In the Sherlock Holmes story "The Adventure of the Priory School", Holmes shows perhaps the most amount of interest in the reward money. Holmes initially confirms the terms of the reward with the Duke who offers it:
“The fact is, your Grace,” said he, “that my colleague, Dr. Watson, and myself had an assurance from Dr. Huxtable that a reward had been offered in this case. I should like to have this confirmed from your own lips.”
“Certainly, Mr. Holmes.”
“It amounted, if I am correctly informed, to five thousand pounds to anyone who will tell you where your son is?”
“Exactly.”
“And another thousand to the man who will name the person or persons who keep him in custody?”
“Exactly.”
And then Holmes requests the appropriate amount of six thousand pounds as his reward.
My friend rubbed his thin hands together with an appearance of avidity which was a surprise to me, who knew his frugal tastes.
“I fancy that I see your Grace’s cheque-book upon the table,” said he. “I should be glad if you would make me out a cheque for six thousand pounds. It would be as well, perhaps, for you to cross it. The Capital and Counties Bank, Oxford Street branch, are my agents.”
Yet, the Duke ends up making out a cheque for twelve thousand pounds, assuming generously that Holmes and Watson both deserve the reward.
“I must put it plainly, Mr. Holmes. If only you two know of this incident, there is no reason why it should go any farther. I think twelve thousand pounds is the sum that I owe you, is it not?”
Finally, it's indicated that Holmes is very happy about the reward money, which is again a little out of character for him.
Holmes folded up his cheque and placed it care- fully in his note-book. “I am a poor man,” said he, as he patted it affectionately and thrust it into the depths of his inner pocket.
Was the cheque actually made out for twelve thousand pounds, and if so, did Watson get his share? Why was Holmes particularly excited about the money in this case?
Note: In the Granada TV adaptation of this story, the waters are muddied even further, as it is shown that the Duke makes it out to twelve thousand and Holmes is surprised by it, uttering "This is a king's ransom", and the Duke responds as if to say it is an appropriate amount given the magnitude of Holmes' help. This seems to indicate Holmes received the entire amount himself.