therthanbuyanewonewiththesamemoney.”
“Anythingelse?”Iasked,forHolmeswasturningthepipeaboutinhishand,andstaringatitinhispeculiarpensiveway.
Hehelditupandtappedonitwithhislong,thinfore-finger,asaprofessormightwhowaslecturingonabone.
“Pipesareoccasionallyofextraordinaryinterest,”saidhe.“Nothinghasmoreindividuality,saveperhapswatchesandbootlaces.Theindicationshere,however,areneitherverymarkednorveryimportant.Theownerisobviouslyamuscularman,left-handed,withanexcellentsetofteeth,carelessinhishabits,andwithnoneedtopractiseeconomy.”
Myfriendthrewouttheinformationinaveryoffhandway,butIsawthathecockedhiseyeatmetoseeifIhadfollowedhisreasoning.
“Youthinkamanmustbewell-to-doifhesmokesaseven-shillingpipe,”saidI.
“ThisisGrosvenormixtureateightpenceanounce,”Holmesanswered,knockingalittleoutonhispalm.“Ashemightgetanexcellentsmokeforhalftheprice,hehasnoneedtopractiseeconomy.”
“Andtheotherpoints?”
“Hehasbeeninthehabitoflightinghispipeatlampsandgas-jets.Youcanseethatitisquitecharredalldownoneside.Ofcourseamatchcouldnothavedonethat.Whyshouldamanholdamatchtothesideofhispipe?Butyoucannotlightitatalampwithoutgettingthebowlcharred.Anditisallontherightsideofthepipe.FromthatIgatherthatheisaleft-handedman.Youholdyourownpipetothelamp,andseehownaturallyyou,beingright-handed,holdtheleftsidetotheflame.Youmightdoitoncetheotherway,butnotasaconstancy.Thishasalwaysbeenheldso.Thenhehasbittenthroughhisamber.Ittakesamuscular,energeticfellow,andonewithagoodsetofteeth,todothat.ButifIamnotmistakenIhearhimuponthestair,soweshallhavesomethingmoreinterestingthanhispipetostudy.”
Aninstantlaterourdooropened,andatallyoungmanenteredtheroom.Hewaswellbutquietlydressedinadark-greysuit,andcarriedabrownwide-awakeinhishand.Ishouldhaveputhimataboutthirty,thoughhewasreallysomeyearsolder.
“Ibegyourpardon,”saidhe,withsomeembarrassment“IsupposeIshouldhaveknocked.Yes,ofcourseIshouldhaveknocked.ThefactisthatIamalittleupset,andyoumustputitalldowntothat.”Hepassedhishandoverhisforeheadlikeamanwhoishalfdazed,andthenfellratherthansatdownuponachair.
“Icanseethatyouhavenotsleptforanightortwo,”saidHolmes,inhiseasy,genialway.“Thattriesaman’snervesmorethanwork,andmoreeventhanpleasure.MayIaskhowIcanhelpyou?”
“Iwantedyouradvice,sir.Idon’tknowwhattodoandmywholelifeseemstohavegonetopieces.”
“Youwishtoemploymeasaconsultingdetective?”
“Notthatonly.Iwantyouropinionasajudiciousman—asamanoftheworld.IwanttoknowwhatIoughttodonext.IhopetoGodyou’llbeabletotellme.”
Hespokeinlittle,sharp,jerkyoutbursts,anditseemedtomethattospeakatallwasverypainfultohim,andthathiswillallthroughwasoverridinghisinclinations.
“It’saverydelicatething,”saidhe.“Onedoesnotliketospeakofone’sdomesticaffairstostrangers.Itseemsdreadfultodiscusstheconductofone’swifewithtwomenwhomIhaveneverseenbefore.It’shorribletohavetodoit.ButI’vegottotheendofmytether,andImusthaveadvice.”
“MydearMr.GrantMunro—”beganHolmes.
Ourvisitorsprangfromhischair.“What!”hecried,“youknowmyname?”
“Ifyouwishtopreserveyourincognito,”saidHolmes,smiling,“Iwouldsuggestthatyouceasetowriteyournameupontheliningofyourhat,orelsethatyouturnthecrowntowardsthepersonwhomyouareaddressing.IwasabouttosaythatmyfriendandIhavelistenedtoagoodmanyst