本片段剧情:
第一次和华生的女友玛丽见面,福尔摩斯就给了她一个下马威。从她耳朵上的墨水印开始,语气尖酸地揭了玛丽的老底:一个寒酸的家庭教师。而且,福尔摩斯看出她手指上有戴过订婚戒指的痕迹,认为她是一个甩了未婚夫然后回国钓金龟婿的女人——听完这些后,玛丽将整杯酒泼到他头上,拂袖而去。
Watson: Holmes. You're early.
Holmes: Fashionably.
Watson: Miss Mary Morstan.
Holmes: My goodness. What a pleasure. I don't know why it's taken him so long to introduce us properly.
Mary Morstan: Pleasure is mine. It really is quite a thrill to meet you, Mr. Holmes. I've heard so much about you. I have a pile of detective novels at home. Wilkie Collins, Poe.
Watson: It's true.
Mary Morstan: It can seem a little far-fetched though sometimes making grand assumptions out of tiny details.
Holmes: That's not quite right, is it? In fact, the little details are by far the most important.
Holmes: Take Watson.
Mary Morstan: I intend to.
Holmes: See his walking stick? A rare African snakewood hiding a blade of high-tensile steel. A few were awarded to veterans of the Afghan war so I can assume he's a decorated soldier. Strong, brave, born to be a man of action. And neat, like all military men. Now, I check his pockets. Ah. A stub from a boxing match. Now I can infer that he's a bit of a gambler. I'd keep an eye on that dowry.
Watson: Those days are behind me.
Holmes: Right behind you. He's cost us the rent more than once.
Mary Morstan: Well, with all due respect, Mr. Holmes, you know John very well. What about a complete stranger? What can you tell about me?
Holmes: You?
Watson: I don't think...
Holmes: I don't know that...
Watson: Not at dinner.
Holmes: Some other time.
Mary Morstan: I insist.
Holmes: You insist?
Watson: You remember we discussed this.
Holmes: The lady insists. You're a governess.
Mary Morstan: Well done.
Watson: Yes, well done. Shall we? Waiter?
Holmes: Your student is a boy of 8.
Mary Morstan: Charlie's 7, actually.
Holmes: Charlie, huh? Then he's tall for his age. He flicked ink at you today.
Mary Morstan: Is there ink on my face?
Watson: There's nothing wrong with your face.
Holmes: There are two drops on your ear, in fact. India blue's nearly impossible to wash off. A very impetuous act by the boy. But you're too experienced to react rashly which is why the lady for whom you work lent you that. Oriental pearls, diamonds, a flawless ruby. Hardly the gems of a governess. The jewels you are not wearing tell us more.
Watson: Holmes.
Holmes: You were engaged. The ring is gone, but the lighter skin suggests that you spent some time abroad wearing it proudly until you were informed of its true, modest worth. You broke off the engagement and returned to England for better prospects. A doctor, perhaps.
Mary Morstan: Right on all counts, Mr. Holmes, apart from one. I didn't leave him. He died.
Watson: Well done, old boy.