Chapter I The Science of Deduction

efor,then,buttosendawire?Eliminateallotherfactors,andtheonewhichremainsmustbethetruth.” “Inthiscaseitcertainlyisso,”Ireplied,afteralittlethought.“Thething,however,is,asyousay,ofthesimplest.WouldyouthinkmeimpertinentifIweretoputyourtheoriestoamoreseveretest?” “Onthecontrary,”heanswered,“itwouldpreventmefromtakingaseconddoseofcocaine.Ishouldbedelightedtolookintoanyproblemwhichyoumightsubmittome.” “Ihaveheardyousaythatitisdifficultforamantohaveanyobjectindailyusewithoutleavingtheimpressofhisindividualityuponitinsuchawaythatatrainedobservermightreadit.Now,Ihavehereawatchwhichhasrecentlycomeintomypossession.Wouldyouhavethekindnesstoletmehaveanopinionuponthecharacterorhabitsofthelateowner?” Ihandedhimoverthewatchwithsomeslightfeelingofamusementinmyheart,forthetestwas,asIthought,animpossibleone,andIintendeditasalessonagainstthesomewhatdogmatictonewhichheoccasionallyassumed.Hebalancedthewatchinhishand,gazedhardatthedial,openedtheback,andexaminedtheworks,firstwithhisnakedeyesandthenwithapowerfulconvexlens.Icouldhardlykeepfromsmilingathiscrestfallenfacewhenhefinallysnappedthecasetoandhandeditback. “Therearehardlyanydata,”heremarked.“Thewatchhasbeenrecentlycleaned,whichrobsmeofmymostsuggestivefacts.” “Youareright,”Ianswered.“Itwascleanedbeforebeingsenttome.”InmyheartIaccusedmycompanionofputtingforwardamostlameandimpotentexcusetocoverhisfailure.Whatdatacouldheexpectfromanuncleanedwatch? “Thoughunsatisfactory,myresearchhasnotbeenentirelybarren,”heobserved,staringupattheceilingwithdreamy,lack-lustreeyes.“Subjecttoyourcorrection,Ishouldjudgethatthewatchbelongedtoyourelderbrother,whoinheriteditfromyourfather.” “Thatyougather,nodoubt,fromtheH.W.upontheback?” “Quiteso.TheW.suggestsyourownname.Thedateofthewatchisnearlyfiftyyearsback,andtheinitialsareasoldasthewatch:soitwasmadeforthelastgeneration.Jewelryusuallydescendstotheeldestson,andheismostlikelytohavethesamenameasthefather.Yourfatherhas,ifIrememberright,beendeadmanyyears.Ithas,therefore,beeninthehandsofyoureldestbrother.” “Right,sofar,”saidI.“Anythingelse?” “Hewasamanofuntidyhabits,—veryuntidyandcareless.Hewasleftwithgoodprospects,buthethrewawayhischances,livedforsometimeinpovertywithoccasionalshortintervalsofprosperity,andfinally,takingtodrink,hedied.ThatisallIcangather.” Isprangfrommychairandlimpedimpatientlyabouttheroomwithconsiderablebitternessinmyheart. “Thisisunworthyofyou,Holmes,”Isaid.“Icouldnothavebelievedthatyouwouldhavedescendedtothis.Youhavemadeinquiresintothehistoryofmyunhappybrother,andyounowpretendtodeducethisknowledgeinsomefancifulway.Youcannotexpectmetobelievethatyouhavereadallthisfromhisoldwatch!Itisunkind,and,tospeakplainly,hasatouchofcharlatanisminit.” “Mydeardoctor,”saidhe,kindly,“prayacceptmyapologies.Vi