Still, it is an error to argue in
front of your data. You find yourself insensibly twisting them
round to fit your theories."
"And the message?"
"How did it run? 'Our own colours, green and white.' Sounds
like racing. 'Green open, white shut.' That is clearly a
signal. 'Main stair, first corridor, seventh right, green
baize.' This is an assignation. We may find a jealous husband
at the bottom of it all. It was clearly a dangerous quest. She
would not have said 'Godspeed' had it not been so. 'D'--that
should be a guide."
"The man was a Spaniard. I suggest that 'D' stands for Dolores,
a common female name in Spain."
"Good, Watson, very good--but quite inadmissable. A Spaniard
would write to a Spaniard in Spanish. The writer of this note is
certainly English. Well, we can only possess our soul in
patience until this excellent inspector come back for us.
Meanwhile we can thank our lucky fate which has rescued us for a
few short hours from the insufferable fatigues of idleness."
An answer had arrived to Holmes's telegram before our Surrey
officer had returned. Holmes read it and was about to place it
in his notebook when he caught a glimpse of my expectant face. He
tossed it across with a laugh.
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