I greeted the lady with reserve. I had grieved with her grief in
the dining room. Now I met her appealing gaze with an
unresponsive eye.
"I fear that you think me callous and hard-hearted," said she.
I shrugged my shoulders. "It is no business of mine," said I.
"Perhaps some day you will do me justice. If you only
realized--"
"There is no need why Dr. Watson should realize," said Barker
quickly. "As he has himself said, it is no possible business of
his."
"Exactly," said I, "and so I will beg leave to resume my walk."
"One moment, Dr. Watson," cried the woman in a pleading voice.
"There is one question which you can answer with more authority
than anyone else in the world, and it may make a very great
difference to me. You know Mr. Holmes and his relations with
the police better than anyone else can. Supposing that a matter
were brought confidentially to his knowledge, is it absolutely
necessary that he should pass it on to the detectives?"
"Yes, that's it," said Barker eagerly. "Is he on his own or is
he entirely in with them?"
"I really don't know that I should be justified in discussing
such a point.
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