‘Well.’said Lestra de at last when the fire was out.‘Do you have nothing to say，Mr Jonas Old acre？’Lestrades face was red and angry.01dacre looked verya fraid，but he laughed excitedly.‘It was a joke，Inspector，’he explained.‘No more. I never wanted to make any trouble for anybody.’‘What？’said Lestrade angrily.‘You didn’t want to make any trouble？And an innocent man is in the cells at Scotland Yard as we speak！‘Just my little joke，Inspector，’the builder said again.‘Take him away，Sergeant，’said Lestra de.‘The man is dangerous.’oldcre went downstairs with Judd and the other policemen. Lestr a de turned to Holmes.‘Well，Mr Holmes，once again I have to thank you. This time 1 was wrong and you were right. John McFarlane is an innocent man. It’s obvious that there was no murderhere.’‘That’S right，Inspector，’Holmes smiled，‘but I understand your mistake. Jonas 01dacre was very clever.’‘But Sherlock Holmes was cleverer！’said Warson.‘Very good work，Holmes.’‘Thank you，Watson. Now let’S see the secret room.’Watson and Lestrade followed Holmes into the room .which was about two me tres long.It was impossible to seethe door from the passage，but in the room they found some furniture，food and water，newspapers and books. Holmes picked up a newspaper. ‘This morning’S newspaper.’he said.‘I’m sure that 01dacre has enjoyed reading about Mr McFarlanes arrest. And I suppose that Mrs Lexington is the person who has brought him his newspapers and his food and drink.’
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