Doyle’s Permanent Patient Summary


To Sherlock Holmes, Dr Percy Trevelyan is asking for help. Having graduated with honors from the University, the young doctor wanted to devote himself to the research of nervous illnesses, even wrote a monogram, but he did not have the means to carry out his plans. Suddenly, a certain Mr. Blessington came to him, suffering from a heart disease and in need of constant observation by a doctor. Blessington suggested that Percy finance his practice, with the condition that Percy would give him three quarters of his salary.

Two years passed. The case turned out to be profitable. Percy enriched Blessington and advanced himself. Having settled in the same house with the doctor, Blessington led a closed life, did not communicate with anyone and rarely left. Not differing in punctuality, he nevertheless every evening checked the book of reception of patients and took away to itself three quarters of earnings, hiding money in a chest in the room.

A few weeks ago, Blessington learned

of some kind of robbery and came home very excited. He immediately placed additional bolts on the windows and doors. Percy decided that he was afraid of someone, but Blessington was only beginning to swear at all questions.

Two days ago, a Russian nobleman suffering from catalepsy turned to Percy for help. The patient was brought by a son who stayed in the corridor while his father examined the doctor. During the examination, the patient started an attack. Percy went out for a few minutes for the medicine, and when he returned, the visitors were gone.

Today the Russian nobleman and his son came again and apologized for their sudden departure. Recovering, his father did not remember what was happening to him, and hurried to leave the unfamiliar room on the street, and the son decided that the reception was over, and left after his father. During these visits Blessington was not at home. Arriving home, he went to his room, and then burst into the office to Percy in panic fear. Someone was in his room: there were traces on the carpet. Percy realized that while his father was in his office, his son went into

Blessington’s room. Hardly having calmed down, Blessington asked Percy to tell about what had happened to Sherlock Holmes.

The great detective, along with Dr. Watson, visit Blessington. A standing patient begs to protect him from robbers, but Holmes advises telling the whole truth, only then he can help.

The matter interests Holmes. He suggests that visitors decided to get to Blessington, who is afraid of them. By pure chance, during their visits his house was not there. One simulated catalepsy, and the second penetrated into the owner’s bedroom.

In the morning it becomes known that at night Blessington hanged himself. After inspecting the room, the great detective comes to the conclusion that there was a murder. There were three criminals, two of them, most likely, were those who pretended to be Russian noblemen. The boy servant let them in, and he disappeared.

By evening, the police find a servant, and Holmes establishes the identity of criminals. A few years ago a gang of five robbed the bank. One member of the gang, Blessington, became an informer, one was hanged, and three were released ahead of schedule. Now they tracked down Blessington and avenged him.

The police do not find murderers. Scotland Yard decides that they sailed from England by boat, which disappeared off the coast of Portugal.


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Doyle’s Permanent Patient Summary