The Hound of the Baskervilles Part 1 (2/2)
”No, no, est, for example, that a presentation to a doctor is more likely to come from a hospital than from a hunt, and that when the initials 'CC' are placed before that hospital the words 'Charing Cross' very naturally suggest theht”
”The probability lies in that direction And if we take this as a working hypothesis we have a fresh basis from which to start our construction of this unknown visitor”
”Well, then, supposing that 'CCH' does stand for 'Charing Cross Hospital,' what further inferences est themselves? You know my methods Apply them!”
”I can only think of the obvious conclusion that theto the country”
”I think that we ht venture a little farther than this Look at it in this light On what occasion would it be most probable that such a presentation would be e of their good will? Obviously at the moment when Dr Mortimer withdrew from the service of the hospital in order to start a practice for himself We know there has been a presentation We believe there has been a change from a town hospital to a country practice Is it, then, stretching our inference too far to say that the presentation was on the occasion of the change?”
”It certainly seems probable”
”Now, you will observe that he could not have been on the staff of the hospital, since only a man well-established in a London practice could hold such a position, and such a one would not drift into the country
What was he, then? If he was in the hospital and yet not on the staff he could only have been a house-surgeon or a house-physician--little o--the date is on the stick So your grave, ed family practitioner vanishes into thin air,fellow under thirty, amiable, una, which I should describe roughly as being larger than a terrier and shed incredulously as Sherlock Hols of s
”As to the latter part, I have noyou,” said I, ”but at least it is not difficult to find out a few particulars about the e and professional career” From my small medical shelf I took down the Medical Directory and turned up the name There were several Mortimers, but only one who could be our visitor I read his record aloud
”Mortimer, James, MRCS, 1882, Grieon, fro Cross Hospital
Winner of the Jackson prize for Coy, with essay entitled 'Is Disease a Reversion?' Corresponding ical Society Author of 'Soress?'
(Journal of Psychology, March, 1883) Medical Officer for the parishes of Grih Barrow”
”No mention of that local hunt, Watson,” said Holmes with a mischievous smile, ”but a country doctor, as you very astutely observed I think that I am fairly justified in ht, amiable, unambitious, and absent-minded
It is my experience that it is only an amiable man in this world who receives testimonials, only an unambitious one who abandons a London career for the country, and only an absent--card after waiting an hour in your roo?”
”Has been in the habit of carrying this stick behind his htly by the middle, and the 's jaw, as shown in the space between these marks, is too broad in h for a mastiff It may have been--yes, by Jove, it is a curly-haired spaniel”
He had risen and paced the room as he spoke Now he halted in the recess of theThere was such a ring of conviction in his voice that I glanced up in surprise
”My dear fello can you possibly be so sure of that?”
”For the very si hi of its owner Don'tyou, Watson He is a professional brother of yours, and your presence may be of assistance to me Now is the dramatic moment of fate, Watson, when you hear a step upon the stair which is walking into your life, and you know not whether for good or ill What does Dr James Mortimer, the man of science, ask of Sherlock Holmes, the specialist in crime? Come in!”
The appearance of our visitor was a surprise to me, since I had expected a typical country practitioner He was a very tall, thinnose like a beak, which jutted out between two keen, gray eyes, set closely together and sparkling brightly frolasses He was clad in a professional but rather slovenly fashi+on, for his frock-coat was dingy and his trousers frayed Though young, his long back was already bowed, and he walked with a forward thrust of his head and a general air of peering benevolence As he entered his eyes fell upon the stick in Holmes's hand, and he ran towards it with an exclalad,” said he
”I was not sure whether I had left it here or in the shi+pping Office I would not lose that stick for the world”
”A presentation, I see,” said Holmes
”Yes, sir”