Canon Discussion: The Red-headed League

[scfrankles.livejournal.com]

This week we’re having a look at The Red-headed League. I’ve typed up a few thoughts to get the discussion going—please leave your own ideas in the comments!

“...I remarked the other day, just before we went into the very simple problem presented by Miss Mary Sutherland…” And of course we haven’t reached Miss Sutherland yet. I wonder why the decision to publish the stories out of order…

“It is The Morning Chronicle, of April 27, 1890. Just two months ago.” Yet at the beginning of the story we’re told: I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the autumn of last year… And in fact, later on we have: “The Red-Headed League is Dissolved. Oct. 9, 1890.” REDH was published in August 1891—could this slight confusion be due to Watson’s grief over Holmes?

“...a girl of fourteen, who does a bit of simple cooking…” Does the girl know anything of what Clay is up to? Wilson is got out of the house but the girl is still there all day.

...the comical side of the affair so completely overtopped every other consideration that we both burst out into a roar of laughter. This is such a lovely moment (though perhaps a little impolite and unprofessional…). Watson often seems to emphasise how different Holmes is from himself—how different Holmes is from everyone. But here the two friends are completely on the same wavelength.

“How did he come?” “In answer to an advertisement.” There was a certain amount of luck involved here for Clay and his accomplice. Clay was able to swing things in his favour by offering himself for half-pay—but what about before that? Did he bribe the previous assistant to leave? Did he have the plan to break into the bank first, or did seeing the job advertisement put the idea into his head? If he hadn’t got the position, would he have found another way to get into the bank?

“Has a white splash of acid upon his forehead.” Any thoughts on the story behind the splash of acid?

I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and indeed was nodding myself… Does Watson just sit there watching Holmes as he thinks?

“Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon,” Going to the concert always seems a bit out of the blue—it certainly doesn’t seem to have anything to do with the case. Any thoughts?

“...the Vegetarian Restaurant…” I wonder if that’s where Holmes and Watson have their “sandwich, and a cup of coffee”.

“I shall want your help to-night.” Should we be worried about the state of Watson’s marriage? Neither Holmes nor Watson mention Mrs. Watson at any point. When Watson is asked if he can come to the concert, only his work is discussed. And he confidently tells Holmes he’ll be able to assist him that night, without having to speak to his wife first. But perhaps Mrs. Watson is simply away during this story.

...one of whom I recognized as Peter Jones, the official police agent… Is Peter Jones the same man as Athelney Jones in SIGN? (I take it “Peter” is a Christian name and “Athelney” is part of a double surname.) Jones does say: “It is not too much to say that once or twice, as in that business of the Sholto murder and the Agra treasure, he has been more nearly correct than the official force.” Odd to have the change in form of address though.

“I have had one or two little scores of my own to settle with Mr. John Clay,” said Holmes… Any thoughts on the specifics of this statement?

Next Sunday, 22nd February, we’ll having a look at A Case of Identity. Hope you can join us then.

Comments

[thesmallhobbit.livejournal.com]

Regarding the dating - it was Mrs Watson who originally wrote up the cases, as told to her by her husband when he entertained her of an evening. Consequently, since these were not for publication she did not write down the dates. Later, following his bereavement, Watson, wishes to remember not only his friend Holmes, but also in tribute to his beloved wife, published the stories. By which time he was a little hazy with the dates.

[scfrankles.livejournal.com]

It's definitely a possible theory ^^" (Poor Watson.)

[laurose8.livejournal.com]

I really like this theory!

[laurose8.livejournal.com]

I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep.... Myself, I picture Watson seated across the hearth, reading the Lancet, or maybe something a bit lighter.

In an earlier discussion, someone pointed out the serving girl would be easy enough to keep out of the cellar. She'd have enough on her hands already. In addition, Clay could probably explain locking her out easily enough.

Again personally, I always thought the splash of acid was from breaking into a safe, or something like that.

[thesmallhobbit.livejournal.com]

Your explanation for the splash of acid sounds very plausible.

[scfrankles.livejournal.com]

Yes, I can see that. I would imagine Watson has become very used to Holmes abruptly ignoring him. He's probably learnt to always have a bit of reading matter to hand ^^

That's a very good point - Clay may have simply locked the cellar door, telling the girl he didn't want her coming in while he was developing his pictures.

I'd vaguely been thinking the acid was from an attack. But that does make a lot of sense - it was an accident as he was working.

[alafaye]

I know that the girl isn't there all the time, but I honestly do wonder why that would dismiss a romantic intrigue from Holmes' theory. She's there likely often enough so why then no intrigue? I'm puzzled.

I also like to think that this came as no surprise to Holmes--I quite imagine he or someone--like his army of street orphans--told him about the crowd of red headed men gathering for the application.

[scfrankles.livejournal.com]

I would absolutely agree with you. It seems a little innocent on Holmes' part to automatically discount a "vulgar intrigue" simply because the servant is a girl, rather than a woman. In Victorian times, a 14 year old would be unambiguously a child - she wouldn't have gone through puberty yet. But we know that doesn't always stop adults, then or now.

This all came up the last time we discussed REDH, actually. thesmallhobbit did make the excellent point then that "Spaulding" could have relatively easily contacted the girl outside of Wilson's home if he'd been interested in her. He wouldn't really have needed to go to all the trouble of taking a job there. But if Wilson had a wife or daughter that "Spaulding" was interested in, it would be harder for them to meet. He might be more desperate to take a job that allowed them to live in the same house. So Holmes may have been thinking along those lines when he discounted the intrigue. Our previous discussion is here (http://sherlock60.livejournal.com/384547.html), if you want to take a look ^^

And that is a very good point. Surely Holmes must have heard about this astonishing sight beforehand. Thinking about it now, I'm surprised he hadn't already done a little investigating.

[alafaye]

Excellent thoughts. I'll check out that thread! Thank you.