The Sign of the Four | Page 8

Norwood. We
communicated with him, of course, but he did not even know that his brother officer was
in England."
"A singular case," remarked Holmes.
"I have not yet described to you the most singular part. About six years ago--to be exact,
upon the 4th of May, 1882--an advertisement appeared in the Times asking for the
address of Miss Mary Morstan and stating that it would be to her advantage to come
forward. There was no name or address appended. I had at that time just entered the
family of Mrs. Cecil Forrester in the capacity of governess. By her advice I published my
address in the advertisement column. The same day there arrived through the post a small
card-board box addressed to me, which I found to contain a very large and lustrous pearl.
No word of writing was enclosed. Since then every year upon the same date there has
always appeared a similar box, containing a similar pearl, without any clue as to the
sender. They have been pronounced by an expert to be of a rare variety and of
considerable value. You can see for yourselves that they are very handsome." She opened
a flat box as she spoke, and showed me six of the finest pearls that I had ever seen.

"Your statement is most interesting," said Sherlock Holmes. "Has anything else occurred
to you?"
"Yes, and no later than to-day. That is why I have come to you. This morning I received
this letter, which you will perhaps read for yourself."
"Thank you," said Holmes. "The envelope too, please. Postmark, London, S.W. Date,
July 7. Hum! Man's thumb-mark on corner,-- probably postman. Best quality paper.
Envelopes at sixpence a packet. Particular man in his stationery. No address. 'Be at the
third pillar from the left outside the Lyceum Theatre to- night at seven o'clock. If you are
distrustful, bring two friends. You are a wronged woman, and shall have justice. Do not
bring police. If you do, all will be in vain. Your unknown friend.' Well, really, this is a
very pretty little mystery. What do you intend to do, Miss Morstan?"
"That is exactly what I want to ask you."
"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 should 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 said, "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. I assure you that the most winning
woman I ever knew was hanged for poisoning three