The “Gloria Scott”

           "Ihavesomepapershere,"saidmyfriendSherlockHolmesaswesatonewinter’snightoneithersideofthefire,"whichIreallythink,Watson,thatitwouldbeworthyourwhiletoglanceover.ThesearethedocumentsintheextraordinarycaseoftheGloriaScott,andthisisthemessagewhichstruckJusticeofthePeaceTrevordeadwithhorrorwhenhereadit."

           Hehadpickedfromadraweralittletarnishedcylinder,and.undoingthetape,hehandedmeashortnotescrawleduponahalf-sheetofslate-graypaper.

           ThesupplyofgameforLondonisgoingsteadilyupitran.Head-keeperHudson,webelieve,hasbeennowtoldtoreceiveallordersforfly-paperandforpreservationofyourhen-pheasant’slife.

           AsIglancedupfromreadingthisenigmaticalmessage,IsawHolmeschucklingattheexpressionuponmyface.

           "Youlookalittlebewildered,"saidhe.

           "Icannotseehowsuchamessageasthiscouldinspirehorror.Itseemstometoberathergrotesquethanotherwise."

           "Verylikely.Yetthefactremainsthatthereader,whowasafine,robustoldman,wasknockedcleandownbyitasifithadbeenthebuttendofapistol."

           "Youarousemycuriosity,"saidI."ButwhydidyousayjustnowthattherewereveryparticularreasonswhyIshouldstudythiscase?"

           "BecauseitwasthefirstinwhichIwaseverengaged.