Stories summarized
A Scandal in Bohemia
Watson, now married, stops by Baker Street to visit his old friend, and finds Holmes working on a case. Holmes has received a note telling him that a man will be calling on him that evening and the man will be wearing a mask. When the man comes, Holmes sees through the man's mask and identifies him as the King of Bohemia.
The King explains the issue includes a woman named Irene Adler, a retired opera singer. Irene has a compromising letter and a photograph of the King and her. She has threatened to send the photograph to the woman the King is planning to marry. The following day, in costume Holmes observes Miss Adler's behaviors and her home, Briony Lodge. He notices that Mr. Godfrey, a lawyer, regularly visits her. Holmes is concerned that Adler may have given Norton the letter and photograph for safety. When Holmes sees Norton and then Adler rushing out of the house, Holmes gets in a cab and follows them. Holmes ends up watching Adler and Norton's marriage. The following day Holmes and Watson go to Briony Lodge. With a pre-planned ruse, and a number of partners, Holmes finds out where the photograph is hidden. On the way home, Watson and Holmes make plans to go with the King to Mrs. Norton's house and to take the photo. Holmes recognizes the voice but can't place it. In the morning when they come at Briony Lodge, Holmes is presented with a letter from Mrs. Norton. She tells Holmes that, as an actress, she saw through his masks. She was the one who called out his name at Baker St. She proceeds to tell him the photograph is safe, now that she is married, but she chooses to keep it. The King of Bohemia is pleased. Rather than the valuable emerald ring offered to him, Holmes asks for the picture of Irene Adler Norton, which the King thankfully gives to him. In the end, Watson says "He used to make merry over the cleverness of women, but I have not heard him do it of late. And when he speaks of Irene, or when he refers to her photograph, it is always under the good title of the woman. |
A Case of Identity
The fiancé, Mr. Hosmer Angel, is a strange character, rather quiet, and rather secretive about his life. Miss Sutherland only knows that he works in an office in Leaden hall Street. All his letters to her are typewritten, even the signature, and he insists that she write back. Climax of the sad contact comes when Mr. Angel leaves Ms. Sutherland on their wedding day.
Holmes, noting all these things, Hosmer Angel's description, and the fact that he only seems to meet with Ms. Sutherland while her stepfather, James Wind bank, is out of the country on business, reaches an end quite quickly. A typewritten letter confirms his belief beyond doubt. Only one person could have gained by this: Mr. James Wind bank. Holmes realizes Angel had gone by taxi. After solving the mystery, Holmes chooses not to tell his client the solution, since if I tell her she will not believe me. However, he can be suspect of not fulfilling his professional duty for which he was paid – namely, to study the matter to which she set him, provide her with the results and let her decide what to do with them. Holmes does advice his client to forget Mr. Angel; Miss Sutherland refuses to take Holmes' advice and swears to remain faithful to Angel until he reappears for at least ten years. |
The Adventure of the Redheaded League
Jabez Wilson, a red-haired London pawnbroker, comes to consult Sherlock Holmes and Doctor Watson. He tells them that some weeks before his young assistant, Vincent Spaulding, insisted him to respond to a newspaper want-ad offering work to only red-headed male applicants. The next morning, Wilson had waited in a long line of fellow redheaded men, was interviewed and was the only applicant hired, because none of the other applicants had hair to match Wilson's red locks.
Wilson, whose business mainly operates in evenings, was well-paid, receiving four pounds a week for several weeks the work was clearly useless clerical work in a bare office. Finally one morning, a sign on the locked office door strangely said, "the red headed league is dissolved" Wilson then went to the owner, who said that he had never heard of Duncan Ross, the person who managed the league office. The owner did remember the renter with red hair and gives him a card, which directs Wilson to a fake knee company. Wilson ends the story with how upset he is losing the four-pounds-a-week. Holmes and Watson laugh a little over the ridiculous situation, but Holmes ensures him that by Monday they would have the case solved. After Holmes' client, Wilson, leaves, Holmes decides to go and see Spaulding, whom Holmes notices has dirty trouser knees. Holmes then taps on the sidewalk in front of the pawnbroker's shop. With the case solved, he calls Police Inspector Jones and Mr. Merry weather, a director of the bank located next door. The four secrete themselves in the bank vault and face the thieves, John Clay, who has a long history of criminal activity already, and his helper Archie. Under the alias of Spaulding and Ross, they had contrived the 'Red-Headed League' rigmarole to keep Wilson out of his shop while they dug in the basement, in order to break into the bank vault next door. |
When the World Screamed
Professor Challenger, with the help of Mr. Edward Malone and Mr. Peerless Jones, drills into the earth until he reaches the mantle, convinced that it is a sentient being, akin to an echinus, and that by doing so he will be the first person to alert it to mankind's presence. He awakens the giant creature, which then proceeds to destroy his excavation, covering the spectators with a noxious liquid in the process.
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