ethehadareputationforkindnessandcharityonthecountry-side,andwasnotedfortheleniencyofhissentencesfromthebench.
“Oneevening,shortlyaftermyarrival,weweresittingoveraglassofportafterdinner,whenyoungTrevorbegantotalkaboutthosehabitsofobservationandinferencewhichIhadalreadyformedintoasystem,althoughIhadnotyetappreciatedthepartwhichtheyweretoplayinmylife.TheoldmanevidentlythoughtthathissonwasexaggeratinginhisdescriptionofoneortwotrivialfeatswhichIhadperformed.
“‘Come,now,Mr.Holmes,’saidhe,laughinggood-humoredly.‘I’manexcellentsubject,ifyoucandeduceanythingfromme.’
“‘Ifearthereisnotverymuch,’Ianswered‘Imightsuggestthatyouhavegoneaboutinfearofsomepersonalattackwithinthelasttwelvemonths.’
“Thelaughfadedfromhislips,andhestaredatmeingreatsurprise.
“‘Well,that’strueenough,’saidhe.‘Youknow,Victor,’turningtohisson,‘whenwebrokeupthatpoachinggang,theysworetoknifeus,andSirEdwardHollyhasactuallybeenattacked.I’vealwaysbeenonmyguardsincethen,thoughIhavenoideahowyouknowit.’
“‘Youhaveaveryhandsomestick,’Ianswered.‘BytheinscriptionIobservedthatyouhadnothaditmorethanayear.Butyouhavetakensomepainstoboretheheadofitandpourmeltedleadintotheholesoastomakeitaformidableweapon.Iarguedthatyouwouldnottakesuchprecautionsunlessyouhadsomedangertofear.’
“‘Anythingelse?’heasked,smiling.
“‘Youhaveboxedagooddealinyouryouth.’
“‘Rightagain.Howdidyouknowit?Ismynoseknockedalittleoutofthestraight?’
“‘No,’saidI.‘Itisyourears.Theyhavethepeculiarflatteningandthickeningwhichmarkstheboxingman.’
“‘Anythingelse?’
“‘Youhavedoneagooddealofdiggingbyyourcallosities.’
“‘Madeallmymoneyatthegoldfields.’
“‘YouhavebeeninNewZealand.’
“‘Rightagain.’
“‘YouhavevisitedJapan.’
“‘Quitetrue.’
“‘AndyouhavebeenmostintimatelyassociatedwithsomeonewhoseinitialswereJ.A.,andwhomyouafterwardswereeagertoentirelyforget.’
“Mr.Trevorstoodslowlyup,fixedhislargeblueeyesuponmewithastrangewildstare,andthenpitchedforward,withhisfaceamongthenutshellswhichstrewedthecloth,inadeadfaint.
“Youcanimagine,Watson,howshockedbothhissonandIwere.Hisattackdidnotlastlong,however,forwhenweundidhiscollar,andsprinkledthewaterfromoneofthefinger-glassesoverhisface,hegaveagasportwoandsatup.
“‘Ah,boys,’saidhe,forcingasmile,‘IhopeIhaven’tfrightenedyou.StrongasIlook,thereisaweakplaceinmyheart,anditdoesnottakemuchtoknockmeover.Idon’tknowhowyoumanagethis,Mr.Holmes,butitseemstomethatallthedetectivesoffactandoffancywouldbechildreninyourhands.That’syourlineoflife,sir,andyoumaytakethewordofamanwhohasseensomethingoftheworld.’
“Andthatrecommendation,withtheexaggeratedestimateofmyabilitywithwhichheprefacedit,was,ifyouwillbelieveme,Watson,theveryfirstthingwhichevermademefeelthataprofessionmightbemadeoutofwhathaduptothattimebeenthemeresthobby.Atthemoment,however,Iwastoomuchconcernedatthesuddenillnessofmyhosttothinkofanythingelse.
“‘IhopethatIhavesaidnothingtopainyou?’saidI.
“‘Well,youcertainlytoucheduponratheratenderpoint.MightIaskhowyouknow,andhowmuchyouknow?’Hespokenowinahalf-jestingfashion,butalookofterrorstilllurkedatthebackofhiseyes.
“‘Itissimplicityitself,’saidI.‘WhenyoubaredyourarmtodrawthatfishintotheboatIsawthatJ.A.hadbeentattooedinthebendoftheelbow.Theletterswerestilllegible,butitwasperfectlyclearfromtheirblurredappearance,andfromthestainingoftheskinroundthem,thateffortshadbeenmadetoobliteratethem.Itwasobvious,then,thatthoseinitialshadoncebeenveryfamiliartoyou,andthatyouhadafterwardsw