No 3 Adeventures of Sherlock Holmes

Arthur Conan Doyle/Sherlock Holmes

"My dear fellow," said Sherlock Holmes sat on either side fire lodgings at Baker Street, "life is infinitely stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent dare to conceive the things which are really mere commonplaces of existence fly out window hand in hand, hover over this great city, gently remove the roofs, and peep in queer things which are going on, the strange coincidences, the plannings, the cross-purposes, the wonderful chains of events, working through generation, and leading most outre results, it would make all fiction with its conventionalities and foreseen conclusions most stale and unprofitable "

"And yet not convinced of it," I answered "The cases which come to light papers are, as rule, bald enough, and vulgar enough police reports realism pushed to its extreme limits, and yet the result is, it confessed, neither fascinating nor artistic "

"A certain selection and discretion used in producing realistic effect," remarked Holmes " wanting police report, where more stress is laid, perhaps, platitudes magistrate than details, which to an observer contain the vital essence whole matter Depend upon it, nothing so unnatural commonplace "

I smiled and shook my head " quite understand your thinking so " " , in your position of unofficial adviser and helper to everybody absolutely puzzled, throughout three continents, brought in contact with all strange and bizarre But here"--I picked up the morning paper ground--" put it to practical test first heading I come 'A husband's cruelty wife ' half column of print, but without reading it all perfectly familiar , , the other woman, the drink, the push, the blow, the bruise, the sympathetic sister or landlady The crudest of writers could invent nothing more crude "

"Indeed, your example is an unfortunate one for your argument," said Holmes, taking the paper and glancing his eye down it " Dundas separation case, and, as it happens, engaged in clearing up some small points in connection with it The husband was teetotaler, no other woman, conduct complained of he had drifted habit of winding up every meal by taking out his false teeth and hurling them at his wife, which, allow, an action likely to occur imagination average story-teller Take pinch of snuff, Doctor, and acknowledge that scored over you in your example "

He held out his snuffbox of old gold, with great amethyst centre lid Its splendour was contrast homely ways and simple life that help commenting upon it

"Ah," said he, "I forgot that I seen you for some weeks little souvenir King of Bohemia in return assistance case Irene Adler papers "

" ring ? " I asked, glancing at remarkable brilliant which sparkled upon his finger

" reigning family of Holland, though the matter I served them was delicacy that confide it even , who good enough to chronicle little problems "

"And any on hand just now ? " I asked with interest

"Some ten or twelve, but none which present any feature of interest important, you understand, without being interesting Indeed, found usually in unimportant matters field observation, and quick analysis of cause and effect which gives the charm to an investigation The larger crimes are apt the simpler, bigger the crime thc more obvious, as rule, motive cases, save rather intricate matter been referred from Marseilles, nothing which presents any features of interest possible, however, that something better before minutes are over, is one clients, or much mistaken "

He had risen chair and was standing parted blinds gazing down dull neutral-tinted London street Looking over his shoulder, that pavement opposite there stood large woman with heavy fur boa round her neck, and large curling red feather in broad-brimmed hat tilted in coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her ear From under this great panoply she peeped up in nervous, hesitating fashion at our windows, while her body oscillated backward and forward, and her fingers fidgeted with her glove buttons Suddenly, with plunge, as swimmer who leaves the bank, she hurried across the road, and we heard the sharp clang bell

" those symptoms before," said Holmes, throwing his cigarette fire "Oscillation pavement always means an affaire de coeur like advice, but sure matter too delicate for communication And yet even here discriminate When woman seriously wronged by man she no longer oscillates, usual symptom is broken bell wire Here take it love matter, but maiden angry as perplexed, or grieved But here she comes in person to resolve our doubts "

As he spoke tap door, boy in buttons entered to announce Miss Mary Sutherland, while the lady herself loomed behind his small black figure like full-sailed merchant-man behind tiny pilot boat Sherlock Holmes welcomed her easy courtesy remarkable, and, having closed the door and bowed her into an armchair, he looked her over minute and yet abstracted fashion peculiar to him

" not find," , "that with your short sight little trying much typewriting ? "

" at first," she answered, "but now where the letters are without looking " Then, suddenly realizing the full purport words, she gave violent start and looked up, with fear and astonishment upon her broad, good-humoured face "You've heard about me, Mr Holmes," she cried, "else how could all that ? "

"Never mind," said Holmes, laughing; " my business things Perhaps trained myself what others overlook , why should you come to consult me ? "

" , sir, because I heard of you from Mrs Etherege, whose husband you found so easy police and everyone had given him up for dead Oh, Mr Holmes, do I'm not rich, but still hundred year in my own right, besides the little that I make machine, and give it all what has become of Mr Hosmer Angel "

"Why did you come away to consult me hurry ? " asked Sherlock Holmes, finger-tips together eyes ceiling

Again startled look came over the somewhat vacuous face of Miss Mary Sutherland "Yes, bang house," she said, " made me angry the easy way Mr Windibank-- , my father--took it all go police, and go , and so at last, as do nothing and kept on saying that no harm done, it made me mad, and I just on with my things and came right away "

"Your father," said Holmes, "your stepfather, surely, name is different "

"Yes, my stepfather I call him father, though it sounds funny, too, for only five years and two months older than myself "

"And your mother is alive ? "

"Oh, yes, mother is alive and well I wasn't best pleased, Mr Holmes, when she married again so soon after father's death, and man who was nearly fifteen years younger than herself Father was plumber Tottenham Court Road, and he left tidy business behind him, which mother carried on with Mr Hardy, the foreman; but when Mr Windibank came her sell the business, for very superior, being traveller in wines They got 4700 pounds goodwill and interest, which wasn't near as father got if he alive "

I had expected Sherlock Holmes impatient under this rambling and inconsequential narrative, but, contrary he had listened greatest concentration of attention

"Your own little income," he asked, "does it come business ? "

"Oh, no, sir quite separate and was left me by my uncle Ned in Auckland in New Zealand stock, paying 4 1/2 per cent Two thousand five hundred pounds amount, but only touch the interest "

"You interest me extremely," said Holmes "And since you draw so large sum as hundred year, with what you earn bargain, you travel little and indulge yourself in every way I believe that single lady can get on very nicely upon an income of about 60 pounds "

" do with much that, Mr Holmes, but you understand that as long as I live at home I don't wish burden , and so the use money just while staying , only just Mr Windibank draws my interest every quarter and pays it over to mother, and that do pretty well with what I earn at typewriting It brings me twopence sheet, and often do from fifteen to twenty sheets in a-day "

"You your position very clear ," said Holmes " my friend, Dr Watson, before whom speak as freely as before myself Kindly tell us now all connection with Mr Hosmer Angel "