THE ' GLORIA SCOTT ' by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

Holmes's friend, Mr. Trevor was dying as a result of a stroke suffered after he received a letter.

Seven weeks earlier, Hudson an old man, had come looking for work. He proved to be as unruly an employee as could be imagined. He had taken unforgivable liberties which would normally have resulted in an employee's dismissal. He was often drunk. The other staff had complained about him. However, Mr. Trevor always let him get away with any infamy. Because Hudson was his old shipmate. Suddenly, Hudson announced that he was leaving because he had tired of Norfolk, and he was going to Hampshire to see Beddoes, another old shipmate.

Now, Mr. Trevor had become thin and careworn by the ordeal. He had thought that the trouble was over when Hudson had left, but then came the letter, from Fordingbridge in Hampshire. It read:
"The supply of game for London is going steadily up. Head-keeper Hudson, we believe, has been now told to receive all orders for fly-paper and for preservation of your hen pheasant's life."
Holmes found the key. If one read every third word beginning with the first, there was an intelligible message: "The game is up. Hudson has told all. Fly for your life."
Holmes had deduced that the game was blackmail. Some guilty secret had been the power that Hudson had held over the elder Mr. Trevor. And it involves the name of one ship ; ' Gloria Scott '.

First published in the Strand Magazine, Apr. 1893, with 7 illustrations by Sidney Paget.