Chapter 5. Three Broken Threads

SherlockHolmeshad,inaveryremarkabledegree,thepowerofdetachinghismindatwill.Fortwohoursthestrangebusinessinwhichwehadbeeninvolvedappearedtobeforgotten,andhewasentirelyabsorbedinthepicturesofthemodernBelgianmasters.Hewouldtalkofnothingbutart,ofwhichhehadthecrudestideas,fromourleavingthegalleryuntilwefoundourselvesattheNorthumberlandHotel. “SirHenryBaskervilleisupstairsexpectingyou,”saidtheclerk.“Heaskedmetoshowyouupatoncewhenyoucame.” “Haveyouanyobjectiontomylookingatyourregister?”saidHolmes. “Notintheleast.” ThebookshowedthattwonameshadbeenaddedafterthatofBaskerville.OnewasTheophilusJohnsonandfamily,ofNewcastletheotherMrs.Oldmoreandmaid,ofHighLodge,Alton. “SurelythatmustbethesameJohnsonwhomIusedtoknow,”saidHolmestotheporter.“Alawyer,ishenot,grey-headed,andwalkswithalimp?” “No,sir,thisisMr.Johnson,thecoal-owner,averyactivegentleman,notolderthanyourself.” “Surelyyouaremistakenabouthistrade?” “No,sir!hehasusedthishotelformanyyears,andheisverywellknowntous.” “Ah,thatsettlesit.Mrs.Oldmore,tooIseemtorememberthename.Excusemycuriosity,butoftenincallingupononefriendonefindsanother.” “Sheisaninvalidlady,sir.HerhusbandwasoncemayorofGloucester.Shealwayscomestouswhensheisintown.” “ThankyouIamafraidIcannotclaimheracquaintance.Wehaveestablishedamostimportantfactbythesequestions,Watson,”hecontinuedinalowvoiceaswewentupstairstogether.“Weknownowthatthepeoplewhoaresointerestedinourfriendhavenotsettleddowninhisownhotel.Thatmeansthatwhiletheyare,aswehaveseen,veryanxioustowatchhim,theyareequallyanxiousthatheshouldnotseethem.Now,thisisamostsuggestivefact.” “Whatdoesitsuggest?” “Itsuggests—halloa,mydearfellow,whatonearthisthematter?” AswecameroundthetopofthestairswehadrunupagainstSirHenryBaskervillehimself.Hisfacewasflushedwithanger,andheheldanoldanddustybootinoneofhishands.Sofuriouswashethathewashardlyarticulate,andwhenhedidspeakitwasinamuchbroaderandmoreWesterndialectthananywhichwehadheardfromhiminthemorning. “Seemstometheyareplayingmeforasuckerinthishotel,”hecried.“They’llfindthey’vestartedintomonkeywiththewrongmanunlesstheyarecareful.Bythunder,ifthatchapcan’tfindmymissingboottherewillbetrouble.Icantakeajokewiththebest,Mr.Holmes,butthey’vegotabitoverthemarkthistime.” “Stilllookingforyourboot?” “Yes,sir,andmeantofindit.” “But,surely,yousaidthatitwasanewbrownboot?” “Soitwas,sir.Andnowit’sanoldblackone.” “What!youdon’tmeantosay—?” “That’sjustwhatIdomeantosay.Ionlyhadthreepairsintheworld—thenewbrown,theoldblack,andthepatentleathers,whichIamwearing.Lastnighttheytookoneofmybrownones,andtodaytheyhavesneakedoneoftheblack.Well,haveyougotit?Speakout,man,anddon’tstandstaring!” AnagitatedGermanwaiterhadappeareduponthescene. “No,sirIhavemadeinquiryalloverthehotel,butIcanhearnowordofit.” “Well,eitherthatbootcomesbackbeforesundownorI’llseethemanagerandtellhimthatIgorightstraightoutofthishotel.” “Itshallbefound,sir—Ipromiseyouthatifyouwillhavealittlepatienceitwillbefound.” “Minditis,forit’sthelastthingofminethatI’llloseinthisdenofthieves.Well,well,Mr.Holmes,you’llexcusemytroublingyouaboutsuchatrifle—” “Ithi