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sherlock60This week we’re having a look at The Disappearance of Lady Frances Carfax. I’ve typed up a few thoughts and questions to get the discussion going—please leave your own ideas in the comments!
“...if I were to ask you who shared your cab in your drive this morning.” Who did share the cab with Watson? And where was he driving to? Or if he was coming to Baker Street, where was he driving from?
“A rather pathetic figure, the Lady Frances, a beautiful woman, still in fresh middle age, and yet, by a strange change, the last derelict of what only twenty years ago was a goodly fleet.” It is difficult not to feel sympathy for Lady Frances. I assume from what Holmes is saying that she must have lost all her siblings while young. And she appears to have no close family or friends. Her remaining family is “anxious” and prepared to put up money to help in finding her but her former governess was the one who actually approached Holmes.
“...for four years it has been her invariable custom to write every second week to Miss Dobney, her old governess…” It’s just a minor thing—but why only for the past four years?
“You know that I cannot possibly leave London while old Abrahams is in such mortal terror of his life.” Any thoughts on this case? Holmes seems to sort it out remarkably quickly so he can follow Watson.
Watson: She feared him, or she would not have fled from Lausanne.
Green: “And yet she loved me—that is the wonder of it!—loved me well enough to remain single all her sainted days just for my sake alone. ...I found her at Lausanne and tried all I knew. She weakened, I think, but her will was strong, and when next I called she had left the town.”
Which man’s view is correct? Are both correct? Is Green’s view that she stayed unmarried through love of him just wishful thinking? We never truly meet Lady Frances in order to discover her feelings on the matter.
We do also have Marie Devine’s testimony: With her own eyes she had seen him seize the lady’s wrist with great violence on the public promenade by the lake. He was a fierce and terrible man. She believed that it was out of dread of him that Lady Frances had accepted the escort of the Shlessingers to London. She had never spoken to Marie about it, but many little signs had convinced the maid that her mistress lived in a state of continual nervous apprehension.
In reply I had a telegram asking for a description of Dr. Shlessinger’s left ear. Holmes’s ideas of humour are strange and occasionally offensive, so I took no notice of his ill-timed jest… I’m with Watson on Holmes’ “ideas of humour”. I really feel Holmes has only himself to blame that Watson didn’t take this telegram seriously.
...an unshaven French ouvrier in a blue blouse darted out from a cabaret opposite… Why is Holmes waiting for Watson in disguise? There seems no good reason for it, apart from him being able to make a dramatic entrance.
“I was a wild youngster, I know—not worse than others of my class. But her mind was pure as snow. She could not bear a shadow of coarseness. So, when she came to hear of things that I had done, she would have no more to say to me.” This bit makes me uncomfortable. What exactly is Green referring to? My first thoughts are always about his sexual behaviour.
“It was in the days before—before you found it better to go to South Africa.” And why did he go to South Africa? Was pressure put on him because he was an embarrassment to his family? Was it to escape the legal or social consequences of what he’d done? Or was it simply because Lady Frances had rejected him and he wanted to make a new start? From the way Holmes phrases things, I think the first two options are the more likely.
“This poor lady is in the hands of a most infernal couple, who will stick at nothing, Watson. That she is already dead is a very likely supposition.” And yet later we have Holmes stating: “These people had never, to my knowledge, done a murder. They might shrink from actual violence at the last.”
“...Rose Spender by name, whom we found in the Brixton Workhouse Infirmary.” Any thoughts on Rose Spender’s history? It’s a very sad end: old, senile and dying in a workhouse. And is there any chance that Peters and Fraser murdered her? She was dying but still… Her death is convenient to them—she might have lingered for weeks instead of passing away after only three days. They hesitate over directly killing a healthy middle-aged woman but killing an elderly woman who was already near death might have been easier for them to face.
“And here,” he added as a heavy step hurried along the passage, “is someone who has a better right to nurse this lady than we have. Good morning, Mr. Green; I think that the sooner we can move the Lady Frances the better.” I remember from previous discussions that this is a contentious point: was Holmes right to hand Lady Frances over into Green’s care? A man who genuinely loves her but also a man she was running away from.
And what of Lady Frances’ future? Will she recover completely? She may have brain damage; she may have psychological damage. And might she marry Green? I have wondered in the past if she might marry him out of a sense of resignation: her faith in humanity has been shaken and she decides she needs a savage man to protect her from a savage world.
“If our ex-missionary friends escape the clutches of Lestrade, I shall expect to hear of some brilliant incidents in their future career.” Any thoughts on what does become of Peters and Fraser?
Next Sunday, 13th December, we’ll be having a look at The Dying Detective. Hope you can join us then.
“...if I were to ask you who shared your cab in your drive this morning.” Who did share the cab with Watson? And where was he driving to? Or if he was coming to Baker Street, where was he driving from?
“A rather pathetic figure, the Lady Frances, a beautiful woman, still in fresh middle age, and yet, by a strange change, the last derelict of what only twenty years ago was a goodly fleet.” It is difficult not to feel sympathy for Lady Frances. I assume from what Holmes is saying that she must have lost all her siblings while young. And she appears to have no close family or friends. Her remaining family is “anxious” and prepared to put up money to help in finding her but her former governess was the one who actually approached Holmes.
“...for four years it has been her invariable custom to write every second week to Miss Dobney, her old governess…” It’s just a minor thing—but why only for the past four years?
“You know that I cannot possibly leave London while old Abrahams is in such mortal terror of his life.” Any thoughts on this case? Holmes seems to sort it out remarkably quickly so he can follow Watson.
Watson: She feared him, or she would not have fled from Lausanne.
Green: “And yet she loved me—that is the wonder of it!—loved me well enough to remain single all her sainted days just for my sake alone. ...I found her at Lausanne and tried all I knew. She weakened, I think, but her will was strong, and when next I called she had left the town.”
Which man’s view is correct? Are both correct? Is Green’s view that she stayed unmarried through love of him just wishful thinking? We never truly meet Lady Frances in order to discover her feelings on the matter.
We do also have Marie Devine’s testimony: With her own eyes she had seen him seize the lady’s wrist with great violence on the public promenade by the lake. He was a fierce and terrible man. She believed that it was out of dread of him that Lady Frances had accepted the escort of the Shlessingers to London. She had never spoken to Marie about it, but many little signs had convinced the maid that her mistress lived in a state of continual nervous apprehension.
In reply I had a telegram asking for a description of Dr. Shlessinger’s left ear. Holmes’s ideas of humour are strange and occasionally offensive, so I took no notice of his ill-timed jest… I’m with Watson on Holmes’ “ideas of humour”. I really feel Holmes has only himself to blame that Watson didn’t take this telegram seriously.
...an unshaven French ouvrier in a blue blouse darted out from a cabaret opposite… Why is Holmes waiting for Watson in disguise? There seems no good reason for it, apart from him being able to make a dramatic entrance.
“I was a wild youngster, I know—not worse than others of my class. But her mind was pure as snow. She could not bear a shadow of coarseness. So, when she came to hear of things that I had done, she would have no more to say to me.” This bit makes me uncomfortable. What exactly is Green referring to? My first thoughts are always about his sexual behaviour.
“It was in the days before—before you found it better to go to South Africa.” And why did he go to South Africa? Was pressure put on him because he was an embarrassment to his family? Was it to escape the legal or social consequences of what he’d done? Or was it simply because Lady Frances had rejected him and he wanted to make a new start? From the way Holmes phrases things, I think the first two options are the more likely.
“This poor lady is in the hands of a most infernal couple, who will stick at nothing, Watson. That she is already dead is a very likely supposition.” And yet later we have Holmes stating: “These people had never, to my knowledge, done a murder. They might shrink from actual violence at the last.”
“...Rose Spender by name, whom we found in the Brixton Workhouse Infirmary.” Any thoughts on Rose Spender’s history? It’s a very sad end: old, senile and dying in a workhouse. And is there any chance that Peters and Fraser murdered her? She was dying but still… Her death is convenient to them—she might have lingered for weeks instead of passing away after only three days. They hesitate over directly killing a healthy middle-aged woman but killing an elderly woman who was already near death might have been easier for them to face.
“And here,” he added as a heavy step hurried along the passage, “is someone who has a better right to nurse this lady than we have. Good morning, Mr. Green; I think that the sooner we can move the Lady Frances the better.” I remember from previous discussions that this is a contentious point: was Holmes right to hand Lady Frances over into Green’s care? A man who genuinely loves her but also a man she was running away from.
And what of Lady Frances’ future? Will she recover completely? She may have brain damage; she may have psychological damage. And might she marry Green? I have wondered in the past if she might marry him out of a sense of resignation: her faith in humanity has been shaken and she decides she needs a savage man to protect her from a savage world.
“If our ex-missionary friends escape the clutches of Lestrade, I shall expect to hear of some brilliant incidents in their future career.” Any thoughts on what does become of Peters and Fraser?
Next Sunday, 13th December, we’ll be having a look at The Dying Detective. Hope you can join us then.
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no subject
Date: 2015-12-06 09:57 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2015-12-06 02:10 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2015-12-06 02:34 pm (UTC)Can you imagine Watson checking into the hotel in Lausanne, John H. "they-call-me-three-Continentals-but-I-m-really-more-of-a-Full-English-wink-wink" Watson?
no subject
Date: 2015-12-06 02:36 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2015-12-06 02:43 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2015-12-06 04:01 pm (UTC)Can I just say that I greatly enjoyed your thoughts on the Turkish bath part of the story? ^_^
no subject
Date: 2015-12-06 04:25 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2015-12-06 04:32 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2015-12-06 07:29 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2015-12-06 07:28 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2015-12-06 02:35 pm (UTC)Green sounds like an extremely determined man and now Lady Frances will be unable to resist him - hardly a sensible situation. Surely Holmes could have arranged for her to stay with her old governess for a while.
no subject
Date: 2015-12-06 03:59 pm (UTC)I wonder if Miss Dobney might take it upon herself to offer emotional and moral support to Lady Frances as she recovers - make sure that she isn't taken advantage of. Miss Dobney was the one who contacted Holmes before the family did anything. I feel she might be strong enough to stand up to Green, and insist he doesn't put pressure on Lady Frances.
no subject
Date: 2015-12-06 07:51 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2015-12-06 04:59 pm (UTC)Not helping your questions. Lady Frances sisters had all died young, so I wonder if there was an element of family illness in the reason she refused Green. As it turned out, she was definitely of sound health herself.
And if she does marry Green. Well, she seems to enjoy travelling. And in those days there were places a couple could go a single woman couldn't.
no subject
Date: 2015-12-06 06:11 pm (UTC)Lady Frances sisters had all died young, so I wonder if there was an element of family illness in the reason she refused Green. I'm not sure I'd agree with that. I think if she'd wanted to refuse Green on those grounds, she would have told him so - rather than leaving him thinking it was because of his behaviour.
And if she does marry Green. Well, she seems to enjoy travelling. And in those days there were places a couple could go a single woman couldn't. I'm sure there would be pluses and minuses to marrying Green. I think Lady Frances does have some affection for him, and I believe he does love her and wants to make her happy. And he would be able to offer her protection.
But he doesn't seem to be able to control his temper. And he may want to control Lady Frances' life - there may not be any more travelling for her. I think on the whole it would not be a good idea for them to marry - I can't believe it would end up being a happy or content marriage.
no subject
Date: 2015-12-06 06:44 pm (UTC)It is convenient that Lady Francis' governess is now available to act as a companion/support.