Speaker 1: The Field Bazaar, A story of Sherlock Holmes by Sir
Arthur Conan Doyle, written in eighteen ninety six. Oh, I
should certainly do it, said Sherlock Holmes. And I started
at the interruption from My companion had been eating his breakfast,
with his attention entirely scented upon the paper which was
propped up by the coffee pot. Now I looked across
at him, to find his eyes fastened upon me with
a half amused, half questioning expression which he usually assumed
when he felt he had made an intellectual point. Do
what I asked, he smiled, as he took his slipper
from the mantel piece and drew from it enough shag
tobacco to fill the old clay pipe with which he
invariably rounded off his breakfast. The most characteristic question of yours,
Watson said he You will not, I am sure, be
offended if I say that any reputation for sharpness which
I may possess has been entirely gained by the admirable
foil which you have made for me. Have I not
heard of debutants who have insisted upon plainness in their chaperones?
And there is a certain analogy. Our long companionship in
the Baker Street rooms had left us on those easy
terms of intimacy, when much may be said without offense.
And yet I acknowledge that I was nettled by his remark.
I may be very obtuse, said I that I confess
that I am unable to see how you have managed
to know that I was. I was asked to help
in the Edinburgh University bazaar, but precisely the letter was
only just come to hand, and I have not spoken
to you since. In spite of that, said Holmes, leaning
back in his chair and putting his finger tips together.
I would even venture to suggest that the object of
the bazaar is to enlarge the University cricket field. I
looked at him in such bewilderment that he vibrated with
silent laughter. The fact is, my dear Watson, that you
are an excellent sum said he. You are never blase,
You respond instantly to any external stimulus. Your mental processes
may be slow, but they are never obscure. And I
found during breakfast that you were easier reading than the
leader in the times in front of me. Well, I
should be glad to know how you arrived at your conclusions,
said I. I fear that my good nature in giving
explanations has seriously compromised my reputation, said Olmes. But in
this case the train of reasoning is based upon such
obvious facts. The new credit can be claimed for it.
You entered the room with a thoughtful expression, the expression
of a man who is debating some point in his mind.
In your hand you held this solitary letter. Now, last
night you retired in the best of spirit, so it
was clear that it was this letter in your hand
which had caused the change in your aer This is obvious. Well,
it's all obvious when it's explained to you. I naturally
asked myself what the letter could contain which might have
this effect upon you. As you walked, you held the
flap side of the envelope toward me, and I saw
upon it the same shield shaped device which I have
observed upon your old college cricket cap. It was clear
then that the request came from Edinburgh University or from
some club connected with the university. When you reached the table,
you laid down the letter beside your plate with the
addressed uppermost, and you walked over to look at the
framed photograph upon the left of the mantelpiece. It amazed
me to see the accuracy with which he had observed
my movement. And what next, I asked. I began by
glancing at the address, and I could tell, even at
the distance of six feet, that it was unofficial communication.
Thus I gathered from the use of the word doctor
upon the address, to which, as a bachelor of medicine,
you have no legal claim. I knew that Universe city
officials are pedantic in their correct use of titles. That
I was thus enabled to say with certainty that your
letter was unofficial when on your return to the table,
you turned over your letter and allowed me to perceive
that the enclosure was a printed one. The idea of
a bazaar first occurred to me. I had already weighed
the possibility of its being a political communication, with this
seemed improbable in the present stagnant condition of politics. So
when you returned to the table your face still retained
its expression. Then it was evident that your examination of
the photograph had not changed the current of your thoughts.
In that case, it must itself bear upon the subject
in question. I turned my attention to the photograph therefore,
and saw at once that it consisted of yourself as
a member of the Edinburgh University eleven, with the pavilion
and cricket field in the background. My small experience of
cricket clubs has taught me that, next to churches, in
cavalry and signs, they are the most debt latent things
upon earth. When upon your return to the table, I
saw you take out your pencil and draw lines upon
the envelope, I was convinced that you were endeavoring to
realize some projected improvement which was to be brought about
by a bazaar. Your face still showed some indecision, so
that I was able to break in upon you with
my advice that you should assist in so good an option.
I could not help smiling at the extreme simplicity of
his explanation. Of course, it was as easy as parsible,
said I. My remark appeared to nettle him. I may add,
said he that the particular help which you have been
asked to give was that you should write in their album,
and that you have already made up your mind that
the present incident will be the subject of your article.
But but, but, how I cried it's as easy as parsible,
said he, and I leave it solution to your own ingenuity.
In the meantime he had had raising his paper. You
will excuse me if I return to this very interesting
article upon the Trees of Premona and the exact reasons
for the pre eminence of the manufacture of fire limbs.
It's one of those small outlying problems to which I
am sometimes tempted to direct my attention. And of the
field of Bazaar by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle