We must apologize
for having intruded upon you, Professor Coram, and I promise
that we won't disturb you until after lunch. At two o'clock
we will come again and report to you anything which may have
happened in the interval."
Holmes was curiously distrait, and we walked up and down the
garden path for some time in silence.
"Have you a clue?" I asked, at last.
"It depends upon those cigarettes that I smoked," said he.
"It is possible that I am utterly mistaken. The cigarettes
will show me."
"My dear Holmes," I exclaimed, "how on earth ----"
"Well, well, you may see for yourself. If not, there's no harm
done. Of course, we always have the optician clue to fall back
upon, but I take a short cut when I can get it. Ah, here is the
good Mrs. Marker! Let us enjoy five minutes of instructive
conversation with her."
I may have remarked before that Holmes had, when he liked,
a peculiarly ingratiating way with women, and that he very readily
established terms of confidence with them. In half the time
which he had named he had captured the housekeeper's goodwill,
and was chatting with her as if he had known her for years.
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