A STUDY IN SCARLET Simplified Edition

Chapter 2 - THE SCIENCE OF DEDUCTION

Chapter - 2

THE SCIENCE OF DEDUCTION

The next day, as arranged, we met and looked at the rooms at No. 221B, Baker Street, that he had mentioned. The rooms included a couple of comfortable bedrooms and a large, airy sitting-room with two big windows. The apartments were very nice, and the rent was reasonable when split between us, so we decided to take them right away. That evening, I moved my things from the hotel, and the next morning, Sherlock Holmes brought several boxes and bags. For a day or two, we were busy unpacking and organizing our stuff. Once that was done, we started to get used to our new place.

Holmes was easy to live with. He was quiet and had regular habits. He rarely stayed up past ten at night and always had breakfast and left before I got up. Sometimes he spent his day in the chemical lab, sometimes in the dissecting rooms, and sometimes he took long walks, often into the poorer areas of the City. When he was working hard, he was very energetic, but sometimes he would be on the sofa all day, barely moving or speaking. During these times, his eyes had a vacant look that made me think he might be using some drug, but his clean and disciplined life ruled that out.

As weeks passed, I became more curious about him and his life. He was tall, over six feet, and very thin, which made him look even taller. His eyes were sharp except when he was in a daze, and his thin, hawk-like nose gave him an alert look. His chin was prominent and square, showing determination. His hands were often stained with ink and chemicals, but he had a delicate touch, which I saw when he used his fragile scientific instruments.

I might seem like a nosy person for being so interested in him and trying to find out more about him, but my life was very dull. My health kept me from going out unless the weather was very good, and I had no friends to visit me, so I was very interested in the mystery around him. I tried to understand him by observing what he knew and did.

Holmes wasn’t studying medicine, as he confirmed to me. He didn’t seem to be following any course of study that would lead to a degree in science or any other field. Yet, his knowledge in some areas was extraordinary and detailed, which surprised me. It seemed odd that someone would work so hard and know so much unless they had a specific goal. People usually don’t focus so much on small details unless they have a reason.

His lack of knowledge was as striking as his knowledge. He seemed to know almost nothing about current literature, philosophy, or politics. When I mentioned Thomas Carlyle, he asked who that was. I was shocked when I found out he didn’t know the Copernican Theory or the Solar System’s structure. It was hard for me to believe that someone in this century didn’t know that the Earth orbits the Sun.

Holmes noticed my surprise and said with a smile, “Now that I know it, I’ll do my best to forget it.”

“To forget it!” I said.

He explained, “I think a man’s brain is like a small attic. You fill it with what you need. A fool takes in all sorts of junk, making it hard to find useful knowledge. A skilled worker is careful about what he puts in his brain and keeps it well-organized. If you add new knowledge, you might forget something useful. So, it’s important not to crowd your mind with useless facts.”

“But the Solar System!” I protested.

“What does it matter to me?” he said impatiently. “If we went around the Moon instead of the Sun, it wouldn’t change anything for me or my work.”

I almost asked what his work was, but his manner suggested he didn’t want to discuss it. I thought about our conversation and tried to understand it. He said he only learned what was useful for his goal. I made a list of his knowledge and skills: