that my close intimacy with Sherlock Holmes had
interested me deeply in crime； and that after his disappearance I
never failed to read with care the various problems which came
before the public。 And I even attempted； more than once； for my own
private satisfaction； to employ his methods in their solution；
though with indifferent success。 There was none； however； which
appealed to me like this tragedy of Ronald Adair。 As I read the
evidence at the inquest； which led up to a verdict of willful murder
against some person or persons unknown； I realized more clearly than I
had ever done the loss which the community had sustained by the
death of Sherlock Holmes。 There were points about this strange
business which would； I was sure； have specially appealed to him；
and the efforts of the police would have been supplemented； or more
probably anticipated； by the trained observation and the alert mind of
the first criminal agent in Europe。 All day； as I drove upon my round；
I turned over the case in my mind and found no explanation which
appeared to me to be adequate。 At the risk of telling a twice…told
tale； I will recapitulate the facts as they were known to the public
at the conclusion of the inquest。
The Honourable Ronald Adair was the second son of the Earl of
Maynooth； at that time governor of one of the Australian colonies。
Adair's mother had returned from Australia to undergo the operation
for cataract； and she； her son Ronald； and her daughter Hilda were
living together at 427 Park Lane。 The youth moved in the best society…
had； so far as was known； no enemies and no particular vices。 He had
been engaged to Miss Edith Woodley； of Carstairs； but the engagement
had been broken off by mutual consent some months before； and there
was no sign that it had left any very profound feeling behind it。
For the rest of the man's life moved in a narrow and conventional
circle； for his habits were quiet and his nature unemotional。 Yet it
was upon this easy…going young aristocrat that death came； in most
strange and unexpected form； between the hours of ten and
eleven…twenty on the night of March 30； 1894。
Ronald Adair was fond of cards… playing continually； but never for
such stakes as would hurt him。 He was a member of the Baldwin； the
Cavendish； and the Bagatelle card clubs。 It was shown that； after
dinner on the day of his death； he had played a rubber of whist at the
latter club。 He had also played there in the afternoon。 The evidence
of those who had played with him… Mr。 Murray； Sir John Hardy； and
Colonel Moran… showed that the game was whist； and that there was a
fairly equal fall of the cards。 Adair might have lost five pounds； but
not more。 His fortune was a considerable one； and such a loss could
not in any way affect him。 He had played nearly every day at one
club or other； but he was a cautious player； and usually rose a
winner。 It came out in evidence that； in partnership with Colonel
Moran； he had actually won as much as four hundred and twenty pounds
in a sitting； some weeks before； from Godfrey Milner and Lord
Balmoral。 So much for his recent history as it came out at the
inquest。
On the evening of the crime； he returned from the club exactly at
ten。 His mother and sister were out spending the evening with a
relation。 The servant deposed that she heard him enter the front
room on the second floor； generally used as his sittingroom。 She had
lit a fire there； and as it smoked she had opened the window。 No sound
was heard from the room until eleven…twenty； the hour of the return of
Lady Maynooth and her daughter。 Desiring to say good…night； she
attempted to enter her son's room。 The door was locked on the
inside； and no answer could be got to their cries and knocking。 Help
was obtained； and the door forced。 The unfortunate young man was found
lying near the table。 His head had been horribly mutilated by an
expanding revolver bullet； but no weapon of any sort was to be found
in the room。 On the table lay two banknotes for ten pounds each and
seventeen pounds ten in silver and gold； the money arranged in
little piles of varying amount。 There were some figures also upon a
sheet of paper； with the names of some club friends opposite to
them； from which it was conjectured that before his death he was
endeavouring to make out his losses or winnings at cards。
A minute examination of the circumstances served only to make the
case more complex。 In the first place； no reason could be given why
the young man should have fastened the door upon the inside。 There was
the possibility that the murderer had done this； and had afterwards
escaped by the window。 The drop was at least twenty feet； however； and
a bed of crocuses in full bloom lay beneath。 Neither the flowers nor
the earth showed any sign of having been disturbed； nor were there any
marks upon the narrow strip of grass which separated the house from
the road。 Apparently； therefore； it was the young man himself who
had fastened the door。 But how did he come by his death？ No one
could have climbed up to the window without leaving traces。 Suppose
a man had fired through the window； he would indeed be a remarkable
shot who could with a revolver inflict so deadly a wound。 Again；
Park lane is a frequented thoroughfare； there is a cab stand within
a hundred yards of the house。 No one had heard a shot。 And yet there
was the dead man and there the revolver bullet； which had mushroomed
out； as soft…nosed bullets will； and so inflicted a wound which must
have caused instantaneous death。 Such were the circumstances of the
Park Lane Mystery； which were further complicated by entire absence of
motive； since； as I have said； young Adair was not known to have any
enemy； and no attempt had been made to remove the money or valuables
in the room。
All day I turned these facts over in my mind； endeavouring to hit
upon some theory which could reconcile them all； and to find that line
of least resistance which my poor friend had declared to be the
starting…point of every investigation。 I confess that I made little
progress。 In the evening I strolled across the Park； and found
myself about six o'clock at the Oxford Street end of Park Lane。 A
group of loafers upon the pavements； all staring up at a particular
window； directed me to the house which I had come to see。 A tall； thin
man with coloured glasses； whom I strongly suspected of being a
plain…clothes detective； was pointing out some theory of his own；
while the others crowded round to listen to what he said。 I got as
near him as I could； but his observations seemed to me to be absurd；
so I withdrew again in some disgust。 As I did so I struck against an
elderly； deformed man； who had been behind me； and I knocked down
several books which he was carrying。 I remember that as I picked
them up； I observed the title of one of them； The Origin of Tree
Worship； and it struck me that the fellow must be some poor
bibliophile； who； either as a trade or as a hobby； was a collector
of obscure volumes。 I endeavoured to apologize for the accident； but
it was evident that these books which I had so unfortunately
maltreated were very precious objects in the eyes of their owner。 With
a snarl of contempt he turned upon his heel； and I saw his curved back
and white side…whiskers disappear among the throng。
My observations of No。 427 Park Lane did little to clear up the
problem in which I was interested。 The house was separated fr