The Adventure of the Solitary Cyclist

           Fromtheyears1894to1901inclusive,Mr.SherlockHolmeswasaverybusyman.Itissafetosaythattherewasnopubliccaseofanydifficultyinwhichhewasnotconsultedduringthoseeightyears,andtherewerehundredsofprivatecases,someofthemofthemostintricateandextraordinarycharacter,inwhichheplayedaprominentpart.Manystartlingsuccessesandafewunavoidablefailuresweretheoutcomeofthislongperiodofcontinuouswork.AsIhavepreservedveryfullnotesofallthesecases,andwasmyselfpersonallyengagedinmanyofthem,itmaybeimaginedthatitisnoeasytasktoknowwhichIshouldselecttolaybeforethepublic.Ishall,however,preservemyformerrule,andgivethepreferencetothosecaseswhichderivetheirinterestnotsomuchfromthebrutalityofthecrimeasfromtheingenuityanddramaticqualityofthesolution.ForthisreasonIwillnowlaybeforethereaderthefactsconnectedwithMissVioletSmith,thesolitarycyclistofCharlington,andthecurioussequelofourinvestigation,whichculminatedinunexpectedtragedy.Itistruethatthecircumstancedidnotadmitofanystrikingillustrationofthosepowersforwhichmyfriendwasfamous,butthereweresomepointsaboutthecasewhichmadeitstandoutinthoselongrecordsofcrimefromwhichIgatherthematerialfortheselittlenarratives.

           Onreferringtomynotebookfortheyear1895,IfindthatitwasuponSaturday,the23rdofApril,thatwefirstheardofMissVioletSmith.