lieve.”
“Howcouldyouknowthat?”
“IobservedtheveryinstantthatIenteredtheroomthatyouhaveaportraitgroupofthreeladiesuponthemantelpiece,oneofwhomisundoubtedlyyourself,whiletheothersaresoexceedinglylikeyouthattherecouldbenodoubtoftherelationship.”
“Yes,youarequiteright.Thosearemysisters,SarahandMary.”
“Andhereatmyelbowisanotherportrait,takenatLiverpool,ofyouryoungersister,inthecompanyofamanwhoappearstobeastewardbyhisuniform.Iobservethatshewasunmarriedatthetime.”
“Youareveryquickatobserving.”
“Thatismytrade.”
“Well,youarequiteright.ButshewasmarriedtoMr.Brownerafewdaysafterwards.HewasontheSouthAmericanlinewhenthatwastaken,buthewassofondofherthathecouldn’tabidetoleaveherforsolong,andhegotintotheLiverpoolandLondonboats.”
“Ah,theConqueror,perhaps?”
“No,theMayDay,whenlastIheard.Jimcamedownheretoseemeonce.Thatwasbeforehebrokethepledgebutafterwardshewouldalwaystakedrinkwhenhewasashore,andalittledrinkwouldsendhimstark,staringmad.Ah!itwasabaddaythateverhetookaglassinhishandagain.Firsthedroppedme,thenhequarrelledwithSarah,andnowthatMaryhasstoppedwritingwedon’tknowhowthingsaregoingwiththem.”
ItwasevidentthatMissCushinghadcomeuponasubjectonwhichshefeltverydeeply.Likemostpeoplewholeadalonelylife,shewasshyatfirst,butendedbybecomingextremelycommunicative.Shetoldusmanydetailsaboutherbrother-in-lawthesteward,andthenwanderingoffonthesubjectofherformerlodgers,themedicalstudents,shegaveusalongaccountoftheirdelinquencies,withtheirnamesandthoseoftheirhospitals.Holmeslistenedattentivelytoeverything,throwinginaquestionfromtimetotime.
“Aboutyoursecondsister,Sarah,”saidhe.“Iwonder,sinceyouarebothmaidenladies,thatyoudonotkeephousetogether.”
“Ah!youdon’tknowSarah’stemperoryouwouldwondernomore.ItrieditwhenIcametoCroydon,andwekeptonuntilabouttwomonthsago,whenwehadtopart.Idon’twanttosayawordagainstmyownsister,butshewasalwaysmeddlesomeandhardtoplease,wasSarah.”
“YousaythatshequarrelledwithyourLiverpoolrelations.”
“Yes,andtheywerethebestoffriendsatonetime.Why,shewentuptheretoliveinordertobenearthem.AndnowshehasnowordhardenoughforJimBrowner.Thelastsixmonthsthatshewashereshewouldspeakofnothingbuthisdrinkingandhisways.Hehadcaughthermeddling,Isuspect,andgivenherabitofhismind,andthatwasthestartofit.”
“Thankyou,MissCushing,”saidHolmes,risingandbowing.“YoursisterSarahlives,Ithinkyousaid,atNewStreetWallington?Good-bye,andIamverysorrythatyoushouldhavebeentroubledoveracasewithwhich,asyousay,youhavenothingwhatevertodo.”
Therewasacabpassingaswecameout,andHolmeshailedit.
“HowfartoWallington?”heasked.
“Onlyaboutamile,sir.”
“Verygood.Jumpin,Watson.Wemuststrikewhiletheironishot.Simpleasthecaseis,therehavebeenoneortwoveryinstructivedetailsinconnectionwithit.Justpullupatatelegraphofficeasyoupass,cabby.”
Holmessentoffashortwireandfortherestofthedrivelaybackinthecab,withhishattiltedoverhisnosetokeepthesunfromhisface.Ourdriverpulledupatahousewhichwasnotunliketheonewhichwehadjustquitted.Mycompanionorderedhimtowait,andhadhishandupontheknocker,whenthedooropenedandagraveyounggentlemaninblack,withaveryshinyhat,appearedonthestep.
“IsMissCushingathome?”askedHolmes.
“MissSarahCushingisextremelyill,”saidhe.“Shehasbeensufferingsinceyesterdayfrombrainsymptomsofgreatseverity.Ashermedicaladviser,Icannotpossiblytaketheresponsibilityofallowinganyonetoseeher.Ishouldrecommendyoutocallagainintendays.”Hedrewonhisgloves,closedthedoor,andmarchedoffdownthestreet.
“Well,ifwecan’twecan’t,”saidHolmes,cheerfully.
“Perhapsshecouldnotorwouldnothavetoldyoumuch.”
“Ididnotwishhertotellmeanything.Ionlywantedtolookather.However,IthinkthatIhavegotallthatIwant.Driveustosomedecenthotel,cabby,wherewemayhavesomelunch,andafterwardsweshalldropdownuponfriendLestradeatthepolice-station.”
Wehadapleasantlittlemealtogether,duringwhi