Tuesday 25th September
When challenged this morning by Holmes to give a reconstruction of last
night's visitor by an examination of the stick he had left behind, I drew
some rather astute conclusions, all in accordance with his own methods.
The stick was such as the old fashioned family practitioner used to carry -
dignified, solid & reassuring. There was an engraved band upon it: "To
James Mortimer, M.R.C.S., from his friends of the C.C.H., 1884." *
It was obvious the man was a Doctor.  "M.R.C.S." could only stand for
"Member of the Royal College of Surgeons".  He must be successful and
elderly, since his friends had evidently provided this gift in appreciation
for some surgical assistance to the local Hunt - the "C.C.H." I
guessed he must live in the country because the stick had been
knocked about and the iron ferrule was worn down by much walking.
