A Study in Scarlet by Arthur Conan Doyle (ebook reader with highlighter txt) ๐
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A Study in Scarlet is the novel which first introduced Arthur Conan Doylesโ iconic characters Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson. It was published in 1887 in a popular magazine, Beetonโs Christmas Annual. It attracted little public attention at the time, but interest in Holmes continued to build with the subsequent series of short stories Doyle wrote featuring the austere, analytical detectiveโnow one of the most well-known characters in all of English literature.
A Study in Scarlet is told from the point of view of Dr. John Watson, a medical doctor who has recently returned to London after suffering serious injury and illness as part of the Army Medical Department deployed to Afghanistan. In precarious health and even more precarious financial straits, heโs looking for cheap lodgings when a friend introduces him to Sherlock Holmes. The pair agree to share the rent of a flat Holmes has found.
Watson is baffled by his companionโs strange nature, his peculiar interests, his unusual breadth of knowledge in certain fields alongside his shocking ignorance in others, and his many strange visitors. Only eventually does Watsonb discover that Holmes has set himself up as the worldโs first โconsulting detective,โ and itโs not long before Watson finds himself assisting Holmes in a mysterious case. The body of a man has been found in an abandoned house, without wounds or other marks of injury. But on the wall, scrawled in blood, is the word RACHE. The subsequent unravelling of the mystery takes many unexpected turns.
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- Author: Arthur Conan Doyle
Read book online ยซA Study in Scarlet by Arthur Conan Doyle (ebook reader with highlighter txt) ๐ยป. Author - Arthur Conan Doyle
โHave you made any inquiries as to this man, Stangerson?โ
โI did it at once, sir,โ said Gregson. โI have had advertisements sent to all the newspapers, and one of my men has gone to the American Exchange, but he has not returned yet.โ
โHave you sent to Cleveland?โ
โWe telegraphed this morning.โ
โHow did you word your inquiries?โ
โWe simply detailed the circumstances, and said that we should be glad of any information which could help us.โ
โYou did not ask for particulars on any point which appeared to you to be crucial?โ
โI asked about Stangerson.โ
โNothing else? Is there no circumstance on which this whole case appears to hinge? Will you not telegraph again?โ
โI have said all I have to say,โ said Gregson, in an offended voice.
Sherlock Holmes chuckled to himself, and appeared to be about to make some remark, when Lestrade, who had been in the front room while we were holding this conversation in the hall, reappeared upon the scene, rubbing his hands in a pompous and self-satisfied manner.
โMr. Gregson,โ he said, โI have just made a discovery of the highest importance, and one which would have been overlooked had I not made a careful examination of the walls.โ
The little manโs eyes sparkled as he spoke, and he was evidently in a state of suppressed exultation at having scored a point against his colleague.
โCome here,โ he said, bustling back into the room, the atmosphere of which felt clearer since the removal of its ghastly inmate. โNow, stand there!โ
He struck a match on his boot and held it up against the wall.
โLook at that!โ he said, triumphantly.
I have remarked that the paper had fallen away in parts. In this particular corner of the room a large piece had peeled off, leaving a yellow square of coarse plastering. Across this bare space there was scrawled in blood-red letters a single wordโ โ
Rache
โWhat do you think of that?โ cried the detective, with the air of a showman exhibiting his show. โThis was overlooked because it was in the darkest corner of the room, and no one thought of looking there. The murderer has written it with his or her own blood. See this smear where it has trickled down the wall! That disposes of the idea of suicide anyhow. Why was that corner chosen to write it on? I will tell you. See that candle on the mantelpiece. It was lit at the time, and if it was lit this corner would be the brightest instead of the darkest portion of the wall.โ
โAnd what does it mean now that you have found it?โ asked Gregson in a depreciatory voice.
โMean? Why, it means that the writer was going to put the female name Rachel, but was disturbed before he or she had time to finish. You mark my words, when this case comes to be cleared up you will find that a woman named Rachel has something to do with it. Itโs all very well for you to laugh, Mr. Sherlock Holmes. You may be very smart and clever, but the old hound is the best, when all is said and done.โ
โI really beg your pardon!โ said my companion, who had ruffled the little manโs temper by bursting into an explosion of laughter. โYou certainly have the credit of being the first of us to find this out, and, as you say, it bears every mark of having been written by the other participant in last nightโs mystery. I have not had time to examine this room yet, but with your permission I shall do so now.โ
As he spoke, he whipped a tape measure and a large round magnifying glass from his pocket. With these two implements he trotted noiselessly about the room, sometimes stopping, occasionally kneeling, and once lying flat upon his face. So engrossed was he with his occupation that he appeared to have forgotten our presence, for he chattered away to himself under his breath the whole time, keeping up a running fire of exclamations, groans, whistles, and little cries suggestive of encouragement and of hope. As I watched him I was irresistibly reminded of a pure-blooded well-trained foxhound as it dashes backwards and forwards through the covert, whining in its eagerness, until it comes across the lost scent. For twenty minutes or more he continued his researches, measuring with the most exact care the distance between marks which were entirely invisible to me, and occasionally applying his tape to the walls in an equally incomprehensible manner. In one place he gathered up very carefully a little pile of grey dust from the floor, and packed it away in an envelope. Finally, he examined with his glass the word upon the wall, going over every letter of it with the most minute exactness. This done, he appeared to be satisfied, for he replaced his tape and his glass in his pocket.
โThey say that genius is an infinite capacity for taking pains,โ he remarked with a smile. โItโs a very bad definition, but it does apply to detective work.โ
Gregson and Lestrade had watched the manoeuvres of their amateur companion with considerable curiosity and some contempt. They evidently failed to appreciate the fact, which I had begun to realize, that Sherlock Holmesโ smallest actions were all directed towards some definite and practical end.
โWhat do you think of it, sir?โ they both asked.
โIt would be robbing you of the credit of the case if I was to presume to help you,โ remarked my friend. โYou are doing so well now that it would be a pity for anyone to interfere.โ There was a world of sarcasm in his voice as he spoke. โIf you will let me know how your investigations go,โ he continued, โI shall be happy to give you any help I can. In the meantime I should like to speak
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