Chapter - 3
THE LAURISTON GARDENS MYSTERY
I was very surprised by this new proof of how practical my companion's theories were. My respect for his analytical skills grew a lot. Still, I had a nagging doubt that this might be a setup to impress me, though I couldn't understand why he would do that. When I looked at him, he had finished reading the note, and his eyes were blank, showing he was deep in thought.
"How did you figure that out?" I asked.
"Figure out what?" he replied, sounding annoyed.
"That he was a retired Marine sergeant."
"I don't waste time on small things," he said brusquely, then added with a smile, "Sorry for being rude. You broke my train of thought, but maybe it's good you did. You didn't see that he was a Marine sergeant?"
"No."
"It was easier to know than to explain why. Just like you might find it hard to prove that two plus two equals four, even though you know it's true. I saw a big blue anchor tattooed on his hand, which suggested he was from the sea. He had a military posture and side whiskers, typical of a Marine. He also had an air of importance and command. You must have noticed how he held his head and swung his cane. All these signs made me think he was a sergeant."
"Impressive!" I said.
"Nothing special," Holmes replied, though he seemed pleased by my surprise. "I said there were no criminals around. Looks like I was wrong. Look at this!" He handed me the note from the commissionaire.
"This is terrible!" I exclaimed after reading it.
"It's unusual," Holmes said calmly. "Could you read it aloud for me?"
This is the letter I read to him:
---
My Dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes,
There has been a serious incident at 3, Lauriston Gardens, off the Brixton Road. Our patrol saw a light there around two in the morning. Since the house is empty, he thought something was wrong. He found the door open and discovered the body of a well-dressed man with a card saying "Enoch J. Drebber, Cleveland, Ohio, U.S.A." There was no robbery and no clear cause of death. There are blood stains, but no wounds on the body. We don't know how he got into the empty house. It's a puzzling case. If you can come by before twelve, you'll find me there. I've left everything as it is until I hear from you. If you can't come, I'll give you more details and would appreciate your opinion.
Yours faithfully,
Tobias Gregson
---
"Gregson is one of the best at Scotland Yard," Holmes said. "He and Lestrade are the top of a bad group. They're quick and energetic but very conventional. They also don't get along well. It should be interesting if both are involved in this case."
I was amazed at how calmly Holmes spoke. "There's no time to waste," I said. "Shall I call a cab for you?"
"I'm not sure if I'll go," he replied. "I can be very lazy when I want to, though I can be quick when needed."
"But this is just the opportunity you've been waiting for."
"Why should I care? If I solve it, Gregson, Lestrade, and others will get the credit. That's the downside of being unofficial."
"But he's asking for your help."
"Yes, he knows I'm better, but he won't admit it to others. Anyway, let's go and see. I'll investigate myself and might have some fun. Come on!"
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A STUDY IN SCARLET Simplified Edition
Mystery / ThrillerA Study in Scarlet by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle In this gripping detective novel, the legendary Sherlock Holmes and his loyal friend Dr. John Watson embark on their first adventure together. When a man is found murdered in a London house, with the wor...
