by Arthur Conan Doyle

Glancing over the somewhat incoherent series of Memoirs endeavoured to illustrate few mental peculiarities friend Mr Sherlock Holmes, struck difficulty which experienced in picking out examples which shall in every way answer my purpose For in those cases Holmes has performed some tour de force of analytical reasoning, and has demonstrated the value peculiar methods of investigation, the facts themselves have often been so slight or so commonplace that feel justified in laying them public other hand, it has frequently happened that he concerned in some research where the facts most remarkable and dramatic character, but where the share which he has himself taken in determining their causes less pronounced than I, as his biographer, could wish The small matter which chronicled under the heading of "A Study in Scarlet," other later one connected loss Gloria Scott, may serve as examples Scylla and Charybdis which are forever threatening the historian It that business now about to write the part which my friend played sufficiently accentuated; and yet the whole train of circumstances is so remarkable that bring myself to omit it entirely series

It close, rainy day in October Our blinds were half-drawn, and Holmes lay curled sofa, reading and re-reading letter which he had received morning post , my tern of service in India had trained me to stand heat better than cold, and thermometer of 90 was no hardship But the paper was uninteresting Parliament had risen Everybody was out of town, and I yearned glades New Forest or the shingle of Southsea depleted bank account had caused me to postpone my holiday, and my companion, neither the country nor the sea presented the slightest attraction to him He loved to lie very centre of five millions of people, filaments stretching out and running through them, responsive to every little rumour or suspicion of unsolved crime Appreciation of Nature found no place among his many gifts, only change was when he turned his mind evil-doer town to track down his brother country

Finding that Holmes was too absorbed for conversation, I had tossed aside the barren paper, and leaning back in my chair, I fell into brown study Suddenly my companion's voice broke in upon my thoughts

" right, Watson," said he "It does seem very preposterous way of settling dispute "

"Most preposterous ! " I exclaimed, and then, suddenly realising how he had echoed the inmost thought soul, I sat up in my chair and stared at him in blank amazement

"What , Holmes ? " I cried " beyond anything which imagined "

He laughed heartily at my perplexity

"You remember," said he, "that some little time ago, when you the passage in one of Poe's sketches, close reasoner follows the unspoken thought companion, you were inclined to treat the matter as mere tour de force author On my remarking that constantly habit of doing the same thing you expressed incredulity "

"Oh, no ! "

"Perhaps not with your tongue, my dear Watson, but certainly with your eyebrows So when you throw down your paper and enter upon train of thought, very happy the opportunity of reading it off, and eventually of breaking , as proof that I in rapport "

But still far from satisfied " example which you read ," said I, "the reasoner drew his conclusions actions man whom he observed If I remember right, he stumbled over heap of stones, looked up stars, and so on But seated quietly in my chair, and what clews can you ? "

" yourself an injustice The features are given to man means he shall express his emotions, and yours are faithful servants "

" that you read my train of thoughts from my features ? "

"Your features, and especially your eyes Perhaps yourself recall how your reverie commenced ? "

"No, "

"Then tell you After throwing down your paper, the action which drew my attention , you sat for half minute with vacant expression Then your eyes fixed themselves upon your newly-framed picture of General Gordon, and alteration in your face that train of thought started But it lead very far Your eyes turned across unframed portrait of Henry Ward Beecher which stands top of your books You then glanced up wall, and your meaning was obvious You were thinking that portrait were framed it would just cover that bare space and correspond with Gordon's picture over there "

" followed me wonderfully ! " I exclaimed

" hardly astray But now your thoughts went back to Beecher, and you looked hard across as were studying the character features Then your eyes ceased to pucker, but you continued to look across, and your face was thoughtful You were recalling the incidents of Beecher's career well aware that without thinking mission which he undertook North Civil War, for I remember you expressing your passionate indignation way received more turbulent people You felt so strongly that think of Beecher without thinking also When moment later your eyes wander away picture, I suspected that your mind had now turned Civil War, and when I observed that your lips set, your eyes sparkled, and your hands clinched, positive that you were indeed thinking gallantry shown by both sides desperate struggle But then, again, your face grew sadder; you shook your head You were dwelling sadness and horror and useless waste of life Your hand stole towards your own old wound, and smile quivered lips, which showed me ridiculous side method of settling international questions had forced itself upon your mind point I agreed preposterous, and was glad that all my deductions correct "

"Absolutely ! " said I "And now that explained it, I confess that as amazed as before "

" very superficial, my dear Watson, I assure you I have intruded it upon your attention had you not shown some incredulity the other day But the evening has brought breeze with it What say to ramble through London ? "

weary little sitting-room and gladly acquiesced For three hours we strolled about together, watching the ever-changing kaleidoscope of life as it ebbs and flows through Fleet Street Strand His characteristic talk, with its keen observance of detail and subtle power of inference held me amused and enthralled ten o'clock before we reached Baker Street again brougham was waiting at our door

"Hum ! doctor's--general practitioner, I perceive," said Holmes "Not been long in practice, but has had Come to consult us, I fancy ! Lucky we came back ! "

sufficiently conversant with Holmes's methods his reasoning, and nature and state various medical instruments wicker basket which hung lamplight inside the brougham had given him the data swift deduction The light window above showed late visit was indeed intended With some curiosity what sent brother medico at such an hour, I followed Holmes into our sanctum

pale, taper-faced man with sandy whiskers rose up from chair fire entered His age may not more than three or four and thirty, but his haggard expression and unhealthy hue told of life sapped his strength and robbed him youth His manner was nervous and shy, like that of sensitive gentleman, thin white hand which he laid mantelpiece as he rose of an artist rather than of surgeon His dress was quiet and sombre--a black frock-coat, dark trousers, and touch of colour about his necktie

"Good-evening, doctor," said Holmes, cheerily " that only been waiting very "

"You spoke to my coachman, then ? "

"No, it candle side-table that told me Pray resume your seat and let me know how serve you "

"My name is Doctor Percy Trevelyan," said our visitor, "and I live at 403 Brook Street "

" not the author of monograph upon obscure nervous lesions ? " I asked

His pale cheeks flushed with pleasure at hearing that his work was known

"I so seldom hear work that quite dead," said he "My publishers most discouraging account sale yourself, I presume, medical man ? "

"A retired army surgeon "