to allow your judgment to be biased by personal qualities. A
client is to me a mere unit,--a factor in a problem. The
emotional qualities are antagonistic to clear reasoning. I
assure you that the most winning woman I ever knew was hanged for
poisoning three little children for their insurance-money, and
the most repellant man of my acquaintance is a philanthropist who
has spent nearly a quarter of a million upon the London poor."

"In this case, however--"

"I never make exceptions. An exception disproves the rule. Have
you ever had occasion to study character in handwriting? What do
you make of this fellow's scribble?"

"It is legible and regular," I answered. "A man of business
habits and some force of character."

Holmes shook his head. "Look at his long letters," he said.
"They hardly rise above the common herd. That d might be an a,
and that l an e. Men of character always differentiate their
long letters, however illegibly they may write. There is
vacillation in his k's and self-esteem in his capitals. I am
going out now. I have some few references to make. Let me
recommend this book,--one of the most remarkable ever penned. It
is Winwood Reade's 'Martyrdom of Man.' I shall be back in an
hour."

I sat in the window with the volume in my hand, but my thoughts
were far from the daring speculations of the writer. My mind ran
upon our late visitor,--her smiles, the deep rich tones of her