ertroubletoseewhocalledforthem?”
“No.”
Theinspectorlookedsurprisedandalittleshocked.“Whynot?”
“BecauseIalwayskeepfaith.IhadpromisedwhenhefirstwrotethatIwouldnottrytotracehim.”
“Youthinkthereissomeonebehindhim?”
“Iknowthereis.”
“ThisprofessorthatI'veheardyoumention?”
“Exactly!”
InspectorMacDonaldsmiled,andhiseyelidquiveredasheglancedtowardsme.“Iwon'tconcealfromyou,Mr.Holmes,thatwethinkintheC.I.D.thatyouhaveaweebitofabeeinyourbonnetoverthisprofessor.Imadesomeinquiriesmyselfaboutthematter.Heseemstobeaveryrespectable,learned,andtalentedsortofman.”
“I'mgladyou'vegotsofarastorecognizethetalent.”
“Man,youcan'tbutrecognizeit!AfterIheardyourviewImadeitmybusinesstoseehim.Ihadachatwithhimoneclipses.HowthetalkgotthatwayIcannathinkbuthehadoutareflectorlanternandaglobe,andmadeitallclearinaminute.HelentmeabookbutIdon'tmindsayingthatitwasabitabovemyhead,thoughIhadagoodAberdeenupbringing.He'dhavemadeagrandmeenisterwithhisthinfaceandgrayhairandsolemn-likewayoftalking.Whenheputhishandonmyshoulderaswewereparting,itwaslikeafather'sblessingbeforeyougooutintothecold,cruelworld.”
Holmeschuckledandrubbedhishands.“Great!”hesaid.“Great!Tellme,FriendMacDonald,thispleasingandtouchinginterviewwas,Isuppose,intheprofessor'sstudy?”
“That'sso.”
“Afineroom,isitnot?”
“Veryfine—veryhandsomeindeed,Mr.Holmes.”
“Yousatinfrontofhiswritingdesk?”
“Justso.”
“Suninyoureyesandhisfaceintheshadow?”
“Well,itwaseveningbutImindthatthelampwasturnedonmyface.”
“Itwouldbe.Didyouhappentoobserveapictureovertheprofessor'shead?”
“Idon'tmissmuch,Mr.Holmes.MaybeIlearnedthatfromyou.Yes,Isawthepicture—ayoungwomanwithherheadonherhands,peepingatyousideways.”
“ThatpaintingwasbyJeanBaptisteGreuze.”
Theinspectorendeavouredtolookinterested.
“JeanBaptisteGreuze,”Holmescontinued,j