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1"It is easy to see that your experience has been no common one, Mr. Hatherley," said he. "Pray, lie down there and make
2yourself absolutely at home. Tell us what you can, but stop when you are tired and keep up your strength with a little
3stimulant." "Thank you," said my patient, "but I have felt another man since the doctor bandaged me, and I think that
4your breakfast has completed the cure. I shall take up as little of your valuable time as possible, so I shall start at
5once upon my peculiar experiences." Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded expression which veiled
6his keen and eager nature, while I sat opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story which our
7visitor detailed to us. "You must know," said he, "that I am an orphan and a bachelor, residing alone in lodgings in
8London. By profession I am a hydraulic engineer, and I have had considerable experience of my work during the seven
9years that I was apprenticed to Venner & Matheson, the well-known firm, of Greenwich. Two years ago, having served my
10time, and having also come into a fair sum of money through my poor father's death, I determined to start in business
11for myself and took professional chambers in Victoria Street. "I suppose that everyone finds his first independent start
12in business a dreary experience. To me it has been exceptionally so. During two years I have had three consultations and
13one small job, and that is absolutely all that my profession has brought me. My gross takings amount to £ 27 10s. Every
14day, from nine in the morning until four in the afternoon, I waited in my little den, until at last my heart began to
15sink, and I came to believe that I should never have any practice at all. "Yesterday, however, just as I was thinking of
16leaving the office, my clerk entered to say there was a gentleman waiting who wished to see me upon business. He brought
17up a card, too, with the name of 'Colonel Lysander Stark' engraved upon it. Close at his heels came the colonel himself,
18a man rather over the middle size, but of an exceeding thinness. I do not think that I have ever seen so thin a man. His
19whole face sharpened away into nose and chin, and the skin of his cheeks was drawn quite tense over his outstanding
20bones. Yet this emaciation seemed to be his natural habit, and due to no disease, for his eye was bright, his step
21brisk, and his bearing assured. He was plainly but neatly dressed, and his age, I should judge, would be nearer forty
22than thirty. "'Mr. Hatherley?' said he, with something of a German accent. 'You have been recommended to me, Mr.
23Hatherley, as being a man who is not only proficient in his profession but is also discreet and capable of preserving a
24secret.' "I bowed, feeling as flattered as any young man would at such an address. 'May I ask who it was who gave me so
25good a character?' "'Well, perhaps it is better that I should not tell you that just at this moment. I have it from the
26same source that you are both an orphan and a bachelor and are residing alone in London.' "'That is quite correct,' I
27answered; 'but you will excuse me if I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional qualifications. I
28understand that it was on a professional matter that you wished to speak to me?' "'Undoubtedly so. But you will find
29that all I say is really to the point. I have a professional commission for you, but absolute secrecy is quite
30essential--absolute secrecy, you understand, and of course we may expect that more from a man who is alone than from one
31who lives in the bosom of his family.' "'If I promise to keep a secret,' said I, 'you may absolutely depend upon my
32doing so.' "He looked very hard at me as I spoke, and it seemed to me that I had never seen so suspicious and
33questioning an eye. "'Do you promise, then?' said he at last. "'Yes, I promise.' "'Absolute and complete silence before,
34during, and after? No reference to the matter at all, either in word or writing?' "'I have already given you my word.'
35"'Very good.' He suddenly sprang up, and darting like lightning across the room he flung open the door. The passage
36outside was empty. "'That's all right,' said he, coming back. 'I know that clerks are sometimes curious as to their
37master's affairs. Now we can talk in safety.' He drew up his chair very close to mine and began to stare at me again
38with the same questioning and thoughtful look. "A feeling of repulsion, and of something akin to fear had begun to rise
39within me at the strange antics of this fleshless man. Even my dread of losing a client could not restrain me from
40showing my impatience. "'I beg that you will state your business, sir,' said I; 'my time is of value.' Heaven forgive me
41for that last sentence, but the words came to my lips. "'How would fifty guineas for a night's work suit you?' he asked.
42"'Most admirably.' "'I say a night's work, but an hour's would be nearer the mark. I simply want your opinion about a
43hydraulic stamping machine which has got out of gear. If you show us what is wrong we shall soon set it right ourselves.
44What do you think of such a commission as that?' "'The work appears to be light and the pay munificent.' "'Precisely so.
45We shall want you to come to-night by the last train.' "'Where to?' "'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near
46the borders of Oxfordshire, and within seven miles of Reading. There is a train from Paddington which would bring you
47there at about 11:15.' "'Very good.' "'I shall come down in a carriage to meet you.' "'There is a drive, then?' "'Yes,
48our little place is quite out in the country. It is a good seven miles from Eyford Station.' "'Then we can hardly get
49there before midnight. I suppose there would be no chance of a train back. I should be compelled to stop the night.'
50"'Yes, we could easily give you a shake-down.' "'That is very awkward. Could I not come at some more convenient hour?'
51"'We have judged it best that you should come late. It is to recompense you for any inconvenience that we are paying to
52you, a young and unknown man, a fee which would buy an opinion from the very heads of your profession. Still, of course,
53if you would like to draw out of the business, there is plenty of time to do so.' "I thought of the fifty guineas, and
54of how very useful they would be to me. 'Not at all,' said I, 'I shall be very happy to accommodate myself to your
55wishes. I should like, however, to understand a little more clearly what it is that you wish me to do.' "'Quite so. It
56is very natural that the pledge of secrecy which we have exacted from you should have aroused your curiosity. I have no
57wish to commit you to anything without your having it all laid before you. I suppose that we are absolutely safe from
58eavesdroppers?' "'Entirely.' "'Then the matter stands thus. You are probably aware that fuller's-earth is a valuable
59product, and that it is only found in one or two places in England?' "'I have heard so.'
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