The Adventure of the Plated Spoon and Other Tales of Sherlock Holmes by Loren D. Estleman Page B

surmise.”
    â€œBut, Smith, this is almost incredible! What perverted genius controls this awful secret movement?”
    â€œImagine a person, tall, lean and feline, high shouldered, with a brow like Shakespeare and a face like Satan, a close-shaven skull, and long, magnetic eyes of the true cat-green. Invest him with all the cruel cunning of an entire Eastern race, accumulated in one giant intellect, with all the resources of science past and present, with all the resources, if you will, of a wealthy government—which, however, has already denied all knowledge of his existence. Imagine that awful being, and you have a mental picture of Dr. Fu-Manchu, the yellow peril incarnate in one man.”

HOW WATSON LEARNED THE TRICK
SIR ARTHUR CONAN DOYLE
    â€œH ow Watson Learned the Trick” has appeared rarely, if ever, in the same volume with the other Sherlock Holmes stories written by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. He wrote this sketch in 1922 at the request of Queen Mary, consort to King George V, to be bound and included in the library of her opulent dollhouse alongside other miniature works by Rudyard Kipling, J.M. Barrie, Joseph Conrad, Somerset Maugham, and many other literati. The story’s a bit hard on Watson’s hubris, but bears fond echoes of his attempt to deduce the identity of the owner of the forgotten walking stick in The Hound of the Baskervilles . Reprinted here by permission of the Sir Arthur Conan Doyle Estate.

    Watson had been watching his companion intently ever since he had sat down to the breakfast table. Holmes happened to look up and catch his eye.
    â€œWell, Watson, what are you thinking about?” he asked.
    â€œAbout you.”
    â€œMe?”
    â€œYes, Holmes. I was thinking how superficial are these tricks of yours, and how wonderful it is that the public should continue to show interest in them.”
    â€œI quite agree,” said Holmes. “In fact, I have a recollection that I have myself made a similar remark.”
    â€œYour methods,” said Watson severely, “are really easily acquired.”
    â€œNo doubt,” Holmes answered with a smile. “Perhaps you will yourself give an example of this method of reasoning.”
    â€œWith pleasure,” said Watson. “I am able to say that you were greatly preoccupied when you got up this morning.”
    â€œExcellent!” said Holmes. “How could you possibly know that?”
    â€œBecause you are usually a very tidy man and yet you have forgotten to shave.”
    â€œDear me! How very clever!” said Holmes. “I had no idea, Watson, that you were so apt a pupil. Has your eagle eye detected anything more?”
    â€œYes, Holmes. You have a client named Barlow, and you have not been successful with his case.”
    â€œDear me, how could you know that?”
    â€œI saw the name outside his envelope. When you opened it you gave a groan and thrust it into your pocket with a frown on your face.”
    â€œAdmirable! You are indeed observant. Any other points?”
    â€œI fear, Holmes, that you have taken to financial speculation.”
    â€œHow could you tell that, Watson?”
    â€œYou opened the paper, turned to the financial page, and gave a loud exclamation of interest.”
    â€œWell, that is very clever of you, Watson. Any more?”
    â€œYes, Holmes, you have put on your black coat, instead of your dressing gown, which proves that you are expecting some important visitor at once.”
    â€œAnything more?”
    â€œI have no doubt that I could find other points, Holmes, but I only give you these few, in order to show you that there are other people in the world who can be as clever as you.”
    â€œAnd some not so clever,” said Holmes. “I admit that they are few, but I am afraid, my dear Watson, that I must count you among them.”
    â€œWhat do you mean, Holmes?”
    â€œWell, my dear fellow, I fear your deductions have not been