text: In choosing a few typical cases which illustrate the remarkable mental qualities of my friend , Sherlock Holmes , I have endeavoured , as far as possible , to select those which presented the minimum of sensationalism , while offering a fair field for his talents .

text: In

text: choosing

text: a

text: few

text: typical

text: cases

text: which

text: illustrate

text: the

text: remarkable

text: mental

text: qualities

text: of

text: my

text: friend

text: Sherlock

text: Holmes

text: I

text: have

text: endeavoured

text: as

text: far

text: as

text: possible

text: to

text: select

text: those

text: which

text: presented

text: the

text: minimum

text: of

text: sensationalism

text: while

text: offering

text: a

text: fair

text: field

text: for

text: his

text: talents


text: It is , however , unfortunately impossible entirely to separate the sensational from the criminal , and a chronicler is left in the dilemma that he must either sacrifice details which are essential to his statement and so give a false impression of the problem , or he must use matter which chance , and not choice , has provided him with .

label: SCOPE

label: CUE

text: It

text: is

text: however

text: unfortunately

text: impossible

text: entirely

text: to

text: separate

text: the

text: sensational

text: from

text: the

text: criminal

text: and

text: a

text: chronicler

text: is

text: left

text: in

text: the

text: dilemma

text: that

text: he

text: must

text: either

text: sacrifice

text: details

text: which

text: are

text: essential

text: to

text: his

text: statement

text: and

text: so

text: give

text: a

text: false

text: impression

text: of

text: the

text: problem

text: or

text: he

text: must

text: use

text: matter

text: which

text: chance

text: and

text: not

text: choice

text: has

text: provided

text: him

text: with


text: It

text: is

text: however

text: unfortunately

text: impossible

text: entirely

text: to

text: separate

text: the

text: sensational

text: from

text: the

text: criminal

text: and

text: a

text: chronicler

text: is

text: left

text: in

text: the

text: dilemma

text: that

text: he

text: must

text: either

text: sacrifice

text: details

text: which

text: are

text: essential

text: to

text: his

text: statement

text: and

text: so

text: give

text: a

text: false

text: impression

text: of

text: the

text: problem

text: or

text: he

text: must

text: use

text: matter

text: which

text: chance

text: and

text: not

text: choice

text: has

text: provided

text: him

text: with


text: With this short preface I shall turn to my notes of what proved to be a strange , though a peculiarly terrible , chain of events .

text: With

text: this

text: short

text: preface

text: I

text: shall

text: turn

text: to

text: my

text: notes

text: of

text: what

text: proved

text: to

text: be

text: a

text: strange

text: though

text: a

text: peculiarly

text: terrible

text: chain

text: of

text: events


text: It was a blazing hot day in August .

text: It

text: was

text: a

text: blazing

text: hot

text: day

text: in

text: August


text: Baker Street was like an oven , and the glare of the sunlight upon the yellow brickwork of the house across the road was painful to the eye .

text: Baker

text: Street

text: was

text: like

text: an

text: oven

text: and

text: the

text: glare

text: of

text: the

text: sunlight

text: upon

text: the

text: yellow

text: brickwork

text: of

text: the

text: house

text: across

text: the

text: road

text: was

text: painful

text: to

text: the

text: eye


text: It was hard to believe that these were the same walls which loomed so gloomily through the fogs of winter .

text: It

text: was

text: hard

text: to

text: believe

text: that

text: these

text: were

text: the

text: same

text: walls

text: which

text: loomed

text: so

text: gloomily

text: through

text: the

text: fogs

text: of

text: winter


text: Our blinds were half-drawn , and Holmes lay curled upon the sofa , reading and re-reading a letter which he had received by the morning post .

text: Our

text: blinds

text: were

text: half-drawn

text: and

text: Holmes

text: lay

text: curled

text: upon

text: the

text: sofa

text: reading

text: and

text: re-reading

text: a

text: letter

text: which

text: he

text: had

text: received

text: by

text: the

text: morning

text: post


text: For myself , my term of service in India had trained me to stand heat better than cold , and a thermometer at ninety was no hardship .

text: For

text: myself

text: my

text: term

text: of

text: service

text: in

text: India

text: had

text: trained

text: me

text: to

text: stand

text: heat

text: better

text: than

text: cold

text: and

text: a

text: thermometer

text: at

text: ninety

text: was

text: no

text: hardship


text: But the morning paper was uninteresting .

text: But

text: the

text: morning

text: paper

text: was

text: uninteresting


text: Parliament had risen .

text: Parliament

text: had

text: risen


text: Everybody was out of town , and I yearned for the glades of the New Forest or the shingle of Southsea .

text: Everybody

text: was

text: out

text: of

text: town

text: and

text: I

text: yearned

text: for

text: the

text: glades

text: of

text: the

text: New

text: Forest

text: or

text: the

text: shingle

text: of

text: Southsea


text: A depleted bank account had caused me to postpone my holiday , and as to my companion , neither the country nor the sea presented the slightest attraction to him .

text: A

text: depleted

text: bank

text: account

text: had

text: caused

text: me

text: to

text: postpone

text: my

text: holiday

text: and

text: as

text: to

text: my

text: companion

text: neither

text: the

text: country

text: nor

text: the

text: sea

text: presented

text: the

text: slightest

text: attraction

text: to

text: him


text: He loved to lie in the very center of five millions of people , with his filaments stretching out and running through them , responsive to every little rumour or suspicion of unsolved crime .

text: He

text: loved

text: to

text: lie

text: in

text: the

text: very

text: center

text: of

text: five

text: millions

text: of

text: people

text: with

text: his

text: filaments

text: stretching

text: out

text: and

text: running

text: through

text: them

text: responsive

text: to

text: every

text: little

text: rumour

text: or

text: suspicion

text: of

text: unsolved

text: crime


text: Appreciation of nature found no place among his many gifts , and his only change was when he turned his mind from the evil-doer of the town to track down his brother of the country .

text: Appreciation

text: of

text: nature

text: found

text: no

text: place

text: among

text: his

text: many

text: gifts

text: and

text: his

text: only

text: change

text: was

text: when

text: he

text: turned

text: his

text: mind

text: from

text: the

text: evil-doer

text: of

text: the

text: town

text: to

text: track

text: down

text: his

text: brother

text: of

text: the

text: country


text: Finding that Holmes was too absorbed for conversation I had tossed aside the barren paper , and leaning back in my chair I fell into a brown study .

text: Finding

text: that

text: Holmes

text: was

text: too

text: absorbed

text: for

text: conversation

text: I

text: had

text: tossed

text: aside

text: the

text: barren

text: paper

text: and

text: leaning

text: back

text: in

text: my

text: chair

text: I

text: fell

text: into

text: a

text: brown

text: study


text: Suddenly my companion 's voice broke in upon my thoughts :

text: Suddenly

text: my

text: companion

text: 's

text: voice

text: broke

text: in

text: upon

text: my

text: thoughts


text: `` You are right , Watson , '' said he .

text: You

text: are

text: right

text: Watson

text: said

text: he


text: `` It does seem a most preposterous way of settling a dispute . ''

text: It

text: does

text: seem

text: a

text: most

text: preposterous

text: way

text: of

text: settling

text: a

text: dispute


text: `` Most preposterous ! '' I exclaimed , and then suddenly realizing how he had echoed the inmost thought of my soul , I sat up in my chair and stared at him in blank amazement .

text: Most

text: preposterous

text: I

text: exclaimed

text: and

text: then

text: suddenly

text: realizing

text: how

text: he

text: had

text: echoed

text: the

text: inmost

text: thought

text: of

text: my

text: soul

text: I

text: sat

text: up

text: in

text: my

text: chair

text: and

text: stared

text: at

text: him

text: in

text: blank

text: amazement


text: `` What is this , Holmes ? '' I cried .

text: What

text: is

text: this

text: Holmes

text: I

text: cried


text: `` This is beyond anything which I could have imagined . ''

text: This

text: is

text: beyond

text: anything

text: which

text: I

text: could

text: have

text: imagined


text: He laughed heartily at my perplexity .

text: He

text: laughed

text: heartily

text: at

text: my

text: perplexity


text: `` You remember , '' said he , `` that some little time ago when I read you the passage in one of Poe 's sketches in which a close reasoner follows the unspoken thoughts of his companion , you were inclined to treat the matter as a mere tour-de-force of the author .

text: You

text: remember

text: said

text: he

text: that

text: some

text: little

text: time

text: ago

text: when

text: I

text: read

text: you

text: the

text: passage

text: in

text: one

text: of

text: Poe

text: 's

text: sketches

text: in

text: which

text: a

text: close

text: reasoner

text: follows

text: the

text: unspoken

text: thoughts

text: of

text: his

text: companion

text: you

text: were

text: inclined

text: to

text: treat

text: the

text: matter

text: as

text: a

text: mere

text: tour-de-force

text: of

text: the

text: author


text: On my remarking that I was constantly in the habit of doing the same thing you expressed incredulity . ''

text: On

text: my

text: remarking

text: that

text: I

text: was

text: constantly

text: in

text: the

text: habit

text: of

text: doing

text: the

text: same

text: thing

text: you

text: expressed

text: incredulity


text: `` Oh , no ! ''

text: Oh

text: no


text: `` Perhaps not with your tongue , my dear Watson , but certainly with your eyebrows .

text: Perhaps

text: not

text: with

text: your

text: tongue

text: my

text: dear

text: Watson

text: but

text: certainly

text: with

text: your

text: eyebrows


text: So when I saw you throw down your paper and enter upon a train of thought , I was very happy to have the opportunity of reading it off , and eventually of breaking into it , as a proof that I had been in rapport with you . ''

text: So

text: when

text: I

text: saw

text: you

text: throw

text: down

text: your

text: paper

text: and

text: enter

text: upon

text: a

text: train

text: of

text: thought

text: I

text: was

text: very

text: happy

text: to

text: have

text: the

text: opportunity

text: of

text: reading

text: it

text: off

text: and

text: eventually

text: of

text: breaking

text: into

text: it

text: as

text: a

text: proof

text: that

text: I

text: had

text: been

text: in

text: rapport

text: with

text: you


text: But I was still far from satisfied .

text: But

text: I

text: was

text: still

text: far

text: from

text: satisfied


text: `` In the example which you read to me , '' said I , `` the reasoner drew his conclusions from the actions of the man whom he observed .

text: In

text: the

text: example

text: which

text: you

text: read

text: to

text: me

text: said

text: I

text: the

text: reasoner

text: drew

text: his

text: conclusions

text: from

text: the

text: actions

text: of

text: the

text: man

text: whom

text: he

text: observed


text: If I remember right , he stumbled over a heap of stones , looked up at the stars , and so on .

text: If

text: I

text: remember

text: right

text: he

text: stumbled

text: over

text: a

text: heap

text: of

text: stones

text: looked

text: up

text: at

text: the

text: stars

text: and

text: so

text: on


text: But I have been seated quietly in my chair , and what clues can I have given you ? ''

text: But

text: I

text: have

text: been

text: seated

text: quietly

text: in

text: my

text: chair

text: and

text: what

text: clues

text: can

text: I

text: have

text: given

text: you


text: `` You do yourself an injustice .

text: You

text: do

text: yourself

text: an

text: injustice


text: The features are given to man as the means by which he shall express his emotions , and yours are faithful servants . ''

text: The

text: features

text: are

text: given

text: to

text: man

text: as

text: the

text: means

text: by

text: which

text: he

text: shall

text: express

text: his

text: emotions

text: and

text: yours

text: are

text: faithful

text: servants


text: `` Do you mean to say that you read my train of thoughts from my features ? ''

text: Do

text: you

text: mean

text: to

text: say

text: that

text: you

text: read

text: my

text: train

text: of

text: thoughts

text: from

text: my

text: features


text: `` Your features and especially your eyes .

text: Your

text: features

text: and

text: especially

text: your

text: eyes


text: Perhaps you can not yourself recall how your reverie commenced ? ''

text: Perhaps

text: you

text: can

text: not

text: yourself

text: recall

text: how

text: your

text: reverie

text: commenced


text: `` No , I can not . ''

text: No

text: I

text: can

text: not


text: `` No , I can not . ''

text: No

text: I

text: can

text: not


text: `` Then I will tell you .

text: Then

text: I

text: will

text: tell

text: you


text: After throwing down your paper , which was the action which drew my attention to you , you sat for half a minute with a vacant expression .

text: After

text: throwing

text: down

text: your

text: paper

text: which

text: was

text: the

text: action

text: which

text: drew

text: my

text: attention

text: to

text: you

text: you

text: sat

text: for

text: half

text: a

text: minute

text: with

text: a

text: vacant

text: expression


text: Then your eyes fixed themselves upon your newly framed picture of General Gordon , and I saw by the alteration in your face that a train of thought had been started .

text: Then

text: your

text: eyes

text: fixed

text: themselves

text: upon

text: your

text: newly

text: framed

text: picture

text: of

text: General

text: Gordon

text: and

text: I

text: saw

text: by

text: the

text: alteration

text: in

text: your

text: face

text: that

text: a

text: train

text: of

text: thought

text: had

text: been

text: started


text: But it did not lead very far .

text: But

text: it

text: did

text: not

text: lead

text: very

text: far


text: Your eyes flashed across to the unframed portrait of Henry Ward Beecher which stands upon the top of your books .

text: Your

text: eyes

text: flashed

text: across

text: to

text: the

text: unframed

text: portrait

text: of

text: Henry

text: Ward

text: Beecher

text: which

text: stands

text: upon

text: the

text: top

text: of

text: your

text: books


text: Then you glanced up at the wall , and of course your meaning was obvious .

text: Then

text: you

text: glanced

text: up

text: at

text: the

text: wall

text: and

text: of

text: course

text: your

text: meaning

text: was

text: obvious


text: You were thinking that if the portrait were framed it would just cover that bare space and correspond with Gordon 's picture there . ''

text: You

text: were

text: thinking

text: that

text: if

text: the

text: portrait

text: were

text: framed

text: it

text: would

text: just

text: cover

text: that

text: bare

text: space

text: and

text: correspond

text: with

text: Gordon

text: 's

text: picture

text: there


text: `` You have followed me wonderfully ! '' I exclaimed .

text: You

text: have

text: followed

text: me

text: wonderfully

text: I

text: exclaimed


text: `` So far I could hardly have gone astray .

text: So

text: far

text: I

text: could

text: hardly

text: have

text: gone

text: astray


text: But now your thoughts went back to Beecher , and you looked hard across as if you were studying the character in his features .

text: But

text: now

text: your

text: thoughts

text: went

text: back

text: to

text: Beecher

text: and

text: you

text: looked

text: hard

text: across

text: as

text: if

text: you

text: were

text: studying

text: the

text: character

text: in

text: his

text: features


text: Then your eyes ceased to pucker , but you continued to look across , and your face was thoughtful .

text: Then

text: your

text: eyes

text: ceased

text: to

text: pucker

text: but

text: you

text: continued

text: to

text: look

text: across

text: and

text: your

text: face

text: was

text: thoughtful


text: You were recalling the incidents of Beecher 's career .

text: You

text: were

text: recalling

text: the

text: incidents

text: of

text: Beecher

text: 's

text: career


text: I was well aware that you could not do this without thinking of the mission which he undertook on behalf of the North at the time of the Civil War , for I remember your expressing your passionate indignation at the way in which he was received by the more turbulent of our people .

text: I

text: was

text: well

text: aware

text: that

text: you

text: could

text: not

text: do

text: this

text: without

text: thinking

text: of

text: the

text: mission

text: which

text: he

text: undertook

text: on

text: behalf

text: of

text: the

text: North

text: at

text: the

text: time

text: of

text: the

text: Civil

text: War

text: for

text: I

text: remember

text: your

text: expressing

text: your

text: passionate

text: indignation

text: at

text: the

text: way

text: in

text: which

text: he

text: was

text: received

text: by

text: the

text: more

text: turbulent

text: of

text: our

text: people


text: I

text: was

text: well

text: aware

text: that

text: you

text: could

text: not

text: do

text: this

text: without

text: thinking

text: of

text: the

text: mission

text: which

text: he

text: undertook

text: on

text: behalf

text: of

text: the

text: North

text: at

text: the

text: time

text: of

text: the

text: Civil

text: War

text: for

text: I

text: remember

text: your

text: expressing

text: your

text: passionate

text: indignation

text: at

text: the

text: way

text: in

text: which

text: he

text: was

text: received

text: by

text: the

text: more

text: turbulent

text: of

text: our

text: people


text: You felt so strongly about it that I knew you could not think of Beecher without thinking of that also .

text: You

text: felt

text: so

text: strongly

text: about

text: it

text: that

text: I

text: knew

text: you

text: could

text: not

text: think

text: of

text: Beecher

text: without

text: thinking

text: of

text: that

text: also


text: You

text: felt

text: so

text: strongly

text: about

text: it

text: that

text: I

text: knew

text: you

text: could

text: not

text: think

text: of

text: Beecher

text: without

text: thinking

text: of

text: that

text: also


text: When a moment later I saw your eyes wander away from the picture , I suspected that your mind had now turned to the Civil War , and when I observed that your lips set , your eyes sparkled , and your hands clenched I was positive that you were indeed thinking of the gallantry which was shown by both sides in that desperate struggle .

text: When

text: a

text: moment

text: later

text: I

text: saw

text: your

text: eyes

text: wander

text: away

text: from

text: the

text: picture

text: I

text: suspected

text: that

text: your

text: mind

text: had

text: now

text: turned

text: to

text: the

text: Civil

text: War

text: and

text: when

text: I

text: observed

text: that

text: your

text: lips

text: set

text: your

text: eyes

text: sparkled

text: and

text: your

text: hands

text: clenched

text: I

text: was

text: positive

text: that

text: you

text: were

text: indeed

text: thinking

text: of

text: the

text: gallantry

text: which

text: was

text: shown

text: by

text: both

text: sides

text: in

text: that

text: desperate

text: struggle


text: But then , again , your face grew sadder , you shook your head .

text: But

text: then

text: again

text: your

text: face

text: grew

text: sadder

text: you

text: shook

text: your

text: head


text: You were dwelling upon the sadness and horror and useless waste of life .

text: You

text: were

text: dwelling

text: upon

text: the

text: sadness

text: and

text: horror

text: and

text: useless

text: waste

text: of

text: life


text: Your hand stole towards your own old wound and a smile quivered on your lips , which showed me that the ridiculous side of this method of settling international questions had forced itself upon your mind .

text: Your

text: hand

text: stole

text: towards

text: your

text: own

text: old

text: wound

text: and

text: a

text: smile

text: quivered

text: on

text: your

text: lips

text: which

text: showed

text: me

text: that

text: the

text: ridiculous

text: side

text: of

text: this

text: method

text: of

text: settling

text: international

text: questions

text: had

text: forced

text: itself

text: upon

text: your

text: mind


text: At this point I agreed with you that it was preposterous and was glad to find that all my deductions had been correct . ''

text: At

text: this

text: point

text: I

text: agreed

text: with

text: you

text: that

text: it

text: was

text: preposterous

text: and

text: was

text: glad

text: to

text: find

text: that

text: all

text: my

text: deductions

text: had

text: been

text: correct


text: `` Absolutely ! '' said I .

text: Absolutely

text: said

text: I


text: `` And now that you have explained it , I confess that I am as amazed as before . ''

text: And

text: now

text: that

text: you

text: have

text: explained

text: it

text: I

text: confess

text: that

text: I

text: am

text: as

text: amazed

text: as

text: before


text: `` It was very superficial , my dear Watson , I assure you .

text: It

text: was

text: very

text: superficial

text: my

text: dear

text: Watson

text: I

text: assure

text: you


text: I should not have intruded it upon your attention had you not shown some incredulity the other day .

text: I

text: should

text: not

text: have

text: intruded

text: it

text: upon

text: your

text: attention

text: had

text: you

text: not

text: shown

text: some

text: incredulity

text: the

text: other

text: day


text: But I have in my hands here a little problem which may prove to be more difficult of solution than my small essay in thought reading .

text: But

text: I

text: have

text: in

text: my

text: hands

text: here

text: a

text: little

text: problem

text: which

text: may

text: prove

text: to

text: be

text: more

text: difficult

text: of

text: solution

text: than

text: my

text: small

text: essay

text: in

text: thought

text: reading


text: Have you observed in the paper a short paragraph referring to the remarkable contents of a packet sent through the post to Miss Cushing , of Cross Street , Croydon ? ''

text: Have

text: you

text: observed

text: in

text: the

text: paper

text: a

text: short

text: paragraph

text: referring

text: to

text: the

text: remarkable

text: contents

text: of

text: a

text: packet

text: sent

text: through

text: the

text: post

text: to

text: Miss

text: Cushing

text: of

text: Cross

text: Street

text: Croydon


text: `` No , I saw nothing . ''

text: No

text: I

text: saw

text: nothing


text: `` No , I saw nothing . ''

text: No

text: I

text: saw

text: nothing


text: `` Ah ! then you must have overlooked it .

text: Ah

text: then

text: you

text: must

text: have

text: overlooked

text: it


text: Just toss it over to me .

text: Just

text: toss

text: it

text: over

text: to

text: me


text: Here it is , under the financial column .

text: Here

text: it

text: is

text: under

text: the

text: financial

text: column


text: Perhaps you would be good enough to read it aloud . ''

text: Perhaps

text: you

text: would

text: be

text: good

text: enough

text: to

text: read

text: it

text: aloud


text: I picked up the paper which he had thrown back to me and read the paragraph indicated .

text: I

text: picked

text: up

text: the

text: paper

text: which

text: he

text: had

text: thrown

text: back

text: to

text: me

text: and

text: read

text: the

text: paragraph

text: indicated


text: It was headed , `` A Gruesome Packet . ''

text: It

text: was

text: headed

text: A

text: Gruesome

text: Packet


text: `` Miss Susan Cushing , living at Cross Street , Croydon , has been made the victim of what must be regarded as a peculiarly revolting practical joke unless some more sinister meaning should prove to be attached to the incident .

text: Miss

text: Susan

text: Cushing

text: living

text: at

text: Cross

text: Street

text: Croydon

text: has

text: been

text: made

text: the

text: victim

text: of

text: what

text: must

text: be

text: regarded

text: as

text: a

text: peculiarly

text: revolting

text: practical

text: joke

text: unless

text: some

text: more

text: sinister

text: meaning

text: should

text: prove

text: to

text: be

text: attached

text: to

text: the

text: incident


text: At two o'clock yesterday afternoon a small packet , wrapped in brown paper , was handed in by the postman .

text: At

text: two

text: o'clock

text: yesterday

text: afternoon

text: a

text: small

text: packet

text: wrapped

text: in

text: brown

text: paper

text: was

text: handed

text: in

text: by

text: the

text: postman


text: A cardboard box was inside , which was filled with coarse salt .

text: A

text: cardboard

text: box

text: was

text: inside

text: which

text: was

text: filled

text: with

text: coarse

text: salt


text: On emptying this , Miss Cushing was horrified to find two human ears , apparently quite freshly severed .

text: On

text: emptying

text: this

text: Miss

text: Cushing

text: was

text: horrified

text: to

text: find

text: two

text: human

text: ears

text: apparently

text: quite

text: freshly

text: severed


text: The box had been sent by parcel post from Belfast upon the morning before .

text: The

text: box

text: had

text: been

text: sent

text: by

text: parcel

text: post

text: from

text: Belfast

text: upon

text: the

text: morning

text: before


text: There is no indication as to the sender , and the matter is the more mysterious as Miss Cushing , who is a maiden lady of fifty , has led a most retired life , and has so few acquaintances or correspondents that it is a rare event for her to receive anything through the post .

text: There

text: is

text: no

text: indication

text: as

text: to

text: the

text: sender

text: and

text: the

text: matter

text: is

text: the

text: more

text: mysterious

text: as

text: Miss

text: Cushing

text: who

text: is

text: a

text: maiden

text: lady

text: of

text: fifty

text: has

text: led

text: a

text: most

text: retired

text: life

text: and

text: has

text: so

text: few

text: acquaintances

text: or

text: correspondents

text: that

text: it

text: is

text: a

text: rare

text: event

text: for

text: her

text: to

text: receive

text: anything

text: through

text: the

text: post


text: Some years ago , however , when she resided at Penge , she let apartments in her house to three young medical students , whom she was obliged to get rid of on account of their noisy and irregular habits .

text: Some

text: years

text: ago

text: however

text: when

text: she

text: resided

text: at

text: Penge

text: she

text: let

text: apartments

text: in

text: her

text: house

text: to

text: three

text: young

text: medical

text: students

text: whom

text: she

text: was

text: obliged

text: to

text: get

text: rid

text: of

text: on

text: account

text: of

text: their

text: noisy

text: and

text: irregular

text: habits


text: The police are of opinion that this outrage may have been perpetrated upon Miss Cushing by these youths , who owed her a grudge and who hoped to frighten her by sending her these relics of the dissecting-rooms .

text: The

text: police

text: are

text: of

text: opinion

text: that

text: this

text: outrage

text: may

text: have

text: been

text: perpetrated

text: upon

text: Miss

text: Cushing

text: by

text: these

text: youths

text: who

text: owed

text: her

text: a

text: grudge

text: and

text: who

text: hoped

text: to

text: frighten

text: her

text: by

text: sending

text: her

text: these

text: relics

text: of

text: the

text: dissecting-rooms


text: Some probability is lent to the theory by the fact that one of these students came from the north of Ireland , and , to the best of Miss Cushing 's belief , from Belfast .

text: Some

text: probability

text: is

text: lent

text: to

text: the

text: theory

text: by

text: the

text: fact

text: that

text: one

text: of

text: these

text: students

text: came

text: from

text: the

text: north

text: of

text: Ireland

text: and

text: to

text: the

text: best

text: of

text: Miss

text: Cushing

text: 's

text: belief

text: from

text: Belfast


text: In the meantime , the matter is being actively investigated , Mr. Lestrade , one of the very smartest of our detective officers , being in charge of the case . ''

text: In

text: the

text: meantime

text: the

text: matter

text: is

text: being

text: actively

text: investigated

text: Mr.

text: Lestrade

text: one

text: of

text: the

text: very

text: smartest

text: of

text: our

text: detective

text: officers

text: being

text: in

text: charge

text: of

text: the

text: case


text: `` So much for the Daily Chronicle , '' said Holmes as I finished reading .

text: So

text: much

text: for

text: the

text: Daily

text: Chronicle

text: said

text: Holmes

text: as

text: I

text: finished

text: reading


text: `` Now for our friend Lestrade .

text: Now

text: for

text: our

text: friend

text: Lestrade


text: I had a note from him this morning , in which he says :

text: I

text: had

text: a

text: note

text: from

text: him

text: this

text: morning

text: in

text: which

text: he

text: says


text: `` I think that this case is very much in your line .

text: I

text: think

text: that

text: this

text: case

text: is

text: very

text: much

text: in

text: your

text: line


text: We have every hope of clearing the matter up , but we find a little difficulty in getting anything to work upon .

text: We

text: have

text: every

text: hope

text: of

text: clearing

text: the

text: matter

text: up

text: but

text: we

text: find

text: a

text: little

text: difficulty

text: in

text: getting

text: anything

text: to

text: work

text: upon


text: We have , of course , wired to the Belfast post-office , but a large number of parcels were handed in upon that day , and they have no means of identifying this particular one , or of remembering the sender .

text: We

text: have

text: of

text: course

text: wired

text: to

text: the

text: Belfast

text: post-office

text: but

text: a

text: large

text: number

text: of

text: parcels

text: were

text: handed

text: in

text: upon

text: that

text: day

text: and

text: they

text: have

text: no

text: means

text: of

text: identifying

text: this

text: particular

text: one

text: or

text: of

text: remembering

text: the

text: sender


text: The box is a half-pound box of honeydew tobacco and does not help us in any way .

text: The

text: box

text: is

text: a

text: half-pound

text: box

text: of

text: honeydew

text: tobacco

text: and

text: does

text: not

text: help

text: us

text: in

text: any

text: way


text: The medical student theory still appears to me to be the most feasible , but if you should have a few hours to spare I should be very happy to see you out here .

text: The

text: medical

text: student

text: theory

text: still

text: appears

text: to

text: me

text: to

text: be

text: the

text: most

text: feasible

text: but

text: if

text: you

text: should

text: have

text: a

text: few

text: hours

text: to

text: spare

text: I

text: should

text: be

text: very

text: happy

text: to

text: see

text: you

text: out

text: here


text: I shall be either at the house or in the police-station all day .

text: I

text: shall

text: be

text: either

text: at

text: the

text: house

text: or

text: in

text: the

text: police-station

text: all

text: day


text: `` What say you , Watson ?

text: What

text: say

text: you

text: Watson


text: Can you rise superior to the heat and run down to Croydon with me on the off chance of a case for your annals ? ''

text: Can

text: you

text: rise

text: superior

text: to

text: the

text: heat

text: and

text: run

text: down

text: to

text: Croydon

text: with

text: me

text: on

text: the

text: off

text: chance

text: of

text: a

text: case

text: for

text: your

text: annals


text: `` I was longing for something to do . ''

text: I

text: was

text: longing

text: for

text: something

text: to

text: do


text: `` You shall have it then .

text: You

text: shall

text: have

text: it

text: then


text: Ring for our boots and tell them to order a cab .

text: Ring

text: for

text: our

text: boots

text: and

text: tell

text: them

text: to

text: order

text: a

text: cab


text: I 'll be back in a moment when I have changed my dressing-gown and filled my cigar-case . ''

text: I

text: 'll

text: be

text: back

text: in

text: a

text: moment

text: when

text: I

text: have

text: changed

text: my

text: dressing-gown

text: and

text: filled

text: my

text: cigar-case


text: A shower of rain fell while we were in the train , and the heat was far less oppressive in Croydon than in town .

text: A

text: shower

text: of

text: rain

text: fell

text: while

text: we

text: were

text: in

text: the

text: train

text: and

text: the

text: heat

text: was

text: far

text: less

text: oppressive

text: in

text: Croydon

text: than

text: in

text: town


text: Holmes had sent on a wire , so that Lestrade , as wiry , as dapper , and as ferret-like as ever , was waiting for us at the station .

text: Holmes

text: had

text: sent

text: on

text: a

text: wire

text: so

text: that

text: Lestrade

text: as

text: wiry

text: as

text: dapper

text: and

text: as

text: ferret-like

text: as

text: ever

text: was

text: waiting

text: for

text: us

text: at

text: the

text: station


text: A walk of five minutes took us to Cross Street , where Miss Cushing resided .

text: A

text: walk

text: of

text: five

text: minutes

text: took

text: us

text: to

text: Cross

text: Street

text: where

text: Miss

text: Cushing

text: resided


text: It was a very long street of two-story brick houses , neat and prim , with whitened stone steps and little groups of aproned women gossiping at the doors .

text: It

text: was

text: a

text: very

text: long

text: street

text: of

text: two-story

text: brick

text: houses

text: neat

text: and

text: prim

text: with

text: whitened

text: stone

text: steps

text: and

text: little

text: groups

text: of

text: aproned

text: women

text: gossiping

text: at

text: the

text: doors


text: Halfway down , Lestrade stopped and tapped at a door , which was opened by a small servant girl .

text: Halfway

text: down

text: Lestrade

text: stopped

text: and

text: tapped

text: at

text: a

text: door

text: which

text: was

text: opened

text: by

text: a

text: small

text: servant

text: girl


text: Miss Cushing was sitting in the front room , into which we were ushered .

text: Miss

text: Cushing

text: was

text: sitting

text: in

text: the

text: front

text: room

text: into

text: which

text: we

text: were

text: ushered


text: She was a placid-faced woman , with large , gentle eyes , and grizzled hair curving down over her temples on each side .

text: She

text: was

text: a

text: placid-faced

text: woman

text: with

text: large

text: gentle

text: eyes

text: and

text: grizzled

text: hair

text: curving

text: down

text: over

text: her

text: temples

text: on

text: each

text: side


text: A worked antimacassar lay upon her lap and a basket of coloured silks stood upon a stool beside her .

text: A

text: worked

text: antimacassar

text: lay

text: upon

text: her

text: lap

text: and

text: a

text: basket

text: of

text: coloured

text: silks

text: stood

text: upon

text: a

text: stool

text: beside

text: her


text: `` They are in the outhouse , those dreadful things , '' said she as Lestrade entered .

text: They

text: are

text: in

text: the

text: outhouse

text: those

text: dreadful

text: things

text: said

text: she

text: as

text: Lestrade

text: entered


text: `` I wish that you would take them away altogether . ''

text: I

text: wish

text: that

text: you

text: would

text: take

text: them

text: away

text: altogether


text: `` So I shall , Miss Cushing .

text: So

text: I

text: shall

text: Miss

text: Cushing


text: I only kept them here until my friend , Mr. Holmes , should have seen them in your presence . ''

text: I

text: only

text: kept

text: them

text: here

text: until

text: my

text: friend

text: Mr.

text: Holmes

text: should

text: have

text: seen

text: them

text: in

text: your

text: presence


text: `` Why in my presence , sir ? ''

text: Why

text: in

text: my

text: presence

text: sir


text: `` In case he wished to ask any questions . ''

text: In

text: case

text: he

text: wished

text: to

text: ask

text: any

text: questions


text: `` What is the use of asking me questions when I tell you I know nothing whatever about it ? ''

text: What

text: is

text: the

text: use

text: of

text: asking

text: me

text: questions

text: when

text: I

text: tell

text: you

text: I

text: know

text: nothing

text: whatever

text: about

text: it


text: `` Quite so , madam , '' said Holmes in his soothing way .

text: Quite

text: so

text: madam

text: said

text: Holmes

text: in

text: his

text: soothing

text: way


text: `` I have no doubt that you have been annoyed more than enough already over this business . ''

text: I

text: have

text: no

text: doubt

text: that

text: you

text: have

text: been

text: annoyed

text: more

text: than

text: enough

text: already

text: over

text: this

text: business


text: `` Indeed I have , sir .

text: Indeed

text: I

text: have

text: sir


text: I am a quiet woman and live a retired life .

text: I

text: am

text: a

text: quiet

text: woman

text: and

text: live

text: a

text: retired

text: life


text: It is something new for me to see my name in the papers and to find the police in my house .

text: It

text: is

text: something

text: new

text: for

text: me

text: to

text: see

text: my

text: name

text: in

text: the

text: papers

text: and

text: to

text: find

text: the

text: police

text: in

text: my

text: house


text: I wo n't have those things in here , Mr. Lestrade .

text: I

text: wo

text: n't

text: have

text: those

text: things

text: in

text: here

text: Mr.

text: Lestrade


text: If you wish to see them you must go to the outhouse . ''

text: If

text: you

text: wish

text: to

text: see

text: them

text: you

text: must

text: go

text: to

text: the

text: outhouse


text: It was a small shed in the narrow garden which ran behind the house .

text: It

text: was

text: a

text: small

text: shed

text: in

text: the

text: narrow

text: garden

text: which

text: ran

text: behind

text: the

text: house


text: Lestrade went in and brought out a yellow cardboard box , with a piece of brown paper and some string .

text: Lestrade

text: went

text: in

text: and

text: brought

text: out

text: a

text: yellow

text: cardboard

text: box

text: with

text: a

text: piece

text: of

text: brown

text: paper

text: and

text: some

text: string


text: There was a bench at the end of the path , and we all sat down while Homes examined one by one , the articles which Lestrade had handed to him .

text: There

text: was

text: a

text: bench

text: at

text: the

text: end

text: of

text: the

text: path

text: and

text: we

text: all

text: sat

text: down

text: while

text: Homes

text: examined

text: one

text: by

text: one

text: the

text: articles

text: which

text: Lestrade

text: had

text: handed

text: to

text: him


text: `` The string is exceedingly interesting , '' he remarked , holding it up to the light and sniffing at it .

text: The

text: string

text: is

text: exceedingly

text: interesting

text: he

text: remarked

text: holding

text: it

text: up

text: to

text: the

text: light

text: and

text: sniffing

text: at

text: it


text: `` What do you make of this string , Lestrade ? ''

text: What

text: do

text: you

text: make

text: of

text: this

text: string

text: Lestrade


text: `` It has been tarred . ''

text: It

text: has

text: been

text: tarred


text: `` Precisely .

text: Precisely


text: It is a piece of tarred twine .

text: It

text: is

text: a

text: piece

text: of

text: tarred

text: twine


text: You have also , no doubt , remarked that Miss Cushing has cut the cord with a scissors , as can be seen by the double fray on each side .

text: You

text: have

text: also

text: no

text: doubt

text: remarked

text: that

text: Miss

text: Cushing

text: has

text: cut

text: the

text: cord

text: with

text: a

text: scissors

text: as

text: can

text: be

text: seen

text: by

text: the

text: double

text: fray

text: on

text: each

text: side


text: This is of importance . ''

text: This

text: is

text: of

text: importance


text: `` I can not see the importance , '' said Lestrade .

text: I

text: can

text: not

text: see

text: the

text: importance

text: said

text: Lestrade


text: `` The importance lies in the fact that the knot is left intact , and that this knot is of a peculiar character . ''

text: The

text: importance

text: lies

text: in

text: the

text: fact

text: that

text: the

text: knot

text: is

text: left

text: intact

text: and

text: that

text: this

text: knot

text: is

text: of

text: a

text: peculiar

text: character


text: `` It is very neatly tied .

text: It

text: is

text: very

text: neatly

text: tied


text: I had already made a note of that effect , '' said Lestrade complacently .

text: I

text: had

text: already

text: made

text: a

text: note

text: of

text: that

text: effect

text: said

text: Lestrade

text: complacently


text: `` So much for the string , then , '' said Holmes , smiling , `` now for the box wrapper .

text: So

text: much

text: for

text: the

text: string

text: then

text: said

text: Holmes

text: smiling

text: now

text: for

text: the

text: box

text: wrapper


text: Brown paper , with a distinct smell of coffee .

text: Brown

text: paper

text: with

text: a

text: distinct

text: smell

text: of

text: coffee


text: What , did you not observe it ?

text: What

text: did

text: you

text: not

text: observe

text: it


text: I think there can be no doubt of it .

text: I

text: think

text: there

text: can

text: be

text: no

text: doubt

text: of

text: it


text: Address printed in rather straggling characters :

text: Address

text: printed

text: in

text: rather

text: straggling

text: characters


text: ` Miss S. Cushing , Cross Street , Croydon . '

text: Miss

text: S.

text: Cushing

text: Cross

text: Street

text: Croydon


text: Done with a broad-pointed pen , probably a J , and with very inferior ink .

text: Done

text: with

text: a

text: broad-pointed

text: pen

text: probably

text: a

text: J

text: and

text: with

text: very

text: inferior

text: ink


text: The word ` Croydon ' has been originally spelled with an ` i ' , which has been changed to ` y ' .

text: The

text: word

text: Croydon

text: has

text: been

text: originally

text: spelled

text: with

text: an

text: i

text: which

text: has

text: been

text: changed

text: to

text: y


text: The parcel was directed , then , by a man -- the printing is distinctly masculine -- of limited education and unacquainted with the town of Croydon .

text: The

text: parcel

text: was

text: directed

text: then

text: by

text: a

text: man

text: the

text: printing

text: is

text: distinctly

text: masculine

text: of

text: limited

text: education

text: and

text: unacquainted

text: with

text: the

text: town

text: of

text: Croydon


text: So far , so good !

text: So

text: far

text: so

text: good


text: The box is a yellow , half-pound honeydew box , with nothing distinctive save two thumb marks at the left bottom corner .

text: The

text: box

text: is

text: a

text: yellow

text: half-pound

text: honeydew

text: box

text: with

text: nothing

text: distinctive

text: save

text: two

text: thumb

text: marks

text: at

text: the

text: left

text: bottom

text: corner


text: It is filled with rough salt of the quality used for preserving hides and other of the coarser commercial purposes .

text: It

text: is

text: filled

text: with

text: rough

text: salt

text: of

text: the

text: quality

text: used

text: for

text: preserving

text: hides

text: and

text: other

text: of

text: the

text: coarser

text: commercial

text: purposes


text: And embedded in it are these very singular enclosures . ''

text: And

text: embedded

text: in

text: it

text: are

text: these

text: very

text: singular

text: enclosures


text: He took out the two ears as he spoke , and laying a board across his knee he examined them minutely , while Lestrade and I , bending forward on each side of him , glanced alternately at these dreadful relics and at the thoughtful , eager face of our companion .

text: He

text: took

text: out

text: the

text: two

text: ears

text: as

text: he

text: spoke

text: and

text: laying

text: a

text: board

text: across

text: his

text: knee

text: he

text: examined

text: them

text: minutely

text: while

text: Lestrade

text: and

text: I

text: bending

text: forward

text: on

text: each

text: side

text: of

text: him

text: glanced

text: alternately

text: at

text: these

text: dreadful

text: relics

text: and

text: at

text: the

text: thoughtful

text: eager

text: face

text: of

text: our

text: companion


text: Finally he returned them to the box once more and sat for a while in deep meditation .

text: Finally

text: he

text: returned

text: them

text: to

text: the

text: box

text: once

text: more

text: and

text: sat

text: for

text: a

text: while

text: in

text: deep

text: meditation


text: `` You have observed , of course , '' said he at last , `` that the ears are not a pair . ''

text: You

text: have

text: observed

text: of

text: course

text: said

text: he

text: at

text: last

text: that

text: the

text: ears

text: are

text: not

text: a

text: pair


text: `` Yes , I have noticed that .

text: Yes

text: I

text: have

text: noticed

text: that


text: But if this were the practical joke of some students from the dissecting-rooms , it would be as easy for them to send two odd ears as a pair . ''

text: But

text: if

text: this

text: were

text: the

text: practical

text: joke

text: of

text: some

text: students

text: from

text: the

text: dissecting-rooms

text: it

text: would

text: be

text: as

text: easy

text: for

text: them

text: to

text: send

text: two

text: odd

text: ears

text: as

text: a

text: pair


text: `` Precisely .

text: Precisely


text: But this is not a practical joke . ''

text: But

text: this

text: is

text: not

text: a

text: practical

text: joke


text: `` You are sure of it ? ''

text: You

text: are

text: sure

text: of

text: it


text: `` The presumption is strongly against it .

text: The

text: presumption

text: is

text: strongly

text: against

text: it


text: Bodies in the dissecting-rooms are injected with preservative fluid .

text: Bodies

text: in

text: the

text: dissecting-rooms

text: are

text: injected

text: with

text: preservative

text: fluid


text: These ears bear no signs of this .

text: These

text: ears

text: bear

text: no

text: signs

text: of

text: this


text: They are fresh , too .

text: They

text: are

text: fresh

text: too


text: They have been cut off with a blunt instrument , which would hardly happen if a student had done it .

text: They

text: have

text: been

text: cut

text: off

text: with

text: a

text: blunt

text: instrument

text: which

text: would

text: hardly

text: happen

text: if

text: a

text: student

text: had

text: done

text: it


text: Again , carbolic or rectified spirits would be the preservatives which would suggest themselves to the medical mind , certainly not rough salt .

text: Again

text: carbolic

text: or

text: rectified

text: spirits

text: would

text: be

text: the

text: preservatives

text: which

text: would

text: suggest

text: themselves

text: to

text: the

text: medical

text: mind

text: certainly

text: not

text: rough

text: salt


text: I repeat that there is no practical joke here , but that we are investigating a serious crime . ''

text: I

text: repeat

text: that

text: there

text: is

text: no

text: practical

text: joke

text: here

text: but

text: that

text: we

text: are

text: investigating

text: a

text: serious

text: crime


text: A vague thrill ran through me as I listened to my companion 's words and saw the stern gravity which had hardened his features .

text: A

text: vague

text: thrill

text: ran

text: through

text: me

text: as

text: I

text: listened

text: to

text: my

text: companion

text: 's

text: words

text: and

text: saw

text: the

text: stern

text: gravity

text: which

text: had

text: hardened

text: his

text: features


text: This brutal preliminary seemed to shadow forth some strange and inexplicable horror in the background .

text: This

text: brutal

text: preliminary

text: seemed

text: to

text: shadow

text: forth

text: some

text: strange

text: and

text: inexplicable

text: horror

text: in

text: the

text: background


text: Lestrade , however , shook his head like a man who is only half convinced .

text: Lestrade

text: however

text: shook

text: his

text: head

text: like

text: a

text: man

text: who

text: is

text: only

text: half

text: convinced


text: `` There are objections to the joke theory , no doubt , '' said he , `` but there are much stronger reasons against the other .

text: There

text: are

text: objections

text: to

text: the

text: joke

text: theory

text: no

text: doubt

text: said

text: he

text: but

text: there

text: are

text: much

text: stronger

text: reasons

text: against

text: the

text: other


text: We know that this woman has led a most quiet and respectable life at Penge and here for the last twenty years .

text: We

text: know

text: that

text: this

text: woman

text: has

text: led

text: a

text: most

text: quiet

text: and

text: respectable

text: life

text: at

text: Penge

text: and

text: here

text: for

text: the

text: last

text: twenty

text: years


text: She has hardly been away from her home for a day during that time .

text: She

text: has

text: hardly

text: been

text: away

text: from

text: her

text: home

text: for

text: a

text: day

text: during

text: that

text: time


text: Why on earth , then , should any criminal send her the proofs of his guilt , especially as , unless she is a most consummate actress , she understands quite as little of the matter as we do ? ''

text: Why

text: on

text: earth

text: then

text: should

text: any

text: criminal

text: send

text: her

text: the

text: proofs

text: of

text: his

text: guilt

text: especially

text: as

text: unless

text: she

text: is

text: a

text: most

text: consummate

text: actress

text: she

text: understands

text: quite

text: as

text: little

text: of

text: the

text: matter

text: as

text: we

text: do


text: `` That is the problem which we have to solve , '' Holmes answered , `` and for my part I shall set about it by presuming that my reasoning is correct , and that a double murder has been committed .

text: That

text: is

text: the

text: problem

text: which

text: we

text: have

text: to

text: solve

text: Holmes

text: answered

text: and

text: for

text: my

text: part

text: I

text: shall

text: set

text: about

text: it

text: by

text: presuming

text: that

text: my

text: reasoning

text: is

text: correct

text: and

text: that

text: a

text: double

text: murder

text: has

text: been

text: committed


text: One of these ears is a woman 's , small , finely formed , and pierced for an earring .

text: One

text: of

text: these

text: ears

text: is

text: a

text: woman

text: 's

text: small

text: finely

text: formed

text: and

text: pierced

text: for

text: an

text: earring


text: The other is a man 's , sun-burned , discoloured , and also pierced for an earring .

text: The

text: other

text: is

text: a

text: man

text: 's

text: sun-burned

text: discoloured

text: and

text: also

text: pierced

text: for

text: an

text: earring


text: These two people are presumably dead , or we should have heard their story before now .

text: These

text: two

text: people

text: are

text: presumably

text: dead

text: or

text: we

text: should

text: have

text: heard

text: their

text: story

text: before

text: now


text: To-day is Friday .

text: To-day

text: is

text: Friday


text: The packet was posted on Thursday morning .

text: The

text: packet

text: was

text: posted

text: on

text: Thursday

text: morning


text: The tragedy , then , occurred on Wednesday or Tuesday , or earlier .

text: The

text: tragedy

text: then

text: occurred

text: on

text: Wednesday

text: or

text: Tuesday

text: or

text: earlier


text: If the two people were murdered , who but their murderer would have sent this sign of his work to Miss Cushing ?

text: If

text: the

text: two

text: people

text: were

text: murdered

text: who

text: but

text: their

text: murderer

text: would

text: have

text: sent

text: this

text: sign

text: of

text: his

text: work

text: to

text: Miss

text: Cushing


text: We may take it that the sender of the packet is the man whom we want .

text: We

text: may

text: take

text: it

text: that

text: the

text: sender

text: of

text: the

text: packet

text: is

text: the

text: man

text: whom

text: we

text: want


text: But he must have some strong reason for sending Miss Cushing this packet .

text: But

text: he

text: must

text: have

text: some

text: strong

text: reason

text: for

text: sending

text: Miss

text: Cushing

text: this

text: packet


text: What reason then ?

text: What

text: reason

text: then


text: It must have been to tell her that the deed was done ! or to pain her , perhaps .

text: It

text: must

text: have

text: been

text: to

text: tell

text: her

text: that

text: the

text: deed

text: was

text: done

text: or

text: to

text: pain

text: her

text: perhaps


text: But in that case she knows who it is .

text: But

text: in

text: that

text: case

text: she

text: knows

text: who

text: it

text: is


text: Does she know ?

text: Does

text: she

text: know


text: I doubt it .

text: I

text: doubt

text: it


text: If she knew , why should she call the police in ?

text: If

text: she

text: knew

text: why

text: should

text: she

text: call

text: the

text: police

text: in


text: She might have buried the ears , and no one would have been the wiser .

text: She

text: might

text: have

text: buried

text: the

text: ears

text: and

text: no

text: one

text: would

text: have

text: been

text: the

text: wiser


text: That is what she would have done if she had wished to shield the criminal .

text: That

text: is

text: what

text: she

text: would

text: have

text: done

text: if

text: she

text: had

text: wished

text: to

text: shield

text: the

text: criminal


text: But if she does not wish to shield him she would give his name .

text: But

text: if

text: she

text: does

text: not

text: wish

text: to

text: shield

text: him

text: she

text: would

text: give

text: his

text: name


text: There is a tangle here which needs straightening out . ''

text: There

text: is

text: a

text: tangle

text: here

text: which

text: needs

text: straightening

text: out


text: He had been talking in a high , quick voice , staring blankly up over the garden fence , but now he sprang briskly to his feet and walked towards the house .

text: He

text: had

text: been

text: talking

text: in

text: a

text: high

text: quick

text: voice

text: staring

text: blankly

text: up

text: over

text: the

text: garden

text: fence

text: but

text: now

text: he

text: sprang

text: briskly

text: to

text: his

text: feet

text: and

text: walked

text: towards

text: the

text: house


text: `` I have a few questions to ask Miss Cushing , '' said he .

text: I

text: have

text: a

text: few

text: questions

text: to

text: ask

text: Miss

text: Cushing

text: said

text: he


text: `` In that case I may leave you here , '' said Lestrade , `` for I have another small business on hand .

text: In

text: that

text: case

text: I

text: may

text: leave

text: you

text: here

text: said

text: Lestrade

text: for

text: I

text: have

text: another

text: small

text: business

text: on

text: hand


text: I think that I have nothing further to learn from Miss Cushing .

text: I

text: think

text: that

text: I

text: have

text: nothing

text: further

text: to

text: learn

text: from

text: Miss

text: Cushing


text: You will find me at the police-station . ''

text: You

text: will

text: find

text: me

text: at

text: the

text: police-station


text: `` We shall look in on our way to the train , '' answered Holmes .

text: We

text: shall

text: look

text: in

text: on

text: our

text: way

text: to

text: the

text: train

text: answered

text: Holmes


text: A moment later he and I were back in the front room , where the impassive lady was still quietly working away at her antimacassar .

text: A

text: moment

text: later

text: he

text: and

text: I

text: were

text: back

text: in

text: the

text: front

text: room

text: where

text: the

text: impassive

text: lady

text: was

text: still

text: quietly

text: working

text: away

text: at

text: her

text: antimacassar


text: She put it down on her lap as we entered and looked at us with her frank , searching blue eyes .

text: She

text: put

text: it

text: down

text: on

text: her

text: lap

text: as

text: we

text: entered

text: and

text: looked

text: at

text: us

text: with

text: her

text: frank

text: searching

text: blue

text: eyes


text: `` I am convinced , sir , '' she said , `` that this matter is a mistake , and that the parcel was never meant for me at all .

text: I

text: am

text: convinced

text: sir

text: she

text: said

text: that

text: this

text: matter

text: is

text: a

text: mistake

text: and

text: that

text: the

text: parcel

text: was

text: never

text: meant

text: for

text: me

text: at

text: all


text: I have said this several times to the gentlemen from Scotland Yard , but he simply laughs at me .

text: I

text: have

text: said

text: this

text: several

text: times

text: to

text: the

text: gentlemen

text: from

text: Scotland

text: Yard

text: but

text: he

text: simply

text: laughs

text: at

text: me


text: I have not an enemy in the world , as far as I know , so why should anyone play me such a trick ? ''

text: I

text: have

text: not

text: an

text: enemy

text: in

text: the

text: world

text: as

text: far

text: as

text: I

text: know

text: so

text: why

text: should

text: anyone

text: play

text: me

text: such

text: a

text: trick


text: `` I am coming to be of the same opinion , Miss Cushing , '' said Holmes , taking a seat beside her .

text: I

text: am

text: coming

text: to

text: be

text: of

text: the

text: same

text: opinion

text: Miss

text: Cushing

text: said

text: Holmes

text: taking

text: a

text: seat

text: beside

text: her


text: `` I think that it is more than probable -- '' He paused , and I was surprised , on glancing round to see that he was staring with singular intentness at the lady 's profile .

text: I

text: think

text: that

text: it

text: is

text: more

text: than

text: probable

text: He

text: paused

text: and

text: I

text: was

text: surprised

text: on

text: glancing

text: round

text: to

text: see

text: that

text: he

text: was

text: staring

text: with

text: singular

text: intentness

text: at

text: the

text: lady

text: 's

text: profile


text: Surprise and satisfaction were both for an instant to be read upon his eager face , though when she glanced round to find out the cause of his silence he had become as demure as ever .

text: Surprise

text: and

text: satisfaction

text: were

text: both

text: for

text: an

text: instant

text: to

text: be

text: read

text: upon

text: his

text: eager

text: face

text: though

text: when

text: she

text: glanced

text: round

text: to

text: find

text: out

text: the

text: cause

text: of

text: his

text: silence

text: he

text: had

text: become

text: as

text: demure

text: as

text: ever


text: I stared hard myself at her flat , grizzled hair , her trim cap , her little gilt earrings , her placid features ; but I could see nothing which could account for my companion 's evident excitement .

text: I

text: stared

text: hard

text: myself

text: at

text: her

text: flat

text: grizzled

text: hair

text: her

text: trim

text: cap

text: her

text: little

text: gilt

text: earrings

text: her

text: placid

text: features

text: but

text: I

text: could

text: see

text: nothing

text: which

text: could

text: account

text: for

text: my

text: companion

text: 's

text: evident

text: excitement


text: `` There were one or two questions -- ''

text: There

text: were

text: one

text: or

text: two

text: questions


text: `` Oh , I am weary of questions ! '' cried Miss Cushing impatiently .

text: Oh

text: I

text: am

text: weary

text: of

text: questions

text: cried

text: Miss

text: Cushing

text: impatiently


text: `` You have two sisters , I believe . ''

text: You

text: have

text: two

text: sisters

text: I

text: believe


text: `` How could you know that ? ''

text: How

text: could

text: you

text: know

text: that


text: `` I observed the very instant that I entered the room that you have a portrait group of three ladies upon the mantelpiece , one of whom is undoubtedly yourself , while the others are so exceedingly like you that there could be no doubt of the relationship . ''

text: I

text: observed

text: the

text: very

text: instant

text: that

text: I

text: entered

text: the

text: room

text: that

text: you

text: have

text: a

text: portrait

text: group

text: of

text: three

text: ladies

text: upon

text: the

text: mantelpiece

text: one

text: of

text: whom

text: is

text: undoubtedly

text: yourself

text: while

text: the

text: others

text: are

text: so

text: exceedingly

text: like

text: you

text: that

text: there

text: could

text: be

text: no

text: doubt

text: of

text: the

text: relationship


text: `` Yes , you are quite right .

text: Yes

text: you

text: are

text: quite

text: right


text: Those are my sisters , Sarah and Mary . ''

text: Those

text: are

text: my

text: sisters

text: Sarah

text: and

text: Mary


text: `` And here at my elbow is another portrait , taken at Liverpool , of your younger sister , in the company of a man who appears to be a steward by his uniform .

text: And

text: here

text: at

text: my

text: elbow

text: is

text: another

text: portrait

text: taken

text: at

text: Liverpool

text: of

text: your

text: younger

text: sister

text: in

text: the

text: company

text: of

text: a

text: man

text: who

text: appears

text: to

text: be

text: a

text: steward

text: by

text: his

text: uniform


text: I observe that she was unmarried at the time . ''

text: I

text: observe

text: that

text: she

text: was

text: unmarried

text: at

text: the

text: time


text: `` You are very quick at observing . ''

text: You

text: are

text: very

text: quick

text: at

text: observing


text: `` That is my trade . ''

text: That

text: is

text: my

text: trade


text: `` Well , you are quite right .

text: Well

text: you

text: are

text: quite

text: right


text: But she was married to Mr. Browner a few days afterwards .

text: But

text: she

text: was

text: married

text: to

text: Mr.

text: Browner

text: a

text: few

text: days

text: afterwards


text: He was on the South American line when that was taken , but he was so fond of her that he could n't abide to leave her for so long , and he got into the Liverpool and London boats . ''

text: He

text: was

text: on

text: the

text: South

text: American

text: line

text: when

text: that

text: was

text: taken

text: but

text: he

text: was

text: so

text: fond

text: of

text: her

text: that

text: he

text: could

text: n't

text: abide

text: to

text: leave

text: her

text: for

text: so

text: long

text: and

text: he

text: got

text: into

text: the

text: Liverpool

text: and

text: London

text: boats


text: `` Ah , the Conqueror , perhaps ? ''

text: Ah

text: the

text: Conqueror

text: perhaps


text: `` No , the May Day , when last I heard .

text: No

text: the

text: May

text: Day

text: when

text: last

text: I

text: heard


text: Jim came down here to see me once .

text: Jim

text: came

text: down

text: here

text: to

text: see

text: me

text: once


text: That was before he broke the pledge ; but afterwards he would always take drink when he was ashore , and a little drink would send him stark , staring mad .

text: That

text: was

text: before

text: he

text: broke

text: the

text: pledge

text: but

text: afterwards

text: he

text: would

text: always

text: take

text: drink

text: when

text: he

text: was

text: ashore

text: and

text: a

text: little

text: drink

text: would

text: send

text: him

text: stark

text: staring

text: mad


text: Ah ! it was a bad day that ever he took a glass in his hand again .

text: Ah

text: it

text: was

text: a

text: bad

text: day

text: that

text: ever

text: he

text: took

text: a

text: glass

text: in

text: his

text: hand

text: again


text: First he dropped me , then he quarrelled with Sarah , and now that Mary has stopped writing we do n't know how things are going with them . ''

text: First

text: he

text: dropped

text: me

text: then

text: he

text: quarrelled

text: with

text: Sarah

text: and

text: now

text: that

text: Mary

text: has

text: stopped

text: writing

text: we

text: do

text: n't

text: know

text: how

text: things

text: are

text: going

text: with

text: them


text: It was evident that Miss Cushing had come upon a subject on which she felt very deeply .

text: It

text: was

text: evident

text: that

text: Miss

text: Cushing

text: had

text: come

text: upon

text: a

text: subject

text: on

text: which

text: she

text: felt

text: very

text: deeply


text: Like most people who lead a lonely life , she was shy at first , but ended by becoming extremely communicative .

text: Like

text: most

text: people

text: who

text: lead

text: a

text: lonely

text: life

text: she

text: was

text: shy

text: at

text: first

text: but

text: ended

text: by

text: becoming

text: extremely

text: communicative


text: She told us many details about her brother-in-law the steward , and then wandering off on the subject of her former lodgers , the medical students , she gave us a long account of their delinquencies , with their names and those of their hospitals .

text: She

text: told

text: us

text: many

text: details

text: about

text: her

text: brother-in-law

text: the

text: steward

text: and

text: then

text: wandering

text: off

text: on

text: the

text: subject

text: of

text: her

text: former

text: lodgers

text: the

text: medical

text: students

text: she

text: gave

text: us

text: a

text: long

text: account

text: of

text: their

text: delinquencies

text: with

text: their

text: names

text: and

text: those

text: of

text: their

text: hospitals


text: Holmes listened attentively to everything , throwing in a question from time to time .

text: Holmes

text: listened

text: attentively

text: to

text: everything

text: throwing

text: in

text: a

text: question

text: from

text: time

text: to

text: time


text: `` About your second sister , Sarah , '' said he .

text: About

text: your

text: second

text: sister

text: Sarah

text: said

text: he


text: `` I wonder , since you are both maiden ladies , that you do not keep house together . ''

text: I

text: wonder

text: since

text: you

text: are

text: both

text: maiden

text: ladies

text: that

text: you

text: do

text: not

text: keep

text: house

text: together


text: `` Ah ! you do n't know Sarah 's temper or you would wonder no more .

text: Ah

text: you

text: do

text: n't

text: know

text: Sarah

text: 's

text: temper

text: or

text: you

text: would

text: wonder

text: no

text: more


text: I tried it when I came to Croydon , and we kept on until about two months ago , when we had to part .

text: I

text: tried

text: it

text: when

text: I

text: came

text: to

text: Croydon

text: and

text: we

text: kept

text: on

text: until

text: about

text: two

text: months

text: ago

text: when

text: we

text: had

text: to

text: part


text: I do n't want to say a word against my own sister , but she was always meddlesome and hard to please , was Sarah . ''

text: I

text: do

text: n't

text: want

text: to

text: say

text: a

text: word

text: against

text: my

text: own

text: sister

text: but

text: she

text: was

text: always

text: meddlesome

text: and

text: hard

text: to

text: please

text: was

text: Sarah


text: `` You say that she quarrelled with your Liverpool relations . ''

text: You

text: say

text: that

text: she

text: quarrelled

text: with

text: your

text: Liverpool

text: relations


text: `` Yes , and they were the best of friends at one time .

text: Yes

text: and

text: they

text: were

text: the

text: best

text: of

text: friends

text: at

text: one

text: time


text: Why , she went up there to live in order to be near them .

text: Why

text: she

text: went

text: up

text: there

text: to

text: live

text: in

text: order

text: to

text: be

text: near

text: them


text: And now she has no word hard enough for Jim Browner .

text: And

text: now

text: she

text: has

text: no

text: word

text: hard

text: enough

text: for

text: Jim

text: Browner


text: The last six months that she was here she would speak of nothing but his drinking and his ways .

text: The

text: last

text: six

text: months

text: that

text: she

text: was

text: here

text: she

text: would

text: speak

text: of

text: nothing

text: but

text: his

text: drinking

text: and

text: his

text: ways


text: He had caught her meddling , I suspect , and given her a bit of his mind , and that was the start of it . ''

text: He

text: had

text: caught

text: her

text: meddling

text: I

text: suspect

text: and

text: given

text: her

text: a

text: bit

text: of

text: his

text: mind

text: and

text: that

text: was

text: the

text: start

text: of

text: it


text: `` Thank you , Miss Cushing , '' said Holmes , rising and bowing .

text: Thank

text: you

text: Miss

text: Cushing

text: said

text: Holmes

text: rising

text: and

text: bowing


text: `` Your sister Sarah lives , I think you said , at New Street , Wallington ?

text: Your

text: sister

text: Sarah

text: lives

text: I

text: think

text: you

text: said

text: at

text: New

text: Street

text: Wallington


text: Good-bye , and I am very sorry that you should have been troubled over a case with which , as you say , you have nothing whatever to do . ''

text: Good-bye

text: and

text: I

text: am

text: very

text: sorry

text: that

text: you

text: should

text: have

text: been

text: troubled

text: over

text: a

text: case

text: with

text: which

text: as

text: you

text: say

text: you

text: have

text: nothing

text: whatever

text: to

text: do


text: There was a cab passing as we came out , and Holmes hailed it .

text: There

text: was

text: a

text: cab

text: passing

text: as

text: we

text: came

text: out

text: and

text: Holmes

text: hailed

text: it


text: `` How far to Wallington ? '' he asked .

text: How

text: far

text: to

text: Wallington

text: he

text: asked


text: `` Only about a mile , sir . ''

text: Only

text: about

text: a

text: mile

text: sir


text: `` Very good .

text: Very

text: good


text: Jump in , Watson .

text: Jump

text: in

text: Watson


text: We must strike while the iron is hot .

text: We

text: must

text: strike

text: while

text: the

text: iron

text: is

text: hot


text: Simple as the case is , there have been one or two very instructive details in connection with it .

text: Simple

text: as

text: the

text: case

text: is

text: there

text: have

text: been

text: one

text: or

text: two

text: very

text: instructive

text: details

text: in

text: connection

text: with

text: it


text: Just pull up at a telegraph office as you pass , cabby . ''

text: Just

text: pull

text: up

text: at

text: a

text: telegraph

text: office

text: as

text: you

text: pass

text: cabby


text: Holmes sent off a short wire and for the rest of the drive lay back in the cab , with his hat tilted over his nose to keep the sun from his face .

text: Holmes

text: sent

text: off

text: a

text: short

text: wire

text: and

text: for

text: the

text: rest

text: of

text: the

text: drive

text: lay

text: back

text: in

text: the

text: cab

text: with

text: his

text: hat

text: tilted

text: over

text: his

text: nose

text: to

text: keep

text: the

text: sun

text: from

text: his

text: face


text: Our drive pulled up at a house which was not unlike the one which we had just quitted .

text: Our

text: drive

text: pulled

text: up

text: at

text: a

text: house

text: which

text: was

text: not

text: unlike

text: the

text: one

text: which

text: we

text: had

text: just

text: quitted


text: My companion ordered him to wait , and had his hand upon the knocker , when the door opened and a grave young gentleman in black , with a very shiny hat , appeared on the step .

text: My

text: companion

text: ordered

text: him

text: to

text: wait

text: and

text: had

text: his

text: hand

text: upon

text: the

text: knocker

text: when

text: the

text: door

text: opened

text: and

text: a

text: grave

text: young

text: gentleman

text: in

text: black

text: with

text: a

text: very

text: shiny

text: hat

text: appeared

text: on

text: the

text: step


text: `` Is Miss Cushing at home ? '' asked Holmes .

text: Is

text: Miss

text: Cushing

text: at

text: home

text: asked

text: Holmes


text: `` Miss Sarah Cushing is extremely ill , '' said he .

text: Miss

text: Sarah

text: Cushing

text: is

text: extremely

text: ill

text: said

text: he


text: `` She has been suffering since yesterday from brain symptoms of great severity .

text: She

text: has

text: been

text: suffering

text: since

text: yesterday

text: from

text: brain

text: symptoms

text: of

text: great

text: severity


text: As her medical adviser , I can not possibly take the responsibility of allowing anyone to see her .

text: As

text: her

text: medical

text: adviser

text: I

text: can

text: not

text: possibly

text: take

text: the

text: responsibility

text: of

text: allowing

text: anyone

text: to

text: see

text: her


text: I should recommend you to call again in ten days . ''

text: I

text: should

text: recommend

text: you

text: to

text: call

text: again

text: in

text: ten

text: days


text: He drew on his gloves , closed the door , and marched off down the street .

text: He

text: drew

text: on

text: his

text: gloves

text: closed

text: the

text: door

text: and

text: marched

text: off

text: down

text: the

text: street


text: `` Well , if we ca n't we ca n't , '' said Holmes , cheerfully .

text: Well

text: if

text: we

text: ca

text: n't

text: we

text: ca

text: n't

text: said

text: Holmes

text: cheerfully


text: `` Perhaps she could not or would not have told you much . ''

text: Perhaps

text: she

text: could

text: not

text: or

text: would

text: not

text: have

text: told

text: you

text: much


text: Perhaps

text: she

text: could

text: not

text: or

text: would

text: not

text: have

text: told

text: you

text: much


text: `` I did not wish her to tell me anything .

text: I

text: did

text: not

text: wish

text: her

text: to

text: tell

text: me

text: anything


text: I only wanted to look at her .

text: I

text: only

text: wanted

text: to

text: look

text: at

text: her


text: However , I think that I have got all that I want .

text: However

text: I

text: think

text: that

text: I

text: have

text: got

text: all

text: that

text: I

text: want


text: Drive us to some decent hotel , cabby , where we may have some lunch , and afterwards we shall drop down upon friend Lestrade at the police-station . ''

text: Drive

text: us

text: to

text: some

text: decent

text: hotel

text: cabby

text: where

text: we

text: may

text: have

text: some

text: lunch

text: and

text: afterwards

text: we

text: shall

text: drop

text: down

text: upon

text: friend

text: Lestrade

text: at

text: the

text: police-station


text: We had a pleasant little meal together , during which Holmes would talk about nothing but violins , narrating with great exultation how he had purchased his own Stradivarius , which was worth at least five hundred guineas , at a Jew broker 's in Tottenham Court Road for fifty-five shillings .

text: We

text: had

text: a

text: pleasant

text: little

text: meal

text: together

text: during

text: which

text: Holmes

text: would

text: talk

text: about

text: nothing

text: but

text: violins

text: narrating

text: with

text: great

text: exultation

text: how

text: he

text: had

text: purchased

text: his

text: own

text: Stradivarius

text: which

text: was

text: worth

text: at

text: least

text: five

text: hundred

text: guineas

text: at

text: a

text: Jew

text: broker

text: 's

text: in

text: Tottenham

text: Court

text: Road

text: for

text: fifty-five

text: shillings


text: This led him to Paganini , and we sat for an hour over a bottle of claret while he told me anecdote after anecdote of that extraordinary man .

text: This

text: led

text: him

text: to

text: Paganini

text: and

text: we

text: sat

text: for

text: an

text: hour

text: over

text: a

text: bottle

text: of

text: claret

text: while

text: he

text: told

text: me

text: anecdote

text: after

text: anecdote

text: of

text: that

text: extraordinary

text: man


text: The afternoon was far advanced and the hot glare had softened into a mellow glow before we found ourselves at the police-station .

text: The

text: afternoon

text: was

text: far

text: advanced

text: and

text: the

text: hot

text: glare

text: had

text: softened

text: into

text: a

text: mellow

text: glow

text: before

text: we

text: found

text: ourselves

text: at

text: the

text: police-station


text: Lestrade was waiting for us at the door .

text: Lestrade

text: was

text: waiting

text: for

text: us

text: at

text: the

text: door


text: `` A telegram for you , Mr. Holmes , '' said he .

text: A

text: telegram

text: for

text: you

text: Mr.

text: Holmes

text: said

text: he


text: `` Ha !

text: Ha


text: It is the answer ! ''

text: It

text: is

text: the

text: answer


text: He tore it open , glanced his eyes over it , and crumpled it into his pocket .

text: He

text: tore

text: it

text: open

text: glanced

text: his

text: eyes

text: over

text: it

text: and

text: crumpled

text: it

text: into

text: his

text: pocket


text: `` That 's all right , '' said he .

text: That

text: 's

text: all

text: right

text: said

text: he


text: `` Have you found out anything ? ''

text: Have

text: you

text: found

text: out

text: anything


text: `` I have found out everything ! ''

text: I

text: have

text: found

text: out

text: everything


text: `` What ! ''

text: What


text: Lestrade stared at him in amazement .

text: Lestrade

text: stared

text: at

text: him

text: in

text: amazement


text: `` You are joking . ''

text: You

text: are

text: joking


text: `` I was never more serious in my life .

text: I

text: was

text: never

text: more

text: serious

text: in

text: my

text: life


text: A shocking crime has been committed , and I think I have now laid bare every detail of it . ''

text: A

text: shocking

text: crime

text: has

text: been

text: committed

text: and

text: I

text: think

text: I

text: have

text: now

text: laid

text: bare

text: every

text: detail

text: of

text: it


text: `` And the criminal ? ''

text: And

text: the

text: criminal


text: Holmes scribbled a few words upon the back of one of his visiting cards and threw it over to Lestrade .

text: Holmes

text: scribbled

text: a

text: few

text: words

text: upon

text: the

text: back

text: of

text: one

text: of

text: his

text: visiting

text: cards

text: and

text: threw

text: it

text: over

text: to

text: Lestrade


text: `` That is the name , '' he said .

text: That

text: is

text: the

text: name

text: he

text: said


text: `` You can not effect an arrest until to-morrow night at the earliest .

text: You

text: can

text: not

text: effect

text: an

text: arrest

text: until

text: to-morrow

text: night

text: at

text: the

text: earliest


text: I should prefer that you do not mention my name at all in connection with the case , as I choose to be only associated with those crimes which present some difficulty in their solution .

text: I

text: should

text: prefer

text: that

text: you

text: do

text: not

text: mention

text: my

text: name

text: at

text: all

text: in

text: connection

text: with

text: the

text: case

text: as

text: I

text: choose

text: to

text: be

text: only

text: associated

text: with

text: those

text: crimes

text: which

text: present

text: some

text: difficulty

text: in

text: their

text: solution


text: Come on , Watson . ''

text: Come

text: on

text: Watson


text: We strode off together to the station , leaving Lestrade still staring with a delighted face at the card which Holmes had thrown him .

text: We

text: strode

text: off

text: together

text: to

text: the

text: station

text: leaving

text: Lestrade

text: still

text: staring

text: with

text: a

text: delighted

text: face

text: at

text: the

text: card

text: which

text: Holmes

text: had

text: thrown

text: him


text: `` The case , '' said Sherlock Holmes as we chatted over our cigars that night in our rooms at Baker Street , `` is one where , as in the investigations which you have chronicled under the names of ` A Study in Scarlet ' and of ` The Sign of Four , ' we have been compelled to reason backward from effects to causes .

text: The

text: case

text: said

text: Sherlock

text: Holmes

text: as

text: we

text: chatted

text: over

text: our

text: cigars

text: that

text: night

text: in

text: our

text: rooms

text: at

text: Baker

text: Street

text: is

text: one

text: where

text: as

text: in

text: the

text: investigations

text: which

text: you

text: have

text: chronicled

text: under

text: the

text: names

text: of

text: A

text: Study

text: in

text: Scarlet

text: and

text: of

text: The

text: Sign

text: of

text: Four

text: we

text: have

text: been

text: compelled

text: to

text: reason

text: backward

text: from

text: effects

text: to

text: causes


text: I have written to Lestrade asking him to supply us with the details which are now wanting , and which he will only get after he had secured his man .

text: I

text: have

text: written

text: to

text: Lestrade

text: asking

text: him

text: to

text: supply

text: us

text: with

text: the

text: details

text: which

text: are

text: now

text: wanting

text: and

text: which

text: he

text: will

text: only

text: get

text: after

text: he

text: had

text: secured

text: his

text: man


text: That he may be safely trusted to do , for although he is absolutely devoid of reason , he is as tenacious as a bulldog when he once understands what he has to do , and indeed , it is just this tenacity which has brought him to the top at Scotland Yard . ''

text: That

text: he

text: may

text: be

text: safely

text: trusted

text: to

text: do

text: for

text: although

text: he

text: is

text: absolutely

text: devoid

text: of

text: reason

text: he

text: is

text: as

text: tenacious

text: as

text: a

text: bulldog

text: when

text: he

text: once

text: understands

text: what

text: he

text: has

text: to

text: do

text: and

text: indeed

text: it

text: is

text: just

text: this

text: tenacity

text: which

text: has

text: brought

text: him

text: to

text: the

text: top

text: at

text: Scotland

text: Yard


text: `` Your case is not complete , then ? '' I asked .

text: Your

text: case

text: is

text: not

text: complete

text: then

text: I

text: asked


text: `` It is fairly complete in essentials .

text: It

text: is

text: fairly

text: complete

text: in

text: essentials


text: We know who the author of the revolting business is , although one of the victims still escapes us .

text: We

text: know

text: who

text: the

text: author

text: of

text: the

text: revolting

text: business

text: is

text: although

text: one

text: of

text: the

text: victims

text: still

text: escapes

text: us


text: Of course , you have formed your own conclusions . ''

text: Of

text: course

text: you

text: have

text: formed

text: your

text: own

text: conclusions


text: `` I presume that this Jim Browner , the steward of a Liverpool boat , is the man whom you suspect ? ''

text: I

text: presume

text: that

text: this

text: Jim

text: Browner

text: the

text: steward

text: of

text: a

text: Liverpool

text: boat

text: is

text: the

text: man

text: whom

text: you

text: suspect


text: `` Oh ! it is more than a suspicion . ''

text: Oh

text: it

text: is

text: more

text: than

text: a

text: suspicion


text: `` And yet I can not see anything save very vague indications . ''

text: And

text: yet

text: I

text: can

text: not

text: see

text: anything

text: save

text: very

text: vague

text: indications


text: `` On the contrary , to my mind nothing could be more clear .

text: On

text: the

text: contrary

text: to

text: my

text: mind

text: nothing

text: could

text: be

text: more

text: clear


text: Let me run over the principal steps .

text: Let

text: me

text: run

text: over

text: the

text: principal

text: steps


text: We approached the case , you remember , with an absolutely blank mind , which is always an advantage .

text: We

text: approached

text: the

text: case

text: you

text: remember

text: with

text: an

text: absolutely

text: blank

text: mind

text: which

text: is

text: always

text: an

text: advantage


text: We had formed no theories .

text: We

text: had

text: formed

text: no

text: theories


text: We were simply there to observe and to draw inferences from our observations .

text: We

text: were

text: simply

text: there

text: to

text: observe

text: and

text: to

text: draw

text: inferences

text: from

text: our

text: observations


text: What did we see first ?

text: What

text: did

text: we

text: see

text: first


text: A very placid and respectable lady , who seemed quite innocent of any secret , and a portrait which showed me that she had two younger sisters .

text: A

text: very

text: placid

text: and

text: respectable

text: lady

text: who

text: seemed

text: quite

text: innocent

text: of

text: any

text: secret

text: and

text: a

text: portrait

text: which

text: showed

text: me

text: that

text: she

text: had

text: two

text: younger

text: sisters


text: It instantly flashed across my mind that the box might have been meant for one of these .

text: It

text: instantly

text: flashed

text: across

text: my

text: mind

text: that

text: the

text: box

text: might

text: have

text: been

text: meant

text: for

text: one

text: of

text: these


text: I set the idea aside as one which could be disproved or confirmed at our leisure .

text: I

text: set

text: the

text: idea

text: aside

text: as

text: one

text: which

text: could

text: be

text: disproved

text: or

text: confirmed

text: at

text: our

text: leisure


text: Then we went to the garden , as you remember , and we saw the very singular contents of the little yellow box .

text: Then

text: we

text: went

text: to

text: the

text: garden

text: as

text: you

text: remember

text: and

text: we

text: saw

text: the

text: very

text: singular

text: contents

text: of

text: the

text: little

text: yellow

text: box


text: `` The string was of the quality which is used by sail-makers aboard ship , and at once a whiff of the sea was perceptible in our investigation .

text: The

text: string

text: was

text: of

text: the

text: quality

text: which

text: is

text: used

text: by

text: sail-makers

text: aboard

text: ship

text: and

text: at

text: once

text: a

text: whiff

text: of

text: the

text: sea

text: was

text: perceptible

text: in

text: our

text: investigation


text: When I observed that the knot was one which is popular with sailors , that the parcel had been posted at a port , and that the male ear was pierced for an earring which is so much more common among sailors than landsmen , I was quite certain that all the actors in the tragedy were to be found among our seafaring classes .

text: When

text: I

text: observed

text: that

text: the

text: knot

text: was

text: one

text: which

text: is

text: popular

text: with

text: sailors

text: that

text: the

text: parcel

text: had

text: been

text: posted

text: at

text: a

text: port

text: and

text: that

text: the

text: male

text: ear

text: was

text: pierced

text: for

text: an

text: earring

text: which

text: is

text: so

text: much

text: more

text: common

text: among

text: sailors

text: than

text: landsmen

text: I

text: was

text: quite

text: certain

text: that

text: all

text: the

text: actors

text: in

text: the

text: tragedy

text: were

text: to

text: be

text: found

text: among

text: our

text: seafaring

text: classes


text: `` When I came to examine the address of the packet I observed that it was to Miss S. Cushing .

text: When

text: I

text: came

text: to

text: examine

text: the

text: address

text: of

text: the

text: packet

text: I

text: observed

text: that

text: it

text: was

text: to

text: Miss

text: S.

text: Cushing


text: Now , the oldest sister would , of course , be Miss Cushing , and although her initial was ` S ' it might belong to one of the others as well .

text: Now

text: the

text: oldest

text: sister

text: would

text: of

text: course

text: be

text: Miss

text: Cushing

text: and

text: although

text: her

text: initial

text: was

text: S

text: it

text: might

text: belong

text: to

text: one

text: of

text: the

text: others

text: as

text: well


text: In that case we should have to commence our investigation from a fresh basis altogether .

text: In

text: that

text: case

text: we

text: should

text: have

text: to

text: commence

text: our

text: investigation

text: from

text: a

text: fresh

text: basis

text: altogether


text: I therefore went into the house with the intention of clearing up this point .

text: I

text: therefore

text: went

text: into

text: the

text: house

text: with

text: the

text: intention

text: of

text: clearing

text: up

text: this

text: point


text: I was about to assure Miss Cushing that I was convinced that a mistake had been made when you may remember that I came suddenly to a stop .

text: I

text: was

text: about

text: to

text: assure

text: Miss

text: Cushing

text: that

text: I

text: was

text: convinced

text: that

text: a

text: mistake

text: had

text: been

text: made

text: when

text: you

text: may

text: remember

text: that

text: I

text: came

text: suddenly

text: to

text: a

text: stop


text: The fact was that I had just seen something which filled me with surprise and at the same time narrowed the field of our inquiry immensely .

text: The

text: fact

text: was

text: that

text: I

text: had

text: just

text: seen

text: something

text: which

text: filled

text: me

text: with

text: surprise

text: and

text: at

text: the

text: same

text: time

text: narrowed

text: the

text: field

text: of

text: our

text: inquiry

text: immensely


text: `` As a medical man , you are aware , Watson , that there is no part of the body which varies so much as the human ear .

text: As

text: a

text: medical

text: man

text: you

text: are

text: aware

text: Watson

text: that

text: there

text: is

text: no

text: part

text: of

text: the

text: body

text: which

text: varies

text: so

text: much

text: as

text: the

text: human

text: ear


text: Each ear is as a rule quite distinctive and differs from all other ones .

text: Each

text: ear

text: is

text: as

text: a

text: rule

text: quite

text: distinctive

text: and

text: differs

text: from

text: all

text: other

text: ones


text: In last year 's Anthropological Journal you will find two short monographs from my pen upon the subject .

text: In

text: last

text: year

text: 's

text: Anthropological

text: Journal

text: you

text: will

text: find

text: two

text: short

text: monographs

text: from

text: my

text: pen

text: upon

text: the

text: subject


text: I had , therefore , examined the ears in the box with the eyes of an expert and had carefully noted their anatomical peculiarities .

text: I

text: had

text: therefore

text: examined

text: the

text: ears

text: in

text: the

text: box

text: with

text: the

text: eyes

text: of

text: an

text: expert

text: and

text: had

text: carefully

text: noted

text: their

text: anatomical

text: peculiarities


text: Imagine my surprise , then , when on looking at Miss Cushing I perceived that her ear corresponded exactly with the female ear which I had just inspected .

text: Imagine

text: my

text: surprise

text: then

text: when

text: on

text: looking

text: at

text: Miss

text: Cushing

text: I

text: perceived

text: that

text: her

text: ear

text: corresponded

text: exactly

text: with

text: the

text: female

text: ear

text: which

text: I

text: had

text: just

text: inspected


text: The matter was entirely beyond coincidence .

text: The

text: matter

text: was

text: entirely

text: beyond

text: coincidence


text: There was the same shortening of the pinna , the same broad curve of the upper lobe , the same convolution of the inner cartilage .

text: There

text: was

text: the

text: same

text: shortening

text: of

text: the

text: pinna

text: the

text: same

text: broad

text: curve

text: of

text: the

text: upper

text: lobe

text: the

text: same

text: convolution

text: of

text: the

text: inner

text: cartilage


text: In all essentials it was the same ear .

text: In

text: all

text: essentials

text: it

text: was

text: the

text: same

text: ear


text: `` In the first place , her sister 's name was Sarah , and her address had until recently been the same , so that it was quite obvious how the mistake had occurred and for whom the packet was meant .

text: In

text: the

text: first

text: place

text: her

text: sister

text: 's

text: name

text: was

text: Sarah

text: and

text: her

text: address

text: had

text: until

text: recently

text: been

text: the

text: same

text: so

text: that

text: it

text: was

text: quite

text: obvious

text: how

text: the

text: mistake

text: had

text: occurred

text: and

text: for

text: whom

text: the

text: packet

text: was

text: meant


text: Then we heard of this steward , married to the third sister , and learned that he had at one time been so intimate with Miss Sarah that she had actually gone up to Liverpool to be near the Browners , but a quarrel had afterwards divided them .

text: Then

text: we

text: heard

text: of

text: this

text: steward

text: married

text: to

text: the

text: third

text: sister

text: and

text: learned

text: that

text: he

text: had

text: at

text: one

text: time

text: been

text: so

text: intimate

text: with

text: Miss

text: Sarah

text: that

text: she

text: had

text: actually

text: gone

text: up

text: to

text: Liverpool

text: to

text: be

text: near

text: the

text: Browners

text: but

text: a

text: quarrel

text: had

text: afterwards

text: divided

text: them


text: This quarrel had put a stop to all communications for some months , so that if Browner had occasion to address a packet to Miss Sarah , he would undoubtedly have done so to her old address .

text: This

text: quarrel

text: had

text: put

text: a

text: stop

text: to

text: all

text: communications

text: for

text: some

text: months

text: so

text: that

text: if

text: Browner

text: had

text: occasion

text: to

text: address

text: a

text: packet

text: to

text: Miss

text: Sarah

text: he

text: would

text: undoubtedly

text: have

text: done

text: so

text: to

text: her

text: old

text: address


text: `` And now the matter had begun to straighten itself out wonderfully .

text: And

text: now

text: the

text: matter

text: had

text: begun

text: to

text: straighten

text: itself

text: out

text: wonderfully