A Study in Scarlet

Um Estudo em Vermelho

Arthur Conan Doyle

ESL Easy Read

Reading Comprehension B1 • Original Text • Português Support

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Copyright

Fonte original — domínio público

Esta edição ESL Easy Read foi adaptada a partir de A Study in Scarlet, de Arthur Conan Doyle, publicado originalmente em 1887.

A obra original encontra-se em domínio público e pode ser utilizada, reproduzida, distribuída e adaptada de acordo com a legislação aplicável.

Autor

Arthur Conan Doyle (1859–1930)

Estados Unidos

Esta obra foi publicada originalmente em 1887.

Nos Estados Unidos, obras publicadas antes de 1930 encontram-se normalmente em domínio público.

Com base no ano de publicação disponível, esta obra encontra-se em domínio público nos Estados Unidos desde 1º de janeiro de 1983.

Brasil

Autor: Arthur Conan Doyle (1859–1930)

De acordo com a Lei nº 9.610/1998, os direitos patrimoniais expiram 70 anos após a morte do autor, contados a partir de 1º de janeiro do ano seguinte ao falecimento.

Arthur Conan Doyle faleceu em 1930.

Situação no Brasil: DOMÍNIO PÚBLICO.

Portugal

Autor: Arthur Conan Doyle (1859–1930)

De acordo com o Código do Direito de Autor e dos Direitos Conexos, a proteção patrimonial dura 70 anos após a morte do autor.

Arthur Conan Doyle faleceu em 1930.

Situação em Portugal: DOMÍNIO PÚBLICO.

Dados da publicação original

Obra original: A Study in Scarlet

Autor: Arthur Conan Doyle

Primeira publicação: 1887

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Esta adaptação ESL Easy Read

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Introdução

Como ler este livro

Cada livro desta coleção é apresentado em um nível de leitura simplificada, de acordo com o CEFR — Quadro Europeu Comum de Referência para Línguas.

A2 — Básico: indicado para leitores que já compreendem frases simples, vocabulário frequente e textos curtos sobre situações do cotidiano.

B1 — Intermediário: indicado para leitores que conseguem compreender as ideias principais de textos claros e acompanhar uma narrativa com vocabulário e estruturas de dificuldade moderada.

B2 — Intermediário avançado: indicado para leitores que já conseguem compreender textos mais complexos, acompanhar descrições detalhadas e reconhecer uma variedade maior de vocabulário e estruturas gramaticais.

Este livro foi adaptado para o nível B1.

Assim, você pode começar a lê-lo mesmo sem dominar completamente o inglês. O texto foi simplificado para facilitar a compreensão, preservando a história, os personagens e os acontecimentos principais da obra original.

Como usar as notas

No texto de leitura simplificada, cada parágrafo possui um link Pt/En. Esse link abre uma nota com a tradução em português do texto simplificado e o trecho correspondente no texto original em inglês.

No texto original em inglês, o link PT leva diretamente ao parágrafo correspondente na versão em português. Na tradução portuguesa, o link En retorna ao parágrafo correspondente no texto original.

A tradução para o português é feita a partir do texto em inglês simplificado, e não diretamente do texto original. O objetivo é ajudar você a compreender com precisão a frase simplificada que está estudando naquele momento.

O texto original em inglês é apresentado separadamente para a etapa seguinte do aprendizado, quando você já estiver preparado para ler e comparar a obra em sua forma original.

Cada nota contém links que permitem retornar exatamente ao parágrafo que você estava lendo.

Sobre este livro

Um Estudo em Vermelho é o primeiro romance a apresentar o lendário detetive Sherlock Holmes e seu futuro amigo e cronista, Dr. John Watson. A história começa com Watson, um médico do exército ferido que retorna da guerra no Afeganistão, procurando alojamentos acessíveis em Londres. Um amigo em comum o apresenta a Holmes, um homem peculiar com habilidades dedutivas extraordinárias, e eles concordam em dividir um apartamento na 221B Baker Street. Logo, Holmes é chamado para investigar um assassinato em uma casa abandonada em Brixton. A vítima, Enoch Drebber, é encontrada morta sem ferimentos visíveis, mas com uma expressão de terror no rosto e a palavra "Rache" escrita com sangue na parede. A polícia está perplexa, mas Holmes rapidamente deduz detalhes cruciais da cena. A investigação toma um rumo surpreendente quando o secretário de Drebber também é encontrado assassinado. Holmes usa sua observação aguçada e raciocínio lógico para identificar o assassino, um homem chamado Jefferson Hope. O romance é dividido em duas partes: a primeira detalha a investigação em Londres, enquanto a segunda faz um flashback para o Oeste americano, revelando a história pregressa do assassino e seus motivos, que envolvem uma trágica história de amor ambientada na comunidade mórmon em Utah. O tom é uma mistura de quebra-cabeça policial e conto de aventura, com a lógica fria de Holmes contrastando com a história de vingança passional. A narrativa estabelece a dupla icônica e prepara o cenário para suas futuras aventuras.

Nota editorial

A tradução para o português e a versão Reading Comprehension B1 foram geradas com apoio de inteligência artificial e submetidas a revisão editorial.

Em caso de dúvida ou observações, fale conosco.

MicMac from Las Vegas LLC
Contato: admin@micmacfromlasvegas.com

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Reading Comprehension B1

2 - I — Mr. Sherlock Holmes

3 - II — The Science of Deduction

4 - III — The Lauriston Gardens Mystery

I — Mr. Sherlock Holmes

Pt/En In 1878, the narrator finished his medical studies in London. He then trained to be an army surgeon and was sent to India. Before he could join his regiment, the second Afghan war started. He travelled to India and found his regiment in Candahar, where he began his new job.

Pt/En The war brought many changes, but for the narrator, it was full of bad luck. He was moved to a different group and fought in a difficult battle called Maiwand. There, he was shot by a bullet, which broke his bone and hurt an important artery. His orderly, Murray, saved him by putting him on a horse and taking him back to the British soldiers.

Pt/En Because he was very sick and weak from his injuries and the difficult journey, he was sent to a hospital in Peshawar. He started to get better, but then he got a serious fever. For many months, doctors thought he would die. When he finally recovered, he was so thin and weak that doctors decided he must return to England immediately. He sailed back on a ship and arrived in England a month later, with his health badly damaged, but with permission to rest and try to recover.

Pt/En The narrator had no family in England and had a small amount of money each day. Because of this, he moved to London. He stayed in a hotel for a while, living unhappily and spending his money too quickly. He realized he had to either leave London and live in the country or change his way of life. He decided to change his life by leaving the expensive hotel and finding a cheaper place to live.

Pt/En On the same day he decided to move, he was at a bar when someone tapped his shoulder. He turned and saw a young man named Stamford, whom he knew from his time at Barts hospital. Meeting a familiar face in London made him happy. He invited Stamford to lunch, and they went together in a taxi.

Pt/En Holmes asked Watson, with clear surprise, what he had been doing. They were travelling through busy London streets. Holmes also noted that Watson looked very thin and tanned.

Pt/En Watson briefly told Holmes about his adventures. He finished his story just as they arrived at their destination.

Pt/En After listening to Watson's bad experiences, Holmes felt sorry for him. He then asked Watson what he was doing now.

Pt/En Watson replied that he was looking for a place to live. He was trying to find comfortable rooms for a fair price.

Pt/En Holmes found this interesting. He told Watson that this was the second person that day to say the same thing to him.

Pt/En The narrator asked who the first person was.

Pt/En Stamford explained that the first person was a man working at the hospital's chemical lab. This man was sad because he wanted to share some nice but expensive rooms he found, but he couldn't find anyone to share them with him.

Pt/En The narrator exclaimed that he was the perfect person for the man if he needed someone to share the rooms and cost. He said he would rather have a partner than be alone.

Pt/En Young Stamford looked at the narrator with surprise. He told the narrator that he did not know Sherlock Holmes yet and might not like him as a constant companion.

Pt/En The narrator asked what was wrong with him.

Pt/En Watson explained that he had not said anything bad about Mr. Holmes. He said Holmes had unusual ideas and was very interested in some science subjects. Watson thought he was a good person.

Pt/En The narrator asked if Mr. Holmes was a medical student.

Pt/En Watson did not know what Mr. Holmes planned to study. He believed Holmes knew a lot about anatomy and was a good chemist. However, he had never taken regular medical classes. His studies were strange and not usual, but he had learned a lot of unusual information that would surprise his teachers.

Pt/En The narrator asked if Watson had ever asked Mr. Holmes about his future studies.

Pt/En Watson replied that he had not asked. He said Mr. Holmes was not someone easy to get information from, although he could talk a lot when he wanted to.

Pt/En The speaker said he wanted to meet the man. He explained that if he was going to live with someone, he would prefer a quiet and studious person. He felt he was not strong enough for a lot of noise or excitement, as he had experienced too much of it in Afghanistan. He asked how he could meet this friend.

Pt/En His companion replied that the man would probably be at the laboratory. He explained that the man either stayed away from the laboratory for weeks or worked there all day. He offered to drive there together after lunch.

Pt/En The speaker agreed, and they then talked about other subjects.

Pt/En As they went to the hospital after leaving Holborn, Stamford told the speaker more about the gentleman who might become his flatmate.

Pt/En Stamford told the speaker not to blame him if they did not get along. He said he did not know much more about the man, only what he had seen when meeting him at the laboratory. Stamford added that since the speaker had suggested the arrangement, he should not hold him responsible.

Pt/En I told Stamford that if we did not get along, it would be easy for us to stop living together. I asked him why he seemed to want to avoid the situation. I wanted to know if Sherlock Holmes had a difficult temper or if there was another reason, and I asked him to speak plainly.

Pt/En Stamford laughed and said it was hard to explain. He felt that Holmes was too scientific, almost cold. Stamford imagined Holmes might give a friend a small amount of a new plant poison, not to be mean, but just to study its effects. He believed Holmes would also be willing to test it on himself. Stamford thought Holmes was very passionate about learning exact facts.

Pt/En I agreed that wanting to learn facts was good.

Pt/En Stamford replied that this desire for knowledge could go too far. He said that when Holmes started hitting bodies in the dissection room with a stick, it seemed like a very strange thing to do.

Pt/En I was surprised to hear about hitting bodies.

Pt/En Stamford explained that the student was looking at bruises on dead bodies to understand how they appear after death. He said he had seen the student doing this himself.

Pt/En Watson asked Stamford if the student was really not a medical student, because his actions seemed like it.

Pt/En Stamford replied that the student was not a medical student and that he did not know what the student studied. He told Watson that they had arrived and Watson should form his own opinion. They walked down a narrow lane and entered a part of the large hospital. Watson knew the way and they walked up stone stairs and along a long hall. Near the end, a passage led to the chemical laboratory.

Pt/En The laboratory was a large room with many bottles. Tables were covered with scientific equipment. Only one student was in the room, working hard. When he heard them, he looked up and happily ran towards them. He shouted to Stamford that he had found something special: a liquid that only reacted with haemoglobin. He seemed very excited, as if he had found a treasure.

Pt/En Stamford introduced Dr. Watson to Mr. Sherlock Holmes.

Pt/En Holmes greeted me warmly and shook my hand with surprising strength. He then told me that he knew I had been in Afghanistan.

Pt/En I was very surprised and asked him how he knew that.

Pt/En Holmes laughed and said it was not important how he knew. He asked if I understood the importance of his new discovery about haemoglobin.

Pt/En I replied that it was interesting for chemistry, but I was not sure about its practical use.

Pt/En Holmes explained that it was a very useful medical discovery because it could test for blood stains. He took me to his table and showed me. He put a little blood into a large amount of water, which looked like pure water. Then he added some white crystals and a liquid. Immediately, the mixture turned a dark red-brown colour and a brown powder settled at the bottom.

Pt/En Sherlock Holmes laughed loudly and clapped his hands. He was very happy, like a child with a new toy. He asked me what I thought.

Pt/En I said that it seemed like a very clever test.

Pt/En Holmes said the test was beautiful. He explained that the old Guiacum test was difficult and not always correct. He also said that looking at blood cells under a microscope was not useful if the stains were old. But this new test worked for both old and new blood. He thought that if this test had existed before, many criminals would have been caught.

Pt/En I said "Indeed!" quietly.

Pt/En Holmes explained that many criminal cases depended on identifying stains. He said that if a person was suspected of a crime, their clothes might have brown stains. It was often hard for experts to know if these stains were blood, mud, rust, or fruit. This was because there was no sure way to test them. But now, with the new "Sherlock Holmes’ test", it would be easy to find out.

Pt/En His eyes shone as he spoke. He put his hand on his heart and bowed, as if he imagined a crowd was clapping for him.

Pt/En I said, surprised by his excitement, that he should be congratulated.

Pt/En He mentioned several cases from the past year, like Von Bischoff, Mason, Muller, Lefevre, and Samson. He said that if this test had existed then, it would have stopped many crimes.

Pt/En Stamford laughed and told him he seemed like a walking record of crimes. He suggested Holmes start a newspaper about past crimes.

Pt/En Sherlock Holmes agreed it could be interesting reading. He put a small plaster on a cut on his finger. He told me with a smile that he had to be careful because he worked a lot with poisons. I saw his hand was covered in similar plasters and looked sore from strong acids.

Pt/En Stamford explained they were there for business. He said his friend wanted to find rooms to share. Stamford thought he should introduce them because Holmes had trouble finding someone to share his rooms.

Pt/En Sherlock Holmes was happy about sharing rooms. He said he had found a place in Baker Street that would be very suitable. He asked if the narrator minded the smell of strong tobacco.

Pt/En The narrator answered that he himself usually smoked 'ship's' tobacco.

Pt/En Holmes thought that was fine. He mentioned he often had chemicals around and sometimes did experiments, and asked if that would bother the narrator.

Pt/En The narrator replied that it would not bother him at all.

Pt/En Sherlock Holmes asked his companion to share his own faults. He explained that he sometimes felt sad and would not speak for days, but he wanted his friend to understand that he was not angry. He said it was good for them to know each other's bad habits before they started living together.

Pt/En The narrator laughed at Holmes's questions. He said that he owned a bull pup and disliked arguments because they made him nervous. He also mentioned that he woke up very early and was very lazy. He added that he had other bad habits when he felt better, but these were the main ones now.

Pt/En Holmes asked anxiously if the narrator considered playing the violin as one of his bad habits or arguments.

Pt/En The narrator replied that it depended on who was playing. He said that music from a well-played violin was wonderful, but badly played music was not.

Pt/En Holmes laughed happily and said that everything was fine. He thought they could agree on the living arrangements, as long as the rooms were acceptable to the narrator.

Pt/En He asked when they would see them.

Pt/En He told the narrator to call for him at noon the next day, and they would go together to finish everything.

Pt/En The narrator agreed to meet exactly at noon and shook his hand.

Pt/En They left him working with his chemicals and walked together to the narrator's hotel.

Pt/En Suddenly, the narrator stopped and asked Stamford how Sherlock Holmes knew he had come from Afghanistan.

Pt/En The narrator's friend smiled in a mysterious way. He explained that this was a small, unusual habit of Sherlock's. He added that many people were curious about how Sherlock discovered information.

Pt/En The narrator was excited, saying it sounded like a mystery. He found it very interesting and thanked his friend for introducing them. He remembered the saying that studying people is the most important thing for humans.

Pt/En As Stamford said goodbye, he told the narrator that he should study Sherlock. He warned that Sherlock would be a difficult person to understand and predicted Sherlock would learn more about the narrator than the narrator would learn about Sherlock.

Pt/En The narrator said goodbye and walked to his hotel, feeling very interested in his new acquaintance.

II — The Science of Deduction

Pt/En The narrator and Sherlock met the next day and looked at the rooms at 221B Baker Street. The rooms had comfortable bedrooms and a large, bright sitting-room with two windows. The apartments were very good, and the price seemed fair when they divided it. They agreed to rent the rooms immediately and moved in. The narrator moved his belongings from the hotel that evening, and Sherlock brought his boxes and suitcases the next morning. For the first few days, they were busy unpacking and arranging their things. After that, they started to get used to their new home and surroundings.

Pt/En Holmes was not difficult to live with. He was quiet and had regular habits. He usually woke up early and left home before the narrator. He spent his days in a chemical lab, in dissection rooms, or on long walks in the city. He was very energetic when he worked. However, sometimes he would rest for days, lying on the sofa and hardly moving or speaking. The narrator noticed he looked dreamy at these times but knew he did not use drugs because he was always temperate and clean.

Pt/En As weeks passed, the narrator became more interested in Holmes and his life goals. Holmes's appearance was striking. He was tall, over six feet, and very thin, which made him seem even taller. His eyes were sharp, except when he was resting. His thin nose, like a hawk's, made him look alert and decisive. He had a strong chin, showing determination. His hands were often stained with ink and chemicals, but he had a very delicate touch, which the narrator saw when Holmes handled fragile instruments.

Pt/En The narrator admits he was very curious about Holmes and often tried to learn more about him. He explains that his own life was quiet and not very interesting. His health meant he could not go out much unless the weather was very good, and he had no friends to visit him. Because of this, the mystery surrounding his companion was exciting, and he spent a lot of time trying to understand it.

Pt/En Holmes was not studying medicine, and he did not seem to be studying for any degree in science or other professions. Yet, he was very passionate about certain subjects. His knowledge was incredibly detailed and wide within specific areas, which amazed the narrator. The narrator thought that no one would work so hard or know so much unless they had a clear purpose. People who read many different things are rarely so precise in their knowledge, and no one remembers small details without a good reason.

Pt/En Holmes's lack of knowledge was as surprising as his expertise. He seemed to know almost nothing about modern books, philosophy, or politics. When the narrator mentioned Thomas Carlyle, Holmes asked who he was. The narrator was most surprised to learn that Holmes did not know about the Copernican Theory or the Solar System. The narrator found it hard to believe that any educated person in the 1800s did not know that the Earth moves around the Sun.

Pt/En Holmes noticed that Watson looked surprised and smiled. He said that now he knew something, he would try to forget it.

Pt/En Watson could not believe he wanted to forget it.

Pt/En Holmes explained that a person's brain is like an empty room that must be filled carefully. He said that a foolish person fills their mind with useless information, which makes it hard to find useful facts. A smart person only keeps the tools they need for their work. Holmes warned that the brain cannot hold everything, and learning new things means forgetting old ones. Therefore, he said, it is important not to let useless facts take the place of useful ones.

Pt/En Watson protested, mentioning the Solar System.

Pt/En Holmes interrupted impatiently, saying it did not matter to him if people went around the sun or the moon, as it would not affect him or his work.

Pt/En The narrator wanted to ask Sherlock Holmes about his work, but he saw that Holmes did not want to talk about it. So, he thought about what Holmes had said. Holmes explained that he only learned things that would help him reach his goals. The narrator then thought about all the subjects Holmes knew a lot about. He even wrote them down on a list. He found the list funny when he finished it.

Pt/En The narrator felt very sad and threw the list into the fire. He thought that if he could not understand Holmes's job by looking at all his skills, it was impossible to find out what he did. He decided it was better to stop trying.

Pt/En The narrator mentioned Holmes's violin playing. Holmes was very good at it, but it was unusual. He could play difficult music, like songs by Mendelssohn, when asked. However, when he was alone, he often played without a clear tune. He would close his eyes and play simple, sometimes sad, sometimes happy music on his violin. The narrator thought the music showed Holmes's thoughts. He did not know if the music helped Holmes think or if he just played when he felt like it. The narrator did not mind these strange music sessions because Holmes usually ended them by playing some of the narrator's favorite songs.

Pt/En For the first week, no one visited them, and the narrator thought Holmes had no friends. Soon, he realized Holmes knew many different kinds of people. A man named Mr. Lestrade visited several times. A well-dressed young woman came for a visit. A poor-looking man, like a pedlar, and an older woman also visited. An old gentleman and a railway worker visited on other days. When these visitors arrived, Holmes asked to use the sitting room, and the narrator went to his bedroom. Holmes apologized for the trouble, saying he used the room for business and the visitors were his clients. The narrator had another chance to ask Holmes about his work but did not. He thought Holmes had a good reason not to talk about it, but Holmes soon started talking about it himself.

Pt/En The narrator remembered it was March 4th. He woke up early and found Sherlock Holmes was still eating breakfast. The landlady had not prepared the narrator's breakfast because he usually woke up late. The narrator rang the bell to say he was ready. He picked up a magazine to read while Holmes ate his toast quietly. He saw a pencil mark on one of the article titles and started to read it.

Pt/En A book called "The Book of Life" tried to explain how much a careful person could learn by looking closely at things. The writer thought it was a mix of smart ideas and silly ones. He said that by looking at small signs, like a facial expression or an eye movement, he could understand a person's deepest thoughts. He believed that if someone was trained to observe and analyze, they could not hide anything. His ideas seemed as certain as math, and to people who didn't understand his methods, his results seemed like magic.

Pt/En The writer explained that just as one drop of water could suggest a large ocean, one part of life could show the whole. He said that the Science of Deduction and Analysis needed long and careful study, and life was too short to become perfect at it. He suggested beginners should start with easier problems. He believed that by looking at a person, one could quickly learn about their life and job. He listed many details, like fingernails, coat sleeves, boots, and facial expressions, which he said clearly showed a person's profession. He thought it was almost impossible for a skilled observer to not understand someone's job using these clues.

Pt/En The narrator strongly disagreed with the article, calling it nonsense and rubbish.

Pt/En Sherlock Holmes asked what the narrator was reading.

Pt/En The narrator explained he was talking about the article, which Holmes had apparently read. He admitted the writing was clever but found it annoying. He thought the author was someone who stayed at home and created theories without real experience. He felt the ideas were not practical and bet that the author would fail if put in a crowded train and asked to guess people's jobs.

Pt/En Sherlock Holmes calmly said that they would lose their money. He also explained that he had written the article himself.

Pt/En The other person expressed surprise, saying "You!"

Pt/En Holmes confirmed that he was good at observing and making deductions. He explained that his ideas, which might seem strange, were very useful and helped him earn a living.

Pt/En The narrator asked Holmes how he earned his living.

Pt/En Holmes explained that he had a unique job as a consulting detective. He said that when government or private detectives could not solve a case, they came to him. He used his knowledge of past crimes to help them find the right answers. He mentioned that a detective named Lestrade had recently asked for his help on a forgery case.

Pt/En He asked about the other people.

Pt/En Holmes explained that most of these people were sent by private detective agencies. They were all people who had problems and needed help to understand them. He said he listened to their stories, gave them advice, and then received his payment.

Pt/En The narrator asked if Holmes could solve difficult problems without leaving his room, even when other people had seen all the details.

Pt/En Holmes agreed and said he had a special way of understanding things. Sometimes, he needed to go out and see things himself if a case was very difficult. He used his special knowledge and the rules of deduction, which he mentioned before, to solve problems easily. He reminded the narrator that observation was very important to him, like when he knew the narrator had come from Afghanistan.

Pt/En The narrator suggested that Holmes must have been told this information.

Pt/En Holmes explained that he knew Watson had come from Afghanistan. He said his thoughts moved very fast. He saw that Watson looked like a doctor but also like a soldier, so he guessed he was an army doctor. Because Watson's face was dark but his wrists were light, Holmes knew he had been in a hot country, like the tropics. Watson looked tired and sick, and his left arm was injured and held in an unusual way. Holmes thought about where an army doctor might have faced hardship and been hurt. He concluded it must have been Afghanistan. He said this whole process took less than a second.

Pt/En Watson said it was simple when Holmes explained it. He told Holmes that he reminded him of a character named Dupin from Edgar Allan Poe's stories. Watson added that he did not think such people existed outside of books.

Pt/En Sherlock Holmes lit his pipe and said that Watson probably thought he was complimenting him by comparing him to Dupin. However, Holmes thought Dupin was not very good. He found Dupin's habit of interrupting his friends after long silences to be showy and not very deep. Holmes admitted Dupin had some talent for analysis, but he was not as special as Edgar Allan Poe seemed to think.

Pt/En Watson asked Holmes if he had read the books by Gaboriau. He then asked if the detective character Lecoq was as good as Holmes thought a detective should be.

Pt/En Sherlock Holmes spoke angrily and said Lecoq was a terrible failure. He felt Lecoq only had energy to recommend him. Holmes said the book made him feel sick. He explained that the story was about how to find an unknown prisoner. Holmes believed he could have solved it in twenty-four hours, but Lecoq took about six months. Holmes thought the book should be used to teach detectives what not to do.

Pt/En The speaker was annoyed because two people he respected were treated disrespectfully. He went to the window and thought to himself that the man might be clever but was also very arrogant.

Pt/En The man complained that there were no crimes to solve nowadays. He felt that his intelligence and hard work in his profession were wasted. He believed he was very talented at finding criminals, but there was little crime to detect, or the crimes were too simple for him to solve.

Pt/En The speaker was still bothered by the man's proud way of talking. He decided it would be better to talk about something else.

Pt/En The speaker asked what a strong, simply dressed man was looking for. He pointed to the man walking slowly across the street, looking carefully at the house numbers. The man held a large blue envelope, suggesting he was delivering a message.

Pt/En Sherlock Holmes replied that the speaker was referring to a retired Sergeant from the Marines.

Pt/En The narrator thought the other person was showing off. He believed the other person knew that he (the narrator) could not check the guess.

Pt/En Just as the narrator had this thought, the man they were watching saw the number on their door. The man quickly ran across the street. They heard a loud knock and a deep voice from downstairs, followed by heavy footsteps coming up the stairs.

Pt/En A man entered the room and said that a letter was for Mr. Sherlock Holmes. He then gave the letter to Holmes.

Pt/En The narrator saw this as a chance to make Sherlock Holmes less proud. He thought Holmes had not expected this when he made his guess. The narrator then asked the messenger, in a very calm voice, what his job was.

Pt/En The messenger answered gruffly that he was a commissionaire. He explained that his uniform was being repaired.

Pt/En I asked my companion if he had been a sergeant, looking at him with a slightly mischievous expression.

Pt/En The man answered that he was a sergeant in the Royal Marine Light Infantry. He then said that he would not answer further questions and confirmed that he understood.

Pt/En He then clicked his heels together, gave a salute with his hand, and left.

III — The Lauriston Gardens Mystery

Pt/En I was surprised by this new proof that my companion's ideas worked in real life. My belief in his ability to analyze things grew a lot. However, I still suspected that the whole event might have been planned to impress me. I could not understand why he would want to trick me. When I looked at him, he had finished reading the note. His eyes looked empty, showing he was thinking deeply.

Pt/En I asked him how he had figured that out.

Pt/En He asked impatiently what he should deduce.

Pt/En He explained that the man was a retired sergeant of Marines.

Pt/En He said he did not have time for small things and apologized for being rude. He explained that the other person had interrupted his thoughts, but it was okay. He then asked if the other person had really not seen that the man was a sergeant of Marines.

Pt/En The other person answered that they had not.

Pt/En He replied that it was easier to know the fact than to explain how he knew it, comparing it to proving that two plus two equals four. He mentioned that he saw a large blue anchor tattoo on the man's hand from across the street, which suggested he had been at sea. The man also had a military way of standing and wore regulation side whiskers, indicating he was a marine. He carried himself with importance and authority, which could be seen in how he held his head and swung his cane. He looked like a steady, respectable, middle-aged man. All these details led him to believe the man had been a sergeant.

Original English Text

2 - I — Mr. Sherlock Holmes

3 - II — The Science of Deduction

4 - III — The Lauriston Gardens Mystery

I — Mr. Sherlock Holmes

PT In the year 1878 I took my degree of Doctor of Medicine of the University of London, and proceeded to Netley to go through the course prescribed for surgeons in the army. Having completed my studies there, I was duly attached to the Fifth Northumberland Fusiliers as Assistant Surgeon. The regiment was stationed in India at the time, and before I could join it, the second Afghan war had broken out. On landing at Bombay, I learned that my corps had advanced through the passes, and was already deep in the enemy’s country. I followed, however, with many other officers who were in the same situation as myself, and succeeded in reaching Candahar in safety, where I found my regiment, and at once entered upon my new duties.

PT The campaign brought honours and promotion to many, but for me it had nothing but misfortune and disaster. I was removed from my brigade and attached to the Berkshires, with whom I served at the fatal battle of Maiwand. There I was struck on the shoulder by a Jezail bullet, which shattered the bone and grazed the subclavian artery. I should have fallen into the hands of the murderous Ghazis had it not been for the devotion and courage shown by Murray, my orderly, who threw me across a packhorse, and succeeded in bringing me safely to the British lines.

PT Worn with pain, and weak from the prolonged hardships which I had undergone, I was removed, with a great train of wounded sufferers, to the base hospital at Peshawar. Here I rallied, and had already improved so far as to be able to walk about the wards, and even to bask a little upon the verandah, when I was struck down by enteric fever, that curse of our Indian possessions. For months my life was despaired of, and when at last I came to myself and became convalescent, I was so weak and emaciated that a medical board determined that not a day should be lost in sending me back to England. I was dispatched, accordingly, in the troopship Orontes, and landed a month later on Portsmouth jetty, with my health irretrievably ruined, but with permission from a paternal government to spend the next nine months in attempting to improve it.

PT I had neither kith nor kin in England, and was therefore as free as air—or as free as an income of eleven shillings and sixpence a day will permit a man to be. Under such circumstances, I naturally gravitated to London, that great cesspool into which all the loungers and idlers of the Empire are irresistibly drained. There I stayed for some time at a private hotel in the Strand, leading a comfortless, meaningless existence, and spending such money as I had, considerably more freely than I ought. So alarming did the state of my finances become, that I soon realized that I must either leave the metropolis and rusticate somewhere in the country, or that I must make a complete alteration in my style of living. Choosing the latter alternative, I began by making up my mind to leave the hotel, and to take up my quarters in some less pretentious and less expensive domicile.

PT On the very day that I had come to this conclusion, I was standing at the Criterion Bar, when someone tapped me on the shoulder, and turning round I recognized young Stamford, who had been a dresser under me at Barts. The sight of a friendly face in the great wilderness of London is a pleasant thing indeed to a lonely man. In old days Stamford had never been a particular crony of mine, but now I hailed him with enthusiasm, and he, in his turn, appeared to be delighted to see me. In the exuberance of my joy, I asked him to lunch with me at the Holborn, and we started off together in a hansom.

PT “Whatever have you been doing with yourself, Watson?” he asked in undisguised wonder, as we rattled through the crowded London streets. “You are as thin as a lath and as brown as a nut.”

PT I gave him a short sketch of my adventures, and had hardly concluded it by the time that we reached our destination.

PT “Poor devil!” he said, commiseratingly, after he had listened to my misfortunes. “What are you up to now?”

PT “Looking for lodgings,” I answered. “Trying to solve the problem as to whether it is possible to get comfortable rooms at a reasonable price.”

PT “That’s a strange thing,” remarked my companion; “you are the second man today that has used that expression to me.”

PT “And who was the first?” I asked.

PT “A fellow who is working at the chemical laboratory up at the hospital. He was bemoaning himself this morning because he could not get someone to go halves with him in some nice rooms which he had found, and which were too much for his purse.”

PT “By Jove!” I cried, “if he really wants someone to share the rooms and the expense, I am the very man for him. I should prefer having a partner to being alone.”

PT Young Stamford looked rather strangely at me over his wineglass. “You don’t know Sherlock Holmes yet,” he said; “perhaps you would not care for him as a constant companion.”

PT “Why, what is there against him?”

PT “Oh, I didn’t say there was anything against him. He is a little queer in his ideas—an enthusiast in some branches of science. As far as I know he is a decent fellow enough.”

PT “A medical student, I suppose?” said I.

PT “No—I have no idea what he intends to go in for. I believe he is well up in anatomy, and he is a first-class chemist; but, as far as I know, he has never taken out any systematic medical classes. His studies are very desultory and eccentric, but he has amassed a lot of out-of-the-way knowledge which would astonish his professors.”

PT “Did you never ask him what he was going in for?” I asked.

PT “No; he is not a man that it is easy to draw out, though he can be communicative enough when the fancy seizes him.”

PT “I should like to meet him,” I said. “If I am to lodge with anyone, I should prefer a man of studious and quiet habits. I am not strong enough yet to stand much noise or excitement. I had enough of both in Afghanistan to last me for the remainder of my natural existence. How could I meet this friend of yours?”

PT “He is sure to be at the laboratory,” returned my companion. “He either avoids the place for weeks, or else he works there from morning to night. If you like, we shall drive round together after luncheon.”

PT “Certainly,” I answered, and the conversation drifted away into other channels.

PT As we made our way to the hospital after leaving the Holborn, Stamford gave me a few more particulars about the gentleman whom I proposed to take as a fellow-lodger.

PT “You mustn’t blame me if you don’t get on with him,” he said; “I know nothing more of him than I have learned from meeting him occasionally in the laboratory. You proposed this arrangement, so you must not hold me responsible.”

PT “If we don’t get on it will be easy to part company,” I answered. “It seems to me, Stamford,” I added, looking hard at my companion, “that you have some reason for washing your hands of the matter. Is this fellow’s temper so formidable, or what is it? Don’t be mealymouthed about it.”

PT “It is not easy to express the inexpressible,” he answered with a laugh. “Holmes is a little too scientific for my tastes—it approaches to cold-bloodedness. I could imagine his giving a friend a little pinch of the latest vegetable alkaloid, not out of malevolence, you understand, but simply out of a spirit of inquiry in order to have an accurate idea of the effects. To do him justice, I think that he would take it himself with the same readiness. He appears to have a passion for definite and exact knowledge.”

PT “Very right too.”

PT “Yes, but it may be pushed to excess. When it comes to beating the subjects in the dissecting-rooms with a stick, it is certainly taking rather a bizarre shape.”

PT “Beating the subjects!”

PT “Yes, to verify how far bruises may be produced after death. I saw him at it with my own eyes.”

PT “And yet you say he is not a medical student?”

PT “No. Heaven knows what the objects of his studies are. But here we are, and you must form your own impressions about him.” As he spoke, we turned down a narrow lane and passed through a small side-door, which opened into a wing of the great hospital. It was familiar ground to me, and I needed no guiding as we ascended the bleak stone staircase and made our way down the long corridor with its vista of whitewashed wall and dun-coloured doors. Near the further end a low arched passage branched away from it and led to the chemical laboratory.

PT This was a lofty chamber, lined and littered with countless bottles. Broad, low tables were scattered about, which bristled with retorts, test-tubes, and little Bunsen lamps, with their blue flickering flames. There was only one student in the room, who was bending over a distant table absorbed in his work. At the sound of our steps he glanced round and sprang to his feet with a cry of pleasure. “I’ve found it! I’ve found it,” he shouted to my companion, running towards us with a test-tube in his hand. “I have found a reagent which is precipitated by haemoglobin, and by nothing else.” Had he discovered a gold mine, greater delight could not have shone upon his features.

PT “Dr. Watson, Mr. Sherlock Holmes,” said Stamford, introducing us.

PT “How are you?” he said cordially, gripping my hand with a strength for which I should hardly have given him credit. “You have been in Afghanistan, I perceive.”

PT “How on earth did you know that?” I asked in astonishment.

PT “Never mind,” said he, chuckling to himself. “The question now is about haemoglobin. No doubt you see the significance of this discovery of mine?”

PT “It is interesting, chemically, no doubt,” I answered, “but practically—”

PT “Why, man, it is the most practical medico-legal discovery for years. Don’t you see that it gives us an infallible test for blood stains? Come over here now!” He seized me by the coat-sleeve in his eagerness, and drew me over to the table at which he had been working. “Let us have some fresh blood,” he said, digging a long bodkin into his finger, and drawing off the resulting drop of blood in a chemical pipette. “Now, I add this small quantity of blood to a litre of water. You perceive that the resulting mixture has the appearance of pure water. The proportion of blood cannot be more than one in a million. I have no doubt, however, that we shall be able to obtain the characteristic reaction.” As he spoke, he threw into the vessel a few white crystals, and then added some drops of a transparent fluid. In an instant the contents assumed a dull mahogany colour, and a brownish dust was precipitated to the bottom of the glass jar.

PT “Ha! ha!” he cried, clapping his hands, and looking as delighted as a child with a new toy. “What do you think of that?”

PT “It seems to be a very delicate test,” I remarked.

PT “Beautiful! beautiful! The old Guiacum test was very clumsy and uncertain. So is the microscopic examination for blood corpuscles. The latter is valueless if the stains are a few hours old. Now, this appears to act as well whether the blood is old or new. Had this test been invented, there are hundreds of men now walking the earth who would long ago have paid the penalty of their crimes.”

PT “Indeed!” I murmured.

PT “Criminal cases are continually hinging upon that one point. A man is suspected of a crime months perhaps after it has been committed. His linen or clothes are examined, and brownish stains discovered upon them. Are they blood stains, or mud stains, or rust stains, or fruit stains, or what are they? That is a question which has puzzled many an expert, and why? Because there was no reliable test. Now we have the Sherlock Holmes’ test, and there will no longer be any difficulty.”

PT His eyes fairly glittered as he spoke, and he put his hand over his heart and bowed as if to some applauding crowd conjured up by his imagination.

PT “You are to be congratulated,” I remarked, considerably surprised at his enthusiasm.

PT “There was the case of Von Bischoff at Frankfort last year. He would certainly have been hung had this test been in existence. Then there was Mason of Bradford, and the notorious Muller, and Lefevre of Montpellier, and Samson of New Orleans. I could name a score of cases in which it would have been decisive.”

PT “You seem to be a walking calendar of crime,” said Stamford with a laugh. “You might start a paper on those lines. Call it the Police News of the Past.”

PT “Very interesting reading it might be made, too,” remarked Sherlock Holmes, sticking a small piece of plaster over the prick on his finger. “I have to be careful,” he continued, turning to me with a smile, “for I dabble with poisons a good deal.” He held out his hand as he spoke, and I noticed that it was all mottled over with similar pieces of plaster, and discoloured with strong acids.

PT “We came here on business,” said Stamford, sitting down on a high three-legged stool, and pushing another one in my direction with his foot. “My friend here wants to take diggings, and as you were complaining that you could get no one to go halves with you, I thought that I had better bring you together.”

PT Sherlock Holmes seemed delighted at the idea of sharing his rooms with me. “I have my eye on a suite in Baker Street,” he said, “which would suit us down to the ground. You don’t mind the smell of strong tobacco, I hope?”

PT “I always smoke ‘ship’s’ myself,” I answered.

PT “That’s good enough. I generally have chemicals about, and occasionally do experiments. Would that annoy you?”

PT “By no means.”

PT “Let me see—what are my other shortcomings? I get in the dumps at times, and don’t open my mouth for days on end. You must not think I am sulky when I do that. Just let me alone, and I’ll soon be right. What have you to confess now? It’s just as well for two fellows to know the worst of one another before they begin to live together.”

PT I laughed at this cross-examination. “I keep a bull pup,” I said, “and I object to rows because my nerves are shaken, and I get up at all sorts of ungodly hours, and I am extremely lazy. I have another set of vices when I’m well, but those are the principal ones at present.”

PT “Do you include violin-playing in your category of rows?” he asked, anxiously.

PT “It depends on the player,” I answered. “A well-played violin is a treat for the gods—a badly-played one—”

PT “Oh, that’s all right,” he cried, with a merry laugh. “I think we may consider the thing as settled—that is, if the rooms are agreeable to you.”

PT “When shall we see them?”

PT “Call for me here at noon tomorrow, and we’ll go together and settle everything,” he answered.

PT “All right—noon exactly,” said I, shaking his hand.

PT We left him working among his chemicals, and we walked together towards my hotel.

PT “By the way,” I asked suddenly, stopping and turning upon Stamford, “how the deuce did he know that I had come from Afghanistan?”

PT My companion smiled an enigmatical smile. “That’s just his little peculiarity,” he said. “A good many people have wanted to know how he finds things out.”

PT “Oh! a mystery is it?” I cried, rubbing my hands. “This is very piquant. I am much obliged to you for bringing us together. ‘The proper study of mankind is man,’ you know.”

PT “You must study him, then,” Stamford said, as he bade me goodbye. “You’ll find him a knotty problem, though. I’ll wager he learns more about you than you about him. Goodbye.”

PT “Goodbye,” I answered, and strolled on to my hotel, considerably interested in my new acquaintance.

II — The Science of Deduction

PT We met next day as he had arranged, and inspected the rooms at No. 221B, Baker Street, of which he had spoken at our meeting. They consisted of a couple of comfortable bedrooms and a single large airy sitting-room, cheerfully furnished, and illuminated by two broad windows. So desirable in every way were the apartments, and so moderate did the terms seem when divided between us, that the bargain was concluded upon the spot, and we at once entered into possession. That very evening I moved my things round from the hotel, and on the following morning Sherlock Holmes followed me with several boxes and portmanteaus. For a day or two we were busily employed in unpacking and laying out our property to the best advantage. That done, we gradually began to settle down and to accommodate ourselves to our new surroundings.

PT Holmes was certainly not a difficult man to live with. He was quiet in his ways, and his habits were regular. It was rare for him to be up after ten at night, and he had invariably breakfasted and gone out before I rose in the morning. Sometimes he spent his day at the chemical laboratory, sometimes in the dissecting-rooms, and occasionally in long walks, which appeared to take him into the lowest portions of the City. Nothing could exceed his energy when the working fit was upon him; but now and again a reaction would seize him, and for days on end he would lie upon the sofa in the sitting-room, hardly uttering a word or moving a muscle from morning to night. On these occasions I have noticed such a dreamy, vacant expression in his eyes, that I might have suspected him of being addicted to the use of some narcotic, had not the temperance and cleanliness of his whole life forbidden such a notion.

PT As the weeks went by, my interest in him and my curiosity as to his aims in life, gradually deepened and increased. His very person and appearance were such as to strike the attention of the most casual observer. In height he was rather over six feet, and so excessively lean that he seemed to be considerably taller. His eyes were sharp and piercing, save during those intervals of torpor to which I have alluded; and his thin, hawk-like nose gave his whole expression an air of alertness and decision. His chin, too, had the prominence and squareness which mark the man of determination. His hands were invariably blotted with ink and stained with chemicals, yet he was possessed of extraordinary delicacy of touch, as I frequently had occasion to observe when I watched him manipulating his fragile philosophical instruments.

PT The reader may set me down as a hopeless busybody, when I confess how much this man stimulated my curiosity, and how often I endeavoured to break through the reticence which he showed on all that concerned himself. Before pronouncing judgment, however, be it remembered, how objectless was my life and how little there was to engage my attention. My health forbade me from venturing out unless the weather was exceptionally genial, and I had no friends who would call upon me and break the monotony of my daily existence. Under these circumstances, I eagerly hailed the little mystery which hung around my companion, and spent much of my time in endeavouring to unravel it.

PT He was not studying medicine. He had himself, in reply to a question, confirmed Stamford’s opinion upon that point. Neither did he appear to have pursued any course of reading which might fit him for a degree in science or any other recognized portal which would give him an entrance into the learned world. Yet his zeal for certain studies was remarkable, and within eccentric limits his knowledge was so extraordinarily ample and minute that his observations have fairly astounded me. Surely no man would work so hard or attain such precise information unless he had some definite end in view. Desultory readers are seldom remarkable for the exactness of their learning. No man burdens his mind with small matters unless he has some very good reason for doing so.

PT His ignorance was as remarkable as his knowledge. Of contemporary literature, philosophy and politics he appeared to know next to nothing. Upon my quoting Thomas Carlyle, he inquired in the naivest way who he might be and what he had done. My surprise reached a climax, however, when I found incidentally that he was ignorant of the Copernican Theory and of the composition of the Solar System. That any civilized human being in this nineteenth century should not be aware that the earth travelled round the sun appeared to be to me such an extraordinary fact that I could hardly realize it.

PT “You appear to be astonished,” he said, smiling at my expression of surprise. “Now that I do know it I shall do my best to forget it.”

PT “To forget it!”

PT “You see,” he explained, “I consider that a man’s brain originally is like a little empty attic, and you have to stock it with such furniture as you choose. A fool takes in all the lumber of every sort that he comes across, so that the knowledge which might be useful to him gets crowded out, or at best is jumbled up with a lot of other things so that he has a difficulty in laying his hands upon it. Now the skilful workman is very careful indeed as to what he takes into his brain-attic. He will have nothing but the tools which may help him in doing his work, but of these he has a large assortment, and all in the most perfect order. It is a mistake to think that that little room has elastic walls and can distend to any extent. Depend upon it there comes a time when for every addition of knowledge you forget something that you knew before. It is of the highest importance, therefore, not to have useless facts elbowing out the useful ones.”

PT “But the Solar System!” I protested.

PT “What the deuce is it to me?” he interrupted impatiently; “you say that we go round the sun. If we went round the moon it would not make a pennyworth of difference to me or to my work.”

PT I was on the point of asking him what that work might be, but something in his manner showed me that the question would be an unwelcome one. I pondered over our short conversation, however, and endeavoured to draw my deductions from it. He said that he would acquire no knowledge which did not bear upon his object. Therefore all the knowledge which he possessed was such as would be useful to him. I enumerated in my own mind all the various points upon which he had shown me that he was exceptionally well-informed. I even took a pencil and jotted them down. I could not help smiling at the document when I had completed it. It ran in this way—

PT When I had got so far in my list I threw it into the fire in despair. “If I can only find what the fellow is driving at by reconciling all these accomplishments, and discovering a calling which needs them all,” I said to myself, “I may as well give up the attempt at once.”

PT I see that I have alluded above to his powers upon the violin. These were very remarkable, but as eccentric as all his other accomplishments. That he could play pieces, and difficult pieces, I knew well, because at my request he has played me some of Mendelssohn’s Lieder, and other favourites. When left to himself, however, he would seldom produce any music or attempt any recognized air. Leaning back in his armchair of an evening, he would close his eyes and scrape carelessly at the fiddle which was thrown across his knee. Sometimes the chords were sonorous and melancholy. Occasionally they were fantastic and cheerful. Clearly they reflected the thoughts which possessed him, but whether the music aided those thoughts, or whether the playing was simply the result of a whim or fancy was more than I could determine. I might have rebelled against these exasperating solos had it not been that he usually terminated them by playing in quick succession a whole series of my favourite airs as a slight compensation for the trial upon my patience.

PT During the first week or so we had no callers, and I had begun to think that my companion was as friendless a man as I was myself. Presently, however, I found that he had many acquaintances, and those in the most different classes of society. There was one little sallow rat-faced, dark-eyed fellow who was introduced to me as Mr. Lestrade, and who came three or four times in a single week. One morning a young girl called, fashionably dressed, and stayed for half an hour or more. The same afternoon brought a grey-headed, seedy visitor, looking like a Jew pedlar, who appeared to me to be much excited, and who was closely followed by a slipshod elderly woman. On another occasion an old white-haired gentleman had an interview with my companion; and on another a railway porter in his velveteen uniform. When any of these nondescript individuals put in an appearance, Sherlock Holmes used to beg for the use of the sitting-room, and I would retire to my bedroom. He always apologized to me for putting me to this inconvenience. “I have to use this room as a place of business,” he said, “and these people are my clients.” Again I had an opportunity of asking him a point blank question, and again my delicacy prevented me from forcing another man to confide in me. I imagined at the time that he had some strong reason for not alluding to it, but he soon dispelled the idea by coming round to the subject of his own accord.

PT It was upon the 4th of March, as I have good reason to remember, that I rose somewhat earlier than usual, and found that Sherlock Holmes had not yet finished his breakfast. The landlady had become so accustomed to my late habits that my place had not been laid nor my coffee prepared. With the unreasonable petulance of mankind I rang the bell and gave a curt intimation that I was ready. Then I picked up a magazine from the table and attempted to while away the time with it, while my companion munched silently at his toast. One of the articles had a pencil mark at the heading, and I naturally began to run my eye through it.

PT Its somewhat ambitious title was “The Book of Life,” and it attempted to show how much an observant man might learn by an accurate and systematic examination of all that came in his way. It struck me as being a remarkable mixture of shrewdness and of absurdity. The reasoning was close and intense, but the deductions appeared to me to be far-fetched and exaggerated. The writer claimed by a momentary expression, a twitch of a muscle or a glance of an eye, to fathom a man’s inmost thoughts. Deceit, according to him, was an impossibility in the case of one trained to observation and analysis. His conclusions were as infallible as so many propositions of Euclid. So startling would his results appear to the uninitiated that until they learned the processes by which he had arrived at them they might well consider him as a necromancer.

PT “From a drop of water,” said the writer, “a logician could infer the possibility of an Atlantic or a Niagara without having seen or heard of one or the other. So all life is a great chain, the nature of which is known whenever we are shown a single link of it. Like all other arts, the Science of Deduction and Analysis is one which can only be acquired by long and patient study, nor is life long enough to allow any mortal to attain the highest possible perfection in it. Before turning to those moral and mental aspects of the matter which present the greatest difficulties, let the enquirer begin by mastering more elementary problems. Let him, on meeting a fellow-mortal, learn at a glance to distinguish the history of the man, and the trade or profession to which he belongs. Puerile as such an exercise may seem, it sharpens the faculties of observation, and teaches one where to look and what to look for. By a man’s finger nails, by his coat-sleeve, by his boot, by his trouser knees, by the callosities of his forefinger and thumb, by his expression, by his shirt cuffs—by each of these things a man’s calling is plainly revealed. That all united should fail to enlighten the competent enquirer in any case is almost inconceivable.”

PT “What ineffable twaddle!” I cried, slapping the magazine down on the table, “I never read such rubbish in my life.”

PT “What is it?” asked Sherlock Holmes.

PT “Why, this article,” I said, pointing at it with my egg spoon as I sat down to my breakfast. “I see that you have read it since you have marked it. I don’t deny that it is smartly written. It irritates me though. It is evidently the theory of some armchair lounger who evolves all these neat little paradoxes in the seclusion of his own study. It is not practical. I should like to see him clapped down in a third class carriage on the Underground, and asked to give the trades of all his fellow-travellers. I would lay a thousand to one against him.”

PT “You would lose your money,” Sherlock Holmes remarked calmly. “As for the article, I wrote it myself.”

PT “You!”

PT “Yes, I have a turn both for observation and for deduction. The theories which I have expressed there, and which appear to you to be so chimerical are really extremely practical—so practical that I depend upon them for my bread and cheese.”

PT “And how?” I asked involuntarily.

PT “Well, I have a trade of my own. I suppose I am the only one in the world. I’m a consulting detective, if you can understand what that is. Here in London we have lots of Government detectives and lots of private ones. When these fellows are at fault they come to me, and I manage to put them on the right scent. They lay all the evidence before me, and I am generally able, by the help of my knowledge of the history of crime, to set them straight. There is a strong family resemblance about misdeeds, and if you have all the details of a thousand at your finger ends, it is odd if you can’t unravel the thousand and first. Lestrade is a well-known detective. He got himself into a fog recently over a forgery case, and that was what brought him here.”

PT “And these other people?”

PT “They are mostly sent on by private inquiry agencies. They are all people who are in trouble about something, and want a little enlightening. I listen to their story, they listen to my comments, and then I pocket my fee.”

PT “But do you mean to say,” I said, “that without leaving your room you can unravel some knot which other men can make nothing of, although they have seen every detail for themselves?”

PT “Quite so. I have a kind of intuition that way. Now and again a case turns up which is a little more complex. Then I have to bustle about and see things with my own eyes. You see I have a lot of special knowledge which I apply to the problem, and which facilitates matters wonderfully. Those rules of deduction laid down in that article which aroused your scorn, are invaluable to me in practical work. Observation with me is second nature. You appeared to be surprised when I told you, on our first meeting, that you had come from Afghanistan.”

PT “You were told, no doubt.”

PT “Nothing of the sort. I knew you came from Afghanistan. From long habit the train of thoughts ran so swiftly through my mind, that I arrived at the conclusion without being conscious of intermediate steps. There were such steps, however. The train of reasoning ran, ‘Here is a gentleman of a medical type, but with the air of a military man. Clearly an army doctor, then. He has just come from the tropics, for his face is dark, and that is not the natural tint of his skin, for his wrists are fair. He has undergone hardship and sickness, as his haggard face says clearly. His left arm has been injured. He holds it in a stiff and unnatural manner. Where in the tropics could an English army doctor have seen much hardship and got his arm wounded? Clearly in Afghanistan.’ The whole train of thought did not occupy a second. I then remarked that you came from Afghanistan, and you were astonished.”

PT “It is simple enough as you explain it,” I said, smiling. “You remind me of Edgar Allan Poe’s Dupin. I had no idea that such individuals did exist outside of stories.”

PT Sherlock Holmes rose and lit his pipe. “No doubt you think that you are complimenting me in comparing me to Dupin,” he observed. “Now, in my opinion, Dupin was a very inferior fellow. That trick of his of breaking in on his friends’ thoughts with an apropos remark after a quarter of an hour’s silence is really very showy and superficial. He had some analytical genius, no doubt; but he was by no means such a phenomenon as Poe appeared to imagine.”

PT “Have you read Gaboriau’s works?” I asked. “Does Lecoq come up to your idea of a detective?”

PT Sherlock Holmes sniffed sardonically. “Lecoq was a miserable bungler,” he said, in an angry voice; “he had only one thing to recommend him, and that was his energy. That book made me positively ill. The question was how to identify an unknown prisoner. I could have done it in twenty-four hours. Lecoq took six months or so. It might be made a textbook for detectives to teach them what to avoid.”

PT I felt rather indignant at having two characters whom I had admired treated in this cavalier style. I walked over to the window, and stood looking out into the busy street. “This fellow may be very clever,” I said to myself, “but he is certainly very conceited.”

PT “There are no crimes and no criminals in these days,” he said, querulously. “What is the use of having brains in our profession? I know well that I have it in me to make my name famous. No man lives or has ever lived who has brought the same amount of study and of natural talent to the detection of crime which I have done. And what is the result? There is no crime to detect, or, at most, some bungling villainy with a motive so transparent that even a Scotland Yard official can see through it.”

PT I was still annoyed at his bumptious style of conversation. I thought it best to change the topic.

PT “I wonder what that fellow is looking for?” I asked, pointing to a stalwart, plainly-dressed individual who was walking slowly down the other side of the street, looking anxiously at the numbers. He had a large blue envelope in his hand, and was evidently the bearer of a message.

PT “You mean the retired sergeant of Marines,” said Sherlock Holmes.

PT “Brag and bounce!” thought I to myself. “He knows that I cannot verify his guess.”

PT The thought had hardly passed through my mind when the man whom we were watching caught sight of the number on our door, and ran rapidly across the roadway. We heard a loud knock, a deep voice below, and heavy steps ascending the stair.

PT “For Mr. Sherlock Holmes,” he said, stepping into the room and handing my friend the letter.

PT Here was an opportunity of taking the conceit out of him. He little thought of this when he made that random shot. “May I ask, my lad,” I said, in the blandest voice, “what your trade may be?”

PT “Commissionaire, sir,” he said, gruffly. “Uniform away for repairs.”

PT “And you were?” I asked, with a slightly malicious glance at my companion.

PT “A sergeant, sir, Royal Marine Light Infantry, sir. No answer? Right, sir.”

PT He clicked his heels together, raised his hand in a salute, and was gone.

III — The Lauriston Gardens Mystery

PT I confess that I was considerably startled by this fresh proof of the practical nature of my companion’s theories. My respect for his powers of analysis increased wondrously. There still remained some lurking suspicion in my mind, however, that the whole thing was a prearranged episode, intended to dazzle me, though what earthly object he could have in taking me in was past my comprehension. When I looked at him he had finished reading the note, and his eyes had assumed the vacant, lacklustre expression which showed mental abstraction.

PT “How in the world did you deduce that?” I asked.

PT “Deduce what?” said he, petulantly.

PT “Why, that he was a retired sergeant of Marines.”

PT “I have no time for trifles,” he answered, brusquely; then with a smile, “Excuse my rudeness. You broke the thread of my thoughts; but perhaps it is as well. So you actually were not able to see that that man was a sergeant of Marines?”

PT “No, indeed.”

PT “It was easier to know it than to explain why I knew it. If you were asked to prove that two and two made four, you might find some difficulty, and yet you are quite sure of the fact. Even across the street I could see a great blue anchor tattooed on the back of the fellow’s hand. That smacked of the sea. He had a military carriage, however, and regulation side whiskers. There we have the marine. He was a man with some amount of self-importance and a certain air of command. You must have observed the way in which he held his head and swung his cane. A steady, respectable, middle-aged man, too, on the face of him—all facts which led me to believe that he had been a sergeant.”

Versão em Português

2 - I — Sr. Sherlock Holmes

3 - II — A Ciência da Dedução

4 - III — O Mistério dos Jardins de Lauriston

I — Sr. Sherlock Holmes

En Em 1878, o narrador concluiu seu curso de medicina na Universidade de Londres e depois foi para Netley para fazer o treinamento obrigatório para cirurgiões do exército. Após terminar seus estudos lá, foi designado como cirurgião assistente do Quinto Regimento de Fuzileiros de Northumberland. O regimento estava estacionado na Índia na época, mas antes que ele pudesse se juntar a ele, a segunda guerra afegã havia começado. Ao chegar em Bombaim, soube que sua unidade já havia avançado pelos passes das montanhas e estava profundamente no território inimigo. No entanto, ele seguiu junto com muitos outros oficiais na mesma situação e conseguiu chegar a Candaar em segurança, onde encontrou seu regimento e imediatamente começou suas novas funções.

En A campanha trouxe honras e promoções para muitos, mas para o narrador trouxe apenas infortúnio e desastre. Ele foi transferido de sua brigada para os Berkshires, com quem lutou na fatídica batalha de Maiwand. Lá, foi atingido no ombro por uma bala Jezail que estilhaçou o osso e raspou a artéria subclávia. Ele teria caído nas mãos dos assassinos Ghazis não fosse pela devoção e coragem de seu ordenança, Murray, que o jogou sobre um cavalo de carga e conseguiu trazê-lo em segurança para as linhas britânicas.

En Desgastado pela dor e fraco devido às prolongadas dificuldades, o narrador foi levado com um grande grupo de feridos para o hospital base em Peshawar. Lá ele se recuperou e melhorou o suficiente para andar pelas enfermarias e até sentar-se na varanda, mas então foi acometido pela febre entérica, uma maldição das colônias indianas. Por meses sua vida foi desacreditada, e quando finalmente recuperou a consciência e entrou em convalescença, estava tão fraco e emaciado que uma junta médica decidiu que ele deveria ser enviado de volta à Inglaterra sem demora. Ele foi despachado no navio de tropas Orontes e desembarcou um mês depois no cais de Portsmouth, com a saúde irremediavelmente arruinada, mas com permissão de um governo paternal para passar os próximos nove meses tentando melhorá-la.

En O narrador não tinha parentes nem amigos na Inglaterra, então era tão livre quanto o ar — ou tão livre quanto uma renda de onze xelins e seis pence por dia permitiria. Nessas circunstâncias, ele naturalmente se dirigiu a Londres, esse grande esgoto no qual todos os vadios e ociosos do Império são irresistivelmente drenados. Ele ficou por algum tempo em um hotel particular no Strand, levando uma existência desconfortável e sem sentido, gastando seu dinheiro consideravelmente mais livremente do que deveria. Suas finanças se tornaram tão alarmantes que logo percebeu que precisava deixar a metrópole e se refugiar no campo ou fazer uma mudança completa em seu estilo de vida. Escolhendo a última opção, decidiu sair do hotel e se instalar em uma casa menos pretensiosa e mais barata.

En No próprio dia em que o narrador chegou a essa conclusão, ele estava em pé no Criterion Bar quando alguém tocou seu ombro. Virando-se, ele reconheceu o jovem Stamford, que havia sido seu auxiliar de cirurgia no Barts. Ver um rosto amigo na grande selva de Londres era algo agradável para um homem solitário. No passado, Stamford nunca havia sido um amigo muito próximo, mas agora o narrador o cumprimentou com entusiasmo, e Stamford pareceu encantado em vê-lo. Na exuberância de sua alegria, o narrador convidou Stamford para almoçar no Holborn, e eles partiram juntos em um hansom.

En Holmes perguntou a Watson, com surpresa evidente, o que ele andava fazendo enquanto viajavam pelas movimentadas ruas de Londres. Ele observou que Watson havia ficado muito magro e com um bronzeado intenso.

En Watson deu a Holmes um breve relato de suas aventuras, terminando exatamente quando chegaram ao destino.

En Após ouvir sobre os infortúnios de Watson, Holmes expressou simpatia e então perguntou o que ele estava fazendo agora.

En Watson respondeu que estava procurando hospedagem, tentando encontrar quartos confortáveis a um preço razoável.

En Holmes comentou que era uma coincidência, já que outro homem havia usado a mesma expressão com ele mais cedo naquele dia.

En O narrador perguntou quem era a primeira pessoa.

En Stamford respondeu que era um homem que trabalhava no laboratório químico do hospital. Naquela manhã, o homem estava reclamando porque não conseguia encontrar ninguém para dividir o custo de alguns quartos agradáveis que havia encontrado, que eram caros demais para ele sozinho.

En O narrador exclamou que, se o homem realmente precisasse de alguém para dividir os quartos e as despesas, ele seria ideal; ele preferia ter um companheiro a ficar sozinho.

En O jovem Stamford olhou para o narrador de forma estranha por cima de sua taça de vinho. Ele comentou que o narrador ainda não conhecia Sherlock Holmes e talvez não gostasse de tê-lo como companheiro constante.

En O narrador perguntou o que havia de errado com ele.

En Watson esclareceu que não tinha a intenção de criticar Holmes. Ele reconheceu que Holmes tinha ideias peculiares e era um entusiasta em certos ramos da ciência, mas até onde sabia, Holmes era uma pessoa decente.

En O narrador perguntou se Holmes era estudante de medicina.

En Watson respondeu que não sabia em que Holmes pretendia se especializar. Ele acreditava que Holmes era conhecedor de anatomia e um excelente químico, mas nunca havia cursado aulas formais de medicina. Seus estudos eram assistemáticos e incomuns, mas ele havia acumulado uma grande quantidade de conhecimento obscuro que surpreenderia seus professores.

En O narrador perguntou se Watson alguma vez havia perguntado sobre a área de estudo pretendida por Holmes.

En Watson respondeu que não, acrescentando que Holmes não era uma pessoa fácil de fazer falar, embora pudesse ser conversador quando lhe dava na cabeça.

En O interlocutor expressou o desejo de conhecer o homem. Ele afirmou que, se fosse compartilhar moradia, preferiria alguém estudioso e quieto, pois ainda lhe faltava força para suportar barulho ou excitação, tendo experimentado o suficiente de ambos no Afeganistão para durar uma vida inteira. Em seguida, ele perguntou como poderia encontrar esse amigo.

En Seu companheiro respondeu que o homem provavelmente seria encontrado no laboratório, pois seus hábitos eram inconsistentes — ou evitava o local por semanas ou trabalhava lá incessantemente. Ele se ofereceu para irem juntos de carro após o almoço.

En O interlocutor concordou, e a conversa naturalmente mudou para outros assuntos.

En A caminho do hospital após deixar Holborn, Stamford forneceu mais detalhes sobre o cavalheiro com quem o interlocutor pretendia dividir moradia.

En Stamford advertiu que o interlocutor não deveria culpá-lo se não se dessem bem, pois seu conhecimento sobre o homem se limitava a encontros ocasionais no laboratório. Ele lembrou ao interlocutor que o acordo era ideia sua, portanto não poderia responsabilizar Stamford.

En Respondi que, se não nos déssemos bem, seria fácil nos separarmos. Então olhei para Stamford e sugeri que ele parecia ansioso para lavar as mãos do assunto. Perguntei se Holmes tinha um temperamento tão difícil ou algo mais, e pedi que não fosse evasivo.

En Stamford riu e disse que não era fácil expressar o inexprimível. Ele achava Holmes muito científico para seu gosto, aproximando-se da frieza. Ele podia imaginar Holmes dando a um amigo uma pequena dose de um novo veneno vegetal, não por maldade, mas simplesmente por espírito de investigação para aprender seus efeitos. Para ser justo, ele achava que Holmes tomaria ele mesmo com a mesma disposição. Holmes parecia ter uma paixão por conhecimento definido e exato.

En Concordei que tal busca era muito correta.

En Stamford concordou, mas disse que poderia ser levado ao excesso. Ele apontou que, quando Holmes batia nos cadáveres na sala de dissecação com uma vara, isso certamente assumia uma forma bastante bizarra.

En Expressei espanto com a ideia de bater nos cadáveres.

En Stamford confirmou que o estudante estava investigando como hematomas poderiam se formar após a morte, e ele próprio havia testemunhado isso.

En Watson expressou surpresa, perguntando se o estudante não era realmente um estudante de medicina, dado seu comportamento.

En Stamford respondeu que o estudante não era um estudante de medicina e que não conseguia adivinhar o que seus estudos envolviam. Em seguida, disse a Watson que eles haviam chegado e que ele deveria formar seu próprio julgamento. Eles entraram em uma viela estreita e passaram por uma porta lateral em uma ala do hospital. Watson achou o caminho familiar, e eles subiram uma escada de pedra, caminharam por um longo corredor com paredes caiadas e portas marrons. Perto do final, uma passagem baixa em arco levava ao laboratório de química.

En O laboratório era uma sala de teto alto cheia de inúmeras garrafas e mesas baixas cobertas com retortas, tubos de ensaio e bicos de Bunsen com chamas azuis. Apenas um estudante estava presente, curvado sobre uma mesa distante, absorto em seu trabalho. Ouvindo seus passos, ele levantou a cabeça e pulou alegremente, gritando para Stamford que havia encontrado um reagente que precipitaria com hemoglobina e nada mais. Seu rosto brilhava de alegria, como se tivesse descoberto uma mina de ouro.

En Stamford apresentou o Dr. Watson ao Sr. Sherlock Holmes.

En Holmes me cumprimentou calorosamente, apertou minha mão com uma força surpreendente e então comentou que conseguia perceber que eu estivera no Afeganistão.

En Astonado, perguntei-lhe como ele poderia saber disso.

En Ele riu baixinho e descartou minha pergunta, então perguntou se eu entendia a importância de sua descoberta em relação à hemoglobina.

En Admiti que quimicamente era interessante, mas expressei dúvidas sobre sua aplicação prática.

En Holmes declarou ser a descoberta médico-legal mais prática em anos, fornecendo um teste infalível para manchas de sangue. Ele me levou ansiosamente até sua mesa, furou o dedo, retirou uma gota de sangue e a diluiu em um litro de água até que ficasse transparente. Ao adicionar cristais brancos e um fluido transparente, a mistura instantaneamente adquiriu uma cor mogno opaca e um pó acastanhado depositou-se no fundo.

En Ele bateu palmas e riu, parecendo tão encantado quanto uma criança com um brinquedo novo. Ele perguntou o que eu achava daquilo.

En Observei que parecia um teste muito delicado.

En Ele elogiou o teste, chamando-o de bonito. Explicou que o antigo teste de Guiacum era desajeitado e incerto, e o exame microscópico de glóbulos vermelhos era inútil se as manchas tivessem algumas horas. Esse novo teste funcionava igualmente bem em sangue velho ou novo. Ele acrescentou que se tal teste tivesse existido antes, centenas de criminosos agora livres teriam sido punidos.

En Murmurei minha concordância com um silencioso 'De fato'.

En Ele explicou que muitos casos criminais dependem da identificação de manchas. Meses após um crime, as roupas de um suspeito podem ter manchas amarronzadas que podem ser sangue, lama, ferrugem ou fruta. Os especialistas muitas vezes ficavam confusos porque não havia um teste confiável. Agora o teste de Sherlock Holmes removeria essa dificuldade.

En Seus olhos brilhavam intensamente enquanto ele falava, e ele colocou a mão sobre o coração, curvando-se como se estivesse reconhecendo uma plateia imaginária que aplaudia.

En Comentei, um tanto surpreso com seu entusiasmo, que ele deveria ser parabenizado.

En Ele citou vários casos, como Von Bischoff em Frankfurt, que teria sido executado se esse teste existisse, além de Mason, Muller, Lefevre e Samson. Ele afirmou que poderia citar muitos outros casos em que teria sido decisivo.

En Stamford riu, observando que Holmes parecia um calendário ambulante de crimes, e sugeriu que ele poderia criar um jornal chamado Notícias Policiais do Passado.

En Sherlock Holmes concordou que tal jornal poderia render uma leitura muito interessante. Ele aplicou um pequeno curativo em um furo no dedo e explicou com um sorriso que precisava ter cuidado porque frequentemente experimentava com venenos. Quando ele estendeu a mão, vi que ela estava coberta de curativos semelhantes e manchada por ácidos fortes.

En Stamford explicou que eles tinham vindo a negócios. Ele sentou-se em um banco de três pernas e empurrou outro em direção ao narrador. Ele mencionou que seu amigo queria encontrar alojamento, e como Holmes estava reclamando que não conseguia alguém para dividir, Stamford achou melhor apresentá-los.

En Sherlock Holmes pareceu satisfeito com a perspectiva de dividir os quartos. Ele disse que estava de olho em um conjunto de cômodos na Baker Street que seria perfeito para eles, e perguntou se o narrador se importava com o cheiro de tabaco forte.

En O narrador respondeu que ele mesmo sempre fumava tabaco de navio.

En Holmes disse que isso era aceitável e acrescentou que geralmente mantinha produtos químicos por perto e realizava experimentos, perguntando se isso seria problemático.

En O narrador respondeu que isso não o incomodaria em nada.

En Holmes pediu que seu companheiro confessasse seus próprios defeitos e, em seguida, listou os seus: ele às vezes ficava melancólico e não falava por dias, mas não queria que seu amigo pensasse que estava emburrado. Acreditava que era melhor que eles conhecessem as piores qualidades um do outro antes de começarem a viver juntos.

En O narrador riu do interrogatório de Holmes e admitiu que possuía um buldogue filhote, não gostava de discussões porque o deixavam nervoso, mantinha horários irregulares e era muito preguiçoso. Ele acrescentou que tinha outros vícios quando estava saudável, mas aqueles eram os principais por enquanto.

En Holmes perguntou ansiosamente se o narrador considerava tocar violino como uma das coisas a que ele se opunha.

En O narrador respondeu que dependia do músico; um violino bem tocado era um prazer, mas um mal tocado não era.

En Holmes riu alegremente e disse que tudo estava resolvido, desde que os cômodos fossem aceitáveis para o narrador.

En Ele perguntou quando eles os veriam.

En Ele respondeu que o narrador deveria buscá-lo ao meio-dia do dia seguinte e que iriam juntos resolver tudo.

En Eu concordei, dizendo exatamente ao meio-dia, e apertei sua mão.

En Nós o deixamos ocupado com seus produtos químicos e caminhamos juntos em direção ao meu hotel.

En De repente, parei e me virei para Stamford, perguntando como diabos Holmes sabia que eu tinha vindo do Afeganistão.

En Meu companheiro sorriu misteriosamente e explicou que era apenas uma pequena peculiaridade de Sherlock. Ele acrescentou que muitas pessoas tinham curiosidade em saber como Sherlock descobria informações.

En O narrador exclamou com entusiasmo, esfregando as mãos, e disse que parecia um mistério. Ele achou muito intrigante e agradeceu ao amigo por apresentá-los, observando que o estudo adequado da humanidade são os seres humanos.

En Stamford aconselhou o narrador a estudar Sherlock, avisando que ele seria um enigma difícil. Apostou que Sherlock aprenderia mais sobre o narrador do que o narrador aprenderia sobre ele, e então se despediu.

En O narrador se despediu e caminhou até seu hotel, sentindo-se bastante interessado no homem que acabara de conhecer.

II — A Ciência da Dedução

En No dia seguinte, eles se encontraram conforme combinado e visitaram os aposentos na 221B Baker Street. O apartamento tinha dois quartos confortáveis e uma grande sala de estar arejada, com móveis alegres e duas janelas amplas. Os cômodos eram muito desejáveis e o aluguel parecia razoável quando dividido entre eles, então concordaram imediatamente e tomaram posse. O narrador mudou seus pertences do hotel naquela noite, e na manhã seguinte Sherlock Holmes se mudou com várias caixas e malas. Por alguns dias, eles ficaram ocupados desfazendo as malas e arrumando suas posses. Depois disso, gradualmente começaram a se estabelecer e se acostumar com o novo lar.

En Holmes não era um companheiro difícil. Ele era quieto e mantinha hábitos regulares. Era incomum que ele ficasse acordado depois das dez da noite, e ele sempre tomava café da manhã e saía antes de o narrador se levantar. Ele passava os dias no laboratório químico, nas salas de dissecação ou em longas caminhadas que parecem levá-lo às partes mais pobres da cidade. Sua energia era notável quando estava trabalhando, mas ocasionalmente ele experimentava uma reação e ficava deitado no sofá da sala por dias, mal falando ou se movendo. Durante esses períodos, seus olhos tinham uma expressão sonhadora e vazia que poderia sugerir uso de narcótico, mas seu estilo de vida sóbrio e limpo descartava essa ideia.

En Conforme as semanas passavam, o interesse do narrador por Holmes e sua curiosidade sobre seus objetivos de vida se aprofundavam. A aparência de Holmes era impressionante o suficiente para chamar a atenção de qualquer um. Ele tinha mais de um metro e oitenta de altura e era extremamente magro, fazendo-o parecer ainda mais alto. Seus olhos eram aguçados e penetrantes, exceto durante os intervalos de torpor mencionados anteriormente. Seu nariz fino e adunco lhe dava uma expressão de alerta e decisão. Seu queixo era proeminente e quadrado, indicando determinação. Suas mãos estavam sempre manchadas de tinta e produtos químicos, mas ele tinha uma extraordinária delicadeza ao toque, que o narrador observava quando Holmes manuseava instrumentos filosóficos frágeis.

En O narrador confessa que sua curiosidade por Holmes era imensa, e ele frequentemente tentava romper a reserva que Holmes mantinha sobre si mesmo. Antes de julgar, deve-se lembrar quão sem objetivo era a vida do narrador e quão pouco havia para ocupar sua atenção. Sua saúde o impedia de sair, a menos que o tempo estivesse excepcionalmente bom, e ele não tinha amigos para visitá-lo e quebrar a monotonia de sua existência diária. Nessas circunstâncias, ele recebia ansiosamente o mistério que cercava seu companheiro e passava grande parte do seu tempo tentando desvendá-lo.

En Holmes não estava estudando medicina, como ele confirmou em resposta a uma pergunta. Ele não parecia ter seguido qualquer curso de leitura que o qualificasse para um diploma em ciências ou qualquer outro caminho reconhecido para o mundo acadêmico. No entanto, seu entusiasmo por certos estudos era notável, e dentro de limites excêntricos seu conhecimento era tão extenso e detalhado que suas observações surpreendiam o narrador. Certamente ninguém trabalharia tanto ou adquiriria informações tão precisas sem um propósito definido. Leitores descompromissados raramente têm um aprendizado tão exato, e ninguém sobrecarrega a mente com pequenas questões sem uma razão muito boa.

En A ignorância de Holmes era tão notável quanto seu conhecimento. Ele parecia saber quase nada sobre literatura contemporânea, filosofia ou política. Quando o narrador citou Thomas Carlyle, Holmes ingenuamente perguntou quem ele era e o que havia feito. A surpresa do narrador atingiu o auge quando ele descobriu que Holmes ignorava a teoria copernicana e a composição do sistema solar. Parecia extraordinário ao narrador que qualquer ser humano civilizado no século XIX não soubesse que a Terra gira em torno do sol.

En Holmes notou o espanto de Watson e comentou que, já que agora sabia do fato, tentaria esquecê-lo.

En Watson expressou incredulidade quanto à intenção de Holmes de esquecer o fato.

En Holmes explicou sua teoria de que a mente de uma pessoa se assemelha a um pequeno sótão que deve ser abastecido seletivamente. Ele disse que uma pessoa tola aceita todos os tipos de informação, o que desloca o conhecimento útil. Um trabalhador habilidoso, por outro lado, só mantém ferramentas que auxiliam seu trabalho, organizando-as em perfeita ordem. Holmes argumentou que a mente tem capacidade limitada; aprender coisas novas inevitavelmente faz com que algum conhecimento antigo seja esquecido. Portanto, ele enfatizou a importância de não permitir que fatos inúteis desloquem os úteis.

En Watson protestou, apontando o exemplo do sistema solar.

En Holmes descartou impacientemente a preocupação, dizendo que se a Terra gira em torno do Sol ou da Lua não fazia diferença para ele ou para seu trabalho.

En O narrador estava prestes a perguntar a Holmes sobre aquele trabalho, mas a maneira de Holmes sugeriu que a pergunta seria indesejada. Ele pensou em sua breve conversa, tentando tirar conclusões. Holmes dissera que não aprenderia nada que não ajudasse seu objetivo, então todo seu conhecimento era útil. O narrador listou mentalmente todas as áreas nas quais Holmes havia demonstrado conhecimento excepcional. Ele até as anotou a lápis. Quando terminou, sorriu ao ver o documento. Ele dizia o seguinte.

En Quando ele chegou àquele ponto em sua lista, jogou-a no fogo em desespero. Disse a si mesmo que, se pudesse apenas descobrir o que Holmes almejava ao combinar todas essas realizações e encontrar uma ocupação que exigisse todas elas, mais valia desistir de tentar imediatamente.

En Watson observou que Holmes possuía uma habilidade notável, porém excêntrica, no violino. Ele conseguia tocar peças difíceis, como as canções de Mendelssohn, quando solicitado. No entanto, quando deixado sozinho, raramente tocava alguma melodia reconhecível. Em vez disso, recostava-se em sua poltrona, fechava os olhos e passava o arco pelo violino de forma casual. Os sons variavam de sonoros e melancólicos a fantásticos e alegres. Watson acreditava que a música refletia os pensamentos atuais de Holmes, embora não pudesse dizer se a música auxiliava esses pensamentos ou se era simplesmente o resultado de um capricho. Watson achava esses solos exasperantes, mas os tolerava porque Holmes geralmente terminava tocando várias de suas músicas favoritas em rápida sucessão, como compensação por sua paciência.

En Durante a primeira semana ou mais, ninguém visitou, e o narrador começou a pensar que seu companheiro era tão sem amigos quanto ele. No entanto, ele logo descobriu que Holmes tinha muitos conhecidos de todas as classes sociais. Um homem pequeno, amarelado, com feições de rato chamado Lestrade veio várias vezes em uma semana. Uma jovem bem vestida visitou por meia hora. Mais tarde, um homem grisalho e maltrapilho que parecia um mascate judeu veio, seguido por uma senhora idosa com sapatos gastos. Em outros dias, um senhor de cabelos brancos e um carregador de trem em seu uniforme também visitaram. Sempre que esses variados indivíduos chegavam, Holmes pedia para usar a sala de estar, e o narrador se retirava para o quarto. Holmes sempre se desculpava pelo inconveniente, explicando que precisava da sala para negócios e que essas pessoas eram seus clientes. O narrador novamente teve a chance de perguntar diretamente a Holmes sobre seu trabalho, mas se conteve por delicadeza. Ele presumiu que Holmes tinha um forte motivo para não discutir o assunto, mas Holmes logo trouxe o tema à tona.

En Era 4 de março, uma data que tenho boas razões para lembrar, em que acordei mais cedo que o habitual e encontrei Sherlock Holmes ainda no café da manhã. Minha senhoria, acostumada com meu levantar tardio, não havia preparado meu lugar nem meu café. Com a irritabilidade irracional comum à humanidade, toquei a campainha e dei um breve aviso de que estava pronto. Então peguei uma revista da mesa para passar o tempo, enquanto meu companheiro comia sua torrada em silêncio. Um dos artigos tinha uma marca de lápis no título, e naturalmente comecei a folheá-lo.

En O artigo, intitulado "O Livro da Vida", argumentava que uma pessoa poderia aprender muito através da observação cuidadosa de tudo ao seu redor. O narrador achou isso uma estranha mistura de inteligência e tolice. O raciocínio era coerente, mas as conclusões pareciam forçadas. O autor afirmava que, ao notar uma expressão fugaz, um tique ou um olhar, alguém poderia entender os pensamentos mais profundos de uma pessoa. Segundo ele, um observador treinado não poderia ser enganado. Suas conclusões eram tão certas quanto a matemática. Para aqueles que não compreendiam seus métodos, seus resultados pareciam mágicos.

En O escritor afirmou que, a partir de uma única gota d'água, um lógico poderia inferir a existência do Oceano Atlântico ou das Cataratas do Niágara sem tê-los visto. A vida era uma grande corrente, e conhecer um elo revelava o todo. A Ciência da Dedução exigia estudo longo e paciente; ninguém poderia alcançar o domínio perfeito em uma vida. Ele aconselhou os iniciantes a começar com problemas mais simples, como deduzir a história e a profissão de uma pessoa num relance. Exercícios aparentemente infantis aguçavam a observação. Detalhes como unhas, mangas, botas, joelhos das calças, calosidades, expressão e punhos revelavam o ofício de uma pessoa. Ele achava quase inconcebível que um investigador competente falhasse ao usar todas essas pistas.

En O narrador exclamou que o artigo era um absurdo total e bateu a revista na mesa, dizendo que nunca tinha lido tamanha bobagem.

En Sherlock Holmes perguntou o que estava incomodando o narrador.

En O narrador apontou para o artigo com sua colher de ovo e explicou que Holmes aparentemente o havia lido, já que o havia marcado. Ele admitiu que estava bem escrito, mas achou irritante. Acreditava que era a teoria de alguém que ficava em seu escritório e inventava paradoxos elegantes sem experiência prática. Ele desafiou o autor a sentar-se em um vagão de trem de terceira classe e deduzir as profissões dos passageiros, apostando pesadamente contra ele.

En Sherlock Holmes observou calmamente que o ouvinte perderia seu dinheiro e acrescentou que ele mesmo havia escrito o artigo.

En A outra pessoa exclamou surpresa, expressando descrença.

En Holmes afirmou sua aptidão para observação e dedução, declarando que suas teorias, embora pudessem parecer fantasiosas, eram na verdade extremamente práticas — a ponto de depender delas para seu sustento.

En Não pude deixar de perguntar como isso era possível.

En Holmes explicou que tinha uma profissão única: era um detetive consultor, o único no mundo. Quando detetives do governo ou particulares ficavam sem saída, buscavam seu conselho. Ele revisava as evidências e, com base em seu vasto conhecimento da história criminal, os orientava. Ele observou que os crimes frequentemente compartilham padrões, então a familiaridade com muitos casos ajuda a resolver novos. Ele mencionou Lestrade, um detetive conhecido, que o consultara recentemente sobre um caso de falsificação.

En Ele perguntou sobre os outros indivíduos.

En Holmes explicou que a maioria desses clientes era encaminhada por agências de detetives particulares. Eram pessoas em dificuldade que buscavam esclarecimento. Ele ouvia suas histórias, oferecia seus comentários e depois cobrava seus honorários.

En Perguntei se ele realmente queria dizer que conseguia desvendar um problema difícil sem sair do quarto, um problema que outros achavam impossível apesar de terem visto todos os detalhes pessoalmente.

En Ele afirmou que tinha uma intuição para isso. Ocasionalmente, um caso mais complexo exigia que ele saísse e visse as coisas pessoalmente. Ele possuía muito conhecimento especializado que aplicava ao problema, facilitando enormemente as coisas. As regras de dedução do artigo que eu havia desprezado eram inestimáveis na prática. A observação era uma segunda natureza para ele. Ele me lembrou que eu havia ficado surpreso quando ele me disse, em nosso primeiro encontro, que eu viera do Afeganistão.

En Sugeri que ele devia ter sido informado desse fato.

En Holmes afirmou que não havia adivinhado aleatoriamente; na verdade, sua mente seguiu uma rápida cadeia de raciocínio. Ele observou que Watson parecia ser um homem da medicina, mas com uma postura militar, então concluiu que Watson era um médico do exército. A escuridão do rosto de Watson contrastava com seus punhos claros, indicando tempo recente nos trópicos. A aparência abatida de Watson sugeria dificuldades e doença, e seu braço esquerdo estava rígido e ferido. Holmes raciocinou que apenas o Afeganistão poderia ter produzido tais condições para um médico do exército inglês. Todo o processo de pensamento levou menos de um segundo.

En Watson admitiu com um sorriso que a explicação de Holmes a tornava simples, e comparou Holmes ao personagem Dupin de Edgar Allan Poe. Ele disse que não acreditava que tais indivíduos existissem fora da ficção.

En Sherlock Holmes se levantou e acendeu seu cachimbo, observando que Watson provavelmente pretendia um elogio ao compará-lo a Dupin. No entanto, Holmes considerava Dupin bastante inferior. Ele descreveu o hábito de Dupin de interromper os pensamentos de seus amigos após um longo silêncio como ostentoso e sem profundidade. Holmes reconheceu que Dupin tinha alguma capacidade analítica, mas não era o gênio que Poe parecia pensar.

En Watson perguntou se Holmes havia lido as obras de Gaboriau e se o detetive Lecoq atendia aos padrões de Holmes para um detetive.

En Holmes fungou com desdém e declarou que Lecoq era um malfeitor miserável, cuja única virtude era sua energia. Ele disse que o livro o deixou enjoado. O problema era identificar um prisioneiro desconhecido; Holmes afirmou que poderia ter resolvido em vinte e quatro horas, enquanto Lecoq levou seis meses. Ele sugeriu que o livro poderia servir como um manual para detetives sobre o que evitar.

En O narrador sentiu indignação por dois personagens que ele admirava terem sido tratados de forma desdenhosa. Ele foi até a janela e pensou consigo mesmo que o sujeito poderia ser muito inteligente, mas certamente era muito convencido.

En Ele reclamou que não havia crimes ou criminosos hoje em dia, questionando a utilidade da inteligência na profissão deles. Acreditava ter capacidade de tornar seu nome famoso, já que ninguém havia dedicado tanto estudo e talento natural à detecção de crimes. No entanto, não havia crime para detectar, apenas vilania malfeita com motivos tão transparentes que até mesmo um funcionário da Scotland Yard poderia percebê-los.

En Ainda irritado com seu estilo presunçoso de conversa, o narrador achou melhor mudar de assunto.

En O narrador perguntou o que um homem robusto e simplesmente vestido estava procurando, apontando para ele andando devagar do outro lado da rua. O homem segurava um envelope azul grande e estava evidentemente entregando uma mensagem.

En Sherlock Holmes respondeu que o narrador se referia ao sargento reformado dos Fuzileiros Navais.

En Pensei comigo mesmo que ele estava apenas se exibindo. Ele sabia que eu não podia verificar seu palpite.

En Mal esse pensamento passou pela minha mente quando o homem que observávamos notou o número da nossa porta e correu rapidamente pela rua. Ouvimos uma batida alta, uma voz grave lá embaixo e então passos pesados subindo as escadas.

En Ele entrou na sala, disse que a carta era para o Sr. Sherlock Holmes e a entregou ao meu amigo.

En Vi isso como uma chance de humilhá-lo. Ele não esperava isso quando fez seu palpite aleatório. Com a voz mais calma, perguntei ao jovem qual era seu ofício.

En Ele respondeu rispidamente que era um comissário e acrescentou que seu uniforme estava sendo consertado.

En Perguntei ao meu companheiro, olhando-o com leve malícia, qual posto ele ocupara.

En Ele respondeu que havia sido sargento da Infantaria Leve da Marinha Real. Em seguida, afirmou que não havia resposta e reconheceu a ordem.

En Ele bateu os calcanhares, saudou e saiu.

III — O Mistério dos Jardins de Lauriston

En Fiquei surpreso com essa prova das teorias do meu companheiro. Meu respeito por seus poderes analíticos aumentou, mas ainda suspeitava que o episódio pudesse ter sido encenado para me impressionar, embora não conseguisse imaginar seu motivo. Ele tinha terminado de ler a nota e parecia absorto em pensamentos, com os olhos vazios.

En Perguntei a ele como conseguira deduzir isso.

En Ele perguntou impacientemente o que exatamente ele deveria deduzir.

En Ele explicou que o homem em questão era um sargento aposentado dos Fuzileiros Navais.

En Ele disse que não tinha tempo para ninharias e se desculpou por sua grosseria. Observou que a interrupção quebrou seus pensamentos, mas talvez fosse melhor assim. Perguntou então, incrédulo, se a outra pessoa realmente não tinha percebido que o homem era um sargento dos Fuzileiros Navais.

En A outra pessoa respondeu que não.

En Ele explicou que era mais fácil saber o fato do que explicar o raciocínio por trás dele, comparando à dificuldade de provar que dois mais dois são quatro enquanto se tem certeza disso. Observou que, do outro lado da rua, ele podia ver uma grande tatuagem de âncora azul no dorso da mão do homem, sugerindo uma ligação com o mar. Além disso, a postura militar do homem e as suíças padrão indicavam que ele era um fuzileiro naval. Sua autoconfiança e ar de comando eram evidentes na maneira como ele segurava a cabeça e balançava a bengala. O homem parecia estável, respeitável e de meia-idade, tudo o que o levou a concluir que ele havia sido um sargento.

I — Mr. Sherlock Holmes

Português

Em 1878, o narrador concluiu seu curso de medicina na Universidade de Londres e depois foi para Netley para fazer o treinamento obrigatório para cirurgiões do exército. Após terminar seus estudos lá, foi designado como cirurgião assistente do Quinto Regimento de Fuzileiros de Northumberland. O regimento estava estacionado na Índia na época, mas antes que ele pudesse se juntar a ele, a segunda guerra afegã havia começado. Ao chegar em Bombaim, soube que sua unidade já havia avançado pelos passes das montanhas e estava profundamente no território inimigo. No entanto, ele seguiu junto com muitos outros oficiais na mesma situação e conseguiu chegar a Candaar em segurança, onde encontrou seu regimento e imediatamente começou suas novas funções.

Original English

In the year 1878 I took my degree of Doctor of Medicine of the University of London, and proceeded to Netley to go through the course prescribed for surgeons in the army. Having completed my studies there, I was duly attached to the Fifth Northumberland Fusiliers as Assistant Surgeon. The regiment was stationed in India at the time, and before I could join it, the second Afghan war had broken out. On landing at Bombay, I learned that my corps had advanced through the passes, and was already deep in the enemy’s country. I followed, however, with many other officers who were in the same situation as myself, and succeeded in reaching Candahar in safety, where I found my regiment, and at once entered upon my new duties.

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Português

A campanha trouxe honras e promoções para muitos, mas para o narrador trouxe apenas infortúnio e desastre. Ele foi transferido de sua brigada para os Berkshires, com quem lutou na fatídica batalha de Maiwand. Lá, foi atingido no ombro por uma bala Jezail que estilhaçou o osso e raspou a artéria subclávia. Ele teria caído nas mãos dos assassinos Ghazis não fosse pela devoção e coragem de seu ordenança, Murray, que o jogou sobre um cavalo de carga e conseguiu trazê-lo em segurança para as linhas britânicas.

Original English

The campaign brought honours and promotion to many, but for me it had nothing but misfortune and disaster. I was removed from my brigade and attached to the Berkshires, with whom I served at the fatal battle of Maiwand. There I was struck on the shoulder by a Jezail bullet, which shattered the bone and grazed the subclavian artery. I should have fallen into the hands of the murderous Ghazis had it not been for the devotion and courage shown by Murray, my orderly, who threw me across a packhorse, and succeeded in bringing me safely to the British lines.

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Português

Desgastado pela dor e fraco devido às prolongadas dificuldades, o narrador foi levado com um grande grupo de feridos para o hospital base em Peshawar. Lá ele se recuperou e melhorou o suficiente para andar pelas enfermarias e até sentar-se na varanda, mas então foi acometido pela febre entérica, uma maldição das colônias indianas. Por meses sua vida foi desacreditada, e quando finalmente recuperou a consciência e entrou em convalescença, estava tão fraco e emaciado que uma junta médica decidiu que ele deveria ser enviado de volta à Inglaterra sem demora. Ele foi despachado no navio de tropas Orontes e desembarcou um mês depois no cais de Portsmouth, com a saúde irremediavelmente arruinada, mas com permissão de um governo paternal para passar os próximos nove meses tentando melhorá-la.

Original English

Worn with pain, and weak from the prolonged hardships which I had undergone, I was removed, with a great train of wounded sufferers, to the base hospital at Peshawar. Here I rallied, and had already improved so far as to be able to walk about the wards, and even to bask a little upon the verandah, when I was struck down by enteric fever, that curse of our Indian possessions. For months my life was despaired of, and when at last I came to myself and became convalescent, I was so weak and emaciated that a medical board determined that not a day should be lost in sending me back to England. I was dispatched, accordingly, in the troopship Orontes, and landed a month later on Portsmouth jetty, with my health irretrievably ruined, but with permission from a paternal government to spend the next nine months in attempting to improve it.

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Português

O narrador não tinha parentes nem amigos na Inglaterra, então era tão livre quanto o ar — ou tão livre quanto uma renda de onze xelins e seis pence por dia permitiria. Nessas circunstâncias, ele naturalmente se dirigiu a Londres, esse grande esgoto no qual todos os vadios e ociosos do Império são irresistivelmente drenados. Ele ficou por algum tempo em um hotel particular no Strand, levando uma existência desconfortável e sem sentido, gastando seu dinheiro consideravelmente mais livremente do que deveria. Suas finanças se tornaram tão alarmantes que logo percebeu que precisava deixar a metrópole e se refugiar no campo ou fazer uma mudança completa em seu estilo de vida. Escolhendo a última opção, decidiu sair do hotel e se instalar em uma casa menos pretensiosa e mais barata.

Original English

I had neither kith nor kin in England, and was therefore as free as air—or as free as an income of eleven shillings and sixpence a day will permit a man to be. Under such circumstances, I naturally gravitated to London, that great cesspool into which all the loungers and idlers of the Empire are irresistibly drained. There I stayed for some time at a private hotel in the Strand, leading a comfortless, meaningless existence, and spending such money as I had, considerably more freely than I ought. So alarming did the state of my finances become, that I soon realized that I must either leave the metropolis and rusticate somewhere in the country, or that I must make a complete alteration in my style of living. Choosing the latter alternative, I began by making up my mind to leave the hotel, and to take up my quarters in some less pretentious and less expensive domicile.

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Português

No próprio dia em que o narrador chegou a essa conclusão, ele estava em pé no Criterion Bar quando alguém tocou seu ombro. Virando-se, ele reconheceu o jovem Stamford, que havia sido seu auxiliar de cirurgia no Barts. Ver um rosto amigo na grande selva de Londres era algo agradável para um homem solitário. No passado, Stamford nunca havia sido um amigo muito próximo, mas agora o narrador o cumprimentou com entusiasmo, e Stamford pareceu encantado em vê-lo. Na exuberância de sua alegria, o narrador convidou Stamford para almoçar no Holborn, e eles partiram juntos em um hansom.

Original English

On the very day that I had come to this conclusion, I was standing at the Criterion Bar, when someone tapped me on the shoulder, and turning round I recognized young Stamford, who had been a dresser under me at Barts. The sight of a friendly face in the great wilderness of London is a pleasant thing indeed to a lonely man. In old days Stamford had never been a particular crony of mine, but now I hailed him with enthusiasm, and he, in his turn, appeared to be delighted to see me. In the exuberance of my joy, I asked him to lunch with me at the Holborn, and we started off together in a hansom.

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Português

Holmes perguntou a Watson, com surpresa evidente, o que ele andava fazendo enquanto viajavam pelas movimentadas ruas de Londres. Ele observou que Watson havia ficado muito magro e com um bronzeado intenso.

Original English

“Whatever have you been doing with yourself, Watson?” he asked in undisguised wonder, as we rattled through the crowded London streets. “You are as thin as a lath and as brown as a nut.”

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Português

Watson deu a Holmes um breve relato de suas aventuras, terminando exatamente quando chegaram ao destino.

Original English

I gave him a short sketch of my adventures, and had hardly concluded it by the time that we reached our destination.

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Português

Após ouvir sobre os infortúnios de Watson, Holmes expressou simpatia e então perguntou o que ele estava fazendo agora.

Original English

“Poor devil!” he said, commiseratingly, after he had listened to my misfortunes. “What are you up to now?”

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Português

Watson respondeu que estava procurando hospedagem, tentando encontrar quartos confortáveis a um preço razoável.

Original English

“Looking for lodgings,” I answered. “Trying to solve the problem as to whether it is possible to get comfortable rooms at a reasonable price.”

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Português

Holmes comentou que era uma coincidência, já que outro homem havia usado a mesma expressão com ele mais cedo naquele dia.

Original English

“That’s a strange thing,” remarked my companion; “you are the second man today that has used that expression to me.”

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Português

O narrador perguntou quem era a primeira pessoa.

Original English

“And who was the first?” I asked.

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Português

Stamford respondeu que era um homem que trabalhava no laboratório químico do hospital. Naquela manhã, o homem estava reclamando porque não conseguia encontrar ninguém para dividir o custo de alguns quartos agradáveis que havia encontrado, que eram caros demais para ele sozinho.

Original English

“A fellow who is working at the chemical laboratory up at the hospital. He was bemoaning himself this morning because he could not get someone to go halves with him in some nice rooms which he had found, and which were too much for his purse.”

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Português

O narrador exclamou que, se o homem realmente precisasse de alguém para dividir os quartos e as despesas, ele seria ideal; ele preferia ter um companheiro a ficar sozinho.

Original English

“By Jove!” I cried, “if he really wants someone to share the rooms and the expense, I am the very man for him. I should prefer having a partner to being alone.”

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Português

O jovem Stamford olhou para o narrador de forma estranha por cima de sua taça de vinho. Ele comentou que o narrador ainda não conhecia Sherlock Holmes e talvez não gostasse de tê-lo como companheiro constante.

Original English

Young Stamford looked rather strangely at me over his wineglass. “You don’t know Sherlock Holmes yet,” he said; “perhaps you would not care for him as a constant companion.”

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Português

O narrador perguntou o que havia de errado com ele.

Original English

“Why, what is there against him?”

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Português

Watson esclareceu que não tinha a intenção de criticar Holmes. Ele reconheceu que Holmes tinha ideias peculiares e era um entusiasta em certos ramos da ciência, mas até onde sabia, Holmes era uma pessoa decente.

Original English

“Oh, I didn’t say there was anything against him. He is a little queer in his ideas—an enthusiast in some branches of science. As far as I know he is a decent fellow enough.”

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Português

O narrador perguntou se Holmes era estudante de medicina.

Original English

“A medical student, I suppose?” said I.

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Português

Watson respondeu que não sabia em que Holmes pretendia se especializar. Ele acreditava que Holmes era conhecedor de anatomia e um excelente químico, mas nunca havia cursado aulas formais de medicina. Seus estudos eram assistemáticos e incomuns, mas ele havia acumulado uma grande quantidade de conhecimento obscuro que surpreenderia seus professores.

Original English

“No—I have no idea what he intends to go in for. I believe he is well up in anatomy, and he is a first-class chemist; but, as far as I know, he has never taken out any systematic medical classes. His studies are very desultory and eccentric, but he has amassed a lot of out-of-the-way knowledge which would astonish his professors.”

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Português

O narrador perguntou se Watson alguma vez havia perguntado sobre a área de estudo pretendida por Holmes.

Original English

“Did you never ask him what he was going in for?” I asked.

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Português

Watson respondeu que não, acrescentando que Holmes não era uma pessoa fácil de fazer falar, embora pudesse ser conversador quando lhe dava na cabeça.

Original English

“No; he is not a man that it is easy to draw out, though he can be communicative enough when the fancy seizes him.”

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Português

O interlocutor expressou o desejo de conhecer o homem. Ele afirmou que, se fosse compartilhar moradia, preferiria alguém estudioso e quieto, pois ainda lhe faltava força para suportar barulho ou excitação, tendo experimentado o suficiente de ambos no Afeganistão para durar uma vida inteira. Em seguida, ele perguntou como poderia encontrar esse amigo.

Original English

“I should like to meet him,” I said. “If I am to lodge with anyone, I should prefer a man of studious and quiet habits. I am not strong enough yet to stand much noise or excitement. I had enough of both in Afghanistan to last me for the remainder of my natural existence. How could I meet this friend of yours?”

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Português

Seu companheiro respondeu que o homem provavelmente seria encontrado no laboratório, pois seus hábitos eram inconsistentes — ou evitava o local por semanas ou trabalhava lá incessantemente. Ele se ofereceu para irem juntos de carro após o almoço.

Original English

“He is sure to be at the laboratory,” returned my companion. “He either avoids the place for weeks, or else he works there from morning to night. If you like, we shall drive round together after luncheon.”

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Português

O interlocutor concordou, e a conversa naturalmente mudou para outros assuntos.

Original English

“Certainly,” I answered, and the conversation drifted away into other channels.

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Português

A caminho do hospital após deixar Holborn, Stamford forneceu mais detalhes sobre o cavalheiro com quem o interlocutor pretendia dividir moradia.

Original English

As we made our way to the hospital after leaving the Holborn, Stamford gave me a few more particulars about the gentleman whom I proposed to take as a fellow-lodger.

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Português

Stamford advertiu que o interlocutor não deveria culpá-lo se não se dessem bem, pois seu conhecimento sobre o homem se limitava a encontros ocasionais no laboratório. Ele lembrou ao interlocutor que o acordo era ideia sua, portanto não poderia responsabilizar Stamford.

Original English

“You mustn’t blame me if you don’t get on with him,” he said; “I know nothing more of him than I have learned from meeting him occasionally in the laboratory. You proposed this arrangement, so you must not hold me responsible.”

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Português

Respondi que, se não nos déssemos bem, seria fácil nos separarmos. Então olhei para Stamford e sugeri que ele parecia ansioso para lavar as mãos do assunto. Perguntei se Holmes tinha um temperamento tão difícil ou algo mais, e pedi que não fosse evasivo.

Original English

“If we don’t get on it will be easy to part company,” I answered. “It seems to me, Stamford,” I added, looking hard at my companion, “that you have some reason for washing your hands of the matter. Is this fellow’s temper so formidable, or what is it? Don’t be mealymouthed about it.”

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Português

Stamford riu e disse que não era fácil expressar o inexprimível. Ele achava Holmes muito científico para seu gosto, aproximando-se da frieza. Ele podia imaginar Holmes dando a um amigo uma pequena dose de um novo veneno vegetal, não por maldade, mas simplesmente por espírito de investigação para aprender seus efeitos. Para ser justo, ele achava que Holmes tomaria ele mesmo com a mesma disposição. Holmes parecia ter uma paixão por conhecimento definido e exato.

Original English

“It is not easy to express the inexpressible,” he answered with a laugh. “Holmes is a little too scientific for my tastes—it approaches to cold-bloodedness. I could imagine his giving a friend a little pinch of the latest vegetable alkaloid, not out of malevolence, you understand, but simply out of a spirit of inquiry in order to have an accurate idea of the effects. To do him justice, I think that he would take it himself with the same readiness. He appears to have a passion for definite and exact knowledge.”

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Português

Concordei que tal busca era muito correta.

Original English

“Very right too.”

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Português

Stamford concordou, mas disse que poderia ser levado ao excesso. Ele apontou que, quando Holmes batia nos cadáveres na sala de dissecação com uma vara, isso certamente assumia uma forma bastante bizarra.

Original English

“Yes, but it may be pushed to excess. When it comes to beating the subjects in the dissecting-rooms with a stick, it is certainly taking rather a bizarre shape.”

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Português

Expressei espanto com a ideia de bater nos cadáveres.

Original English

“Beating the subjects!”

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Português

Stamford confirmou que o estudante estava investigando como hematomas poderiam se formar após a morte, e ele próprio havia testemunhado isso.

Original English

“Yes, to verify how far bruises may be produced after death. I saw him at it with my own eyes.”

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Português

Watson expressou surpresa, perguntando se o estudante não era realmente um estudante de medicina, dado seu comportamento.

Original English

“And yet you say he is not a medical student?”

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Português

Stamford respondeu que o estudante não era um estudante de medicina e que não conseguia adivinhar o que seus estudos envolviam. Em seguida, disse a Watson que eles haviam chegado e que ele deveria formar seu próprio julgamento. Eles entraram em uma viela estreita e passaram por uma porta lateral em uma ala do hospital. Watson achou o caminho familiar, e eles subiram uma escada de pedra, caminharam por um longo corredor com paredes caiadas e portas marrons. Perto do final, uma passagem baixa em arco levava ao laboratório de química.

Original English

“No. Heaven knows what the objects of his studies are. But here we are, and you must form your own impressions about him.” As he spoke, we turned down a narrow lane and passed through a small side-door, which opened into a wing of the great hospital. It was familiar ground to me, and I needed no guiding as we ascended the bleak stone staircase and made our way down the long corridor with its vista of whitewashed wall and dun-coloured doors. Near the further end a low arched passage branched away from it and led to the chemical laboratory.

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Português

O laboratório era uma sala de teto alto cheia de inúmeras garrafas e mesas baixas cobertas com retortas, tubos de ensaio e bicos de Bunsen com chamas azuis. Apenas um estudante estava presente, curvado sobre uma mesa distante, absorto em seu trabalho. Ouvindo seus passos, ele levantou a cabeça e pulou alegremente, gritando para Stamford que havia encontrado um reagente que precipitaria com hemoglobina e nada mais. Seu rosto brilhava de alegria, como se tivesse descoberto uma mina de ouro.

Original English

This was a lofty chamber, lined and littered with countless bottles. Broad, low tables were scattered about, which bristled with retorts, test-tubes, and little Bunsen lamps, with their blue flickering flames. There was only one student in the room, who was bending over a distant table absorbed in his work. At the sound of our steps he glanced round and sprang to his feet with a cry of pleasure. “I’ve found it! I’ve found it,” he shouted to my companion, running towards us with a test-tube in his hand. “I have found a reagent which is precipitated by haemoglobin, and by nothing else.” Had he discovered a gold mine, greater delight could not have shone upon his features.

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Português

Stamford apresentou o Dr. Watson ao Sr. Sherlock Holmes.

Original English

“Dr. Watson, Mr. Sherlock Holmes,” said Stamford, introducing us.

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Português

Holmes me cumprimentou calorosamente, apertou minha mão com uma força surpreendente e então comentou que conseguia perceber que eu estivera no Afeganistão.

Original English

“How are you?” he said cordially, gripping my hand with a strength for which I should hardly have given him credit. “You have been in Afghanistan, I perceive.”

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Português

Astonado, perguntei-lhe como ele poderia saber disso.

Original English

“How on earth did you know that?” I asked in astonishment.

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Português

Ele riu baixinho e descartou minha pergunta, então perguntou se eu entendia a importância de sua descoberta em relação à hemoglobina.

Original English

“Never mind,” said he, chuckling to himself. “The question now is about haemoglobin. No doubt you see the significance of this discovery of mine?”

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Português

Admiti que quimicamente era interessante, mas expressei dúvidas sobre sua aplicação prática.

Original English

“It is interesting, chemically, no doubt,” I answered, “but practically—”

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Português

Holmes declarou ser a descoberta médico-legal mais prática em anos, fornecendo um teste infalível para manchas de sangue. Ele me levou ansiosamente até sua mesa, furou o dedo, retirou uma gota de sangue e a diluiu em um litro de água até que ficasse transparente. Ao adicionar cristais brancos e um fluido transparente, a mistura instantaneamente adquiriu uma cor mogno opaca e um pó acastanhado depositou-se no fundo.

Original English

“Why, man, it is the most practical medico-legal discovery for years. Don’t you see that it gives us an infallible test for blood stains? Come over here now!” He seized me by the coat-sleeve in his eagerness, and drew me over to the table at which he had been working. “Let us have some fresh blood,” he said, digging a long bodkin into his finger, and drawing off the resulting drop of blood in a chemical pipette. “Now, I add this small quantity of blood to a litre of water. You perceive that the resulting mixture has the appearance of pure water. The proportion of blood cannot be more than one in a million. I have no doubt, however, that we shall be able to obtain the characteristic reaction.” As he spoke, he threw into the vessel a few white crystals, and then added some drops of a transparent fluid. In an instant the contents assumed a dull mahogany colour, and a brownish dust was precipitated to the bottom of the glass jar.

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Português

Ele bateu palmas e riu, parecendo tão encantado quanto uma criança com um brinquedo novo. Ele perguntou o que eu achava daquilo.

Original English

“Ha! ha!” he cried, clapping his hands, and looking as delighted as a child with a new toy. “What do you think of that?”

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Português

Observei que parecia um teste muito delicado.

Original English

“It seems to be a very delicate test,” I remarked.

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Português

Ele elogiou o teste, chamando-o de bonito. Explicou que o antigo teste de Guiacum era desajeitado e incerto, e o exame microscópico de glóbulos vermelhos era inútil se as manchas tivessem algumas horas. Esse novo teste funcionava igualmente bem em sangue velho ou novo. Ele acrescentou que se tal teste tivesse existido antes, centenas de criminosos agora livres teriam sido punidos.

Original English

“Beautiful! beautiful! The old Guiacum test was very clumsy and uncertain. So is the microscopic examination for blood corpuscles. The latter is valueless if the stains are a few hours old. Now, this appears to act as well whether the blood is old or new. Had this test been invented, there are hundreds of men now walking the earth who would long ago have paid the penalty of their crimes.”

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Português

Murmurei minha concordância com um silencioso 'De fato'.

Original English

“Indeed!” I murmured.

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Português

Ele explicou que muitos casos criminais dependem da identificação de manchas. Meses após um crime, as roupas de um suspeito podem ter manchas amarronzadas que podem ser sangue, lama, ferrugem ou fruta. Os especialistas muitas vezes ficavam confusos porque não havia um teste confiável. Agora o teste de Sherlock Holmes removeria essa dificuldade.

Original English

“Criminal cases are continually hinging upon that one point. A man is suspected of a crime months perhaps after it has been committed. His linen or clothes are examined, and brownish stains discovered upon them. Are they blood stains, or mud stains, or rust stains, or fruit stains, or what are they? That is a question which has puzzled many an expert, and why? Because there was no reliable test. Now we have the Sherlock Holmes’ test, and there will no longer be any difficulty.”

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Português

Seus olhos brilhavam intensamente enquanto ele falava, e ele colocou a mão sobre o coração, curvando-se como se estivesse reconhecendo uma plateia imaginária que aplaudia.

Original English

His eyes fairly glittered as he spoke, and he put his hand over his heart and bowed as if to some applauding crowd conjured up by his imagination.

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Português

Comentei, um tanto surpreso com seu entusiasmo, que ele deveria ser parabenizado.

Original English

“You are to be congratulated,” I remarked, considerably surprised at his enthusiasm.

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Português

Ele citou vários casos, como Von Bischoff em Frankfurt, que teria sido executado se esse teste existisse, além de Mason, Muller, Lefevre e Samson. Ele afirmou que poderia citar muitos outros casos em que teria sido decisivo.

Original English

“There was the case of Von Bischoff at Frankfort last year. He would certainly have been hung had this test been in existence. Then there was Mason of Bradford, and the notorious Muller, and Lefevre of Montpellier, and Samson of New Orleans. I could name a score of cases in which it would have been decisive.”

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Português

Stamford riu, observando que Holmes parecia um calendário ambulante de crimes, e sugeriu que ele poderia criar um jornal chamado Notícias Policiais do Passado.

Original English

“You seem to be a walking calendar of crime,” said Stamford with a laugh. “You might start a paper on those lines. Call it the Police News of the Past.”

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Português

Sherlock Holmes concordou que tal jornal poderia render uma leitura muito interessante. Ele aplicou um pequeno curativo em um furo no dedo e explicou com um sorriso que precisava ter cuidado porque frequentemente experimentava com venenos. Quando ele estendeu a mão, vi que ela estava coberta de curativos semelhantes e manchada por ácidos fortes.

Original English

“Very interesting reading it might be made, too,” remarked Sherlock Holmes, sticking a small piece of plaster over the prick on his finger. “I have to be careful,” he continued, turning to me with a smile, “for I dabble with poisons a good deal.” He held out his hand as he spoke, and I noticed that it was all mottled over with similar pieces of plaster, and discoloured with strong acids.

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Português

Stamford explicou que eles tinham vindo a negócios. Ele sentou-se em um banco de três pernas e empurrou outro em direção ao narrador. Ele mencionou que seu amigo queria encontrar alojamento, e como Holmes estava reclamando que não conseguia alguém para dividir, Stamford achou melhor apresentá-los.

Original English

“We came here on business,” said Stamford, sitting down on a high three-legged stool, and pushing another one in my direction with his foot. “My friend here wants to take diggings, and as you were complaining that you could get no one to go halves with you, I thought that I had better bring you together.”

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Português

Sherlock Holmes pareceu satisfeito com a perspectiva de dividir os quartos. Ele disse que estava de olho em um conjunto de cômodos na Baker Street que seria perfeito para eles, e perguntou se o narrador se importava com o cheiro de tabaco forte.

Original English

Sherlock Holmes seemed delighted at the idea of sharing his rooms with me. “I have my eye on a suite in Baker Street,” he said, “which would suit us down to the ground. You don’t mind the smell of strong tobacco, I hope?”

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Português

O narrador respondeu que ele mesmo sempre fumava tabaco de navio.

Original English

“I always smoke ‘ship’s’ myself,” I answered.

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Português

Holmes disse que isso era aceitável e acrescentou que geralmente mantinha produtos químicos por perto e realizava experimentos, perguntando se isso seria problemático.

Original English

“That’s good enough. I generally have chemicals about, and occasionally do experiments. Would that annoy you?”

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Português

O narrador respondeu que isso não o incomodaria em nada.

Original English

“By no means.”

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Português

Holmes pediu que seu companheiro confessasse seus próprios defeitos e, em seguida, listou os seus: ele às vezes ficava melancólico e não falava por dias, mas não queria que seu amigo pensasse que estava emburrado. Acreditava que era melhor que eles conhecessem as piores qualidades um do outro antes de começarem a viver juntos.

Original English

“Let me see—what are my other shortcomings? I get in the dumps at times, and don’t open my mouth for days on end. You must not think I am sulky when I do that. Just let me alone, and I’ll soon be right. What have you to confess now? It’s just as well for two fellows to know the worst of one another before they begin to live together.”

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Português

O narrador riu do interrogatório de Holmes e admitiu que possuía um buldogue filhote, não gostava de discussões porque o deixavam nervoso, mantinha horários irregulares e era muito preguiçoso. Ele acrescentou que tinha outros vícios quando estava saudável, mas aqueles eram os principais por enquanto.

Original English

I laughed at this cross-examination. “I keep a bull pup,” I said, “and I object to rows because my nerves are shaken, and I get up at all sorts of ungodly hours, and I am extremely lazy. I have another set of vices when I’m well, but those are the principal ones at present.”

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Português

Holmes perguntou ansiosamente se o narrador considerava tocar violino como uma das coisas a que ele se opunha.

Original English

“Do you include violin-playing in your category of rows?” he asked, anxiously.

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Português

O narrador respondeu que dependia do músico; um violino bem tocado era um prazer, mas um mal tocado não era.

Original English

“It depends on the player,” I answered. “A well-played violin is a treat for the gods—a badly-played one—”

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Português

Holmes riu alegremente e disse que tudo estava resolvido, desde que os cômodos fossem aceitáveis para o narrador.

Original English

“Oh, that’s all right,” he cried, with a merry laugh. “I think we may consider the thing as settled—that is, if the rooms are agreeable to you.”

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Português

Ele perguntou quando eles os veriam.

Original English

“When shall we see them?”

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Português

Ele respondeu que o narrador deveria buscá-lo ao meio-dia do dia seguinte e que iriam juntos resolver tudo.

Original English

“Call for me here at noon tomorrow, and we’ll go together and settle everything,” he answered.

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Português

Eu concordei, dizendo exatamente ao meio-dia, e apertei sua mão.

Original English

“All right—noon exactly,” said I, shaking his hand.

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Português

Nós o deixamos ocupado com seus produtos químicos e caminhamos juntos em direção ao meu hotel.

Original English

We left him working among his chemicals, and we walked together towards my hotel.

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Português

De repente, parei e me virei para Stamford, perguntando como diabos Holmes sabia que eu tinha vindo do Afeganistão.

Original English

“By the way,” I asked suddenly, stopping and turning upon Stamford, “how the deuce did he know that I had come from Afghanistan?”

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Português

Meu companheiro sorriu misteriosamente e explicou que era apenas uma pequena peculiaridade de Sherlock. Ele acrescentou que muitas pessoas tinham curiosidade em saber como Sherlock descobria informações.

Original English

My companion smiled an enigmatical smile. “That’s just his little peculiarity,” he said. “A good many people have wanted to know how he finds things out.”

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Português

O narrador exclamou com entusiasmo, esfregando as mãos, e disse que parecia um mistério. Ele achou muito intrigante e agradeceu ao amigo por apresentá-los, observando que o estudo adequado da humanidade são os seres humanos.

Original English

“Oh! a mystery is it?” I cried, rubbing my hands. “This is very piquant. I am much obliged to you for bringing us together. ‘The proper study of mankind is man,’ you know.”

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Português

Stamford aconselhou o narrador a estudar Sherlock, avisando que ele seria um enigma difícil. Apostou que Sherlock aprenderia mais sobre o narrador do que o narrador aprenderia sobre ele, e então se despediu.

Original English

“You must study him, then,” Stamford said, as he bade me goodbye. “You’ll find him a knotty problem, though. I’ll wager he learns more about you than you about him. Goodbye.”

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Português

O narrador se despediu e caminhou até seu hotel, sentindo-se bastante interessado no homem que acabara de conhecer.

Original English

“Goodbye,” I answered, and strolled on to my hotel, considerably interested in my new acquaintance.

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II — The Science of Deduction

Português

No dia seguinte, eles se encontraram conforme combinado e visitaram os aposentos na 221B Baker Street. O apartamento tinha dois quartos confortáveis e uma grande sala de estar arejada, com móveis alegres e duas janelas amplas. Os cômodos eram muito desejáveis e o aluguel parecia razoável quando dividido entre eles, então concordaram imediatamente e tomaram posse. O narrador mudou seus pertences do hotel naquela noite, e na manhã seguinte Sherlock Holmes se mudou com várias caixas e malas. Por alguns dias, eles ficaram ocupados desfazendo as malas e arrumando suas posses. Depois disso, gradualmente começaram a se estabelecer e se acostumar com o novo lar.

Original English

We met next day as he had arranged, and inspected the rooms at No. 221B, Baker Street, of which he had spoken at our meeting. They consisted of a couple of comfortable bedrooms and a single large airy sitting-room, cheerfully furnished, and illuminated by two broad windows. So desirable in every way were the apartments, and so moderate did the terms seem when divided between us, that the bargain was concluded upon the spot, and we at once entered into possession. That very evening I moved my things round from the hotel, and on the following morning Sherlock Holmes followed me with several boxes and portmanteaus. For a day or two we were busily employed in unpacking and laying out our property to the best advantage. That done, we gradually began to settle down and to accommodate ourselves to our new surroundings.

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Português

Holmes não era um companheiro difícil. Ele era quieto e mantinha hábitos regulares. Era incomum que ele ficasse acordado depois das dez da noite, e ele sempre tomava café da manhã e saía antes de o narrador se levantar. Ele passava os dias no laboratório químico, nas salas de dissecação ou em longas caminhadas que parecem levá-lo às partes mais pobres da cidade. Sua energia era notável quando estava trabalhando, mas ocasionalmente ele experimentava uma reação e ficava deitado no sofá da sala por dias, mal falando ou se movendo. Durante esses períodos, seus olhos tinham uma expressão sonhadora e vazia que poderia sugerir uso de narcótico, mas seu estilo de vida sóbrio e limpo descartava essa ideia.

Original English

Holmes was certainly not a difficult man to live with. He was quiet in his ways, and his habits were regular. It was rare for him to be up after ten at night, and he had invariably breakfasted and gone out before I rose in the morning. Sometimes he spent his day at the chemical laboratory, sometimes in the dissecting-rooms, and occasionally in long walks, which appeared to take him into the lowest portions of the City. Nothing could exceed his energy when the working fit was upon him; but now and again a reaction would seize him, and for days on end he would lie upon the sofa in the sitting-room, hardly uttering a word or moving a muscle from morning to night. On these occasions I have noticed such a dreamy, vacant expression in his eyes, that I might have suspected him of being addicted to the use of some narcotic, had not the temperance and cleanliness of his whole life forbidden such a notion.

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Português

Conforme as semanas passavam, o interesse do narrador por Holmes e sua curiosidade sobre seus objetivos de vida se aprofundavam. A aparência de Holmes era impressionante o suficiente para chamar a atenção de qualquer um. Ele tinha mais de um metro e oitenta de altura e era extremamente magro, fazendo-o parecer ainda mais alto. Seus olhos eram aguçados e penetrantes, exceto durante os intervalos de torpor mencionados anteriormente. Seu nariz fino e adunco lhe dava uma expressão de alerta e decisão. Seu queixo era proeminente e quadrado, indicando determinação. Suas mãos estavam sempre manchadas de tinta e produtos químicos, mas ele tinha uma extraordinária delicadeza ao toque, que o narrador observava quando Holmes manuseava instrumentos filosóficos frágeis.

Original English

As the weeks went by, my interest in him and my curiosity as to his aims in life, gradually deepened and increased. His very person and appearance were such as to strike the attention of the most casual observer. In height he was rather over six feet, and so excessively lean that he seemed to be considerably taller. His eyes were sharp and piercing, save during those intervals of torpor to which I have alluded; and his thin, hawk-like nose gave his whole expression an air of alertness and decision. His chin, too, had the prominence and squareness which mark the man of determination. His hands were invariably blotted with ink and stained with chemicals, yet he was possessed of extraordinary delicacy of touch, as I frequently had occasion to observe when I watched him manipulating his fragile philosophical instruments.

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Português

O narrador confessa que sua curiosidade por Holmes era imensa, e ele frequentemente tentava romper a reserva que Holmes mantinha sobre si mesmo. Antes de julgar, deve-se lembrar quão sem objetivo era a vida do narrador e quão pouco havia para ocupar sua atenção. Sua saúde o impedia de sair, a menos que o tempo estivesse excepcionalmente bom, e ele não tinha amigos para visitá-lo e quebrar a monotonia de sua existência diária. Nessas circunstâncias, ele recebia ansiosamente o mistério que cercava seu companheiro e passava grande parte do seu tempo tentando desvendá-lo.

Original English

The reader may set me down as a hopeless busybody, when I confess how much this man stimulated my curiosity, and how often I endeavoured to break through the reticence which he showed on all that concerned himself. Before pronouncing judgment, however, be it remembered, how objectless was my life and how little there was to engage my attention. My health forbade me from venturing out unless the weather was exceptionally genial, and I had no friends who would call upon me and break the monotony of my daily existence. Under these circumstances, I eagerly hailed the little mystery which hung around my companion, and spent much of my time in endeavouring to unravel it.

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Português

Holmes não estava estudando medicina, como ele confirmou em resposta a uma pergunta. Ele não parecia ter seguido qualquer curso de leitura que o qualificasse para um diploma em ciências ou qualquer outro caminho reconhecido para o mundo acadêmico. No entanto, seu entusiasmo por certos estudos era notável, e dentro de limites excêntricos seu conhecimento era tão extenso e detalhado que suas observações surpreendiam o narrador. Certamente ninguém trabalharia tanto ou adquiriria informações tão precisas sem um propósito definido. Leitores descompromissados raramente têm um aprendizado tão exato, e ninguém sobrecarrega a mente com pequenas questões sem uma razão muito boa.

Original English

He was not studying medicine. He had himself, in reply to a question, confirmed Stamford’s opinion upon that point. Neither did he appear to have pursued any course of reading which might fit him for a degree in science or any other recognized portal which would give him an entrance into the learned world. Yet his zeal for certain studies was remarkable, and within eccentric limits his knowledge was so extraordinarily ample and minute that his observations have fairly astounded me. Surely no man would work so hard or attain such precise information unless he had some definite end in view. Desultory readers are seldom remarkable for the exactness of their learning. No man burdens his mind with small matters unless he has some very good reason for doing so.

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Português

A ignorância de Holmes era tão notável quanto seu conhecimento. Ele parecia saber quase nada sobre literatura contemporânea, filosofia ou política. Quando o narrador citou Thomas Carlyle, Holmes ingenuamente perguntou quem ele era e o que havia feito. A surpresa do narrador atingiu o auge quando ele descobriu que Holmes ignorava a teoria copernicana e a composição do sistema solar. Parecia extraordinário ao narrador que qualquer ser humano civilizado no século XIX não soubesse que a Terra gira em torno do sol.

Original English

His ignorance was as remarkable as his knowledge. Of contemporary literature, philosophy and politics he appeared to know next to nothing. Upon my quoting Thomas Carlyle, he inquired in the naivest way who he might be and what he had done. My surprise reached a climax, however, when I found incidentally that he was ignorant of the Copernican Theory and of the composition of the Solar System. That any civilized human being in this nineteenth century should not be aware that the earth travelled round the sun appeared to be to me such an extraordinary fact that I could hardly realize it.

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Português

Holmes notou o espanto de Watson e comentou que, já que agora sabia do fato, tentaria esquecê-lo.

Original English

“You appear to be astonished,” he said, smiling at my expression of surprise. “Now that I do know it I shall do my best to forget it.”

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Português

Watson expressou incredulidade quanto à intenção de Holmes de esquecer o fato.

Original English

“To forget it!”

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Português

Holmes explicou sua teoria de que a mente de uma pessoa se assemelha a um pequeno sótão que deve ser abastecido seletivamente. Ele disse que uma pessoa tola aceita todos os tipos de informação, o que desloca o conhecimento útil. Um trabalhador habilidoso, por outro lado, só mantém ferramentas que auxiliam seu trabalho, organizando-as em perfeita ordem. Holmes argumentou que a mente tem capacidade limitada; aprender coisas novas inevitavelmente faz com que algum conhecimento antigo seja esquecido. Portanto, ele enfatizou a importância de não permitir que fatos inúteis desloquem os úteis.

Original English

“You see,” he explained, “I consider that a man’s brain originally is like a little empty attic, and you have to stock it with such furniture as you choose. A fool takes in all the lumber of every sort that he comes across, so that the knowledge which might be useful to him gets crowded out, or at best is jumbled up with a lot of other things so that he has a difficulty in laying his hands upon it. Now the skilful workman is very careful indeed as to what he takes into his brain-attic. He will have nothing but the tools which may help him in doing his work, but of these he has a large assortment, and all in the most perfect order. It is a mistake to think that that little room has elastic walls and can distend to any extent. Depend upon it there comes a time when for every addition of knowledge you forget something that you knew before. It is of the highest importance, therefore, not to have useless facts elbowing out the useful ones.”

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Português

Watson protestou, apontando o exemplo do sistema solar.

Original English

“But the Solar System!” I protested.

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Português

Holmes descartou impacientemente a preocupação, dizendo que se a Terra gira em torno do Sol ou da Lua não fazia diferença para ele ou para seu trabalho.

Original English

“What the deuce is it to me?” he interrupted impatiently; “you say that we go round the sun. If we went round the moon it would not make a pennyworth of difference to me or to my work.”

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Português

O narrador estava prestes a perguntar a Holmes sobre aquele trabalho, mas a maneira de Holmes sugeriu que a pergunta seria indesejada. Ele pensou em sua breve conversa, tentando tirar conclusões. Holmes dissera que não aprenderia nada que não ajudasse seu objetivo, então todo seu conhecimento era útil. O narrador listou mentalmente todas as áreas nas quais Holmes havia demonstrado conhecimento excepcional. Ele até as anotou a lápis. Quando terminou, sorriu ao ver o documento. Ele dizia o seguinte.

Original English

I was on the point of asking him what that work might be, but something in his manner showed me that the question would be an unwelcome one. I pondered over our short conversation, however, and endeavoured to draw my deductions from it. He said that he would acquire no knowledge which did not bear upon his object. Therefore all the knowledge which he possessed was such as would be useful to him. I enumerated in my own mind all the various points upon which he had shown me that he was exceptionally well-informed. I even took a pencil and jotted them down. I could not help smiling at the document when I had completed it. It ran in this way—

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Português

Quando ele chegou àquele ponto em sua lista, jogou-a no fogo em desespero. Disse a si mesmo que, se pudesse apenas descobrir o que Holmes almejava ao combinar todas essas realizações e encontrar uma ocupação que exigisse todas elas, mais valia desistir de tentar imediatamente.

Original English

When I had got so far in my list I threw it into the fire in despair. “If I can only find what the fellow is driving at by reconciling all these accomplishments, and discovering a calling which needs them all,” I said to myself, “I may as well give up the attempt at once.”

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Português

Watson observou que Holmes possuía uma habilidade notável, porém excêntrica, no violino. Ele conseguia tocar peças difíceis, como as canções de Mendelssohn, quando solicitado. No entanto, quando deixado sozinho, raramente tocava alguma melodia reconhecível. Em vez disso, recostava-se em sua poltrona, fechava os olhos e passava o arco pelo violino de forma casual. Os sons variavam de sonoros e melancólicos a fantásticos e alegres. Watson acreditava que a música refletia os pensamentos atuais de Holmes, embora não pudesse dizer se a música auxiliava esses pensamentos ou se era simplesmente o resultado de um capricho. Watson achava esses solos exasperantes, mas os tolerava porque Holmes geralmente terminava tocando várias de suas músicas favoritas em rápida sucessão, como compensação por sua paciência.

Original English

I see that I have alluded above to his powers upon the violin. These were very remarkable, but as eccentric as all his other accomplishments. That he could play pieces, and difficult pieces, I knew well, because at my request he has played me some of Mendelssohn’s Lieder, and other favourites. When left to himself, however, he would seldom produce any music or attempt any recognized air. Leaning back in his armchair of an evening, he would close his eyes and scrape carelessly at the fiddle which was thrown across his knee. Sometimes the chords were sonorous and melancholy. Occasionally they were fantastic and cheerful. Clearly they reflected the thoughts which possessed him, but whether the music aided those thoughts, or whether the playing was simply the result of a whim or fancy was more than I could determine. I might have rebelled against these exasperating solos had it not been that he usually terminated them by playing in quick succession a whole series of my favourite airs as a slight compensation for the trial upon my patience.

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Português

Durante a primeira semana ou mais, ninguém visitou, e o narrador começou a pensar que seu companheiro era tão sem amigos quanto ele. No entanto, ele logo descobriu que Holmes tinha muitos conhecidos de todas as classes sociais. Um homem pequeno, amarelado, com feições de rato chamado Lestrade veio várias vezes em uma semana. Uma jovem bem vestida visitou por meia hora. Mais tarde, um homem grisalho e maltrapilho que parecia um mascate judeu veio, seguido por uma senhora idosa com sapatos gastos. Em outros dias, um senhor de cabelos brancos e um carregador de trem em seu uniforme também visitaram. Sempre que esses variados indivíduos chegavam, Holmes pedia para usar a sala de estar, e o narrador se retirava para o quarto. Holmes sempre se desculpava pelo inconveniente, explicando que precisava da sala para negócios e que essas pessoas eram seus clientes. O narrador novamente teve a chance de perguntar diretamente a Holmes sobre seu trabalho, mas se conteve por delicadeza. Ele presumiu que Holmes tinha um forte motivo para não discutir o assunto, mas Holmes logo trouxe o tema à tona.

Original English

During the first week or so we had no callers, and I had begun to think that my companion was as friendless a man as I was myself. Presently, however, I found that he had many acquaintances, and those in the most different classes of society. There was one little sallow rat-faced, dark-eyed fellow who was introduced to me as Mr. Lestrade, and who came three or four times in a single week. One morning a young girl called, fashionably dressed, and stayed for half an hour or more. The same afternoon brought a grey-headed, seedy visitor, looking like a Jew pedlar, who appeared to me to be much excited, and who was closely followed by a slipshod elderly woman. On another occasion an old white-haired gentleman had an interview with my companion; and on another a railway porter in his velveteen uniform. When any of these nondescript individuals put in an appearance, Sherlock Holmes used to beg for the use of the sitting-room, and I would retire to my bedroom. He always apologized to me for putting me to this inconvenience. “I have to use this room as a place of business,” he said, “and these people are my clients.” Again I had an opportunity of asking him a point blank question, and again my delicacy prevented me from forcing another man to confide in me. I imagined at the time that he had some strong reason for not alluding to it, but he soon dispelled the idea by coming round to the subject of his own accord.

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Português

Era 4 de março, uma data que tenho boas razões para lembrar, em que acordei mais cedo que o habitual e encontrei Sherlock Holmes ainda no café da manhã. Minha senhoria, acostumada com meu levantar tardio, não havia preparado meu lugar nem meu café. Com a irritabilidade irracional comum à humanidade, toquei a campainha e dei um breve aviso de que estava pronto. Então peguei uma revista da mesa para passar o tempo, enquanto meu companheiro comia sua torrada em silêncio. Um dos artigos tinha uma marca de lápis no título, e naturalmente comecei a folheá-lo.

Original English

It was upon the 4th of March, as I have good reason to remember, that I rose somewhat earlier than usual, and found that Sherlock Holmes had not yet finished his breakfast. The landlady had become so accustomed to my late habits that my place had not been laid nor my coffee prepared. With the unreasonable petulance of mankind I rang the bell and gave a curt intimation that I was ready. Then I picked up a magazine from the table and attempted to while away the time with it, while my companion munched silently at his toast. One of the articles had a pencil mark at the heading, and I naturally began to run my eye through it.

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Português

O artigo, intitulado "O Livro da Vida", argumentava que uma pessoa poderia aprender muito através da observação cuidadosa de tudo ao seu redor. O narrador achou isso uma estranha mistura de inteligência e tolice. O raciocínio era coerente, mas as conclusões pareciam forçadas. O autor afirmava que, ao notar uma expressão fugaz, um tique ou um olhar, alguém poderia entender os pensamentos mais profundos de uma pessoa. Segundo ele, um observador treinado não poderia ser enganado. Suas conclusões eram tão certas quanto a matemática. Para aqueles que não compreendiam seus métodos, seus resultados pareciam mágicos.

Original English

Its somewhat ambitious title was “The Book of Life,” and it attempted to show how much an observant man might learn by an accurate and systematic examination of all that came in his way. It struck me as being a remarkable mixture of shrewdness and of absurdity. The reasoning was close and intense, but the deductions appeared to me to be far-fetched and exaggerated. The writer claimed by a momentary expression, a twitch of a muscle or a glance of an eye, to fathom a man’s inmost thoughts. Deceit, according to him, was an impossibility in the case of one trained to observation and analysis. His conclusions were as infallible as so many propositions of Euclid. So startling would his results appear to the uninitiated that until they learned the processes by which he had arrived at them they might well consider him as a necromancer.

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Português

O escritor afirmou que, a partir de uma única gota d'água, um lógico poderia inferir a existência do Oceano Atlântico ou das Cataratas do Niágara sem tê-los visto. A vida era uma grande corrente, e conhecer um elo revelava o todo. A Ciência da Dedução exigia estudo longo e paciente; ninguém poderia alcançar o domínio perfeito em uma vida. Ele aconselhou os iniciantes a começar com problemas mais simples, como deduzir a história e a profissão de uma pessoa num relance. Exercícios aparentemente infantis aguçavam a observação. Detalhes como unhas, mangas, botas, joelhos das calças, calosidades, expressão e punhos revelavam o ofício de uma pessoa. Ele achava quase inconcebível que um investigador competente falhasse ao usar todas essas pistas.

Original English

“From a drop of water,” said the writer, “a logician could infer the possibility of an Atlantic or a Niagara without having seen or heard of one or the other. So all life is a great chain, the nature of which is known whenever we are shown a single link of it. Like all other arts, the Science of Deduction and Analysis is one which can only be acquired by long and patient study, nor is life long enough to allow any mortal to attain the highest possible perfection in it. Before turning to those moral and mental aspects of the matter which present the greatest difficulties, let the enquirer begin by mastering more elementary problems. Let him, on meeting a fellow-mortal, learn at a glance to distinguish the history of the man, and the trade or profession to which he belongs. Puerile as such an exercise may seem, it sharpens the faculties of observation, and teaches one where to look and what to look for. By a man’s finger nails, by his coat-sleeve, by his boot, by his trouser knees, by the callosities of his forefinger and thumb, by his expression, by his shirt cuffs—by each of these things a man’s calling is plainly revealed. That all united should fail to enlighten the competent enquirer in any case is almost inconceivable.”

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Português

O narrador exclamou que o artigo era um absurdo total e bateu a revista na mesa, dizendo que nunca tinha lido tamanha bobagem.

Original English

“What ineffable twaddle!” I cried, slapping the magazine down on the table, “I never read such rubbish in my life.”

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Português

Sherlock Holmes perguntou o que estava incomodando o narrador.

Original English

“What is it?” asked Sherlock Holmes.

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Português

O narrador apontou para o artigo com sua colher de ovo e explicou que Holmes aparentemente o havia lido, já que o havia marcado. Ele admitiu que estava bem escrito, mas achou irritante. Acreditava que era a teoria de alguém que ficava em seu escritório e inventava paradoxos elegantes sem experiência prática. Ele desafiou o autor a sentar-se em um vagão de trem de terceira classe e deduzir as profissões dos passageiros, apostando pesadamente contra ele.

Original English

“Why, this article,” I said, pointing at it with my egg spoon as I sat down to my breakfast. “I see that you have read it since you have marked it. I don’t deny that it is smartly written. It irritates me though. It is evidently the theory of some armchair lounger who evolves all these neat little paradoxes in the seclusion of his own study. It is not practical. I should like to see him clapped down in a third class carriage on the Underground, and asked to give the trades of all his fellow-travellers. I would lay a thousand to one against him.”

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Português

Sherlock Holmes observou calmamente que o ouvinte perderia seu dinheiro e acrescentou que ele mesmo havia escrito o artigo.

Original English

“You would lose your money,” Sherlock Holmes remarked calmly. “As for the article, I wrote it myself.”

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Português

A outra pessoa exclamou surpresa, expressando descrença.

Original English

“You!”

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Português

Holmes afirmou sua aptidão para observação e dedução, declarando que suas teorias, embora pudessem parecer fantasiosas, eram na verdade extremamente práticas — a ponto de depender delas para seu sustento.

Original English

“Yes, I have a turn both for observation and for deduction. The theories which I have expressed there, and which appear to you to be so chimerical are really extremely practical—so practical that I depend upon them for my bread and cheese.”

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Português

Não pude deixar de perguntar como isso era possível.

Original English

“And how?” I asked involuntarily.

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Português

Holmes explicou que tinha uma profissão única: era um detetive consultor, o único no mundo. Quando detetives do governo ou particulares ficavam sem saída, buscavam seu conselho. Ele revisava as evidências e, com base em seu vasto conhecimento da história criminal, os orientava. Ele observou que os crimes frequentemente compartilham padrões, então a familiaridade com muitos casos ajuda a resolver novos. Ele mencionou Lestrade, um detetive conhecido, que o consultara recentemente sobre um caso de falsificação.

Original English

“Well, I have a trade of my own. I suppose I am the only one in the world. I’m a consulting detective, if you can understand what that is. Here in London we have lots of Government detectives and lots of private ones. When these fellows are at fault they come to me, and I manage to put them on the right scent. They lay all the evidence before me, and I am generally able, by the help of my knowledge of the history of crime, to set them straight. There is a strong family resemblance about misdeeds, and if you have all the details of a thousand at your finger ends, it is odd if you can’t unravel the thousand and first. Lestrade is a well-known detective. He got himself into a fog recently over a forgery case, and that was what brought him here.”

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Português

Ele perguntou sobre os outros indivíduos.

Original English

“And these other people?”

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Português

Holmes explicou que a maioria desses clientes era encaminhada por agências de detetives particulares. Eram pessoas em dificuldade que buscavam esclarecimento. Ele ouvia suas histórias, oferecia seus comentários e depois cobrava seus honorários.

Original English

“They are mostly sent on by private inquiry agencies. They are all people who are in trouble about something, and want a little enlightening. I listen to their story, they listen to my comments, and then I pocket my fee.”

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Português

Perguntei se ele realmente queria dizer que conseguia desvendar um problema difícil sem sair do quarto, um problema que outros achavam impossível apesar de terem visto todos os detalhes pessoalmente.

Original English

“But do you mean to say,” I said, “that without leaving your room you can unravel some knot which other men can make nothing of, although they have seen every detail for themselves?”

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Português

Ele afirmou que tinha uma intuição para isso. Ocasionalmente, um caso mais complexo exigia que ele saísse e visse as coisas pessoalmente. Ele possuía muito conhecimento especializado que aplicava ao problema, facilitando enormemente as coisas. As regras de dedução do artigo que eu havia desprezado eram inestimáveis na prática. A observação era uma segunda natureza para ele. Ele me lembrou que eu havia ficado surpreso quando ele me disse, em nosso primeiro encontro, que eu viera do Afeganistão.

Original English

“Quite so. I have a kind of intuition that way. Now and again a case turns up which is a little more complex. Then I have to bustle about and see things with my own eyes. You see I have a lot of special knowledge which I apply to the problem, and which facilitates matters wonderfully. Those rules of deduction laid down in that article which aroused your scorn, are invaluable to me in practical work. Observation with me is second nature. You appeared to be surprised when I told you, on our first meeting, that you had come from Afghanistan.”

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Português

Sugeri que ele devia ter sido informado desse fato.

Original English

“You were told, no doubt.”

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Português

Holmes afirmou que não havia adivinhado aleatoriamente; na verdade, sua mente seguiu uma rápida cadeia de raciocínio. Ele observou que Watson parecia ser um homem da medicina, mas com uma postura militar, então concluiu que Watson era um médico do exército. A escuridão do rosto de Watson contrastava com seus punhos claros, indicando tempo recente nos trópicos. A aparência abatida de Watson sugeria dificuldades e doença, e seu braço esquerdo estava rígido e ferido. Holmes raciocinou que apenas o Afeganistão poderia ter produzido tais condições para um médico do exército inglês. Todo o processo de pensamento levou menos de um segundo.

Original English

“Nothing of the sort. I knew you came from Afghanistan. From long habit the train of thoughts ran so swiftly through my mind, that I arrived at the conclusion without being conscious of intermediate steps. There were such steps, however. The train of reasoning ran, ‘Here is a gentleman of a medical type, but with the air of a military man. Clearly an army doctor, then. He has just come from the tropics, for his face is dark, and that is not the natural tint of his skin, for his wrists are fair. He has undergone hardship and sickness, as his haggard face says clearly. His left arm has been injured. He holds it in a stiff and unnatural manner. Where in the tropics could an English army doctor have seen much hardship and got his arm wounded? Clearly in Afghanistan.’ The whole train of thought did not occupy a second. I then remarked that you came from Afghanistan, and you were astonished.”

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Português

Watson admitiu com um sorriso que a explicação de Holmes a tornava simples, e comparou Holmes ao personagem Dupin de Edgar Allan Poe. Ele disse que não acreditava que tais indivíduos existissem fora da ficção.

Original English

“It is simple enough as you explain it,” I said, smiling. “You remind me of Edgar Allan Poe’s Dupin. I had no idea that such individuals did exist outside of stories.”

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Português

Sherlock Holmes se levantou e acendeu seu cachimbo, observando que Watson provavelmente pretendia um elogio ao compará-lo a Dupin. No entanto, Holmes considerava Dupin bastante inferior. Ele descreveu o hábito de Dupin de interromper os pensamentos de seus amigos após um longo silêncio como ostentoso e sem profundidade. Holmes reconheceu que Dupin tinha alguma capacidade analítica, mas não era o gênio que Poe parecia pensar.

Original English

Sherlock Holmes rose and lit his pipe. “No doubt you think that you are complimenting me in comparing me to Dupin,” he observed. “Now, in my opinion, Dupin was a very inferior fellow. That trick of his of breaking in on his friends’ thoughts with an apropos remark after a quarter of an hour’s silence is really very showy and superficial. He had some analytical genius, no doubt; but he was by no means such a phenomenon as Poe appeared to imagine.”

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Português

Watson perguntou se Holmes havia lido as obras de Gaboriau e se o detetive Lecoq atendia aos padrões de Holmes para um detetive.

Original English

“Have you read Gaboriau’s works?” I asked. “Does Lecoq come up to your idea of a detective?”

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Português

Holmes fungou com desdém e declarou que Lecoq era um malfeitor miserável, cuja única virtude era sua energia. Ele disse que o livro o deixou enjoado. O problema era identificar um prisioneiro desconhecido; Holmes afirmou que poderia ter resolvido em vinte e quatro horas, enquanto Lecoq levou seis meses. Ele sugeriu que o livro poderia servir como um manual para detetives sobre o que evitar.

Original English

Sherlock Holmes sniffed sardonically. “Lecoq was a miserable bungler,” he said, in an angry voice; “he had only one thing to recommend him, and that was his energy. That book made me positively ill. The question was how to identify an unknown prisoner. I could have done it in twenty-four hours. Lecoq took six months or so. It might be made a textbook for detectives to teach them what to avoid.”

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Português

O narrador sentiu indignação por dois personagens que ele admirava terem sido tratados de forma desdenhosa. Ele foi até a janela e pensou consigo mesmo que o sujeito poderia ser muito inteligente, mas certamente era muito convencido.

Original English

I felt rather indignant at having two characters whom I had admired treated in this cavalier style. I walked over to the window, and stood looking out into the busy street. “This fellow may be very clever,” I said to myself, “but he is certainly very conceited.”

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Português

Ele reclamou que não havia crimes ou criminosos hoje em dia, questionando a utilidade da inteligência na profissão deles. Acreditava ter capacidade de tornar seu nome famoso, já que ninguém havia dedicado tanto estudo e talento natural à detecção de crimes. No entanto, não havia crime para detectar, apenas vilania malfeita com motivos tão transparentes que até mesmo um funcionário da Scotland Yard poderia percebê-los.

Original English

“There are no crimes and no criminals in these days,” he said, querulously. “What is the use of having brains in our profession? I know well that I have it in me to make my name famous. No man lives or has ever lived who has brought the same amount of study and of natural talent to the detection of crime which I have done. And what is the result? There is no crime to detect, or, at most, some bungling villainy with a motive so transparent that even a Scotland Yard official can see through it.”

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Português

Ainda irritado com seu estilo presunçoso de conversa, o narrador achou melhor mudar de assunto.

Original English

I was still annoyed at his bumptious style of conversation. I thought it best to change the topic.

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Português

O narrador perguntou o que um homem robusto e simplesmente vestido estava procurando, apontando para ele andando devagar do outro lado da rua. O homem segurava um envelope azul grande e estava evidentemente entregando uma mensagem.

Original English

“I wonder what that fellow is looking for?” I asked, pointing to a stalwart, plainly-dressed individual who was walking slowly down the other side of the street, looking anxiously at the numbers. He had a large blue envelope in his hand, and was evidently the bearer of a message.

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Português

Sherlock Holmes respondeu que o narrador se referia ao sargento reformado dos Fuzileiros Navais.

Original English

“You mean the retired sergeant of Marines,” said Sherlock Holmes.

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Português

Pensei comigo mesmo que ele estava apenas se exibindo. Ele sabia que eu não podia verificar seu palpite.

Original English

“Brag and bounce!” thought I to myself. “He knows that I cannot verify his guess.”

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Português

Mal esse pensamento passou pela minha mente quando o homem que observávamos notou o número da nossa porta e correu rapidamente pela rua. Ouvimos uma batida alta, uma voz grave lá embaixo e então passos pesados subindo as escadas.

Original English

The thought had hardly passed through my mind when the man whom we were watching caught sight of the number on our door, and ran rapidly across the roadway. We heard a loud knock, a deep voice below, and heavy steps ascending the stair.

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Português

Ele entrou na sala, disse que a carta era para o Sr. Sherlock Holmes e a entregou ao meu amigo.

Original English

“For Mr. Sherlock Holmes,” he said, stepping into the room and handing my friend the letter.

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Português

Vi isso como uma chance de humilhá-lo. Ele não esperava isso quando fez seu palpite aleatório. Com a voz mais calma, perguntei ao jovem qual era seu ofício.

Original English

Here was an opportunity of taking the conceit out of him. He little thought of this when he made that random shot. “May I ask, my lad,” I said, in the blandest voice, “what your trade may be?”

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Português

Ele respondeu rispidamente que era um comissário e acrescentou que seu uniforme estava sendo consertado.

Original English

“Commissionaire, sir,” he said, gruffly. “Uniform away for repairs.”

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Português

Perguntei ao meu companheiro, olhando-o com leve malícia, qual posto ele ocupara.

Original English

“And you were?” I asked, with a slightly malicious glance at my companion.

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Português

Ele respondeu que havia sido sargento da Infantaria Leve da Marinha Real. Em seguida, afirmou que não havia resposta e reconheceu a ordem.

Original English

“A sergeant, sir, Royal Marine Light Infantry, sir. No answer? Right, sir.”

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Português

Ele bateu os calcanhares, saudou e saiu.

Original English

He clicked his heels together, raised his hand in a salute, and was gone.

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III — The Lauriston Gardens Mystery

Português

Fiquei surpreso com essa prova das teorias do meu companheiro. Meu respeito por seus poderes analíticos aumentou, mas ainda suspeitava que o episódio pudesse ter sido encenado para me impressionar, embora não conseguisse imaginar seu motivo. Ele tinha terminado de ler a nota e parecia absorto em pensamentos, com os olhos vazios.

Original English

I confess that I was considerably startled by this fresh proof of the practical nature of my companion’s theories. My respect for his powers of analysis increased wondrously. There still remained some lurking suspicion in my mind, however, that the whole thing was a prearranged episode, intended to dazzle me, though what earthly object he could have in taking me in was past my comprehension. When I looked at him he had finished reading the note, and his eyes had assumed the vacant, lacklustre expression which showed mental abstraction.

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Português

Perguntei a ele como conseguira deduzir isso.

Original English

“How in the world did you deduce that?” I asked.

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Português

Ele perguntou impacientemente o que exatamente ele deveria deduzir.

Original English

“Deduce what?” said he, petulantly.

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Português

Ele explicou que o homem em questão era um sargento aposentado dos Fuzileiros Navais.

Original English

“Why, that he was a retired sergeant of Marines.”

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Português

Ele disse que não tinha tempo para ninharias e se desculpou por sua grosseria. Observou que a interrupção quebrou seus pensamentos, mas talvez fosse melhor assim. Perguntou então, incrédulo, se a outra pessoa realmente não tinha percebido que o homem era um sargento dos Fuzileiros Navais.

Original English

“I have no time for trifles,” he answered, brusquely; then with a smile, “Excuse my rudeness. You broke the thread of my thoughts; but perhaps it is as well. So you actually were not able to see that that man was a sergeant of Marines?”

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Português

A outra pessoa respondeu que não.

Original English

“No, indeed.”

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Português

Ele explicou que era mais fácil saber o fato do que explicar o raciocínio por trás dele, comparando à dificuldade de provar que dois mais dois são quatro enquanto se tem certeza disso. Observou que, do outro lado da rua, ele podia ver uma grande tatuagem de âncora azul no dorso da mão do homem, sugerindo uma ligação com o mar. Além disso, a postura militar do homem e as suíças padrão indicavam que ele era um fuzileiro naval. Sua autoconfiança e ar de comando eram evidentes na maneira como ele segurava a cabeça e balançava a bengala. O homem parecia estável, respeitável e de meia-idade, tudo o que o levou a concluir que ele havia sido um sargento.

Original English

“It was easier to know it than to explain why I knew it. If you were asked to prove that two and two made four, you might find some difficulty, and yet you are quite sure of the fact. Even across the street I could see a great blue anchor tattooed on the back of the fellow’s hand. That smacked of the sea. He had a military carriage, however, and regulation side whiskers. There we have the marine. He was a man with some amount of self-importance and a certain air of command. You must have observed the way in which he held his head and swung his cane. A steady, respectable, middle-aged man, too, on the face of him—all facts which led me to believe that he had been a sergeant.”

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