“So, Watson,” said he, suddenly, “you do not propose to invest in South African securities?”
I gave a start of astonishment. Accustomed as I was to Holmes’ curious faculties, this sudden intrusion into my most intimate thoughts was utterly inexplicable.
“How on earth do you know that?” I asked.
…
“You see, my dear Watson” - he propped his test-tube in the rack, and began to lecture with the air of a professor addressing his class - “it is not really difficult to construct a series of inferences, each dependent upon its predecessor and each simple in itself. If, after doing so, one simply knocks out all the central inferences and presents one’s audience with the starting-point and the conclusion, one may produce a startling, though possibly a meretricious, effect. Now, it was not really difficult, by an inspection of the groove between your left forefinger and thumb, to feel sure that you did not propose to invest your small capital in the goldfields.”
“I see no connection.”
“Very likely not; but I can quickly show you a close connection. Here are the missing links of the very simple chain: 1. You had chalk between your left finger and thumb when you returned from the club last night. 2. You put chalk there when you play billiards to steady the cue. 3. You never play billiards except with Thurston. 4. You told me, four weeks ago, that Thurston had an option on some South African property which would expire in a month, and which he desired you to share with him. 5. Your cheque-book is locked in my drawer, and you have not asked for the key. 6. You do not propose to invest you money in this manner.”
“How absurdly simple!” I cried.
“Quite so!” said he, a little nettled. Every problem becomes very childish when once it is explained to you.
-taken in part from The Adventure of the Dancing Men
Originally published in Collier’s Weekly, December 1903, and in The Strand Magazine, December 1903, The Adventure of the Dancing Men was part of a larger collection of thirteen stories written by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle entitled The Return of Sherlock Holmes.
For my purposes, Dancing Men is a fabulous rendering of logic, exceptional writing abilities and, if I may be so bold to extend Holmes’ ability to a more general state, knowing your clients and anticipating their end needs. What is so fantastic about Holmes is that he is able to simplify his logic abilities into everyday use. He does limit his deductive reasoning solely to anticipating the needs of his ‘criminal’ clients. Rather, he broadens his scope and is able to assist a wider range of clientele.
Complimentary to Holmes’ logical abilities are Doyle’s writing skills. Naturally these should go hand in hand because they are fruit of the same vine. Doyle’s writing deserves his own note, despite the somewhat outdated editing style. His attention to detail, careful word choice and exceptional sentence structure give a truly unique perspective into the lives of Homes and Dr. Watson. And despite the differing editing style from today’s standards, Doyle maintains an elevated status and somewhat timeless quality, regardless of any hinted dates or era ideals, people or places within each story he writes.