"No, indeed "

" easier it than to explain why it were asked that two and two made four, find some difficulty, and yet fact Even across the street I great blue anchor tattooed back fellow's hand That smacked sea He had military carriage, however, and regulation side whiskers There the marine man with some amount of self-importance and certain air of command observed the way he held his head and swung his cane steady, respectable, middle-aged man, too, face of him -- all facts which led me that he sergeant "

"Wonderful ! " I ejaculated

"Commonplace," said Holmes, though expression that pleased at my evident surprise and admiration " just now that there were no criminals It appears that wrong -- look ! " He threw me over the note which the commissionaire had brought " {7}

"Why," I cried, as I cast my eye over it, " terrible ! "

"It does little common," he remarked, calmly "Would you mind reading it aloud ? "

letter which to him ----

"MY SHERLOCK HOLMES, -- " bad business during the night at 3, Lauriston Gardens, off the Brixton Road Our man beat saw light there about two morning, and house was an empty one, suspected that something was amiss the door open, and front room, bare of furniture, discovered the body of gentleman, well dressed, and having cards pocket bearing the name of `Enoch J Drebber, Cleveland, Ohio, U S . ' There no robbery, nor any evidence how the man met his death marks of blood room, but no wound upon his person at loss how empty house; indeed, the whole affair is puzzler come round house before twelve, me there left everything in statu quo until I unable fuller details, and would esteem it great kindness favour me with your opinion Yours faithfully, "TOBIAS GREGSON "

"Gregson smartest Scotland Yarders," my friend remarked; "he and Lestrade are the pick of bad lot both quick and energetic, but conventional -- shockingly so their knives into one another, too as jealous as pair of professional beauties some fun over both put scent "

amazed calm way he rippled on "Surely not moment lost," I cried, "shall I go and order you cab ? "

"I'm not sure about whether go the most incurably lazy devil that ever stood in shoe leather -- , fit is on me, for spry enough at times "

"Why, just such chance as longing for "

"My dear fellow, what does it matter Supposing I unravel the whole matter, that Gregson, Lestrade, and Co will pocket all the credit That comes of being an unofficial personage "

"But he begs you to help him "

"Yes that his superior, and acknowledges it ; but cut his tongue out before own it to any third person However, go look work it out on my own hook laugh at them if nothing else Come on ! "

He hustled overcoat, and bustled about in way that showed that an energetic fit had superseded the apathetic one

"Get your hat,"

"You wish me ? "

"Yes, nothing better " minute later we were both in hansom, driving furiously Brixton Road

foggy, cloudy morning, and dun-coloured veil hung over the house-tops, looking like the reflection mud-coloured streets beneath My companion was best of spirits, and prattled away about Cremona fiddles, difference between Stradivarius and an Amati As , silent, dull weather melancholy business we were engaged, depressed my spirits

"You don't seem much thought matter in hand," at last, interrupting Holmes' musical disquisition

"No data yet," he answered " capital mistake to theorize have all the evidence It biases the judgment "

" your data soon," I remarked, pointing with my finger; " Brixton Road, and house, if not mistaken "

"So Stop, driver, stop ! " We were still hundred yards or so , but he insisted upon our alighting, and we finished our journey upon foot

Number 3, Lauriston Gardens wore an ill-omened and minatory look one of four which stood back some little way street, two being occupied and two empty The latter looked out with three tiers of vacant melancholy windows, which were blank and dreary, save that here and there "To Let" card had developed like cataract bleared panes small garden sprinkled over with scattered eruption of sickly plants separated each houses street, and was traversed by narrow pathway, yellowish in colour, and consisting apparently of mixture of clay and of gravel The whole place was very sloppy rain which had fallen night The garden was bounded by three-foot brick wall with fringe of wood rails top, and against this wall was leaning stalwart police constable, surrounded by small knot of loafers, who craned their necks and strained their eyes vain hope of catching some glimpse proceedings within

I had imagined that Sherlock Holmes would at once have hurried house and plunged into study mystery Nothing appeared further intention With an air of nonchalance which, under the circumstances, seemed to border upon affectation, he lounged up and down the pavement, and gazed vacantly ground, the sky, the opposite houses line of railings Having finished his scrutiny, he proceeded slowly down the path, or rather down the fringe of grass which flanked the path, keeping his eyes riveted ground Twice he stopped, and once him smile, and heard him utter an exclamation of satisfaction There were many marks of footsteps wet clayey soil, but police coming and going over it, unable how my companion could hope to learn anything Still I had had such extraordinary evidence quickness perceptive faculties, that I had that he great deal hidden from me

door house we were met by tall, white-faced, flaxen-haired man, with notebook hand, who rushed forward and wrung my companion's hand with effusion " indeed kind of you ," , " everything left untouched "

"Except that ! " my friend answered, pointing pathway "If herd of buffaloes had passed along there greater mess , however, you had drawn your own conclusions, Gregson, permitted this "

" inside the house," the detective said evasively "My colleague, Mr Lestrade, is here I had relied upon him to look "