# Three Broken Threads explained — The Hound of the Baskervilles > Chapter companion for The Hound of the Baskervilles by Arthur Conan Doyle. ## What happens Holmes and Watson visit Sir Henry Baskerville at the Northumberland Hotel, where Sir Henry is agitated by the theft of a new brown boot and then an old black boot. Holmes deduces that the people watching Sir Henry are not staying at his hotel, and sends telegrams to check on Barrymore's whereabouts. Later, the missing brown boot is mysteriously returned. Holmes receives telegrams confirming Barrymore is at the Hall and that a search for the cut Times page has failed. The cabman who drove the spy arrives, revealing that the spy gave his name as 'Mr. Sherlock Holmes,' a clever deception. ## Themes in this chapter ### Deception and Disguise The spy adopts the name 'Sherlock Holmes' to mislead the cabman and avoid detection, highlighting the theme of deception. ### Inheritance and Greed The revelation of Sir Charles's vast fortune (nearly a million pounds) and the discussion of the inheritance chain underscore the motive of greed. ## Character check-ins ### Sherlock Holmes Demonstrates his power of mental detachment by focusing on art before the case; deduces that the watchers are not staying at the hotel; sends telegrams to verify Barrymore's presence; is momentarily stunned when the cabman reveals the spy used his name. ### Dr. Watson Accompanies Holmes to the hotel; observes Holmes's methods and the unfolding events; notes the return of the brown boot and the failure of the search for the Times page. ### Sir Henry Baskerville Furious over the theft of his boots, first a new brown one then an old black one; speaks in a broad Western dialect when angry; decides to go to Baskerville Hall at the end of the week. ### Dr. James Mortimer Startled to learn he was followed; provides information about Barrymore and the Baskerville will; reveals he inherited a thousand pounds from Sir Charles. ### Barrymore Mentioned as the butler with a full black beard; he and his wife each received five hundred pounds from Sir Charles's will; a telegram confirms he is at the Hall. ### Cartwright Sent by Holmes to search hotels for the cut sheet of the Times; reports failure via telegram. ## Key lines > We know now that the people who are so interested in our friend have not settled down in his own hotel. That means that while they are, as we have seen, very anxious to watch him, they are equally anxious that he should not see them. Holmes deduces that the individuals following Sir Henry are not staying at his hotel, indicating they want to observe him without being observed themselves. _Holmes explains the significance of the hotel register check._ > There is nothing more stimulating than a case where everything goes against you. Holmes finds a challenging case invigorating when all leads seem to fail. _Holmes remarks after receiving telegrams that dash two of his leads._ > A touch, Watson—an undeniable touch! I feel a foil as quick and supple as my own. He got home upon me very prettily that time. Holmes acknowledges that the spy outwitted him by using Holmes's own name, comparing it to a clever fencing move. _Holmes reacts to the cabman's revelation that the spy claimed to be Sherlock Holmes._ ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_hound_of_the_baskervilles/chapters/v-three-broken-threads - Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_hound_of_the_baskervilles - All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_hound_of_the_baskervilles/chapters