ardenwhichhadbeenhis.Igreetedtheladywithreserve.Ihadgrievedwithhergriefinthediningroom.NowImetherappealinggazewithanunresponsiveeye.
“Ifearthatyouthinkmecallousandhard-hearted,”saidshe.
Ishruggedmyshoulders.“Itisnobusinessofmine,”saidI.
“Perhapssomedayyouwilldomejustice.Ifyouonlyrealized—”
“ThereisnoneedwhyDr.Watsonshouldrealize,”saidBarkerquickly.“Ashehashimselfsaid,itisnopossiblebusinessofhis.”
“Exactly,”saidI,“andsoIwillbegleavetoresumemywalk.”
“Onemoment,Dr.Watson,”criedthewomaninapleadingvoice.“Thereisonequestionwhichyoucananswerwithmoreauthoritythananyoneelseintheworld,anditmaymakeaverygreatdifferencetome.YouknowMr.Holmesandhisrelationswiththepolicebetterthananyoneelsecan.Supposingthatamatterwerebroughtconfidentiallytohisknowledge,isitabsolutelynecessarythatheshouldpassitontothedetectives?”
“Yes,that'sit,”saidBarkereagerly.“Isheonhisownorisheentirelyinwiththem?”
“Ireallydon'tknowthatIshouldbejustifiedindiscussingsuchapoint.”
“Ibeg—Iimplorethatyouwill,Dr.Watson!Iassureyouthatyouwillbehelpingus—helpingmegreatlyifyouwillguideusonthatpoint.”
Therewassucharingofsincerityinthewoman'svoicethatfortheinstantIforgotallaboutherlevityandwasmovedonlytodoherwill.
“Mr.Holmesisanindependentinvestigator,”Isaid.“Heishisownmaster,andwouldactashisownjudgmentdirected.Atthesametime,hewouldnaturallyfeelloyaltytowardstheofficialswhowereworkingonthesamecase,andhewouldnotconcealfromthemanythingwhichwouldhelptheminbringingacriminaltojustice.BeyondthisIcansaynothing,andIwouldreferyoutoMr.Holmeshimselfifyouwantedfullerinformation.”
SosayingIraisedmyhatandwentuponmyway,leavingthemstillseatedbehindthatconcealinghedge.IlookedbackasIroundedthefarendofit,andsawthattheywerestilltalkingveryearnestlytogether,and,astheyweregazingafterme,itwasclearthatitwasourinterviewthatwasthesubjectoftheirdebate.
“Iwishnoneoftheirconfidences,”saidHolmes,whenIreportedtohimwhathadoccurred.HehadspentthewholeafternoonattheManorHouseinconsultationwithhistwocolleagues,andreturnedaboutfivewitharavenousappetiteforahighteawhichIhadorderedforhim.“Noconfidences,Watsonfortheyarem