English with A. Conan Doyle

Dr. James Mortimer asks Sherlock Holmes for advice following the death of his friend, Sir Charles Baskerville. Sir Charles was found dead on the grounds of his Devonshire estate, Baskerville Hall. Mortimer now fears for Sir Charles "s nephew and sole heir, Sir Henry Baskerville, who is the new master of Baskerville Hall. The death was attributed to a heart attack, but Mortimer is suspicious, because Sir Charles died with an expression of horror on his face, and Mortimer noticed "the footprints of a gigantic hound" nearby. and was reportedly killed by a giant spectral hound.

Intrigued, Holmes meets with Sir Henry, newly arrived from Canada. Sir Henry has received an anonymous note, cut and pasted from newsprint, warning him away from the Baskerville moors, and one of his new boots is inexplicably missing from his London hotel room. The Baskerville family is discussed: Sir Charles was the eldest of three brothers; the youngest, black sheep. Rodger, is believed to have died childless in South America, while Sir Henry is the only child of the middle brother. Sir Henry plans to move into Baskerville Hall, despite the ominous warning message. Holmes and Dr Watson follow him from Holmes's Baker Street apartment back to his hotel and notice a bearded man following him in a cab; they pursue the man, but he escapes. Mortimer tells them that Mr Barrymore, the butler at Baskerville Hall, has a beard like the one on the stranger. Sir Henry"s boot reappears, but an older one vanishes.

Holmes sends for the cab driver who shuttled the bearded man after Sir Henry and is both astounded and amused to learn that the stranger had made a point of giving his name as "Sherlock Holmes" to the cabbie. Holmes, now even more interested in the Baskerville affair but held up with other cases, dispatches Watson to accompany Sir Henry to Baskerville Hall with instructions to send him frequent reports about the house, grounds, and neighbours. Upon arrival at the grand but austere Baskerville estate, Watson and Sir Henry learn that an escaped murderer named Selden is believed to be in the area.

Barrymore and his wife, who also works at Baskerville Hall, wish to leave the estate soon. Watson hears a woman crying in the night; it is obvious to him that it was Mrs Barrymore, but her husband denies it. Watson can find no proof that Barrymore was in Devon on the day of the chase in London. He meets a brother and sister who live nearby: Mr Stapleton, a naturalist, and the beautiful Miss Stapleton. When an animal sound is heard, Stapleton is quick to dismiss it as unrelated to the legendary hound. When her brother is out of earshot, Miss Stapleton mistakes Watson for Sir Henry and warns him to leave. She and Sir Henry later meet and quickly fall in love, arousing Stapleton's anger; he later apologises and invites Sir Henry to dine with him a few days later.

Dr. James Mortimer asks Sherlock Holmes for advice following the death of his friend, Sir Charles Baskerville. Sir Charles was found dead on the grounds of his Devonshire estate, Baskerville Hall. Mortimer now fears for Sir Charles "s nephew and sole heir, Sir Henry Baskerville, who is the new master of Baskerville Hall. The death was attributed to a heart attack, but Mortimer is suspicious, because Sir Charles died with an expression of horror on his face, and Mortimer noticed "the footprints of a gigantic hound" nearby. and was reportedly killed by a giant spectral hound.
Intrigued, Holmes meets with Sir Henry, newly arrived from Canada. Sir Henry has received an anonymous note, cut and pasted from newsprint, warning him away from the Baskerville moors, and one of his new boots is inexplicably missing from his London hotel room. The Baskerville family is discussed: Sir Charles was the eldest of three brothers; the youngest, black sheep. Rodger, is believed to have died childless in South America, while Sir Henry is the only child of the middle brother. Sir Henry plans to move into Baskerville Hall, despite the ominous warning message. Holmes and Dr Watson follow him from Holmes's Baker Street apartment back to his hotel and notice a bearded man following him in a cab; they pursue the man, but he escapes. Mortimer tells them that Mr Barrymore, the butler at Baskerville Hall, has a beard like the one on the stranger. Sir Henry"s boot reappears, but an older one vanishes.
Holmes sends for the cab driver who shuttled the bearded man after Sir Henry and is both astounded and amused to learn that the stranger had made a point of giving his name as "Sherlock Holmes" to the cabbie. Holmes, now even more interested in the Baskerville affair but held up with other cases, dispatches Watson to accompany Sir Henry to Baskerville Hall with instructions to send him frequent reports about the house, grounds, and neighbours. Upon arrival at the grand but austere Baskerville estate, Watson and Sir Henry learn that an escaped murderer named Selden is believed to be in the area.
Barrymore and his wife, who also works at Baskerville Hall, wish to leave the estate soon. Watson hears a woman crying in the night; it is obvious to him that it was Mrs Barrymore, but her husband denies it. Watson can find no proof that Barrymore was in Devon on the day of the chase in London. He meets a brother and sister who live nearby: Mr Stapleton, a naturalist, and the beautiful Miss Stapleton. When an animal sound is heard, Stapleton is quick to dismiss it as unrelated to the legendary hound. When her brother is out of earshot, Miss Stapleton mistakes Watson for Sir Henry and warns him to leave. She and Sir Henry later meet and quickly fall in love, arousing Stapleton's anger; he later apologises and invites Sir Henry to dine with him a few days later.

(Chapter I. Mr. Sherlock Holmes)

mr. SHERLOCK HOLMES (Mr Sherlock Holmes), who was usually very late in the mornings (who usually got up very late "in the morning"; to be late - late, late), save upon those not infrequent occasions (not counting those frequent cases; to save - save; save / suggestion / - except; except; infrequent - not often happening, rare) when he was up all night (when he /at all/ did not go to bed all night; up /adj./ - upper; awake, not sleeping), was seated at the breakfast table (sitting at the table and having breakfast). I stood upon the hearth-rug (I stood on the rug by the fireplace; to stand; hearth - house, hearth; fireplace; rug - carpet, rug) and picked up the stick (and picked up / in his hands / cane; to pick up - lift, pick up; stick - stick; cane) which our visitor had left behind him the night before (which our visitor forgot the night before; to leave behind - leave behind; forget; before - before; before). It was a fine, thick piece of wood, bulbous-headed (it was an excellent thick wooden cane with a knob; piece - a piece; a separate object; bulbous - resembling an onion; bulb - an onion; head - head; top, upper part), of the sort which is known as a "Penang lawyer" (of those that are known as "Penang law"; sort - kind, grade, type; Penang - a state located on the Malaysian Peninsula, a former British colony; lawyer - a lawyer; lawyer, defender). Just under the head was a broad silver band (right under the knob there was a wide silver ring; band - ribbon, bandage; rim), nearly an inch across (about an inch wide; across - across; in width). "To James Mortimer, M.R.C.S. (To James Mortimer, M.R.C.S.), from his friends of the C.C.H. (from his C.C.H. friends)," was engraved upon it, with the date "1884" (was engraved on it, and the date: "1884"). It was just such a stick (it was such a cane) as the old-fashioned family practitioner used to carry (what elderly family doctors usually wore; old-fashioned - outdated; old-fashioned; practitioner - practitioner, professional / in particular a practicing doctor, lawyer /)- dignified, solid, and reassuring (solid, strong, convincing = weighty; dignified - having self-esteem; to reassure - assure, assure, convince; reassure).

Usually [?ju:???l?, ?ju:?(?)l?], hearth , lawyer [?l?:j?]

mr. SHERLOCK HOLMES, who was usually very late in the mornings, save upon those not infrequent occasions when he was up all night, was seated at the breakfast table. I stood upon the hearth-rug and picked up the stick which our visitor had left behind him the night before. It was a fine, thick piece of wood, bulbous-headed, of the sort which is known as a "Penang lawyer." Just under the head was a broad silver band, nearly an inch across. "To James Mortimer, M.R.C.S., from his friends of the C.C.H.," was engraved upon it, with the date "1884." It was just such a stick as the old-fashioned family practitioner used to carry - dignified, solid, and reassuring.

"Well, Watson, what do you make of it (so, Watson, what do you think about her; to make of - understand)?"
Holmes was sitting with him back to me (Holmes was sitting with his back to me), and I had given him no sign of my occupation (and could not see what I was doing: "and I did not give him any signs of my occupation").
"How did you know what I was doing (how did you know what I was doing)? I believe you have eyes in the back of your head (it seems to me that you have eyes in the back of your head; to believe - believe; think, believe)."
"I have, at least, a well-polished silver-plated coffee-pot in front of me (at least in front of me / stands / a well-polished silver coffee pot; plated - covered with a thin layer / gold, silver /)," said he (he said). "But, tell me, Watson (but tell me Watson), what do you make of our visitor's stick (what do you think of our visitor's cane)? Since we have been so unfortunate as to miss him (because we were so unlucky that we missed/missed it; since - since then; since) and have no notion of his errand (and /now/ we have no idea about /the purpose/ of his visit; errand - assignment; business trip), this accidental souvenir becomes of importance (this random memento becomes important). Let me hear (let me listen = I want to hear) you reconstruct the man (/how/ you recreate the /image/ of a person = the owner of the cane) by an examination of it (exploring it). "I think," said I (I suppose, - I said; to think - to think; to consider, to believe), following as far as I could the methods of my companion (following, to the best of my ability: "as far as I could," the methods of my comrade), "that Dr. Mortimer is a successful medical elderly man (this Dr. Mortimer is a prosperous elderly doctor), well respected (/ enjoying / respected; to esteem - highly appreciate; respect), since those who know him (because those who know him) give him this mark of appreciation (given him this as a token of their gratitude)."

Sign, eye, successful

"Well, Watson, what do you make of it?"
Holmes was sitting with his back to me, and I had given him no sign of my occupation.
"How did you know what I was doing? I believe you have eyes in the back of your head."
"I have, at least, a well-polished silver-plated coffee-pot in front of me," he said. "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 (well, - said Holmes, - excellent)!"
"I think also that the probability is in favor of his being a country practitioner (besides, I think there is a possibility “in favor of” that he is a rural doctor; in favor of - in favor; country - country; countryside) who does a great deal of his visiting on foot (who has to walk a lot: "who makes many visits" on foot)."
"Why so (why is that)?"
"Because this stick, though originally a very handsome one (because this cane, initially very good-looking; handsome - handsome), has been so knocked about (so knocked down; to knock about - beat, beat) that I can hardly imagine a town practitioner carrying it (that I can hardly imagine the city doctor wearing it). The thick iron ferrule is worn down (thick iron tip / completely / erased; to wear down - wash / sya /, wear out / sya /), so it is obvious (therefore /absolutely/ obviously) that he has done a great amount of walking with it (that he was pretty good with her; a great amount - a large, fair amount)."
"Perfect sound (quite rightly; sound - healthy, strong; sound, logical)!" said Holmes.
"And then again, there is the "friends of the C.C.H." (and again /inscription/ "from C.C.H. friends"). I should guess that to be the Something Hunt (I would suggest that this is some kind of hunting society; hunt - hunting; a group of hunters with a pack of dogs), the local hunt (local hunting society) to whose members he has possibly given some surgical assistance (whose members he may have provided some sort of surgical assistance to), and which has made him a small presentation in return (and those in return made him a small gift; presentation - presentation; gift, offering)."

Favorite [?fe?v?], surgical [?s?:d??k(?)l], presentation [?prezen?te??(?)n]

"Good!" said Holmes. "Excellent!"
"I think also that the probability is in favor 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."
"Perfect sound!" said Holmes.
"And then again, there is the "friends of the C.C.H." I should guess that to be the Something Hunt, the local hunt to whose members he has possibly given some surgical assistance, and which has made him a small presentation in return."

"Really, Watson, you excel yourself (indeed, Watson, you have surpassed: "surpass" yourself)," said Holmes, pushing back his chair and lighting a cigarette (said Holmes, leaning back in his chair and lighting a cigarette; to light - shine; light). "I am bound to say (should note: “say”; to be bound - to be obliged) that in all the accounts (which is in all reports = notes) which you have been so good as to give of my own small achievements (which you so kindly dedicated to my "own" modest achievements; to give - give; dedicate / to someone, to something /) you have habitually underrated your own abilities (you usually underestimate your own abilities). It may be that you are not yourself luminous (maybe you yourself don’t glow; luminous - luminous; brightly lit), but you are a conductor of light (but you are a conductor of light). Some people without possessing genius (many people, not possessing genius; some - someone, some; many; to possess - to possess, to possess) have a remarkable power of stimulating it (have a remarkable ability to cause it / in others /; power - strength; ability, opportunity; to stimulate - excite; encourage). I confess, my dear fellow (I confess, my friend; fellow - friend, comrade), that I am very much in your debt (I am in a very big debt / to / you)."

Excel [?k?sel], underrate [??nd??re?t], conductor

"Really, Watson, you excel yourself," said Holmes, pushing back his chair and lighting a cigarette. "I am bound to say that in all the accounts which you have been so good as to give of my own small achievements you have habitually underrated your own abilities. It may be that you are not yourself luminous, but you are a conductor of light "Some people possessing withouting genius have a remarkable power of stimulating it. I confess, my dear fellow, that I am very much in your debt."

He had never said as much before (before he never said: “so much” did not say), and I must admit that his words gave me keen pleasure (and I must admit that "that" his words gave me great pleasure; to give; keen - sharp; having one or another property to a high degree), for I had often been piqued by his indifference to my admiration (since I was often upset by his indifference to my admiration; to pique - to stung; annoy) and to the attempts which I had made (and to the attempts that I made: "did") to give publicity to his methods (/to/ publicize his methods). I was proud too to think (I was also proud of the thought; to think - to think) that I had so far mastered his system (that I have mastered his system so much; far - far; to a large extent) as to apply it in a way which earned his approval (that he applied it in a way that earned his approval; way - way; way; to earn - earn; deserve). He now took the stick from my hands (he immediately took the cane from my hands: “from my hands”; to take) and examined it for a few minutes with his naked eyes (and studied it for several minutes with the naked eye; naked - naked; unarmed / without the help of any equipment /). Then with an expression of interest (then with an expression of interest = interested) he laid down his cigarette (he put aside his cigarette; to lay - put, put) and, carrying the cane to the window (and, bringing the cane to the window), he looked over it again with a convex lens (/began/ carefully study it again / with a magnifying glass; to look over - view; carefully study; convex lens - a convex lens).
"Interesting, though elementary (interesting though simple)," said he, as he returned to his favorite corner of the settee (he said, returning to his favorite corner of the sofa). "There are certainly one or two indications upon the stick (there are definitely one or two clues on the cane here). It gives us the basis for several deductions (this gives us the basis for some inferences; several - some, a few / but not many /)."

Pleasure [?ple??], publicity , though [??u]

He had never said as much before, and I must admit that his words gave me keen pleasure, for I had often been piqued by his indifference to my admiration and to the attempts which I had made to give publicity to his methods. I was proud too to think that I had so far mastered his system as to apply it in a way which earned his approval. He now took the stick from my hands and examined it for a few minutes with his naked eyes. Then with an expression of interest he laid down his cigarette and, carrying the cane to the window, he looked over it again with a convex lens.
"Interesting, though elementary," he said, as he returned to his favorite corner of the settee. "There are certainly one or two indications upon the stick. It gives us the basis for several deductions."

"Has anything escaped me (something escaped me; to escape - to escape; to escape)?" I asked, with some self-importance (I asked somewhat smugly; self-importance - conceit, swagger; importance - importance). "I trust that there is nothing of consequence (I hope there is nothing important; to trust - believe, trust; hope; consequence - consequence; importance, significance) which I have overlooked (what would I miss; to overlook - overlook; not notice, skip)?"
"I am afraid, my dear Watson (I'm afraid my dear Watson) that most of your conclusions were erroneous (that most of your conclusions were wrong). When I said that you stimulated me (when i said you stimulate me) I meant to be frank (I, /if/ to be honest, meant; to mean), that in noting your fallacies (what, paying attention to your mistakes; to note - notice; pay attention; fallacy - deceptive appearance; error, delusion) I was occasionally guided towards the truth (I sometimes found the truth; to guide - lead, direct; towards - towards, towards). Not that you are entirely wrong in this instance (not that you are completely wrong in this case; instance is a separate example, a case). The man is certainly a country practitioner (this man is undoubtedly a rural doctor). And he walks a good deal (and he /has/to walk a lot)."

Consequence [?k?ns?kw?ns], erroneous [??r?unj?s], guide [??a?d]

"Has anything escaped me?" I asked, with some self-importance. "I trust that there is nothing of consequence which I have overlooked?"
"I am afraid, my dear Watson, that most of your conclusions were erroneous. When I said that you stimulated me I meant, to be frank, that in noting your fallacies I was occasionally guided towards the truth. Not that you are entirely wrong in this instance. The man is certainly a country practitioner. And he walks a good deal."

"Then I was right (so i was right)."
"To that extent (within these limits; extent - space, extent; measure, degree, framework, limits)."
"But that was all (but that's all)."
"No, no, my dear Watson, not all (no, no, my dear Watson, not all)- by no means all (far from all; by no means - by no means; by no means). I would suggest, for example (I would guess for example), that a presentation to a doctor is more likely to come (that, most likely, a doctor /can/ receive such a gift: “a doctor can achieve such a gift”; to come - come; reach) from an hospital than from a hunt (from some hospital, not from a hunting / society /), and that when the initials "C.C." are placed before that hospital (and that when /word/ "hospital" is preceded by the initials "C.C.") the words "Charing Cross" very naturally suggest themselves (the word "Charing Cross" very naturally suggests itself: "offers itself")."
"You may be right (maybe you're right)."
"The probability lies in that direction (this is very similar to the truth; probability - possibility; plausibility; to lie - lie; be, consist / in something /; direction - direction). And if we take this as a working hypothesis (and if we take this as a working hypothesis) we have a fresh basis (we /will/ have a new base = we will get a new starting point; fresh - fresh; new) from which to start our construction of this unknown visitor (with which we will begin the reconstruction / image / of this unknown visitor; construction - construction; interpretation, explanation)."
"Well, then, supposing that "C.C.H." does stand for "Charing Cross Hospital" (well, well, suppose that /letters/ "C.C.H." really mean "Charing Cross Hospital"; to do - do; used to enhance the meaning of the action; to stand for - stand for; mean), what further inferences may we draw (what further conclusions can we draw; to draw - drag, drag; draw conclusions, draw / conclusion /)?"
"Do none suggest themselves (none are assumed = and none come to your mind)? You know my methods (you /same/ know my methods). Apply them (apply them)!"

Suggest , initial [??n??(?)l], method [?me??d]

"Then I was right."
"To that extent."
"But that was all."
"No, no, my dear Watson, not all - by no means all. I would suggest, for example, that a presentation to a doctor is more likely to come from an hospital than from a hunt, and that when the initials "C.C. " are placed before that hospital the words "Charing Cross" very naturally suggest themselves."
"You may be right."
"The probability lies in that direction. And if we take this as a working hypothesis we have a fresh basis from which to start our construction of this unknown visitor."
"Well, then, supposing that "C.C.H." does stand for "Charing Cross Hospital," what further inferences may we draw?"
"Do none suggest themselves? You know my methods. Apply them!"

"I can only think of the obvious conclusion (I can only think of the obvious conclusion: "I can only think of the obvious conclusion") that the man has practiced in town (what this person practiced in the city) before going to the country (before leaving for the village)."
"I think that we might venture a little farther than this (I think we could take a chance /and go/ a little further "than that"). Look at it in this light (look at it this way). On what occasion would it be most probable (what is the most likely reason) that such a presentation would be made (such a gift could be made)? When would his friends unite (when his friends united = got together) to give him a pledge of their good will (/to/ present him with a pledge of his benevolence)? Obviously at the moment (obviously at that time: "at that moment") when Dr. Mortimer withdrew from the service of the hospital (when Dr. Mortimer left the service in the hospital; to withdraw - take away, withdraw; leave) in order to start in practice for himself (to start /practice/ private practice: “practice for yourself”). We know there has been a presentation (we know / that / was a gift). We believe there has been a change from a town hospital to a country practice (we believe that there was a change / work in / the city hospital for a rural practice). Is it, then, stretching our inference too far to say (and won't our inferences go too far = speculation too far to assert) that the presentation was on the occasion of the change (that the gift was /made/ on the occasion of this shift)?"
"It certainly seems probable (this certainly seems likely; certainly - definitely, of course, undoubtedly)."

Venture [?vent??], hypothesis , obvious [??bv??s]

"I can only think of the obvious conclusion that the man has practiced in town before going to the country."
"I think that we might venture a little farther than this. Look at it in this light. On what occasion would it be most probable that such a presentation would be made? When would his friends unite to give him a pledge of their good will "Obviously at the moment when Dr. Mortimer withdrew from the service of the hospital in order to start in practice for himself. We know there has been a presentation. We believe there has been a change from a town hospital to a country practice. Is it, then, stretching our inference too far to say that the presentation was on the occasion of the change?"
"It certainly seems probable."

"Now, you will observe (Now pay attention) that he could not have been on the staff of the hospital (that he couldn't be = be on the hospital staff), since only a man well-established in a London practice (since only a person with a serious London practice; well-established - well-founded; firmly established) could hold such a position (can hold such a position; to hold - hold; hold / post /), and such a one would not drift into the country (and such a /person/ would never have moved to the village; to drift - drift; shift). What was he, then (then who was he)? If he was in the hospital and yet not on the staff (if he was = worked in a hospital and yet was not on staff) he could only have been a house-surgeon or a house-physician (he could only be a surgeon living at a hospital or a senior intern; a house-surgeon is a senior surgeon living at a hospital; a house-physician is a doctor living at a hospital)- little more than a senior student (/and this/ is a little more than an intern: "senior student"). And he left five years ago (and he left five years ago; to leave - leave; leave)- the date is on the stick (date /indicated/ on the cane). So your grave, middle-aged family practitioner (thus, your respectable middle-aged family doctor; grave - serious; important, sedate) Vanishes into thin air, my dear Watson (dissolves in the air, my dear Watson; to vanish - disappear, disappear; thin - thin; rarefied / about air /), and there emerges a young fellow under thirty (and a young man who is under thirty appears), amiable, unambitious, absent-minded (pretty, unambitious, absent-minded; absent - absent; mind - mind; state of mind / state of mind), and the possessor of a favorite dog (and the owner of a beloved /im/ dog), which I should describe roughly (which, as I / her / would approximately describe; roughly - roughly; approximately, by eye) as being larger than a terrier and smaller than a mastiff (larger than a terrier, but smaller than a mastiff)."

Staff , senior [?si:nj?], vanish [?v?n??]

"Now, you will observe that he could not have been on the staff of the hospital, since only a man well-established in a London practice could hold such a position, and such a one would not drift into the country. What was he , then? If he was in the hospital and yet not on the staff he could only have been a house-surgeon or a house-physician - little more than a senior student. So your grave, middle-aged family practitioner vanishes into thin air, my dear Watson, and there emerges a young fellow under thirty, amiable, unambitious, absent-minded, and the possessor of a favorite dog, which I should roughly describe as being larger than a terrier and smaller than a mastiff."

I laughed incredulously (I laughed incredulously) as Sherlock Holmes leaned back in his settee (while Sherlock Holmes leaned back on his sofa; to lean - tilt / sya /) and blew little wavering rings of smoke up to the ceiling (and released small oscillating rings of smoke into the ceiling; to blow - blow; exhale; to waver - sway, oscillate).

The Hound of the Baskervilles
BY CONAN DOYLE

(Hound of the Baskervilles; hound - hound; hunting dog)

[email protected]

CHAPTER I. MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES

(Chapter I. Mr. Sherlock Holmes)

mr. SHERLOCK HOLMES (Mr Sherlock Holmes), who was usually very late in the mornings (who usually got up very late "in the morning"; to be late - late, late), save upon those not infrequent occasions (not counting those frequent cases; to save - save; save / suggestion / - except; except; infrequent - not often happening, rare) when he was up all night (when he /at all/ did not go to bed all night; up /adj./ - upper; awake, not sleeping), was seated at the breakfast table (sitting at the table and having breakfast). I stood upon the hearth-rug (I stood on the rug by the fireplace; to stand; hearth - house, hearth; fireplace; rug - carpet, rug) and picked up the stick (and picked up / in his hands / cane; to pick up - lift, pick up; stick - stick; cane) which our visitor had left behind him the night before (which our visitor forgot the night before; to leave behind - leave behind; forget; before - before; before). It was a fine, thick piece of wood, bulbous-headed (it was an excellent thick wooden cane with a knob; piece - a piece; a separate object; bulbous - resembling an onion; bulb - an onion; head - head; top, upper part), of the sort which is known as a "Penang lawyer" (of those that are known as "Penang law"; sort - kind, grade, type; Penang - a state located on the Malaysian Peninsula, a former British colony; lawyer - a lawyer; lawyer, defender). Just under the head was a broad silver band (right under the knob there was a wide silver ring; band - ribbon, bandage; rim), nearly an inch across (about an inch wide; across - across; in width). "To James Mortimer, M.R.C.S. (To James Mortimer, M.R.C.S.), from his friends of the C.C.H. (from his C.C.H. friends)," was engraved upon it, with the date "1884" (was engraved on it, and the date: "1884"). It was just such a stick (it was such a cane) as the old-fashioned family practitioner used to carry (what elderly family doctors usually wore; old-fashioned - outdated; old-fashioned; practitioner - practitioner, professional / in particular a practicing doctor, lawyer /)- dignified, solid, and reassuring (solid, strong, convincing = weighty; dignified - having self-esteem; to reassure - assure, assure, convince; reassure).

Usually [?ju:???l?, ?ju:?(?)l?], hearth , lawyer [?l?:j?]

mr. SHERLOCK HOLMES, who was usually very late in the mornings, save upon those not infrequent occasions when he was up all night, was seated at the breakfast table. I stood upon the hearth-rug and picked up the stick which our visitor had left behind him the night before. It was a fine, thick piece of wood, bulbous-headed, of the sort which is known as a "Penang lawyer." Just under the head was a broad silver band, nearly an inch across. "To James Mortimer, M.R.C.S., from his friends of the C.C.H.," was engraved upon it, with the date "1884." It was just such a stick as the old-fashioned family practitioner used to carry - dignified, solid, and reassuring.

"Well, Watson, what do you make of it (so, Watson, what do you think about her; to make of - understand)?"
Holmes was sitting with him back to me (Holmes was sitting with his back to me), and I had given him no sign of my occupation (and could not see what I was doing: "and I did not give him any signs of my occupation").
"How did you know what I was doing (how did you know what I was doing)? I believe you have eyes in the back of your head (it seems to me that you have eyes in the back of your head; to believe - believe; think, believe)."
"I have, at least, a well-polished silver-plated coffee-pot in front of me (at least in front of me / stands / a well-polished silver coffee pot; plated - covered with a thin layer / gold, silver /)," said he (he said). "But, tell me, Watson (but tell me Watson), what do you make of our visitor's stick (what do you think of our visitor's cane)? Since we have been so unfortunate as to miss him (because we were so unlucky that we missed/missed it; since - since then; since) and have no notion of his errand (and /now/ we have no idea about /the purpose/ of his visit; errand - assignment; business trip), this accidental souvenir becomes of importance (this random memento becomes important). Let me hear (let me listen = I want to hear) you reconstruct the man (/how/ you recreate the /image/ of a person = the owner of the cane) by an examination of it (exploring it). "I think," said I (I suppose, - I said; to think - to think; to consider, to believe), following as far as I could the methods of my companion (following, to the best of my ability: "as far as I could," the methods of my comrade), "that Dr. Mortimer is a successful medical elderly man (this Dr. Mortimer is a prosperous elderly doctor), well respected (/ enjoying / respected; to esteem - highly appreciate; respect), since those who know him (because those who know him) give him this mark of appreciation (given him this as a token of their gratitude)."

Sign, eye, successful

"Well, Watson, what do you make of it?"
Holmes was sitting with his back to me, and I had given him no sign of my occupation.
"How did you know what I was doing? I believe you have eyes in the back of your head."
"I have, at least, a well-polished silver-plated coffee-pot in front of me," he said. "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 (well, - said Holmes, - excellent)!"
"I think also that the probability is in favor of his being a country practitioner (besides, I think there is a possibility “in favor of” that he is a rural doctor; in favor of - in favor; country - country; countryside) who does a great deal of his visiting on foot (who has to walk a lot: "who makes many visits" on foot)."
"Why so (why is that)?"
"Because this stick, though originally a very handsome one (because this cane, initially very good-looking; handsome - handsome), has been so knocked about (so knocked down; to knock about - beat, beat) that I can hardly imagine a town practitioner carrying it (that I can hardly imagine the city doctor wearing it). The thick iron ferrule is worn down (thick iron tip / completely / erased; to wear down - wash / sya /, wear out / sya /), so it is obvious (therefore /absolutely/ obviously) that he has done a great amount of walking with it (that he was pretty good with her; a great amount - a large, fair amount)."
"Perfect sound (quite rightly; sound - healthy, strong; sound, logical)!" said Holmes.
"And then again, there is the "friends of the C.C.H." (and again /inscription/ "from C.C.H. friends"). I should guess that to be the Something Hunt (I would suggest that this is some kind of hunting society; hunt - hunting; a group of hunters with a pack of dogs), the local hunt (local hunting society) to whose members he has possibly given some surgical assistance (whose members he may have provided some sort of surgical assistance to), and which has made him a small presentation in return (and those in return made him a small gift; presentation - presentation; gift, offering)."

Favorite [?fe?v?], surgical [?s?:d??k(?)l], presentation [?prezen?te??(?)n]

"Good!" said Holmes. "Excellent!"
"I think also that the probability is in favor 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."
"Perfect sound!" said Holmes.
"And then again, there is the "friends of the C.C.H." I should guess that to be the Something Hunt, the local hunt to whose members he has possibly given some surgical assistance, and which has made him a small presentation in return."

"Really, Watson, you excel yourself (indeed, Watson, you have surpassed: "surpass" yourself)," said Holmes, pushing back his chair and lighting a cigarette (said Holmes, leaning back in his chair and lighting a cigarette; to light - shine; light). "I am bound to say (should note: “say”; to be bound - to be obliged) that in all the accounts (which is in all reports = notes) which you have been so good as to give of my own small achievements (which you so kindly dedicated to my "own" modest achievements; to give - give; dedicate / to someone, to something /) you have habitually underrated your own abilities (you usually underestimate your own abilities). It may be that you are not yourself luminous (maybe you yourself don’t glow; luminous - luminous; brightly lit), but you are a conductor of light (but you are a conductor of light). Some people without possessing genius (many people, not possessing genius; some - someone, some; many; to possess - to possess, to possess) have a remarkable power of stimulating it (have a remarkable ability to cause it / in others /; power - strength; ability, opportunity; to stimulate - excite; encourage). I confess, my dear fellow (I confess, my friend; fellow - friend, comrade), that I am very much in your debt (I am in a very big debt / to / you)."

Excel [?k?sel], underrate [??nd??re?t], conductor

"Really, Watson, you excel yourself," said Holmes, pushing back his chair and lighting a cigarette. "I am bound to say that in all the accounts which you have been so good as to give of my own small achievements you have habitually underrated your own abilities. It may be that you are not yourself luminous, but you are a conductor of light "Some people possessing withouting genius have a remarkable power of stimulating it. I confess, my dear fellow, that I am very much in your debt."

He had never said as much before (before he never said: “so much” did not say), and I must admit that his words gave me keen pleasure (and I must admit that "that" his words gave me great pleasure; to give; keen - sharp; having one or another property to a high degree), for I had often been piqued by his indifference to my admiration (since I was often upset by his indifference to my admiration; to pique - to stung; annoy) and to the attempts which I had made (and to the attempts that I made: "did") to give publicity to his methods (/to/ publicize his methods). I was proud too to think (I was also proud of the thought; to think - to think) that I had so far mastered his system (that I have mastered his system so much; far - far; to a large extent) as to apply it in a way which earned his approval (that he applied it in a way that earned his approval; way - way; way; to earn - earn; deserve). He now took the stick from my hands (he immediately took the cane from my hands: “from my hands”; to take) and examined it for a few minutes with his naked eyes (and studied it for several minutes with the naked eye; naked - naked; unarmed / without the help of any equipment /). Then with an expression of interest (then with an expression of interest = interested) he laid down his cigarette (he put aside his cigarette; to lay - put, put) and, carrying the cane to the window (and, bringing the cane to the window), he looked over it again with a convex lens (/began/ carefully study it again / with a magnifying glass; to look over - view; carefully study; convex lens - a convex lens).
"Interesting, though elementary (interesting though simple)," said he, as he returned to his favorite corner of the settee (he said, returning to his favorite corner of the sofa). "There are certainly one or two indications upon the stick (there are definitely one or two clues on the cane here). It gives us the basis for several deductions (this gives us the basis for some inferences; several - some, a few / but not many /)."

Pleasure [?ple??], publicity , though [??u]

He had never said as much before, and I must admit that his words gave me keen pleasure, for I had often been piqued by his indifference to my admiration and to the attempts which I had made to give publicity to his methods. I was proud too to think that I had so far mastered his system as to apply it in a way which earned his approval. He now took the stick from my hands and examined it for a few minutes with his naked eyes. Then with an expression of interest he laid down his cigarette and, carrying the cane to the window, he looked over it again with a convex lens.
"Interesting, though elementary," he said, as he returned to his favorite corner of the settee. "There are certainly one or two indications upon the stick. It gives us the basis for several deductions."

"Has anything escaped me (something escaped me; to escape - to escape; to escape)?" I asked, with some self-importance (I asked somewhat smugly; self-importance - conceit, swagger; importance - importance). "I trust that there is nothing of consequence (I hope there is nothing important; to trust - believe, trust; hope; consequence - consequence; importance, significance) which I have overlooked (what would I miss; to overlook - overlook; not notice, skip)?"
"I am afraid, my dear Watson (I'm afraid my dear Watson) that most of your conclusions were erroneous (that most of your conclusions were wrong). When I said that you stimulated me (when i said you stimulate me) I meant to be frank (I, /if/ to be honest, meant; to mean), that in noting your fallacies (what, paying attention to your mistakes; to note - notice; pay attention; fallacy - deceptive appearance; error, delusion) I was occasionally guided towards the truth (I sometimes found the truth; to guide - lead, direct; towards - towards, towards). Not that you are entirely wrong in this instance (not that you are completely wrong in this case; instance is a separate example, a case). The man is certainly a country practitioner (this man is undoubtedly a rural doctor). And he walks a good deal (and he /has/to walk a lot)."

Consequence [?k?ns?kw?ns], erroneous [??r?unj?s], guide [??a?d]

"Has anything escaped me?" I asked, with some self-importance. "I trust that there is nothing of consequence which I have overlooked?"
"I am afraid, my dear Watson, that most of your conclusions were erroneous. When I said that you stimulated me I meant, to be frank, that in noting your fallacies I was occasionally guided towards the truth. Not that you are entirely wrong in this instance. The man is certainly a country practitioner. And he walks a good deal."

"Then I was right (so i was right)."
"To that extent (within these limits; extent - space, extent; measure, degree, framework, limits)."
"But that was all (but that's all)."
"No, no, my dear Watson, not all (no, no, my dear Watson, not all)- by no means all (far from all; by no means - by no means; by no means). I would suggest, for example (I would guess for example), that a presentation to a doctor is more likely to come (that, most likely, a doctor /can/ receive such a gift: “a doctor can achieve such a gift”; to come - come; reach) from an hospital than from a hunt (from some hospital, not from a hunting / society /), and that when the initials "C.C." are placed before that hospital (and that when /word/ "hospital" is preceded by the initials "C.C.") the words "Charing Cross" very naturally suggest themselves (the word "Charing Cross" very naturally suggests itself: "offers itself")."
"You may be right (maybe you're right)."
"The probability lies in that direction (this is very similar to the truth; probability - possibility; plausibility; to lie - lie; be, consist / in something /; direction - direction). And if we take this as a working hypothesis (and if we take this as a working hypothesis) we have a fresh basis (we /will/ have a new base = we will get a new starting point; fresh - fresh; new) from which to start our construction of this unknown visitor (with which we will begin the reconstruction / image / of this unknown visitor; construction - construction; interpretation, explanation)."
"Well, then, supposing that "C.C.H." does stand for "Charing Cross Hospital" (well, well, suppose that /letters/ "C.C.H." really mean "Charing Cross Hospital"; to do - do; used to enhance the meaning of the action; to stand for - stand for; mean), what further inferences may we draw (what further conclusions can we draw; to draw - drag, drag; draw conclusions, draw / conclusion /)?"
"Do none suggest themselves (none are assumed = and none come to your mind)? You know my methods (you /same/ know my methods). Apply them (apply them)!"

Suggest , initial [??n??(?)l], method [?me??d]

"Then I was right."
"To that extent."
"But that was all."
"No, no, my dear Watson, not all - by no means all. I would suggest, for example, that a presentation to a doctor is more likely to come from an hospital than from a hunt, and that when the initials "C.C. " are placed before that hospital the words "Charing Cross" very naturally suggest themselves."
"You may be right."
"The probability lies in that direction. And if we take this as a working hypothesis we have a fresh basis from which to start our construction of this unknown visitor."
"Well, then, supposing that "C.C.H." does stand for "Charing Cross Hospital," what further inferences may we draw?"
"Do none suggest themselves? You know my methods. Apply them!"

"I can only think of the obvious conclusion (I can only think of the obvious conclusion: "I can only think of the obvious conclusion") that the man has practiced in town (what this person practiced in the city) before going to the country (before leaving for the village)."
"I think that we might venture a little farther than this (I think we could take a chance /and go/ a little further "than that"). Look at it in this light (look at it this way). On what occasion would it be most probable (what is the most likely reason) that such a presentation would be made (such a gift could be made)? When would his friends unite (when his friends united = got together) to give him a pledge of their good will (/to/ present him with a pledge of his benevolence)? Obviously at the moment (obviously at that time: "at that moment") when Dr. Mortimer withdrew from the service of the hospital (when Dr. Mortimer left the service in the hospital; to withdraw - take away, withdraw; leave) in order to start in practice for himself (to start /practice/ private practice: “practice for yourself”). We know there has been a presentation (we know / that / was a gift). We believe there has been a change from a town hospital to a country practice (we believe that there was a change / work in / the city hospital for a rural practice). Is it, then, stretching our inference too far to say (and won't our inferences go too far = speculation too far to assert) that the presentation was on the occasion of the change (that the gift was /made/ on the occasion of this shift)?"
"It certainly seems probable (this certainly seems likely; certainly - definitely, of course, undoubtedly)."

Venture [?vent??], hypothesis , obvious [??bv??s]

"I can only think of the obvious conclusion that the man has practiced in town before going to the country."
"I think that we might venture a little farther than this. Look at it in this light. On what occasion would it be most probable that such a presentation would be made? When would his friends unite to give him a pledge of their good will "Obviously at the moment when Dr. Mortimer withdrew from the service of the hospital in order to start in practice for himself. We know there has been a presentation. We believe there has been a change from a town hospital to a country practice. Is it, then, stretching our inference too far to say that the presentation was on the occasion of the change?"
"It certainly seems probable."

"Now, you will observe (Now pay attention) that he could not have been on the staff of the hospital (that he couldn't be = be on the hospital staff), since only a man well-established in a London practice (since only a person with a serious London practice; well-established - well-founded; firmly established) could hold such a position (can hold such a position; to hold - hold; hold / post /), and such a one would not drift into the country (and such a /person/ would never have moved to the village; to drift - drift; shift). What was he, then (then who was he)? If he was in the hospital and yet not on the staff (if he was = worked in a hospital and yet was not on staff) he could only have been a house-surgeon or a house-physician (he could only be a surgeon living at a hospital or a senior intern; a house-surgeon is a senior surgeon living at a hospital; a house-physician is a doctor living at a hospital)- little more than a senior student (/and this/ is a little more than an intern: "senior student"). And he left five years ago (and he left five years ago; to leave - leave; leave)- the date is on the stick (date /indicated/ on the cane). So your grave, middle-aged family practitioner (thus, your respectable middle-aged family doctor; grave - serious; important, sedate) Vanishes into thin air, my dear Watson (dissolves in the air, my dear Watson; to vanish - disappear, disappear; thin - thin; rarefied / about air /), and there emerges a young fellow under thirty (and a young man who is under thirty appears), amiable, unambitious, absent-minded (pretty, unambitious, absent-minded; absent - absent; mind - mind; state of mind / state of mind), and the possessor of a favorite dog (and the owner of a beloved /im/ dog), which I should describe roughly (which, as I / her / would approximately describe; roughly - roughly; approximately, by eye) as being larger than a terrier and smaller than a mastiff (larger than a terrier, but smaller than a mastiff)."

Staff , senior [?si:nj?], vanish [?v?n??]

"Now, you will observe that he could not have been on the staff of the hospital, since only a man well-established in a London practice could hold such a position, and such a one would not drift into the country. What was he , then? If he was in the hospital and yet not on the staff he could only have been a house-surgeon or a house-physician - little more than a senior student. So your grave, middle-aged family practitioner vanishes into thin air, my dear Watson, and there emerges a young fellow under thirty, amiable, unambitious, absent-minded, and the possessor of a favorite dog, which I should roughly describe as being larger than a terrier and smaller than a mastiff."

I laughed incredulously (I laughed incredulously) as Sherlock Holmes leaned back in his settee (while Sherlock Holmes leaned back on his sofa; to lean - tilt / sya /) and blew little wavering rings of smoke up to the ceiling (and released small oscillating rings of smoke into the ceiling; to blow - blow; exhale; to waver - sway, oscillate).
"As to the last part (regarding the last statement; part - part; detail), I have no means of checking you (I can't test you = you can't be tested)," said I, "but at least it is not difficult (but at least it's not difficult) to find out a few particulars about the man's age and professional career (find out some details about the age of this person and his professional career; to find out - find out, find out; find out; few - few; several, some)." From my small medical shelf (from his small shelf with / books / on medicine) I took down the Medical Directory (I took off the Medical Handbook; to take down - remove / from the wall, shelf, etc. /) and turned up the name (and found / the desired / surname; to turn up - lift up; seek out, find). There were several Mortimers (there were several Mortimers), but only one who could be our visitor (but only one /of them/, "who" could be our visitor). I read his record aloud (I read the entry about him aloud).

Ceiling [?si:l??], age , career

I laughed incredulously as Sherlock Holmes leaned back in his settee and blew little wavering rings of smoke up to the ceiling.
"As to the last part, I have no means of checking you," said I, "but at least it is not difficult to find out a few particulars about the man"s age and professional career." From my small medical shelf I took down the Medical Directory and turned up the name. There were several Mortimers, but only one who could be our visitor. I read his record aloud.

"Mortimer, James, M.R.C.S., 1882, Grimpen, Dartmoor, Devon (Mortimer James, since 1882 a member of the Royal Chemistry Society, Grimpen, Dartmoor, Devonshire; M.R.C.S. - Member of the Royal Chemistry Society). House surgeon, from 1882 to 1884, at Charing Cross Hospital (from 1882 to 1884 - intern at Charing Cross Hospital). Winner of the Jackson prize for Comparative Pathology (Winner of the Jackson Prize / in / Comparative Pathology; winner - winner), with essay titled "Is Disease a Reversion?" (for the work "titled" "Is disease an atavism?"; essay - essay, essay). Corresponding member of the Swedish Pathological Society (corresponding member of the Swedish Pathological Society). Author of "Some Freaks of Atavism" (Lancet, 1882)

(Chapter I. Mr. Sherlock Holmes)

mr. SHERLOCK HOLMES (Mr Sherlock Holmes), who was usually very late in the mornings (who usually got up very late "in the morning"; to be late - late, late), save upon those not infrequent occasions (not counting those frequent cases; to save - save; save / suggestion / - except; except; infrequent - not often happening, rare) when he was up all night (when he /at all/ did not go to bed all night; up /adj./ - upper; awake, not sleeping), was seated at the breakfast table (sitting at the table and having breakfast). I stood upon the hearth-rug (I stood on the rug by the fireplace; to stand; hearth - house, hearth; fireplace; rug - carpet, rug) and picked up the stick (and picked up / in his hands / cane; to pick up - lift, pick up; stick - stick; cane) which our visitor had left behind him the night before (which our visitor forgot the night before; to leave behind - leave behind; forget; before - before; before). It was a fine, thick piece of wood, bulbous-headed (it was an excellent thick wooden cane with a knob; piece - a piece; a separate object; bulbous - resembling an onion; bulb - an onion; head - head; top, upper part), of the sort which is known as a "Penang lawyer" (of those that are known as "Penang law"; sort - kind, grade, type; Penang - a state located on the Malaysian Peninsula, a former British colony; lawyer - a lawyer; lawyer, defender). Just under the head was a broad silver band (right under the knob there was a wide silver ring; band - ribbon, bandage; rim), nearly an inch across (about an inch wide; across - across; in width). "To James Mortimer, M.R.C.S. (To James Mortimer, M.R.C.S.), from his friends of the C.C.H. (from his C.C.H. friends)," was engraved upon it, with the date "1884" (was engraved on it, and the date: "1884"). It was just such a stick (it was such a cane) as the old-fashioned family practitioner used to carry (what elderly family doctors usually wore; old-fashioned - outdated; old-fashioned; practitioner - practitioner, professional / in particular a practicing doctor, lawyer /)- dignified, solid, and reassuring (solid, strong, convincing = weighty; dignified - having self-esteem; to reassure - assure, assure, convince; reassure).

Usually [?ju:???l?, ?ju:?(?)l?], hearth , lawyer [?l?:j?]

mr. SHERLOCK HOLMES, who was usually very late in the mornings, save upon those not infrequent occasions when he was up all night, was seated at the breakfast table. I stood upon the hearth-rug and picked up the stick which our visitor had left behind him the night before. It was a fine, thick piece of wood, bulbous-headed, of the sort which is known as a "Penang lawyer." Just under the head was a broad silver band, nearly an inch across. "To James Mortimer, M.R.C.S., from his friends of the C.C.H.," was engraved upon it, with the date "1884." It was just such a stick as the old-fashioned family practitioner used to carry - dignified, solid, and reassuring.

"Well, Watson, what do you make of it (so, Watson, what do you think about her; to make of - understand)?"
Holmes was sitting with him back to me (Holmes was sitting with his back to me), and I had given him no sign of my occupation (and could not see what I was doing: "and I did not give him any signs of my occupation").
"How did you know what I was doing (how did you know what I was doing)? I believe you have eyes in the back of your head (it seems to me that you have eyes in the back of your head; to believe - believe; think, believe)."
"I have, at least, a well-polished silver-plated coffee-pot in front of me (at least in front of me / stands / a well-polished silver coffee pot; plated - covered with a thin layer / gold, silver /)," said he (he said). "But, tell me, Watson (but tell me Watson), what do you make of our visitor's stick (what do you think of our visitor's cane)? Since we have been so unfortunate as to miss him (because we were so unlucky that we missed/missed it; since - since then; since) and have no notion of his errand (and /now/ we have no idea about /the purpose/ of his visit; errand - assignment; business trip), this accidental souvenir becomes of importance (this random memento becomes important). Let me hear (let me listen = I want to hear) you reconstruct the man (/how/ you recreate the /image/ of a person = the owner of the cane) by an examination of it (exploring it). "I think," said I (I suppose, - I said; to think - to think; to consider, to believe), following as far as I could the methods of my companion (following, to the best of my ability: "as far as I could," the methods of my comrade), "that Dr. Mortimer is a successful medical elderly man (this Dr. Mortimer is a prosperous elderly doctor), well respected (/ enjoying / respected; to esteem - highly appreciate; respect), since those who know him (because those who know him) give him this mark of appreciation (given him this as a token of their gratitude)."

Sign, eye, successful

"Well, Watson, what do you make of it?"
Holmes was sitting with his back to me, and I had given him no sign of my occupation.
"How did you know what I was doing? I believe you have eyes in the back of your head."
"I have, at least, a well-polished silver-plated coffee-pot in front of me," he said. "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 (well, - said Holmes, - excellent)!"
"I think also that the probability is in favor of his being a country practitioner (besides, I think there is a possibility “in favor of” that he is a rural doctor; in favor of - in favor; country - country; countryside) who does a great deal of his visiting on foot (who has to walk a lot: "who makes many visits" on foot)."
"Why so (why is that)?"
"Because this stick, though originally a very handsome one (because this cane, initially very good-looking; handsome - handsome), has been so knocked about (so knocked down; to knock about - beat, beat) that I can hardly imagine a town practitioner carrying it (that I can hardly imagine the city doctor wearing it). The thick iron ferrule is worn down (thick iron tip / completely / erased; to wear down - wash / sya /, wear out / sya /), so it is obvious (therefore /absolutely/ obviously) that he has done a great amount of walking with it (that he was pretty good with her; a great amount - a large, fair amount)."
"Perfect sound (quite rightly; sound - healthy, strong; sound, logical)!" said Holmes.
"And then again, there is the "friends of the C.C.H." (and again /inscription/ "from C.C.H. friends"). I should guess that to be the Something Hunt (I would suggest that this is some kind of hunting society; hunt - hunting; a group of hunters with a pack of dogs), the local hunt (local hunting society) to whose members he has possibly given some surgical assistance (whose members he may have provided some sort of surgical assistance to), and which has made him a small presentation in return (and those in return made him a small gift; presentation - presentation; gift, offering)."

Favorite [?fe?v?], surgical [?s?:d??k(?)l], presentation [?prezen?te??(?)n]

"Good!" said Holmes. "Excellent!"
"I think also that the probability is in favor 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."
"Perfect sound!" said Holmes.
"And then again, there is the "friends of the C.C.H." I should guess that to be the Something Hunt, the local hunt to whose members he has possibly given some surgical assistance, and which has made him a small presentation in return."

"Really, Watson, you excel yourself (indeed, Watson, you have surpassed: "surpass" yourself)," said Holmes, pushing back his chair and lighting a cigarette (said Holmes, leaning back in his chair and lighting a cigarette; to light - shine; light). "I am bound to say (should note: “say”; to be bound - to be obliged) that in all the accounts (which is in all reports = notes) which you have been so good as to give of my own small achievements (which you so kindly dedicated to my "own" modest achievements; to give - give; dedicate / to someone, to something /) you have habitually underrated your own abilities (you usually underestimate your own abilities). It may be that you are not yourself luminous (maybe you yourself don’t glow; luminous - luminous; brightly lit), but you are a conductor of light (but you are a conductor of light). Some people without possessing genius (many people, not possessing genius; some - someone, some; many; to possess - to possess, to possess) have a remarkable power of stimulating it (have a remarkable ability to cause it / in others /; power - strength; ability, opportunity; to stimulate - excite; encourage). I confess, my dear fellow (I confess, my friend; fellow - friend, comrade), that I am very much in your debt (I am in a very big debt / to / you)."

Excel [?k?sel], underrate [??nd??re?t], conductor

"Really, Watson, you excel yourself," said Holmes, pushing back his chair and lighting a cigarette. "I am bound to say that in all the accounts which you have been so good as to give of my own small achievements you have habitually underrated your own abilities. It may be that you are not yourself luminous, but you are a conductor of light "Some people possessing withouting genius have a remarkable power of stimulating it. I confess, my dear fellow, that I am very much in your debt."

He had never said as much before (before he never said: “so much” did not say), and I must admit that his words gave me keen pleasure (and I must admit that "that" his words gave me great pleasure; to give; keen - sharp; having one or another property to a high degree), for I had often been piqued by his indifference to my admiration (since I was often upset by his indifference to my admiration; to pique - to stung; annoy) and to the attempts which I had made (and to the attempts that I made: "did") to give publicity to his methods (/to/ publicize his methods). I was proud too to think (I was also proud of the thought; to think - to think) that I had so far mastered his system (that I have mastered his system so much; far - far; to a large extent) as to apply it in a way which earned his approval (that he applied it in a way that earned his approval; way - way; way; to earn - earn; deserve). He now took the stick from my hands (he immediately took the cane from my hands: “from my hands”; to take) and examined it for a few minutes with his naked eyes (and studied it for several minutes with the naked eye; naked - naked; unarmed / without the help of any equipment /). Then with an expression of interest (then with an expression of interest = interested) he laid down his cigarette (he put aside his cigarette; to lay - put, put) and, carrying the cane to the window (and, bringing the cane to the window), he looked over it again with a convex lens (/began/ carefully study it again / with a magnifying glass; to look over - view; carefully study; convex lens - a convex lens).
"Interesting, though elementary (interesting though simple)," said he, as he returned to his favorite corner of the settee (he said, returning to his favorite corner of the sofa). "There are certainly one or two indications upon the stick (there are definitely one or two clues on the cane here). It gives us the basis for several deductions (this gives us the basis for some inferences; several - some, a few / but not many /)."

Pleasure [?ple??], publicity , though [??u]

He had never said as much before, and I must admit that his words gave me keen pleasure, for I had often been piqued by his indifference to my admiration and to the attempts which I had made to give publicity to his methods. I was proud too to think that I had so far mastered his system as to apply it in a way which earned his approval. He now took the stick from my hands and examined it for a few minutes with his naked eyes. Then with an expression of interest he laid down his cigarette and, carrying the cane to the window, he looked over it again with a convex lens.
"Interesting, though elementary," he said, as he returned to his favorite corner of the settee. "There are certainly one or two indications upon the stick. It gives us the basis for several deductions."

"Has anything escaped me (something escaped me; to escape - to escape; to escape)?" I asked, with some self-importance (I asked somewhat smugly; self-importance - conceit, swagger; importance - importance). "I trust that there is nothing of consequence (I hope there is nothing important; to trust - believe, trust; hope; consequence - consequence; importance, significance) which I have overlooked (what would I miss; to overlook - overlook; not notice, skip)?"
"I am afraid, my dear Watson (I'm afraid my dear Watson) that most of your conclusions were erroneous (that most of your conclusions were wrong). When I said that you stimulated me (when i said you stimulate me) I meant to be frank (I, /if/ to be honest, meant; to mean), that in noting your fallacies (what, paying attention to your mistakes; to note - notice; pay attention; fallacy - deceptive appearance; error, delusion) I was occasionally guided towards the truth (I sometimes found the truth; to guide - lead, direct; towards - towards, towards). Not that you are entirely wrong in this instance (not that you are completely wrong in this case; instance is a separate example, a case). The man is certainly a country practitioner (this man is undoubtedly a rural doctor). And he walks a good deal (and he /has/to walk a lot)."

Consequence [?k?ns?kw?ns], erroneous [??r?unj?s], guide [??a?d]

"Has anything escaped me?" I asked, with some self-importance. "I trust that there is nothing of consequence which I have overlooked?"
"I am afraid, my dear Watson, that most of your conclusions were erroneous. When I said that you stimulated me I meant, to be frank, that in noting your fallacies I was occasionally guided towards the truth. Not that you are entirely wrong in this instance. The man is certainly a country practitioner. And he walks a good deal."

"Then I was right (so i was right)."
"To that extent (within these limits; extent - space, extent; measure, degree, framework, limits)."
"But that was all (but that's all)."
"No, no, my dear Watson, not all (no, no, my dear Watson, not all)- by no means all (far from all; by no means - by no means; by no means). I would suggest, for example (I would guess for example), that a presentation to a doctor is more likely to come (that, most likely, a doctor /can/ receive such a gift: “a doctor can achieve such a gift”; to come - come; reach) from an hospital than from a hunt (from some hospital, not from a hunting / society /), and that when the initials "C.C." are placed before that hospital (and that when /word/ "hospital" is preceded by the initials "C.C.") the words "Charing Cross" very naturally suggest themselves (the word "Charing Cross" very naturally suggests itself: "offers itself")."
"You may be right (maybe you're right)."
"The probability lies in that direction (this is very similar to the truth; probability - possibility; plausibility; to lie - lie; be, consist / in something /; direction - direction). And if we take this as a working hypothesis (and if we take this as a working hypothesis) we have a fresh basis (we /will/ have a new base = we will get a new starting point; fresh - fresh; new) from which to start our construction of this unknown visitor (with which we will begin the reconstruction / image / of this unknown visitor; construction - construction; interpretation, explanation)."
"Well, then, supposing that "C.C.H." does stand for "Charing Cross Hospital" (well, well, suppose that /letters/ "C.C.H." really mean "Charing Cross Hospital"; to do - do; used to enhance the meaning of the action; to stand for - stand for; mean), what further inferences may we draw (what further conclusions can we draw; to draw - drag, drag; draw conclusions, draw / conclusion /)?"
"Do none suggest themselves (none are assumed = and none come to your mind)? You know my methods (you /same/ know my methods). Apply them (apply them)!"

Suggest , initial [??n??(?)l], method [?me??d]

"Then I was right."
"To that extent."
"But that was all."
"No, no, my dear Watson, not all - by no means all. I would suggest, for example, that a presentation to a doctor is more likely to come from an hospital than from a hunt, and that when the initials "C.C. " are placed before that hospital the words "Charing Cross" very naturally suggest themselves."
"You may be right."
"The probability lies in that direction. And if we take this as a working hypothesis we have a fresh basis from which to start our construction of this unknown visitor."
"Well, then, supposing that "C.C.H." does stand for "Charing Cross Hospital," what further inferences may we draw?"
"Do none suggest themselves? You know my methods. Apply them!"

"I can only think of the obvious conclusion (I can only think of the obvious conclusion: "I can only think of the obvious conclusion") that the man has practiced in town (what this person practiced in the city) before going to the country (before leaving for the village)."
"I think that we might venture a little farther than this (I think we could take a chance /and go/ a little further "than that"). Look at it in this light (look at it this way). On what occasion would it be most probable (what is the most likely reason) that such a presentation would be made (such a gift could be made)? When would his friends unite (when his friends united = got together) to give him a pledge of their good will (/to/ present him with a pledge of his benevolence)? Obviously at the moment (obviously at that time: "at that moment") when Dr. Mortimer withdrew from the service of the hospital (when Dr. Mortimer left the service in the hospital; to withdraw - take away, withdraw; leave) in order to start in practice for himself (to start /practice/ private practice: “practice for yourself”). We know there has been a presentation (we know / that / was a gift). We believe there has been a change from a town hospital to a country practice (we believe that there was a change / work in / the city hospital for a rural practice). Is it, then, stretching our inference too far to say (and won't our inferences go too far = speculation too far to assert) that the presentation was on the occasion of the change (that the gift was /made/ on the occasion of this shift)?"
"It certainly seems probable (this certainly seems likely; certainly - definitely, of course, undoubtedly)."

Venture [?vent??], hypothesis , obvious [??bv??s]

"I can only think of the obvious conclusion that the man has practiced in town before going to the country."
"I think that we might venture a little farther than this. Look at it in this light. On what occasion would it be most probable that such a presentation would be made? When would his friends unite to give him a pledge of their good will "Obviously at the moment when Dr. Mortimer withdrew from the service of the hospital in order to start in practice for himself. We know there has been a presentation. We believe there has been a change from a town hospital to a country practice. Is it, then, stretching our inference too far to say that the presentation was on the occasion of the change?"
"It certainly seems probable."

"Now, you will observe (Now pay attention) that he could not have been on the staff of the hospital (that he couldn't be = be on the hospital staff), since only a man well-established in a London practice (since only a person with a serious London practice; well-established - well-founded; firmly established) could hold such a position (can hold such a position; to hold - hold; hold / post /), and such a one would not drift into the country (and such a /person/ would never have moved to the village; to drift - drift; shift). What was he, then (then who was he)? If he was in the hospital and yet not on the staff (if he was = worked in a hospital and yet was not on staff) he could only have been a house-surgeon or a house-physician (he could only be a surgeon living at a hospital or a senior intern; a house-surgeon is a senior surgeon living at a hospital; a house-physician is a doctor living at a hospital)- little more than a senior student (/and this/ is a little more than an intern: "senior student"). And he left five years ago (and he left five years ago; to leave - leave; leave)- the date is on the stick (date /indicated/ on the cane). So your grave, middle-aged family practitioner (thus, your respectable middle-aged family doctor; grave - serious; important, sedate) Vanishes into thin air, my dear Watson (dissolves in the air, my dear Watson; to vanish - disappear, disappear; thin - thin; rarefied / about air /), and there emerges a young fellow under thirty (and a young man who is under thirty appears), amiable, unambitious, absent-minded (pretty, unambitious, absent-minded; absent - absent; mind - mind; state of mind / state of mind), and the possessor of a favorite dog (and the owner of a beloved /im/ dog), which I should describe roughly (which, as I / her / would approximately describe; roughly - roughly; approximately, by eye) as being larger than a terrier and smaller than a mastiff (larger than a terrier, but smaller than a mastiff)."

Staff , senior [?si:nj?], vanish [?v?n??]

"Now, you will observe that he could not have been on the staff of the hospital, since only a man well-established in a London practice could hold such a position, and such a one would not drift into the country. What was he , then? If he was in the hospital and yet not on the staff he could only have been a house-surgeon or a house-physician - little more than a senior student. So your grave, middle-aged family practitioner vanishes into thin air, my dear Watson, and there emerges a young fellow under thirty, amiable, unambitious, absent-minded, and the possessor of a favorite dog, which I should roughly describe as being larger than a terrier and smaller than a mastiff."

I laughed incredulously (I laughed incredulously) as Sherlock Holmes leaned back in his settee (while Sherlock Holmes leaned back on his sofa; to lean - tilt / sya /) and blew little wavering rings of smoke up to the ceiling (and released small oscillating rings of smoke into the ceiling; to blow - blow; exhale; to waver - sway, oscillate).