Canon Discussion: The Six Napoleons

[scfrankles.livejournal.com]

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

It was no very unusual thing for Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, to look in upon us of an evening… When I first read the Sherlock Holmes stories, I was so used to Lestrade being the usual Yarder in adaptations that it just seemed natural he’d be the one here spending time socially with Holmes and Watson. But looking at all the detectives that appear in canon, why do you think it’s Lestrade in particular that becomes their friend?

And what about Lestrade’s private life? I don’t think we’re told anything in canon. The fact he’s regularly spending his evenings at Baker Street suggests he doesn’t have a spouse or children to go home to. A bachelor? Widower? Separated?

“...the dreadful business of the Abernetty family was first brought to my notice by the depth which the parsley had sunk into the butter upon a hot day.” Any thoughts?

“We can compare notes afterwards, and each will supplement the other." And their investigations really do complement each other. Holmes knows that Beppo is searching for something in the busts but it’s Lestrade identifying the murdered man that allows Holmes to work out it’s the black pearl.

'...Mr. Lestrade… and Mr. Sherlock Holmes… have each come to the conclusion that the grotesque series of incidents… arise from lunacy rather than from deliberate crime.’ It’s perhaps interesting that Harker reports both Lestrade and Holmes believe the person responsible to be insane. Holmes only told Lestrade to say Holmes himself believed this. Harker may have accidentally or deliberately got this bit wrong of course but it does suggest Lestrade trusts Holmes so much he’s putting up a united front.

...the old daily papers with which one of our lumber-rooms was packed. This is rather intriguing. Just how many rooms make up 221B? And why don’t Holmes and Watson turn one of them into a guest room so passing detectives don’t have to sleep on the sofa?

"Mr. Josiah Brown, I suppose?" said Holmes. "Yes, sir; and you, no doubt, are Mr. Sherlock Holmes? I had the note which you sent by the express messenger, and I did exactly what you told me. We locked every door on the inside and awaited developments.” He’s very laid back, Mr. Brown, isn’t he? I’m not sure I would have been calm and cheerful in these circumstances. And wouldn’t it have been safer to ask Mr. Brown and his household to discreetly vacate the premises for the night?

He had once been a skilful sculptor and had earned an honest living, but he had taken to evil courses… Any thoughts on why he went to the bad? Were the reactions to his physical appearance anything to do it? People were treating him as an outsider, so he ended up becoming one?

“You said, 'I desire to possess a copy of Devine's Napoleon, and am prepared to pay you ten pounds for the one which is in your possession.'” In the previous SIXN discussion post I did wonder why Holmes felt the need to buy the bust. Because surely the police could just have seized it, and Mr. Sandeford wouldn’t have had the right to keep the pearl whether he signed Holmes’ paper or not. But thesmallhobbit made the excellent point that Holmes wants to indulge in a bit of showmanship—and if he’s going to smash the bust, it causes less problems if he’s the legal owner. thesmallhobbit also pointed out that there was likely to be a reward for the recovery of the pearl. So I think that’s probably why Holmes is so generous when buying the bust. It is just chance Sandeford was in possession of the pearl but he did perhaps deserve a token reward for that.

“Suspicion fell upon the maid of the Princess…” So what happens to Lucretia Venucci, and how guilty was she?

“...get out the papers of the Conk-Singleton forgery case.” Any thoughts on this case?

Next Sunday, 4th October, we’ll be having a look at The Three Students. Hope you can join us then.

Comments

[thesmallhobbit.livejournal.com]

As I have commented before, Lestrade sleeping on the sofa is clearly a euphemism ;)

Otherwise, I would say Lestrade was probably a widower, children either grown up or in the care of a relative.

[scfrankles.livejournal.com]

*sighs* Fair enough - Lestrade won't be using the spare bedroom, but surely it would still be a good idea. Then again, I suppose Holmes and Watson are unlikely to be having anyone to stay for a long period of time.

And there's surely a rather poignant story to be told there - Lestrade losing his wife, and his children living elsewhere.

[thesmallhobbit.livejournal.com]

You do realise I didn't want any more ACD Holmes plot bunnies ...

[laurose8.livejournal.com]

I did wonder if the butter clue helped Holmes catch someone out on a lie, as to when the table was laid, or who laid it. Possibly a family did something to a domestic? Less likely, the domestic was the liar.

[scfrankles.livejournal.com]

Yes, I like that... A servant murdered for some reason, and then the family tries to make everything look as normal but they get the butter out too early or too late.

[debriswoman]

Or this...

http://great-tales.livejournal.com/286495.html

[scfrankles.livejournal.com]

Oh, very good ^_^ I love your title ^^ Poor Holmes though...

[debriswoman]

Yes...a shame:-p