 Sherlock Holmes has been missing for two days, and Dr. Watson frantically summons Inspector Lestrade to help him search for the detective. The two of them find a letter asking Holmes to take a case on behalf of a shop owner, so they visit the man s shop. But the proprietor denies any knowledge of Holmes, and he also denies writing the letter. Watson s suspicions are aroused, and when Lestrade finds Holmes s hat and coat in the shop, they are sure that they are on the right track.