Well； Mr。 Holmes； I suppose all we can do is to report to you and
let you know how we progress。 I reckon you will hear within a day or
two。〃 With this assurance our American bowed and departed。
Holmes had lit his pipe； and he sat for some time with a curious
smile upon his face。
〃Well？〃 I asked at last。
〃I a wondering； Watson… just wondering！〃
〃At what？〃
Holmes took his pipe from his lips。
〃I was wondering； Watson； what on earth could be the object of
this man in telling us such a rigmarole of lies。 I nearly asked him
so… for there are times when a brutal frontal attack is the best
policy… but I judged it better to let him think he had fooled us。 Here
is a man with an English coat frayed at the elbow and trousers
bagged at the knee with a year's wear； and yet by this document and by
his own account he is a provincial American lately landed in London。
There have； been no advertisements in the agony columns。 You know that
I miss nothing there。 They are my favourite covert for putting up a
bird； and I would never have overlooked such a cock pheasant as
that。 I never knew a Dr。 Lysander Starr； of Topeka。 Touch him where
you would he was false。 I think the fellow is really an American；
but he has worn his accent smooth with years of London。 What is his
game； then； and what motive lies behind this preposterous search for
Garridebs？ It's worth our attention； for； granting that the man is a
rascal； he is certainly a complex and ingenious one。 We must now
find out if our other correspondent is a fraud also。 Just ring him up；
Watson。〃
I did so； and heard a thin； quavering voice at the other end of
the line。
〃Yes； yes； I am Mr。 Nathan Garrideb。 Is Mr。 Holmes there？ I should
very much like to have a word with Mr。 Holmes。〃
My friend took the instrument and I heard the usual syncopated
dialogue。
〃Yes； he has been here。 I understand that you don't know him。。。。 How
long？。。。 Only two days！。。。 Yes； yes； of course； it is a most
captivating prospect。 Will you be at home this evening？ I suppose your
namesake will not be there？。。。 Very good； we will come then； for I
would rather have a chat without him。。。。 Dr。 Watson will come with
me。。。。 I understand from your note that you did not go out often。。。。
Well； we shall be round about six。 You need not mention it to the
American lawyer。。。。 Very good。 Good…bye！〃
It was twilight of a lovely spring evening； and even Little Ryder
Street； one of the smaller offshoots from the Edgware Road； within a
stone…cast of old Tyburn Tree of evil memory； looked golden and
wonderful in the slanting rays of the setting sun。 The particular
house to which we were directed was a large； old…fashioned； Early
Georgian edifice； with a flat brick face broken only by two deep bay
windows on the ground floor。 It was on this ground floor that our
client lived； and； indeed； the low windows proved to be the front of
the huge room in which he spent his waking hours。 Holmes pointed as we
passed to the small brass plate which bore the curious name。
〃Up some years； Watson；〃 he remarked； indicating its discoloured
surface。 〃It's his real name； anyhow； and that is something to note。〃
The house had a common stair； and there were a number of names
painted in the hall； some indicating offices and some private
chambers。 It was not a collection of residential flats； but rather the
abode of Bohemian bachelors。 Our client opened the door for us himself
and apologized by saying that the woman in charge left at four
o'clock。 Mr。 Nathan Garrideb proved to be a very tall；
loose…jointed； round…backed person； gaunt and bald； some sixty…odd
years of age。 He had a cadaverous face； with the dull dead skin of a
man to whom exercise was unknown。 Large round spectacles and a small
projecting goat's beard combined with his stooping attitude to give
him an expression of peering curiosity。 The general effect； however；
was amiable； though eccentric。
The room was as curious as its occupant。 It looked like a small
museum。 It was both broad and deep； with cupboards and cabinets all
round； crowded with specimens； geological and anatomical。 Cases of
butterflies and moths flanked each side of the entrance。 A large table
in the centre was littered with all sorts of debris； while the tall
brass tube of a powerful microscope bristled up among them。 As I
glanced round I was surprised at the universality of the man's
interests。 Here was a case of ancient coins。 There was a cabinet of
flint instruments。 Behind his central table was a large cupboard of
fossil bones。 Above was a line of plaster skulls with such names as
〃Neanderthal；〃 〃Heidelberg；〃 〃Cro…Magnon〃 printed beneath them。 It was
clear that he was a student of many subjects。 As he stood in front
of us now； he held a piece of chamois leather in his right hand with
which he was polishing a coin。
〃Syracusan… of the best period；〃 he explained； bolding it up。
〃They degenerated greatly towards the end。 At their best I hold them
supreme； though some prefer the Alexandrian school。 You will find a
chair here； Mr。 Holmes。 Pray allow me to clear these bones。 And you；
sir… ah； yes； Dr。 Watson… if you would have the goodness to put the
japanese vase to one side。 You see round me my little interests in
life。 My doctor lectures me about never going out； but why should I go
out when I have so much to hold me here？ I can assure you that the
adequate cataloguing of one of those cabinets would take me three good
months。〃
Holmes looked round him with curiosity。
〃But do you tell me that you never go out？〃 he said。
〃Now and again I drive down to Sotheby's or Christie's。 Otherwise
I very seldom leave my room。 I am not too strong； and my researches
are very absorbing。 But you can imagine； Mr。 Holmes； what a terrific
shock… pleasant but terrific… it was for me when I heard of this
unparalleled good fortune。 It only needs one more Garrideb to complete
the matter； and surely we can find one。 I had a brother； but hi is
dead； and female relatives are disqualified。 But there must surely
be others in the world。 I had heard that you handled strange cases；
and that was why I sent to you。 Of course； this American gentleman
is quite right； and I should have taken his advice first； but I
acted for the best。〃
〃I think you acted very wisely indeed；〃 said Holmes。 〃But are you
really anxious to acquire an estate in America？〃
〃Certainly not； sir。 Nothing would induce me to leave my collection。
But this gentleman has assured me that he will buy me out as soon as
we have established our claim。 Five million dollars was the sum named。
There are a dozen specimens in the market at the present moment
which fill gaps in my collection； and which I am unable to purchase
for want of a few hundred pounds。 Just think what I could do with five
million dollars。 Why； I have the nucleus of a national collection。 I
shall be the Hans Sloane of my age。〃
His eyes gleamed behind his great spectacles。 It was very clear that
no pains would be spared by Mr。 Nathan Garrideb in finding a namesake。
〃I merely called to make your acquaintance； and there is no reason
why I should interrupt your studies；〃 said Holmes。 〃I prefer to
establish personal touch with those with whom I do business。 There are
few questions I need ask； for I have your very clear narrative in my
pocket； and I filled up the blanks when this American gentleman
called。 I understand that up to this week you were unaware of his
existence。〃
〃That is so。 He called last Tuesday。〃
〃Did he tell you of our interview to…day？〃
〃Yes； he came straight back to me。 He had been very angry。〃
〃Why should he be angry？〃
〃He seemed to think it was some reflection on his honour。 But he was
quite cheerful again when he returned。〃
〃Did he suggest any course of action？〃
〃No； sir； he did not。〃
〃Has he had； or asked for； any money from you？〃
〃No； sir； never！〃
〃You see no possible object he has in view？〃
〃None； except what he states。〃
〃Did you tell him of our telephone appointment？〃
〃Yes； sir； I did。〃
Holmes was lost in thought。 I could see that he was puzzled。
〃Have you any articles of great value in your collection？〃
〃No； sir。 I am not a rich man。 It is a good collection； but not a
very valuable one。〃
〃You have no fear of burglars？〃
〃Not the least。〃
〃How long have you been in these rooms？〃
〃Nearly five years。〃
Holmes's cross…examination was interrupted by an imperative knocking
at the door。 No sooner had our client unlatched it than the American
lawyer burst excitedly into the room。
〃Here you are！〃 he cried； waving a paper over his head。 〃I thought I
should be in time to get you。 Mr。 Nathan Garrideb； my congratulations！
You are a rich man； sir。 Our business is happily finished and all is
well。 As to you； Mr。 Holmes； we can only say we are sorry if we have
given you any useless trouble。〃
He handed over the paper to our client； who stood staring at a
marked advertisement。 Holmes and I leaned forward and read it over his
shoulder。 This is how it ran：