NCERT Solutions For Class 11 English Elective Chapter 20 The Adventure of the Three Garridebs

Fine toothed comb: to investigate minutely

Putting up a bird: displaying something

A cock pheasant: a pray bird

Bolt hole: place to escape

Castle in the air: claims without any ground

John tries to trick Holmes with his fake story, but Holmes knows that no criminal can make a full proof plan. On the basis of this hypothesis he searches for the clues and finds many such as his American accent, British outfit, American spellings in the newspaper advertisement, his praise for an imaginary person called Dr Starr. Thus, Holmes is evidently right when he says that the cleverest of criminals leave behind clues to their crime.

Holmes was a detective known for his skills. John Garrideb was a fraud who has fabricated a fake story just to get the fake currency printing press from Nathan Garrideb’s room. When Nathan Garrideb engaged Sherlock Holmes for hunting the third Garrideb, Killer Evans who took the fake identity of John Garrideb got annoyed. He was afraid that Holmes would find the truth about him and his plan would fail.

a. Plough was spelt as plow which is wrong in Britain but right in America. So, it was clear that the advertisement was placed by John who is an American.

b.

Roger Presbury was a criminal and accomplice of John Garrideb. Roger Presbury was living in a rented room with a fake name Waldron and printing fake bank notes. Holms found that Killer Evans came to London in 1893 and he shot a man over cards in a night club in the Waterloo Road in January 1895. Man died, but he was shown to have been the aggressor in the row. Dead man was identified as Rodger Presbury, famous as forger and coiner in Chicago.

Detective Sherlock Holmes is a witty character in the story. He is funny while swaying away from the main topic. In the middle of a serious interrogation he doubts the visitor to be an American, which was contrary to his claims to be an English. While explaining the case to Dr. Watson he comments that it would be them who will be given inheritance of Alexander Garrideb as they are going to make great money in this case. Homes, like a hardcore professional, l discusses the most serious information in a very light mood. When he is sure of Garrideb’s lies about being an American he does not show any agitation on being tricked. Rather he says, “They are my covert for putting up a bird and I would never have overlooked such a cock pheasant as that.” When he meets Nathan, in the mid of the conversation he asks that who is his agent. Nathan is amazed at this sudden question and asks for the reason. Holmes replies causally that he is a bit of archaeologist and wondering if the house is Queen Anne or Georgian. This way the protagonist Sherlock Holmes solves every mystery in a humorous way so that the reader doesn’t lose interest at any point of time. Also, one does not feel burdened or tangled with the mysterious events appearing one by one.

Sherlock Holmes is a sharp detective and Dr. Watson is his partner. They share a professional relationship and hardly discuss anything personal. Dr. Watson is shot by John Garrideb in his thigh. For the first time Watson has seen a caring friend in Holmes. He always has witnessed sharp brain of Holmes, but on being wounded he is witnessing his kind heart also. Holmes is worried for his friend. His lips are trembling. Watson is feeling good to see this tender side of his friend. So, he says that ‘It was worth a wound-it was worth many wounds-to know the depth of loyalty and love that lay behind that cold mask’.

On realizing that John was telling lies, Sherlock Holmes was wondering about his motive for fabricating a fake story. Holmes even interrogated Nathan about any valuables in his possession but Nathan denied. During their conversation, John arrived waving a printed advertisement in his hand. He said he found the third Garrideb and Nathan should go to discuss the matter with him. Hearing this Holmes guessed that John wanted to send Nathan away from his house. He fabricated the whole story because Nathan rarely moved out of his house for last 5 years. He knew that Nathan would not leave the room without a very convincing reason, something like five million dollars.

Holmes expected that John would go to 136, Little Ryder Street in Nathan’s absence to take something valuable from there but he didn’t know what it would be. However, he was not sure what John wanted to take from the room. When Watson asked Holms what he wanted from the room, Holms said, they were there to find out the same.

John Garrideb was involved in printing of fake currency. He was aware of a note printing machine set up in a secret chamber beneath the room Nathan Garideb used as a private museum. Previous tenant of that room was a man named Waldron alias Rodger Presbury, who was a notorious criminal involved in printing counterfeit currency. It was he who set up the fake currency press in the secret chamber. John Garrideb alias James Winter alias Morecroft alias Killer Evans shot him. After his death Nathan Garrideb rented the room. He rarely went out of the room. John Garrideb Fabricated the whole story of Alexander Hamilton Garrideb and his legacy just to get access to the fake currency press set up by Rodger Presbury. He even gave an advertisement in the newspaper in the name of the third Garrideb. He did so because he wanted to send Nathan away from the room so that he could get the machine from the secret chamber in the basement.

A detective has the thinking ability which is much beyond other people. His questions seem to be deviating from the original matter of investigation but in reality, they do not. Their questions or digressions are not aimless. When Sherlock Holmes enquired about the nationality and the dress of John Garrideb, he seemed to be deviating from the main task which was to find out the third Garrideb. But in reality, his client was Nathan Garrideb and Holmes wanted to know the genuineness of John Garrideb’s statements.

He discussed one Dr. Starr who was a Mayor. John pretend to recognize him immediately. For reader might think that the detective was getting friendly with John for no reason. But when it is revealed that Dr. Starr was an imaginary name, we get to know the real purpose of that conversation.

When Sherlock met Nathan for the first time Holmes suddenly asked about his house agent. Nathan was amazed on this question. Readers are not able to guess the rationale behind this question. But at the end of the story we come to know the relevance of this question.

It did not take Sherlock Holmes long to understand that the story being told to him was a ruse. He used the following clues to prove his opinion:

Outfit: His visitor Mr. John Garrideb claimed that he was an American who came to England in the recent past. But Holmes clearly knew that he was lying. He noticed that the visitor was from head to toe in British outfit which did not seem to be new.

John Garrideb’s rage on involvement of a detective: Mr. John Garrideb was angry with Nathan Garrideb for involving a detective. He knew about the skills of Holmes and was afraid of being unveiled.

John Garrideb’s pretention to recognize Dr. Starr: The American said that he was a lawyer in Kansas. Holmes mentioned to one imaginary person called Dr. Lysander Starr, who was a Mayor in 1890. Mr. John Garrideb got trapped and replied that good old Dr. Starr’s Name was still honored in the town. It was very clear to Holms that he was lying and the story about inheritance of millions was fake.

Fake advertisement: John Garrideb gave an advertisement in the newspaper in the name of Howard Garrideb. Holmes noticed the American words in that advertisement and was quite certain that it was fake and was given by John himself.

Narrator: As any other Sherlock Homes story narrator of this story is also Dr. Watson. Dr. Watson is also a character in the story. He is companion of Holmes and gives us the firsthand information about the case. He is unaware of what is going in Holmes’s mind like readers. So, of the suspense in the story remains throughout the story.

Introduction of the topic of the story: Introduction of the story is very simple. A client approaches a detective to find the whereabouts of someone. This introduction does not give faintest idea about the climax. Readers get to know the climax through the gradual developments in the story.

Introduction of the main characters of the story: There is no formal introduction of the characters in the story. Watson and Sherlock are introduced to the readers through their casual conversation. John Garrideb is introduced as a Counsellor of law but immediately doubted by Holms for being a fake person. Sherlock Holms introduces the other character Nathan Garrideb to Dr. Watson as his client.

Development of the plot: The plot of the story starts with the dubious character of John Garrideb. It develops as Holmes gathers clues about his fake identity. Holmes doubts that he is in England for quite some time. When John Garrideb acknowledges one unreal person Dr. Starr to be a very good soul, it is clear that he is lying about his nationality. Holmes now knows that John has some peculiar interest in Nathan’s property. He enquires from Nathan if he has any valuable possessions. He does not have any idea about the exact reason of John’s interest but has a clear understanding that he would trespass Nathan’s room in his absence. His doubts prove to be correct. John wants to take a fake currency printing machine from a secret chamber in Nathan’s room.

Climax: While weaving the climax Holmes reveals the truth about John Garrideb to Watson. This conversation between the two lets us know the truth. But it is not yet revealed to the villain that he is exposed. Also, we know that he has some criminal motives, but we don’t know what they are. Author gives the reader a fair chance to guess.

Resolution of the mystery: Johns’ character is revealed but readers don’t have any idea about his interest in Nathan’s house. He fabricates a long tale, gives advertisement in the paper, convinces Nathan to move out of his house but we don’t have the slightest of the clues about his real motive. At the resolution of the mystery we get to know that he has been interested in fake currency printer. At this time Holmes’ digression is also justified.