Sherlock Holmes - Character Illustrations
03/07/08 15:55 Filed in: Character Illustrations
It was when he was at his wit’s end that his energy and his versatility were most admirable.
Sherlock Holmes was a man who seldom took exercise for exercise’s sake. Few men were capable of greater muscular effort, and he was undoubtedly one of the finest boxers of his weight that I have ever seen; but he looked upon aimless bodily exertion as a waste of energy, and he seldom bestirred himself save where there was some professional object to be served. Then he was absolutely untiring and indefatigable. That he should have kept himself in training under such circumstances is remarkable, but his diet was usually of the sparest, and his habits were simple to the verge of austerity. Save for the occasional use of cocaine, he had no vices, and he only turned to the drug as a protest against the monotony of existence when cases were scanty and the papers uninteresting.
One day in early spring he had so far relaxed as to go for a walk with me in the Park.
For two hours we rambled about together, in silence for the most part, as befits two men who know each other intimately.
Holmes glanced reproachfully at me. “So much for afternoon walks!”
Above all, do not fret until you know that you really have a cause for it.
“Of course, legally, we are putting ourselves hopelessly in the wrong; but I think that it is worth it.”
“Watson,” said he, “if it should ever strike you that I am getting a little overconfident in my powers, or giving less pains to a case than it deserves, kindly whisper ‘Norbury’ in my ear, and I shall be infinitely obliged to you.”
One day in early spring he had so far relaxed as to go for a walk with me in the Park.
For two hours we rambled about together, in silence for the most part, as befits two men who know each other intimately.
Holmes glanced reproachfully at me. “So much for afternoon walks!”
Above all, do not fret until you know that you really have a cause for it.
“Of course, legally, we are putting ourselves hopelessly in the wrong; but I think that it is worth it.”
“Watson,” said he, “if it should ever strike you that I am getting a little overconfident in my powers, or giving less pains to a case than it deserves, kindly whisper ‘Norbury’ in my ear, and I shall be infinitely obliged to you.”