CHAPTERI.MR.SHERLOCKHOLMES.
Intheyear1878ItookmydegreeofDoctorofMedicineoftheUniversityofLondon,andproceededtoNetleytogothroughthecourse
prescritto
prescribedforsurgeonsinthearmy.Havingcompletedmystudiesthere,Iwasdulyattachedtothe
Quinto
FifthNorthumberlandFusiliersasAssistantChirurgo
Surgeon.TheregimentwasstationedinIndiaatthetime,andbeforeIcouldjoinit,thesecondAfghanwarhadbrokenout.
OnlandingatBombay,Ilearnedthatmy
corpo
corpshadadvancedthroughthepasses,andwasalreadydeepintheenemy’scountry.Ifollowed,however,withmanyotherofficerswhowereinthesamesituationasmyself,and
riuscii
succeededinreachingCandaharinsafety,whereIfoundmyreggimento
regiment,andatonceentereduponmynewduties.The
campagna
campaignbroughthonoursandpromotiontomany,butformeithadnothingbutsfortuna
misfortuneanddisaster.Iwasremovedfrommy
brigata
brigadeandattachedtotheBerkshires,withwhomIservedatthefatale
fatalbattleofMaiwand.ThereIwasstruckontheshoulderbyaJezailbullet,whichshatteredtheboneandgrazedthesubclavianartery.
IshouldhavefallenintothehandsofthemurderousGhazishaditnotbeenforthe
devozione
devotionandcourageshownbyMurray,myorderly,whothrewmeacrossapack-horse,andriuscito
succeededinbringingmesafelytotheBritishlines.Wornwithpain,andweakfromtheprolongedhardshipswhichIhad
subito
undergone,Iwasremoved,withagreattrainofwoundedsufferers,tothebasehospitalatPeshawar.HereIrallied,andhadalready
migliorato
improvedsofarastobeabletowalkaboutthewards,andeventobaskalittleupontheverandah,whenIwasstruckdownbyentericfever,thatcurseofourIndianpossessions.Formonthsmylifewasdespairedof,andwhenatlastIcametomyselfandbecameconvalescent,Iwassoweakandemaciatedthatamedicalboard
deciso
determinedthatnotadayshouldbelostinsendingmebacktoEngland.Iwas
inviato
dispatched,accordingly,inthetroopship“Orontes,”andlandedamonthlateronPortsmouthjetty,withmyhealthirretrievablyruined,butwithpermissionfromapaternalgovernmenttospendthenextninemonthsinattemptingtoimproveit.Ihadneitherkithnor
parenti
kininEngland,andwasthereforeasfreeasair—orasfreeasanreddito
incomeofelevenshillingsandsixpenceadaywillpermetterà
permitamantobe.Undersuchcircumstances,I
naturalmente
naturallygravitatedtoLondon,thatgreatcesspoolintowhichalltheloungersandidlersoftheEmpireareirresistiblydrained.ThereIstayedforsometimeataprivatehotelintheStrand,leadingacomfortless,
senza senso
meaninglessexistence,andspendingsuchmoneyasIhad,considerevolmente
considerablymorefreelythanIought.Soalarmingdidthestateofmyfinancesbecome,thatIsoonrealizedthatImusteitherleavethe
metropoli
metropolisandrusticatesomewhereinthecountry,orthatImustmakeacompletealterationinmystyleofliving.Choosingthelatter
alternativa
alternative,Ibeganbymakingupmymindtoleavethehotel,andtotakeupmyquartersinsomelesspretenzioso
pretentiousandlessexpensivedomicile.OntheverydaythatIhadcometothis
conclusione
conclusion,IwasstandingattheCriterionBar,whensomeonetappedmeontheshoulder,andturningroundIrecognizedyoungStamford,whohadbeenadresserundermeatBarts.Thesightofafriendlyfaceinthegreat
deserto
wildernessofLondonisapiacevole
pleasantthingindeedtoalonelyman.InolddaysStamfordhadneverbeenaparticularcronyofmine,butnowIhailedhimwith
entusiasmo
enthusiasm,andhe,inhisturn,appearedtobedelightedtoseeme.Intheexuberanceofmyjoy,IaskedhimtolunchwithmeattheHolborn,andwestartedofftogetherinahansom.
“Whateverhaveyoubeendoingwithyourself,Watson?”
heaskedinundisguisedwonder,aswerattledthroughthecrowdedLondonstreets.
“Youareasthinasalathandasbrownasanut.”
Igavehimashort
schizzo
sketchofmyadventures,andhadhardlyconcluso
concludeditbythetimethatwereachedourdestinazione
destination.“Poordevil!”
hesaid,commiseratingly,afterhehadlistenedtomymisfortunes.
“Whatareyouuptonow?”
“Lookingforlodgings,”Ianswered.
“Tryingtosolvetheproblemastowhetheritispossibletogetcomfortableroomsatareasonableprice.”
“That’sastrangething,”remarkedmy
compagno
companion;“youarethesecondmanto-daythathasusedthatexpressiontome.”
“Andwhowasthefirst?”
Iasked.
“Afellowwhoisworkingatthe
chimico
chemicallaboratoryupatthehospital.Hewasbemoaninghimselfthismorningbecausehecouldnotgetsomeonetogohalveswithhiminsomeniceroomswhichhehadfound,andwhichweretoomuchforhispurse.”
“ByJove!”
Icried,“ifhereallywantssomeonetosharetheroomsandthe
spese
expense,Iamtheverymanforhim.Ishouldpreferhavingapartnertobeingalone.”
YoungStamfordlookedratherstrangelyatmeoverhiswine-glass.
“Youdon’tknowSherlockHolmesyet,”hesaid;
“perhapsyouwouldnotcareforhimasa
costante
constantcompanion.”“Why,whatisthereagainsthim?”
“Oh,Ididn’tsaytherewasanythingagainsthim.
Heisalittlequeerinhisideas—anenthusiastinsomebranchesofscience.
AsfarasIknowheisadecentfellowenough.”
“Amedicalstudent,Isuppose?”
saidI.
“No—Ihavenoideawhathe
intenda
intendstogoinfor.Ibelieveheiswellupin
anatomia
anatomy,andheisafirst-classchimico
chemist;but,asfarasIknow,hehasnevertakenoutanysystematicmedicalclasses.
Hisstudiesareverydesultoryandeccentric,buthehasamassedalotofout-of-thewayknowledgewhichwouldastonishhisprofessors.”
“Didyouneveraskhimwhathewasgoinginfor?”
Iasked.
“No;
heisnotamanthatitiseasytodrawout,thoughhecanbecommunicativeenoughwhenthefancyseizeshim.”
“Ishouldliketomeethim,”Isaid.
“IfIamtolodgewithanyone,Ishouldpreferamanofstudiousandquiethabits.
Iamnotstrongenoughyettostandmuchnoiseor
eccitazione
excitement.IhadenoughofbothinAfghanistantolastmeforthe
resto
remainderofmynaturalexistence.HowcouldImeetthisfriendofyours?”
“Heissuretobeatthelaboratory,”returnedmy
compagno
companion.“Heeitheravoidstheplaceforweeks,orelseheworkstherefrommorningtonight.
Ifyoulike,weshalldriveroundtogetherafterluncheon.”
“Certainly,”Ianswered,andtheconversationdriftedawayintootherchannels.
AswemadeourwaytothehospitalafterleavingtheHolborn,StamfordgavemeafewmoreparticularsaboutthegentlemanwhomI
proposto
proposedtotakeasafellow-lodger.“Youmustn’tblamemeifyoudon’tgetonwithhim,”hesaid;
“IknownothingmoreofhimthanIhavelearnedfrommeetinghim
occasionalmente
occasionallyinthelaboratory.You
proposto
proposedthisarrangement,soyoumustnotholdmeresponsible.”“Ifwedon’tgetonitwillbeeasytopartcompany,”Ianswered.
“Itseemstome,Stamford,”Iadded,lookinghardatmy
compagno
companion,“thatyouhavesomereasonforwashingyourhandsofthematter.Isthisfellow’s
temperamento
tempersoformidable,orwhatisit?Don’tbemealy-mouthedaboutit.”
“Itisnoteasytoexpresstheinexpressible,”heansweredwithalaugh.
“Holmesisalittletoo
scientifico
scientificformytastes—itapproachestocold-bloodedness.Icouldimaginehisgivingafriendalittle
pizzico
pinchofthelatestvegetablealkaloid,notoutofmalevolence,youunderstand,butsimplyoutofaspiritofindagine
inquiryinordertohaveanaccurateideaoftheeffects.Todohimjustice,Ithinkthathewouldtakeithimselfwiththesamereadiness.
Heappearstohaveapassionfordefiniteandexactknowledge.”
“Veryrighttoo.”
“Yes,butitmaybepushedtoexcess.
Whenitcomestobeatingthesubjectsinthedissecting-roomswithastick,itiscertainlytakingratherabizarreshape.”
“Beatingthesubjects!”
“Yes,to
verificare
verifyhowfarbruisesmaybeproducedafterdeath.Isawhimatitwithmyowneyes.”
“Andyetyousayheisnotamedicalstudent?”
“No.
Heavenknowswhattheobjectsofhisstudiesare.
Buthereweare,andyoumustformyourownimpressionsabouthim.”
Ashespoke,weturneddowna
stretto
narrowlaneandpassedthroughasmallside-door,whichopenedintoawingofthegreathospital.Itwasfamiliargroundtome,andIneedednoguidingaswe
salivamo
ascendedthebleakstonestaircaseandmadeourwaydownthelongcorridoio
corridorwithitsvistaofwhitewashedwallanddun-coloureddoors.Nearthefurtherendalowarchedpassagebranchedawayfromitandledtothe
chimico
chemicallaboratory.Thiswasalofty
camera
chamber,linedandlitteredwithcountlessbottles.Broad,lowtableswere
sparsi
scatteredabout,whichbristledwithretorts,test-tubes,andlittleBunsenlamps,withtheirblueflickeringfiamme
flames.Therewasonlyonestudentintheroom,whowas
piegato
bendingoveradistanttableassorbito
absorbedinhiswork.Atthesoundofourstepsheglancedroundandsprangtohisfeetwithacryofpleasure.
“I’vefoundit!
I’vefoundit,”heshoutedtomy
compagno
companion,runningtowardsuswithatest-tubeinhishand.“Ihavefoundare-agentwhichisprecipitatedbyhæmoglobin,andbynothingelse.”
Hadhe
scoperto
discoveredagoldmine,greaterpiacere
delightcouldnothaveshoneuponhisfeatures.“Dr.
Watson,Mr.SherlockHolmes,”saidStamford,introducingus.
“Howareyou?”
hesaidcordially,grippingmyhandwithastrengthforwhichIshouldhardlyhavegivenhimcredit.
“YouhavebeeninAfghanistan,Iperceive.”
“Howonearthdidyouknowthat?”
Iaskedinastonishment.
“Nevermind,”saidhe,chucklingtohimself.
“Thequestionnowisabouthæmoglobin.
Nodoubtyouseethe
significato
significanceofthisdiscoveryofmine?”“Itisinteresting,chemically,nodoubt,”Ianswered,“butpractically——”.
“Why,man,itisthemostpracticalmedico-legaldiscoveryforyears.
Don’tyouseethatitgivesusaninfallibletestforbloodstains.
Comeoverherenow!”
He
afferrato
seizedmebythecoat-sleeveinhiseagerness,anddrewmeovertothetableatwhichhehadbeenworking.“Letushavesomefreshblood,”hesaid,diggingalongbodkinintohisfinger,anddrawingofftheresultingdropofbloodinachemicalpipette.
“Now,Iaddthissmall
quantità
quantityofbloodtoalitreofwater.You
percepisce
perceivethattheresultingmixturehastheappearanceofpurewater.Theproportionofbloodcannotbemorethanoneinamillion.
Ihavenodoubt,however,thatweshallbeableto
ottenere
obtainthecharacteristicreaction.”Ashespoke,hethrewintothevesselafewwhitecrystals,andthenaddedsomedropsofatransparent
fluido
fluid.Inaninstantthecontentsassumedadullmahogany
colore
colour,andabrownishdustwasprecipitatedtothebottomoftheglassbarattolo
jar.“Ha!
ha!”
hecried,clappinghishands,andlookingasdelightedasachildwithanewtoy.
“Whatdoyouthinkofthat?”
“Itseemstobeaverydelicatetest,”Iremarked.
“Beautiful!
beautiful!
TheoldGuiacumtestwasvery
goffo
clumsyanduncertain.Soisthemicroscopicexaminationforbloodcorpuscles.
Thelatterisvaluelessifthestainsareafewhoursold.
Now,thisappearstoactaswellwhetherthebloodisoldornew.
Hadthistestbeen
inventato
invented,therearehundredsofmennowwalkingtheearthwhowouldlongagohavepaidthepena
penaltyoftheircrimes.”“Indeed!”
Imurmured.
“Criminalcasesare
continuamente
continuallyhinginguponthatonepoint.Amanissuspectedofacrimemonthsperhapsafterithasbeencommitted.
His
lino
linenorclothesareexamined,andbrownishstainsdiscovereduponthem.Aretheybloodstains,or
fango
mudstains,orruststains,orfruitstains,orwhatarethey?Thatisaquestionwhichhaspuzzledmanyanexpert,andwhy?
Becausetherewasno
affidabile
reliabletest.NowwehavetheSherlockHolmes’test,andtherewillnolongerbeanydifficulty.”
Hiseyes
abbastanza
fairlyglitteredashespoke,andheputhishandoverhisheartandbowedasiftosomeapplaudente
applaudingcrowdconjuredupbyhisimagination.“Youaretobecongratulated,”Iremarked,
notevolmente
considerablysurprisedathisenthusiasm.“TherewasthecaseofVonBischoffatFrankfortlastyear.
Hewouldcertainlyhavebeenhunghadthistestbeeninexistence.
ThentherewasMasonofBradford,andthe
famigerato
notoriousMuller,andLefevreofMontpellier,andSamsonofNewOrleans.Icouldnameascoreofcasesinwhichitwouldhavebeendecisive.”
“Youseemtobeawalking
calendario
calendarofcrime,”saidStamfordwithalaugh.“Youmightstartapaperonthoselines.
Callitthe‘PoliceNewsofthePast.’”.
“Veryinterestingreadingitmightbemade,too,”remarkedSherlockHolmes,stickingasmallpieceof
gesso
plasterovertheprickonhisfinger.“Ihavetobecareful,”hecontinued,turningtomewithasmile,“forIdabblewithpoisonsagooddeal.”
Heheldouthishandashespoke,andInoticedthatitwasallmottledoverwithsimilarpiecesof
gesso
plaster,anddiscolouredwithstrongacids.“Wecamehereonbusiness,”saidStamford,sittingdownonahighthree-legged
sgabello
stool,andpushinganotheroneinmydirectionwithhisfoot.“Myfriendherewantstotakediggings,andasyouwerecomplainingthatyoucouldgetnoonetogohalveswithyou,IthoughtthatIhadbetterbringyoutogether.”
SherlockHolmesseemeddelightedattheideaofsharinghisroomswithme.
“Ihavemyeyeona
suite
suiteinBakerStreet,”hesaid,“whichwouldsuitusdowntotheground.Youdon’tmindthesmellofstrong
tabacco
tobacco,Ihope?”“Ialwayssmoke‘ship’s’myself,”Ianswered.
“That’sgoodenough.
Igenerallyhavechemicalsabout,andoccasionallydoexperiments.
Wouldthat
infastidirebbe
annoyyou?”“Bynomeans.”
“Letmesee—whataremyothershortcomings.
Igetinthedumpsattimes,anddon’topenmymouthfordaysonend.
YoumustnotthinkIamsulkywhenIdothat.
Justletmealone,andI’llsoonberight.
Whathaveyouto
confessare
confessnow?It’sjustaswellfortwofellowstoknowtheworstofoneanotherbeforetheybegintolivetogether.”
Ilaughedatthiscross-examination.
“Ikeepabullpup,”Isaid,“andIobjecttorowsbecausemynervesareshaken,andIgetupatallsortsofungodlyhours,andIamextremely
pigro
lazy.IhaveanothersetofviceswhenI’mwell,butthosearetheprincipalonesatpresent.”
“Doyou
includi
includeviolin-playinginyourcategoryofrows?”heasked,anxiously.
“Itdependsontheplayer,”Ianswered.
“Awell-played
violino
violinisatreatforthegods—abadly-playedone——”.“Oh,that’sallright,”hecried,withamerrylaugh.
“Ithinkwemayconsiderthethingassettled—thatis,iftheroomsareagreeabletoyou.”
“Whenshallweseethem?”
“Callformehereat
mezzogiorno
noonto-morrow,andwe’llgotogetherandsettleeverything,”heanswered.“Allright—noonexactly,”saidI,shakinghishand.
Welefthimworkingamonghischemicals,andwewalkedtogethertowardsmyhotel.
“Bytheway,”Iaskedsuddenly,stoppingandturninguponStamford,“howthedeucedidheknowthatIhadcomefromAfghanistan?”
My
compagno
companionsmiledanenigmaticalsmile.“That’sjusthislittlepeculiarity,”hesaid.
“Agoodmanypeoplehavewantedtoknowhowhefindsthingsout.”
“Oh!
amysteryisit?”
Icried,rubbingmyhands.
“Thisisverypiquant.
Iammuchobligedtoyouforbringingustogether.
‘Theproperstudyofmankindisman,’youknow.”
“Youmuststudyhim,then,”Stamfordsaid,ashebademegood-bye.
“You’llfindhimaknottyproblem,though.
I’ll
scommetto
wagerhelearnsmoreaboutyouthanyouabouthim.Good-bye.”
Capitolo
CHAPTERII.THESCIENCEOFDEDUCTION.