sherlock60 | Canon Discussion: The Reigate Squires (Reply)

This week we’re looking at The Reigate Squires (aka The Reigate Puzzle). And as usual I’ve typed up a few thoughts to get the discussion started.

…the Netherland-Sumatra Company and of the colossal schemes of Baron Maupertuis… So, we begin with an intriguing reference to another case (I’m ashamed to admit though that the reference to “politics and finance” does immediately make my mind wander), a case that Holmes has been investigating on his own. It perhaps isn’t surprising though that Holmes didn’t ask Watson to go with him. They don’t strictly speaking work together, not in the sense that Holmes shares the fees. Watson is there in the role of friend. Holmes probably wouldn’t have felt it was appropriate to ask Watson to take weeks out of his life, just to keep him company. But I wonder what Watson has been doing while Holmes was away. This case presumably takes place before his marriage, and he doesn’t appear to be working.

…when Holmes understood that the establishment was a bachelor one, and that he would be allowed the fullest freedom, he fell in with my plans… I suppose this could be interpreted as straightforward misogyny but I do have some sympathy with Holmes here. He’s been very ill and he doesn’t want to have to make the effort of being on his best behaviour and being polite. (He may not particularly like women but he seems to have perfect manners round them.) And I can understand him not wanting children running around and making a noise. I think a woman who was convalescing probably wouldn’t want to be thrust into the middle of someone else’s family either.

…an odd volume of Pope's 'Homer,' two plated candlesticks, an ivory letter-weight, a small oak barometer, and a ball of twine… The first time I read this story I was rather disappointed by the explanation for this strange assortment. I really thought the burglars had taken these items on purpose, for some definite end. Though I still can’t imagine what someone could do with that little lot.

But I held up a warning finger. "You are here for a rest, my dear fellow.” It’s rather endearing how protective Watson is of Holmes’ health. And that Holmes, though amused, does listen to Watson.

…William had secretly followed his two masters on the night when they made their raid upon Mr. Acton's, and having thus got them into his power, proceeded, under threats of exposure, to levy black-mail upon them. Holmes seems quite neutral here about Kirwan’s blackmail attempt though in CHAS he loathes Milverton. Has something happened in between the two cases? Or is it Milverton specifically he hates, rather than blackmailers in general? Milverton being the master blackmailer, a professional who has made his fortune out of his crimes. Perhaps Holmes doesn’t view some petty blackmail by a servant as being in the same class. And the Cunninghams aren’t victims you can really have sympathy with.

…William had secretly followed his two masters on the night when they made their raid upon Mr. Acton's…

"When do the servants go to bed?" "About ten." "I understand that William was usually in bed also at that hour."

We know that Kirwan was summoned by a note on the night of his death - it was odd for him to be up that late. And yet he was apparently up in the middle of the night when his employers were going to Acton’s on their burglary attempt and he followed them. I suppose they could have passed by the lodge where Kirwan lived and disturbed him from his sleep, but I would have thought they’d be taking great pains to be as quiet as possible. I wonder if Kirwan had been watching them for some time, rather than just happening to follow them on that particular night.

…be of the greatest service to you and also to Annie Morrison. Perhaps Kirwan’s blackmailing wasn’t to do with money – perhaps it was more personal than that. A theory: Annie Morrison is his sweetheart. We know Alec Cunningham is a violent, dangerous man – he murdered Kirwan in cold blood, and almost murdered Holmes when there was no chance of getting away with it. So, he made advances to Annie, she resisted him and he killed her. Kirwan knows that Alec Cunningham and Annie were seen together before she disappeared. He respectfully asks Cunningham if she said anything to him and Cunningham dismissively tells him she was going up north to live with relatives. Kirwan suspects Annie left because she was ashamed of something that happened between her and Cunningham, and he also thinks that Cunningham knows exactly where she is. He asks again but Cunningham threatens to dismiss him. So, Kirwan keeps a discreet eye on his employers and realises in desperation that he can use the burglary to his advantage – if Alec Cunningham will tell him where Annie is, he will keep his mouth shut. Obviously, Cunningham can’t give him Annie’s address – the only way to keep him quiet is to kill him too. He sends the note, implying that at last he’ll say where Annie is, and naturally Kirwan comes.

Next Sunday, 9th Feb, we’ll be looking at The Crooked Man. Hope to see you then!