Holmes had the decency to appreciate my skill for once, * and even
acknowledged my recent attempts to publicize his methods by the various
accounts I had given to friends of his achievements. He went so far as 
to declare that I habitually underrated my own abilities. I had recently
been much piqued by his indifference to my admiration, but now I was
rather proud that I had at last mastered his system. I was confident
that nothing of consequence had escaped my notice on the stick, even
when Holmes himself scrutinized it for evidence. *
I should have learned to expect what followed.  Holmes stated that
most of my conclusions were erroneous.  He agreed that the man lived
in the country, but pointed out that, if the man was a Doctor,
then "C.C.H." was more likely to stand for "Charing Cross Hospital"
than for a local Hunt, and the presentation had probably been made
