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For answer Holmes clapped the hat upon his head. It came right

over the forehead and settled upon the bridge of his nose. "It is

a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a

brain must have something in it."

"The decline of his fortunes, then?"

"This hat is three years old. These flat brims curled at the edge

came in then. It is a hat of the very best quality. Look at the

band of ribbed silk and the excellent lining. If this man could

afford to buy so expensive a hat three years ago, and has had no

hat since, then he has assuredly gone down in the world."

"Well, that is clear enough, certainly. But how about the

foresight and the moral retrogression?"