Thanks for pointing out that missing page. There's room for a lot of speculation there. Also about the police investigating a real dog. It's just possible - someone will probably have a better idea - that Stapleton meant to wash off the sfx and have his hound discovered as a stray dog.
Another good point about Beryl. Perhaps she did marry for love, against all the opposition of her family and friends? And/or perhaps he was putting up a front, and because her family was poor, or otherwise, she couldn't expect a good match.
Poor Lestrade! Another thing I didn't notice.
A couple of very obvious points...
I'm not an ethologist, but I gather Jack London was rather putting it on; and dogs don't kill each other for food. I think Stapleton killed the spaniel because he didn't want Mortimer's dog following his trail. A quick blow, and the spaniel would be dead before he knew what was happening. Since he could, and feeding the hound was probably always more expense and trouble than he bargained for, he gave the body to the Hound later.
Also, I do find Watson's description of Laura Lyons remarkable. He's sometimes dismmissive of woman servants, but I think this is the only time his description of a lady is so condemnatory. (With Mary Marston, I think he was trying to say she had more going for her than a pretty face.)
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timeasmymeasure
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Date: 2014-05-11 07:29 pm (UTC)Another good point about Beryl. Perhaps she did marry for love, against all the opposition of her family and friends? And/or perhaps he was putting up a front, and because her family was poor, or otherwise, she couldn't expect a good match.
Poor Lestrade! Another thing I didn't notice.
A couple of very obvious points...
I'm not an ethologist, but I gather Jack London was rather putting it on; and dogs don't kill each other for food. I think Stapleton killed the spaniel because he didn't want Mortimer's dog following his trail. A quick blow, and the spaniel would be dead before he knew what was happening. Since he could, and feeding the hound was probably always more expense and trouble than he bargained for, he gave the body to the Hound later.
Also, I do find Watson's description of Laura Lyons remarkable. He's sometimes dismmissive of woman servants, but I think this is the only time his description of a lady is so condemnatory. (With Mary Marston, I think he was trying to say she had more going for her than a pretty face.)