The man crossed his legs and gathered his briefcase from the floor. He opened it in his lap with the lid opening towards John, so he couldn't see what was inside it.

"I do have to admit that you seem very much the trusting type, Professor Watson. Here, you've found a total stranger, of whom you have no idea who he is, his name, or who he works for, and yet, when I mention the Hanging Gardens, you start salivating like Pavlov's dog. How do you know that I am entirely trustworthy?"

He took a manila folder from his briefcase, closed it, and put the folder, still closed, on top of the case.