The Reigate Puzzle

           ItwassometimebeforethehealthofmyfriendMr.SherlockHolmesrecoveredfromthestraincausedbyhisimmenseexertionsinthespringof’87.ThewholequestionoftheNetherland-SumatraCompanyandofthecolossalschemesofBaronMaupertuisaretoorecentinthemindsofthepublic,andaretoointimatelyconcernedwithpoliticsandfinancetobefittingsubjectsforthisseriesofsketches.Theyled,however,inanindirectfashiontoasingularandcomplexproblemwhichgavemyfriendanopportunityofdemonstratingthevalueofafreshweaponamongthemanywithwhichhewagedhislifelongbattleagainstcrime.

           OnreferringtomynotesIseethatitwasuponthefourteenthofAprilthatIreceivedatelegramfromLyonswhichinformedmethatHolmeswaslyingillintheHotelDulong.Withintwenty-fourhoursIwasinhissick-roomandwasrelievedtofindthattherewasnothingformidableinhissymptoms.Evenhisironconstitution,however,hadbrokendownunderthestrainofaninvestigationwhichhadextendedovertwomonths,duringwhichperiodhehadneverworkedlessthanfifteenhoursadayandhadmorethanonce,asheassuredme,kepttohistaskforfivedaysatastretch.Eventhetriumphantissueofhislabourscouldnotsavehimfromreactionaftersoterribleanexertion,andatatimewhenEuropewasringingwithhisnameandwhenhisroomwasliterallyankle-deepwithcongratulatorytelegramsIfoundhimapreytotheblackestdepression.