C O S S S S R I
The slow way of solving the problem is to try out all the permutations and combinations in turn, throwing away impossible conjunctions of letters, as:
S S S I R C
or
S C S R S O
Another way is to stare at the incoordinate elements until, by no logical process that the conscious mind can detect, or under some adventitious external stimulus, the combination
S C I S S O R S
presents itself with calm certainty. After that, one does not even need to arrange the letters in order. The thing is done.
Even so, the scattered elements of two grotesque conundrums, flung higgledy-piggledy into Lord Peter's mind, resolved themselves, unquestioned henceforward. A bump on the roof of the end house — Levy in a welter of cold rain talking to a prostitute in the Battersea Park Road — a single ruddy hair-lint bandages — Inspector Sugg calling the great surgeon from the dissecting-room of the hospital — Lady Levy with a nervous attack — the smell of carbolic soap — the Duchess's voice — «not really an engagement, only a sort of understanding with her father» — shares in Peruvian Oil — the dark skin and curved, fleshy profile of the man in the bath — Dr. Grimbold giving evidence, «In my opinion, death did not occur for several days after the blow» — india-rubber gloves — even, faintly, the voice of Mr. Appledore, «He called on me, sir, with an anti-vivisectionist pamphlet» — all these things and many others rang together and made one sound, they swung together like bells in a steeple, with the deep tenor booming through the clamour:
«The knowledge of good and evil is a phenomenon of the brain, and is removable, removable, removable. The knowledge of good and evil is removable.»