<s> THERE IS A DATE YOU SEE BUT NO SUPERSCRIPTION EXCEPT LEADENHALL STREET WHICH IS RATHER VAGUE </s><s> THE POINT ABOUT THE SIGNATURE IS VERY SUGGESTIVE IN FACT WE MAY CALL IT CONCLUSIVE </s><s> OF WHAT </s><s> MY DEAR FELLOW IS IT POSSIBLE YOU DO NOT SEE HOW STRONGLY IT BEARS UPON THE CASE </s><s> QUOTE I CANNOT SAY THAT I DO UNLESS IT WERE THAT HE WISHED TO BE ABLE TO DENY HIS SIGNATURE IF AN ACTION FOR BREACH OF PROMISE WERE INSTITUTED QUOTE </s><s> NO THAT WAS NOT THE POINT </s><s> HOWEVER I SHALL WRITE TWO LETTERS WHICH SHOULD SETTLE THE MATTER </s><s> ONE IS TO A FIRM IN THE CITY THE OTHER IS TO THE YOUNG LADY'S STEPFATHER MR. WINDIBANK ASKING HIM WHETHER HE COULD MEET US HERE AT SIX O'CLOCK TOMORROW EVENING </s><s> IT IS JUST AS WELL THAT WE SHOULD DO BUSINESS WITH THE MALE RELATIVES </s><s> AND NOW DOCTOR WE CAN DO NOTHING UNTIL THE ANSWERS TO THOSE LETTERS COME SO WE MAY PUT OUR LITTLE PROBLEM UPON THE SHELF FOR THE INTERIM </s><s> I HAD HAD SO MANY REASONS TO BELIEVE IN MY FRIEND'S SUBTLE POWERS OF REASONING AND EXTRAORDINARY ENERGY IN ACTION THAT I FELT THAT HE MUST HAVE SOME SOLID GROUNDS FOR THE ASSURED AND EASY DEMEANOUR WITH WHICH HE TREATED THE SINGULAR MYSTERY WHICH HE HAD BEEN CALLED UPON TO FATHOM </s><s> ONCE ONLY HAD I KNOWN HIM TO FAIL IN THE CASE OF THE KING OF BOHEMIA AND OF THE IRENE ADLER PHOTOGRAPH BUT WHEN I LOOKED BACK TO THE WEIRD BUSINESS OF THE SIGN OF FOUR AND THE EXTRAORDINARY CIRCUMSTANCES CONNECTED WITH A STUDY IN SCARLET I FELT THAT IT WOULD BE A STRANGE TANGLE INDEED WHICH HE COULD NOT UNRAVEL </s><s> I LEFT HIM THEN STILL PUFFING AT HIS BLACK CLAY PIPE WITH THE CONVICTION THAT WHEN I CAME AGAIN ON THE NEXT EVENING I WOULD FIND THAT HE HELD IN HIS HANDS ALL THE CLUES WHICH WOULD LEAD UP TO THE IDENTITY OF THE DISAPPEARING BRIDEGROOM OF MISS MARY SUTHERLAND </s><s> A PROFESSIONAL CASE OF GREAT GRAVITY WAS ENGAGING MY OWN ATTENTION AT THE TIME AND THE WHOLE OF NEXT DAY I WAS BUSY AT THE BEDSIDE OF THE SUFFERER </s><s> IT WAS NOT UNTIL CLOSE UPON SIX O'CLOCK THAT I FOUND MYSELF FREE AND WAS ABLE TO SPRING INTO A HANSOM AND DRIVE TO BAKER STREET HALF AFRAID THAT I MIGHT BE TOO LATE TO ASSIST AT THE DENOUEMENT OF THE LITTLE MYSTERY </s><s> I FOUND SHERLOCK HOLMES ALONE HOWEVER HALF ASLEEP WITH HIS LONG THIN FORM CURLED UP IN THE RECESSES OF HIS ARMCHAIR </s><s> A FORMIDABLE ARRAY OF BOTTLES AND TEST TUBES WITH THE PUNGENT CLEANLY SMELL OF HYDROCHLORIC ACID TOLD ME THAT HE HAD SPENT HIS DAY IN THE CHEMICAL WORK WHICH WAS SO DEAR TO HIM </s><s> WELL HAVE YOU SOLVED IT </s><s> I ASKED AS I ENTERED </s><s> YES </s><s> IT WAS THE BISULPHATE OF BARYTA </s><s> QUOTE NO NO THE MYSTERY QUOTE </s><s> I CRIED </s><s> OH THAT </s><s> I THOUGHT OF THE SALT THAT I HAVE BEEN WORKING UPON </s><s> THERE WAS NEVER ANY MYSTERY IN THE MATTER THOUGH AS I SAID YESTERDAY SOME OF THE DETAILS ARE OF INTEREST </s><s> THE ONLY DRAWBACK IS THAT THERE IS NO LAW I FEAR THAT CAN TOUCH THE SCOUNDREL </s><s> WHO WAS HE THEN AND WHAT WAS HIS OBJECT IN DESERTING MISS SUTHERLAND </s><s> THE QUESTION WAS HARDLY OUT OF MY MOUTH AND HOLMES HAD NOT YET OPENED HIS LIPS TO REPLY WHEN WE HEARD A HEAVY FOOTFALL IN THE PASSAGE AND A TAP AT THE DOOR </s><s> THIS IS THE GIRL'S STEPFATHER MR. JAMES WINDIBANK SAID HOLMES </s><s> HE HAS WRITTEN TO ME TO SAY THAT HE WOULD BE HERE AT SIX </s><s> COME IN QUOTE </s><s> THE MAN WHO ENTERED WAS A STURDY MIDDLE SIZED FELLOW SOME THIRTY YEARS OF AGE CLEAN SHAVEN AND SALLOW SKINNED WITH A BLAND INSINUATING MANNER AND A PAIR OF WONDERFULLY SHARP AND PENETRATING GRAY EYES </s><s> HE SHOT A QUESTIONING GLANCE AT EACH OF US PLACED HIS SHINY TOP HAT UPON THE SIDEBOARD AND WITH A SLIGHT BOW SIDLED DOWN INTO THE NEAREST CHAIR </s><s> GOOD EVENING MR. JAMES WINDIBANK SAID HOLMES </s><s> I THINK THAT THIS TYPEWRITTEN LETTER IS FROM YOU IN WHICH YOU MADE AN APPOINTMENT WITH ME FOR SIX O'CLOCK </s><s> YES SIR </s><s> I AM AFRAID THAT I AM A LITTLE LATE BUT I AM NOT QUITE MY OWN MASTER YOU KNOW </s><s> I AM SORRY THAT MISS SUTHERLAND HAS TROUBLED YOU ABOUT THIS LITTLE MATTER FOR I THINK IT IS FAR BETTER NOT TO WASH LINEN OF THE SORT IN PUBLIC </s><s> IT WAS QUITE AGAINST MY WISHES THAT SHE CAME BUT SHE IS A VERY EXCITABLE IMPULSIVE GIRL AS YOU MAY HAVE NOTICED AND SHE IS NOT EASILY CONTROLLED WHEN SHE HAS MADE UP HER MIND ON A POINT </s><s> OF COURSE I DID NOT MIND YOU SO MUCH AS YOU ARE NOT CONNECTED WITH THE OFFICIAL POLICE BUT IT IS NOT PLEASANT TO HAVE A FAMILY MISFORTUNE LIKE THIS NOISED ABROAD </s><s> BESIDES IT IS A USELESS EXPENSE FOR HOW COULD YOU POSSIBLY FIND THIS HOSMER ANGEL </s><s> ON THE CONTRARY SAID HOLMES QUIETLY I HAVE EVERY REASON TO BELIEVE THAT I WILL SUCCEED IN DISCOVERING MR. HOSMER ANGEL </s><s> MR. WINDIBANK GAVE A VIOLENT START AND DROPPED HIS GLOVES </s><s> QUOTE I AM DELIGHTED TO HEAR IT QUOTE HE SAID </s><s> IT IS A CURIOUS THING REMARKED HOLMES THAT A TYPEWRITER HAS REALLY QUITE AS MUCH INDIVIDUALITY AS A MAN'S HANDWRITING </s><s> UNLESS THEY ARE QUITE NEW NO TWO OF THEM WRITE EXACTLY ALIKE </s><s> SOME LETTERS GET MORE WORN THAN OTHERS AND SOME WEAR ONLY ON ONE SIDE </s><s> NOW YOU REMARK IN THIS NOTE OF YOURS MR. WINDIBANK THAT IN EVERY CASE THERE IS SOME LITTLE SLURRING OVER OF THE E. AND A SLIGHT DEFECT IN THE TAIL OF THE R. </s><s> THERE ARE FOURTEEN OTHER CHARACTERISTICS BUT THOSE ARE THE MORE OBVIOUS </s><s> WE DO ALL OUR CORRESPONDENCE WITH THIS MACHINE AT THE OFFICE AND NO DOUBT IT IS A LITTLE WORN OUR VISITOR ANSWERED GLANCING KEENLY AT HOLMES WITH HIS BRIGHT LITTLE EYES </s><s> AND NOW I WILL SHOW YOU WHAT IS REALLY A VERY INTERESTING STUDY MR. WINDIBANK HOLMES CONTINUED </s><s> I THINK OF WRITING ANOTHER LITTLE MONOGRAPH SOME OF THESE DAYS ON THE TYPEWRITER AND ITS RELATION TO CRIME </s><s> IT IS A SUBJECT TO WHICH I HAVE DEVOTED SOME LITTLE ATTENTION </s><s> I HAVE HERE FOUR LETTERS WHICH PURPORT TO COME FROM THE MISSING MAN </s><s> THEY ARE ALL TYPEWRITTEN </s><s> IN EACH CASE NOT ONLY ARE THE E'S' SLURRED AND THE R'S' TAILLESS BUT YOU WILL OBSERVE IF YOU CARE TO USE MY MAGNIFYING LENS THAT THE FOURTEEN OTHER CHARACTERISTICS TO WHICH I HAVE ALLUDED ARE THERE AS WELL QUOTE </s><s> MR. WINDIBANK SPRANG OUT OF HIS CHAIR AND PICKED UP HIS HAT </s><s> I CANNOT WASTE TIME OVER THIS SORT OF FANTASTIC TALK MR. HOLMES HE SAID </s><s> IF YOU CAN CATCH THE MAN CATCH HIM AND LET ME KNOW WHEN YOU HAVE DONE IT </s><s> CERTAINLY SAID HOLMES STEPPING OVER AND TURNING THE KEY IN THE DOOR </s><s> I LET YOU KNOW THEN THAT I HAVE CAUGHT HIM </s><s> WHAT WHERE SHOUTED MR. WINDIBANK TURNING WHITE TO HIS LIPS AND GLANCING ABOUT HIM LIKE A RAT IN A TRAP </s><s> QUOTE OH IT WON'T DO REALLY IT WON'T QUOTE SAID HOLMES SUAVELY </s><s> THERE IS NO POSSIBLE GETTING OUT OF IT MR. WINDIBANK </s><s> IT IS QUITE TOO TRANSPARENT AND IT WAS A VERY BAD COMPLIMENT WHEN YOU SAID THAT IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE FOR ME TO SOLVE SO SIMPLE A QUESTION </s><s> THAT'S RIGHT </s><s> SIT DOWN AND LET US TALK IT OVER </s><s> OUR VISITOR COLLAPSED INTO A CHAIR WITH A GHASTLY FACE AND A GLITTER OF MOISTURE ON HIS BROW </s><s> IT IT'S NOT ACTIONABLE HE STAMMERED </s><s> I AM VERY MUCH AFRAID THAT IT IS NOT </s><s> BUT BETWEEN OURSELVES WINDIBANK IT WAS AS CRUEL AND SELFISH AND HEARTLESS A TRICK IN A PETTY WAY AS EVER CAME BEFORE ME </s><s> NOW LET ME JUST RUN OVER THE COURSE OF EVENTS AND YOU WILL CONTRADICT ME IF I GO WRONG </s><s> THE MAN SAT HUDDLED UP IN HIS CHAIR WITH HIS HEAD SUNK UPON HIS BREAST LIKE ONE WHO IS UTTERLY CRUSHED </s><s> HOLMES STUCK HIS FEET UP ON THE CORNER OF THE MANTELPIECE AND LEANING BACK WITH HIS HANDS IN HIS POCKETS BEGAN TALKING RATHER TO HIMSELF AS IT SEEMED THAN TO US </s><s> QUOTE THE MAN MARRIED A WOMAN VERY MUCH OLDER THAN HIMSELF FOR HER MONEY QUOTE SAID HE QUOTE AND HE ENJOYED THE USE OF THE MONEY OF THE DAUGHTER AS LONG AS SHE LIVED WITH THEM </s><s> IT WAS A CONSIDERABLE SUM FOR PEOPLE IN THEIR POSITION AND THE LOSS OF IT WOULD HAVE MADE A SERIOUS DIFFERENCE </s><s> IT WAS WORTH AN EFFORT TO PRESERVE IT </s><s> THE DAUGHTER WAS OF A GOOD AMIABLE DISPOSITION BUT ALFECTIONATE AND WARM HEARTED IN HER WAYS. SO THAT IT WAS EVIDENT THAT WITH HER FAIR PERSONAL ADVANTAGES AND HER LITTLE INCOME SHE WOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO REMAIN SINGLE LONG </s><s> NOW HER MARRIAGE WOULD MEAN OF COURSE THE LOSS OF A HUNDRED A YEAR SO WHAT DOES HER STEPFATHER DO TO PREVENT IT </s><s> HE TAKES THE OBVIOUS COURSE OF KEEPING HER AT HOME AND FORBIDDING HER TO SEEK THE COMPANY OF PEOPLE OF HER OWN AGE </s><s> BUT SOON HE FOUND THAT THAT WOULD NOT ANSWER FOREVER </s><s> SHE BECAME RESTIVE INSISTED UPON HER RIGHTS AND FINALLY ANNOUNCED HER POSITIVE INTENTION OF GOING TO A CERTAIN BALL </s><s> WHAT DOES HER CLEVER STEPFATHER DO THEN </s><s> HE CONCEIVES AN IDEA MORE CREDITABLE TO HIS HEAD THAN TO HIS HEART </s><s> WITH THE CONNIVANCE AND ASSISTANCE OF HIS WIFE HE DISGUISED HIMSELF COVERED THOSE KEEN EYES WITH TINTED GLASSES MASKED THE FACE WITH A MOUSTACHE AND A PAIR OF BUSHY WHISKERS SUNK THAT CLEAR VOICE INTO AN INSINUATING WHISPER AND DOUBLY SECURE ON ACCOUNT OF THE GIRL'S SHORT SIGHT HE APPEARS AS MR. HOSMER ANGEL AND KEEPS OFF OTHER LOVERS BY MAKING LOVE HIMSELF </s><s> IT WAS ONLY A JOKE AT FIRST GROANED OUR VISITOR </s><s> WE NEVER THOUGHT THAT SHE WOULD HAVE BEEN SO CARRIED AWAY </s><s> VERY LIKELY NOT </s><s> HOWEVER THAT MAY BE THE YOUNG LADY WAS VERY DECIDEDLY CARRIED AWAY AND HAVING QUITE MADE UP HER MIND THAT HER STEPFATHER WAS IN FRANCE THE SUSPICION OF TREACHERY NEVER FOR AN INSTANT ENTERED HER MIND </s><s> SHE WAS FLATTERED BY THE GENTLEMAN'S ATTENTIONS AND THE EFFECT WAS INCREASED BY THE LOUDLY EXPRESSED ADMIRATION OF HER MOTHER </s><s> THEN MR. ANGEL BEGAN TO CALL FOR IT WAS OBVIOUS THAT THE MATTER SHOULD BE PUSHED AS FAR AS IT WOULD GO IF A REAL EFFECT WERE TO BE PRODUCED </s><s> THERE WERE MEETINGS AND AN ENGAGEMENT WHICH WOULD FINALLY SECURE THE GIRL'S AFFECTIONS FROM TURNING TOWARDS ANYONE ELSE </s><s> BUT THE DECEPTION COULD NOT BE KEPT UP FOREVER </s><s> THESE PRETENDED JOURNEYS TO FRANCE WERE RATHER CUMBROUS </s><s> THE THING TO DO WAS CLEARLY TO BRING THE BUSINESS TO AN END IN SUCH A DRAMATIC MANNER THAT IT WOULD LEAVE A PERMANENT IMPRESSION UPON THE YOUNG LADY'S MIND AND PREVENT HER FROM LOOKING UPON ANY OTHER SUITOR FOR SOME TIME TO COME </s><s> HENCE THOSE VOWS OF FIDELITY EXACTED UPON A TESTAMENT AND HENCE ALSO THE ALLUSIONS TO A POSSIBILITY OF SOMETHING HAPPENING ON THE VERY MORNING OF THE WEDDING </s><s> JAMES WINDIBANK WISHED MISS SUTHERLAND TO BE SO BOUND TO HOSMER ANGEL AND SO UNCERTAIN AS TO HIS FATE THAT FOR TEN YEARS TO COME AT ANY RATE SHE WOULD NOT LISTEN TO ANOTHER MAN </s><s> AS FAR AS THE CHURCH DOOR HE BROUGHT HER AND THEN AS HE COULD GO NO FARTHER HE CONVENIENTLY VANISHED AWAY BY THE OLD TRICK OF STEPPING IN AT ONE DOOR OF A FOUR WHEELER AND OUT AT THE OTHER </s><s> I THINK THAT WAS THE CHAIN OF EVENTS MR. WINDIBANK </s><s> OUR VISITOR HAD RECOVERED SOMETHING OF HIS ASSURANCE WHILE HOLMES HAD BEEN TALKING AND HE ROSE FROM HIS CHAIR NOW WITH A COLD SNEER UPON HIS PALE FACE </s><s> QUOTE IT MAY BE SO OR IT MAY NOT </s><s> MR. HOLMES SAID HE. BUT IF YOU ARE SO VERY SHARP YOU OUGHT TO BE SHARP ENOUGH TO KNOW THAT IT IS YOU WHO ARE BREAKING THE LAW NOW AND NOT ME </s><s> I HAVE DONE NOTHING ACTIONABLE FROM THE FIRST BUT AS LONG AS YOU KEEP THAT DOOR LOCKED YOU LAY YOURSELF OPEN TO AN ACTION FOR ASSAULT AND ILLEGAL CONSTRAINT </s><s> THE LAW CANNOT AS YOU SAY TOUCH YOU SAID HOLMES UNLOCKING AND THROWING OPEN THE DOOR YET THERE NEVER WAS A MAN WHO DESERVED PUNISHMENT MORE </s><s> IF THE YOUNG LADY HAS A BROTHER OR A FRIEND HE OUGHT TO LAY A WHIP ACROSS YOUR SHOULDERS </s><s> BY JOVE HE CONTINUED FLUSHING UP AT THE SIGHT OF THE BITTER SNEER UPON THE MAN'S FACE IT IS NOT PART OF MY DUTIES TO MY CLIENT BUT HERE'S A HUNTING CROP HANDY AND I THINK I SHALL JUST TREAT MYSELF TO HE TOOK TWO SWIFT STEPS TO THE WHIP BUT BEFORE HE COULD GRASP IT THERE WAS A WILD CLATTER OF STEPS UPON THE STAIRS THE HEAVY HALL DOOR BANGED AND FROM THE WINDOW WE COULD SEE MR. JAMES WINDIBANK RUNNING AT THE TOP OF HIS SPEED DOWN THE ROAD </s><s> THERE'S A COLD BLOODED SCOUNDREL SAID HOLMES LAUGHING AS HE THREW HIMSELF DOWN INTO HIS CHAIR ONCE MORE </s><s> QUOTE THAT FELLOW WILL RISE FROM CRIME TO CRIME UNTIL HE DOES SOMETHING VERY BAD AND ENDS ON A GALLOWS </s><s> THE CASE HAS IN SOME RESPECTS BEEN NOT ENTIRELY DEVOID OF INTEREST </s><s> I CANNOT NOW ENTIRELY SEE ALL THE STEPS OF YOUR REASONING I REMARKED </s><s> WELL OF COURSE IT WAS OBVIOUS FROM THE FIRST THAT THIS MR. HOSMER ANGEL MUST HAVE SOME STRONG OBJECT FOR HIS CURIOUS CONDUCT AND IT WAS EQUALLY CLEAR THAT THE ONLY MAN WHO REALLY PROFITED BY THE INCIDENT AS FAR AS WE COULD SEE WAS THE STEPFATHER </s><s> THEN THE FACT THAT THE TWO MEN WERE NEVER TOGETHER BUT THAT THE ONE ALWAYS APPEARED WHEN THE OTHER WAS AWAY WAS SUGGESTIVE </s><s> SO WERE THE TINTED SPECTACLES AND THE CURIOUS VOICE WHICH BOTH HINTED AT A DISGUISE AS DID THE BUSHY WHISKERS </s><s> MY SUSPICIONS WERE ALL CONFIRMED BY HIS PECULIAR ACTION IN TYPEWRITING HIS SIGNATURE WHICH OF COURSE INFERRED THAT HIS HANDWRITING WAS SO FAMILIAR TO HER THAT SHE WOULD RECOGNIZE EVEN THE SMALLEST SAMPLE OF IT </s><s> YOU SEE ALL THESE ISOLATED FACTS TOGETHER WITH MANY MINOR ONES ALL POINTED IN THE SAME DIRECTION </s><s> AND HOW DID YOU VERIFY THEM </s><s> QUOTE HAVING ONCE SPOTTED MY MAN IT WAS EASY TO GET CORROBORATION </s><s> I KNEW THE FIRM FOR WHICH THIS MAN WORKED </s><s> HAVING TAKEN THE PRINTED DESCRIPTION </s><s> I ELIMINATED EVERYTHING FROM IT WHICH COULD BE THE RESULT OF A DISGUISE THE WHISKERS THE GLASSES THE VOICE AND I SENT IT TO THE FIRM WITH A REQUEST THAT THEY WOULD INFORM ME WHETHER IT ANSWERED TO THE DESCRIPTION OF ANY OF THEIR TRAVELLERS </s><s> I HAD ALREADY NOTICED THE PECULIARITIES OF THE TYPEWRITER AND I WROTE TO THE MAN HIMSELF AT HIS BUSINESS ADDRESS ASKING HIM IF HE WOULD COME HERE </s><s> AS I EXPECTED HIS REPLY WAS TYPEWRITTEN AND REVEALED THE SAME TRIVIAL BUT CHARACTERISTIC DEFECTS </s><s> THE SAME POST BROUGHT ME A LETTER FROM WESTHOUSE AND MARBANK OF FENCHURCH STREET TO SAY THAT THE DESCRIPTION TALLIED IN EVERY RESPECT WITH THAT OF THEIR EMPLOYEE JAMES WINDIBANK </s><s> VOILA TOUT </s><s> AND MISS SUTHERLAND </s><s> IF I TELL HER SHE WILL NOT BELIEVE ME </s><s> YOU MAY REMEMBER THE OLD PERSIAN SAYING THERE IS DANGER FOR HIM WHO TAKETH THE TIGER CUB AND DANGER ALSO FOR WHOSO SNATCHES A DELUSION FROM A WOMAN </s><s> THERE IS AS MUCH SENSE IN HAFIZ AS IN HORACE AND AS MUCH KNOWLEDGE OF THE WORLD </s>