Chapter II The Statement of the Case

ndexpression. “Ishouldbeproudandhappy,”saidI,fervently,“ifIcanbeofanyservice.” “Youarebothverykind,”sheanswered.“Ihaveledaretiredlife,andhavenofriendswhomIcouldappealto.IfIamhereatsixitwilldo,Isuppose?” “Youmustnotbelater,”saidHolmes.“Thereisoneotherpoint,however.Isthishandwritingthesameasthatuponthepearl-boxaddresses?” “Ihavethemhere,”sheanswered,producinghalfadozenpiecesofpaper. “Youarecertainlyamodelclient.Youhavethecorrectintuition.Letussee,now.”Hespreadoutthepapersuponthetable,andgavelittledartingglancesfromonetotheother.“Theyaredisguisedhands,excepttheletter,”hesaid,presently,“buttherecanbenoquestionastotheauthorship.SeehowtheirrepressibleGreekewillbreakout,andseethetwirlofthefinals.Theyareundoubtedlybythesameperson.Ishouldnotliketosuggestfalsehopes,MissMorstan,butisthereanyresemblancebetweenthishandandthatofyourfather?” “Nothingcouldbemoreunlike.” “Iexpectedtohearyousayso.Weshalllookoutforyou,then,atsix.Prayallowmetokeepthepapers.Imaylookintothematterbeforethen.Itisonlyhalf-pastthree.Aurevoir,then.” “Aurevoir,”saidourvisitor,and,withabright,kindlyglancefromonetotheotherofus,shereplacedherpearl-boxinherbosomandhurriedaway.Standingatthewindow,Iwatchedherwalkingbrisklydownthestreet,untilthegreyturbanandwhitefeatherwerebutaspeckinthesombrecrowd. “Whataveryattractivewoman!”Iexclaimed,turningtomycompanion. Hehadlithispipeagain,andwasleaningbackwithdroopingeyelids.“Isshe?”hesaid,languidly.“Ididnotobserve.” “Youreallyareanautomaton,—acalculating-machine!”Icried.“Thereissomethingpositivelyinhumaninyouattimes.” Hesmiledgently.“Itisofthefirstimportance,”hesaid,“nottoallowyourjudgmenttobebiasedbypersonalqualities.Aclientistomeamereunit,—afa