“And how did you verify them?”

“Having once spotted my man, it was easy to get corroboration.  I knew the firm for which this man worked.  Having taken the printed description.  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.  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.  As I expected, his reply was typewritten and revealed the same trivial but characteristic defects.  The same post brought me a letter from Westhouse & Marbank, of Fenchurch Street, to say that the description tallied in every respect with that of their employé, James Windibank.  Voilà tout!”

“And Miss Sutherland?”

“If I tell her she will not believe me.  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.’  There is as much sense in Hafiz as in Horace, and as much knowledge of the world.”

ADVENTURE IV.  THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY

We were seated at breakfast one morning, my wife and I, when the maid brought in a telegram.  It was from Sherlock Holmes and ran in this way: 

“Have you a couple of days to spare?  Have just been wired for from the west of England in connection with Boscombe Valley tragedy.  Shall be glad if you will come with me.  Air and scenery perfect.  Leave Paddington by the 11:15.”

“What do you say, dear?” said my wife, looking across at me.  “Will you go?”

“I really don’t know what to say.  I have a fairly long list at present.”

“Oh, Anstruther would do your work for you.  You have been looking a little pale lately.  I think that the change would do you good, and you are always so interested in Mr. Sherlock Holmes’ cases.”

“I should be ungrateful if I were not, seeing what I gained through one of them,” I answered.  “But if I am to go, I must pack at once, for I have only half an hour.”

My experience of camp life in Afghanistan had at least had the effect of making me a prompt and ready traveller.  My wants were few and simple, so that in less than the time stated I was in a cab with my valise, rattling away to Paddington Station.  Sherlock Holmes was pacing up and down the platform, his tall, gaunt figure made even gaunter and taller by his long grey travelling-cloak and close-fitting cloth cap.

“It is really very good of you to come, Watson,” said he.  “It makes a considerable difference to me, having someone with me on whom I can thoroughly rely.  Local aid is always either worthless or else biassed.  If you will keep the two corner seats I shall get the tickets.”

We had the carriage to ourselves save for an immense litter of papers which Holmes had brought with him.  Among these he rummaged and read, with intervals of note-taking and of meditation, until we were past Reading.  Then he suddenly rolled them all into a gigantic ball and tossed them up onto the rack.