Sherlock Holmes

Oh, yes, obviously.

And later, no doubt, she told her twin sister Bella about having sent me the message and also announced her intention of coming to see me.

Bella saw her opportunity, murdered La Valchese...

assumed her identity and to give added realism to her role, followed through with her sister's plan by coming to see me today.

Yes, that's true.

Which is why Watson felt certain the criminal must be you, your brother, or Signor Bellini.

But you see, the episode with the cats accomplished one other thing.

It made it plausible that the great Balcase should never sing again.

To whose advantage would that be?

An imposter, of course.

In the person of a twin sister who could not sing and who must surely end her sister's great... Exactly, my dear fellow.

As soon as I knew they were twin sisters and everything but voice...

It became more than a possibility.

It became probability.

But it had to be tested.

That's why I sent for the cat, Watson.

When the sister, thinking herself unobserved, exhibited no terror for cats, well, it became a certainty.

A diabolical plan, Watson.

And I'm only thankful Miss Bordone...

that we were able to expose it before the crowd reached you tonight.