text: 1. The Singular Experience of Mr. John Scott Eccles

text: The

text: Singular

text: Experience

text: of

text: Mr.

text: John

text: Scott

text: Eccles


text: I find it recorded in my notebook that it was a bleak and windy day towards the end of March in the year 1892 .

text: I

text: find

text: it

text: recorded

text: in

text: my

text: notebook

text: that

text: it

text: was

text: a

text: bleak

text: and

text: windy

text: day

text: towards

text: the

text: end

text: of

text: March

text: in

text: the

text: year


text: Holmes had received a telegram while we sat at our lunch , and he had scribbled a reply .

text: Holmes

text: had

text: received

text: a

text: telegram

text: while

text: we

text: sat

text: at

text: our

text: lunch

text: and

text: he

text: had

text: scribbled

text: a

text: reply


text: He made no remark , but the matter remained in his thoughts , for he stood in front of the fire afterwards with a thoughtful face , smoking his pipe , and casting an occasional glance at the message .

label: SCOPE

label: CUE

text: He

text: made

text: no

text: remark

text: but

text: the

text: matter

text: remained

text: in

text: his

text: thoughts

text: for

text: he

text: stood

text: in

text: front

text: of

text: the

text: fire

text: afterwards

text: with

text: a

text: thoughtful

text: face

text: smoking

text: his

text: pipe

text: and

text: casting

text: an

text: occasional

text: glance

text: at

text: the

text: message


text: Suddenly he turned upon me with a mischievous twinkle in his eyes .

text: Suddenly

text: he

text: turned

text: upon

text: me

text: with

text: a

text: mischievous

text: twinkle

text: in

text: his

text: eyes


text: `` I suppose , Watson , we must look upon you as a man of letters , '' said he .

text: I

text: suppose

text: Watson

text: we

text: must

text: look

text: upon

text: you

text: as

text: a

text: man

text: of

text: letters

text: said

text: he


text: `` How do you define the word ` grotesque ' ? ''

text: How

text: do

text: you

text: define

text: the

text: word

text: grotesque


text: `` Strange -- remarkable , '' I suggested .

text: Strange

text: remarkable

text: I

text: suggested


text: He shook his head at my definition .

text: He

text: shook

text: his

text: head

text: at

text: my

text: definition


text: `` There is surely something more than that , '' said he ; `` some underlying suggestion of the tragic and the terrible .

text: There

text: is

text: surely

text: something

text: more

text: than

text: that

text: said

text: he

text: some

text: underlying

text: suggestion

text: of

text: the

text: tragic

text: and

text: the

text: terrible


text: If you cast your mind back to some of those narratives with which you have afflicted a long-suffering public , you will recognize how often the grotesque has deepened into the criminal .

text: If

text: you

text: cast

text: your

text: mind

text: back

text: to

text: some

text: of

text: those

text: narratives

text: with

text: which

text: you

text: have

text: afflicted

text: a

text: long-suffering

text: public

text: you

text: will

text: recognize

text: how

text: often

text: the

text: grotesque

text: has

text: deepened

text: into

text: the

text: criminal


text: Think of that little affair of the red-headed men .

text: Think

text: of

text: that

text: little

text: affair

text: of

text: the

text: red-headed

text: men


text: That was grotesque enough in the outset , and yet it ended in a desperate attempt at robbery .

text: That

text: was

text: grotesque

text: enough

text: in

text: the

text: outset

text: and

text: yet

text: it

text: ended

text: in

text: a

text: desperate

text: attempt

text: at

text: robbery


text: Or , again , there was that most grotesque affair of the five orange pips , which led straight to a murderous conspiracy .

text: Or

text: again

text: there

text: was

text: that

text: most

text: grotesque

text: affair

text: of

text: the

text: five

text: orange

text: pips

text: which

text: led

text: straight

text: to

text: a

text: murderous

text: conspiracy


text: The word puts me on the alert . ''

text: The

text: word

text: puts

text: me

text: on

text: the

text: alert


text: `` Have you it there ? '' I asked .

text: Have

text: you

text: it

text: there

text: I

text: asked


text: He read the telegram aloud .

text: He

text: read

text: the

text: telegram

text: aloud


text: `` Have just had most incredible and grotesque experience .

text: Have

text: just

text: had

text: most

text: incredible

text: and

text: grotesque

text: experience


text: May I consult you ?

text: May

text: I

text: consult

text: you


text: `` Scott Eccles ,

text: Scott

text: Eccles


text: `` Post Office , Charing Cross . ''

text: Post

text: Office

text: Charing

text: Cross


text: `` Man or woman ? '' I asked .

text: Man

text: or

text: woman

text: I

text: asked


text: `` Oh , man , of course .

text: Oh

text: man

text: of

text: course


text: No woman would ever send a reply-paid telegram .

text: No

text: woman

text: would

text: ever

text: send

text: a

text: reply-paid

text: telegram


text: She would have come . ''

text: She

text: would

text: have

text: come


text: `` Will you see him ? ''

text: Will

text: you

text: see

text: him


text: `` My dear Watson , you know how bored I have been since we locked up Colonel Carruthers .

text: My

text: dear

text: Watson

text: you

text: know

text: how

text: bored

text: I

text: have

text: been

text: since

text: we

text: locked

text: up

text: Colonel

text: Carruthers


text: My mind is like a racing engine , tearing itself to pieces because it is not connected up with the work for which it was built .

text: My

text: mind

text: is

text: like

text: a

text: racing

text: engine

text: tearing

text: itself

text: to

text: pieces

text: because

text: it

text: is

text: not

text: connected

text: up

text: with

text: the

text: work

text: for

text: which

text: it

text: was

text: built


text: Life is commonplace , the papers are sterile ; audacity and romance seem to have passed forever from the criminal world .

text: Life

text: is

text: commonplace

text: the

text: papers

text: are

text: sterile

text: audacity

text: and

text: romance

text: seem

text: to

text: have

text: passed

text: forever

text: from

text: the

text: criminal

text: world


text: Can you ask me , then , whether I am ready to look into any new problem , however trivial it may prove ?

text: Can

text: you

text: ask

text: me

text: then

text: whether

text: I

text: am

text: ready

text: to

text: look

text: into

text: any

text: new

text: problem

text: however

text: trivial

text: it

text: may

text: prove


text: But here , unless I am mistaken , is our client . ''

text: But

text: here

text: unless

text: I

text: am

text: mistaken

text: is

text: our

text: client


text: A measured step was heard upon the stairs , and a moment later a stout , tall , gray-whiskered and solemnly respectable person was ushered into the room .

text: A

text: measured

text: step

text: was

text: heard

text: upon

text: the

text: stairs

text: and

text: a

text: moment

text: later

text: a

text: stout

text: tall

text: gray-whiskered

text: and

text: solemnly

text: respectable

text: person

text: was

text: ushered

text: into

text: the

text: room


text: His life history was written in his heavy features and pompous manner .

text: His

text: life

text: history

text: was

text: written

text: in

text: his

text: heavy

text: features

text: and

text: pompous

text: manner


text: From his spats to his gold-rimmed spectacles he was a Conservative , a churchman , a good citizen , orthodox and conventional to the last degree .

text: From

text: his

text: spats

text: to

text: his

text: gold-rimmed

text: spectacles

text: he

text: was

text: a

text: Conservative

text: a

text: churchman

text: a

text: good

text: citizen

text: orthodox

text: and

text: conventional

text: to

text: the

text: last

text: degree


text: But some amazing experience had disturbed his native composure and left its traces in his bristling hair , his flushed , angry cheeks , and his flurried , excited manner .

text: But

text: some

text: amazing

text: experience

text: had

text: disturbed

text: his

text: native

text: composure

text: and

text: left

text: its

text: traces

text: in

text: his

text: bristling

text: hair

text: his

text: flushed

text: angry

text: cheeks

text: and

text: his

text: flurried

text: excited

text: manner


text: He plunged instantly into his business .

text: He

text: plunged

text: instantly

text: into

text: his

text: business


text: `` I have had a most singular and unpleasant experience , Mr. Holmes , '' said he .

text: I

text: have

text: had

text: a

text: most

text: singular

text: and

text: unpleasant

text: experience

text: Mr.

text: Holmes

text: said

text: he


text: `` Never in my life have I been placed in such a situation .

text: Never

text: in

text: my

text: life

text: have

text: I

text: been

text: placed

text: in

text: such

text: a

text: situation


text: It is most improper -- most outrageous .

text: It

text: is

text: most

text: improper

text: most

text: outrageous


text: I must insist upon some explanation . ''

text: I

text: must

text: insist

text: upon

text: some

text: explanation


text: He swelled and puffed in his anger .

text: He

text: swelled

text: and

text: puffed

text: in

text: his

text: anger


text: `` Pray sit down , Mr. Scott Eccles , '' said Holmes in a soothing voice .

text: Pray

text: sit

text: down

text: Mr.

text: Scott

text: Eccles

text: said

text: Holmes

text: in

text: a

text: soothing

text: voice


text: `` May I ask , in the first place , why you came to me at all ? ''

text: May

text: I

text: ask

text: in

text: the

text: first

text: place

text: why

text: you

text: came

text: to

text: me

text: at

text: all


text: `` Well , sir , it did not appear to be a matter which concerned the police , and yet , when you have heard the facts , you must admit that I could not leave it where it was .

text: Well

text: sir

text: it

text: did

text: not

text: appear

text: to

text: be

text: a

text: matter

text: which

text: concerned

text: the

text: police

text: and

text: yet

text: when

text: you

text: have

text: heard

text: the

text: facts

text: you

text: must

text: admit

text: that

text: I

text: could

text: not

text: leave

text: it

text: where

text: it

text: was


text: Private detectives are a class with whom I have absolutely no sympathy , but none the less , having heard your name -- ''

text: Private

text: detectives

text: are

text: a

text: class

text: with

text: whom

text: I

text: have

text: absolutely

text: no

text: sympathy

text: but

text: the

text: less

text: having

text: heard

text: your

text: name


text: `` Quite so .

text: Quite

text: so


text: But , in the second place , why did you not come at once ? ''

text: But

text: in

text: the

text: second

text: place

text: why

text: did

text: you

text: not

text: come

text: at

text: once


text: Holmes glanced at his watch .

text: Holmes

text: glanced

text: at

text: his

text: watch


text: `` It is a quarter-past two , '' he said .

text: It

text: is

text: a

text: quarter-past

text: two

text: he

text: said


text: `` Your telegram was dispatched about one .

text: Your

text: telegram

text: was

text: dispatched

text: about

text: one


text: But no one can glance at your toilet and attire without seeing that your disturbance dates from the moment of your waking . ''

text: But

text: no

text: one

text: can

text: glance

text: at

text: your

text: toilet

text: and

text: attire

text: without

text: seeing

text: that

text: your

text: disturbance

text: dates

text: from

text: the

text: moment

text: of

text: your

text: waking


text: Our client smoothed down his unbrushed hair and felt his unshaven chin .

text: Our

text: client

text: smoothed

text: down

text: his

text: unbrushed

text: hair

text: and

text: felt

text: his

text: unshaven

text: chin


text: `` You are right , Mr. Holmes .

text: You

text: are

text: right

text: Mr.

text: Holmes


text: I never gave a thought to my toilet .

text: I

text: never

text: gave

text: a

text: thought

text: to

text: my

text: toilet


text: I was only too glad to get out of such a house .

text: I

text: was

text: only

text: too

text: glad

text: to

text: get

text: out

text: of

text: such

text: a

text: house


text: But I have been running round making inquiries before I came to you .

text: But

text: I

text: have

text: been

text: running

text: round

text: making

text: inquiries

text: before

text: I

text: came

text: to

text: you


text: I went to the house agents , you know , and they said that Mr. Garcia 's rent was paid up all right and that everything was in order at Wisteria Lodge . ''

text: I

text: went

text: to

text: the

text: house

text: agents

text: you

text: know

text: and

text: they

text: said

text: that

text: Mr.

text: Garcia

text: 's

text: rent

text: was

text: paid

text: up

text: all

text: right

text: and

text: that

text: everything

text: was

text: in

text: order

text: at

text: Wisteria

text: Lodge


text: `` Come , come , sir , '' said Holmes , laughing .

text: Come

text: come

text: sir

text: said

text: Holmes

text: laughing


text: `` You are like my friend , Dr. Watson , who has a bad habit of telling his stories wrong end foremost .

text: You

text: are

text: like

text: my

text: friend

text: Dr.

text: Watson

text: who

text: has

text: a

text: bad

text: habit

text: of

text: telling

text: his

text: stories

text: wrong

text: end

text: foremost


text: Please arrange your thoughts and let me know , in their due sequence , exactly what those events are which have sent you out unbrushed and unkempt , with dress boots and waistcoat buttoned awry , in search of advice and assistance . ''

text: Please

text: arrange

text: your

text: thoughts

text: and

text: let

text: me

text: know

text: in

text: their

text: due

text: sequence

text: exactly

text: what

text: those

text: events

text: are

text: which

text: have

text: sent

text: you

text: out

text: unbrushed

text: and

text: unkempt

text: with

text: dress

text: boots

text: and

text: waistcoat

text: buttoned

text: awry

text: in

text: search

text: of

text: advice

text: and

text: assistance


text: Please

text: arrange

text: your

text: thoughts

text: and

text: let

text: me

text: know

text: in

text: their

text: due

text: sequence

text: exactly

text: what

text: those

text: events

text: are

text: which

text: have

text: sent

text: you

text: out

text: unbrushed

text: and

text: unkempt

text: with

text: dress

text: boots

text: and

text: waistcoat

text: buttoned

text: awry

text: in

text: search

text: of

text: advice

text: and

text: assistance


text: Our client looked down with a rueful face at his own unconventional appearance .

text: Our

text: client

text: looked

text: down

text: with

text: a

text: rueful

text: face

text: at

text: his

text: own

text: unconventional

text: appearance


text: `` I 'm sure it must look very bad , Mr. Holmes , and I am not aware that in my whole life such a thing has ever happened before .

text: I

text: 'm

text: sure

text: it

text: must

text: look

text: very

text: bad

text: Mr.

text: Holmes

text: and

text: I

text: am

text: not

text: aware

text: that

text: in

text: my

text: whole

text: life

text: such

text: a

text: thing

text: has

text: ever

text: happened

text: before


text: But I will tell you the whole queer business , and when I have done so you will admit , I am sure , that there has been enough to excuse me . ''

text: But

text: I

text: will

text: tell

text: you

text: the

text: whole

text: queer

text: business

text: and

text: when

text: I

text: have

text: done

text: so

text: you

text: will

text: admit

text: I

text: am

text: sure

text: that

text: there

text: has

text: been

text: enough

text: to

text: excuse

text: me


text: But his narrative was nipped in the bud .

text: But

text: his

text: narrative

text: was

text: nipped

text: in

text: the

text: bud


text: There was a bustle outside , and Mrs. Hudson opened the door to usher in two robust and official-looking individuals , one of whom was well known to us as Inspector Gregson of Scotland Yard , an energetic , gallant , and , within his limitations , a capable officer .

text: There

text: was

text: a

text: bustle

text: outside

text: and

text: Mrs.

text: Hudson

text: opened

text: the

text: door

text: to

text: usher

text: in

text: two

text: robust

text: and

text: official-looking

text: individuals

text: one

text: of

text: whom

text: was

text: well

text: known

text: to

text: us

text: as

text: Inspector

text: Gregson

text: of

text: Scotland

text: Yard

text: an

text: energetic

text: gallant

text: and

text: within

text: his

text: limitations

text: a

text: capable

text: officer


text: He shook hands with Holmes and introduced his comrade as Inspector Baynes , of the Surrey Constabulary .

text: He

text: shook

text: hands

text: with

text: Holmes

text: and

text: introduced

text: his

text: comrade

text: as

text: Inspector

text: Baynes

text: of

text: the

text: Surrey

text: Constabulary


text: `` We are hunting together , Mr. Holmes , and our trail lay in this direction . ''

text: We

text: are

text: hunting

text: together

text: Mr.

text: Holmes

text: and

text: our

text: trail

text: lay

text: in

text: this

text: direction


text: He turned his bulldog eyes upon our visitor .

text: He

text: turned

text: his

text: bulldog

text: eyes

text: upon

text: our

text: visitor


text: `` Are you Mr. John Scott Eccles , of Popham House , Lee ? ''

text: Are

text: you

text: Mr.

text: John

text: Scott

text: Eccles

text: of

text: Popham

text: House

text: Lee


text: `` I am . ''

text: I

text: am


text: `` We have been following you about all the morning . ''

text: We

text: have

text: been

text: following

text: you

text: about

text: all

text: the

text: morning


text: `` You traced him through the telegram , no doubt , '' said Holmes .

text: You

text: traced

text: him

text: through

text: the

text: telegram

text: no

text: doubt

text: said

text: Holmes


text: `` Exactly , Mr. Holmes .

text: Exactly

text: Mr.

text: Holmes


text: We picked up the scent at Charing Cross Post-Office and came on here . ''

text: We

text: picked

text: up

text: the

text: scent

text: at

text: Charing

text: Cross

text: Post-Office

text: and

text: came

text: on

text: here


text: `` But why do you follow me ?

text: But

text: why

text: do

text: you

text: follow

text: me


text: What do you want ? ''

text: What

text: do

text: you

text: want


text: `` We wish a statement , Mr. Scott Eccles , as to the events which led up to the death last night of Mr. Aloysius Garcia , of Wisteria Lodge , near Esher . ''

text: We

text: wish

text: a

text: statement

text: Mr.

text: Scott

text: Eccles

text: as

text: to

text: the

text: events

text: which

text: led

text: up

text: to

text: the

text: death

text: last

text: night

text: of

text: Mr.

text: Aloysius

text: Garcia

text: of

text: Wisteria

text: Lodge

text: near

text: Esher


text: Our client had sat up with staring eyes and every tinge of colour struck from his astonished face .

text: Our

text: client

text: had

text: sat

text: up

text: with

text: staring

text: eyes

text: and

text: every

text: tinge

text: of

text: colour

text: struck

text: from

text: his

text: astonished

text: face


text: `` Dead ?

text: Dead


text: Did you say he was dead ? ''

text: Did

text: you

text: say

text: he

text: was

text: dead


text: `` Yes , sir , he is dead . ''

text: Yes

text: sir

text: he

text: is

text: dead


text: `` But how ?

text: But

text: how


text: An accident ? ''

text: An

text: accident


text: `` Murder , if ever there was one upon earth . ''

text: Murder

text: if

text: ever

text: there

text: was

text: one

text: upon

text: earth


text: `` Good God !

text: Good

text: God


text: This is awful !

text: This

text: is

text: awful


text: You do n't mean -- you do n't mean that I am suspected ? ''

text: You

text: do

text: n't

text: mean

text: you

text: do

text: n't

text: mean

text: that

text: I

text: am

text: suspected


text: `` A letter of yours was found in the dead man 's pocket , and we know by it that you had planned to pass last night at his house . ''

text: A

text: letter

text: of

text: yours

text: was

text: found

text: in

text: the

text: dead

text: man

text: 's

text: pocket

text: and

text: we

text: know

text: by

text: it

text: that

text: you

text: had

text: planned

text: to

text: pass

text: last

text: night

text: at

text: his

text: house


text: `` So I did . ''

text: So

text: I

text: did


text: `` Oh , you did , did you ? ''

text: Oh

text: you

text: did

text: did

text: you


text: Out came the official notebook .

text: Out

text: came

text: the

text: official

text: notebook


text: `` Wait a bit , Gregson , '' said Sherlock Holmes .

text: Wait

text: a

text: bit

text: Gregson

text: said

text: Sherlock

text: Holmes


text: `` All you desire is a plain statement , is it not ? ''

text: All

text: you

text: desire

text: is

text: a

text: plain

text: statement

text: is

text: it

text: not


text: `` And it is my duty to warn Mr. Scott Eccles that it may be used against him . ''

text: And

text: it

text: is

text: my

text: duty

text: to

text: warn

text: Mr.

text: Scott

text: Eccles

text: that

text: it

text: may

text: be

text: used

text: against

text: him


text: `` Mr. Eccles was going to tell us about it when you entered the room .

text: Mr.

text: Eccles

text: was

text: going

text: to

text: tell

text: us

text: about

text: it

text: when

text: you

text: entered

text: the

text: room


text: I think , Watson , a brandy and soda would do him no harm .

text: I

text: think

text: Watson

text: a

text: brandy

text: and

text: soda

text: would

text: do

text: him

text: no

text: harm


text: Now , sir , I suggest that you take no notice of this addition to your audience , and that you proceed with your narrative exactly as you would have done had you never been interrupted . ''

text: Now

text: sir

text: I

text: suggest

text: that

text: you

text: take

text: no

text: notice

text: of

text: this

text: addition

text: to

text: your

text: audience

text: and

text: that

text: you

text: proceed

text: with

text: your

text: narrative

text: exactly

text: as

text: you

text: would

text: have

text: done

text: had

text: you

text: never

text: been

text: interrupted


text: Our visitor had gulped off the brandy and the colour had returned to his face .

text: Our

text: visitor

text: had

text: gulped

text: off

text: the

text: brandy

text: and

text: the

text: colour

text: had

text: returned

text: to

text: his

text: face


text: With a dubious glance at the inspector 's notebook , he plunged at once into his extraordinary statement .

text: With

text: a

text: dubious

text: glance

text: at

text: the

text: inspector

text: 's

text: notebook

text: he

text: plunged

text: at

text: once

text: into

text: his

text: extraordinary

text: statement


text: `` I am a bachelor , '' said he , `` and being of a sociable turn I cultivate a large number of friends .

text: I

text: am

text: a

text: bachelor

text: said

text: he

text: and

text: being

text: of

text: a

text: sociable

text: turn

text: I

text: cultivate

text: a

text: large

text: number

text: of

text: friends


text: Among these are the family of a retired brewer called Melville , living at Abermarle Mansion , Kensington .

text: Among

text: these

text: are

text: the

text: family

text: of

text: a

text: retired

text: brewer

text: called

text: Melville

text: living

text: at

text: Abermarle

text: Mansion

text: Kensington


text: It was at his table that I met some weeks ago a young fellow named Garcia .

text: It

text: was

text: at

text: his

text: table

text: that

text: I

text: met

text: some

text: weeks

text: ago

text: a

text: young

text: fellow

text: named

text: Garcia


text: He was , I understood , of Spanish descent and connected in some way with the embassy .

text: He

text: was

text: I

text: understood

text: of

text: Spanish

text: descent

text: and

text: connected

text: in

text: some

text: way

text: with

text: the

text: embassy


text: He spoke perfect English , was pleasing in his manners , and as good-looking a man as ever I saw in my life .

text: He

text: spoke

text: perfect

text: English

text: was

text: pleasing

text: in

text: his

text: manners

text: and

text: as

text: good-looking

text: a

text: man

text: as

text: ever

text: I

text: saw

text: in

text: my

text: life


text: `` In some way we struck up quite a friendship , this young fellow and I .

text: In

text: some

text: way

text: we

text: struck

text: up

text: quite

text: a

text: friendship

text: this

text: young

text: fellow

text: and

text: I


text: He seemed to take a fancy to me from the first , and within two days of our meeting he came to see me at Lee .

text: He

text: seemed

text: to

text: take

text: a

text: fancy

text: to

text: me

text: from

text: the

text: first

text: and

text: within

text: two

text: days

text: of

text: our

text: meeting

text: he

text: came

text: to

text: see

text: me

text: at

text: Lee


text: One thing led to another , and it ended in his inviting me out to spend a few days at his house , Wisteria Lodge , between Esher and Oxshott .

text: One

text: thing

text: led

text: to

text: another

text: and

text: it

text: ended

text: in

text: his

text: inviting

text: me

text: out

text: to

text: spend

text: a

text: few

text: days

text: at

text: his

text: house

text: Wisteria

text: Lodge

text: between

text: Esher

text: and

text: Oxshott


text: Yesterday evening I went to Esher to fulfil this engagement .

text: Yesterday

text: evening

text: I

text: went

text: to

text: Esher

text: to

text: fulfil

text: this

text: engagement


text: `` He had described his household to me before I went there .

text: He

text: had

text: described

text: his

text: household

text: to

text: me

text: before

text: I

text: went

text: there


text: He lived with a faithful servant , a countryman of his own , who looked after all his needs .

text: He

text: lived

text: with

text: a

text: faithful

text: servant

text: a

text: countryman

text: of

text: his

text: own

text: who

text: looked

text: after

text: all

text: his

text: needs


text: This fellow could speak English and did his housekeeping for him .

text: This

text: fellow

text: could

text: speak

text: English

text: and

text: did

text: his

text: housekeeping

text: for

text: him


text: Then there was a wonderful cook , he said , a half-breed whom he had picked up in his travels , who could serve an excellent dinner .

text: Then

text: there

text: was

text: a

text: wonderful

text: cook

text: he

text: said

text: a

text: half-breed

text: whom

text: he

text: had

text: picked

text: up

text: in

text: his

text: travels

text: who

text: could

text: serve

text: an

text: excellent

text: dinner


text: I remember that he remarked what a queer household it was to find in the heart of Surrey , and that I agreed with him , though it has proved a good deal queerer than I thought .

text: I

text: remember

text: that

text: he

text: remarked

text: what

text: a

text: queer

text: household

text: it

text: was

text: to

text: find

text: in

text: the

text: heart

text: of

text: Surrey

text: and

text: that

text: I

text: agreed

text: with

text: him

text: though

text: it

text: has

text: proved

text: a

text: good

text: deal

text: queerer

text: than

text: I

text: thought


text: `` I drove to the place -- about two miles on the south side of Esher .

text: I

text: drove

text: to

text: the

text: place

text: about

text: two

text: miles

text: on

text: the

text: south

text: side

text: of

text: Esher


text: The house was a fair-sized one , standing back from the road , with a curving drive which was banked with high evergreen shrubs .

text: The

text: house

text: was

text: a

text: fair-sized

text: one

text: standing

text: back

text: from

text: the

text: road

text: with

text: a

text: curving

text: drive

text: which

text: was

text: banked

text: with

text: high

text: evergreen

text: shrubs


text: It was an old , tumbledown building in a crazy state of disrepair .

text: It

text: was

text: an

text: old

text: tumbledown

text: building

text: in

text: a

text: crazy

text: state

text: of

text: disrepair


text: When the trap pulled up on the grass-grown drive in front of the blotched and weather-stained door , I had doubts as to my wisdom in visiting a man whom I knew so slightly .

text: When

text: the

text: trap

text: pulled

text: up

text: on

text: the

text: grass-grown

text: drive

text: in

text: front

text: of

text: the

text: blotched

text: and

text: weather-stained

text: door

text: I

text: had

text: doubts

text: as

text: to

text: my

text: wisdom

text: in

text: visiting

text: a

text: man

text: whom

text: I

text: knew

text: so

text: slightly


text: He opened the door himself , however , and greeted me with a great show of cordiality .

text: He

text: opened

text: the

text: door

text: himself

text: however

text: and

text: greeted

text: me

text: with

text: a

text: great

text: show

text: of

text: cordiality


text: I was handed over to the manservant , a melancholy , swarthy individual , who led the way , my bag in his hand , to my bedroom .

text: I

text: was

text: handed

text: over

text: to

text: the

text: manservant

text: a

text: melancholy

text: swarthy

text: individual

text: who

text: led

text: the

text: way

text: my

text: bag

text: in

text: his

text: hand

text: to

text: my

text: bedroom


text: The whole place was depressing .

text: The

text: whole

text: place

text: was

text: depressing


text: Our dinner was tete-a-tete , and though my host did his best to be entertaining , his thoughts seemed to continually wander , and he talked so vaguely and wildly that I could hardly understand him .

text: Our

text: dinner

text: was

text: tete-a-tete

text: and

text: though

text: my

text: host

text: did

text: his

text: best

text: to

text: be

text: entertaining

text: his

text: thoughts

text: seemed

text: to

text: continually

text: wander

text: and

text: he

text: talked

text: so

text: vaguely

text: and

text: wildly

text: that

text: I

text: could

text: hardly

text: understand

text: him


text: He continually drummed his fingers on the table , gnawed his nails , and gave other signs of nervous impatience .

text: He

text: continually

text: drummed

text: his

text: fingers

text: on

text: the

text: table

text: gnawed

text: his

text: nails

text: and

text: gave

text: other

text: signs

text: of

text: nervous

text: impatience


text: The dinner itself was neither well served nor well cooked , and the gloomy presence of the taciturn servant did not help to enliven us .

text: The

text: dinner

text: itself

text: was

text: neither

text: well

text: served

text: nor

text: well

text: cooked

text: and

text: the

text: gloomy

text: presence

text: of

text: the

text: taciturn

text: servant

text: did

text: not

text: help

text: to

text: enliven

text: us


text: The

text: dinner

text: itself

text: was

text: neither

text: well

text: served

text: nor

text: well

text: cooked

text: and

text: the

text: gloomy

text: presence

text: of

text: the

text: taciturn

text: servant

text: did

text: not

text: help

text: to

text: enliven

text: us


text: I can assure you that many times in the course of the evening I wished that I could invent some excuse which would take me back to Lee .

text: I

text: can

text: assure

text: you

text: that

text: many

text: times

text: in

text: the

text: course

text: of

text: the

text: evening

text: I

text: wished

text: that

text: I

text: could

text: invent

text: some

text: excuse

text: which

text: would

text: take

text: me

text: back

text: to

text: Lee


text: `` One thing comes back to my memory which may have a bearing upon the business that you two gentlemen are investigating .

text: One

text: thing

text: comes

text: back

text: to

text: my

text: memory

text: which

text: may

text: have

text: a

text: bearing

text: upon

text: the

text: business

text: that

text: you

text: two

text: gentlemen

text: are

text: investigating


text: I thought nothing of it at the time .

text: I

text: thought

text: nothing

text: of

text: it

text: at

text: the

text: time


text: Near the end of dinner a note was handed in by the servant .

text: Near

text: the

text: end

text: of

text: dinner

text: a

text: note

text: was

text: handed

text: in

text: by

text: the

text: servant


text: I noticed that after my host had read it he seemed even more distrait and strange than before .

text: I

text: noticed

text: that

text: after

text: my

text: host

text: had

text: read

text: it

text: he

text: seemed

text: even

text: more

text: distrait

text: and

text: strange

text: than

text: before


text: He gave up all pretence at conversation and sat , smoking endless cigarettes , lost in his own thoughts , but he made no remark as to the contents .

text: He

text: gave

text: up

text: all

text: pretence

text: at

text: conversation

text: and

text: sat

text: smoking

text: endless

text: cigarettes

text: lost

text: in

text: his

text: own

text: thoughts

text: but

text: he

text: made

text: no

text: remark

text: as

text: to

text: the

text: contents


text: About eleven I was glad to go to bed .

text: About

text: eleven

text: I

text: was

text: glad

text: to

text: go

text: to

text: bed


text: Some time later Garcia looked in at my door -- the room was dark at the time -- and asked me if I had rung .

text: Some

text: time

text: later

text: Garcia

text: looked

text: in

text: at

text: my

text: door

text: the

text: room

text: was

text: dark

text: at

text: the

text: time

text: and

text: asked

text: me

text: if

text: I

text: had

text: rung


text: I said that I had not .

text: I

text: said

text: that

text: I

text: had

text: not


text: He apologized for having disturbed me so late , saying that it was nearly one o'clock .

text: He

text: apologized

text: for

text: having

text: disturbed

text: me

text: so

text: late

text: saying

text: that

text: it

text: was

text: nearly

text: one

text: o'clock


text: I dropped off after this and slept soundly all night .

text: I

text: dropped

text: off

text: after

text: this

text: and

text: slept

text: soundly

text: all

text: night


text: `` And now I come to the amazing part of my tale .

text: And

text: now

text: I

text: come

text: to

text: the

text: amazing

text: part

text: of

text: my

text: tale


text: When I woke it was broad daylight .

text: When

text: I

text: woke

text: it

text: was

text: broad

text: daylight


text: I glanced at my watch , and the time was nearly nine .

text: I

text: glanced

text: at

text: my

text: watch

text: and

text: the

text: time

text: was

text: nearly

text: nine


text: I had particularly asked to be called at eight , so I was very much astonished at this forgetfulness .

text: I

text: had

text: particularly

text: asked

text: to

text: be

text: called

text: at

text: eight

text: so

text: I

text: was

text: very

text: much

text: astonished

text: at

text: this

text: forgetfulness


text: I sprang up and rang for the servant .

text: I

text: sprang

text: up

text: and

text: rang

text: for

text: the

text: servant


text: There was no response .

text: There

text: was

text: no

text: response


text: I rang again and again , with the same result .

text: I

text: rang

text: again

text: and

text: again

text: with

text: the

text: same

text: result


text: Then I came to the conclusion that the bell was out of order .

text: Then

text: I

text: came

text: to

text: the

text: conclusion

text: that

text: the

text: bell

text: was

text: out

text: of

text: order


text: I huddled on my clothes and hurried downstairs in an exceedingly bad temper to order some hot water .

text: I

text: huddled

text: on

text: my

text: clothes

text: and

text: hurried

text: downstairs

text: in

text: an

text: exceedingly

text: bad

text: temper

text: to

text: order

text: some

text: hot

text: water


text: You can imagine my surprise when I found that there was no one there .

text: You

text: can

text: imagine

text: my

text: surprise

text: when

text: I

text: found

text: that

text: there

text: was

text: no

text: one

text: there


text: I shouted in the hall .

text: I

text: shouted

text: in

text: the

text: hall


text: There was no answer .

text: There

text: was

text: no

text: answer


text: Then I ran from room to room .

text: Then

text: I

text: ran

text: from

text: room

text: to

text: room


text: All were deserted .

text: All

text: were

text: deserted


text: My host had shown me which was his bedroom the night before , so I knocked at the door .

text: My

text: host

text: had

text: shown

text: me

text: which

text: was

text: his

text: bedroom

text: the

text: night

text: before

text: so

text: I

text: knocked

text: at

text: the

text: door


text: No reply .

text: No

text: reply


text: I turned the handle and walked in .

text: I

text: turned

text: the

text: handle

text: and

text: walked

text: in


text: The room was empty , and the bed had never been slept in .

text: The

text: room

text: was

text: empty

text: and

text: the

text: bed

text: had

text: never

text: been

text: slept

text: in


text: He had gone with the rest .

text: He

text: had

text: gone

text: with

text: the

text: rest


text: The foreign host , the foreign footman , the foreign cook , all had vanished in the night !

text: The

text: foreign

text: host

text: the

text: foreign

text: footman

text: the

text: foreign

text: cook

text: all

text: had

text: vanished

text: in

text: the

text: night


text: That was the end of my visit to Wisteria Lodge . ''

text: That

text: was

text: the

text: end

text: of

text: my

text: visit

text: to

text: Wisteria

text: Lodge


text: Sherlock Holmes was rubbing his hands and chuckling as he added this bizarre incident to his collection of strange episodes .

text: Sherlock

text: Holmes

text: was

text: rubbing

text: his

text: hands

text: and

text: chuckling

text: as

text: he

text: added

text: this

text: bizarre

text: incident

text: to

text: his

text: collection

text: of

text: strange

text: episodes


text: `` Your experience is , so far as I know , perfectly unique , '' said he .

text: Your

text: experience

text: is

text: so

text: far

text: as

text: I

text: know

text: perfectly

text: unique

text: said

text: he


text: `` May I ask , sir , what you did then ? ''

text: May

text: I

text: ask

text: sir

text: what

text: you

text: did

text: then


text: `` I was furious .

text: I

text: was

text: furious


text: My first idea was that I had been the victim of some absurd practical joke .

text: My

text: first

text: idea

text: was

text: that

text: I

text: had

text: been

text: the

text: victim

text: of

text: some

text: absurd

text: practical

text: joke


text: I packed my things , banged the hall door behind me , and set off for Esher , with my bag in my hand .

text: I

text: packed

text: my

text: things

text: banged

text: the

text: hall

text: door

text: behind

text: me

text: and

text: set

text: off

text: for

text: Esher

text: with

text: my

text: bag

text: in

text: my

text: hand


text: I called at Allan Brothers ' , the chief land agents in the village , and found that it was from this firm that the villa had been rented .

text: I

text: called

text: at

text: Allan

text: Brothers

text: the

text: chief

text: land

text: agents

text: in

text: the

text: village

text: and

text: found

text: that

text: it

text: was

text: from

text: this

text: firm

text: that

text: the

text: villa

text: had

text: been

text: rented


text: It struck me that the whole proceeding could hardly be for the purpose of making a fool of me , and that the main object must be to get out of the rent .

text: It

text: struck

text: me

text: that

text: the

text: whole

text: proceeding

text: could

text: hardly

text: be

text: for

text: the

text: purpose

text: of

text: making

text: a

text: fool

text: of

text: me

text: and

text: that

text: the

text: main

text: object

text: must

text: be

text: to

text: get

text: out

text: of

text: the

text: rent


text: It is late in March , so quarter-day is at hand .

text: It

text: is

text: late

text: in

text: March

text: so

text: quarter-day

text: is

text: at

text: hand


text: But this theory would not work .

text: But

text: this

text: theory

text: would

text: not

text: work


text: The agent was obliged to me for my warning , but told me that the rent had been paid in advance .

text: The

text: agent

text: was

text: obliged

text: to

text: me

text: for

text: my

text: warning

text: but

text: told

text: me

text: that

text: the

text: rent

text: had

text: been

text: paid

text: in

text: advance


text: Then I made my way to town and called at the Spanish embassy .

text: Then

text: I

text: made

text: my

text: way

text: to

text: town

text: and

text: called

text: at

text: the

text: Spanish

text: embassy


text: The man was unknown there .

text: The

text: man

text: was

text: unknown

text: there


text: After this I went to see Melville , at whose house I had first met Garcia , but I found that he really knew rather less about him than I did .

text: After

text: this

text: I

text: went

text: to

text: see

text: Melville

text: at

text: whose

text: house

text: I

text: had

text: first

text: met

text: Garcia

text: but

text: I

text: found

text: that

text: he

text: really

text: knew

text: rather

text: less

text: about

text: him

text: than

text: I

text: did


text: Finally when I got your reply to my wire I came out to you , since I gather that you are a person who gives advice in difficult cases .

text: Finally

text: when

text: I

text: got

text: your

text: reply

text: to

text: my

text: wire

text: I

text: came

text: out

text: to

text: you

text: since

text: I

text: gather

text: that

text: you

text: are

text: a

text: person

text: who

text: gives

text: advice

text: in

text: difficult

text: cases


text: But now , Mr. Inspector , I understand , from what you said when you entered the room , that you can carry the story on , and that some tragedy had occurred .

text: But

text: now

text: Mr.

text: Inspector

text: I

text: understand

text: from

text: what

text: you

text: said

text: when

text: you

text: entered

text: the

text: room

text: that

text: you

text: can

text: carry

text: the

text: story

text: on

text: and

text: that

text: some

text: tragedy

text: had

text: occurred


text: I can assure you that every word I have said is the truth , and that , outside of what I have told you , I know absolutely nothing about the fate of this man .

text: I

text: can

text: assure

text: you

text: that

text: every

text: word

text: I

text: have

text: said

text: is

text: the

text: truth

text: and

text: that

text: outside

text: of

text: what

text: I

text: have

text: told

text: you

text: I

text: know

text: absolutely

text: nothing

text: about

text: the

text: fate

text: of

text: this

text: man


text: My only desire is to help the law in every possible way . ''

text: My

text: only

text: desire

text: is

text: to

text: help

text: the

text: law

text: in

text: every

text: possible

text: way


text: `` I am sure of it , Mr. Scott Eccles -- I am sure of it , '' said Inspector Gregson in a very amiable tone .

text: I

text: am

text: sure

text: of

text: it

text: Mr.

text: Scott

text: Eccles

text: I

text: am

text: sure

text: of

text: it

text: said

text: Inspector

text: Gregson

text: in

text: a

text: very

text: amiable

text: tone


text: `` I am bound to say that everything which you have said agrees very closely with the facts as they have come to our notice .

text: I

text: am

text: bound

text: to

text: say

text: that

text: everything

text: which

text: you

text: have

text: said

text: agrees

text: very

text: closely

text: with

text: the

text: facts

text: as

text: they

text: have

text: come

text: to

text: our

text: notice


text: For example , there was that note which arrived during dinner .

text: For

text: example

text: there

text: was

text: that

text: note

text: which

text: arrived

text: during

text: dinner


text: Did you chance to observe what became of it ? ''

text: Did

text: you

text: chance

text: to

text: observe

text: what

text: became

text: of

text: it


text: `` Yes , I did .

text: Yes

text: I

text: did


text: Garcia rolled it up and threw it into the fire . ''

text: Garcia

text: rolled

text: it

text: up

text: and

text: threw

text: it

text: into

text: the

text: fire


text: `` What do you say to that , Mr. Baynes ? ''

text: What

text: do

text: you

text: say

text: to

text: that

text: Mr.

text: Baynes


text: The country detective was a stout , puffy , red man , whose face was only redeemed from grossness by two extraordinarily bright eyes , almost hidden behind the heavy creases of cheek and brow .

text: The

text: country

text: detective

text: was

text: a

text: stout

text: puffy

text: red

text: man

text: whose

text: face

text: was

text: only

text: redeemed

text: from

text: grossness

text: by

text: two

text: extraordinarily

text: bright

text: eyes

text: almost

text: hidden

text: behind

text: the

text: heavy

text: creases

text: of

text: cheek

text: and

text: brow


text: With a slow smile he drew a folded and discoloured scrap of paper from his pocket .

text: With

text: a

text: slow

text: smile

text: he

text: drew

text: a

text: folded

text: and

text: discoloured

text: scrap

text: of

text: paper

text: from

text: his

text: pocket


text: `` It was a dog-grate , Mr. Holmes , and he overpitched it .

text: It

text: was

text: a

text: dog-grate

text: Mr.

text: Holmes

text: and

text: he

text: overpitched

text: it


text: I picked this out unburned from the back of it . ''

text: I

text: picked

text: this

text: out

text: unburned

text: from

text: the

text: back

text: of

text: it


text: Holmes smiled his appreciation .

text: Holmes

text: smiled

text: his

text: appreciation


text: `` You must have examined the house very carefully to find a single pellet of paper . ''

text: You

text: must

text: have

text: examined

text: the

text: house

text: very

text: carefully

text: to

text: find

text: a

text: single

text: pellet

text: of

text: paper


text: `` I did , Mr. Holmes .

text: I

text: did

text: Mr.

text: Holmes


text: It 's my way .

text: It

text: 's

text: my

text: way


text: Shall I read it , Mr. Gregson ? ''

text: Shall

text: I

text: read

text: it

text: Mr.

text: Gregson


text: The Londoner nodded .

text: The

text: Londoner

text: nodded


text: `` The note is written upon ordinary cream-laid paper without watermark .

text: The

text: note

text: is

text: written

text: upon

text: ordinary

text: cream-laid

text: paper

text: without

text: watermark


text: It is a quarter-sheet .

text: It

text: is

text: a

text: quarter-sheet


text: The paper is cut off in two snips with a short-bladed scissors .

text: The

text: paper

text: is

text: cut

text: off

text: in

text: two

text: snips

text: with

text: a

text: short-bladed

text: scissors


text: It has been folded over three times and sealed with purple wax , put on hurriedly and pressed down with some flat oval object .

text: It

text: has

text: been

text: folded

text: over

text: three

text: times

text: and

text: sealed

text: with

text: purple

text: wax

text: put

text: on

text: hurriedly

text: and

text: pressed

text: down

text: with

text: some

text: flat

text: oval

text: object


text: It is addressed to Mr. Garcia , Wisteria Lodge .

text: It

text: is

text: addressed

text: to

text: Mr.

text: Garcia

text: Wisteria

text: Lodge


text: It says :

text: It

text: says


text: `` Our own colours , green and white .

text: Our

text: own

text: colours

text: green

text: and

text: white


text: Green open , white shut .

text: Green

text: open

text: white

text: shut


text: Main stair , first corridor , seventh right , green baize .

text: Main

text: stair

text: first

text: corridor

text: seventh

text: right

text: green

text: baize


text: Godspeed .

text: Godspeed


text: D .

text: D


text: `` It is a woman 's writing , done with a sharp-pointed pen , but the address is either done with another pen or by someone else .

text: It

text: is

text: a

text: woman

text: 's

text: writing

text: done

text: with

text: a

text: sharp-pointed

text: pen

text: but

text: the

text: address

text: is

text: either

text: done

text: with

text: another

text: pen

text: or

text: by

text: someone

text: else


text: It is thicker and bolder , as you see . ''

text: It

text: is

text: thicker

text: and

text: bolder

text: as

text: you

text: see


text: `` A very remarkable note , '' said Holmes , glancing it over .

text: A

text: very

text: remarkable

text: note

text: said

text: Holmes

text: glancing

text: it

text: over


text: `` I must compliment you , Mr. Baynes , upon your attention to detail in your examination of it .

text: I

text: must

text: compliment

text: you

text: Mr.

text: Baynes

text: upon

text: your

text: attention

text: to

text: detail

text: in

text: your

text: examination

text: of

text: it


text: A few trifling points might perhaps be added .

text: A

text: few

text: trifling

text: points

text: might

text: perhaps

text: be

text: added


text: The oval seal is undoubtedly a plain sleeve-link -- what else is of such a shape ?

text: The

text: oval

text: seal

text: is

text: undoubtedly

text: a

text: plain

text: sleeve-link

text: what

text: else

text: is

text: of

text: such

text: a

text: shape


text: The scissors were bent nail scissors .

text: The

text: scissors

text: were

text: bent

text: nail

text: scissors


text: Short as the two snips are , you can distinctly see the same slight curve in each . ''

text: Short

text: as

text: the

text: two

text: snips

text: are

text: you

text: can

text: distinctly

text: see

text: the

text: same

text: slight

text: curve

text: in

text: each


text: The country detective chuckled .

text: The

text: country

text: detective

text: chuckled


text: `` I thought I had squeezed all the juice out of it , but I see there was a little over , '' he said .

text: I

text: thought

text: I

text: had

text: squeezed

text: all

text: the

text: juice

text: out

text: of

text: it

text: but

text: I

text: see

text: there

text: was

text: a

text: little

text: over

text: he

text: said


text: `` I 'm bound to say that I make nothing of the note except that there was something on hand , and that a woman , as usual was at the bottom of it . ''

text: I

text: 'm

text: bound

text: to

text: say

text: that

text: I

text: make

text: nothing

text: of

text: the

text: note

text: except

text: that

text: there

text: was

text: something

text: on

text: hand

text: and

text: that

text: a

text: woman

text: as

text: usual

text: was

text: at

text: the

text: bottom

text: of

text: it


text: Mr. Scott Eccles had fidgeted in his seat during this conversation .

text: Mr.

text: Scott

text: Eccles

text: had

text: fidgeted

text: in

text: his

text: seat

text: during

text: this

text: conversation


text: `` I am glad you found the note , since it corroborates my story , '' said he .

text: I

text: am

text: glad

text: you

text: found

text: the

text: note

text: since

text: it

text: corroborates

text: my

text: story

text: said

text: he


text: `` But I beg to point out that I have not yet heard what has happened to Mr. Garcia , nor what has become of his household . ''

text: But

text: I

text: beg

text: to

text: point

text: out

text: that

text: I

text: have

text: not

text: yet

text: heard

text: what

text: has

text: happened

text: to

text: Mr.

text: Garcia

text: nor

text: what

text: has

text: become

text: of

text: his

text: household


text: But

text: I

text: beg

text: to

text: point

text: out

text: that

text: I

text: have

text: not

text: yet

text: heard

text: what

text: has

text: happened

text: to

text: Mr.

text: Garcia

text: nor

text: what

text: has

text: become

text: of

text: his

text: household


text: `` As to Garcia , '' said Gregson , `` that is easily answered .

text: As

text: to

text: Garcia

text: said

text: Gregson

text: that

text: is

text: easily

text: answered


text: He was found dead this morning upon Oxshott Common , nearly a mile from his home .

text: He

text: was

text: found

text: dead

text: this

text: morning

text: upon

text: Oxshott

text: Common

text: nearly

text: a

text: mile

text: from

text: his

text: home


text: His head had been smashed to pulp by heavy blows of a sandbag or some such instrument , which had crushed rather than wounded .

text: His

text: head

text: had

text: been

text: smashed

text: to

text: pulp

text: by

text: heavy

text: blows

text: of

text: a

text: sandbag

text: or

text: some

text: such

text: instrument

text: which

text: had

text: crushed

text: rather

text: than

text: wounded


text: It is a lonely corner , and there is no house within a quarter of a mile of the spot .

text: It

text: is

text: a

text: lonely

text: corner

text: and

text: there

text: is

text: no

text: house

text: within

text: a

text: quarter

text: of

text: a

text: mile

text: of

text: the

text: spot


text: He had apparently been struck down first from behind , but his assailant had gone on beating him long after he was dead .

text: He

text: had

text: apparently

text: been

text: struck

text: down

text: first

text: from

text: behind

text: but

text: his

text: assailant

text: had

text: gone

text: on

text: beating

text: him

text: long

text: after

text: he

text: was

text: dead


text: It was a most furious assault .

text: It

text: was

text: a

text: most

text: furious

text: assault


text: There are no footsteps nor any clue to the criminals . ''

text: There

text: are

text: no

text: footsteps

text: nor

text: any

text: clue

text: to

text: the

text: criminals


text: `` Robbed ? ''

text: Robbed


text: `` No , there was no attempt at robbery . ''

text: No

text: there

text: was

text: no

text: attempt

text: at

text: robbery


text: No

text: there

text: was

text: no

text: attempt

text: at

text: robbery


text: `` This is very painful -- very painful and terrible , '' said Mr. Scott Eccles in a querulous voice , `` but it is really uncommonly hard on me .

text: This

text: is

text: very

text: painful

text: very

text: painful

text: and

text: terrible

text: said

text: Mr.

text: Scott

text: Eccles

text: in

text: a

text: querulous

text: voice

text: but

text: it

text: is

text: really

text: uncommonly

text: hard

text: on

text: me


text: I had nothing to do with my host going off upon a nocturnal excursion and meeting so sad an end .

text: I

text: had

text: nothing

text: to

text: do

text: with

text: my

text: host

text: going

text: off

text: upon

text: a

text: nocturnal

text: excursion

text: and

text: meeting

text: so

text: sad

text: an

text: end


text: How do I come to be mixed up with the case ? ''

text: How

text: do

text: I

text: come

text: to

text: be

text: mixed

text: up

text: with

text: the

text: case


text: `` Very simply , sir , '' Inspector Baynes answered .

text: Very

text: simply

text: sir

text: Inspector

text: Baynes

text: answered


text: `` The only document found in the pocket of the deceased was a letter from you saying that you would be with him on the night of his death .

text: The

text: only

text: document

text: found

text: in

text: the

text: pocket

text: of

text: the

text: deceased

text: was

text: a

text: letter

text: from

text: you

text: saying

text: that

text: you

text: would

text: be

text: with

text: him

text: on

text: the

text: night

text: of

text: his

text: death


text: It was the envelope of this letter which gave us the dead man 's name and address .

text: It

text: was

text: the

text: envelope

text: of

text: this

text: letter

text: which

text: gave

text: us

text: the

text: dead

text: man

text: 's

text: name

text: and

text: address


text: It was after nine this morning when we reached his house and found neither you nor anyone else inside it .

text: It

text: was

text: after

text: nine

text: this

text: morning

text: when

text: we

text: reached

text: his

text: house

text: and

text: found

text: neither

text: you

text: nor

text: anyone

text: else

text: inside

text: it


text: I wired to Mr. Gregson to run you down in London while I examined Wisteria Lodge .

text: I

text: wired

text: to

text: Mr.

text: Gregson

text: to

text: run

text: you

text: down

text: in

text: London

text: while

text: I

text: examined

text: Wisteria

text: Lodge


text: Then I came into town , joined Mr. Gregson , and here we are . ''

text: Then

text: I

text: came

text: into

text: town

text: joined

text: Mr.

text: Gregson

text: and

text: here

text: we

text: are


text: `` I think now , '' said Gregson , rising , `` we had best put this matter into an official shape .

text: I

text: think

text: now

text: said

text: Gregson

text: rising

text: we

text: had

text: best

text: put

text: this

text: matter

text: into

text: an

text: official

text: shape


text: You will come round with us to the station , Mr. Scott Eccles , and let us have your statement in writing . ''

text: You

text: will

text: come

text: round

text: with

text: us

text: to

text: the

text: station

text: Mr.

text: Scott

text: Eccles

text: and

text: let

text: us

text: have

text: your

text: statement

text: in

text: writing


text: `` Certainly , I will come at once .

text: Certainly

text: I

text: will

text: come

text: at

text: once


text: But I retain your services , Mr. Holmes .

text: But

text: I

text: retain

text: your

text: services

text: Mr.

text: Holmes


text: I desire you to spare no expense and no pains to get at the truth . ''

text: I

text: desire

text: you

text: to

text: spare

text: no

text: expense

text: and

text: no

text: pains

text: to

text: get

text: at

text: the

text: truth


text: My friend turned to the country inspector .

text: My

text: friend

text: turned

text: to

text: the

text: country

text: inspector


text: `` I suppose that you have no objection to my collaborating with you , Mr. Baynes ? ''

text: I

text: suppose

text: that

text: you

text: have

text: no

text: objection

text: to

text: my

text: collaborating

text: with

text: you

text: Mr.

text: Baynes


text: `` Highly honoured , sir , I am sure . ''

text: Highly

text: honoured

text: sir

text: I

text: am

text: sure


text: `` You appear to have been very prompt and businesslike in all that you have done .

text: You

text: appear

text: to

text: have

text: been

text: very

text: prompt

text: and

text: businesslike

text: in

text: all

text: that

text: you

text: have

text: done


text: Was there any clue , may I ask , as to the exact hour that the man met his death ? ''

text: Was

text: there

text: any

text: clue

text: may

text: I

text: ask

text: as

text: to

text: the

text: exact

text: hour

text: that

text: the

text: man

text: met

text: his

text: death


text: `` He had been there since one o'clock .

text: He

text: had

text: been

text: there

text: since

text: one

text: o'clock


text: There was rain about that time , and his death had certainly been before the rain . ''

text: There

text: was

text: rain

text: about

text: that

text: time

text: and

text: his

text: death

text: had

text: certainly

text: been

text: before

text: the

text: rain


text: `` But that is perfectly impossible , Mr. Baynes , '' cried our client .

text: But

text: that

text: is

text: perfectly

text: impossible

text: Mr.

text: Baynes

text: cried

text: our

text: client


text: `` His voice is unmistakable .

text: His

text: voice

text: is

text: unmistakable


text: I could swear to it that it was he who addressed me in my bedroom at that very hour . ''

text: I

text: could

text: swear

text: to

text: it

text: that

text: it

text: was

text: he

text: who

text: addressed

text: me

text: in

text: my

text: bedroom

text: at

text: that

text: very

text: hour


text: `` Remarkable , but by no means impossible , '' said Holmes , smiling .

text: Remarkable

text: but

text: by

text: no

text: means

text: impossible

text: said

text: Holmes

text: smiling


text: `` You have a clue ? '' asked Gregson .

text: You

text: have

text: a

text: clue

text: asked

text: Gregson


text: `` On the face of it the case is not a very complex one , though it certainly presents some novel and interesting features .

text: On

text: the

text: face

text: of

text: it

text: the

text: case

text: is

text: not

text: a

text: very

text: complex

text: one

text: though

text: it

text: certainly

text: presents

text: some

text: novel

text: and

text: interesting

text: features


text: A further knowledge of facts is necessary before I would venture to give a final and definite opinion .

text: A

text: further

text: knowledge

text: of

text: facts

text: is

text: necessary

text: before

text: I

text: would

text: venture

text: to

text: give

text: a

text: final

text: and

text: definite

text: opinion


text: By the way , Mr. Baynes , did you find anything remarkable besides this note in your examination of the house ? ''

text: By

text: the

text: way

text: Mr.

text: Baynes

text: did

text: you

text: find

text: anything

text: remarkable

text: besides

text: this

text: note

text: in

text: your

text: examination

text: of

text: the

text: house


text: The detective looked at my friend in a singular way .

text: The

text: detective

text: looked

text: at

text: my

text: friend

text: in

text: a

text: singular

text: way


text: `` There were , '' said he , `` one or two very remarkable things .

text: There

text: were

text: said

text: he

text: one

text: or

text: two

text: very

text: remarkable

text: things


text: Perhaps when I have finished at the police-station you would care to come out and give me your opinion of them . ''

text: Perhaps

text: when

text: I

text: have

text: finished

text: at

text: the

text: police-station

text: you

text: would

text: care

text: to

text: come

text: out

text: and

text: give

text: me

text: your

text: opinion

text: of

text: them


text: `` I am entirely at your service , '' said Sherlock Holmes , ringing the bell .

text: I

text: am

text: entirely

text: at

text: your

text: service

text: said

text: Sherlock

text: Holmes

text: ringing

text: the

text: bell


text: `` You will show these gentlemen out , Mrs. Hudson , and kindly send the boy with this telegram .

text: You

text: will

text: show

text: these

text: gentlemen

text: out

text: Mrs.

text: Hudson

text: and

text: kindly

text: send

text: the

text: boy

text: with

text: this

text: telegram


text: He is to pay a five-shilling reply . ''

text: He

text: is

text: to

text: pay

text: a

text: five-shilling

text: reply


text: We sat for some time in silence after our visitors had left .

text: We

text: sat

text: for

text: some

text: time

text: in

text: silence

text: after

text: our

text: visitors

text: had

text: left


text: Holmes smoked hard , with his browns drawn down over his keen eyes , and his head thrust forward in the eager way characteristic of the man .

text: Holmes

text: smoked

text: hard

text: with

text: his

text: browns

text: drawn

text: down

text: over

text: his

text: keen

text: eyes

text: and

text: his

text: head

text: thrust

text: forward

text: in

text: the

text: eager

text: way

text: characteristic

text: of

text: the

text: man


text: `` Well , Watson , '' he asked , turning suddenly upon me , `` what do you make of it ? ''

text: Well

text: Watson

text: he

text: asked

text: turning

text: suddenly

text: upon

text: me

text: what

text: do

text: you

text: make

text: of

text: it


text: `` I can make nothing of this mystification of Scott Eccles . ''

text: I

text: can

text: make

text: nothing

text: of

text: this

text: mystification

text: of

text: Scott

text: Eccles


text: `` But the crime ? ''

text: But

text: the

text: crime


text: `` Well , taken with the disappearance of the man 's companions , I should say that they were in some way concerned in the murder and had fled from justice . ''

text: Well

text: taken

text: with

text: the

text: disappearance

text: of

text: the

text: man

text: 's

text: companions

text: I

text: should

text: say

text: that

text: they

text: were

text: in

text: some

text: way

text: concerned

text: in

text: the

text: murder

text: and

text: had

text: fled

text: from

text: justice


text: `` That is certainly a possible point of view .

text: That

text: is

text: certainly

text: a

text: possible

text: point

text: of

text: view


text: On the face of it you must admit , however , that it is very strange that his two servants should have been in a conspiracy against him and should have attacked him on the one night when he had a guest .

text: On

text: the

text: face

text: of

text: it

text: you

text: must

text: admit

text: however

text: that

text: it

text: is

text: very

text: strange

text: that

text: his

text: two

text: servants

text: should

text: have

text: been

text: in

text: a

text: conspiracy

text: against

text: him

text: and

text: should

text: have

text: attacked

text: him

text: on

text: the

text: one

text: night

text: when

text: he

text: had

text: a

text: guest


text: They had him alone at their mercy every other night in the week . ''

text: They

text: had

text: him

text: alone

text: at

text: their

text: mercy

text: every

text: other

text: night

text: in

text: the

text: week


text: `` Then why did they fly ? ''

text: Then

text: why

text: did

text: they

text: fly


text: `` Quite so .

text: Quite

text: so


text: Why did they fly ?

text: Why

text: did

text: they

text: fly


text: There is a big fact .

text: There

text: is

text: a

text: big

text: fact


text: Another big fact is the remarkable experience of our client , Scott Eccles .

text: Another

text: big

text: fact

text: is

text: the

text: remarkable

text: experience

text: of

text: our

text: client

text: Scott

text: Eccles


text: Now , my dear Watson , is it beyond the limits of human ingenuity to furnish an explanation which would cover both of these big facts ?

text: Now

text: my

text: dear

text: Watson

text: is

text: it

text: beyond

text: the

text: limits

text: of

text: human

text: ingenuity

text: to

text: furnish

text: an

text: explanation

text: which

text: would

text: cover

text: both

text: of

text: these

text: big

text: facts


text: If it were one which would also admit of the mysterious note with its very curious phraseology , why , then it would be worth accepting as a temporary hypothesis .

text: If

text: it

text: were

text: one

text: which

text: would

text: also

text: admit

text: of

text: the

text: mysterious

text: note

text: with

text: its

text: very

text: curious

text: phraseology

text: why

text: then

text: it

text: would

text: be

text: worth

text: accepting

text: as

text: a

text: temporary

text: hypothesis


text: If the fresh facts which come to our knowledge all fit themselves into the scheme , then our hypothesis may gradually become a solution . ''

text: If

text: the

text: fresh

text: facts

text: which

text: come

text: to

text: our

text: knowledge

text: all

text: fit

text: themselves

text: into

text: the

text: scheme

text: then

text: our

text: hypothesis

text: may

text: gradually

text: become

text: a

text: solution


text: `` But what is our hypothesis ? ''

text: But

text: what

text: is

text: our

text: hypothesis


text: Holmes leaned back in his chair with half-closed eyes .

text: Holmes

text: leaned

text: back

text: in

text: his

text: chair

text: with

text: half-closed

text: eyes


text: `` You must admit , my dear Watson , that the idea of a joke is impossible .

text: You

text: must

text: admit

text: my

text: dear

text: Watson

text: that

text: the

text: idea

text: of

text: a

text: joke

text: is

text: impossible


text: There were grave events afoot , as the sequel showed , and the coaxing of Scott Eccles to Wisteria Lodge had some connection with them . ''

text: There

text: were

text: grave

text: events

text: afoot

text: as

text: the

text: sequel

text: showed

text: and

text: the

text: coaxing

text: of

text: Scott

text: Eccles

text: to

text: Wisteria

text: Lodge

text: had

text: some

text: connection

text: with

text: them


text: `` But what possible connection ? ''

text: But

text: what

text: possible

text: connection


text: `` Let us take it link by link .

text: Let

text: us

text: take

text: it

text: link

text: by

text: link


text: There is , on the face of it , something unnatural about this strange and sudden friendship between the young Spaniard and Scott Eccles .

text: There

text: is

text: on

text: the

text: face

text: of

text: it

text: something

text: unnatural

text: about

text: this

text: strange

text: and

text: sudden

text: friendship

text: between

text: the

text: young

text: Spaniard

text: and

text: Scott

text: Eccles


text: It was the former who forced the pace .

text: It

text: was

text: the

text: former

text: who

text: forced

text: the

text: pace


text: He called upon Eccles at the other end of London on the very day after he first met him , and he kept in close touch with him until he got him down to Esher .

text: He

text: called

text: upon

text: Eccles

text: at

text: the

text: other

text: end

text: of

text: London

text: on

text: the

text: very

text: day

text: after

text: he

text: first

text: met

text: him

text: and

text: he

text: kept

text: in

text: close

text: touch

text: with

text: him

text: until

text: he

text: got

text: him

text: down

text: to

text: Esher


text: Now , what did he want with Eccles ?

text: Now

text: what

text: did

text: he

text: want

text: with

text: Eccles


text: What could Eccles supply ?

text: What

text: could

text: Eccles

text: supply


text: I see no charm in the man .

text: I

text: see

text: no

text: charm

text: in

text: the

text: man


text: He is not particularly intelligent -- not a man likely to be congenial to a quick-witted Latin .

text: He

text: is

text: not

text: particularly

text: intelligent

text: not

text: a

text: man

text: likely

text: to

text: be

text: congenial

text: to

text: a

text: quick-witted

text: Latin


text: Why , then , was he picked out from all the other people whom Garcia met as particularly suited to his purpose ?

text: Why

text: then

text: was

text: he

text: picked

text: out

text: from

text: all

text: the

text: other

text: people

text: whom

text: Garcia

text: met

text: as

text: particularly

text: suited

text: to

text: his

text: purpose


text: Has he any one outstanding quality ?

text: Has

text: he

text: any

text: one

text: outstanding

text: quality


text: I say that he has .

text: I

text: say

text: that

text: he

text: has


text: He is the very type of conventional British respectability , and the very man as a witness to impress another Briton .

text: He

text: is

text: the

text: very

text: type

text: of

text: conventional

text: British

text: respectability

text: and

text: the

text: very

text: man

text: as

text: a

text: witness

text: to

text: impress

text: another

text: Briton


text: You saw yourself how neither of the inspectors dreamed of questioning his statement , extraordinary as it was . ''

text: You

text: saw

text: yourself

text: how

text: neither

text: of

text: the

text: inspectors

text: dreamed

text: of

text: questioning

text: his

text: statement

text: extraordinary

text: as

text: it

text: was


text: `` But what was he to witness ? ''

text: But

text: what

text: was

text: he

text: to

text: witness


text: `` Nothing , as things turned out , but everything had they gone another way .

text: Nothing

text: as

text: things

text: turned

text: out

text: but

text: everything

text: had

text: they

text: gone

text: another

text: way


text: That is how I read the matter . ''

text: That

text: is

text: how

text: I

text: read

text: the

text: matter


text: `` I see , he might have proved an alibi . ''

text: I

text: see

text: he

text: might

text: have

text: proved

text: an

text: alibi


text: `` Exactly , my dear Watson ; he might have proved an alibi .

text: Exactly

text: my

text: dear

text: Watson

text: he

text: might

text: have

text: proved

text: an

text: alibi


text: We will suppose , for argument 's sake , that the household of Wisteria Lodge are confederates in some design .

text: We

text: will

text: suppose

text: for

text: argument

text: 's

text: sake

text: that

text: the

text: household

text: of

text: Wisteria

text: Lodge

text: are

text: confederates

text: in

text: some

text: design


text: The attempt , whatever it may be , is to come off , we will say , before one o'clock .

text: The

text: attempt

text: whatever

text: it

text: may

text: be

text: is

text: to

text: come

text: off

text: we

text: will

text: say

text: before

text: one

text: o'clock


text: By some juggling of the clocks it is quite possible that they may have got Scott Eccles to bed earlier than he thought , but in any case it is likely that when Garcia went out of his way to tell him that it was one it was really not more than twelve .

text: By

text: some

text: juggling

text: of

text: the

text: clocks

text: it

text: is

text: quite

text: possible

text: that

text: they

text: may

text: have

text: got

text: Scott

text: Eccles

text: to

text: bed

text: earlier

text: than

text: he

text: thought

text: but

text: in

text: any

text: case

text: it

text: is

text: likely

text: that

text: when

text: Garcia

text: went

text: out

text: of

text: his

text: way

text: to

text: tell

text: him

text: that

text: it

text: was

text: one

text: it

text: was

text: really

text: not

text: more

text: than

text: twelve


text: If Garcia could do whatever he had to do and be back by the hour mentioned he had evidently a powerful reply to any accusation .

text: If

text: Garcia

text: could

text: do

text: whatever

text: he

text: had

text: to

text: do

text: and

text: be

text: back

text: by

text: the

text: hour

text: mentioned

text: he

text: had

text: evidently

text: a

text: powerful

text: reply

text: to

text: any

text: accusation


text: Here was this irreproachable Englishman ready to swear in any court of law that the accused was in the house all the time .

text: Here

text: was

text: this

text: irreproachable

text: Englishman

text: ready

text: to

text: swear

text: in

text: any

text: court

text: of

text: law

text: that

text: the

text: accused

text: was

text: in

text: the

text: house

text: all

text: the

text: time


text: It was an insurance against the worst . ''

text: It

text: was

text: an

text: insurance

text: against

text: the

text: worst


text: `` Yes , yes , I see that .

text: Yes

text: yes

text: I

text: see

text: that


text: But how about the disappearance of the others ? ''

text: But

text: how

text: about

text: the

text: disappearance

text: of

text: the

text: others


text: `` I have not all my facts yet , but I do not think there are any insuperable difficulties .

text: I

text: have

text: not

text: all

text: my

text: facts

text: yet

text: but

text: I

text: do

text: not

text: think

text: there

text: are

text: any

text: insuperable

text: difficulties


text: Still , it is an error to argue in front of your data .

text: Still

text: it

text: is

text: an

text: error

text: to

text: argue

text: in

text: front

text: of

text: your

text: data


text: You find yourself insensibly twisting them round to fit your theories . ''

text: You

text: find

text: yourself

text: insensibly

text: twisting

text: them

text: round

text: to

text: fit

text: your

text: theories


text: `` And the message ? ''

text: And

text: the

text: message


text: `` How did it run ?

text: How

text: did

text: it

text: run


text: ` Our own colours , green and white . '

text: Our

text: own

text: colours

text: green

text: and

text: white


text: Sounds like racing .

text: Sounds

text: like

text: racing


text: ` Green open , white shut . '

text: Green

text: open

text: white

text: shut


text: That is clearly a signal .

text: That

text: is

text: clearly

text: a

text: signal


text: ` Main stair , first corridor , seventh right , green baize . '

text: Main

text: stair

text: first

text: corridor

text: seventh

text: right

text: green

text: baize


text: This is an assignation .

text: This

text: is

text: an

text: assignation


text: We may find a jealous husband at the bottom of it all .

text: We

text: may

text: find

text: a

text: jealous

text: husband

text: at

text: the

text: bottom

text: of

text: it

text: all


text: It was clearly a dangerous quest .

text: It

text: was

text: clearly

text: a

text: dangerous

text: quest


text: She would not have said ` Godspeed ' had it not been so .

text: She

text: would

text: not

text: have

text: said

text: Godspeed

text: had

text: it

text: not

text: been

text: so


text: ` D ' -- that should be a guide . ''

text: D

text: that

text: should

text: be

text: a

text: guide


text: `` The man was a Spaniard .

text: The

text: man

text: was

text: a

text: Spaniard


text: I suggest that ` D ' stands for Dolores , a common female name in Spain . ''

text: I

text: suggest

text: that

text: D

text: stands

text: for

text: Dolores

text: a

text: common

text: female

text: name

text: in

text: Spain


text: `` Good , Watson , very good -- but quite inadmissable .

text: Good

text: Watson

text: very

text: good

text: but

text: quite

text: inadmissable


text: A Spaniard would write to a Spaniard in Spanish .

text: A

text: Spaniard

text: would

text: write

text: to

text: a

text: Spaniard

text: in

text: Spanish


text: The writer of this note is certainly English .

text: The

text: writer

text: of

text: this

text: note

text: is

text: certainly

text: English


text: Well , we can only possess our soul in patience until this excellent inspector come back for us .

text: Well

text: we

text: can

text: only

text: possess

text: our

text: soul

text: in

text: patience

text: until

text: this

text: excellent

text: inspector

text: come

text: back

text: for

text: us


text: Meanwhile we can thank our lucky fate which has rescued us for a few short hours from the insufferable fatigues of idleness . ''

text: Meanwhile

text: we

text: can

text: thank

text: our

text: lucky

text: fate

text: which

text: has

text: rescued

text: us

text: for

text: a

text: few

text: short

text: hours

text: from

text: the

text: insufferable

text: fatigues

text: of

text: idleness


text: An answer had arrived to Holmes 's telegram before our Surrey officer had returned .

text: An

text: answer

text: had

text: arrived

text: to

text: Holmes

text: 's

text: telegram

text: before

text: our

text: Surrey

text: officer

text: had

text: returned


text: Holmes read it and was about to place it in his notebook when he caught a glimpse of my expectant face .

text: Holmes

text: read

text: it

text: and

text: was

text: about

text: to

text: place

text: it

text: in

text: his

text: notebook

text: when

text: he

text: caught

text: a

text: glimpse

text: of

text: my

text: expectant

text: face


text: He tossed it across with a laugh .

text: He

text: tossed

text: it

text: across

text: with

text: a

text: laugh


text: `` We are moving in exalted circles , '' said he .

text: We

text: are

text: moving

text: in

text: exalted

text: circles

text: said

text: he


text: The telegram was a list of names and addresses :

text: The

text: telegram

text: was

text: a

text: list

text: of

text: names

text: and

text: addresses


text: Lord Harringby , The Dingle ; Sir George Ffolliott , Oxshott Towers ; Mr. Hynes Hynes , J.P. , Purdley Place ; Mr. James Baker Williams , Forton Old Hall ; Mr. Henderson , High Gable ; Rev. Joshua Stone , Nether Walsling .

text: Lord

text: Harringby

text: The

text: Dingle

text: Sir

text: George

text: Ffolliott

text: Oxshott

text: Towers

text: Mr.

text: Hynes

text: Hynes

text: J.P.

text: Purdley

text: Place

text: Mr.

text: James

text: Baker

text: Williams

text: Forton

text: Old

text: Hall

text: Mr.

text: Henderson

text: High

text: Gable

text: Rev.

text: Joshua

text: Stone

text: Nether

text: Walsling


text: `` This is a very obvious way of limiting our field of operations , '' said Holmes .

text: This

text: is

text: a

text: very

text: obvious

text: way

text: of

text: limiting

text: our

text: field

text: of

text: operations

text: said

text: Holmes


text: `` No doubt Baynes , with his methodical mind , has already adopted some similar plan . ''

text: No

text: doubt

text: Baynes

text: with

text: his

text: methodical

text: mind

text: has

text: already

text: adopted

text: some

text: similar

text: plan


text: `` I do n't quite understand . ''

text: I

text: do

text: n't

text: quite

text: understand


text: `` Well , my dear fellow , we have already arrived at the conclusion that the message received by Garcia at dinner was an appointment or an assignation .

text: Well

text: my

text: dear

text: fellow

text: we

text: have

text: already

text: arrived

text: at

text: the

text: conclusion

text: that

text: the

text: message

text: received

text: by

text: Garcia

text: at

text: dinner

text: was

text: an

text: appointment

text: or

text: an

text: assignation


text: Now , if the obvious reading of it is correct , and in order to keep the tryst one has to ascend a main stair and seek the seventh door in a corridor , it is perfectly clear that the house is a very large one .

text: Now

text: if

text: the

text: obvious

text: reading

text: of

text: it

text: is

text: correct

text: and

text: in

text: order

text: to

text: keep

text: the

text: tryst

text: one

text: has

text: to

text: ascend

text: a

text: main

text: stair

text: and

text: seek

text: the

text: seventh

text: door

text: in

text: a

text: corridor

text: it

text: is

text: perfectly

text: clear

text: that

text: the

text: house

text: is

text: a

text: very

text: large

text: one


text: It is equally certain that this house can not be more than a mile or two from Oxshott , since Garcia was walking in that direction and hoped , according to my reading of the facts , to be back in Wisteria Lodge in time to avail himself of an alibi , which would only be valid up to one o'clock .

text: It

text: is

text: equally

text: certain

text: that

text: this

text: house

text: can

text: not

text: be

text: more

text: than

text: a

text: mile

text: or

text: two

text: from

text: Oxshott

text: since

text: Garcia

text: was

text: walking

text: in

text: that

text: direction

text: and

text: hoped

text: according

text: to

text: my

text: reading

text: of

text: the

text: facts

text: to

text: be

text: back

text: in

text: Wisteria

text: Lodge

text: in

text: time

text: to

text: avail

text: himself

text: of

text: an

text: alibi

text: which

text: would

text: only

text: be

text: valid

text: up

text: to

text: one

text: o'clock


text: As the number of large houses close to Oxshott must be limited , I adopted the obvious method of sending to the agents mentioned by Scott Eccles and obtaining a list of them .

text: As

text: the

text: number

text: of

text: large

text: houses

text: close

text: to

text: Oxshott

text: must

text: be

text: limited

text: I

text: adopted

text: the

text: obvious

text: method

text: of

text: sending

text: to

text: the

text: agents

text: mentioned

text: by

text: Scott

text: Eccles

text: and

text: obtaining

text: a

text: list

text: of

text: them


text: Here they are in this telegram , and the other end of our tangled skein must lie among them . ''

text: Here

text: they

text: are

text: in

text: this

text: telegram

text: and

text: the

text: other

text: end

text: of

text: our

text: tangled

text: skein

text: must

text: lie

text: among

text: them


text: It was nearly six o'clock before we found ourselves in the pretty Surrey village of Esher , with Inspector Baynes as our companion .

text: It

text: was

text: nearly

text: six

text: o'clock

text: before

text: we

text: found

text: ourselves

text: in

text: the

text: pretty

text: Surrey

text: village

text: of

text: Esher

text: with

text: Inspector

text: Baynes

text: as

text: our

text: companion


text: Holmes and I had taken things for the night , and found comfortable quarters at the Bull .

text: Holmes

text: and

text: I

text: had

text: taken

text: things

text: for

text: the

text: night

text: and

text: found

text: comfortable

text: quarters

text: at

text: the

text: Bull


text: Finally we set out in the company of the detective on our visit to Wisteria Lodge .

text: Finally

text: we

text: set

text: out

text: in

text: the

text: company

text: of

text: the

text: detective

text: on

text: our

text: visit

text: to

text: Wisteria

text: Lodge


text: It was a cold , dark March evening , with a sharp wind and a fine rain beating upon our faces , a fit setting for the wild common over which our road passed and the tragic goal to which it led us .

text: It

text: was

text: a

text: cold

text: dark

text: March

text: evening

text: with

text: a

text: sharp

text: wind

text: and

text: a

text: fine

text: rain

text: beating

text: upon

text: our

text: faces

text: a

text: fit

text: setting

text: for

text: the

text: wild

text: common

text: over

text: which

text: our

text: road

text: passed

text: and

text: the

text: tragic

text: goal

text: to

text: which

text: it

text: led

text: us


text: 2. The Tiger of San Pedro

text: The

text: Tiger

text: of

text: San

text: Pedro


text: A cold and melancholy walk of a couple of miles brought us to a high wooden gate , which opened into a gloomy avenue of chestnuts .

text: A

text: cold

text: and

text: melancholy

text: walk

text: of

text: a

text: couple

text: of

text: miles

text: brought

text: us

text: to

text: a

text: high

text: wooden

text: gate

text: which

text: opened

text: into

text: a

text: gloomy

text: avenue

text: of

text: chestnuts


text: The curved and shadowed drive led us to a low , dark house , pitch-black against a slate-coloured sky .

text: The

text: curved

text: and

text: shadowed

text: drive

text: led

text: us

text: to

text: a

text: low

text: dark

text: house

text: pitch-black

text: against

text: a

text: slate-coloured

text: sky


text: From the front window upon the left of the door there peeped a glimmer of a feeble light .

text: From

text: the

text: front

text: window

text: upon

text: the

text: left

text: of

text: the

text: door

text: there

text: peeped

text: a

text: glimmer

text: of

text: a

text: feeble

text: light


text: `` There 's a constable in possession , '' said Baynes .

text: There

text: 's

text: a

text: constable

text: in

text: possession

text: said

text: Baynes


text: `` I 'll knock at the window . ''

text: I

text: 'll

text: knock

text: at

text: the

text: window


text: He stepped across the grass plot and tapped with his hand on the pane .

text: He

text: stepped

text: across

text: the

text: grass

text: plot

text: and

text: tapped

text: with

text: his

text: hand

text: on

text: the

text: pane


text: Through the fogged glass I dimly saw a man spring up from a chair beside the fire , and heard a sharp cry from within the room .

text: Through

text: the

text: fogged

text: glass

text: I

text: dimly

text: saw

text: a

text: man

text: spring

text: up

text: from

text: a

text: chair

text: beside

text: the

text: fire

text: and

text: heard

text: a

text: sharp

text: cry

text: from

text: within

text: the

text: room


text: An instant later a white-faced , hard-breathing policeman had opened the door , the candle wavering in his trembling hand .

text: An

text: instant

text: later

text: a

text: white-faced

text: hard-breathing

text: policeman

text: had

text: opened

text: the

text: door

text: the

text: candle

text: wavering

text: in

text: his

text: trembling

text: hand


text: `` What 's the matter , Walters ? '' asked Baynes sharply .

text: What

text: 's

text: the

text: matter

text: Walters

text: asked

text: Baynes

text: sharply


text: The man mopped his forehead with his handkerchief and gave a long sigh of relief .

text: The

text: man

text: mopped

text: his

text: forehead

text: with

text: his

text: handkerchief

text: and

text: gave

text: a

text: long

text: sigh

text: of

text: relief


text: `` I am glad you have come , sir .

text: I

text: am

text: glad

text: you

text: have

text: come

text: sir


text: It has been a long evening , and I do n't think my nerve is as good as it was . ''

text: It

text: has

text: been

text: a

text: long

text: evening

text: and

text: I

text: do

text: n't

text: think

text: my

text: nerve

text: is

text: as

text: good

text: as

text: it

text: was


text: `` Your nerve , Walters ?

text: Your

text: nerve

text: Walters


text: I should not have thought you had a nerve in your body . ''

text: I

text: should

text: not

text: have

text: thought

text: you

text: had

text: a

text: nerve

text: in

text: your

text: body


text: `` Well , sir , it 's this lonely , silent house and the queer thing in the kitchen .

text: Well

text: sir

text: it

text: 's

text: this

text: lonely

text: silent

text: house

text: and

text: the

text: queer

text: thing

text: in

text: the

text: kitchen


text: Then when you tapped at the window I thought it had come again . ''

text: Then

text: when

text: you

text: tapped

text: at

text: the

text: window

text: I

text: thought

text: it

text: had

text: come

text: again


text: `` That what had come again ? ''

text: That

text: what

text: had

text: come

text: again


text: `` The devil , sir , for all I know .

text: The

text: devil

text: sir

text: for

text: all

text: I

text: know


text: It was at the window . ''

text: It

text: was

text: at

text: the

text: window


text: `` What was at the window , and when ? ''

text: What

text: was

text: at

text: the

text: window

text: and

text: when


text: `` It was just about two hours ago .

text: It

text: was

text: just

text: about

text: two

text: hours

text: ago


text: The light was just fading .

text: The

text: light

text: was

text: just

text: fading


text: I was sitting reading in the chair .

text: I

text: was

text: sitting

text: reading

text: in

text: the

text: chair


text: I do n't know what made me look up , but there was a face looking in at me through the lower pane .

text: I

text: do

text: n't

text: know

text: what

text: made

text: me

text: look

text: up

text: but

text: there

text: was

text: a

text: face

text: looking

text: in

text: at

text: me

text: through

text: the

text: lower

text: pane


text: Lord , sir , what a face it was !

text: Lord

text: sir

text: what

text: a

text: face

text: it

text: was


text: I 'll see it in my dreams . ''

text: I

text: 'll

text: see

text: it

text: in

text: my

text: dreams


text: `` Tut , tut , Walters .

text: Tut

text: tut

text: Walters


text: This is not talk for a police-constable . ''

text: This

text: is

text: not

text: talk

text: for

text: a

text: police-constable


text: `` I know , sir , I know ; but it shook me , sir , and there 's no use to deny it .

text: I

text: know

text: sir

text: I

text: know

text: but

text: it

text: shook

text: me

text: sir

text: and

text: there

text: 's

text: no

text: use

text: to

text: deny

text: it


text: It was n't black , sir , nor was it white , nor any colour that I know but a kind of queer shade like clay with a splash of milk in it .

text: It

text: was

text: n't

text: black

text: sir

text: nor

text: was

text: it

text: white

text: nor

text: any

text: colour

text: that

text: I

text: know

text: but

text: a

text: kind

text: of

text: queer

text: shade

text: like

text: clay

text: with

text: a

text: splash

text: of

text: milk

text: in

text: it


text: It

text: was

text: n't

text: black

text: sir

text: nor

text: was

text: it

text: white

text: nor

text: any

text: colour

text: that

text: I

text: know

text: but

text: a

text: kind

text: of

text: queer

text: shade

text: like

text: clay

text: with

text: a

text: splash

text: of

text: milk

text: in

text: it


text: Then there was the size of it -- it was twice yours , sir .

text: Then

text: there

text: was

text: the

text: size

text: of

text: it

text: it

text: was

text: twice

text: yours

text: sir


text: And the look of it -- the great staring goggle eyes , and the line of white teeth like a hungry beast .

text: And

text: the

text: look

text: of

text: it

text: the

text: great

text: staring

text: goggle

text: eyes

text: and

text: the

text: line

text: of

text: white

text: teeth

text: like

text: a

text: hungry

text: beast


text: I tell you , sir , I could n't move a finger , nor get my breath , till it whisked away and was gone .

text: I

text: tell

text: you

text: sir

text: I

text: could

text: n't

text: move

text: a

text: finger

text: nor

text: get

text: my

text: breath

text: till

text: it

text: whisked

text: away

text: and

text: was

text: gone


text: Out I ran and through the shrubbery , but thank God there was no one there . ''

text: Out

text: I

text: ran

text: and

text: through

text: the

text: shrubbery

text: but

text: thank

text: God

text: there

text: was

text: no

text: one

text: there


text: `` If I did n't know you were a good man , Walters , I should put a black mark against you for this .

text: If

text: I

text: did

text: n't

text: know

text: you

text: were

text: a

text: good

text: man

text: Walters

text: I

text: should

text: put

text: a

text: black

text: mark

text: against

text: you

text: for

text: this


text: If it were the devil himself a constable on duty should never thank God that he could not lay his hands upon him .

text: If

text: it

text: were

text: the

text: devil

text: himself

text: a

text: constable

text: on

text: duty

text: should

text: never

text: thank

text: God

text: that

text: he

text: could

text: not

text: lay

text: his

text: hands

text: upon

text: him


text: I suppose the whole thing is not a vision and a touch of nerves ? ''

text: I

text: suppose

text: the

text: whole

text: thing

text: is

text: not

text: a

text: vision

text: and

text: a

text: touch

text: of

text: nerves


text: `` That , at least , is very easily settled , '' said Holmes , lighting his little pocket lantern .

text: That

text: at

text: least

text: is

text: very

text: easily

text: settled

text: said

text: Holmes

text: lighting

text: his

text: little

text: pocket

text: lantern


text: `` Yes , '' he reported , after a short examination of the grass bed , `` a number twelve shoe , I should say .

text: Yes

text: he

text: reported

text: after

text: a

text: short

text: examination

text: of

text: the

text: grass

text: bed

text: a

text: number

text: twelve

text: shoe

text: I

text: should

text: say


text: If he was all on the same scale as his foot he must certainly have been a giant . ''

text: If

text: he

text: was

text: all

text: on

text: the

text: same

text: scale

text: as

text: his

text: foot

text: he

text: must

text: certainly

text: have

text: been

text: a

text: giant


text: `` What became of him ? ''

text: What

text: became

text: of

text: him


text: `` He seems to have broken through the shrubbery and made for the road . ''

text: He

text: seems

text: to

text: have

text: broken

text: through

text: the

text: shrubbery

text: and

text: made

text: for

text: the

text: road


text: `` Well , '' said the inspector with a grave and thoughtful face , `` whoever he may have been , and whatever he may have wanted , he 's gone for the present , and we have more immediate things to attend to .

text: Well

text: said

text: the

text: inspector

text: with

text: a

text: grave

text: and

text: thoughtful

text: face

text: whoever

text: he

text: may

text: have

text: been

text: and

text: whatever

text: he

text: may

text: have

text: wanted

text: he

text: 's

text: gone

text: for

text: the

text: present

text: and

text: we

text: have

text: more

text: immediate

text: things

text: to

text: attend

text: to


text: Now , Mr. Holmes , with your permission , I will show you round the house . ''

text: Now

text: Mr.

text: Holmes

text: with

text: your

text: permission

text: I

text: will

text: show

text: you

text: round

text: the

text: house