Sherlock Holmes

of Thor  Bridge). Altamont, Holmes’ alias, was Doyle’s father’s
middle name. For the only time, Holmes is seen to travel in
(though not drive) a car. Martha could well be Mrs Hudson,
but this is never made obvious.
Verdict: It’s good to see Holmes and Watson back in action for
one last time, and they both acquit themselves wonderfully.
Doyle creates a marvellously doom-laden atmosphere and the
characterisation sparkles. Considering its prime function is to
stir up patriotic feelings against Germany (at the time of publi-
cation, German U-boats were a huge threat to British
merchant shipping), it’s a very well-written piece. 5/5
49) The Adventure of the Mazarin Stone
UK: The Strand Magazine (October 1921, AG); USA: Hearst’s
International (November 1921, FDS)
The Case: A crown jewel has been stolen…
Characters: Billy, Lord Cantlemere, Count Negretto Sylvius,
Sam Merton, Mrs Hudson, Prime Minister, Home Secretary,
Straubenzee, Inspector Youghal, Tavernier, Mrs Harold, Minnie
Warrender, two cabmen, Commissionaire, Ikey Sanders, Van Seddar.
Locations: 221B Baker Street; Scotland Yard; 136 Moorside
Gardens, NW; Straubenzee’s workshop, Minories; Lime Street.
Recorded Case: The Empty House.
Unrecorded Case: Old Baron Dowson.
Holmes: Is fond of practical jokes.
Disguises: A workman and an old woman.
Quotable Quote: ‘No violence, gentlemen – no violence, I beg of
you! Consider the furniture!’
S H E R L O C K H O L M E S
• 92 •

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Problems: Holmes talks like a dime-novel Chicago gangster (‘Ikey
has peached, and the game is up’). A doorway could hardly be
positioned within the alcove of a bay window (and there are no
such windows in Baker Street anyway). It seems improbable that
Holmes could have changed places with the dummy in full view
of the two criminals (in the stage play the lights go out).There is
only circumstantial evidence that Count Sylvius stole the jewel.
Observations: Like the previous story, this is written in the third
person. It is based on Doyle’s 1921 play The Crown Diamond
(itself a retread of The Empty House). Colonel Moran was
changed to Count Sylvius for the short story.
Verdict: This is a simplistic travesty of a Sherlock Holmes story,
its roots in stage melodrama woefully obvious. 1/5
50) The  Problem  of Thor  Bridge
UK: The Strand Magazine (February-March 1922, AG); USA:
Hearst’s International (February-March 1922, GPN)
The Case: A businessman’s governess is blamed for his wife’s
death…
Characters: J Neil Gibson, Billy, Marlow Bates, Sgt Coventry, Mr
Joyce Cummings, cook, Grace Dunbar, gamekeeper, doctor, villager,
Ferguson, Maria Pinto.
Locations: 221B Baker Street;Thor Place, Hants.; Sgt Coventry’s
cottage; Thor Bridge; village inn, Hants.; Claridge’s Hotel;
Winchester Assizes.
Unrecorded Cases: The disappearance of James Phillimore, the
disappearance of the cutter Alicia, the madness of Isadora
Persano (caused by a worm).
Holmes: Is strongly affected by his surroundings. His profes-
sional charges are on a fixed scale (unless he foregoes payment
altogether).
T H E C A N O N
• 93 •

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Watson: Keeps his papers in a tin despatch box at Cox & Co,
Charing Cross. Carries a revolver on cases.
Quotable Quote: ‘I do not think that in our adventures we have
come across a stranger example of what perverted love can
bring about.’