"
She glanced down in surprise at her own feet, and I observed the
slight roughening of the side of the sole caused by the friction
of the edge of the pedal.
"Yes, I bicycle a good deal, Mr. Holmes, and that has something
to do with my visit to you to-day."
My friend took the lady's ungloved hand and examined it with as
close an attention and as little sentiment as a scientist would
show to a specimen.
"You will excuse me, I am sure. It is my business," said he,
as he dropped it. "I nearly fell into the error of supposing
that you were typewriting. Of course, it is obvious that it is
music. You observe the spatulate finger-end, Watson, which is
common to both professions? There is a spirituality about the
face, however" -- he gently turned it towards the light -- "which
the typewriter does not generate. This lady is a musician."
"Yes, Mr. Holmes, I teach music."
"In the country, I presume, from your complexion."
"Yes, sir; near Farnham, on the borders of Surrey."
"A beautiful neighbourhood and full of the most interesting
associations. You remember, Watson, that it was near there that
we took Archie Stamford, the forger.
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