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〃We will agree to suppose so；〃 said Holmes。
〃Then I can assure you that our relations were entirely and always
those of an employer towards a young lady whom he never conversed
with； or ever saw； save when she was in the company of his children。〃
Holmes rose from his chair。
〃I am a rather busy man； Mr。 Gibson；〃 said he； 〃and I have no time
or taste for aimless conversations。 I wish you good…morning。〃
Our visitor had risen also； and his great loose figure towered above
Holmes。 There was an angry gleam from under those bristling brows
and a tinge of colour in the sallow cheeks。
〃What the devil do you mean by this； Mr。 Holmes？ Do you dismiss my
case？〃
〃Well； Mr。 Gibson； at least I dismiss you。 I should have thought
my words were plain。〃
〃Plain enough； but what's at the back of it？ Raising the price on
me； or afraid to tackle it； or what？ I've a right to a plain answer。〃
〃Well； perhaps you have；〃 said Holmes。 〃I'll give you one。 This case
is quite sufficiently complicated to start with without the further
difficulty of false information。〃
〃Meaning that I lie。〃
〃Well； I was trying to express it as delicately as I could； but if
you insist upon the word I will not contradict you。〃
I sprang to my feet； for the expression upon the millionaire's
face was fiendish in its intensity； and he had raised his great
knotted fist。 Holmes smiled languidly and reached his hand out for his
pipe。
〃Don't be noisy； Mr。 Gibson。 I find that after breakfast even the
smallest argument is unsettling。 I suggest that a stroll in the
morning air and a little quiet thought will be greatly to your
advantage。〃
With an effort the Gold King mastered his fury。 I could not but
admire him； for by a supreme self…command he had turned in a minute
from a hot flame of anger to a frigid and contemptuous indifference。
〃Well； it's your choice。 I guess you know how to run your own
business。 I can't make you touch the case against your will。 You've
done yourself no good this morning； Mr。 Holmes； for I have broken
stronger men than you。 No man ever crossed me and was the better for
it。〃
〃So many have said so； and yet here I am；〃 said Holmes； smiling。
〃Well； good morning； Mr。 Gibson。 You have a good deal yet to learn。〃
Our visitor made a noisy exit； but Holmes smoked in imperturbable
silence with dreamy eyes fixed upon the ceiling。
〃Any views； Watson？〃 he asked at last。
〃Well； Holmes； I must confess that when I consider that this is a
man who would certainly brush any obstacle from his path； and when I
remember that his wife may have been an obstacle and an object of
dislike； as that man Bates plainly told us； it seems to me…〃
〃Exactly。 And to me also。〃
〃But what were his relations with the governess； and how did you
discover them？〃
〃Bluff； Watson； bluff！ When I considered the passionate；
unconventional； unbusinesslike tone of his letter and contrasted it
with his self…contained manner and appearance； it was pretty clear
that there was some deep emotion which centred upon the accused
woman rather than upon the victim。 We've got to understand the exact
relations of those three people if we are to reach the truth。 You
saw the frontal attack which I made upon him； and how imperturbably he
received it。 Then I bluffed him by giving him the impression that I
was absolutely certain； when in reality I was only extremely
suspicious。〃
〃Perhaps he will come back？〃
〃He is sure to come back。 He must come back。 He can't leave it where
it is。 Ha！ isn't that a ring？ Yes； there is his footstep。 Well； Mr。
Gibson； I was just saying to Dr。 Watson that you were somewhat
overdue。〃
The Gold King had reentered the room in a more chastened mood than
he had left it。 His wounded pride still showed in his resentful
eyes； but his common sense had shown him that he must yield if he
would attain his end。
〃I've been thinking it over； Mr。 Holmes； and I feel that I have been
hasty in taking your remarks amiss。 You are justified in getting
down to the facts； whatever they may be； and I think the more of you
for it。 I can assure you； however； that the relations between Miss
Dunbar and me don't really touch this case。〃
〃That is for me to decide； is it not？〃
〃Yes； I guess that is so。 You're like a surgeon who wants every
symptom before he can give his diagnosis。〃
〃Exactly。 That expresses it。 And it is only a patient who has an
object in deceiving his surgeon who would conceal the facts of his
case。〃
〃That may be so； but you will admit； Mr。 Holmes； that most men would
shy off a bit when they are asked point…blank what their relations
with a woman may be… if there is really some serious feeling in the
case。 I guess most men have a little private reserve of their own in
some corner of their souls where they don't welcome intruders。 And you
burst suddenly into it。 But the object excuses you； since it was to
try and save her。 Well； the stakes are down and the reserve open；
and you can explore where you will。 What is it you want？〃
〃The truth。〃
The Gold King paused for a moment as one who marshals his
thoughts。 His grim； deep…lined face had become even sadder and more
grave。
〃I can give it to you in a very few words； Mr。 Holmes；〃 said he at
last。 〃There are some things that are painful as well as difficult
to say； so I won't go deeper than is needful。 I met my wife when I was
gold…hunting in Brazil。 Maria Pinto was the daughter of a government
official at Manaos； and she was very beautiful。 I was young and ardent
in those days； but even now； as I look back with colder blood and a
more critical eye； I can see that she was rare and wonderful in her
beauty。 It was a deep rich nature； too； passionate； whole…hearted；
tropical； ill…balanced； very different from the American women whom
I had known。 Well； to make a long story short； I loved her and I
married her。 It was only when the romance had passed… and it
lingered for years… that I realized that we had nothing… absolutely
nothing… in common。 My love faded。 If hers had faded also it might
have been easier。 But you know the wonderful way of women！ Do what I
might； nothing could turn her from me。 If I have been harsh to her；
even brutal as some have said； it has been because I knew that if I
could kill her love； or if it turned to hate； it would be easier for
both of us。 But nothing changed her。 She adored me in those English
woods as she had adored me twenty years ago on the banks of the
Amazon。 Do what I might； she was as devoted as ever。
〃Then came Miss Grace Dunbar。 She answered our advertisement and
became governess to our two children。 Perhaps you have seen her
portrait in the papers。 The whole world has proclaimed that she also
is a very beautiful woman。 Now； I make no pretence to be more moral
than my neighbours； and I will admit to you that I could not live
under the same roof with such a woman and in daily contact with her
without feeling a passionate regard for her。 Do you blame me； Mr。
Holmes？〃
〃I do not blame you for feeling it。 I should blame you if you
expresse