ndherwholeposeandfigurespokeofanabsorbingmelancholy.Atthesoundofmyfoot-fallshesprangtoherfeet,however,andabrightflushofsurpriseandofpleasurecolouredherpalecheeks.
“Iheardacabdriveup,”shesaid.“IthoughtthatMrs.Forresterhadcomebackveryearly,butIneverdreamedthatitmightbeyou.Whatnewshaveyoubroughtme?”
“Ihavebroughtsomethingbetterthannews,”saidI,puttingdowntheboxuponthetableandspeakingjoviallyandboisterously,thoughmyheartwasheavywithinme.“Ihavebroughtyousomethingwhichisworthallthenewsintheworld.Ihavebroughtyouafortune.”
Sheglancedattheironbox.“Isthatthetreasure,then?”sheasked,coollyenough.
“Yes,thisisthegreatAgratreasure.HalfofitisyoursandhalfisThaddeusSholto’s.Youwillhaveacoupleofhundredthousandeach.Thinkofthat!Anannuityoftenthousandpounds.TherewillbefewricheryoungladiesinEngland.Isitnotglorious?”
IthinkthatImusthavebeenratheroveractingmydelight,andthatshedetectedahollowringinmycongratulations,forIsawhereyebrowsrisealittle,andsheglancedatmecuriously.
“IfIhaveit,”saidshe,“Ioweittoyou.”
“No,no,”Ianswered,“nottome,buttomyfriendSherlockHolmes.Withallthewillintheworld,Icouldneverhavefollowedupacluewhichhastaxedevenhisanalyticalgenius.Asitwas,weverynearlylostitatthelastmoment.”
“Praysitdownandtellmeallaboutit,Dr.Watson,”saidshe.
InarratedbrieflywhathadoccurredsinceIhadseenherlast,—Holmes’snewmethodofsearch,thediscoveryoftheAurora,theappearanceofAthelneyJones,ourexpeditionintheevening,andthewildchasedowntheThames.Shelistenedwithpartedlipsandshiningeyestomyrecitalofouradventures.WhenIspokeofthedartwhichhadsonarrowlymissedus,sheturnedsowhitethatIfearedthatshewasabouttofaint.
“Itisnothing,”shesaid,asIhastenedtopourheroutsomewater.“Iamallrightagain.ItwasashocktometohearthatIhadplacedmyfriendsinsuchhorribleperil.”
“Thatisallover,”Ianswered.“Itwasnothing.Iwilltellyounomoregloomydetails.Letusturntosomethingbrigh