by Arthur Conan Doyle

Sherlock Holmes was in melancholy and philosophic mood that morning His alert practical nature was subject to such reactions

"Did him ? " he asked

"You mean the old fellow who has just gone out ? "

"Precisely "

"Yes, I met him door "

"What did of him ? "

"A pathetic, futile, broken creature "

"Exactly, Watson Pathetic and futile But all life pathetic and futile ? his story microcosm whole ? We reach We grasp And left hands end ? shadow Or worse than shadow -- misery "

"Is he one of your clients ? "

"Well, I suppose call him so He sent on Yard Just as medical men occasionally send their incurables to quack They argue can do nothing more, whatever happens the patient no worse than "

" the matter ? "

Holmes took rather soiled card table "Josiah Amberley junior partner of Brickfall and Amberley, manufacturers of artistic materials their names upon paint-boxes his little pile, retired from business age of sixty-one, bought house at Lewisham and settled down to rest after life of ceaseless grind One would think his future was tolerably assured "

"Yes, indeed "

Holmes glanced over some notes which he had scribbled back of an envelope

"Retired in 1896, Watson Early in 1897 he married woman twenty years younger than himself -- good-looking woman, too photograph flatter competence, wife, leisure -- it seemed straight road which lay before him And yet within two years , seen, as broken and miserable creature as crawls beneath the sun "

"But what has happened ? "

"The old story, Watson treacherous friend and fickle wife It would appear that Amberley has one hobby in life, and chess Not far at Lewisham there lives young doctor also chess-player noted his name as Dr Ray Ernest Ernest was frequently house, and an intimacy between him and Mrs Amberley was natural sequence, for admit unfortunate client has few outward graces, whatever his inner virtues The couple went off together last week -- destination untraced more, the faithless spouse carried off the old man's deed-box as her personal luggage with good part life's savings within Can the lady ? Can we save the money ? commonplace problem as it has developed, and yet vital one for Josiah Amberley "

" ? "

"Well, the immediate question, my dear Watson, happens , ? -- good enough to understudy me that preoccupied with two Coptic Patriarchs, which should come to head to-day I really time out to Lewisham, and yet evidence taken spot has special value The old fellow was quite insistent that go, but I explained my difficulty prepared to meet representative "

"By all means," I answered "I confess I don't see that of much service, but willing my best " And so it on summer afternoon I set forth to Lewisham, little dreaming that within week the affair engaging the eager debate of all England

late that evening before I returned to Baker Street and gave an account mission Holmes lay gaunt figure stretched deep chair, his pipe curling forth slow wreaths of acrid tobacco, while his eyelids drooped over his eyes so lazily that he might almost asleep were it not that at any halt or questionable passage narrative they half lifted, and two gray eyes, as bright and keen as rapiers, transfixed me with their searching glance

"The Haven name of Mr Josiah Amberley's house," I explained " it would interest you, Holmes like some penurious patrician who has sunk company inferiors that particular quarter, the monotonous brick streets, the weary suburban highways Right middle , little island of ancient culture and comfort, lies this old home, surrounded by high sun-baked wall mottled with lichens and topped with moss, the sort of wall --"

"Cut out the poetry, Watson," said Holmes severely "I note high brick wall "

"Exactly I have known The Haven had I not asked lounger who was smoking street reason for mentioning him tall, dark, heavily moustached, rather military-looking man He nodded in answer to my inquiry and curiously questioning glance, which came back to my memory little later

"I had hardly entered the gateway before Mr Amberley coming down the drive I only had glimpse of him , and he certainly the impression of strange creature, but when him in full light his appearance was even more abnormal "

" , , studied it, and yet interested your impression," said Holmes

" like man who was literally bowed down by care His back was curved he carried heavy burden Yet not the weakling that I had at first imagined, shoulders and chest have the framework of giant, though his figure tapers away into pair of spindled legs "

"Left shoe wrinkled, right one smooth "

" observe that "

"No, you wouldn't I spotted his artificial limb But proceed "

" struck snaky locks of grizzled hair which curled from under his old straw hat, face with its fierce, eager expression deeply lined features "

" , Watson What did he say ? "

"He began pouring out the story grievances We walked down the drive together, and good look round never seen worse-kept place The garden was all running to seed, giving me an impression of wild neglect plants allowed the way of Nature rather than of art How any decent woman tolerated such state of things, I don't know The house, too, was slatternly last degree, but the poor man seemed himself aware of it and trying to remedy it, for great pot of green paint stood centre hall, and carrying thick brush He working woodwork

" me into his dingy sanctum, and we had long chat , disappointed that you come yourself 'I hardly expected,' , 'that so humble an individual as myself, especially after my heavy financial loss, could obtain the complete attention of so famous man as Mr Sherlock Holmes '

"I assured him financial question arise 'No , art for art's sake ,' said he, 'but even artistic side of crime found something here to study And human nature, Dr Watson -- the black ingratitude of it all ! When did I ever refuse one of her requests ? Was ever woman so pampered ? young man -- my own son He had the run house And yet see how treated me ! Oh, Dr Watson, dreadful, dreadful world ! '

"That burden song for an hour or more He had, it seems, no suspicion of an intrigue They lived alone save for woman who comes in day and leaves every evening at six particular evening old Amberley, wishing his wife treat, had taken two upper circle seats Haymarket Theatre last moment she had complained of headache and had refused He had gone alone There seemed fact, for he produced the unused ticket which he had taken wife "