not bring police. If you do, all will be in vain. Your unknown
friend.' Well, really, this is a very pretty little mystery.
What do you intend to do, Miss Morstan?"

"That is exactly what I want to ask you."

"Then we shall most certainly go. You and I and--yes, why, Dr.
Watson is the very man. Your correspondent says two friends. He
and I have worked together before."

"But would he come?" she asked, with something appealing in her
voice and expression.

"I should be proud and happy," said I, fervently, "if I can be of
any service."

"You are both very kind," she answered. "I have led a retired
life, and have no friends whom I could appeal to. If I am here
at six it will do, I suppose?"

"You must not be later," said Holmes. "There is one other point,
however. Is this handwriting the same as that upon the pearl-box
addresses?"

"I have them here," she answered, producing half a dozen pieces
of paper.

"You are certainly a model client. You have the correct
intuition. Let us see, now." He spread out the papers upon the
table, and gave little darting glances from one to the other.