sherlock60 | Canon Discussion: The Reigate Squires (Reply)

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

The whole question of the Netherland-Sumatra Company and of the colossal schemes of Baron Maupertuis… Any thoughts?

Within twenty-four hours I was in his sick-room… Why hadn’t Holmes taken Watson with him for the investigation? And what was Watson doing while Holmes was away?

This story is such an endearing portrait of Holmes and Watson’s friendship though. Watson receives the telegram telling him Holmes is ill, and without hesitation travels to France to go and get him. Then at Colonel Hayter’s, he’s so protective of Holmes’ health. (And Holmes is amused but listens to him.) However you interpret their relationship, there’s no denying the bond between them.

Hayter was a fine old soldier who had seen much of the world, and he soon found, as I had expected, that Holmes and he had much in common. Any thoughts on Hayter? He doesn’t appear in any further stories but I wonder if he and Holmes continued their burgeoning friendship. Also, any thoughts on what exactly Hayter and Holmes had in common? Being a soldier, and having seen “much of the world”, doesn’t automatically imply he’ll get on with Holmes.

"Inspector Forrester, sir," said the butler, throwing open the door. The official, a smart, keen-faced young fellow, stepped into the room. Any thoughts on Forrester’s future career?

"Did William say anything to his mother before going out?" I wonder what will happen to poor Mrs. Kirwan now that her son is dead and his employers have been arrested. I suppose she’ll have no means of support.

"Obviously the business was a bad one, and one of the men who distrusted the other was determined that, whatever was done, each should have an equal hand in it…” It’s an unsettling and curious relationship between father and son. Alec Cunningham has perhaps the less interesting personality—sometimes people are just bad. But what about Cunningham Senior? Burglary is one thing, but agreeing to murder? What was going on in his mind? Had he truly been a “very decent fellow”, and been corrupted by desperation and his son?

It seems that 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. You have to wonder exactly what was going on here. We’re told earlier: "When do the servants go to bed?" "About ten." "I understand that William was usually in bed also at that hour." So, either he coincidentally happened to be awake very late on the one particular night the Cunninghams went to break into the neighbour’s house, or he’d been watching them for some time. And apparently: ...the man has been in his service for years and was a good servant and ...he had the reputation of being an honest man…. At first glance, it seems odd he would opt to blackmail his employers. And who is Annie Morrison? What part does she play in it all?

Next Sunday, 21st June, we’ll be having a look at The Crooked Man. Hope you can join us then.