REIG

Stormy Petrel

Holmes refers to Watson as ‘the stormy petrel of crime.’
  • One who brings discord or appears at the onset of trouble.

Powder blackening

There was no powder blackening on the clothes.

When a bullet is fired at very close range there is blackening of the wound and clothes from gunpowder and metal fragments.

Stormy petrel

“I am afraid, my dear Colonel, that you must regret the hour that you took in such a stormy petrel as I am.”
  • One who brings discord or appears at the onset of trouble.

Police whistles

The inspector said nothing, but, stepping to the door, he blew his whistle. Two of his constables came at the call.
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Queen Anne and Malplaquet

It was a fine old Queen Anne (1665-1714) house, which bears the date of Malplaquet (1709) upon the lintel of the door.
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Strange items stolen

“The thieves ransacked the library and got very little for their pains. The whole place was turned upside down, drawers burst open, and presses ransacked, with the result that an odd volume of Pope’s Homer, two plated candlesticks, an ivory letter-weight, a small oak barometer, and a ball of twine are all that have vanished.”

County magnates

  • A wealthy and influential person living in a specific area of England.
  • ORIGIN late Middle English : from late Latin magnas, magnat- ‘great man,’ from Latin magnus ‘great.’

Sherlock Holmes - Deductions

“This writing is of extraordinary interest,” said Holmes, who had been examining it with intense concentration. Read More...

Sherlock Holmes - Character Illustrations

Even his iron constitution, however, had broken down under the strain of an investigation which had extended over two months, during which period he had never worked less than fifteen hours a day and had more than once, as he assured me, kept to his task for five days at a stretch. (Dr John Watson) Read More...

Sherlock Holmes - Sayings

“Oh, it is as well to test everything.” Read More...

Oranges and carafes

Holmes fell back until he and I were the last of the group. Near the foot of the bed stood a dish of oranges and a carafe of water. As we passed it Holmes, to my unutterable astonishment, leaned over in front of me and deliberately knocked the whole thing over. The glass smashed into a thousand pieces and the fruit rolled about into every corner of the room.

“You’ve done it now, Watson,” said he coolly. “A pretty mess you’ve made of the carpet.”

Sherlock Holmes - Nervous attack

My poor friend’s face had suddenly assumed the most dreadful expression. His eyes rolled upward, his features writhed in agony, and with a suppressed groan he dropped on his face upon the ground. Horrified at the suddenness and severity of the attack, we carried him into the kitchen, where he lay back in a large chair and breathed heavily for some minutes. Finally, with a shamefaced apology for his weakness, he rose once more.

Complete copy of note

Sherlock Holmes placed the subjoined paper before us. (Complete letter)

IF YOU WILL ONLY COME AROUND

TO THE EAST GATE YOU WILL

WILL VERY MUCH SURPRISE YOU AND

BE OF THE GREATEST SERVICE TO YOU AND ALSO

TO ANNIE MORRISON. BUT SAY NOTHING TO ANYONE

UPON THE MATTER.

Small piece of paper

“This was found between the finger and thumb of the dead man. It appears to be a fragment torn from a larger sheet.”

Holmes took up the scrap of paper, a facsimile of which is here reproduced.

AT QUARTER TO TWELVE

LEARN WHAT

MAY

Netherland-Sumatra Company

Netherland-Sumatra Company and of the colossal schemes of Baron Maupertuis.
A Case which caused Mr. Sherlock Holmes such immense exertions in the spring of 1887.

Reigate, Surrey

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Hotel Dulong, Lyon, France

Holmes was lying ill in the Hotel Dulong, Lyon and Watson went there to bring him back to Baker Street.

Annie Morrison

It is never made clear what part Annie Morrison played in this story.

Mother of William Kirwan

William Kirwan's mother. Read More...

William Kirwan

Coachman to the Cunninghams. He was a very faithful fellow we imagine that he walked up to the house with the intention of seeing that all was right there.

Mr Acton

A little elderly gentleman, who was introduced to me as the Mr. Acton whose house had been the scene of the original burglary.

Alec Cunningham

Son of JP Cunningham. Read More...

Justice of the Peace Cunningham

He was an elderly man, with a strong, deep-lined, heavy-eyed face.
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Inspector Forrester

The official, a smart, keen-faced young fellow, stepped into the room.

Colonel Hayter

Colonel Hayter was a fine old soldier who had seen much of the world, and he soon found, as I had expected, that Holmes and he had much in common. (Dr John Watson)

Dr John Watson

Companion and chronicler of Sherlock Holmes.

Sherlock Holmes

“Well, I have a trade of my own. I suppose I am the only one in the world. I’m a consulting detective, if you can understand what that is. Here in London we have lots of government detectives and lots of private ones. When these fellows are at fault, they come to me, and I manage to put them on the right scent." (Sherlock Holmes) (Study in Scarlet)
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