Chapter 1 .
, who was usually very late in the mornings , save upon those not infrequent occasions when was up all night , was seated at the breakfast table .
stood upon the hearth-rug and picked up the stick which had left behind the night before .
It was a fine , thick piece of wood , bulbous-headed , of the sort which is known as a “ Penang lawyer . ”
Just under the head was a broad silver band nearly an inch across .
“ To , from , ” was engraved upon it , with the date “ 1884 . ”
It was just such a stick as used to carry -- dignified , solid , and reassuring .
“ Well , , what do make of it ? ”
was sitting with back to , and had given no sign of occupation .
“ How did know what was doing ?
believe have eyes in the back of head . ”
“ have , at least , a well-polished , silver-plated coffee-pot in front of , ” said .
“ But , tell , , what do make of ’s stick ?
Since have been so unfortunate as to miss and have no notion of errand , this accidental souvenir becomes of importance .
Let hear reconstruct by an examination of it . ”
“ think , ” said , following as far as could the methods of , “ that is , well-esteemed since give this mark of appreciation . ”
“ Good ! ” said .
“ Excellent ! ”
“ think also that the probability is in favour of being . ”
“ Why so ? ”
“ Because this stick , though originally a very handsome one has been so knocked about that can hardly imagine carrying it .
The thick-iron ferrule is worn down , so it is evident that has done a great amount of walking with it . ”
“ Perfectly sound ! ” said .
“ And then again , there is the ‘ ’ should guess that to be , . ”
“ Really , , excel , ” said , pushing back chair and lighting a cigarette .
“ am bound to say that in all the accounts which have been so good as to give of own small achievements have habitually underrated own abilities .
It may be that are not luminous , but are .
without possessing genius have a remarkable power of stimulating it .
confess , , that am very much in debt . ”
had never said as much before , and must admit that words gave keen pleasure , for had often been piqued by indifference to admiration and to the attempts which had made to give publicity to methods .
was proud , too , to think that had so far mastered system as to apply it in a way which earned approval .
now took the stick from hands and examined it for a few minutes with naked eyes .
Then with an expression of interest laid down cigarette , and carrying the cane to the window , looked over it again with a convex lens .
“ Interesting , though elementary , ” said as returned to favourite corner of the settee .
“ There are certainly one or two indications upon the stick .
It gives the basis for several deductions . ”
“ Has anything escaped ? ”
asked with some self-importance .
“ trust that there is nothing of consequence which have overlooked ? ”
“ am afraid , , that most of conclusions were erroneous .
When said that stimulated meant , to be frank , that in noting fallacies was occasionally guided towards the truth .
Not that are entirely wrong in this instance .
is certainly .
And walks a good deal . ”
“ Then was right . ”
“ To that extent . ”
“ But that was all . ”
“ No , no , , not all -- by no means all .
would suggest , for example , that a presentation to is more likely to come from than from , and that when the initials ‘ C.C. ’ are placed before the words ‘ ’ very naturally suggest themselves . ”
“ may be right . ”
“ The probability lies in that direction .
And if take this as a working hypothesis have a fresh basis from which to start construction of . ”
“ Well , then , supposing that ‘ ’ does stand for ‘ , ’ what further inferences may draw ? ”
“ Do none suggest themselves ?
know methods .
Apply them ! ”
“ can only think of the obvious conclusion that has practised in before going to . ”
“ think that might 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 made ?
When would unite to give a pledge of good will ?
Obviously at the moment when withdrew from the service of in order to start a practice for .
know there has been a presentation .
believe there has been a change from to a country practice .
Is it , then , stretching inference too far to say that the presentation was on the occasion of the change ? ”
“ It certainly seems probable . ”
“ Now , will observe that could not have been on the staff of , since could hold such a position , and such a one would not drift into .
What was , then ?
If was in and yet not on the staff could only have been or -- little more than .
And left five years ago -- the date is on the stick .
So vanishes into thin air , , and there emerges under thirty , amiable , unambitious , absent-minded , and the possessor of a favourite dog , which should describe roughly as being larger than a terrier and smaller than a mastiff . ”
laughed incredulously as leaned back in settee and blew little wavering rings of smoke up to the ceiling .
“ As to the latter part , have no means of checking , ” said , “ but at least it is not difficult to find out a few particulars about ’s age and professional career . ”
From small medical shelf took down the Medical Directory and turned up the name .
There were , but only one who could be .
read record aloud .
“ , 1882 , Grimpen , Dartmoor , Devon .
, from 1882 to 1884 , at .
Winner of the Jackson prize for Comparative Pathology , with essay entitled ‘ Is Disease a Reversion ? ’
.
.
‘ Do Progress ? ’
( Journal of Psychology , March , 1883 ) .
. ”
“ No mention of , , ” said with a mischievous smile , “ but , as very astutely observed .
think that am fairly justified in inferences .
As to the adjectives , said , if remember right , amiable , unambitious , and absent-minded .
It is experience that it is only , only , and only . ”
“ And the dog ? ”
“ Has been in the habit of carrying this stick behind .
Being a heavy stick the dog has held it tightly by the middle , and the marks of his teeth are very plainly visible .
The dog ’s jaw , as shown in the space between these marks , is too broad in opinion for a terrier and not broad enough for a mastiff .
It may have been -- yes , by , it is a curly-haired spaniel . ”
had risen and paced as spoke .
Now halted in the recess of the window .
There was such a ring of conviction in voice that glanced up in surprise .
“ , how can possibly be so sure of that ? ”
“ For the very simple reason that see the dog himself on very door-step , and there is the ring of .
Do n’t move , beg , .
is , and presence may be of assistance to .
Now is the dramatic moment of fate , , when hear a step upon which is walking into life , and know not whether for good or ill .
What does , , ask of , ?
Come in ! ”
The appearance of was a surprise to , since had expected .
was .
was clad in a professional but rather slovenly fashion , for frock-coat was dingy and trousers frayed .
Though young , long back was already bowed , and walked with a forward thrust of head and a general air of peering benevolence .
As entered eyes fell upon the stick in ’s hand , and ran towards it with an exclamation of joy .
“ am so very glad , ” said .
“ was not sure whether had left it or in .
would not lose that stick for . ”