sole

“If I were sole owner we’d shake hands on it now, my dear Dantès, and call it settled; but I have a partner, and you know the Italian proverb—Chi ha compagno ha padrone—‘He who has a partner has a master.’ But the thing is at least half done, as you have one out of two votes.

Twice already in his career had Holmes helped him to attain success, his own sole reward being the intellectual joy of the problem.

“And look at this!” He held the lamp down and illuminated a smudge of blood like the mark of a boot-sole upon the wooden sill.

Curious, because, so far as one can trace any footmark in this mud-stained corner, one would say it was a more shapely sole.