Casebook of Sherlock Holmes
THE CASE BOOK OF SHERLOCK HOLMES by ARTHUR CONAN DOYLE
[obi/Doyle/Case.Book]
This text is in the Public Domain.
Preface
The Adventure of the Mazarin Stone
The Problem of Thor Bridge
The Adventure of the Creeping Man
The Adventure of the Sussex Vampire
The Adventure of the Three Garridebs
The Adventure of the Illustrious Client
The Adventure of the Three Gables
The Adventure of the Blanched Soldier
The Adventure of the Lion's Mane
The Adventure of the Retired Colourman
The Adventure of the Veiled Lodger
The Adventure of Shoscombe Old Place
PREFACE
THE CASE BOOK OF SHERLOCK HOLMES
I fear that Mr. Sherlock Holmes may become like one of those popular
tenors who, having outlived their time, are still tempted to make repeated
farewell bows to their indulgent audiences. This must cease and he must
go the way of all flesh, material or imaginary. One likes to think that there
is some fantastic limbo for the children of imagination, some strange,
impossible place where the beaux of Fielding may still make love to the
belles of Richardson, where Scott's heroes still may strut, Dickens's
delightful Cockneys still raise a laugh, and Thackeray's worldlings continue
to carry on their reprehensible careers. Perhaps in some humble corner of
such a Valhalla, Sherlock and his Watson may for a time find a place, while
some more astute sleuth with some even less astute comrade may fill the
stage which they have vacated.
His career has been a long one -- though it is possible to exaggerate it;
decrepit gentlemen who approach me and declare that his adventures
formed the reading of their boyhood do not meet the response from me
which they seem to expect. One is not anxious to have one's personal
dates handled so unkindly. As a matter of cold fact, Holmes made his
debut in A Study in Scarlet and in The Sign of Four, two small booklets
which appeared between 1887 and 1889. It was in 1891 that "A Scandal
in Bohemia," the first of the long series of short stories, appeared in The
Strand Magazine. The public seemed appreciative and desirous of more,
so that from that date, thirty-nine years ago, they have been produced in
a broken series which now contains no fewer than fifty-six stories,
republished in The Adventures, The Memoirs, The Return, and His Last
Bow. and there remain these twelve published during the last few years
which are here produced under the title of The Case Book of Sherlock
Holmes. He began his adventures in the very heart of the later Victorian
era, carried it through the all-too-short reign of Edward, and has managed to
hold his own little niche even in these feverish days. Thus it would be true
to say that those who first read of him, as young men, have lived to see
their own grown-up children following the same adventures in the same
magazine. It is a striking example of the patience and loyalty of the British
public.
I had fully determined at the conclusion of The Memoirs to bring Holmes
to an end, as I felt that my literary energies should not be directed too
much into one channel. That pale, clear-cut face and loose-limbed figure
were taking up an undue share of my imagination. I did the deed, but
fortunately no coroner had pronounced upon the remains, and so, after a
long interval, it was not difficult for me to respond to the flattering demand
and to explain my rash act away. I have never regretted it, for I have not in
actual practice found that these lighter sketches have prevented me from
exploring and finding my limitations in such varied branches of literature as
history, poetry, historical novels, psychic research, and the drama. Had
Holmes never existed I could not have done more, though he may perhaps
have stood a little in the way of the recognition of my more serious literary
work.
And so, reader, farewell to Sherlock Holmes! I thank you for your past
constancy, and can but hope that some return has been made in the shape
of that distraction from the worries of life and stimulating change of
thought which can only be found in the fairy kingdom of romance.
ARTHUR CONAN DOYLE.
The Adventure of the Mazarin Stone
It was pleasant to Dr. Watson to find himself once more in the
untidy room of the first floor in Baker Street which had been the
starting-point of so many remarkable adventures. He looked
round him at the scientific charts upon the wall, the acid-charred
bench of chemicals, the violin-case leaning in the corner, the
coal-scuttle, which contained of old the pipes and tobacco. Fi-
nally, his eyes came round to the fresh and smiling face of Billy,
the young but very wise and tactful page, who had helped a little
to fill up the gap of loneliness and isolation which surrounded
the saturnine figure of the great detective.
"It all seems very unchanged, Billy. You don't change, ei-
ther. I hope the same can be said of him?"
Billy glanced with some solicitude at the closed door of the
bedroom.
"I think he's in bed and asleep," he said.
It was seven in the evening of a lovely summer's day, but Dr.
Watson was sufficiently familiar with the irregularity of his old
friend's hours to feel no surprise at the idea.
"That means a case, I suppose?"
"Yes, sir, he is very hard at it just now. I'm frightened for his
health. He gets paler and thinner, and he eats nothing. 'When
will you be pleased to dine, Mr. Holmes?' Mrs. Hudson asked.
'Seven-thirty, the day after to-morrow,' said he. You know his
way when he is keen on a case."
"Yes, Billy, I know."
"He's following someone. Yesterday he was out as a work-
man looking for a job. To-day he was an old woman. Fairly took
me in, he did, and I ought to know his ways by now." Billy
pointed with a grin to a very baggy parasol which leaned against
the sofa.
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