Three Broken Threads

           SherlockHolmeshad,inaveryremarkabledegree,thepowerofdetachinghismindatwill. Fortwohoursthestrangebusinessinwhichwehadbeeninvolvedappearedtobeforgotten,andhewasentirelyabsorbedinthepicturesofthemodernBelgianmasters. Hewouldtalkofnothingbutart,ofwhichhehadthecrudestideas,fromourleavingthegalleryuntilwefoundourselvesattheNorthumberlandHotel. 

           "SirHenryBaskervilleisupstairsexpectingyou,"saidtheclerk. "Heaskedmetoshowyouupatoncewhenyoucame." 

           "Haveyouanyobjectiontomylookingatyourregister? "saidHolmes. 

           "Notintheleast." 

           ThebookshowedthattwonameshadbeenaddedafterthatofBaskerville. OnewasTheophilusJohnsonandfamily,ofNewcastle; theotherMrs.Oldmoreandmaid,ofHighLodge,Alton. 

           "SurelythatmustbethesameJohnsonwhomIusedtoknow,"saidHolmestotheporter. "Alawyer,ishenot,gray-headed,andwalkswithalimp?" 

           "No,sir;thisisMr.Johnson,thecoal-owner,averyactivegentleman,notolderthanyourself." 

           "Surelyyouaremistakenabouthistrade?" 

           "No,sir! hehasusedthishotelformanyyears,andheisverywellknowntous." 

           "Ah,thatsettlesit. Mrs.Oldmore,too; Iseemtorememberthename. Excusemycuriosity,butoftenincallingupononefriendonefindsanother."