Discovering Sherlock Holmes - A Community Reading Project From Stanford University

	"…and met there a half-pay major of marines…." In other words, the major was no longer on active duty when Julia met him. "…and though he poured brandy down her throat…." In Victorian times, brandy was considered a restorative medicine. "His name is Armitage—Percy Armitage—the second son of Mr. Armitage, of Crane Water, near Reading." Reading is a city in the county of Berkshire, also known as Royal Berkshire, in the Thames Valley, about 20 miles due west of central London. Crane Water is a picturesque name for an imaginary town. "When you combine the ideas of whistles at night, the presence of a band of gipsies who are on intimate terms with this old doctor, the fact that we have every reason to believe that the doctor has an interest in preventing his stepdaughter's marriage, the dying allusion to a band, and, finally, the fact that Miss Helen Stoner heard a metallic clang, which might have been caused by one of those metal bars that secured the shutters falling back into its place, I think that there is good ground to think that the mystery may be cleared along those lines." "But what, then, did the gipsies do?" "I cannot imagine." "I see many objections to any such theory." "And so do I. It is precisely for that reason that we are going to Stoke Moran this day. I want to see whether the objections are fatal, or if they may be explained away." Here we see a good illustration of Holmes's methodical working practice. Refusing to theorize ahead of facts, he formulates a logical theory that might explain one of the few facts he hasÑthe metallic clang, which could have been caused by the bar holding the shutters slamming down. Beyond that, he does not try to guess what the gypsies might or might not have done. Holmes's gradual progress towards the truth by trial and error adds to the suspense and heightens the reader's interest. His costume was a peculiar mixture of the professional and of the agricultural, having a black top hat, a long frock coat, and a pair of high gaiters, with a hunting crop swinging in his hand. The top hat and frock coat are suitable for town, while the gaiters (high spats buttoned over the shoe and lower part of the trouser leg to protect them from mud) and the riding crop suggest the country. "Holmes, the Scotland-Yard Jack-in-office!" A "Jack-in-office" is a self-important and rude minor bureaucrat. Dr. Roylott is accusing Holmes of being an insignificant appendage of the London Police. "…and afterwards I shall walk down to Doctors' Commons, where I hope to get some data which may help us in this matter." Located near St. Paul's Cathedral, Doctor's Commons was the old hall where wills, marriage licenses, divorces, other civil records were stored. By 1883, when this story takes place, all records had been transferred to Somerset House on The Strand.