I have, at least, a well-polished, silver-plated
coffee-pot in front of me, said he. But, tell me,
Watson, what do you make of our visitor's stick Since
we have been so unfortunate as to miss him and have no
notion of his errand, this accidental souvenir becomes
of importance. Let me hear you reconstruct the man by an
examination of it.
I think, said I, following as far as I could the
methods of my companion, that Dr. Mortimer is a
successful, elderly medical man, well-esteemed since
those who know him give him this mark of their appreciation.
Good said Holmes. Excellent
I think also that the probability is in favour of his
being a country practitioner who does a great deal
of his visiting on foot.
Why so
Because this stick, though originally a very
handsome one has been so knocked about that I
can hardly imagine a town practitioner carrying
it. The thick-iron ferrule is worn down, so it is
evident that he has done a great amount of walking with it.
Perfectly sound said Holmes.