Canon Discussion: Shoscombe Old Place

[scfrankles.livejournal.com]

This week we’re having a look at The Adventure of Shoscombe Old Place. As always, I’ve typed up a few thoughts to get the ball rolling.

'In the St Pancras case you may remember that a cap was found beside the dead policeman.’ Any thoughts on the story behind this case? If the accused man is a “picture-frame maker who habitually handles glue” then it seems unlikely that he would be a professional criminal. What could be the reason behind him killing a policeman? Or maybe it is his cap, but he isn’t the murderer. Frightened to say who the real killer is, or covering up for someone?

“...my friend, Merivale of the Yard, asked me to look into the case…” Any thoughts on Merivale?

‘By the way, Watson, you know something of racing?' ‘'I ought to. I pay for it with about half my wound pension.' I know there’s a firmly established theory that Watson is an inveterate gambler who can’t be trusted to look after his own money (in DANC it’s mentioned that Holmes has Watson’s cheque book locked up in his drawer). But I don’t personally buy it. Watson’s comment sounds like a lighthearted exaggeration to me. And would he truly announce to his reading public that he has a gambling problem? (Though then again, he does happily mention all the illegal things he and Holmes get up to…)

‘He lives with his widowed sister, Lady Beatrice Falder.' I don’t mean to be pedantic (but I’m going to be) but surely she should be (Beatrice,) Lady Falder. Her brother is a baronet, so presumably she was the daughter of a baronet and wouldn’t have been born with a title. Her late husband was “Sir James”, so was either a knight or a baronet himself, and his wife would become “Lady Falder”. It just seems odd that everyone in the story gets it wrong and refers to her as Lady Beatrice.

“Yet I have heard that [Lady Falder] is devoted to [Sir Robert].” This is perhaps surprising. Mason does say: “They had the same tastes, the two of them, and she loved the horses as much as he did.” But the sibling relationship can be a difficult one - siblings are not automatically good friends, even when they are alike, and Sir Robert is not a pleasant man. I feel he is taking advantage of her good nature. Any thoughts on why she is so fond of him? He’s a much younger brother perhaps? Or they lost their parents young? Maybe it’s just because she’s an invalid and has no-one else close to her.

“He's holding off the Jews till then.” These references to “the Jews” (ie, the moneylenders, who may or may not actually be Jewish) do make me uncomfortable. I found this article which considers whether Holmes and Watson themselves were anti-Semitic, and it makes interesting reading. (Spoiler: the author, Andrew Solberg, doesn’t think they were, which I find something of a relief.)

'It's the upper condyle of a human femur,' said I. I wonder that Holmes doesn’t contact the police at this point. An ancient body being moved in the crypt is one thing, but somebody burning bones is immediately more sinister. Holmes does seem to suspect that it might be Lady Falder’s body that had been destroyed. I know he prefers to work without police interference but it seems odd that he would keep a suspected murder to himself.

“Watson and I are famous fishermen - are we not, Watson?” I’m never quite sure if Holmes is being serious or not here. They certainly go to Shoscombe well-equipped and do mange to catch some fish later on. It just seems a bit out of the blue that they’re experienced anglers.

“In any case, my business is that of every other good citizen - to uphold the law.” Hmm. It has to be said that Holmes doesn’t generally pay much attention to the law. He’s interested in solving mysteries and he has a sense of justice, but upholding the law isn’t something that worries him.

“...Mr and Mrs Norlett.” Norberton and Norlett... Could these be pseudonyms that Watson has chosen?

“It came into our heads - it came into my head - that he could for that short period personate my sister.” Why would Norlett assist a man who was apparently having an affair with his wife?

“My chief creditor is, unhappily, my most bitter enemy - a rascally fellow, Sam Brewer, whom I was once compelled to horsewhip on Newmarket Heath.” What did the unfortunate Brewer do? Dare to ask for his money back?

...the lucky owner got away scatheless from this strange incident in a career which has now outlived its shadows and promises to end in an honoured old age. Sir Robert does get a far happier ending than he deserves. That seems such an abrupt change in personality too at the end. Did the business about his sister’s death really teach him a life-changing lesson?

Next Sunday, 11th January, we’ll be looking at The Retired Colourman, which will be the very last story for Round 3! Hope you can join us for that.

Comments

[winryweiss.livejournal.com]

I went along the fishing line. ^^ It just came completelly out of the blue, irresistible not to be picked upon. Was there any other time in which H&W went fishing? I think no, not in canon. Though, if I remember correctly some adaptations show either Holmes or Watson as rather decent fisherman.


"By the way, Watson, you know something of racing?" "I ought to. I pay for it with about half my wound pension."
I really think that Watson is sarcastic in here. Seriously, he made few hints to his vices before and we all know the exact location of his cheque book. So when Holmes, who knows everything about his Boswell, ask such a question (hence obviously wheedling informations from Watson), the trademark pawky humour ensues. ^w^

[scfrankles.livejournal.com]

And I fell for your story hook, line and sinker :P

I certainly can't think of another time in canon they go fishing ^^ It just all seems surprising, as they live in London.

And yes, of course - it's Watson's pawky humour coming out! ^_^

[laurose8.livejournal.com]

Of Merivale, I like to think of Holmes have friendly relations with a Scotland Yard protegé; perhaps even more than one.

Of not calling the police. I find it very Holmesian that he would think he was the best man to gather information. It does seem characteristic to wait until he has it, to tell the police who they should arrest, and on what charge.

Good suggestion about the pseudonyms. I think Norlett was already going along with his wife sleeping with Sir Robert (perhaps they were separated?) so wouldn't be too stroppy about taking his money. I wonder if he ever got it?

My call is, if Sir Robert doesn't get into more trouble afterwards, it's just luck. From what he says about being forced to whip someone, and how he had to do all this, he's what Josephine Tey's Allen Grant would call a 'born crook, and it can no more be cured than the colour of his eyes.' (I paraphrase)

edit: Thank you for the link. I especially like the bit where Holmes is more likely to identify with the Jews than with the antiSemites.

[scfrankles.livejournal.com]

Thank you for having a look at the article ^^ I found it interesting seeing the historical and geographical context for the kinds of expressions found in canon. And I enjoyed the analysis of Holmes' behaviour too. I learnt something new.

I would agree about Sir Robert keeping out of trouble simply being down to luck. It sounds like he's the inveterate gambler, not Watson. And he appears to be someone who has no self-control and who is always taking risks. A "born crook" certainly.

And I said it myself - Holmes isn't really bothered about upholding the law. It would perhaps make sense that he'd want to make sure there'd been a murder, and then solve the crime before involving the authorities. Even though he's on good terms with a lot of individual policemen ^^

Norlett doesn't strike me as the most honourable of men. I can see him not caring about his wife sleeping with Sir Robert. Perhaps he always thought there might be money in the situation somewhere along the line? Though that's a very good point - as the scheme failed, Sir Robert may have refused to give the Norletts any money.

[thesmallhobbit.livejournal.com]

We also know that the wound pension wasn't very big - because that's why he had to find shared lodgings in the beginning, so maybe he uses that money for his luxuries and his other income provides for the necessities.

I imagine that they borrowed the fishing gear from one of Holmes' many contacts.

[scfrankles.livejournal.com]

Yes, I'd go with that. The pension is now extra money that he doesn't absolutely need to live on, so he uses it for things he enjoys, like betting.

And that's a good idea - borrowing the gear from one of Holmes' contacts. They certainly do seem to get their hands on it very quickly - travelling to Shoscombe on the same day Mr. Mason comes to see them.

[tardisjournal.livejournal.com]

“Watson and I are famous fishermen - are we not, Watson?”

I read that line as being very much tongue-in-cheek, as if Holmes was concocting their cover story on the fly. I suspect it had little to do with their actual angling skills (or lack thereof).

They do seem to come up with quite a bit of kit, and appear to know how to use it, which makes me wonder what experience with fishing they do have. But given all that we know about them, I suspect neither is experienced or keen enough to be considered "famous." :-p

Edited for an insane number of typos. Clearly it's time to call it a night!

[scfrankles.livejournal.com]

"...cover story on the fly." Is that a fishing pun, or am I just seeing them everywhere now? ^^"

The line does look tongue-in-cheek to me too. Perhaps it was simply beginners' luck when they managed to catch some fish later ^^

And sadly, my typing is pretty free-form even when I'm not tired ^^ Hope you had a good night's rest.

[tardisjournal.livejournal.com]

It was a pun! Well-spotted! (As was the trout they caught). :-p

"Free-form" is a very diplomatic way to describe sloppy typing--LOL. I think I'll use that from now on. It sounds more like I'm a free spirit and less like a very nearsighted person who transposes letters and words when I get tired. :-p

[godsdaisiechain.livejournal.com]

I agree... Holmes must be kidding. But perhaps the kidding is the in joke that Watson is a fisherman and Holmes is merely a tagger-along.

[scfrankles.livejournal.com]

I rather like that - the idea that it's a private joke and perhaps Holmes is teasing Watson a bit ^^

[godsdaisiechain.livejournal.com]

I am glad you approve

The Fatal Framing of Officer Jones

[godsdaisiechain.livejournal.com]

It seemed an ordinary love triangle until tragedy struck. Oswald Joiner, a humble frame maker, was jilted by his true love, Maggie Fickle, for Officer Ronald Jones, who was unfortunately a bit of a rake. Of course, Jones would never have thought that a generally mild-mannered framer would ever dare take offense at the idea that he had just used the fair maiden for his *ahem* convenience. As he had taken advantage of any number of cooks and parlor maids in the city. Sadly, Jones boasted about this exploit in the wrong pub.

Joiner, who was a bit of a prankster in his youth, had intended to only knock the policeman out and steal his trousers before rescuing his lady love. But alas, he lacked experience in the rough and tumble. He chose too sturdy a picture frame and killed the policeman.

Re: The Fatal Framing of Officer Jones

[scfrankles.livejournal.com]

*applauds wildly*

"Oswald Joiner"..! "Maggie Fickle"..! ^_^ Oh crikey, this is perfect ^^ And I can see your love for Jeeves and Wooster coming through: knocking policemen out and stealing their trousers. Poor Joiner - he thought he was in a Wodehouse story where nobody gets seriously hurt. Instead he had a bit part in an ACD Holmes adventure. *shakes head sadly*

Re: The Fatal Framing of Officer Jones

[godsdaisiechain.livejournal.com]

Thank you for appreciating my humble effusion. It is unfortunate for poor Joiner... and the now expecting Maggie Fickle.

...and you got me in re: obsession with Wodehouse. Although I suspect it was really that last cup of mulled wine.