Nov 2008

Mantle

“....a long mantle down to her feet.”
  • A mantle is a piece of clothing, similar to a robe but sleeveless and often open in the front, worn as an outer covering.
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Drugget

  • A floor or table covering made of a coarse woven fabric.
  • the fabric used for such coverings.
  • ORIGIN mid 16th cent.: from French droguet, from drogue in the sense ‘poor-quality article.’

Other contents of the despatch box used by the Rt. Hon. Trelawney Hope.

Letter from Lord Merrow, report from Sir Charles Hardy, memorandum from Belgrade, note on the Russo-German grain taxes, letter from Madrid, note from Lord Flowers —

Despatch box

Red box used by government ministers to carry documents in.
See also:

Queer Street

  • To find one’s self in a bad situation.
See also:

Top three secret agents in London

“There are only those three capable of playing so bold a game — there are Oberstein, La Rothiere, and Eduardo Lucas.” (Sherlock Holmes)

Sherlock Holmes - Deductions

Holmes wrote a name upon a slip of paper and handed it to the Premier.
“Exactly. It was he.”
Read More...

Sherlock Holmes - Character Illustrations

Sherlock Holmes rose with a smile.
“You are two of the most busy men in the country,” said he, “and in my own small way I have also a good many calls upon me. I regret exceedingly that I cannot help you in this matter, and any continuation of this interview would be a waste of time.”
Read More...

Sherlock Holmes - Sayings

“You think, sir, that unless this document is recovered there will be war?”
“I think it is very probable.”
“Then, sir, prepare for war.”
“That is a hard saying, Mr. Holmes.”

(Lord Bellinger speaking first to Sherlock Holmes)

Read More...

Eduardo Lucas - M. Henri Fournaye

A comparison of photographs has proved conclusively that M. Henri Fournaye and Eduardo Lucas were really one and the same person, and that the deceased had for some reason lived a double life in London and Paris.

Return of the secret document to the despatch box

The box flew open. It was stuffed with papers. Holmes thrust the blue envelope deep down into the heart of them, between the leaves of some other document. The box was shut, locked, and returned to the bedroom.

Hiding place under the carpet

“Lucas quickly turned back the drugget, thrust the document into some hiding-place there, and covered it over.” (Lady Hilda Trelawney Hope)

Letter which Eduardo Lucas used to blackmail Lady Hilda Trelawney Hope

“It was a letter of mine, Mr. Holmes, an indiscreet letter written before my marriage — a foolish letter, a letter of an impulsive, loving girl. I meant no harm.”

Duplicate key to the despatch box

From out of her bosom Lady Hilda had drawn a small key.

“I took an impression of his key. This man, Lucas, furnished a duplicate.”

Small picture of Lady Hilda Trelawney Hope

Holmes turned on the step and held up something in his hand. The constable stared intently.
“Good Lord, sir!” he cried, with amazement on his face.
Read More...

Blood stains on the wooden floor

“Well, I’m sure you would never guess in a hundred years what we did find. You see that stain on the carpet? Well, a great deal must have soaked through, must it not?”

“Undoubtedly it must.”

“Well, you will be surprised to hear that there is no stain on the white woodwork to correspond.”

(Inspector Lestrade speaking first to Sherlock Holmes)

Murder weapon

The knife with which the crime had been committed was a curved Indian dagger, plucked down from a trophy of Oriental arms which adorned one of the walls.

Envelope containing the document in question

“..... the document in question is of such immense importance that its publication might very easily — I might almost say probably — lead to European complications of the utmost moment. It is not too much to say that peace or war may hang upon the issue.” (Lord Bellinger) Read More...

Note from Inspector Lestrade asking Holmes to call at 16 Godolphin Street

He glanced hurriedly at the note which had been handed in. “ Halloa! Lestrade seems to have observed something of interest.” (Sherlock Holmes)

Report in the Daily Telegraph

‘A discovery has just been made by the Parisian police [said the Daily Telegraph] which raises the veil which hung round the tragic fate of Mr. Eduardo Lucas, who met his death by violence last Monday night at Godolphin Street, Westminster. Our readers will remember that the deceased gentleman was found stabbed in his room, and that some suspicion attached to his valet, but that the case broke down on an alibi. Yesterday a lady, who has been known as Mme. Henri Fournaye, occupying a small villa in the Rue Austerlitz, was reported to the authorities by her servants as being insane. An examination showed she had indeed developed mania of a dangerous and permanent form. On inquiry, the police have discovered that Mme. Henri Fournaye only returned from a journey to London on Tuesday last, and there is evidence to connect her with the crime at Westminster. A comparison of photographs has proved conclusively that M. Henri Fournaye and Eduardo Lucas were really one and the same person, and that the deceased had for some reason lived a double life in London and Paris. Mme. Fournaye, who is of Creole origin, is of an extremely excitable nature, and has suffered in the past from attacks of jealousy which have amounted to frenzy. It is conjectured that it was in one of these that she committed the terrible crime which has caused such a sensation in London. Her movements upon the Monday night have not yet been traced, but it is undoubted that a woman answering to her description attracted much attention at Charing Cross Station on Tuesday morning by the wildness of her appearance and the violence or her gestures. It is probable, therefore, that the crime was either committed when insane, or that its immediate effect was to drive the unhappy woman out of her mind. At present she is unable to give any coherent account of the past, and the doctors hold out no hopes of the reestablishment of her reason. There is evidence that a woman, who might have been Mme. Fournaye, was seen for some hours upon Monday night watching the house in Godolphin Street.’

Cipher telegram to the foreign potentate who sent the now missing letter

“Have you informed the sender?”

“Yes, sir, a cipher telegram has been despatched.”

Newspaper report

‘MURDER IN WESTMINSTER
A crime of mysterious character was committed last night at 16 Godolphin Street, one of the old-fashioned and secluded rows of eighteenth century houses which lie between the river and the Abbey, almost in the shadow of the great Tower of the Houses of Parliament. This small but select mansion has been inhabited for some years by Mr. Eduardo Lucas, well known in society circles both on account of his charming personality and because he has the well-deserved reputation of being one of the best amateur tenors in the country. Mr. Lucas is an unmarried man, thirty-four years of age, and his establishment consists of Mrs. Pringle, an elderly housekeeper, and of Mitton, his valet. The former retires early and sleeps at the top of the house. The valet was out for the evening, visiting a friend at Hammersmith. From ten o’clock onward Mr. Lucas had the house to himself. What occurred during that time has not yet transpired, but at a quarter to twelve Police-constable Barrett, passing along Godolphin Street, observed that the door of No. 16 was ajar. He knocked, but received no answer. Perceiving a light in the front room, he advanced into the passage and again knocked, but without reply. He then pushed open the door and entered. The room was in a state of wild disorder, the furniture being all swept to one side, and one chair lying on its back in the centre. Beside this chair, and still grasping one of its legs, lay the unfortunate tenant of the house. He had been stabbed to the heart and must have died instantly. The knife with which the crime had been committed was a curved Indian dagger, plucked down from a trophy of Oriental arms which adorned one of the walls. Robbery does not appear to have been the motive of the crime, for there had been no attempt to remove the valuable contents of the room. Mr. Eduardo Lucas was so well known and popular that his violent and mysterious fate will arouse painful interest and intense sympathy in a widespread circle of friends.’

Abbey Grange

The previous story in the Canon.

Ivy Plant Public House

Constable McPherson ran to the Ivy Plant for brandy with which to revive the young woman who had fainted on the floor at 16 Godolphin Street, London.

Rue Austerlitz, Paris

Paris home of Mme. Henri Fournaye.
See also:

16 Godolphin Street, London

Home of Eduardo Lucas. Read More...

Whitehall Terrace

Address of th Rt. Hon. Trelawney Hope and his wife, Hilda.

Sussex Downs

He (Sherlock Holmes) has definitely retired from London and betaken himself to study and bee-farming on the Sussex Downs.
See also:

McPherson

Constable on duty at 16 Godolphin Street, London

The big constable, very hot and penitent, sidled into the room.

Mme. Henri Fournaye

Wife of Eduardo Lucas a.k.a. Henri Fournaye. Read More...

John Mitton

Valet to Eduardo Lucas.

The arrest of John Mitton, the valet was a council of despair as an alternative to absolute inaction. But no case could be sustained against him. He had visited friends in Hammersmith that night. The alibi was complete.

Mrs Pringle

Elderly housekeeper to Eduardo Lucas.

Eduardo Lucas

Blackmailer of Lady Hilda Trelawney Hope. Read More...

Lady Hilda Trelawney Hope

Wife of the Rt. Hon. Trelawney Hope. Read More...

Rt. Hon. Trelawney Hope

Dark, clear-cut, and elegant, hardly yet of middle age, and endowed with every beauty of body and of mind, was the Right Honourable Trelawney Hope, Secretary for European Affairs, and the most rising statesman in the country.

Lord Bellinger

Austere, high-nosed, eagle-eyed, and dominant, was none other than the illustrious Lord Bellinger, twice Premier of Britain.

Sherlock Holmes - Deductions

“Hopkins’s writing shows considerable agitation, and he is not an emotional man. Yes, I gather there has been violence, and that the body is left for our inspection.”
Read More...

Sherlock Holmes - Character Illustrations

Holmes uttered an exclamation.
“You have other injuries, madam! What is this?” Read More...

Sherlock Holmes - Sayings

“Come, Watson, come!” he cried. “The game is afoot." Read More...

Blackthorn cudgel

The stick with which Sir Eustace Brackenstall hit his wife and then attacked Captain Crocker.
See also:

Bell rope

“I swarmed up and cut the rope of the bell. Then I lashed her in her chair, and frayed out the end of the rope to make it look natural....(Captain Jack Crocker)

Three wine glasses

The three glasses were grouped together, all of them tinged with wine, and one of them containing some dregs of beeswing.

Bottle of wine with beeswing

“The bottle was full of it, and it is inconceivable that the first two glasses were clear and the third heavily charged with it.” (Sherlock Holmes)
  • Beeswing is the scum found on the top of aged wine.

Telegram from Sherlock Holmes to Captain Crocker

A telegram which brought Captain Jack Crocker to Baker Street.

Note from Sherlock Holmes to Stanley Hopkins

....he scribbled a short note for Stanley Hopkins, and left it with the lodge-keeper.

Note received by Sherlock Holmes from Stanley Hopkins

“Abbey Grange, Marsham, Kent, 3:30 A.M.
“MY DEAR MR. HOLMES:
I should be very glad of your immediate assistance in what promises to be a most remarkable case. It is something quite in your line. Except for releasing the lady I will see that everything is kept exactly as I have found it, but I beg you not to lose an instant, as it is difficult to leave Sir Eustace there.
“Yours faithfully, “STANLEY HOPKINS.

Chislehurst station

Chislehurst Station: nearest station to the Abbey Grange.

Abbey Grange, Marsham, Kent

Home of Sir Eustace and Lady Brackenstall and site of the tragedy. Read More...

Lodge-keeper at the Abbey Grange

An old lodge-keeper, whose haggard face bore the reflection of some great disaster. Read More...

Manager of the Adelaide-Southampton Line

Holmes’s card sent in to the manager ensured instant attention, and he was not long in acquiring all the information he needed.

The Three Randalls

Suspected burglars of the Abbey Grange.

One was elderly, with a beard, and the others young, hairless lads. They might have been a father with his two sons.

Sir Eustace Brackenstall

Husband of Lady Mary Brackenstall and owner of the Abbey Grange. Read More...

Teresa Wright

Maid to Lady Mary Brackenstall. Read More...

Captain Jack Crocker

First Officer on the S.S. Rock of Gibraltar.

He was a very tall young man, golden-moustached, blue-eyed, with a skin which had been burned by tropical suns, and a springy step, which showed that the huge frame was as active as it was strong.
Read More...

Lady Mary Brackenstall (nee Mary Fraser of Adelaide, South Australia)

Wife of Sir Eustace Brackenstall. Read More...

Inspector Stanley Hopkins

“Hopkins has called me in seven times, and on each occasion his summons has been entirely justified,” said Holmes. “I fancy that every one of his cases has found its way into your collection.”