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believe that I will succeed in discovering Mr。 Hosmer Angel。〃
Mr。 Windibank gave a violent start； and dropped his gloves。 〃I am
delighted to hear it；〃 he said。
〃It is a curious thing；〃 remarked Holmes； 〃that a typewriter has
really quite as much individuality as a man's handwriting。 Unless
they are quite new no two of them write exactly alike。 Some
letters get more worn than others； and some wear only on one side。
Now； you remark in this note of yours； Mr。 Windibank； that in every
case there is some little slurring over the e； and a slight defect
in the tail of the r。 There are fourteen other characteristics；
but those are the more obvious。〃
〃We do all our correspondence with this machine at the office； and
no doubt it is a little worn；〃 our visitor answered； glancing
keenly at Holmes with his bright little eyes。
〃And now I will show you what is really a very interesting study；
Mr。 Windibank；〃 Holmes continued。 〃I think of writing another
little monograph some of these days on the typewriter and its
relation to crime。 It is a subject to which I have devoted some
little attention。 I have here four letters which purport to come
from the missing man。 They are all typewritten。 In each case； not
only are the e's slurred and the r's tailless； but you will
observe； if you care to use my magnifying lens； that the fourteen
other characteristics to which I have alluded are there as well。〃
Mr。 Windibank sprung out of his chair； and picked up his hat。 〃I
cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk； Mr。 Holmes；〃 he
said。 〃If you can catch the man； catch him； and let me know when
you have done it。〃
〃Certainly；〃 said Holmes； stepping over and turning the key in the
door。 〃I let you know； then； that I have caught him！〃
〃What！ where？〃 shouted Mr。 Windibank； turning white to his lips；
and glancing about him like a rat in a trap。
〃Oh； it won't doreally it won't；〃 said Holmes； suavely。 〃There
is no possible getting out of it； Mr。 Windibank。 It is quite too
transparent； and it was a very bad compliment when you said that it
was impossible for me to solve so simple a question。 That's right！
Sit down； and let us talk it over。〃
Our visitor collapsed into a chair； with a ghastly face； and a
glitter of moisture on his brow。 〃Itit's not actionable；〃 he
stammered。
〃I am very much afraid that it is not； but between ourselves；
Windibank； it was as cruel； and selfish； and heartless a trick in a
petty way as ever came before me。 Now； let me just run over the
course of events； and you will contradict me if I go wrong。〃
The man sat huddled up in his chair； with his head sunk upon his
breast； like one who is utterly crushed。 Holmes stuck his feet up
on the corner of the mantelpiece； and； leaning back with his hands
in his pockets； began talking； rather to himself； as it seemed；
than to us。
〃The man married a woman very much older than himself for her
money；〃 said he； 〃and he enjoyed the use of the money of the
daughter as long as she lived with them。 It was a considerable
sum； for people in their position； and the loss of it would have
made a serious difference。 It was worth an effort to preserve it。
The daughter was of a good； amiable disposition； but affectionate
and warmhearted in her ways； so that it was evident that with her
fair personal advantages； and her little income； she would not be
allowed to remain single long。 Now her marriage would mean； of
course； the loss of a hundred a year； so what does her stepfather
do to prevent it？ He takes the obvious course of keeping her at
home； and forbidding her to seek the company of people of her own
age。 But soon he found that that would not answer forever。 She
became restive； insisted upon her rights； and finally announced her
positive intention of going to a certain ball。 What does her
clever stepfather do then？ He conceives an idea more creditable to
his head than to his heart。 With the connivance and assistance of
his wife； he disguised himself； covered those keen eyes with tinted
glasses； masked the face with a mustache and a pair of bushy
whiskers； sunk that clear voice into an insinuating whisper； and
doubly secure on account of the girl's short sight； he appears as
Mr。 Hosmer Angel； and keeps off other lovers by making love
himself。〃
〃It was only a joke at first；〃 groaned our visitor。 〃We never
thought that she would have been so carried away。〃
〃Very likely not。 However that may be； the young lady was very
decidedly carried away； and having quite made up her mind that her
stepfather was in France； the suspicion of treachery never for an
instant entered her mind。 She was flattered by the gentleman's
attentions； and the effect was increased by the loudly expressed
admiration of her mother。 Then Mr。 Angel began to call； for it was
obvious that the matter should be pushed as far as if would go； if
a real effect were to be produced。 There were meetings； and an
engagement； which would finally secure the girl's affections from
turning toward anyone else。 But the deception could not be kept up
forever。 These pretended journeys to France were rather cumbrous。
The thing to do was clearly to bring the business to an end in such
a dramatic manner that it would leave a permanent impression upon
the young lady's mind； and prevent her from looking upon any other
suitor for some time to come。 Hence those vows of fidelity exacted
upon a Testament； and hence also the allusions to a possibility of
something happening on the very morning of the wedding。 James
Windibank wished Miss Sutherland to be so bound to Hosmer Angel；
and so uncertain as to his fate； that for ten years to come； at any
rate； she would not listen to another man。 As far as the church
door he brought her； and then； as he could go no farther； he
conveniently vanished away by the old trick of stepping in at one
door of a four…wheeler and out at the other。 I think that that was
the chain of events； Mr。 Windibank！〃
Our visitor had recovered something of his assurance while Holmes
had been talking； and he rose from his chair now with a cold sneer
upon his pale face。
〃It may be so； or it may not； Mr。 Holmes；〃 said he； 〃but if you are
so very sharp you ought to be sharp enough to know that it is you
who are breaking the law now； and not me。 I have done nothing
actionable from the first； but as long as you keep that door locked
you lay yourself open to an action for assault and illegal
constraint。〃
〃The law cannot； as you say； touch you；〃 said Holmes； unlocking and
throwing open the door； 〃yet there never was a man who deserved
punishment more。 If the young lady has a brother or a friend； he
ought to lay a whip across your shoulders。 By Jove！〃 he continued；
flushing up at the sight of the bitter sneer upon the man's face；
〃it is not part of my duties to my client； but here's a hunting
crop handy； and I think I shall just t