Chapter 1. Mr. Sherlock Holmes

all,”saidHolmes.“Andnow,Dr.JamesMortimer—” “Mister,sir,Mister—ahumbleM.R.C.S.” “Andamanofprecisemind,evidently.” “Adabblerinscience,Mr.Holmes,apickerupofshellsontheshoresofthegreatunknownocean.IpresumethatitisMr.SherlockHolmeswhomIamaddressingandnot—” “No,thisismyfriendDr.Watson.” “Gladtomeetyou,sir.Ihaveheardyournamementionedinconnectionwiththatofyourfriend.Youinterestmeverymuch,Mr.Holmes.Ihadhardlyexpectedsodolichocephalicaskullorsuchwell-markedsupra-orbitaldevelopment.Wouldyouhaveanyobjectiontomyrunningmyfingeralongyourparietalfissure?Acastofyourskull,sir,untiltheoriginalisavailable,wouldbeanornamenttoanyanthropologicalmuseum.Itisnotmyintentiontobefulsome,butIconfessthatIcovetyourskull.” SherlockHolmeswavedourstrangevisitorintoachair.“Youareanenthusiastinyourlineofthought,Iperceive,sir,asIaminmine,”saidhe.“Iobservefromyourforefingerthatyoumakeyourowncigarettes.Havenohesitationinlightingone.” Themandrewoutpaperandtobaccoandtwirledtheoneupintheotherwithsurprisingdexterity.Hehadlong,quiveringfingersasagileandrestlessastheantenn?ofaninsect. Holmeswassilent,buthislittledartingglancesshowedmetheinterestwhichhetookinourcuriouscompanion.“Ipresume,sir,”saidheatlast,“thatitwasnotmerelyforthepurposeofexaminingmyskullthatyouhavedonemethehonourtocallherelastnightandagaintoday?” “No,sir,nothoughIamhappytohavehadtheopportunityofdoingthataswell.Icametoyou,Mr.Holmes,becauseIrecognizedthatIammyselfanunpracticalmanandbecauseIamsuddenlyconfrontedwithamostseriousandextraordinaryproblem.Recognizing,asIdo,thatyouarethesecondhighestexpertinEurope—” “Indeed,sir!MayIinquirewhohasthehonourtobethefirst?”askedHolmeswithsomeasperity. “TothemanofpreciselyscientificmindtheworkofMonsieurBertillonmustalwaysappealstrongly.” “Thenhadyounotbetterconsulthim?” “Isaid,sir,tothepreciselyscientificmind.Butasapracticalmanofaffairsitisacknowledgedthatyoustandalone.Itrust,sir,thatIhavenotinadvertently—” “Justalittle,”saidHolmes.“Ithink,Dr.Mortimer,youwoulddowiselyifwithoutmoreadoyouwouldkindlytellmeplainlywhattheexactnatureoftheproblemisinwhichyoudemandmyassistance.”