The Midwinter Mysteries of Sherlock Holmes: Three Adventures & The Grand Gift of Sherlock (27 page)

[2]
Was this a subtle allusion on the part of Watson to the fact that 25 December was also the Roman festival of
Dies Natalis Solis Invicti
, or ‘Birthday of the Unconquered / Invincible Sun?’ Only much later was this date appropriated for the celebration of Christmas.

[3]
Holmes himself admitted to having been “beaten four times – three times by men, and once by a woman” (
The Five Orange Pips
). He was also dead wrong about the identity of the person behind the yellow mask, so much so that the word ‘Norbury’ came to be a signal for ‘over-confidence’ (
The Yellow Face
). Finally, after the events of this case, during the years 1984–1901 Holmes was so busy that there were “a few unavoidable failures,” most likely counting among them the murder of Mr. Hilton Cubitt (
The Adventure of the Dancing Men
) among them.

[4]
A clear reference to Mr. John Oppenshaw, who was murdered by the K.K.K. on his way home from 221B Baker Street (
The Five Orange Pips
).

[5]
I have been unable to locate the source of this reference, which must to be to an unpublished case. A ‘tiffin’ is British English slang for a second lunch or light meal. It originated in colonial India.

[6]
Mentioned in numerous cases, Holmes would often push his iron constitution too far and develop a pressing need for rest, as seen in
The Reigate Squires
and
The Adventures of The Norwood Builder
and
The Devil’s Foot
.

[7]
As reported in
The Yellow Face
.

[8]
First mentioned in Chapter II of
A Study in Scarlet
, and confirmed by McMurdo in Chapter V of
The Sign of Four
, the only Canonical times these skills were on display were in
The Adventure of the Solitary Cyclist
and
The Naval Treaty.

[9]
A clear reference to the events of
The Adventure of the Speckled Band
.

[10]
Watson never before relates the exact address of his medical practice neighboring that of Jackson.

[11]
Watson met and married Mary Morstan in 1888, two years before this adventure.

[12]
Obviously, the events detailed in
The Adventure of the Blue Carbuncle
.

[13]
As recounted in
The Adventure of the Dying Detective
.

[14]
As noted in Chapter IX of
The Sign of Four
and
The Adventure of The Noble Bachelor
.

[15]
Henry Cole (1808-1882) was an English civil servant who in 1843 devised the concept of sending cards at Christmas-time. The tale of how Watson acquired the jack-knife can be found in the non-Canonical tale
The Isle of Devils
.

[16]
Acquired at the end of
A Scandal in Bohemia
, it of course depicts Irene Adler.

[17]
The page-boy at 221B Baker Street, he appears in only a few cases, such as
The Valley of Fear
,
The Adventure of the Mazarin Stone
, and
The Problem of Thor Bridge
.

[18]
There are several different candidates for the exact floor-plan of 221B Baker Street, but this statement fits any such where the door to Holmes’ bedroom swings open to the left.

[19]
Holmes’ most familiar confidant within Scotland Yard, he appears in three of the four novels and multiple cases throughout Holmes career.

[20]
By the time of this adventure, Inspector Gregson has only appeared in two of Holmes’ cases,
A Study in Scarlet
and
The Adventure of the Greek Interpreter
. He later works with Holmes in several other cases.

[21]
Inspector Jones features prominently in
The Sign of Four
, but is otherwise absent from the Canon, unless you agree that his middle name is Peter, and he is therefore also the detective who assists Holmes in the case of
The Red Headed League
.

[22]
Inspector Bradstreet works twice with Holmes in
The Man with the Twisted Lip
and
The Engineer’s Thumb
. He is also mentioned in passing in
The Adventure of the Blue Carbuncle
. He also appears in the non-Canonical
The Adventure of the Manufactured Miracle
.

[23]
Inspector Lanner makes only one appearance in the Canon while investigating the death of Mr. Blessington (
The Adventure of the Resident Patient
).

[24]
Inspector Forbes’ only appearance in the Canon is during the disappearance of
The Naval Treaty
, when he is initially quite frigid towards Holmes.

[25]
Instances of Holmes’ foul moods are too numerous to count.

[26]
Holmes was a master malingerer. The best examples are his suffering from Tapanuli Fever (
The Adventure of the Dying Detective
), a ‘nervous attack’ (
The Reigate Squires
), and a sprained ankle (
The Adventure of the Priory School
).

[27]
Watson also condemns Holmes’ excessive tobacco use in
The Adventure of The Devil’s Foot
.

[28]
The only note of the morocco case comes from Chapter I of
The Sign of Four
, where his seven-per-cent solution of cocaine was stored in a bottle. However, we know that Holmes was still using a year later in
The Adventure of the Dying Detective
, when Watson spies syringes upon his mantelpiece.

[29]
Professor Moriarty was clearly the first.

[30]
In Chapter II of
A Study in Scarlet
. However, Holmes’ swordsmanship is never put on display in any Canonical adventure.

[31]
Reminiscent of when Holmes shot the eponymous Hound of the Baskervilles, or when Watson shot the viscous mastiff Carlo (
The Adventure of the Copper Beeches
).

[32]
This is similar to Holmes’ rationale for sending Watson to the Continent to investigate
The Disappearance of Lady Frances Carfax
.

[33]
It is easy to hypothesize that he is referring to Professor Moriarty, but the other is less clear. Perhaps this is an early sign that the nefarious schemes of Charles Augustus Milverton were already on Holmes’ radar screen?

[34]
Much of Watson’s concern about inactivity and the risk of Holmes’ relapsing into drug use is similar to his thoughts during
The Adventure of the Missing Three-Quarter
.

[35]
Holmes compares his own mind to an engine in
The Adventures of Wisteria Lodge
and
The Devil’s Foot
.

[36]
Clearly a reference to Holmes’ use of cocaine.

[37]
Although Holmes occasionally makes chess references in the Canon, this is the first precise mention that he and Watson played.

[38]
The King’s Gambit is a classic chess opening strategy. The Florentine Defense is previously unrecorded, and may have been invented by Holmes.

[39]
Draughts is another name for the American ‘checkers.’ Both games were also played by Mr. John Oppenshaw’s uncle (
The Five Orange Pips
).

[40]
Écarté is a two person card game. It was played by Dr. Mortimer and Sir Henry in Chapter X of
The Hound of the Baskervilles
.

[41]
Holmes doesn’t often play cards in the Canon. The clearest reference is in
The Red-Headed League
.

[42]
The basket chair was a wicker armchair for guests to 221B Baker Street mentioned in several of the adventures.

[43]
A now-archaic term for ‘narcolepsy.’

[44]
Dr. Percy Trevelyan was the leading specialist on obscure nervous disorders (
The Resident Patient
). His particular interest was catalepsy, but evidently was also quite familiar with the similar affliction of narcolepsy.

[45]
Watson says something similar to this in
The Adventure of the Six Napoleons
.

[46]
London’s cabmen must have been particularly insolent to earn such a rebuke from the typically genial Watson!

[47]
Whose mystery Holmes solved in
The Red-Headed League
.

[48]
The structure of Holmes’ fee-schedule are a matter of great speculation. They could be exorbitant when the client could afford it, and could be waved on a whim when he was particularly motivated by a case or the poverty of a client.

[49]
Edward VI (1537–1553) was the only legitimate son of Henry VIII, born to his third wife Jane Seymour at Hampton Court Palace. He was crowned when he was nine years of age. He fell ill in January 1553 and named his cousin Lady Jane Grey (the great-granddaughter of Henry VII), rather than either of his half-sisters, heir to the throne. He died at Greenwich Palace on 6 July 1553. From 10-19 July 1553, the 17 year-old Jane Grey ruled as Queen of England until she was deposed and executed by Mary I.

[50]
A sovereign in 1890 had the purchasing power of approximately 80 pounds, or about $120 dollars, in 2014 currency. Mr. Melas was paid for his service and silence with a ‘sufficient fee’ of five sovereigns (
The Adventure of the Greek Interpreter
).

[51]
The father of Victoria, he reigned until 1837.

[52]
The last English sovereign was minted in 1604, during the reign of James I.

[53]
A travelling bag, also known as a ‘portmanteau.’

[54]
An 18th Century church on Hannover Square, it is known for its association with George Frideric Handel (1685-1759).

[55]
I have been unable to locate a Canonical reference to an albatross, so this must be an unpublished case.

[56]
Holmes may have been a genius when it came to certain matters, but to ascribe Watson’s motives here to ‘missing the game’ rather than trying to do a good deed for his friend, shows exactly how poor was his understanding of the human heart, even one belonging to his closest associate in the world.

[57]
Watson also references this case in
The Problem of Thor Bridge
.

[58]
Professor Moriarty comes to mind.

[59]
Holmes himself was one of them, as this brings to mind the diversion which enables him to obtain entrance to the Briony Lodge, home of Miss Irene Adler (
A Scandal in Bohemia
).

[60]
Attachés were officials attached to embassies, who often also engaged in espionage. Douglas Maberley was an attaché to Rome (
The Adventure of the Three Gables
).

[61]
Holmes was particularly parsimonious with his praise, but could on occasion congratulate Watson for his insights. Here he foreshadows
The Adventure of the Missing Three-Quarter
: “Excellent, Watson! You are scintillating this evening.”

[62]
The location of the Spanish Embassy has moved around London innumerable times throughout the centuries. In the age of the early Tudors, it was located near the Barbican, the location of the main fort of Roman London, and which served a military purpose until the era of Edward III. During the reign of Elizabeth I, the now-vanished palace at Ely Place was let to the representatives of the Court of Spain, and there they remained until the fall of Charles I. The Spanish ambassadors were kicked out of the country during the Protectorate of Cromwell, but the Embassy was reestablished during the restoration of Charles II, first on Ormond Street. From 1791-95, it resided at Hertford House in Manchester Square, now the home of the Wallace Collection of art. The street is still called Spanish Place. Circa 1819, the Embassy could be found at 49 Portland Place, now the Chinese Embassy. Eventually, in the mid-20th Century it moved again to its current locale at 24 Belgrave Square. Mr. Scott Eccles once called there trying to determine the fate of Mr. Garcia (
The Adventure of Wisteria Lodge
).

[63]
I have been unable to locate records that identify the Spanish Ambassador to the Court of St. James in 1890, but in any case, Watson would have likely obscured the man’s real name when writing up this case, as he was wont to do.

[64]
Formosa is an old term for Taiwan. It was part of the Spanish East Indies until conquered by the Dutch. The black Formosa corruption origination from there (
The Adventure of the Dying Detective
), presuming that Holmes was not confabulating the name, given that that disease has escaped the attention of modern science.