THE RETURN OF 
                SHERLOCK HOLMES

Greetings,

 The shadow of the Romanov's falls heavily across this tale, and Sidney Paget and Arthur Conan Doyle contrast the stolid security of  class structure of England with the chaos and slavery of Russia in "The Adventure of the Gold Prince-Nez."  The tale of murder and threat to England by 19th century turmoil begins with a metaphorical nature, so wild that Watson feared  it would somehow displace the warm center which  London represents

  Watson has opened the door to a knock on "a wild temptuous night" to find the dedicated and "young Stanley Hopkins, a promising detective, in whose career Holmes had several times shown a very practical interest." Standing straight against  this disruptive force, as all who serve  the crown must, Hopkins steps expectantly onto the sill of the apartment.  Clad in a shining waterproof, Hopkins is lit by the gas lamp of the hallway and the gas light of the street which throws a gleam across the sickened pavement.  Watson, impressed by the quality of a man who would brave such a night to do his duty,  has thrown the door open wide to welcome him to their midst.

     Pause and reflect on this scene, for it is an image that gets to the heart of the atmosphere of the tales. The gas light above the figures and the gas lamp on the street beyond.  On the wall hang sturdy cloaks and caps to ward off the elements putside.  But Paget pulls us inside.  We are soon  wrapped  us in the warmth of Holme's rooms as he advises us to "draw up and warm our toes."   Hopkins does so, albeit a little stiff in a straight back chair.   Holmes,  holding the first of many cigarettes in this tale,  sits in his sculptured chair/throne  and  looks at Hopkins sketch.  Watson,  certainly no Rasputin to Holmes' Romanov, stand behind, hands gently placed on the rounded back of the chair while Holmes holds court and the forces of politics and nature are held at bay outside the door and outside the realm.

 The year is 1904, an Czar Nicholas has but 13 more years to turn the task of enslaving his people over to a more ruthless gang of thugs, but the threat of revolution has swept Europe, throughout the 19th century.

 Doyle brings the threat of the autocracy of the Romanovs  into the drawing rooms of England in the person of  the ostensible Professor Corham.  Doyle describes his odious appearance, "beard and fingers stained with the yellow of nicotine and cowardice, and Paget depicts an unkempt invalid in the background of the images and the treachery of the tale.

 By contrast the (white  or red ? ) Russian heroine, who "at best could never had been handsome" is dressed neatly and stately despite her being enseplechured behind sturdy English walnut, while the professor fouled the air with smoke and lies.
 

 Her ruffled and pleated attire, with hair tucked and pinned under her broad brimmed hat stands in contrast to the austere and prim clothing of the housekeeper, Mrs. Marker.  Mrs. Marker knows he place, as does everyone else in the English tableau presented by Paget in the image where Homes asks what must have been an insulting question  to this very officious housekeeper, "Did you dust this bureau yesterday?"  Mrs. Marker, hands clasped in front of her, hair drawn in a bun, and dressed in a high necked dark working smock, set off with the collar of her position, takes no umbrage and answers, "yes, sir," as expected.  Standing according to rank in this image is the detective at Holmes' elbow, Watson a step behind, and barely visible in the shadows, the symbol  of English peace keeping, Constable Wilson.

     Would that Russia had had such an acceptance of place in social order.  It would not have been necessary for heroines like Ana to give up her life, or for a well intentioned yet weak natured man like Sergius to flee from his own treachery.  In England, secretaries die in the service of their masters, and good men like Holmes and Watson repair to the Russian Embassy to seek an uncertain pardon for those the Romanovs have crushed.

     Long reign Victoria, and, of course, her humble servants, Sidney Paget and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.

Take Care

SP