It was early in April in the year 1883. I woke up one morning and saw Sherlock Holmes standing, completely dressed, by the side of my bed. He didn't usually get up early, and the clock on the wall showed me that it was only a quarter past seven. I looked at him in surprise, and I was perhaps just a little angry, because unlike Holmes, I like to get up and go to sleep at the same times.

"Very sorry to wake you up, Watson," said he "but it's happening to everyone this morning. Mrs Hudson has been woken up, she came to me, and I to you."

"What is it, then-a fire?"

"No, a client. It seems that a young lady has arrived. She is very upset, and she wants to see me. She is now waiting in the sitting room. Now, when young ladies run around London at this hour of the morning, and get sleepy people out of their beds, I presume that they have something very urgent that they want to say. If it is an interesting case, I am sure you would want to be in it from the beginning. I thought that anyway, I would come to you and give you the chance."

"My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything."