by Arthur Conan Doyle

" some papers here," said my friend Sherlock Holmes, sat one winter's night on either side fire, "which I really think, Watson, worth your while to glance over These are the documents extraordinary case Gloria Scott, and message which struck Justice Peace Trevor dead with horror when he read it "

He had picked from drawer little tarnished cylinder, and, undoing the tape, he handed me short note scrawled upon half-sheet of slate grey-paper

"The supply of game for London is going steadily up," it ran "Head-keeper Hudson, we believe, now told to receive all orders for fly-paper and for preservation of you hen-pheasant's life "

As I glanced up from reading this enigmatic message, Holmes chuckling expression upon my face

"You look little bewildered," said he

"I how such message could inspire horror It seems rather grotesque than otherwise "

"Very likely Yet the fact remains reader, who was fine, robust old man, was knocked clean down it the butt end of pistol "

"You arouse my curiosity," said I "But why did you say just now that there were very particular reasons why study ? "

"Because it first ever engaged "

I had often endeavoured to elicit from my companion what had first turned is mind direction of criminal research, but had never caught him before in communicative humour Now he sat forward arm chair and spread out the documents upon his knees Then he lit his pipe and sat for smoking and turning them over

"You never heard me talk of Victor Trevor ? " he asked "He only friend during the two years at college never very sociable fellow, Watson, always rather fond of moping in my rooms and working out my own little methods of thought, I never mixed much men year Bar fencing and boxing I had few athletic tastes, and then my line of study was quite distinct other fellows, we had no pints of contact at all Trevor only man , only accident bull terrier freezing on to my ankle one morning as I went down to chapel

" prosaic way of forming friendship, but effective laid heels for ten days, but Trevor used in to inquire after me At first only minute's chat, but soon his visits lengthened, and end term we were close friends hearty, full-blooded fellow, full of spirits and energy, the very opposite in most respects, but we had some subjects in common, and bond of union when that as friendless as I Finally, he invited me down father's place at Donnithorpe, in Norfolk, and I accepted his hospitality for month long vacation

"Old Trevor was evidently man of some wealth and consideration, J P , and landed proprietor Donnithorpe is little hamlet just north of Langmere, country Broads The house was and old-fashioned, wide-spread, oak-beamed brick building, with fine lime-lined avenue leading up excellent wild-duck shooting fens, remarkably good fishing, small but select library, taken over, as I understood, from former occupant, and tolerable cook, fastidious man put in pleasant month there

"Trevor senior was widower, and my friend his only son

"There daughter, I heard, but she had died of diphtheria while on visit to Birmingham The father interested me extremely man of little culture, but with considerable amount of rude strength, both physically and mentally hardly any books, but he had travelled far, had seen much world And had remembered all that he had learned In person thick-set, burly man with shock of grizzled hair, brown, weather-beaten face, and blue eyes which were keen verge of fierceness Yet he had reputation for kindness and charity country-side, and was noted leniency sentences bench

"One evening, shortly after my arrival, we were sitting over glass of port after dinner, when young Trevor began habits of observation and inference which I had already formed into system, although I yet appreciated the part which they were to play in my life The old man evidently thought that his son was exaggerating description of trivial feats which I had performed

"'Come, now, Mr Holmes,' said he, laughing good-houmoredly 'I'm an excellent subject, deduce anything from me '

"' not ,' I answered; ' you about in fear of some personal attack last twelvemonth '

"The laugh faded lips, and he stared at me in great surprise

"'Well, that's true enough,' said he ' , Victor,' turning son, 'when we broke up that poaching gang they swore to knife us, and Sir Edward Holly has actually been attacked I've always been on my guard since then, though no idea how it '

"' very handsome stick,' I answered ' inscription I observed that you had it more than year But taken some pains to bore the head of it and pour melted lead hole so as it formidable weapon I argued that take such precautions unless you had some danger to fear '

"'Anything else ? ' he asked, smiling

"' boxed in your youth '

"'Right again How did it ? Is my nose knocked little straight ? ' "'No,' said I ' your ears the peculiar flattening and thickening which marks the boxing man '

"'Anything else ? '

"'You of digging by your callosities '

"'Made all my money gold fields '

"' in New Zealand '

"'Right again '

"' visited Japan '

"'Quite true '

"'And most intimately associated with some one whose initials were J . , and whom you afterwards were eager to entirely forget '

" Mr Trevor stood slowly up, fixed his large blue eyes upon me with strange wild stare, and then pitched forward, face nutshells which strewed the cloth, in dead faint

" imagine, Watson, how shocked both his son and I were His attack last long, however, for when we undid his collar, and sprinkled the water from finger-glasses over his face, gasp or two and sat up

"'Ah, boys,' said he, forcing smile, ' I haven't frightened you Strong as I look, weak place in my heart, and it take much to knock me over I don't know how you manage this, Mr Holmes, but it seems that all the detectives of fact and of fancy children in your hands That's you line of life, sir, and word of man who has seen something world '

" recommendation, exaggerated estimate ability he prefaced it, was, believe me, Watson, the very first thing which ever made me feel that profession made out of what had been the merest hobby moment, however, concerned sudden illness host of anything else

"' said nothing to pain you ? ' said I

"'Well, you certainly touched upon rather tender point Might I ask how , and ? ' He spoke now in half-jesting fashion, but look of terror still lurked back eyes