1Mr. Sherlock Holmes, who was usually very late in the mornings, save 2upon those not infrequent occasions when he was up all night, was seated 3at the breakfast table. I stood upon the hearth-rug and picked up the 4stick which our visitor had left behind him the night before. It was a 5fine, thick piece of wood, bulbous-headed, of the sort which is known as 6a "Penang lawyer." Just under the head was a broad silver band nearly 7an inch across. "To James Mortimer, M.R.C.S., from his friends of the 8C.C.H.," was engraved upon it, with the date "1884." It was just such a 9stick as the old-fashioned family practitioner used to carry--dignified, 10solid, and reassuring. 11