Знак чотирьох
II. The Statement of the Case
”
“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.
