WATSON

I was seated at breakfast one morning with my wife, when the maid brought in a piece of paper. It was from Sherlock Holmes and ran in this way: Watson, have you got a couple of days to spare? Have just been called for from the west of England in connection with Boscombe Valley tragedy. Shall be glad if you come with me. Air and scenery perfect. Leave Paddington on the 11:15. “What do you say, dear?” said my wife, looking across at me. “Will you go?” “I really don't know what to say. I have a lot on my mind at present.” “Oh, James will do your work for you. You have been looking a little pale lately. I think that the change would do you good, and you are always so interested in such cases.” “But if I am to go, I must pack at once. I have only half an hour.” I put down my cup of coffee and left the dining-room. My experience of camp life in Afghanistan had at least had the effect of making me a fast and ready traveller. My needs were few and simple, so that in less than the time given I was in a cab with my luggage, heading for Paddington Station. Sherlock Holmes was walking quickly up and down the platform; his tall, thin figure seemed even taller and thinner in his long gray travelling-coat. “It is really very good of you to come, Watson,” he said. “It makes a huge difference to me, having someone with me on whom I can depend. The train will be here any minute now. Please, take two corner seats, and in the meantime, I shall get a ticket for you.” Holmes had brought an enormous mass of papers. As we were travelling, he browsed and read them, pausing at times to take some notes or meditate. When we passed Reading, he suddenly rolled the papers into a gigantic ball and threw them up onto the rack. “Have you heard anything of the case?” he asked. “Not a word. I have not seen a paper for some days.” “The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just been looking through all the recent papers in order to learn some details. It seems, from what I understand, to be one of those simple cases which are so extremely difficult.”