by Arthur Conan Doyle

An anomaly which often struck me character friend Sherlock Holmes , although methods of thought he neatest and most methodical of mankind, and although also he affected certain quiet primness of dress, none the less personal habits untidy men that ever drove fellow-lodger to distraction Not that least conventional respect myself The rough-and-tumble work in Afghanistan, coming top of natural Bohemianism of disposition, me rather more lax than befits medical man who keeps his cigars coal-scuttle, his tobacco toe end of Persian slipper, unanswered correspondence transfixed by jack-knife very centre wooden mantelpiece, then I begin myself virtuous airs always held, too, that pistol practice distinctly an open-air pastime; and when Holmes, in one queer humours, would sit in an arm-chair hair-trigger and hundred Boxer cartridges, and proceed to adorn the opposite wall with patriotic V R Done in bullet-pocks, strongly that neither the atmosphere nor the appearance room was improved

Our chambers were always full of chemicals and of criminal relics which had way of wandering into unlikely positions, and of turning up butter-dish or in even less desirable places But his papers were my great crux He had horror of destroying documents, especially those which were connected past cases, and yet only once in every year or two that muster energy to docket and arrange them; for, as mentioned somewhere incoherent memoirs, the outbursts of passionate energy when he performed the remarkable feats his name is associated were followed by reactions of lethargy during which lie about violin books, hardly moving save fro the sofa table Thus month after month his papers accumulated, until every corner room was stacked with bundles of manuscript which were on no account burned, and which put away save by their owner One winter's night, sat together fire, I ventured to suggest to him that, as he had finished pasting extracts into his common-place book, he might employ the next two hours in making our room little more habitable deny the justice request, so with rather rueful face went off bedroom, he returned presently pulling large tin box behind him This he placed middle floor and, squatting down upon stool in front of it, he threw back the lid I already third full of bundles of paper tied up with red tape into separate packages

" cases enough here, Watson," said he, looking at me with mischievous eyes " that if all that I had box ask me to pull some out instead of putting others in "

"These are the records of your early work, then ? " I asked " often wished that I had notes cases "

"Yes, my boy, these were all done prematurely before my biographer had come to glorify me " He lifted bundle after bundle in tender, caressing sort of way " all successes, Watson," said he "But some pretty little problems among them Here's the record Tarleton murders, case of Vamberry, the wine merchant, adventure old Russian woman, singular affair aluminium crutch, as full account of Ricoletti club-foot, abominable wife And here--ah, now, this really is something little recherch "

He dived his arm down bottom chest, and brought up small wooden box with sliding lid, such as children's toys are kept in From within he produced crumpled piece of paper, and old-fashioned brass key, peg of wood with ball of string attached , and three rusty old disks of metal

"Well, my boy, what make lot ? " he asked, smiling at my expression

" curious collection "

"Very curious, story that hangs round strike you as being more curious still "

"These relics have history then ? "

" so history "

"What ? "

Sherlock Holmes picked them up one by one, and laid them along the edge table Then he reseated himself chair and looked them over with gleam of satisfaction eyes

"These," said he, "are all that left to remind me adventure Musgrave Ritual "

I had heard him mention the case more than once, though I had never been able to gather the details " so glad," said I, " an account of it "

"And leave the litter ? " he cried, mischievously "Your tidiness won't bear much strain after all, Watson But glad that add to your annals, for points which make it quite unique criminal records or, I believe, of country collection trifling achievements would certainly be incomplete which contained no account very singular business

" remember how the affair Gloria Scott, and my conversation unhappy man whose fate you of, first turned my attention direction profession become my life's work me now when my name has become known far and wide, and when generally recognised both public and official force as being final court of appeal in doubtful cases Even knew me first, affair which commemorated in 'A Study in Scarlet,' I had already established considerable, though not very lucrative, connection hardly realise, then, how difficult it at first, and how long I had to wait before I succeeded in making any headway

"When I first came London I had rooms in Montague Street, just round the corner British Museum, and there I waited, filling in my too abundant leisure time by studying all those branches of science which might make me more efficient Now and again cases came in my way, principally introduction of old fellow-students, for during my last years University of talk there about myself and my methods The third cases Musgrave Ritual, and interest aroused singular chain of events, large issues which proved at stake, that I trace my first stride towards to position which I now hold

"Reginald Musgrave same college as myself, and I had some slight acquaintance not generally popular undergraduates, though it always seemed that set down as pride was really an attempt extreme natural diffidence In appearance man of exceedingly aristocratic type, thin, high-nosed, and large-eyed, with languid and yet courtly manners indeed scion of very oldest families kingdom, though his branch was cadet one which had separated northern Musgraves sixteenth century, and had established itself in western Sussex, where the Manor House of Hurlstone is perhaps the oldest inhabited building county Something birth place seemed to cling man, and I never looked at his pale, keen face or the poise head without associating him with grey archways and mullioned windows and all the venerable wreckage of feudal keep we drifted into talk, and remember that more than once he expressed keen interest in my methods of observation and inference

"For four years I had seen nothing of him until one morning he walked into my room in Montague Street He had changed little, was dressed like young man of fashion-- always bit of dandy--and preserved the same quiet, suave manner which had formerly distinguished him

"'How has all gone Musgrave ? " I asked, after we had cordially shaken hands

"'You probably heard poor father's death,' said he; ' carried off about two Since then had the Hurlstone estates to manage, and as member district , my life busy one But I understand, Holmes, that turning to practical ends those powers you used to amaze us ? "

"'Yes,' said I, ' taken to living by my wits '

"' delighted to hear it, for your advice at present exceedingly valuable some very strange doings at Hurlstone, police to throw no light matter really the most extraordinary and inexplicable business '

" imagine with what eagerness I listened to him, Watson, very chance I panting during all those months of inaction seemed come within my reach In my inmost heart I believed that succeed where others failed, and now I had the opportunity to test myself

"'Pray, let me have the details,' I cried

"Reginald Musgrave sat down opposite , and lit the cigarette which I had pushed towards him