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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：
HOWARD GARRIDEB
Constructor of Agricultural Machinery
Binders； reapers； steam and hand plows； drills； harrows； farmers'
carts； buckboards； and all other appliances。
Estimates for Artesian Wells
Apply Grosvenor Buildings； Aston
〃Glorious！〃 gasped our host。 〃That makes our third man。〃
〃I had opened up inquiries in Birmingham；〃 said the American； 〃and
my agent there has sent me this advertisement from a local paper。 We
must bustle and put the thing through。 I have written to this man
and told him that you will see him in his office to…morrow afternoon
at four o'clock。〃
〃You want me to see him？〃
〃What do you say； Mr。 Holmes？ Don't you think it would be wiser？
Here am I； a wandering American with a wonderful tale。 Why should he
believe what I tell him？ But you are a Britisher with solid
references； and he is bound to take notice of what you say。 I would go
with you if you wished； but I have a very busy day to…morrow； and I
could always follow you if you are in any trouble。〃
〃Well； I have not made such a journey for years。〃
〃It is nothing； Mr。 Garrideb。 I have figured out our connections。
You leave at twelve and should be there soon after two。 Then you can
be back the same night。 All you have to do is to see this man； explain
the matter； and get an affidavit of his existence。 By the Lord！〃 he
added hotly； 〃considering I've come all the way from the centre of
America； it is surely little enough if you go a hundred miles in order
to put this matter through。〃
〃Quite so；〃 said Holmes。 〃I think what this gentleman says is very
true。〃
Mr。 Nathan Garrideb shrugged his shoulders with a disconsolate
air。 〃Well； if you insist I shall go；〃 said he。 〃It is certainly
hard for me to refuse you anything； considering the glory of hope that
you have brought into my life。〃
〃Then that is agreed；〃 said Holmes； 〃and no doubt you will let me
have a report as soon as you can。〃
〃I'll see to that；〃 said the American。 〃Well；〃 he added； looking
at his watch； 〃I'll have to get on。 I'll call to…morrow； Mr。 Nathan；
and see you off to Birmingham。 Coming my way； Mr。 Holmes？ Well；
then； good…bye； and we may have good news for you to…morrow night。〃
I noticed that my friend's face cleared when the American left the
room； and the look of thoughtful perplexity had vanished。
〃I wish I could look over your collection； Mr。 Garrideb；〃 said he。
〃In my profession all sorts of odd knowledge comes useful； and this
room of yours is a storehouse of it。〃
Our client shone with pleasure and his eyes gleamed from behind
his big glasses。
〃I had always heard； sir； that you were a very intelligent man；〃
said he。 〃I could take you round now if you have the time。〃
〃Unfortunately； I have not。 But these specimens are so well labelled
and classified that they hardly need your personal explanation。 If I
should be able to look in to…morrow； I presume that there would be
no objection to my glancing o