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sherlock60This week we are reading The Adventure of the Empty House. It carries the theme of sudden disappearances and reappearances.
This is an interesting story, isn't it? If only for Holmes' returns -- Doyle had killed off Holmes so he could move on to other projects, but the public demanded more and so we have our last volume of Holmes' stories. And with what dramatics -- a murder, of course, with no evidence of how or whom. Ronald Adair shot in his home on the first floor; no way to climb into the room and no signs of either bullet casing or foot steps on the path outside the room. Watson does a bit of light investigating -- his work with Holmes has left him with an interest in crime -- but finds nothing either.
Watson returns home only to receive a visitor -- Holmes himself! We learn of how he survived -- a rather too fantastic tale I think -- and what he was doing in the last few years. A few hours pass like this and then they're off to Baker Street where Mrs. Hudson under orders from Holmes' brother has kept Holmes' rooms as they had been. A wax bust has been installed in the window, meant to trap the man that Holmes suspects is behind the murder and a man who was Moriarty's right hand. He's been looking for Holmes since Moriarty's death.
A long wait is soon rewarded, but not in the fashion that Holmes expects. Rather than shoot from the street, Moran uses the empty house across the street. Holmes and Watson lie in wait and watch Moran shoot the wax bust. A quick fight with the police joining them to arrest Moran and it's over -- Holmes demonstrates to all who Moran is and how Holmes trapped Moran into exposing his crimes.
Thoughts?
Sorry for the quick summary today. I had no time this past week or weekend to write up a full summary.
This is an interesting story, isn't it? If only for Holmes' returns -- Doyle had killed off Holmes so he could move on to other projects, but the public demanded more and so we have our last volume of Holmes' stories. And with what dramatics -- a murder, of course, with no evidence of how or whom. Ronald Adair shot in his home on the first floor; no way to climb into the room and no signs of either bullet casing or foot steps on the path outside the room. Watson does a bit of light investigating -- his work with Holmes has left him with an interest in crime -- but finds nothing either.
Watson returns home only to receive a visitor -- Holmes himself! We learn of how he survived -- a rather too fantastic tale I think -- and what he was doing in the last few years. A few hours pass like this and then they're off to Baker Street where Mrs. Hudson under orders from Holmes' brother has kept Holmes' rooms as they had been. A wax bust has been installed in the window, meant to trap the man that Holmes suspects is behind the murder and a man who was Moriarty's right hand. He's been looking for Holmes since Moriarty's death.
A long wait is soon rewarded, but not in the fashion that Holmes expects. Rather than shoot from the street, Moran uses the empty house across the street. Holmes and Watson lie in wait and watch Moran shoot the wax bust. A quick fight with the police joining them to arrest Moran and it's over -- Holmes demonstrates to all who Moran is and how Holmes trapped Moran into exposing his crimes.
Thoughts?
Sorry for the quick summary today. I had no time this past week or weekend to write up a full summary.
