Chapter 1 – Holmes and Watson discuss the stick which has been left in their office.

Chapter 1 – Holmes and Watson discuss the stick which has been left in their office.

"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," said he. "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!"

"I think also that the probability is in favour 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."

"Perfectly 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," 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 without possessing 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, 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.

This is a very important passage for many reasons:

Relationship between Holmes/Watson:

“You are not yourself luminous, but a conductor of light” shows Holmes’ propensity to keep Watson in the shade. This is particularly important in this novel as Watson is often treated as a ‘tool’ by Holmes, who send him to Devonshire and gets him to report back, whilst actually carrying out the investigation himself.

“I confess, my dear fellow, that I am very much in your debt” – This is important because it shows how Holmes sees himself as a ‘cut above’ Watson. They are not an equal partnership, Holmes is merely grateful for Watson’s practical assistance. However, there is also an element of truth here. Watson provides some key links and pieces of information for Holmes which he may have struggled to come to himself.

“You have habitually underrated your own abilities” – This is important because, whilst it is true, it is something which we can not really blame Watson for. Holmes often corrects or undermines Watson. It shows a lot about Holmes that he wishes Watson to have more confidence, yet he is the one who usually takes it away from Watson.

“Good” said Holmes “Excellent” – The reaction of Holmes to Watson’s investigative skills is very interesting. It is as if Holmes is expressing satisfaction at a personal project. It is like he is ‘teaching’ Watson (who is already a Dr), and is pleased with himself a the results.

Power:

“Holmes was sitting in the back of the room; I had given him no sign of my occupation” – A very important quote, one of the first pieces of narrative in the book. It creates a sense of mystery from the start and establishes Holmes’ almost supernatural powers of perception.

“I believe you have eyes in the back of your head” – Also shows the prowess and skill of Holmes, but also establishes Holmes as a potent force of power in the novel, Somebody whom nobody can fool or deceive

“I must admit that his words gave me keen pleasure” – An indicator of how Holmes likes to have and control power within the novel. He keeps characters at arms’ length (both physically and emotionally). He likes to keep perspective on matters. This quote shows that even his best friend receives little praise from Holmes and takes great joy at even the slightest compliment.

“His indifference to my admiration” – Shows the differences in styles and personalities between the two characters. Watson is kind and open. Holmes is untrusting as economical with his emotions. We later learn that Holmes’ ‘indifference’ is probably just partly his way of keeping an open mind and judging a situation based on evidence.