llysuggestthemselves.”
“Youmayberight.”
“Theprobabilityliesinthatdirection.Andifwetakethisasaworkinghypothesiswehaveafreshbasisfromwhichtostartourconstructionofthisunknownvisitor.”
“Well,then,supposingthat‘C.C.H.’doesstandfor‘CharingCrossHospital,’whatfurtherinferencesmaywedraw?”
“Dononesuggestthemselves?Youknowmymethods.Applythem!”
“Icanonlythinkoftheobviousconclusionthatthemanhaspractisedintownbeforegoingtothecountry.”
“Ithinkthatwemightventurealittlefartherthanthis.Lookatitinthislight.Onwhatoccasionwoulditbemostprobablethatsuchapresentationwouldbemade?Whenwouldhisfriendsunitetogivehimapledgeoftheirgoodwill?ObviouslyatthemomentwhenDr.Mortimerwithdrewfromtheserviceofthehospitalinordertostartapracticeforhimself.Weknowtherehasbeenapresentation.Webelievetherehasbeenachangefromatownhospitaltoacountrypractice.Isit,then,stretchingourinferencetoofartosaythatthepresentationwasontheoccasionofthechange?”
“Itcertainlyseemsprobable.”
“Now,youwillobservethathecouldnothavebeenonthestaffofthehospital,sinceonlyamanwell-establishedinaLondonpracticecouldholdsuchaposition,andsuchaonewouldnotdriftintothecountry.Whatwashe,then?Ifhewasinthehospitalandyetnotonthestaffhecouldonlyhavebeenahouse-surgeonorahouse-physician—littlemorethanaseniorstudent.Andheleftfiveyearsago—thedateisonthestick.Soyourgrave,middle-agedfamilypractitionervanishesintothinair,mydearWatson,andthereemergesayoungfellowunderthirty,amiable,unambitious,absent-minded,andthepossessorofafavouritedog,whichIshoulddescriberoughlyasbeinglargerthanaterrierandsmallerthanamastiff.”
IlaughedincredulouslyasSherlockHolmesleanedbackinhissetteeandblewlittlewaveringringsofsmokeuptotheceiling.
“Astothelatterpart,Ihavenomeansofcheckingyou,”saidI,“butatleastitisnotd