a considerable amount of writing lately, I can deduce nothing else.
Mr. Jabez Wilson started up in his chair, with his forefinger upon the
paper, but his eyes upon my companion.
How, in the name of good-fortune, did you know all that, Mr. Holmes?
he asked. How did you know, for example, that I did manual labour.
It s as true as gospel, for I began as a ship s carpenter.
Your hands, my dear sir. Your right hand is quite a size larger than
your left. You have worked with it, and the muscles are more
developed.
Well, the snuff, then, and the Freemasonry?
I won t insult your intelligence by telling you how I read that,
especially as, rather against the strict rules of your order, you use
an arc-and-compass breastpin.
Ah, of course, I forgot that. But the writing?
What else can be indicated by that right cuff so very shiny for five
inches, and the left one with the smooth patch near the elbow where you
rest it upon the desk?
Well, but China?
The fish that you have tattooed immediately above your right wrist
could only have been done in China. I have made a small study of tattoo
marks and have even contributed to the literature of the subject. That
trick of staining the fishes scales of a delicate pink is quite
peculiar to China. When, in addition, I see a Chinese coin hanging from
your watch-chain, the matter becomes even more simple.
Mr. Jabez Wilson laughed heavily. Well, I never! said he. I thought
at first that you had done something clever, but I see that there was
nothing in it after all.
I begin to think, Watson, said Holmes, that I make a mistake in
explaining. _Omne ignotum pro magnifico_, you know, and my poor
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