quick little questioning glance from his small fat-encircled eyes.


“Try the settee,” said Holmes, relapsing into his armchair and

putting his fingertips together, as was his custom when in judicial moods.

“I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love of all that is bizarre

and outside the conventions and humdrum routine of everyday life. You have

shown your relish for it by the enthusiasm which has prompted you to chronicle,

and, if you will excuse my saying so, somewhat to embellish so many of my own

little adventures.”


“Your cases have indeed been of the greatest interest to me,” I

observed.


“You will remember that I remarked the other day, just before we went

into the very simple problem presented by Miss Mary Sutherland, that for

strange effects and extraordinary combinations we must go to life itself, which

is always far more daring than any effort of the imagination.”


“A proposition which I took the liberty of doubting.”


“You did, Doctor, but none the less you must come round to my view, for

otherwise I shall keep on piling fact upon fact on you until your reason breaks

down under them and acknowledges me to be right. Now, Mr. Jabez Wilson here has

been good enough to call upon me this morning, and to begin a narrative which

promises to be one of the most singular which I have listened to for some time.

You have heard me remark that the strangest and most unique things are very

often connected not with the larger but with the smaller crimes, and

occasionally, indeed, where there is room for doubt whether any positive crime

has been committed. As far as I have heard, it is impossible for me to say

whether the present case is an instance of crime or not, but the course of

events is certainly among the most singular that I have ever listened to.

Perhaps, Mr. Wilson, you would have the great kindness to recommence your

narrative. I ask you not merely because my friend Dr. Watson has not heard the