4. What second tragedy occurs while Holmes is investigating?
5. What piece of evidence does Holmes scrape into an envelope when he is investigating Mortimer Tregennis’s death?
6. Why does Holmes take only half of the evidence?
7. What three pieces of evidence lead Holmes to believe that a strong poison was responsible for the deaths and insanity of the Tregennis family?
8. What type of poison is used?
9. Why did Dr. Sterndale not marry Brenda years earlier when he fell in love with her?
10. Why is Holmes suspicious of Dr. Sterndale?
QUIZ 60 “HIS LAST BOW”
Published in the Strand and in Collier’s in September 1917
The ominous overtones of “His Last Bow” clearly reflect Conan Doyle’s concern for clouds upon the horizon. World War I was a
TRIVIA FACTS : DID YOU KNOW THAT . . .
1. When Conan Doyle’s publisher, Nelson & Son, sent him an advance bound copy of his book The Great Boer War, Conan Doyle demanded that they reprint the entire edition. Conan Doyle strongly objected to his picture being on the cover of the book.
2. Sports being one of his greatest interests, Conan Doyle was one of the first to introduce snow skiing to Switzerland.
3. Conan Doyle’s boxing novel, Rodney Stone, was so well received that he was invited to referee a heavyweight boxing match between Jim Jeffries and Jack Johnson in 1909. He at first accepted the invitation, but later declined the offer.
4. In 1894 Conan Doyle, accompanied by his brother Innes, came to America for a lecture/book-signing tour. His visits to several cities, including New York and Chicago, were stressful and demanding, leaving him in a state of ill humor. But when he arrived in Boston, he had an encounter that lightened his mood. A cabby asked for a ticket to that evening’s lecture instead of charging him a cab fare. The conversation went as such: “How on earth did you recognize me?” asked Conan Doyle. “If you will excuse me, your coat lapels are badly twisted downward, where they have been grasped by the pertinacious New York reporters. Your hair has the Quakerish cut of a Philadelphia barber, and your hat, battered at the brim in front, shows where you have tightly grasped it, in the struggle to stand your ground at a Chicago literary luncheon. Your right shoe has a large block of Buffalo mud just under the instep; the odor of a Utica cigar hangs about your clothing, and the overcoat itself shows the slovenly brushing of the porters of the through sleepers from Albany. The crumbs of the doughnut on the top of your waistcoat could only have come there in Springfield,” deduced the cabby. Leaving Conan Doyle speechless, the cabby added, “And stenciled on the very end of your walking stick in perfectly plain lettering is the name Conan Doyle.”
few years away, but global conflict had begun. One month after the story was published, Conan Doyle’s son, Kingsley, died of complications after being wounded in the Somme. This quiz contains ten true/false statements about one of two Sherlock Holmes stories written in the third person.
Story Date: August 1914
1. When Von Bork communicates with his American agent, all the code names are in reference to Shakespearian plays.
2. The code for the double-lock combination to Von Bork’s safe is August 1944.
3. The title of the blue book which Altamont (Holmes) delivers to Von Bork is Engine Maintenance and Repair.
4. Holmes and Watson drink a vintage bottle of claret to celebrate their success in overtaking Von Bork.
5. When giving Von Bork clues to his true identity, Holmes refers to the case involving Irene Adler and the King of Bohemia.
6. Von Bork pays 500 pounds for the information provided by Altamont.
7. The impending doom that threatens England and the world is World War I.
8. Altamont is traveling in a Rolls Royce when he arrives at Von Bork’s.
9. Holmes causes Von Bork to lose consciousness by adding a drug to his wine.
10. Martha is the name of Von Bork’s maid who is also Holmes’s inside connection.
Benedict Cumberbatch as Sherlock Holmes in BBC’sSherlock
SEVEN
THE FINAL COLLECTION: THE CASE BOOK OF SHERLOCK HOLMES
“And so, reader, farewell to Sherlock Holmes!
I thank you for your past constancy, and can but hope that some return has been made in the shape of that distraction from the worries of life and stimulating change of thought which can only be found in the fairy kingdom of romance.”
—ARTHUR CONAN DOYLE
CONSIDERED POSSIBLY the least creative of the Sherlock Holmes stories, this book contains a collection of amazing adventures and unbelievable happenings which, although enthralling, lack the typical deductive elements expected in any Holmes case. Nevertheless, to any die-hard Holmes fan the stories are truly enjoyable, as they show a human side of Holmes, one where humor and affection seem to spill out as fluidly as deductive reasoning. On one occasion, when asked by an intimidating figure who obviously lacked good personal hygiene if he was looking for his gun, Holmes replied, “No, for my scent-bottle, Steve.” And when Watson received a bullet in his leg in the Garrideb case, Holmes reacted with such emotion that Watson proclaimed in his chronicle, “It was worth the wound—it was worth many wounds—to know the depth of loyalty and love which lay behind that cold mask.” Realizing that the wound was superficial, Holmes’s damp eyes dried and trembling lips turned to stone as he threatened the culprit with his life had his friend Watson been killed.
Criticized by many as not measuring up to the stories he had written in the past, Conan Doyle stoically continued to write his Sherlock Holmes tales, possibly as much for himself as for his readers. This collection includes “The Adventure of the Illustrious Client,” “The Adventure of the Blanched Soldier,” “The Adventure of the Mazarin Stone,” “The Adventure of the Three Gables,” “The Adventure of the Sussex Vampire,” “The Adventure of the Three Garridebs,” “The Problem of Thor Bridge,” “The Adventure of the Creeping Man,” “The Adventure of the Lion’s Mane,” “The Adventure of the Veiled Lodger,” “The Adventure of Shoscombe Old Place,” and “The Adventure of the Retired Colourman.”
QUIZ 61 “THE ADVENTURE OF THE ILLUSTRIOUS CLIENT”
Published in Collier’s in November 1924 and in the Strand in March 1925
The dashing, notorious, and seductive villain, Baron Adelbert Gruner of the story “The Adventure of the Illustrious Client,” was based on a compilation of three infamous characters who lived between the 1870s and early 1920s. These were Henri Landru, who murdered several women in 1922; Dr. Henri Girard, a toxicologist and ladies’ man who murdered his victims by exposing them to pathogenic bacteria; and, probably the most influential, Henri Pineau. This murderous gigolo seduced men and women, stealing their fortunes, to become one of the wealthiest men in England. As his wealth increased, he began hobnobbing with the most influential members of London’s society, possibly even members of the Royal Family. He was finally arrested and sentenced to life in prison where he died of blood poisoning. The first quiz in this collection contains ten short-answer questions about the unsavory villain of “The Adventure of the Illustrious Client” and how Holmes exposes his exploits.
Story Date: September 1902
1. Why does Holmes at first deny Sir James Damery’s request to investigate the case of Baron Adelbert Gruner?
2. Where does Miss Violet de Merville meet the notorious Baron Gruner?
3. Of all his many interests and hobbies, on what subject is Baron Gruner an authority?
4. Who assists Holmes and Watson in investigating Baron Gruner?
5. Why does General de Merville wish that his daughter not marry the baron?
6. Who agrees to assist Holmes in convincing Violet de Merville that she should not marry Gruner?
7. What information does the baron’s ex-mistress present Holmes that may convince Miss de Merville that she should not proceed with the marriage?
8. What does Kitty Winter use when she attacks the baron?
9. How does Baron Gruner convince Miss de Merville not to believe the horrid stories of his past?
10. How does Watson convince Gruner that Holmes is no longer a threat?
QUIZ 62 “THE ADVENTURE OF THE BLANCHED SOLDIER”
Published in Liberty in October 1926 and in the Strand in November 1926
In 1899 England was involved in the Boer War with South Africa, and Conan Doyle was anxious to pick up a rifle and serve. But due to his age, he was denied entry into the service. With strong conviction, however, he organized a group of volunteer doctors and formed a hospital group, and in April 1900 Conan Doyle arrived in South Africa where he saw firsthand the horrid conditions of the military hospitals. Upon returning to England, he wrote The War in South Africa: Its Cause and Conduct, a pamphlet that sold over 300,000 copies. All the earnings were donated to military pension funds and scholarships for South African students. This military conflict was a cause that Conan Doyle strongly believed in, and his efforts earned him knighthood. The Sherlock Holmes story, “The Adventure of the Blanched Soldier,” was set during the time of the Boer War, and his personal experience in South Africa gave this story added depth. This quiz contains ten true/false statements.
Story Date: January 1903
1. James M. Dodd wants Holmes to locate Godfrey Emsworth because Dodd has not heard from his friend since he wrote from a military hospital in Cape Town.
2. When Dodd visited Godfrey’s father, Colonel Emsworth, to inquire as to the location of his son, the colonel said that his son was convalescing in a sanitarium in Switzerland.
3. When Dodd asked Ralph, the butler, if Godfrey was dead, Ralph’s response was, “I’ve never heard of Godfrey Emsworth.”
4. Dodd is certain that Godfrey is at Tuxbury Old Hall, because Dodd saw Godfrey standing in the window the first evening of his visit.
5. Colonel Emsworth asked Dodd to leave Tuxbury Old Hall and return to London because Dodd accused the colonel of lying to him.
6. Because Holmes threatens to call the police if the colonel continues to lie about his son, the colonel tells the real story.
7. When he smells disinfectant on the butler’s gloves, Holmes’s suspicions are confirmed.
8. When Dodd saw Godfrey outside his window, his entire face was scarred.
9. Holmes brings Sir James Saunders, a dermatologist, to examine Godfrey.
10. Holmes postulates three theories as to why the colonel was lying about the location of his son.
QUIZ 63 “THE ADVENTURE OF THE MAZARIN STONE”
Published in the Strand in October 1921 and in Hearst’s International in November 1921
“The Adventure of the Mazarin Stone” was the second Sherlock Holmes story written in the third person. Conan Doyle strayed from telling the story through Dr. Watson’s narrative on account of the tale being based on a stage play entitled The Crown Diamond: An Evening with Sherlock Holmes, which was produced in 1921. “The Adventure of the Mazarin Stone” was considered the least favorite among the twelve stories in The Case Book of Sherlock Holmes. This quiz contains ten multiple choice questions.
Story Date: 1903
1. What slang term is used to describe the burglary of the Crown diamond?
A. The big ice melt
B. The displaced Crown
C. The hundred-thousand-pound burglary
D. The royal jewelry heist
2. Who requests Holmes’s help in finding the stone?
A. The Queen
B. The prime minister and the home secretary
C. The treasurer
D. The director of Scotland Yard
3. What new addition, one that is significant in solving the crime, does Holmes add to his Baker Street flat?
A. A new set of dueling pistols
B. A new set of fireplace tools
C. A dummy of himself, which he positions in the window
D. A large mirror hung over the liquor cabinet
4. What kind of danger is Holmes expecting on the evening Dr. Watson comes to visit?
A. Holmes is expecting another major burglary.
B. Holmes is expecting the burglars to kidnap a high government official.
C. Holmes is expecting a death associated with the burglary.
D. Holmes is expecting to be murdered.
5. After Holmes gives Count Sylvius and Sam Merton an ultimatum to reveal the location of the diamond and go free or risk arrest and jail, what does Holmes do while the men are deciding?
A. Holmes smokes his black clay pipe.
B. Holmes gets his gazetteer off the shelf and starts making notes.
C. Holmes plays his violin.
D. Holmes cleans his pistol.
6. How much time does Holmes give Count Sylvius to make his decision?
A. Half an hour, the time it takes to play “Barcarole” on the violin
B. Thirteen minutes, the amount of time that his luck will run out
C. Five minutes, not much time for the count to react
D. Twenty minutes, one for every year of jail time for stealing such an expensive item
7. What lie does Count Sylvius plan to tell Holmes concerning the location of the diamond?
A. The count plans to tell Holmes that the diamond is in Liverpool.
B. He will tell Holmes that he will never find it because it has been cut into a dozen pieces and sold.
C. He plans to tell Holmes that the diamond is on the bottom of the Thames.
D. The count plans to send Holmes a message telling him that the diamond is in a barrel of wine on a ship on its way to America.
8. Where is Holmes when the count reveals to Merton the location of the jewel?
A. Holmes is sitting in the chair that was previously occupied by the dummy.
B. Holmes is hiding behind the bedroom door.
C. Holmes is in the hall, having sneaked back in while the men were talking.
D. Holmes is behind the liquor cabinet.
9. What is the sound the two men hear coming from Holmes’s bedroom?
A. A musician Holmes has hired to play the violin
B. Holmes playing a recording of a violin on the gramophone
C. Holmes has opened the window, and a street musician is heard playing the violin.
D. Holmes is playing the violin.
10. What joke does Holmes play on Lord Cantlemere?
A. Holmes uses his dummy to answer the door.
B. Holmes shows Lord Cantlemere a paste replica of the diamond, which is set in a ring on Holmes’s finger.
C. Holmes places the diamond among fruit in a fruit bowl.
D. Holmes slips the diamond in Lord Cantlemere’s pocket without his knowing it and then accuses him of stealing it.
QUIZ 64 “THE ADVENTURE OF THE THREE GABLES”
Published in Liberty in September 1926 and in the Strand in October 1926
This story about the theft of a manuscript may have been loosely based on the true story of Oscar Slater, a man who was accused of stealing documents which included an insurance policy and the will of Marion Gilchrist of Glasgow in 1909. The woman was murdered during the robbery, and Slater was sentenced to eighteen years of hard labor for the crime. Conan Doyle believed that Slater was innocent and had the case reopened, but to no avail; the guilty verdict remained. New evidence surfaced in 1927, and Slater was finally released thanks to the efforts of the creator of Sherlock Holmes. This quiz contains ten short-answer questions.
TRIVIA FACTS : DID YOU KNOW THAT . . .
1. In the mid 1920s Conan Doyle purchased a second home solely for the purpose of having a private, secluded place in which to conduct his séances. However, word spread quickly concerning the goings-on in Bignell House. As a result, mail carriers refused to deliver mail to the address, leaders of a gypsy troop living nearby warned their members against looking at the house, and evil spirits, believed to come from the house, were exorcised by a priest.
2. In 1926 mystery writer Agatha Christie disap
peared; her locked car was found in a ditch with the motor still running. Ten days later she was found in a hotel at the Harrogate Spa in northern England. A journalist named Ritchie-Calder believed that Christie had planned to commit suicide, staging the incident to appear as if her husband and his mistress had murdered her. When Conan Doyle was knighted, he had been appointed deputy lieutenant of Surrey, a position he retired from in 1921. However, he was consulted on the Christie case, and in turn consulted a medium who told him that Christie was alive and would surface on the following Wednesday. This prediction came true. This incident resembles Conan Doyle’s story “The Problem of Thor Bridge.”
Story Date: exact date uncertain
1. How much money would Mary Maberley have made if she had sold her home?
2. What does Mrs. Maberley plan to do with the profit from the sale of her home?
3. What odd demand does the potential buyer specify in the purchase of the house?
4. How do the burglars prevent Mrs. Maberley from interfering with their search of the room?
5. What does Mrs. Maberley manage to retrieve from the burglars before they flee?
6. Why does Holmes deduce that the manuscript is Douglas Maberley’s true story?
7. Whom does Holmes visit for information in solving this case?
8. How does Holmes convince Isadora Klein to receive him?
9. What does Isadora Klein do with the rest of the manuscript?
10. What deal does Holmes make with Isadora Klein?
QUIZ 65 “THE ADVENTURE OF THE SUSSEX VAMPIRE”
The Sherlock Holmes Quiz Book Page 13