How we cite our quotes: (Chapter. Paragraph)
Quote #4
"I presume, Doctor, that you could tell the skull of a negro from that of an Esquimau?"
"Most certainly."
"But how?"
"Because that is my special hobby. The differences are obvious. The supra-orbital crest, the facial angle, the maxillary curve, the—"
"But this is my special hobby, and the differences are equally obvious." (4.27-32)
Holmes continues to give Dr. Mortimer his props as a fellow scientist. He even downplays his own deductions about the newspaper as not all that "remarkable"—it just happens to be his specialty. He's just another specialist, like Dr. Mortimer. Do you think Holmes has that much humility? Could it be just a way to show respect for Dr. M.?
Quote #5
Baskerville sat for a long time, his eyes fixed upon it, and I read upon his eager face how much it meant to him, this first sight of that strange spot where the men of his blood had held sway so long and left their mark so deep. There he sat, with his tweed suit and his American accent, in the corner of a prosaic railway-carriage, and yet as I looked at his dark and expressive face I felt more than ever how true a descendant he was of that long line of high-blooded, fiery, and masterful men. There were pride, valour, and strength in his thick brows, his sensitive nostrils, and his large hazel eyes. (6.26)
Watson seems to have a man-crush on Sir Henry. Even in a plain old railway car, he immediately stands out. True, he seems like a looker—those "dark hazel eyes"!—but what really seems to impress Watson's is Sir Henry's lineage. His distinguished, "masterful" ancestry seems to command immediate respect, even before Watson knows anything else about Sir Henry. He just knows him to be a worthy guy because he's a descendant of worthy men. It's a good thing Watson feels this way. If he's such an exceptional person, then we'll be intrigued by his storyline and hope Stapleton fails in harming him.
Quote #6
I am certainly developing the wisdom of the serpent, for when Mortimer pressed his questions to an inconvenient extent I asked him casually to what type Frankland's skull belonged, and so heard nothing but craniology for the rest of our drive. I have not lived for years with Sherlock Holmes for nothing. (10.64)
Here, Watson pats himself on the back for figuring out how to distract Dr. Mortimer, One of the things we really like about The Hound of the Baskervilles is that Watson gets to show off his own smarts and knowledge of people without Holmes around to coach him. Having a friend like Holmes can sure wear down a person's self-respect. Watson may not have Holmes' genius, but he's plenty smart in this novel and we're glad he knows it.