Mr. Sherlock Holmes, who was usually very late in the mornings, save
upon those not infrequent occasions when he was up all night, was seated
at the breakfast table. 

I stood upon the hearth-rug and picked up the
stick which our visitor had left behind him the night before. 

It was a fine, thick piece of wood, bulbous-headed, of the sort which is known as a "Penang lawyer." 
