Sherlock Holmes re-told in 21st century Easy-English : Silver Blaze

Easy-English Sherlock Holmes : Silver Blaze - complete story

Silver Blaze1.

As soon as Mrs. Hudson appeared with a breakfast tray a little larger than usual, I guessed my dear friend Sherlock Holmes had a new mystery to solve and did not expect to be at home for lunch.

I hoped it was a case Holmes would need my help with, for it had been some weeks since I had accompanied Holmes on an adventure. I knew Holmes would tell me all about it when he was ready, but I was impatient to find out more, so I began dropping hints.

"Double helpings of porridge, Holmes," I said, "and extra toast and marmalade. You won't be hungry at lunch time if you eat all this."

"That is the plan," said Holmes. "Now eat up, for you will be missing lunch too. We have a new case to solve, and I will need your help."

I clapped my hands together in triumph. "I knew it, Holmes! So what is it this time? A burglary? A robbery? A lost jewel of some sort? A missing person?"

Holmes smiled. "I have left the clues all around you, my dear fellow," he said. "Four separate clues, in fact. I had half-expected you to have worked it out even before Mrs. Hudson arrived with the extra-large breakfast, Watson, but perhaps your brain has not yet woken up properly."

At this I gazed around the room, wondering what possible clues I had missed. But there seemed to be nothing out of the ordinary.

There was a pile of newspapers by Holmes's favourite chair, a couple of books lay open on the other table, and a there was a map hanging over the back of the chair next to me. But other than that, no clues whatsoever.

I shrugged my shoulders at Holmes. "I see nothing," I said.

"On the contrary," said Holmes, "you have already seen everything this morning. In fact you even picked the clues up before breakfast. All four of them."

I stared at Holmes. "I picked up four clues before breakfast? But that's ridiculous, Holmes. I have done no such thing."

Holmes pushed his empty porridge bowl aside and grabbed a slice of toast and marmalade. He stood up. "Come, Watson, he said. "Allow me to show you how wrong you are."

Silver Blaze 2.

I gobbled down the last drop of porridge in my bowl, grabbed a slice of toast and joined Holmes at the other table on the far side of the room.

Holmes waved his hand across the table. "What did you do first thing when you came into the room?" he asked.

I thought back, trying to recall my actions. "Why, nothing really, Holmes. I quickly glanced over the newspaper headlines and then Mrs. Hudson arrived and I sat down to breakfast with you."

"Really, Watson, this will not do," said Holmes. "Let me show you how blind you have been."

Holmes finished his toast and walked to the door. "You came into the room, Watson, and as always you made straight for the newspapers." Holmes walked across to his chair and picked up a newspaper. "You picked up this copy of The Times from my pile of newspapers and went to the table to spread it out to read."

I watched Holmes bring the newspaper to the table where the two books were.

"But when you got here you found I had left two books out, so you picked up each one and moved them across to make room for the newspaper." Holmes picked up the two books and carefully moved them to the back of the table and spread the newspaper out just as I had done. One book was open and the other closed.

"But you only had a chance to read the headlines before Mrs. Hudson knocked on the door," continued Holmes, "and like the gentleman you are you rushed across to open the door for her and watched as she placed the breakfast tray on the table."