It shows the very first meeting between Sherlock Holmes and John H. Watson. During their very first meeting, Holmes is delighted to find a new test that can detect blood with much more certainty than the old one. This shows how Watson is initially confused about what Holmes is doing and how he tries to find out by weighing all of Holmes' strengths and weaknesses. After Holmes finally lets Watson know what he is doing, he goes on to lament that there are no more good criminals, and therefore no more cases to solve, which leaves his powerful brain without a job. Just as Holmes tells Watson, an intriguing case falls upon him. The case is that a body was found in an abandoned house with no other evidence than the word RACHE carved on the wall. Holmes goes to the house, with Watson, and sees much more than what the official police force does and also finds a ring which he places great value on. Holmes also realizes that the murder is committed with poison, which puts him on the right. path. While they are investigating, another murder occurs in a hotel under the same circumstances. Using logic and observation, Holmes tracks down the criminal. It is in fact a taxi driver who came to England because he had an old score to settle with his victims which went all the way back to America. The second part of the novel continues by telling how this man was wronged by