Собака Баскервиллей
Mr. Sherlock Holmes
"Theprobabilityliesinthatdirection. Andifwetakethisasaworkinghypothesiswehaveafreshbasisfromwhichtostartourconstructionofthisunknownvisitor."
"Well,then,supposingthat‘C.C.H.’doesstandfor‘CharingCrossHospital,’whatfurtherinferencesmaywedraw?"
"Dononesuggestthemselves?Youknowmymethods.Applythem!"
"Icanonlythinkoftheobviousconclusionthatthemanhaspractisedintownbeforegoingtothecountry."
"Ithinkthatwemightventurealittlefartherthanthis.Lookatitinthislight. Onwhatoccasionwoulditbemostprobablethatsuchapresentationwouldbemade?Whenwouldhisfriendsunitetogivehimapledgeoftheirgoodwill? ObviouslyatthemomentwhenDr.Mortimerwithdrewfromtheserviceofthehospitalinordertostartinpracticeforhimself. Weknowtherehasbeenapresentation. Webelievetherehasbeenachangefromatownhospitaltoacountrypractice.Isit,then,stretchingourinferencetoofartosaythatthepresentationwasontheoccasionofthechange?"
"Itcertainlyseemsprobable."
"Now,youwillobservethathecouldnothavebeenonthestaffofthehospital,sinceonlyamanwell-establishedinaLondonpracticecouldholdsuchaposition,andsuchaonewouldnotdriftintothecountry. Whatwashe,then?Ifhewasinthehospitalandyetnotonthestaffhecouldonlyhavebeenahouse-surgeonorahouse-physician—littlemorethanaseniorstudent. Andheleftfiveyearsago—thedateisonthestick.