Mr. Sherlock Holmes was sitting at the breakfast table one morning. He was usually a late riser, but today he was awake early. I stood by the fireplace and picked up a walking stick. A visitor had left it the night before. It was a thick piece of wood with a silver band near the top. The words 'To James Mortimer, from his friends at C.C.H.' were written on the band. 'Well, Watson, what do you make of it?' asked Holmes. He had not turned around, but he knew exactly what I was doing. 'How did you know what I was looking at?' I asked in surprise. 'I have eyes in the back of my head,' said Holmes, laughing. 'Actually, I can see your reflection in the silver coffee pot.' 'Tell me, what do you think about our visitor's stick?' I examined the walking stick more carefully. 'I think Dr. Mortimer is a successful elderly doctor,' I said. 'He is well-liked, since friends gave him this gift.' 'C.C.H. probably means a hospital or hunting club,' I added. Holmes reached out his hand for the stick. 'Very good, Watson!' he said with genuine pleasure. 'Your deductions are mostly wrong, but you have helped me greatly.' 'Wrong?' I felt disappointed. 'You were right about some things,' Holmes said kindly. 'He is certainly a doctor, and he was given this gift by friends.' 'But I think he is a young country doctor, not an elderly city one.' 'How can you possibly know that?' I asked. 'Look at the stick carefully,' said Holmes. 'The silver band says the gift was given five years ago.' 'C.C.H. stands for Charing Cross Hospital in London.' 'Only a young doctor would leave a prestigious London hospital.' 'An older, successful doctor would stay in the city.' 'Why would he leave London then?' I wondered. 'Perhaps he got married and wanted a quieter life,' suggested Holmes. 'And there are teeth marks on this stick.' 'They are too big for a small dog, but too small for a large one.' 'I would say it is a curly-haired spaniel.' I laughed at this impossible conclusion. 'You cannot possibly know that from teeth marks!' 'We shall see,' said Holmes, looking out the window. 'Here comes someone now, and he has a curly-haired spaniel with him!' I rushed to the window in amazement. Sure enough, a man was walking toward our door with a small spaniel. A moment later, there was a knock at our door. 'Come in,' said Holmes. A tall, thin man entered the room. He had a long nose and gray eyes behind gold glasses. His clothes were proper but somewhat worn. 'Dr. Mortimer, I presume?' said Holmes. 'Yes, Mr. Holmes, and I am pleased to meet you,' replied the visitor. 'I believe you forgot your walking stick last night.' 'Yes, I was in a hurry to catch my train,' said Dr. Mortimer. 'I would not want to lose that stick for anything.' 'It was a gift from some friends at the hospital,' he explained. 'From Charing Cross Hospital?' asked Holmes innocently. Dr. Mortimer looked surprised. 'Yes, that is correct! How did you know?' 'Please, sit down and tell me how I can help you,' said Holmes. Dr. Mortimer sat in the chair by the fire. 'Mr. Holmes, I have a very serious problem,' he began. 'One of the strangest problems ever brought to a detective.' Holmes leaned forward with interest. 'I am listening carefully, Dr. Mortimer.'
B1Chapter 1 / 15576 words60 sentences
Mr. Sherlock Holmes
Chapter 1 · The Hound of the Baskervilles · B1 English. Tip: Click on any word while reading to see its translation. Take your time with each chapter and review the vocabulary before moving on.
Chapter Summary
Dr. Watson examines a mysterious walking stick left by a visitor, while Holmes demonstrates his deductive methods.
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Comprehension Questions
4 questions
1
How did Holmes know details about the visitor before meeting him?
2
What was special about the manuscript Dr. Mortimer brought?
3
What was the legend about Hugo Baskerville?
4