CHAPTER V.

THREE Broken Threats

Sherlock Holmes had, in a very remarkable degree, the power of detaching his mind at will.

For two hours the strange business in which we had been involved appeared to be forgotten,

and he was entirely absorbed in the pictures of the modern Belgian masters.

He would talk of nothing but art, of which he had the crudest ideas, from our leaving the

gallery, until we found ourselves at the Northumberland Hotel.

Sir Henry Basquerville is upstairs expecting you, said the clerk.

He asked me to show you up at once when you came.

Have you any objection to my looking at your register, said Holmes?

Not in the least.

The book showed that two names have been added after that of Basquerville.

One was the O'Johnson and family of Newcastle.

The other, Mrs. Oldmore, and maid, of High Lodge Alton.

Surely, that must be the same Johnson whom I used to know, said Holmes, to the porter.

A lawyer, is he not grey-headed and walks with a limp?

No, sir.

This is Mr. Johnson, the coal-owner, a very active gentleman, not older than yourself.

Surely, you're mistaken about his trade.

No, sir.

He has used his hotel for many years, and he is very well known to us.

Ah, that settles it.

...