A Study in Scarlet by Arthur Conan Doyle

A Study in Scarlet by Arthur Conan Doyle
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. CONAN Doyle

{1}

part I

(_Being reprint from_the reminiscences JOHN H WATSON, M D , _late of_the army medical department ) {2}

chapter I

MR SHERLOCK HOLMES

in_the year 1878 i_took degree doctor_of_medicine of_the university London , and proceeded Netley to_go through_the course prescribed for surgeons in_the army Having completed studies there , i_was duly attached to_the Fifth Northumberland Fusiliers assistant surgeon the regiment was stationed India at_the_time , and before I_could join , the second afghan war had broken out landing Bombay, I learned that corps had advanced through_the passes, and was already deep in_the enemy 's country I followed , however , with many_other officers who were in_the same situation myself , and succeeded reaching Candahar safety , where I_found regiment , and once entered upon new duties

the campaign brought honours and promotion many , but for_me had nothing but misfortune and disaster i_was removed from brigade and attached to_the Berkshires, with_whom I served at_the fatal battle Maiwand there i_was struck on_the shoulder Jezail , which shattered the bone and grazed the subclavian artery i_should_have fallen into_the hands of_the murderous Ghazis had not been for_the devotion and courage shown Murray , orderly , who threw across pack - horse , and succeeded bringing safely to_the British lines

worn with pain , and weak from_the prolonged hardships which I had undergone, i_was removed , with great train wounded sufferers, to_the base hospital Peshawar here I rallied , and had already improved so_far to_be_able walk about_the wards, and even bask little upon_the verandah, when i_was struck down enteric fever , that curse of_our Indian possessions for months life was despaired , and when last I_came myself and became convalescent , i_was weak and emaciated that medical board determined that not day should_be lost sending back England i_was dispatched , accordingly , in_the troopship "Orontes," and landed month later Portsmouth jetty, with health irretrievably ruined , but with permission from paternal government to_spend the next nine months attempting improve

I had neither kith nor kin England , and was therefore free air -- free income eleven shillings and sixpence day will permit man to_be under such circumstances , I naturally gravitated London , that great cesspool into which all the loungers and idlers of_the empire are irresistibly drained there I stayed for some_time private hotel in_the strand , leading comfortless , meaningless existence , and spending such money I had , considerably more freely than I ought alarming did the state of_my finances become , that I soon realized that I_must either leave the metropolis and rusticate somewhere in_the country , that I_must make complete alteration style living Choosing the latter alternative , I began making mind leave the hotel , and to_take quarters some less pretentious and less expensive domicile

on_the very day that I had come to_this conclusion , i_was standing at_the criterion bar , when some one tapped on_the shoulder , and turning round I recognized young Stamford , who had_been dresser under Barts the sight friendly face in_the great wilderness London pleasant thing indeed lonely man old days had never been particular crony of_mine , but now I hailed him with enthusiasm , and , in_his turn , appeared to_be delighted to_see in_the exuberance of_my joy , I asked him lunch with at_the Holborn, and started off together hansom

" whatever have_you been doing with yourself , Watson ? " asked undisguised wonder , as_we rattled through_the crowded London streets " you_are thin lath and brown nut "

I_gave him short sketch of_my adventures, and had hardly concluded by_the_time that reached our destination

" poor devil ! " he_said , commiseratingly, after had listened misfortunes " what_are you up_to now ? "

" looking for lodgings " {3} I answered "Trying solve the problem as_to whether it_is possible to_get comfortable rooms reasonable price "

" that 's strange thing ," remarked companion ; " you_are the second man - day that has used that expression to_me "

" and who was_the first ? " I asked

"A fellow who_is working at_the chemical laboratory at_the hospital he_was bemoaning himself this_morning because he_could_not get someone to_go halves with_him some nice rooms which had found , and which were too_much for_his purse "

" Jove ! " I cried , " really wants someone the rooms and_the expense , I_am the very man for him i_should prefer having partner being alone "

young Stamford looked rather strangely over his wine - glass " you don't know Sherlock Holmes yet ," he_said ; " perhaps you_would_not care for him constant companion "

" why , what is_there against him ? "

"Oh, I didn't say there_was anything against him he_is little queer in_his ideas -- enthusiast some branches science far I_know he_is decent fellow enough "

"A medical student , I suppose ? " said I

" -- I_have idea what intends to_go for I believe he_is well anatomy , and he_is first - class chemist ; but , far I_know , has never taken out any systematic medical classes his studies are very desultory and eccentric , but has amassed lot out - - the way knowledge which would astonish his professors "

" did you never ask him what he_was going for ? " I asked

" ; he_is_not man that_it_is easy draw out , though he_can_be communicative enough when_the fancy seizes him "

" i_should like meet him ," I_said " I_am lodge with anyone , prefer man studious and quiet habits I_am not strong enough yet stand much noise excitement I had enough both Afghanistan last for_the remainder of_my natural existence how could I meet this friend yours ? "

" he_is sure to_be at_the laboratory ," returned companion " either avoids the place for weeks, else works there from morning night if_you like , we_shall drive round together after luncheon "

" certainly ," I answered , and_the conversation drifted away into other channels

we_made our way to_the hospital after leaving the Holborn, Stamford gave_me few more particulars about_the gentleman whom I proposed to_take fellow - lodger

" you mustn't blame if_you don't get with_him ," he_said ; " I_know nothing more him than I_have learned from meeting him occasionally in_the laboratory you proposed this arrangement , you_must not hold responsible "

" if_we don't get it_will_be easy part company ," I answered " seems to_me , Stamford ," I added , looking hard companion , " that you_have some reason for washing your hands of_the matter is_this fellow 's temper formidable , what_is ? Don't mealy - mouthed about_it "

" it_is_not easy express the inexpressible," answered with laugh "Holmes little too scientific for_my tastes -- approaches cold -bloodedness I_could imagine his giving friend little pinch of_the latest vegetable alkaloid, not out malevolence , you understand , but simply out spirit inquiry in_order to_have accurate idea of_the effects to_do him justice , i_think that he_would take himself with_the same readiness appears to_have passion for definite and exact knowledge "

" very right too "

" yes , but may_be pushed excess when comes beating the subjects in_the dissecting-rooms with stick , it_is certainly taking rather bizarre shape "

"Beating the subjects ! "

" yes , to_verify how far bruises may_be produced after death I_saw him with own eyes "

" and yet you say he_is_not medical student ? "

" heaven knows what the objects of_his studies are but here we_are , and you_must form your own impressions about him " spoke , turned down narrow lane and passed through small side - door , which opened into wing of_the great hospital it_was familiar ground to_me , and I needed guiding as_we ascended the bleak stone staircase and made our way down the long corridor with its vista whitewashed wall and dun -coloured doors near the further end low arched passage branched away from_it and led to_the chemical laboratory

this_was lofty chamber , lined and littered with countless bottles broad , low tables were scattered about , which bristled with retorts, test -tubes, and little Bunsen lamps, with their blue flickering flames there_was only_one student in_the room , who was bending over distant table absorbed in_his work at_the sound of_our steps glanced round and sprang to_his feet with cry pleasure "I've found ! I've found ," shouted companion , running towards with test - tube in_his hand " I_have found re- agent which_is precipitated hoemoglobin, {4} and nothing else " had discovered gold mine , greater delight could_not have shone upon his features

"Dr Watson, Mr Sherlock Holmes," said Stamford , introducing

" how are_you ? " he_said cordially , gripping hand with strength for_which i_should hardly have given him credit " you_have_been Afghanistan, I perceive "

" how earth did you_know that ? " I asked astonishment

" never mind ," said , chuckling himself " the question now about hoemoglobin no_doubt you_see the significance of_this discovery of_mine ? "

" it_is interesting, chemically , no_doubt ," I answered , " but practically ----"

" why , man , it_is_the most practical medico- legal discovery for years Don't you_see that_it gives infallible test for blood stains come over here now ! " seized by_the coat - sleeve in_his eagerness , and drew over to_the table which had_been working " let_us_have some fresh blood ," he_said , digging long bodkin into his finger , and drawing off the resulting drop blood chemical pipette " now , I add this small quantity blood litre water you perceive that_the resulting mixture has_the appearance pure water the proportion blood cannot_be more than one million I_have no_doubt , however , that we_shall_be_able obtain the characteristic reaction " spoke , threw into_the vessel few white crystals, and then added some drops transparent fluid instant the contents assumed dull mahogany colour, and brownish dust was precipitated to_the bottom of_the glass jar

"Ha ! ha ! " cried , clapping his hands, and looking delighted child with new toy " what do_you_think of_that ? "

" seems_to_be very delicate test ," I remarked

" beautiful ! ! the old Guiacum test was very clumsy and uncertain is_the microscopic examination for blood corpuscles the latter valueless if_the stains are few hours old now , this appears act as_well whether the blood old new had this test been invented , there_are hundreds men now walking the earth who_would long_ago have paid the penalty of_their crimes "

" indeed ! " I murmured

" criminal cases are continually hinging upon that one point man suspected crime months perhaps after it_has_been committed his linen clothes are examined , and brownish stains discovered upon them are they blood stains, mud stains, rust stains, fruit stains, what_are they ? that_is question which_has puzzled many expert , and why ? because there_was reliable test now we_have the Sherlock Holmes' test , and there_will longer any difficulty "

his eyes fairly glittered spoke , and put his hand over his heart and bowed as_if some applauding crowd conjured his imagination

" you_are to_be congratulated ," I remarked, considerably surprised his enthusiasm

" there_was the case Von Bischoff Frankfort last year he_would certainly have_been hung had this test been existence then mason Bradford , and_the notorious Muller, and Lefevre Montpellier, and Samson New_Orleans I_could name score cases in_which would_have_been decisive "

" you seem_to_be walking crime ," said Stamford with laugh " you_might start paper those lines call the ` police News of_the past '"

" very interesting reading might_be made , too ," remarked Sherlock Holmes, sticking small piece plaster over the prick on_his finger " I_have to_be careful ," continued , turning to_me with smile , " for I dabble with poisons good_deal " held out his hand spoke , and I noticed that_it_was all mottled over with similar pieces plaster , and discoloured with strong acids

" came here business ," said Stamford , sitting down high three -legged stool , and pushing another one direction with_his foot " friend here wants to_take diggings , and as_you were complaining that you_could get one to_go halves with_you , i_thought that I had better bring you together "

Sherlock Holmes seemed delighted at_the idea sharing his rooms with " I_have eye suite baker street ," he_said , " which would suit down to_the ground you don't mind the smell strong tobacco , I_hope ? "

"I always smoke ` ship 's' myself ," I answered

" that 's good enough I generally have chemicals about , and occasionally experiments would that annoy you ? "

" means "

" let see -- what_are other shortcomings I get in_the dumps times, and don't open mouth for days end you_must not think I_am sulky when I do_that just let

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