NAVA

Commissionaire

“Commissionaire, sir,” he said, gruffly.
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Scotland Yard

“I’d rather have you than Scotland Yard, Mr. Holmes.” (Sergeant Coventry)
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Scotland Yard, London

“I have been down to see friend Lestrade at the Yard.” (Sherlock Holmes)
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Scotland Yard, London

“Stop! Where are you going?”
“To Scotland Yard.” (Sherlock Holmes)
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Commissionaire

“I have the commissionaire who saw you near the case.” (Sherlock Holmes)
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Mrs Hudson

Mrs. Hudson has made some change in that figure eight times, or once in every quarter of an hour. She works it from the front, so that her shadow may never be seen.

Stormy Petrel

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

List Slippers

A list was the border or edging of a piece of cloth, its selvage, woven in a slightly different way from the body of the material so that it would not fray or unravel. List slippers were made of material woven in this way.
List slippers were often worn when quiet was needed, say when somebody in the house was ill and people walking about in ordinary shoes on bare floors would disturb them.

  • List slippers were soft-soled shoes worn in the navy by the gunner and his mates. When a ship went into action, anyone who went in and out of the room where gunpowder was kept had to wear list slippers, to avoid striking a spark from spilled powder on the floor.

Board Schools

“Look at those big, isolated clumps of buildings rising up above the slates, like brick islands in a lead-coloured sea.”
“The board-schools.”
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Bertillon

His conversation, I remember, was about the Bertillon system of measurements, and he expressed his enthusiastic admiration of the French savant.
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Iron master

“She and her brother are the only children of an iron-master somewhere up Northumberland way.”
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Sherlock Holmes - Deductions

“But the writing is not his own.”
“Precisely. It is a woman’s, and a woman of rare character.” Read More...

Sherlock Holmes - Character Illustrations

So moved was I that even had it been a difficult matter I should have tried it, but of course I knew well that Holmes loved his art, so that he was ever as ready to bring his aid as his client could be to receive it. Read More...

Sherlock Holmes - Sayings

“You see, at the commencement of an investigation it is something to know that your client is in close contact with someone who, for good or evil, has an exceptional nature.” Read More...

Instructions to Miss Harrison

“Miss Harrison,” said Holmes, speaking with the utmost intensity of manner, you must stay where you are all day. Let nothing prevent you from staying where you are all day. It is of the utmost importance.”
“Certainly, if you wish it, Mr. Holmes,” said the girl in astonishment .
“When you go to bed lock the door of this room on the outside and keep the key. Promise to do this.”

Knife

“Well, he has rather more viciousness than I gave him credit for, has Master Joseph. He flew at me with his knife, and I had to grasp him twice, and got a cut over the knuckles, before I had the upper hand of him.” (Sherlock Holmes)

Naval Treaty

“Without going into details, I may say that it defined the position of Great Britain towards the Triple Alliance, and foreshadowed the policy which this country would pursue in the event of the French fleet gaining a complete ascendency over that of Italy in the Mediterranean. The questions treated in it were purely naval.” (Percy Phelps)

Advertisement

Advertisement which Holmes placed in all the evening papers.

‘10 pounds reward. The number of the cab which dropped a fare at or about the door of the Foreign Office in Charles Street at quarter to ten in the evening of May 23d. Apply 221B, Baker Street.’

Letter from Percy Phelps

Briarbrae, Woking.

MY DEAR WATSON:
I have no doubt that you can remember “Tadpole” Phelps, who was in the fifth form when you were in the third. It is possible even that you may have heard that through my uncle’s influence I obtained a good appointment at the Foreign Office, and that I was in a situation of trust and honour until a horrible misfortune came suddenly to blast my career.
There is no use writing the details of that dreadful event. In the event of your acceding to my request it is probable that I shall have to narrate them to you. I have only just recovered from nine weeks of brain-fever and am still exceedingly weak. Do you think that you could bring your friend Mr. Holmes down to see me? I should like to have his opinion of the case, though the authorities assure me that nothing more can be done. Do try to bring him down, and as soon as possible. Every minute seems an hour while I live in this state of horrible suspense. Assure him that if I have not asked his advice sooner it was not because I did not appreciate his talents, but because I have been off my head ever since the blow fell. Now I am clear again, though I dare not think of it too much for fear of a relapse. I am still so weak that I have to write, as you see, by dictating.
Do try to bring him.
Your old school-fellow,
PERCY PHELPS.

Three reigning houses of Europe

To my certain knowledge he has acted on behalf of three of the reigning houses of Europe in very vital matters. (Dr John Watson)

The Adventure of the Tired Captain

Sherlock Holmes Journal, Winter 1958, Spring 1959. ©Alan Wilson, 1958, 1959

The Adventure of the Speckled Band

  • One of the earlier stories in the Canon. See The Adventures.

The Adventure of the Second Stain

  • One of the later stories in the Canon.

Ripley, Surrey

“I went for a charming walk through some admirable Surrey scenery to a pretty little village called Ripley, where I had my tea at an inn and took the precaution of filling my flask and of putting a paper of sandwiches in my pocket.” (Sherlock Holmes)
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Downing Street, London

Lord Holdhurst’s chambers were here.
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16 Ivy Lane, Brixton, London

Home of Mr and Mrs Tangey.

Whitehall, London

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Charles Street, London

This second one leads by means of a second small stair to a side door, used by servants, and also as a short cut by clerks when coming from Charles Street.

Mrs Hudson

“Mrs. Hudson has risen to the occasion,” said Holmes, uncovering a dish of curried chicken. “Her cuisine is a little limited, but she has as good an idea of breakfast as a Scotchwoman.” (Sherlock Holmes)

Dr Ferrier

“....who lives near me, was going down by that very train. The doctor most kindly took charge of me, and it was well he did so, for I had a fit in the station, and before we reached home I was practically a raving maniac.” (Percy Phelps)

Inspector Forbes

“A small, foxy man with a sharp but by no means amiable expression. He was decidedly frigid in his manner to us, especially when he heard the errand upon which we had come.” (Dr John Watson) Read More...

Commissionaire - Mr Tangey

An old soldier from the Goldstream Guards.

Mrs Tangey

Wife of the Commissionaire, Mr Tangey. Read More...

Charles Gorot

Charles Gorot who worked in the same room as Percy Phelps.

“His people are of Huguenot extraction, but as English in sympathy and tradition as you and I are.” (Percy Phelps)

Lord Holdhurst

Uncle of Percy Phelps.
Lord Holdhurst, the cabinet minister and future premier of England. Read More...

Joseph Harrison

Brother of Annie Harrison. Read More...

Annie Harrison

Fiancée of Percy Phelps and sister of Joseph Harrison. Read More...

Percy (Tadpole) Phelps

“He was a very brilliant boy and carried away every prize which the school had to offer, finishing his exploits by winning a scholarship which sent him on to continue his triumphant career at Cambridge.” Read More...

Whitehall, London

Whitehall - where Mycroft Holmes worked.
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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.

Scotland Yard, London

Scotland Yard, is the headquarters of the Metropolitan Police Service, responsible for policing Greater London. Founded on 29th September 1829, on a street off Whitehall, near to the Houses of Parliament, London.
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Mrs Watson

Dr Watson’s wife. Formerly Miss Mary Morstan (Sign of Four).

Dr John Watson

Companion and chronicler of Sherlock Holmes.

Mrs Hudson

Long sufferring Landlady of Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson.

Waterloo Station, London

One of the main railway stations in London opened on 11th June 1848.
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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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