Read Online The Exploits of Sherlock Holmes by John Dickson Carr, Adrian Conan Doyle - Free Book Online Page A

his keen and eager nature, I
    could see that the misfortune had not sweetened his temper. Since Mrs. Hudson's telegram had
    mentioned only a fall on some stairs, I asked for an explanation and received that with which I
    have prefaced this chronicle.
    "I was proud of myself, Watson," he added bitterly, "and careless of my step. The more fool
    I!"
    "Yet surely some modest degree of pride was permissible! The Bully Boy is no mean
    opponent."
    "On the contrary, I found him much overrated and half drunk. But I see, Watson, that
    you yourself are troubled about your health."
    "Good heavens, Holmes! It is true that I suspect the advent of a cold. But, since there is as
    yet no sign in my appearance or voice, it is astonishing that you can have known it!"
    "Astonishing? It is elementary. You have been taking your own pulse. A minute trace of the
    silver nitrate upon your right forefinger has been transferred to a significant spot on your left
    wrist. But what on earth are you doing now?"
    Heedless of his protests, I examined and re-bandaged his ankle.
    "And yet, my dear fellow," I went on, endeavouring to raise his spirits as I might cheer
    any patient, "in one sense it gives me great pleasure to see you thus incapacitated."
    Holmes looked at me fixedly, but did not speak.
    "Yes," said I, continuing to cheer him, "we must curb our impatience while we are confined
    to our sofa for a fortnight or perhaps more. But do not misunderstand me. When last
    summer I had the privilege of meeting your brother, Mycroft, you stated that he was your
    superior in observation and deduction."
    "I spoke the truth. If the art of detection began and ended in reasoning from an arm-chair,
    my brother would be the greatest criminal agent that ever lived."
    "A proposition which I take the liberty of doubting. Now behold! Here are you enforced to
    the seated position. It will delight me to see you demonstrate your superiority when you are
    presented with some case—"
    "Case? I have no case!"
    "Be of good cheer. A case will come."
    "The agony column of The Times," said he, nodding towards the drift of newspapers, "is
    quite featureless. And even the joys of studying a new disease germ are not inexhaustible. As
    between you and another comforter, Watson, I really prefer Job's."
    The entrance of Mrs. Hudson, bearing a letter which had been delivered by hand,
    momentarily cut him short. Though I had not actually expected my prophecy to be fulfilled
    with such promptness, I could not but remark that the note-paper bore a crest and must have
    cost fully half a crown a packet. Nevertheless, I was doomed to disappointment. After tearing
    open the letter eagerly, Holmes uttered a snort of vexation.
    "So much for your soothsaying!" said he, scribbling a reply for our landlady to give to a
    district messenger. "It is merely an ill-spelt note from Sir Gervase Darlington, asking for an
    appointment at eleven tomorrow morning, and requesting that it be confirmed by hand to
    the Hercules Club."
    "Darlington!" remarked I. "Surely you have mentioned that name before?"
    "Yes, so I have. But upon that occasion I referred to Darlington the art-dealer, whose
    substitution of a false Leonardo painting for a real one caused such a scandal at the
    Grosvenor Galleries. Sir Gervase is a different and more exalted Darlington, though no less
    associated with scandal."
    "Who is he?"
    "Sir Gervase Darlington, Watson, is the bold, bad baronet of fiction, addicted to
    pugilism and profligate ladies. But he is by no means a swaggering figure of the
    imagination; too many such men lived in our grandfathers' time." My friend looked
    thoughtful. "At the moment, he had best mind his step."
    "You interest me. Why so?"
    "Well, I am no racing man. Yet I recall that Sir Gervase won a fortune during last year's
    Derby. Ill-disposed persons whispered that he did so by bribery and secret information. Be good
    enough, Watson, to remove this microscope."
    I did so. There remained upon the little table