Sherlock Holmes

Observations: The story, a replay of a similar one by Wilkie
Collins, is penned by Watson two years after the event. It is the
only case the doctor has initiated.
Verdict: Holmes exhibits few of his detective powers in this
macabre little misadventure. Its lack of resolution and shadowy
villains are frustrating. 2/5
12) The Adventure of the Noble Bachelor
UK: The Strand Magazine (April 1892, SP)
T H E C A N O N
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The Case: A newly titled bride disappears at her wedding break-
fast…
Date: Autumn 1887 (a few weeks before Watson’s marriage).
Characters: Lord Robert Walsingham de Vere St Simon,
Inspector Lestrade, Mr & Mrs Francis Hay Moulton, page-boy,
Lord Backwater, Hatty Doran, Aloysius Doran, Duchess of Balmoral,
Lord Eustace and Lady Clara St Simon, Lady Alicia Whittington, Flora
Millar, Alice.
Locations: 221B Baker Street; St George’s, Hanover Square; house at
Lancaster Gate; McQuire’s camp, near the Rockies; San Francisco;
miners’ camp, New Mexico; a Northumberland Avenue hotel; 226
Gordon Square.
Unrecorded Cases: A Grosvenor Square furniture van, the King of
Scandinavia, parallel cases in Aberdeen and Munich.
Holmes: Dislikes snobbery, likes Americans. Enjoys a whisky
and soda with a cigar. Quotes Henry Thoreau (1817–62).
Quotable Quote: ‘…I am one of those who believe that the folly
of a monarch and the blundering of a Minister in far gone years
will not prevent our children from being some day citizens of
the same worldwide country under a flag which shall be a quar-
tering of the Union Jack with the Stars and Stripes.’
Problems: Watson married Mary Morstan after July 1888 (see
The Sign of Four) – this story is set ‘a few weeks before’, but in
1887. Dumping unweighted clothes in the Serpentine is a poor
way of disposing of the evidence – burning or burying them
would be more effective. Frank’s return from the dead is not
explained.
Observations: A case with parallels to A Scandal in Bohemia, this is
another story that takes place entirely within 221B Baker
Street.
Verdict: Less an upper-crust romantic triangle, more a dialogue-
heavy sermon by Doyle on Anglo-American relations. 2/5
S H E R L O C K H O L M E S
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13) The Adventure of the Beryl Coronet
UK: The Strand Magazine (May 1892, SP)
The Case: A banker’s reputation is at stake when a famous
diadem goes missing…
Characters: Alexander Holder, Mary Holder, Arthur Holder, Sir
George Burnwell, Lucy Parr, Francis Prosper.
Locations: 221B Baker Street; Fairbank, Streatham.
Holmes: Is not above doing a deal with a criminal.
Disguise: A common loafer.
Quotable Quote: ‘It is an old maxim of mine that when you have
excluded the impossible, whatever remains, however improb-
able, must be the truth.’
Observations: Although the year is unknown (we are only told it
is February), the story must have happened before Watson’s
marriage, because he is still sharing rooms with Holmes.
Although the client’s identity is kept secret, a possible
contender could be Prince Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh, and
second son of Queen Victoria.
Problem: Although the division between royal and state property
can be a grey area, it is unlikely a coronet could legally be used
as security for a loan.
Verdict: Doyle may already be borrowing ideas from previous
stories (notably The Blue Carbuncle and The Sign of Four), but the
main protagonist’s predicament is engaging, and the resultant
clue-solving well described. 4/5
14) The Adventure of the Copper Beeches
UK: The Strand Magazine (June 1892, SP)