The Adventure of the Retired Colourman

Arthur Conan Doyle

I. ESSAY: Answer the following question in about 300 words:

Q.1. Analyse how Holmes reached the conclusion that Amberley was the murderer?
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle is the creator of the brilliant detective, Sherlock Holmes. The story,
‘The Adventure of the Retired Colourman’ describes how Holmes solves a mystery relating to the
disappearance of a young wife and her friend.
Sherlock Holmes is hired by a retired art supply dealer, Josiah Amberley, to look into his wife's
disappearance. The wife, 20 years younger than him, has eloped with a young doctor friend, Dr. Ray
Ernest, taking a lot of cash and valuables. Earlier, Amberley used to be very friendly with Ernest; he
spent evenings playing chess with him. But the games often ended in the friend’s victory. Amberley is
also a miser. His wife naturally got fascinated to her friend.
Holmes, currently busy with another case, deputes his assistant, Dr. Watson to get the details.
Strangely, Watson finds Amberley busy painting the house. He also sees Mrs. Amberley’s unused
theatre ticket. Amberley had booked two cinema tickets. But he went to the theatre alone after his wife
complained of headache.
Holmes suspects something. He sends Watson and Amberley on a fool’s errand to a remote
village. He wants Amberley to be away from the house so that he can make a proper investigation. He
also finds out that the theatre booking is an alibi. Amberley did not go to the theatre. Holmes allies
with one Mr. Barker and they decide to investigate together.
Holmes and Barker ask Amberley, “What did you do with the bodies?” Amberley is shocked.
He tries to commit suicide, which is foiled by Holmes. Holmes discovers that the theatre seats were
not occupied. So, Amberley’s alibi is a lie. There is a gas line to the strongroom. Amberley somehow
locked up his wife and her lover in the strongroom, turned on the gas, and killed them. He painted his
house to mask the smell of gas. The bodies were found in a disused well in the garden.
II. Paragraph Questions: Answer the following questions in a paragraph:

1. Explain how Sherlock Holmes introduces the case of Amberley with the phrase, “a treacherous
friend and a fickle wife”?
Amberley marries a woman 20 years younger than him. After retirement, they settle down at
Lewisham. There, he gets acquainted with a young man, Dr. Earnest who soon becomes a frequenter
to Amberley’s house. They play chess in the evenings. A week before Amberley lodges complaint to
Holmes, Mrs. Amberley and Dr. Earnest disappear. In fact, they were murdered by Amberley. The
dead bodies were thrown into a disused well. Amberley invents the story of “a treacherous friend and
a fickle wife” who ran away with all his earnings, in an attempt to save himself.

2. What do you think is the real cause of the murder?

Amberley was a miser. His wife did not like this. It was only natural for a young woman like her to
wish for a life of comfort and luxury. She chose a husband 20 years older than her. But the miserly

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nature of Mr. Amberley made her unhappy. Naturally, the youthful Mrs Amberley turned to the young
man, Dr. Ray Ernest for comfort and happiness. He was young, handsome and intelligent. The game
of chess in the evenings often ended in his victory. Filled with jealousy and suspicion, Amberley killed
them both.
3. “There are one or two points of contact which I should wish to establish with Mr. Josiah
Amberley.” What were the plans Holmes created to trap Amberley?
Holmes sent a telegram to Amberley in the name of Elman, the Vicar of Little Purlington. It said that
the Vicar had some vital information regarding the missing of Mrs. Amberley and Dr. Earnest. It
helped Holmes to keep Amberley away from his house for some time to facilitate a thorough
investigation. Holmes also discovered that the seats booked at the theatre was an alibi. Actually, the
seats were not occupied on that night. It was an attempt on the part of Amberley to save himself from
the case.
4. Why did Holmes send Watson and Amberley into Little Purlington? What was his plan?
Holmes arranged to send a telegram to Amberley in the name of Elman, the Vicar of Little Purlington.
It said the vicar had vital information regarding the disappearance of Mrs. Amberley and Dr. Earnest.
Amberley was reluctant to go since he knew everything. Holmes told him that police would suspect
him if he didn’t go. To make sure, Holmes sent Watson along with Amberley. They were sent by an
evening train so that they did not return the same day. Thus, Holmes ensured that he got sufficient
time for a thorough investigation in the house.
5. Describe Holmes’ opinion about Amberley’s mentality?
Holmes said that Amberley hired him out of “pure swank”. Amberley felt so clever and so sure of
himself that he imagined no one could touch him. He thought he would be safe. He also thought that
he could say this to any suspicious neighbour that he took all possible steps. He consulted not only the
police but even Sherlock Holmes. Amberley did all this in an attempt to prove that he was innocent.
Holmes believed that Amberley would likely end up in a mental hospital rather than on the scaffold,
owing to his mental state.

III. Short Answer Questions: Answer the following questions in one or two sentences:

1. What was Mr. Amberley painting?

Amberley was painting the passageway to the strongroom. He had already painted the door
and the woodwork of the strongroom.

2. How did Mr. Amberley respond when Watson asked him about the painting?
Amberley said that he was painting the house to ease an aching heart, to remove from the
house the bad memories of his unfaithful wife. He also tore up a photograph of his wife in his
presence, swearing he never wished to see her damned face again.

3. What was in the scribbled note addressing Watson?

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 In the scribbled note addressing Watson, Holmes wrote that there were one or two points of
contact that he wished to establish with Amberley. When he had done so, they could dismiss the
case. He also said that he might want Watson at 3 o’clock.

4. How did Amberley distract the investigation?

He distracted the investigation by hiring Sherlock Holmes to investigate the case. He foolishly
believed that by entrusting the case to Holmes, he could tell the suspecting neighbours that he
consulted not only the police but even Sherlock Holmes.

5. What was Holmes’ first clue during the investigation?

The first clue was the painting job in the passage and strong room done by Amberley. It was
a strange occupation in the circumstances.

6. How did Holmes reach the conclusion that Amberley had not been to the theatre?
Holmes found from the reservation chart at the theatre that seats B-30 and B-32 were not
occupied on that night for the show. The seats were reserved by Amberley to create an alibi that
he was in the theatre when the incident occurred.

7. Who is the tall dark man who helped Holmes?

The tall dark man is Barker, who helped Holmes, an investigator of crimes,.

8. What did Watson think of Josiah Amberley?

Watson thought of Josiah Amberley that he was a miser, and as such quite a jealous man. He
complained about the travel expenses and hotel bills.

9. Explain the context which makes Amberley say, “One must do something to ease an aching
heart.”?
When Watson asked about the painting in such a situation, Amberley said, “One must do
something to ease an aching heart.”

10. Who sent a telegram to Amberley?

The telegram was sent by Sherlock Holmes.

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Essay 2

Q. 2. Consider “The Adventure of the Retired Colourman” as a traditional detective story?

Arthur Conan Doyle is the creator of the brilliant detective, Sherlock Holmes. The story,
‘The Adventure of the Retired Colourman’ carries all the marks of a traditional detective story.
Sherlock Holmes is hired by a retired art supply dealer, Josiah Amberley, to look into his wife's
disappearance. The wife, 20 years his younger, has eloped with a young doctor friend, Dr. Ray Ernest,
taking a lot of cash and valuables. Earlier, Amberley used to be very friendly and spent evenings
playing chess with Earnest. But the games often ended in the friend’s victory. He is also a miser. His
wife naturally got fascinated to her friend.
Holmes, currently busy with another case, deputes his assistant, Dr. Watson to get the details.
Strangely, Watson finds Amberley busy painting the house. He also sees Mrs. Amberley’s unused
theatre ticket. Amberley had booked two cinema tickets. He went to the theatre alone after his wife
complained of headache.
Holmes suspects something. He sends Watson and Amberley on a fool’s errand to a remote
village. He wants Amberley to be away from the house so that he can make a proper investigation. He
also finds out that the theatre booking is an alibi. Amberley did not go to the theatre. Holmes allies
with one Mr. Barker and they decide to investigate together.
Holmes and Barker ask Amberley, “What did you do with the bodies?” Amberley is shocked.
He tries to commit suicide, which is foiled by Holmes. Holmes discovers that the theatre seats were
not occupied. So, Amberley’s alibi is a lie. There is a gas line to the strongroom. Amberley somehow
locked up his wife and her lover in the strongroom, turned on the gas, and killed them. He painted his
house to mask the smell of gas. The bodies were recovered from a disused well in the garden. Amberley
is arrested by the police.
The story is a standing example of the intelligence of the professional detectives. It has all the
features of a traditional detective story.

Prepared by:
Prof. Murukan Babu C.R.,
Principal, Nirmala College of Arts and Science, Chalakudy,
(formerly) Associate Professor of English, Panampilly Memorial Govt. College, Chalakudy

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