ou.”
“Yourfather,”saidHolmes,“yourstepfather,surely,sincethenameisdifferent.”
“Yes,mystepfather.Icallhimfather,thoughitsoundsfunny,too,forheisonlyfiveyearsandtwomonthsolderthanmyself.”
“Andyourmotherisalive?”
“Oh,yes,motherisaliveandwell.Iwasn’tbestpleased,Mr.Holmes,whenshemarriedagainsosoonafterfather’sdeath,andamanwhowasnearlyfifteenyearsyoungerthanherself.FatherwasaplumberintheTottenhamCourtRoad,andheleftatidybusinessbehindhim,whichmothercarriedonwithMr.Hardy,theforemanbutwhenMr.Windibankcamehemadehersellthebusiness,forhewasverysuperior,beingatravellerinwines.Theygot￡4700forthegoodwillandinterest,whichwasn’tnearasmuchasfathercouldhavegotifhehadbeenalive.”
IhadexpectedtoseeSherlockHolmesimpatientunderthisramblingandinconsequentialnarrative,but,onthecontrary,hehadlistenedwiththegreatestconcentrationofattention.
“Yourownlittleincome,”heasked,“doesitcomeoutofthebusiness?”
“Oh,no,sir.ItisquiteseparateandwasleftmebymyuncleNedinAuckland.ItisinNewZealandstock,paying4?percent.Twothousandfivehundredpoundswastheamount,butIcanonlytouchtheinterest.”
“Youinterestmeextremely,”saidHolmes.“Andsinceyoudrawsolargeasumasahundredayear,withwhatyouearnintothebargain,younodoubttravelalittleandindulgeyourselfineveryway.Ibelievethatasingleladycangetonverynicelyuponanincomeofabout￡60.”
“Icoulddowithmuchlessthanthat,Mr.Holmes,butyouunderstandthataslongasIliveathomeIdon’twishtobeaburdentothem,andsotheyhavetheuseofthemoneyjustwhileIamstayingwiththem.Ofcourse,thatisonlyjustforthetime.Mr.Windibankdrawsmyinteresteveryquarterandpaysitovertomother,andIfindthatIcandoprettywellwithwhatIearnattypewriting.Itbringsmetwopenceasheet,andIcanoftendofromfifteentotwentysheetsinaday.”
“Youhavemadeyourpositionverycleartome,”saidHolmes.“Thisismyfriend,Dr.Watson,beforewhomyoucanspeakasfreelyasbeforemyself.KindlytellusnowallaboutyourconnectionwithMr.HosmerAngel.”
AflushstoleoverMissSutherland’sface,andshepickednervouslyatthefringeofherjacket.“Imethimfirstatthegasfitters’ball,”shesaid.“Theyusedtosendfatherticketswhenhewasalive,andthenafterwardstheyrememberedus,andsentthemtomother.Mr.Windibankdidnotwishustogo.Heneverdidwishustogoanywhere.HewouldgetquitemadifIwantedsomuchastojoinaSunday-schooltreat.ButthistimeIwassetongoing,andIwouldgoforwhatrighthadhetoprevent?Hesaidthefolkwerenotfitforustoknow,whenallfather’sfriendsweretobethere.AndhesaidthatIhadnothingfittowear,whenIhadmypurpleplushthatIhadneversomuchastakenoutofthedrawer.Atlast,whennothingelsewoulddo,hewentofftoFranceuponthebusinessofthefirm,butwewent,motherandI,withMr.Hardy,whousedtobeourforeman,anditwasthereImetMr.HosmerAngel.”
“Isuppose,”saidHolmes,“thatwhenMr.WindibankcamebackfromFrancehewasveryannoyedatyourhavinggonetotheball.”
“Oh,well,hewasverygoodaboutit.Helaughed,Iremember,andshruggedhisshoulders,andsaidtherewasnousedenyinganythingtoawoman,forshewouldhaveherway.”
“Isee.Thenatthegasfitters’ballyoumet,asIunderstand,agentlemancalledMr.HosmerAngel.”
“Yes,sir.Imethimthatnight,andhecallednextdaytoaskifwehadgothomeallsafe,andafterthatwemethim—thatistosay,Mr.Holmes,Imethimtwiceforwalks,butafterthatfathercamebackagain,andMr.HosmerA