Знак четырех / The Sign of the Four

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�Then we shall most certainly go – you and I and – yes, why Dr. Watson is the very man. Your correspondent says two friends. He and I have worked together before.’

�But would he come?’ she asked with something appealing in her voice and expression.

�I shall be proud and happy,’ said I fervently, �if I can be of any service.’

�You are both very kind,’ she answered. �I have led a retired life and have no friends whom I could appeal to. If I am here at six it will do, I suppose?’

�You must not be later,’ said Holmes.

�There is one other point, however. Is this handwriting the same as that upon the pearl-box addresses?’

�I have them here,’ she answered, producing half a dozen pieces of paper.

�You are certainly a model client. You have the correct intuition. Let us see, now.’ He spread out the papers upon the table and gave little darting glances from one to the other. �They are disguised hands, except the letter,’ he said presently; �but there can be no question as to the authorship.

See how the irrepressible Greek e will break out, and see the twirl of the final s. They are undoubtedly by the same person. I should not like to suggest false hopes, Miss Morstan, but is there any resemblance between this hand and that of your father?’

�Nothing could be more unlike.’

�I expected to hear you say so. We shall look out for you, then, at six. Pray allow me to keep the papers. I may look into the matter before then.

It is only half-past three. Au revoir then.’

�Au revoir,’ said our visitor; and with a bright, kindly glance from one to the other of us, she replaced her pearl-box in her bosom and hurried away.

Standing at the window, I watched her walking briskly down the street until the gray turban and white feather were but a speck in the sombre crowd.

�What a very attractive woman!’ I exclaimed, turning to my companion.

He had lit his pipe again and was leaning back with drooping eyelids.

�Is she?’ he said languidly; �I did not observe.’

�You really are an automaton – a calculating machine,’ I cried. �There is something positively inhuman in you at times.’

He smiled gently.

�It is of the first importance,’ he cried, �not to allow your judgment to be biased by personal qualities. A client is to me a mere unit, a factor in a problem. The emotional qualities are antagonistic to clear reasoning.