"What ineffable twaddle ! " I cried, slapping the magazine down table, "I never read such rubbish in my life "

" it ? " asked Sherlock Holmes

"Why, this article," , pointing at it with my egg spoon as I sat down to my breakfast " that read it since marked it I don't deny smartly written It irritates me though evidently the theory of some arm-chair lounger who evolves all these neat little paradoxes seclusion own study practical like him clapped down in third class carriage Underground, and asked the trades of all his fellow-travellers lay thousand to one against him "

" lose your money," Sherlock Holmes remarked calmly "As article it myself "

"You ! "

"Yes, turn both for observation and for deduction The theories which expressed there, and which appear so chimerical are really extremely practical -- so practical that I depend upon them bread and cheese "

"And how ? " I asked involuntarily

"Well, trade own I suppose the I'm consulting detective, understand what Here in London lots of Government detectives and lots of private ones When these fellows are at fault , and I manage them right scent They lay all the evidence before me, and generally able, help knowledge history of crime, to set them straight strong family resemblance about misdeeds, and all the details of thousand at your finger ends, odd 't unravel the thousand and first Lestrade is well-known detective He got himself into fog recently over forgery case, was what brought him here "

"And these other people ? "

" mostly sent on by private inquiry agencies all people in trouble about something, and want little enlightening I listen story, they listen to my comments, and then I pocket my fee "

"But ," , "that without leaving your room unravel some knot which other men can make nothing of, although seen every detail for themselves ? "

"Quite so kind of intuition that way Now and again case turns up little more complex Then to bustle about things with my own eyes lot of special knowledge which I apply problem, and which facilitates matters wonderfully Those rules of deduction laid down article which aroused your scorn, are invaluable in practical work Observation with me is second nature You appeared surprised when you, first meeting, that you had come from Afghanistan "

"You were told, "

"Nothing sort you came from Afghanistan From long habit the train of thoughts ran so swiftly through my mind, that I arrived conclusion without being conscious of intermediate steps There were such steps, however The train of reasoning ran, ` gentleman of medical type, but air of military man Clearly an army doctor, then He has just come tropics, face is dark, and the natural tint skin, wrists are fair He has undergone hardship and sickness, as his haggard face says clearly His left arm injured He holds it in stiff and unnatural manner Where tropics could an English army doctor have seen much hardship and got his arm wounded ? Clearly in Afghanistan ' The whole train of thought occupy second I then remarked that you came from Afghanistan, and you were astonished "

" simple enough explain it," , smiling "You remind me of Edgar Allen Poe's Dupin I had no idea that such individuals did exist outside of stories "

Sherlock Holmes rose and lit his pipe " that complimenting me in comparing me to Dupin," he observed "Now, in my opinion, Dupin was very inferior fellow That trick of breaking in friends' thoughts with an apropos remark after quarter of an hour's silence is really very showy and superficial He had some analytical genius, ; but by no means such phenomenon as Poe appeared to imagine "

" read Gaboriau's works ? " I asked "Does Lecoq come your idea of detective ? "

Sherlock Holmes sniffed sardonically "Lecoq was miserable bungler," , in an angry voice; "he had only to recommend him, was his energy That book made me positively ill The question was how to identify an unknown prisoner done it in twenty-four hours Lecoq took six months or so It made text-book for detectives to teach them what to avoid "

rather indignant at having two characters whom I had admired treated cavalier style I walked over window, and stood looking out busy street "This fellow very clever," to myself, "but certainly very conceited "

" no crimes and no criminals days," , querulously " the use of having brains profession well that it in me my name famous No man lives or has ever lived who has brought the same amount of study and of natural talent detection of crime which And the result ? no crime to detect, or, at most, some bungling villany with motive so transparent that even Scotland Yard official through it "

still annoyed at his bumptious style of conversation it best the topic

"I wonder what that fellow is looking for ? " I asked, pointing to stalwart, plainly-dressed individual who was walking slowly down the other side street, looking anxiously numbers He had large blue envelope hand, and was evidently the bearer of message

"You mean the retired sergeant of Marines," said Sherlock Holmes

"Brag and bounce ! " thought I to myself " that verify his guess "

The thought had hardly passed through my mind man whom we were watching caught sight number door, and ran rapidly across the roadway We heard loud knock, deep voice below, and heavy steps ascending the stair

" Sherlock Holmes," , stepping room and handing my friend the letter

Here was an opportunity of taking the conceit out of him He little thought when that random shot "May I ask, my lad," , blandest voice, "what your trade ? "

"Commissionaire, sir," , gruffly "Uniform away for repairs "

"And you were ? " I asked, with slightly malicious glance at my companion

"A sergeant, sir, Royal Marine Light Infantry, sir No answer ? Right, sir "

He clicked his heels together, raised his hand in salute, and was gone

CHAPTER III

THE LAURISTON GARDEN MYSTERY {6}

I CONFESS that considerably startled fresh proof practical nature companion's theories My respect powers of analysis increased wondrously There still remained some lurking suspicion in my mind, however, whole thing was pre-arranged episode, intended to dazzle me, though what earthly object he in taking me in was past my comprehension When I looked at him he had finished reading the note, eyes had assumed the vacant, lack-lustre expression which showed mental abstraction

"How did you deduce that ? " I asked

"Deduce what ? " said he, petulantly

"Why, that retired sergeant of Marines "