NCERT Solutions for Class 11 English Short Stories 4: The Adventure of the Three Garridebs

John Garrideb shot Roger Presbury while playing cards in a nightclub in January 1985 on Waterloo Road. The looks of him and Waldron matched the previous tenant in the room of Nathan Garrideb, who owned the note printing machine. John Garrideb was after this printing press and had created a huge plan to get it.

Holmes felt the twist of the story for the first time when the American Garrideb got annoyed at Nathan for involving a detective. When Sherlock found the Garrideb in English appearance, he pointed out how he was an American and dressed like an Englishman. He said he was a lawyer in Kansas, while Holmes planned traps by pointing out things that did not exist – for example, about Dr Lysander Starr, who Holmes said was a Mayor in 1830. As he suspected, Garrideb fell for it and responded by saying that Dr Starr’s name was still privileged. As suspected, Holmes was sure that Garrideb was not a lawyer in Kansas. Later Holmes was sure that John Garrideb built up Alexander Garrideb’s story when he saw an advertisement which was published by Howard Garrideb in a local paper of Birmingham. Watson and Holmes saw that the piece was written in American English and came to the conclusion that it was published in the local paper by Garrideb to send Nathan to Birmingham and enter his room without any problem.

The plan of John Garrideb was foolproof. Anyways, Holmes knew that even the trained criminals left some clues behind. John had an idea of the note printing machine, which was cloistered below the room in which Nathan Garrideb was staying. Waldron, or Rodger Presbury lived in this room previously. He was the owner of the machine and was shot by James Winter or John Garrideb, alias Morecroft, alias Killer Evans. Garrideb designed the intricate plan so that no one would suspect his intentions and planned to break into Nathan’s house when he was off to Birmingham to see the third Garrideb.

Holmes was a renowned detective. John Garrideb was scared that Watson and Sherlock Holmes would find out his intentions and would destroy his plans. So, involving a detective in a case which contained a false story, except that of Garrideb, alias Killer Evans, who possessed a criminal background, was not good.

John Garrideb was angry that Nathan got a detective involved in the case, and as Watson and Holmes knew this, they wanted John Garrideb to reach there immediately after their meeting in Nathan’s apartment. They already knew that John would question and show his discomfort over the actions of Nathan. Watson and Holmes put the man at ease by making it clear that they were uninterested in the matter and got his confidence by saying that they were just here to help him find another Garrideb. Hence, Garrideb appeared at Little Ryder Street. He acted seriously, to their amazement, by coming up with an advertisement of Howard Garrideb and with a clear plan of sending off Nathan to Birmingham and throwing the detectives out of his way so that he could carry out his plan without any disturbance.

Watson made this expression on being shot by Killer Evans on his thigh. He was led to a chair to sit by Holmes when he got shot, who, with great concern, questioned him if he was hurt. Watson said that for the first time, Holme’s hard eyes were dimmed, and his firm lips were shaking. So he conveyed that it was worth a wound, worth many wounds, in order to understand the depth of love and loyalty which lies behind that cold mask. Watson and Holmes shared a professional relationship. Even though it had grown into a friendship which ran much deeper than it looked. Watson, at this moment, got a glance of a great heart and a great brain.

It is true that even the best criminals leave clues behind to their crimes. John Garrideb tried hard to work out things and created a foolproof plan in which anybody would have fallen. Anyways, Holmes was able to understand this with his cleverness. He was in search of loose ends and caught Garrideb at different stages where he got confirmed of his false identity, and the loopholes in his plans were clearly seen. When he pretended to be an American at first, he got caught because of his British looks. When Dr Starr was mentioned by Holmes, it was visible that Garrideb did not do the homework that he answered with such conviction as if Dr Starr was real. The advertisement in which he got published was not properly edited, and the language used was easily found to be American English. Even though Killer Evans had a well-curated plan, he was not able to fool Holmes.

It is a sure thing that many detectives very often deviate from the actual question. It might be surprising to others. The case with Sherlock Holmes was the same. While on a visit to a cave, he seemed to deviate from the main objective. For instance, he would want a person to be interrogated about the plans and, anyways, would ask him about nationality and have a conversation about his attire. It would be difficult for the person to understand what Holmes was progressing at when he was clearing the mystery in his mind. He would never run a background check on a person by directly questioning him. He would act like he knew a person from the vicinity of the suspect and say his name to find out if the person was truthful about his background. The suspect would not be able to realise and would fall for the bait by telling about how well he knows the person, while the person does not even exist in reality. Holmes would do his inspection of the matter in such a way that the suspect would not even notice it.

– The narrator of the story – This story at the beginning provides an unclear image of the climax. The narrator of the story, Watson, does not explain the climax completely. However, he tells the reader about how the situation would be at the end.

– Introduction of the topic of the story – The narrator, Watson, does not provide a clear picture of the story at the beginning itself. He allows the reader to know the entire story as the situation is unfolded by itself. The reader is made to wait for a long time by the narrator.

– Introduction of the main characters in the plot – The narrator, Watson, takes hold of narration in the beginning by introducing the reader to his story. The reader gets to know the name of the narrator only when Holmes addresses Watson. As it is a first-person narrative, the reader has to wait and move on as the narrator explains the events one by one.

– Development of the plot – At the beginning of the story, Holmes explains about a person with a specific surname, and there is a requirement to find that person with that surname. He asks Watson to wait for the person who gave the task to the detective, as Holmes wants the person himself to tell him about the exact situation to his friend. John Garrideb arrives, who then explains the reason for the need for another surname. It is made clear as to why Holmes was approached by Nathan for the case, as it was John who approached Nathan for the same purpose. Finally, the story unfolds, and the truth is revealed.

– Climax – As the sequence of the events is explained, the climax is built. The clues are available for the reader to guess, but the resolution is not given by the narrator. The possibilities can be guessed by the reader. A stage arises where the story reaches a particular height where the identity of the suspect is found by Holmes and is clear of his evil motives and intentions. The reader discovers all of this once they reach the final stage.

– Resolution of the mystery – The resolution unties a comical tragedy. The reader feels both surprised and funny, thanks to the smart detective who leads the case. A clear reflection of the emotions which the reader might go through at the end of the story was already given at the beginning, but the resolution is not known. Not only is the tragedy revealed, but the other side of Sherlock Holmes and his relationship with Dr Watson is also revealed. Holme’s digressions are made clear in the end. A mystery was solved at the end.

The wittiest character of the story is Sherlock Holmes, a detective whose digressions are very funny. In between a sensitive interrogation, he asks the suspect if he appears to be English even though the suspect claims that he is an American. When Holmes explains the case to Watson at the beginning, he says that there is a chance to get more money with this case as if it is they and not the Garridebs to whom the inheritance Alexander Garrideb will be given. The style with which Holmes discusses any information is the most interesting part. He even adapts a normal style while conveying serious matters. For instance, in the beginning of the story, while Holmes explains the case to his friend Watson, he does not give away the people who are already involved in this case. He says that Nathan is already taken when Watson comes across his name in the directory. He did not tell the name of John Garrideb, who was the mastermind, until Mr Hudson came with a card which was autographed by Garrideb. So, there are many such examples which make the mystery light-hearted and provide the reader with a light diversion.

a. The errors ‘to say’ gave away the fact that the advertisement was placed by John Garrideb or an American.

b. British English                 American English

Pretence                                     Pretense

Amongst                                     Among

Defence                                     Defense

Colour                                         Color

– with a fine-toothed comb – To investigate minutely.

– putting up a bird – Something which is unusual but useful.

– a cock pheasant – Something which is grossly out of place among the other things.

– bolt-hole – Where a person can escape.

– his castle in the air – Hopeful, big and unrealistic dreams.