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 student room, who was bending over distant table absorbed work sound steps he glanced round and sprang feet with cry of pleasure "I've found it ! I've found it," he shouted to my companion, running towards us with test-tube hand " found re-agent precipitated by hoemoglobin, {4} and by nothing else " Had he discovered gold mine, greater delight have shone upon his features

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

"How ? " cordially, gripping my hand with strength hardly have given him credit " in Afghanistan, I perceive "

"How on earth did that ? " I asked in astonishment

"Never mind," said he, chuckling to himself "The question now is about hoemoglobin the significance discovery ? "

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

"Why, man, most practical medico-legal discovery for years Don't gives us an infallible test for blood stains Come over here now ! " He seized me coat-sleeve eagerness, and drew me over table at which he working " some fresh blood," , digging long bodkin into his finger, and drawing off the resulting drop of blood in chemical pipette "Now, I add this small quantity of blood to litre of water You perceive resulting mixture appearance of pure water The proportion of blood more than one in million , however, that to obtain the characteristic reaction " As he spoke, he threw vessel few white crystals, and then added some drops of transparent fluid In an instant the contents assumed dull mahogany colour, and brownish dust was precipitated bottom glass jar

"Ha ! ha ! " he cried, clapping his hands, and looking as delighted as child with new toy "What ? "

"It very delicate test," I remarked

"Beautiful ! beautiful ! The old Guiacum test was very clumsy and uncertain So microscopic examination for blood corpuscles The latter is valueless stains are few hours old Now, this appears to act whether the blood is old or new Had this test been invented, hundreds of men now walking the earth have paid the penalty crimes "

"Indeed ! " I murmured

"Criminal cases are continually hinging upon that one point man is suspected of crime months perhaps after committed His linen or clothes are examined, and brownish stains discovered upon them Are they blood stains, or mud stains, or rust stains, or fruit stains, or they ? question puzzled many an expert, and why ? Because no reliable test Now the Sherlock Holmes' test, and no longer be any difficulty "

His eyes fairly glittered as he spoke, and he put his hand over his heart and bowed to some applauding crowd conjured up by his imagination

" congratulated," I remarked, considerably surprised at his enthusiasm

" the case of Von Bischoff at Frankfort last year certainly hung had this test been in existence Then Mason of Bradford, notorious Muller, and Lefevre of Montpellier, and Samson of new Orleans name score of cases it decisive "

"You walking calendar of crime," said Stamford with laugh " start paper on those lines Call it the `Police News Past '"

"Very interesting reading it made, too," remarked Sherlock Holmes, sticking small piece of plaster over the prick finger " careful," he continued, turning with smile, "for I dabble with poisons " He held out his hand as he spoke, and I noticed all mottled over with similar pieces of plaster, and discoloured with strong acids

"We came here on business," said Stamford, sitting down on high three-legged stool, and pushing another one in my direction foot "My friend here wants diggings, and were complaining that get no one halves , that I had better bring you together "

Sherlock Holmes seemed delighted idea of sharing his rooms with me " my eye on suite in Baker Street," , "which would suit us down ground You don't mind the smell of strong tobacco, ? "

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

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

"By no means "

"Let me see -- my other shortcomings I get dumps at times, and don't open my mouth for days on end not think sulky when I Just let me alone, and I'll soon be right What to confess now ? It's just for two fellows the worst of one another begin to live together "

I laughed cross-examination "I keep bull pup," , "and I object to rows because my nerves are shaken, and I get up at all sorts of ungodly hours, and extremely lazy another set of vices when I'm well, but those are the principal ones at present "

" include violin-playing in your category of rows ? " he asked, anxiously

"It depends player," I answered "A well-played violin is treat gods -- badly-played one ----"

"Oh, that's all right," he cried, with merry laugh " consider the thing as settled -- , rooms are agreeable "

"When shall we see them ? "

"Call here at noon to-morrow, and we'll go together and settle everything," he answered

"All right -- noon exactly," said I, shaking his hand

We left him working among his chemicals, and we walked together towards my hotel

" ," I asked suddenly, stopping and turning upon Stamford, "how the deuce did he know that I had come from Afghanistan ? "

My companion smiled an enigmatical smile "That's just his little peculiarity," "A people have wanted how he finds things out "

"Oh ! mystery ? " I cried, rubbing my hands " very piquant much obliged for bringing us together `The proper study of mankind is man,' "

" study him, then," Stamford said, as he bade me good-bye "You'll find him knotty problem, though I'll wager he learns more about you than you about him Good-bye "

"Good-bye," I answered, and strolled on to my hotel, considerably interested in my new acquaintance

CHAPTER II

THE SCIENCE OF DEDUCTION

WE met as he had arranged, and inspected the rooms at No 221B, {5} Baker Street, he had spoken at our meeting They consisted of couple of comfortable bed-rooms and single large airy sitting-room, cheerfully furnished, and illuminated by two broad windows So desirable in every way were the apartments, and so moderate did the terms seem when divided , bargain was concluded spot, and we at once entered into possession That very evening I moved my things round hotel, and following morning Sherlock Holmes followed me with several boxes and portmanteaus For we were busily employed in unpacking and laying out our property best advantage That done, we gradually began to settle down and to accommodate ourselves to our new surroundings

Holmes was certainly not difficult man to live with quiet ways, habits were regular rare for him up after ten at night, and he had invariably breakfasted and gone out before I rose morning Sometimes he spent his day chemical laboratory, sometimes dissecting-rooms, and occasionally in long walks, which appeared him lowest portions City Nothing could exceed his energy working fit was upon him; but now and again reaction would seize him, and for days on end lie sofa sitting-room, hardly uttering word or moving muscle from morning to night occasions noticed such dreamy, vacant expression eyes, that suspected him of being addicted use of some narcotic, the temperance and cleanliness whole life forbidden such notion