A Study in Scarlet — page 78: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

70 A STUDY IN SCARLET. The idea tickled Gregson so much that he laughed until he choked. “And how did you get your clew?” “Ah, I'll tell you all about it. Of course, Dr. Wat- son, this is strictly between ourselves. The first diff- culty which we had to contend with was the finding of this American’s antecedents. Some people would have waited until their advertisements were answered, or until parties came forward and volunteered informa- tion. That 1s not Tobias Gregson’s way of going to work. You remember the hat beside the dead man 2” “Yes,” said Holmes; “by John Underwood & Sons, 129 Camberwell Road.” Gregson looked quite crest-fallen. “T had no idea that you noticed that,” he said. “Have you been there?” No.” “Ha!” cried Gregson, in a relieved voice; “you should never neglect a chance, however small it may seem,” “To a great mind nothing is little,” remarked Holmes, sententiously. “Well, I went to Underwood, and asked him if he had sold a hat of that size and description. He looked over his books, and came on it at once. He had sent the hat to a Mr. Drebber, residing at Charpentier’s boarding establishment, Torquay Terrace. Thus I got at his address.” “Smart—very smart!” murmured Sherlock Holmes. “I next called upon Madame Charpentier,” continued the detective. “I found her very pale and distressed. Gomicdooks €o m =)