episode 2

As to your practice, if a gentleman man walks into my room smelling of iodoform, with a black mark of nitrate of silver upon his right forefinger, and a bulge on right side of his top-hat to show where he has secreted his stethoscope, I must be dull, indeed, If I donot pronounce to be an active member of an medical profession".

......I couldn't help laughing at the ease with which he explained his process of deduction." When I hear you give your reasons ," I remarked,"the thing always appears to me to be ridiculously simple that I could easily do it myself, though at each successive instance of your reasoning I am baffled until you explain your process. And yet I believe thaty eyes are good as yours".......

"Quite so," he answered, lighting a cigarette , and throwing himself down into an armchair . " You see , but you donot observe. The distinction is clear.For example, you have seen frequently seen the steps which lead up from the to this room."

..."Frequently"....

..."How often ?"....

"Well, some hundreds of times."

" Then how many are there ?"

"How many? I don't know."

"Quite so ! you have not observed and yet you have seen. That is just my point. Now, I know that there are seventeen steps , because I have both seen and observed. By the way , since you are interested in these little problems, and since you are good enough to chronicle one or two of my trifling experiences, you may be interested in this ".

He threw over a sheet of thick, pink-tinted notepaper which had been lying open upon the table. " It came by the last post", said he. " Read it out aloud ".

"There will call upon you to night, at a quarter to eight o'Clock ", It Said, " a gentleman who desire to consult you upon a matter of the very deepest moment. Your recent services to one of the royal houses of Europe have shown that you are one who may safely be trusted with matters which are of an importance which can hardly be exaggerated. This account of you we have from all quarters received. Be in your chamber then at that hour, and do not take it amiss if your visitor wear a mask ."

" This is indeed a mystery," I remarked. " What do you imagine that it means?"

"I have no data yet. It is a capital mistake to theorise before one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit theories , instead of theories to suit facts. But note itself.

What do you deduce from it ?"

I carefully examined the writing and the paper upon which it was written.

" The man who wrote it was presumably well to do," I remarked, endeavouring to imitate my companion's processes. " Such paper could not be bought under half a crown a packet. It is peculiarly strong and stiff."

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