Chapter I The Science of Deduction

SherlockHolmestookhisbottlefromthecornerofthemantel-pieceandhishypodermicsyringefromitsneatmoroccocase.Withhislong,white,nervousfingersheadjustedthedelicateneedle,androlledbackhisleftshirt-cuff.Forsomelittletimehiseyesrestedthoughtfullyuponthesinewyforearmandwristalldottedandscarredwithinnumerablepuncture-marks.Finallyhethrustthesharppointhome,presseddownthetinypiston,andsankbackintothevelvet-linedarm-chairwithalongsighofsatisfaction. ThreetimesadayformanymonthsIhadwitnessedthisperformance,butcustomhadnotreconciledmymindtoit.Onthecontrary,fromdaytodayIhadbecomemoreirritableatthesight,andmyconscienceswellednightlywithinmeatthethoughtthatIhadlackedthecouragetoprotest.AgainandagainIhadregisteredavowthatIshoulddelivermysouluponthesubject,buttherewasthatinthecool,nonchalantairofmycompanionwhichmadehimthelastmanwithwhomonewouldcaretotakeanythingapproachingtoaliberty.Hisgreatpowers,hismasterlymanner,andtheexperiencewhichIhadhadofhismanyextraordinaryqualities,allmademediffidentandbackwardincrossinghim. Yetuponthatafternoon,whetheritwastheBeaunewhichIhadtakenwithmylunch,ortheadditionalexasperationproducedbytheextremedeliberationofhismanner,IsuddenlyfeltthatIcouldholdoutnolonger. “Whichisitto-day?”Iasked,—“morphineorcocaine?” Heraisedhiseyeslanguidlyfromtheoldblack-lettervolumewhichhehadopened.“Itiscocaine,”hesaid,—“aseven-per-cent.solution.Wouldyoucaretotryit?” “No,indeed,”Ianswered,brusquely.“MyconstitutionhasnotgotovertheAfghancampaignyet.Icannotaffordtothrowanyextrastrainuponit.” Hesmiledatmyvehemence.“Perhapsyouareright,Watson,”hesaid.“Isupposethatitsinfluenceisphysicallyabadone.Ifindit,however,sotranscendentlystimulatingandclarifyingtothemindthatitssecondaryactionisamatterofsmallmoment.” “Butconsider!”Isaid,earnestly.“Countthecost!Yourbrainmay,asyousay,berousedandexcited,butitisapathologicalandmorbidprocess,whichinvolvesincreasedtissue-changeandmayatlastleaveapermanentweakness.Youknow,too,whatablackreactioncomesuponyou.Surelythegameishardlyworththecandle.Whyshouldyou,foramerepassingpleasure,riskthelossofthosegreatpowerswithwhichyouhavebeenendowed?RememberthatIspeaknotonlyasonecomradetoanother,butasamedicalmantooneforwhoseconstitutionheistosomeextentanswerable.” Hedidnotseemoffended.Onthecontrary,heputhisfinger-tipstogetherandleanedhiselbowsonthearmsofhischair,likeonewhohasarelishforconversation. “Mymind,”hesaid,“rebelsatstagnation.Givemeproblems,givemework,givemethemostabstrusecryptogramorthemostintricateanalysis,andIaminmyownproperatmosphere.Icandispensethenwithartificialstimulants.ButIabhorthedullroutineofexistence.Icraveformentalexaltation.ThatiswhyIhavechosenmyownparticularprofession,—orrathercreatedit,forIamtheonlyoneintheworld.” “Theonlyunofficialdetective?”Isaid,raisingm