My good friend Mr Sherlock Holmes rarely
faltered in his quest to bring criminals to justice. But perhaps only once did
I ever see him shaken, or certainly unnerved, to the extent that his legendary
powers of deduction could not seem to function properly. He often said to me
that his sharp mind was similar to a machine of some sort, and that comparison
seems appropriate as I consider one of his few lapses of judgment. It was as if
a vital component had been taken away, causing the contraption to cease
functioning as it should. Though I have never before felt the desire to recount
any of Sherlock Holmes’ aforementioned failings, I feel that now is the time
for this particular story to be told.