福尔摩斯阅读计划1

Day1:Intheyear1878,ItookmydegreeofDoctorofMedicineintheUniversityofLondon,andproceededtoNetleytogothroughthecoursearrangedfordoctorsinthearmy.MyregimentwasstationedinIndiaatthetime,andbeforeIcouldjoinit,thesecondAfghanwarhadbrokenout.SoIwassenttoAfghanistan,andweadvanceddeepintotheenemy*scountry.ThereIwasstruckontheshoulderbyabullet,whichshatteredthebone.Iwasshippedhome,andlandedamonthlateratPortsmouthharbor;withmyhealthpermanentlyruined.Withpermissionfromacaringgovernment,Ispentthenextninemonthsinattemptingtoimprovemyhealth.InaturallysettledinLondon.SoalarmingdidthestateofmyfinancesbecomethatIsoonrealizedthatImusteitherleavethecityandmovetothecountry,ormakeacompletechangeinmystyleofliving.OntheverydaythatIhadcometothisconclusion,IwasstandingattheCriterionBar,whensomeonetappedmeontheshoulder.Afterturninground,IrecognizedyoungStamford,anoldfriendofmine.ThesightofafriendlyfaceinthegreatwildernessofLondonisapleasantthingindeedtoalonelyman.IfeltsorelievedandhappythatIaskedhimtolunchwithmeattheHolborn,andwestartedofftogetherinacab.Duringourlunch,Stamfordasked,HWhatareyouuptonow?"“Lookingforsomewheretolive/Ianswered.“Tryingtosolvetheproblemofwhetheritispossibletogetcomfortableroomsatareasonableprice.”"That'sastrangething/remarkedmycompanion,“youarethesecondmantodaythathasusedthatexpressiontome.”"Andwhowasthefirst?"Iasked.“Afellowwhoisworkingatthechemicallaboratoryupatthehospital.Hewascomplainingthismorningbecausehecouldnotgetsomeonetosharesomeniceroomswhichhehadfound,andwhichweretooexpensivetorentonhisown/“Really!”Icried,“Ifhereallywantssomeonetosharetheroomsandtheexpense,Iamtheverymanforhim.Ishouldpreferhavingapartnertobeingalone.”YoungStamfordlookedratherstrangelyatmeoverhiswine-glass."Youdon'tknowSherlockHolmesyet/hesaid,“perhapsyouwouldnotcareforhimasaconstantcompanion/“Why,whatisthereagainsthim?"〃Oh,Ididn'tsaytherewasanythingagainsthim.Heisalittleoddinsomeofhisideas—anenthusiastinsomebranchesofscience.AsfarasIknowheisadecentenoughfellow/“Amedicalstudent,Isuppose?'1saidI.“No—Ihavenoideawhatheintendstodoasacareer.Ibelieveheknowsalotaboutanatomy,andheisafirst-classchemist.But,asfarasIknow,hehasnevertakenanyregularmedicalclasses.Hisstudiesareverystrange,buthehascollectedalotofunusualknowledgewhichwouldastonishhisprofessors"“Didyouneveraskhimwhathisplannedcareerwas?”Iasked."No.Itsnoteasytogethimtalking,thoughhecancommunicateverywellwhenhewantsto.”“Ishouldliketomeethim：Isaid."IfIamtoshareroomswithanyone,Ishouldpreferamanwholikestostudyandhasquiethabits.Iamnotstrongenoughyettostandmuchnoiseorexcitement.IhadenoughofbothinAfghanistantolastmefortherestofmylife.HowcouldImeetthisfriendofyours?"“Heissuretobeatthelaboratory/returnedmycompanion."Ifyoulike,wecandriveroundtogetherafterlunch/“Certainly：Ianswered,andtheconversationdriftedawaytoothersubjects.AswewenttothehospitalafterleavingtheHolborn,StamfordgavemeafewmoredetailsaboutthegentlemanwithwhomImightbesharingrooms.“Youmustn,tblamemeifyoudon'tgetonwithhim,“hesaid,“IknownothingmoreofhimthanIhavelearnedfrommeetinghimoccasionallyinthelaboratory.Yousuggestedthisarrangement,soyoumustnotholdmeresponsible"“Ifwedon'tgeton,itwillbeeasytoseparate/Ianswered.“Itseemstome,Stamford/Iadded,lookinghardatmycompanion,“thatyouhavesomereasonforwashingyourhandsofthematter.Isthisfellow1stempersoformidable,orwhatisit?Pleasetellmefrankly/"It'snotsoeasytoputintowords/heansweredwithalaugh.“Holmesisalittletooscientificformytastes—almostcold-blooded.Icouldimaginehisgivingafriendalittlepinchofsomedrughehaddiscovered,notoutofill-will,youunderstand,butsimplyoutofaspiritofinquiry—inordertohaveanaccurateideaoftheeffects.Tobefair,Ithinkthathewouldbeequallypreparedtotakeithimself.Heappearstohaveapassionfordefiniteandexactknowledge/"Veryrighttoo;“Yes,butitmaybepushedtoexcess.Whenitcomestobeatingthebodiesinthedissecting-roomswithastick,itiscertainlytakingratherastrangeshape.”"Beatingthebodies!”"Yes,tofindouttowhatextentbruisesmaybeproducedafterdeath.Isawhimdoingitwithmyowneyes.”“Andyetyousayheisnotamedicalstudent?""No.Ihavenoideawhatheisstudying.Buthereweare,andyoumustformyourownimpressionsabouthim.”Ashespoke,weturneddownanarrowlaneandpassedthroughasmallside-door,whichopenedintoawingofthegreathospital.Itwasfamiliargroundtome,andIneedednoguidingasweclimbedthebleakstonestaircaseandmadeourwaydownthelongcorridorwithitsviewofwhitewashedwallsandbrownishdoors.Nearthefarend,alowpassagebranchedawayfromitandledtothechemicallaboratory.Therewasonlyonestudentintheroom,whowasbendingoveratable,intenselyfocusedonhiswork.Day2:Atthesoundofoursteps,heglancedroundandsprangtohisfeetwithacryofpleasure."Yvefoundit!Fvefoundit,“heshoutedtomycompanion,runningtowardsuswithatest-tubeinhishand."Ihavefoundareagentwhichisprecipitatedbyhemoglobin,andbynothingelse?Hecouldnothavebeenmoredelightedifhehaddiscoveredagoldmine."Dr.Watson,Mr.SherlockHolmes/saidStamford,introducingus."Howareyou?”hesaidkindly,shakingmyhandwithunbelievablestrength.HYouhavebeeninAfghanistan,Iobserve.HHowonearthdidyouknowthat?”Iaskedinshock."Nevermind：hesaid,laughingtohimself.“Thequestionnowisabouthemoglobin.Nodoubtyouseethesignificanceofthisdiscoveryofmine?"“Itisinteresting,chemically,nodoubt/Ianswered,“butpractically—"“Well,man,itisthemostpracticalmedico-legaldiscoveryforyears.Don*tyouseethatitgivesusaninfallibletestforbloodstains.Comeoverherenow!”Heseizedmebythecoat-sleeveinhiseagerness,anddrewmeovertothetableatwhichhehadbeenworking.“Letushavesomefreshblood/hesaid,stickingalongneedleintohisfinger.“Now,Iaddthissmallquantityofbloodtoalitreofwater.Youcanseethattheresultingmixturelookslikepurewater.Theproportionofbloodcannotbemorethanoneinamillion.Butlooknow!”Ashespoke,hethrewintothewaterafewwhitecrystals,andthenaddedsomedropsofatransparentliquid.Inaninstantthecontentsturnedareddish-browncolor;andabrownishdustwasprecipitatedtothebottomoftheglassjar."Ha!ha!"hecried,clappinghishands,andlookingasdelightedasachildwithanewtoy."Whatdoyouthinkofthat?"“Itseemstobeaverysensitivetest/Iremarked.“Beautiful!Beautiful!Theoldguaiacumtestwasveryclumsyanduncertain.Soisthemicroscopicexaminationforbloodcells.Thelatterisalsouselessifthestainsareevenafewhoursold.Now,thisappearstoactaswellwhetherthebloodisoldornew.Ifthistesthadbeeninvented,therearehundredsofmennowwalkingtheearthwhowouldlongagohavepaidthepenaltyoftheircrimes/"Indeed!”Imurmured“Criminalcasesoftendependuponthatonepoint.Amanissuspectedofacrimemonthsperhapsafterithasbeencommitted.Hisclothesareexamined,andbrownishstainsdiscovereduponthem.Aretheybloodstains,ormudstains,orruststains,orfruitstains,orwhatarethey?Thatisaquestionwhichhaspuzzledmanyanexpert,andwhy?BecausetherewasnoreliabletestNowwehavetheSherlockHolmes'test,andtherewillnolongerbeanydifficulty/Hiseyesfairlyglitteredashespoke,andheputhishandoverhisheartandbowedasiftosomeapplaudingcrowdcreatedbyhisimagination."Youaretobecongratulated/Iremarked,considerablysurprisedathisenthusiasm.“TherewasthecaseofVonBischoffatFrankfortlastyear.Hewouldcertainlyhavebeenhungifthistesthadbeeninexistence.ThentherewasMasonofBradford,andthenotoriousMuller;andLefevreofMontpellier,andSamsonofNewOrleans.Icouldnametwentycases,ormore,inwhichthistestwouldhavedecidedtheresult/“Youseemtobeawalkingcalendarofcrime/saidStamfordwithalaugh.“Youmightstartapaperonthoselines.Callitthe'PoliceNewsofthePast/""Itmightmakeveryinterestingreading,too/remarkedSherlockHolmes,stickingasmallbandageovertheplacewherehisfingerwasbleeding.“Ihavetobecareful/hecontinued,turningtomewithasmile,“foriexperimentwithpoisonsagooddeal."Heheldouthishandashespoke,andInoticedthatitwascoveredwithsimilarbandages."\Necamehereonbusiness/saidStamford,turningtoSherlockHolmes."Myfriendhereislookingforsomewheretolive,andasyouwerecomplainingthatyoucouldgetnoonetoshareroomswithyou,IthoughtthatIhadbetterbringyoutogether?SherlockHolmesseemeddelightedattheideaofsharinghisroomswithme.“IhavemyeyeonanapartmentinBakerStreet/hesaid,“whichwouldsuitusperfectly.Youdon'tmindthesmellofstrongtobacco,Ihope?"UYmapipesmokermyself/Ianswered."That'sgoodenough.Igenerallyhavechemicalseverywhere,andoccasionallydoexperiments.Wouldthatbotheryou?""Notatall：“Letmesee—whatmyotherfaultsare.Igetverywithdrawnattimes,anddon'topenmymouthfordays.YoumustnotthinkIamangryatyouwhenIdothat.Justleavemealone,andFIIsoonbeallright.Whathaveyoutoconfessnow?It'sjustaswellfortwopeopletoknowtheworstofoneanotherbeforetheybegintolivetogether/Ilaughedatthiscross-examination."Ikeepasmalldog,“Isaid,“andIobjecttonoisebecausemynervesareshaken,andIgetupatallsortsofstrangehours,andIamextremelylazy.IhaveanothersetoffaultswhenFmwell,butthosearethemainonesatpresent”“Doyouincludeviolin-playinginyourcategoryofnoise?”heasked,anxiously.“Itdependsontheplayer;"Ianswered."Awell-playedviolinisatreatforthegods—abadly-playedone-"〃Oh,thatsallright/hecried,withahappylaugh.“Ithinkwemayconsiderthethingassettled—thatis,iftheroomsareacceptabletoyou.”"Whenshallweseethem?"Callformehereatnoontomorrow,andwe'IIgotogetherandsettleeverything/heanswered.“Allright—noonexactly/saidLshakinghishand.Welefthimworkingamonghischemicals,andwewalkedtogethertowardsmyhotel.“Bytheway：Iaskedsuddenly,stoppingandturninguponStamford,°howdidheknowthatIhadcomefromAfghanistan?1"Mycompanionsmiled."That'sjusthisspeciallittletalent/hesaid.“Manypeoplehavewantedtoknowhowhefindsthingsout.”〃Oh!Amysteryisit?”Icried,rubbingmyhands.“Thisisveryinteresting.Iamverygratefultoyouforbringingustogether.Good-bye.”Isaid,andwalkedintomyhotel,considerablyinterestedinmynewacquaintance.Day3:Wemetnextdayashehadarranged,andinspectedtheroomsofNo.221BZBakerStreet.Wewerebothsatisfiedwiththerooms,andagreedtotakethemthereandthen.Wegraduallybegantosettledownandgetusedtoournewsurroundings.Holmeswascertainlynotadifficultmantolivewith.Hewasquietinhisways,andhishabitswereregular.Itwasrareforhimtobeupaftertenatnight,andhehadbreakfastandwasgonebeforeIroseinthemorning.Sometimeshewenttothelaboratory,sometimestotheroomswherestudentswoulddissectcorpses,sometimestothemostdangerousandcriminalareasofthecity.Ihaveneverseenanyonesoenergeticashewaswhenhewashardatwork,butnowandagainareactionwouldtakehim,andfordaysonendhewouldlieuponthesofainthesitting-room,hardlysayingawordormovingamuscle（肌肉）frommorningtonight.Hisappearancewassuchastostriketheattentionofanyonewhosawhim.Inheighthewasratheroversixfeet,andsoexcessivelythinthatheseemedtobeconsiderablytaller.Hiseyesweresharpandintense,andhisthinnosegavehiswholeexpressionanairofalertnessanddecision.ImustconfessthatIwasextremelycuriousaboutthisman,andtriedveryhardtogethimtotellmesomethingabouthimself-whichheseemedveryreluctanttodo.Ihadnofriendsandmyhealthpreventedmefromgoingout,soIwelcomedthismystery（谜）andtriedmybesttosolveit.Hewasnotstudyingmedicine,nordidheappeartohavefollowedanycourseofreadingwhichmightfithimforadegreeinscience.Yethisenthusiasmforcertainstudieswasremarkable,andhisknowledgeofcertainunusualsubjectswassoextremelyfullanddetailedthathisobservationssometimesastonishedme.Hisignorancewasasremarkableashisknowledge.Heappearedtoknownexttonothingofcontemporaryliterature,philosophyandpolitics.Uponmyquoting（引述）ThomasCarlyle,heaskedthesimplestquestionssuchaswhohemightbeandwhathehaddone.AndmysurprisereachedapeakwhenIfoundthathewasunawareoftheCopernicanTheoryandofthecompositionoftheSolarSystem.“Youappeartobeastonished/hesaid,smilingatmyexpressionofsurprise."NowthatIdoknowit,Iwilldomybesttoforgetit.""Toforgetit!”“Yousee/heexplained,“Iconsiderthataman*sbrainoriginallyislikealittleemptyroom,andyouhavetostockitwithsuchfurnitureasyouchoose.Afooltakesinallthejunkhecomesacross,sothattheknowledgewhichmightbeusefultohimgetscrowdedout,oratbestismixedupwithalotofotherthingssothathehasdifficultyinfindingitNowtheexpertworkerisverycarefulindeedastowhathetakesintohisbrain.Hewillhavenothingbutthetoolswhichmayhelphimindoinghiswork,andhehasalargecollectionofthesetools,butallinthemostperfectorder.The'room'inone*sbrainisoffixedandlimitedsize,sotherecomesatimewhen,foreveryadditionofknowledge,youforgetsomethingthatyouknewbefore.Itisofthehighestimportance,therefore,nottohaveuselessfactspushingouttheusefulones/"ButtheSolarSystem!0Iprotested.“Whatisittome?”hesaidimpatiently,“yousaythatwegoroundthesun.Ifwewentroundthemoon,itwouldmakenodifferencetomeortomywork."Iwasonthepointofaskinghimwhatthatworkmightbe,butsomethinginhismannershowedmethatthequestionwouldbeanunwelcomeone.Duringthefirstweekorsowehadnovisitors,andIhadbeguntothinkthatmycompanionwasasfriendlessamanasIwasmyself.Presently,however;Ifoundthathehadmanyacquaintances,andthoseinthemostdifferentclassesofsociety.Therewasonelittlepalerat-faced,darkeyedfellowwhowasintroducedtomeasMr.Lestrade,andwhocamethreeorfourtimesinasingleweek.Onemorningayounggirlcalled,fashionablydressed,andstayedforhalfanhourormore—closelyfollowedbyanelderlywomanindirtyclothes.Onanotheroccasionanoldwhite-hairedgentlemanhadaninterviewwithmycompanion,andanothertime,arailwayporterinhisuniform.AtsuchtimesSherlockHolmesusedtobegfortheuseofthesitting-room,andIwouldgobacktomybed-room.Healwaysapologizedtomeforputtingmetothisinconvenience〃Ihavetousethisroomasaplaceofbusiness/hesaid,“andthesepeoplearemyclients''AgainIhadanopportunityofaskinghimapoint-blankquestion,andagainmydelicacypreventedmefromforcinganothermantoconfideinme.However,hesoontoldmehimself.AsIremember,itwasonthe4thofMarch.Irosesomewhatearlierthanusual,andfoundthatSherlockHolmeshadnotyetfinishedhisbreakfast.Ipickedupamagazinefromthetableandattemptedtopassthetimewithit,whilemycompanionatesilently.Oneofthearticleshadapencilmarkattheheading,andInaturallybegantorunmyeyeoverit.Itssomewhatambitioustitlewas“TheBookofLife/anditattemptedtoshowhowmuchanobservantmanmightlearnbyanaccurateandcarefulexaminationofallthatcameinhisway.Thereasoningwascloseandintense,buttheconclusionsappearedtometobefar-fetchedandexaggerated.Thewriterclaimedbyatemporaryexpression,atwitchofamuscleoraglanceofaneye,tofindoutaman'sinnerthoughts.Accordingtohim,itwasimpossibletofoolamanwhohasbeentrainedinsuchobservationandanalysis.HisconclusionswereverydefiniteTotheuntrained,hisresultswouldappearverysurprising.“Fromadropofwater;"saidthewriter;"alogiciancouldgatherthepossibilityofanAtlanticoraNiagarawithouthavingseenorheardofoneortheother.Soalllifeisagreatchain,thenatureofwhichisknownwheneverweareshownasinglelinkofitByaman'sfingernails,byhiscoat-sleeve,byhisshoes,byhisclothes,byhisexpression—byeachofthesethingsaman'sworkisplainlyrevealed”“Whatnonsense!”Icried,throwingthemagazinedownonthetable,“Ineverreadsuchrubbishinmylife?”Whatisit?”askedSherlockHolmes.“Thisarticle/Isaid,pointingatitwithmyeggspoonasIsatdowntomybreakfast.“Iseethatyouhavereadit,sinceyouhavemarkeditIdon'tdenythatitiscleverlywritten.Itbothersmethough.Itisnotpractical.IshouldliketoseehimsitdowninathirdclasscarriageontheUnderground,andfigureouttheprofessionofallthetravelers.Iwouldlayathousandtooneagainsthim.”“Youwouldloseyourmoney/SherlockHolmesremarkedcalmly."Asforthearticle,Iwroteitmyself?Day4:“You!"“Yes,Ihaveanaturaltalentbothforobservationandfordeduction.ThetheorieswhichIhaveexpressedthere；andwhichappeartoyoutobesoabsurd,areextremelypractical.—sopracticalthatIdependuponthemformybreadandcheese/”Andhow?”Iasked."Well,Ihaveatradeofmyown.IsupposeIamtheonlyoneintheworld.rmaconsultingdetective,ifyoucanunderstandwhatthatis.HereinLondonwehavelotsofGovernmentdetectivesandlotsofprivateones.Whenthesemenareatfaulttheycometome,andImanagetoputthemontherightscent.Theylayalltheevidencebeforeme,andIamgenerallyabletogivethemtherightidea,withthehelpofmyknowledgeofthehistoryofcrime.Lestradeisawell-knowndetective.Hegothimselfintoamessrecentlyoveracase.That'swhatbroughthimhere?“Butdoyoumeantosay/Isaid,“thatwithoutleavingyourroomyoucanundosomeknots（结）whichothermencannotfigureout,althoughtheyhaveseeneverydetail（细节）forthemselves?"1"Quiteso.Ihaveakindofinstinctaboutthosethings.Sometimesacaseturnsupwhichisalittlemorecomplex.ThenIhavetomoveaboutandseethingswithmyowneyes.YouseeIhavealotofspecialknowledgewhichIapplytotheproblem,andwhichaidsmatterswonderfully.Thoserulesofdeductionlaiddowninthatarticle,whichstirredyourcontempt,areprecioustomeinpracticalwork.Tome,observationissecondnature.Onourfirstmeeting,youappearedtobesurprisedwhenItoldyouthatyouhadcomefromAfghanistan/“Youweretold,nodoubt.”"Nothingofthesort.IknewyoucamefromAfghanistan.FromlonghabitthesequenceofthoughtsransoswiftlythroughmymindthatIarrivedattheconclusionwithoutbeingawareoftheintermediatesteps.Thereweresuchsteps,however.Mythoughtswentlikethis,'Hereisagentlemanofamedicaltype,butwiththeairofamilitaryman.Clearlyanarmydoctor;then.Hehasjustcomefromthetropics,forhisfaceisdark,andthatisnotthenaturalcolorofhisskin,forhiswristsarefair.Hehasexperiencedsufferingandsickness,ashiswornfacesaysclearly.Hisleftarmhasbeenwounded.Heholdsitinastiffandunnaturalmanner.WhereinthetropicscouldanEnglisharmydoctorhaveseenmuchsufferingandgothisarmwounded?ClearlyinAfghanistan/Thewholetrainofthoughtdidnottakeasecond.IthenremarkedthatyoucamefromAfghanistan,andyouwereshocked.0〃Itissimpleenoughwhenyouexplainit/Isaid,smiling.“Nomanlives,orhaseverlived,whohasbroughtthesameamountofstudyandofnaturaltalenttothedetectionofcrimeasIhavedone.Andwhatistheresult?Thereisnocrimetodetect,or;atmost,somestupidcrimeswithamotivesoobviousthatevenaScotlandYardofficialcanseethroughit.”Iwasannoyedathisarrogantstyleofconversation.Ithoughtitbesttochangethetopic."Iwonderwhatthatfellowislookingfor."Iasked,pointingtoaplainly-dressedmanwhowaswalkingslowlydowntheothersideofthestreet,lookinganxiouslyatthenumbers.Hehadalargeblueenvelopeinhishand,andwasevidentlycarryingamessagetosomeone."YoumeantheretiredsergeantofMarines:'saidSherlockHolmes.“Nonsense\"Ithoughttomyself.“HeknowsthatIcannotverifyhisguess."Thethoughthadhardlypassedthroughmymindwhenthemanwhomwewerewatchingcaughtsightofthenumberonourdoor,andranrapidlyacrosstheroad.Weheardaloudknock,adeepvoicebelow,andheavystepsclimbingthestair."ForMr.SherlockHolmes/hesaid,steppingintotheroomandhandingmyfriendtheletter.Herewasanopportunityoftakingtheprideoutofhim.Helittlethoughtofthiswhenhemadethatrandomguess.“MayIask,myman：Isaid,“whatyourjobmaybe?”“Messenger,sir;"hesaid."Myuniformisawaytobemended/"Andyouwere?"Iasked.“Asergeant,sir,RoyalMarineLightInfantry,sir.Noanswer?Right,sir.”Heclickedhisheelstogether;raisedhishandinasalute,andwasgone.IconfessthatIwasconsiderablyshockedbythisfreshproofofmycompanion1stheories.Myrespectforhispowersofanalysisincreasedgreatly.However;therestillremainedsomesuspicioninmymindthatthewholethingwaspre-arranged,intendedtodazzleme.WhenIlookedathim,hehadfinishedreadingthenote."Howintheworlddidyoufigurethatout?”Iasked.“Figurewhatout?”saidhe.“ThathewasaretiredsergeantofMarines:'“Ihavenotimeforsuchsimplegames/heanswered.Thenwithasmilehesaid,“Excusemyrudeness.Youbrokethelineofthought,butperhapsitisaswell.SoyouactuallywerenotabletoseethatthatmanwasasergeantofMarines"No,indeed.”"ItwaseasiertoknowitthantoexplainwhyIknewit.Ifyouwereaskedtoprovethattwoandtwomadefour;youmightfindsomedifficulty,andyetyouarequitesureofthefact.EvenacrossthestreetIcouldseeagreatblueanchortattooedonthebackofthefellow*shand.Thatsmelledofthesea.Hehadamilitarycarriage,however;andaregulationmilitaryhaircut.Therewehavethemarine.Hewasamanwithsomeamountofself-importanceandacertainairofcommand.Youmusthaveobservedthewayinwhichheheldhishead.Hisfacealsoshowedthathewasasteady,respectable,middle-agedman—allfactswhichledmetobelievethathehadbeenasergeant"Wonderful!"Isaid.“No—veryordinary/1saidHolmes,thoughIthoughtfromhisexpressionthathewaspleasedatmyevidentsurpriseandadmiration.“Isaidjustnowthattherewerenocriminals.ItappearsthatIamwrong—lookatthis!”Hethrewmeoverthenotewhichthegentlemanhadbrought.“Oh,"Icried,asIcastmyeyeoverit,“thisisterrible!”Day5:“Itdoesseemtobealittleoutofthecommon/heremarked,calmly.“Wouldyoumindreadingittomealoud?”ThisistheletterwhichIreadtohim一“MydearMr.SherlockHolmes:"Therehasbeenabadbusinessduringthenightat3,LauristonGardens,offtheBrixtonRoad.Ourmanonthebeatsawalightthereabouttwointhemorning,andasthehousewasanemptyone,hethoughtthatsomethingwaswrong.Hefoundthedooropen,andinthefrontroomhediscoveredthebodyofagentleman.Thegentlemanwaswell-dressed,andhadcardsinhispocketbearingthenameof'EnochJ.Drebber;Cleveland,Ohio,U.S.A/Therehadbeennorobbery,noristhereanyevidenceastohowthemanmethisdeath.Therearemarksofbloodintheroom,butthereisnowounduponhisbody.Indeed,thewholeaffairisamystery,Ifyoucancomeroundtothehouseanytimebeforetwelve,youwillfindmethere.IhavelefteverythingasitisuntilIhearfromyou.IfyouareunabletocomeIwillgiveyoufullerdetails,andwouldbegratefulifyouwoulddothisfavorforme."Yoursfaithfully,“TOBIASGREGSON;"Getyourhat,"Holmessaid.“Youwishmetocome?"“Yes,ifyouhavenothingbettertodo.”Aminutelaterwewerebothinacab,drivingfortheBrixtonRoad.WhenHolmesinsisteduponstoppingandfinishingourjourneyuponfoot,wewerestillahundredyardsorsofromthehouse.Number3,LauristonGardensworeanunluckyandthreateninglook.Itwasoneoffourhouseswhichstoodbacksomelittlewayfromthestreet,twobeingoccupiedandtwoempty.Thelatterlookedoutwiththreelevelsofwindows,allblankanddull,excepthereandthereaMForRent"cardwasplacedontheglass.Thewholeplacewasverymuddyfromtherainwhichhadfallenthroughthenight.Thegardenwassurroundedbyathree-footbrickwallwithwoodrailingsuponthetop.IhadimaginedthatSherlockHolmeswouldatoncehavehurriedintothehouseandrushedintoastudyofthemystery.Butitappearedthatthatwasnothisintention.Heactedverycalmly;hewalkedupanddownthepavement,andgazedvacantlyattheground,thesky,theoppositehousesandthelineoffencerailings.Havingfinishedhisobservation,heproceededslowlydownthepathkeepinghiseyesfocusedupontheground.Twicehestopped,andonceIsawhimsmile,andheardhimutter（发出）asoundofsatisfaction.Thereweremanymarksoffootstepsuponthewetsoil,butsincethepolicehadbeencomingandgoingoverit,Iwasunabletoseehowmycompanioncouldhopetolearnanythingfromit.ButIhadnodoubtthathecouldseeagreatdealwhichwashiddenfromme,asIhadseenhisamazingpowerbefore.Atthedoorofthehouse,weweremetbyatall,white-faced,blonde-hairedman,withanotebookinhishand.Herushedforwardandshookmycompanion'shand."Itisindeedkindofyoutocome/hesaid,“Ihavehadeverythingleftuntouched/°Exceptthat!”myfriendanswered,pointingatthepath."Ifaherdofbuffaloeshadpassedthroughtherecouldnotbeagreatermess.Nodoubt,however;youhaddrawnyourownconclusions,Gregson