A Study in Scarlet - Chapter 02 - B1-B2 Gregson’s Letter
The Letter from Inspector Gregson
Dear Mr Sherlock Holmes,
There was a bad business last night at 3, Lauriston Gardens, off the Brixton Road. Our policeman on patrol saw a light in the house at about two in the morning. The house was empty, so he thought something was wrong. He found the door open. In the front room, which had no furniture, he found the body of a man. The man was well dressed. In his pocket were cards with the name “Enoch J. Drebber, Cleveland, Ohio, U.S.A.”
Nothing had been stolen. We cannot see how the man died. There are marks of blood in the room, but there is no wound on his body. We do not know how he came into the empty house. The whole thing is a puzzle.
Please come to the house before twelve o’clock, and you will find me there. I have left everything exactly as it was until I hear from you. If you cannot come, I will send you more details, and I would be very grateful for your opinion.
Yours faithfully,
Tobias Gregson.
The Gregson letter · how to use it
- Use. This letter hands the group their case at the end of Chapter Two. A commissionaire (the retired sergeant of Marines) brings it, and Watson reads it aloud.
- Design idea. Print on aged paper as a physical prop the team can handle.
- Canon note (Golden Rule 1). All facts are Doyle’s. This tier simplifies the language only; the verbatim letter is the B2-C1 file.
- House style (Golden Rule 3). No em-dashes are used in this copy.
A Study in Scarlet - Chapter 02 - B2-C1 Gregson’s Letter
The Letter from Inspector Gregson
My dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes,
There has been a bad business during the night at 3, Lauriston Gardens, off the Brixton Road. Our man on the beat saw a light there about two in the morning, and as the house was an empty one, suspected that something was amiss. He found the door open, and in the front room, which is bare of furniture, discovered the body of a gentleman, well dressed, and having cards in his pocket bearing the name of “Enoch J. Drebber, Cleveland, Ohio, U.S.A.” There had been no robbery, nor is there any evidence as to how the man met his death. There are marks of blood in the room, but there is no wound upon his person. We are at a loss as to how he came into the empty house; indeed, the whole affair is a puzzler. If you can come round to the house any time before twelve, you will find me there. I have left everything in statu quo until I hear from you. If you are unable to come I shall give you fuller details, and would esteem it a great kindness if you would favour me with your opinion.
Yours faithfully,
Tobias Gregson.
The Gregson letter · how to use it
- Use. This letter hands the group their case at the end of Chapter Two. A commissionaire (the retired sergeant of Marines) brings it, and Watson reads it aloud.
- Design idea. Print on aged paper as a physical prop the team can handle.
- Canon note (Golden Rule 1). The letter is verbatim Doyle; do not alter the wording.
- House style (Golden Rule 3). The canon letter naturally contains no em-dashes.