Thetwomenhadstoppedoppositethewindow。SomechalkmarksoverthewaistcoatpocketweretheonlysignsofbilliardswhichIcouldseeinoneofthem。
Theotherwasaverysmall，darkfellow，withhishatpushedbackandseveralpackagesunderhisarm。”Anoldsoldier，Iperceive，”saidSherlock。”Andveryrecentlydischarged，”remarkedthebrother。”ServedinIndia，Isee。””Andanon-commissionedofficer。””RoyalArtillery，Ifancy，”saidSherlock。”Andawidower。””Butwithachild。””Children，mydearboy，children。””Come，”saidI，laughing，”thisisalittletoomuch。””Surely，”answeredHolmes，”itisnothardtosaythatamanwiththatbearing，expressionofauthority，andsunbakedskin，isasoldier，ismorethanaprivate，andisnotlongfromIndia。””Thathehasnotlefttheservicelongisshownbyhisstillwearingisammunitionboots，astheyarecalled，”observedMycroft。”Hehadnotthecavalrystride，yetheworehishatononeside，asisshownbythelighterskinofthatsideofhisbrow。Hisweightisagainsthisbeingasapper。Heisintheartillery。””Then，ofcourse，hiscompletemourningshowsthathehaslostsomeoneverydear。Thefactthatheisdoinghisownshoppinglooksasthoughitwerehiswife。Hehasbeenbuyingthingsforchildren，youperceive。Thereisarattle，whichshowsthatoneofthemisveryyoung。Thewifeprobablydiedinchildbed。Thefactthathehasapicture-bookunderhisarmshowsthatthereisanotherchildtobethoughtof。”
Ibegantounderstandwhatmyfriendmeantwhenhesaidthathisbrotherpossessedevenkeenerfacultiesthathedidhimself。Heglancedacrossatmeandsmiled。Mycrofttooksnufffromatortoise-shellbox，andbrushedawaythewanderinggrainsfromhiscoatfrontwithalarge，redsilkhandkerchief。”Bytheway，Sherlock，”saidhe，”Ihavehadsomethingquiteafteryourownheart——amostsingularproblem——submittedtomyjudgment。Ireallyhadnottheenergytofollowitupsaveinaveryincompletefashion，butitgavemeabasisforsomepleasingspeculation。Ifyouwouldcaretohearthefacts——””MydearMycroft，Ishouldbedelighted。”
Thebrotherscribbledanoteuponaleafofhispocket-book，and，ringingthebell，hehandedittothewaiter。”IhaveaskedMr。Melastostepacross，”saidhe。”Helodgesontheflooraboveme，andIhavesomeslightacquaintancewithhim，whichledhimtocometomeinhisperplexity。Mr。MelasisaGreekbyextraction，asIunderstand，andheisaremarkablelinguist。HeearnshislivingpartlyasinterpreterinthelawcourtsandpartlybyactingasguidetoanywealthyOrientalswhomayvisittheNorthumberlandAvenuehotels。IthinkIwillleavehimtotellhisveryremarkableexperienceinhisownfashion。”
Afewminuteslaterwewerejoinedbyashort，stoutmanwhoseolivefaceandcoal-blackhairproclaimedhisSouthernorigin，thoughhisspeechwasthatofaneducatedEnglishman。HeshookhandseagerlywithSherlockHolmes，andhisdarkeyessparkledwithpleasurewhenheunderstoodthatthespecialistwasanxioustohearhisstory。”Idonotbelievethatthepolicecreditme——onmyword，Idonot，”saidheinawailingvoice。”Justbecausetheyhaveneverheardofitbefore，theythinkthatsuchathingcannotbe。ButIknowthatIshallneverbeeasyinmyminduntilIknowwhathasbecomeofmypoormanwiththesticking-plasteruponhisface。””Iamallattention，”saidSherlockHolmes。”ThisisWednesdayevening，”saidMr。Melas。”Wellthen，itwasMondaynight——onlytwodaysago，youunderstand——thatallthishappened。Iamaninterpreter，asperhapsmyneighbortherehastoldyou。Iinterpretalllanguages——ornearlyall——butasIamaGreekbybirthandwithaGrecianname，itiswiththatparticulartonguethatIamprincipallyassociated。FormanyyearsIhavebeenthechiefGreekinterpreterinLondon，andmynameisverywellknowninthehotels。