The Adventure of the Norwood Builder

           “Fromthepointofviewofthecriminalexpert,”saidMr.SherlockHolmes,“LondonhasbecomeasingularlyuninterestingcitysincethedeathofthelatelamentedProfessorMoriarty.”

           “Icanhardlythinkthatyouwouldfindmanydecentcitizenstoagreewithyou,”Ianswered.

           “Well,well,Imustnotbeselfish,”saidhe,withasmile,ashepushedbackhischairfromthebreakfast-table.“Thecommunityiscertainlythegainer,andnoonetheloser,savethepoorout-of-workspecialist,whoseoccupationhasgone.Withthatmaninthefield,one’smorningpaperpresentedinfinitepossibilities.Oftenitwasonlythesmallesttrace,Watson,thefaintestindication,andyetitwasenoughtotellmethatthegreatmalignantbrainwasthere,asthegentlesttremorsoftheedgesofthewebremindoneofthefoulspiderwhichlurksinthecentre.Pettythefts,wantonassaults,purposelessoutrage—tothemanwhoheldtheclueallcouldbeworkedintooneconnectedwhole.Tothescientificstudentofthehighercriminalworld,nocapitalinEuropeofferedtheadvantageswhichLondonthenpossessed.Butnow——”Heshruggedhisshouldersinhumorousdeprecationofthestateofthingswhichhehadhimselfdonesomuchtoproduce.

           AtthetimeofwhichIspeak,Holmeshadbeenbackforsomemonths,andIathisrequesthadsoldmypracticeandreturnedtosharetheoldquartersinBakerStreet.