Summary of the previous episodes (Chapters 1-5)

1. Summary of the previous episodes (Chapters 1-5)

2. Chapter 1 • The story begins in 1881, where Dr. John Watson runs into an old friend, Stamford. Due to a shoulder injury sustained in the Anglo-Afghan War, Watson was forced to retire and is now looking for a place to live. • Stamford reveals that an acquaintance of his, Sherlock Holmes, is looking for someone to split the rent at a flat at 221B Baker Street. • Stamford takes Watson to the local hospital's lab, where Holmes experiments with a reagent for haemoglobin detection. Watson reveals that he is willing to share the rooms at 221B.

3. Chapter 2 The chapterbeginswith a briefdescriptionof the flat at Baker Street 221B. Watson is amazed by Holmes: he has profound knowledge of chemistry and sensational literature, very precise but narrow knowledge of geology and botany; yet knows little about literature, astronomy, philosophy, and politics. Holmes also has many guests visiting him at different intervals during the day; he reveals to Watson that he is a consulting detective, and that his guests are clients.

4. A message for Mr. Holmes • One of these guests turns out to be a retired Marine sergeant delivering a message from Scotland Yard about a recent murder. • Holmes invites Watson to come along with him as he investigates the crime scene at Lauriston Gardens.

5. Chapter 3: the crime scene (la scena del delitto) • Holmes observes the sidewalk and garden leading up to the house at Lauriston Gardens, before he and Watson meet Inspectors Gregson and Lestrade. • The four observe the crime scene and the male corpse, who is identified as Enoch Drebber. There is blood found in the room but there is no wound on the body. They also learn from documents found on his person that he was in London with a friend, Joseph Stangerson. Above his body, written in blood, is the word "RACHE", which Holmes remarks is German for revenge.

6. The science of deduction • He goes on to deduce that the victim died from poison, and describes what he believes the murderer looks like; six feet tall, with small feet for his height, a florid complexion, square toed boots, and smoking a Trichinopoly cigar. His fingernails on his right hand are long and he came in a cab, whose horse had three old shoes and one new one. 

7. Chapter 4 • Holmes listens to a constable's story about a drunk man loitering by the scene of the crime and informs him that the “drunk” was really the murderer revisiting the scene to collect a ring that Holmes found on the body. • Dalraccontodi un agentedipolizia Holmes apprendeche un uomoubriacosiaggiravaneipressi del luogo dove è statocommessoildelitto; costui, secondol’agente, era tornatosulluogo del delitto per recuperarel’anelloritrovatoda Holmes sulcorpodellavittima.

8. Answer the questions 1.In the dialogue between Holmes and the young policeman it clearly emerges that they are very different characters:the naivety of the young man is in contrast with Holmes’ great intelligence and knowledge . In what ways?

9. Third sequence 1.What does Holmes mean by “a study in scarlet”? Why does he use this expression? What is referred to? 2.Why is Holmes an “amateur bloodhound” according to Watson? 3.Why does he meditate upon the “many-sideness of the human mind”?

10. Chapter 5: the ring and the old lady • Holmes puts a notice in the paper about the ring, expecting that the murderer, having already returned to the scene of the crime for it, would come to retrieve it. • The advertisement is answered by an old lady who claims that the ring belongs to her daughter. Holmes follows her and, upon returning, reveals to Watson that the old lady had taken a cab, he hopped onto the back of it, and upon their arrival, the lady was nowhere to be seen; she had escaped from it, leading Holmes to believe that it was the murderer's accomplice.

11. Answer the questions 1.Why can’t Watson fallasleep? Whatisheworriedabout? 2.When did Holmes send the telegram? 3.The narratordoesn’t explain the reasonwhy Holmes had sent the telegram. Why? 4.Who’s the lady claiming back the ring? 5.A detailmakes Holmes suspicious: whatisit? 6.The fifthsequencecontain a summary: where?

12. Chapter 6 (section A) A.Watson compares the different accounts of the murder published on three newspapers. Holmes is amused by the hypothesis made up by the journalists: they are completely unreliable.

13. Chapter 6 (B) • B. The next day, Gregson visits Holmes and Watson, and tells them that he has captured the “murderer”. He had gone to Madame Charpentier's Boarding House, where Drebber and Stangerson had stayed before the Drebber's murder. He learned from her that Drebber, a drunk, had attempted to kiss Madame's daughter, Alice. She, in turn, evicted the two. Drebber, however, came back later that night and attempted to grab Alice, prompting her older brother to attack him. He attempted to chase Drebber but supposedly lost him. Gregson then went to apprehend the brother. • Lestrade then arrives, revealing that Stangerson is dead.