This etext was prepared by David Brannan of Woodbridge, Virginia. 

The Adventure of Wisteria Lodge
by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle 

1.  The Singular Experience of Mr.  John Scott Eccles 

I find it recorded in my notebook that it was a bleak and windy
day towards the end of March in the year 1892.  Holmes had
received a telegram while we sat at our lunch, and he had
scribbled a reply.  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.  Suddenly he turned upon me with a
mischievous twinkle in his eyes. 

"I suppose, Watson, we must look upon you as a man of letters,"
said he.  "How do you define the word 'grotesque'?"