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Chapter 1 A Lady Arrives
Chapter 1
A Lady Arrives
2
Dr Watson introduces himself and his friend Sherlock Holmes.
The term British Army fi rst appeared in 1707.
On a quiet afternoon suddenly someone knocks on the door...
My name is Dr Watson and, as you probably all know, I’m a friend of Sherlock Holmes. Because of this I have had the good fortune of helping him with many of his famous cases. Now I live at 221B Baker Street in London with Sherlock Holmes because I am retired*. I was a doctor in the British Army but then one day I was injured* and I almost died.
Holmes is probably the most famous private detective in London. Lots of people come to Holmes for help to solve crimes*, even the police. * * * One afternoon, I’m in the sitting room with Holmes. I’m reading a book and he’s standing by the window looking out at the dark, dirty London street. He’s smoking his pipe and looks sad. I ask, ‘What’s wrong with you today, Holmes?’ He turns and says, ‘Come and look at this dark, dismal* street. Th ere are crimes out there. My brain* needs work.
Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson in the sitting room at 221B Baker Street.
retired when you do not work because you are too old injured physically hurt crimes illegal activities dismal sad brain the organ in your head that controls your movement
Miss Morstan shows Holmes and Watson the pearls.
Miss Morstan arrives. She needs help.
Queen Victoria ascends the throne in 1837 and becomes a female fashion model. In this period women’s clothes become modest and plain*.
Suddenly there’s a knock* at the door.
Th e housekeeper*, Mrs Hudson, is at the door with a young woman.
‘Th ere is a young lady for you, sir,’ she says to Holmes giving him a card.
‘Miss Mary Morstan,’ he read. ‘Hum! I don’t know the name. Ask the young lady to come in, Mrs. Hudson.’ A young blonde lady dressed in a simple light blue dress enters the room. I notice her lovely blue eyes but she looks worried* about something.
‘Please sit down,’ says Holmes, off ering her a chair.
She smiles and then says in a trembling* voice, ‘Mr Holmes, I came to see you because you once helped my employer, Mrs Cecil Forrester, to solve a crime. I know that you give people good advice* and I need your help.
Holmes’ eyes shine* as he listens to Miss Morstan.
‘How can I help you?’ he asks her.
I say to them, ‘I’ll leave the room and let you speak in private.’
‘No, please stay,’ says Miss Morstan, looking at me with her blue eyes. ‘You may be of great help to me. Please listen to my story.’ So, I stay in the room.
‘My father was an offi cer in the army in India for many years. My mother died so he sent me home to
knock to hit something housekeeper a person who cleans another person’s house and makes meals plain without any decoration worried unhappy and thinking about your problems trembling shaking advice suggestions, help shine to give off light
England. I had no relatives* here, so I went to a school in Edinburgh. I stayed there until I was seventeen years old.’
Holmes and I listen carefully. She speaks softly* but clearly. ‘Then in 1878 I received a letter from my father telling me he was in London. He asked me to go to London to meet him at the Langham Hotel. His message was full of love. When I arrived at the hotel, they told me that my father was staying there but that he wasn’t there at that moment. I waited all day but my father did not return. I spoke to the hotel manager and he told me to speak to the police.’
‘And did the police help you?’ asked Holmes.
‘They advertised for my father in all the newspapers,’ Miss Morstan replies ‘but I never had any news of him.
