The Stock-Broker’s Clerk

           ShortlyaftermymarriageIhadboughtaconnectioninthePaddingtondistrict.OldMr.Farquhar,fromwhomIpurchasedit,hadatonetimeanexcellentgeneralpractice;buthisage,andanafflictionofthenatureofSt.Vitus’sdancefromwhichhesuffered,hadverymuchthinnedit.Thepublicnotunnaturallygoesontheprinciplethathewhowouldhealothersmusthimselfbewhole,andlooksaskanceatthecurativepowersofthemanwhoseowncaseisbeyondthereachofhisdrugs.Thusasmypredecessorweakenedhispracticedeclined,untilwhenIpurchaseditfromhimithadsunkfromtwelvehundredtolittlemorethanthreehundredayear.Ihadconfidence,however,inmyownyouthandenergyandwasconvincedthatinaveryfewyearstheconcernwouldbeasflourishingasever.

           ForthreemonthsaftertakingoverthepracticeIwaskeptverycloselyatworkandsawlittleofmyfriendSherlockHolmes,forIwastoobusytovisitBakerStreet,andheseldomwentanywherehimselfsaveuponprofessionalbusiness.Iwassurprised,therefore,when,onemorninginJune,asIsatreadingtheBritishMedicalJournalafterbreakfast,Iheardaringatthebell,followedbythehigh,somewhatstridenttonesofmyoldcompanion’svoice.

           "Ah,mydearWatson,"saidhe,stridingintotheroom,"Iamverydelightedtoseeyou!ItrustthatMrs.WatsonhasentirelyrecoveredfromallthelittleexcitementsconnectedwithouradventureoftheSignofFour.