Fragments from the desk of Dr. John Watson:
Dr. John Watson
2122 Queen Anne Street, London
August 12, 1914
Notice
Re: Change of Beneficiary
Doctor Watson:
Regarding your request that your will and testament be changed, I was more than happy to slightly repay an old debt that I owe both of you. I have completed the necessary alterations to the documents, naming Mr. Sherlock Holmes of Fulworth, Sussex, as sole beneficiary after your previously named charities. Documents will be ready for your inspection at our scheduled appointment tomorrow morning. Please do let me know if I may be of further assistance to you.
Your sincere servant,
J. H. McFarlane
Graham and McFarlane, Solicitors (1, 2)
--
Dr. Watson –
I have packed your overnight bag and left it beside the door for your convenience. Are you quite certain you wish to travel on that awful train, in this heat, all the way to Sussex?
- Mrs. Cooper
--
DR JOHN WATSON 2122 QUEEN ANNE STREET LONDON STOP HAVE MADE ALL PREPARATIONS FOR MY OCCUPATION OF HOUSE STOP WHEN WOULD YOU LIKE TO MEET TO DISCUSS FINALIZATION OF DETAILS STOP H. PAYNTER FINAL STOP
--
Fragments from the desk of Mr. Mycroft Holmes:
Memorandum
Mr. Mycroft Holmes
August 12, 1914
Sir:
Please do not forget about the War Council meeting with Lord Kitchener at 3:00 this afternoon. Shall I have a late dinner ordered for you, sir, or are you actually going to go home before nine today?
-Wilkins (3)
--
MR MYCROFT HOLMES STOP SURROUNDING LIEGE FORTS UNDER HEAVY BOMBARDMENT FROM GERMAN MORTARS STOP MAY EXPECT COMPLETE SURRENDER WITHIN TWENTY-FOUR HOURS STOP KITCHENER WAR OFFICE FINAL STOP (3)
--
Re: Memorandum
Wilkins –
With a Council meeting, I shall be lucky to be home before breakfast.
How the deuce do I send a reply telegram on this infernal machine?
-MH
--
Fragments from the desk of Inspector Stanley Hopkins:
STANLEY HOPKINS SCOTLAND YARD LONDON STOP DOCTOR WATSON LEAVING DAY AFTER TOMORROW STOP ANY IDEA WHERE HE OR MR HOLMES IS BOTH NOT ANSWERING TELEPHONES STOP G. LESTRADE FINAL STOP
--
Inspector –
Shall we be going to the station to see the Doctor off?
-Sgt. Cummings
--
Excerpt from the diary of Mr. Sherlock Holmes:
August 13
3:15 a.m.
I cannot sleep.
Small wonder, either; I probably should grow accustomed to the fact as I foresee many such nights in the coming months…years, I should say and would were it not that the word itself would make me physically ill to think of all its horrible implications.
In some ways, he made it so much worse coming down here. How he discovered my presence here I've no idea (though I suspect I have Stackhurst to thank and murder for it), but he just came walking up the path to the cottage late this afternoon, carpetbag in hand and a thoroughly reproachful look for me.
I was perfectly fine, perfectly in control of my thoughts and all else in my life, until the thought struck me with a clamp of ice that it might possibly be the last time I should ever see his proud figure approaching my little cottage...to think that I might never walk along with the cliffs with him again, might never laugh as he failed to dodge the odd angry bee among the hives, might never again see and hear and feel a hundred and three things that had become all-important to me by their painful absence in this two-year hiatus of mine…
But I digress, and as I have only just regained a sense of control I shall not here compromise it.
No doubt he believes me to be running from reality, as I have unfortunately had a record of doing in the past. He is a fighter, I an escapist; and the roles are not so easily discarded this late in life. If only they could be so! What I would not give to remove that stubbornly patriotic streak engrained in his soul – but engrained so deeply that if it were removed he would no longer be the man he is, I well know.
That does not make things any easier.
I promised reluctantly to return to London with him tomorrow…this morning, rather, and to spend this last day in his company there. Much against my wishes, I might add. Here in the country, on the Downs, I could almost lull myself into thinking the whole nightmare is just that – a ghastly nightmare, and at any moment something will happen to bring me gratefully back to reality.
Unfortunately, my worst nightmares have now become no less terrifying than the corresponding reality.
I can barely believe we've less than thirty-six hours left. How can a man's world end in so short a time?
(1) The Norwood Builder refers to McFarlane as the junior partner of this law firm, and I don't think it's too illogical to cross-reference him here.
(2) The Lion's Mane refers to Fulworth as being the closest town along the beach by Holmes's cottage; as my knowledge of Sussex geography is sketchy, if a British reader has a more logical idea for the closest town to that area of the Downs, please tell me.
(3) http : // cnparm . home . texas . net / Wars / Marne / Marne02 . htm