高中英語 英文原著那四個的記號

TheSignoftheFour

BySirArthurConanDoyle

CHAPTER1TheScienceofDeduction

SherlockHolmestookhisbottlefromthecornerofthemantel-pieceandhishypodermicsyringefromitsneatmoroccocase.Withhislong,white,nervousfingersheadjustedthedelicateneedle,androlledbackhisleftshirt-cuff.Forsomelittletimehiseyesrestedthoughtfullyuponthesinewyforearmandwristalldottedandscarredwithinnumerablepuncture-marks.Finallyhethrustthesharppointhome,presseddownthetinypiston,andsankbackintothevelvet-linedarm-chairwithalongsighofsatisfaction.

ThreetimesadayformanymonthsIhadwitnessedthisperformance,butcustomhadnotreconciledmymindtoit.Onthecontrary,fromdaytodayIhadbecomemoreirritableatthesight,andmyconscienceswellednightlywithinmeatthethoughtthatIhadlackedthecouragetoprotest.AgainandagainIhadregisteredavowthatIshoulddelivermysouluponthesubject,buttherewasthatinthecool,nonchalantairofmycompanionwhichmadehimthelastmanwithwhomonewouldcaretotakeanythingapproachingtoaliberty.Hisgreatpowers,hismasterlymanner,andtheexperiencewhichIhadhadofhismanyextraordinaryqualities,allmademediffidentandbackwardincrossinghim.

Yetuponthatafternoon,whetheritwastheBeaunewhichIhadtakenwithmylunch,ortheadditionalexasperationproducedbytheextremedeliberationofhismanner,IsuddenlyfeltthatIcouldholdoutnolonger.

"Whichisitto-day?"Iasked,--"morphineorcocaine?"

Heraisedhiseyeslanguidlyfromtheoldblack-lettervolumewhichhehadopened."Itiscocaine,"hesaid,--"aseven-per-cent.solution.Wouldyoucaretotryit?"

"No,indeed,"Ianswered,brusquely."MyconstitutionhasnotgotovertheAfghancampaignyet.Icannotaffordtothrowanyextrastrainuponit."

Hesmiledatmyvehemence. "Perhapsyouareright,Watson,"hesaid."Isupposethatitsinfluenceisphysicallyabadone.Ifindit,however,sotranscendentlystimulatingandclarifyingtothemindthatitssecondaryactionisamatterofsmallmoment."

"Butconsider!"Isaid,earnestly."Countthecost!Yourbrainmay,asyousay,berousedandexcited,butitisapathologicalandmorbidprocess,whichinvolvesincreasedtissue-changeandmayatlastleaveapermanentweakness.Youknow,too,whatablackreactioncomesuponyou.Surelythegameishardlyworththecandle.Whyshouldyou,foramerepassingpleasure,riskthelossofthosegreatpowerswithwhichyouhavebeenendowed?RememberthatIspeaknotonlyasonecomradetoanother,butasamedicalmantooneforwhoseconstitutionheistosomeextentanswerable."

Hedidnotseemoffended.Onthecontrary,heputhisfinger-tipstogetherandleanedhiselbowsonthearmsofhischair,likeonewhohasarelishforconversation.

"Mymind,"hesaid,"rebelsatstagnation.Givemeproblems,givemework,givemethemostabstrusecryptogramorthemostintricateanalysis,andIaminmyownproperatmosphere.Icandispensethenwithartificialstimulants.ButIabhorthedullroutineofexistence.Icraveformentalexaltation.ThatiswhyIhavechosenmyownparticularprofession,--orrathercreatedit,forIamtheonlyoneintheworld."

"Theonlyunofficialdetective?"Isaid,raisingmyeyebrows.

"Theonlyunofficialconsultingdetective,"heanswered."Iamthelastandhighestcourtofappealindetection.WhenGregsonorLestradeorAthelneyJonesareoutoftheirdepths--which,bytheway,istheirnormalstate--thematterislaidbeforeme.Iexaminethedata,asanexpert,andpronounceaspecialist'sopinion.Iclaimnocreditinsuchcases.Mynamefiguresinnonewspaper.Theworkitself,thepleasureoffindingafieldformypeculiarpowers,ismyhighestreward.ButyouhaveyourselfhadsomeexperienceofmymethodsofworkintheJeffersonHopecase."

"Yes,indeed,"saidI,cordially."Iwasneversostruckbyanythinginmylife.Ievenembodieditinasmallbrochurewiththesomewhatfantastictitleof'AStudyinScarlet.'"

Heshookhisheadsadly."Iglancedoverit,"saidhe."Honestly,Icannotcongratulateyouuponit.Detectionis,oroughttobe,anexactscience,andshouldbetreatedinthesamecoldandunemotionalmanner.Youhaveattemptedtotingeitwithromanticism,whichproducesmuchthesameeffectasifyouworkedalove-storyoranelopementintothefifthpropositionofEuclid."

"Buttheromancewasthere,"Iremonstrated."Icouldnottamperwiththefacts."

"Somefactsshouldbesuppressed,oratleastajustsenseofproportionshouldbeobservedintreatingthem.TheonlypointinthecasewhichdeservedmentionwasthecuriousanalyticalreasoningfromeffectstocausesbywhichIsucceededinunravelingit."

Iwasannoyedatthiscriticismofaworkwhichhadbeenspeciallydesignedtopleasehim.Iconfess,too,thatIwasirritatedbytheegotismwhichseemedtodemandthateverylineofmypamphletshouldbedevotedtohisownspecialdoings.MorethanonceduringtheyearsthatIhadlivedwithhiminBakerStreetIhadobservedthatasmallvanityunderlaymycompanion'squietanddidacticmanner.Imadenoremark,however,butsatnursingmywoundedleg.IhadaJezailbulletthroughitsometimebefore,and,thoughitdidnotpreventmefromwalking,itachedwearilyateverychangeoftheweather.

"MypracticehasextendedrecentlytotheContinent,"saidHolmes,afterawhile,fillinguphisoldbrier-rootpipe."IwasconsultedlastweekbyFrancoisLeVillard,who,asyouprobablyknow,hascomerathertothefrontlatelyintheFrenchdetectiveservice.HehasalltheCelticpowerofquickintuition,butheisdeficientinthewiderangeofexactknowledgewhichisessentialtothehigherdevelopmentsofhisart.Thecasewasconcernedwithawill,andpossessedsomefeaturesofinterest.Iwasabletoreferhimtotwoparallelcases,theoneatRigain1857,andtheotheratSt.Louisin1871,whichhavesuggestedtohimthetruesolution.HereistheletterwhichIhadthismorningacknowledgingmyassistance."Hetossedover,ashespoke,acrumpledsheetofforeignnotepaper.Iglancedmyeyesdownit,catchingaprofusionofnotesofadmiration,withstray"magnifiques,""coup-de-maitres,"and"tours-de-force,"alltestifyingtotheardentadmirationoftheFrenchman.

"Hespeaksasapupiltohismaster,"saidI.

"Oh,heratesmyassistancetoohighly,"saidSherlockHolmes,lightly."Hehasconsiderablegiftshimself.Hepossessestwooutofthethreequalitiesnecessaryfortheidealdetective.Hehasthepowerofobservationandthatofdeduction.Heisonlywantinginknowledge;andthatmaycomeintime.HeisnowtranslatingmysmallworksintoFrench."

"Yourworks?"

"Oh,didn'tyouknow?"hecried,laughing."Yes,Ihavebeenguiltyofseveralmonographs.Theyareallupontechnicalsubjects.Here,forexample,isone'UpontheDistinctionbetweentheAshesoftheVariousTobaccoes.'InitIenumerateahundredandfortyformsofcigar-,cigarette-,andpipe-tobacco,withcoloredplatesillustratingthedifferenceintheash.Itisapointwhichiscontinuallyturningupincriminaltrials,andwhichissometimesofsupremeimportanceasaclue.Ifyoucansaydefinitely,forexample,thatsomemurderhasbeendonebyamanwhowassmokinganIndianlunkah,itobviouslynarrowsyourfieldofsearch.TothetrainedeyethereisasmuchdifferencebetweentheblackashofaTrichinopolyandthewhitefluffofbird's-eyeasthereisbetweenacabbageandapotato."

"Youhaveanextraordinarygeniusforminutiae,"Iremarked.

"Iappreciatetheirimportance.Hereismymonographuponthetracingoffootsteps,withsomeremarksupontheusesofplasterofParisasapreserverofimpresses.Here,too,isacuriouslittleworkupontheinfluenceofatradeupontheformofthehand,withlithotypesofthehandsofslaters,sailors,corkcutters,compositors,weavers,anddiamond-polishers.Thatisamatterofgreatpracticalinteresttothescientificdetective,--especiallyincasesofunclaimedbodies,orindiscoveringtheantecedentsofcriminals.ButIwearyyouwithmyhobby."

"Notatall,"Ianswered,earnestly."Itisofthegreatestinteresttome,especiallysinceIhavehadtheopportunityofobservingyourpracticalapplicationofit.Butyouspokejustnowofobservationanddeduction.

Surelytheonetosomeextentimpliestheother."

"Why,hardly,"heanswered,leaningbackluxuriouslyinhisarm-chair,andsendingupthickbluewreathsfromhispipe."Forexample,observationshowsmethatyouhavebeentotheWigmoreStreetPost-Officethismorning,butdeductionletsmeknowthatwhenthereyoudispatchedatelegram."

"Right!"saidI."Rightonbothpoints!ButIconfessthatIdon'tseehowyouarrivedatit.Itwasasuddenimpulseuponmypart,andIhavementionedittonoone."

"Itissimplicityitself,"heremarked,chucklingatmysurprise,--"soabsurdlysimplethatanexplanationissuperfluous;andyetitmayservetodefinethelimitsofobservationandofdeduction.Observationtellsmethatyouhavealittlereddishmouldadheringtoyourinstep.JustoppositetheSeymourStreetOfficetheyhavetakenupthepavementandthrownupsomeearthwhichliesinsuchawaythatitisdifficulttoavoidtreadinginitinentering.Theearthisofthispeculiarreddishtintwhichisfound,asfarasIknow,nowhereelseintheneighborhood.Somuchisobservation.Therestisdeduction."

"How,then,didyoudeducethetelegram?"

"Why,ofcourseIknewthatyouhadnotwrittenaletter,sinceIsatoppositetoyouallmorning.Iseealsoinyouropendesktherethatyouhaveasheetofstampsandathickbundleofpost-cards.Whatcouldyougointothepost-officefor,then,buttosendawire?Eliminateallotherfactors,andtheonewhichremainsmustbethetruth."

"Inthiscaseitcertainlyisso,"Ireplied,afteralittlethought."Thething,however,is,asyousay,ofthesimplest.WouldyothinkmeimpertinentifIweretoputyourtheoriestoamoreseveretest?"

"Onthecontrary,"heanswered,"itwouldpreventmefromtakingaseconddoseofcocaine.Ishouldbedelightedtolookintoanyproblemwhichyoumightsubmittome."

"Ihaveheardyousaythatitisdifficultforamantohaveanyobjectindailyusewithoutleavingtheimpressofhisindividualityuponitinsuchawaythatatrainedobservermightreadit.Now,Ihavehereawatchwhichhasrecentlycomeintomypossession.Wouldyouhavethekindnesstoletmehaveanopinionuponthecharacterorhabitsofthelateowner?"

Ihandedhimoverthewatchwithsomeslightfeelingofamusementinmyheart,forthetestwas,asIthought,animpossibleone,andIintendeditasalessonagainstthesomewhatdogmatictonewhichheoccasionallyassumed. Hebalancedthewatchinhishand,gazedhardatthedial,openedtheback,andexaminedtheworks,firstwithhisnakedeyesandthenwithapowerfulconvexlens. Icouldhardlykeepfromsmilingathiscrestfallenfacewhenhefinallysnappedthecasetoandhandeditback."Therearehardlyanydata,"heremarked. "Thewatchhasbeenrecentlycleaned,whichrobsmeofmymostsuggestivefacts."

"Youareright,"Ianswered."Itwascleanedbeforebeingsenttome."InmyheartIaccusedmycompanionofputtingforwardamostlameandimpotentexcusetocoverhisfailure.Whatdatacouldheexpectfromanuncleanedwatch?

"Thoughunsatisfactory,myresearchhasnotbeenentirelybarren,"heobserved,staringupattheceilingwithdreamy,lack-lustreeyes."Subjecttoyourcorrection,Ishouldjudgethatthewatchbelongedtoyourelderbrother,whoinheriteditfromyourfather."

"Thatyougather,nodoubt,fromtheH.W.upontheback?"

"Quiteso.TheW.suggestsyourownname.Thedateofthewatchisnearlyfiftyyearsback,andtheinitialsareasoldasthewatch:soitwasmadeforthelastgeneration.Jewelryusuallydescentstotheeldestson,andheismostlikelytohavethesamenameasthefather.Yourfatherhas,ifIrememberright,beendeadmanyyears.Ithas,therefore,beeninthehandsofyoureldestbrother."

"Right,sofar,"saidI. "Anythingelse?"

"Hewasamanofuntidyhabits,--veryuntidyandcareless.Hewasleftwithgoodprospects,buthethrewawayhischances,livedforsometimeinpovertywithoccasionalshortintervalsofprosperity,andfinally,takingtodrink,hedied.ThatisallIcangather."

Isprangfrommychairandlimpedimpatientlyabouttheroomwithconsiderablebitternessinmyheart.

"Thisisunworthyofyou,Holmes,"Isaid. "Icouldnothavebelievedthatyouwouldhavedescendedtothis.Youhavemadeinquiresintothehistoryofmyunhappybrother,andyounowpretendtodeducethisknowledgeinsomefancifulway.Youcannotexpectmetobelievethatyouhavereadallthisfromhisoldwatch!Itisunkind,and,tospeakplainly,hasatouchofcharlatanisminit."

"Mydeardoctor,"saidhe,kindly,"prayacceptmyapologies.Viewingthematterasanabstractproblem,Ihadforgottenhowpersonalandpainfulathingitmightbetoyou.Iassureyou,however,thatIneverevenknowthatyouhadabrotheruntilyouhandedmethewatch."

"Thenhowinthenameofallthatiswonderfuldidyougetthesefacts?Theyareabsolutelycorrectineveryparticular."

"Ah,thatisgoodluck.Icouldonlysaywhatwasthebalanceofprobability.Ididnotatallexpecttobesoaccurate."

"Butitwasnotmereguess-work?"

"No,no:Ineverguess.Itisashockinghabit,--destructivetothelogicalfaculty.Whatseemsstrangetoyouisonlysobecauseyoudonotfollowmytrainofthoughtorobservethesmallfactsuponwhichlargeinferencesmaydepend.Forexample,Ibeganbystatingthatyourbrotherwascareless.Whenyouobservethelowerpartofthatwatch-caseyounoticethatitisnotonlydintedintwoplaces,butitiscutandmarkedalloverfromthehabitofkeepingotherhardobjects,suchascoinsorkeys,inthesamepocket.Surelyitisnogreatfeattoassumethatamanwhotreatsafifty-guineawatchsocavalierlymustbeacarelessman.Neitherisitaveryfar-fetchedinferencethatamanwhoinheritsonearticleofsuchvalueisprettywellprovidedforinotherrespects."

Inodded,toshowthatIfollowedhisreasoning.

"ItisverycustomaryforpawnbrokersinEngland,whentheytakeawatch,toscratchthenumberoftheticketwithapin-pointupontheinsideofthecase.Itismorehandythanalabel,asthereisnoriskofthenumberbeinglostortransposed.Therearenolessthanfoursuchnumbersvisibletomylensontheinsideofthiscase.Inference,--thatyourbrotherwasoftenatlowwater.Secondaryinference,--thathehadoccasionalburstsofprosperity,orhecouldnothaveredeemedthepledge.Finally,Iaskyoutolookattheinnerplate,whichcontainsthekey-hole.

Lookatthethousandsofscratchesallroundthehole,--markswherethekeyhasslipped.Whatsoberman'skeycouldhavescoredthosegrooves?Butyouwillneverseeadrunkard'swatchwithoutthem.Hewindsitatnight,andheleavesthesetracesofhisunsteadyhand.Whereisthemysteryinallthis?"

"Itisasclearasdaylight,"Ianswered."IregrettheinjusticewhichIdidyou.Ishouldhavehadmorefaithinyourmarvellousfaculty.MayIaskwhetheryouhaveanyprofessionalinquiryonfootatpresent?"

"None.Hencethecocaine.Icannotlivewithoutbrain-work.Whatelseistheretolivefor?Standatthewindowhere.Waseversuchadreary,dismal,unprofitableworld?Seehowtheyellowfogswirlsdownthestreetanddriftsacrossthedun-coloredhouses.Whatcouldbemorehopelesslyprosaicandmaterial?Whatistheuseofhavingpowers,doctor,whenonehasnofielduponwhichtoexertthem?Crimeiscommonplace,existenceiscommonplace,andnoqualitiessavethosewhicharecommonplacehaveanyfunctionuponearth."

Ihadopenedmymouthtoreplytothistirade,whenwithacrispknockourlandladyentered,bearingacarduponthebrasssalver.

"Ayoungladyforyou,sir,"shesaid,addressingmycompanion.

"MissMaryMorstan,"heread."Hum!Ihavenorecollectionofthename.Asktheyoungladytostepup,Mrs.Hudson.Don'tgo,doctor.Ishouldpreferthatyouremain."

CHAPTERIITheStatementoftheCase

MissMorstanenteredtheroomwithafirmstepandanoutwardcomposureofmanner.Shewasablondeyounglady,small,dainty,wellgloved,anddressedinthemostperfecttaste.Therewas,however,aplainnessandsimplicityabouthercostumewhichborewithitasuggestionoflimitedmeans.Thedresswasasombregrayishbeige,untrimmedandunbraided,andsheworeasmallturbanofthesamedullhue,relievedonlybyasuspicionofwhitefeatherintheside.Herfacehadneitherregularityoffeaturenorbeautyofcomplexion,butherexpressionwassweetandamiable,andherlargeblueeyesweresingularlyspiritualandsympathetic.Inanexperienceofwomenwhichextendsovermanynationsandthreeseparatecontinents,Ihaveneverlookeduponafacewhichgaveaclearerpromiseofarefinedandsensitivenature.IcouldnotbutobservethatasshetooktheseatwhichSherlockHolmesplacedforher,herliptrembled,herhandquivered,andsheshowedeverysignofintenseinwardagitation.

"Ihavecometoyou,Mr.Holmes,"shesaid,"becauseyouonceenabledmyemployer,Mrs.CecilForrester,tounravelalittledomesticcomplication.Shewasmuchimpressedbyyourkindnessandskill."

"Mrs.CecilForrester,"herepeatedthoughtfully."IbelievethatIwasofsomeslightservicetoher.Thecase,however,asIrememberit,wasaverysimpleone."

"Shedidnotthinkso.Butatleastyoucannotsaythesameofmine.Icanhardlyimagineanythingmorestrange,moreutterlyinexplicable,thanthesituationinwhichIfindmyself."

Holmesrubbedhishands,andhiseyesglistened.Heleanedforwardinhischairwithanexpressionofextraordinaryconcentrationuponhisclear-cut,hawklikefeatures."Stateyourcase,"saidhe,inbrisk,businesstones.

Ifeltthatmypositionwasanembarrassingone. "Youwill,Iamsure,excuseme,"Isaid,risingfrommychair.

Tomysurprise,theyoungladyheldupherglovedhandtodetainme."Ifyourfriend,"shesaid,"wouldbegoodenoughtostop,hemightbeofinestimableservicetome."

Irelapsedintomychair.

"Briefly,"shecontinued,"thefactsarethese.MyfatherwasanofficerinanIndianregimentwhosentmehomewhenIwasquiteachild.Mymotherwasdead,andIhadnorelativeinEngland.Iwasplaced,however,inacomfortableboardingestablishmentatEdinburgh,andthereIremaineduntilIwasseventeenyearsofage.Intheyear1878myfather,whowasseniorcaptainofhisregiment,obtainedtwelvemonths'leaveandcamehome.HetelegraphedtomefromLondonthathehadarrivedallsafe,anddirectedmetocomedownatonce,givingtheLanghamHotelashisaddress.Hismessage,asIremember,wasfullofkindnessandlove.OnreachingLondonIdrovetotheLangham,andwasinformedthatCaptainMorstanwasstayingthere,butthathehadgoneoutthenightbeforeandhadnotyetreturned.Iwaitedalldaywithoutnewsofhim.Thatnight,ontheadviceofthemanagerofthehotel,Icommunicatedwiththepolice,andnextmorningweadvertisedinallthepapers.Ourinquirieslettonoresult;andfromthatdaytothisnowordhaseverbeenheardofmyunfortunatefather.Hecamehomewithhisheartfullofhope,tofindsomepeace,somecomfort,andinstead--"Sheputherhandtoherthroat,andachokingsobcutshortthesentence.

"Thedate?"askedHolmes,openinghisnote-book.

"Hedisappeareduponthe3dofDecember,1878,--nearlytenyearsago."

"Hisluggage?"

"Remainedatthehotel.Therewasnothinginittosuggestaclue,--someclothes,somebooks,andaconsiderablenumberofcuriositiesfromtheAndamanIslands.Hehadbeenoneoftheofficersinchargeoftheconvict-guardthere."

"Hadheanyfriendsintown?"

"Onlyonethatweknowof,--MajorSholto,ofhisownregiment,the

34thBombayInfantry. Themajorhadretiredsomelittletimebefore,andlivedatUpperNorwood. Wecommunicatedwithhim, ofcourse,buthedidnotevenknowthathisbrotherofficerwasinEngland."

"Asingularcase,"remarkedHolmes.

"Ihavenotyetdescribedtoyouthemostsingularpart.Aboutsixyearsago--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,.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,withsomethingappealinginhervoiceandexpression.

"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,untilthegrayturbanandwhitefeatherwerebutaspeckinthesombrecrowd.

"Whataveryattractivewoman!"Iexclaimed,turningtomycompanion.

Hehadlithispipeagain,andwasleaningbackwithdroopingeyelids.

"Isshe?"hesaid,languidly. "Ididnotobserve."

"Youreallyareanautomaton,--acalculating-machine!"Icried."Thereissomethingpositivelyinhumaninyouattimes."

Hesmiledgently."Itisofthefirstimportance,"hesaid,"nottoallowyourjudgmenttobebiasedbypersonalqualities.Aclientistomeamereunit,--afactorinaproblem.Theemotionalqualitiesareantagonistictoclearreasoning.IassureyouthatthemostwinningwomanIeverknewwashangedforpoisoningthreelittlechildrenfortheirinsurance-money,andthemostrepellantmanofmyacquaintanceisaphilanthropistwhohasspentnearlyaquarterofamillionupontheLondonpoor."

"Inthiscase,however--"

"Inevermakeexceptions.Anexceptiondisprovestherule.Haveyoueverhadoccasiontostudycharacterinhandwriting?Whatdoyoumakeofthisfellow'sscribble?"

"Itislegibleandregular,"Ianswered."Amanofbusinesshabitsandsomeforceofcharacter."

"Holmesshookhishead."Lookathislongletters,"hesaid."Theyhardlyriseabovethecommonherd.Thatdmightbeana,andthatlane.Menofcharacteralwaysdifferentiatetheirlongletters,howeverillegiblytheymaywrite.Thereisvacillationinhisk'sandself-esteeminhiscapitals.Iamgoingoutnow.Ihavesomefewreferencestomake.Letmerecommendthisbook,--oneofthemostremarkableeverpenned.ItisWinwoodReade's'MartyrdomofMan.'Ishallbebackinanhour."

Isatinthewindowwiththevolumeinmyhand,butmythoughtswerefarfromthedaringspeculationsofthewriter.Mymindranuponourlatevisitor,--hersmiles,thedeeprichtonesofhervoice,thestrangemysterywhichoverhungherlife.Ifshewereseventeenatthetimeofherfather'sdisappearanceshemustbe