The Hound of the Baskervilles, Ch. 9-12: Reprieve

[gardnerhill.livejournal.com]

Title: The Hound of the Baskervilles, Ch. 9-12: Reprieve
Author: gardnerhill                       
Word Count: 60
Rating: G
Warning: None
Summary: There is only one sin for which Sherlock Holmes would never forgive himself. Has he committed it tonight?
                                                                                      
***

Failure, Father’s voice hammers into my brain as I walk back to the corpse. Slow, stupid, clumsy. Look what you’ve done.

Sir Henry had deserved better from me. I’d lapsed in my duty, just long enough for –

A beard.

I’m so overcome with relief that I cry it aloud, startling my dear Watson, even before I bend over poor Selden.
 

Comments

[okapi1895.livejournal.com]

So hard on himself. Explains his initial reaction to Selden's death, though.

[gardnerhill.livejournal.com]

I can imagine he expects perfection from himself.

[thesmallhobbit.livejournal.com]

And maybe a knock to the confidence as well.

[gardnerhill.livejournal.com]

If you expect perfection in yourself, you tolerate no lapses. This could indeed shatter his self-perception.

[godsdaisiechain.livejournal.com]

How moving! It's amazing how much power you can get in so few words.

[gardnerhill.livejournal.com]

Thanks. I tend to write short and dense (not good for novel-writing!).

[scfrankles.livejournal.com]

Yes, I like that theory. From the outside, Holmes' reaction is understandable but it can come across as a bit heartless. Somebody has died horribly, even if it isn't Sir Henry. I like your thought that his extreme reaction comes from such intense self-reproach suddenly being relieved.

And of course, he does show pity for Selden and concern for his body afterwards: "...what shall we do with this poor wretch's body? We cannot leave it here to the foxes and the ravens."

[gardnerhill.livejournal.com]

Yeah, he's not "Yay, the convict's dead!" it's just "Oh thank God my client's still alive despite my lapse."

[debriswoman]

Yes, Holmes comes across as a little callous, but this makes sense:-)

[gardnerhill.livejournal.com]

Pure giddy relief that he hasn't lost his client after all.