In the year 1878, I took my degree of Doctor of Medicine in the University of London,
and proceeded to(继续) Netley to go through(完成) the course arranged for doctors in the army.
My regiment(（军队的）团) was stationed in India at the time, and before I could join it, the second Afghan war had broken out.
So I was sent to Afghanistan, and we advanced deep into the enemy’s country.
There I was struck on the shoulder by a bullet(子弹), which shattered(使碎裂) the bone.
I was shipped home, and landed a month later at Portsmouth harbor, with my health permanently(永久地) ruined.
With permission from a caring government, I spent the next nine months in attempting to improve my health.
I naturally settled in London.
So alarming did the state of my finances(财产) become that I soon realized that I must either leave the city and move to the country, or make a complete change in my style of living.
On the very day that I had come to this conclusion(结论), I was standing at the Criterion Bar, when someone tapped me on the shoulder.
After turning round, I recognized young Stamford, an old friend of mine.
The sight of a friendly face in the great wilderness(茫茫人海) of London is a pleasant thing indeed to a lonely man.
I felt so relieved and happy that I asked him to lunch with me at the Holborn, and we started off together in a cab(出租马车).
During our lunch, Stamford asked, “What are you up to now?”
“Looking for somewhere to live,” I answered.
“Trying to solve the problem of whether it is possible to get comfortable rooms at a reasonable price.”
“That’s a strange thing,” remarked my companion, “you are the second man today that has used that expression to me.”
“And who was the first?” I asked.
“A fellow who is working at the chemical laboratory up at the hospital.
He was complaining(抱怨) this morning because he could not get someone to share some nice rooms which he had found, and which were too expensive to rent(租) on his own.”
“Really!” I cried, “If he really wants someone to share the rooms and the expense, I am the very man for him.
I should prefer having a partner to being alone.”
Young Stamford looked rather strangely at me over his wine-glass.
“You don’t know Sherlock Holmes yet,” he said, “perhaps you would not care for him as a constant companion.”
“Why, what is there against him?”
“Oh, I didn’t say there was anything against him.
He is a little odd(古怪的) in some of his ideas—an enthusiast in some branches of science.
As far as I know he is a decent(正派的) enough fellow.”
“A medical student, I suppose?” said I.
“No—I have no idea what he intends(打算) to do as a career(职业).
I believe he knows a lot about anatomy(解剖学), and he is a first-class chemist.
But, as far as I know, he has never taken any regular medical classes.
His studies are very strange, but he has collected a lot of unusual knowledge which would astonish(使吃惊) his professors(教授们).”
“Did you never ask him what his planned career(职业) was?” I asked.
“No. It’s not easy to get him talking, though he can communicate very well when he wants to.”
“I should like to meet him,” I said.
“If I am to share rooms with anyone, I should prefer a man who likes to study and has quiet habits.
I am not strong enough yet to stand much noise or excitement.
I had enough of both in Afghanistan to last me for the rest of my life.
How could I meet this friend of yours?”
“He is sure to be at the laboratory,” returned my companion.
“If you like, we can drive round together after lunch.”
“Certainly,” I answered, and the conversation drifted away(转移) to other subjects.
As we went to the hospital after leaving the Holborn, Stamford gave me a few more details(细节) about the gentleman with whom I might be sharing rooms.
“You mustn’t blame me if you don’t get on with(与...相处融洽) him,” he said, “I know nothing more of him than I have learned from meeting him occasionally in the laboratory.
You suggested this arrangement, so you must not hold me responsible.”
“If we don’t get on, it will be easy to separate,” I answered.
“It seems to me, Stamford,” I added, looking hard at my companion, “that you have some reason for washing your hands of the matter.
Is this fellow’s temper(脾气，性情) so formidable(可怕的), or what is it? Please tell me frankly.”
“It’s not so easy to put into words,” he answered with a laugh.
“Holmes is a little too scientific for my tastes—almost cold-blooded.
I could imagine his giving your friend a little pinch(少量，一撮) of some drug he had discovered, not out of ill-will, you understand, but simply out of a spirit of inquiry(研究)—
in order to have an accurate(准确的) idea of the effects.
To be fair, I think that he would be equally prepared to take it himself.
He appears to have a passion(热情) for definite(确切的) and exact knowledge.”
“Very right too.”
“Yes, but it may be pushed to excess(过分).
When it comes to beating the bodies in the dissecting-rooms(解剖室) with a stick, it is certainly taking rather a strange shape.”
“Beating the bodies!”
“Yes, to find out to what extent(程度) bruises(瘀伤) may be produced after death.
I saw him doing it with my own eyes.”
“And yet you say he is not a medical student?”
“No. I have no idea what he is studying.
But here we are, and you must form your own impressions about him.”
As he spoke, we turned down a narrow lane(小巷) and passed through a small side-door, which opened into a wing of the great hospital.
It was familiar ground to me, and I needed no guiding as we climbed the bleak(昏暗的) stone staircase(楼梯) and made our way down the long corridor(走廊) with its view of whitewashed(用石灰水粉刷的) walls and brownish doors.
Near the far end, a low passage branched away from it and led to the chemical laboratory.
