The Adventure of Black Peter

           Ihaveneverknownmyfriendtobeinbetterform,bothmentalandphysical,thanintheyear’95.Hisincreasingfamehadbroughtwithitanimmensepractice,andIshouldbeguiltyofanindiscretionifIwereeventohintattheidentityofsomeoftheillustriousclientswhocrossedourhumblethresholdinBakerStreet.Holmes,however,likeallgreatartists,livedforhisart’ssake,and,saveinthecaseoftheDukeofHoldernesse,Ihaveseldomknownhimclaimanylargerewardforhisinestimableservices.Sounworldlywashe—orsocapricious—thathefrequentlyrefusedhishelptothepowerfulandwealthywheretheproblemmadenoappealtohissympathies,whilehewoulddevoteweeksofmostintenseapplicationtotheaffairsofsomehumbleclientwhosecasepresentedthosestrangeanddramaticqualitieswhichappealedtohisimaginationandchallengedhisingenuity.

           Inthismemorableyear’95,acuriousandincongruoussuccessionofcaseshadengagedhisattention,rangingfromhisfamousinvestigationofthesuddendeathofCardinalTosca—aninquirywhichwascarriedoutbyhimattheexpressdesireofHisHolinessthePope—downtohisarrestofWilson,thenotoriouscanary-trainer,whichremovedaplague-spotfromtheEastEndofLondon.CloseontheheelsofthesetwofamouscasescamethetragedyofWoodman’sLee,andtheveryobscurecircumstanceswhichsurroundedthedeathofCaptainPeterCarey.NorecordofthedoingsofMr.SherlockHolmeswouldbecompletewhichdidnotincludesomeaccountofthisveryunusualaffair.