A Study in Scarlet (Sherlock Holmes 1)

Sherlock Holmes approached the body, and, kneeling down, examined itintently. "You are sure that there is no wound?" he asked, pointing tonumerous gouts and splashes of blood which lay all round.

"Positive!" cried both detectives.

"Then, of course, this blood belongs to a second individual--[8]presumably the murderer, if murder has been committed. It reminds me ofthe circumstances attendant on the death of Van Jansen, in Utrecht, inthe year '34. Do you remember the case, Gregson?"

"No, sir."

"Read it up--you really should. There is nothing new under the sun. Ithas all been done before."

As he spoke, his nimble fingers were flying here, there, and everywhere,feeling, pressing, unbuttoning, examining, while his eyes wore the samefar-away expression which I have already remarked upon. So swiftly wasthe examination made, that one would hardly have guessed the minutenesswith which it was conducted. Finally, he sniffed the dead man's lips,and then glanced at the soles of his patent leather boots.

"He has not been moved at all?" he asked.

"No more than was necessary for the purposes of our examination."

"You can take him to the mortuary now," he said. "There is nothing moreto be learned."

Gregson had a stretcher and four men at hand. At his call they enteredthe room, and the stranger was lifted and carried out. As they raisedhim, a ring tinkled down and rolled across the floor. Lestrade grabbedit up and stared at it with mystified eyes.

"There's been a woman here," he cried. "It's a woman's wedding-ring."

He held it out, as he spoke, upon the palm of his hand. We all gatheredround him and gazed at it. There could be no doubt that that circlet ofplain gold had once adorned the finger of a bride.

"This complicates matters," said Gregson. "Heaven knows, they werecomplicated enough before."

"You're sure it doesn't simplify them?" observed Holmes. "There'snothing to be learned by staring at it. What did you find in hispockets?"

"We have it all here," said Gregson, pointing to a litter of objectsupon one of the bottom steps of the stairs. "A gold watch, No. 97163, byBarraud, of London. Gold Albert chain, very heavy and solid. Gold ring,with masonic device. Gold pin--bull-dog's head, with rubies as eyes.Russian leather card-case, with cards of Enoch J. Drebber of Cleveland,corresponding with the E. J. D. upon the linen. No purse, but loosemoney to the extent of seven pounds thirteen. Pocket edition ofBoccaccio's 'Decameron,' with name of Joseph Stangerson upon thefly-leaf. Two letters--one addressed to E. J. Drebber and one to JosephStangerson."

"At what address?"

"American Exchange, Strand--to be left till called for. They are bothfrom the Guion Steamship Company, and refer to the sailing of theirboats from Liverpool. It is clear that this unfortunate man was about toreturn to New York."

"Have you made any inquiries as to this man, Stangerson?"

"I did it at once, sir," said Gregson. "I have had advertisementssent to all the newspapers, and one of my men has gone to the AmericanExchange, but he has not returned yet."

"Have you sent to Cleveland?"

"We telegraphed this morning."

"How did you word your inquiries?"

"We simply detailed the circumstances, and said that we should be gladof any information which could help us."

"You did not ask for particulars on any point which appeared to you tobe crucial?"

"I asked about Stangerson."

"Nothing else? Is there no circumstance on which this whole case appearsto hinge? Will you not telegraph again?"

"I have said all I have to say," said Gregson, in an offended voice.

Sherlock Holmes chuckled to himself, and appeared to be about to makesome remark, when Lestrade, who had been in the front room while wewere holding this conversation in the hall, reappeared upon the scene,rubbing his hands in a pompous and self-satisfied manner.

"Mr. Gregson," he said, "I have just made a discovery of the highestimportance, and one which would have been overlooked had I not made acareful examination of the walls."

The little man's eyes sparkled as he spoke, and he was evidently ina state of suppressed exultation at having scored a point against hiscolleague.