Chapter II The Statement of the Case

ago—tobeexact,uponthe4thofMay,1882—anadvertisementappearedintheTimesaskingfortheaddressofMissMaryMorstanandstatingthatitwouldbetoheradvantagetocomeforward.Therewasnonameoraddressappended.IhadatthattimejustenteredthefamilyofMrs.CecilForresterinthecapacityofgoverness.ByheradviceIpublishedmyaddressintheadvertisementcolumn.Thesamedaytherearrivedthroughthepostasmallcard-boardboxaddressedtome,whichIfoundtocontainaverylargeandlustrouspearl.Nowordofwritingwasenclosed.Sincetheneveryyearuponthesamedatetherehasalwaysappearedasimilarbox,containingasimilarpearl,withoutanyclueastothesender.Theyhavebeenpronouncedbyanexperttobeofararevarietyandofconsiderablevalue.Youcanseeforyourselvesthattheyareveryhandsome.”Sheopenedaflatboxasshespoke,andshowedmesixofthefinestpearlsthatIhadeverseen. “Yourstatementismostinteresting,”saidSherlockHolmes.“Hasanythingelseoccurredtoyou?” “Yes,andnolaterthanto-day.ThatiswhyIhavecometoyou.ThismorningIreceivedthisletter,whichyouwillperhapsreadforyourself.” “Thankyou,”saidHolmes.“Theenvelopetoo,please.Postmark,London,S.W.Date,July7.Hum!Man’sthumb-markoncorner,—probablypostman.Bestqualitypaper.Envelopesatsixpenceapacket.Particularmaninhisstationery.Noaddress.‘BeatthethirdpillarfromtheleftoutsidetheLyceumTheatreto-nightatseveno’clock.Ifyouaredistrustful,bringtwofriends.Youareawrongedwoman,andshallhavejustice.Donotbringpolice.Ifyoudo,allwillbeinvain.Yourunknownfriend.’Well,really,thisisaveryprettylittlemystery.Whatdoyouintendtodo,MissMorstan?” “ThatisexactlywhatIwanttoaskyou.” “Thenweshallmostcertainlygo.YouandIand—yes,why,Dr.Watsonistheveryman.Yourcorrespondentsaystwofriends.HeandIhaveworkedtogetherbefore.” “Butwouldhecome?”sheasked,withsomethingappealinginhervoicea