Canon Discussion: The Greek Interpreter
Feb. 11th, 2018 01:13 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
alafaye posting in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
sherlock60This week we are reading The Greek Interpreter. It carries the theme of stripped of power.
We begin with Watson's thoughts that Holmes had no living relatives or just possibly sprung out of nothing as he never speaks of his family or ancestors. But then Holmes springs the news on him: he has a brother. They share the same mental processes, but where Holmes had found a niche and turned to solving crimes, Mycroft runs calculations for the government and only once or twice will solve puzzles though he apparently lacks the ability to reason it out in a way that can be presented to court. Watson expresses hsi doubts and so they go to the Diogenes Club to meet Mycroft.
Of course both brothers show off their abilities, though Mycrofts shows more clearly than Holmes'.
While there, Mycroft hands off a puzzle to Holmes: a neighbor of his had recently been awoken from his rest for an unusual matter. Being woken up at odd hours was not unusual for the man -- he spoke Greek, but English and so worked as an interpreter. He was roused at odd hours for hotel help and other agencies where native speakers needed his help. What made this trip unusual was the carriage (fancier than the usual hansom), that he was not allowed to see where they were going, and the one needing help took out a gun on the drive.
Curiouser, when arriving at the home, a man covered in plasters and bound was asked a series of questions. Since the English speakers spoke no greek, the interpreter was able to get some information out of the captive, namely that he was a prisoner and he did need help. The questions being asked, however, was asking the captive to sign papers for a young lady. The young lady in question, however, interrupts before any saving or more information can be drawn out. She recognizes the captive, but had no idea he was in the apartment rooms.
Shortly after, the interpreter is taken out of the home and dumped on the road to find his own way home with the threat to tell no one. He relates his tale to Mycroft who posts what information has been gleaned -- some names and descriptions -- but so far nothing. Holmes takes up the case and they make their way home. But there they find that Mycroft beat them there -- he has finally had an answer for the advert placed. They have a location so they go to get the interpreter -- figuring that they will need his help with the prisoners -- but the interpreter is missing. Holmes uses his connections to operate within the law and they go to the apartments to solve the case.
But whoever lived there is gone with their luggage. They break in through an open window and discover the interpreter and captive had been locked in a room to be poisoned to death to keep all a secret. And though the captive does die, the interpreter does not. His announcement shocks no one: the young lady visited England with some friends and fell into the power of two Englishmen. Her unusual behavior eventually led her guardian -- the captive -- to go after her. Speaking no English, however, he too soon fell into the Englishmen's power. They tried to coerce him into signing over the young lady's inheritance which he refused to do. When the men found out about the advert, they grabbed the interpreter to try and wrap up any loose ends but soon fly before all is done.
Some months later, a story appeared in the papers: two Englishmen traveling with a Greek woman were found stabbed. The police assumed it had been over the lady's affections.
Thoughts?
We begin with Watson's thoughts that Holmes had no living relatives or just possibly sprung out of nothing as he never speaks of his family or ancestors. But then Holmes springs the news on him: he has a brother. They share the same mental processes, but where Holmes had found a niche and turned to solving crimes, Mycroft runs calculations for the government and only once or twice will solve puzzles though he apparently lacks the ability to reason it out in a way that can be presented to court. Watson expresses hsi doubts and so they go to the Diogenes Club to meet Mycroft.
Of course both brothers show off their abilities, though Mycrofts shows more clearly than Holmes'.
While there, Mycroft hands off a puzzle to Holmes: a neighbor of his had recently been awoken from his rest for an unusual matter. Being woken up at odd hours was not unusual for the man -- he spoke Greek, but English and so worked as an interpreter. He was roused at odd hours for hotel help and other agencies where native speakers needed his help. What made this trip unusual was the carriage (fancier than the usual hansom), that he was not allowed to see where they were going, and the one needing help took out a gun on the drive.
Curiouser, when arriving at the home, a man covered in plasters and bound was asked a series of questions. Since the English speakers spoke no greek, the interpreter was able to get some information out of the captive, namely that he was a prisoner and he did need help. The questions being asked, however, was asking the captive to sign papers for a young lady. The young lady in question, however, interrupts before any saving or more information can be drawn out. She recognizes the captive, but had no idea he was in the apartment rooms.
Shortly after, the interpreter is taken out of the home and dumped on the road to find his own way home with the threat to tell no one. He relates his tale to Mycroft who posts what information has been gleaned -- some names and descriptions -- but so far nothing. Holmes takes up the case and they make their way home. But there they find that Mycroft beat them there -- he has finally had an answer for the advert placed. They have a location so they go to get the interpreter -- figuring that they will need his help with the prisoners -- but the interpreter is missing. Holmes uses his connections to operate within the law and they go to the apartments to solve the case.
But whoever lived there is gone with their luggage. They break in through an open window and discover the interpreter and captive had been locked in a room to be poisoned to death to keep all a secret. And though the captive does die, the interpreter does not. His announcement shocks no one: the young lady visited England with some friends and fell into the power of two Englishmen. Her unusual behavior eventually led her guardian -- the captive -- to go after her. Speaking no English, however, he too soon fell into the Englishmen's power. They tried to coerce him into signing over the young lady's inheritance which he refused to do. When the men found out about the advert, they grabbed the interpreter to try and wrap up any loose ends but soon fly before all is done.
Some months later, a story appeared in the papers: two Englishmen traveling with a Greek woman were found stabbed. The police assumed it had been over the lady's affections.
Thoughts?
