    Holmes was skinny and tall, with sharp and piercing eyes, a square chin, and a hawk-like nose. He looked witty and professional. He was mysterious too. He was energetic, devoting himself everyday in the chemistry lab or the dissecting-rooms. Sometimes he would silently lie in the sofa from early morning to midnight, which made Watson feel fairly strange. In a later chat, Watson learned he was a detective. 
    One day, a letter for help was delivered to him from Gregson, a well-known detective of London Police Department. It was to ask Holmes to help with a murder. Watson had nothing to do at the time and accompanied Holmes to the site. At about 100 yards before the wagon reached the place, Holmes insisted getting off and walked there.
    The killing happened in an empty yard. On the glass of the window at the street put up a notice of "For Rent". There was a little garden in front of the empty house. There was a track in the garden, which was made terribly muddy by the rain the other day. Holmes did not hurry to the house, walking to and fro on the track instead. He seemed to think about something, looking up in the sky and down on the ground. Gregson came up to him. "It is so nice of you to come." said he, holding Holmes' hands tight. Holmes asked a few questions and went straight to the dining-room where the murder happened.
