OnglancingovermynotesoftheseventyoddcasesinwhichIhaveduringthelasteightyearsstudiedthemethodsofmyfriendSherlockHolmes,Ifindmanytragic,somecomic,alargenumbermerelystrange,butnonecommonplacefor,workingashedidratherfortheloveofhisartthanfortheacquirementofwealth,herefusedtoassociatehimselfwithanyinvestigationwhichdidnottendtowardstheunusual,andeventhefantastic.Ofallthesevariedcases,however,Icannotrecallanywhichpresentedmoresingularfeaturesthanthatwhichwasassociatedwiththewell-knownSurreyfamilyoftheRoylottsofStokeMoran.TheeventsinquestionoccurredintheearlydaysofmyassociationwithHolmes,whenweweresharingroomsasbachelorsinBakerStreet.ItispossiblethatImighthaveplacedthemuponrecordbefore,butapromiseofsecrecywasmadeatthetime,fromwhichIhaveonlybeenfreedduringthelastmonthbytheuntimelydeathoftheladytowhomthepledgewasgiven.Itisperhapsaswellthatthefactsshouldnowcometolight,forIhavereasonstoknowthattherearewidespreadrumoursastothedeathofDr.GrimesbyRoylottwhichtendtomakethematterevenmoreterriblethanthetruth.
ItwasearlyinAprilintheyear’83thatIwokeonemorningtofindSherlockHolmesstanding,fullydressed,bythesideofmybed.Hewasalateriser,asarule,andastheclockonthemantelpieceshowedmethatitwasonlyaquarter-pastseven,Iblinkedupathiminsomesurprise,andperhapsjustalittleresentment,forIwasmyselfregularinmyhabits.
“Verysorrytoknockyouup,Watson,”saidhe,“butit’sthecommonlotthismorning.Mrs.Hudsonhasbeenknockedup,sheretorteduponme,andIonyou.”
“Whatisit,then—afire?”
“Noaclient.Itseemsthatayoungladyhasarrivedinaconsiderablestateofexcitement,whoinsistsuponseeingme.Sheiswaitingnowinthesitting-room.Now,whenyoungladieswanderaboutthemetropolisatthishourofthemorning,andknocksleepypeopleupoutoftheirbeds,Ipresumethatitissomethingverypressingwhichtheyhavetocommunicate.Shoulditprovetobeaninterestingcase,youwould,Iamsure,wishtofollowitfromtheoutset.Ithought,atanyrate,thatIshouldcallyouandgiveyouthechance.”
“Mydearfellow,Iwouldnotmissitforanything.”
IhadnokeenerpleasurethaninfollowingHolmesinhisprofessionalinvestigations,andinadmiringtherapiddeductions,asswiftasintuitions,andyetalwaysfoundedonalogicalbasiswithwhichheunravelledtheproblemswhichweresubmittedtohim.Irapidlythrewonmyclothesandwasreadyinafewminutestoaccompanymyfrienddowntothesitting-room.Aladydressedinblackandheavilyveiled,whohadbeensittinginthewindow,roseasweentered.
“Good-morning,madam,”saidHolmescheerily.“MynameisSherlockHolmes.Thisismyintimatefriendandassociate,Dr.Watson,beforewhomyoucanspeakasfreelyasbeforemyself.Ha!IamgladtoseethatMrs.Hudsonhashadthegoodsensetolightthefire.Praydrawuptoit,andIshallorderyouacupofhotcoffee,forIobservethatyouareshivering.”
“Itisnotcoldwhichmakesmeshiver,”saidthewomaninalowvoice,changingherseatasrequested.
“What,then?”
“Itisfear,Mr.Holmes.Itisterror.”Sheraisedherveilasshespoke,andwecouldseethatshewasindeedinapitiablestateofagitation,herfacealldrawnandgrey,withrestlessfrightenedeyes,likethoseofsomehuntedanimal.Herfeaturesandfigurewerethoseofawomanofthirty,butherhairwasshotwithprematuregrey,andherexpressionwaswearyandhaggard.SherlockHolmesranheroverwithoneofhisquick,all-comprehensiveglances.
“Youmustnotfear,”saidhesoothingly,bendingforwardandpattingherforearm.“Weshallsoonsetmattersright,Ihavenodoubt.Youhavecomeinbytrainthismorning,Isee.”
“Youknowme,then?”
“No,butIobservethesecondhalfofareturnticketinthepalmofyourleftglove.Youmusthavestartedearly,andyetyouhadagooddriveinadog-cart,alongheavyroads,beforeyoureachedthestation.”
Theladygaveaviolentstartandstaredinbewildermentatmycompanion.
“Thereisnomystery,mydearmadam,”saidhe,smiling.“Theleftarmofyourjacketisspatteredwithmudinnolessthansevenplaces.Themarksareperfectlyfresh.Thereisnovehiclesaveadog-cartwhichthrowsupmudinthatway,andthenonlywhenyousitontheleft-handsideofthedriver.”
“Whateveryourreasonsmaybe,youareperfectlycorrect,”saidshe.“Istartedfromhomebeforesix,reachedLeatherheadattwentypast,andcameinbythefirsttraintoWaterloo.Sir,IcanstandthisstrainnolongerIshallgomadifitcontinues.Ihavenoonetoturnto—none,saveonlyone,whocaresforme,andhe,poorfellow,canbeoflittleaid.Ihaveheardofyou,Mr.HolmesIhaveheardofyoufromMrs.Farintosh,whomyouhelpedinthehourofhersoreneed.ItwasfromherthatIhadyouraddress.Oh,sir,doyounotthinkthatyoucouldhelpme,too,andatleastthrowalittlelightthroughthedensedarknesswhichsurroundsme?Atpresentitisoutofmypowertorewardyouforyourservices,butinamonthorsixweeksIsh